cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
VISCOUS FLOW OF SODIUM PHOSPHATE GLASSES FROM 10**1 TO 10**1**4 POISE.

Determination des viscosites de cinq verres de phosphate de sodium contenant 45 a 65 mol% de P 2 O 5 entre 10 9 et 10 14 P., par une technique de flexion d'un barreau et de 10 1 a 10 7 P par une technique de vibration torsion. Les energies d'activation de l'ecoulement visqueux ont ete calculees pour les domaines de fortes et faibles viscosites. Il se produit a environ 10 8 poises un changement dans le mecanisme de l'ecoulement visqueux qui passe d'un echange de liaisons pour les hautes viscosites a un ecoulement moleculaire pour les faibles viscosites
Using a Problem-Based Learning Approach to Teach Students about Biodiversity, Species Distributions & the Impact of Habitat Loss

Undergraduates in ecology and conservation biology courses often lack a clear understanding of how to do fieldwork and utilize data analysis to answer complex questions. This is unfortunate, because with proper training these students could identify and address some of today's most pressing environmental issues. I present a simple, problem-based learning activity that provides students a new approach to understanding two important topics in the environmental sciences — how biodiversity is distributed across landscapes and how habitat loss can affect this biodiversity. This activity helps students explore foundational concepts in biology, enables them to collect data in a simplistic field setting, and introduces them to statistical analyses and modeling. In addition, it also teaches students how to ask questions, synthesize data, and address an issue using the same approaches that conservation practitioners utilize in the real world.
Effect of Backfill Composition on Post-Transplant Root Growth of Kalmia latifolia L.

Abstract Post-transplant root growth is critical for landscape plant establishment. The Horhizotron™ provides a way to easily measure root growth in a wide range of rhizosphere conditions. Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia L.) plants were removed from their containers and planted in Horhizotrons in a greenhouse in Auburn, AL, and outdoors in Blacksburg, VA. Each Horhizotron contained four glass quadrants extending away from the root ball, and each quadrant within a Horhizotron was filled with a different substrate (treatment): 1) 100% pine bark (Pinus taeda L., PB), 2) 100% soil, 3) a mixture of 50:50 (by vol) PB:soil, or 4) 100% soil along the bottom of the quadrant to a depth of 10 cm (4 in) and 100% PB layered 10 cm (4 in) deep on top of the soil. Root growth along the glass panes of each quadrant was measured bi-weekly in Auburn and weekly in Blacksburg. In both locations, roots were longer in all treatments containing pine bark than in 100% soil. When pine bark was layered on top of soil, roots grew ...
Decision Making, Fallibility, and the Problem of Blameworthiness in Medicine

This chapter examines one of the critical problems in medical practice: that of error in technical medicine as well as in ethical decisionmaking. It deals with the notion of being to blame and, in ethics, of almost inevitably being confronted with one of two or more options, all of which frequently are more or less bad. Accepting blameworthiness in medicine can be a stimulus to learning, growth, and moral development.
FeatureHub: Towards Collaborative Data Science

Feature engineering is a critical step in a successful data science pipeline. This step, in which raw variables are transformed into features ready for inclusion in a machine learning model, can be one of the most challenging aspects of a data science effort. We propose a new paradigm for feature engineering in a collaborative framework and instantiate this idea in a platform, FeatureHub. In our approach, independent data scientists collaborate on a feature engineering task, viewing and discussing each others' features in real-time. Feature engineering source code created by independent data scientists is then integrated into a single predictive machine learning model. Our platform includes an automated machine learning backend which abstracts model training, selection, and tuning, allowing users to focus on feature engineering while still receiving immediate feedback on the performance of their features. We use a tightly-integrated forum, native feature discovery APIs, and targeted compensation mechanisms to facilitate and incentivize collaboration among data scientists. This approach can reduce the redundancy from independent or competitive data scientists while decreasing time to task completion. In experimental results, automatically generated models using crowdsourced features show performance within 0.03 or 0.05 points of winning submissions, with minimal human oversight.
Probing the mechanism of thermally driven thiol-Michael dynamic covalent chemistry

The kinetics and mechanism of the thermally activated dynamic covalent exchange of thiol-Michael adducts is investigated. A model system of thiol-Michael adducts between thiophenol and phenylvinylketone derivatives and adducts between 2-mercaptoethanol phenylvinylketone derivatives in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) at elevated temperatures is used to probe the underlying exchange mechanism. The kinetic data show negligible free Michael acceptor, which is consistent with the highly efficient thiol-Michael reaction being a "click"-like reaction that significantly favors the adduct form. At elevated temperatures of 90 °C in DMF the thiol-Michael adducts reach equilibrium after 24 h, although equilibration did not occur within 24 h at 60 °C or 75 °C, and negligible exchange occurs under ambient conditions. A kinetic model was developed to describe the dynamic covalent exchange and equilibration. The experimental and simulation kinetic data of dynamic covalent exchange are consistent with the thiol-Michael adducts undergoing a retro-Michael reaction, followed by subsequent addition of a free thiol to the liberated Michael acceptor. Kinetic analysis is consistent with the fragmentation, or retro-Michael reaction, being the rate-determining step in the dynamic covalent exchange. This suggests that the key step in dynamic covalent exchange is not enhanced by addition of free thiol or free Michael acceptor, since the addition reaction is much faster than the retro-Michael reaction. This fundamental study will guide the design of organic compounds, materials, and bioconjugates that utilize the thermally activated dynamic covalent thiol-Michael linkages.
Using Big Data to Engage Undergraduate Students in Authentic Science.

