cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract P3-11-10: Response to subsequent therapies after failure to achieve pathologic complete response (pCR) after neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in patients (pts) with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC)

Background: More than half of pts with TNBC do not achieve a pCR after NAC, which carries a poor prognosis. It is unclear whether these patients respond to subsequent therapies on relapse. We sought to determine the time to progression (TTP) on subsequent therapies for recurrent disease in TNBC patients who did not achieve pCR to neo-adjuvant therapy. Methods: We retrospectively identified 117 TNBC pts who received NAC from 2009 through 2012 using an electronic database at the Magee Women’s Breast Cancer Program at the University of Pittsburgh. Patient records were then assessed for pts who did not achieve a pCR for time to local or distant recurrence (TTR) and time to progression (TTP) on susbequent therapies. Results: 86 of 117 TNBC pts did not achieve pCR to NAC defined as residual disease present in either the breast and/or axilla. Median follow up was 2 yrs (range 1-4yrs). Out of these 86 pts, 21 pts(25%) had recurrence in form of distant metastasis or local recurrence. Nearly all pts(95%) received anthracycline and taxane based NAC. Median TTR was 19 months (4-29 months). Therapies received in the metastatic setting most commonly included single agent capecitabine, paclitaxel, nab-paclitaxel, and eribulin. The most commonly received doublets included carboplatin with paclitaxel or gemcitabine. Median TTP on systemic chemotherapy was 15 weeks (3 -39 weeks), 6 weeks (1-24 weeks) and 6 weeks (2-9 weeks) in first, second and third line setting, respectively. Greater than 80% pts were able to receive two lines of systemic chemotherapy but Conclusions: Response to subsequent chemotherapeutic regimens in metastatic setting in TNBC pts who do not achieve pCR to anthracycline and taxane based NAC is limited. This highlights the importance of identifying new agents and targeted therapies for this poor prognosis sub-type. Citation Format: Shalu Pahuja, Kandace McGuire, Nancy Davidson, Adam Brufsky, Priya Rastogi, Rachel Jankowitz, Barry Lembersky, Shannon Puhalla. Response to subsequent therapies after failure to achieve pathologic complete response (pCR) after neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in patients (pts) with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Seventh Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2014 Dec 9-13; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(9 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-11-10.
Widmar v. Vincent: the Protection of Religious Speech in a Public Forum

This brief article discusses the holding in Widmar v. Vincent, as well as the legacy of Widmar, especially in terms of how it limited the use of the Establishment Clause to deny a public forum to religious groups. At issue in Widmar was the right of a student religious group not to be discriminatorily denied access to educational facilities that were otherwise open to non-religious student organizations. This denial of access reflected a content-based discrimination against religious speech. Furthermore, the state’s interest in avoiding an Establishment Clause violation could not justify the discrimination, since, in fact, no violation would occur if the religious group was given access to university facilities. By incorporating into its Establishment Clause jurisprudence, a public forum analysis that examined the effect of government action on expressive freedoms, the Widmar Court issued a powerful precedent for protecting religious liberty in a public forum.
A Fully Concurrent Garbage Collector

Over the past two decades, the number of memory-managed programming languages has proliferated. Such languages use uniprocessormemorymanagement techniques to allocate and reclaim storage on behalf of programs. Multicores and other forms of multiprocessor systems have evolved to become common place. However, deployed memory management techniques largely have not taken advantage of the benefits ofmultiprocessor systems.We present a fully concurrent garbage collector that offers negligible synchronization cost and leverages the power, speed, and potential of multicores and other multiprocessor systems. This collector makes its best effort to avoid suspending application threads as many concurrent (and other on-the-fly) collectors do. Instead, it retrieves requisite data opportunistically from each thread to compute its view of the heap and perform garbage collection work. Our collector is an efficient, high performance garbage collector that yields features that are desirable for multiprocessor real-time systems.
Superhydrophilic Multilayer Silica Nanoparticle Networks on a Polymer Microchannel Using a Spray Layer-by-Layer Nanoassembly Method

Nanoporous and superhydrophilic multilayer silica nanoparticle networks have been developed on a hydrophobic cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) microchannel using a spray layer-by-layer (LbL) electrostatic nanoassembly method. This powerful and promising LbL method provides a simple, cost-effective, and high-throughput nanoporous silica multilayer selectively onto the hydrophobic polymer surfaces. These newly developed multilayer networks have also been successfully characterized by contact angle measurement, environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The superhydrophilic effect, which was confirmed by the contact angle measurements, of the silica networks ensured the hydrophilic nature of the selectively constructed nanoporous silica nanoparticles onto the patterned hydrophobic COC microchannel. The capillary effect of the developed surface was characterized by measuring the length of a test liquid driven by the induced cap...
Revolutionary Road: directed by Sam Mendes, with screenplay by Justin Jaythe, and novel by Richard Yates. Produced by BBC Films. Los Angeles: Paramount Vantage, 2008.

