cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Review: Calcium antagonists lead to a higher risk for MI, congestive heart failure, and major cardiovascular events

Source Citation Pahor M, Psaty BM, Alderman MH, et al. Health outcomes associated with calcium antagonists compared with other first-line antihypertensive therapies: a meta-analysis of randomised c...
Staged Inference using Conditional Deep Learning for energy efficient real-time smart diagnosis

Recent progress in biosensor technology and wearable devices has created a formidable opportunity for remote healthcare monitoring systems as well as real-time diagnosis and disease prevention. The use of data mining techniques is indispensable for analysis of the large pool of data generated by the wearable devices. Deep learning is among the promising methods for analyzing such data for healthcare applications and disease diagnosis. However, the conventional deep neural networks are computationally intensive and it is impractical to use them in real-time diagnosis with low-powered on-body devices. We propose Staged Inference using Conditional Deep Learning (SICDL), as an energy efficient approach for creating healthcare monitoring systems. For smart diagnostics, we observe that all diagnoses are not equally challenging. The proposed approach thus decomposes the diagnoses into preliminary analysis (such as healthy vs unhealthy) and detailed analysis (such as identifying the specific type of cardio disease). The preliminary diagnosis is conducted real-time with a low complexity neural network realized on the resource-constrained on-body device. The detailed diagnosis requires a larger network that is implemented remotely in cloud and is conditionally activated only for detailed diagnosis (unhealthy individuals). We evaluated the proposed approach using available physiological sensor data from Physionet databases, and achieved 38% energy reduction in comparison to the conventional deep learning approach.
BMS-275291. Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) is developing BMS-275291, which is a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor, for the potential treatment of cancer. It was originally developed by Chiroscience RD predicted peak sales were unchanged. In January 2002, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter expressed the view that release of positive phase II/III trials data would surprise stock markets.
Single- and Multimode Beam Propagation Through an Optothermally Controllable Fano Clusters-Mediated Waveguide

Plasmonic waveguides are strategic compact structures consisting of nanoscale components and/or particles to carry the light. Here, by proposing a systematic and artificial configuration of fused nanoparticle assemblies, we develop an optothermally controllable plasmonic waveguide with high and tunable decay length for propagation of both single- and multimode waves. Using symmetric nanoplasmonic clusters based on phase-change material, here Ge2Sb 2Te5, allowed us to efficiently control the beam propagation length and quality at the global telecommunication bands (λ $\approx$ 850 nm and λ $\approx$ 1550 nm). Employing both finite-difference time-domain and finite element method as numerical tools, we accurately computed the critical components of the proposed multifunctional plasmonic light carrier. We believe that the tailored subwavelength optical waveguide paves new approaches to develop practical advanced next-generation nanophotonic technologies.
Characterization and Detection of Clinically Relevant Microbial Biofilms with Ultrasound Contrast Agents

Research on biofilms has benefited from the development of new techniques to investigate their structure, function and morphology. Conjugated lectins combined with targeted ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs) and highfrequency ultrasound, offer unique possibilities to obtain quantitative information on biofilm mechanical properties. High-frequency time-resolved scanning acoustic microscopy (SAM) provides a novel means to obtain the structural and material properties of microbial biofilms. Noninvasive measurements were conducted by employing a high-frequency timeresolved scanning acoustic microscope operating at a center frequency of 100 MHz. Fluorescently labeled lectins were used in conjunction with targeted UCAs, epifluorescence microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and timeresolved SAM for visualization and characterization of carbohydrate- containing extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) of biofilms.
Nonlinear transmission lines using multiple barrier varactor devices

To improve the power handling ability of NonlinearTransmission Lines (NLTLs), multiple barrier varactordevices are utilized. NLTLs have been designed andfabricated on GaAs wafers with a variety of stackedmulti-barrier structures.
Clinical findings and outcomes from MRI staging of breast cancers in women.

1124 Background: For patients diagnosed with breast cancer, case series have shown that staging MRI can detect occult breast cancers in 1-10% of cases. Prevalence and risk factors in underserved po...
Immunological Responsiveness and Aging Phenomena in Germfree Mice

Germfree animals constitute a unique resource for the evaluation of aging phenomena, especially as the latter relates to immune dysfunction. In particular, it is possible to eliminate one important variable, i.e., infection, in studies designed to define the relationship between the immune response and aging. Such infection may be overt or occult. Of perhaps greater importance, in the context of this discussion, is the fact that germfree animals may be utilized to perform experiments that are not possible with their conventional counterparts. For example, neonatal thymectomy in many strains of mice results in an acute, fatal runting phenomenon; this syndrome is not noted in neonatally thymectomized germfree animals of the same strains.
Chaos in Dynamical Systems

