cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Postnatal development of dopamine D4-like receptors in rat forebrain regions: comparison with D2-like receptors

Development of dopamine D4-like receptors in rat caudate-putamen (CPu), nucleus accumbens (NAc), frontal cortex, hippocampus, and entorhinal cortex was assessed at seven points between postnatal days 7 and 60 by computed in vitro receptor autoradiography, and compared with dopamine (DA) D2-like receptors. Density of radioligand binding to both receptor types increased from day 7 to a peak at day 28 in caudate-putamen (D4, 3.3-fold; D2, 4.3-fold) and nucleus accumbens (2.9- and 3.6-fold), then declined by 28%-33% over days 35-60 to adult levels in both brain regions. In hippocampus, frontal and entorhinal cortex, both receptor types increased by 3.8- to 5.8-fold from day 7 to maximal levels at day 35 that remained unchanged to day 60. These findings suggest: (1) D4- and D2-like receptors follow a similar course of development in several cortical, extrapyramidal, and limbic regions of rat forebrain; (2) elimination of excessive receptors of both types occurred in caudate-putamen and nucleus accumbens but not in the other brain regions.
Estimation of duration models using the Annual Housing Survey

Abstract The structure of the Annual Housing Survey (AHS) data set has unique characteristics which complicate application of the standard methodologies of duration analysis. This paper derives a general likelihood function for estimating duration models using the AHS that incorporates these unique characteristics. A duration model is then estimated using separate samples of renters and owners from the AHS. With respect to household characteristics and mobility behavior, our results largely confirm previous findings by Henderson and Ioannides (Journal of Urban Economics, 26, 212–230 (1989)). In addition, we estimate completed lengths of stay that are 40 to 50% larger than the popular stereotype.
Bax-dependent Regulation of Bak by Voltage-dependent Anion Channel 2

Many studies have demonstrated a critical role of Bax in mediating apoptosis, but the role of Bak in regulating cancer cell apoptotic sensitivities in the presence or absence of Bax remains incompletely understood. Using isogenic cells with defined genetic deficiencies, here we show that in response to intrinsic, extrinsic, and endoplasmic reticulum stress stimuli, HCT116 cells show clear-cut apoptotic sensitivities in the order of Bax+/Bak+ > Bax+/Bak– » Bax–/Bak+ » Bax–/Bak–. Small interference RNA-mediated knockdown of Bak in Bax-deficient cells renders HCT116 cells completely resistant to apoptosis induction. Surprisingly, however, Bak knockdown in Bax-expressing cells only slightly affects the apoptotic sensitivities. Bak, like Bax, undergoes the N terminus exposure upon apoptotic stimulation in both Bax-expressing and Bax-deficient cells. Gel filtration, chemical cross-linking, and co-immunoprecipitation experiments reveal that different from Bax, which normally exists as monomers in unstimulated cells and is oligomerized by apoptotic stimulation, most Bak in unstimulated HCT116 cells exists in two distinct protein complexes, one of which contains voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) 2. During apoptosis, Bak and Bax form both homo- and hetero-oligomeric complexes that still retain some VDAC-2. However, the oligomeric VDAC-2 complexes are diminished, and Bak does not interact with VDAC-2 in Bax-deficient HCT116 cells. These results highlight VDAC-2 as a critical inhibitor of Bak-mediated apoptotic responses.
A woman's influence to choose mastectomy as treatment for breast cancer.

Introduction Over a 10-y period at our community hospital, more than 50% of women 40 y of age and younger underwent a mastectomy as first line breast cancer treatment. These results catapulted a study to identify personal and physical implications of a mastectomy and to determine if, in women of all ages, breast conservation therapy with close follow-up is a better alternative to mastectomy. Methods Six hundred eight women underwent a mastectomy for breast cancer from 1989 to 2005 at our teaching institution; 77% ( n = 120) of 156 successfully contacted women agreed to participate in the study, and 70% ( n = 84) of them completed a questionnaire. Results Most women discovered their breast cancer through mammography or self breast examination, 31% and 28%, respectively. Five patients were diagnosed at Stage 0, 35 at Stage 1, 26 at Stage 2, 8 at Stage 3, 1 at Stage 4, and 9 patients had an unknown stage of disease. Sixty-three patients primarily discussed their treatment plan with a surgeon; 80 were satisfied with the time spent discussing their treatment. Twenty-four patients underwent various reconstruction procedures; most (75%) were satisfied with their treatment and reconstruction choices. Conclusions Mastectomy as a treatment choice for breast cancer did not have the negative personal and physical outcome that we had predicted. Personal choice and a surgeon's advice were the primary influencing factors on the women's treatment choice of mastectomy. Adequate preoperative discussion time and a multimodality cancer team can be most helpful in providing comprehensive treatment options for all women with breast cancer.
Modeling a rail transit alignment considering different objectives