The abundance of freely available, scientific big data sets can facilitate discovery-based authentic science projects saving time, money, and effort. This is especially true of remotely sensed data...
KLD 400 Index Inclusion and Corporate Bonds

This study examines the relationship between the cost of public bonds and corporate social responsibility. We use firms added to the KLD 400 Index, a stock index of corporate social responsibility, and find that these firms have a significantly higher yield spread following inclusion to the index. This relationship remains constant even after controlling for the joint determination of yield spread, covenant structure, and debt maturity. We conclude that after firms are recognized as leaders in corporate social responsibility, they pay a higher yield to issue public debt.
Exchange Systems and Social Stratification among the Chaco Anasazi

During the past several decades, students of southwestern archaeology have suggested several models to explain how intra- and interregional trade grew and flourished among different cultural groups. In this chapter, one group, the Chaco Anasazi, will be examined in some detail using Smith’s (1976a,b) socioeconomic model at an uncommercialized level of exchange.
Influence of environmental conditions on the attenuation of ricin toxin on surfaces.

Ricin is a highly-toxic compound derived from castor plant beans. Several incidents involving contamination of residences and buildings due to ricin production or dissemination have occurred in recent years. The goal of this study was to determine whether ricin bioactivity could be attenuated in reasonable time via simple modifications of the indoor environment. Attenuation was assessed on six different materials as a function of temperature, relative humidity (RH), and contact time, using both a pure and crude preparation of the toxin. Ricin bioactivity was quantified via a cytotoxicity assay, and attenuation determined as the difference in ricin recovered from test and positive controls. The results showed that pure ricin could be attenuated successfully, while the crude ricin was generally more persistent and results more variable. We found no significant attenuation in crude ricin after two weeks at typical indoor environmental conditions, except on steel. Attenuation mostly improved with increasing temperature, but the effect of RH varied. For pure ricin, heat treatments at 40°C for 5 days or 50°C for 2–3 days achieved greater than 96% attenuation on steel. In contrast, appreciable recovery of the crude ricin preparation still occurred at 40°C after two weeks.
Representing topologies using partially ordered semigroups

Abstract Two common ways of using the partially ordered semigroup structure of the reals to model topological spaces are: Defining a distance into I R and using the balls of positive radius about a point as its basic neighborhoods, and Seeing if the space is a subspace of I R with its interval topology or its upper topology. We show that many po-semigroups can be used in place of I R and in fact: Every topological space is induced by a quasimetric into and set of positives in some po-semigroup, and is also a subspace of a po-semigroup with its upper topology. Also, the following are equivalent for any topological space: It is completely regular. It is induced by a pseudometric into and set of positives in some po-semigroup. It is a subspace of some po-semigroup with set of positives in their induced interval topology.
Glycolytic and redox control of neuronal excitability in vitro

Metabolic control of epilepsy is recognized in part due to the efficacy of ketogenic diets, which provide alternate fuels rather than glucose for neuronal activity. It is documented that glycolytic rates are acutely increased during epileptic seizures and inhibition of glycolysis with 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) has anti-seizure effects. Work from our laboratory has shown that seizure activity increases the steady-state levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and causes mitochondrial dysfunction. Here we determined the relationship between glycolysis, ROS production and neuronal excitability. Mixed rat primary cortical cultures treated with 4-Aminopyridine (4-AP), a potassium channel blocker, showed an increase in a) Extracellular Acidification Rate (ECAR) levels (measure of glycolytic rate in the Seahorse XF analyzer), b) ROS production, measured by Amplex Red and c) increased neuronal excitability, assessed by a multiple electrode array system (Axion Biosystems). Pre-treatment of mixed primary cortical cultures with compounds like 2-DG, Bromopyruvic acid (3BP), palmitate - an anaplerotic substrate (along with glycogenic substrate limitation), nicotinamide riboside (NR) – an NAD+ precursor, oxaloacetate (OA) - a TCA cycle intermediate, and mTOR inhibitor rapamycin decreased ECAR rates and neuronal hyperexcitability induced by 4-AP. Pre-treatment with a reduced B-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), Thiazolidinediones – an acute specific inhibitor of the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier, PI3K inhibitor wortmannin decreased 4-AP induced increase in glycolysis, without significantly altering neuronal hyperexcitability. Lastly, 2-DG also reversed ROS production produced by 4-AP. Taken together, these results suggest that glycolysis contributes to ROS production, which in turn increases neuronal hyperexcitability.
Role of MR Neurography in Groin and Genital Pain: Ilioinguinal, Iliohypogastric, and Genitofemoral Neuralgia.

