cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Patient-Specific Compliant Vessel Manufacturing Using Dip-Spin Coating of Rapid Prototyped Molds

A procedure for manufacturing cardiovascular system models using patient-specific data, rapid prototyping, and a multistep dip-spin coating process is presented here. Improvements to a previously developed process permitted the fabrication of flexible complex vascular replicas. The primary improvement included the development of a two-axis rotation mechanism that enabled a pseudorandom rotation of the coated mold in space, providing uniform coats. Other improvements included the use of a low viscosity (1500-2000 cP) silicone solution that allowed for complete coverage of the mold, and developing a procedure for fixing defects. The dip-spin coating procedure was shown to be effective for the manufacture of compliant cardiovascular membranes, such as an arterial bypass graft with an internal flow passage and an abdominal aorta with nonuniform radial geometry, tapered diameters, bifurcations, and small branches. Results from a design of experiments comparing two dipping setups demonstrated that horizontally dipping the model produced coatings with more uniform thicknesses along the length of the model when compared to vertical dipping. For a 250-mm-long model, the difference in thickness between the top and bottom of the membrane was 0.42 ±0.069 mm and 0.09 ±0.077 mm for vertical and horizontal dippings, respectively. Mold diameter also affected the thickness of the membrane, with membrane thickness increasing as mold diameter decreased. Thickness data comparing locations at approximately the same height of the mold but with different diameters showed thicknesses of 2.54±0.198 mm and 1.95±0.140 mm for 7.85 mm and 15.20 mm diameters, respectively. Moreover, the differences in thickness between these locations were 0.60 ±0.128 mm and 0.58 ±0.231 mm for vertical and horizontal dippings, respectively; thus, membrane thickness variations occurred with mold diameter irrespective of the dipping setup. Depending on the prescribed tolerance for membrane thickness, the vertical dipping setup may be recommended for use because (1) it was easier to use since only the mold was immersed in the coating solution and no special protection of the dipping mechanism was required and (2) it produced fewer defects in the coatings since the solution always dripped from downfacing surfaces of the mold. Using this dip-spin coating procedure, patient-specific cardiovascular membranes can be manufactured and used in the development of medical devices, research requiring accurate anatomical models, and education and training.
Children's Understanding of the Meaning and Functions of Verbal Irony

We investigated children's understanding of irony and sensitivity to irony's meanness and humor. In Study 1, 89 participants (5-6-year-olds, 8-9-year-olds, adults) heard ironic and literal criticisms, and literal compliments. Comprehension of irony emerged between 5 and 6 years of age. Ratings of humor increased with age; ratings of meanness did not (showing that all ages perceived irony as more muted than literal criticism). In Study 2, results from 135 participants (6-7-year-olds, 8-9-year-olds, and adults) replicated these findings and revealed the role of form and intonation. Thus, comprehension of irony emerges between 5 and 6 years of age, and sensitivity to the muting function develops prior to sensitivity to the humor function.
protection by vitamin E against endothelial cell injury by linoleic acid hydroperoxides

Abstract Exposure to 90 μM albumin-bound linoleic acid (18:2) for 24 hours significantly increased the rate of albumin transfer across cultured endothelial monolayers. Linoleic acid hydroperoxides (18:2-OOH) further accelerated the rate of albumin transfer over that of 18:2. Cells exposed to 18:2-OOH but not 18:2 caused a marked release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) into the media. Prior cellular incubation with media containing 25 μM vitamin E for 24 hours protected endothelial cells from injury by 18:2 and 18:2-OOH, as evidenced by a decreased rate of albumin transfer across the endothelium as well as reduced release of LDH into the media. These results suggest that vitamin E may provide protection against endothelial cell injury resulting from expusure to fatty acid hydroperoxides
Quantum well state of self-forming 3C−SiC inclusions in 4H SiC determined by ballistic electron emission microscopy

High-temperature-processing-induced double-stacking-fault $3C\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{SiC}$ inclusions in $4H$ SiC were studied with ballistic electron emission microscopy in ultrahigh vacuum. Distinctive quantum well structures corresponding to individual inclusions were found and the quantum well two-dimensional conduction band minimum was determined to be approximately $0.53\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.06\mathrm{eV}$ below the conduction band minimum of bulk $4H$ SiC. Macroscopic diode $I\ensuremath{-}V$ measurements indicate no significant evidence of metal/semiconductor interface state variation across the inclusions.
Some aspects of sieve-element structure and development inSelaginella kraussiana

The vacuoles of the sieve elements ofSelaginella kraussiana contain a crystalline protein which appears to degenerate in mature cells. Although it occurs in sieve elements we have elected not to call it “P-protein” because of ontogenetic and possibly functional differences between the two. The nucleus undergoes unique structural changes during development of the sieve element, ultimately being converted to a mass of tubules. The structures referred to by earlier workers as “refractive spherules” inSelaginella are probably plastids. As the size of the sieve pores in lateral and end walls falls into the same size range, the sieve elements ofSelaginella kraussiana can be considered to be sieve cells.
Splintering Urbanism: Networked Infrastructures, Technological Mobilities, and the Urban Condition

Stephen Graham and Simon Marvin. London and New York: Routledge, 2001. ISBN 0-415-18964-0 (cloth); 0-415-18965-9 (paper). Few issues shape urban form and city life more than infrastructure, which u...
Early cutting of corn as a method of reducing populations of corn rootworms.

