cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relative Safety and Efficacy of Finasteride for Treatment of Hirsutism

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the relative safety and efficacy of finasteride for treatment of hirsutism related to hyperandrogenism in women.DATA SOURCES:Literature retrieval was accessed through MEDLINE (1966-March 2003) using the terms finasteride and hirsutism. Additional information was obtained from the drug manufacturer.DATA SYNTHESIS:Finasteride has been evaluated for treatment of hirsutism in multiple observational and randomized trials. Finasteride lowered hirsutism scores by 30–60% in most trials, as well as decreasing average hair diameter. In comparative trials, finasteride demonstrated efficacy similar to that of other antiandrogens, with fewer adverse effects.CONCLUSIONS:Finasteride does reduce the overall hair diameter and number in androgen-sensitive areas. Reported adverse effects have been minimal. Concern over potential teratogenicity and lack of long-term safety information leave finasteride a secondary treatment option for hirsutism.
Coarse cohomology for families

We introduce coarse cohomology for families of metric spaces and develop the properties of this cohomology theory. Foliations provide the primary examples of such families and for these there are de Rham, ˇ Cech and Alexander-Spanier versions of this theory, which are all isomorphic. We compute the coarse cohomology for a number of important examples.
Concurrent non-malleable zero knowledge proofs

Concurrent non-malleable zero-knowledge (NMZK) considers the concurrent execution of zero-knowledge protocols in a setting where the attacker can simultaneously corrupt multiple provers and verifiers. Barak, Prabhakaran and Sahai (FOCS'06) recently provided the first construction of a concurrent NMZK protocol without any set-up assumptions. Their protocol, however, is only computationally sound (a.k.a., a concurrent NMZK argument). In this work we present the first construction of a concurrent NMZK proof without any set-up assumptions. Our protocol requires poly(n) rounds assuming one-way functions, or O(log n) rounds assuming collision-resistant hash functions. As an additional contribution, we improve the round complexity of concurrent NMZK arguments based on one-way functions (from poly(n) to O(log n)), and achieve a near linear (instead of cubic) security reductions. Taken together, our results close the gap between concurrent ZK protocols and concurrent NMZK protocols (in terms of feasibility, round complexity, hardness assumptions, and tightness of the security reduction).
Higher education and law enforcement career paths: Is the road to success paved by degree?

This study examines the effects of education on the career paths of Texas law enforcement officers holding advanced or specialized positions. It addresses the distribution of officers by rank and by assignment pattern, and the variance in career paths explained by respondents' education. Findings show that higher education reduces time required for movement in rank and assignment to specialized positions and was positively correlated to promotion into supervisory and administrative posts. Implications are that higher education will enhance an officer's probability of rising to the top regardless of whether the agency requires a college degree as a precondition of employment.
Triage: Principles and Practice

The main factor that distinguishes true mass casualty disasters from the routine management of injured patients is the large number of casualties that present essentially simultaneously, which outstrip the available resources required for their optimal care. The injuries themselves tend to be similar to those normally encountered in daily trauma practice, although they may be more severe and unique in certain settings (i.e. severe soft tissue disruption, shrapnel wounds or blast lung in victims of explosive disasters, cyanide poisoning in chemical events, acute radiation syndrome in radiological events). However, the large numbers of casualties greatly impede the ability to fully evaluate and treat each injured individual in a conventional manner. A major change in the approach to medical care is therefore required in order to optimize outcome. Medical evaluation and treatment must be rapid to allow for a continuing influx, and yet must remain accurate in identifying those critically injured victims who require immediate life-saving care. The focus of medical care can no longer be on each individual, but must shift to the population as a whole. The standard goal of providing the greatest good for each individual patient must change in a mass casualty setting to the greatest good for the greatest number. This requires a rationing of the limited resources to apply them where they are most beneficial for the most casualties. These concepts are antithetical to the morality and training of health care providers, yet are necessary to salvage the greatest number of lives in these circumstances (1–3). A key component of the delivery of medical care to mass casualties is the process of triage, from the French word triagere, meaning “to sort”. This concept was introduced by Napoleon’s battlefield surgeon, Baron Dominique Jean Larrey, and has since become a cornerstone of military medical care (4, 5). It involves matching the limited resources to the needs of casualties by assigning those who are most seriously injured to receiving priority care. This requires rapid identification of the severely injured in order to apply these resources most appropriately. The greater the casualty burden, the more difficult this becomes, and the more training and expertise is required. In fact, triage is practiced only occasionally and on small scales in the routine management of individual injured patients. The abundant medical resources in developed nations allow essentially unlimited application of care and expense to each patient, which makes rationing of care unnecessary. True mass casualty events are rare. The principles of triage are not taught in many medical schools or in residency training. This is why education and training assumes major importance in the care of mass casualties from any form of disaster, in view of how different the decision-making must be if the salvage of life is to be maximized (6).
Can acidosis and hyperphosphataemia result in increased erythropoietin dosing in haemodialysis patients

