cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Surface Characteristics and Cell Adhesion: A Comparative Study of Four Commercial Dental Implants

Purpose The aims of this study were to compare surface properties of four commercial dental implants and to compare those implant systems’ cell adhesion, which may be affected by the surface properties, and to provide scientific information on the selection of implants for clinicians. Materials and Methods The surface properties of four commonly used dental implants (3i Nanotite™, Astra OsseoSpeed™, Nobel Biocare TiUnite®, and Straumann SLActive®) were studied using MicroSpy profiler, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and Raman microspectroscopy. Primary mouse alveolar bone cells were cultured on the surface of implants from the four companies. After 48-hour culture, SEM in combination with a quantitative analysis of SEM images was used to examine the cell adhesion. Cell adhesion rates (ratios of cell surface to implant surface) among different systems were compared. Results Distinct differences were found among these implants. Comparisons of roughness among three locations: flank, top, and valley within the same implant system, or in the same location among different implants were made. Generally Astra and Straumann systems showed the roughest surface, whereas 3i showed the smoothest surface. Multiple cracks were found on the surface of the Nobel Biocare system, which also had a dramatically lower level of titanium. In addition, rutile phase of titanium oxide was found in 3i, Astra, and Straumann systems, and anatase phase of titanium oxide was only detected in the Nobel Biocare system. After 48-hour culture, Astra and Straumann systems displayed the highest cell adhesion at the areas of flank, top, and valley of the implant surface. Primary cells also reached confluence on the valley, but significantly less in the 3i system. Nobel Biocare showed the least cell adhesion on the flank and valley. Conclusion Implant systems have distinct differences in surface properties, leading to different cell adhesion results. Further in vivo study is needed to study the impact of the surface characteristics and different cell adhesion on the osseointegration between implant and bone.
Growth factors in leukemia

The role of myeloid growth factors, such as granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, in the management of acute myeloid and acute lymphoblastic leukemias has been evaluated extensively in multiple clinical trials. Growth factors have been given before, concurrently, or sequentially with chemotherapy with the goal of reducing the duration of neutropenia and consequently the incidence and severity of infections, and improving the rate of remissions and overall survival. They also have been studied as chemotherapy-sensitizing agents in an effort to recruit dormant myeloid stem cells into the sensitive phase of the cycle. Additionally, growth factors, shown to stimulate proliferation and differentiation of leukemia cells in vitro, were evaluated as monotherapy in patients with acute leukemia. Most studies show modest improvement in the duration of the neutropenia, which does not consistently correlate with the severity of infection, rate or duration of remissions, or disease-free and overall survival. Attempts to enhance the chemosensitivity of the leukemic cells and decrease drug resistance failed to improve the rate of remission and survival in several large series. However, more recent reports suggested an improved outcome in younger patients with acute myeloid leukemia with normal karyotype. Several anecdotal case reports have shown that growth factor monotherapy can induce a complete remission in patients with acute leukemia. Data from the published clinical trials do not seem to support emergence of drug-resistant leukemia, worsening toxicity, and bone marrow failure with growth factor administration.
The use of 5-HTP in the treatment of Down's syndrome.

The clinical use of 5-HTP in the treatment of patients with Down9s syndrome was reported by Bazelon and her colleagues in 1967. This approach appeared to offer the hope of improving subnormal development of children with this chromosomal defect. The rationale for the use of 5-HTP is related to its role as the natural biochemical precursor for serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine). The blood level of this hormone is said to be decreased in Down9s syndrome. The present study concerns 26 children with Down9s syndrome who were treated with 5-HTP from early infancy until 3 to 4 years of age: 19 completed the course of treatment. DL-5-HTP was given orally with an initial dosage of 0.5 to 1.5 mg/kg/day. The dose was increased stepwise in 1 mg/kg/day increments to a maximum of 5 mg/kg/day. Children were seen by a clinic physician every 1 to 4 months and were assessed by a clinic psychologist every six months. The Gesell Test of Developmental Abilities was used to assess each child9s level of development in terms of a total Developmental Quotient (DQ). The psychological findings were analyzed by applying a t test of the difference between independent mean DQs obtained for each age category. The results of this study indicate that long-term systematic use of 5-HTP is not effective in increasing the rate of development of Down9s syndrome children.
Effect of deletion of the major brain G-protein ? subunit (?o) on coordination of G-protein subunits and on adenylyl cyclase activity

