cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Skin substitutes with noncultured autologous skin cell suspension heal porcine full-thickness wounds in a one-stage procedure.

Clinical application of skin substitute is typically a two-stage procedure with application of skin substitute matrix to the wound followed by engraftment of a split-thickness skin graft (STSG). This two-stage procedure requires multiple interventions, increasing the time until the wound is epithelialised. In this study, the feasibility of a one-stage procedure by combining bioengineered collagen-chondroitin-6-sulfate (DS1) or decellularised fetal bovine skin substitute (DS2) with autologous skin cell suspension (ASCS) in a porcine full-thickness wound healing model was evaluated. Twelve full-thickness excisional wounds on the backs of pigs received one of six different treatments: empty; ASCS; DS1 with or without ASCS; DS2 with or without ASCS. The ASCS was prepared using a point-of-care device and was seeded onto the bottom side of DS1, DS2, and empty wounds at 80 000 cells/cm2 . Wound measurements and photographs were taken on days 0, 9, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 post-wounding. Histological analysis was performed on samples obtained on days 9, 14, 28, and 42. Wounds in the empty group or with ASCS alone showed increased wound contraction, fibrosis, and myofibroblast density compared with other treatment groups. The addition of ASCS to DS1 or DS2 resulted in a marked increase in re-epithelialisation of wounds at 14 days, from 15 ± 11% to 71 ± 20% (DS1 vs DS1 + ASCS) or 28 ± 14% to 77 ± 26 (DS2 vs DS2 + ASCS) despite different mechanisms of tissue regeneration employed by the DS used. These results suggest that this approach may be a viable one-stage treatment in clinical practice.
Mode spectrum characteristics and onset of the low-shear MHD stability regime

Equilibria with extended regions of weak magnetic shear, including some tokamak scenarios and stellarators, can be susceptible to pressure-driven internal MHD instabilities even though there is no mode rational surface in the plasma. Nonresonant modes, in particular, can have properties that are unattractive for confinement, including displacing substantial volumes of the plasma and leading to more efficient pressure gradient flattening in the nonlinear regime. The onset and linear properties of the low shear stability regime are examined using the initial-value, extended-MHD code M3D-C1. For monotonic q-profiles, we demonstrate a clear correlation between the convergents associated with the continued fraction representation of q0 and the spectrum of unstable modes. Nonresonant modes are observed to be destabilized preferentially to any other resonant instability with the same toroidal mode number when n > 1. Using the observed connection between the spectrum associated with q0 and the overall equilibrium stability properties, we suggest a technique for reducing the uncertainty on both q0 and magnetic shear in the core region, obtained either via measurement or through the analysis and reconstruction of experimental results.
A Future of 'Endemic Failure'? Review of 'Why Government Fails So Often' by Peter Schuck

In 'Why Government Fails So Often', Yale law professor Peter Schuck explains that he has spent most of his professional life engaged in the practice and study of public policy. He had a firsthand view of how the field of public policy analysis developed over forty years, and this book is an outstanding exposition of what scholars in that field learned in those decades. Some lessons, according to Schuck: The design and implementation of public policy is much more difficult than was appreciated in the early 1970s. The federal government is a vast and growing graveyard of failed programs. And there is no good prospect that the performance of federal agencies will improve any time soon.
Ultrasonic determination of left ventricular wall motion in normal man: Studies at rest and after exercise☆

Abstract The analogue presentation of the echocardiogram was used to measure parameters of left ventricular wall motion in 25 normal males at rest and in 20 individuals after moderate exercise. Characteristic tracings of posterior wall motion, recorded by this technique, are discussed with relation to ventricular pressure and geometric events during the cardiac cycle. Following exercise, significant increases (p
Aplicação da distribuição Poisson zero truncada á produtividade de autores

Describes the nature of the zero truncated Poisson distribution as developed by Plackett with specific equations for cases when zero observations are not present in the data collected. In the bibliometric area it is very common to find data without zero frequency distributions, an application process of this distribution model is described step-by-step. To illustrate the application, process data collected and studied by Gupta and Kumar on populational genetics literature, and published in the journal Evolution, are replicated.
The design and analysis of a 350 GHz wide band beam-lead varistor quadrupler

This paper discusses the techniques used to design a 300 GHz to 400 GHz integrated beam-lead varistor quadrupler. Nonlinear simulations were performed to calculate the optimum diode embedding impedance and the required input power. A finite-element analysis program (HFSS) was used to design the matching network.
Products of Conception and Placentas

Products of conception is the term used for intrauterine tissue that is either passed spontaneously or removed surgically in early gestation. These specimens are usually sent for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. The major goal is to verify that a gestation was present. This requires the identification of either fetal parts, chorionic villi, or trophoblastic cells. The presence of decidua alone is not sufficent for diagnosis. Molar pregnancies and placental neoplasia may also be identified, although these are much less common. Always be familiar with the patient’s clinical history, as this will help guide your examination.
Discovery of the D-basis in binary tables based on hypergraph dualization