Abstract An optimization model for station locations for an on-ground rail transit line is developed using different objective functions of demand and cost as both influence the planning of a rail transit alignment. A microscopic analysis is performed to develop a rail transit alignment in a given corridor considering a many-to-one travel demand pattern. A variable demand case is considered as it replicates a realistic scenario for planning a rail transit line. A Genetic Algorithm (GA) based on a Geographical Information System (GIS) database is developed to optimize the station locations for a rail transit alignment. The first objective is to minimize the total system cost per person, which is a function of user cost, operator cost, and location cost. The second objective is to maximize the ridership or the service coverage of the rail transit alignment. The user cost per person is minimized separately as the third objective because the user cost is one of the most important decision-making factors for planning a transit system from the users’ perspective. A transit planner can make an informed decision between various alternatives based on the results obtained using different objective functions. The model is applied in a case study in the Washington, DC area. The optimal locations and sequence of stations obtained using the three objective functions are presented and a comparative study between the results obtained is shown in the paper. In future works we will develop a combinatorial optimization problem using the aforementioned objectives for the rail transit alignment planning and design problem.
Three-body approach to direct nuclear reactions.

Three-body problem application to nuclear reactions involving neutron, proton and heavy nucleus, parametrizing two-body interactions in terms of s-wave separable potentials
Medicaid's role in financing graduate medical education

Medicaid is the second-largest explicit payer of graduate medical education (GME). All but five states pay for GME ($2.4 billion in 1998). As states rapidly move their Medicaid populations to managed care, Medicaid support for GME is subject to change. Just sixteen states and the District of Columbia carve out Medicaid GME payments from capitated rates to managed care plans and rechannel them to teaching programs. Concurrently, managed care has motivated several states to distribute Medicaid GME funds in ways more explicitly accountable to the public. Ten states require that GME payments be directly linked to state policy goals intended to vary the distribution of or limit the health care workforce.
New solution decomposition and minimization schemes for Poisson-Boltzmann equation in calculation of biomolecular electrostatics

The Poisson-Boltzmann equation (PBE) is one widely-used implicit solvent continuum model in the calculation of electrostatic potential energy for biomolecules in ionic solvent, but its numerical solution remains a challenge due to its strong singularity and nonlinearity caused by its singular distribution source terms and exponential nonlinear terms. To effectively deal with such a challenge, in this paper, new solution decomposition and minimization schemes are proposed, together with a new PBE analysis on solution existence and uniqueness. Moreover, a PBE finite element program package is developed in Python based on the FEniCS program library and GAMer, a molecular surface and volumetric mesh generation program package. Numerical tests on proteins and a nonlinear Born ball model with an analytical solution validate the new solution decomposition and minimization schemes, and demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of the new PBE finite element program package.
Lidocaine Hydrochloride Absorption from a Subcutaneous Site

Subcutaneous disappearance of lidocaine hydrochloride was followed as a function of time using a specially designed “closed” subcutaneous absorption cell affixed to anesthetized rats. Unbuffered, stirred lidocaine hydrochloride solutions in cells open to the atmosphere were previously shown to increase in pH with time because of carbon dioxide loss. The closed cell was designed to prevent this loss, but pH shifts still occurred, making the derivation of a simple pharmacokinetic absorption model impossible. Because the pH of the solution shifted to higher pH values, the data suggest that precipitation of lidocaine base may have occurred in some experiments.
THE DESIGN AND VALIDATION OF EQUIP: AN INSTRUMENT TO ASSESS INQUIRY-BASED INSTRUCTION

To monitor and evaluate program success and to provide teachers with a tool that could support their transformation in teaching practice, we needed an effective and valid protocol to measure the quantity and quality of inquiry-based instruction being led. Existing protocols, though helpful, were either too generic or too program specific. Consequently, we developed the Electronic Quality of Inquiry Protocol (EQUIP). This manuscript examines the 2-year development cycle for the creation and validation of EQUIP. The protocol evolved over several iterations and was supported by validity checks and confirmatory factor analysis. The protocol’s strength is further supported by high internal consistency and solid interrater agreement. The resulting protocol assesses 19 indicators aligned with four constructs: instruction, curriculum, assessment, and discourse. For teachers, EQUIP provides a framework to make their instructional practice more intentional as they strive to increase the quantity and quality of inquiry instruction. For researchers, EQUIP provides an instrument to analyze the quantity and quality of inquiry being implemented, which can be beneficial in evaluating professional development projects.
Lymphocytes in cancer development: Polarization towards pro-tumor immunity

The classic view that the role of immune cells in cancer is primarily one of tumor rejection has been supplanted by a more complex view of leukocytes having both pro- and anti-tumor properties. This shift is due to the now well recognized capabilities of several myeloid cell types that foster pro-tumor programming of premalignant tissue, as well as the discovery that subsets of leukocytes also suppress development and effector functions of lymphocytes important for mediating anti-tumor immunity. In this review, we focus on the underappreciated role that T lymphocytes play in promoting tumor development. This includes, in addition to the role of T regulatory cells, a role for natural killer T cells and CD4(+) T helper cells in suppressing anti-tumor immunity and promoting cancer growth and metastasis.
Fire in the Ocean

