cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ventilation and CO2 response during +Gz acceleration

Abstract During foot-to-head acceleration (+ Gz) ventilation increases despite a drop in alveolar PCO2. In order to investigate the underlying mechanisms, we measured ventilation (V e ), VO2, VCO2 and PACO2, cardiar output (Ḋ) and mixed venous CO2 concentration ( C v CO 2 using non-invasive techniques in 5 subjects breathing either air or a gas mixture containing 5% CO2 at +1, +2 and 3 Gz in a human centrifuge. Arterial PCO2 was calculated from Fick's equation, using C V CO 2 , Q and VCO2. V E increased from 8.7 to 18.0 L/min during air breathing and from 19.6 to 36.9 L/min during CO2 breathing at +1 and +3 Gz, respectively. The corresponding values for P A CO2 are 37.9 vs 26.9 Torr and 47.8 vs 46.4 Torr. Q dropped from 5.9 to 4.8 L/min during air breathing and remained the same during CO2 breathing (6.7 vs 6.5 L/min). As the decrease of PaCO2 almost paralleled that of PaCO2, the arterio-alveolar CO2 difference increased only slightly. The CO2 response curve shifts gradually to the left with an increase in+Gz, a fact that does not support the hypothesis that foot-to-head acceleration increases CO2 sensitivity.
Progesterone "receptor" in rat ovary.

A soluble thermolabile protein with many characteristics of a progesterone receptor has been identified in ovaries of estrogen-stimulated, hypophysectomized, immature female rats. A potent synthetic progestin R5020 (17,21-dimethyl-19-nor-pregna-4, 9-diene-3, 20-dione) and a progestin-receptor complex stabilizer (glycerol) were employed. After the incubation of [3H]R5020 with ovarian cytosol, fractionation on a Sephadex G-200 column revealed a peak of radioactivity which eluted with the void volume. This peak, which represented saturable binding, disappeared after heating (37 C for 20 min) and trypsinization. n the absence of glycerol, binding decreased by 84%. Scatchard analysis of the binding curve showed the R5020 binding to be of moderately high affinity (Kd = 14 nM), with 232 fmol binding sites/mg cytosol protein. Binding site number rose linearly with increasing cytosol protein concentration. The relative abilities of various steroids to inhibit [3H]R5020 binding were: R5020 > progesterone > estradio...
Evolutionary Biology and the Emergence of Agriculture: The Value of Co-opted Models of Evolution in the Study of Culture Change

Archaeologists have long looked to evolutionary biology for theoretical frameworks that can be applied directly to cultural evolution. The origins of agriculture, one of a handful of major transitional events in human cultural evolution, are often used as a case study opportunity for demonstrating the utility of these models in explaining the course of culture change. This chapter looks at three different co-opted evolutionary models that have been applied to cultural evolution: neo-Darwinian or selectionist archaeology, macroevolutionary archaeology, and human behavioral ecology, comparing and contrasting the basic tenets of these different models and reviewing previous attempts to apply them to the emergence of agricultural economies in different world areas. The record of agricultural emergence in the Near East, where the empirical record of this development is most robust, is then reviewed and the utility of the three co-opted evolutionary models in accounting for these developments is assessed. Issues of scale, tempo, directionality, and the role of human intent in these developments are examined.
Estimation of Electric Charge Output for Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting

Piezoelectric materials (PZT) can be used as mechanisms to transfer mechanical energy, usually ambient vibration, into electrical energy that can be stored and used to power other devices. With the recent advances in wireless and micro-electro-mechanical-systems (MEMS) technology, sensors can be placed in exotic and remote locations. As these devices are wireless it becomes necessary that they have their own power supply. The power supply in most cases is the conventional battery; however, problems can occur when using batteries because of their finite life span. Because most sensors are being developed so that they can be placed in remote locations such as structural sensors on a bridge or global positioning service (GPS) tracking devices on animals in the wild, obtaining the sensor simply to replace the battery can become a very expensive task. Fur- thermore, in the case of sensors located on civil structures, it is often advantageous to embed them, making access impossible. Therefore, if a method of obtaining the untapped energy surrounding these sensors was implemented, significant life could be added to the power supply. One method is to use PZT materials to obtain ambient energy surrounding the test specimen. This captured energy could then be used to prolong the power supply or in the ideal case provide endless energy for the sensors lifespan. The goal of this study is to develop a model of the PZT power harvesting device. This model would simplify the design procedure necessary for determining the appropriate size and vibration levels necessary for sufficient energy to be produced and supplied to the electronic devices. An experimental verification of the model is also performed to ensure its accuracy.
Dietary guideline adherence for gastroesophageal reflux disease