Discovery of (strong) association rules, or implications, is an important task in data management, and it finds application in artificial intelligence, data mining and the semantic web. We introduce a novel approach for the discovery of a specific set of implications, called the D-basis, that provides a representation for a reduced binary table, based on the structure of its Galois lattice. At the core of the method are the D-relation defined in a lattice theoretic framework and the hypergraph dualization algorithm that allows us to effectively produce the set of transversals for a given Sperner hypergraph. The latter algorithm, first developed by specialists from Rutgers Center for Operations Research, has already found numerous applications in solving optimization problems in data base theory, artificial intelligence and game theory. One application of the method is for analysis of gene expression data related to a particular phenotypic variable, and some initial testing is done for data provided by the University of Hawaii Cancer Center.
Psychological Characteristics of Pentecostals: A Literature Review and Psychodynamic Synthesis:

This article extends previous literature reviews on Pentecostalism by inclusion of studies from 1976–1985 as well as earlier studies. Psychometric and nonpsychometric investigations are considered ...
Evaluating the effect of gesture and language on personality perception in conversational agents

A significant goal in multi-modal virtual agent research is to determine how to vary expressive qualities of a character so that it is perceived in a desired way. The "Big Five" model of personality offers a potential framework for organizing these expressive variations. In this work, we focus on one parameter in this model - extraversion - and demonstrate how both verbal and non-verbal factors impact its perception. Relevant findings from the psychology literature are summarized. Based on these, an experiment was conducted with a virtual agent that demonstrates how language generation, gesture rate and a set of movement performance parameters can be varied to increase or decrease the perceived extraversion. Each of these factors was shown to be significant. These results offer guidance to agent designers on how best to create specific characters.
The multimedia principle.

Multimedia messages should be designed to facilitate multimedia learning processes. This chapter first explores three assumptions underlying a cognitive theory of multimedia learning: dual-channel assumption, limited-capacity assumption and active processing assumption. Three memory stores in the cognitive theory of multimedia learning are: sensory memory, working memory, long-term memory. For meaningful learning to occur in a multimedia environment, the learner must engage in five cognitive processes: selecting relevant words for processing in verbal working memory, selecting relevant images for processing in visual working memory, organizing selected words into a verbal model, organizing selected images into a pictorial model, and integrating the verbal and pictorial representations with each other and with relevant prior knowledge activated from long-term memory. The chapter also explores three demands on cognitive capacity during multimedia learning: extraneous processing, essential processing and generative processing.
Surface Structure of Bovine Casein Micelles Elucidated With Insolubilized Carboxypeptidase A

Abstract Carboxypeptidase A was insolubilized with glutaraldehyde to form a superpolymer. Bovine casein micelles were obtained from uncooled, raw skim milk centrifuged at 50,000× g for 60min and were resuspended in simulated milk ultrafil-trate. Native micelles and micelles cross-linked with glutaraldehyde were reacted with insolubilized carboxypeptidase A at 37C for periods up to 42h. Since the enzyme is much larger than the micelle and cannot penetrate it, the C-terminal amino acids released gave an indication of the surface structure of the micelle. The relative rates of hydrolysis were: α s1 -casein more than β -casein more than κ -casein; although C-terminal amino acids were incompletely released from most casein fractions. After taking into account any solubilization or autolysis of the micelle, analysis of the reaction products revealed all major casein fractions on the surface of the micelle.
Hyperfine field distributions at111Cd probes in nickel alloys

The DPAC technique has been applied to study hyperfine field distributions in Ni alloys containing solutes which produce small host moment disturbances. The measurements, on very dilute111Cd, show well defined satellite structures for Fe and Co solutes which scale roughly according to the defect moments, but little structure for Mn and Rh solutes. Further studies are planned for Fe and Co alloys. The Cd hyperfine field is much larger in Fe and Co than in Ni. This may permit better resolution of satellite structures for those alloys.
Considering water availability and wastewater resources in the development of algal bio‐oil

This study aims to quantify water appropriation and the potential production of algal bio-oil using freshwater and municipal wastewater effluent (MWW) as an alternative water resource. The county-level analysis focuses on open-pond algae cultivation systems located in 17 states in the southern United States. Several scenarios were developed to examine the water availability for algae bio-oil production under various water resource mixing MWW and freshwater. The results of the analysis indicate that water availability can significantly affect the selection of an algal refinery site and therefore the potential production of algal bio-oil. The production of one liter of algal bio-oil requires 1036-1666 L of water at the state level, in which 3% to 91% can be displaced by MWW, depending on the biorefinery location. This water requirement corresponds to a total of 25 billion liters of bio-oil produced if the spatially and temporally available MWW effluent together with 10% of total available freshwater are used. The production of algal bio-oil is only 14% of estimated production under the assumption that all of the water demand can be fulfilled without any restriction. In addition, if only the spatially and temporally available effluent is used as the sole source of water, the total bio-oil production is estimated to be 9 billion liters. This study not only quantifies the water demands of the algal bio-oil, but it also elucidates the importance of taking water sustainability into account in the development of algal bio-oil. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd Supporting information may be found in the online version of this article.
How not to refute eliminative materialism

