cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rapamycin inhibits GM‐CSF‐induced neutrophil migration

The molecular mechanisms that govern cell movement are the subject of intense study, as they impact biologically and medically important processes such as leukocyte chemotaxis and angiogenesis, among others. We demonstrate that leukocyte chemotaxis is prevented by the macrolide immunosuppressant rapamycin, a specific inhibitor of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/ribosomal p70-S6 kinase (p70S6K) pathway. Both neutrophil chemotaxis and chemokinesis elicited by granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) were strongly inhibited by rapamycin with an IC(50) of 0.3 nM. Inhibition, although at a higher dose, was also observed when the chemoattractant was interleukin-8. As for the mechanism, rapamycin targeted the increase of phosphorylation of p70S6K due to GM-CSF treatment, as demonstrated with specific anti-p70S6K immunoprecipitation and subsequent immunoblotting with anti-T(421)/S(424) antibodies. Rapamycin also inhibited GM-CSF-induced actin polymerization, a hallmark of leukocyte migration. The specificity of the effect of rapamycin was confirmed by the use of the structural analog FK506, which did not have a significant effect on chemotaxis but effectively rescued rapamycin-induced p70S6K inhibition. This was expected from a competitive effect of both molecules on FK506-binding proteins (FKBP). Additionally, GM-CSF-induced chemotaxis was completely (>90%) blocked by a combination of rapamycin and the MAPK kinase (MEK) inhibitor PD-98059. In summary, the results presented here indicate for the first time that rapamycin, at sub-nanomolar concentrations, inhibits GM-CSF-induced chemotaxis and chemokinesis. This serves to underscore the relevance of the mTOR/S6K pathway in neutrophil migration.
Thymic carcinoma: A distinct clinical entity responsive to chemotherapy

Background. Thymic carcinomas are rare tumors of the anterior mediastinum. These tumors are distinct thymic neoplasms that differ from their more common counterpart, thymoma. As opposed to thymomas, thymic carcinomas are histologically malignant neoplasms with a clinical course that tends to be much more aggressive than that of patients with thymoma. Methods. Between 1984 and 1990, five patients with thymic carcinoma treated with cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy were seen at Indiana University Hospital. These patients' diagnoses, courses, and treatments were reviewed. Results. Three patients responded (two completely) to cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Conclusions. This form of chemotherapy merits additional study in such patients, and our experience indicates that at least some will have clinically meaningful responses. The optimum regimen is unclear, but would contain cisplatin and probably should be similar to that used in germ cell tumors.
Tools and methodologies for executing successful simulation consulting projects

When problems are extremely complex, highly variable and too big for simple calculations, a simulation project solution should be considered. Not surprisingly, the resulting project endeavor will also be complex and should be managed with a clear strategy and attention to detail. This paper will extend beyond basic project tips by providing specific tools and methodologies to help simulation leaders execute successful simulation consulting projects inside or outside their organization.
Monte Carlo simulations of SU(N) and U(N) chiral spin models in three dimensions

Monte Carlo simulations of the chiral spin model in three dimensions using U(n) ⊗ U(n) and SU(n) ⊗ SU(n) flavor groups are studied. For U(3) ⊗ U(3) a first order transition is indicated. For the SU(N) ⊗ SU(N) groups, with n=2,3,4 the simulations indicate a second order transition. The implications of these results are compared to the predictions from the 4 - ϵ expansion.
Investigation of Factors Influencing Release of Solid Drug Dispersed in Inert Matrices III: Quantitative Studies Involving the Polyethylene Plastic Matrix

The procedure described in the previous paper has been applied to a number of cases. Release of sulfanilamide, caffeine, and potassium acid phthalate from polyethylene matrix disks into aqueous media were studied. The results show that in these cases the absolute tortuosity values are relatively small when all pores are accessible to the solvent. This situation is achieved, for example, when there is surfactant in the solution permitting adequate wetting of the channels. A direct correlation between surfactant activity and the rate of release has been found. Even when there was a relatively small amount of inaccessible pores, the tortuosities in these cases were found to be considerably greater. The results were obtained when surfactant was not incorporated in the release medium. It is proposed that these findings are consistent with an “encapsulated” drug particle model.
CDMA-based MAC protocol for wireless ad hoc networks

We propose a CDMA-based power controlled medium access protocol for mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs). Unlike previously proposed protocols, ours accounts for the multiple access interference (MAI), thereby addressing the notorious near-far problem that undermines the throughput performance in MANETs. Channel-gain information obtained from overheard RTS and CTS packets over an out-of-band control channel is used to dynamically bound the transmission power of mobile terminals in the vicinity of a receiver. By properly estimating the required transmission power for data packets, the proposed protocol allows for interference-limited simultaneous transmissions to take place in the neighborhood of a receiving terminal. Simulation results indicate that compared to the IEEE 802.11 approach, the proposed protocol achieves a significant increase in network throughput at no additional cost in energy consumption.
RelAltTab: assisting users in switching windows