Heterotrimeric G-proteins, composed of alpha and betagamma subunits, transmit signals from cell-surface receptors to cellular effectors and ion channels. Cellular responses to receptor agonists depend on not only the type and amount of G-protein subunits expressed but also the ratio of alpha and betagamma subunits. Thus far, little is known about how the amounts of alpha and betagamma subunits are coordinated. Targeted disruption of the alpha(o) gene leads to loss of both isoforms of alpha(o), the most abundant alpha subunit in the brain. We demonstrate that loss of alpha(o) protein in the brain is accompanied by a reduction of beta protein to 32+/-2% (n = 4) of wild type. Sucrose density gradient experiments show that all of the betagamma remaining in the brains of alpha(o)-/- mice sediments as a heterotrimer (s20,w = 4.4 S, n = 2), with no detectable free alpha or betagamma subunits. Thus, the level of the remaining betagamma subunits matches that of the remaining alpha subunits. Protein levels of alpha subunits other than alpha(o) are unchanged, suggesting that they are controlled independently. Coordination of betagamma to alpha occurs posttranscriptionally because the mRNA level of the predominant beta1 subtype in the brains of alpha(o)-/- mice was unchanged. Adenylyl cyclase can be positively or negatively regulated by betagamma. Because the level of other alpha subunits is unchanged and alpha(o) itself has little or no effect on adenylyl cyclase, we could examine how a large change in the level of betagamma affects this enzyme. Surprisingly, we could not detect any difference in the adenylyl cyclase activity between brain membranes from wild-type and alpha(o)-/- mice. We propose that alpha(o) and its associated betagamma are sequestered in a distinct pool of membranes that does not contribute to the regulation of adenylyl cyclase.
Surgical treatment of spasticity in children: comparison of selective dorsal rhizotomy and intrathecal baclofen pump implantation

Neurosurgical treatments for spasticity in children include the traditional selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) and intrathecal baclofen pumps (ITBPs), which have been widely used in the past decade as an attractive alternative. The purpose of the study was to examine and compare the outcomes of these two procedures in the treatment of children with severe spasticity. A consecutive series of 71 children who underwent SDR for treatment of spasticity was compared with a group of 71 children matched by age and preoperative score on the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) who underwent ITBP placement. Change in GMFCS score, lower-extremity tone (based on the Modified Ashworth–Bohannon Scale), and lower-extremity passive range of movement (PROM) at 1 year as well as the need for subsequent orthopedic procedures and parents’ satisfaction were selected as outcome measures. At 1 year, both SDR and ITBP decreased tone, increased PROM, and improved function. Both procedures resulted in a high degree of patient satisfaction. Compared with ITBP, SDR provided a larger magnitude of improvement in tone (−2.52 vs −1.23, p < 0.0001), PROM (−0.77 vs −0.39, p = 0.0138), and gross motor function (−0.66 vs −0.08, p < 0.0001). In addition, fewer patients in the SDR group required subsequent orthopedic procedures (19.1 vs 40.8%, p = 0.0106). For children with moderate to severe spasticity, SDR and ITBP are both effective surgical treatments. Our results indicate SDR is more effective in reducing the degree of spasticity and improving function than ITBP is in this group of patients.
Effects of Moisture and Temperature on High Strain Rate Behavior of S2-Glass–Vinyl Ester Woven Composites:

The effects of moisture and temperature on high strain rate responses of S2-glass–vinyl ester woven composites have been studied in this work. Compressive properties and micro-structural damage progression under high strain rate loading have been investigated using the Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar technique. The compressive stress pulse is applied through the thickness direction (TD) as well as through the filler direction. The stress strain responses at strain rates ranging 490–1470s−1 under various environmental conditions have been investigated and the relevant failure modes have also been identified by optical and scanning electron microscopic examinations.The results indicate that moisture and temperature degrade the compressive failure strength under high strain rate loading. The level of such degradation is seen to vary with strain rates and loading direction. In general, the failure strength and failure strain of both dry and wet samples are seen to be increased under high strain rate loading. The...
Seeing the trees, the forest, and much more

Your portable phone can beat you at chess, but can it recognize a horse? Bristling with cameras, microphones, and other sensors, today’s machines are nevertheless essentially deaf and blind; they do not have senses to interact with their environment. In the meantime, vast amounts of valuable sensory data is captured, transmitted, and inexpensively stored every day. TV programs and movies, fMRI scans, planetary surveys, footage from security cameras, and digital photographs pile up and lie fallow on hard drives around the globe. It is all too much for humans to organize and access by hand. Someone has appropriately called this the “data deluge.” Automating the process of analyzing sensory data and transforming it into actionable information is one of the most useful and difficult challenges of modern engineering.
The classification of global Lie wedges in sl(2).

In [2] Hofmann and Hilgert investigate semigroups in SL(2, ℝ) and its universal covering group. Their interest is focussed on semigroups that are generated by the exponential image of a so-called Lie wedgeW in the Lie algebra. For an arbitrary subsemigroupS of a Lie groupG the set L(S) of subtangent vectors at the group identity1 is always a Lie wedge. IfS is closed, then\(\overline {\left\langle {\exp L(S)} \right\rangle } \subseteq S\) is always true. If equality holds, thenS is called infinitesimally generated. Conversely, if we start with a Lie wedgeW, then it may happen that the inclusion\(W \subseteq L\overline {\left\langle {\exp W} \right\rangle } \) is proper. Those wedges for which equality holds are called global. The classification of all global Lie wedges in a given Lie algebra is equivalent to classifying all infinitesimally generated subsemigroups of the corresponding simply connected Lie group. We give the solution to this classification problem for the Lie algebra sl(2, ℝ) . Roughly speaking, a Lie wedgeW ⊑sl(2, ℝ) is global if and only if it is either not pointed or it is contained in the intersection of two distinct halfspaces whose boundaries are subalgebras.
The control of immunity and tolerance by dendritic cells