Abstract This paper examines and rejects some purported refutations of eliminative materialism in the philosophy of mind: a quasi‐transcendental argument due to Jackson and Pettit (1990) to the effect that folk psychology is “peculiarly unlikely” to be radically revised or eliminated in light of the developments of cognitive science and neuroscience; and (b) certain straight‐out transcendental arguments to the effect that eliminativism is somehow incoherent (Baker, 1987; Boghossian, 1990). It begins by clarifying the exact topology of the dialectical space in which debates between eliminativist and anti‐eliminativist ought to be framed. I claim that both proponents and opponents of eliminativism have been insufficiently attentive to the range of dialectical possibilities. Consequently, the debate has not, in fact, been framed within the correct dialectical setting. I then go onto to show how inattentiveness to the range of dialectical possibilities undermines both transcendental and quasi‐transcendental a...
The internet for medical information about cancer: help or hindrance?

Objective The authors tested a strategy for screening Internet sites to identify those that provide scientifically accurate information regarding complementary/alternative medicine treatments commonly used by cancer patients. Method Separate Internet searches were conducted for three complementary/alternative medicine treatments: floressence, amalaki, and selenium. Sites (N = 194) were assessed according to four criteria: availability of online purchasing, inclusion of patient testimonials, description of the treatment as a “cancer cure,” and description of the treatment as “having no side effects.” The presence of any of these criteria was considered a “red flag” denoting questionable scientific accuracy of the site. Sites were categorized based on the number of red flags. MEDLINE searches were performed and peer-reviewed literature used to determine the scientific accuracy of sites. Results Over 90% of the sites for floressence and amalaki had at least one red flag. In these searches, sites with no red flags provided some scientifically accurate information, while sites with red flags provided a large amount of vague and inaccurate information. Less than one-quarter of sites for selenium had at least one red flag, and sites in this search generally provided scientifically accurate information, regardless of the number of red flags. Conclusions There is a staggering amount of medical misinformation on the Internet. For cancer treatments that have not been rigorously studied, the red flag criteria offer a rapid way of screening Internet sites for likely scientific accuracy. It may be advisable for patients to avoid sites with one or more red flags.
Meiofauna abundance on the Gulf of Mexico continental shelf affected by hypoxia

Meiofauna were sampled in shallow (8–13 m) continental shelf waters off the coast of Louisiana at three stations on 13 dates from June 1985 to August 1986. Total meiofauna abundances ranged from 525 to 3406 individuals per 10 cm2 with a mean of 1810 individuals per 10 cm2. Peak abundances occurred in late spring and early summer while seasonal lows occurred during late summer and winter. The three predominant taxa were Nematoda (91.8%), Copepoda (3.2%) and Kinorhyncha (2.5%). The meiobenthic copepod assemblage displayed low diversity and was dominated by three epibenthic species which together comprised 87% of the copepod fauna. Hypoxic conditions (dissolved oxygen <2mg l−1) developed seasonally on this shelf as a result of water column density stratification and eutrophication during late spring and summer. Abundances of all taxa declined during the summers of both years apparently in response to hypoxic conditions. Copepods were most dramatically affected, dropping from springtime peak abundances (several hundred per 10 cm2) to virtually zero in a one-month period of time. Copepod density declines were spatially correlated with the onset of hypoxia, as inshore stations developed hypoxia later and underwent declines later. Densities remained low after the return of normal oxygen conditions, rising in the spring of the following year. The effect on nematodes and kinorhynchs was not as dramatic. A single collection of meiofauna from July 1983 in nearby normoxic Terrebonne Bay at similar water depths reveals a high density and diversity of copepods, further suggesting the sensitivity of copepods to hypoxia.
Geometry-controlled nonlinear optical response of quantum graphs

We study for the first time the effect of the geometry of quantum wire networks on their nonlinear optical properties and show that for some geometries, the first hyperpolarizability is largely enhanced and the second hyperpolarizability is always negative or zero. We use a one-electron model with tight transverse confinement. In the limit of infinite transverse confinement, the transverse wavefunctions drop out of the hyperpolarizabilities, but their residual effects are essential to include in the sum rules. The effects of geometry are manifested in the projections of the transition moments of each wire segment onto the 2D lab frame. Numerical optimization of the geometry of a loop leads to hyperpolarizabilities that rival the best chromophores. We suggest that a combination of geometry and quantum-confinement effects can lead to systems with ultralarge nonlinear response.
Scanner for automated high precision measurements of wire positions in wire chambers