Aim To evaluate whether factors such as acidosis and hyperphosphataemia that might cause an increased oxygen delivery to tissues could result in increased dosing requirements for intravenous erythropoietin (EPO) administration given to haemodialysis patients. Methods The clinical records of the patients seen at the Hypertension, Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation Clinic from December, 2004 through August, 2005 were reviewed to identify patients who had taken intravenous erythropoietin. Two-tailed, Pearson's correlation was performed to determine correlations between any of the parameters. Analysis of variance and stepwise regression for covariance were used to evaluate the relations of demographic and clinical characteristics and laboratory variables. Analysis of covariance and K means cluster analyses were also performed to examine linkage between variables. Kendall's Tau correlation was used for correlations of non-parametric data. Results There was a significant direct or positive correlation at the 0.01 levels between dry weight, age, intact parathyroid hormone level (PTH), and serum phosphorus and EPO dose. There was an inverse or negative correlation at that level between the serum bicarbonate and urea reduction ratio (URR) with the EPO dose at the same level while there was a weaker correlation but direct correlation between the white blood count (WBC) and EPO dose. There was significant colinearity between serum phosphorus and PTH but serum phosphorus showed a more significant correlation with EPO overall. Stepwise regression analysis for covariance revealed that phosphorus remained significantly correlated with EPO resistance after the removal of the effect of PTH while PTH lost its significance after the effect of phosphorus was removed. Conclusion Acidosis and hyperphosphataemia are associated with apparent increased erythropoietin dosing requirements. While this study did not evaluate the mechanism of such requirements and indeed many mechanisms might be possible, a rightward shift in the oxygen-haemoglobin dissociation curve resulting in down-regulation of erythropoietin receptors is considered consistent with the data and present knowledge.
Inducing a Multilingual Dictionary from a Parallel Multitext in Related Languages

Dictionaries and word translation models are used by a variety of systems, especially in machine translation. We build a multilingual dictionary induction system for a family of related resource-poor languages. We assume only the presence of a single medium-length multitext (the Bible). The techniques rely upon lexical and syntactic similarity of languages as well as on the fact that building dictionaries for several pairs of languages provides information about other pairs.
Are Smaller Packets Less Likely to Be Lost

Despite growth in internet link capacities and the efforts of traffic engineers, packet loss continues to be a reality in today's internet. While many tools for {\em active measurement} of packet loss have been developed over the years, applying these tools to a particular operational network context in order to most accurately estimate loss characteristics has remained a challenge. In this paper we examine the problem of selecting a probe packet size for active loss measurement. Prior work has used either small ({\em e.g.}, 40 byte) packets in order to minimize probing bandwidth, or larger ({\em e.g.}, 1000 byte) packets in order to increase the likelihood that a probe will be lost if congestion is taking place along a path. We examine these rules of thumb in a systematic way through a series of controlled laboratory experiments. We find that a--perhaps {\em the}--key system parameter is whether network queue limits are specified in terms of packets or bytes. Our results suggest that if queue limits are specified in terms of packets, there may be no clear optimal probe packet size that yields the most accurate results. On the other hand, if queue limits are specified in bytes, a packet size chosen based on the average packet size of aggregate background traffic leads to the most accurate loss average estimate.
Decreased ERK and JNK signaling contribute to gene overexpression in "senescent" CD4+CD28- T cells through epigenetic mechanisms

An inflammatory and cytotoxic CD4+CD28- T cell subset infiltrates atherosclerotic plaques and is implicated in plaque rupture and myocardial infarctions. This pathologic subset develops with replicative stress and is found in patients with chronic inflammatory diseases such as RA as well as with aging. CD4+CD28- cells overexpress genes normally suppressed by DNA methylation in CD4+CD28+ T cells, such as KIR, perforin, and CD70. How this subset over expresses methylation-sensitive genes is unknown. DNA methylation patterns are maintained in proliferating cells by Dnmts, which are up-regulated during mitosis by the ERK and JNK signaling pathways. We hypothesized that defects in these signaling pathways contribute to altered gene expression in human CD4+CD28- cells through effects on DNA methylation. We report that signaling through the ERK and JNK pathways is decreased in CD4+CD28- relative to CD4+CD28+ cells from the same individuals and that ERK and JNK pathway inhibition decreases Dnmt1 and -3a levels, which in turn, causes demethylation and overexpression of the TNFSF7 (CD70) gene. We also report that CD4+CD28- T cells overexpress PP5, a stress-induced inhibitor of the ERK and JNK signaling pathways that may contribute to the signaling defects. We conclude that decreased ERK and JNK signaling in the CD4+CD28- subset, arising with replicative stress, can lead to the overexpression of normally suppressed genes through effects on Dnmts and consequently, chromatin structure.
Use of composite polyester/collagen mesh in the repair of recurrent congenital diaphragmatic hernias