We present RelAltTab, an enhanced ALT+TAB prototype that assists users in switching windows. Our approach uses semantic and temporal information to create a list of related windows to the window that the user is currently engaged in. The main assumption is that the user is more likely to switch to a related window than to any other window in the system. We propose two different user interfaces that present the related window list to the user. We describe in detail the techniques and user interfaces of the RelAltTab system, and present the results of one user study comparing our approach to the standard Windows ALT+TAB program.
Co-transfection with the osteogenic protein (OP)-1 gene and the insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I gene enhanced osteoblastic cell differentiation

Previous studies from this laboratory showed that the action of Osteogenic Protein-1 (OP-1, BMP-7) on osteoblastic cell differentiation could be enhanced by other protein factors, such as Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF)-I. In the present study, we examined the effects of co-transfection with a combination of the OP-1 and the IGF-I gene on osteoblastic cell differentiation. The results first showed that fetal rat calvaria (FRC) cells transfected with the OP-1 gene under the control of the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter showed substantial production of the OP-1 protein. Transfected FRC cells also showed a DNA concentration-dependent increase in alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity, an osteoblastic cell differentiation marker. Von Kossa-positive nodules, a hallmark of bone formation in long-term cultures of bone-derived cells, were also observed in the transfected cells after 26 days in culture, whereas none were observed in control cells. Co-transfection of FRC cells with the combination of the OP-1 and the IGF-I gene resulted in a synergistic stimulation of AP activity. The increase was DNA dose-dependent. The current data show that transfection of OP-1 gene into osteoblastic cells stimulates osteoblastic cell differentiation in vitro. The study further demonstrates the feasibility of employing gene transfer of a second gene in combination with an OP-1 vector to synergistically enhance OP-1 activity.
Nuclear Waste Package Corrosion Behavior in the Proposed Yucca Mountain Repository

The corrosion performance of spent nuclear fuel waste packages is becoming increasingly important in establishing the viability of the proposed Yucca Mountain repository system. Current package concepts propose the use of a 2 cm thick nickel-base superalloy (Alloy 22) shell as the main barrier to prevent corrosion penetration over many thousands of years. The expected package service conditions, as well as their variability and uncertainty, are discussed. The electrochemical conditions known to be responsible for passive behavior and its breakdown in Alloy 22 and similar alloys are examined in the light of the predicted repository environment. Durability prediction approaches and their conclusions are considered. Efforts to determine the relative impact of localized modes of failure and uniform passive dissolution on package durability are reviewed, along with open issues in need of resolution and alternative package designs. The basic question of the validity of extrapolating corrosion behavior over many times the duration of the present base of experience is addressed.
Power Performance of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs Grown on SiC by Ammonia-MBE at 4 and 10 GHz

In this letter, we report on the microwave power and efficiency performance of AlGaN/GaN high-electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) grown by ammonia molecular beam epitaxy (ammonia-MBE) on SiC substrates. At 4 GHz, an output power density of 11.1 W/mm with an associated power-added efficiency (PAE) of 63% was measured at V ds = 48 V on passivated devices. At 10 GHz, an output power density of 11.2 W/mm with a PAE of 58% was achieved for V ds = 48 V. These results are the highest reported power performance for AlGaN/GaN HEMTs grown by ammonia-MBE and the first reported for ammonia-MBE on SiC substrates.
Contrast and Comparison of Behavioral, Cognitive-Behavioral, and Comprehensive Treatment Methods for Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa:

Eating disorders present with a variety of abnormal beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors that originate from a combination of the central features of the illness itself and the physiological response to starvation or binge-purge activity. Behavioral methods, cognitive-behavioral methods, and comprehensive approaches (which include psychodynamic and pharmacological treatments) all make important contributions to care of patients. Each of these methods has strengths and weaknesses that need to be appreciated to understand which approach is ideal for each of the multiple symptoms present. Psychiatric thinking has often been marked by "either-or" approaches to treatment based on theoretical dogmatism. Pragmatic strategies employ a variety of methods, with a "both-and" attitude toward complementary approaches. In general, the more specific the behavioral abnormality, the more likely behavioral methods with contingencies and reinforcements will apply. Behaviors growing out of irrational concepts respond to cogniti...
Modeling and design of planar slanted volume holographic gratings for wavelength-division-multiplexing applications

Holographic gratings are modeled and designed for path-reversed substrate-guided-wave wavelength-division demultiplexing (WDDM) as a continuation of earlier research [Appl. Opt.38, 3046 (1999)]. An efficient and practical method is developed to simulate the slanted volume holographic gratings. The trade-off between dispersion and the bandwidth of the holograms is analyzed. A 60° (incident angle of the grating)/60° (diffraction angle of the grating in air) grating structure is selected to demultiplex optical signals in the 1555-nm spectral region, and a 45°/45° grating structure is chosen for the spectral region near 800 nm. Experimental results are consistent with the simulation results for these two WDDM devices. A four-channel WDDM is also demonstrated at a center wavelength of 1555 nm and with a channel spacing of 2 nm.
Biochemical Basis of Organophosphate and Carbamate Resistance in Asian Citrus Psyllid