Abstract We have developed a device to perform precise automated measurements of the relative wire separations in a planar wire chamber. The measurement scheme involves slowly passing the wire chamber through a laser beam directed onto a photodiode. The measured position of the chamber as a function of time is then correlated with the photodiode response to yield the relative wire positions with a mean accuracy of better than 10 μm (FWHM). The operational principles, system components, and results from our studies are discussed.
Modeling the impacts of emission events on ozone formation in Houston, Texas

Abstract The Houston/Galveston region has a large number of industrial point sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and NO x , and observational data have shown that high concentrations of ozone are formed rapidly in the plumes of these industrial facilities. Some of the highly reactive VOC emissions from these facilities can be episodic, so in this work, photochemical air quality models, capable of simulating hundreds of possible types of emission events, have been developed and used to assess the impact of event magnitude, duration, timing and composition on ozone formation and accumulation. Simulations showed that ozone formation varied from nearly zero to up to 30 ppb per 1000 lb of release and that ozone formation depended strongly on the time of day of the release. The time of day that leads to maximum increases in ozone varies from day to day, depending on meteorology and NO x availability. On days and times that were conducive to ozone formation, the maximum additional ozone formation due to emission events was linearly related to emission magnitude, but the slope of that dependence varied based on the composition of the events. Overall, only a small percentage of emission events have the potential to lead to substantial ozone formation. Approximately 1.5% of emission events were projected to produce more than 10 ppb of additional ozone, and 0.5% of emission events were projected to produce more than 70 ppb of additional ozone, compared to base case simulations with no emission events.
Using occupancy models to determine mammalian responses to landscape changes

Determining impacts of anthropogenic landscape changes on wildlife populations is difficult. Besides the challenges of designing field studies to document conditions before and after landscape changes occur, assessment of population responses (e.g. changes in population density) often provide poor inference because of sampling limitations. Estimation of occupancy, however, only requires data on detection or non-detection of a species and might provide better inference. To demonstrate the utility of occupancy models, we used data from an American black bear (Ursus americanus Pallas) population in North Carolina, USA to test our research hypothesis that documented declines in site occupancy of black bears would be greater near a new four-lane highway. We used multi-season occupancy models to estimate site occupancy based on bear visitation to survey sites before and after completion of the new highway and as a function of distance to the highway. Site occupancy declined from 0.81 to 0.35 between the two study phases, but was not a function of distance to the highway. Therefore, the impact of the new highway on occupancy extended to the entire study area. Our case study demonstrates that occupancy models can provide powerful inference regarding the potential impacts of landscape changes on species occupancy. As urban areas and transportation infrastructure are rapidly expanding in developing regions of the world, the need to determine how these changes affect mammal populations and how they might be mitigated increases accordingly. Because field sampling for occupancy models only requires detection data, surveys can be conducted for extensive geographic areas, thus making these surveys particularly applicable to studies of large mammals.
Discrimination of viable and dead Vibrio vulnificus after refrigerated and frozen storage using EMA, sodium deoxycholate and real-time PCR.

Abstract The effect of refrigerated and frozen storage on the viability of Vibrio vulnificus was evaluated using cell suspensions (1 × 10 8 CFU/ml). Ethidium bromide monoazide (EMA) was utilized to selectively allow real-time (Rti) PCR amplification of target DNA from viable but not dead cells. Bacterial survivors from the EMA Rti-PCR were evaluated by comparison with the plate count assay following different temperature exposures (− 20 and 4 °C) every 24 h for 72 h. The log CFU values from the EMA Rti-PCR assays were erroneously higher than that from plate counts. DNA amplification was not completely suppressed by EMA treatment of low temperature destroyed cells suggesting that membrane damage was not sufficient to allow effective EMA penetration into the cells. The optimal concentration of sodium deoxycholate (SD) was also determined to enhance discrimination of viable and dead cells following exposure of cells to low temperatures. The use of 0.01% or less of SD did not inhibit the Rti-PCR amplification derived from viable bacterial cells. A rapid decrease of the log CFU was observed with cell suspensions subjected to frozen storage and a slow decline in the log CFU occurred at 4 °C. The combination of SD and EMA treatments applied to cells of V. vulnificus held at − 20 °C and 4 °C resulted in a high level of correlation between the log of CFU (plate counts) and the log of the number of viable cells determined from SD+EMA Rti-PCR.
Subspace clustering for high dimensional data: a review

Subspace clustering is an extension of traditional clustering that seeks to find clusters in different subspaces within a dataset. Often in high dimensional data, many dimensions are irrelevant and can mask existing clusters in noisy data. Feature selection removes irrelevant and redundant dimensions by analyzing the entire dataset. Subspace clustering algorithms localize the search for relevant dimensions allowing them to find clusters that exist in multiple, possibly overlapping subspaces. There are two major branches of subspace clustering based on their search strategy. Top-down algorithms find an initial clustering in the full set of dimensions and evaluate the subspaces of each cluster, iteratively improving the results. Bottom-up approaches find dense regions in low dimensional spaces and combine them to form clusters. This paper presents a survey of the various subspace clustering algorithms along with a hierarchy organizing the algorithms by their defining characteristics. We then compare the two main approaches to subspace clustering using empirical scalability and accuracy tests and discuss some potential applications where subspace clustering could be particularly useful.
Adapting ProNutra to interactively track food weights from an electronic scale using ProNESSy