Attempting to live the American dream during the 1950s would not appear to be a complicated hurdle for some families. The realization of this dream has been envisioned as meeting, marrying, and mak...
Inhibitory antibodies targeting emerging viruses: advancements and mechanisms

From Ebola virus outbreaks in Western Africa to the introduction of chikungunya and Zika viruses in the Americas, new and neglected viruses continue to emerge and spread around the world. Due to a lack of existing vaccines or specific therapeutics, little other than supportive care and attempts to interrupt transmission can be provided during initial outbreaks. This has prompted a shift in vaccine design and development to identify novel epitopes and mechanisms of protection that may offer a broader range of protection against groups or whole families of viruses. Receptor-binding domains and other motifs within viral envelope proteins represent one excellent opportunity to target communal epitopes shared by related viruses. Similarly, for viruses where envelope participates in driving viral egress from infected cells, shared epitopes need to be identified to guide the development of broadly protective antibodies and vaccines. Here, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of broadly protective humoral responses for emerging viruses.
Improving Bioengineering Student Leadership Identity Via Training and Practice within the Core-Course

The development of a leadership identity has become significant in bioengineering education as a result of an increasing emphasis on teamwork within the profession and corresponding shifts in accreditation criteria. Unsurprisingly, placing bioengineering students in teams to complete classroom-based projects has become a dominant pedagogical tool. However, recent research indicates that engineering students may not develop a leadership identity, much less increased leadership capacity, as a result of such efforts. Within this study, we assessed two similar sections of an introductory course in bioengineering; each placed students in teams, while one also included leadership training and leadership practice. Results suggest that students in the leadership intervention section developed a strong self-image of themselves as leaders compared to students in the control section. These data suggest that creating mechanisms for bioengineering students to be trained in leadership and to practice leadership behaviors within a classroom team may be keys for unlocking leadership development.
Activation of whole cell currents in isolated human jejunal circular smooth muscle cells by carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a low molecular weight oxide produced endogenously from fatty acids and heme protein. A physiological role for CO has been suggested for vascular smooth muscle, hemostasis, and olfactory neurons, but direct evidence is lacking. Heme oxygenase, which catalyzes the formation of CO from heme proteins, is present in small intestinal smooth muscle. The effect of 1% CO on whole cell currents in normal human jejunal circular muscle cells was studied with the use of a perforated patch-clamp technique. A 1% CO-containing Krebs solution caused an initial and transient increase in whole cell current in 20 of 22 cells tested (175 +/- 40%, mean +/- SE) and a transient hyperpolarization (15.6 +/- 3.6 mV, mean +/- SE) of the membrane potential. During prolonged recordings, 1% CO evoked ongoing cyclic increases and decreases in the whole cell current. Each current increase was accompanied by a sharp membrane hyperpolarization. These data suggest that CO may modulate whole cell potassium current and membrane potential.
Diopside + F-rich phlogopite at high P and T: Systematics, crystal chemistry and the stability of KMgF3, clinohumite and chondrodite

Multianvil experiments have been carried out from 3.0 to 11 GPa and from 1100 to 1500 DEGC on an equimolar mixture of natural diopside (CaMgSi 2 O 6 ) and F-rich phlogopite (K 1.7 Na 0.24 Mg 5.6 Al 2.4 Si 5.8 O 20 [F 1.7 OH 2.3 ]) to examine the behavior of K and F at high P and T in this system. As the first extensive experiments in the KCMASH composition space to include fluorine, the subsolidus crystallization of the perovskite KMgF 3 and F-bearing clinohumite and chondrodite at high pressures, up to 10 GPa and 1400 DEGC, is noteworthy. The compositions of crystalline phases produced in the experiments vary systematically with P and T . In clinopyroxene: Kcpx (KAlSi 2 O 6 ) content in clinopyroxene increases with increasing pressure at pressures above 5 GPa without a noticeable temperature effect; CaTs (CaAl 2 SiO 6 ) content is negatively correlated with P above 3 GPa and is positively correlated with T . In amphibole, an M4 K-substituted potassic richterite, ideally K(KCa)Mg 5 Si 8 O 22 (OH,F) 2 : K content is positively correlated with P ; Al and F content decrease with P ; and F content is positively correlated with T and is lowered by coexisting KMgF 3 . In garnet, [6] Si and Na content increases upon increasing P ; Ca-Mg systematics are complicated by growth zoning of crystals. All of the above trends may merit further calibration in geobarometry above 6 GPa, where published Al-in-Opx and Opx-Cpx barometers fail for these experiments. Although fluorine content in hydrous minerals decreases upon increasing P , fluorine enlarges the high P-T stability field of the hydroxy-minerals, so F content, even at low levels, must be considered in modeling phase stabilities for mantle assemblages. However, the strictly subsolidus paragenesis of humites in these experiments adds to the evidence that mantle humites form via metasomatic rather than magmatic interactions.
Using the theory of planned behavior to examine beliefs about verbal sexual coercion among urban Black adolescents