The effect of removing corn at different dates on corn rootworm populations was evaluated for 2 years at Yankton, South Dakota. Early cutting caused some mortality and resulted in wide dispersal of the western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgitera LeConte, and the northern corn rootworm, D. longicornis . (Say). Fall counts of eggs were not reliable indicators of the amount of damage the following summer. Yield was not a good indicator of larval populations because of other influencing factors such as fertility or rainfall. The 2 most effective methods of estimating populations of corn rootwromproved to be counts of larvae and larval damage, when corn was removed before Sept. 1, popubtions of corn rootwrom the next year were below economic proportions. Thus, farmers who cut their corn before Sept. 1 could expect little damage from corn rootworms the following year and might not have to apply insecticides.
Comparison of the structural and chemical composition of two unique micro/nanostructures produced by femtosecond laser interactions on nickel

The structural and chemical composition of two unique microstructures formed on nickel, with nanoscale features, produced using femtosecond laser surface processing (FLSP) techniques is reported in this paper. These two surface morphologies, termed mounds and nanoparticle-covered pyramids, are part of a larger class of self-organized micro/nanostructured surfaces formed using FLSP. Cross-sections of the structures produced using focused ion beam milling techniques were analyzed with a transmission electron microscope. Both morphologies have a solid core with a layer of nanoparticles on the surface. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy by scanning transmission electron microscopy studies reveal that the nanoparticles are a nickel oxide, while the core material is pure nickel.
Tailoring Ion Energy Distributions Using Pulsed Plasmas

The tuning of ion energy distribution functions (IEDFs) is extremely critical to enable scaling beyond the 3x nm node. Typical inductively coupled plasma reactors offer less control of the IEDFs compared to multi-frequency capacitively coupled plasma reactors. Power-modulated plasma has been used to enable the tailoring of IEDFs without changing operating conditions. Images are presented of various tailored IEDFs using pulsed plasmas.
Chronic intermittent cold stress and serotonin depletion induce deficits of reversal learning in an attentional set-shifting test in rats

Rationale Chronic stress perturbs modulatory brain neurotransmitter systems, including serotonin (5-HT), and is a risk factor for psychiatric disorders such as depression. Deficits in cognitive flexibility, reflecting prefrontal cortical dysfunction, are prominent in such disorders. Orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) has been implicated specifically in reversal learning, a form of cognitive flexibility modulated by 5-HT.
Echocardiography determination of left ventricular preload, afterload, and contractility during and after exercise

Left ventricular (LV) performance increases during acute exercise, but the mechanisms for this increase are not known. To determine the feasibility of studying echocardiographic indexes of performance and its determinants (preload, afterload, and contractility) during exercise, and to examine changes in these indexes, we tested 24 normal male subjects (aged 21 ± 5 years) by echocardiography—at rest; at 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% maximal oxygen consumption; and immediately, 3 minutes, and 5 minutes after cycle ergometry. The LV performance (shortening fraction), preload (LV end-diastolic dimension), afterload (wall stress), contractility, heart rate, and peak systolic blood pressure were measured. Data could be obtained during 98% of the exercise studies. The LV performance, heart rate, blood pressure, and contractility increased significantly with increasing exercise, reaching peak levels at maximal exercise, and decreased toward resting levels in the post-exercise period. The LV afterload and preload decreased significantly with increasing exercise intensity, reaching nadir levels at maximal exercise, and increased toward resting levels in the post-exercise period. We conclude that echocardiographic measurement of LV performance and its determinants is feasible during exercise. Performance of the LV increases with increasing exercise intensity because of an associated increase in contractility and decrease in afterload. These data will serve as a basis for comparison with those from other patien populations.
Diabetes: The good in fat

A new class of fatty acid — found in food and synthesized by mammalian tissues — enhances glucose uptake from the blood and reduces inflammation, suggesting that these fats might be used to treat diabetes.
Organelle Genomes--Going, Going, Gone

The organelles of eukaryotic cells—chloroplasts and mitochondria—first arose as engulfed symbionts with their own genomes. They subsequently lost most of their genes to the nucleus, retaining a few that could not be transferred. In his Perspective, Palmer discusses recent evidence that suggests that another organelle, the hydrogenosome, is a highly modified mitochondrion that has lost all of its genetic material.
A model of dialogue and conscientization: A pedagogical paradigm for justice

This study analyzes critical pedagogy in an effort to create an approach to justice education that can lead to the formation of a critical consciousness. Associative Group Analysis (AGA) is utilized to measure students' subjective perceptions of justice concepts through free association, finding that dualistic views of justice are replaced by multi-dimensional images as a result of engaging in the process of dialogue and contradiction. These objectives produce a discourse of justice that contributes to the potential for the empowerment of justice studies students to effect liberatory social change.
341 CROSSVALIDATION OF SERUM TO SALIVA RELATIONSHIPS OF THEOPHYLLINE AND TOTAL METHYLXANTHINES IN NEONATES