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the most common gastrointestinal disease, and the cost of health care and lost productivity due to GERD is extremely high. Recently described side effects of long-term acid suppression have increased the interest in nonpharmacologic methods for alleviating GERD symptoms. We aimed to examine whether GERD patients follow recommended dietary guidelines, and if adherence is associated with the severity and frequency of reflux symptoms. We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study within the Kaiser Permanente Northern California population, comparing 317 GERD patients to 182 asymptomatic population controls. All analyses adjusted for smoking and education. GERD patients, even those with moderate to severe symptoms or frequent symptoms, were as likely to consume tomato products and large portion meals as GERD-free controls and were even more likely to consume soft drinks and tea [odds ratio (OR) = 2.01 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.12-3.61; OR = 2.63 95% CI 1.24-5.59, respectively] and eat fried foods and high fat diet. The only reflux-triggering foods GERD patients were less likely to consume were citrus and alcohol [OR = 0.59; 95% CI: 0.35-0.97 for citrus; OR = 0.41 95% CI 0.19-0.87 for 1 + drink/day of alcohol]. The associations were similar when we excluded users of proton pump inhibitors. GERD patients consume many putative GERD causing foods as frequently or even more frequently than asymptomatic patients despite reporting symptoms. These findings suggest that, if dietary modification is effective in reducing GERD, substantial opportunities for nonpharmacologic interventions exist for many GERD patients.
High Prevalence of Mupirocin Resistance in Staphylococcus aureus Isolates from a Pediatric Population

Topical mupirocin is used widely to treat skin and soft tissue infections and to eradicate nasal carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Few studies to date have characterized the rates of S. aureus mupirocin resistance in pediatric populations. We retrospectively studied 358 unique S. aureus isolates obtained from 249 children seen in a predominantly outpatient setting by the Division of Pediatric Dermatology at a major academic center in New York City between 1 May 2012 and 17 September 2013. Mupirocin resistance rates and the associated risk factors were determined using a logistic regression analysis. In our patient population, 19.3% of patients had mupirocin-resistant S. aureus isolates at the time of their first culture, and 22.1% of patients with S. aureus infection had a mupirocin-resistant isolate at some time during the study period. Overall, 31.3% of all S. aureus isolates collected during the study period were resistant to mupirocin. Prior mupirocin use was strongly correlated (odds ratio [OR] = 26.5; P = <0.001) with mupirocin resistance. Additional risk factors for mupirocin resistance included methicillin resistance, atopic dermatitis (AD), epidermolysis bullosa (EB), immunosuppression, and residence in northern Manhattan and the Bronx. Resistance to mupirocin is widespread in children with dermatologic complaints in the New York City area, and given the strong association with mupirocin exposure, it is likely that mupirocin use contributes to the increased resistance. Routine mupirocin testing may be important for MRSA decolonization strategies or the treatment of minor skin infections in children.
Risk of prion disease transmission through bovine-derived bone substitutes: a systematic review.

Background: Despite the causal association between variant Creutzfeldt – Jakob disease and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), bovine origin graft materials are widely used during dental surgical procedures. The aim of this study was to assess the risk of BSE transmission through anorganic bovine bone substitutes. Methods: Electronic database of MEDLINE was searched to identify relevant studies regarding our focused questions, presence of BSE prion infectivity in raw bovine bone, BSE prion inactivation by bone substitute manufacturing process, protein contents in anorganic bovine bone substitutes, and validity of current BSE diagnostic methods. Search terms yielded 1,704 titles. After title/abstract screening and duplicates removal, 36 full-text articles were screened for inclusion. Results: A total of 16 studies were included in the final analysis. No eligible studies were identified regarding the efficacy of BSE prion inactivation by the treatments used for anorganic bovine bone manufacturing. BSE infectivity and PrP Sc , pathological prion, were detected in bovine bone marrow and serum samples. Proteins were detected in Tutoplast® (bovine), Bio-Oss®, and tibia samples treated at the similar condition for Bio-Oss deproteinization. Inconsistent results of different BSE diagnostic tests were not unusual findings (Iwata et al. 2006; Arnold et al. 2007; Murayama et al. 2010), and a study by Balkema-Buschmann and colleagues showed an apparent discrepancy between BSE infectivity and detection of PrP(27-30), the current surrogate marker for prion disease infectivity.
Fabrication of 20 MHz convex array transducers for high frequency ophthalmic imaging