Abstract To overcome the limitations of current dietary assessment methodology, scientists at the USDA, ARS, Western Human Nutrition Research Center (WHNRC) developed a computerized food-scale system named NESSy, Nutrition Evaluation Scale System (US Patent #5,233,520). WHNRC and Princeton Multimedia Technologies (PMT), through the USDA Technology Transfer program, have a cooperative research and development agreement to commercialize products based upon NESSy. The first product, ProNESSy, allows dietetic professionals the capability to track weighed food intakes for research subjects participating in clinical, metabolic, and/or free-living research studies. ProNESSy is a software module that works with ProNutra, PMT's dietary analysis system that supports research dietitians. While ProNutra facilitates diet design, ProNESSy facilitates accurate dietary kitchen food processing as well as accurate and timely reporting of the food/nutrient intake from such studies. Dietitians use ProNutra to plan, manage, and analyze food and nutrient intake while dietary kitchen staff use ProNESSy to accurately weigh and track foods prepared for research studies. Together, the two software modules provide health care researchers the unique ability to design precise nutrient-intake studies and to efficiently measure, manage, and monitor the preparation and consumption of the provided foods and nutrients. ProNESSy runs on a PC with a touch-sensitive screen connected to an electronic scale. ProNESSy converts study diets into detailed electronic step-by-step instructions to direct the diet preparation. The “Weigh-In” mode, used during diet assembly, ensures that each subject is served the correct weight of specified foods. The “Weigh-Out” mode is used to determine actual intake by weighing any uneaten food(s). Extensive error detection and prevention techniques are used to prevent errors.
Removing redundancy via exception check motion

Partial redundancy elimination aims to reduce the number of times an expression is computed more than once. The traditional Lazy Code Motion (LCM) algorithm formulated by Knoop, Ruthing and Steffen, through its reliance on unordered bit vectors, is severely limited in its ability to remove redundancy when precise exception semantics are required because bit vectors cannot express the order of exception checks. This paper describes our new PRE algorithm Exception Check Motion that uses the LCM algorithm to treat and optimize exception checks in a similar way to any other expression. Unlike earlier techniques that can remove only the compare instruction of a partially redundant exception check, our solution can eliminate both the compare and trap instructions without any run time code patching or expensive recovery operations. Since it is the trap instructions that restrict subsequent code motions, our technique gives downstream optimizations more flexibility to improve the performance of the resulting code once the partially redundant checks are eliminated. Our analysis has been implemented in the IBM® Testarossa (TR) just-in-time (JIT) compiler in the IBM Developer Kit for Java Release 5.0 as part of the J9 Virtual Machine. We measure performance improvements up to 7.6% and averaging 2.5% across 22 SPEC and DaCapo benchmarks on 4-way IBM pSeries (PowerPC) hardware.
Tetherless ergonomics workstation to assess nurses' physical workload in a clinical setting

Nurses are at risk of physical injury when moving immobile patients. This paper describes the development and testing of a tetherless ergonomics workstation that is suitable for studying nurses' physical workload in a clinical setting. The workstation uses wearable sensors to record multiple channels of body orientation and muscle activity and wirelessly transmits them to a base station laptop computer for display, storage, and analysis. In preparation for use in a clinical setting, the workstation was tested in a laboratory equipped for multi-camera video motion analysis. The testing included a pilot study of the effect of bed height on student nurses' physical workload while they repositioned a volunteer posing as a bedridden patient toward the head of the bed. Each nurse subject chose a preferred bed height, and data were recorded, in randomized order, with the bed at this height, at 0.1 m below this height, and at 0.1 m above this height. The testing showed that the body orientation recordings made by the wearable sensors agreed closely with those obtained from the video motion analysis system. The pilot study showed the following trends: As the bed height was raised, the nurses' trunk flexion at both thoracic and lumbar sites and lumbar muscle effort decreased, whereas trapezius and deltoid muscle effort increased. These trends will be evaluated by further studies of practicing nurses in the clinical setting.
181. Quantitative Evaluation of Long Term Gene Expression In Vivo after Delivery of Polyethylenimine-Conjugated Sleeping Beauty Transposon DNA