This study used the theory of planned behavior to identify urban Black adolescents' beliefs about male-to-female verbal sexual coercion. Interviews were conducted with 91 urban, Black adolescents (53 boys and 38 girls) to identify their behavioral, normative, and control beliefs about verbal sexual coercion perpetration (for males) and resistance (for females). Boys reported that perpetrating verbal sexual coercion could result in negative relationship outcomes, and the main benefit of using this tactic was to obtain sex. Unsupportive peers and some male family members were seen as encouraging boys to use verbal sexual coercion, whereas parents were seen as opposed to the use of coercion. Being in a private context with a girl and having persuasive skill were seen as facilitating the use of coercion, whereas being with an experienced or skilled girl was a barrier. For girls, positive relationship outcomes and sexual health risks were the benefits and pitfalls of resisting verbal sexual coercion. "Real" friends and family were described as supporting girls' resistance to coercion, while "fake" friends, promiscuous girls, and male peers were seen as not supporting resistance. Girls believed being in a safe, public context would make it easier to resist coercion, while being in a stable relationship with an attractive and persistent partner would make it more difficult to resist. Knowing urban, Black adolescents' beliefs about verbal sexual coercion is the first step toward predicting and intervening on their perpetration and resistance behaviors.
Manufactured “Mismatch”: Cultural Incongruence and Black Experience in the Academy

Studies bear out that African Americans are drastically underrepresented in criminology and criminal justice doctoral programs and that, once admitted, they have lower-than-average rates of complet...
A behavioral economic assessment of individualizing versus binding moral foundations

Abstract The goal of the study was to determine if people's endorsement of different moral foundations influences their degree of prosocial behavior in a set of economic exchange games. Moral Foundations Theory has proven to be a useful means of categorizing ideas about morality and predicting opinions on aspects of social justice, political orientation, and other constructs related to prosocial behavior. This study sought to determine if Progressivism, the degree to which individuals endorse the individualizing moral foundations (i.e., Harm/Care and Fairness/Reciprocity) over the binding moral foundations (i.e., In-group/Loyalty, Authority/Respect, and Purity/Sanctity), would lead to more frequent cooperation in the Prisoner's Dilemma, a higher level of investment in the Trust Game, a higher level of return of one's partner's investment in the Trust Game, and fewer points stolen in the Thieves' Game. The results indicated no relationship between Progressivism and performance in the Thieves' Game. In three separate linear regressions controlling for age, gender, race, and Big-5 personality traits Progressivism was associated with more frequent cooperation in the Prisoner's Dilemma, a higher level of investment in the Trust Game, and a higher level of return of one's partner's investment in the Trust Game. Therefore it does appear that moral foundations do predict performance in economic exchange games and that a greater endorsement of Progressivism is associated with more prosocial behavior.
Review: Technetium bone scanning is poor for detecting osteomyelitis

Source Citation Littenberg B, Mushlin AI, and the Diagnostic Technology Assessment Consortium. Technetium bone scanning in the diagnosis of osteomyelitis: a meta-analysis of test performance. J Gen...
Acute Kidney Injury (AKI)

Kidneys perform a multitude of essential functions within the human body. Of these the most important are (1) maintaining pH through regulation of acid/base levels and (2) excreting end products of metabolism. As for most organ-systems, these functions are especially important for healing following trauma and/or surgery and decline with age. Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) is one of the common forms of organ failures seen in the ICU and elderly patients are more prone to it. The causes maybe classified as Prerenal (inadequate perfusion), renal (inherent kidney disease) and post-renal (urinary obstruction). Preventing AKI should be an important concern in all critically ill patients but especially important in the elderly patients since the development of AKI can significantly increase in-hospital mortality. Once AKI has set in a systematic and step-wise approach of diagnosis and management is key to avoiding adverse outcomes.
Anisotropic magnetocaloric effect in single crystals of CrI 3

We report a systematic investigation of dc magnetization and ac susceptibility, as well as anisotropic magnetocaloric effect in bulk ${\mathrm{CrI}}_{3}$ single crystals. A second-stage magnetic transition was observed just below the Curie temperature ${T}_{c}$, indicating a two-step magnetic ordering. The low temperature thermal demagnetization could be well fitted by the spin-wave model rather than the single-particle model, confirming its localized magnetism. The maximum magnetic entropy change $\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}{S}_{M}^{\text{max}}\ensuremath{\sim}5.65$ J ${\mathrm{kg}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}{\mathrm{K}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ and the corresponding adiabatic temperature change $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}{T}_{\text{ad}}\ensuremath{\sim}2.34$ K are achieved from heat capacity analysis with the magnetic field up to 9 T. Anisotropy of $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}{S}_{M}(T,H)$ was further investigated by isothermal magnetization, showing that the difference of $\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}{S}_{M}^{\text{max}}$ between the $ab$ plane and the $c$ axis reaches a maximum value $\ensuremath{\sim}1.56$ J ${\mathrm{kg}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}{\mathrm{K}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ with the field change of 5 T. With the scaling analysis of $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}{S}_{M}$, the rescaled $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}{S}_{M}(T,H)$ curves collapse onto a universal curve, indicating a second-order type of the magnetic transition. Furthermore, the $\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}{S}_{M}^{\text{max}}$ follows the power law of ${H}^{n}$ with $n=0.64(1)$, and the relative cooling power depends on ${H}^{m}$ with $m=1.12(1)$.
Autoimmune limbic encephalitis in association with acute stroke

