cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Treatment of the common cold

The common cold is the most frequent illness managed in general practice. Despite a long search for a cure only potential treatments for the symptoms have been established. Colds afflict most adults two to four times a year and children four to eight times a year, and the resulting hours of absenteeism from work or school have enormous economic bearings. Several viruses can cause the common cold, but rhinoviruses are by far the most common. Studies evaluating various treatments for the common cold are divided into experimentally induced and naturally occurring colds. Treatments studied included symptomatic measures, pharmacological blockers, and specific antiviral agents, as well as drugs with yet unestablished mechanism of action. A systematic, evidence based assessment of this literature is imperative for rational selection of treatment—if any—for patients with a common cold. #### Summary points Alleviation of symptoms remains the only proved way to treat the common cold. First generation antihistamines, anticholinergics, and α agonists effectively reduce rhinorrhea and sneezing, but have minimal effects on other symptoms. Antitussive agents are probably of minimal benefit Over-the-counter cold treatments are effective only in adults and adolescents Antiviral drugs such as interferon alfa-2b are effective only if taken before symptoms develop Zinc may reduce the duration and intensity of symptoms but a safe effective dose is not yet established Mast cell stabilisers have shown promising results but have not been evaluated in large trials Overuse of cold treatments by both doctors and patients is a major problem requiring education of both parties I reviewed articles cited in Medline between 1966 and 1997 using the keywords common cold, treatment, therapy, and drug treatment. I selected well designed randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trials and authoritative review articles on specific topics in treatment of the common cold. Articles published within the past five years were selected …
Ship power system testing and simulation

This paper highlights the capability at CAPS and some of the key research efforts underway in support of the Navy's all-electric ship program. This includes the testing and evaluation of the 5 MW superconducting prototype propulsion motor developed by American Superconductor Corporation for ONR and the application of the RTDS in ship system simulation and hardware in the loop testing of controls, protection and rapid reconfiguration and power transfer. A major part of the work is to develop and validate component models for the ship electrical system, such as the various types of propulsion motors, their drives, other power electronic converters for AC-DC-AC and DC-DC distribution and zonal loads and power sources for pulse power weapons and directed energy weapons of the next generation navy ships.
High throughput, quantitative DNA methylation screening using a quantum dot based nanotechnology assay

PL01 Background: The impact of detecting DNA methylation is profound, as it has been demonstrated that a larger number of tumor suppressor genes become inactivated by epigenetic silencing from DNA methylation than by mutations. Current methods of DNA methylation detection include qualitative methylation specific PCR (MSP) and quantitative real time PCR. We have demonstrated a nanotechnology assay that meets the needs for high throughput and ultra-sensitive DNA methylation analyses. The new technology will be likely to have a huge impact for both cancer diagnosis as well as assessing response to therapy. Methods: Our technology allows for performing multiple PCRs through a droplet-in-oil microfluidic PCR platform with single sample injection. It utilizes quantum dot (QD) nanosensors for the detection and quantification of DNA methylation. QDs serve as both a FRET donor as well as a nanoconcentrator to capture fluorescently labeled target amplicons which are generated through methylation specific PCR (MSP). Results: With our oil-in-droplet PCR platform, we were able to demonstrate valuable downscaling in reagent and sample consumption (800nL/ reaction). Our nanoassay allowed detecting as little as 15 pg of methylated DNA in the presence of a 10,000-fold excess of unmethylated alleles. We extended the analysis to clinical samples by detecting methylation for ASC/ TMS1 in low concentrations of DNA from human sputum without using nested PCR. The nanoassay featured low intrinsic background and high sensitivity with few PCR amplification cycles. We quantified methylation reversal with high resolution in pre and post bone marrow aspirate samples obtained from Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) patients who were treated with epigenetic therapy using 5-azacytidine (Vidaza) and a histone deacetylase inhibitor (MS-275). Conclusion: Our QD-based nanoassay is fully compatible with the widely-used MSP. The use of an oil-in-droplet PCR system offers unprecedented ease in sample handling for a cost-effective multiplexed gene analysis. By simply end-labeling existing MSP primers and using commercially available QDs, our technique allows for quantitative, high-throughput and ultrasensitive methylation detection.
Adsorption Properties of SAMs Supported on TiO2 and ZrO2

This work investigates vapor-phase adsorption on self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) supported on TiO2 (rutile and anatase) and on ZrO2 (monoclinic). Synthesis of the adsorbents was made via reactions of organosilicon hydrides (RSiH3, R = C18H37; C8H17; C6F13(CH2)2; CH2CH(CH2)6; H3Si(CH2)8) with metal oxide powders. The reactions yielded closely packed surfaces with high grafting densities of organic groups (up to 4.85 groups/nm2). Adsorption properties of the materials obtained were studied by low-temperature nitrogen adsorption. All the adsorption isotherms obtained belonged to the physical adsorption isotherms (type II) and in the region of relative pressures p/p0 ∼ 0.05−0.3 fit the BET equation. For the modified surfaces the adsorption isotherms were substantially less convex than those for bare metal oxides, indicating a significant decrease in the energy of the adsorption interactions. According to the C constants of the BET equation, the energies of the adsorption interactions for different SAMs range...
What do cancer patients worry about when making decisions about treatment? Variation across racial/ethnic groups