The relationships of serum (Se) to Saliva (Sa) concentrations of Theophylline (Theo) and total methylxanthines (Mx) (Mx = Theo + Caffeine (Caf)) have been established in neonates treated with Theo for apnea (J.Pediatr.96:494,1980). Serum to Sa relationships derived with additional studies have been crossvalidated against the old data. The standard deviations (SD) and correlation coefficients (R) for the Se to Sa relationships are presented below. Data for Mx is presented because of Theo to Caf conversion in neonates. Crossvalidation results indicate that R is high for Mx using both models and for Theo only for the ratio model. The discrepancy between Theo and Mx results may be caused by the wide interindividual differences in conversion from Theo to Caf.
Fifty years of light scattering: A perspective

It is 50 years since Debye first described the use of light scattering for the characterization of polymer solution. Ben Chu has been a leader in its subsequent development. Significant advances in theory, experimental techniques, their interpretation, and application during this period are described. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Chronic Pancreatitis and Exocrine Insufficiency

The evaluation, management, and follow-up of patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP) can be simple, but it can also be complex, so having a good referral network of subspecialists experienced in this field is essential. Identifying the cause of CP requires a systematic review of the many potential causes when the cause is not obvious. The identification of patients with autoimmune CP is particularly important because treatment with steroids may be effective. Alterations in pain or other symptoms in patients with CP should not be attributed to worsening disease before evaluations for complications including malignancy are done.
Novel hepatic progenitor cell surface markers in the adult rat liver

Hepatic progenitor/oval cells appear in injured livers when hepatocyte proliferation is impaired. These cells can differentiate into hepatocytes and cholangiocytes and could be useful for cell and gene therapy applications. In this work, we studied progenitor/oval cell surface markers in the liver of rats subjected to 2-acetylaminofluorene treatment followed by partial hepatectomy (2-AAF/PH) by using rat genome 230 2.0 Array chips and subsequent RT-PCR, immunofluorescent (IF), immunohistochemical (IHC) and in situ hybridization (ISH) analyses. We also studied expression of the identified novel cell surface markers in fetal rat liver progenitor cells and FAO-1 hepatoma cells. Novel cell surface markers in adult progenitor cells included tight junction proteins, integrins, cadherins, cell adhesion molecules, receptors, membrane channels and other transmembrane proteins. From the panel of 21 cell surface markers, 9 were overexpressed in fetal progenitor cells, 6 in FAO-1 cells and 6 are unique for the adult progenitors (CD133, claudin-7, cadherin 22, mucin-1, ros-1, Gabrp). The specificity of progenitor/oval cell surface markers was confirmed by ISH and double IF analyses. Moreover, study of progenitor cells purified with Ep-CAM antibodies from D-galactosamine injured rat liver, a noncarcinogenic model of progenitor cell activation, verified that progenitor cells expressed these markers. Conclusion: We identified novel cell surface markers specific for hepatic progenitor/oval cells, which offers powerful tool for their identification, isolation and studies of their physiology and pathophysiology. Our studies also reveal the mesenchymal/epithelial phenotype of these cells and the existence of species diversity in the hepatic progenitor cell identity. (HEPATOLOGY 2007;45:139–149.)
Multipliers of Lp which vanish at infinity

Abstract The main results of this paper are as follows. 1. (i) If p ≠ 2, there exists a continuous multiplier (function) of L p (R n ) which vanishes at infinity, but which is not in the closure, in the multiplier norm, of the space of Fourier transforms of integrable functions. 2. (ii) If p ≠ 2, there exists a function on Z n , a multiplier of L p (T n ) which vanishes at infinity, but which is not in the closure, in the multiplier norm of the space of finitely supported functions on Z n . 3. (iii) If 1 ⩽ p ⩽ ∞ and ϑ, a function on Z n , is a multiplier of L p (T n ), then there exists a function Φ on Z n , a multiplier of L p (R n ), such that Φ ¦ Z n = ϑ and ∥ Φ ∥ ⩽ ∥ ϑ ∥, where ∥ · ∥ denotes the appropriate multiplier norms. Moreover, if ϑ vanishes at infinity, Φ can be chosen to be continuous and to vanish at infinity. Result (i) answers a question raised by Hormander. It is proved as a corollary of (ii) and (iii).
Vaccination against Q fever for biodefense and public health indications.