This chapter focuses on chaos in dynamical systems. Chaos is a phenomenon that can appear in solutions to nonlinear differential equations. Chaos is easily defined and can be easily (numerically) found in some equations. For nonlinear systems exhibiting chaos, the separation of two nearby trajectories increases exponentially with time. This is referred to as sensitive dependence on initial conditions. For dissipative systems, a stretching in one direction has to be accompanied by a more-than-compensating contraction in other directions, so that the volume of an arbitrary droplet of initial conditions will contract with time. The phase-space trajectories for a chaotic system asymptotically approach a strange attractor, an attractor with a fractional dimension. The chapter highlights that Lyapunov exponents are a measure of the rate of divergence (or convergence) of initially infinitesimally separated trajectories. The i th Lyapunov exponent λ i , can be found by considering the evolution of a vanishingly small set of initial conditions which form a hyperellipsoid.
Systematic Review of Supraclavicular Artery Island Flap vs Free Flap in Head and Neck Reconstruction.

ObjectiveThe aim of this systematic review is to compare the surgical outcomes of supraclavicular artery island flap (SCAIF) and free tissue transfer (FTT) in head and neck reconstruction.Data Sour...
A thermal management system for the battery pack of a hybrid electric vehicle: modeling and control:

The lithium-ion battery pack in hybrid electric vehicles is an important energy storage device that requires proper thermal management. A considerable amount of heat is generated by the battery cel...
Neurotoxicity from Intrathecal Gadolinium Administration (IT-Gad) (P3.9-043)

Objective: NA Background: While low-dose (~0.5 mL) IT-Gad has been used off-label for cisternography and myelography, case reports of inadvertent high-dose IT-Gad have highlighted risk of severe neurotoxicity. Herein we describe the clinical course of a patient administered high-dose IT-Gad (~4.3 μmol/g brain). Design/Methods: NA Results: This 55-year-old man was mistakenly administered 12 mL of Gadobutrol for purposes of cervical myelography. Convulsive seizures arose within minutes. His initial examination (following lorazepam and fosphenytoin) showed hemodynamic instability and coma with normal pupillary/corneal reflexes but absent cold caloric, gag/cough and deep tendon reflexes. Generalized seizures remitted only with anesthetic doses of pentobarbital, and attempts to wean from a burst suppression pattern on EEG were unsuccessful because of reemergent status epilepticus, despite a 3 antiepileptic drug regimen and methylprednisolone. Discontinuation of pentobarbital without recurrent seizures was possible on day 9. While brainstem reflexes normalized within 12 hours of exposure, he did not regain consciousness until day 11 and examination at that time showed diffuse weakness and areflexia which improved gradually over the course of 3 weeks. His initial head CT showed diffuse contrast enhancement of the subarachnoid, cisternal and intraventricular compartments. MR imaging on day 8 also showed restricted diffusion of the hippocampi, likely from prolonged status epilepticus. Repeat MR imaging (day 23) showed resolution of hippocampal cytotoxic edema, but diffuse cortical enhancement from parenchymal deposition of gadolinium. When last examined, 7-weeks after exposure, seizures had not recurred, but his examination showed severe anterograde memory deficits. Conclusions: Gadolinium encephalopathy is a potentially catastrophic complication of high-dose IT-Gad. Few patients have been reported with a range of neurotoxic effects including coma, seizures, ataxia and other deficits related to focal cerebral dysfunction. While best management practices are unknown, cerebrospinal fluid lavage has been advocated as therapeutic option and may be reasonable given the potential for severe morbidity. Disclosure: Dr. Calvo has nothing to disclose. Dr. Jamil has nothing to disclose. Dr. Feldman has nothing to disclose. Dr. Shah has nothing to disclose. Dr. Nauman has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ferrara has nothing to disclose.
Charge exchange recombination spectra for 100 keV/u and 500 keV/u atomic hydrogen beam colliding with W64+

We present synthetic spectra for light emission following charge exchange (CX) recombination for Ne-like W64+ ions colliding with neutral atomic hydrogen at 100 and 500 keV/u, which is of relevance to the plasma diagnostics of the international experimental fusion device ITER now under construction. The spectra are calculated using a detailed collisional-radiative model for the W63+ ion that includes more than 6000 singly- and doubly-excited states and accounts for major physical processes in hot fusion plasmas. The CX cross sections into excited states are computed using the classical trajectory Monte Carlo method. A comprehensive analysis of the modifications to the spectra due to CX is presented.
From Radical Progressivism to Authoritarianism