Dendritic cells (DCs) are best known for their roles in host resistance and immunogenicity. DCs provide a direct link between innate and adaptive immunity. After antigen capture and processing, DCs control the differentiation and polarization of T cells. However, there is a danger during the antigen presentation because, at the same time DCs are capturing microbial antigens and also dying self cells and environmental proteins, to which the immune system must not respond. There is good evidence that immature DCs, in the absence of infection and inflammation, induce immunological tolerance to innocuous self antigens, avoiding then a non-appropriate response to harmless antigens that may be presented subsequently when infection strikes.
Talbot-vonLau Atom Interferometry with Cold Slow Potassium

A dc hot thermal and an ac-modulated cold slow potassium beam copropagate and pass through an atom de Broglie--wave interferometer, consisting of a sequence of three microfabricated diffraction gratings. Talbot-vonLau interference fringes are formed and sensed by measuring transmission with a hot wire as a function of grating position. The hot beam produces diffraction-limited shadow Moir\'e fringes, while the longer de Broglie wavelength slow beam produces interference fringes with high visibility at the fifth and sixth spatial harmonics of the shadow Moir\'e fringes.
Civilian gunshot injuries of the humerus

An institutional review board-approved retrospective study was performed at a level 1 trauma center to evaluate the adequacy of current treatment guidelines in the management of humerus fractures following civilian gunshot injuries. Fifty-four patients with a humerus shaft fracture from a low-velocity gunshot wound were included in the study. Twenty-nine patients were treated nonoperatively, while 25 patients had operative treatment, with 14 undergoing plate fixation, 6 having application of an external fixator, 3 receiving an intramedullary rod, and 2 having irrigation and debridement with fracture immobilization provided by a brace. Patient demographics and injury data, radiographic analyses, and treatment complications were recorded. Healing of soft tissue and bony injuries, including fracture alignment in patients treated nonoperatively, was also evaluated. Fifty-two of 54 patients had minor soft tissue damage and were treated successfully with minimal local wound care. Two patients with larger wounds required extended wound care with repeated irrigation and debridement. Overall, 47 of 54 fractures healed with the primary mode of treatment, and 7 patients went on to nonunion requiring further intervention. Of the patients treated nonoperatively, the average deformity was 16.5°±7.4° in the coronal plane and 4.4°±4.0° in the sagittal plane. This study supports the view that the majority of humerus fractures following civilian gunshot wounds may be treated nonoperatively, with a select group of patients requiring surgical stabilization.
Acute pseudo-obstruction of the colon in thermally injured patients.

Five (1 per cent) of 529 thermally injured patients experienced pseudo-obstruction of the colon over a two-year period. All patients had classic non-painful abdominal distention. Infection was the most common associated problem and possible triggering mechanism in these patients. After confirmation of the colonic dilation on a plain abdominal roentgenogram, distal obstruction was ruled out by contrast enema. Occasionally, Gastrografin enema seemed to ameliorate the distention.
Is there a role for laparoscopic appendectomy in pediatric surgery

Abstract Although laparoscopic procedures are currently in vogue in general surgery, the role of this approach in children has not been prospectively evaluated in the United States using the new instrumentation now available to us. To assess the value of laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) in childhood, we prospectively compared 14 LAs with 50 open appendectomies (OA) over 6 months in a single children's hospital. Antibiotic usage was at the discretion of the surgeon regardless of the procedure performed and was not different between groups. LA was performed under the direction of a single laparoscopy-trained surgeon and patient selection was based on parental consent. A three-puncture LA technique was used; children from this group were allowed to return to full activities as soon as they were comfortable. There were no significant differences between groups for severity of disease, age, weight, hospital cost, or complications. The types of complications that developed were comparable in both groups. The percent of complicated appendicitis (gangrene or perforation) was 32% in the OA group and 36% in the LA group. Patients in the LA group spent significantly fewer days in the hospital and returned to unrestricted activities (school, athletics, etc) faster than patients in the OA group. LA is approximately $1,000 more expensive than OA, the differences being easily explainable by the cost of the disposable supplies necessary for the procedure (laser fibers, trocars, etc), but because of the shorter hospital stay in the LA group the mean total cost for each group was comparable. These data suggest that although there appears to be no cost advantage, LA shortens the hospital stay and allows children to return to unrestricted activity sooner than OA. LA should be considered as a reasonable alternative to OA and may be the procedure of choice in the hands of pediatric surgeons experienced in laparoscopic techniques.
Defining phyla: evolutionary pathways to metazoan body plans.