OBJECTIVE. Chronic neuralgia of the border nerves (ilioinguinal, iliohypogastric, and genitofemoral) is difficult to diagnose and treat clinically. We examined the role of MR neurography (MRN) in t...
Understanding quaternions

Quaternion multiplication can be applied to rotate vectors in 3-dimensions. Therefore in Computer Graphics, quaternions are sometimes used in place of matrices to represent rotations in 3-dimensions. Yet while the formal algebra of quaternions is well-known in the Graphics community, the derivations of the formulas for this algebra and the geometric principles underlying this algebra are not well understood. The goals of this paper are: i.To provide a fresh, geometric interpretation of quaternions, appropriate for contemporary Computer Graphics; ii.To derive the formula for quaternion multiplication from first principles; iii.To present better ways to visualize quaternions, and the effect of quaternion multiplication on points and vectors in 3-dimensions based on insights from the algebra and geometry of multiplication in the complex plane; iv.To develop simple, intuitive proofs of the sandwiching formulas for rotation and reflection; v.To show how to apply sandwiching to compute perspective projections. In Part I of this paper, we investigate the algebra of quaternion multiplication and focus in particular on topics i and ii. In Part II we apply our insights from Part I to analyze the geometry of quaternion multiplication with special emphasis on topics iii, iv and v.
Drivers of Stock Investment Decision: An Orthogonal Linear Transformation Approach

According to the expected utility theory, investment decisions are a result of the tradeoff between deferred consumption and immediate consumption. Several drivers influence the stock investment decision in the bizarre equity environment. A survey of 436 secondary equity investors residing in Chennai, India, explores the influence of 20 variables on their stock investment decision. Using principal component factor analysis followed by varimax rotation, the 20 variables became five key factors of five decision-making tools. Including fundamental analysis, economic analysis, industry analysis, company analysis, advocate recommendation, and technical analysis. Financial advisors and wealth managers may use this research to identify the tool used by their clients (investors) to make stock investment decisions, and hence, guide them accordingly.
Morphine Alteration of Histamine Release in vivo

Studies were performed to evaluate the effects of either acute or chronic morphine exposure on histamine release in vivo and supporting studies in vitro. In order to effectively assess histamine release in swine, studies were undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of compound 48/80 as an intradermal skin test and determine its ability to release histamine in swine cells. Compound 48/80 skin testing was found to be a useful measure of histamine release in swine as evidenced by dose dependent wheal and flare reaction in vivo and histamine release from swine cells in vitro. Acute effects of morphine were determined on swine administered a single injection of morphine alkaloid. Skin tests using intradermal compound 48/80 and histamine, were performed using compound 48/80 both prior to, and 24 h following initiation of morphine treatment. Morphine tolerant swine were subjected to in vivo skin tests and the resulting wheal and flare responses measured. In select swine skin samples from the test sites were measured for mast cell numbers. Swine dermal mast cells were found to release histamine in a dose dependent manner upon compound 48/80 exposure. Both acute and chronic morphine-treated swine had significantly depressed responses to compound 48/80, however this difference was not due alteration in mast cell number or morphology, and skin responsiveness to histamine remained intact.
Discrimination, Coping, and Social Exclusion among African Immigrants in the United States: A Moderation Analysis

This cross-sectional study examined coping strategies as moderators of the relationship between perceived discrimination and social exclusion among African immigrants in the United States (N = 409). Moderation models using path analyses were conducted to examine the moderating effects of three coping strategies (active coping, use of instrumental support, and religious coping) on the relationship between discrimination and four dimensions of social exclusion: (1) material deprivation, (2) limited access to basic social rights, (3) limited social participation, and (4) insufficient cultural integration. Increases in perceived discrimination were associated with increased social exclusion on all four dimensions. Increased use of active coping was found to weaken the positive relationship between perceived discrimination and material deprivation and between discrimination and limited social participation. Use of instrumental support also buffered the negative effects of discrimination on limited social participation. Recommendations for practice and future research are presented.
THE EFFECT of KINESIO TAPE® on STATIC FOOT POSTURE, PLANTAR PRESSURE, and REARFOOT MOTION in INDIVIDUALS with PRONATED FEET

