cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of All Trans Retnoic Acid (ATRA) Via Nasogastric Tube (NGT) in Patients Unable to Swallow in Treatment of Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL): A Case Series

Abstract Abstract 4300 Introduction: ATRA is the critical component of treatment of APL, and when used in combination with anthracycline chemotherapy can induce remission in over 90% of patients. At initial presentation, patients are at high risk for bleeding or disseminated intravascular coagulation, which may be exacerbated by immediate chemotherapy. Except in patients with marked leukocytosis, ATRA should precede chemotherapy. ATRA is available as 10 mg capsules and should be ingested orally and not crushed. The capsules cannot, therefore, be used in patients unable to swallow, or administered by NGT. Patients and Methods: We present two APL cases where patients unable to swallow and acutely bleeding, received ATRA via NGT. ATRA capsules were opened, the free powder aspirated into a glass syringe, and the remaining capsule contents suspended in soy bean oil and aspirated into the same syringe (Shaw, 1995). Case 1: A 33-year-old female with juvenile onset diabetes and blindness presented with fever vaginal bleeding and coma with response only to painful stimuli. Her white blood count (WBC) was 0.5 k/MicroL with 27% bands, 20% lymphocytes and 10% promyelocytes; platelets were 18 K and PT/PTT was 14.7/33. Bone marrow (BM) was replaced by cells with granular cytoplasm and bilobed nuclei. PML-RARa was not detected by cytogenetics and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), but was by PCR. Daunorubicin was administered and the ATRA oil suspension was given on 14 successive days. Hematologic recovery had occurred by day 16, PCR was negative for PML-RARa by 20, and following consolidation she remains in complete hematologic and cytogenetic remission after 7 months. MRI revealed white matter changes but after IV-HGG she regained consciousness. Case 2: A 66-year-old man with coronary artery disease presented with fever, rectal bleeding and pulmonary hemorrhage, which required intubation and mechanical ventilation. WBC was 7.9 with 3% bands, 19% lymphocytes and 22% promyelocytes. Platelet count was 13 and PT/PTT was 9.6/23.6. BM confirmed APL, with FISH positive for PML- RARa. He was started on ATRA oil suspension via NG tube and daunorubicin. By day 27 FISH was PML-RARa negative, but he continued to require ventilatory support for 3 weeks and succumbed to pneumonia and septic shock. Conclusion: In two patients unable to swallow and bleeding, ATRA administration as an oil suspension via NGT was safe and effective, inducing cytogenetic remission in both. IV liposomal ATRA is not FDA approved and no other parenteral formulation is available. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Narcissism and emotion dysregulation: Narcissistic admiration and narcissistic rivalry have divergent associations with emotion regulation difficulties

Abstract Narcissism has been found to have conflicting associations with emotion dysregulation across previous studies. The purpose of the present study was to examine the connections between particular aspects of narcissism and emotion regulation difficulties. More specifically, we were interested in the possibility that narcissistic admiration (an agentic form of narcissism that is characterized by assertive self-enhancement and self-promotion) and narcissistic rivalry (an antagonistic form of narcissism that is characterized by self-protection and self-defense) may have divergent associations with emotion regulation difficulties in a large sample of undergraduates (N = 1,018). Narcissistic admiration was negatively associated with problematic responses to emotions and poor recognition of emotions, whereas narcissistic rivalry was positively associated with both of these forms of emotion dysregulation. Taken together, these results suggest that narcissistic admiration may be characterized by the ability to regulate emotional experiences more effectively which is markedly different from narcissistic rivalry which is characterized by emotion dysregulation. Discussion will focus on the implications of these results for understanding the connections that the agentic and antagonistic aspects of narcissism have with emotion dysregulation.
Contemporary Management of Hepatic Trauma: What IRs Need to Know

Trauma remains one of the leading causes of death in the United States in patients younger than 45 years. Blunt trauma is most commonly a result of high-speed motor vehicular collisions or high-level fall. The liver and spleen are the most commonly injured organs, with the liver being the most commonly injured organ in adults and the spleen being the most affected in pediatric blunt trauma. Liver injuries incur a high level of morbidity and mortality mostly secondary to hemorrhage. Over the past 20 years, angiographic intervention has become a mainstay of treatment of hepatic trauma. As there is an increasing need for the interventional radiologists to embolize active hemorrhage in the setting of blunt and penetrating hepatic trauma, this article aims to review the current level of evidence and contemporary management of hepatic trauma from the perspective of interventional radiologists. Embolization techniques and associated outcome and complications are also reviewed.
Building Teacher Capacity to Educate the Whole Child. Lessons from Comparative Experience