A 60-year-old woman with no known medical history presented with acute-onset altered mental status and aphasia. She was in her usual state of health until the time of presentation. She was found to have left middle and posterior cerebral artery (MCA and PCA) acute ischemic strokes and subsequently developed refractory status epilepticus. CT angiography showed moderate stenosis of the proximal left internal carotid artery (ICA), occlusion of the right ICA at its origin, and near-complete occlusion of the left vertebral artery (figure). Strokes were attributed to large-vessel atherosclerotic disease in the setting of multiple vascular risk factors including diabetes (A1c 13.5%), hypertension, and hyperlipidemia (low-density lipoprotein 244 mg/dL).
Design and Analysis of a Novel Pneumatic Manipulator

Abstract This paper discusses the design and analysis of a novel “continuum” robot manipulator. The design features two concentric flexible cylinders, with a pneumatically actuated inner tube and with tendons fixed to an outer cylinder. The tendons control bending of the (continuous) structure. Variation of pneumatic pressure allows both extension and the presentation of variable compliance to the environment. Details of the design and implementation of the robot are discussed. Additionally, a novel kinematic model, relating robot shape to tendon lengths, is presented. The design is highly scalable, with a wide range of potential applications.
Penetrating Chest Trauma

Experience in managing patients with penetrating chest trauma was at one time almost exclusively restricted to military surgeons; most battlefield wounds (90%) are still the result of penetrating trauma inflicted by bullets or shrapnel [18]. Now, however, penetrating chest injuries are encountered with rapidly increasing frequency in civilian hospitals in the US; in emergency rooms and trauma centers in large urban areas, the victims of penetrating trauma may outnumber the victims of blunt trauma two to one [12]. This trend is, in part, a reflection of improved field management techniques and transport systems that ensure that an increased number of patients with penetrating wounds arrive at treatment centers alive. It is also a reflection of the current tragic “epidemic” [314] of firearm-related injuries and deaths that is sweeping across the nation.
De Penfield-procedure

Een patient wakker maken tijdens een operatie. Op televisie en in boeken gebeurt dat regelmatig. Maar hoe gaat dat nu in het echt? In het VUmc wordt deze ingreep, de Penfield-procedure geheten, regelmatig uitgevoerd. In dit artikel wordt aan de hand van een casus beschreven waar tijdens zo'n ingreep allemaal rekening mee moet worden gehouden.
Step 2: Education — The Make or Break Issue

This step involves educating all relevant personnel about JIT so that they fully appreciate the changes that will be required. It has been called the make or break issue because that is exactly what it is: if a company skims over this step the resulting implementation may well have many difficulties. A thorough education, on the other hand, prepares the way for the JIT philosophy to reach the whole company increasing the chances of a highly successful implementation with a continual improvement of company operations for years to come.
Cesarean delivery rates in the United States. The 1990s.

The rate of cesarean section (CS) in the United States has increased dramatically over the past 25 years. The US rate rose from 5.5% in 1970 to a high of 24.7% in 1988; the rate steadily decreased to 20.7% in 1996. 4,24 The increase in CSs has been the focus of considerable attention because of the increased maternal morbidity and cost associated with the procedure without apparent impact on infant mortality. 6 In addition, the US rate is high compared with those of other industrialized nations. 17 In 1990, in response to a growing concern about the high CS rate in the United States, the Department of Health and Human Services established the following Healthy People 2000 Objectives: decrease the CS rate to no more than 15 per 100 births; decrease the primary rate to 12 or fewer per 100 births; and increase the vaginal birth after CS (VBAC) rate to 35 or more per 100 births. 23 Although CS rates have steadily decreased since 1990, current trends indicate that the vast majority of states, and certainly the United States as a whole, are unlikely to meet these objectives. This article describes the regional variation in CS rates in the United States. National data sources, standard definitions, and trends over time are described. New methodologies to adjust CS rates for case mix are presented. Finally, safe and effective strategies to reduce CS rates that have been reported from selected centers are summarized.
The OI λ1304 and λ1356 emissions in aurorae

Abstract An altitude profile of the λ 3914 emission of Na 2 + measured in an aurora by two rocket-borne spectrometers has been used to compute height-intensity profiles of the OI radiations at λ 1304 and λ 1356. Comparison of predictions with observations shows that the shape of the altitude profiles can better be reproduced by assuming a Doppler frequency profile rather than a Voigt profile in the radiative transfer computations. There are serious discrepancies between the observed and predicted intensity maxima for both oxygen features that could be due to the particular value for the cross sections we have adopted for excitation of oxygen by electron impact. We have also carried out calculations for two model aurorae characterized by widely differing primary electron spectra, and find that simultaneous zenith-nadir measurements would not only be useful for specifying the nature of the precipitating electron flux, but also for further testing important assumptions made in the radiative transfer calculations.
Making music in CS I