Coxiella burnetii is the etiological agent of Q Fever, a disease that is often spread to humans via inhalational exposure to the bacteria from contaminated agricultural sources. Outbreaks have been observed all over the world with larger foci generating interest in vaccination programs, most notably in Australia and the Netherlands. Importantly, exposure rates among military personnel deployed to the Middle East can be relatively high as measured by seroconversion to C. burnetii-specific antibodies. Q Fever has been of interest to the biodefense community over the years due to its low infectious dose and environmental stability. Recent advances in cell-free growth and genetics of C. burnetii also make this organism easier to culture and manipulate. While there is a vaccine that is licensed for use in Australia, the combination of biodefense- and public health-related issues associated with Q Fever warrant the development of a safer and more effective vaccine against this disease.
Religiosity and Risky Sexual Behaviors among an African American Church-based Population

African Americans are disproportionately burdened by STDs and HIV in the US. This study examined the relationships between demographics, religiosity, and sexual risk behaviors among 255 adult African American church-based participants. Although participants were highly religious, they reported an average of seven lifetime sex partners and most inconsistently used condoms. Several demographic variables and religiosity significantly predicted lifetime HIV-related risk factors. Taken together, findings indicated that this population is at risk for HIV. Future research should continue to identify correlates of risky sexual behavior among African American parishioners to facilitate the development of HIV risk reduction interventions in their church settings.
Epidemiological and economic trends in inpatient and outpatient thyroidectomy in the United States, 1996-2006.

Background: Traditionally, thyroid surgery has been an inpatient procedure due to the risk of several well-documented complications. Recent research suggests that for selected patients, outpatient thyroid surgery is safe and feasible, with the additional potential benefit of cost savings. In recognition of these observations, we hypothesized that there would be an increase in U.S. outpatient thyroidectomies with a concurrent decline in inpatient thyroidectomies over time. Methods: Comparative cross-sectional analyses of the National Survey of Ambulatory Surgery (NSAS) and Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) databases from 1996 and 2006 were performed. All cases of thyroid surgery were extracted, as well as data on age, sex, and insurance status. Diagnoses and surgical cases were identified using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) diagnostic and treatment codes. Hospital charges were acquired from the NIS 1996 and 2006 and NSAS 2006 releases, using imputed data where necessary. ...
Costing the Earth: A Numbers Game or a Moral Imperative?

AbstractIt is a simple truism that public policy must be guided by an objective analysis of the physical and economic consequences of climate change. It is equally true that policy making is an inherently value-laden endeavor. While these two threads are interconnected, the relative weight given to each depends on the certainty that the technical analyses can deliver. For climate change, the envelope of uncertainty is best understood at the global scale, and there are some well known and formidable challenges to reducing it. This uncertainty must in turn be compounded with much more poorly constrained uncertainties in regional climate, climate impacts, and future economic costs. The case can be made that technical analyses have reached the point of diminishing returns. Should meaningful action on climate change await greater analytical certainty? This paper argues that policy makers should give greater weight to moral arguments, in no small part because that is where the heart of the debate really lies.
Bounds on the complex bulk and shear moduli of a two-dimensional two-phase viscoelastic composite

The effective complex moduli of an isotropic two-phase, two-dimensional viscoelastic composite material are analyzed in terms of the complex moduli of its phases. The frequency range is assumed to be well below frequencies associated with the inertial terms; the acoustic wavelength is much larger than the inhomogeneities. Bounds are developed for the complex bulk modulus K∗ = K′∗ + iK″∗ and complex shear modulus μ∗ = μ′∗ + iμ′∗ of the composite with arbitrary phase volume fractions. Shear modulus bounds are obtained subject to one scalar restriction on the phase properties [(1K1 − 1K2)/(1/μ1 − 1μ2)]″ = 0 which is valid, in particular, for the phases with real and equal Poisson's ratios. Each of the moduli is shown to be constrained to a lens-shaped region bounded by two circular arcs in the complex bulk or shear modulus planes. The bounds are investigated numerically to explore conditions which give rise to high loss combined with high stiffness. Composite microstructures corresponding to various points on the circular arcs are identified. Influence of anisotropy of the composite on the stiffness-loss mat) for the bulk and shear tvoe loads are analvzed.
Validity of the SenseWear armband step count measure during controlled and free-living conditions.

Abstract Background/Objective Advances in technology continue to provide numerous options for physical activity assessment. These advances necessitate evaluation of the validity of newly developed activity monitors being used in clinical and research settings. The purpose of this study was to validate the SenseWear Pro3 Armband (SWA) step counts during treadmill walking and free-living conditions. Methods Study 1 observed 39 individuals (17 males, 22 females) wearing an SWA and a Yamax Digiwalker SW-701 pedometer (DIGI) during treadmill walking, utilizing manually counted steps as the criterion. Study 2 compared free-living step count data from 35 participants (17 males, 18 females) wearing the SWA and DIGI (comparison) for 3 consecutive days. Results During Study 1, the SWA underestimated steps by 16.0%, 10.7%, 5.6%, 6.1%, and 6.5% at speeds of 54 m/min, 67 m/min, 80 m/min, 94 m/min, and 107 m/min, respectively, compared to manually counted steps. During Study 2, the intraclass correlation (ICC) coefficient of mean steps/d between the SWA and DIGI was strong (r = 0.98, p p Conclusion The SWA underestimates steps during treadmill walking and appears to overestimate steps during free-living compared to the DIGI pedometer. Caution is warranted when using the SWA to count steps. Modifications are needed to enhance step counting accuracy.
Theory of decision support systems portfolio evaluation