SUMMARY Phyla are defined by two sets of criteria, one morphological and the other historical. Molecular evidence permits the grouping of animals into clades and suggests that some groups widely recognized as phyla are paraphyletic, while some may be polyphyletic; the phyletic status of crown phyla is tabulated. Four recent evolutionary scenarios for the origins of metazoan phyla and of supraphyletic clades are assessed in the light of a molecular phylogeny: the trochaea hypothesis of Nielsen; the clonal hypothesis of Dewel; the set-aside cell hypothesis of Davidson et al.; and a benthic hypothesis suggested by the fossil record. It is concluded that a benthic radiation of animals could have supplied the ancestral lineages of all but a few phyla, is consistent with molecular evidence, accords well with fossil evidence, and accounts for some of the difficulties in phylogenetic analyses of phyla based on morphological criteria.
Galbraith on Advertising, Credit, and Consumption: A Retrospective and Empirical Investigation with Policy Implications

Throughout his life, John Kenneth Galbraith wrote on a large range of topics. One of the most important issues that he addressed was the role of advertising and credit in stimulating consumer expenditure. This paper examines Galbraith's view of how advertising and consumer credit help drive consumption, and then examines subsequent empirical research on this topic. This review reveals a limited recognition by researchers of Galbraith's important contributions. Then, an empirical examination of US aggregate time series shows that advertising and credit both have economically and statistically significant positive influences on consumption, consistent with Galbraith's hypothesis. The paper concludes with some insights into how Galbraith would approach the current lack of savings in the US and the sort of policies he might support to increase US savings rates.
Justifiable changes to Indicators survey.

The News & Analysis story “New NSF survey tries to separate knowledge and belief” (Y. Bhattacharjee, 22 July, p. [394][1]) discussed the National Science Board (NSB) and the National Science Foundation's (NSF's) call for a reevaluation of the conceptual framework for public knowledge of science
Opinions and Social Pressure

Solomon Asch was a member of the Institute for Advanced Study, 1958-1960 and 1970; a Senior Fellow of the U.S. Public Health Service, 1959-1960; and a Fellow of the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences (1976-77). He was awarded the Nicholas Murray Butler Medal from Columbia University in 1962 and the Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award from the American Psychological Association in 1967. He is best known for his book, Social Psychology, published in 1952 and reissued in 1987.
Expected interference levels due to interactions between line-of-sight radio relay systems and broadband satellite systems

The paper is concerned with intermodulation distortion effects when interference occurs between satellite communication systems and trunk radio line-of-sight systems. Curves are presented showing distortion levels (which are proportional to the ratio of unwanted to wanted carrier powers) for various expected modulation conditions and carrier separations. These curves form the basis for recommendations in a companion paper regarding allowable radiated power levels in both the satellite and the line-of-sight systems. It appears that a particularly dangerous situation exists when the satellite system is lightly loaded. Permanent artificial dispersal of the satellite carrier seems necessary, and this is considered in some detail.
Hospital Costs of Total Hip Arthroplasty for Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip

Background Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a leading cause of total hip arthroplasty (THA) in younger patients. It is unknown how the hospital costs of THA in patients with DDH compare with patients with degenerative arthritis.
Thermal and temporal response of ionization chambers in radiation dosimetry.

The temporal and thermal response of various commonly used ion chambers (NEL, Exradin, PTW) with different wall and electrode materials is studied in a water phantom. Measurements were taken in heatingwater bath having an automatic temperature control mechanism. All chambers were submersed at 3 cm depth in water phantom and connected to separate electrometers for simultaneous readings for a given dose from a 6 MV beam. The temporal response was studied at approximately ±10 ° C from room temperature, i.e., 10 ° C and 30 ° C . Temporal results show that all chambers reach quick equilibrium response within minutes of submersion in water. The steady-state thermal response was dependent upon the water temperature and wall and electrode compositions. The temperature and pressure corrected response of the NEL chamber was least affected by the changes in water temperature, where as the Exradin chamber has positive and PTW has negative slope with water temperature. The response varied within ±1.5% between 10 ° C –50 ° C temperature and is mainly dependent on volume changes rather than the humidity. A correction factor based on thermal coefficients is derived for each chamber. It is concluded that ion chamber correction factors can be divided into first order; temperature and pressure connection, second order; volume correction for thermal expansion, and third order; humidity correction. To eliminate dosimetric error, the temporal and thermal response should be known for a chamber or water phantom temperature should be maintained close to room temperature.
Changes to perceptions of the pros and cons of genetic susceptibility testing after APOE genotyping for Alzheimer disease risk.

