cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dissociation of oxidant production by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ligands from cell death in human cell lines.

Abstract Ligands of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) come from a diverse group of chemicals that include pharmaceutical drugs, phthalate plasticizers, steroids, and pesticides. PPAR ligands exhibit a number of effects, including an ability to induce apoptosis in some systems. The mechanism(s) underlying the induction of apoptosis is not known. The current study examined the ability of Wy14643, a fibrate and PPARα agonist, and ciglitazone, a thiazolidinedione and PPARγ agonist, to induce apoptosis as well as the production of oxidants in human Jurkat T cells that express all PPAR isoforms. Treatment with increasing doses of Wy14643 caused a substantial time-dependent increase in the overall oxidant status (as reflected by increased dichlorofluorescein fluorescence) of Jurkat cells without any change in viability except at the highest dose and longest time. Ciglitazone also caused a dose- and time-dependent increase in oxidant production. However, although the extent of this production was less than that seen with Wy14643, ciglitazone caused a dose- and time-dependent increase in apoptosis that could not be inhibited by antioxidants. Confocal micrographs of Jurkat cells loaded with dichlorofluorescein diacetate or dihydrorhodamine 123 and treated with Wy14643 or ciglitazone revealed a punctate pattern of fluorescence at early time points suggestive of a mitochondrial origin for these oxidants. Rotenone and antimycin A prevented Wy14643- but not ciglitazone-induced oxidant production. Other relatively specific PPARγ agonists (15δ-PGJ 2 , and troglitazone), but not nonspecific agonists (bezafibrate and conjugated linoleic acid), were also able to induce oxidant production in Jurkat cells. These data, as well as the findings that oxidant production could be induced by Wy14643 in A549 cells that lack PPARα, and could not be blocked in Jurkat cells by the PPARα inhibitor MK886, indicate oxidant formation is unrelated to PPARα. These data also suggest that oxidant production induced by PPARα ligands originates in the mitochondria.
Influence of Nitrogen Supply on Uptake and Translocation of Strontium and Calcium in Wheat Seedlings

Supplying nitrate to N-depleted wheat seedlings (Triticum vulgare cv. Knox) stimulated the uptake and translocation of both 83Sr and 45Ca. Since the increase in 45Ca accumulation was greater, the 85Sr/45Ca ratio in the plant tissue was decreased. Nitrate had relatively little influence on the amount of the divalent cations and 85Sr/45Ca ratio in the exchangeable fraction on the root surfaces, whereas it greatly increased the uptake into root tissue and translocation to shoots. The increase in percent transported to shoots occurred largely in the period of most rapid nitrate uptake. A split root study indicated that nitrate was ineffective when it was supplied to a different portion of the root system than that exposed to 85Sr and 45Ca. Nevertheless, ammonium and urea also increased the translocation of the two cations, indicating that the effects of nitrate could not entirely be ascribed to a direct effect of the nitrate anion.
Application of APS arrays to star and feature tracking systems

Reducing mass and power demands from engineering and science image sensors, while improving system capability, remains a driving force in the development of Sciencecraft components. The Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) is developing advanced concepts for future spacecraft celestial trackers by incorporating active pixel sensor (APS) array technology into star and feature tracker designs. We describe fundamental APS array properties and characteristics, and discuss recent progress in APS designs directly applicable to next generation trackers. A description of a new regional electronic shutter design providing extremely high dynamic range and local shuttering capability is given along with test results from a prototype device. A new star and feature tracker concept enabled by this regional shuttering capability is described.
Bacterial endocarditis in a patient with Marfan's syndrome.

A patient with Marfan's syndrome and subacute bacterial endocarditis is presented. Echocardiographic studies demonstrated dilatation of the aortic root, prolapse of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, and the appearance of shaggy echoes on the anterior mitral leaflet, of the kind previously described as representing bacterial vegetations.
Bringing Piaget's Preoperational Thought to the Minds of Adults: A Classroom Demonstration

Two classroom demonstrations, Piaget's water conservation and an adult conservation-like task too difficult for most students to solve, are described. Students' approaches to the adult task are analyzed in terms of centration, irreversibility, and concreteness. Students gain an appreciation of preoperational thought and are encouraged to examine their own thinking. They may learn how one can get stuck on irrelevant detail, see new approaches to a problem, and gain fresh insight into the need to relinquish a particular viewpoint for a larger comprehension.
Chiropractic, Contemporary Culture, and Patient Education

ABSTRACT Objective This paper suggests that, because of the baby boomers' different perspective on health, chiropractors look at how patient education programs acknowledge and accommodate the differences and the demands of this generation. Discussion Looking at this requires setting aside differences in opinion about why people should come to the chiropractor, and focusing on what experts in marketing, business, and culture trends are writing about; establishing relevant, thoughtful, meaningful connections with patients that strengthen meaning and deepen the chiropractic experience. Conclusion As a profession, we may not have an agreed-upon identity or a large marketing budget, but, as individual chiropractors and educators, we have the strength of our intentions and the ability to review, revise, create and change quickly. We can learn about contemporary culture, anticipate the future, hear what our patients are saying and develop more meaningful ways to engage them.
Legacy sources of mercury in an urbanised watershed