Background Kinesio Tape® (KT) is an elastic therapeutic tape that is applied to the skin for treatment of sport-related injuries. Its application has been purported to facilitate the neuromuscular system, thus altering skeletal muscle activity to increase joint range of motion and improve performance. Due to its proposed therapeutic effect, KT may benefit individuals with excess foot pronation in order to decrease pain and improve function. Unfortunately, current research regarding the ability of KT to alter foot biomechanics is limited. Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine if the application of KT to the ankle and lower leg would alter static foot posture, plantar pressure, and foot motion during walking in individuals with foot pronation. Study design Prospective Cohort Study. Methods Thirty participants (10M/20F) were recruited for this study. Each participant had their dorsal arch height and midfoot width measured prior to the application of the KT. In addition, their dynamic rearfoot eversion and plantar pressure was recorded during walking using an electrogoniometer and plantar pressure system. After these measurements were collected, KT was applied to their right foot and lower leg in order to attempt to facilitate activity in the posterior tibialis muscle. After applying the tape, the above measurements were repeated. Results None of the variables measured were statistically significantly different between the pre-test and post-test. Conclusion Application of KT did not result in a change in static foot posture, plantar pressure, and frontal plane rearfoot motion during walking. As such, KT cannot be recommended as a treatment for reducing excessive foot pronation where such a goal would be beneficial. Level of evidence Level 3.
Law as an Autonomous Discipline

The idea of autonomy of law applies in distinct but related ways to legal reasoning, judicial reasoning, legal scholarship, and legal education. Additionally, claims about the autonomy of law can be understood as descriptive, analytical, or prescriptive. In this article, the different permutations of autonomy of law claims are considered in the context of various approaches to law, including American legal realism, the legal process school, law and economics, and critical legal studies. American legal scholarship has gone through a period of overestimating the autonomy of legal reasoning, at the time of the legal formalists, to today, when the autonomy of legal reasoning is generally underestimated. Law's distinctive approach to reasoning and decision-making derives from the type of practice law is: a behavior-guiding practice, where the guidance is done primarily through general rules, and the rules are interpreted and applied by a hierarchical court system that gives precedential weight to earlier decisions. Within this sort of structure, legal discourse is distinctive, but can also be seen as merely a particular application of moral and political reasoning, rather than entirely abstracted from such reasoning.
Immunization rates among young children in the public and private health care sectors.

Introduction To meet the national goal of 90% immunization levels in 2 year olds, both the public and private sectors must achieve optimal standards for immunization delivery. This study investigated differences in characteristics of children receiving immunizations from public and private providers and assessed parental attitudes about prevention, perception of barriers, and attitudes about vaccines. Methods Data are from a 1994 statewide household survey of 3,813 parents of children between the ages of 3 and 24 months. Information on the percentage of children up-to-date for recommended diphtheria and tetanus toxoids, pertussis, oral polio, measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines was based on parent-held immunization records (72%) and parental recall. Results The percentage of children up-to-date for their immunizations was higher for those attending public clinics (59.8%) than those at private offices (53.8%). Users of the public system were more likely to be Hispanic, not to have graduated from high school, to be ≤100% of poverty, never married, and unemployed. These parents also were significantly more likely to wonder about the safety and efficacy of vaccines and to have their child’s immunization record. Multiple logistic regression showed that possession of an immunization record accounted for differences in immunization levels. Conclusions Public clinics can achieve immunization levels in their pediatric clients comparable to those for children in the private health sector. Levels in both public and private sectors are well below 90% and need to be improved.
The Influence of Gender and Underrepresented Minority Status on Medical Student Ranking of Residency Programs.

Abstract Background Physician diversity is linked to improved quality of care of diverse patient populations. The transition from medical school to residency is an opportunity to improve and increase workforce diversity in all specialties. However, there is limited published literature on the factors contributing to the ranking of residency programs on women and underrepresented minorities (URMs). Objective To characterize factors medical students used to rank residency programs and describe any differences based on race/ethnicity or gender. Methods A mixed-methods study consisting of a web-based survey and semi-structured interviews with National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) participating graduates over a two-year period. The survey assessed demographics and a 6-point Likert scale rating of various factors used to rank residency programs. Unpaired student t-tests were used to compare means. A subset of students was interviewed and a modified grounded theory approach identified decision-making themes as well as the role of gender and URM status. Results Out of a total of 316 invitations sent, 148 completed the survey (46.8% response rate), of which 21% of respondents self-identified as URMs. The majority of respondents graduated in 2014 (53%), and were male (51%). Participants ranked program atmosphere, reputation, location, and proximity to family the highest. URM students ranked patient population (p Conclusions While all students prioritized pragmatic factors, women and URM students assess and weigh additional factors related to culture, inclusion, and diversity more than others. By tailoring recruitment strategies to meet the expectations of women and URMs, residency programs can better meet goals in becoming more diverse and inclusive.
Understanding the evolving preferences for use of health information technology among adults with self reported anxiety and depression in the U.S