How should teachers be prepared in order to educate their students to address the most pressing issues of the future? Conducted over the years 2018–2019, this book presents the results of a study of large-scale teacher professional development programs that aimed at equipping students for the uncharted territory of a rapidly changing world. This introductory chapter traces the roots of the impetus to educate students holistically, helping them develop a broad range of cognitive and socio-emotional skills. The chapter explains the value of comparative analysis to advance a robust theory of the role of professional development in instructional improvement which can guide implementation of large scale programs, and introduces a staged model of development of education systems, contingent on the level of skill and preparation of teachers and summarizes the key contributions of the chapters in this book. The chapter reviews previous research on the role of large-scale teacher professional development in preparing teachers to lead their students in deeper learning and in developing a broad range of cognitive and socio-emotional skills. Given that much of that research has been generated in highly resourced environments, a staged model of development of education systems contingent on level of teacher preparation justifies attention to the role of professional development in more diverse contexts. The chapter further examines some literature on the implementation of large-scale educational change, setting the stage for a comparative study of large-scale programs of teacher professional development. The chapter examines data from a recent cross-national survey of teachers to discuss their expressed needs for professional development and perceptions of the characteristics of the most effective professional development programs. Finally, the chapter synthesizes the findings of this study and draws out their implications for teacher development in ambitious system level reforms that aim at preparing students with a broad range of skills to invent the future.
Fluid resuscitation in children with multiple trauma

Hypovolemia is the most common cause of shock in children with multiple trauma.Early detection and treatment of hypovolemia is very important in the process of trauma resuscitation.Compensatory shock occurs when large amounts of blood are lost, and blood pressure is maintained by tachycardia and vasoconstriction.Hypobaric shock is characterized by hypotension and tachycardia.The fluid resuscitation of multiple traumas can be divided into two cases, when the bleeding is under control or not under control.In addition, massive transfusion is closely associated with multiple trauma. Key words: Shock; Fluid resuscitation; Massive transfusion; Multiple trauma
The PCNA–RFC Families of DNA Clamps and Clamp Loaders

The proliferating cell nuclear antigen PCNA functions at multiple levels in directing DNA metabolic pathways. Unbound to DNA, PCNA promotes localization of replication factors with a consensus PCNA-binding domain to replication factories. When bound to DNA, PCNA organizes various proteins involved in DNA replication, DNA repair, DNA modification, and chromatin modeling. Its modification by ubiquitin directs the cellular response to DNA damage. The ring-like PCNA homotrimer encircles double-stranded DNA and slides spontaneously across it. Loading of PCNA onto DNA at template-primer junctions is performed in an ATP-dependent process by replication factor C (RFC), a heteropentameric AAA+ protein complex consisting of the Rfc1, Rfc2, Rfc3, Rfc4, and Rfc5 subunits. Loading of yeast PCNA (POL30) is mechanistically distinct from analogous processes in E. coli (beta subunit by the gamma complex) and bacteriophage T4 (gp45 by gp44/62). Multiple stepwise ATP-binding events to RFC are required to load PCNA onto primed DNA. This stepwise mechanism should permit editing of this process at individual steps and allow for divergence of the default process into more specialized modes. Indeed, alternative RFC complexes consisting of the small RFC subunits together with an alternative Rfc1-like subunit have been identified. A complex required for the DNA damage checkpoint contains the Rad24 subunit, a complex required for sister chromatid cohesion contains the Ctf18 subunit, and a complex that aids in genome stability contains the Elg1 subunit. Only the RFC-Rad24 complex has a known associated clamp, a heterotrimeric complex consisting of Rad17, Mec3, and Ddc1. The other putative clamp loaders could either act on clamps yet to be identified or act on the two known clamps.
Genetic Studies of Behavior: Methodology

The goal of genetic research on behavior is to understand how genetic variation influences behavioral variation. Multiple methods have been used, from genetic influences inferred from familial resemblance to measured genes using molecular genetic methods. In this article, first, we discuss some historical background in genetic studies of behavior. Second, we focus on contemporary issues in the study of gene structure and function, emphasizing the methodological unity of most approaches. Contemporary issues include (1) measuring variation, (2) experimental methods, and (3) statistical methods. Finally, we discuss methodological challenges likely to continue in future genetic studies of behavior.
Dissimilatory selenate reduction potentials in a diversity of sediment types.

We measured potential rates of bacterial dissimilatory reduction of 75SeO42− to 75Se0 in a diversity of sediment types, with salinities ranging from freshwater (salinity = 1 g/liter) to hypersaline (salinity = 320 g/liter and with pH values ranging from 7.1 to 9.8. Significant biological selenate reduction occurred in all samples with salinities from 1 to 250 g/liter but not in samples with a salinity of 320 g/liter. Potential selenate reduction rates (25 nmol of SeO42− per ml of sediment added with isotope) ranged from 0.07 to 22 μmol of SeO42− reduced liter−1 h−1. Activity followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics in relation to SeO42− concentration (Km of selenate = 7.9 to 720 μM). There was no linear correlation between potential rates of SeO42− reduction and salinity, pH, concentrations of total Se, porosity, or organic carbon in the sediments. However, potential selenate reduction was correlated with apparent Km for selenate and with potential rates of denitrification (r = 0.92 and 0.81, respectively). NO3−, NO2−, MoO42−, and WO42− inhibited selenate reduction activity to different extents in sediments from both Hunter Drain and Massie Slough, Nev. Sulfate partially inhibited activity in sediment from freshwater (salinity = 1 g/liter) Massie Slough samples but not from the saline (salinity = 60 g/liter) Hunter Drain samples. We conclude that dissimilatory selenate reduction in sediments is widespread in nature. In addition, in situ selenate reduction is a first-order reaction, because the ambient concentrations of selenium oxyanions in the sediments were orders of magnitude less than their Kms.
The importance of wellness among users of complementary and alternative medicine: findings from the 2007 National Health Interview Survey