The modern progressive movement in the United States, based upon ideology deriving from classical liberalism must invariably lead to greater authoritarianism. Classical liberalism began to fail as a philosophy as soon as it spawned ideologies that abandoned the notion of universal truth. Progressive ideology in the United States since the mid 19th century has demonstrated an increasing propensity to advocate a stronger central government, less Constitutional control and a decreasing adherence to the rule of law. Preferring de facto verse de jure. These trends in legal idealism at the expense of legal realism coupled with the growing passion and a propensity toward violence among the base indicate that increased left authoritarianism is not only possible but likely.
Predicting anisotropic crushable polymer foam behavior in sandwich structures

An anisotropic elastic-plastic, viscoelastic-damage model was developed to predict the multiaxial crushing behavior of polymer foams used in the core of sandwich structures. This model was based on pressure vessel experiments on Divinycell H100, whereby the post-yield response of the foam was characterized by anisotropic hardening during plastic flow, as well as damage and viscoelastic hysteresis. Post-yield properties from uniaxial compression/tension and simple shear material hysteresis experiments were used to develop three-dimensional material constitutive equations for the foam. Plastic flow was governed by the Tsai–Wu failure criterion, which was verified to accurately predict yielding of the foam in the triaxial pressure experiments. The solution methodology proved to be very effective in predicting the hysteresis response of the foam under triaxial compression, triaxial compression–tension, and triaxial compression–shear. Good agreement was found between theoretical predictions and experimental results.
Illuminating the impact of diel vertical migration on visual gene expression in deep‐sea shrimp

Diel vertical migration (DVM) of marine animals represents one of the largest migrations on our planet. Migrating fauna are subjected to a variety of light fields and environmental conditions that can have notable impacts on sensory mechanisms, including an organism's visual capabilities. Among deep-sea migrators are oplophorid shrimp that vertically migrate hundreds of metres to feed in shallow waters at night. These species also have bioluminescent light organs that emit light during migrations to aid in camouflage. The organs have recently been shown to contain visual proteins (opsins) and genes that infer light sensitivity. Knowledge regarding the impacts of vertical migratory behaviour, and fluctuating environmental conditions, on sensory system evolution is unknown. In this study, the oplophorid Systellaspis debilis was either collected during the day from deep waters or at night from relatively shallow waters to ensure sampling across the vertical distributional range. De novo transcriptomes of light-sensitive tissues (eyes/photophores) from the day/night specimens were sequenced and analysed to characterize opsin diversity and visual/light interaction genes. Gene expression analyses were also conducted to quantify expression differences associated with DVM. Our results revealed an expanded opsin repertoire among the shrimp and differential opsin expression that may be linked to spectral tuning during the migratory process. This study sheds light on the sensory systems of a bioluminescent invertebrate and provides additional evidence for extraocular light sensitivity. Our findings further suggest opsin co-expression and subsequent fluctuations in opsin expression may play an important role in diversifying the visual responses of vertical migrators.
Acid–base chemistry at the single ion limit

We present the results of acid–base experiments performed at the single ion (H+ or OH−) limit in ∼6 aL volume nanopores incorporating electrochemical zero-mode waveguides (E-ZMWs). At pH 3 each E-ZMW nanopore contains ca. 3600H+ ions, and application of a negative electrochemical potential to the gold working electrode/optical cladding layer reduces H+ to H2, thereby depleting H+ and increasing the local pH within the nanopore. The change in pH was quantified by tracking the intensity of fluorescein, a pH-responsive fluorophore whose intensity increases with pH. This behavior was translated to the single ion limit by changing the initial pH of the electrolyte solution to pH 6, at which the average pore occupancy 〈n〉pore ∼3.6H+/nanopore. Application of an electrochemical potential sufficiently negative to change the local pH to pH 7 reduces the proton nanopore occupancy to 〈n〉pore ∼0.36H+/nanopore, demonstrating that the approach is sensitive to single H+ manipulations, as evidenced by clear potential-dependent changes in fluorescein emission intensity. In addition, at high overpotential, the observed fluorescence intensity exceeded the value predicted from the fluorescence intensity-pH calibration, an observation attributed to the nucleation of H2 nanobubbles as confirmed both by calculations and the behavior of non-pH responsive Alexa 488 fluorophore. Apart from enhancing fundamental understanding, the approach described here opens the door to applications requiring ultrasensitive ion sensing, based on the optical detection of H+ population at the single ion limit.
Physiological seasonality in the symbiont and host of the northern star coral, Astrangia poculata