One of the great challenges of modern organic geochemistry is the determination of the chemical composition of Earth's largest active carbon pools: marine sediments, soils, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in both marine and terrestrial systems. Together these reservoirs are much larger than the atmospheric CO2 pool, and they exchange carbon with the atmosphere, making them potential CO2 sources or sinks in a changing climate. Rivers play a central role in the carbon exchange between all these reservoirs. On page 345 of this issue, Jaffe et al. ( 1 ) shed new light on the chemical composition of riverine DOC.
Validation of the Seeking of Noetic Goals Test with Schizophrenic and Normal Ss

The Seeking of Noetic Goals Test (SONG) along with the Shipley Vocabulary Scale, Rotter's I-E Locus of Control Scale, the Purpose-in-Life Test, MMPI, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Kuder Preference Record (Personal Form) were administered to 40 normal male and 40 schizophrenic male Ss. The data indicate that the SONG is positively related to anxiety and depression, and negatively correlated with ego strength and purpose in life.
hsp70: Nuclear concentration during environmental stress and cytoplasmic storage during recovery

The intracellular distribution of the major Drosophila heat-shock protein hsp70 was determined by indirect immunofluorescence with monoclonal antibodies. During heat shock the protein concentrates strongly in nuclei while a small quantity remains cytoplasmic. During recovery hsp70 leaves the nuclei and becomes distributed throughout the cytoplasm. With a second heat shock it is rapidly transported back into the nucleus. Nuclear translocation depends not on the temperature per se, but on the physiological state of the cell since it also occurs after exposure to an anoxic atmosphere at normal temperatures. We also provide evidence that hsps protect cells from the toxic effects of anoxia, as well as heat, and conclude that nuclear translocation of hsp70 is related to its function in protecting the organism from both forms of environmental stress.
Microemulsifying fluorinated oils with mixtures of fluorinated and hydrogenated surfactants

Microemulsions containing fluorinated oils are, in general, prepared by mixing water, the perfluorinated oil, and a fluorinated surfactant which may be either ionic or non-ionic. In this paper we describe our study of the phase behavior of three dilterent fluorinated oils in mixtures with water and n-fluoroalkyl polyglycol ether. Furthermore, our experiments show that replacing fluorinated surfactants by mixtures of fluorinated and hydrogenated surfactants (up to a 25% weight ratio of hydrogenated to fluorinated surfactant) leads to microemulsion formation with a variety of fluorinated oils. The ratio of the two types of surfactant and the chain length of the added hydrogenated surfactant are ideal parameters with which either to increase the efficiency of the amphiphile blend or to control the temperature of microemulsion formation. The experimental results point to general rules governing the phase behavior of microemulsions of fluorinated oils and mixtures of hydrogenated and fluorinated surfactants.
Coastal engineering challenges in a changing world

This paper presents a few observations about present-day coastal engineering, and it then discusses four challenges that will be faced by the coastal engineering profession in the near future: (1) responding to climate change; (2) maintaining the knowledge base; (3) advocating for coastal engineering; and (4) learning from coastal engineering practitioners. How we, as a community, respond to these challenges will define coastal engineering well into the future.
Fiber tracking: Principles and strategies - A technical review

The state of the art of reconstruction of the axonal tracts in the central nervous system (CNS) using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is reviewed. This relatively new technique has generated much enthusiasm and high expectations because it presently is the only approach available to non-invasively study the three-dimensional architecture of white matter tracts. While there is no doubt that DTI fiber tracking is providing exciting new opportunities to study CNS anatomy, it is very important to understand its limitations. In this review we therefore assess the basic principles and the assumptions that need to be made for each step of the study, including both data acquisition and the elaborate fiber reconstruction algorithms. Special attention is paid to situations where complications may arise, and possible solutions are reviewed. Validation issues and potential future directions and improvements are also discussed.
Origins of the contemporary criminal justice paradigm: The American bar foundation survey, 1953–1969

(1992). Origins of the contemporary criminal justice paradigm: The American bar foundation survey, 1953–1969. Justice Quarterly: Vol. 9, No. 1, pp. 47-76.
A Constructive Development Approach to Assessing Variations within a Community College Population.

