cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Derivation of Endothelial Cells and Pericytes from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

Blood vessels serve as the lifeline of nearly all living tissue. Vascular cells derived from human pluripotent stem cells hold great potential for clinical use in the regeneration of diseased vasculature and construction of blood vessels in engineered tissue. By deriving these cells in a controllable and clinically relevant manner harnessing physiological cues, we can obtain populations of cells amenable for transplantation. In this chapter, we describe methods to differentiate human pluripotent stem cells toward a bicellular population of early vascular cells using low oxygen cues, guide these subpopulations into mature endothelial cells and pericytes, and expand the vascular derivatives.
Standardization of 237Np

The standardization of (237)Np was investigated. The certified massic activity for (237)Np was obtained by 4παβ liquid scintillation (LS) counting with correction for the (233)Pa daughter using the CIEMAT/NIST efficiency tracing method using a (3)H standard. Confirmatory measurements were also performed by high-resolution HPGe gamma-ray spectrometry, and by 4παβ(LS)-γ(NaI) anticoincidence counting. All results agree within the respective method's uncertainties. It was confirmed that the (237)Np/(233)Pa radioactive equilibrium is disturbed when making dilutions and/or removing aliquots.
Protecting the Therapeutic Alliance in this Time of Changing Health-Care Delivery Systems

ABSTRACTThis Presidential Address examines the current health-care situation, focusing on group therapists and patients. Psychodynamically inclined practitioners emphasize that group treatment effectiveness is related to the quality and strength of the “therapeutic alliance.” But the empowerment of provider-administrators to determine treatment availability can undermine the treatment bond, so vitally needed for effective and efficient therapy! Although health-care costs have increased rapidly and need realistic containment, the importance of the group-therapist bond must be enhanced rather than minimized since it contributes to favorable therapeutic results. The final section addresses some possible approaches to protecting treatment.
The Relational Subject

The Relational Subject by Pierpaolo Donati and Margaret Archer is something new under the sun. I said as much when I first reviewed the original manuscript for Cambridge University Press, and I sta...
La notion de bande électronique dans les liquides : quelques questions que vous n'avez jamais osé poser

Dans ce bref expose nous ferons une comparaison qualitative d’un calcul de bande dans un cristal et dans un liquide. Nous discuterons ensuite des conditions dans lesquelles on peut parler d’une onde electronique possedant un vecteur d’onde assez bien defini dans le cas d’un systeme desordonne tel qu’un liquide. S’il existe une relation entre l’energie de l’electron et le vecteur d’onde associe a sa fonction d’onde, on pourra introduire la notion de quasi-quantite de mouvement qui est une quantite a peu pres conservee au cours d’une collision avec une autre onde telle qu’un phonon. Ces collisions sont parmi celles qui limitent la vitesse d’entrainement d’un electron soumis a un champ electrique exterieur. Finalement, on considerera l’interaction de l’electron avec d’autres perturbations qui donnent lieu a la dissipation de l’energie et de la quantite de mouvement acquises par l’electron soumis a un champ electrique exterieur et on verra comment la forme de la bande electronique peut donner lieu a un rapport non lineaire entre le courant electrique et le champ applique.
An Exploratory Case Study of a Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline: Training and Practice Implications:

Using archival data, this case study systematically examines telephone calls received by a regional sexual assault hotline in the Southeastern United States over a 5-year period. A stratified random sample ( n = 383) reveals that hotline staff require diversity and depth in knowledge and skills, demonstrated by the hotline's primary use as a crisis service, combined with notable use by long-term survivors. Findings include the utility of the hotline by survivors and community stakeholders, categories of assault, the time gap between incidents occurring and contacting the hotline, call severity and urgency, and services and referrals provided. Implications for training, practice, and future research are discussed.
Inheritance of Undulate Leaf Mutant of Upland Cotton

A new leaf mutant of upland cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., is described. Leaves of this mutant have undulate margins and a light green color, the latter because of reduced chlorophyll content. Its expression is conditioned by a recessive gene, designated undulate, ul
Patient-Reported oral health outcome measurement for children and adolescents.

Oral health is an important component of daily functioning and well-being. A comprehensive patient-reported oral health measure is needed to gauge the impact of oral health status on children and adolescents. This study aims to develop oral health item banks and associated short-form surveys for children and adolescents 2–17 year olds. Using children and adolescents, ages 2–17 years, selected from diverse dental sites in Greater Los Angeles Area, we propose to develop state-of-the-science methods to create oral health item banks to effectively measure oral health outcomes for children and adolescents. Methods include a literature review of existing measures, focus groups, cognitive interviews, drafting and field testing of survey items, and evaluation of the psychometric properties of the measures. Based on the systematic literature search and focus groups, we identified core (physical health, mental health, and social function domains) and peripheral (e.g., need and access) oral health domains. We then drafted survey items and revised them based on 66 cognitive interviews (27 children/adolescents and 39 parents) with 39 families. The revised items will be administered in a field test of 500 children and adolescents ages 2–17, and their parents. The qualitative methods used in the initial phases of the project (focus group and cognitive interviews) are the initial steps in the development of oral health item banks and associated short-form surveys for children and adolescents. The oral health items can potentially be used to create effective computerized adaptive test and/or create ad hoc short forms targeting specific areas of oral health to survey large populations of children with much less cost compared with traditional clinical oral health examination.
Design of current controllers in sensorless induction motor applications - speed control versus torque control