Purpose: Perceptions about the pros and cons of genetic susceptibility testing are among the best predictors of test utilization. How actual testing changes such perceptions has yet to be examined. Methods: In a clinical trial, first-degree relatives of patients with Alzheimer disease received genetic risk assessments for Alzheimer disease including APOE disclosure. Participants rated 11 possible benefits associated with genetic testing (pros) and 10 risks or limitations (cons) before genetic risk disclosure and again 12 months afterward. Results: Pros were rated higher than cons at baseline (3.53 vs. 1.83, P < 0.001) and at 12 months after risk disclosure (3.33 vs. 1.88, P < 0.001). Ratings of pros decreased during the 12-month period (3.33 vs. 3.53, P < 0.001). Ratings of cons did not change (1.88 vs. 1.83, P = 0.199) except for a three-item discrimination subscale which increased (2.07 vs. 1.92, P = 0.012). Among specific pros and cons, three items related to prevention and treatment changed the most. Conclusion: The process of APOE genetic risk assessment for Alzheimer disease sensitizes some to its limitations and the risks of discrimination; however, 1-year after disclosure, test recipients still consider the pros to strongly outweigh the cons.
Trans-bicyclo[7.4.0]trideca-2,4,7,10,12-pentaene,3,4-benzocyclonona-1,3,5,7-tetraene and related substances

cis-Bicyclo(6,l ,0)nona-2,4,6-trien (I) addiert α-Pyron (II) zu einem Gemisch der Isomeren (III) und (IV), das zu (V) hydriert werden kann.
High Speed Visualization and PIV Measurements in the Near Field of Spray Produced by Flow-Blurring Atomization

Clean and stable combustion of alternative liquid fuels, such as biodiesel, straight vegetable oil and glycerol has been achieved in past studies by using a novel flow blurring (FB) injector without fuel pre-processing or combustor hardware modification. FB injector employs aerodynamic principle to form two phase flow immediately upstream of the injector exit. Explosion of air bubbles at the injector exit atomizes the liquid into a fine spray. In this study, the flow field in the near field of the FB injector is investigated by high-speed visualization and time-resolved Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) techniques. Experiments are performed using water and air for air to liquid mass ratio (ALR) of 2. Flow visualization at the injector exit focused on field of view with the dimension of 2.3 mm × 1.4 mm, spatial resolution of 7.16 μm per pixel, exposure time of 1 μs, and image acquisition rate of 100 k frames per second (fps). Image sequence illustrates fine spray of FB atomization in the near field and the break-down process of larger droplets appearing occasionally. Time-resolved PIV technique is applied to quantify the injector near field. Plots of instantaneous, mean, root-mean-square velocities and turbulence kinetic energy are presented to reveal the droplet characteristics and secondary atomization process. Results show that the majority of the liquid is atomized into fine droplets at the injector exit. The droplet velocity increases in the flow direction and decreases from the center to the periphery of the spray. This result is consistent with the size of the droplets, i.e., the larger droplets move slowly while the finer droplets move faster as they follow the atomizing air flow.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
BLUNTED PANCREATIC POLYPEPTIDE RESPONSES IN CHILDREN WITH OBESITY OF PRADER-WILLI SYNDROME

Serum pancreatic polypeptide (PP), gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP), insulin and glucose responses to meal stimulation were studied in 10 normal weight patients, 13 normal obese patients and 7 patients with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) associated obesity. Serum and plasma concentrations of PP, glucose, insulin and GIP were obtained at 15 min intervals from 0-180 min. after a 275 K calorie meal. Basal and peak responses of glucose, for patients with PWS were significantly lower when compared to normal or obese controls. Basal and peak insulin responses in PWS were significantly greater than those of the normal controls but still less than those of the obese controls. Basal GIP concentrations in the patients with PWS were significantly less than normals and their peak response was less than the obese control group. No significant differences in basal or peak PP responses were noted between normal and obese controls. All 7 patients with PWS had abnormal PP responses. Five failed to show significant PP release after the stimulation; one had a peak response to 130 pg/ml while the 7th patient (PB) had an exaggerated response to 2000 pg/ml. The 6 patients with low or no response had basal PP values of 62 +/- 12 pg/ml and a mean PP peak response of 78 +/- 15 pg/ml. This observation of blunted PP response in a human model of hyperphagia and obesity parallels the animal models and suggests PP may have a significant role in appetite control.
Chemical and enzymatic modification of proteins in the 30 S ribosome of Escherichia coli.

Abstract Methods are described for the iodination of ribosomal proteins by iodine monochloride and potassium iodide and bovine lactoperoxidase. Ribosomes that were maximally iodinated did not synthesize polyphenylalanine. About one-half of the tyrosine residues could be iodinated with iodine monochloride in the intact ribosome with no change in the sedimentation properties of the particle. When proteins were extracted and dissolved in 5 m -urea, all of the tyrosine residues could be iodinated with iodine monoehloride.
The Foster Parent Potential Scale

Objective: A new measure of the potential of foster family applicants to provide quality family foster care is described and field tested in this study. The measure is titled the Foster Parent Potential Scale (FPPS). Method: Prospective data from 105 foster applicant families are analyzed. Results: Results support the internal consistency reliability of the FPPS, and for the most part its predictive, convergent, and discriminant validity. The notable exception to these results is that applicants of African American and other races had higher scores than did European American applicants, although the effect of race was small. Conclusions: The internal consistency reliability and construct validity of the FPPS is supported by these findings. The measure has several potentially useful applications.
MicroRNAs and Atherosclerosis