20 MHz 192-element convex array transducers have been designed, fabricated and tested. Major design parameters are 111 µm pitch, 24 mm radius of curvature, 52° maximum view angle, 7 mm elevation width, and 30 mm geometric focus. A 1–3 composite was fabricated with a ceramic post width of 28 µm and a polymer kerf width of 9 µm. The ceramic volume fraction was approximately 57%. Three ceramic posts formed one element in the azimuth direction. A custom designed flexible circuit was aligned and attached to a scratch-diced composite and 75 Ω micro-coaxial cables. A single epoxy matching layer and a backing block were used for acoustic matching. The pulse-echo response for a typical element acquired at the axial peak, 28.0 mm, matched with a designed geometrical focusing at 30 mm, had a center frequency of 24.4 MHz and 64% of −6 dB fractional bandwidth. The estimated insertion loss at 24 MHz after compensating for attenuation and reflection was 35 dB and the maximum crosstalk was −17 dB and −22 dB for the nearest and for the next-nearest element respectively.
Predictive modeling of anatomic structures using canonical correlation analysis

In this paper, we present a method for predictive modeling of anatomic structures using canonical correlation analysis (CCA). Using this technique, certain anatomical structures, such as tumor-distorted structures, can be estimated from others by exploring the correlation between them, which has been determined from a set of training samples. Cortical surfaces and corpus callosum boundaries have been used to demonstrate the performance of the proposed method in predictive modeling. Applications of this method are in estimating brain tissues obscured by tumors and surrounding edema, in detecting abnormal structures, and in formulating alternate forms of statistically-based interpolation and regularization.
Parallel-processing techniques for automatic test pattern generation

Some of the more widely used serial automatic test pattern generation (ATPG) algorithms and their stability for implementation on a parallel machine are discussed. The basic classes of parallel machines are examined to determine what characteristics they require of an algorithm if they are to implement it efficiently. Several techniques that have been used to parallelize ATPG are presented. They fall into five major categories: fault partitioning, heuristic parallelization, search-space partitioning, functional (algorithmic) partitioning, and topological partitioning. In each category, an overview is given of the technique, its advantages and disadvantages, the type of parallel machine it has been implemented on, and the results. >
Bulk Microphysical Sensitivities within the MM5 for Orographic Precipitation. Part II: Impact of Barrier Width and Freezing Level

This paper investigates the impact of barrier width and freezing level on the microphysical processes and pathways within the Reisner2 bulk microphysical parameterization (BMP) using a two-dimensional version of the fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University‐National Center for Atmospheric Research (PSU‐NCAR) Mesoscale Model (MM5). As the barrier half-width is decreased incrementally from 50 km (relatively wide mountain) to 10 km (narrow mountain) for a deep orographic cloud and a 750-mb freezing level, the percentage of water vapor loss (WVL) rate over the windward slope leading to snow deposition decreases from 23% to 7%, while condensation increases from 74% to 93% of WVL rate. A narrow (10 km) barrier has less snow aloft, twice as much cloud water over the windward slope, and a shallow region of intense riming over the crest that results in twice as much graupel as the wide (50 km) barrier. It is found that a relatively wide barrier ( $30 km half-width) allows more time for snow growth aloft; therefore, it is more sensitive to snow parameters over the windward slope such as the slope intercept for number concentration and fall speeds. In contrast, a narrower barrier is more sensitive to rain and graupel processes, such as the cloud water autoconversion and graupel fall speeds. The wide barrier has a larger sensitivity to cloud water processes when the freezing level is elevated to 500 mb, while the narrow barrier is more sensitive to snow processes when the freezing level is lowered to 1000 mb. For a 1000-mb freezing level, the lack of riming and accretion reduces the rapid increase in maximum precipitation that is shown to occur when the barrier halfwidth is reduced from 20 and 10 km for a higher freezing level.
Molekulare Struktur und Zerstreuung von Röntgenstrahlen

1. Es wird die bisherige Literatur zur Frage der Zerstreuung von Rontgenstrahlen in nichtkristallinen Substanzen aufgezahlt.
Development of an instrument to measure behavioral health function for work disability: item pool construction and factor analysis.

Objectives To develop a broad set of claimant-reported items to assess behavioral health functioning relevant to the Social Security disability determination processes, and to evaluate the underlying structure of behavioral health functioning for use in development of a new functional assessment instrument.
Treatment of oat-cell carcinoma of the lung in the community

Nine patients with "limited" (thoracic) small-cell lung carcinoma were treated with combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy (involved field and prophylactic whole brain). Induction drugs were Vincristine, Adriamycin, and Cyclophosphamide; and Cyclophosphamide, Vincristine, and CCNU for maintenance. Eight out of nine patients (89%) continue NED at a median follow-up time of 12 months. This group is compared to 21 patients with more extensive disease and 6 patients with limited disease using various other regimens. Median survival in the extensive group was 5 months and 8 months for the limited-diseased group treated with single agents. Intensive combination chemo-irradiation therapy is safe and highly effective in patients with limited oat-cell carcinoma of the lung, and leads to prolonged disease-free survival.
Human nasal glandular secretion of novel antioxidant activity: cholinergic control.