The paper discusses the design of synchronous reference frame current controllers for a sensorless induction motor (IM) drive that operates in speed regulation mode or torque control mode. In most IM implementations, PI controllers alone are used for current regulation because of convenience. The reference values fed in the current controllers are either preselected or are synthesized by flux, speed or position regulators. Ideally, there should be no dependence between these two layers of controllers and their design should be done in successive steps. The current controllers are expected to force the currents to the reference values with good dynamics and no steady state error, irrespective of how the reference currents were generated. The paper shows that for a IM drive operating in speed control mode (where speed is commanded to a constant value), PI controllers alone are sufficient for proper current regulation. However, in torque control mode (where id is usually kept constant and iq is changed), the Pis alone can not regulate the currents. The analytical expressions of the current steady-state errors are derived. The proper controller design is to use compensation voltages in addition to the Pis - this eliminates the errors. The design of the decoupling compensators is reviewed. Additionally, the paper studies the current steady-state error when compensation is attempted with improper motor parameters.
Who Would Have Thought? The Story of a Food Engineer

Food engineering is a hybrid of food science and an engineering science, like chemical engineering in my particular case, resulting in the application of chemical engineering principles to food systems and their constituents. With the complexity of food and food processing, one generally narrows his or her interests, and my primary interests were in the kinetics of reactions important in foods, thermal processing, deposition of unwanted materials from food onto heated surfaces (fouling), and microwave heat transfer in baking. This review describes how I developed an interest in these topics and the contributions I have hopefully made to understanding food and to the application of engineering.
To “Free” or Not to “Free”: Trait Predictors of Mobile App Purchasing Tendencies

This research is the first to examine the relationship between personality traits and mobile application (app) purchasing tendencies, specifically the tendency to pay for apps when free alternatives are available (Mobile App Payment), and the tendency to make In-App Purchases. A hierarchical model of personality traits was tested via structural equation modeling with 257 U.S. college students who own and use mobile devices. The study provides robust evidence that bargain proneness positively influences both Mobile App Payment and In-App Purchases, with need for arousal positively influencing Mobile App Payment. Additionally, frugality negatively influences both Mobile App Payment and In-App Purchases. Indirect or mediated effects of extraversion and need for arousal on mobile app purchasing tendencies were also found. Finally, managerial and theoretical implications are discussed.
Status of cerebral penetrating arterioles has important implication to stroke penumbra evaluation (Conference Presentation)

Cerebral penetrating arterioles (PAs) are structurally and functionally different from the pial arterioles, as they are an exception group from the collateral circulation. Previous study has demonstrated the PAs are the bottlenecks to the flow from the surface arteries to the deeper microcirculations. However, functional change in PAs after ischemia plays an important role in delivering blood from a highly collateralized pial arteriole network to capillaries. An ability to separately monitor PA flow dynamics is critical to understand flow redistribution mechanism during stroke and refine stroke treatment target. We use optical coherence tomography (OCT)-based microangiography (OMAG) to evaluate flow and velocity change in multiple PAs after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in mice across a large cortex region, covering distal branches of arterioles and anastomosis. We also apply OCT-based tissue injury mapping (TIM) method to reveal the potential penumbra development within the imaging region, upon which we observed apparent differences of the PA flow dynamics between core and penumbra regions. Our results suggest that the flow dynamics of PAs can be an important factor regulating the stroke penumbra development, and that stimulatory treatment targeting PAs can be studied under the guidance of OMAG.
A Web-based Visual Analytic Framework for Understanding Large-scale Environmental Models: A Use Case for The Community Land Model

Abstract This study introduces a web-based visual analytic framework to better understand the software structures of large-scale environmental models. The framework integrates data management, software structures analysis, and web-based visualizations. A system for the Community Land Model (CLM) is developed to demonstrate the capability of the proposed framework. It consists of three major components: (1) a Fortran-syntax analysis tool that decomposes CLM source code into simpler forms; (2) an application tier that further analyzes and converts the prepro-cessed data into meaningful software structural information; (3) a web-based front end that is developed using state-of-the-art web technologies and visualization toolkit (e.g., D3.js). The framework provides users with easy access to the internal structures of complex environmental models. Currently, the prototype system is being used by CLM modelers and field scientists to tackle different environmental research problems.
Efficacy and cytotoxicity in cell culture of novel α-hydroxytropolone inhibitors of hepatitis B virus ribonuclease H.