ABSTRACT The Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, is a worldwide pest of citrus, which vectors the putative causal pathogen of huanglongbing. Current management practices warrant continuous monitoring of field populations for insecticide resistance. Baseline activities of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), general esterase, and glutathione S-transferase as well as sensitivity of AChE to selected organophosphate and carbamate insecticides were established for a susceptible laboratory strain (Lab) and compared with several field populations of D. citri from Florida. The specific activity of AChE in various D. citri populations ranged from 0.77 to 1.29 µM min-1 mg of protein-1; the Lab strain was characterized by the highest activity. Although reduced AChE sensitivity was observed in the Lab strain compared with field populations, overlap of 95% confidence intervals of I50 values (concentration required for 50% AChE activity inhibition) suggests no significant difference in AChE sensitivity among all p...
Estimation of inosinic acid in chicken muscle and its formation and degradation during post-mortem aging.

SUMMARY— A routine method for the extraction, chromatographic separation and ultraviolet spectrophotometric assay of ribonucleotides and their derivatives in chicken muscle was developed to study changes in ribonucleotide content of chicken muscle from the moment of death until tenderness changes are essentially complete. In this method, the mean error of duplicate analyses was ±2%, and recoveries were within ±6% of amounts added. Results indicated that the formation of inosinic acid occurred as a result of breakdown of adenosine triphosphate during the period of time between slaughter and onset of rigor-mortis. During prolonged aging (over 24 hr) or aging in slush ice (compared to aging in drained crushed ice), the Inosinic acid content of muscle decreased. Inosinic acid content of breast muscle was higher than leg muscle and increased in both muscles with the age of the birds.
A 2.5-mm diameter probe for photoacoustic and ultrasonic endoscopy

We have created a 2.5-mm outer diameter integrated photo-acoustic and ultrasonic mini-probe which can be inserted into a standard video endoscope’s instrument channel. A small-diameter focused ultrasonic transducer made of PMN-PT provides adequate signal sensitivity, and enables miniaturization of the probe. Additionally, this new endoscopic probe utilizes the same scanning mirror and micromotor-based built-in actuator described in our previous reports; however, the length of the rigid distal section of the new probe has been further reduced to ~35 mm. This paper describes the technical details of the mini-probe and presents experimental results that both quantify the imaging performance and demonstrate its in vivo imaging capability, which suggests that it could work as a mini-probe for certain clinical applications.
The (F)low Down on the Endothelial Epithelial Sodium Channel: Epithelial Sodium Channel as a Brake on Flow-Mediated Vasodilation

The epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) contributes to blood pressure homeostasis through renal salt and water transport; increases in ENaC activity increase salt and water reabsorption along the distal nephron, increasing extracellular fluid volume and blood pressure. The importance of tubular ENaC in cardiovascular homeostasis is manifested in Liddle’s disease and type I pseudohypoaldosteronism, diseases associated with the gain and loss of ENaC function, respectively. However, several recent studies suggest that ENaC proteins may play a more ubiquitous role in blood pressure control as mechanosensors. Because ENaC proteins are closely related to a family of mechanosensitive proteins in the nematode termed “degenerins,” several laboratories have addressed the potential role of ENaC proteins as mechanosensors.1–3 In addition to their role in salt and water homeostasis, ENaC proteins and their relatives, acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs), may contribute to control of blood pressure through reflex regulation of the autonomic nervous system (baroreflex, chemoreflex, and metaboreflex) and local control of vascular tone.1 Recent literature reviews suggest that ENaC proteins may function as sensors of pressure-induced vascular stretch and laminar flow.1–3 The role of ENaC as a mediator of pressure-induced constriction in certain vessels is supported by several investigations; however, the role of ENaC as a flow sensor remains unclear.1 Because of their evolutionary relationship to mechanotransduction in the nematode, several laboratories have suggested that ENaC channels may act as flow …
From Mythic Motifs to Sustained Myth: The Revision of Rabbinic Traditions in Medieval Midrashim

Recent years have witnessed a growing interest in the mythic dimension of rabbinic thought. Much of this work emerged from debates between scholars of Jewish mysticism over the origins of kabbalistic myth. Should these origins be sought in external traditions that influenced medieval Judaism or within the rabbinic tradition? As is well known, Gershom Scholem claimed that the rabbis rejected myth in order to forge a Judaism based on rationality and law. Moshe Idel, on the other hand, argues that mythic conceptions and specifically the mythicization of Torah appear in rabbinic literature. While the medieval kabbalists elaborated and developed these ideas, they inherited a mythic worldview from the rabbis. Scholars are now increasingly likely to characterize many classical rabbinic sources as mythic. Medieval myth need not have been due to external influence, but should be seen as an internal development within Judaism. Despite the appearance of mythic thought in rabbinic literature, however, a tremendous gulf remains between rabbinic and kabbalistic myth. The full-blown theogonic and cosmogonic myths of the kabbalists, the complex divine structure of the Sefirot, and the detailed expressions of the theurgic effect of ritual (that is, the effect that specific rituals have upon God or the Sefirot) represent a mode of mythic thinking far more comprehensive than that of the rabbis. In rabbinic literature one finds mythic motifs—succinct, independent, and self–contained expressions—not fully developed myths. How exactly did rabbinic myth develop into medieval mystical myth?
Public key cryptography with matrices