Exposure of the respiratory mucosa to oxygen-enriched air contributes to the generation of the lung damage in both adult respiratory distress syndrome and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Recent work has identified the nasal submucosal gland as the source of diverse molecules important in mucous membrane host defense. We searched for the presence of antioxidant activity in nasal glandular secretions, the absence of which could possibly predispose to oxygen-induced injury.Employing a low molecular weight preparation of nasal secretions (a pooled concentrate passed over a 10,000-dalton molecular sieve), antioxidant activity capable of inhibiting both horseradish peroxidase and Fenton reagent reactions was discovered. The following lines of evidence suggest that submucosal glands are the source of this activity. (1) Antioxidant activity present in resting, baseline nasal washings is significantly increased after cholinergic stimulation either in response to topical methacholine or induced by a gustatory reflex. (...
Toward A Method Of Middle-Range Theorizing

This article presents an attempt at constructing a catalog of tools for middle-range theory in organizational research. The author notes that middle-range theory can be classified into the sub-categories of substantive and formal theory. Substantive theories tend to center on their databases while formal theory is generated through the comparative analysis of various substantive theories. The theoretical work consists of partitioning of the field under investigation, method of theory construction, review of literature, construction of theory, extension of theory, metaphysical elaboration and conclusion. Inductive inferences start with observations of a set of phenomena, after which one arrives at general conclusions.
Alternate energy forms and the aged

Abstract The U.S. aging population is increasing rapidly. Those “over 65” numbered 3.1 million in 1900, and by 1977 the total climbed to 23.5 million. It can be stated with reasonable certainty that this figure will rise to 31 million in the year 2000 and 43 million in the year 2020. These figures, corresponding to more than 10% of our population, are by no means insignificant. This growing constituency is expected to produce substantial social, economic and political influence over the period contemplated for development of alternative energy systems. As our fossil-fuel reserves are being depleted and the cost of energy mounts, it becomes apparent that the elderly will become increasingly vulnerable to the energy crisis, primarily because of physical tendency to infirmity, their economic and social situation, and their susceptibility to psychological depression. Energy is used so universally in our daily lives—for lighting, residential comfort, water heating, operating appliances, transportation, etc.—that we seldom think of it for itself, but only for what it can do. It might appear, at first, that age does not play a role in how people demand energy. However, upon further examination, it becomes evident that there are reasons for differing energy demands between age groups. For example, because the aged generally live on fixed and limited incomes, it follows that their problems have a serious economic aspect. There are also special medical concerns, particularly those related to temperature and lighting, since the aged are particularly vulnerable to situations in which either of these is less than adequate. This paper discusses those aspects of aging and the nation's energy problem which are not usually related in our everyday consideration of these as separable problems.
Boundary Element Method-Based Scattered Feature Interpolation Algorithm in the Analysis of LV Deformation

The quantification of left ventricular (LV) deformation from noninvasive image sequences is an important clinical problem. The accurate estimation of this information is often hindered by the following factors: i.) the imagederived features are found at sparse and unevenly sampled spatial positions; ii.) the currently available algorithms for interpolating features have tradeoffs related to accuracy, lattice density, physical plausibility and computation time. This paper introduces a new interpolation algorithm based on Boundary Element Method (BEM). By Comparing with more standard B-Spline based interpolation method: Free Form Deformation (FFD) with different lattice density, this new algorithm is more accurate and physically plausible, however, doesnt lose the computational efficiency. We then employ the BEM-based interpolation algorithm with the Generalized Robust Point Matching (GRPM) to derive the dense displacement fields from 3D LV image sequences. The approach is evaluated on 4 in-vivo cardiac magnetic resonance image sequences. The results are compared to the displacements found in implanted markers, used as a gold standard.
Optimal quantization employing programmable flash analog to digital converters

In this paper, a novel implementation of optimal scalar quantizers using a programmable floating-gate flash analog to digital converter (ADC) is described. The optimal quantization levels for a given signal class are determined according to the Lloyd-Max algorithm. The optimal quantization decision levels are then programmed as the reference voltages for comparators in the floating-gate flash ADC. A test-bench involving the programmable flash ADC and an FPGA interface to a PC is designed. The proposed setup is tested for several signal classes including speech signals and Gaussian random signals. It is demonstrated that significant ADC performance gain, quantified in terms of the signal to noise ratio, may be obtained when optimal scalar quantization is implemented on the floating-gate flash ADC.
Transient Potential Theory

In this chapter P denotes a Markov chain all of whose states are transient—that is, a transient chain with no absorbing states. Every such chain has at least one (strictly) positive superregular measure, as we saw in Chapter 5; for example, the sum of 2−i times the ith row of N is such a measure.
Delayed Presentation of a Traumatic Spinal Epidural Hematoma in a Preadolescent: A Case Report

