cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nanodroplet-mediated catheter-directed sonothrombolysis of retracted blood clots

One major challenge in current microbubble (MB) and tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)-mediated sonothrombolysis techniques is effectively treating retracted blood clots, owing to the high density and low porosity of retracted clots. Nanodroplets (NDs) have the potential to enhance retracted clot lysis owing to their small size and ability to penetrate into retracted clots to enhance drug delivery. For the first time, we demonstrate that a sub-megahertz, forward-viewing intravascular (FVI) transducer can be used for ND-mediated sonothrombolysis, in vitro. In this study, we determined the minimum peak negative pressure to induce cavitation with low-boiling point phase change nanodroplets and clot lysis. We then compared nanodroplet mediated sonothrombolysis to MB and tPA mediate techniques. The clot lysis as a percent mass decrease in retracted clots was 9 ± 8%, 9 ± 5%, 16 ± 5%, 14 ± 9%, 17 ± 9%, 30 ± 8%, and 40 ± 9% for the control group, tPA alone, tPA + US, MB + US, MB + tPA + US, ND + US, and ND + tPA + US groups, respectively. In retracted blood clots, combined ND- and tPA-mediated sonothrombolysis was able to significantly enhance retracted clot lysis compared with traditional MB and tPA-mediated sonothrombolysis techniques. Combined nanodroplet with tPA-mediated sonothrombolysis may provide a feasible strategy for safely treating retracted clots.
Effects of Fiber on Mineral and Vitamin Bioavailability

Along with positive effects of increased fiber in the diet, there have been reports of decreased bioavailability of nutrients. Some nutrients may be bound by fiber and thus rendered unavailable for absorption by the body.
The Contribution of Rapid Financial Development to Asymmetric Growth of Manufacturing Industries: Common Claims versus Evidence for Poland

Abstract CEE countries such as Poland experienced high rates of financial development within a few years after emerging from socialism. A review of the literature suggests that this asymmetric development should have been most beneficial for those industry sectors most dependent on external finance. However, the widely-used Rajan and Zingales (1998) measure of young companies’ dependence on external finance had no explanatory power for the structure of industry growth in Poland. This negative finding held for 1990-2001 as a whole and for two distinct sub-periods that differed in the speed of financial development. Reasons for this failure are examined.
3050 – DELETION OF PHOSPHOINOSITIDE 3-KINASE DYSREGULATES AUTOPHAGY IN HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELLS AND PROMOTES MYELOID DYSPLASIA

Adult hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) maintain blood system through a delicate equilibrium between self-renewal and differentiation. Most hematopoietic growth factors and cytokines signal through the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway via three Class IA catalytic PI3K isoforms (P110α, β, and δ). However, it is not known if PI3K is required for HSC differentiation or self-renewal. We found that individual PI3K isoforms are dispensable in HSCs. To determine the redundant roles of PI3K isoforms in HSCs, we generated a triple knockout (TKO) mouse model with conditional deletion of P110α and P110β in hematopoietic cells, and germline deletion of P110δ. TKO mice develop transplantable pancytopenia, and TKO bone marrow cells have defective long-term multilineage repopulation. Surprisingly, we observed a significant expansion of donor TKO HSCs in transplant recipients. TKO bone marrow cells have decreased myeloid differentiation capacity and extended serial re-plating activity. Additionally, TKO bone marrow cells have dysplastic features similar to those seen in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with multiple chromosomal abnormalities. For the maintenance of self-renewal of HSCs autophagy was shown to be essential. However, in TKO HSCs upon serum starvation autophagy is defective. Surprisingly, we found that in TKO cKit+ cells MTOR signaling is hyperactivated. Given that MTOR is a negative regulator of autophagy, this is consistent with the decrease in autophagy in TKO HSCs. The MTOR inhibitor rapamycin can induce autophagy in TKO HSCs, which rescues the self-renewal and differentiation defects caused by PI3K deletion. Our results uncover important roles of PI3K in regulating autophagy induction in HSCs to maintain the balance between self-renewal and differentiation. This work has potential implications for the treatment of MDS by regulating autophagy induction.
Participatory Design in the Classroom: Exploring the Design of an Autonomous Vehicle Human-Machine Interface with a Visually Impaired Co-Designer:

Self-driving vehicles are the latest innovation in improving personal mobility and road safety by removing arguably error-prone humans from driving-related tasks. Such advances can prove especially...
The diazepam binding inhibitor’s modulation of the GABA-A receptor is subunit-dependent