This study developed and tested a sociobehavioral wellness model of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to differentiate predisposing factors, enabling resources, need, and personal health practices according to use for wellness, for combined wellness and treatment, or for treatment alone. Data were from the 2007 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), a cross-sectional, nationally representative sample of 23,393 adult Americans. This analysis included people who used at least one CAM modality in the past 12 months (n = 7003 adult users). Prevalence estimates and multinomial logistic regression results were weighted and adjusted for complex sample design. Overall, 86 % of CAM users reported reason for use as wellness (51 %) or wellness combined with treatment (35 %). White women had the lowest (48 %) and Asian men (66 %) had the highest wellness use. Compared to treatment only users, wellness users were significantly more likely to be older, more educated, in better health, and engaged in multiple healthy behaviors. There was support that those with health conditions were using methods for both treatment and to maintain health. The findings underscore the central role of CAM in health self-management and wellness lifestyle. At a time of national health care reform highlighting the importance of health and wellness and employers turning to wellness programs to improve worker performance and well-being, these findings suggest a central role of CAM in those public health endeavors.
Evaluation of Algebraic Transition Models for Application to Unsteady Flows in Low-Pressure Turbines

Currently, numerical simulation models for design of low-pressure turbines need submodels for determining the onset and path of transition. It is well known that such models must include the effects of passing wakes. In this paper, data taken in an experiment that simulates flow over the suction surface of a low-pressure turbine blade, as affected by passing wakes, are used for testing models from the literature. The base case data set replicates reasonable design conditions. A second case with double the wake spacing of the base case is applied to heighten the effects of between-wake calming. A third case with high background freestream turbulence intensity allows testing models for application to high disturbance level flows. Tested are (1) separated flow transition onset models such as those of Mayle and of Davis et al. and (2) attached flow transition onset models, such as those of Mayle, Abu-Ghannam and Shaw, Suzen and Huang and Drela. The dependent variables of the models, time-resolved locations of transition onset, are compared to time-resolved experimental values for transition onset. The transition onset values from the models are computed by assuming that the correlations can be applied in a quasistatic way using instantaneous values of the input parameters computed from the experimental data. Comparisons of the three cases are made to discuss the robustness of the transition onset models. Previously, the base case was presented. New in this paper are (1) modeling of an increased wake spacing data set, (2) modeling of a data set with a highly turbulent approach flow and (3) the comparison of the two with the base case results.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Ontology Merging: Compatible and Incompatible Ontology Mappings

Ontology mappings are used in data integration, query answering, and comparative analysis tasks of ontologies. Ontology mappings are often obtained by using a matching tool. Ontology merging is the creation of a new ontology from at least two source ontologies. In Ontology merging, establishing map-pings between source ontologies is the primitive step. Ontology matching tools can be used for establishing mappings, but different matching tools often give dissimilar ontology mappings. Human intervention may not solve the problem because distinct perspectives and understandings also lead to different mappings. Attempts to face the problems have been studied in the literature. All these attempts focus on finding erroneous mappings and finding one consensual mapping. In this paper, we suggest that under some conditions, mappings can be combined to get benefits from each of them. Mappings satisfying those conditions are name compatible mappings, we argue that the conditions mentioned above are based on Galois connections. Opposed to compatible mappings, incompatible mappings cannot be combined because their combination results in erroneous mappings. We discussed our method in the context of ontology merging.
The Frobenius rank equality for morphisms

Abstract Let U ( ,e) be an abelian category with Serre class and Euler-Poincare mapping e. For η a morphism in U ( ,e) with Imη a member of , let rank eη =e(Imη). A proof is given of the Frobenius rank equality: if αβγ is a composition of three morphisms in U ( ,e) and Imβ is a member of , then rankeαβ+rankeβγ+ranke(kerβγ)β(cokαβ)=rankeβ+rankeαβγ.
Including model uncertainty in risk-informed decision making