Abstract A theory is developed for the evaluation of Decision Support System portfolios in a for-profit firm. The critical relationship captured in this theory is between what Decision Support Systems do (increase the efficiency and effectiveness of search for structures for unstructured problems) and what they accomplish for the firm (solve unstructured problems). The resulting theory is used to develop testable hypotheses, some of which are counterintuitive. For example, we suggest that increasing the effectiveness of a DSS should lower its use, but increasing the efficiency of DSS should increase its use. A solution technique for finding a profit maximizing portfolio of Decision Support Systems is proposed. The solution technique is used to solve an example problem, which illustrates the important relationship between scope and scale in the evaluation of Decision Support Systems.
CREB Regulates Memory Allocation in the Insular Cortex

Summary The molecular and cellular mechanisms of memory storage have attracted a great deal of attention. By comparison, little is known about memory allocation, the process that determines which specific neurons in a neural network will store a given memory [1, 2]. Previous studies demonstrated that memory allocation is not random in the amygdala; these studies showed that amygdala neurons with higher levels of the cyclic-AMP-response-element-binding protein (CREB) are more likely to be recruited into encoding and storing fear memory [3–6]. To determine whether specific mechanisms also regulate memory allocation in other brain regions and whether CREB also has a role in this process, we studied insular cortical memory representations for conditioned taste aversion (CTA). In this task, an animal learns to associate a taste (conditioned stimulus [CS]) with the experience of malaise (such as that induced by LiCl; unconditioned stimulus [US]). The insular cortex is required for CTA memory formation and retrieval [7–12]. CTA learning activates a subpopulation of neurons in this structure [13–15], and the insular cortex and the basolateral amygdala (BLA) interact during CTA formation [16, 17]. Here, we used a combination of approaches, including viral vector transfections of insular cortex, arc fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADD) system, to show that CREB levels determine which insular cortical neurons go on to encode a given conditioned taste memory.
The modulation of dendritic cell integrin binding and activation by RGD-peptide density gradient substrates

Abstract Dendritic cells (DCs) are central regulators of the immune system that operate in both innate and adaptive branches of immunity. Activation of DC by numerous factors, such as danger signals, has been well established. However, modulation of DC functions through adhesion-based cues has only begun to be characterized. In this work, DCs were cultured on surfaces presenting a uniform gradient of the integrin-targeting RGD peptide generated using the recently established “universal gradient substrate for click biofunctionalization” methodology. Surface expression of activation markers (costimulatory molecule CD86 and stimulatory molecule MHC-II) and production of cytokines IL-10 and IL-12p40 of adherent DCs was quantified in situ. Additionally, bound αV integrin was quantified in situ using a biochemical crosslinking/extraction method. Our findings demonstrate that DCs upregulated CD86, MHC-II, IL-10, IL-12p40 and αV integrin binding as a function of RGD surface density, with production of IL-12p40 being the marker most sensitive to RGD surface density. Surface expression of activation markers demonstrated moderate correlation with αV integrin binding, while cytokine production was highly correlated with αV integrin binding. This work demonstrates the utility of the surface density gradient platform as a high-throughput method to investigate RGD density-dependent DC adhesive responses. Furthermore, this quantitative analysis of DC integrin-based activation represents a first of its type, helping to establish the field of adhesion-based modulation of DCs as a general mechanism that has previously not been defined, and informs the rational design of biomimetic biomaterials for immunomodulation.
Antitumor activity of new anthracycline analogues in combination with interferon alfa

Combinations of recombinant interferon alfa2 (IFN-α2) with doxorubicin, 4′-epidoxorubicin, 4′-deoxydoxorubicin, or 4-demethoxydaunorubicin were tested for antiproliferative activity against a panel of human tumor cell lines in a human tumor clonogenic assay. The histologies of the cell lines were ovary, cervix, breast, and melanoma. Each of the cytotoxic compounds showed dose-dependent antiproliferative effects against each of the cell lines, and the results indicated that doxorubicin derivatives were consistently more potent than the parent drug. In all instances, 4-demethoxydaunorubicin was the most potent derivative, requiring 2–20 times less drug to inhibit 70% of tumor colony formation. Combinations of IFN-α2, with doxorubicin or its derivatives may show additive or synergistic antiproliferative activity against certain tumor cell lines. The ovarian carcinoma cell line, BG-1, responded synergistically to each of the four compounds in combination with IFN-α2. The cervical carcinoma cell line, CaSki, and the breast carcinoma line, MCF-7, responded to the combinations in a manner best described as additive. In the melanoma line, SK-Mel-28, the drugs were found to be subadditive or even antagonistic. While the potency of the anthracyline derivatives ranked consistently across the different cell lines, the synergistic interaction with IFN-α2 is a cell line-specific phenomenon unrelated to sensitivity to either anthracyclines or interferon.
Loss of iron to gold capsules in rock-melting experiments