Music and computers have been intertwined for many years, and recent industry developments have seen a huge upsurge in interest in digital music. This article attempts to leverage that interest, by describing an easy, hardware-free technique for producing realistic music on the computer that could be introduced into the curriculum as early as CS I.
The tensile strength of short fibre-reinforced composites

Tensile strength is one of the most important mechanical properties of structural short fibre composites, and its prediction is essential for composite design. This paper develops a strength theory for three-dimensionally oriented short fibre-reinforced composites. The contribution of direct fibre strengthening to the composite strength is derived using a maximum-load composite failure criterion. Other strengthening mechanisms, such as residual thermal stress, matrix work hardening and short fibre dispersion hardening are also incorporated into the calculation of composite strength. In the derivation of direct fibre strengthening, the strain and stress of short fibres with different inclination angles were first derived, and the direct fibre strengthening was calculated from the maximum total load these short fibres can carry in the composite loading direction.
Assessing the clinical feasibility of electronic Rapid Fitness Assessment (eRFA): A novel geriatric assessment tool for the oncology setting.

10011Background: The American College of Surgeons & the American Geriatrics Society recommend the incorporation of geriatric assessment (GA) in the preoperative evaluation of older patients. GA req...
6.4 Environmental and occupational exposures to antimicrobial-resistant Staphylococcus aureus related to livestock agriculture

Background: Administration of antimicrobials to food animals, including non-therapeutically, can select for drug-resistant pathogens, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). In ...
Argentous Deep Eutectic Solvent Approach for Scaling Up the Production of Colloidal Silver Nanocrystals

Conventional colloidal nanocrystal synthesis is conducted in batch formats which produce materials on a scale far below what is required for industrial applications. As a practical solution to this challenge, we show herein that a task-specific argentous deep eutectic solvent (DES) comprising a 1:4 mixture of silver triflate with acetamide can be used as a fluidic metal precursor to push the production of silver nanocrystals to large quantities. This approach employs oleylamine as cosolvent, reductant, and colloid capping agent and is shown to quickly produce large amounts of high-quality monodispersed silver nanocrystals (AgNCs) in a simple microwave-mediated reduction (2 min reaction at 200 °C). The large initial silver concentration ([Ag]0) of the DES-based reaction medium in turn allows a high colloidal concentration of AgNCs to be accomplished. For an [Ag]0 of 0.50 M, the highest silver concentration which gave uniform AgNCs a colloidal concentration of 54 mg mL–1 was attained, equivalent to the prod...
Abstract 197: A Novel Association Between High Density Lipoprotein Levels and the Risk of Postoperative Acute Kidney Injury

Acute kidney injury (AKI) after cardiac surgery occurs in up to 30% of patients and is an independent predictor of death. HDL may attenuate mechanisms of AKI. We hypothesized that a high preoperati...
Anonymity in Questions and Answers about Health

Social Question & Answer (Q&A) sites are a unique source of health information that draw from personal, rather than professional experience. When people ask or answer questions about health using t...
Don’t Wait, Communicate: Rural School Counselors and Disaster Mental Health:

This study explored rural school counselors’ experiences regarding their preparation and response to natural disasters. Using descriptive phenomenology, we examined the perspectives of 10 school co...
Gene therapy knockdown of Hippo signaling induces cardiomyocyte renewal in pigs after myocardial infarction.

Human heart failure, a leading cause of death worldwide, is a prominent example of a chronic disease that may result from poor cell renewal. The Hippo signaling pathway is an inhibitory kinase cascade that represses adult heart muscle cell (cardiomyocyte) proliferation and renewal after myocardial infarction in genetically modified mice. Here, we investigated an adeno-associated virus 9 (AAV9)–based gene therapy to locally knock down the Hippo pathway gene Salvador (Sav) in border zone cardiomyocytes in a pig model of ischemia/reperfusion-induced myocardial infarction. Two weeks after myocardial infarction, when pigs had left ventricular systolic dysfunction, we administered AAV9-Sav–short hairpin RNA (shRNA) or a control AAV9 viral vector carrying green fluorescent protein (GFP) directly into border zone cardiomyocytes via catheter-mediated subendocardial injection. Three months after injection, pig hearts treated with a high dose of AAV9-Sav-shRNA exhibited a 14.3% improvement in ejection fraction (a measure of left ventricular systolic function), evidence of cardiomyocyte division, and reduced scar sizes compared to pigs receiving AAV9-GFP. AAV9-Sav-shRNA–treated pig hearts also displayed increased capillary density and reduced cardiomyocyte ploidy. AAV9-Sav-shRNA gene therapy was well tolerated and did not induce mortality. In addition, liver and lung pathology revealed no tumor formation. Local delivery of AAV9-Sav-shRNA gene therapy to border zone cardiomyocytes in pig hearts after myocardial infarction resulted in tissue renewal and improved function and may have utility in treating heart failure.
Glia Inhibitor Blocks Ventilatory Acclimatization to Chronic Sustained Hypoxia