Abstract Model uncertainties can have a significant impact on decisions regarding licensing basis changes. We present a methodology to identify basic events in the risk assessment that have the potential to change the decision and are known to have significant model uncertainties. Because we work with basic event probabilities, this methodology is not appropriate for analyzing uncertainties that cause a structural change to the model, such as success criteria. We use the risk achievement worth (RAW) importance measure with respect to both the core damage frequency (CDF) and the change in core damage frequency (ΔCDF) to identify potentially important basic events. We cross-check these with generically important model uncertainties. Then, sensitivity analysis is performed on the basic event probabilities, which are used as a proxy for the model parameters, to determine how much error in these probabilities would need to be present in order to impact the decision. A previously submitted licensing basis change is used as a case study. Analysis using the SAPHIRE program identifies 20 basic events as important, four of which have model uncertainties that have been identified in the literature as generally important. The decision is fairly insensitive to uncertainties in these basic events. In three of these cases, one would need to show that model uncertainties would lead to basic event probabilities that would be between two and four orders of magnitude larger than modeled in the risk assessment before they would become important to the decision. More detailed analysis would be required to determine whether these higher probabilities are reasonable. Methods to perform this analysis from the literature are reviewed and an example is demonstrated using the case study.
Expression, purification and charaterization of recombinant mouse MT5-MMP protein products

We have recently identified the fifth member of the membrane-type matrix metalloproteinase subfamily, MT5-MMP/MMP24, which is expressed in a brain specific manner (Duanqing Pei (1999) J. Biol. Chem. 274, 8925–8932). To further characterize its enzymic properties, an expression construct was engineered to produce MT5-MMP as a soluble and active form by truncating its transmembrane domain. Stable expression cell lines were subsequently established from MDCK cells transfected with this construct. Unfortunately, purification of MT5-MMP from the culture media in large quantity proves to be difficult initially due to its rapid turnover via a mechanism which can be inhibited by a broad spectrum metalloproteinase inhibitor, BB94. Thus, BB94 was included in the cell culture medium and throughout the purification process except the final step of chromatography to protect MT5-MMP from destruction. Purified to homogeneity and free of the synthetic inhibitor, MT5-MMP can activate progelatinase A efficiently in a TIMP2 sensitive fashion. A preliminary screen for its potential substrates among extracellular matrix components identified the proteoglycans as the preferred substrates for MT5-MMP. Furthermore, it is determined that the stability of purified MT5-MMP is temperature dependent with rapid destruction at 37°C, but being relatively stable at temperatures 4°C or lower. These observations establish MT5-MMP as a proteoglycanase with a short half-life at body temperature, which may be critical for tightly controlled turnover of ECM components such as those in the brain.
The Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire and Its Junior Versions

In this article the author describes the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF) and its junior versions, the High School Personality Questionnaire (HSPQ) and the Children's Personality Questionnaire (CPQ). Development of the tests is described briefly. Reliabilities and validities of the tests are covered, with attention to applications in educational, clinical, and occupational settings.
Shorted operators: An application in potential theory

Abstract On nested fractals a “Laplacian” can be constructed as a scaled limit of difference operators. The appropriate scaling and starting configuration are given by a nonlinear, finite dimensional eigenvalue problem. We study it as a fixed point problem using Hilbert's projective metric on cones, a nonlinear generalization of the Perron-Frobenius theory of nonnegative matrices. The nonlinearity arises from a map Φ known as the shorted operator. Potential theoretic notions and results apply to it, since it acts on a cone of discrete “Laplacians” or difference operators. Usually, Φ is considered on the larger cone of positive semidefinite operators. We are able to take advantage of the more specific structure of the reduced domain because several properties of Φ are local. Results are possible with respect to continuity, concavity, the Frechet derivative, invariant subcones, the geometry of these cones, and the contraction of Hilbert's metric.
Localizing globals and statics to make C programs thread-safe

Challenges emerging from the exponential growth in CPU power dissipation and chip hot spots with increasing clock frequencies have forced manufacturers to employ multicore processors as the ubiquitous platform in all computing domains. Embedded mobile devices are increasingly adopting multicore processors to improve program performance and responsiveness at low power levels. However, harnessing these performance and power benefits requires the construction of parallel programs, a task significantly more complex than writing sequential code. Parallel code development is also made more difficult by differences in the use of several programming language constructs. Therefore, it is critical to provide programmers with tools to ease the formidable task of parallelizing existing sequential code or developing new parallel code for multicore processors. In this work we focus on the use of static and global variables that are commonly employed in C/C++ programs, the languages of choice for developing embedded systems applications. Unprotected use of such variables produces functions that are not thread-safe, thereby preventing the program from being parallelized. Manually eliminating global and static variables from existing sequential code is tedious, time-consuming and highly error-prone. While no good solution to this problem currently exists, researchers have proposed partial mitigation techniques that require massive changes to linkers and runtime systems. In this work we study the characteristics and effects of static and global variables in traditional benchmark programs, and propose, construct, and explore a compiler-based, semi-automatic and interactive technique to handle such variables and generate thread-safe code for parallel programs.
THE ROLE OF CORE GRAMMAR IN PIDGIN DEVELOPMENT