Gold is used widely for capsules in high-temperature rock-melting studies because it is generally thought to absorb negligible Fe from silicate samples. However, we observed significant losses of Fe from fluid-absent melting experiments on hornblende gabbros at 800-975 degrees C and 8 kbar, using standard piston-cylinder techniques. The extent of Fe loss from the sample is dependent on the relative masses of the sample and the capsule. Low sample to capsule mass ratios ( approximately 0.04) lead to the highest Fe losses (32-49% relative). Concentrations of Fe in silicate melt and used gold capsules define an apparent equilibrium constant (K9) that follows a linear ln K9 vs. 1/T relation (at an estimated log f O2 of QFM-1). The apparent equilibrium constant is used to make limiting upper estimates on the amount of Fe that could be lost during rock-melting experiments for a range of f O2 and sample to capsule mass ratios. At high f O2 (NNO+2), loss of Fe to gold is negligible ( O2 of NNO, Fe loss can be kept to O2 (QFM-1), presaturating the Au with Fe would be necessary to ensure that Fe losses remained O2 conditions, be they buffered, imposed by the pressure media, or produced by intrinsically reduced (graphitic) starting materials.
Aggrenox® versus other pharmacotherapy in preventing recurrent stroke

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the US with recurrent events a high likelihood in those who survive an initial event. The long-term goal of therapy is to prevent the recurrence of stroke and other atherosclerotic events. Aspirin has been the first-line agent for stroke prevention for a long time. As new antiplatelet agents have been introduced, their role in the secondary prevention of stroke remains to be defined. In particular, the role of the combination of aspirin and modified-release dipyridamole (Aggrenox, Boehringer Ingelheim Corp.), the newest product, in the secondary prevention of stroke, remains unknown. The purpose of this manuscript is to review the evidence of these antiplatelet agents in the secondary prevention of stroke and arrive at a conclusion specifically regarding the role of Aggrenox. Clinical studies which examined stroke as a single primary outcome or as one event in a combined primary outcome will be reviewed.
Calculation of weakly polar interaction energies in polypeptides using density functional and local Møller‐Plesset perturbation theory

The interaction energies of ubiquitous weakly polar interactions in proteins are comparable with those of hydrogen bonds, consequently, they stabilize local, secondary, and tertiary structures. However, the most widely-used density functionals fail to describe the weakly polar interactions. Thus, it is important to find and test functionals which adequately describe and quantify the energetics of such interactions. For this purpose, interaction energies in the hydrophobic core of rubredoxin (PDB id: 1rb9) and in the S22 subset of the JSCH-2005 benchmark database were computed with the BHandHLYP and PWPW91 functionals and with the pseudospectral implementation of the local MP2 (PS-LMP2) method. The cc-pVDZ, cc-pVTZ(-f), cc-pVTZ, cc-pVQZ(-g), aug-cc-pVDZ, aug-cc-VTZ(-f), and aug-cc-pVTZ basis sets were used for the calculations. In the S22 subset the PS-LMP2 results were extrapolated to the complete basis set limit. Furthermore, the a posteriori counterpoise method of Boys and Bernardi was used to correct the basis set superposition errors in the calculation of interaction energies. Calculations using the BHandHLYP functional, both for the various weakly polar interactions in rubredoxin and for the dispersion interactions in the S22 subset, were in good agreement with those using the coupled cluster (CCSD(T)) and the resolution of identity MP2 (RIMP2) methods and clearly outperformed both the PWPW91 functional and the PS-LMP2 method. The results for the S22 hydrogen bonded subset, obtained with PWPW91 calculations, were closest to those of the reference high level calculations. For the "mixed" (hydrogen bonded and dispersive) interactions in the S22 subset, results obtained with the BHandHLYP and PS-LMP2 calculations agreed well with the reference calculations.
An efficient QoS distribution monitoring scheme

In end-to-end monitoring, traffic measurements are recorded at the source and destination nodes. In QoS distribution monitoring, the measurements are recorded at several intermediate nodes along a connection. End-to-end monitoring is conceptually simple and easy to implement, but not capable of localizing the degradation. Thus, any corrective action has to be applied end-to-end, which can be prohibitively expensive. Although QoS distribution monitoring holds the promise of being able to localize the degradation to a single domain, prevalent QoS distribution monitoring techniques do not consistently provide this capability. They also consume excessive resources in the monitoring process and rely on assumptions which are unlikely to hold in practice. In this paper we describe the design tradeoffs associated with QoS distribution monitoring and highlight the limitations of the existing research. We then describe a QoS distribution monitoring scheme which provides practical solutions to these challenges. Using extensive analysis we compare the efficiency of the proposed scheme to the prevalent ones.
TERMINUS---Telomeric End-Read Mining IN Unassembled Sequences

Summary: TERMINUS is a set of tools to map telomeres on draft sequences of whole genome shotgun sequencing projects. It mines raw sequence reads (from a trace archive) for telomeric reads, assembles them into contigs representing individual chromosome ends and BLASTs the resulting consensus sequences against the genome assembly to identify telomere-proximal genomic contigs. Finally, it estimates the sizes of telomeric gaps and identifies clones for gap closure. TERMINUS is implemented as a set of Perl scripts that requires two sets of inputs: the NCBI Trace Archive files for a given genome project; and ancillary genome assembly information. Results are output in spreadsheets containing information that facilitates manual validation. Availability: The TERMINUS package and supplementary information can be downloaded from http://www.genome.kbrin.uky.edu/fungi_tel/terminus/ Contact: [email protected]
The MVP: a highly-integrated video compression chip