We discuss how public key cryptography can be achieved using simple multiplication of matrices over a given commutative ring. We propose a trapdoor function, which is one of the fastest one in the cryptographic literature known to the author. Using this trapdoor function we describe algorithms for key agreement and public key encryption whose security is based on solving a system of multivariate quadratic equations over the given commutative ring. This is the first public key cryptosystem with constant complexity (fixed number of multiplications) irrespective of the key size taken for the case of commutative ring of integers modulo a composite.
Diagnosing ADHD in Adolescence

for diagnosing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to inform recommendations for the diagnosis of ADHD in adolescents. Specifically, issues surrounding the use of self- versus informant ratings, diagnostic threshold, and retrospective reporting of childhood symptoms were addressed. Method: Using data from the Pittsburgh ADHD Longitudinal Study (PALS), parent, teacher, and self-reports of symptoms and impairment were examined for 164 adolescents with a childhood diagnosis of ADHD (age M 14.74 years) and 119 demographically similar non-ADHD controls (total N 283). Results: Results indicated that 70% of the well-diagnosed childhood ADHD group continued to meet Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed., text rev.; American Psychiatric Association, 2000) diagnostic criteria for ADHD in adolescence; however, an additional 17% possessed clinically significant impairment in adolescence but did not qualify for a current ADHD diagnosis. The optimal source of information was combined reports from the parent and a core academic teacher. Adolescents with ADHD met criteria for very few symptoms of hyperactivity/impulsivity, suggesting a need to revisit the diagnostic threshold for these items. Additionally, emphasis on impairment, rather than symptom threshold, improved identification of adolescents with a gold-standard childhood diagnosis of ADHD and persistent ADHD symptoms. Parent retrospective reports of baseline functioning, but not adolescent self-reports, were significantly correlated with reports collected at baseline in childhood. Conclusions: Recommendations are offered for diagnosing ADHD in adolescence based on these findings.
Micro-Raman mapping and analysis of indentation-induced phase transformations in germanium

Although it has been confirmed by diamond anvil cell experiments that germanium transforms under hydrostatic pressure from the normal diamond cubic phase (Ge-I) to the metallic β-tin phase (Ge-II) and re-transforms to Ge-III (ST12 structure) or Ge-IV (BC8 structure) during release of the pressure, there are still controversies about whether the same transformations occur during nanoindentation. Here, we present new evidence of indentation-induced phase transformations in germanium. Nanoindentation experiments were performed on a (100) Ge single crystal using two triangular pyramidal indenters with different tip angles - the common Berkovich and the sharper cube-corner. Although the indentation load-displacement curves do not show any of the characteristics of phase transformation that are well-known for silicon, micro-Raman spectroscopy in conjunction with scanning electron microscopy reveals that phase transformations to amorphous and metastable crystalline phases do indeed occur. However, the transformations are observed reproducibly only for the cube-corner indenter.
Integrated Low-Jitter 400-MHz Femtosecond Waveguide Laser

An integrated passively mode-locked waveguide laser generating 440-fs pulses at 394-MHz repetition rate is demonstrated on an 18 mm times 44 mm silica waveguide chip. The laser self-starts, and uses a saturable Bragg reflector for mode-locking.
Erlotinib: the first biologic in the management of pancreatic cancer.

Background: Pancreatic cancer remains a major therapeutic challenge largely characterized by chemotherapy-refractory disease and poor responses to currently available treatments. Pivotal studies of combination chemotherapeutic agents with gemcitabine showed that responses may exceed single-agent gemcitabine, but with added toxicities. The EGFR is known to be overexpressed in pancreatic cancer and data suggest that the presence of EGFR is associated with a poor prognosis. Objective: To analyze the current data on erlotinib and compare against other agents targeting against the EGFR pathway in pancreatic cancer. Methods: PubMed, Ovid, Cochran and the American Society of Clinical Oncology abstract database were searched using the terms ‘erlotinib’, ‘EGFR’, ‘cetuximab’, ‘gemcitabine’, ‘fluorouracil’, ‘capecitabine’ and ‘pancreatic cancer’ to identify relevant studies. Only studies using erlotinib in pancreatic cancer patients were reviewed and analyzed. Conclusions: The combination of gemcitabine and erlotini...
What exactly to prove

Mathematical and logical reasoning is the foundation of computer science. Unfortunately, constructing mathematical proofs is a difficult task for the student. Part of the difficulty arises from the students' lack of a formal and logical comprehension of the problem being handled. Hopefully, students will be able to improve their problem solving ability in this regard by going through some carefully designed assignments.
Beyond Revolution: Ending Impunity and Lawlessness During Revolutionary Periods