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, ~22 nucleotide (nt) sequences of RNA that regulate gene expression at posttranscriptional level. These endogenous gene expression inhibitors were primarily described in cancer but recent exciting findings have also demonstrated a key role in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including atherosclerosis. MiRNAs control endothelial cell (EC), vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC), and macrophage functions, and thereby regulate the progression of atherosclerosis. MiRNA expression is modulated by different stimuli involved in every stage of atherosclerosis, and conversely miRNAs modulates several pathways implicated in plaque development such as cholesterol metabolism. In the present review, we focus on the importance of miRNAs in atherosclerosis, and we further discuss their potential use as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in CVDs.
Bill Clinton and the 1996 Presidential Campaign

The 1996 campaign for president was never close. President Clinton's projected electoral votes never fell below the 271 he needed for re-election and Senator Dole peaked in March at 69 projected electoral votes. This essay uses two underutilized subnational data sets—the Hotline's “Electoral Scoreboards” and the Pew Center for the People and the Press's typology of American voters—to explain the apparent contradiction between Clinton's modest aggregate public approval ratings and his landslide re-election.
Genetic admixture in the late pleistocene.

mtDNA, Replacement model, Multiregional model, ABSTRACT The replacement hypothesis of modern human origins holds that the original population of modern humans expanded throughout the world, replacing existing archaic populations as it went. If this expanding population interbred with the peoples it replaced, then some archaic mitochon- dria might have been introduced into the early modern gene pool. Such mito- chondria would be recognizable today because they should differ from other modern mitochondria at several times the number of sites that we are used to seeing in pairwise comparisons. In this paper we ask what can be inferred from the absence of these "divergent" mitochondria from modern samples. We show that if the effective number of females in our species has been large for the past 40,000 years, then the level of admixture must have been low. For example, if this effective number exceeded 1.6 million, then we can reject the hypothesis that more more than 211,000 of the mitochondria in the early modern population derived from admixture with archaic peoples. We argue elsewhere that regional continuity would be detectable in the fossil record only if the rate of admixture exceeded 76%. Here, we show that this level of admixture would require the effective female size of the human population to have been less than 1,777 for the past 40,000 years. o 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Microscopic mechanism of optical nonlinearity in conjugated polymers and other quasi-one-dimensional systems

We present a microscopic mechanism of optical nonlinearity in quasi-one-dimensional semiconductors within the context of rigid band Peierls-extended Hubbard models. A detailed configuration space analysis is done to predict the dominant excitation paths. We show that only two channels contribute to the bulk of the optical nonlinearity, even though an infinite number of channels are possible in principle. Most importantly, these channels involve a virtual two photon excited state whose relative energy should be nearly parameter independent in the infinite chain limit. This would imply that the mechanism of optical nonlinearity, as well as the frequency dependence of the third order optical susceptibility, are also largely parameter independent. This universality is a consequence of the one dimensionality alone and remains valid for arbitrary convex Coulomb interactions. These conjectures are confirmed by exact numerical calculations on finite chains that do very careful analysis of finite size effects.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Human anterior cruciate ligament fibroblasts from immature patients have a stronger in vitro response to platelet concentrates than those from mature individuals

A number of recently published studies have established a substantial age dependence of the response of ACL fibroblasts to stimulation by platelet-rich plasma (PRP). Further in-depth research of this age dependence revealed negative effects on both histological and biomechanical results in a large animal model. However, while it has been postulated that this association could affect potential human applications negatively too it remains to be proven that the same effects occur in human cells. Thus it was the objective of this study to search for age dependence in human fibroblasts before further human experiments are done. Human fibroblasts were obtained from 10 immature and adolescent patients, based on a-priori power calculations, and cultured in a collagen-PRP composite. Three parameters that are pivotal for defect remodeling and wound healing-cell migration, cell proliferation, and scaffold contraction-were chosen as endpoints. Both migration and proliferation were significantly higher in immature cells, but no differences were seen in wound contraction. The former findings suggest that immature patients respond more favorably to treatment with PRP, which consequently might translate into better results in ACL tissue engineering.
Reactions of 4,4′-difluoro-biphenyl-3,3′-dicarboxylic acid dimethyl ester with amino alcohols. A convenient route to biphenyl tetra-alcohols

An efficient method for the preparation of biphenyl tetraols 10–15 and 18 is described. These poly-functional products should prove valuable as scaffolds for combinatorial library construction and as core structural units for dendrimer synthesis.
Design Alternatives for Virtual Interface Architecture and an Implementation on IBM Netfinity NT Cluster