Environmental context. Mercury is a neurotoxin that bioaccumulates and is associated with global contamination and often with regional atmospheric sources. However, in Connecticut, USA, in watersheds characterised by a gradient of forested to urban land uses we found that the predominant source of elevated Hg is local. This study uses a novel nested sampling method to pinpoint hot spots of mercury and presents inorganic mercury concentrations in water, sediment, soil, and aquatic organisms. The results indicate that mercury contamination is an environmental legacy associated with the silver plating industry and that local sources are critical to the biogeochemical mercury cycle here. Abstract. Mercury levels were measured in various environmental compartments of the Quinnipiac River system (CT, USA). In streams, dissolved mercury reached a maximum of 6.3 ng L–1 during baseflow and 30 ng L–1 during stormflow, whereas surficial impoundment sediments had a maximum mercury concentration of 420 μg kg–1. A sediment core collected from the Quinnipiac River indicates that peak loading of mercury occurred before 1940. Wharton Brook tributary of the Quinnipiac River represents 30% of the mercury loading to the river and the likely source of mercury to the sediment is a past silver manufacturing plant. Analysis of soil samples from the riparian zone of Wharton Brook, a tributary of concern because it empties into a popular fishing location, revealed mercury concentrations as high as 20 000 μg kg–1. It appears that the soil surrounding the former factory is acting as the current source of mercury to the water column and aquatic communities. Removal of contaminated soil will probably be necessary to reduce mercury levels and the threat to humans in downstream environments.
Ellul on technological forecasting

Abstract Jacques Ellul's book, The Technological Society , was first published over 30 years ago, yet it has implications for current technological forecasting methods. This article examines Ellul's main ideas on technology in the modern era, and shows how these ideas may provide a frame of reference for today's forecasters.
Cybrid models of Parkinson's disease show variable mitochondrial biogenesis and genotype-respiration relationships

Sporadic Parkinson's disease (sPD) is a nervous system-wide disease that presents with a bradykinetic movement disorder and frequently progresses to include depression and cognitive impairment. Cybrid models of sPD are based on expression of sPD platelet mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in neural cells and demonstrate some similarities to sPD brains. In sPD and CTL cybrids we characterized aspects of mitochondrial biogenesis, mtDNA genomics, composition of the respirasome and the relationships among isolated mitochondrial and intact cell respiration. Cybrid mtDNA levels varied and correlated with expression of PGC-1 alpha, a transcriptional co-activator regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis. Levels of mtDNA heteroplasmic mutations were asymmetrically distributed across the mitochondrial genome; numbers of heteroplasmies were more evenly distributed. Neither levels nor numbers of heteroplasmies distinguished sPD from CTL. sPD cybrid mitochondrial ETC subunit protein levels were not altered. Isolated mitochondrial complex I respiration rates showed limited correlation with whole cell complex I respiration rates in both sPD and CTL cybrids. Intact cell respiration during the normoxic-anoxic transition yielded K(m) values for oxygen that directly related to respiration rates in CTL but not in sPD cell lines. Both sPD and CTL cybrid cells are substantially heterogeneous in mitochondrial genomic and physiologic properties. Our results suggest that mtDNA depletion may occur in sPD neurons and could reflect impairment of mitochondrial biogenesis. Cybrids remain a valuable model for some aspects of sPD but their heterogeneity mitigates against a simple designation of sPD phenotype in this cell model.
Bird conservation would complement landslide prevention in the Central Andes of Colombia.

Conservation and restoration priorities often focus on separate ecosystem problems. Inspired by the November 11th (2011) landslide event near Manizales, and the current poor results of Colombia’s Article 111 of Law 99 of 1993 as a conservation measure in this country, we set out to prioritize conservation and restoration areas where landslide prevention would complement bird conservation in the Central Andes. This area is one of the most biodiverse places on Earth, but also one of the most threatened. Using the case of the Rio Blanco Reserve, near Manizales, we identified areas for conservation where endemic and small-range bird diversity was high, and where landslide risk was also high. We further prioritized restoration areas by overlapping these conservation priorities with a forest cover map. Restoring forests in bare areas of high landslide risk and important bird diversity yields benefits for both biodiversity and people. We developed a simple landslide susceptibility model using slope, forest cover, aspect, and stream proximity. Using publicly available bird range maps, refined by elevation, we mapped concentrations of endemic and small-range bird species. We identified 1.54 km2 of potential restoration areas in the Rio Blanco Reserve, and 886 km2 in the Central Andes region. By prioritizing these areas, we facilitate the application of Article 111 which requires local and regional governments to invest in land purchases for the conservation of watersheds.
Entrance heat transfer in rectangular ducts with constant axial energy input