In early 2011, mass protests erupted throughout Libya, political elites defected to form the resistance National Transitional Council, and the international community eventually intervened in the conflict. The result was the ouster of long-ruling leader Muammar Gaddafi and the beginning of considerable political change in Libya. Following the Gaddafi regime’s overthrow, the regional militias that displaced him refused to surrender arms to the interim government and continued to perpetrate illegal detentions, displacements, rapes, and summary executions. This Note assumes that events in Libya constitute an ongoing revolution, and locates the violent episodes associated with it in a historical tradition of violence inherent in revolutionary periods. While revolutionary violence may be politically justifiable ex post, given the network of international and regional law it is no longer legally justifiable. As such, interim Libyan leaders and their successors should ensure both revolutionaries and former Gaddafi supporters are held accountable for their crimes. A hybrid approach, starting with a truth commission with eventual limited prosecutions, is the best way to bring a stable peace to Libya.
Comments on “Dimension Analysis of Climatic Data"

Abstract In a recent paper Mohan et al. presented a reanalysis of climatic data using concepts from the theory of dynamical systems. The data is the oxygen isotope ratio 18O/16O record of the V28-238 deep sea care covering a period of a million years at a sampling time of 2 Kiloyears. This dataset was first analysed by Nicolis and Nicolis who reported that the dynamics of the records may be explained by a low-dimensional dynamical system. We take this opportunity to bring to the attention of the scientific community some major problems involved with the reanalysis of the data hoping that this comment will serve as a reference for other analyses of different datasets in the future.
Effects of calcium in ash on the corrosion performance of Ni-based alloys in simulated oxy-fuel environment

Abstract Increasing the efficiency of coal power plants requires raising the operating temperature above 650 °C. However, coal ash can severely attack alloy materials at high temperature. For example, the corrosion rates of commercial Fe- and Ni-based alloys are generally greater than 2 mm/year at 750 °C in the gas environment of oxy-fuel combustion. Thus, a critical study is needed to determine the effect of the constituents in the ash on corrosion and find an approach to reduce the corrosion rates in an ash-laden environment at high temperature. The role of CaO in the ash (typical of U.S. Western coal ash) has been investigated in laboratory exposure environments with various structural alloys. Detailed results are presented on weight change, scale thickness, internal penetration, microstructural characteristics of corrosion products, and the cracking of scales for the alloys after exposure at 750 °C. The thermal stability of K3Al(SO4)3 under the environment of oxy-fuel combustion was determined by thermogravimetric analysis and differential thermal analysis. The reaction of this low melting temperature salt with the CaO-containing ash is discussed. In addition, we performed synchrotron nanobeam X-ray analysis to study the phase and chemical composition of the oxide layers on the alloy surface. Results from these studies are used to address the role of CaO in ash in the long-term corrosion performance of alloys.
Some Effects of Nitrogen Sources, Vitamins, and Temperature on the Swelling Phase of Dimargaris Verticillata Spore Germination

Several metabolites were tested for their ability to stimulate the swelling phase of D. verticillata spore germination in a water agar medium. The highest percentage of swollen spores occurred on glucose-yeast extract where yeast extract proved to be the principal stimulating factor. Alanine, valine, glycine, arginine, or leucine stimulated an intermediate percentage of swelling. A significantly lower percentage of swelling occurred on combination of these amino acids. Aspartic acid, glutamic acid, or histidine did not stimulate swelling of a significant percentage of spores. Biotin, inositol, nicotinic acid amide, or thiamine significantly inhibited swelling of D. verticillata spores. The highest percentage of swollen spores occurred at 25 C on a glucose-yeast extract agar medium. The temperature kinetics of swelling suggest that enzymes are involved in the swelling phase of D. verticillata spore germination.
The coagulability of ammonium sulfate precipitated canine fibrinogen.

SummaryFibrinogen, isolated from the plasma of mongrel dogs by fractional ammonium sulfate precipitation, extensively purified and finally dialyzed into 0.01 M sodium citrate was used in a study of coagulability. Coagulability determined by UV absorption at 280 mμ has a value of 93.9 ± 1.2%. Clottability, determined by a comparison of the dry weight of fibrin collected from a fibrinogen solution in which the fibrinogen amount was determined by nitrogen analysis and the conversion factor of 5.92 (16.9% nitrogen in fibrinogen) has a value of 94.7 ± 3.1%. On the basis of total nitrogen from a fibrinogen aliquot and the nitrogen present in the dried fibrin from a similar aliquot the nitrogen coagulability was found to be 96.5 ± 4.3%. The average of the three methods is 95%, showing that approximately 5% of the fibrinogen molecule is lost in the conversion to fibrin. The close agreement between the results of all three methods and the average coagulability of 95% show that the ammonium sulfate precipitation an...
Publication of Scientific Papers in the Journals of the Entomological Society of American 11-Year Review