Assessing physiological responses that correspond to the normal range of seasonal variation can provide a better understanding of how environmental stressors may impact physiology. Most tropical corals exhibit seasonal variation in their host and symbiont physiology within a narrow range of environmental conditions. In temperate regions and at the northern end of its distribution, Astrangia poculata must adapt to wide ranges in seasonal variability. The species is facultatively symbiotic, and it is unclear if or how symbiotic state and, consequently, host physiology is affected by environmental seasonality. We collected colonies of A. poculata with a visible range of symbiotic states from Fort Wetherill State Park in Jamestown, RI in fall, winter, spring, and summer seasons of 2018–2019. We measured physiological parameters, including symbiotic state [chlorophyll (Chl) a and c2], total lipid content, and stable carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotopes of the host and symbiont. Seasonal variation occurred in all physiological parameters we studied. Specifically, Chl a, c2, and lipid content all reached low points in the spring, suggesting a lag, where the consequences of the coldest temperatures in the winter took up to three months to manifest in the tissue. There were seasonal fluctuations in host:symbiont ratios of δ13C, reflecting changing rates of autotrophy relative to heterotrophy during the year. While some autotrophy occurred during the year, isotopic evidence indicated that carbon acquisition in A. poculata was mostly heterotrophic in the winter. Based on δ15N, the symbiont was primarily responsible for nitrogen assimilation, although other sources likely contributed. Both carbon acquisition and nitrogen acquisition were more similar to that of other aposymbiotic coral species, regardless of the symbiotic state of A. poculata. Therefore, it may be more appropriate to view A. poculata as a unique aposymbiotic coral that is capable of symbiosis, rather than the reverse.
Simultaneous quantification of dexamethasone and 6β-hydroxydexamethasone in rabbit plasma, aqueous and vitreous humor, and retina by UHPLC-MS/MS.

Aim: To develop and validate a fit for purpose method for the simultaneous determination of dexamethasone and its major metabolite, 6β-hydroxydexamethasone, in rabbit plasma and ocular matrices to ...
What Is the Role of GABA Transporters in Seizures

The brain utilizes γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) as its primary inhibitory neurotransmitter to control neuronal excitability and modulate the ongoing activity of neuronal ensembles. GABA controls the generation of membrane potential oscillations, which provide the time window for integration of synaptic inputs and generation of activity patterns in neuronal networks. These effects require a fine control of GABAA and GABAB receptor activation, which, in turn, depends on both the precise timing of GABA release from presynaptic terminals and GABA clearance from the extracellular space. GABA is synthesized in presynaptic terminals from glutamate via the glutamic acid decarboxylases 65 and 67 and is incorporated in synaptic vesicles via the vesicular GABA transporter, referred to as vesicular inhibitory amino-acid transporter (VIAAT) as it also mediates vesicular uptake of glycine1 (Figure). The clearance of GABA after release depends on its uptake by specific GABA transporters (GATs), including GAT-1, expressed predominantly in axons and presynaptic terminals, and GAT-3, expressed primarily in astrocytes.2,3 By controlling extracellular GABA levels, GATs have a major role in regulating tonic and phasic inhibition in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, thalamus, and other areas.2,3 Experimental studies in mouse models indicate a major role of GATs in regulating cortical excitability and predisposition to seizures. Mutations affecting the GABA transporters have been linked to different seizure phenotypes. For example, loss of function mutations of the SLC6A1 gene encoding GAT-1 have been associated with epilepsy with myoclonic-atonic seizures and with absence seizures.4,5
Women and Childrearing in the Republic

Scholars have long puzzled about how to reconcile the proposal in Republic V that women should share the education and work of men, including ruling, with the deeply misogynistic comments found in the Republic and throughout Plato’s corpus. Even those who doubt that the proposal represents a sincere recognition of the women’s equality with men must provide a plausible explanation for this radical departure from the norms of Plato’s day. Taking inspiration from Annie Larivee’s application of Michele Le Doeuff’s notion of desherence to the Republic and the Politicus, I argue that a new appreciation of the importance of childrearing motivates the reimagination of women’s work in the Republic. On this reading, the transformation of childrearing from a private undertaking of mostly women to a shared responsibility of the city as a whole protects young children from moral corruption at the hands of uneducated and morally inferior mothers and nurses.
TH-EF-BRA-06: A Novel Method of ACR Dose Index Registry Report Interpretation: Population Dose Reduction for Thoracic CT Angiography