Neuroglial communication in the central nervous system (CNS) is proving to be an important component of neuronal signaling both in normal conditions as well as stressed or injured states. We invest...
THE FUNCTIONALIZATION OF POLYOLEFINS BY USING REACTIVE INTERMEDIATES

Despite the commercial successes of polyolefins [1], the lack of compatibility with other materials has limitted some of their end uses. Accordingly, the chemical modification of polyolefins has been an area of increasing interest as a route to higher value products, and various methods of functionalization [2–4] have been employed to alter their chemical and physical properties. An established technique for improving the interfacial interaction between polymers and other materials is the use of block and graft copolymers as compatibilizers [5,6]. Unfortunately, the chemistry to prepare polyolefin graft and block copolymers are also very limited. Numerous methods have been employed in forming graft copolymers with polyolefins. Ionizing radiation (x-ray, γ-rays, and e-beams), ozone, uv with accelerators, and free radical initiators in the presence of monomers [7,8] have all been used to form graft copolymers. Typically, these high energy reactions lead to side reactions such as crosslinking and chain cleavage resulting in diminished mechanical properties. In most cases, the structure and composition of copolymers are difficult to controlled with the considerable amounts of ungrafted homopolymers.
Los pueblos que no eran pueblos

This work will analyse the spatial organization of native towns, their shelters and the territories within their ecclesiastical jurisdiction, as well as the articulation established between urban and rural areas, in order to demonstrate its relationship to the actual existence of residential segregation practices between natives and non natives.The study of the spatial organization of native towns and their shelters, enhances thorough understanding of the economic importance of public lands in the shaping of conflict during colonial times, and the particular operating mechanisms used for domination and resistance
Some Mathematical and Physical Aspects of Continuum Models for the Motion of Granular Materials

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses some mathematical and physical aspects of continuum models for the motion of granular materials and describes some problems associated with the formulation and solution of differential equations of motion for a continuum model of a granular material. In many practical situations, the flow of a granular material is strongly influenced by drag forces, resulting from relative motion of the solid material and the fluid that occupies its interstices. This is known to influence the discharge rate of fine particles from a hopper and is a dominant factor in determining the behavior of systems such as fluidized beds, pneumatic transport lines, and standpipes. A convenient geometric representation of the state of stress at any point is provided by the Mohr construction. For a material, which is about to yield or is yielding slowly enough that inertial effects can be ignored, the components of force balance yield a pair of partial differential equations in the three elements of the stress tensor. The equations are closed by the algebraic relation between the elements of the stress tensor provided by the Coulomb yield condition.
The Effect of Thorium on Thrombin THE ROLE OF CARBOXYL GROUPS

Abstract Both the proteolytic and esterolytic activity of thrombin were destroyed by as little as 50 µm thorium chloride. The inhibition of thrombin was prevented by anions complexing thorium and potentiated by substrate, calcium, or lowering of the pH of the reactive mixture. The thorium-treated enzyme showed a decrease in Vm but not Km and a shift in its pH activity profile to a more alkaline range. In order to ascertain whether carboxyl groups were involved in this reaction with ThCl4, the carbodiimide-nucleophile reaction was studied. Progressive inactivation of thrombin with marked potentiation by calcium and substrate were observed similar to the reaction with thorium. Eight moles of 14C-glycine ethyl ester per mole of protein were incorporated under nondenaturing conditions in the presence of low concentrations of 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide with 80% loss of activity. When thorium-treated enzyme was similarly treated with carbodiimide, less than 1 mole of glycine ethyl ester was incorporated, suggesting that similar carboxyl groups were also involved in the modification by thorium. The accessibility of the free carboxyl groups whose integrity appears essential to the enzymatic function of thrombin seems to be critically dependent on conformational changes in the molecule.
Endothelial Progenitor Cells Are Rapidly Recruited to Myocardium and Mediate Protective Effect of Ischemic Preconditioning via “Imported” Nitric Oxide Synthase Activity

Background— The function of bone marrow–derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in repair of ischemic tissue has been the subject of intense scrutiny, and the capacity of these cells to contrib...
Design of Maps and Map-Related Research

Three characteristics of hardcopy maps, scale, interrelatedness of symbols, and standardized symbology, are reviewed. Their implications for future map-related research and design are discussed. Research on types of coding used in visual displays is discussed in terms of its applicability to hardcopy maps. Specific suggestions for hardcopy map design are based on the literature comparing different kinds of map products.
Recent developments in MOCVD of Hg1-xCdxTe