Professional societies offer a number of services to their members. Perhaps the most visible-and in many member's minds most important–is a journal or journals in which a member may publish the results of his research. This function has been of increasing importance in recent years because of the need of scientists to justify their worth through publications. “Publish or perish” is a clumsy cliche that attempts to describe this phenomena. Its connotation is unfortunate, but its anguished cry has been wrung out of a legitimate state of affairs that has placed a high degree of importance on published research articles. In actual fact pressure does exist to publish. It is beyond the scope of our article to examine this Subject in detail. What we do want to explore is the result of this need to publish on the journals of the Entomological Society of America (ESA). Those effects have been significant.
Análise da sensibilidade após o uso prévio de dessensibilizantes em clareamento dental

O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar a utilizacao de tres diferentes dessensibilizantes dentais antes da aplicacao do gel clareador contendo calcio. Foram selecionados 32 voluntarios e estes divididos, aleatoriamente, em 4 grupos (n = 8): G1) Gel de Peroxido de Hidrogenio a 35% contendo calcio (Gel PH+Ca); G2) Desensibilize KF 2% + (Gel PH+Ca); G3) Desensibilize KF 0,2% + (Gel PH+Ca) e G4) Nano P + (Gel PH+Ca). Os materiais foram aplicados em 3 sessoes e, posteriormente, foram realizadas mensuracoes da sensibilidade utilizando a escala visual analogica de dor, atraves de estimulos tateis e evaporativos. Nao houve diferenca estatistica (p > 0,05) de sensibilidade entre os individuos de grupos diferentes, em nenhum dos periodos de avaliacao.
APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS FOR BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

While psychoactive drugs are the usual treatment choice for problem behaviors in individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD), non-drug treatments are increasingly sought. This article describes applied behavior analysis, the predominant nondrug treatment approach for behavior problems in people with cognitive impairments associated with developmental disabilities. Applied behavior analysis identifies the causes of an individual's problem behavior through "functional assessment" and then employs treatment methods that address those causes. Functional assessment seeks information on environmental and internal factors influencing a problem behavior, emphasizing the function or purpose the problem behavior serves for the individual. Applied behavior analysis merits further investigation as a treatment approach to behavior problems in AD.
Energy saving potential of natural ventilation in China: The impact of ambient air pollution

Abstract Natural ventilation (NV) is a key sustainable solution for reducing the energy use in buildings, improving thermal comfort, and maintaining a healthy indoor environment. However, the energy savings and environmental benefits are affected greatly by ambient air pollution in China. Here we estimate the NV potential of all major Chinese cities based on weather, ambient air quality, building configuration, and newly constructed square footage of office buildings in the year of 2015. In general, little NV potential is observed in northern China during the winter and southern China during the summer. Kunming located in the Southwest China is the most weather-favorable city for natural ventilation, and reveals almost no loss due to air pollution. Building Energy Simulation (BES) is conducted to estimate the energy savings of natural ventilation in which ambient air pollution and total square footage at each city must be taken into account. Beijing, the capital city, displays limited per-square-meter saving potential due to the unfavorable weather and air quality for natural ventilation, but its largest total square footage of office buildings makes it become the city with the greatest energy saving opportunity in China. Our analysis shows that the aggregated energy savings potential of office buildings at 35 major Chinese cities is 112 GWh in 2015, even after allowing for a 43 GWh loss due to China’s serious air pollution issue especially in North China. 8–78% of the cooling energy consumption can be potentially reduced by natural ventilation depending on local weather and air quality. The findings here provide guidelines for improving current energy and environmental policies in China, and a direction for reforming building codes.
In situ study of annealing-induced strain relaxation in diamond nanoparticles using Bragg coherent diffraction imaging

We observed changes in morphology and internal strain state of commercial diamond nanocrystals during high-temperature annealing. Three nanodiamonds were measured with Bragg coherent x-ray diffraction imaging, yielding three-dimensional strain-sensitive images as a function of time/temperature. Up to temperatures of 800 °C, crystals with Gaussian strain distributions with a full-width-at-half-maximum of less than 8 × 10 − 4 were largely unchanged, and annealing-induced strain relaxation was observed in a nanodiamond with maximum lattice distortions above this threshold. X-ray measurements found changes in nanodiamond morphology at temperatures above 600 °C that are consistent with graphitization of the surface, a result verified with ensemble Raman measurements.
Open Tracheostomy Gastric Acid Aspiration Murine Model of Acute Lung Injury Results in Maximal Acute Nonlethal Lung Injury