The aim of this study was to determine the issues patients worry about when making decisions about cancer treatment. A total of 5,044 colorectal and lung cancer patients from the Cancer Care Outcomes Research and Surveillance Consortium reported their level of worry about (1) treatment side effects, (2) treatment costs, (3) time away from family, (4) time away from work, and (5) transportation to treatment sites. Using multivariable logistic regression, we evaluated the association of sociodemographic, clinical, and psychosocial variables with worry. Overall, 75 % of patients worried about side effects of treatments; 40 %, the cost of treatment; 50 %, time away from family; 52 %, time away from work; and 22 %, about transportation. In multivariable analyses, across all worry domains, older patients had lower odds of reporting worry (p values < 0.001). Patients who perceived less than excellent quality of care, self-assessed their health as less than excellent, and those with a higher cancer stage were more likely to report worry. Asian patients were more likely to report worry than Whites about the cost of treatment and transportation, and relative to Whites, Hispanics were more likely to report worry about transportation (p values < 0.05). Black patients were less likely to report worry about time away from work. Patients worry about issues beyond treatment side effects when making treatment decisions. The pattern of worry varies along sociodemographic, clinical, and psychosocial factors, including race and ethnicity. Understanding the source of patient worry and identifying interventions to alleviate worry are important to delivering patient-centered cancer care.
Hemodynamics analyses of arterial expansions with implications to thrombosis and restenosis.

It is assumed that critical hemodynamic factors play an important role in the onset, localization and degree of post-operative complications, for example, thrombosis and restenosis. Of special interest are sudden expansion flows, which may occur in straight artery segments such as the common carotid after endarterectomy or end-to-end anastomoses. Sudden expansion geometries are possible origins of early post-operative emboli and significant myointimal hyperplasia resulting in early or late complications. Transient laminar axisymmetric and fully three-dimensional blood flows were simulated employing a validated finite volume code in conjunction with a Runge-Kutta particle tracking technique. Disturbed flow indicators, which may predict the onset of thrombosis and/or restenosis, were identified and employed to evaluate 90 degrees -step and smooth expansion geometries. Smooth expansion geometries have weaker disturbed flow features than step expansion geometries. Specifically, the regions near the expansion wall and the reattachment point are susceptible to both atherosclerotic lesion and thrombi formations as indicated by non-uniform hemodynamic indicators such as near-zero wall shear stress and elevated wall shear stress gradients as well as blood particle accumulation and deposition. A new parameter, the wall shear stress angle deviation (WSSAD) has been introduced, which indicates areas of abnormal endothelial cell morphology and particle wall deposition. In turn, regions of low wall shear stress and high wall shear stress gradients are recognized as susceptible sites for arterial diseases. Thus, it is interesting to note that high WSSAD surface areas cover low wall shear stress, high wall shear stress gradient locations as well as high wall particle deposition.A gradual change in step expansion geometry provides better results in terms of WSSAD values and hence potentially reducing atherosclerosis as well as thrombi formation.
Multiple-parameter side-channel analysis: A non-invasive hardware Trojan detection approach

Malicious alterations of integrated circuits during fabrication in untrusted foundries pose major concern in terms of their reliable and trusted field operation. It is extremely difficult to discover such alterations, also referred to as “hardware Trojans” using conventional structural or functional testing strategies. In this paper, we propose a novel non-invasive, multiple-parameter side-channel analysis based Trojan detection approach that is capable of detecting malicious hardware modifications in the presence of large process variation induced noise. We exploit the intrinsic relationship between dynamic current (I DDT ) and maximum operating frequency (F max ) of a circuit to distinguish the effect of a Trojan from process induced fluctuations in I DDT . We propose a vector generation approach for I DDT measurement that can improve the Trojan detection sensitivity for arbitrary Trojan instances. Simulation results with two large circuits, a 32-bit integer execution unit (IEU) and a 128-bit Advanced Encryption System (AES) cipher, show a detection resolution of 0.04% can be achieved in presence of ±20% parameter (V th ) variations. The approach is also validated with experimental results using 120nm FPGA (Xilinx Virtex-II) chips.
Measurement and enhancement of gas-liquid mass transfer in milliliter-scale slurry reactors