Spontaneous spinal epidural hematomas are uncommon, with an incidence of 0.1 per 100,000 patients in the general population. In the pediatric population, they are even more uncommon1,2. Symptoms include an acute onset of back or radicular pain followed by a progressive motor paralysis and sensory loss in the lower extremities. There are a limited number of reported cases in children or adolescents1-12. Traumatic spinal epidural hematoma is even more uncommon in children or adolescents, especially without associated osseous disruption1,13-15. We report on a twelve-year-old boy who sustained limited trauma and presented weeks later with a resultant spinal epidural hematoma. The parents of the patient were informed that data concerning the case would be submitted for publication, and they consented to the submission of the data and photographs. A twelve-year-old previously healthy boy presented to a hospital with complaints of intense back pain as well as bilateral numbness and tingling in the lower extremities. The only antecedent trauma occurred three weeks prior to presentation. The patient was found to have a loss of motor function in both legs and was transferred to the emergency department of our hospital. On examination, he had no motor function in either lower extremity, had a loss of sensation caudad to the nipple line, and had priapism. On questioning, his parents stated that the boy had been pushed face first into a wall by another student at school; he was able to brace himself with his hands, and the impact was minimal. There was no apparent injury at that time. The patient began to have thoracic back pain and spasms five days later and saw his primary-care physician, who noted chest and shoulder pain but no neurological deficit. The patient was sent …
Actionable Social Media Competitive Analytics For Understanding Customer Experiences

ABSTRACTA large amount of user-generated content is now freely available on social media sites. To increase their competitive advantage, companies need to monitor and analyze not only the customer-generated content on their own social media sites, but also the content on their competitors’ social media sites. In this article, we describe a framework to integrate several techniques including quantitative analysis, text mining, and sentiment analysis for analyzing and comparing social media content from business competitors. Specifically, we conducted an in-depth case study which applies our developed framework to the analysis and comparison of social media content on the Facebook sites of the three largest drugstore chains in the United States: Walgreens, CVS, and Rite Aid. We found similarities and differences in the social media use among the three drugstore chains. We discuss the implications of our findings and provide recommendations to help companies develop their social media competitive analysis st...
Sexual Orientation and Human Rights: Putting Homophobia on Trial

This chapter analyzes and critiques homophobia in Africa and argues that as a matter of general historical practice, Africans did not discriminate against, or socially stigmatize, gays and lesbians. The author contends that modern homophobia in Africa can be traced directly to mission Christianity and Islam whose doctrinal teachings have been used to promote homophobia. The writer takes the view that it is the normative obligation of human rights thinkers and advocates to deconstruct the intellectual bankruptcy of African homophobes and reconstruct a rights discourse that affirms the dignity of homosexuals. It is not un-African to be gay, as some have argued. Nor is there anything racial – or ethnic – about any form of sexual orientation. The author concludes by calling for a struggle based on anti-subordination to combat all forms of human powerlessness, including sexual orientation.
Carbon nanotube-loaded electrospun LiFePO4/carbon composite nanofibers as stable and binder-free cathodes for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries

LiFePO(4)/CNT/C composite nanofibers were synthesized by using a combination of electrospinning and sol-gel techniques. Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) was used as the electrospinning media and carbon source. Functionalized CNTs were used to increase the conductivity of the composite. LiFePO(4) precursor materials, PAN and functionalized CNTs were dissolved or dispersed in N,N-dimethylformamide separately and they were mixed before electrospinning. LiFePO(4) precursor/CNT/PAN composite nanofibers were then heat-treated to obtain LiFePO(4)/CNT/C composite nanofibers. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy measurements were done to demonstrate the functionalization of CNTs. The structure of LiFePO(4)/CNT/C composite nanofibers was determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The surface morphology and microstructure of LiFePO(4)/CNT/C composite nanofibers were characterized using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Electrochemical performance of LiFePO(4)/CNT/C composite nanofibers was evaluated in coin-type cells. Functionalized CNTs were found to be well-dispersed in the carbonaceous matrix and increased the electrochemical performance of the composite nanofibers. As a result, cells using LiFePO(4)/CNT/C composite nanofibers have good performance, in terms of large capacity, extended cycle life, and good rate capability.
Concurrent atomistic and continuum simulation of bi-crystal strontium titanate with tilt grain boundary.