Traditionally, researchers in the field of pidgin and Creole languages have supported the simplification theory which regards a pidgin as a simplified version of the colonizers language. This paper examines the process of pidgin development within the context of Government and Binding theory as proposed by Chomsky (1981). Empirical evidence given in this paper from Capeverdean creole (and others) indicates that the linguistic phenomenon generally labelled pidginization, creolization, decreolization, etc. can be explained as follows. The contact of various languages may produce a new experience which subsequently fixes the parameters of Universal Grammar, providing a pidgin core grammar. This core is guided by a preference of structure imposed by the markedness theory allowing the learnability condition to operate. The resultant core grammar can later incorporate a marked periphery. The addition of this marked periphery is what had been viewed in the past as creolization. If one of the donor languages is characterized by structures which meet the learnability criterion, the incorporation of the marked periphery will be targeted toward that language. The directionality of the pidgin periphery may then be predicted. However, if none of the languages meets the learnability condition, the pidgin periphery may develop independently of the peripheries of the donor languages.
The effects of unilateral velocity-specific concentric strength training

There is conflicting evidence regarding the efficacy of various resistance training programs for increasing strength in trained and contralateral limbs. The purposes of this investigation were to examine the effects of unilateral velocity-specific concentric isokinetic training of the extensor and flexor muscles of the elbow and knee on: 1 ) the carry-over effect in strength increases to velocities other than the training velocity in the trained limbs and 2) the cross-training effect at various velocities in the contralateral limbs. Twelve adult men volunteered to train their nondominant extremities three times per week (six sets of 10 maximal repetitions) for 8 weeks at 120°/sec using a Cybex II isokinetic dynamometer. The subjects were tested for increases in peak torque at 60, 120, 180, 240, and 300°/sec. The training resulted in significant (p < 0.05) increases in peak torque on the trained side of the body for elbow extension and flexion as well as knee extension and flexion at all velocities tested....
The Wealth-Consumption Ratio and the Consumption-Habit Ratio

Recent research finds that the ratio of aggregate wealth to consumption emerges as a strong forecaster of stock returns. This article reports that the wealth-consumption ratio remains as a strong predictor of stock returns at the presence of the consumption-habit ratio. Most of the variability of the wealth-consumption ratio is not related to the movements of the lagged, contemporaneous, or leading consumption-habit ratios. The results reject the hypothesis that the predictability of the wealth-consumption ratio for stock returns is explained by the consumption-based model with consumption in surplus of habit as a single state variable in favor of a more general model where the moments of consumption growth are determined by at least one state variable imperfectly correlated with consumption in surplus of habit.
Neutronic performance of uranium nitride composite fuels in a PWR

Abstract Uranium mononitride (UN) based composite nuclear fuels may have potential benefits in light water reactor applications, including enhanced thermal conductivity and increased fuel density. However, uranium nitride reacts chemically when in contact with water, especially at high temperatures. To overcome this challenge, several advanced composite fuels have been proposed with uranium nitride as a primary phase. The primary nitride phase is “shielded” from water by a secondary phase, which would allow the potential benefits of nitride fuels to be realized. This work is an operational assessment of four different candidate composite materials. We considered uranium dioxide (UO2) and UN base cases and compared them with the candidate composite UN-based fuels. The comparison was performed for nominal conditions in a reference PWR with Zr-based cladding. We assessed the impact of UN porosity on the operational performance, because this is a key sensitivity parameter. As composite fuels, we studied UN/U3Si5, UN/U3Si2, UN/UB4, and UN/ZrO2. In the case of UB4, the boron content is 100% enriched in 11B. The proposed zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) phase is cubic and yttria-stabilized. In all cases UN is the primary phase, with small fractions of U3Si5, U3Si5, UB4, or ZrO2 as a secondary phase. In this analysis we showed that two baseline nitride cases at different fractions of theoretical density (0.8 and 0.95) generally bound the neutronic performance of the candidate composite fuels. Performance was comparable with UO2. One notable difference observed was longer cycle lengths with the composite fuels (due to increased fuel loading). Another significant finding is that the nitride composites exhibited a harder neutron spectrum, which decreased the reactivity worth of burnable absorbers, soluble boron, and control rod materials relative to the UO2 case. In general, the full-core reactivity coefficients for the nitride and nitride composite fuels were within the design limits for the reference PWR and UO2-Zr fuel system. It is noted that the limits for the proposed advanced composites will likely be different than the reference UO2 fuel. The baseline UN and UN/ZrO2 cases, both with relatively high porosity in the nitride phase (20%), exhibited the strongest similarity to the reference UO2 case.
Holistic versus actuarial student selection.