Acid pneumonitis is a major cause of sterile acute lung injury (ALI) in humans. Acid pneumonitis spans the clinical spectrum from asymptomatic to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), characterized by neutrophilic alveolitis, and injury to both alveolar epithelium and vascular endothelium. Clinically, ARDS is defined by acute onset of hypoxemia, bilateral patchy pulmonary infiltrates and non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema. Human studies have provided us with valuable information about the physiological and inflammatory changes in the lung caused by ARDS, which has led to various hypotheses about the underling mechanisms. Unfortunately, difficulties determining the etiology of ARDS, as well as a wide range of pathophysiology have resulted in a lack of critical information that could be useful in developing therapeutic strategies. Translational animal models are valuable when their pathogenesis and pathophysiology accurately reproduce a concept proven in both in vitro and clinical settings. Although large animal models (e.g., sheep) share characteristics of the anatomy of human trachea-bronchial tree, murine models provide a host of other advantages including: low cost; short reproductive cycle lending itself to greater data acquisition; a well understood immunologic system; and a well characterized genome leading to the availability of a variety of gene deletion and transgenic strains. A robust model of low pH induced ARDS requires a murine ALI that targets mainly the alveolar epithelium, secondarily the vascular endothelium, as well as the small airways leading to the alveoli. Furthermore, a reproducible injury with wide differences between different injurious and non-injurious insults is important. The murine gastric acid aspiration model presented here using hydrochloric acid employs an open tracheostomy and recreates a pathogenic scenario that reproduces the low pH pneumonitis injury in humans. Additionally, this model can be used to examine interaction of a low pH insult with other pulmonary injurious entities (e.g., food particles, pathogenic bacteria).
Facilitating and Debilitating Test Anxiety and Academic Achievement

The Alpert-Haber Achievement Anxiety Test was administered to 426 college students. Of these students, 197 were given the Suinn Test Anxiety Behavior Scale and 229 were given the Test Anxiety Scale. The results in-dicate a significant sex of student effect for facilitating test anxiety as well as a different factor structure for male and female responses to the Achievement Anxiety Test. Classification of students into either facilitators or debilitators resulted in a significant sex of student effect for cumulative grade point average. Further analysis revealed that the type of test anxiety and the sex of the student were related. The results were discussed in the context of a continuing examination of variables underlying test anxiety.
Tolstoy’s Three Questions

Leo Tolstoy’s masterful short story, “Three Questions” (Tolstoy, The three questions from what men live by and other tales, 1885), contains a powerful message for those who wish to attain a more peaceful and meaningful life. The lessons contained in this allegory perfectly characterize the essence of a resilient life and therefore serve wonderfully as the final chapter to this work. First published in 1885, the short story recounts the tale of a king who is doggedly determined to find the answer to three personally vexing questions: (1) What is the best time to do each thing? (2) Who are the most important people to work with? (3) What is the most important thing to do at all times? (Tolstoy, The three questions from what men live by and other tales, 1885)
Management of Opioid-Induced Constipation in Hospice Patients.

Background:Constipation is a common symptom in patients with advanced disease taking opioids. Opioid-induced constipation (OIC) is commonly treated with laxatives and stool softeners. Recently, new...
Transformation of ABIM and What the Changes Mean to Nephrologists.

The American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) has been certifying internists since 1936, and nephrologists since 1972. There are currently 10,043 ABIM board-certified nephrologists, about two thirds of whom also continue to maintain their certification in internal medicine. ABIM is one of 24
Preparation of the High Density and Fine-Grained YBa2Cu3O7-y by Capsule Hip Method

As the first step for realizing a superplasticity in high-Tc oxide superconductors, a dense and fine-grained ceramic material of the tetragonal 123 phase was prepared by using a capsule HIP (hot isostatically pressing) method. A dense material with equiaxed grains of sub-micron order was successfully prepared by HIP at 750°C and at 90 MPa for 4 h. A possibility for realizing superplasticity was observed from a deformation property of a compression test. Recovery of oxygen content during annealing process was also investigated.
Bringing Eyes of Faith to Film: Using Popular Movies to Cultivate a Sacramental Imagination and Improve Media Literacy in Adolescents

Adolescents are bombarded during most of their waking hours by images on various screens: computer, television, and film. As so-called digital natives, they are aware that these images are manufactured and manipulated to elicit certain responses. But while they acknowledge the artificiality of those images, they allow the same mediated messages virtually unfettered access to their hearts and minds with sad or even chilling results. Catholic educators and pastoral workers are charged with helping young people navigate the terrain created by popular media for at least two reasons: to nurture a more sophisticated approach to reading media, and to leverage Catholicism’s long history of employing art to illuminate aspects of God and the transcendent. The endeavor described in this article posits that the Great Commandment (Matthew 12:28-31), to love God and love one’s neighbor as oneself, provides an intellectual and pastoral framework for using recent popular films to sharpen media literacy skills on the one hand and to cultivate a sacramental imagination on the other, using tools that are portable to multiple disciplines and to most new films.
Datum: Managing Data Purchasing and Data Placement in a Geo-Distributed Data Market

This paper studies two design tasks faced by a geo-distributed cloud data market: which data to purchase (data purchasing) and where to place/replicate the data for delivery (data placement). We show that the joint problem of data purchasing and data placement within a cloud data market can be viewed as a facility location problem and is thus NP-hard. However, we give a provably optimal algorithm for the case of a data market made up of a single data center and then generalize the structure from the single data center setting in order to develop a near-optimal, polynomial-time algorithm for a geo-distributed data market. The resulting design, $\mathsf {Datum}$ , decomposes the joint purchasing and placement problem into two subproblems, one for data purchasing and one for data placement, using a transformation of the underlying bandwidth costs. We show, via a case study, that $\mathsf {Datum}$ is near optimal (within 1.6%) in practical settings.
Bendamustine and rituximab (BR) versus dexamethasone, rituximab, and cyclophosphamide (DRC) in patients with Waldenström macroglobulinemia