Abstract Case 1 is an 18 year-old woman with a third recurrence of a left congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). She had previously undergone a primary repair of a recurrence via laparotomy and an additional repair of a second recurrence with PTFE mesh via a thoracotomy. Following her third recurrence she underwent successful laparoscopic repair utilizing composite polyester/collagen (Parietex™ Composite, Covidien, Sofradim, France) mesh. Six years following surgery, she has carried a pregnancy to term and has not recurred. Case 2 is a 5 month-old infant who presented with a recurrent right-sided CDH. She initially underwent primary repair via thoracotomy along with a right pneumonectomy at an outside institution. She presented with incarceration of her liver, hepatic venous thrombosis, mediastinal shift, and respiratory distress. She underwent successful repair with composite mesh through a right thoracoabdominal incision. At 8 months post-operatively, she has no evidence of recurrence in spite of the expected mediastinal deviation to the right and right thoracic volume loss as a result of being status post right pneumonectomy. Recurrences occur in a significant number of patients following repair of congenital diaphragmatic hernia, particularly cases in which a mesh implant are utilized. Historically, PTFE has been the product of choice for a diaphragmatic implant by pediatric surgeons. However, this product does not incorporate into surrounding tissues which theoretically places patients at risk for recurrence. Polyester/collagen composite mesh has been used for decades in adults undergoing complex groin and ventral hernia repairs with excellent results. However, its use for congenital diaphragmatic hernias has not been previously described. We present the successful utilization of this product in two cases which were at extremely high risk for future recurrence. Additional investigations should be done and long term follow up regarding application of this product for this challenging clinical condition.
Atmospheric input of manganese and iron to the ocean: Seawater dissolution experiments with Saharan and North American dusts

article i nfo Dissolution of wind blown dust is a major source of iron, manganese and other trace nutrients in the ocean. Kinetic and thermodynamic values for the release of metals from dust are needed for computer models which incorporate dust as part of their ocean system. Here we investigate both the thermodynamic and kinetics parameters involved in the dissolution of metals from dust in seawater. We added dust from the Sahara and the Western United States in five different concentrations (0.01-5.0 mg/L) representative of those concentrations found in seawater after dust events, to open-ocean Pacific seawater. Sub-sampling of the reaction vessels took place on days 1, 2, 4, 7, 14, and 35 for the kinetic study. Results show different apparent thermodynamic constants for manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe). The final Mn concentrations are proportional to the added dust concentration. Fe concentrations reach a maximum of less than 2 nM, independent of the quantity and type of dust added. The Fe dissolution kinetics are faster than our sampling resolution. The first order rate constant for the dissolution of Mn from the Western US and Sahara dusts were 0.94±0.04 nmol Mn day mg Dust , and 0.22±0.01 nmol Mn day mg Dust respectively. We
CALIFORNIA'S SITES OF CONSCIENCE: An Analysis of the State's Historic Mission Museums

In California, Franciscan mission “museums” are used to supplement K–12 curricula about Native American history and the settlement of the state. Heavily influenced by the local Catholic diocese, many of these sites offer a slanted view of history and a distorted version of native life in the missions and erase the presence of native people today. I critically analyzed visual representations at the 19 operating mission museums, with in-depth research at six, and explored what emerged as the dominant narratives. I argue that as important sites of conscience, the mission museums miss valuable opportunities to educate the public and potentially heal past wrongs. Finally, I offer insights and suggestions for addressing misrepresentations, through sustained community engagement, for mission museum directors and staff who expressed a desire to do so.
Assessing international aid for local governance in the Western Balkans

This article investigates the impact of international efforts to cultivate effective and authoritative local governing institutions in the Western Balkans, a prime testing ground for democratization aid to post-war states. It explores three hypotheses, each of which argues that a particular approach of international actors toward domestic officials best improves the quality of local governance. The study's gathering of interview and survey data from field-based actors enables it to evaluate local government reforms' impact on domestic communities. This investigation arrives at three findings. First, in the view of Western Balkan peoples, local governance reforms do not produce benefits when they are either imposed or ignored by international authorities. Secondly, reforms produce benefits for local communities when they are designed to meet domestic concerns. More specifically, reforms valued by local communities are designed in ways that respond to domestic, rather than international, concepts of good lo...
The Emergence of Collaborative Brain Function: fMRI Studies of the Development of Response Inhibition