The study of heat transfer in the entrance region of ducts with different cross-sections is important in engineering practice. This paper considers laminar, hydrodynamically fully developed flow in the thermal entrance regions of rectangular passages, emphasizing heat transfer aspects. By having a prescribed heating or cooling rate and considering the wall temperature to depend on the axial coordinate alone, the temperature solution leads to an integral equation. Solution of this equation is found using an inverse technique to determine the temperature at the walls. For verification purposes, an asymptotic solution is developed which produces results that agree very well with those from the inverse analysis. The results include a correlation and computed values of the Nusselt number at entrance locations, for rectangular ducts with different aspect ratios.
RAS/RAF mutation and defective DNA mismatch repair in endometrial cancers

Abstract Objective Defective DNA mismatch repair is a common genetic abnormality in both colon cancers and endometrial cancers. Cancers with defective DNA mismatch repair have the so-called mutator phenotype and accumulate genetic errors at an increased rate. An early mutational target in cells with defect DNA mismatch repair may be the RAS/RAF pathway. Colon cancers often have KRAS2 mutations and, if not KRAS2 mutations, may have BRAF mutations. This study investigated the spectrum and frequency of mutations in BRAF and KRAS2 in endometrial carcinomas on the basis of mismatch repair status. Study design Four hundred forty-one patients with endometrial cancer were staged properly and graded and evaluated for mismatch repair status. These patients were then stratified to groups by the degree of microsatellite instability that was observed in their tumors. One hundred forty-six of the selected tumors were then evaluated for KRAS2 and BRAF mutations on the basis of their microsatellite instability. Results One hundred forty-six endometrioid endometrial cancers were evaluated for KRAS2 and BRAF mutations. Thirty-five cancers (24%) had activating KRAS2 mutations, but only a single BRAF mutation was identified in an microsatellite instability–positive cancer. Twenty-four of 81 microsatellite instability high cancers (29.6%) in which the MLH1 repair gene was methylated had KRAS2 mutations. When compared with the other groups, this finding approached statistical significance ( P =.06). KRAS2 mutation status was associated with increasing age at diagnosis ( P =.02). Conclusion Despite many similarities between colon and endometrial cancers, the mechanism of the development of endometrial cancers appears to be different from colon cancers in that BRAF is not affected by a mismatch repair problem, because only KRAS2 mutations were seen. In addition, increasing age appears to lead to an increased likelihood that such a mutation will occur.
What imaging studies are necessary for abdominal aortic endograft sizing? A prospective blinded study using conventional computed tomography, aortography, and three-dimensional computed tomography

Objective Preoperative imaging modalities for endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) include conventional computed tomography (CT), aortography with a marking catheter, and three-dimensional computed tomography (3D CT). Although each technique has advantages, to date no study has compared in a prospective manner the reproducibility of measurements and impact on graft selection of all three modalities. The objective of this study was to determine the most useful imaging studies in planning EVAR. Methods Twenty patients being considered for EVAR were enrolled prospectively to undergo a conventional CT scan and aortography. The CT scans were then reconstructed into 3D images using Preview Treatment Planning Software (Medical Media Systems, West Lebanon, NH). Four measurements of diameter and six of length were made from each modality in determining the proper graft for EVAR. Results Measurements from all three modalities were reproducible with intraobserver correlation coefficients of 0.79 to 1.0 for aortography, 0.87 to 1.0 for CT, and 0.96 to 1.0 for 3D CT. Measurements between observers were also similar from each modality; interobserver correlations were 0.70 to 0.97 for aortography, 0.76 to 0.97 for CT, and 0.73 to 0.99 for 3D CT. Significant differences ( P P Conclusion Reproducible and comparable measures of diameter and length can be obtained by each of three imaging modalities available for endograft sizing. As a single imaging modality, 3D CT appears to have the best correlation for both diameters and lengths; however, the difference is not sufficient enough to alter endograft selection. Three-dimensional CT may be reserved for challenging aortic anatomy where small differences in measurements would affect patient or graft selection for EVAR.
Shared decision making in public mental health care: perspectives from consumers living with severe mental illness.

Objective Most theoretical and empirical work regarding decision making in mental health suggests that mental health consumers have better outcomes when their preferences are integrated into quality of life decisions. A wealth of research, however, indicates that providers have difficulty predicting what their clients' priorities are. This study investigates consumer decision-making preferences and understanding of construction of decisions in community mental health. Methods People living with severe mental illness being treated in the public mental health care system (N=16) participated in qualitative interviews regarding case management decision making as a part of a larger study investigating a decision support system to facilitate shared decision making. Interviews were transcribed, coded, and cross-case thematic analyses were conducted. Results Mental health consumers generally endorse a "shared" style of decision making. When asked what "shared" means, however, consumers describe a two-step process which first prioritizes autonomy, and if that is not possible, defers to case managers' judgment. Consumers also primarily focused on the relationship and affective components of decision making, rather than information-gathering or deliberating on options. Finally, when disagreements arose, consumers primarily indicated they handled them. Conclusions Mental health consumers may have a different view of decision making than the literature on shared decision making suggests. Mental health consumers may consciously decide to at least verbally defer to their case managers, and remain silent about their preferences or wishes.
Interfacial Ion Transfers between a Monolayer Phase of Cationic Au Nanoparticles and Contacting Organic Solvent