The author introduces a new highly-integrated processing chip for performing a variety of functions, however this chip is particularly well suited for video compression algorithms. Applications include multimedia PCs, virtual reality 3D graphics, full-duplex videoconferencing, HDTV, and color hardcopy. He has architected the multimedia video processor, or MVP, to provide a yet unattainable level of performance from a single chip, although with the programmability typically found in today's general-purpose computers. While advanced semiconductor design and process techniques have been used for its design, the key to the advantage of this component lies in optimization of the architecture for real-time video and graphics processing. He analyses video compression application requirements, describe the MVP architecture, and poses its potential as a very capable solution for a wide range of markets. >
Is the Inclusion of Animal Source Foods in Fortified Blended Foods Justified

Fortified blended foods (FBF) are used for the prevention and treatment of moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) in nutritionally vulnerable individuals, particularly children. A recent review of FBF recommended the addition of animal source food (ASF) in the form of whey protein concentrate (WPC), especially to corn-soy blends. The justification for this recommendation includes the potential of ASF to increase length, weight, muscle mass accretion and recovery from wasting, as well as to improve protein quality and provide essential growth factors. Evidence was collected from the following four different types of studies: (1) epidemiological; (2) ASF versus no intervention or a low-calorie control; (3) ASF versus an isocaloric non-ASF; and (4) ASF versus an isocaloric, isonitrogenous non-ASF. Epidemiological studies consistently associated improved growth outcomes with ASF consumption; however, little evidence from isocaloric and isocaloric, isonitrogenous interventions was found to support the inclusion of meat or milk in FBF. Evidence suggests that whey may benefit muscle mass accretion, but not linear growth. Overall, little evidence supports the costly addition of WPC to FBFs. Further, randomized isocaloric, isonitrogenous ASF interventions with nutritionally vulnerable children are needed.
Planning a Pharmacy-Led Medical Mission Trip, Part 2: Servant Leadership and Team Dynamics

This article, focusing on servant leadership and team dynamics, examines the concept of servant leadership as part of medical missions' efforts and provides suggestions for team building, both before and during the mission trip, and is the second in a 4-part series on pharmacist-led medical mission trips. The third article, “Development and Implementation of an Elective Medical Missions Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) Rotation,” focuses on developing an elective APPE for international and domestic medical missions, including provision of products. Part 4, “An Exploratory Study of Student Experiences,” is an evaluation of data collected from both APPE and non-APPE student participants on Gregory School of Pharmacy mission trips during the summer of 2011. Specifically, it examines the issue of professionalism and the personal impact that mission trips may have on pharmacy students.While pharmacy curricula can prepare students for the cognitive domains of pharmacy practice, mastery of the affect...
The Influences of Three Interventions on Prospective Elementary Teachers' Beliefs About the Knowledge Base Needed for Teaching Mathematics

To meet the challenge to reform mathematics education, effective opportunities to learn are needed to promote prospective elementary school teachers' development of the knowledge base that supports teaching for mathematical proficiency. This article describes three professional development interventions and their influence on prospective teachers' beliefs about mathematics, how children learn mathematics, and mathematics teaching. The three interventions consisted of problem-solving journals, structured interviews, and peer teaching that were integrated in a PreK-6 mathematics methods course. Results of precourse and postcourse survey data are included that measured 24 prospective teachers' beliefs about the knowledge base needed to teach elementary school mathematics. Data indicated that using these interventions and other course experiences facilitated change in the prospective teachers' beliefs, with a shift toward reform-oriented mathematics education perspectives.
The EGL-3 Proprotein Convertase Regulates Mechanosensory Responses of Caenorhabditis elegans

Neuroactive peptides are packaged as proproteins into dense core vesicles or secretory granules, where they are cleaved at dibasic residues by copackaged proprotein convertases. We show here that the Caenorhabditis elegans egl-3 gene encodes a protein that is 57% identical to mouse proprotein convertase type 2 (PC2), and we provide evidence that this convertase regulates mechanosensory responses. Nose touch sensitivity (mediated by ASH sensory neurons) is defective in mutants lacking GLR-1 glutamate receptors (GluRs); however, mutations eliminating the egl-3 PC2 restored nose touch sensitivity to glr-1 GluR mutants. By contrast, body touch sensitivity (mediated by the touch cells) is greatly diminished in egl-3 PC2 mutants. Taken together, these results suggest that egl-3 PC2-processed peptides normally regulate the responsiveness of C. elegans to mechanical stimuli.
Maxmin overlay multicast: rate allocation and tree construction