Abstract: Adolescence marks the beginning of adult-level cognitive control of behavior supported by the brain maturation processes of synaptic pruning and myelination. Cognitive development studies on adolescence indicate that this period is characterized by improvements in the performance of existing abilities including speed and capacity of information processing and the ability to have consistent cognitive control of behavior. Although adolescents can behave at adult levels in some ways, brain imaging studies indicate that the functional organization of brain systems that support higher-cognitive processes are not fully mature. Synaptic pruning allows for more efficient local computations, enhancing the ability of discrete brain regions to support high-level cognitive control of behavior including working memory. Myelination increases the speed of neuronal transmission supporting the collaboration of a widely distributed circuitry, integrating regions that support top-down cognitive control of behavior. Functional brain imaging methods allow for the characterization of the relationship between cognitive development and brain maturation as we can map progressions in the establishment of distributed brain circuitry and its relation to enhanced cognitive control of behavior. We present a review on the maturation (as distinct from “development” in emphasizing the transition to maturity and stabilization) of response inhibition, brain structure, and brain function through adolescence. We also propose a model for brain-behavior maturation that allows for the qualitative changes in cognitive processes that occur during adolescence.
Female Engineers: Their Career Socialization into a Male-Dominated Occupation.

Under representation of women in the hard sciences has led to research on the gender gap in mathematics achievement. Data show that women are almost equally represented in mathematics but are under...
Enhancing your practice through evidence-based decision making: PICO, learning how to ask good questions

This article is the second of a feature series that focuses on strategies that can be used to integrate an evidence-based decision-making (EBDM) approach into your practice or curriculum. The first article provided an overview of EBDM methodology and skills, introduced readers to evidence-based concepts, and identified related online resources. The purpose of this article is to discuss PICO, a systematic process for converting information needs/problems into clinical questions so that they can be answered. Two case scenarios outline the sequential steps in this process and demonstrate the application of the skills involved. Educational tips and learning activities are provided, along with online resources that supplement the information on learning how to ask a good question.
Direct Comparison of the A to Z and PROVE IT Trials A Second Chance to Gain a First Impression

Two similar clinical trials in patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes (ACS), the Aggrastat to Zocor (A to Z)1 and Pravastatin or Atorvastatin Evaluation and Infection Therapy (PROVE IT)–TIMI 222 trials, each compared intensive versus moderate statin therapies for 2 years. PROVE IT demonstrated a significant benefit from intensive therapy (16% reduction, P =0.005 in its primary end point), whereas A to Z found only a favorable trend (11% reduction, P =0.14 in its somewhat different primary end point). Like many clinicians reading these 2 reports, my first impression was that these data demonstrated the superiority of 80 mg of atorvastatin over 80 mg of simvastatin. Market share shifts soon reflected this perception. Wiviott et al3 have compared these studies in detail to ask whether the observed differences were explained by true differences in drug efficacy or, alternatively, by differences in trial design or practice differences among the 2 studies’ clinical sites (factors that, in this analysis, may be linked to different practice patterns inside or outside the United States). Event rates in the “early” 4-month phase and the “late” 20-month phase were examined separately. This is a well-written and well-reasoned post hoc comparison between 2 “similar” trials that nevertheless have certain important hypothesis-generating differences. Article p 1406 First, it should be noted that the between-trial comparisons of the overall benefits of intensive therapy, though tending to favor PROVE IT, were not statistically significant in 2 of the 3 between-trial endpoint comparisons ( P =0.52, 0.03, and 0.55). The PROVE IT trial’s intensive-therapy benefits were significantly greater than those of the A to Z trial ( P =0.03) only for the PROVE IT primary end point, which included revascularization >30 days after enrollment. This weakened my first impression. Second, during the final 20 months of treatment, there were compelling …
Implementing and evaluating adiabatic arithmetic units

In recent years, several adiabatic logic architectures have been proposed for low-power VLSI design. However, no work has been presented describing the implementation and evaluation of nontrivial adiabatic circuits. We have evaluated a specific adiabatic architecture and used it in the design of low-power arithmetic units. We investigated implementation issues specific to adiabatic system development and performed a systematic comparison of our designs with corresponding CMOS circuits. In this paper we describe our adiabatic designs, discuss implementation issues at the logic and architectural level, and report our empirical findings.
Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Cocaine