Recent developments in metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) growth of the infrared detector material Hg1-xCdxTe can be subdivided into three main areas: reaction kinetics, in situ monitoring of growth and doping. The growth regime for most laboratories is kinetic/catalytic, and a good understanding of these growth mechanisms is essential for adequate control of growth rate and composition. In situ monitoring using laser reflectance can measure growth rate and composition and can be sensitive to morphology throughout a multilayer structure. This new information on the kinetic processes is a powerful diagnostic tool for the crystal grower. Doping the epitaxial layers with low volatility organometallics, or in the case of As using the diluted hydride, has been demonstrated by a number of laboratories, but problems with memory doping from indium and incorporation/activation efficiencies for arsenic will be resolved by understanding the surface chemistry. Arsenic implanted double layer heterostructure diode results show comparable 80 K ROA values to LPE p/n diodes.
Identifying active structures in the Kayak Island and Pamplona Zones: Implications for offshore tectonics of the Yakutat Microplate, Gulf of Alaska

Within the northern Gulf of Alaska, the Yakutat (YAK) microplate obliquely collides with and subducts beneath the North American (NA) continent at near-Pacific plate velocities. We investigate the extent that thin-skinned deformation on offshore structures located within the western portion ofthe unsubductedYAK block accommodates YAK-NA convergence. We compare faulting and folding observed on high-resolution and basin-scale multichannel seismic (MCS) reflection data with earthquake locations and surface ruptures observed on high-resolution bathymetric data. Holocene sediments overlying the Kayak Island fault zone (KIZ), previously interpreted as a region of active contraction, are relatively flat-lying, suggesting that active convergence within the KIZ is waning. Seismic reflection profiles east of KIZ show up to ∼200 m of undisturbed sediments overlying older folds in the Bering Trough, indicating that this area has been tectonically inactive since at least the last ∼1.3 Ma. Farther east, MCS profiles image active deformation in surface sediments along the eastern edge of the Pamplona zone (PZ) fold-and-thrust belt, that are collocated with a concentration of earthquake events that continues southwest to Khitrov Ridge and onshore through Icy Bay. These observations suggest that during the late Quaternary offshore shallow deformation style changed from distributed across the western Yakutat block to localized at the eastern edge of the PZ with extrusion of sediments southwest through the Khitrov Ridge area to the Aleutian Trench. This shallow deformation is interpreted as deformation of an accretionary complex above a shallow decollement.
Comparing Hydrolyzing to Prehydrolyzed Coagulants for Treatment of a Florida Slough

AbstractBench-scale jar testing was conducted to compare the cost and performance of three hydrolyzing and two prehydrolyzed coagulants for treatment of an organic-laden (>8 mg/L total organic carbon) surface water slough. Coagulant dose and pH were varied between 80 and 240 mg/L and 4 and 8 pH units, respectively. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) removal performance data were depicted graphically and modeled using empirical regressions. Ferric chloride and aluminum chlorohydrate achieved the highest organic removal (85 and 70%, respectively) and color reduction (98 and 97%, respectively) at dose concentrations of 120 mg/L as FeCl3 and 100 mg/L as polyaluminum hydroxychloride, respectively. Cost diagrams were developed using DOC removal performance data. Ancillary effects including alkalinity retention, settling time, and sludge settling rates were also considered in this comparison. This research provides insight regarding the relationship between process conditions and the advantages of using prehydro...
[15] PCR and generation of antisense RNA probes for use in RNase protection assays

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a detailed experimental procedure for a modified RNase protection assay in which the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique is adapted to generate RNA probes. Evidence shows that the efficiency and quality of the protection assay can be substantially improved by this PCR-mediated approach. The RNase protection assay has been widely utilized to study the structure of RNA molecules and particularly for the mapping of 5' transcription initiation sites, exon–intron boundaries, and 3' polyadenylation sites. The assay has also been used to detect mutations in DNA molecules. Moreover, because of its great sensitivity, the RNase protection assay is also useful in the identification and quantitation of RNA species that are expressed at extremely low levels. The principle of the assay is based on the use of a sequence-specific antisense radiolabeled RNA probe, which, after hybridizing to cellular RNA or DNA, protects the complementary sequence region from single-strand-specific RNase digestion.
The Camper’s Uninvited Guests

Venturing into the wilderness can be exhilarating, and each year millions of people take time off to enjoy this pastime. During this relaxing endeavor the majority of adventurers will come into contact with different species of biting arthropods. Ticks, mosquitoes, lice, fleas, mites, bees, wasps, scorpions, and spiders, can make time spent in the outdoors unpleasant, and are potential carriers of disease. These biting arthropods may identify humans not only as an enemy, but also as a potential source of food. Biting, therefore, can be an act of feeding, probing, or defending. Contact with the host can be transient (mosquito) or prolonged (tick) and may result in the inoculation of salivary fluids or regurgitation of digestive tract contents. Organisms present in these fluids are able to cause many different diseases in their human hosts.
The Impact of Traffic Congestion on Mobility