Background: The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2003 in the Gratz et al. v. Bollinger et al. and the Grutter v. Bollinger et al. cases that affirmative action selection policies aimed at student diversity in higher and professional education are acceptable on constitutional grounds. The court also ruled that "holistic," "individualized" selection procedures, not "mechanical" methods, must be used to achieve student diversity goals. Summary: This brief essay reviews and critiques professional and academic literature that addresses the two court cases and their likely sequelae. The weight of scientific evidence dating from at least 1954 shows that actuarial procedures are superior to holistic, individualized procedures to fulfill a priori student selection policy goals fairly and consistently. Conclusions: The higher and professional education community, including medicine, should support the Supreme Court's student diversity policy but should insist the court change its reliance on holistic, individualized dec...
Soluble Barium in Barite and Phosphogypsum Amended Mississippi River Alluvial Sediment

Barite (BaSO 4 ), a density control material used in petroleum drilling fluids, can enter coastal and wetland environments. Because of its low solubility, it has been generally concluded that barium (Ba) will not leach into groundwater supplies, nor will it be taken up in significant quantities by plants and aquatic organisms. Such conclusions were mainly based on experiments conducted at neutral pH values and under oxidized conditions. The influence of pH and redox potential (Eh) on solubility of Ba from barite and phosphogypsum (PG) in Louisiana Mississippi River alluvial sediment was examined. Sediment suspensions containing barite or PG were incubated under oxidized and reduced conditions at pH 8, 7, 6, 5, and 4. The amount of Ba in solution at each combination (Eh-pH) was measured. Results demonstrated that a combination of low pH and highly anaerobic conditions resulted in a release of Ba to the sediment solution. If low pH and anaerobic environment happen simultaneously, barite can account for significant levels of dissolved Ba entering the environment. In this study, approximately 4.4% of the total native Ba present in Louisiana Mississippi River alluvial sediment was converted to a soluble form under acidic and anaerobic conditions, compared to approximately 0.3% under alkaline and either anaerobic or aerobic conditions. Phosphogypsum application to the sediment significantly reduced the level of soluble Ba compared to control sediments, this was attributed to Ba precipitation as insoluble sulfates or sulfides under oxidized and reduced conditions.
The Rovibrational Spectrum and Structure of the Weakly Bound CO2−CS2 Complex

The rovibrational spectrum of the weakly bound complex CO2−CS2 was observed by exciting the asymmetric stretch of the CO2 moiety near 2349 cm-1. The complex was formed by the supersonic expansion of a 1:2 mixture of CO2 and CS2 in helium and had a nonplanar X-shaped structure. The intermolecular distance is 3.392 A with a dihedral angle of 90°. The band center is located at 2346.5448 cm-1, with ground-state rotational constants of A‘‘ = 0.08590 cm-1, B‘‘ = 0.04634 cm-1, and C‘‘ = 0.03546 cm-1 and centrifugal distortion constants of Dj‘‘ = −1.37 × 10-7 cm-1, Dk‘‘ = 1.06 × 10-6 cm-1, and Djk‘‘ = −1.01 × 10-6 cm-1. The excited-state constants are similar to the ground-state constants. A portion of the potential energy surface was modeled through the use of a Buckingham atom−atom potential and a quadrupole−quadrupole electrostatic potential. Calculations for the CO2−CS2 and (CO2)2 complexes produced structures in agreement with experimental results. Although the CO2−CS2 configuration is controlled by the quad...
Bone Loss at the Knee in Spinal Cord Injury

The majority of bone loss in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) occurs in the lower extremity (LE). The knee may reflect the state of bone health of the LE. Bone loss at the knee for various SCI groups compared to able-bodied controls is as follows: incomplete chronic SCI patients and men with acute complete SCI, 10% to 25%; men with chronic complete SCI, 33%; women with chronic complete SCI, 43%; individuals with SCI and pathologic knee fractures, 50%. Treatment modalities to increase bone mineral density (BMD) may be best evaluated by studying their effects on BMD at the knee in individuals with chronic complete SCI.
Mitochondria: A novel target for the chemoprevention of cancer

The mitochondria have emerged as a novel target for anticancer chemotherapy. This tenet is based on the observations that several conventional and experimental chemotherapeutic agents promote the permeabilization of mitochondrial membranes in cancerous cells to initiate the release of apoptogenic mitochondrial proteins. This ability to engage mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis directly using chemotherapy may be responsible for overcoming aberrant apoptosis regulatory mechanisms commonly encountered in cancerous cells. Interestingly, several putative cancer chemopreventive agents also possess the ability to trigger apoptosis in transformed, premalignant, or malignant cells in vitro via mitochondrial membrane permeabilization. This process may occur through the regulation of Bcl-2 family members, or by the induction of the mitochondrial permeability transition. Thus, by exploiting endogenous mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis-inducing mechanisms, certain chemopreventive agents may be able to block the progression of premalignant cells to malignant cells or the dissemination of malignant cells to distant organ sites as means of modulating carcinogenesis in vivo. This review will examine cancer chemoprevention with respect to apoptosis, carcinogenesis, and the proapoptotic activity of various chemopreventive agents observed in vitro. In doing so, I will construct a paradigm supporting the notion that the mitochondria are a novel target for the chemoprevention of cancer.
Multiprocessing in the Nubus using cache inhibited pages