This study utilized a constructive-developmental approach to accomplish 3 purposes: to create a developmental stage profile for a population of students attending a single community college, to analyze variations within and between subpopulations, and to explore the implications for administrators and planners seeking to provide supportive environments for different populations of students. The resulting profile indicated a wide range of variation within the overall population and significant variations between traditional and non-traditional age students. Implications for educational programming and supportive services were identified by using a constructive-developmental approach as an interpretive framework.
A School Fight against AIDS in the Caribbean

70% of AIDS cases in the English-speaking Caribbean are 20-40 years old. The HIV infection rate is not declining. Most of the TV programming in the Caribbean stimulates greater interest in sex and consequently children learn about sex at an early age. Major messages conveyed by TV and films are: adults enjoy sex; alcohol helps in sexual conquests; and people who feel depressed often resort to violence or drug abuse. Adolescents need to resist such things while still wanting to be considered an adult. They need to be equipped with the appropriate coping skills. The Caribbean community has developed the Health and Family Life Education Project which stresses the core life skills of decision making/problem solving creative thinking/critical thinking communication/interpersonal skills self-awareness/empathy and coping with emotions/coping with stress. The curriculum has already been developed. The next phase involves materials development that encourages participation of students teachers and trainers at the Fertility Management Unit of the University of the West Indies. One of the pilot materials is the UNICEF-animated film "The Teen Years." These life skills will help youth negotiate a delay in their first sexual intercourse. The course will address how students can use these skills to prevent pregnancy substance abuse violence and HIV/AIDS. It aims to increase the number of hours of instruction in life skills to 20-30 hours/year.
The History of NOMAD: A Fourth Generation Language

Nomad, a major 4th generation language, was designed and implemented by National CSS, a principal time-sharing company in the 1970s. The author, one of the team members who developed Nomad, provides the background of the company and describes their use of Ramis as a significant contributor to the company's revenue. After Mathematica's decision to change the price of Ramis, the decision was made to set up "skunk works" to build not just a replacement, but a far better product. The author then describes the Nomad development process, the contributions made by the team members, how the product was named, how it was used, and its history up to the present.
Development of immune complexes in the skin.

Complement activation by immune complexes induces inflammation, but during this process the nature of the complexes is altered. Once immune complexes have attained sufficient lattice to activate complement, further increase of the lattice and immune precipitation are limited by the incorporation of complement components. The presence of complement components in immune complexes facilitates their disposal from circulation by complement receptors on red cells in humans. Without complement activation the disposal of immune complexes of sufficient lattice is mediated by Fc receptors. The development of immune deposits in tissues can arise by several mechanisms. Circulating immune complexes may be deposited in a number of vascular beds. Immune deposits in tissues may also arise by local formation. This process may involve structural antigens in tissues, cell surface antigens that are shed after interaction with specific antibodies or antigens that have become planted in tissues and then combine with antibodies. Charge-charge interactions enhance deposition of immune complexes in several organs, involving fixed negative charges in tissues and positive charges on antigens or antibodies in immune complexes. Successful detection of immune deposits in dermal vessels requires the examination of fresh lesions. Local vascular changes contribute significantly to deposition of immune complexes in dermal vessels. Charge-charge interactions enhance this deposition and contribute to the development of deposits at the dermal-epidermal junction in experimental animals. J Invest Dermatol 93:73S–77S, 1989
Species coexistence and pathogens with frequency-dependent transmission.

Abstract: Pathogens that infect multiple hosts are commonly transmitted by vectors, and their transmission rate is often thought to depend on the proportion of hosts or vectors infected (i.e., frequency dependence). A model of a two‐host, one‐pathogen system with frequency‐dependent transmission is used to investigate how sharing a pathogen with an alternative host influences pathogen‐mediated extinction. The results show that if there is frequency‐dependent transmission, a host can be rescued from pathogen‐mediated extinction by the presence of a second host with which it shares a pathogen. The study provides an important conceptual counterexample to the idea that shared pathogens necessarily result in apparent competition by showing that shared pathogens can mediate apparent mutualism. We distinguish two types of dilution effect (pathogen reduction with increasing host diversity), each resulting from different underlying pathogen transmission processes and host density effects. These results have import...
Coherent anti-stokes raman scattering in gaseous nitrogen with picosecond pulses

Abstract The use of CARS as a prove of gas phase molecular concentration has been extended into the picosecond regime. A double-beam configuration employing single pulses from a mode-locked Nd:glass laser has allowed measurement of N 2 ( 1 Σ g , ν = 0) pressures on accuracy of better than 10% with 8 ps time resolution. This technique shows promise for the study of dynamics of gas phase photodissociation processes.
A note on log periodically coupled modes of propagation

Some necessary conditions for successful design of a log periodic coupler are discussed on the basis of the ω-β diagram for sinusoidal coupled lines. An oversight in a previous analysis is pointed out, and the similarity to the log periodic antenna problem is noted.
Exact Expressions for Many-Body Atomic Displacement Correlations in the Anisotropic Network Model