A dramatic shift has occurred over the last decade in the route of cocaine administration by drug abusers in the United States. The favored route has changed from intranasal and intravenous use to administration of cocaine ("crack") by the smoking route. The reasons for this shift are not well understood but may include social and environmental factors such as the ease and convenience of the smoking route, avoidance of needle-transmitted disease, and possible pharmacological differences produced by the different routes of administration. This study examined the influences exerted by changes in the route of administration on pharmacokinetic parameters and drug-induced behavioral and physiological effects of cocaine. Six male subjects who provided informed consent and had a recent history of cocaine use by the intravenous and smoked routes participated in a blind, double-dummy, crossover study conducted on a clinical research ward. On different occasions, subjects received single doses of cocaine by the intravenous (25 mg, cocaine HCl), intranasal (32 mg, cocaine HCl), and smoked (42 mg, cocaine base) routes. Physiological and behavioral measures were collected prior to and periodically after drug administration. Concurrent blood samples were collected and analyzed for cocaine and metabolites by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, Plasma concentrations of cocaine and benzoylecgonine were fitted to pharmacokinetic models by nonlinear regression analysis. Behavioral measures of "good" drug effects and "liking" were higher by the smoked route than the intravenous route, but physiological changes were approximately equal at equivalent plasma concentrations of cocaine. Intranasal cocaine administration was characterized by lower cocaine plasma concentrations and a slower onset of pharmacological effects that were generally of lesser magnitude than those observed by other routes of administration. Overall, this study demonstrated that cocaine administration by the smoked route produced substantially higher behavioral responses than an equivalent dose of cocaine administered by the intravenous route. This finding suggests that smoked cocaine (crack) has a higher abuse liability and greater dependence-producing properties than equivalent doses of cocaine administered by the intravenous or intranasal route.
Numerical Simulation of a Laboratory Vortex

Abstract An axisymmetric numerical model has been developed to simulate Ward's (1972) laboratory experiments. It was shown by Davies-Jones (1976) that this experiment is more geophysically relevant than all previous experiments in that Ward's experiment exhibits both dynamical and geometrical similarity to actual tornadoes. Major results are 1) the core size versus inflow angle relationship agrees very nearly with Ward's measurements, 2) the numerical and laboratory surface pressure patterns are in agreement, and 3) it is demonstrated that the core radius is independent of the Reynolds number at high Reynolds number (Ward's data also exhibit this behavior). Based on this axisymmetric model some speculation concerning the nature of the asymmetric multiple vortex phenomenon is made. Furthermore, the numerical model allows the examination of the interior flow field. As a consequence, an explanation is offered in Section 6 for the double-walled structure sometimes observed in natural vortices. The experiments...
Fluidized bed biofilm reactor for wastewater treatment

The fluidized bed biofilm reactor (FBBR) represents a recent innovation in biofilm processes. Immobilization of microorganisms on the small, fluidized particles of the medium results in a high reactor biomass holdup which enables the process to be operated at significantly higher liquid throughputs with the practical absence of biomass wash-out. The process intensification (i.e., a reduction in process size while maintaining performance) achieved in FBBRs makes this innovative technology particularly attractive in biological wastewater treatment, commercial biomass conversion, and ethanol and biochemical production applications. In this chapter, the present understanding of biofilm phenomena involved in the operation of FBBRs is reviewed. Special emphasis is placed on the microbial and kinetic aspects of FBBRs and practical design considerations and current applications are described.
Survey of current trends in postgraduate musculoskeletal ultrasound education in the United States

To determine current trends in postgraduate musculoskeletal ultrasound education across various medical specialties in the United States. A survey regarding musculoskeletal ultrasound education was sent to all program directors for diagnostic radiology and physical medicine rehabilitation residency programs, as well as adult rheumatology and sports medicine fellowship programs in the United States. The survey, sent in July 2015, queried the presence of formal musculoskeletal ultrasound training, the components of such training and case volume for trainees. Response rates were 23, 25, 28 and 33 % for physical medicine and rehabilitation, radiology, rheumatology and sports medicine programs, respectively. Among respondents, musculoskeletal ultrasound training was present in 65 % of radiology programs, 88 % of sports medicine programs, 90 % of rheumatology programs, and 100 % of physical medicine and rehabilitation programs. Most programs utilized didactic lectures, followed by hands-on scanning. The majority of programs without current training intend to implement such training within 5 years, although radiology programs reported the lowest likelihood of this happening. Most program directors believed that musculoskeletal ultrasound education is important for their trainees, and is of greater importance than it was 10 years ago. Case volume was lowest for radiology trainees and highest for sports medicine trainees. Among respondents, the majority of diagnostic radiology programs offer musculoskeletal ultrasound training. However, this experience is even more widespread in other medical specialties, and hands-on training and experience tend to be greater in other specialties than in radiology.
Social protection in the english-speaking Caribbean

In recent years, issues concerning social protection (particularly pension systems) have become important items on the economic and political agenda in developed and developing countries alike, as demographic projections cast doubt on the financial sustainability of many pension systems currently in place. Substantive reform of pension systems in the Caribbean, however, has yet to materialize. In part, this may be a consequence of the limited amount of research that has been done on pension systems in the Caribbean, since this means that the authorities have not been able to refer to the literature to obtain information about how to tackle the issue of social protection in an environment with similar geographic and geo-climatic characteristics. This paper aims to fill this gap by examining the current status of public pension systems, analysing their recent performance and the challenges faced by schemes in the region, and suggesting ways forward. Oliver Paddison Development Policy & Analysis Division United Nations Department of Economic & Social Affairs United Nations ✒ paddison@un.org KEYWORDS
Bone mineralization-dependent craniosynostosis and craniofacial shape abnormalities in the mouse model of infantile hypophosphatasia.