In this paper, we present the development of a concurrent atomistic–continuum (CAC) methodology for simulation of the grain boundary (GB) structures and their interaction with other defects in ionic materials. Simulation results show that the CAC simulation allows a smooth passage of cracks through the atomistic–continuum interface without the need for additional constitutive rules or special numerical treatment; both the atomic-scale structures and the energies of the four different [001] tilt GBs in bi-crystal strontium titanate obtained by CAC compare well with those obtained by existing experiments and density function theory calculations. Although 98.4% of the degrees of freedom of the simulated atomistic system have been eliminated in a coarsely meshed finite-element region, the CAC results, including the stress–strain responses, the GB–crack interaction mechanisms and the effect of the interaction on the fracture strength, are comparable with that of all-atom molecular dynamics simulation results. In addition, CAC simulation results show that the GB–crack interaction has a significant effect on the fracture behaviour of bi-crystal strontium titanate; not only the misorientation angle but also the atomic-level details of the GB structure influence the effect of the GB on impeding crack propagation.
Swimming of slender fish in a non-uniform velocity field

The hydrodynamic pressure forces acting upon a slender fish are derived for the case of a fish swimming in a non-uniform velocity field. Possible applications are the effects on fish propulsion of swimming in waves, in turbulent eddies, and in the presence of other fish or a moving ship. The fish is assumed to be a slender body, with no vorticity shed into the fluid except at a single abrupt trailing edge located at the posterior end of the fish, and to be performing small lateral swimming undulations of its body. The non-uniform field through which the fish swims is assumed to be irrotational, and this field as well as the body undulations must be slowly-varying on the length-scale of the lateral fish dimensions. Expressions are derived for the local force and the time-averaged total thrust force. These are applied to the study of steady-state bow-riding and wave-riding of porpoises.
Objective radiographic density measurements of sinus opacities are not strong predictors of noninvasive fungal disease.

Background High-density paranasal sinus opacities are often deemed consistent with fungal elements. No studies of objective quantitative radiographic density measures have been performed to support this assertion. Methods A consecutive series of 120 patients with chronic rhinosinusitis who underwent maxillary antrostomy with microbiological evaluation of contents within 60 days of sinus computed tomography scanning was investigated. Radiographic density characteristics of opacities in cultured maxillary sinuses (minimum, maximum, average, and standard deviation of Hounsfield units [HUstd]) were recorded. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves were used to analyze the accuracy of radiographic characteristics in predicting fungal opacities. Results Of 133 maxillary sinus opacities, 22 were ultimately consistent with noninvasive fungal disease: 11 allergic fungal rhinosinusitis and 11 fungal balls. Fungal balls had higher-density components and were more heterogeneous and allergic fungal mucin was generally more radiodense. These findings were reflected by statistically significant ROC curves for maximum HU (p = 0.019) and HUstd (p = 0.023) for fungal balls and for average HU (p = 0.002) for allergic fungal mucin. A maximum HU cutoff of 334.0 detected fungal balls with 90.9% sensitivity and 72.7% specificity. An average HU cutoff of 42.9 HU detected allergic fungal mucin with 100% sensitivity and 46.3% specificity, although specificity improved to 73.2% with inclusion of nasal polyposis as a second requirement. Conclusion Higher average HU more accurately predicts allergic fungal mucin whereas heterogeneity/high-density components more accurately predict fungal balls. No objective radiographic density measure, in isolation, is both sensitive and specific in predicting noninvasive fungal sinusitis.
A Phase Diagram for Polymer-Grafted Nanoparticles in Homopolymer Matrices

We quantified the stability of polystyrene- (PS-) grafted silica nanoparticles (NPs) in PS matrices with ultrasmall angle X-ray scattering (USAXS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and developed a phase diagram to predict NP dispersion based on the graft polymer density, σ, and the graft and free polymer molecular weights, or N and P, respectively. Using controlled/living polymerizations, polymer nanocomposites were formulated with silica NPs of radius, R = 9 nm where σ = 0.10–0.70 chains/nm2 at an essentially constant N = 61–68 kg/mol. The matrix molecular weight was varied from P = 37–465 kg/mol permitting us to vary the swelling ratio, P/N = 0.6–7.7. Using USAXS and TEM, we determined whether the PS-grafted NPs were stable and dispersed uniformly, or were unstable and aggregated within the matrix. From these measurements we developed a phase diagram for NP miscibility with respect to σ, P, and N to determine the allophobic and autophobic transitions that correspond to the wetting the drying of...
Bevacizumab for renal cell carcinoma, glioblastoma, and other solid tumors.

In July 2009, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted approval for use of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor bevacizumab (Avastin) in combination with interferon alfa for treatment of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC).
Abstract P109: Predictors of Hemoglobin A1c Trajectories in a Cohort of Patients with Diabetes