Abstract Recent evidence suggests consumer health information technologies are increasingly utilized among those with medical conditions towards improving health and recovery. However, there is also increasing evidence that many patients, especially those with mental health conditions like depression and anxiety, may struggle to utilize these apps given issues with usability and engagement. Further, there is a paucity of literature on differences in the preference for using technologies such as smartphone apps for mental health patients compared to other patient populations. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the preferences and use of technology for health information exchange within a nationally-representative sample of adults with and without mental illness and to assess whether these preferences differ according to sociodemographic factors. For our analysis, we utilized data from the 2017 (HINTS 5 cycle 1) and 2018 (HINTS 5 cycle 2) iterations of the Health Information National Trends Survey (n = 6789). We used multivariate logistic regression to identify factors associated with a higher or lower rate of using health information technology (HIT) in persons with or without mental illness. We adjusted these models for the sociodemographic variables of age, sex, household income, education level, employment status, health insurance status, marital status, and race. Of the 6789 participants, 1538 reported having depression and/or an anxiety disorder. In both the adjusted and unadjusted models, ownership of smartphones, tablet computers, health apps, and utilization of the internet did not differ by depression or anxiety status. Furthermore, in the adjusted models, those with depression and/or anxiety had a significantly higher likelihood of using electronic means such as computers and smartphones to search for health information, look up test results, communicate with a physician, and to share health information. However, these individuals were also more likely to withhold information from their health care providers due to concerns about the security or privacy of their medical records. Our analysis shows that while ownership rates for smartphones and the use of health apps did not differ by mental health status, there was an increased likelihood of those with mental illness to use health information tools in communicating with their health providers. However, concerns about data security and privacy may hinder the utilization and integration of these technologies in mental health care. Future efforts should focus on ensuring patient privacy and data protection to maximize the benefits of digital technology in mentally ill populations.
Fast whole brain MR imaging of dynamic susceptibility contrast changes in the cerebrospinal fluid (cDSC MRI).

PURPOSE The circulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is closely associated with many aspects of brain physiology. When gadolinium(Gd)-based contrast is administered intravenously, pre- and post-contrast MR signal changes can often be observed in the CSF at certain locations within the intra-cranial space, mainly due to the lack of a blood-brain barrier in the dural blood vessels. This study aims to develop and systemically optimize MRI sequences that can detect dynamic signal changes in the CSF after Gd administration with a sub-millimeter spatial resolution, a temporal resolution of <10 s, and whole brain coverage. METHODS Bloch simulations were performed to determine optimal imaging parameters for maximum CSF contrast before and after Gd injection. Simulations were validated with phantom scans. An optimized turbo-spin-echo (TSE) sequence was performed on healthy volunteers on 3T and 7T. RESULTS Simulation results agreed well with phantom scans. In human scans, dynamic signal changes after Gd injection in the CSF were detected at several locations where cerebral lymphatic vessels were identified in previous studies. The concentration of Gd in CSF in these regions was estimated to be approximately 0.2 mmol/L. CONCLUSION Dynamic signal changes induced by the distribution of Gd in the CSF can be detected in healthy human subjects with an optimized TSE sequence. The proposed methodology does not rely on any particular theory on CSF circulation. We expect it to be useful for studies on CSF circulation and cerebral lymphatic vessels in the brain.
Non-contact thermal transistor effects modulated by nanoscale mechanical deformation

Abstract Thermal management has become a promising field in recent years due to the limitation of energy resources and the global warming. An important topic in improving the efficiency of thermal energy utilization is how to control the flows of heat, and thermal rectifiers, such as the thermal transistor, have been proposed as units for modulating the flow of heat. In this work, a reconfigurable non-contact thermal transistor with two-dimensional grating is introduced. The thermal transistor consists of three parts: source, gate, and drain, with the gate working around the phase-transition temperature of vanadium dioxide, a type of phase-transition material. Results show that the unit has a clear transistor-like behavior. The surface phonon/plasmon polaritons supported by the insulating/metallic states that contribute to the radiative thermal transport can be modulated at a nanoscale separation. And the dynamic amplification factor varies from 12.8 to 26.7 when the stretchable polydimethylsiloxane is subjected to tension or compression. This work sheds light on studies about the controllable small-scale thermal transport due to mechanical deformations.
Mortality and Factors Associated with Hemorrhage during Pediatric Extracorporeal Life Support

Purpose: Pediatric Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) is associated with a high risk of hemorrhage. We aimed to describe survival and factors associated with clinically significant bleeding during pediatric ECMO. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included all patients supported by ECMO for > 12 hours from January 1st, 2015 through December 31st, 2016 at a single tertiary pediatric hospital. …
Using predictive models to determine the presence of non-small cell lung cancer metastasis to N2 and N3 regions.

e20560Background: Accurate assessment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) mediastinal involvement is key to developing treatment plans and determining prognosis. To date, there is no reliable ima...
Neural network approach in failure characteristic analysis associated with boom containment

The use of boom structures has been recognized as an efficient method for cleaning up oil spills; however, non-Newtonian characteristic involved in high-viscosity oils results in obstacle to any theoretical boom containment analysis. This paper addresses a neural network approach for failure characteristic analysis associated with boom containment of high-viscosity oils. >
Superselective intra-arterial carboplatin for treatment of intracranial neoplasms: experience in 100 procedures.