Although initially proposed as the deployable alternative to IP multicast, overlay multicast actually offers us great flexibilities on QoS-aware resource allocation for network applications. For example, in overlay multicast streaming, (1) the streaming rate of each client can be diversified to better accommodate network heterogeneity, through various end-to-end streaming adaptation techniques; and (2) one can freely organize the overlay session by rearranging the multicast tree, for the purpose of better resource utilization and fairness among all clients. The goal of this paper, is to find the max-min rate allocation in overlay multicast, which is pareto-optimal in terms of network resource utilization, and max-min fair. We approach this goal in two steps. First, we present a distributed algorithm, which is able to return the max-min rate allocation for any given overlay multicast tree. Second, we study the problem of finding the optimal tree, whose max-min rate allocation is optimal among all trees. After proving its NP-hardness, we propose a heuristic algorithm of overlay multicast tree construction. A variation of the heuristic is also designed to handle the dynamic client join/departure. Both of them have approximation bound of 1/2 to the optimal value. Experimental results show that they achieve high average throughput, almost saturate link utilization, and consistent min-favorability.
Thermal Conductivity of Tellurium Dioxide Single Crystals

Tellurium dioxide is a material of interest for acousto-optic devices. Measurements of the thermal conductivity of single crystals of tellurium dioxide have been made in the 1.5–100 K temperature range. The crystals on which these measurements were made have tetragonal (paratellurite) structure; its elastic behavior is characterized by an unusually slow shear wave in the direction.
Greening Household Behaviour: Cross-domain Comparisons in Environmental Attitudes and Behaviours Using Spatial Effects

Discussions of the importance of public attitudes in shaping policy often lack clear evidence on causal relations between stated attitudes and observed behaviours. The 2011 OECD Survey of over 12,000 households allows analysing households’ environmental attitudes and behaviours in five different domains (electricity, food, transport, waste and water). Using econometric analysis, we investigate the relationship between stated environmental attitudes and indicators of civic engagement, such as voting in local elections, charity membership and membership in environmental organisations...
Time to say goodbye: Writing center consultation closings

Abstract College and university writing centers offer rich opportunities for peer-to-peer interaction about writing. Closings in these interactions are an important window through which to view participant talk-in-interaction along the mundane-institutional continuum. A study of closings in 58 writing consultations in English was conducted at two university writing centers. A five-phase apparatus was used to analyze closing structure. Subtle differences were found when comparing closings in the two writing centers and when comparing consultations with first- and second-language writers. The infrequency of complete closings and of terminal phases suggested that consultations were often constructed as institutional service encounters. However, some consultants and writers disrupted closings by inserting relational (mundane) talk. These results inform and challenge current writing center theory and consulting practice. They also suggest that all educators would do well to consider conversational closings.
Phoneme and Word Scoring in Speech-in-Noise Audiometry

Purpose Understanding speech in background noise is difficult for many individuals; however, time constraints have limited its inclusion in the clinical audiology assessment battery. Phoneme scoring of words has been suggested as a method of reducing test time and variability. The purposes of this study were to establish a phoneme scoring rubric and use it in testing phoneme and word perception in noise in older individuals and individuals with hearing impairment. Method Words were presented to 3 participant groups at 80 dB in speech-shaped noise at 7 signal-to-noise ratios (−10 to 35 dB). Responses were scored for words and phonemes correct. Results It was not surprising to find that phoneme scores were up to about 30% better than word scores. Word scoring resulted in larger hearing loss effect sizes than phoneme scoring, whereas scoring method did not significantly modify age effect sizes. There were significant effects of hearing loss and some limited effects of age; age effect sizes of about 3 dB and ...
Antimicrobial Distribution From Local Delivery Depends on Dose: A Pilot Study With MRI

Background Tissue distribution after local delivery has been quantified over a period of 5 hours on 7-T MRI in a rabbit model using gadolinium-labeled diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA) as an antimicrobial surrogate; however, it is unknown how the Gd-DTPA load in a local depot will affect the duration of high-concentration Gd-DTPA in local tissues after surgical debridement.
Abstract 3611: LY2801653, an orally available small molecule inhibitor of c-Met, demonstrated broad antitumor efficacy in patient derived xenograft models

The receptor tyrosine kinase c-Met and its ligand hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) play important roles in cell growth, migration, and survival. Dysregulation of the c-Met/HGF signaling pathway has been found in many human malignancies. LY2801653 was identified and developed as a novel, potent, and orally active small molecule inhibitor of human c-Met. It demonstrated dose dependent inhibition of c-Met phosphorylation in xenograft tumors with a long lasting PD effect. In the current study, the anti-tumor activity of LY2801653 was evaluated in a panel of human patient derived xenograft models. LY2801653 displayed potent anti-tumor efficacy in a number of non small cell lung, renal, pancreatic, and breast tumor models. Examination of c-Met expression in these tumors by immunohistochemistry (IHC) revealed a good correlation between response and c-Met expression in the tumor tissue. Interestingly, the two non small cell lung adenocarcinoma models LXFA526 and LXFA1647 that were resistant to EGFR inhibitors Cetuximab and Erlotinib, displayed high sensitivity towards LY2801653. High level of genomic amplification of c-Met locus was found in these models, consistent with the hypothesis that c-Met activation represents one of the resistant mechanisms to EGFR inhibition. LY2801653 treatment led to increase in functional vessel areas, and decrease in tumor hypoxia. Enhanced anti-tumor efficacy was achieved when Erlotinib was combined with LY2801653. In summary, these results demonstrated the promising therapeutic potential of LY2801653 in mono and combination therapy of cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3611.