Abstract Due to the limited availability of chemical reactants in the early process development of pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals, and sometimes the high-cost of catalyst, it is increasingly popular to use milliliter-scale slurry reactors with reaction volumes of 20 ml or less to screen catalyst candidates for three-phase reactions. To ensure the success of catalyst screening, it is advantageous to run reactions under kinetically controlled conditions so that the activities of different catalysts can be compared. Because catalysts with small particle sizes are used in slurry reactors, the reactions are susceptible to gas–liquid mass transfer limitations. This work presents an efficient way of enhancing gas–liquid mass transfer in milliliter-scale reactors through the use of magnetically driven agitation with complex motion. In the reactor described here, gas–liquid mass transfer coefficients can be doubled over those obtained with the agitation technique used in commercial milliliter-scale units. In addition, the reactor can achieve the top range of mass transfer coefficients obtained in a full-scale reactor. This work also presents the first measurements of gas–liquid mass transfer coefficients in milliliter-scale reactors, which are two orders-of-magnitude smaller than systems for which mass transfer coefficients have been reported earlier. Both physical and chemical absorption techniques are used.
Hypnosis in the Courtroom

Abstract For the first time in Oregon, and perhaps in the United States, hypnosis was performed in court. This case could be an opening of the door for this important modality. The defendant was found innocent of the murder charge. The part hypnosis played in the jury's deliberation can only be conjectured, since the trial judge dismissed the jury before the hypnotic induction.
Does increasing district magnitude increase the number of parties? Evidence from Spain, 1982–2011

• District-level results from Spain, which redistributes seats while holding districtboundaries constant, provide evidence that exogenous changes in district magnitude change electoral dynamics.
Pandemic Ventilator Rationing and Appeals Processes

In a severe influenza pandemic, hospitals will likely experience serious and widespread shortages of patient pulmonary ventilators and of staff qualified to operate them. Deciding who will receive access to mechanical ventilation will often determine who lives and who dies. This prospect raises an important question whether pandemic preparedness plans should include some process by which individuals affected by ventilator rationing would have the opportunity to appeal adverse decisions. However, the issue of appeals processes to ventilator rationing decisions has been largely neglected in state pandemic planning efforts. If we are to devise just and effective plans for coping with a severe influenza pandemic, more attention to the issue of appeals processes for pandemic ventilator rationing decisions is needed. Arguments for and against appeals processes are considered, and some suggestions are offered to help efforts at devising more rational pandemic preparedness plans.
Of Altruists and Thieves

We replicate List's [2007] baseline dictator game (DG) with subjects earning their endowment, evaluate the effect of decreasing the stakes of the DG, conduct a DG in which taking is the only option, measure dictators’ ex post perceptions, and impose a social distance framing effect. Dictator behavior is influenced when they earn their endowment and when the stakes of the game are changed, but not when a social distance framing effect is imposed. Our results suggest that dictators have been nudged into demonstrating altruistic tendencies in the standard DG, just as our taking treatment has nudged dictators to become thieves.
Structural and enzymatic characterization of viper C-type virus.

The structural polypeptides of purified viper virus range in molecular weight from 11,000 to 97,000 daltons and consist of 3 major and about 13 minor polypeptides. The virus contains both protein kinase and reverse transcriptase activities. Several of the structural polypeptides are phosphorylatedin vitro by the virus-associated protein kinase. However, most (possibly all) of the viral structural polypeptides are not phosphorylatedin vivo. DeoxyATP is as efficient as ATP in donating phosphate forin vitro phosphorylation of viral proteins.In vitro protein phosphorylation always precedes transcription and the virus-associated protein kinase and reverse transcriptase activities can be partially separated by sedimentation in a sucrose gradient.
Solid-State Diode-like Chemiluminescence Based on Serial, Immobilized Concentration Gradients in Mixed-Valent Poly[Ru(vbpy)3](PF6)2 Films

The electronic conductivity and electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) of thin, electropolymerized films of the fixed-site redox polymer poly[Ru(vbpy)3](PF6)2 (vbpy = 4-vinyl-4‘-methyl-2,2‘-bipyridine) on Pt interdigitated array electrodes were examined for both solvent-swollen and dry films. In both cases emission arose from *Ru2+ produced via the electron-transfer reaction between Ru3+ and Ru1+ states within the film (Ru = Ru(vbpy)3). Dry films contained fixed concentration gradients of Ru3+, Ru2+, and Ru1+ states which were first introduced in an acetonitrile-swollen film via the constant potential oxidation and reduction of Ru2+ at opposing IDA fingers. The gradients were then immbolized by drying and cooling the film while retaining the inter-electrode bias (2.6 V). The resulting dried and cooled films responded rapidly to changes in voltage bias and exhibited diode-like characteristics, conducting and emitting light at biases ≥2.6 V and undergoing a reverse bias breakdown current, unassociated wit...
Ridges, hotspots and their interaction as observed in seismic velocity maps

A new global S-wave velocity model reveals that although mid-ocean ridges and hotspots are both underlain by low-velocity anomalies in the mantle, these have distinctly different structures. This implies that there are differences between the upwelling mechanisms under ridges and under hot-spots. The velocity model also shows that there may be interactions between ridges and hotspots near Afar and St Helena.
Catalytic Galactose Oxidase Models: Biomimetic Cu(II)-Phenoxyl-Radical Reactivity