Abstract Chronic Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major worldwide public health problem. Current direct-acting anti-HBV drugs target the HBV DNA polymerase activity, but the equally essential viral ribonuclease H (RNaseH) activity is unexploited as a drug target. Previously, we reported that α–hydroxytropolone compounds can inhibit the HBV RNaseH and block viral replication. Subsequently, we found that our biochemical RNaseH assay underreports efficacy of the α-hydroxytropolones against HBV replication. Therefore, we conducted a structure-activity analysis of 59 troponoids against HBV replication in cell culture. These studies revealed that antiviral efficacy is diminished by larger substitutions on the tropolone ring, identified key components in the substitutions needed for high efficacy, and revealed that cytotoxicity correlates with increased lipophilicity of the α-hydroxytropolones. These data provide key guidance for further optimization of the α-hydroxytropolone scaffold as novel HBV RNaseH inhibitors.
Abstract WP102: Interleukin-21 Promotes Neuronal Autophagy Following Cerebral Ischemia

Currently there is no treatment for the inflammatory responses that develop following cerebral ischemia. We have previously shown that the CD4+ T cell derived inflammatory cytokine IL-21 is highly upregulated in ischemic mouse brain following transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) and promotes neuronal tissue injury. We also found IL-21+ CD4+ cells in perivascular spaces of ischemic human brain tissue; however, the primary effects and cellular targets of IL-21 remain unknown. Thus, we compared genome-wide whole brain gene expression in wild-type (WT) and IL-21 -/- mice following 1 hour tMCAO (n=3-5). RNA from whole brain was analyzed by Mouse Gene 1.0 ST microarray (Affymetrix) revealing that 2019 gene fragments representing 1505 genes had >3 fold higher expression in WT brain compared to IL-21 -/- after 24 hours reperfusion. Gene score resampling of annotated probe scores identified biological process gene ontology (GO) terms with 3-8 member genes most significantly over-represented including: GO:0010507 Negative Regulation of Autophagy, GO:0090174 Organelle Membrane Fusion, GO:0000046 Autophagic vacuole fusion, and GO:0016242 Negative regulation of macroautophagy (p -/- mouse compared to WT mice. Thus, we hypothesized that IL-21 could directly induce autophagy in hypoxic neuronal cells. IL-21 receptor was expressed on 10% of CD45- cells isolated from healthy mouse brain. Furthermore, using RT-PCR we detected Il21r mRNA expression on neuronal (Neura2A), astrocytic, and endothelial cell lines (MB114) with highest expression levels on Neuro2A cells. Surface expression on Neuro2A cells and primary neurons was confirmed by immunofluorescence. In preliminary experiments primary neurons treated with 256 ng/mL rIL-21 for 4 hours following 1-2 hour oxygen glucose deprivation showed increased expression of ATG6 compared to control treated cells (p
The Emergence of Mechanical Accounting in the U.S., 1880-1930

For centuries, accounting was a manual process. Starting in the late 1800s, a series of technological innovations emerged that not only changed the way the accounting process was conducted but dramatically changed the workplace, the workforce, the information provided, and the accounting profession itself. By 1930, most major US companies had adopted mechanical accounting as a more efficient way of processing accounting information. This paper examines the historical development and influence of mechanical accounting in the U.S. from 1880 to 1930.
Issues in The Identification of Models of Human Behavior

Abstract The distinction between human performance and human behavior is considered and modeling approaches suitable for describing both performance and behavior discussed. Static and dynamic input-output models and rule-based models are contrasted. Issues considered include the models' relative abilities to describe time-varying behavior, possible levels of description, uses of contextual cues, and identifiability.
Design of a Precision Medication Dispenser: Preventing Overdose by Increasing Accuracy and Precision of Dosage

Liquid medication overdose in pediatric patients results in over 70000 visits to the emergency room yearly in the USA. Various studies have demonstrated that the root cause of this high incidence is due to user and device error in dose measurement. The standard measuring cup and syringe suffer from the challenge of accurately measuring and dispensing viscous liquids, which comprise the majority of children’s medication formulations. Here, we describe the development of a precision medication dispenser that overcomes challenges associated with viscous fluid flow at low volumes and flow rates, while incorporating various ergonomic and user-friendly features. The device performs with >95% accuracy and 94% precision across the 1–5-mL range of volume, a significant improvement when compared to current commercially available dispensers.
Predictors of the Peer Acceptance of Children with Diabetes: Social Behavior and Disease Severity

Objective. Investigated illness severity (medical control, disease impact, obviousness) and social behavior style as predictors of the peer acceptance of children with diabetes. Method. Sixty-five children (10–12.5 years old) with diabetes and their parents, teachers, and physicians participated. Physician ratings and laboratory tests indicated medical control. Parents and children reported disease impact and teachers rated disease obviousness. Children and teachers rated social behavior. Teachers reported peer acceptance. Results. Consistent with hypotheses, favorable social behavior positively predicted acceptance and disease impact negatively predicted acceptance; medical control did not relate to acceptance. Disease obviousness and social behavior interacted to predict acceptance. Children with more obvious disease were not stigmatized by unfavorable social behavior. Conclusions. Aspects of disease severity and social behavior influence peer acceptance and may be appropriate predictors and targets for remediation of peer problems.
Billard im Kreis und im Quadrat