In this work, we extend Anisotropic Network Model's(ANM)[1] scope by developing exact expressions for n-point displacement correlations in the canonical ensemble. Our formulation entails the use of Wick¯s theorem on multivariate Gaussian integrals[2] and can be extended for arbitrary ensembles. This provides additional flexibility to correlate multi-atom regions of arbitrary sizes in any normal direction with the sole knowledge of inverse Hessian matrix.As the collective nature of allosteric transitions make them well suited to be studied within the framework of ANM, we validate our findings on the αvβ3 integrin 1JV2 and its ligand bound form 1L5G using an all atom version of ANM. Using the formalism developed in this study, we show the intrinsic many-body nature of allosteric interactions and conformational changes triggered by them. We show how ligand binding perturbs the first 3 global vibrational modes by inducing collective responses up-to quaternary level and enhanced-many body correlations between the αv and β3 domains upon binding.1. Atilgan, A.R., et al., Anisotropy of Fluctuation Dynamics of Proteins with an Elastic Model. Biophysical Journal, 2001. 80(1): p. 505-515.2. Zinn-Justin, J., Quantum Field Theory and Critical Phenomena. 1996: Clarendon Press.
Data Modeling & the Infrastructural Nature of Conceptual Tools

The goal of this paper is to demonstrate the infrastructural nature of many modern conceptual technologies. The focus of this paper is on conceptual tools associated with elementary types of data modeling. We intend to show a variety of ways in which these conceptual tools not only express thinking, but also mold and shape thinking. And those ways of thinking are often out of sync with the situations that we need to understand and explain. We have chosen to discuss data modeling because in mathematics education, future-oriented statements of curriculum standards generally identify data modeling as a topic that should receive priority attention. Several example activities based on the models and modeling perspectives (MMP) are used to support the claims that: (a) statistical techniques are based on models, (b) alternative models often make significantly different assumptions about how to measure even elementary things such as distances and spread. Also, new technologies for computation, conceptualization, and communication are making significant changes in which statistical techniques are easily executed. Moreover, these newly available techniques are often based on assumptions that are more realistic given the relevant quantities and relationships.
Methylphenidate improves performance on the radial arm maze in periadolescent rats

Methylphenidate (Ritalin; MPD) is one of the most commonly prescribed drugs in childhood and adolescence and many clinical studies have documented its efficacy. Due to the limitations of conducting invasive research in humans, animal models can be beneficial for studying drug effects. However, few animal studies have demonstrated the effects of methylphenidate on cognitive processes. The objective of this study was to find a dose of methylphenidate that was effective in improving performance on a spatial working memory cognitive task when administered orally to periadolescent rats. Therefore, we dosed subjects with methylphenidate at 1 or 3 mg/kg/day via gastric intubation from postnatal day 22 to 59 and assessed the effects of the drug on performance on the radial arm maze each day. To enhance performance overall, a second experiment was conducted where the subjects were moderately food restricted (to 90% of the free-feeding weight). Results of Experiment 1 show that during the first week of testing only the 3 mg/kg MPD-treated males showed improved performance (entries prior to repeated entry) when ad lib fed and housed in pairs while the same dose significantly improved performance in both males and females under conditions of food-restriction and individual housing in Experiment 2. MPD also produced a pattern of increased errors and arms entered during the first week, especially in Experiment 2. MPD increased locomotor activity when tested at postnatal day 60 in both experiments. The data suggest that 3 mg/kg oral methylphenidate improves performance on a spatial cognitive task only early in treatment in the rat. While males show improvement under conditions of both high and low motivation, females only show MPD effects when highly motivated. Hypothetically, methylphenidate may improve radial arm maze performance through increased attention and improved spatial working memory and/or alterations in locomotion, reactivity to novelty or anxiety. Regardless, the study supports the utility of the rat as a suitable model to examine the effects of low dose oral MPD.
The sPHENIX forward upgrade (and ePHENIX)

Abstract PHENIX is planning a large upgrade for the next decade, sPHENIX, to answer many of the questions spurred by our discoveries during the last decade. This sPHENIX upgrade includes replacing the central arm spectrometers with an open geometry solenoid surrounded by electromagnetic and hadronic calorimetry. With this new open geometry, we plan to upgrade our detector at forward rapidities with additional calorimetry and tracking. The larger acceptance will improve our access to low-x distributions in heavy nuclei, extend our measurements of quarkonia in p + p, d + A, and A + A to more forward rapidities, and allow for measurements away from the Bjorken plateau expanding the study of the high energy heavy ion environment. In addition to heavy ion and cold nuclear matter measurements, the envisioned forward rapidity upgrade will allow for a more systematic approach to understanding the large transverse spin measurements seen at RHIC as well as serve as the baseline detector for a future eRHIC detector, ePHENIX.
Structural Prediction of Protein-Protein Interactions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Protein-protein interactions (PPI) refer to the associations between proteins and the study of these associations. Several approaches have been used to address the problem of predicting PPI. Some of them are based on biological features extracted from a protein sequence (such as, amino acid composition, GO terms, etc.); others use relational and structural features extracted from the PPI network, which can be represented as a graph. Our approach falls in the second category. We adapt a general approach to graph feature extraction that has previously been applied to collaborative recommendation of friends in social networks. Several structural features are identified based on the PPI graph and used to learn classifiers for predicting new interactions. Two datasets containing Saccharomyces cerevisiae PPI are used to test the proposed approach. Both these datasets were assembled from the Database of Interacting Proteins (DIP). We assembled the first data set directly from DIP in April 2006, while the second data set has been used in previous studies, thus making it easy to compare our approach with previous approaches. Several classifiers are trained using the structural features extracted from the interactions graph. The results show good performance (accuracy, sensitivity and specificity), proving that the structural features are highly predictive with respect to PPI.
Carlson Receives 2008 Norman L. Bowen Award