Purpose: To identify a method of ACR Dose Index Registry (DIR) report analysis and interpretation that focuses dose reduction efforts on exams that most affect our patient population. Methods: In place of a direct interpretation of the DIR report, a proposed additional metric — the Total Exposure Variance (TEV) — was calculated for each of the most frequently performed institutional exams. TEV was defined as the product of exam frequency (N) and the difference between institutional and national median dose (CTDIvol or SSDE). TEV indicated total excess institution population dose beyond the equivalent national benchmark. TEV analysis focused investigation of two exams from the 2012 DIR report: 1) CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA), which had SSDE between the median and third quartile; and, 2) CT thoracic angiography (CTTA), optimized for the aorta, which had SSDE in the top quartile. Results: CT scan parameter changes were implemented lowering the quality reference mAs by 20% and limiting the automatic kV selection range to 100–120. DIR data from July–December 2012 were compared to same time period for 2013. CTPA showed a decrease of median CTDIvol and SSDE of 14% and 16%, respectively, representing a realized decrease in TEV of 1776 mGy-persons. Data for CTTA showed a decrease of median CTDIvol and SSDE of 38% and 44%, respectively, representing a realized decrease in TEV of 1050 mGy-persons. In both cases, the incremental and population dose metrics moved down toward national benchmarks. Conclusion: TEV analysis used DIR data to shift the paradigm toward reducing population dose instead of frequency-independent interpretation of the report. The TEV metric highlighted exams that would have otherwise been overlooked with direct DIR report interpretation. Recent modifications to the DIR report contents may avail additional approaches to dose reduction.
The Binding of Carbon Monoxide by Human Hemoglobin PROOF OF VALIDITY OF THE SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC METHOD AND DIRECT DETERMINATION OF THE EQUILIBRIUM

Abstract Stoichiometric titrations of human hemoglobin with carbon monoxide show that the interaction of hemoglobin with ligand is accompanied by proportional changes in both the Soret and visible absorption bands. This linearity has been observed in neutral solutions, both in the presence and absence of 2 m NaCl, and in alkaline solutions at pH 9.2. It is concluded that the liganded intermediates taking part in the equilibrium do not differ significantly in spectra from the equivalent hypothetical mixtures of reduced and fully liganded hemoglobin. The CO equilibrium determined in dilute hemoglobin solutions (4.5 x 10- m to 2.34 x 10-7 m) is characterized by a relatively high Hill constant (2.3) and a free ligand concentration of 4.3 to 5.6 x 10-8 m at 50% saturation. The results are of special interest in light of the sedimentation studies and kinetic experiments which indicate that a strongly ligand-linked equilibrium between dimeric and monomeric (or single chain) hemoglobin predominates in this concentration range.
Chapter 7 Controlling the dynamics of cardiac muscle using small electrical stimuli

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a survey of current progress in the control of cardiac instabilities. It discusses some general aspects of the heart as a dynamical system, the idea of closed-loop feedback control in complex nonlinear systems, and its application to cardiac dynamics. The chapter reviews some of recent results on spatially localized dynamics in bullfrog cardiac muscle and the transitions of this system between bistable states using small perturbations. It investigates the use of variants of this method to control the dynamics of a fibrillating sheep atrium in conjunction with a high-density mapping system to record the effects of the control perturbations on the entire atrium. This basic research program provides new insights into the fundamental mechanisms that regulate the dynamics of small pieces of cardiac muscle subjected to small, appropriately timed electrical stimuli. The application of chaos-control techniques to this system and the implications of these results for applications of control in the whole heart are discussed in the chapter.
A Review of “Demystifying professional learning communities”

Successful schools promote positive student learning outcomes, particularly for traditionally marginalized students. Hipp and Huffman unpack professional learning communities as a necessary factor ...
Regular symmetric arrays for non-symmetric functions

A new class of non-totally symmetric functions which can be represented as simple regular symmetric arrays without redundancy is identified. Regular circuits are becoming crucially important for deep submicron technologies, which needs new layout approaches to fully utilized their potential. The new class of functions contains the classes of totally symmetric and totally symmetric with mixed polarities functions. Two circuit implementations are proposed, one especially aimed on low-power applications. Generating such functions with a simple method is also described.
Controlling immune response and demyelination using highly potent bifunctional peptide inhibitors in the suppression of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Summary In this study, we investigated the efficacy of new bifunctional peptide inhibitors (BPIs) in suppressing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in an animal model. BPI [e.g. proteolipid protein–cyclo(1,8)-CPRGGSVC-NH2 (PLP-cIBR)] is a conjugate between the PLP139–151 peptide derived from proteolipid protein (PLP) and the cIBR7 peptide derived from domain-1 (D1) of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). PLP–cIBR is designed to bind to major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-II and leucocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) simultaneously to inhibit the formation of the immunological synapse and alter the differentiation and activation of a subpopulation of T cells, thus inducing immunotolerance. The results show that PLP–cIBR is highly potent in ameliorating EAE, even at low concentrations and less frequent injections. Mice treated with PLP–cIBR had a higher secretion of cytokines related to regulatory and/or suppressor cells compared to phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)-treated mice. In contrast, T helper type 1 (Th1) cytokines were higher in mice treated with PBS compared to PLP–cIBR, suggesting that it suppressed Th1 proliferation. Also, we observed significantly less demyelination in PLP-cIBR-treated mice compared to the control, further indicating that PLP–cIBR promoted protection against demyelination.
Connection between NMR and electrical conductivity in glassy chalcogenide fast ionic conductors