Obwohl ein Einheitskreis eine sehr einfache Figur ist, gibt es ein paar interessante Dinge, die man uber das Billard darin sagen kann. Der Kreis ist radialsymmetrisch; und eine Billardbahn ist durch den Winkel α, mit dem sie auf den Rand des Kreises trifft, vollstandig bestimmt. Dieser Winkel bleibt bei jeder Reflexion gleich. Jeder nachfolgende Auftreffpunkt ergibt sich aus dem vorherigen durch eine Kreisdrehung um den Winkel θ = 2α. Fur θ = 2π p/q ist jede Billardbahn q-periodisch und fuhrt p Wendungen um den Kreis aus; man sagt, dass die Umlaufzahl einer solchen Bahn p/q ist. Wenn θ kein rationales Vielfaches von π ist, dann ist jede Bahn unendlich.
Management of BCG Recurrent Bladder Cancer

The management of patients who develop recurrence after BCG therapy remains one of the most difficult problems in urologic practice. Because these tumors are potentially lethal, early identification of patients suited for additional intravesical treatment or radical cystectomy (RC) is essential. In 2013 the European Association of Urology defined different categories of unsuccessful treatment with intravesical BCG: BCG failure, BCG refractory, BCG relapsing, and BCG intolerance. In patients who have HG NMIBC recurrence within 3 months of BCG treatment, there is an associated progression rate of 82 % compared to a rate of 25 % for those who were not BCG refractory. Among patients who developed recurrence after two treatments of BCG, up to 80 % of the patients will progress and develop MIBC or metastatic disease. Although RC may offer the best oncologic outcomes in patients who recur and/or progress after BCG treatment, the potential benefits of RC must be weighed against the risk and impact on quality of life. Several options, in the properly selected patient are available other than RC, which include combining intravesical agents such as BCG + interferon, or single-agent therapies (i.e. valrubicin, mitomycin, gemicitabine, and docetaxel). Novel therapies that are showing early promise include nab-Paclitaxel and device-assisted therapies. Proper utilization of these available therapies is dependent on the type of BCG recurrent disease and recognition of which risk is being managed, recurrence or progression.
Paradigm Shift in Causal Thinking in Epidemiology

Professor Shapiro expressed concern with the general direction of epidemiology. Whereas the previous position was that we are unable to interpret limited data, this emphasis has shifted. In particular, the randomized controlled trial (RCT) now is unassailable in the US.
Spontaneous regression of pancreatic cancer with liver metastases.

Spontaneous cancer regression is a rare event, scarcely reported among gastrointestinal malignancies. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma regression has been documented in five previous cases, none of which included liver metastases, and the mechanism by which this occurs is not known. A 56-year-old woman with history of discoid lupus, homocysteinemia and peripheral vascular disease was diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) metastatic to the liver. She received palliative chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, irinotecan and oxaliplatin (FOLFIRINOX) for 6 months, complicated by mucositis, diarrhoea, vomiting and two Clostridium difficile colitis episodes. Cancer initially responded to chemotherapy. However, due to substantial toxicities, she decided to discontinue cytotoxic chemotherapy and focus on palliation alone. Thereafter, CT and carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 showed further response and ultimately complete cancer regression that has persisted for 33 months after cessation of chemotherapy. This is the first report in the English literature showing spontaneous regression of a PDA with liver metastases. Two possible mechanisms are proposed: antitumoral autoimmunity and tumour hypoxia related to vascular disease.
Low likelihood that potential germline findings identified during somatic tumor testing are evaluated: Room for improvement.

e13037Background: Genomic testing, useful for treatment planning, may indicate the presence of a germline mutation. We evaluate the incidence of potentially actionable germline mutations detected v...
Measles outbreak in an office building in the crowded Metropolis of Beijing, China

Although worldwide measles elimination achieved great progress for decades, outbreaks were still reported in certain countries. This study describes the epidemiologic features of a substantial measles outbreak in an office building in Beijing and explores control strategies in a crowded city. We performed descriptive analyses of data on demographic characteristic, laboratory testing and epidemiological information. From February 25 to March 28, 2016, 43 outbreak-related measles cases occurred in an office building in Beijing. The total crude attack rate was 1.20% in the building. The age range of patients was 23 to 45 years old, of whom 30 (69.8%) were migrants and 5 (11.6%) were vaccinated but without documentation. The attack rate of the department and the company of the source case was 22.73 and 11.86%, respectively. The attack rate in the building was 1.78%, except for the commercial center on the lower floors, which was 0.34%. Of the 43 measles cases, only 19 cases (53.5%) were reported by hospitals through the National Notifiable Disease Reporting System (NNDRS), and the rest were found through active surveillance. Outbreak response immunization was conducted for 6216 persons. Office buildings in crowded metropolis are prone to large-scale measles outbreaks, and require a rapid outbreak response. Early Outbreak response immunization and active surveillance are important strategies to control outbreaks such as the one reported herein.
Mechanistic Insight of Na/K-ATPase Signaling and HO-1 into Models of Obesity and Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis

Obesity is a multifaceted pathophysiological condition that has been associated with lipid accumulation, adipocyte dysfunction, impaired mitochondrial biogenesis and an altered metabolic profile. Redox imbalance and excessive release of inflammatory mediators have been intricately linked in obesity-associated phenotypes. Hence, understanding the mechanisms of redox signaling pathways and molecular targets exacerbating oxidative stress is crucial in improving health outcomes. The activation of Na/K-ATPase/Src signaling, and its downstream pathways, by reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been recently implicated in obesity and subsequent nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which causes further production of ROS creating an oxidant amplification loop. Apart from that, numerous studies have also characterized antioxidant properties of heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), which is suppressed in an obese state. The induction of HO-1 restores cellular redox processes, which contributes to inhibition of the toxic milieu. The novelty of these independent mechanisms presents a unique opportunity to unravel their potential as molecular targets for redox regulation in obesity and NASH. The attenuation of oxidative stress, by understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms and associated mediators, with a targeted treatment modality may provide for improved therapeutic options to combat clinical disorders.
Psychosocial Factors and Tobacco Use Among Commercial Truck Drivers.

OBJECTIVES To explore the relationships between tobacco, social support, job satisfaction, and depression among truck drivers. METHODS Cross-sectional data were collected from 797 truck drivers in six US states. Data collected included self-reported medical history and biological samples. Modified Zung depression scale and Work Apgar scores were used to measure depression and social support. Adjusted logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratios (OR). RESULTS 24.0% of tobacco users were in the least depressed category and 18.2% were most depressed. 22.8% of the tobacco users had the most social support compared with 27.9% of the non-users. Drivers in the two most depressed categories were significantly less likely to use tobacco (OR = 0.62, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.39-0.96, and OR = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.41-0.99). CONCLUSIONS Drivers with low social support or low levels of depression are more likely to be tobacco users.
A Failed Cardiac Surgery Program in an Underserved Minority Population County Reimagined: The Power of Partnership.

Background Prince George's County Maryland, historically a medically underserved region, has a population of 909 327 and a high incidence of cardiometabolic syndrome and hypertension. Application o...
Guillain-Barré Syndrome After Primary Cytomegalovirus Infection in a Patient With a Heart Transplant

Abstract A 56-year-old man underwent cardiac transplantation in April 2018. His post-operative course was uncomplicated and he had normal allograft function. On December 2019 he was admitted for fever and diarrhea and was found to have cytomegalovirus infection. A few weeks later, he presented with Guillain-Barre Syndrome. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.)
Pediatric bilateral vocal cord granulomas presenting as airway foreign body following prolonged intubation due to COVID-19 related multisystem inflammatory syndrome

Abstract Background This report is a case of bilateral vocal cord granulomas (VCG) in a 9-year-old child presenting as an airway foreign body and stridor following prolonged intubation due to COVID-19 pneumonia complicated by multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). Case presentation This case reports a 9-year-old male who presented to the emergency department with acute stridor concerning for airway obstruction. X-ray findings suggested an airway foreign body; however, on rigid bronchoscopy, ball-valving bilateral VCG obstructing 90% of the glottic airway were identified. After excision of the VCGs, the patient's symptoms resolved with no postoperative complications. Conclusion With suspected foreign body aspiration in a pediatric patient with a history of prolonged intubation, it is important to consider a broad differential diagnosis. VCGs are rare complications of prolonged intubation that could be in children with prior history of intubation following COVID-19 pneumonia.
The effect of carbon on the valence band offset of compressively strained Si1−x−yGexCy/(100) Si heterojunctions

Capacitance–voltage measurements have been used to study the effect of carbon on the valence band offset of compressively strained Si1−x−yGexCy/(100) Si heterojunctions grown by rapid thermal chemical vapor deposition with substitutional C levels from 0% to 2.5%. The valence band offset between Si1−x−yGexCy and unstrained (100) Si decreases at a rate of 20–26 meV per % C. Our work indicates that the change in the bandgap of Si1−x−yGexCy as carbon is added is entirely accommmodated in the valence band.
Femtosecond X-rays from 90/spl deg/ Thomson scattering

We report on progress on the femtosecond X-ray pulse generation experiment. The experiment involves a relativistic electron beam (50 MeV) with an rms bunch length of 10 ps containing 1 -2 nC of charge, and a ultrashort pulse (50-200 fs), high power (<4 TW) 0.8 /spl mu/m laser beam from a Ti:Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ laser system. Both beams are focused down to about a 50 /spl mu/m waist size and intersect at 90/spl deg/. The laser field acts as an electromagnetic undulator for the relativistic electron beam generating radiation upshifted by 2 /spl gamma//sup 2/ and a pulse length given by the transit time of the laser beam across the electron beam. For a 50 MeV electron beam we expect 10/sup 5/ photons at 0.4 /spl Aring/ (25% bandwidth) in a cone angle of 6-10 mrad in about a 200 fs pulse.
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays for the Specific and Sensitive Quantification of Methanosarcina mazei and Methanobacterium bryantii.