Richard W. Carlson received the Norman L. Bowen Award at the 2008 AGU Fall Meeting Honors Ceremony, held 17 December in San Francisco, Calif. The award recognizes outstanding contributions to volcanology, geochemistry, or petrology.
Phase microscopy with oblique fields

Phase contrast microscopy has had a resurgence of interest during the past decade, particularly owing to the development of methods that are quantitative and fast. I will present two such methods developed in our lab.
Comparison of ability to identify left atrial thrombus by three-dimensional tomography versus transesophageal echocardiography in patients with atrial fibrillation

We sought to determine the potential use of recently introduced cardiac 3-dimensional computed tomography as an alternative to transesophageal echocardiography for examination of the left atrial appendage. Our data suggest that computed tomography is a potential alternative for assessing the anatomy of the left atrial appendage and for detecting thrombi.
The Toothless Bathing Beauty and the t‐test

A simple and amusing class experiment is used to introduce many ideas of descriptive and inferential statistics.
School Counselors' Strategies for Social Justice Change: A Grounded Theory of What Works in the Real World

A qualitative study used a grounded theory methodology to explore the strategies that 16 school counselors who self-identified as social justice agents used to advocate for systemic change within their school communities. Findings included seven overarching themes: (a) using political savvy to navigate power structures, (b) consciousness raising, (c) initiating difficult dialogues, (d) building intentional relationships, (e) teaching students self-advocacy skills, (f) using data for marketing, and (g) educating others about the school counselor role of advocate.
Simultaneous intraesophageal impedance and pH measurement of acid and nonacid gastroesophageal reflux: Effect of omeprazole * **

Abstract Background & Aims: Nonacid reflux may explain symptoms in acid-suppressed patients. Simultaneous intraesophageal impedance and pH measurement was used to evaluate the frequencies of postprandial acid and nonacid reflux before and after omeprazole administration. Methods: Twelve heartburn patients underwent two 2-hour studies of intraesophageal impedance and pH in the right lateral decubitus position after a refluxogenic meal; session 1 without medication, session 2 after 7 days of omeprazole twice daily. Acid and nonacid reflux were quantified. Results: Two hundred seventeen reflux episodes were detected before and 261 after omeprazole treatment ( P > 0.05). Percentage of acid reflux decreased (from 45% to 3%, P = 0.02) and nonacid reflux increased (from 55% to 97%, P = 0.03) after omeprazole. Heartburn and acid taste were more commonly linked to acid reflux but were also produced by nonacid reflux. Regurgitation was reported equally in acid and nonacid reflux. ΔpH > 1 did not help predict the presence of symptoms during nonacid reflux. Conclusions: During treatment with omeprazole, postprandial reflux becomes predominantly nonacid. Symptoms are more common with acid reflux but are also produced by nonacid reflux. Simultaneous intraesophageal impedance and pH may be useful in evaluating the role of nonacid reflux in symptoms that persist despite adequate acid suppression. GASTROENTEROLOGY 2001;120:1599-1606
Toward a theory of teaching: A social learning view

Abstract Two hypotheses were investigated: Do teachers spontaneously use modeling techniques during instruction, and are teachers who are trained to use these procedures more effective? Twenty-four teachers attempted to instruct a like number of 5-year-olds to seriate length. Twelve additional youngsters served as uninstructed controls. Untrained teachers made little use of modeling techniques and were generally ineffective. Trained teachers were significantly more effective than their untrained counterparts. Teacher use of specific modeling behaviors correlated with teaching success. The results were discussed from a Social Learning Theory view of teaching.
A laser-induced fluorescence measurement for aqueous fluid flows with improved temperature sensitivity

This paper presents temperature-sensitive laser-induced fluorescence measurements of Fluorescein 27 dissolved in aqueous solutions. We show that Fluorescein 27, dissolved in water and excited by a 532-nm Nd:YAG laser pulse, yields improved temperature sensitivity over traditional organic dyes such as Rhodamine B. The high temperature sensitivity of Fluorescein 27 when excited at 532 nm is due primarily to a temperature-dependent shift of the absorption spectrum to longer wavelengths for increased temperatures. The linearity of the fluorescence signal with respect to the incident laser intensity and dye concentration is reported. In addition, Fluorescein 27 dissolved in an aqueous solution remains photo-stable for >105 laser pulses at both ambient and high temperatures (T > 60°C) when excited with low-irradiance laser pulses. Finally, we demonstrate that using a dual tracer (or ratiometric) technique in which the fluorescence from Fluorescein 27 and another dye (e.g., Rhodamine B or Kiton Red 620) are detected following the 532 nm excitation results in a significantly enhanced temperature sensitivity over a single tracer measurement and previously reported dual tracer methods. Such temperature sensitivity is useful in multi-dimensional temperature imaging and temporally resolved measurements.
Collinear optical coherence and confocal fluorescence microscopies for tissue engineering