Abstract Most successful commercial multiprocessing systems are designed around well defined boundaries that separate the tasks to be performed by the individual processors. These boundaries can be between functional modules or between program modules. The Nubus provides the mechanisms required for either type of partitioning. In a shared-memory, bus-oriented system, the problem of cache coherence must be handled. A simple scheme of inhibited pages has been found to be effective in a Nubusbased multiprocessor system. This scheme is discussed, and its implementation in the Texas Instruments System 1500 is discussed. The System 1500 uses multiple homogeneous processors to improve compute-bound performance in a multiuser Unix system. Benchmarks indicate that significant performance is gained from each additional processor used.
Assessing residents' clinical performance: cumulative results of a four-year study with the Objective Structured Clinical Examination

Abstract Background: The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) is an objective method for assessing clinical skills and can be used to identify deficits in clinical skill. During the past 5 years, we have administered 4 OSCEs to all general surgery residents and interns. Methods: Two OSCEs (1993 and 1994) were used as broad-based examinations of the core areas of general surgery; subsequent OSCEs (1995 and 1997) were used as needs assessments. For each year, the reliability of the entire examination was calculated with Cronbach's alpha. A reliability-based minimal competence score (MCS) was defined as the mean performance (in percent) minus the standard error of measurement for each group in 1997 (interns, junior residents, and senior residents). Results: The reliability of each OSCE was acceptable, ranging from 0.63 to 0.91. The MCS during the 4-year period ranged from 45% to 65%. In 1997, 4 interns, 2 junior residents, and 2 senior residents scored below their group's MCS. MCS for the groups increased across training levels in developmental fashion (P
Theoretical Study of the Molecular and Electronic Structures of Neutral Silver Bromide Clusters (AgBr)n, n = 1−9

The structures and UV absorption spectra of (AgBr)n clusters (n = 1−9) are investigated in both the gas phase and in a dielectric medium. The structures of clusters were determined at the B3P86 level using a moderate size basis set with full geometry optimization. For clusters with n = 1−6, extensive searches of the potential energy surface yielded only one minimum, while larger clusters displayed two or more minima. Qualitative aspects of the major UV absorption band were also explored. Experimentally, as the clusters grow from monomers to larger systems, this band initially shifts to the blue and then to the red. Our computational results parallel the experimental trends and show that the maximum blue shift occurs at the trimer or the tetramer. The molecular origin of the blue/red shift associated with AgBr cluster growth can be readily explained by examining the orbital interactions which dominate the process and by the structure characteristics of the clusters. Detailed molecular orbital energy level ...
Sensing Caspase 3 Activity with Quantum Dot-Fluorescent Protein Assemblies

We demonstrate the use of a hybrid fluorescent protein semiconductor quantum dot (QD) sensor capable of specifically monitoring caspase 3 proteolytic activity. mCherry monomeric red fluorescent protein engineered to express an N-terminal caspase 3 cleavage site was ratiometrically self-assembled to the surface of QDs using metal-affinity coordination. The proximity of the fluorescent protein to the QD allows it to function as an efficient fluorescence resonance energy transfer acceptor. Addition of caspase 3 enzyme to the QD−mCherry conjugates specifically cleaved the engineered mCherry linker sequence, altering the energy transfer with the QD and allowing quantitative monitoring of proteolytic activity. Inherent advantages of this sensing approach include bacterial expression of the protease substrate in a fluorescently appended form, facile self-assembly to QDs, and the ability to recombinantly modify the substrate to target other proteases of interest.
Burning Speed Measurement of JP-8 Air Flames

Burning speed measurement and structure of JP-8 air mixtures at a wide range of temperature and pressure have been studied using two matched constant volume chambers. The experimental facilities include a spherical chamber and cylindrical vessel with glasses at the end caps to enable us visualizing flame structure. Cylindrical vessel is located in a Schlieren set up including spherical mirrors and a high speed CCD camera. Facilities also include and oven which can raise the initial temperature of the mixtures in spherical vessel to 500 K and similar heating elements that perform the same task in cylindrical chamber. A thermodynamic model has been developed to calculate burning speeds using dynamic pressure rise in the chamber. The model considers a central burned gas core of variable temperature surrounded by an unburned gas shell with uniform temperature with a thermal boundary layer at the wall. Burning speed and flame structure of different gaseous fuel-air mixtures have been investigated. Autoignition characteristics of JP-8 air mixtures have also been determined by the sudden pressure rise in spherical vessel.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
On Heat Generation in Rolling Contacts Under Boundary and Mixed Lubrication