Background: The results of animal studies suggest that superselective intra-arterial infusion allows the permeation of a high concentration of chemotherapeutic agents within intracranial neoplasms. In the present report, we review our clinical experience with the 100 intra-arterial infusions of carboplatin in intracranial neoplasms not responsive to other treatment modalities. Methods: Carboplatin was infused in 100 separate sessions (24 patients) as a mean dose of 286 ± 60 mg/m2 (range 34–377 mg/m2). RMP-7, a bradykinin analog, was used as an adjunct in 28 sessions (6 patients). The infusions were performed through superselective microcatheterization of the following arteries: internal carotid (n = 39), middle cerebral (n = 61), posterior cerebral (n = 21) and anterior cerebral (n = 10). The frequency of neurological and non-neurological complications, and survival were recorded. In a subset of 10 patients, tumor volume was measured by serial magnetic resonance images to assess therapeutic response to therapy. Results: The mean age of the patients was 44.5 years (range 26–67 years); 13 were men. The tumors were classified as glioblastoma multiforme (n = 12), metastatic tumor (n = 1), high-grade astrocytoma (n = 6), and anaplastic mixed glioma (n = 5). Follow-up was available for 23 patients (mean 22 months, range 2–69 months). Survival beyond 1 year after initiation of intra-arterial carboplatin therapy was documented in 12 of the 23 patients. A total of 13 neurological complications including seizures (n = 7), transient neurological deficits (n = 5), and ischemic stroke (n = 1) were observed in 100 procedures. A lower frequency of complications occurred in men and in patients who received adjunctive RMP-7. Volumetric analysis of serial magnetic resonance images demonstrated tumor mass reduction in 3 out of 10 patients. An increase in tumor mass ranging from 23% to 230% was observed in the other 7 patients over a period ranging from 2.3 to 37.7 months since initiation of carboplatin therapy. Conclusions: Superselective intra-arterial administration of carboplatin appears feasible and was associated with predominantly transient neurological complications. The addition of RMP-7 to carboplatin therapy appears to be at least as safe as the administration of carboplatin alone and requires further investigation as a means of chemotherapeutic dose intensification.
Integrating the Study of Technology into the Curriculum: A Consulting Teacher Model

Over the past 40 years there have been several initiatives by leaders in the profession to make revolutionary changes in philosophy, curriculum, methods, and facilities in the transition from industrial arts to technology education. The transition to technology education has been grounded in the dramatic changes that technology and technological innovations have brought to all aspects of society. It has been postulated that to fully participate in a technologically-based society, people must be technologically literate (Pearson & Young, 2002). Thus, the need arose to assure that all students have experience in technology education in order to acquire technological literacy.
Safety and efficacy of blood exchange transfusion for priapism complicating sickle cell disease.

Background: Priapism is unwanted painful penile erection that affects about 36% of boys and men with sickle cell disease (SCD) most of whom have sickle cell anemia. Clinically, priapism could be stuttering, minor, or major. The first two types are mild, last 4 h, associated with severe pain, requires hospitalization; often does not respond to medical treatment and may require shunt surgery. Untreated major priapism and surgical intervention often cause impotence. In this study, we report our 15-year experience in treating adult patients with SCD and major priapism with blood exchange transfusion after being refractory to other medical therapies. Methods: Adult male African Americans patients with SCD and major priapism were enrolled in this study and followed for 15 years. A Haemonitics V-50 machine was initially used for whole blood exchange and was later replaced with Cobe Spectra machine for RBC exchange. Results: We used 239 blood exchanges requiring 1,136 RBC units. We maintained a post-exchange hemoglobin level of about 10 g/dL and hemoglobin S level < 30%. None of the patients had any neurological complications such as headache, seizures, neurological deficits, or obtundation post-exchange. Conclusion: Together, the data indicate that blood exchange transfusion for the treatment of patients with SCD and major priapism is efficacious and safe. J. Clin. Apheresis, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Repair of Mitral Incompetence Secondary to Ruptured Chordae Tendineae

Twenty-two patients with ruptured chordae tendineae are presented. Etiology was rheumatic heart disease in seven patients, bacterial endocarditis in four patients, both rheumatic heart disease and endocarditis in two patients, trauma in one patient, and aortic regurgitation in one patient. Exact cause of rupture was unknown in seven patients. Plastic repair of the leaflet and/or posteromedial annuloplasty was done in all the patients. In two patients the annuloplasty broke down soon after the operation and necessitated valve replacement. There was one hospital death. One patient died two years after operation probably because of cerebral embolism; a large thrombus was found in the left atrium at autopsy. All survivors have been followed for 7 months to 8 years and, except for two, are either working full-time or leading an active life. In ruptured chordae early and five-year results after repair of the leaflet and/or posteromedial annuloplasty are very good irrespective of the left atrial enlargement and ...
Vitamin E Affects Lung Biochemical and Morphologic Response to Hyperoxia in the Newborn Rabbit