Many applications of gene therapy require long-lasting expression. In mice, hydrodynamic delivery directs DNA to the liver where when integrated expression can last the lifetime of the animal. Because this form of delivery will be invasive in larger animals, we have been seeking alternative methods of delivery, including condensing DNA with polyethelenimine (PEI). PEI has been reported to deliver genes to the lung with expression lasting for up to 3 months (Belur et al, Molecular Therapy 8: 501|[ndash]|507; 2003). However, using standard hydrodynamic delivery as a |[ldquo]|gold standard|[rdquo]| for achievable levels of gene expression in mice, we have found that simple PEI condensation results in expression of delivered genes at levels that are 10 to more than 100-fold lower than with hydrodynamic delivery. Following injection into the tail vein of PEI-complexed plasmids containing an SB transposon with a luciferase gene, DNA expression was most pronounced in the lung one day post-injection. By 7 days post-injection, expression was most evident in the liver rather than the lung as visualized with a Xenogen|[trade]| in vivo imaging system. JetPEI|[trade]| at N/P ratios of 7 and 9 led to expression levels that ranged from 1|[ndash]|22 |[times]| 106 photons/second (p/s) in the lung 1-day post-injection. However, by day-7 the ranges were from 2|[ndash]|80 |[times]| 104 to 2|[ndash]|9 |[times]| 104 p/s for N/P ratios of 7 and 9, respectively. Because particle sizes should be 100 nm or less for uptake by endocytosis, we sized our PEI-plasmid particles by dynamic laser light scattering. Particles ranged in size from 80|[ndash]|100 nm in 5% dextrose at an N/P of 7 with JetPEI|[trade]|. Because uncomplexed, free PEI is cytotoxic to cells, we hypothesize that the removal of free PEI will permit higher N/P ratios, which might provide increased levels of gene delivery and expression. Consequently, we are testing methods for removal of free PEI so that PEI transposon complexes prepared at higher N/P ratios can be tested for improved levels of long-term expression and animal survival after in vivo delivery.
Psychopharmacological treatment in PTSD: a critical review

Introduction: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a prevalent psychiatric disorder that is heterogeneous in its nature, and often presents with other psychiatric comorbidities. As a result, empirical research on effective pharmacotherapy for PTSD has produced complex findings. This article reviews the existing research literature on pharmacological treatments for PTSD, identifies the most effective treatments, and where possible examines their mechanism of action with respect to the neurobiology of PTSD. Methods: We examined reports of clinical trials of psychotropic agents carried out with PTSD patients and published in peer-reviewed journals, as well as reports from presentations at scientific meetings between 1966 and 2001. Results: Numerous medications are effective in treating PTSD. These include tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Considering reported overall efficacy and side effects profiles, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors emerge as the preferred first line treatment for PTSD. Mood stabilizers, atypical neuroleptics, adrenergic agents, and newer antidepressants also show promise, but require further controlled trials to clarify their place in the pharmacopoeia for PTSD. Discussion: There is clear evidence for effective pharmacotherapy of PTSD. Future improvements in the treatment of this disorder await further clinical trials and neurobiological research.
Formulation factors affecting release of drug from topical formulations. 1. Effect of emulsion type upon in Vitro delivery of ethyl p-aminobenzoate

There are numerous kinetic and thermodynamic processes which occur during the transport of a topically applied drug from within its vehicle to the site of action in the skin. The present study compares the release and permeation of a model compound, ethyl p-aminobenzoate, from water, mineral oil, a mineral oil in water (O/W) emulsion, and a water in mineral oil (W/O) emulsion. These formulations are compared for differences in transport characteristics using in vitro diffusion studies and a synthetic polydimethylsiloxane membrane. Two factors appear prominent in influencing the release kinetics of the drug from its formulation. The first is the observation that the drug is released 2 times slower from mineral oil than from water at approximately equivalent thermodynamic activities, and the second is the appreciable lowering of the thermodynamic activity as a result of substantial micellar solubilization of the drug in the aqueous phase of the O/W emulsion. The thermodynamic activity effect predominants, resulting in a lower release rate from the O/W emulsion as compared to the W/O emulsion.
Subsidizing Non-Polluting Goods vs. Taxing Polluting Goods for Pollution Reduction

Pigovian taxes on polluters are politically unpopular, but subsidies for non-polluting sources are politically attractive. This paper presents a linear demand and supply model and numerical example to explore the trade-offs between taxing polluting sources of a good versus subsidizing non-polluting sources of the same good. While the model (along with the associated numerical example) shows the optimality of Pigovian taxes, it also shows how much welfare is reduced if subsidies for nonpolluters are employed instead. Further, it shows the optimal tax, given any level of subsidy and the optimal subsidy, given any level of tax.
Student goal orientation in learning inquiry skills with modifiable software advisors