Three microtitration plate enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) have been developed: a competitive ELISA and a two-site (or indirect sandwich) ELISA for Methanosarcina mazei S6 and a two-site ELISA for Methanobacterium bryantii FR-2. The assays were sensitive, with limits of cell protein detection of 3 ng ml−1, 5 ng ml−1, and 50 ng ml−1, respectively, and showed good precision. The M. mazei assays used monoclonal antibodies and were entirely species specific, showing no cross-reaction with methanogens of other genera or with other species of the same genus. The Methanobacterium bryantii assay, which used two polyclonal antisera, showed only a slight cross-reaction with one other Methanobacterium species but no cross-reaction with methanogens of other genera. The use of the ELISAs for quantitative analysis of mixed cultures and of sewage sludge samples was investigated. Sludge diluted at 1:103 or more caused no significant interference in any of the three ELISAs. Various cultures of bacteria, methanogens, and nonmethanogens at a protein concentration of 50 μg ml−1 showed no significant interference in the M. mazei competitive assay and the Methanobacterium bryantii two-site assay, although they did cause falsely low results in the M. mazei two-site assay.
Boiler Implosion Control in Fossil Fuel Power Plants

A computer simulation using the modeling techniques outlined in a companion paper has been used to characterize and evaluate the control systems for furnace and stack implosion problems in fossil fuel power plants. The model simulations have shown that the draft control systems reduce the furnace pressure excursion significantly following a main fuel trip condition. The limitations of these systems are associated with actuator speed and stack pressure excursions during control actions. Preliminary study suggests that a novel additional or alternative solution may be furnished through discharging steam into the furnace and/or stack after a fuel trip.
SmartChoice: An Online Recommender System to Support Low-Income Families in Public School Choice

Public school choice at the primary and secondary levels is a key element of the U.S. No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB). If a school does not meet assessment goals for two consecutive years, by law the district must offer students the opportunity to transfer to a school that is meeting its goals. Making a choice with such potential impact on a child's future is clearly monumental, yet astonishingly few parents take advantage of the opportunity. Our research has shown that a significant part of the problem arises from issues in information access and information overload, particularly for low socioeconomic status families. Thus we have developed an online, content-based recommender system, called SmartChoice . It provides parents with school recommendations for individual students based on parents' preferences and students' needs, interests, abilities, and talents. The first version of the online application was deployed and live for focus group participants who used it for the January and March/April 2008 Charlotte-Mecklenburg school choice periods. This article describes the SmartChoice Program and the results of our initial and followup studies with participants.
Time Release of Chemicals into Hardened Cementitious Matrices for Crack Repair, Fiber Rebond, and Increase in Flexural Toughening

Brittle cementitious composites are subjected to forces or loads which cause cracking and a potential reduction in material performance. They are, for the most part, heavily reinforced to have fracture tolerance. The subject of this research is the enhancement of flexural toughening beyond that available in an original hardened material by the release of "healing" chemicals such as adhesives from hollow fibers into cementitious matrices in response to loading. Thus, the sensing of a crack by the fibers or the breaking of coating starts the activation of a remedial process (i.e., the release of a sealing or adhering chemical). This capacity for self-healing occurs whenever and wherever cracks are generated. In terms of fracture mechanics, this research concerns the repair of cracks and rebonding of fibers by chemicals released from hollow fibers at the fiber wall and into the adjacent cracks. The overall property change is an increased flexural toughening The mechanisms for that appears to be an adhesive rebonding of the fibers and a crack-filling with adhesives which behave more rigidly when bonded inside cracks.
TIME AND CONCENTRATION RELATIONSHIPS IN THE LONG-CHAIN REACTION OF GROUP A STREPTOCOCCI IN HOMOLOGOUS ANTISERUM AND AN IMPROVED METHOD FOR EVALUATION OF TEST RESULTS

Abstract Hahn, Jerome J. (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md.) and Roger M. Cole. Time and concentration relationships in the long-chain reaction of group A streptococci in homologous antiserum and an improved method for evaluation of test results. J. Bacteriol. 83:85–96. 1962—We have described a statistically controlled method for evaluating the long chain reaction of group A streptococci grown in homologous antisera. The method is based on the chi-square analysis of the frequency distribution of chain lengths found in test and control sera, and is called the Size-Class Frequency method. Useful tables for rapid application of the method are presented. It is reproducible, and is simpler, more rapid, and more sensitive than the previously described method. Using this method, we have shown that the long-chain reaction reaches a maximum and then declines with time of incubation. The time at which the maximal response and height are attained depends directly on the initial antibody concentration and inversely on the initial antigen concentration. The inter-relationships of time, antibody concentration, total number of cocci, total number of chains, and long-chain frequency (or chain length) are presented in the discussion. In view of the findings reported here, we suggest a re-evaluation of possible methods of “dechaining” or “chaining” among group A streptococci. Present evidence appears inadequate to explain the long-chain reaction on the basis of inhibition of a single enzyme.
Increasing efficiency of BEAMnrc-simulated Co-60 beams using directional source biasing.