Background: Inactivating mutations in tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP) cause hypophosphatasia (HPP), which is commonly characterized by decreased bone mineralization. Infants and mice with HPP can also develop craniosynostosis and craniofacial shape abnormalities, although the mechanism by which TNAP deficiency causes these craniofacial defects is not yet known. Manifestations of HPP are heterogeneous in severity, and evidence from the literature suggests that much of this variability is mutation dependent. Here, we performed a comprehensive analysis of craniosynostosis and craniofacial shape variation in the Alpl−/− mouse model of murine HPP as an initial step toward better understanding penetrance of the HPP craniofacial phenotype. Results: Despite similar deficiencies in alkaline phosphatase, Alpl−/− mice develop craniosynostosis and a brachycephalic/acrocephalic craniofacial shape of variable penetrance. Only those Alpl−/− mice with a severe bone hypomineralization defect develop craniosynostosis and an abnormal craniofacial shape. Conclusions: These results indicate that variability of the HPP phenotype is not entirely dependent upon the type of genetic mutation and level of residual alkaline phosphatase activity. Additionally, despite a severity continuum of the bone hypomineralization phenotype, craniofacial skeletal shape abnormalities and craniosynostosis occur only in the context of severely diminished bone mineralization in the Alpl−/− mouse model of HPP. Developmental Dynamics 245:175–182, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound Technology

Ultrasound has been used as a diagnostic medical tool for nearly half a century. Collaborative efforts between individuals from a variety of disciplines have resulted in a continual evolution in ul...
Integration Processes and Properties of Pt/Pb5Ge3O11/(Zr, Hf)O2/Si One Transistor Memory Devices

The basic mechanism for one transistor memory device has been studied. Ferroelectric material, Pb5Ge3O11 (PGO) was selected for MFOS (M: Metal, F: Ferroelectrics, O: oxide, S: silicon) memory transistor fabrication. Processing of one-transistor memory devices dealt with the following issues: decomposition of ferroelectric materials, the etching damage of ferroelectric materials, the forming gas annealing damage of ferroelectric materials, the selective deposition of ferroelectric materials, the alignment for device making processes. The integration processes for one transistor memory device have been optimized to reduce process-induced damages. The gate dielectric material is (Zr, Hf)O2. Extremely high c-axis oriented Pb5Ge3O11 thin films were successfully deposited on high k gate oxide. Memory transistors having 0.6, 3 and 10μm channel length and 10 μm channel width have been fabricated. The memory windows are around 1 - 2V. The memory windows are almost saturated from operation voltage of 4V. After programming at -5V (on “off” state), the drain current (ID) at VD of 1V and VG of 2.5 V is about 1.15 ×10−10A. After programming at 5 V (on “on” state) the drain current (ID) at VD of 1V and VG of 2.5 V is measured about 6.4 ×10−8 A, which was 2.5 order higher than that of “off” state.
Use of Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal for Treating Phosphorus-Deficient Wastewater Treatment

Anaerobic/aerobic (AnA) and completely aerobic (CA) laboratory-scale sequencing batch reactors operating on an acetate- and casamino acids-based synthetic wastewater were used to investigate the suitability of the AnA process for treating nutrient-deficient wastewaters in plants that have stringent effluent nutrient requirements. Of particular interest is the case where phosphorus (P)-deficient wastewaters with highly variable influent COD loading are being treated to meet both effluent TSS and P limits. At a 4 d mean cell residence time, AnA activated sludge had an approx. 20% lower P requirement than CA activated sludge. The difference between the end-of-aerobic cycle polyhydroxyalkanoate and carbohydrate contents of the sludges indicated that the AnAsludge used more influent carbon than the CA sludge for synthesis of non-P-containing storage products. The nitrogen requirements of AnA sludge were similar to those of the CA sludge. The AnA and CA SBRs were subjected to three different transient influent COD loading patterns that simulated (#1) daily COD Loading fluctuations, (#2) low weekend COD loading, and (#3) extended low COD loading periods. During the Loading Pattern #1 experiment, the average effluent soluble P concentrations for the AnA and CA SBRs were 0.4 and 1.0 mgP/L respectively, and complete removal of influent acetate was observed. During the Loading Pattern #2 experiment, the average effluent soluble P concentrations for the AnA and CA SBRs were 0.3 and 0.9 mgP/L respectively, but effluent acetate was detected during the first high COD loading cycle following the low weekend COD loading period. During the Loading Pattern #3 experiment, the VSS content of both reactors dropped sharply, effluent acetate breakthrough occurred, and effluent P concentrations exceeding 1 mgP/L were detected in both the AnA and CA SBRs. Based on these findings, the AnA process has potential as a technologically and economically superior alternative for wastewater treatment plants treating P-deficient wastewasters to meet stringent effluent TSS and P limits. This title belongs to WERF Research Report Series ISBN: 9781780404097 (eBook) ISBN: 9781843396857 (Print)
Do new student loan borrowers know what they are signing? A phenomenological study of the financial aid experiences of high school seniors and college freshmen.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the overall financial aid process from the perspective of first-time students and their parents. It seeks to determine their understanding of the entire financial aid process from completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to when the students receive their first disbursement of funds. This qualitative study of eight individuals who completed the process focuses on how well students and their families understand the terms and conditions of repayment of student loans. Both parents and students were interviewed for the purpose of this study to determine if students or their parents are the ones who complete the process. This study also seeks to determine if less technology or conducting face-to-face loan counseling would help participants understand the terms of loans and repayment options better.
How can we deal with the GERD treatment gap