Biomimetic functional models of the mononuclear copper enzyme galactose oxidase are presented that catalytically oxidize benzylic and allylic alcohols to aldehydes with O2 under mild conditions. The mechanistic fidelity between the models and the natural system is pronounced. Modest structural mimicry proves sufficient to transfer an unusual ligand-based radical mechanism, previously unprecedented outside the protein matrix, to a simple chemical system.
Vasotocin and Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide Modulate Aggression in a Territorial Songbird, the Violet-Eared Waxbill (Estrildidae:Uraeginthus granatina)

Previous research demonstrates that intraseptal administrations of arginine vasotocin (AVT) inhibit male aggression in the territorial field sparrow (Emberizidae:Spizella pusilla) but facilitate aggression in the colonial zebra finch (Estrildidae:Taeniopygia guttata). In order to determine whether this difference may be related to the territorial and colonial social organizations of these two species, the effect of AVT infusions was examined in a territorial Estrildid species, the violet-eared waxbill (Uraeginthus granatina). This species is more closely related to the zebra finch than to the field sparrow and shares most critical features of breeding ecology in common with zebra finches, but differs in social organization. AVT infusions administered via chronic guide cannulae directed at the septum significantly inhibited aggressive behavior, consistent with results in the territorial field sparrow, supporting the hypothesis that social organization is correlated with AVT function. Similar experiments with mesotocin and substance P produced no effects on any of the behaviors measured, but infusions of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) significantly facilitated aggression. This result contrasts with the inhibitory effect of septal VIP obtained in the colonial zebra finch, suggesting that VIP function may be correlated with social organization as well.
The inactivation of the XP-C gene does not affect somatic hypermutation or class switch recombination of immunoglobulin genes

The mechanism of somatic hypermutation of immunoglobulin genes is not known, but appears to be linked to transcription and perhaps DNA repair. In order to determine if global DNA repair or the repair of the nontranscribed DNA strand is required for somatic mutation, we have analysed mice whose XP-C gene was inactivated by homologous recombination. Our study shows that hypermutation occurs in XP-C knockout mice with a normal frequency, suggesting that the XP-C gene product is not required for somatic hypermutation. Furthermore, we found that Ig gene switch recombination also is normal in these mice.
Increased trophoblastic apoptosis mediated by neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) activation in the nitrofen model of congenital diaphragmatic hernia

Background Retinoids play a key role in fetal lung development. It has been suggested that the maternal–fetal retinol transport is disrupted by trophoblastic apoptosis. The mechanism underlying nitrofen-induced apoptosis in placenta is not fully understood. Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is expressed in the fetal part of the maternal–fetal interface. NGAL is part of the immune barrier and serves primarily as a transport protein transferring biologically hazardous molecules in a safe and controlled way. It has been shown that over-activation of NGAL induces apoptosis. We hypothesized that increased placental NGAL expression induces trophoblastic apoptosis in the nitrofen model of CDH.
Service vs. Serve-Us: What Will Your Legacy Be?

This editorial draws attention to the diminishing “service” mindset and the growing “serve-us” mindset among people in our fields of study.
Quality of care for patients with multiple chronic conditions: the role of comorbidity interrelatedness.

Multimorbidity—the presence of multiple chronic conditions in a patient—has a profound impact on health, health care utilization, and associated costs. Definitions of multimorbidity in clinical care and research have evolved over time, initially focusing on a patient’s number of comorbidities and the associated magnitude of required care processes, and later recognizing the potential influence of comorbidity characteristics on patient care and outcomes. In this article, we review the relationship between multimorbidity and quality of care, and discuss how this relationship may be mediated by the degree to which conditions interact with one another to generate clinical complexity (comorbidity interrelatedness). Drawing on established theoretical frameworks from cognitive engineering and biomedical informatics, we describe how interactions among conditions result in clinical complexity and may affect quality of care. We discuss how this comorbidity interrelatedness influences the value of existing quality guidelines and performance metrics, and describe opportunities to quantify this construct using data widely available through electronic health records. Incorporating comorbidity interrelatedness into conceptualizations of multimorbidity has the potential to enhance clinical and research efforts that aim to improve care for patients with multiple chronic conditions.
Structure and morphology of small diameter electrospun aramid fibers

Very small diameter fibers of poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide) (PPTA) ranging in diameter from 40 nm to a few hundreds of nanometers were made by the electrospinning process. The fibers have a circular cross-section, are birefringent and stable at temperatures greater than 400 o C. Electron diffraction patterns obtained from both as-spun and annealed fibers show meridional and equatorial reflections demonstrating order in the material. The crystal structure and morphology of the fibers were characterized using bright and dark field electron microscopy, electron diffraction and atomic force microscopy
Aggregation and solvation of a lithium aryloxide