Tissue engineered medical products (TEMPs) are often three-dimensional (3D) hybrid materials consisting of a porous scaffold upon which the tissue is grown. However, monitoring of the developing tissue deep within the scaffold is hampered by its turbidity. We have sought new ways to probe the interior of the scaffold with the same resolution as conventional laser scanning confocal microscopy but with greater sensitivity. We present a novel application of optical coherence microscopy (OCM) by combining it with confocal fluorescence microscopy (CFM) to gather simultaneous structural and functional information on TEMPs in a registered fashion. In this work, we describe the collinear OCM and CFM instrument. We demonstrate the utility of this dual-mode technique for TEMPs by imaging fluorescently stained osteoblasts cultured in a polymeric TEMP.
Development of novel (2-2) piezoelectric composites by direct-write technique

The Micropen? direct-write technique was used to fabricate ceramic skeletal structures to develop ceramic/polymer (2-2) composites for high frequency transducers in medical imaging applications. Both regular and volume fraction gradient (VFG) patterns were designed. By this approach, transducers were fabricated with 1 cm2 transduction area, operating at 4?5 MHz. The composites had ~30 vol% of ceramic, with thickness ranging 290 to 380 ?m. They had a dielectric loss of 2.0?2.1%, a dielectric constant of 500?670, a d33 of 190, and kt of 56%?61%.
Expectancy confirmation and affectivity.

Situations involving the confirmation and disconfirmation of expectancies varying dichotomously in strength and value are theorized to involve three components: outcome, strength and value, and to be ordered in terms of positive affect generated. Results of an experiment closely parallel the theoretically derived order, indicating that confirmation generates greater positive affect than disconfirmation; the positive affect generated by confirmation (disconfirmation) is directly (inversely) related to expectancy strength; and confirmation of positive expectancies generates greater positive affect than confirmation of negative expectancies; and the obverse of this.
Tracking facial features using probabilistic network

In this paper, an improved model-based automatic face/head tracking algorithm is presented. The input to the system is a video sequence including a head-and-shoulders scene. The outputs are the detected global head movements and the local facial feature motions. To estimate the global head position, the 2D image coordinates of feature points are mapped to 3D by assuming the projection is approximately scaled orthographic. After this initial estimation, Kalman filter is employed to improve the temporal stability. For non-rigid local facial motion tracking, a probabilistic network is constructed to encode the information about the relative positions and velocities among various facial feature points. This network is trained in a supervised fashion and is applied later as structural constraints to incorporate with the traditional template matching method. Currently, the conditional distributions employed in the network are two-dimensional. They are obtained bp learning front front-view sequences. To apply this network to 3D face/head tracking, pose compensation must be performed based on the estimated head poses.
VMM emulation of Intel hardware transactional memory

We describe the design, implementation, and evaluation of emulated hardware transactional memory, specifically the Intel Haswell Restricted Transactional Memory (RTM) architectural extensions for x86/64, within a virtual machine monitor (VMM). Our system allows users to investigate RTM on hardware that does not provide it, debug their RTM-based transactional software, and stress test it on diverse emulated hardware configurations, including potential future configurations that might support arbitrary length transactions. Initial performance results suggest that we are able to accomplish this approximately 60 times faster than under a full emulator. A noteworthy aspect of our system is a novel page-flipping technique that allows us to completely avoid instruction emulation, and to limit instruction decoding to only that necessary to determine instruction length. This makes it possible to implement RTM emulation, and potentially other techniques, far more compactly than would otherwise be possible. We have implemented our system in the context of the Palacios VMM. Our techniques are not specific to Palacios, and could be implemented in other VMMs.
Notes for a Final Exam

A humanistic psychologist looks at the probability of nuclear war and at some of our common attitudes that are making it difficult to prevent.
Blockade of ATP-Sensitive Potassium Channels in Cerebral Arterioles Inhibits Vasoconstriction From Hypocapnic Alkalosis in Cats