Patients experiencing heartburn and acid regurgitation despite proton pump inhibition therapy who are averse to antireflux surgery fall into what is called the gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) treatment gap. This gap may be potentially addressed by several endoscopic and laparoscopic techniques, including gastric bypass surgery for those patients who are obese. These novel techniques do not significantly alter the anatomy of the esophagogastric junction, minimizing short- and long-term adverse effects. This review provides an overview of the assessment of patients with refractory GERD and highlights the strengths and weaknesses of these minimally invasive therapies.
Vector Analysing Powers for (,6Li) on 12C and 16O

Cross section and vector analysing power (VAP) angular distributions for the reactions 12C(,6Li) 8Be(g.s.) and 16O(,6Li) 12C(g.s.) have been measured using a 16-MeV purely vector polarized deuteron beam from the T.U.N.L. Lamb-shift polarized-ion source. The SiO target was 170 μg/cm2 thick mounted on a 20 μg/cm2 C foil. The 6Li particles were identified by standard ΔE-E detector telescopes employing thin (~12μ)ΔE detectors.
A Brief History of the Fear-Gripped Market

Panics seem as old as markets themselves. Over the last 200 years, the United States and Great Britain experienced a dozen severe panics: in 1819, 1825, 1837, 1857, 1873, 1893, 1901, 1907, 1929, 1987, the Asian Contagion of 1997, and 2007–2008. While each of these arose from a different calamity, they share some important characteristics. Each provoked a fear that brought the market to its knees. It is instructive to understand the common dynamics of each of these crises. Clearly, our economic leaders are now doing just that. Perhaps so should we.
A Critique of Leisure Constraints: Comparative Analyses and Understandings

This paper reports two separate analyses based on interviews in which people talked about the factors that shaped leisure within their everyday lives. In the first analysis, researchers used the le...
MiR-24, miR-30b and miR-142-3p interfere with antigen processing and presentation by primary macrophages and dendritic cells

Antigen uptake, processing and presentation by antigen presenting cells (APCs) are tightly coupled processes which consequently lead to the activation of innate and adaptive immune responses. However, the regulatory role of microRNA (miRNAs) in these critical pathways is poorly understood. In this study, we show that overexpression of miR-24, miR-30b and miR-142-3p attenuates uptake and processing of soluble antigen ovalbumin (Ova) in primary human macrophages and dendritic cells. MiRNA mimic transfected APCs exhibit defects in antigen presentation (Ova and CMV antigen) to CD4+ T-cells leading to reduced cell proliferation. Using transgenic OT-II mice we demonstrated that this impairment in T-cell proliferation is specific to antigen provided i.e., Ova. Further, human T-cells co-cultured with miRNA transfected dendritic cells secrete low levels of T helper (Th)-1 polarization associated cytokines. Analysis of molecules regulating APC and T-cell receptor interaction shows miRNA-mediated induced expression of Programmed Death-Ligand 1 (PD-L1) which inhibits T-cell proliferation. Blocking PD-L1 with antibodies rescues miRNA-mediated inhibition of T cell priming by DCs. These results uncover regulatory functions of miR-24, miR-30b and miR-142-3p in pairing innate and adaptive components of immunity.
The Effect of Cage Shape on Nanoparticle-Based Drug Carriers: Anticancer Drug Release and Efficacy via Receptor Blockade Using Dextran-Coated Iron Oxide Nanocages

Although a range of nanoparticles have been developed as drug delivery systems in cancer therapeutics, this approach faces several important challenges concerning nanocarrier circulation, clearance, and penetration. The impact of reducing nanoparticle size on penetration through leaky blood vessels around tumor microenvironments via enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect has been extensively examined. Recent research has also investigated the effect of nanoparticle shape on circulation and target binding affinity. However, how nanoparticle shape affects drug release and therapeutic efficacy has not been previously explored. Here, we compared the drug release and efficacy of iron oxide nanoparticles possessing either a cage shape (IO-NCage) or a solid spherical shape (IO-NSP). Riluzole cytotoxicity against metastatic cancer cells was enhanced 3-fold with IO-NCage. The shape of nanoparticles (or nanocages) affected the drug release point and cellular internalization, which in turn influenced drug ...
Energy accommodation coefficient extracted from acoustic resonator experiments