First synthesized in the 1950s, benzodiazepines are widely prescribed drugs that exert their anxiolytic, sedative and anticonvulsant actions by binding to GABA-A receptors, the main inhibitory ligand-gated ion channel in the brain. Scientists have long theorized that there exists an endogenous benzodiazepine, or endozepine, in the brain. While there is indirect evidence suggesting a peptide, the diazepam binding inhibitor, is capable of modulating the GABA-A receptor, direct evidence of the modulatory effects of the diazepam binding inhibitor is limited. Here we take a reductionist approach to understand how purified diazepam binding inhibitor interacts with and affects GABA-A receptor activity. We used two-electrode voltage clamp electrophysiology to study how the effects of diazepam binding inhibitor vary with GABA-A receptor subunit composition, and found that GABA-evoked currents from α3-containing GABA-A receptors are weakly inhibited by the diazepam binding inhibitor, while currents from α5-containing receptors are positively modulated. We also used in silico protein-protein docking to visualize potential diazepam binding inhibitor/GABA-A receptor interactions that revealed diazepam binding inhibitor bound at the benzodiazepine α/γ binding site interface, which provides a structural framework for understanding diazepam binding inhibitor effects on GABA-A receptors. Our results provide novel insights into mechanisms underlying how the diazepam binding inhibitor modulates GABA-mediated inhibition in the brain.
Clusters Across Multiple Domains of Health-Related Quality of Life Reveal Complex Patient Outcomes After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

Patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (ruptured brain aneurysm) often have reduced health-related quality of life at follow-up in multiple domains (e.g., cognitive function and social function). We tested the hypothesis that there are distinct patterns of patient outcomes across domains of health-related quality of life, "complex patient outcomes," in survivors of subarachnoid hemorrhage. DESIGN Patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage were prospectively identified. Clinical data were prospectively recorded. Health-related quality of life was prospectively assessed at 3-month follow-up using the National Institutes of Health Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System and neuro-quality of life in the domains of mobility, cognitive function, satisfaction with social roles, and depression. We used k-means clustering to analyze prospectively recorded health-related quality of life data, identifying clusters of complex patient outcomes. Decision tree analysis identified index hospital stay factors predictive of a patient having a particular complex patient outcome at follow-up. SETTING Academic medical center. PATIENTS One hundred three survivors of subarachnoid hemorrhage. INTERVENTIONS None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS We analyzed 103 patients, of whom 75 (72.8%) were female, and mean age was 53.6 ± 13.4 years. There were three complex patient outcomes: health-related quality of life greater than 1 sd better than the U.S. mean across all domains (n = 23, 22.3%), health-related quality of life greater than 1 sd worse than U.S. mean across all domains (n = 26, 25.2%), and satisfaction with social roles greater than 0.5 sd worse than U.S. mean with cognitive function, depression, and mobility scores near the U.S. mean (n = 54, 52.4%). In decision tree analysis, hospital disposition and Hunt and Hess Grade were associated with complex patient outcome. CONCLUSIONS Complex patient outcomes across multiple domains of health-related quality of life at follow-up after subarachnoid hemorrhage are distinct and may be predictable.
Male Primates: “Time-Minimizers” in Heterogeneous Regimes

As the sex with the lowest initial investment in reproduction (Trivers, 1972; Queller, 1997), the higher potential for lifetime reproductive success, and the higher variance in reproductive success, males are expected to be “time minimizers” (Schoener, 1971; Tolkamp et al., 2002; Newton-Fisher, 2002), factors that are likely to influence decision-making by males in the face of environmental unpredictability, uncertainty, and/or risk. A major source of environmental uncertainty, unpredictability, error, and risk for males will depend upon their differential ability to discriminate their own offspring, their full-sibs, their fathers, and the mothers of their offspring, although males are expected to be able to discriminate their mothers and their mother’s offspring with greater confidence (see West-Eberhard, 1975).
Context-based Semantic Similarity across ontologies

This thesis studies how a context-based approach could improve interoperability between heterogeneous ontologies developed and evolving autonomously. The hypothesis is that during collaborations, organizations exchange their data whose meaning is described by concepts defined by ontologies. The objective is to propose a context-based evaluation of such concepts. We propose a methodology to determine, model and use the context. Applying this methodology, we uncover three usages of context that may be used together to improve ontology reconciliation: We propose to disambiguate among the possible pragmatic meanings of the concepts by comparing the “perspectives” with or for which the concepts have been developed; to personalize this comparison by considering the agent's context, made of a relevant selection of the agent's company domains and tasks; to evaluate the pertinence of the data associated with the concept for the task that triggered the interoperability need.
Biosorption of Mercury from Dilute Aqueous Solutions Using Soybean Hulls and Rice Hulls