A computer support environment (SCI-WISE) for learning and doing inquiry was designed. The system incorporates software advisors that give task completion advice (eg., forming hypotheses), general purpose advice (e.g., brainstorming), or system modification advice. Advisors' knowledge includes concepts, strategies, examples, referrals to other advisors, and criteria for evaluating good products and skills. Students using SCI-WISE can select the advisors' advice type (specific, general, or hints), and when advisors give advice (anytime, alert, or ask). Students can also modify the advisors' knowledge. The system is designed partly on a theoretical framework that assumes giving students higher levels of agency will facilitate higher-level goal orientation (such as knowledge-building) and produce higher levels of competence. In two studies of sixth graders, science students took a pretest of an open-ended inquiry question and a questionnaire that measured their goal orientations. The students worked in pairs on an inquiry project about memory, using one of two versions of SCI-WISE, one modifiable and one not modifiable. After finishing the project, the students took a posttest similar to the pretest, and evaluated the system. The main hypotheses predicted that knowledge-oriented students using the modifiable version would rate the system higher, use it more effectively, and do better on the inquiry posttest than task-oriented students. The results supported many of the hypotheses generated from the theoretical framework. Knowledge-oriented students tended to rate SCI-WISE higher, use more general purpose and system development advisors, and select more general advice and hints than task-oriented students. On the posttest inquiry test, students with higher goal orientations scored higher on average, particularly when paired with another knowledge oriented student. The studies also showed that goal orientation was not correlated with grade point average. Finally, the modifiability of SCI-WISE was rarely used, and finding better ways to facilitate modification and make its power more understandable for students is desirable. Overall, the SCI-WISE system showed promising initial results for helping students of a wide range of achievement levels and goal orientations develop inquiry skills.
A genetic framework for improving arrhythmia therapy

Abnormalities in heart rhythm continue to cause high rates of illness and death. Better treatment could be provided by solving two main challenges: the early identification of patients who are at risk, and the characterization of molecular pathways that culminate in arrhythmias. By analysing mechanisms that increase susceptibility to arrhythmia in individuals with genetic syndromes, it might be possible to improve current therapies and to develop new ways to treat and prevent common arrhythmias.
Power loss and right ventricular efficiency in patients after tetralogy of Fallot repair with pulmonary insufficiency: Clinical implications

Objectives To quantify right ventricular output power and efficiency and correlate these to ventricular function in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot. This might aid in determining the optimal timing for pulmonary valve replacement. Methods We reviewed the cardiac catheterization and magnetic resonance imaging data of 13 patients with tetralogy of Fallot (age, 22 ± 17 years). Using pressure and flow measurements in the main pulmonary artery, cardiac output and regurgitation fraction, right ventricular (RV) power output, loss, and efficiency were calculated. The RV function was evaluated using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Results The RV systolic power was 1.08 ± 0.62 W, with 20.3% ± 8.6% power loss owing to 41% ± 14% pulmonary regurgitation (efficiency, 79.7% ± 8.6%; 0.84 ± 0.73 W), resulting in a net cardiac output of 4.24 ± 1.82 L/min. Power loss correlated significantly with the indexed RV end-diastolic and end-systolic volume (R = 0.78, P = .002 and R = 0.69, P = .009, respectively). The normalized RV power output had a significant negative correlation with RV end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes (both R = −0.87, P = .002 and R = −0.68, P = .023, respectively). A rapid decrease occurred in the RV power capacity with an increasing RV volume, with the curve flattening out at an indexed RV end-diastolic and end-systolic volume threshold of 139 mL/m 2 and 75 mL/m 2 , respectively. Conclusions Significant power loss is present in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot and pulmonary regurgitation. A rapid decrease in efficiency occurs with increasing RV volume, suggesting that pulmonary valve replacement should be done before the critical value of 139 mL/m 2 and 75 mL/m 2 for the RV end-diastolic and end-systolic volume, respectively, to preserve RV function.
Unrelated umbilical cord blood transplantation in children with immune deficiency: results of a multicenter study.

In the absence of a related donor, unrelated cord blood transplant (CBT) may be a potential option for patients with a primary immune deficiency (PID). Most published experience consists of single-center data using multiple preparative regimens and GVHD prophylaxis. We report the results of a multicenter prospective trial of unrelated CBT for PID. A total of 24 children with PID, with a median age of 1 year (range: 0.23–7.81 years) and a median weight of 10.5 kg (range: 4–24.4 kg) received unrelated CBT between 1999 and 2003. All patients received a fully ablative conditioning regimen with identical GVHD prophylaxis and supportive care. Most patients (79%) received a 1 or 2 HLA Ag-mismatched cord unit with a median nucleated cell infused of 9.3 × 107/kg (range: 1.0–31.2) and a median CD34 of 2.7 × 105/kg 2.9 (range: 0.6–84.5). The cumulative incidence of neutrophil engraftment by day 42 was 58% (95% CI: 38–79%) at a median of 19 days. Cumulative incidence estimates of grade III–IV acute GVHD at day 100 and chronic GVHD at 1 year were 29% (95% CI: 10–48%) and 24% (95% CI: 3–44%), respectively. The probability of survival at 180 days and 1 year was 66.7% (95% CI: 44.3–81.7%) and 62.5% (95% CI: 40.3–78.4%), respectively. Unrelated CBT should be considered in children with PID.
A study on the low Reynolds number flow in a valved vessel