Mobility is the ability of people and goods to travel easily, safely, quickly and reliably. Trip mobility varies with the speed of travel, and it may be defined as the number of trips taken and their distance (trip-miles) within the traveler’s daily travel time and cost budgets. Therefore, lower speeds resulting from traffic congestion reduce mobility
Peritonitis in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients: An Overview

The incidence of peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients has decreased as a result of improvements in PD technology. Nevertheless, peritonitis remains a major problem in PD, with a substantial percent of patients developing persistent or relapsing infections. Current treatment guidelines emphasize the use of intraperitoneal antibiotics and once-a-day administration of aminoglycosides and provide indications for removal of the peritoneal catheter. Further clinical studies testing these guidelines are needed. In addition, guidelines for patients on PD treatment modalities other than standard continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) need to be developed. Peritonitis may lead to extensive adhesion formation, peritoneal fibrosis of varying severity, permanent loss of peritoneal ultrafiltration, severe malnutrition, sepsis, and death. Special forms of peritonitis requiring great care and further study include those caused by fungi, mycobacteria, and multiple microorganisms, and those developing in HIV-positive PD patients.
Partial component analysis of a comprehensive smoking program.

Abstract This study evaluated the effects of a comprehensive program for the treatment of cigarette addiction. Forty percent abstinence levels verified by expired air carbon monoxide tests were achieved in a 6–9 month follow-up period. A partial component analysis revealed that the comprehensive program was not significantly more powerful than a principle component—the focused smoking technique. Revisions in the program are suggested.
A history of divorce and remarriage in the United States

Purpose – This paper aims to review major historical trends in US divorce rates and the origin of divorce law in the USA, as well as several of the leading explanations for the increased rates of divorce in the 20th century and the impact of these trends on remarriage rates.Design/methodology/approach – Using a historical review, the paper discusses the origins of regional differences, the factors contributing to trends in divorce and remarriage, and the transition in persons pursuing divorce and remarriage throughout the history of the USA.Findings – The paper notes how the advent of industrialization transformed the family and contributed to rising divorce rates and examines common explanations for the dramatic increase in divorce throughout the 20th century. In particular, this review highlights how the feminist movement along with numerous legislative and demographic changes brought about the increased labor force participation of women and female economic independence, which allowed both men and wome...
Human immunodeficiency virus causes mononuclear phagocyte dysfunction.

Abstract There is compelling clinical evidence for dysfunction of the mononuclear phagocyte system in patients with AIDS, which is believed due in part to loss of T-cell cooperativity. The direct consequences of human immunodeficiency virus infection on macrophage function are unknown. To address this question we infected normal human macrophages in vitro with a monocytotropic strain of human immunodeficiency virus and performed assays to quantify their extra- and intracellular killing ability. Human immunodeficiency virus-infected macrophages were significantly less effective than control cells in mediating antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity against leukemic cell targets and intracellular killing of Candida pseudotropicalis. The functional defects were profound, related temporarily to active virus production by the macrophages, and could not be overcome by granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor. Treatment of macrophages with 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT) 6 days after infection caused a marked decrease in virus production and prevented development of the intracellular killing functional defect. The results suggest that early antiviral therapy may be useful in preventing or mitigating some virus-induced mononuclear phagocyte dysfunction.
Does Sketching Skill Relate to Good Design

Sketching is an activity that takes place throughout the engineering design process, and is often linked to design cognition. This preliminary study identifies different skills that contribute to a designer's sketching ability and explores how those skills might be related to sketch fluency and design outcome. A positive correlation was found between the quantity of sketches produced and sketch skills that emphasize drawing facility, but a negative correlation was found between sketch quantity and a skill related to mechanism visualization. Sketching is sometimes considered a generic skill, but this study suggests that there are differences among the different types of sketching skills in the context of engineering design. No notable relationship was found between sketching ability and design outcome. Results also suggest that students provided with explicit instruction in sketching tended to draw more overall, although there are likely many other factors involved.
Experimental measurement of the crack tip strain field in a single crystal

Abstract Crack tip deformation fields in an aluminum single crystal are quantitatively obtained by applying a three-dimensional moire interferometry technique. Tensile specimens made of an aluminum single crystal have an edge crack on the (223) plane with their tips along the [10, 7, 2] direction. Specimens with this specific orientation undergo power law hardening with the hardening index n being 3.1. The experimental arrangement for moire interferometry results in a displacement sensitivity of 0.47 μ/fringe. Displacement fields at the free surface near the crack tip are mapped with moire fringe patterns. Both effective strain and maximum shear strain within a small region of less than 2 mm from the crack tip are evaluated. In partial agreement with earlier analytical and numerical solutions, the results of this experiment show that the deformation fields near a crack tip are divided into several different angular sectors, and concentrated shears are found at these sector boundaries where displacements are continuous. The experimental results also show that the effective strain and maximum shear strain remain constant (independent of angle θ) within certain angular sectors.