Purpose: This study describes the implementation of a directional source biasing (DSB) scheme for efficiently simulating Cobalt-60 treatment heads using the BEAMnrc Monte Carlo code. Previous simulation of Co-60 beams with BEAMnrc was impractical because of the time required to track photons not directed into the treatment field and to simulate secondary charged particles. Methods: In DSB, efficiency is increased by splitting each photon emitted by the Co-60 source a user-defined number of times. Only those split primary photons directed into a user-defined splitting field (encompassing the treatment field) are sampled, yielding many low-weight photons directed into the field. Efficiency can be further increased by taking advantage of radial symmetry at the top of the treatment head to reduce the number of split primary photons tracked in this portion. There is also an option to generate contaminant electrons in DSB. Results: The DSB scheme in BEAMnrc increases the photon fluence calculation efficiency in a 10 × 10 cm2 Co-60 beam by a factor of 1800 with a concurrent increase in contaminant electron fluence calculation efficiency by a factor of 1200. Implementation of DSB in beampp, a C++ code for accelerator simulations based on EGSnrc and the C++ class library, egspp, increases photon fluence efficiency by a factor of 2800 and contaminant electron fluence efficiency by a factor of 1600. Optimum splitting numbers are in the range of 20 000–40 000. For dose calculations in a water phantom (0.5 × 0.5 × 0.5 cm3 voxels) this translates into a factor of ∼400 increase in dose calculation efficiency (all doses > 0.5 × D max). An example calculation of the ratio of dose to water to dose to chamber (the basis of the beam quality correction factor) to within 0.2% in a realistic chamber using a full simulation of a Co-60 treatment head as a source indicates the practicality of Co-60 simulations with DSB. Conclusions: The efficiency improvement resulting from DSB makes Monte Carlo commissioning of Co-60 beams and calculation of beam quality correction factors feasible.
MEMS-based thermal management of high heat flux devices for integrated cooling of electronics

This paper describes the development of EDIFICE: Embedded Droplet Impingement For Integrated Cooling of Electronics. The EDIFICE project seeks to develop an integrated droplet impingement cooling device for removing chip heat fluxes over 100 W/cm/sup 2/, employing latent heat of vaporization of dielectric fluids. Micro-spray nozzles are fabricated to produce 50-100 micron droplets coupled with surface texturing on the backside of the chip to promote spreading and boiling. A novel features to enable adaptive on-demand cooling is MEMS sensing and MEMS actuation. EDIFICE is integrated within the electronics package and fabricated using advanced micromanfacturing technologies.
Frequency and organization of papA homologous DNA sequences among uropathogenic digalactoside-binding Escherichia coli strains

The frequency of selected papA DNA sequences among 89 digalactoside-binding, uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains was evaluated with 12 different synthetic 15-base probes corresponding to papA genes from four digalactoside-binding piliated recombinant strains (HU849, 201B, and 200A). The papA probes encode amino acids which are common at the carboxy terminus of all strains, adjacent to the proximal portion of the intramolecular disulfide loop of strain 210B, or predicted to constitute the type-specific epitope for each of the four recombinant strains or other epitopes of strain HU849. The presence among the strains of DNA sequence homology to the papA probes was determined by in situ colony hybridization. Hybridization data suggest that there is a high frequency of homologous papA DNA sequences corresponding to selected regions of the papA gene from strain HU849 among the clinical strains. The following nucleotide locations which encode portions of the mature HU849 PapA are detected in a high percentage (42 to 70%) of clinical isolates: 208 to 222, 310 to 324, 478 to 492, 517 to 531, 553 to 567, and 679 to 693. These sequences encode portions of the predicted protective, immunogenic, and/or antigenic epitopes of this PapA. The data also indicate considerable heterogeneity of papA sequences among the strains, especially in the region of nucleotide bases corresponding to positions 391 to 418. These oligonucleotides encode the predicted PapA type-specific immunogenic dominant epitope. Determination of the extent of genetic variability in the papA gene among digalactoside-binding strains will require more extensive DNA sequencing of prototypic papA genes, additional hybridization studies employing other papA gene oligonucleotide probes, and assessment of the different pap operons and their copy number in each strain.
Effects of concentration, distance, and application methods of Altriset (Chlorantraniliprole) on eastern subterranean termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

The effects of various concentrations, distance, and application methods of Altriset (Chlorantraniliprole) were investigated against one of the most destructive termites, the eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes Kollar. Three laboratory experiments were conducted. First, we examined the concentration effect of treating the soil contiguously to established foraging tunnels at a fixed 1 m distance. The results demonstrated 100% termite control in 19 d posttreatment at 100 and 50 μg/g and 27% termite mortality at 25 μg/g. Second, we tested the distance effect of the soil treatment (2 and 4 m) on the efficacy of Altriset to the satellite termite populations at a fixed 50 μg/g concentration. This resulted in 100% termite control in 22 d posttreatment at both 2 and 4 m. Third, we examined the effect of differing application methods using 12.5 and 25 μg/g prior to the establishment of foraging tunnels at a fixed 1m distance. This illustrated 100% termite control in 9 d posttreatment at 25 μg/g and 12 d posttreatment at 12.5 μg/g. The third experiment demonstrated soil treatments that were applied prior to termite tunnel establishment had greater efficacy than applications made post tunnel construction. Our results provide a comprehensive understanding about the efficacy of Altriset treatments on eastern subterranean termites.
Complex robotic-enhanced percutaneous coronary intervention.