The treatment approaches for Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM) are largely based upon information from single-arm phase II trials, without comparative data. We compared the efficacy of two commonly used regimens in routine practice (bendamustine-rituximab (BR) and dexamethasone, rituximab plus cyclophosphamide (DRC)) and evaluated their activity with respect to the patients’ MYD88L265P mutation status. Of 160 consecutive patients, 60 received BR (43 with relapsed/refractory WM) and 100 received DRC (50 had relapsed/refractory WM). In the treatment-naive setting, overall response rate (ORR) was 93% with BR versus 96% with DRC (p = 0.55). Two-year progression-free survival (PFS) with BR and DRC was 88 and 61%, respectively (p = 0.07). In salvage setting, ORR was 95% with BR versus 87% with DRC, p = 0.45; median PFS with BR was 58 versus 32 months with DRC (2-year PFS was 66 versus 53%; p = 0.08). Median disease-specific survival was not reached with BR versus 166 months with DRC (p = 0.51). The time-to-event endpoints and depth of response were independent of the MYD88 mutation status. Grade ≥ 3 adverse events of both regimens were comparable. A trend for longer PFS was observed with BR although the regimens have comparable toxicities. The activity of BR and DRC appears to be unaffected by patients’ MYD88 mutation status.
Analysis of Crystalline Silica Aerosol Using Portable Raman Spectrometry: Feasibility of Near Real-Time Measurement

A Raman spectroscopy based method has been developed for measurement of trace airborne concentrations of respirable crystalline silica (RCS) using various aerosol sampling and analysis techniques. Three aerosol microconcentration techniques were investigated for effective coupling of collected particulate samples with micro-Raman spectroscopy: (i) direct analysis on a particulate filter after focused aerosol collection using a converging nozzle; (ii) analysis of dried particulate deposit on a filter obtained directly from the aerosol phase using the Spotsampler device; and (iii) analysis of a dried spot (∼1–3 mm diameter) obtained by redepositing the particulate sample, after low-temperature plasma ashing of the filter sample. The deposition characteristics (i.e., spot diameter, shape, and deposit uniformity) of each technique were investigated. Calibration curves were constructed and detection limits were estimated for α-quartz using the A1 Raman Si–O–Si stretching–bending phonon mode at 465 cm–1. The me...
Security tag computation and propagation in OSFA

We will review Saltzer and Schroeder’s security principles of (1) complete mediation; (2) least privilege; and (3) privilege separation. We will also briefly review security tag (or label) propagation. In security tag propagation, a set of rules are used to compute the security attributes of each computation. For example, C = A + B, where A is trusted and B is not trusted. The result C is labeled not trusted. We do not want to use the untrusted result, C, to control any shared computer resource. Using an untrusted result to control (or manage) a shared resource would leave a cybersecurity vulnerability. We illustrate how security tag (or label) propagation can be implemented in the two level security tag architecture in the OS Friendly Microprocessor Architecture. We describe the benefits of using two level security tags for security tag computations.
Training Parents in Behavioral Medicine Techniques for the Chronic Care of Their Developmentally Disabled Children

Behavioral medicine involves the application of behavioral techniques to health-related problems. Although the ultimate goal of behavioral medicine may be self-control of health-related behaviors by the child, in many instances it is more practical to use some responsible other, such as a parent, to bring about the behavior change. This is particularly true with special populations such as developmentally disabled children. With these children, behavior change is often most effectively brought about through the use of outside agents, such as parents, nurses, aides, or teachers. When children, parents, or significant others are taught behavioral techniques to control developmentally disabled children’s problematic behavior related to health status, this subset of behavior therapy is referred to as behavioral medicine or behavioral pediatrics with developmentally disabled children.
Organization of the Nervous System

The human nervous system is the most complex structure known to man. It contains 50 billion nerve cells, which are interconnected to form a network of unimaginable complexity. The brain contains the sensory centers, which analyze changes in both the external and the internal environments. It is the principal controller of body function, including the contractions of muscle fibers and the secretions of gland cells.
Patenting — With Chinese Characteristics

Although many developing economies are increasingly impacting the global economy, China’s impact has been the greatest by far. Once hindered from competition by political and economic restrictions, China is now a major economic player. Curiously, China’s increased impact has coincided with an increased demand for intellectual property protection for technologies originating from China, with rising application rates from the Chinese at the State Intellectual Property Office of China (SIPO) and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO or PTO). Indeed, more patents are needed to protect the myriad of technological innovations emerging from China. This Article examines Chinese patenting trends in the United States over the last several decades, comparing those trends to other nations such as Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Russia, and India. Additionally, we identify the technology mix of patent applications that Chinese applicants are submitting to the PTO. The Article compares China’s patenting trends in the past decade to other patenting trends for other Asian countries from earlier decades. Ultimately, we determine that China is not unique as a historical matter, but rather an accelerated version of earlier Asian patenting trends.