The work documented in this thesis follows the traditional order. In this chapter a general discussion of ionic conduction and of glassy materials are followed by a brief outline of the experimental techniques for the investigation of fast ionic conduction in glassy materials, including NMR and impedance spectroscopy techniques. A summary of the previous and present studies is presented in the last section of this introductory chapter. The details of the background theory and models are found in the Chapter II, followed by the description of the experimental details in Chapter III. Chapter IV of the thesis describes the experimental results and the analysis of the experimental observations followed by the conclusions in chapter V.
Composite interlaminar fracture toughness: Three-dimensional finite-element modeling for mixed mode I, II, and fracture

A computational method/procedure is described which can be used to simulate individual and mixed mode interlaminar fracture progression in fiber composite laminates. Different combinations of Modes 1, 2, and 3 fracture are simulated by varying the crack location through the specimen thickness and by selecting appropriate unsymmetric laminate configurations. The contribution of each fracture mode to strain energy release rate is determined by the local crack closure methods while the mixed mode is determined by global variables. The strain energy release rates are plotted versus extending crack length, where slow crack growth, stable crack growth, and rapid crack growth regions are easily identified. Graphical results are presented to illustrate the effectiveness and versatility of the computational simulation for: (1) evaluating mixed-mode interlaminar fracture, (2) for identifying respective dominant parameters, and (3) for selecting possible simple test methods.
Complication of Intranasal Midazolum

The recent article by Theroux et al on the use of intranasal midazolam was interesting. The purpose of this letter is to share our experience regarding a complication associated with the use of this drug. The need for an ideal sedative for pediatric patients undergoing diagnostic and short surgical procedures is well established. In the past 5 years, the literature is replete with reports on the efficacy, ease of administration, and tolerance of intranasal midazolam. Currently, our group is also evaluating the efficacy of intranasal midazolam in pediatric patients (aged 2 to 12 years) undergoing upper endoscopy. Soon after beginning enrollment, however, it became apparent that intranasal midazolam causes intense burning, irritation, and lacrimation on instillation into the nares.
Theory of a thin film model of porous gas-diffusion electrodes☆

Abstract All forms of polarization losses are considered. It is not possible to obtain analytical solutions for the apparent current-density/overpotential and current-distribution relations under these conditions. Analytical solutions are, however, possible for some special cases, viz activation-ohmic and concentration-ohmic. Numerical calculations are carried out in the case where all forms of polarization are present, varying the kinetic and physical parameters. This model yields higher current densities than the simple pore model under identical conditions. The general shapes of the curves are similar for the two models. A region of normal Tafel slope is followed by a region of double this slope at higher overpotentials which then passes over into the limiting current region. The current-distribution relations show a special type of behaviour. At low overpotentials, there is uniform current distribution, followed by increasing uneven distribution, but close to the limiting current, there is again a region of uniform current distribution. Numerical calculations for the current and potential distribution in the case of only activation and ohmic polarization are presented in a simplified manner in terms of a parameter which contains all the kinetic and physical quantities. For this case, the apparent current density is slightly lower than that for the simple pore model at high overpotentials.
The health fair as a health promotion strategy: effects on health risk behaviors and the utility of specific health fair activities.