The Virtual Interface Architecture (VIA) specification has been developed to standardize user-level network interfaces that provide low-latency, high-bandwidth communications. Few hardware and software implementations of VIA exist. Since the VIA specification is flexible, different choices exist for implementing various components of VIA such as doorbells, address translation methods, and completion queues. Although previous studies have evaluated the overall performance of different VIA implementations, there has not been a comparative study on the performance of VIA components. In this paper, we evaluate and compare the performance of different implementations of essential VIA components. We discuss the pros and cons of each design approach and describe the required support for implementing each of them. Then, we discuss an experimental implementation of the Virtual Interface Architecture for the IBM SP Switch-Connected NT cluster, one of the newest clustering platforms available. We discuss different design issues involved in this implementation. In particular, we explain how the virtual-to-physical address translation is implemented efficiently with a minimum Network Interface Card (NIC) memory requirement. We show how caching the VIA descriptors on the NIC can reduce the communication latency. We also present an efficient scheme for implementing the VIA doorbells without any hardware support. We provide a comprehensive performance evaluation study and discuss the impact of several hardware improvements on the performance of our implementation. The performance of the implemented VIA surpasses that of other existing software implementations of the VIA and is comparable to that of a hardware VIA implementation. The peak measured bandwidth for our system is 101.4MBytes/s and the one-way latency for short messages is 18.2?s.
Changes in stimulus reactivity following gonadectomy in male and female rats of different ages.

Abstract Three studies compared the quinine aversion and shock thresholds of intact and gonadectomized male and female rats. The first two studies used rats gonadectomized at 50 days of age. The last study used rats gonadectomized at 100 days of age. Half of the animals in each study were tested shortly after surgery prior to the development of within-sex differences in body weight. All animals were tested 9–10 weeks after surgery when weight differences attributable to gonadectomy were evident. Prior to the development of weight differences, no reliable differences in either quinine aversion or shock thresholds were found. After weight differences had developed, the heavier group (within a given sex) was less responsive to both shock (higher thresholds) and quinine (decreased suppression). This weight-behavior relationship existed regardless of the age at which the rat was gonadectomized. It was suggested that these behavioral changes might not be a direct function of gonadectomy in view of the correlation between weight change and behavior change.
Microwave spectrum and rotational isomerism in isopropyl mercaptan

Abstract A microwave investigation of isopropyl mercaptan has established the existence of both trans and gauche conformers, the trans being more stable by 57 cal mole −1 . Stark effect measurements give the dipole moments as 1.61 ± 0.2 D for the trans and 1.53 ± 0.2 D for the gauche species. The spectra of the isotopic species (CH 3 ) 2 CH 32 SD, (CH 3 ) 2 CH 34 SH, and (CH 3 ) 2 CH 34 SD of the trans form have also been analyzed, providing a limited amount of structural data. The rotational spectrum of the gauche isomer is noticeably influenced by inversion. Interactions between energy levels in the two lowest inversion states have been satisfactorily accounted for in terms of rotational constants, coupling parameters ( G a and G c ), and Δ E 0 , the inversion level splitting. Δ E 0 is found to be 562.4 MHz for the ground state of (CH 3 ) 2 CHSH and 10.0 MHz for (CH 3 ) 2 CHSD. A value of 1.98 kcal mole −1 has been calculated for the barrier to internal rotation of the -SH group in terms of a V 3 potential.
Optical excitation and detection of vapor bubbles around plasmonic nanoparticles

Laser-induced generation of vapor bubbles in water around plasmonic nanoparticles was experimentally studied by optical scattering methods. Nanoparticle-generated bubbles spatially localize a laser-induced thermal field and also amplify the optical scattering relatively to that by gold nanoparticles. Bubble lifetimes and threshold fluencies were determined as functions of the parameters of a laser (pulse duration, fluence, interpulse interval), nanoparticle (size, shape, aggregation state), and of the sample chamber so as to optimize the conditions of bubble generation around plasmonic nanoparticles. Nanoparticle-generated bubbles are suggested as nano-sized optical sensors and sources of localized thermal and mechanical impact.
Pulsed Adaptive Control Of A High Speed Beam Steering Mirror

A mirror pointing controller has been designed for a high-speed beam steering mirror which exhibits a highly resonant time-varying system function. Instead of attempting to continuously control the mirror pointing trajectory, the control algorithm constrains the mirror pointing angle only at the discrete strobe occurrences during the pulsed experiment by modifying the input waveform. Adaptation of the controller parameters to values which satisfy a mirror response error criteria is done during the interval between pulses. Pointing errors on the order of 3% of full scale have been measured.
A soluble phenophthalein laxative

A solubilized phenolphthalein laxative of low toxicity, the beta diglucoside derivative, is described, and the results of clinical investigations into its effectiveness, as measured against USP phenolphthalein, are recorded. As far as is known, phenolphthalein beta diglucoside is the only colorless, odorless, tasteless, water-soluble substance possessing laxative properties. While stable in solution, it is hydrolyzed in the intestine to liberate free phenolphthalein (this is not true of other watersoluble derivatives reported in the literature). When this free phenolphthalein is recovered, it is found to be as pure as the better grades of USP phenolphthalein. Its aperient action is mild, yet thorough, and persistence of such action for several days enables many patients accustomed to daily medication to reduce their requirements. The derivative has a distinct advantage in that it lends itself well to uniform distribution in solid or liquid form, thus permitting exact measurement in standard or fractional doses. Calculated on the basis of active principle contained, the effective dose of the diglucoside is about half that of phenolphthalein. The elixir is a laxative which is both safe and palatable and because of its form, it enables rapid and complete absorption and greater uniformity of response, hence permitting smaller dosage. The range of effective dose was determined in seven clinical studies, covering all age groups, in five of which the diglucoside was compared with USP phenolphthalein, and in two of which the elixir formation was studied.
Atypical diabetes mellitus associated with bone marrow transplantation.