The highly cationic nanoparticle [Au225(TEA-thiolate+)22(SC6Fc)9] adsorbs so strongly on Pt electrodes from CH3CN/Bu4NClO4 electrolyte solutions that films comprised of 1−2 monolayers of nanoparticles can be transferred to nanoparticle-free electrolyte solutions without desorption and ferrocene voltammetry stably observed. (TEA-thiolate+ = -S(CH2)11N(CH2CH3)3+; SC6Fc = S(CH2)6-ferrocene; Fc = ferrocene). The Fc+/0 redox couple’s voltammetry is used to detect the adsorption. The apparent formal potential (E°′APP) of the Fc+/0 couple depends on the electrolyte—its anion, cation, and concentration—in the contacting nanoparticle-free solution. A 10-fold change in electrolyte concentration shifts the Fc+/0 E°′APP by 48−67 mV, depending on the electrolyte. The dependency is interpreted to reflect the energetics of transfer of charge-compensating anions from the electrolyte solution to the monolayer nanoparticle “phase”, promoted by the formation of Fc+ sites in the nanoparticle film. This interpretation is supp...
Vapor–liquid equilibrium for systems that contain more than one alcohol: comparison of Kretschmer–Wiebe and mobile order models

Abstract As part of a continuing study of associated mixtures, we compare the abilities of two solution models to represent vapor–liquid equilibria for binary mixtures of alcohols. Specifically, we compare mobile order theory, in which the degree of association is governed by the fraction of time for which a molecule is free of hydrogen bonding, to the Kretschmer–Wiebe model, in which hydrogen bonding is modelled classically by chemical equilibria. Both models contain parameters which reflect physical interactions, self-association and cross-association and both contain the same number of adjustable parameters. In addition to comparing the abilities of each model to represent VLE data, we examine the temperature dependence of the model parameters.
Bin-MAC: A Hybrid MAC for Ultra-compact Wireless Sensor Nodes

This paper presents a light-weight hybrid protocol called Bin-MAC (Binary Medium Access Control) for highly resource-constrained wireless sensor nodes. In addition to simplicity and low footprint, a distinguishing feature of Bin-MAC is its deterministic contention resolution mechanism, which enables it to achieve bounded latency on data transmissions. As a result, Bin-MAC can be applied to delay-sensitive applications with real-time constraints, a feature not provide by most of the existing hybrid protocols. Another feature of the proposed protocol is that it requires carrier-sensing hardware only on the base station side, and sensor nodes do not have to possess such capability. Bin-MAC does not require clock synchronization, and thus clock drifts have no impact on its performance. Experimental results show Bin-MAC to be scalable and able to handle large network sizes without noticeable performance degradation.
Isometric endurance of masseter muscle in children

Summary Eight children, mean age of 12 years, exercised maximal voluntary tooth clenching to determine the isometric endurance time of the masseter muscle. The endurance time seemed to depend on psychological and/or physiological determinants. The latter might have been Wedensky inhibition, changes in energy metabolism, progressive fatigue and so-called muscle fitness.
The Matthew Effect and widely prescribed pharmaceuticals lacking environmental monitoring: Case study of an exposure-assessment vulnerability

Abstract Assessing ambient exposure to chemical stressors often begins with time-consuming and costly monitoring studies to establish environmental occurrence. Both human and ecological toxicology are currently challenged by the unknowns surrounding low-dose exposure/effects, compounded by the reality that exposure undoubtedly involves mixtures of multiple stressors whose identities and levels can vary over time. Long absent from the assessment process, however, is whether the full scope of the identities of the stressors is sufficiently known. The Matthew Effect (a psychosocial phenomenon sometimes informally called the “bandwagon effect” or “iceberg effect,” among others) may adversely bias or corrupt the exposure assessment process. The Matthew Effect is evidenced by decisions that base the selection of stressors to target in environmental monitoring surveys on whether they have been identified in prior studies, rather than considering the possibility that additional, but previously unreported, stressors might also play important roles in an exposure scenario. The possibility that the Matthew Effect might influence the scope of environmental stressor research is explored for the first time in a comprehensive case study that examines the preponderance of “absence of data” (in contrast to positive data and “data of absence”) for the environmental occurrence of a very large class of potential chemical stressors associated with ubiquitous consumer use — active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Comprehensive examination of the published data for an array of several hundred of the most frequently used drugs for whether their APIs are environmental contaminants provides a prototype example to catalyze discussion among the many disciplines involved with assessing risk. The findings could help guide the selection of those APIs that might merit targeting for environmental monitoring (based on the absence of data for environmental occurrence) as well as the prescribing of those medications that might have minimal environmental impact (based on data of absence for environmental occurrence).
Molecular Pathogenesis of Staphylcoccal Osteomyelitis