Abstract Health fairs, carnivals, and exhibitions are health promotion strategies that have been frequently discussed in recent health-related literature. The primary purpose of this study was to determine if students attending a university health fair experienced greater reductions in health risk behavior compared with those not attending the fair. A second purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of specific activities within the health fair, using measures of participation, enjoyment, and self-reported changes in health knowledge and habits. Three hundred and four students participated in this study. They included those who 1) attended the health fair and had filled out a health risk appraisal, 2) attended the health fair only, and 3) students from a general psychology course, who served as controls. Six weeks after the conclusion of a two-day campus health fair, subjects were asked to complete a Health Fair Evaluation Questionnaire, a Wellness Check-Health Risk Appraisal, or both instruments. ...
Dynamical fluctuations of droplet microemulsions and vesicles

The hydrodynamic fluctuations of nearly spherical vesicles and microemulsion droplets are considered. The incompressibility of the enclosed fluid and surfactant or lipid layer imposes a constraint of constant droplet volume and area on the fluctuations. These overdamped modes, driven by bending energy and damped by viscosity of the surrounding fluids, change the shape of the surface and may scatter neutrons or light. A dynamical structure factor S(q,t) is computed and a first frequency moment at fixed wave number ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{\mathrm{char}(\mathrm{q}}$) obtained. In the limit of a stiff droplet at fixed ``excess area,'' a new mode is obtained ---an overdamped oscillation among ellipsoidal shapes about the minimum-energy (usually prolate) shape. Prospects for observing this fluctuation are discussed.
Reduction in endocannabinoid tone is a homeostatic mechanism for specific inhibitory synapses

Although most inhibitory synapses are homeostatically scaled down after chronic inactivity, Kim et al. report that chronic inactivity specifically strengthens a subset of hippocampal GABAergic synapses that express cannabinoid receptors. This local tuning effect is mediated by enhanced degradation of anandamide, which reduces basal cannabinoid receptor activation, augmenting GABA release probability.
Immune Modulation of Stem Cells and Regeneration

The immune system, best known as the first line of defense against invading pathogens, is integral to tissue development, homeostasis, and wound repair. In recent years, there has been a growing appreciation that cellular and humoral components of the immune system also contribute to regeneration of damaged tissues, including limbs, skeletal muscle, heart, and the nervous system. Here, we discuss key findings that implicate inflammatory cells and their secreted factors in tissue replacement after injury via stem cells and other reparative mechanisms. We highlight clinical conditions that are amenable to immune-mediated regeneration and suggest immune targeting strategies for tissue regeneration.
Exiling the Encyclopedia: The Individual in "Janet's Repentance"

CJ reading George Eliot's first work of fiction-the collection entitled Scenes of Clerical Life-one can sense the rapid growth of an author who is progressively gaining control of her art and her language. In particular, the rather simple theme and terse style of "Amos Barton" give way to the intricacies of "Mr Gilfil's Love-Story." But it comes as a shock when Eliot begins to dramatize that growth of control over narrative and language, especially since she seems to portray that control as the essence of evil. At the beginning of "Janet's Repentance"-the final story in the collection-the lawyer Dempster displays brilliant forensic skills, and in his most audacious demonstration of linguistic power, he takes control over the word "Presbyterian" by appropriating the word's origin and history. After he asserts his power over the production of words, he expels the person who proposes another origin and another history for the same word, thereby eliminating him from the organization that he intends to form. Mr. Luke Byles, the victim of Dempster's linguistic and social power, has just asserted that the Evangelicals, who have recently appeared in Milby, are no better than Presbyterians:
Synthesis of carbon supported ordered tetragonal pseudo-ternary Pt2M′M″ (M = Fe, Co, Ni) nanoparticles and their activity for oxygen reduction reaction

Abstract Alloying Pt with 3d transition metals has attracted much attention due to their reduced Pt content and reports of enhanced electrocatalytic activity for proton exchange membrane fuel cell applications. However, synthesizing ordered nanocrystalline intermetallics in the sub-10 nm range can be challenging. Here, we report on the co-reduction synthesis of ordered ternary Pt-base transition metal intermetallics with particle sizes in the regime of 3–5 nm. Since differences in the activity of PtM (M = Fe, Co, Ni) for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) have been reported, we explored their combinations: Pt 2 FeCo, Pt 2 FeNi, and Pt 2 CoNi. These ternary intermetallic nanoparticles crystallized in P4/mmm space group upon annealing in a protective KCl matrix. The electrocatalysts were prepared by dispersing these intermetallics onto a carbon support using ethylene glycol and various sonication techniques. A combination of analytical techniques including powder X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, electron microscopy and electrochemical methods have been used in this study. The oxygen reduction reaction activity and stability of the catalysts were tested in 0.1 M HClO 4 and 0.1 M H 2 SO 4 using cyclic voltammetry and rotating disk electrode voltammetry. The correlations between the composition, structure, morphology and activity of the intermetallics have been established and are discussed.
Residual damage to hematopoietic system in mice exposed to a mixture of groundwater contaminants.