This research investigated the mercury biosorption potential of soybean hulls and rice hulls from dilute aqueous solutions. Both hull types were mixed with mercury solutions. Samples were tested unaltered, and after being treated with 10 % HCL. Additional parameters tested include sample dose, contact time, particle size, mixing temperature, and the concentration and pH of the mercury solutions. Desorption studies were also performed. In addition, tests were done to determine if the hulls could be reused for mercury biosorption. The results of this study indicate that both hull types work extremely well at biosorbing mercury from dilute aqueous solutions (71–99 % removal). The parameters that resulted in higher mercury removal for both hull types include HCL treatment, higher sample dose, contact time, and lower pH. Particle size did not have a significant impact on the percent of mercury removed for both hull types. Varying the mixing temperature did not affect the soybean hulls’ mercury extracting capacities. However, increasing the mixing temperature caused the rice hulls’ mercury removal capacity to increase slightly. As the mercury solution concentration was increased, the soybean hulls’ mercury biosorption capacity increased as well. Mercury solution concentration had a minimal impact on the rice hulls’ mercury biosorption capacity. The desorption results demonstrate that it may be possible to recover some of the removed mercury (up to 41 %). The results also demonstrate that both hull types can be reused for additional mercury biosorption cycles. Hence, they may be reused over and over and do not become a hazardous waste disposal problem.
The Politics of Opposition: China’s Moderates at the Political Consultative Conference of 1946

When analyzed in the context of the first Political Consultative Conference (PCC), a series of multiparty negotiations held in January of 1946, the theory of third party incompetence begins to break down. A more indepth analysis of the Chinese third force reveals that their liberal philosophies were backed up with practical plans, and primary source documents from the PCC reveal that Chinese liberals in fact possessed a detailed and comprehensive strategy for China’s future.
Surveillance for Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a global public health problem. Globally, an estimated 170 million persons (3 % of the world’s population) have been infected with the hepatitis C virus, and an estimated 350,000 persons die annually from complications of chronic hepatitis C. Furthermore, an increasing trend in hepatitis C mortality in the USA was observed over the last decade; in 2007, mortality associated with hepatitis C surpassed mortality associated with HIV. As the hepatitis C epidemic continues, it is increasingly important to accurately measure hepatitis C-related morbidity and mortality in order to inform public health programs and policies and prioritize and evaluate prevention efforts. This chapter provides an overview of hepatitis C surveillance and methods used in the USA with some examples from other countries.
Ligand‐Induced Conformational Changes in Proteins

The natures and roles of ligand-induced conformational changes are described in terms of the influence of the ligand on the equilibrium distribution of the protein structure among various conformational states. A very commonly observed conformational change is produced by a ligand binding into a cleft that lies between two domains and then closing the cleft through a hinge-like motion. Such a change in hexokinase serves to bring potential catalytic groups into the active site and to provide a binding site for the three phosphates of ATP. Flexibility in gene regulatory proteins such as the Escherichia coli catabolite activator protein and lac repressor may be important in the dual requirement for rapid diffusion of the proteins along the DNA as well as specific recognition of base sequences. A second role for flexibility in this class of proteins is to reduce their affinity for affinity for DNA, without reducing their capacity to discriminate among sequences.
Inferences concerning the magnetospheric source region for auroral breakup

It is argued that the magnetospheric source region for auroral arc breakup and substorm initiation is along boundary plasma sheet (BPS) magnetic field lines. This source region lies beyond a distinct central plasma sheet (CPS) region and sufficiently far from the Earth that energetic ion motion violates the guiding center approximation (i.e., is chaotic). The source region is not constrained to any particular range of distances from the Earth, and substorm initiation may be possible over a wide range of distances from near synchronous orbit to the distant tail. It is also argued that the layer of low-energy electrons and velocity dispersed ion beams observed at low altitudes on Aureol 3 is not a different region from the region of auroral arcs. Both comprise the BPS. The two regions occasionally appear distinct at low altitudes because of the effects of arc field-aligned potential drops on precipitating particles.
Shoulder subluxation in hemiplegia: Effects of three different supports

Abstract Shoulder subluxation in hemiplegia is a difficult problem to manage and it may be associated with pain and other complications. Measurements taken from x-rays have been used to obtain objective measures of shoulder subluxation, but have not been used to compare the effects of different shoulder supports. This study used x-ray measurements to evaluate different shoulder supports for subluxation in hemiplegia and to see if there was a significant difference between the Harris hemisling and the Bobath sling. The Harris hemisling gave good vertical correction of subluxation and compared closely to the uninvolved shoulder. The Bobath sling did not correct the subluxation as well, and the mean difference between the two slings was significant. The arm trough or lap board was less effective and tended to overcorrect. The Harris hemisling and arm trough or lap board had horizontal measurements similar to the uninvolved shoulders. The Bobath sling, however, distracted the glenohumeral joint horizontally and was more variable. The mean horizontal difference between the Harris hemisling and the Bobath sling was significant. These results support the effectiveness and specificity of shoulder support to decrease subluxation after hemiplegia.
Body integrity identity disorder

People with Body Integrity Identity Disorder (BIID) are individuals who need to acquire a physical impairment despite having been born or living in physically unimpaired bodies. Although much of the literature about the topic frames BIID as a mental illness causing people to choose the acquisition of disability, many people with BIID make it clear that there is no choice involved. The term “transability” is used by some people with BIID to make an apparent lingual comparison to the word “transgender” as both words signify people transitioning from one state of embodiment to another. Keywords: body integrity; disability; elective amputation; identity disorder; transability; wannabe
The rigid and stenosed cervix in the first stage of labor