The effects of parenteral vitamin E treatment on aspects of the pulmonary biochemical and morphologic response to 100% oxygen were studied in newborn rabbits manifesting chemical evidence of vitamin E deficiency. Pups treated with 2 mg/100 g body weight increased serum vitamin E levels from 0.39 to 2.17 mg/dl by 72 hr and lung tissue vitamin E content from 3.52 to 17 mg/mg wet weight of lung. In vitro lipid peroxidation in lung homoginates of animals in 100% oxygen for 72 hr was inhibited by approximately 80% in animals receiving 100% oxygen plus vitamin E. Hyperoxia-induced increases in the pulmonary antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase were diminished by vitamin E administration. Lungs from vitamin E-treated animals did not show the early lung epithelial injury seen in animals exposed to 100% oxygen but not treated with vitamin E. Mophometric analysis of lungs of animals in room air for 72 hr showed 81.6% of lung to be normal as compared with 43.3% normal lung in the group maintained in 100% oxygen for 72 hr. In the group treated with oxygen plus vitamin E, the lungs were similar to room air controls (82.6% normal). This study thus provides further evidence for a direct antioxident affect of vitamin E in lung.
Interpretation of dissolution kinetics of dicalcium phosphate dihydrate

Abstract The kinetics of dissolution of dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (DCPD) has been investigated at physiological temperature 37°C using the constant composition method. In order to calculate the undersaturation, the solubility product was determined at the ionic strength of the dissolution experiments. The rates were sensitive to the solution hydrodynamics at high driving forces and under mild agitation, suggesting that volume diffusion provides a substantial resistance to dissolution. However, surface processes became rate determining at low undersaturations as reflected by the insensitivity of rates to changes of stirring speed and the relatively high activation energy. The dependence of the rate upon the relative undersaturation was analyzed using recent crystal growth theories. Though not necessarily rate determining, surface diffusion appeared to be involved in transporting dissolved ions into the solution phase.
Detection of high molecular weight starburst dendrimers by electrospray ionization mass spectometry

An entire series of Starburst polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers consisting of generations 1 through 10 (G1–10) have been studied by positive-ion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) using an extended m/z range quadrupole mass spectrometer. Charge-state distributions were detected as high as m/z 12 000 for the generation 10 dendrimer, having a theoretical molecular weight of 1 megadalton and containing approximately 93 maximum positive charges on the molecule. Accurate molecular weight determinations of the smaller generation dendrimers (G1–3, Mr ∼ 1.4kDa to 6.9kDa) were obtained using a commercial triple quadrupole instrument. The unit resolution ESI mass spectra provide information on the number of incomplete reactions which may occur during polymer synthesis. The extent of gas-phase charging observed by ESI-MS on the entire series of macromolecules was found to exhibit a linear relationship to M, consistent with theoretical models prediciting a spherical ion structure with maximum charging controlled by Coulombic effects.
The juggernaut metaphor in American rhetoric

In international affairs, as in all other human relationships, cliches are often a troublesome but always a necessary part of communication. An example is the Juggernaut metaphor. Originating in intercultural misunderstanding, it was widely used by Americans in the early nineteenth century and revealed much about their attitudes toward the Orient.
Effect of cadmium on glutathione S-transferase and metallothionein gene expression in coho salmon liver, gill and olfactory tissues

The glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are a multifunctional family of phase II enzymes that detoxify a variety of environmental chemicals, reactive intermediates, and secondary products of oxidative damage. GST mRNA expression and catalytic activity have been used as biomarkers of exposure to environmental chemicals. However, factors such as species differences in induction, partial analyses of multiple GST isoforms, and lack of understanding of fish GST gene regulation, have confounded the use of GSTs as markers of pollutant exposure. In the present study, we examined the effect of exposure to cadmium (Cd), a prototypical environmental contaminant and inducer of mammalian GST, on GST mRNA expression in coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) liver, gill, and olfactory tissues. GST expression data were compared to those for metallothionein (MT), a prototypical biomarker of metal exposure. Data mining of genomic databases led to the development of quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assays for salmon GST isoforms encompassing 9 subfamilies, including alpha, mu, pi, theta, omega, kappa, rho, zeta and microsomal GST. In vivo acute (8–48 h) exposures to low (3.7 ppb) and high (347 ppb) levels of Cd relevant to environmental scenarios elicited a variety of transient, albeit minor changes (<2.5-fold) in tissue GST profiles, including some reductions in GST mRNA expression. In general, olfactory GSTs were the earliest to respond to cadmium, whereas, more pronounced effects in olfactory and gill GST expression were observed at 48 h relative to earlier time points. Although evaluation of GSTs reflected a cadmium-associated oxidative stress response, there was no clear GST isoform in any tissue that could serve as a reliable biomarker of acute cadmium exposure. By contrast, metallothionein (MT) mRNA was consistently and markedly induced in all three tissues by cadmium, and among the tissues examined, olfactory MT was the most sensitive marker of cadmium exposures. In summary, coho salmon exhibit a complex GST tissue profile consisting of at least 9 isoforms, all of which are present in the peripheral olfactory system. Short-term exposure to environmental levels of Cd causes transient changes in salmon GST consistent with oxidative stress, and in some cases, includes a loss of GST. In a biomarker context, however, monitoring of tissue MT mRNA expression, especially in the peripheral olfactory system, may be of greater utility for assessing short-term environmental exposures to cadmium.
EXCLUDING PARTICULAR INFORMATION FROM CONSENT FORMS