Staphylococcus aureus is the most prominent musculoskeletal pathogen of man and animals. The persistent emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains has prompted renewed efforts to develop alternative protocols for the treatment and prevention of staphylococcal disease. These efforts have included attempts to develop an effective staphylococcal vaccine. Among the potential vaccine candidates are a group of surface proteins that act as adhesins by virtue of their ability to bind host proteins present in plasma and in the extracellular matrix. Because of our interest in the treatment and prevention of musculoskeletal infection, we have focused on adhesins that contribute to the colonization of bone and cartilage. Based on reports suggesting that colonization is a conserved characteristic of S. aureus strains that cause osteomyelitis and septic arthritis, we have paid particular attention to the factors that contribute to the ability to bind collagen. To date, only one collagen-binding adhesin (Cna) has been identified, and the gene encoding this adhesin (cna) is not present in most S. aureus strains. The possibility that a rare phenotype is conserved among isolates that cause a particular form of infection suggests a cause-and-effect relationship in which the phenotype contributes to the pathogenesis of the disease. To further evaluate that hypothesis, we attempted to determine whether Cna is the only collagen-binding adhesin produced by S. aureus and whether strains that encode cna share additional characteristics that distinguish them from other S. aureus strains. We also studied whether immunization with Cna induces a protective immune response. Our results confirm that Cna is the primary and probably the only collagen-binding adhesin and that the genetic element encoding cna does not encode any additional virulence factors. These results strongly suggest that the only consistent difference between cna-positive and cna-negative strains is the ability to bind collagen. We also demonstrated that vaccination with a recombinant fragment of Cna can protect animals against septic death and limit the ability to colonize bone.
Waves in Mechanical Systems

Of all of nature’s phenomena, the ones that we are most surrounded by in our daily lives are wave phenomena. Much of the time we are unaware of the waves passing around and through us — such as radio and television waves and sound waves. We perhaps more often notice the waves on bodies of water or the effect of waves in the atmosphere as evidenced by cloud patterns. We surely do not detect the matter waves described by quantum theory, but they nonetheless have a profound effect on our lives. Wave motion is everywhere, and an understanding of wave phenomena is essential to a real understanding of our world. Such phenomena as reflection, transmission, and refraction are part of the rich array of wave motion that we propose to explore in this chapter. We will proceed by first studying waves in a single dimension, then waves in two dimensions, and finally we will treat three-dimensional waves.
Targeted gene inactivation in zebrafish using engineered zinc-finger nucleases

Direct genomic manipulation at a specific locus is still not feasible in most vertebrate model organisms. In vertebrate cell lines, genomic lesions at a specific site have been introduced using zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs)1,2,3. Here we adapt this technology to create targeted mutations in the zebrafish germ line. ZFNs were engineered that recognize sequences in the zebrafish ortholog of the vascular endothelial growth factor-2 receptor, kdr (also known as kdra). Co-injection of mRNAs encoding these ZFNs into one-cell-stage zebrafish embryos led to mutagenic lesions at the target site that were transmitted through the germ line with high frequency. The use of engineered ZFNs to introduce heritable mutations into a genome obviates the need for embryonic stem cell lines and should be applicable to most animal species for which early-stage embryos are easily accessible.
Implementation of cloud retrievals for TES atmospheric retrievals: 2. Characterization of cloud top pressure and effective optical depth retrievals

[1] We characterize and validate the cloud products from the Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer (TES) by comparing TES estimates of effective cloud optical depth and cloud top height to those from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (on EOS) (MODIS), the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS), and to simulated data. TES measures in the infrared spectral region (650–2260 cm−1), where clouds have a ubiquitous impact on measured radiances and therefore on trace gas profile retrievals. The radiance contribution of clouds is parameterized in TES retrievals in terms of a set of frequency-dependent nonscattering effective optical depths and a cloud height. This unique approach jointly retrieves cloud parameters with surface temperature, emissivity, atmospheric temperature, and trace gases such as ozone from TES spectral radiances. We calculate the relationship between the true optical depth and the TES effective optical depth for a range of single-scatter albedo and phase functions to show how this varies with cloud type. We estimate the errors on retrieved cloud parameters using a simulated data set covering a wide range of cloud cases. For simulations with no noise on the radiances, cloud height errors are less than 30 hPa, and effective optical depth follows expected behavior for input optical depths of less than 3. When random noise is included on the radiances, and atmospheric variables are included in the retrieval, cloud height errors are approximately 200 hPa, and the estimated effective optical depth has sensitivity between optical depths of 0.3 and 10. The estimated errors from simulation are consistent with differences between TES and cloud top heights and optical depth from MODIS and AIRS.
Luminal Flow Amplifies Stent-Based Drug Deposition in Arterial Bifurcations