Abstract Etiology .—The great frequency with which fibrosis occurs as the cause of true primary cervical dystocia is indicated. Conclusive evidence of the presence of continuous circular fibers (sphincteric type) is not forthcoming. It seems that ordinarily the caliber of the canal is maintained passively by the anatomic conformation of the organ as in the case of other nonsphincteric orifices. Doubt is cast upon the existence of such a condition as "spasmodic cervical contraction" during labor. In cases where such a diagnosis has been most frequently made, there are very often psychic or other general factors which, on careful analysis, will prove to be the actual cause. Other factors which may occasionally cause a cervical dystocia are discussed: syphilis, displacement of the os, adhesive membranes, overlapped cervical lips, etc. The condition called "Conglutinatio Orificii Externi" is considered. Diagnosis .—In the diagnosis, extracervical factors must be eliminated and fibrosis should always be suspected. In its absence, the most frequent factors causing an apparent cervical dystocia are (1) a misinterpretation of the patient's reaction to the very early stages of labor, giving the impression of prolonged labor without commensurate cervical change. (2) Active voluntary resistance to descent occasioned by the pain consequent upon pressure on the cervix. Treatment .—If an apparent cervical dystocia is not due to fibrosis, the most favorable results will follow watchful expectancy and the advised use of sedatives. Such methods will decrease in efficiency in direct proportion to the degree of scar tissue involvement, but may be helpful in any case. The use of bleeding and the warm bath is discussed. The insertion of weighted bags where fibrosis is a factor is condemned. Manual dilatation is seldom advisable, and instrumental dilatation never. The correct use of incisions is advised and described. Vaginal and abdominal cesarean section are discussed.
Understanding performance implications of nested file systems in a virtualized environment

Virtualization allows computing resources to be utilized much more efficiently than those in traditional systems, and it is a strong driving force behind commoditizing computing infrastructure for providing cloud services. Unfortunately, the multiple layers of abstraction that virtualization introduces also complicate the proper understanding, accurate measurement, and effective management of such an environment. In this paper, we focus on one particular layer: storage virtualization, which enables a host system to map a guest VM's file system to almost any storage media. A flat file in the host file system is commonly used for this purpose. However, as we will show, when one file system (guest) runs on top of another file system (host), their nested interactions can have unexpected and significant performance implications (as much as 67% degradation). From performing experiments on 42 different combinations of guest and host file systems, we give advice on how to and how not to nest file systems.
VHDL-based design and analysis of defect tolerant VLSI/WSI array architectures

Presents an integrated computer-aided design environment, the VAR (VHDL-based array reconfiguration) system, for the design, diagnosis, reconfiguration, simulation, and evaluation of an array architecture described in VHDL. VAR allows one to study fault diagnosis and reconfiguration algorithms by inserting user-defined faults into the array and then locating the faulty processing elements as well as simulating the actual reconfiguration process by mapping a target array onto a host array. Thus, VAR can assist the designer in evaluating different combinations of diagnosis algorithms, reconfiguration algorithms, and reconfigurable architectures. >
Development and regulation of dendritic stratification in retinal ganglion cells by glutamate-mediated afferent activity

In the mature retina, the dendrites of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are segregated into either ON or OFF sublaminae of the inner plexiform layer (IPL), but early in development the dendritic processes of these cells are multistratified, ramifying throughout the IPL. We examined the time course of dendritic stratification in developing beta cells, the largest class of ganglion cells in the cat retina, by retrograde labeling of fixed tissue with Dil. Dendritic stratification begins in the central and peripheral retina by embryonic day 50, about 2 weeks before birth and is not fully completed until 5 months postnatally. A clear central-to-peripheral gradient in the incidence of stratified beta cells first becomes evident shortly after birth. This stratification process was effectively halted by short-term intraocular injections (4–11 d) of the glutamate analog 2-amino-4-phosphonobutyrate (APB), which hyperpolarizes rod bipolar cells and ON cone bipolar cells, thereby preventing the release of glutamate by these interneurons. APB treatment did not alter the somal sizes or the tangential extent of the dendrites of developing beta cells, nor did it cause abnormal loss of these neurons. The organization of the inner nuclear layer, containing the APB-sensitive bipolar cells, was also not compromised by such injections. When APB treatment was discontinued there was a rapid resumption of dendritic stratification resulting in a normal incidence of stratified RGCs. Thus, short-term APB treatment causes a delay rather than a permanent arrest of the stratification process.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Compact low-power 7-bit 2.6 GS/s 65 nm CMOS ADC for 60 GHz applications