Background and Purpose —Recent studies have shown that the cerebral arteriolar dilation from hypercapnic acidosis is blocked by agents which inhibit KATP channels. These findings suggested that this response is due to opening of KATP channels. Because the repose to CO2 is a continuum, with hypercapnic acidosis causing vasodilation and hypocapnic alkalosis causing vasoconstriction, it would be expected that the response to hypocapnic alkalosis would be due to closing of KATP channels. There are no studies of the effect of inhibition of KATP channels on the response to hypocapnic alkalosis. Methods —We investigated the effect of 3 agents that in earlier studies were found to inhibit KATP channels— N G-nitro-l-arginine, hydroxylysine, and glyburide—on the cerebral arteriolar constriction caused by graded hypocapnia induced by hyperventilation in anesthetized cats equipped with cranial windows. Results —Hypocapnic alkalosis caused dose-dependent vasoconstriction that was inhibited completely by each of the 3 inhibitors of KATP channels. The blockade induced by these agents was eliminated in the presence of topical l-lysine (5 μmol/L). Conclusions —The findings show that agents which inhibit ATP-sensitive potassium channels in cerebral arterioles inhibit the vasoconstriction from hypocapnic alkalosis. These and earlier results showing that inhibition of KATP channels inhibited dilation from hypercapnic acidosis demonstrate that the response to CO2 in cerebral arterioles is mediated by the opening and closing of KATP channels.
Endotrophin in the tumor stroma: a new therapeutic target for breast cancer?

The molecular mechanisms underlying how obesity causes an increased risk of cancer incidence and mortality are poorly understood, although the epidemiological data are compelling [1]. Since we defi...
Optimizing topical therapy for psoriasis

There are a wide variety of topical treatment options for psoriasis. Despite their effectiveness in clinical trials, control of psoriasis in clinical practice remains a challenge. A multitude of factors limits patients’ use of medication, including frustration with poor efficacy, inconvenience, fear of side effects, financial restraints, vague application instructions, complicated regimens and unpleasant treatment characteristics. The first step to optimize topical therapy is to develop a physician–patient relationship that contributes to realistic expectations and proper use of medication. Patients should be involved in the choice of medications and vehicles. Topical corticosteroids form the foundation of treatment and topical vitamin D analogs and other noncorticosteroid agents can be used as complements to optimize long-term results.
Reachability of particle size distribution in emulsion batch polymerization under mid-course correction policies

Rigorous reachability analysis is largely an open problem for nonlinear distributed systems. A programming-based reachability analysis is proposed to address nominal and perturbed systems, with the final distributed variables characterized as multi-Gaussian distributions. An application study is detailed for the feedback control of particle size distribution in emulsion polymerization, where the particulate system is described by population balance models. The approach has been applied to a semibatch styrene emulsion polymerization process. The re-mapping of the reachable region in the case of mid-course correction shows the best performance achievable through in-batch control action.
Household Drinking Water Treatment and Safe Storage

Household water treatment is the decentralized treatment of drinking water in the home and safe storage is the protection of drinking water in specially designated household storage vessels. Even for the 50% of people worldwide with a tapped water supply, safety is not always assured. In such homes, household treatment units improve the aesthetics and/or remove harmful contaminants. Homes lacking a tapped drinking water supply are more likely to bear the burden of water-related illnesses: 3.4 million deaths are water related; 1.4 million children die annually of diarrhea—the third highest cause of illness and sixth highest cause of mortality globally; and 1.1 billion—or about one in six people globally—lack access to improved drinking water. For these people, household water treatment and safe storage may be their main barrier in the prevention of water-related illnesses, and evidence shows that household treatment and safe storage systems are capable of dramatically improving the microbial quality of drinking water and reducing diarrheal and other water-related diseases and death. In the decade to come, we will witness innovation and scale-up of these systems from hundreds to thousands to millions to meet the enormous global need for clean drinking water. Keywords: household water treatment; safe household water storage; point-of-use; point-of-entry; microbial contamination; arsenic contamination; fluoride contamination; household chlorination; household filters; water-related diseases; diarrheal diseases; global burden of disease; rural water supply; water treatment processes
Detection of Bartonella (Rochalimaea) quintana by routine acridine orange staining of broth blood cultures.

Bartonella quintana was isolated from 34 BACTEC nonradiometric aerobic resin blood cultures for 10 adults. Nine patients were initially diagnosed by routine acridine orange staining of routine cultures that had been incubated for 8 days. All subcultures grew on chocolate agar within 3 to 12 days (median, 6 days). The PLUS 26 high-volume aerobic resin medium, combined with acridine orange stain and subculture, is an effective system for detection and isolation of B. quintana from blood. Images
Telecom Mesh Network Upgrade to Manage Traffic Growth

Telecom mesh networks require periodic upgrades to support increasing traffic. Such upgrades, which are referred to as network engineering (NE), determine the additional network resources that must be provided to meet the network performance while minimizing the incremental network cost. To facilitate such network growth, considering dynamic routing, attention should be directed toward critical cut sets rather than individual links. Our analysis in this paper shows how capacity exhaustion of critical cut sets indicates urgency of the need for upgrading a mesh network. To handle traffic growth, we also introduce a new parameter called the network-cut exhaustion probability. This parameter is efficient and appropriate to assist incremental growth of the existing network as well as new network design. Finally, we provide an algorithm to calculate the urgency and the pointers to specific locations that require upgrade under desired performance constraints.