The authors review values of the temperature jump coefficient ζT determined from measurements of the acoustic resonance frequencies facoust of helium-filled and argon-filled, spherical cavities near ambient temperature. The authors combine these values of ζT with literature data for tangential momentum accommodation coefficient (TMAC) and the Cercignani-Lampis model of the gas–surface interaction to obtain measurement-derived values of the normal energy accommodation coefficient (NEAC). The authors found that NEAC ranges from 0 to 0.1 for helium and from 0.61 to 0.85 for argon at ambient temperature for several different surfaces. The authors suggest that measurements of facoust of gas-filled, cylindrical cavities and of the nonradial modes of quasispherical cavities might separately determine TMAC and NEAC. Alternatively, TMAC and NEAC could be determined by measuring the heat transfer and momentum transfer between parallel rotating disks at low pressure.
Habermas’s Account of Human Rights in Between Facts and Norms

This chapter deals with Habermas’s account of rights in Between Facts and Norms. In such an account he addresses the issue of legitimacy by avoiding the tendencies to ground the legitimacy of law either in human rights or popular sovereignty alone. He does this by overcoming the competition between human rights and popular sovereignty through the affirmation of their mutual presupposition in a system of rights within a constitutional democracy. He provides a theoretical groundwork that allows us to develop a conception of human rights by describing categories of rights that give equal weight to both private and public autonomy of legal citizens so as to regulate their life in common by means of positive law. He introduces a discourse principle, which is intended to assume the shape of a principle of democracy only by way of legal institutionalization. Human rights remain abstract concepts if they are not implemented in a legal system that gives them a shape and content. Such an implementation is legitimate only if it is done through a democratic procedure through which citizens regard themselves both as addressees and authors of the law that regulates their living together.
Parapapillary Chorioretinal Atrophy in Chronic High- Pressure Experimental Glaucoma in Rhesus Monkeys

PURPOSE. TO evaluate in rhesus monkeys parapapillary chorioretinal atrophy in chronic highpressure glaucoma and the effects of age, atherosclerosis, and chronic arterial hypertension in a prospective, planned study. METHODS. Seventy-six eyes from 38 monkeys were studied. First, experimental atherosclerosis and chronic arterial hypertension were produced in 24 animals. Then experimental high-pressure glaucoma was produced by laser photocoagulation of the anterior chamber angle in 38 eyes from the 38 animals. Intraocular pressure measurements and fundus photography were serially performed. The photographs were morphometrically analyzed. RESULTS. In the glaucomatous eyes, area and frequency of beta zone of parapapillary atrophy were significantly (P < 0.0001) larger at the end of the study than at baseline. Area of beta zone was significantly (P < 0.0001) and negatively correlated with neuroretinal rim area. In an intraindividual intereye comparison, beta zone was significantly (P < 0.0001) larger in the glaucomatous than in the contralateral nonglaucomatous eyes. Increase of beta zone and loss of neuroretinal rim were independent of presence and size of beta zone at start of the study. Beta zone was significantly (P = 0.036) greater in older than in younger monkeys; however, atherosclerosis-arterial hypertension had no significant influence on frequency and size of beta zone. Area and frequency of alpha zone showed no significant change between baseline values and those at the end of study. CONCLUSIONS. In experimental chronic high-pressure glaucoma in monkeys, beta zone of parapapillary atrophy was positively correlated with glaucomatous optic nerve damage. This confirms previous biomorphometric and histomorphometric studies on patients with glaucoma. In chronic experimental high-pressure glaucoma, neuroretinal rim loss and an increase of beta zone may be independent of preexisting parapapillary atrophy. Increase of beta zone may be independent of concomitant atherosclerosis-arterial hypertension. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Set. 1998;39: 2296-2303)
High-Dose (2.5 mg) Intravitreal Bevacizumab as Rescue Therapy for Persistent Postradiation Cystoid Macular Edema

Background/Aims: To investigate the efficacy of intravitreal high-dose (2.5 mg/0.1 mL) bevacizumab as rescue therapy for postradiation cystoid macular edema (CME)
Educational Development as Pink Collar Labor: Implications and Recommendations.

Against a backdrop of other professional arenas, including higher education, this article examines the field of educational development—who we are (mostly women) and what we do (care, service, and emotional labor)—through the lens of gender. While we suggest that educational development may provide a positive counterexample to the male dominance in other higher education professions, we also argue that the common devaluing of women and their labor, well-documented in other arenas, may contribute to educational developers' "marginal" positions on campuses, our difficulties getting "invited to the table," as well as our challenges in becoming more involved in organizational development efforts. The article concludes with suggestions for how educational developers might take action moving forward.