A 7-bit, 2.6 GS/s time-interleaved analogue-to-digital converter (ADC) for 60 GHz applications is designed and fabricated in 65 nm CMOS. The proposed subranging ADC architecture with time-shifting track-and-hold and two-phase amplification and encoding significantly enhances the speed of individual ADCs and reduces the number of interleaved channels to only four. At 2.6 GS/s sampling rate with a 1.355 GHz input signal, the ADC achieves an effective number of bits of 5.5 bits. Its core occupies 0.3 mm2 chip area and draws 45 mA current from a 1 V supply.
Surface Functionalization of Polyethylene for Magnetic Resonance Signal-Enhancing Coating Materials

Contrast enhancement for magnetic resonance imaging of polyethylene films is achieved by surface amination with hydrazine plasma treatments followed by covalent attachment of a cation chelator, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), which is then allowed to complex with gadolinium(III) ion. First, we investigated the effects of plasma conditions, that is, plasma treatment time and power. Polyethylene surfaces after the treatment to link primary amine groups, attachment of DTPA via amide linkage, and complexation with Gd3+ were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, water contact angle, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), and atomic force microscopy. A maximum surface density of primary amine group is found by the plasma treatment at low power (15 W) and short treatment time (5 min) under the continuous wave conditions. ATR-FTIR confirms that the amine and amide groups are formed on the PE surface after the hydrazine plasma treatments, which is a...
A Model for Reflective Pedagogy

This article argues that quality business requires rediscovering pedagogy as a professional calling and studied activity. The authors chronicle forces driving reform in business and higher education. They then explore both the growing importance of reflective learning in professional education and a model that they have developed and implemented for encouraging such practice. The results of their training program are discussed in terms of interventions that promote reflective pedagogy by capitalizing on the competencies that faculty professionals already possess as researchers.
Definition of fibronectin-mediated uptake of gelatinized latex by liver slices and macrophages.

Abstract These studies show that both liver slices and macrophages carried out fibronectin concentration-dependent uptake of 125 I-labeled gelatin-coated latex (test latex). Lack of phagocytosis of test latex by liver slices was shown directly by electron microscopy and indirectly by trypsin treatment, which caused the release of all test latex taken up in response to fibronectin. Inhibitors of phagocytosis did not alter this uptake. On the other hand, trypsin released only a portion of test latex from macrophages. Inhibitors of phagocytosis did not effect the released radioactive particles from macrophages but greatly reduced the trypsin-resistant radioactivity, taken as representing phagocytized particles. Opsonization of test latex with fibronectin did not require heparin but its association with liver slices occurred only in the presence of heparin. Macrophages, however, readily bound and internalized the opsonized test latex and heparin only potentiated these reactions. Gelatin competed with test latex for fibronectin for opsonization, but did not inhibit binding and phagocytosis of fibronectin-test latex complexes. Finally, soluble fibronectin-gelatin complexes did not compete for binding and phagocytosis of fibronectin-test latex complexes. Thus, fibronectin concentrated on the surface of latex is preferred for interaction with the fibronection receptor of macrophages. Gelatin, however, was not essential for this reaction, because fibronectin directly coupled to latex was also readily taken up.
Understanding web 2.0’s influences on public e-services: a protection Motivation perspective

Web 2.0 offers both technology and an environment that facilitates transparency and communication for users and stakeholders. With this opportunity, public sector e-services are given tools to engage their own employees in an atmosphere that not only fosters new ideas, but provides a framework for managing prototypes and pilot projects that encourage experimentation. In addition, this environment encourages collaboration and breaking down walls of information asymmetries between various stakeholders. Public sector e-services has a legacy of a risk adverse environment where many times the focus is on the politically charged short-term delivery of goals and results, lacking a long-term strategy of managing the risk and renewal cycle around service innovation. The promises and potential that Web 2.0 technologies may provide still have to deal with fragile systems that are currently in place in public sector e-services. Government regulators, consumer advocacy groups, and e-services need to understand how Internet innovation affects the end user/consumer directly. The central premise being that these groups are modeling consumer trends and may be making decisions on false or fabricated information, even suggesting this could lead to inhibiting overall Internet innovation.
Measurement of thrombus resolution using three-dimensional ultrasound assessment of deep vein thrombosis volume