Background: Predictors of different hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) trajectories in diabetes have not been adequately studied. Methods: In a cohort of 8,669 individuals with incident type 2 diabetes from a managed care system from 2000 to 2009, we determined HbA1c trajectories over the 5 years following diagnosis using a procedure which isolates distinct trajectories and fits a mixture model to calculate the probability of membership in each latent class for each patient. Results: A five HbA1c trajectory model provided the best balance of fit and parsimony (Figure). The largest groups had HbA1c's below 7% (At Goal, 62%, 5472 of 8669) or near 8% (Near Goal, 23%, 1957 of 8669). Smaller groups had HbA1c's that rapidly improved and then remained near 7.5% (Improving, 6%, 502 of 8669), or were elevated and either gradually worsened (Worsening, 5%, 412 of 8669) or improved slightly (Poor Control, 4%, 326 of 8669). In multivariate models, compared to the At Goal group, individuals in the other groups were generally younger, more likely to be male, and more likely to have diagnosed hyperlipidemia. The Worsening and Poor Control groups had lower adherence to oral diabetic medications (OR (95% CI) for 10% increase in the proportion of days covered: Worsening vs. At Goal, 0.77 (0.73-0.81) and Poor Control vs. At Goal, 0.79 (0.75-0.84)), and were much more likely to be on insulin. The Improving and At Goal groups had indistinguishable adherence levels. Conclusions: Trajectory analysis holds promise as an approach for defining subgroups of diabetics who may require different care strategies, and may help focus clinical conversations on behaviors such as adherence that are necessary to achieve glycemic control. ![Graphic][1] [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif
Hydrogen containment materials

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the technical challenges associated with using structural materials to contain hydrogen gas. It focuses on the structural materials used for the transport and storage of hydrogen gas in piping, pipelines, and pressure vessels. Materials considered in the chapter include those that have been used in past hydrogen transport and storage applications and others that may be considered in future applications. The chapter highlights two principal challenges in containing hydrogen gas using structural materials: hydrogen permeation through the structure and hydrogen-induced degradation of structural material properties. These challenges are ultimately linked to the relatively small atomic size of hydrogen compared with other gases, which gives hydrogen high mobility in materials, enabling both permeation and changes in mechanical properties of the material. The chapter also summarizes the salient material, environmental, and mechanical variables that affect hydrogen-induced degradation of properties in metals, which is the well-known phenomenon of hydrogen embrittlement. It further reviews the service experience of structural materials in hydrogen gas transport and storage applications, focusing on documented information for materials in pressure vessels, pipelines, and piping. It describes some specific challenges associated with a variety of material classes, including ferritic steels, austenitic steels, composites, aluminum alloys, and other metal alloys, such as copper and nickel.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) X protein-mediated regulation of hepatocyte metabolic pathways affects viral replication

Chronic HBV infection is a risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The HBV HBx protein stimulates HBV replication and likely influences the development of HBV-associated HCC. Whether HBx affects regulators of metabolism in normal hepatocytes has not been addressed. We used an ex vivo, cultured primary rat hepatocyte system to assess the interplay between HBV replication and mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling. HBx activated mTORC1 signaling; however, inhibition of mTORC1 enhanced HBV replication. HBx also decreased ATP levels and activated the energy-sensing factor AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Inhibition of AMPK decreased HBV replication. Inhibition of AMPK activates mTORC1, and we showed that activated mTORC1 is one factor that reduces HBV replication when AMPK is inhibited. HBx activation of both AMPK and mTORC1 suggests that these activities could provide a balancing mechanism to facilitate persistent HBV replication. HBx activation of mTORC1 and AMPK could also influence HCC development.
Impairments of Social Motor Synchrony Evident in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Social interactions typically involve movements of the body that become synchronized over time and both intentional and spontaneous interactional synchrony have been found to be an essential part of successful human interaction. However, our understanding of the importance of temporal dimensions of social motor synchrony in social dysfunction is limited. Here, we used a pendulum coordination paradigm to assess dynamic, process-oriented measures of social motor synchrony in adolescents with and without autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Our data indicate that adolescents with ASD demonstrate less synchronization in both spontaneous and intentional interpersonal coordination. Coupled oscillator modeling suggests that ASD participants assembled a synchronization dynamic with a weaker coupling strength, which corresponds to a lower sensitivity and decreased attention to the movements of the other person, but do not demonstrate evidence of a delay in information transmission. The implication of these findings for isolating an ASD-specific social synchronization deficit that could serve as an objective, bio-behavioral marker is discussed.
Optical Interferometry and Application to Material Characterization

This chapter provides fundamental information of light and optics. The primary purpose of this chapter is to explain the interferometric techniques used to provide supporting data of the present field theory, which is discussed in Chaps. 7 and 8 However, incidentally, some of the properties of light as an electromagnetic wave is scientifically analogous with the foundation of the present theory. With this in mind, the description of light wave as a solution to Maxwell equations is discussed accordingly. The provision of the fundamentals of light and optics, including brief descriptions of light–matter interaction, photon, laser and coherence, and imaging, is intended to facilitate the interferometric experiment for deformation studies. Conducting an optical interferometric experiment with and without these knowledges makes a huge difference in the experimental efficiency and the quality of the results. The rest of the chapter is devoted to the description of the interferometric technique known as the Electronic Speckle-pattern Interferometry that the supporting experiments discussed in Chaps. 7 and 8 are based on. The basics about the speckles and typical interferometric configurations are discussed.
The Relationship Between Airway Antioxidant Levels, Alcohol Use Disorders, and Cigarette Smoking.