� Objective: To describe 3 cases of atypical diabetes mellitus following bone marrow transplantation. � Methods: We describe the clinical presentation and relevant laboratory findings of 3 patients who presented with new-onset diabetes mellitus after bone marrow transplantation and discuss the possible mechanisms. � Results: A 52-year-old white man with chronic myelogenous leukemia, a 51-year-old white woman with acute myelogenous leukemia, and a 38-year-old Hispanic woman with acute myelogenous leukemia presented with acute onset of diabetes mellitus after bone marrow transplantation. Although blood glucose levels were initially very high, the patients required only small insulin dosages for glycemic control. Both the acute onset and requirement of relatively small insulin dosages were characteristic of type 1 diabetes mellitus. Onset of diabetes appeared to be unrelated to immunosuppressive drug therapy because it happened several months after starting these drugs. C-peptide was detectable, and glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies were absent. Diabetes mellitus remitted spontaneously after a few months while the immunosuppressive drugs were continued. � Conclusion: Although the underlying mechanisms are unknown, cytokine changes after bone marrow transplantation may have led to temporary b-cell dysfunction in these patients. (Endocr Pract. 2010;16:93-96) Abbreviations: BMT = bone marrow transplantation; HbA 1c = hemoglobin A 1c
Technical feasibility of figuring optical surfaces by ion polishing.

Procedures are described to figure optical surfaces by ion polishing. Fused silica, ULE, and Cer-Vit were employed as substrate materials. The sputtering yields for these materials were: 1.9 (150-keV40 Ar+), 1.86 (150-keV 40Ar+), and 3.7 (80-keV 126Xe+) atoms/ion, respectively. The optical scatter, at λ = 632.8 nm, was measured to be 0.06%, which is comparable to good surfaces prepared by conventional lap techniques. The rms surface error was reduced from 0.05λ to 0.01λ over the central 0.12-m aperture of a 0.2-m diam fused silica flat by ion polishing with 150-keV 40Ar+. Based on this experience, the design of a manufacturing facility is discussed.
Osteoblastic Prostate Carcinoma Metastatic to the Orbit

A 77-year-old man had subperiosteal osteoblastic adenocarcinoma of the orbit, metastatic from the prostate. The patient underwent orbital exploration and biopsy of the bony tumor. Despite incomplete removal of the tumor, visual acuity in the eye improved and he has remained in reasonably good health.
A novel low-power, low-offset, and high-speed CMOS dynamic latched comparator

A novel dynamic latched comparator with offset voltage compensation is presented. The proposed comparator uses one phase clock signal for its operation and can drive a larger capacitive load with complementary version of the regenerative output latch stage. As it provides a larger voltage gain up to 22 V/V to the regenerative latch, the input-referred offset voltage of the latch is reduced and metastability is improved. The proposed comparator is designed using 90 nm PTM technology and 1 V power supply voltage. It demonstrates up to 24.6% less offset voltage and 30.0% less sensitivity of delay to decreasing input voltage difference (17 ps/decade) than the conventional double-tail latched comparator at approximately the same area and power consumption. In addition, with a digitally controlled capacitive offset calibration technique, the offset voltage of the proposed comparator is further reduced from 6.03 to 1.10 mV at 1-sigma at the operating clock frequency of 3 GHz, and it consumes 54 μW/GHz after calibration.
Kinetochore-Microtubule Attachment Relies on the Disordered N-Terminal Tail Domain of Hec1

Summary Accurate chromosome segregation is dependent upon stable attachment of kinetochores to spindle microtubules during mitosis. A long-standing question is how kinetochores maintain stable attachment to the plus ends of dynamic microtubules that are continually growing and shortening. The Ndc80 complex is essential for persistent end-on kinetochore-microtubule attachment in cells [1, 2], but how the Ndc80 complex forms functional microtubule-binding sites remains unknown. We show that the 80 amino acid N-terminal unstructured "tail" of Hec1 is required for generating stable kinetochore-microtubule attachments. PtK1 cells depleted of endogenous Hec1 and rescued with Hec1-GFP fusion proteins deleted of the entire N terminus or the disordered N-terminal 80 amino acid tail domain fail to generate stable kinetochore-microtubule attachments. Mutation of nine amino acids within the Hec1 tail to reduce its positive charge also abolishes stable attachment. Furthermore, the mitotic checkpoint remains functional after deletion of the N-terminal 80 amino acid tail, but not after deletion of the N-terminal 207 amino acid region containing both the tail domain and a calponin homology (CH) domain. These results demonstrate that kinetochore-microtubule binding is dependent on electrostatic interactions mediated through the disordered N-terminal 80 amino acid tail domain and mitotic-checkpoint function is dependent on the CH domain of Hec1.