Objective: Current imaging techniques are limited in their ability to quantify thrombus burden, progression, resolution, and organization over time in patients with acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT). These assessments are critical measures of therapeutic success when thrombolytic or thrombectomy treatment protocols are utilized for DVT. We evaluated the reliability of a new, commercially available method of acquiring and analyzing three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound images of DVTs that measures thrombus volume and echogenicity. Methods: We studied 25 consecutive hospital in-patients (18 male, seven female; age range, 37-87 years) with a first episode of acute DVT. Treatment decisions were not influenced by the study protocol. Scanning was performed independently by two sonographers, then the first sonographer repeated the scan. A combination of routine imaging in grayscale, color-flow, and power-Doppler modes (2D transducer) along with volumetric imaging (3D transducer) was performed. Patients underwent imaging at baseline and on one or more follow-up days 7, 14, 21 and 30. Imageprocessing software loaded on the ultrasound machine was used to obtain thrombus volume and echogenicity measurements. Results: Thrombus volume was reliably determined by our protocol. The median volume of thrombus at baseline was 0.4 cm 3 . Mean inter- and intraobserver differences in volume measurements were 0.006 6 0.26 cm 3 and L0.12 6 0.29 cm 3 (mean 6 standard deviation). Thrombus resolved over time at a rate of L0.042 6 0.01 cm 3 /day (P < .003). The median echogenicity of thrombus at baseline expressed as the grayscale median value was 59. There was a trend for thrombus organization (measured as echogenicity) to increase with time, D0.36 6 0.23 grayscale median units/day (P < .13). Adjustment for the use of anticoagulation, gender of subject, or location of DVT in the upper vs lower extremity did not alter the relationshipbetweentimeandvolumeortimeandechogenicity. Conclusions: We describe a 3D imaging protocol that reliably measures thrombus volume and echogenicity over time. The method is convenient and can be utilized in routine clinical practice. Acute DVT was associated with a reduction in thrombus size and trend for increased echogenicity over 1 month. This protocol will be of increasing value as our appreciation for the deleterious effects of residual thrombus after DVT increases and our utilization of aggressive thrombus removal treatments for acute DVT increases. (J Vasc Surg: Venous and Lym Dis 2013;-:1-8.)
Image-domain sampling properties of the Hotelling Observer in CT using filtered back-projection

The Hotelling Observer (HO), 1 along with its channelized variants, 2 has been proposed for image quality evaluation in x-ray CT. 3,4 In this work, we investigate HO performance for a detection task in parallel-beam FBP as a function of two image-domain sampling parameters, namely pixel size and field-of-view. These two parameters are of central importance in adapting HO methods to use in CT, since the large number of pixels in a single image makes direct computation of HO performance for a full image infeasible in most cases. Reduction of the number of image pixels and/or restriction of the image to a region-of-interest (ROI) has the potential to make direct computation of HO statistics feasible in CT, provided that the signal and noise properties lead to redundant information in some regions of the image. For small signals, we hypothesize that reduction of image pixel size and enlargement of the image field-of-view are approximately equivalent means of gaining additional information relevant to a detection task. The rationale for this hypothesis is that the backprojection operation in FBP introduces long range correlations so that, for small signals, the reconstructed signal outside of a small ROI is not linearly independent of the signal within the ROI. In this work, we perform a preliminary investigation of this hypothesis by sweeping these two sampling parameters and computing HO performance for a signal detection task.
Theoretical treatment of events between the drug-receptor association and the effect

Pharmacological stimulus is defined as a drug-induced stress in the receptor which, by various means, is then transmitted along a series of other structures in the affected biological object. When one of these consequent events is observable, it is considered to be the drug effect. These assumptions lead to the conclusions that, depending on how the initial receptor stress is propagated to other structures, the effect may be either a linear or a nonlinear function of the stimulus; that the conventional pharmacological parameters drug-receptor dissociation constant, efficacy or intrinsic activity, and total receptor concentration, are very complex, embodying a number of concentrations of components of the responding organ and a number of equilibrium constants of reactions in which these components become involved; and that all drug antagonism is competitive, but when the competition takes place, not at the receptor, but at some site between the receptor and the site of the effect, the antagonism follows noncompetitive kinetics.
Spontaneous flux and magnetic-interference patterns in 0-{pi} Josephson junctions

The spontaneous flux generation and magnetic field modulation of the critical current in a 0-$\ensuremath{\pi}$ Josephson junction are calculated for different ratios of the junction length $L$ to the Josephsen penetration depth ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{J},$ and different ratios of the $0$-junction length to the $\ensuremath{\pi}$-junction length. These calculations apply to a Pb-YBa${}_{2}$Cu${}_{3}$O${}_{7\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\delta}}$ (YBCO) $c$-axis-oriented junction with one YBCO twin boundary, as well as other experimental systems. Measurements of such a junction can provide information on the nature of the $c$-axis Josephson coupling and the symmetry of the order parameter in YBCO. We find spontaneous flux even for very short symmetric 0-$\ensuremath{\pi}$ junctions, but asymmetric junctions have qualitatively different behavior.
Abiraterone acetate for castration resistant prostate cancer.