{Li[OC6H3-2,6-(tBu)2]THF}2, synthesized from phenol and LiH, is shown by X-ray crystallography to exist in the solid as a centrosymmetric dimer with two bridging phenoxides. Terminal THF ligands (envelope conformation) complete trigonal planar coordination about Li. The THF ligand plane lies in the Li2(μ-O)2 plane, while the phenyl ligands are perpendicular to this same Li2O2 plane. This explains the unusual1H NMR chemical shifts of the THF ligand. THF binds to Li as a dipole rather than using one of the two ether lone pairs. Crystallographic data (−160°C):a=18.799(3) A,b=18.758(6),c=15.697(5), andZ=4 in space groupPbca (no. 61). The final quality indices areR(F)=6.2% andR w (F)=5.9% for 1535 unique data.
Numerical modeling of the effect of temperature and particle size on shock initiation properties of HMX and TATB

Abstract The three-dimensional Eulerian reactive hydrodynamic code 3DE has been used to investigate the effects of particle size (and the remaining void or hole size) and of initial temperature on the shock initiation of heterogeneous explosive charges of HMX and TATB. Shocks interacting with HMX and TATB containing various hole sizes have been modeled. The void fraction was held at 0.5% while the spherical hole sizes were varied from 5.0- to 0.00005 mm radius. The shock pressure was also varied. As the hole size in TATB was varied from 5.0 to 0.5 mm, the explosive became more sensitive to shock. Decreasing the hole size to 0.0005 mm resulted in failure of the shock wave to build toward a propagating detonation. This is similar to the results previously reported for TNT. HMX became more sensitive to shock as the hole size was varied from 0.5 to 0.005 mm. The hole size had to be decreased to 0.0005 mm before the explosive became less shock sensitive. Smaller hole sizes (0.00005 mm) resulted in failure of t...
Androgen receptor degradation by the E3 ligase CHIP modulates mitotic arrest in prostate cancer cells

The androgen receptor (AR) has a vital role in the onset and progression of prostate cancer by promoting G1-S progression, possibly by functioning as a licensing factor for DNA replication. We here report that low dose 2-methoxyestradiol (2-ME), an endogenous estrogen metabolite, induces mitotic arrest in prostate cancer cells involving activation of the E3 ligase CHIP (C-terminus of Hsp70-interacting protein) and degradation of the AR. Depletion of the AR by small interfering RNA (siRNA) eliminates 2-ME-induced arrest and introducing AR into PC3-M cells confers 2-ME-induced mitotic arrest. Knockdown of CHIP or MDM2 (mouse homolog of double minute 2 protein) individually or in combination reduced AR degradation and abrogated M phase arrest induced by 2-ME. Our data link AR degradation via ubiquitination to mitotic arrest. Targeting the AR by activating E3 ligases such as CHIP represents a novel strategy for the treatment of prostate cancer.
Contributions of unrestricted funds: The donor organization–public relationship and alumni attitudes and behaviors

This exploratory pilot study examined alumni attitudes and behaviors toward making contributions in a nonprofit higher education organizational setting. The theoretical base of the study was that nonprofit higher education organizations operate in competitive marketing environments within a resource dependence open systems framework. In an effort to better understand alumni donor attitudes and behaviors in this context, this research explored the predictive relationship between the donor organization–public relationship (OPR) and alumni donor attitudes toward willingness to contribute unrestricted funds and donor behaviors concerning size of gifts made, frequency per year of contributions, and frequency of years of contributions using Huang's (2001) organization–public relationship assessment. Results indicate that donor OPR significantly predicts alumni donor attitudes toward willingness to contribute unrestricted funds. The results do not support that donor OPR significantly predicts size of gifts made, frequency per year of contributions, and frequency of years of contributions.
Effect of remote substituents on solid state packing interactions in macrocyclic crownophanes derived from 1,3,5-triaroylbenzenes

A series of four structurally related crownophanes has been prepared and characterized by X-ray crystallography. The crownophanes are based upon a 1,3,5-triaroylbenzene framework and were synthesized via enaminone/alkyne cyclotrimerization. The crownophanes differ in the identity of a peripheral substituent attached to a remote arene ring that is not part of the cyclophane macrocycle. Solid state structural characterization reveals that crownophanes with remote phenyl and phenol substituents self-assemble to form centrosymmetric dimers. Incorporation of remote alkoxy groups (methoxy or ethoxy) disrupts dimerization and leads to catameric networks. Each crownophane crystallized as an inclusion complex or a hydrate and, in one instance, water was found to occupy the macrocyclic cavity.
Alternative strategy for Alzheimer's disease: stress response triggers.