Background: Treatment of arterial bifurcation lesions using drug-eluting stents (DES) is now common clinical practice and yet the mechanisms governing drug distribution in these complex morphologies are incompletely understood. It is still not evident how to efficiently determine the efficacy of local drug delivery and quantify zones of excessive drug that are harbingers of vascular toxicity and thrombosis, and areas of depletion that are associated with tissue overgrowth and luminal re-narrowing. Methods and Results: We constructed two-phase computational models of stent-deployed arterial bifurcations simulating blood flow and drug transport to investigate the factors modulating drug distribution when the main-branch (MB) was treated using a DES. Simulations predicted extensive flow-mediated drug delivery in bifurcated vascular beds where the drug distribution patterns are heterogeneous and sensitive to relative stent position and luminal flow. A single DES in the MB coupled with large retrograde luminal flow on the lateral wall of the side-branch (SB) can provide drug deposition on the SB lumen-wall interface, except when the MB stent is downstream of the SB flow divider. In an even more dramatic fashion, the presence of the SB affects drug distribution in the stented MB. Here fluid mechanic effects play an even greater role than in the SB especially when the DES is across and downstream to the flow divider and in a manner dependent upon the Reynolds number. Conclusions: The flow effects on drug deposition and subsequent uptake from endovascular DES are amplified in bifurcation lesions. When only one branch is stented, a complex interplay occurs – drug deposition in the stented MB is altered by the flow divider imposed by the SB and in the SB by the presence of a DES in the MB. The use of DES in arterial bifurcations requires a complex calculus that balances vascular and stent geometry as well as luminal flow.
Man-Made Fibers: Flame Retardance and Flame Retardants

Abstract Man-made fibers and fabrics are used in a growing variety of applications, from clothing to carpets, blankets, and many industrial uses. The flammability of these fabrics is critical not only in the case of everyday clothing, but also for such specialized applications as those encountered in the space industry.
Geographic Variations in Cardiovascular Health in the United States: Contributions of State‐ and Individual‐Level Factors

Background Improving cardiovascular health (CVH) of all Americans by 2020 is a strategic goal of the American Heart Association. Understanding the sources of variation and identifying contextual factors associated with poor CVH may suggest important avenues for prevention. Methods and Results Cross‐sectional data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System for the year 2011 were linked to state‐level coronary heart disease and stroke mortality data from the National Vital Statistics System and to state‐level measures of median household income, income inequality, taxes on soda drinks and cigarettes, and food and physical activity environments from various administrative sources. Poor CVH was defined according to the American Heart Association definition using 7 self‐reported CVH metrics (current smoking, physical inactivity, obesity, poor diet, hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol). Linked micromap plots and multilevel logistic models were used to examine state variation in poor CVH and to investigate the contributions of individual‐ and state‐level factors to this variation. We found significant state‐level variation in the prevalence of poor CVH (median odds ratio 1.32, P <0.001). Higher rates of poor CVH and cardiovascular disease mortality were clustered in the southern states. Minority and low socioeconomic groups were strongly associated with poor CVH and explained 51% of the state‐level variation in poor CVH; state‐level factors explained an additional 28%. State‐level median household income (odds ratio 0.89; 95% CI 0.84–0.94), taxes on soda drinks (odds ratio 0.94; 95% CI 0.89–0.99), farmers markets (odds ratio 0.91; 95% CI 0.85–0.98), and convenience stores (odds ratio 1.09; 95% CI 1.01–1.17) were predictive of poor CVH even after accounting for individual‐level factors. Conclusions There is significant state‐level variation in poor CVH that is partly explained by individual‐ and state‐level factors. Additional longitudinal research is warranted to examine the influence of state‐level policies and food and physical activity environments on poor CVH.
Reliable Broadcast in Radio Networks with Locally Bounded Failures

This paper studies the reliable broadcast problem in a radio network with locally bounded failures. We present a sufficient condition for achievability of reliable broadcast in a general graph subject to Byzantine/crash-stop failures. We then consider the problem of reliable broadcast in an infinite grid (or finite toroidal) radio network under Byzantine and crash-stop failures. We present bounds on the maximum number of failures that may occur in any given neighborhood without rendering reliable broadcast impossible. For the Byzantine failure model, we describe an algorithm which is optimal for the grid network model, as it tolerates faults up to a previously established upper bound for this model. Our results indicate that it is possible to achieve reliable broadcast if slightly less than one-fourth fraction of nodes in any neighborhood are faulty. We also show that reliable broadcast is achievable with crash-stop failures if slightly less than half the nodes in any given neighborhood may be faulty.
Identification of an Epidemic Strain of Neisseria meningitidis by Bacteriocin Typing

Meningococci of serologic groups B and C can be subclassified on the basis of their sensitivity to bacteriocins produced by indicator strains. Among organisms of group C that were studied, 11 types of meningocin were identified, while 32 distinct patterns of sensitivity to meningocin were recognized among group B isolates. Production of and sensitivity to meningocin appear to be independent of serologic classification and sensitivity to sulfonamides. However, by consideration of all of these characteristics together, precise epidemiologic studies are possible. For example, it was shown that an outbreak of meningococcal disease among military recruits was caused by a sulfisoxazole-resistant group C meningococcus of a specific meningocin type. This strain was not generally encountered among recruits entering training, but when it was introduced into closed populations, it colonized widely and caused disease in three of 46 men infected.
Glial abnormalities in substance use disorders and depression: does shared glutamatergic dysfunction contribute to comorbidity?