Importance of the field: Androgen deprivation therapy has been the standard of care in advanced prostate cancer for > 50 years. Although castration is initially effective, most patients eventually develop progressive disease despite low levels of testosterone (termed castration resistant prostate cancer, CRPC). Intratumor and extra-gonadal androgens (specifically adrenal androgens) represent a means for continued androgen receptor-mediated growth in CRPC and have thus become therapeutic targets. One novel therapeutic is abiraterone acetate (AA): an inhibitor of CYP17, an enzyme that catalyzes two key serial reactions in androgen and estrogen biosynthesis. Data from Phase I and II trials suggest that clinically important antitumor activity is seen in up to 70% of castrate patients with advanced prostate cancer resistant to currently available endocrine therapies. The toxicity profile has also been found to be acceptable. Two large Phase III clinical trials are currently open to accrual and will hopefully v...
Diversity of drug abuse treatment utilization patterns and outcomes

Abstract This study examined the longitudinal patterns of drug abuse treatment utilization over a 36-month period and the associated outcomes. The sample included 430 patients recruited from several treatment programs of different modalities; 335 patients in the single treatment group reported no additional treatment subsequent to the referent treatment, 65 patients in the consecutive treatment group continued in treatment after the referent treatment ended, and 30 patients in the non-consecutive treatment group reentered into treatment at least one month after the referent treatment ended. The three groups did not differ in terms of background characteristics and most of the drug use history and criminal history measures. The cumulative lengths of time in treatment over the 36 months were also similar across the three groups with the mean being 10–13 months. During the 36-month period, more than 60% of the patients across the three groups also reported treatment participation prior to the referent treatment. A logistic regression analysis was conducted to predict the positive outcome (defined as no drug use and no crimes committed while living in the community) at follow-up. Both longer stay in treatment cumulatively across the 36-month period and self-help group participation subsequent to the referent treatment were positively related to the favorable outcome, while prior treatment was negatively related to outcome. Relative to the non-consecutive group, patients in the consecutive group and single treatment group were, respectively, 2.81 times, and 2.49 times more like to have a positive outcome. The study results suggest that continued participation in some kind of treatment or self-help group is critical for sustaining recovery.
The role of federal policy in stimulating appropriate use of computers in elementary-secondary schools

The conventional wisdom in conceptualizing the role of federal policy in stimulating increased use of computers at the elementary-secondary level is that the federal government should focus on providing funding for the acquisition of large amounts of equipment. In addition, the argument runs that greatly increased use of technology is in the national interest in terms of improving math and science education and that such federal policy would reduce the growing disparity in availability of computers among rich and poor districts. Unfortunately, such a perspective may lead to winning the battle at the expense of losing the war. Dumping large amounts of equipment on school districts at the present time would ensure little more than that the public schools would end up in several years with large amounts of unused, obsolete equipment. The computer is such a relatively new tool in elementary-secondary schools that the culture, norms, and research evidence of the relative effectiveness of computer use have yet to be established.
The Effect of Calcium and Prostaglandin Inhibitors on the Intestinal Fluid Response to Heat-Stable Enterotoxin of Escherichia coli

The role of calcium and prostaglandins in the intestinal fluid response to Escherichia coli heat-stable enterotoxin (ST) was investigated in infant mice. Drugs that inhibit calcium uptake - cromolyn sodium, diltiazem, and nifedipine - caused a significant (P < 0.02, P< 0.02, and P< 0.01, respectively) decrease in the fluid response when administered with ST. The effect of cromolyn sodium and nifedipine was dose-dependent; both agents were effective when administered 30 min before toxin challenge. Inhibitors of prostaglandin synthesis- quinacrine hydrochloride and zomepirac sodium - caused a significant (P< 0.05 and P< 0.02, respectively) reduction in the fluid response when administered with or 30 min before ST. The fluid response to cyclic 8-bromoguanosine 3',5'-monophosphate or to nitroprusside, which directly activates guanylate cyclase, was not altered by inhibitors of calcium uptake or prostaglandin synthesis. These observations indicate that calcium and prostaglandins are involved in the initial events that result in an intestinal fluid response to E. coli ST.
Piperacillin/tazobactam in the treatment of community-acquired and nosocomial respiratory tract infections: A review

Investigators assessed the efficacy and safety of piperacillin/tazobactam therapy in a study of patients with community-acquired lower respiratory tract infections and a study of patients with nosocomial, severe lower respiratory tract infections. Piperacillin 4 g/tazobactam 500 mg was given intravenously every 8 h to 193 hospitalized lower respiratory tract infection patients for a minimum of 5 days. There was a favorable response rate of 97% and eradication of the causative pathogen was documented or presumed in 93% of patients. There was a low incidence of adverse experiences and the combination was well tolerated. Seventy-one intensive care patients with severe lung disease received 4 g piperacillin/500 mg tazobactam intravenously every 6 h; afterward they were given amikacin 7.5 mg/kg every 12 h. Minimum duration of treatment was 5 days. Therapy with piperacillin/tazobactam plus amikacin was well-tolerated, produced a 74% favorable clinical response rate, and eradicated the responsible pathogen in 70% of patients.
Differential precipitation ionography for qualitative cation analysis

Abstract A method — differential precipitation ionography — is described for the separation and detection of cations in mixtures in trace amounts. The ions are caused to migrate by application of current to a supporting membrane. The substrate is kept moist with an electrolyte so chosen that its electrolysis provides a p h gradient. The migrating ions form narrow bands of their oxides or hydroxides at the point of their precipitation p h in this field. After this separation the filter is developed with a suitable reagent and examined microscopically. Several metal ions can be detected in a single sample. Materials in amounts as low as 10−9 g may be detected.
Behavioral effects of long-term administration of an anabolic steroid in intact and castrated male Wistar rats.