Stress resistance capacity is a hallmark of longevity protection and survival throughout the plant and animal kingdoms. Latent pathway activation of protective cascades, triggered by environmental challenges to tolerate heat, oxygen deprivation, reactive oxygen species (ROS), diet restriction, and exercise provides tolerance to these stresses. Age-related changes and disease vulnerability mark an increase in damage, like damage induced by environmental challenges. An alternative approach to immunotherapy intervention in Alzheimer's Disease is the use of mimetics of stress to upregulate endogenous protective cascades to repair age damage, shift the balance of apoptosis to regeneration to promote delay of onset, and even progression of Alzheimer's disease memory dysfunction. Mimetics of environmental stress, hormetic agents, and triggers, endogenous or engineered, can “trick” activation of expression patterns of repair and rejuvenation. Examples of known candidate triggers of heat response, endogenous antioxidants, DNA repair, exercise, hibernation, and telomeres are available for AD intervention trials. Telomeres and telomerase emerge as major regulators in crossroads of senescence, cancer, and rejuvenation responsive to mimetics of telomeres. Lessons emerge from transgenic rodent models, the long-lived mole rat, clinical studies, and conserved innate pathways of stress resistance. Cross-reaction of benefits of different triggers promises intervention into seemingly otherwise unrelated diseases.
Surface‐sensitive Raman microscopy with total internal reflection illumination

A Raman microscope using a total internal reflection (TIR) annular illumination geometry through a ZnSe solid immersion lens (SIL) is described. Spectra of a thin-film sample of the transparent organic conductor poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) on a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate are presented and compared with those from a conventional confocal Raman configuration. These spectra demonstrate a significant increase in surface selectivity upon the use of TIR illumination, as the decay length of the evanescent excitation field limits the depth of sample probed in this configuration. Spectral interference from the underlying PET substrate layer is thus greatly reduced. An increase in surface selectivity is also demonstrated for spectra acquired through the SIL with uniform illumination. Raman images of a micropatterned PEDOT:PSS film acquired with TIR illumination are also reported. Enhanced lateral resolution is realized in this configuration because of the immersion effect of the SIL, and the sampling depth is limited to 150 nm by the choice of illumination geometry. This results in analysis volumes on the order of tens of femtoliters, nearly two orders of magnitude smaller than typically achieved in conventional confocal Raman microscopes. This approach yields Raman spectra and images with surface selectivity significantly greater than can be achieved in confocal Raman, and provides a valuable tool for the microanalysis of thin surface films. Published in 2010 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Antiviral memory phenotype T cells in unexposed adults.

Summary αβ T cells are an integral part of protective immunity against pathogens. After precursor cells arise in the adult bone marrow or fetal liver, they migrate to the thymus where they rearrange their T-cell receptor genes (TCR) and undergo selection on the basis of their interactions with ligands expressed by thymic stroma and other cells. Those that survive then exit the thymus to populate the peripheral immune compartment, where they patrol the blood and lymphoid systems. The composition of this pre-immune peripheral repertoire is critically important in determining the robustness of an immune response. In both mice and humans, the magnitude and diversity of a response are directly correlated with the frequency of precursor T cells. Equally relevant are the functional characteristics of these lymphocytes. Engagement of a specific antigen to the TCR activates signaling pathways in the naive T cell that result in cellular proliferation and the acquisition of particular effector functions. A portion of these persist following the resolution of infection and become memory cells. These memory cells can mount a faster and stronger response when they encounter the same antigen at a later time. As the molecular basis for TCR ligand interaction has become better defined, it is clear that some T cells can recognize multiple distinct ligands and therefore T-cell memory developed by exposure to one ligand may play a significant role in the response to a different antigen. Thus, there is an increasing focus on understanding how exposure to related or unrelated antigens influences the T-cell repertoire and impacts subsequent immunity. In this review, we discuss the issue of TCR cross-reactivity in the development of memory phenotype CD4+ T cells and the implications for pathogen-specific responses. We review both the human and mouse data and discuss the therapeutic implications of these findings in the contexts of infection and vaccination.
A type-token identity in the Simon-Yule model of text

There are three significant results in this paper. First, we establish a type-token identity relating the type-token ratio and the bilogarithmic type-token ratio. The plays of Shakespeare and other interesting texts serve as demonstrative examples. Second, the Simon-Yule model of Zipf's law is used to derive the type-token identity and provide a promising statistical model of text generation. Third, a realistic refinement of the Simon-Yule model is made to allow for a decreasing entry rate of new words. Simulation methods are used to show that the type-token identity is preserved with this change in assumptions. © 1989 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Risk assessment of chemical mixtures from a public health perspective

Health risk assessment is the practice of evaluating the degree of danger associated with chemical exposure, whether the exposure is intentional (pharmacologic agents, pesticides) or unintentional (industrial/automobile by-products). Chemical exposure can either be to a single chemical or to complex mixtures such as industrial effluents, municipal wastes, jet fuels, gasoline, or mixtures of drinking water contaminants. The mixtures can be simple or complex; partially or completely characterized; and stable or varying in composition. Three different approaches are often used in health risk assessment of chemical mixtures (51 FR 33992-34054). These 3 approaches consist of (a) use of data on the specific mixture of concern; (b) use of data on a similar mixture; and (c) use of data on each component of the mixture. The individual component-based approach is by far the most often used because it allows the individual risks from each component to be combined, usually by dose or response additivity, to calculate an overall risk for the mixture. In addition, several innovative methods, such as the toxicity equivalency factor, relative potency, and even the use of indicator chemicals, are also employed. More recently, a binary weight-of-evidence approach has been proposed to evaluate potential interactions between the various components and to integrate them into the overall toxicity assessment of the mixture. Because no single approach is suitable for assessing the health risk associated with all the exposure scenarios associated with the various types of mixtures, the use of professional judgment is still imperative in conducting health risk assessments.
Generalized loss models and queueing-loss networks