Although the informed consent process is crucial to protecting human research subjects, there are cases when particular information within the consent form may present risks to those subjects. In this paper, we examine a case in which including the sponsor’s name on the consent form may allow the form to serve as a surrogate for subjects’ HIV status. There is no literature addressing the ethical acceptability of excluding particular information from consent forms, and there exists little regulatory guidance on this issue. We argue that excluding information from the consent form is, in fact, obligatory when that information is disclosed orally during the consent process but its presence on the form poses risks to the subjects the consent process is designed to protect. Further, we argue that the regulations ought to be amended to reflect this obligation. We would like to thank the investigators who brought this case to our attention, who wish to remain anonymous. We also would like to thank the members of...
Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic study of a novel chimeric natriuretic peptide, CD-NP, in the normal dog

Background CD-NP is a novel Mayo-designed cGMP-activating chimeric natriuretic peptide (NP) that consists of the 22amino-acid (AA) residues of C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) and the 15-AA C-terminus of Dendroaspis NP [1]. The rationale for its design was to transform CNP, a cardioprotective peptide with limited renal actions, into a chimeric peptide with both cardiovascular and renal effects. Previous studies from our laboratory have demonstrated that CD-NP was natriuretic, diuretic, cardiac-unloading, and renin-suppressing [1]. In this investigation, we studied the pharmacokinetics (PK) of CD-NP for the first time and further evaluated its pharmacodynamic profile in vivo.
Tetrathylammonium contains an impurity which alkalizes cytoplasm and reduce calcium buffering in neurons

Commercial tetraethylammonium chloride contains about 5% of the impurity triethylamine. External triethylamine raises cytoplasmic pH, which reduces the intracellular calcium concentration transient following calcium influx during membrane depolarization. The calcium influx is unaffected, so the cell's ability to buffer calcium transients is reduced. Purified tetraethylammonium does not have these effects.
The impact of government deficits when credit markets are imperfect: Evidence from the interwar period

Abstract A counterfactual assumption underlying Ricardian and Neoclassical approaches to the role of deficits is that credit markets are perfect. While it is frequently asserted that the Ricardian neutrality result is invalidated by credit market imperfections, the theoretical literature suggests that this is ultimately an empirical question. However, almost no empirical evidence has been presented. This paper uses vector autoregressive models of the interwar macroeconomy to evaluate the role of deficits. Deficits are found to have important second-order effects on output, interest rates, and prices when credit market imperfections are accounted for, and little impact when they are ignored.
Total synthesis of brevetoxin A

Brevetoxin A is the most potent neurotoxin secreted by Gymnodinium breve Davis, a marine organism often associated with harmful algal blooms known as ‘red tides’1,2,3. The compound, whose mechanism of action involves binding to and opening of sodium channels4,5,6,7, is sufficiently toxic to kill fish at concentrations of nanograms per ml (refs 3, 4) and, after accumulation in filter-feeding shellfish, to poison human consumers. The precise pathway by which nature constructs brevetoxin A is at present unknown8,9, but strategies for its total synthesis have been contemplated for some time. The synthetic challenge posed by brevetoxin A reflects the high complexity of its molecular structure: 10 oxygen atoms and a chain of 44 carbon atoms are woven into a polycyclic macromolecule that includes 10 rings (containing between 5 and 9 atoms) and 22 stereogenic centres. Particularly challenging are the 7-, 8- and 9-membered rings which allow the molecule to undergo slow conformational changes and force a 90° twist at one of its rings1,2,3,4,5,6. Here we describe the successful incorporation of methods that were specifically developed for the construction of these rings10,11 into an overall strategy for the total synthesis of brevetoxin A in its naturally occurring form. The convergent synthesis reported here renders this scarce neurotoxin synthetically available and, more importantly, allows the design and synthesis of analogues for further biochemical studies.
Prolonged Anti-Hypertensive Effects of Oral Sitaxsentan, a Selective ETA Endothelin Receptor Antagonist, in Spontaneoulsy Hypertensive Hamsters

Introduction The purpose of this study was to determine whether prolonged oral therapy with sitaxsentan, a potent selective ETA endothelin receptor antagonist, normalizes systolic blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive hamsters, a new rodent model of high-renin genetic hypertension.