Abstract Once a week, intact and castrated male Wistar rats were intramuscularly injected with a 0.2 ml suspension of either 0, 10, or 50 mg nandrolone decanoate in cottonseed oil, for 8 consecutive weeks. After the sixth injection, locomotor activity was measured in an open-field and the acquisition of lever press behavior was assessed in an autoshaping procedure. Subsequently, all subjects were exposed to four sessions of continuous reinforcement prior to one session in which the effects of steroid administration on extinction were assessed. Locomotor activity decreased for all groups of rats with continued exposure to the open-field, differences between groups were not observed. Rats treated with the highest dose of nandrolone decanoate spent more time in the margin of the open-field. There were no significant differences between groups on any of the learning measures. Long-term, high-dose steroid administration in conjunction with mild food deprivation inhibited growth in intact and castrated rats, while low dose administration affected body weight in intact rats only. Steroid administration resulted in heavier and enlarge kidneys and lighter testes as well. These results suggest that the administration of anabolic steroids not only produces observable physiological changes, but that it may also affect spontaneous behavior. The failure to find differences in learning indices may have been a function of the particular paradigms used in the present experiment.
Mechanical response of metallic, fiber-reinforced beams to transverse impacts

Abstract Composite metal beams consisting of steel piano wires embedded in a lead-tin alloy matrix were mounted as cantilevers, and their tips were hit by travelling “hammers”. The durations of the impacts were many times the time of transit of a plastic shear wave along the length of the cantilever. It was found that in contrast to the behavior of cantilevers of isotropic metals, the plastic deformation observed was in the form of shear in the clamped section of the cantilever. To study this phenomenon further, long composite beams were mounted so that their central portions were lightly held in a clamp, and two cantilever sections protruded from each end of the clamp. The tip of one of the cantilever sections was hit by a travelling hammer. The plastic deformation observed after the impact was confined to the shearing of the section held between the clamps; the two cantilever sections simply rotated about their fixed ends. The experiments were analyzed by a simplified elastic-plastic technique, and it is shown that there is good agreement between the experimental observations and the theoretical predictions.
The millimeter-wave spectrum of 2-cyanoethanol

Abstract In order to better characterize the chemistry involving C N groups in regions of star-formation, we have recorded the millimeter-wave rotational spectrum of 2-cyanoethanol. Almost 6000 new transitions were assigned to two separate conformers and three torsionally excited states. The lowest energy conformer, gauche-2-cyanoethanol, its 1 st excited torsion, and the ground state for the anti-I-conformer are best characterized with basic asymmetric rigid-rotor Hamiltonians including distortion. All fit close to experimental uncertainty. Fits for the 2 nd and 3 rd excited torsional states for the gauche-conformer are of somewhat lower quality, which might be explained by a potential interaction between these states. The results of the various fits are discussed in this paper. In all, the present characterization of the spectrum and extensions through prediction should be more than sufficient to guide future millimeter-wave observational studies of this species in the interstellar medium.
A disulfide-bridge bifunctional imidoester as a reversible cross-linking reagent

Abstract A disulfide-bridged bifunctional imidoester, dimethyl 3, 3′ dithio-bispropionimidate (DTP) has been prepared and investigated as a reagent to introduce covalent cross-links in proteins that can subsequently be broken by mild reduction. Such reversible cross-links were shown to be introduced by DTP in the soluble subunit proteins aldolase and Concanavalin A. DTP was also used to modify human intact erythrocytes. Such modification rendered the erythrocytes resistant to hypotonic lysis; subsequent treatment with mercaptoethanol lysed the cells. After DTP-modification of the cells, the hemoglobin contained in them could still be reversibly oxygenated and deoxygenated.
Quantitative electron probe microanalysis: Fluorescence correction uncertainty

In order to evaluate the fluorescence correction uncertainty in electron probe microanalysis, effects of two general types were investigated. The effects of uncertainty in 1. microprobe operational variables, including X-ray emergence angle and operating voltage, and 2. errors in model input parameters, such as fluorescence yield factors and mass attenuation coefficients, were evaluated. The major conclusion of this study is, that even in cases requiring large fluorescence corrections, microprobe operation at high (≧30°) X-ray emergences angles, and at the lowest voltage compatible with a reasonable X-ray output is entirely satisfactory. This conclusion is reached by substituting into existing fluorescence correction models reasonable input parameter errors, X-ray emergence angles, and operating voltages. Results show that absolute compositional errors vary quite slowly with X-ray emergence angle and operating voltage. The chief source of error among input parameters is the fluorescence yield factor. The role of model selection as a source of potential error is also discussed.