The classical Erlang and Engset loss models have been used extensively in the traffic engineering of traditional telephone exchanges. More recently, these models have been generalized to the so-called loss networks, which provide models for resource-sharing in multi-service telecommunication networks. In this paper, we introduce a new generalized class of models, queueing-loss networks, which captures both queueing and loss aspects of a system. The queueing-loss network model is a natural extension of queueing networks and loss networks that have the product-form solution. We discuss applications of the model and analyze a particular example of a simple queueing-loss network.
Experimental Determination of Injected Carrier Recombination Rates at Dislocations in Semiconductors

The recombination probabilities associated with lineage boundaries in germanium have been determined by measuring the ratio of injected carrier concentrations on either side of such a boundary. If one knows the linear density of dislocations in the lineage boundary, the recombination cross section for a single dislocation can be inferred. The measured cross sections correspond to cylindrical recombination areas of diameter 1.15 A for holes in $n$-type germanium and 2.8 A for electrons in $p$-type germanium. On the basis of recombination at dislocations alone, these results can be used to compute the expected lifetime as a function of dislocation density, and it is concluded from these calculations that a significant part of carrier recombination in the usual melt-grown crystals takes place at dislocations.
A compact, maneuverable, underwater robot for direct inspection of nuclear power piping systems

There is an increasing need for the inspection of nuclear power plants worldwide. To access complex underwater structures and perform non-destructive evaluation, robots must be tetherless, compact, highly maneuverable, and have a smooth body shape with minimal appendages. A new water jet propulsion system using fluidic valves coupled with centrifugal pumps is developed for precision maneuvering. A hybrid control system that combines continuous pump regulation and discrete Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) of fluidic valves is proposed. This control scheme provides high accuracy, high bandwidth, and flexibility in maneuvering control. First, the functional requirements for nuclear power plant inspection are discussed, followed by the basic design concept of an inspection robot. Miniaturized Coanda-effect valves are designed and built based on CFD and mathematical analysis. The hybrid control system incorporating the pump/valve system is designed and tested. Experimental results illustrate that the hybrid control scheme holds substantial promise and is capable of very precise orientation control. Based on these, a full 4-DOF robot is designed, and its key components are described.
Sustainable Development by Technology Seeding - A Methodology Supported by a Case Study in Tanzania

Science and technology are critical to development. Many devices and systems that could relieve the suffering of the global poor have been understood for centuries, but a major challenge of our generation is to adapt and disseminate them for sustainable and socially just development. Technology Seeding (TS) is here proposed as a design and dissemination methodology to answer that challenge. It is defined as: development by the transfer and participatory adaptation of appropriate proven conceptual designs. Key characteristics include the building of technology from first principles, local adaptation, and self-propagation, and it draws upon appropriate design, technology transfer, and development scholarship. By way of analogy, scientific principles are like the genetic material of a seed, and engineering principles the seed itself. Simple devices and systems are like seedlings, and increasingly completed technologies like increasingly complex and mature plants. Technology Seeding, in contrast to most current methods, promotes the transfer of technology at an appropriately basic level - seeds rather than mature plants -- and enables end users to cultivate them to their own social ends. It will be shown that in comparison with competing models, has the potential to fill a gap in sustainable long-term development. A technology-for-development project led by the authors, Lathes For Africa (LFA), was important source material for developing the formalized TS methodology. Despite excellent wood craft skills, the daily income for fundi is limited to daily net income of $2 - $5, often insufficient for them and their families to live comfortably or to save. Through participatory design with 30 fundi, a human-powered design costing less than 5% ofcommercial cost was implemented. Without further intervention, some of the actors in Tanzania have built an improved lathe for income and education.
Can simple treatment protocols improve the management of hyperglycemia in hospitalized patients

Can simple treatment protocols improve the management of hyperglycemia in hospitalized patients?
Bayesian discounting of camera parameter uncertainty for optimal 3D reconstruction from images

3D reconstruction through point correspondences is a process that is sensitive to match errors and also to possible ambiguity in the solution space of shape and camera estimates - the existence of either or the combination of both propagates into sub-optimal estimates of the structure. To counteract this, most methods in the field jointly or sequentially estimate both the camera parameters and the 3D structure using methods such as Bundle Adjustment. However, joint estimation methods such as Bundle Adjustment find sub-optimal solutions of structure if the structure is not uniquely defined in the joint space. Using probabilistic models for reconstruction and marginalizing across camera parameter uncertainty we show how to compute the optimal 3D reconstruction. We use only uniform priors to make comparisons between Bundle Adjustment and our work. However, the method, by its construction, is set up to use prior information about either the camera parameters or the 3D structure, if it is available. Results show that this method produces better reconstruction estimates than joint estimation methods such as Bundle Adjustment especially in the face of increasing noise in the feature correspondences.
Thalamic correlates of language and speech