AbstractObjectives. Preclinical and clinical research in neuropsychiatric disorders, particularly mood and substance use disorders, have historically focused on neurons; however, glial cells–astrocytes, microglia, and oligodendrocytes – also play key roles in these disorders. Methods. Peer-reviewed PubMed/Medline articles published through December 2012 were identified using the following keyword combinations: glia, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes/glia, microglia, substance use, substance abuse, substance dependence, alcohol, opiate, opioid, cocaine, psychostimulants, stimulants, and glutamate. Results. Depressive and substance use disorders are highly comorbid, suggesting a common or overlapping aetiology and pathophysiology. Reduced astrocyte cell number occurs in both disorders. Altered glutamate neurotransmission and metabolism – specifically changes in the levels/activity of transporters, receptors, and synaptic proteins potentially related to synaptic physiology – appear to be salient features of both ...
Fault tolerance in a very large database system: a strawman analysis

A simple model is used to study the effect of fault-tolerance techniques and system design on system availability. A generic multiprocessor architecture is used that can be configured in different ways to study the effect of system architectures. Important parameters studied are different system architectures and hardware fault-tolerance techniques, mean time to failure of basic components, database size and distribution, interconnect capacity, etc. Quantitative analysis compares the relative effect of different parameter values. Results show that the effect of different parameter values on system availability can be very significant. System architecture, use of hardware fault tolerance (particularly mirroring), and data storage methods emerge as very important parameters under the control of a system designer. >
Teaching permutations through rhythm patterns

As part of a course on Music & Math, my Honors class studied Clapping Music by Steve Reich. This is a musical composition consisting of varying rhythm patterns. The composer's variation method uses...
Developing vegetation and land surface parameters using classification approaches

A number of climatic, bioclimatic, vegetation, eco-region and landcover classification systems have been applied to regional and global mapping based on multitemporal 1-km resolution Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer-Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (AVHRR-NDVI) data, and are being tested for application with Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data. We have previously developed and implemented a multivariable training site model from which several classification strategies have been applied using multitemporal AVHRR-NDVI data at l-km resolution. We compare the attribution of land surface biogeophysical parameters to the resulting regional maps and pre-existing mapped classifications, and explore the relationship of the classification systems to specific parameters. This research is undertaken to develop methods to generate land surface parameters globally from EOS-MODIS land cover data and to support global and regional models.
Mixed-mode, high-cycle fatigue-crack growth thresholds in Ti-6Al-4V: Role of small cracks

There have been few studies to date describing fatigue-crack propagation thresholds under mixed-mode loading conditions in the presence of cracks, that are small as compared to the characteristic microstructural dimensions. To address this need, the variation in mixed-mode, high-cycle fatigue-crack growth thresholds with crack size is reported for a Ti-6Al-4V turbine blade alloy with a fine-grained bimodal microstructure. Specifically, threshold behavior is examined for large through-thickness cracks 4m m in length), short through-thickness cracks (~200 µm in length), and microstructurally-small surface cracks (10–50 µm in diameter) under combined mode I and mode II loading at load ratios (ratio of minimum to maximum load) ranging from 0.1 to 0.8. For mode-mixities ranging from pure mode I to predominantly mode II, large crack, mode I KI,TH thresholds were found to decrease substantially with increasing phase angle. However, by characterizing in terms of the range in strain energy release rate, GTH, incorporating both mode I and mode II contributions, it was observed that the pure mode I threshold could be regarded as a ‘worst case’ under mixed-mode loading in this alloy. By estimating the effective crack-driving force actually experienced at the crack tip, the observed increase in the mixed-mode GTH threshold with mode-mixity was attributed to an increasing influence of crack-tip shielding due to crack closure and crack-surface interference. Equivalent thresholds for through-thickness short cracks, where the crack wake and hence the effect of such shielding is minimized, were consequently far less sensitive to mode-mixity and corresponded in magnitude to the shielding-corrected large-crack thresholds. This effect was accentuated for the measured thresholds of microstructurally-small surface cracks; such small-crack, mixed-mode GTH thresholds not only displayed a minimal influence of mode-mixity but were up to two orders of magnitude smaller than those for corresponding large cracks at the same load ratio and mode-mixity conditions.  2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Ratings of perceived exertion and oxygen consumption during maximal, graded, treadmill exercise following different anchoring procedures.