This paper reports on experiments and theoretical analyses of heat generation and scuffing failure in rolling contacts. The experiments were conducted with dry contacts, and the theoretical analyses were carried out using a deterministic thermal contact model. The research reveals that heat generated by asperity plastic deformation in the direction normal to the contact can be significant in high-load, high-speed contacts under boundary and mixed lubrication conditions. Under near rolling conditions, heat generated by the plastic deformation largely dominates that by the friction and is the main source leading to contact scuffing. This heat generation is shown to be significant compared to frictional heating even at relatively large slide-to-roll ratios. Parametric studies show that the ratio of asperity-plastic-deformation heating to frictional heating is sensitive to slide-to-roll ratio, hardness and surface finish but insensitive to contact load, rolling velocity and fluid/asperity load sharing.
Separation of Cadmium from Cobalt Electrolyte Solution by Solvent Extraction Method Using Modified D2EHPA

Cadmium from high tenor cobalt electrolyte solution was selectively removed using modified di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (D2EHPA). In this study, D2EHPA was converted to Co-D2EHPA after replacing its functional group with Co2+ ions. The process parameters, such as pH, organic concentration, O/A ratio, kinetics, etc., were investigated. A significant amount of cadmium was extracted using Co-D2EHPA at equilibrium pH ∼ 3.5 and the McCabe-Thiele diagram showed that 100% cadmium can be extracted through three stages using O/A ratio of 1. Stripping tests revealed that 100% cadmium can be stripped from the loaded organic using 0.4 M H2SO4 in a single contact.
Contact Aggregation, Bridging, and Steric Stabilization in Dense Polymer−Particle Mixtures

A detailed computational study of the potential of mean force between a pair of spherical particles dissolved in a homopolymer melt has been performed using microscopic liquid state theory. The rol...
MOG35–55 i.v suppresses experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis partially through modulation of Th17 and JAK/STAT pathways

Intravenous (i.v.) administration of encephalitogenic peptide can effectively prevent experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of multiple sclerosis; however, the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, we induced i.v. tolerance to EAE by administration of MOG(35-55) peptide and determined the effect of this approach on intracellular signaling pathways of the IL-23/IL-17 system, which is essential for the pathogenesis of MS/EAE. In tolerized mice, phosphorylation of JAK/STAT-1, -4, ERK1/2 and NF-kappaBp65 were significantly reduced in splenocytes and the central nervous system. MOG i.v. treatment led to significantly lower production of IL-17, and administration of exogenous IL-17 slightly broke immune tolerance, which was associated with reduced activation of STAT4 and NF-kappaB. Suppressed phosphorylation of these pathway molecules was primarily evident in CD11b(+) and small numbers of CD4(+), CD8(+) and CD11c(+) cells. More importantly, adoptive transfer of CD11b(+) splenocytes of tolerized mice effectively delayed onset and reduced clinical severity of actively induced EAE. This study correlates MOG i.v. tolerance with modulation of Jak/STAT signaling pathways and investigates novel therapeutic avenues for the treatment of EAE/MS.
A model for improving the treatment and care of Alzheimer's disease patients through interdisciplinary research.

Abstract The emerging global epidemic of Alzheimer's disease (AD) demands novel paradigms to address the two unmet needs of the field: (a) cost-effective health care delivery programs/services, and (b) clinical and basic research to accelerate therapy discovery/development. This report outlines a model demonstration project, the Marian S. Ware Alzheimer Program at the University of Pennsylvania, which was designed to achieve four specific aims: (1) improve the integration and continuity of AD care; (2) identify biomarkers that detect the earliest presence of AD and related neurodegenerative cognitive disorders; (3) enhance both the design and conduct of clinical trials as well as review their results to more effectively test new AD therapies and translate valuable therapies into clinical practice; and (4) discover and develop novel disease-modifying small molecule treatments for AD. The "Ware-UPenn" program has been presented in this report as a useful prototype for partnerships between private philanthropy and academia in planning and developing programs to address a major national public health problem.
Pump-coupled micromasers: coherent and incoherent coupling

Abstract We consider two micromasers coupled via the pumping beam of initially excited two-level atoms traversing the two cavities in a sequence. The atomic populations and coherences pumping the second micromaser are, therefore, prepared by the first one. To separate the effects of atomic coherence we compare the two cases of incoherent and coherent coupling, i.e., when the states of the atoms are measured between the cavities (`which path') and when not. Using an exact solution for the incoherent case, we find that the second micromaser undergoes abrupt transitions between distinct phases of the photon statistics triggered, via injected absorption, by the first one. In the case of coherent coupling, we consider the exact master equation of the fields first and, after finding its nonlinear expansion, apply standard Fokker–Planck techniques. Complementing the nonlinear treatment, we also employ numerical simulations to investigate a different regime of the system. In addition to the incoherent effects, we find that atomic coherence significantly modifies the mean and the variance of the photon number of the second field and, at the same time, establishes first order (phase locking) and second order correlations between the two fields at steady state. The time evolution exhibits abrupt jumps in the locking of the relative phase between zero and π accompanied by shut-offs of the second micromaser. The coherence effects are particularly important in the region of small pumping parameters.