Abstract The understanding of the fluid flow in valved vessels is of importance pertaining to its application to the problem of fluid transport in valved vessels of the living body, such as veins and lymphatic ducts. In order to have a quantitative understanding of fluid flow through valved vessels, the Newtonian fluid flow through a rigid circular cylindrical tube involving a series of uniformly spaced plate orifices of axisymmetric geometry is studied at low Reynolds number. The solution of the above problem is posed as a series solution of the Stokes equation and the equation of continuity, satisfying the appropriate boundary conditions. The velocity distributions and the average rate of the mean pressure change along the tube axis are computed for a number of different combinations of the orifice-tube radius ratio and the ratio of the inter-orifice distance to the tube radius. The results of the analysis are discussed for possible application to certain physiological systems.
Latex allergy and latex sensitization in children and adolescents with meningomyelocele

Abstract Background: The high prevalence of clinical latex allergy and latex sensitization in children with meningomyelocele has been widely reported. It has also been noted that these same children have a higher than expected prevalence of atopic disease. It would be useful to have a safe, sensitive, and specific skin test to detect latex sensitivity and to know how well this test compares with available in vitro tests. It would likewise be helpful to know as fully as possible the characteristics of the individual and to evaluate the relative importance of factors suspected to contribute to clinical latex allergy and latex sensitization in this population. Methods: A group of 116 children and adolescents 1 to 20 years of age were recruited for the study. An extensive history of latex allergy, atopic diseases, and surgical procedures was taken on all subjects. Each subject had either a latex skin test or an in vitro study for latex-specific IgE, and 67 subjects had both tests simultaneously. Eighty-five subjects had epicutaneous skin tests to a panel of environmental allergens. Results: Overall, 25 of 116 (21.5%) subjects had a history of clinical latex allergy, and 51 of 116 (44%) were sensitized to latex. The sensitivity and specificity of skin tests for clinical latex allergy were slightly greater than for the in vitro test (100% vs 95.8% and 82.3% vs 68.9%, respectively). The positive predictive value and negative predictive value of skin testing for clinical latex allergy were also greater (67.6% vs 50% and 100% vs 98.1%, respectively). Age was found to be a significant variable for both latex allergy and latex sensitization. The number of surgical procedures undergone and the presence of positive skin test responses to environmental allergens were significantly correlated with latex sensitization but not with clinical allergy to latex. Conclusions: A sensitive, specific, and safe skin test for latex sensitivity appears superior to in vitro testing for latex allergy. Age, number of surgical procedures, and the presence of positive allergen skin test responses are significantly correlated with latex sensitization. Age alone is significantly correlated with clinical allergy to latex. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 1998;101:741-6.)
Earth-Atmosphere Radiative Heating Based on NOAA Scanning Radiometer Measurements

Abstract A brief description of an earth radiation budget data set, as determined from NOAA operational spacecraft, is presented. The data are continuous from June 1974 through February 1978. Some samples of the mapped outputs are shown, and information on the availability of these data is provided.
Vibrational Spectra And Chemical Bonding In Phosphazenes

The polarity and polarizability of -P=N and P-X bonds in phosphazenes (NPX2)n are influenced by the structure and effective electronegativities of the ligands (X) attached to the phosphorus atoms. The nature of chemical bonding in phosphazenes is revealed through responses of vibrational spectra to perturbations such as external pressure and solvent-hydrogen bonding, as well as chemical and isotopic substitution of the ligands. Raman spectra of a series of cyclic phosphazenes are used to identify and classify the vibrational modes. Changes in vibrational frequencies and Raman intensities are interpreted in terms of the polarized chemical bonding model suggested by recent calculations.
Sociopathy as an adaptation

Abstract Sociopathy in males and hysteria (Briquet's syndrome) in females very closely fit predictions from a model of characteristics of cheaters or nonreciprocators in a complex social system. Such a model is discussed and characteristics of sociopaths and hysterics are described. Since a successful cheating adaptation should require, above all else, concealment of the trait, recognition and diagnosis of these traits in humans will always be difficult and ambiguous at the level of language and interpersonal interaction.
Marker-assisted recognition of dynamic content in public spaces

In this work we present an image processing-based assistant for helping visually impaired citizens with the task of recognizing dynamic content within fixed layouts of displays in public spaces. Our solution relies on the placement of markers, in order to facilitate the location and recognition of target objects and, at the same time, provide hints to users about how to better position their mobile device's cameras to capture the whole information contained in the display.
The Solution-Diffusion Model for Swollen Membranes

Abstract It has been widely recognized for many years that gases, vapors, liquids, and solutes permeate through non-porous polymer membranes by a solution-diffusion mechanism1–5. However, it was only ten years ago that it was first proposed6 that reverse osmosis might be quantitively described by this mechanistic model. The solution-diffusion model first published by Lonsdale, Merten and Riley6 has been applied with considerable success to describe a variety of systems but the cellulose acetate-water-inorganic salt system has received most attention due to its importance in desalination. It is widely accepted that this model not only describes the process of reverse osmosis but also represents an accurate mechanism in those cases where the membrane structure is truly dense, i. e. non-porous, with no imperfections - this condition refers only to the “active layer” in Loeb-type6 membranes.