Abstract An attempt was made to compare and contrast observations and assessments made by neurosurgeons, psychologists, and speech therapists, with special reference to speech and language correlates of the ventrolateral thalamic nucleus. While findings must be considered preliminary and in need of corroboration and refinement, the following conclusions are offered: 1. (1) Alterations of fluency, presence of hesitations, and blocking in language may occur immediately after a left ventrolateral thalamic lesion in right-handed patients. These changes cannot be distinguished from dysphasia frequently described following left-sided cortical lesions. Such alterations can be definitely associated with a thalamic rather than a cortical lesion. When these alterations occur in patients operated upon unilaterally, language functions return to the preoperative level within several weeks after surgery. 2. (2) Alterations in complex language may also occur after the placement of unilateral right hemisphere thalamic lesions in right-handed patients. Such changes are ordinarily detected by tests of verbal crystalized functions involving permutations of symbols and relations among signs and symbols, rather than fluency. Findings based on such tests revealed a lack of significant qualitative differences between left and right thalamic lesions in this area, although quantitative differences are present. 3. (3) A second-sided thalamic lesion may lead to a speech impairment in the nature of dysartheia. This is not a function of the laterality of “second-side” surgery. Changes in ventrolateral thalamo-cortical connections and their effects upon cortical outflows might be related to these defects. 4. (4) Overall thalamic-cortical-thalamic circuits seem related to the language defects observed. It is proposed that alterations in linguistic fluency and flexibility following thalamic lesions can be attributed in part to a disturbance between specific and non-specific systems at a thalamic level. Such lesions may alter linguistic patterns by interfering with the activating aspects necessary to this function. At a thalamic level, greater activation may be required for adequate processing and elaboration of information. The fact that neural activating systems are essentially bilateral in nature may account for the fact that language functions seem to be more independent of lesion laterality after thalamic than cortical involvement.
Cohort differences in dementia recognition and treatment indicators among assisted living residents in Maryland: did a change in the resident assessment tool make a difference?

BACKGROUND There is a lack of empirical evidence about the impact of regulations on dementia care quality in assisted living (AL). We examined cohort differences in dementia recognition and treatment indicators between two cohorts of AL residents with dementia, evaluated prior to and following a dementia-related policy modification to more adequately assess memory and behavioral problems. METHODS Cross-sectional comparison of two AL resident cohorts was done (Cohort 1 [evaluated 2001-2003] and Cohort 2 [evaluated 2004-2006]) from the Maryland Assisted Living studies. Initial in-person evaluations of residents with dementia (n = 248) were performed from a random sample of 28 AL facilities in Maryland (physician examination, clinical characteristics, and staff and family recognition of dementia included). Adequacy of dementia workup and treatment was rated by an expert consensus panel. RESULTS Staff recognition of dementia was better in Cohort 1 than in Cohort 2 (77% vs. 63%, p = 0.011), with no significant differences in family recognition (86% vs. 85%, p = 0.680), or complete treatment ratings (52% vs. 64%, p = 0.060). In adjusted logistic regression, cognitive impairment and neuropsychiatric symptoms correlated with staff recognition; and cognitive impairment correlated with family recognition. Increased age and cognitive impairment reduced odds of having a complete dementia workup. Odds of having complete dementia treatment was reduced by age and having more depressive symptoms. Cohort was not predictive of dementia recognition or treatment indicators in adjusted models. CONCLUSIONS We noted few cohort differences in dementia care indicators after accounting for covariates, and concluded that rates of dementia recognition and treatment did not appear to change much organically following the policy modifications.
REDUCTION OF LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES, ESCHERICHIA COLI O157:H7 AND SALMONELLA TYPHIMURIUM DURING STORAGE ON BEEF SANITIZED WITH FUMARIC, ACETIC, AND LACTIC ACIDS

Cylindrical samples of beef semitendinosus muscle were dipped into an inoculum of Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli 0157 : H7, and Salmonella typhimurium. After air drying for 10 min, samples were sanitized by dipping in fumaric acid (1.0 or 1.5%), lactic acid (1%) or acetic acid (1.0%) solutions for 15 or 30 s at 55C. The 1.5% fumaric acid was most inhibitory against L. monocytogenes, resulting in inactivation of this pathogen after 7 days of storage. Samples treated with 1.0% and 1.5% fumaric acid solutions for 30 sec gave 2.54 and 1.51 log 10 reductions, respectively, in S. typhimurium population compared to nontreated samples. The 1.5% fumaric acid treatments for 30 s exerted the maximum inhibition of E. coli 0157 :7. Acetic and lactic acid treatments were significantly less effective in reducing populations of the tested pathogens than fumaric acid treatments. As the sanitizing time in acid solutions increased from 15 to 30 s, the numbers of surviving organisms were reduced significantly.