A remote-controlled, robotic system was developed to address procedural challenges and occupational hazards associated with traditional percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The PRECISE (Percutaneous Robotically Enhanced Coronary Intervention) Study demonstrated the safety and feasibility of the robotic system. We report four cases of complex coronary interventions demonstrating the capabilities of robotic-enhanced PCI to treat multilesion, multivessel coronary disease, saphenous venous graft disease, and an ST-elevation myocardial infarction. The robotic system offers enhanced visibility, precise measurement, accurate stent positioning, improved ergonomics, and superior operator protection from radiation. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Extensive iatrogenic adenomyosis after laparoscopic myomectomy.

Abstract Objective: To report a case of iatrogenic adenomyosis as a result of not reconstructing the uterine wall during a laparoscopic myomectomy. Design: Retrospective case report. Setting: University hospital. Patient(s): A 34-year-old woman, gravida O, had been referred to our institution for medical care. A laparoscopic penetrating leiomyomata uteri was removed 8 months before this hospital admission. Approximately 3 months after the initial laparoscopic myomectomy, she began experiencing pelvic pain in the middle low abdominal area, more accentuated in the second phase of the menstrual cycle, with peak pain during menstruation. The pain became progressively worse. Microcytic-hypochromic anemia secondary to menorrhagia was documented. Flexible office hysteroscopy, contrast ultrasonography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results suggested the presence of focal adenomyosis. Intervention(s): Eight months after the initial laparoscopic myomectomy, the patient underwent a second-look laparoscopy to excise the visual uterine wall defect and reconstruct laparoscopically the layers of the uterine wall. Main Outcome Measure(s): Uterine wall histopathology and menstrual history. Result(s): Resolution of patient's pain, resumption of normal menses, and secondary anemia was ameliorated. Conclusion(s): Suturing the myometrium in layers during a laparoscopic myomectomy is necessary to prevent iatrogenic adenomyosis.
Thermogravimetric Studies of Silica Physically and Chemically Modified with the Liquid Crystal 4′-Cyano-4-Biphenyl[4-(4-Pentenyloxy)]Benzoate

The interactions of the liquid crystal, 4'-cyano-4-biphenyl[4-(4-pentenyloxy)]benzoate (CBPB), with unmodified and chemically derivatized silica have been studied by high-resolution thermogravimetric analysis (HR-TGA). When CBPB is physically coated onto unmodified silica it undergoes a multistep thermal desorption process. However, when silica is chemically modified with CBPB and subsequently physically coated with CBPB it exhibits a more homogeneous thermal desorption profile which reflect differences in the LC/substrate interactions.
Chirality-dependent two-photon absorption probabilities and circular dichroic line strengths: theory, calculation and measurement

Abstract Theory and calculations relevant to the measurement, analysis, and interpretation of chirality-dependent two-photon absorption (TPA) properties of molecules and crystals are presented and discussed. The theory development focuses on TPA processes in which excitation is with a single, one-color beam of either left - or right -circularly polarized light, and it gives expressions that show the dependence of TPA line strengths on the circular polarization state of the exciting radiation. Three types of molecule-photon interaction mechanisms are represented in the theory, each of which makes a distinctive contribution to molecular transition polarizabilities and two-photon transition amplitudes. Two of these mechanisms assume either purely electric-dipole (μμ) or purely magnetic-dipole (mm) interaction processes in the two-photon absorption events, whereas the third mechanism assumes a combination of electric- and magnetic-dipole (μm) interaction processes. The molecular transition polarizabilities associated with μm interaction processes carry information about both the degree and sense of structural handedness in the absorbing systems and they vanish in the absence of any structural chirality. Differences between the left- versus right-circularly polarized TPA line strengths of a chiral system reflect interferences between transition amplitudes associated with μm and μμ (and/or mm) interaction processes. In this study, a model is developed for calculating the circularly polarized TPA line strengths of atomic-like chromophores in a chiral molecular or crystalline environment, and a parametrized form of this model is used to perform calculations on Gd 3+ ions in single-crystal enantiomorphs of Na 3 [Gd(C 4 H 4 O 5 ) 3 ] · 2NaC1O 4 · 6H 2 O. The results obtained from these calculations are compared to results obtained from fluorescence-detected two-photon circular dichroism (FD-TPCD) measurements reported for Na 3 [Gd(C 4 H 4 O 5 ) 3 ] · 2NaC10 4 · 6H 2 O.