Background:Alcohol use disorders (AUDs) and cigarette smoking are associated with pulmonary oxidative stress, likely related to antioxidant depletion. Pulmonary oxidative stress may adversely affect innate immunity, leading to increased pneumonia susceptibility and severity, including development of
MSX-122, an orally available small molecule targeting CXCR4, inhibits primary tumor growth in an orthotopic mouse model of lung cancer and improves the effect of paclitaxel

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 12-16, 2008; San Diego, CA 1190 CXCR4 has been shown to play a critical role in the multiple steps of metastatic progression. Most importantly, it allows for homing of cancerous cells to distant organ sites, such as the lungs, bone, and liver, which contain high levels of CXCL12. Published results from numerous researchers, along with our own have demonstrated that blocking CXCR4 function can inhibit the spread of cancer cells to the lungs and bones. Studies have also suggestedthat the expression of CXCR4 by SCLC cells cooperates with integrinsthat regulate the adhesion of tumor cells to the marrow microenvironment and other sites of high CXCL12 expression,which in turn confers drug resistance and tumor cell growth. This supports further data showing that CXCR4/CXCL12 interactions induce Akt activation, which promotes tumor cell survival. Therefore, we hypothesized that enriched CXCL12 in the lung stromal environment promotes cell survival of CXCR4-positive lung cancer cells. We therefore sought to determine whether blocking CXCR4 signaling would inhibit primary tumor growth in lungs and, at the same time, sensitize tumor cells to conventional chemotherapy. We tested this hypothesis with MSX-122, an orally available small molecule, CXCR4 antagonist that was discovered in our labs at Emory University and has been licensed to Metastatix, Inc. for clinical development. The compelling features of MSX-122 include potent inhibition of the CXCR4/CXCL12 interaction, good tolerability in mice, rats, and monkeys at doses up to 600 mg/kg, and good plasma exposure after oral dosing that is suitable for once per day dosing in monkeys. Our data demonstrate that MSX-122 is a safe and highly effective agent for blocking cancer metastasis and tumor angiogenesis by antagonizing CXCR4. In order to evaluate whether targeting CXCR4 affects growth of lung cancer and increases the effects of chemotherapy, we intrabronchially implantedA549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells into nude mice. In this experiment, fourgroups of mice received respectively the treatment of MSX-122 alone, paclitaxel alone, combination of these two drugs, or vehicle staring on the 7th day aftertumor implantation. Mice were sacrificed on the 21st day after tumor implantation.Significant antitumor effects were observed in all three treated groups by qRT-PCR using primers for human housekeeping gene, HPRT. The antitumor effect was significantly better in the group treated with MSX-122 than in that with paclitaxel. This effect was further enhanced by the combination of MSX-122 and paclitaxel. This study suggests that the CXCR4 antagonist, MSX-122, may be an effective therapy for lung cancer, both as a single agent as well as in combination with paclitaxel.
Excitation of flare-induced waves in coronal loops and the effects of radiative cooling

Abstract EUV imaging observations from several space missions (SOHO/EIT, TRACE, and SDO/AIA) have revealed a presence of propagating intensity disturbances in solar coronal loops. These disturbances are typically interpreted as slow magnetoacoustic waves. However, recent spectroscopic observations with Hinode/EIS of active region loops revealed that the propagating intensity disturbances are associated with intermittent plasma upflows (or jets) at the footpoints which are presumably generated by magnetic reconnection. For this reason, whether these disturbances are waves or periodic flows is still being studied. This study is aimed at understanding the physical properties of observed disturbances by investigating the excitation of waves by hot plasma injections from below and the evolution of flows and wave propagation along the loop. We expand our previous studies based on isothermal 3D MHD models of an active region to a more realistic model that includes full energy equation accounting for the effects of radiative losses. Computations are initialized with an equilibrium state of a model active region using potential (dipole) magnetic field, gravitationally stratified density and temperature obtained from the polytropic equation of state. We model an impulsive injection of hot plasma into the steady plasma outflow along the loops of different temperatures, warm (∼1 MK) and hot (∼6 MK). The simulations show that hot jets launched at the coronal base excite slow magnetoacoustic waves that propagate to high altitudes along the loops, while the injected hot flows decelerate rapidly with heights. Our results support that propagating disturbances observed in EUV are mainly the wave features. We also find that the effect of radiative cooling on the damping of slow-mode waves in 1–6 MK coronal loops is small, in agreement with the previous conclusion based on 1D MHD models.