Abstract In this study, relative oxygen consumption (VO2) was compared at selected criterion ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) during maximal, graded, treadmill exercise following memory or combined exercise and memory anchoring to the Borg 15-category scale. The purpose was to determine whether participants would produce a similar relative VO2 at a corresponding criterion RPE following different types of anchoring. Thirty-six college-aged participants (18 males, 18 females) volunteered for this investigation and were assigned to one of two groups: a memory anchoring group or a combined exercise and memory group. The memory anchoring group received only verbal instructions before the experimental trial. The combined exercise and memory group received identical verbal instructions to the memory anchoring group, which were administered initially while the participants performed a graded treadmill test to exhaustion. The low perceptual anchor (i.e. 7) was established during light walking and the high perce...
Frequency of sphincter of Oddi dysfunction in patients with previously normal sphincter of Oddi manometry studies.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Sphincter of Oddi manometry (SOM), performed at endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), is the gold standard for diagnosing sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (SOD). The question remains as to whether the short-term manometric recordings reflect the 24-hour pathophysiology of the sphincter. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of SOD in persistently symptomatic patients with previously normal SOM studies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients who underwent ERCP for suspected SOD over a 13-year period (1994 - 2007) were considered for inclusion in the study. Patients with an intact papilla and a previously normal SOM who had a repeat ERCP for persistent symptoms formed the study group. SOM was performed in conventional retrograde fashion. RESULTS: In all, 5352 patients without prior papillary intervention underwent SOM during the study period. A total of 1037 patients had normal SOM, and of these, 30 patients (27 female, mean age 40.1 years) underwent repeat ERCP for persistent symptoms. The median duration between the two ERCPs was 493.5 days (range 52 - 3538 days). In these 30 patients, SOD classification prior to the initial ERCP was: type I in one patient (not treated in 1994), type II in 17 patients, and type III in 12 patients. Of the 30 patients, 12 (40 %) had normal SOM at repeat ERCP; SOD was diagnosed in 18/30 (60 %) patients. CONCLUSIONS: A single SOM study may not represent the day-to-day physiology of the sphincter of Oddi; sphincter pathology may progress over time. One normal exam may not rule out SOD. A repeat ERCP with manometry may be warranted in a subset of patients with persistent debilitating symptoms and a high index of suspicion for SOD. Outcome data are needed to determine whether this approach justifies the potential risks of ERCP.
Ziv-aflibercept: A novel angiogenesis inhibitor for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer

Purpose The pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, safety, and administration of ziv-aflibercept in combination therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) are reviewed. Summary Ziv-aflibercept (Zaltrap, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and sanofi-aventis) is a novel recombinant fusion protein that targets the angiogenesis signaling pathway of tumor cells by blocking vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors that play a key role in tumor growth and metastasis; it is a more potent VEGF blocker than bevacizumab. Ziv-aflibercept is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in combination with fluorouracil, irinotecan, and leucovorin (the FOLFIRI regimen) for second-line treatment of patients with mCRC who have disease progression during first-line oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy. A Phase III trial demonstrated that relative to FOLFIRI therapy alone, the use of ziv-aflibercept was associated with significantly improved patient response, overall survival, and progression-free survival in patients with good performance status at baseline, including some who had received prior bevacizumab therapy. The most common grade 3 or 4 adverse effects associated with ziv-aflibercept use in clinical studies were neutropenia, hypertension, and diarrhea; the U.S. product labeling warns of potential hemorrhage and other treatment-related risks. Conclusion Current clinical data are insufficient to directly compare ziv-aflibercept and bevacizumab when used with standard combination chemotherapy as first- or second-line regimens for mCRC. The role of ziv-aflibercept is currently limited to the second-line setting in combination with irinotecan-based regimens in mCRC patients who have not received irinotecan previously. The role of ziv-aflibercept in chemotherapy for other tumor types is yet to be determined.
Quantitative SNP Array and Real-Time PCR-Based Human Preimplantation Embryo Aneuploidy Screening

Chromosome imbalance (aneuploidy) is the most common genetic abnormality found in human embryos, and the leading genetic cause of implantation failure and miscarriage. Screening embryos for aneuploidy prior to their transfer during IVF should therefore provide a substantial benefit to many patients with infertility. Indeed, preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) is currently the subject of exciting advancements that may result in finally realizing the potential to improve the success of IVF and revolutionize the standard of care in reproductive medicine. The ideal of routine elective single embryo transfer may soon become a reality with the incorporation of valid comprehensive chromosome screening (CCS) technology. Furthermore, selective transfer of embryos predicted to possess a normal complement of 23 pairs of chromosomes not only represents an important clinical application, but also a unique opportunity to conduct more well-controlled research to develop additional prognostic markers of embryonic reproductive potential. While there are a large number of unique methodologies for CCS, this chapter will focus on results of research and development of two specific technologies.