Abstract To assess the potential health effects of chemically contaminated groundwater, we initiated a toxicological program on a mixture of 25 frequently-detected groundwater contaminants derived from hazardous waste disposal sites. As part of this program, myelotoxicity studies were conducted. Bone marrow parameters were examined in mice exposed to 0, 1, 5 or 10 % of a simulated chemical mixture stock solution of groundwater contaminants in drinking water for 108 days. Mice treated with 5 or 10% of chemical mixture stock solution for 108 days showed suppressed marrow granulocyte macrophage progenitors (CFU-GM); however, this suppression disappeared in 10 weeks following the cessation of treatment. The possible toxicological interaction of groundwater contaminants and radiation on hematopoiesis was investigated by using the number of bone marrow CFU-GM as an index. When mice were exposed to 200 rads whole body irradiation at 2 and 9 weeks during this 10-week recovery period, the combined treatment (i.e., chemical mixture followed by irradiation) group showed a significantly slower recovery of bone marrow progenitors as compared with the control group (i.e., radiation but without prior chemical mixture treatment). This study showed that even 10 weeks after the cessation of chemical mixture treatment when all hematological parameters were normal, a residual effect of the chemical mixture may still be demonstrated as lower progenitor cell numbers following irradiation. Thus, residual damage of hematopoiesis in mice exposed to groundwater contaminants for 108 days renders the mice more sensitive to subsequent irradiation-induced injury.
Void formation, void growth and tensile fracture of plain carbon steel and a dual-phase steel

Abstract Void nucleation and void growth studies in a 1018 normalized steel and a dual-phase steel were undertaken to determine whether longest voids, determined by serial sectioning, grew linearly with strain or whether growth of these voids accelerated continuously. For both materials longest-void growth accelerated continuously with strain. This behavior was attributed to an aligned microstructure which favored local multiple-void nucleation, growth and coalescence. The spacing between these localized voids was much smaller than the average spacing between voids.
A paradigm for the integration of biology in materials science and engineering

The integration of biology in materials science and engineering can be complicated by the lack of a common framework and common language between otherwise disparate disciplines. History may offer a valuable lesson as modern materials science and engineering itself resulted from the integration of traditionally disparate disciplines that were delineated by classes of materials. The integration of metallurgy, ceramics, and polymers into materials science and engineering was facilitated, in large part, by a unifying paradigm based upon processing-structure-property relationships that is now well-accepted. Therefore, a common paradigm might also help unify the vast array of perspectives and challenges present in the interdisciplinary study of biomaterials, biological materials, and biomimetic materials. The traditional materials science and engineering paradigm was modified to account for the adaptive and hierarchical nature of biological materials. Various examples of application to research and education are considered.
The epidemiology of peripheral vein complications: evaluation of the efficiency of differing methods for the maintenance of catheter patency and thrombophlebitis prevention

Background and aims Peripheral vein catheter patency and infusion thrombophlebitis remains a significant problem in everyday clinical practice. The aim of the study was to investigate the epidemiology of peripheral vein complications and to evaluate three different methods for the maintenance of peripheral vein catheter patency and the prevention of vein thrombophlebitis. Methods A total of 300 post-operative patients undergoing elective orthopaedic surgery were prospectively studied. Patients were divided into three groups: controls – catheters not flushed following drug administration; saline group – the catheters flushed with 3 mL of normal saline 0.9% after each catheter use; heparin group – the catheters flushed with 3 mL of 100-U/mL heparin in normal saline 0.9% after each catheter use. Results Complications occurred in 36% of the patients and the incidence of thrombophlebitis was 8% and only 4% in the control group. In the normal saline group there was a significant increase in total complications and obstruction together with thrombophlebitis as compared with the control group. Kaplan-Meier curves demonstrate that the control group had a significantly higher proportion of catheters without complications. Conclusions The use of normal saline solutions in post-operative patients thus should be avoided for catheter maintenance. In patients receiving low molecular weight heparin, no intravenous flushing should be used for preventing catheter obstruction or thrombophlebitis in order to reduce costs and nursing workload.
Reliability and validity of electrogoniometry measurement of lower extremity movement

Objectives: To establish the reliability, accuracy and concurrent validity of electrogoniometers for measuring extreme lower extremity movements.Study design: Reliability, accuracy and validity study.Methods: This project employed two experiments. Investigation I determined electrogoniometer accuracy compared to a digital protractor. Investigation II compared electrogoniometers to a criterion measure, motion analysis, in sagittal plane dance movements in 17 dancers. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and standard error of measurement (SEM) were calculated for hip, knee, and ankle sagittal plane angular displacements.Results: In Investigation I, electrogoniometer to protractor correlations were high (r ≥ 0.998, SEM ≤3.65°). In Investigation II, instrument and intra-rater reliability correlations were high (r ≥ 0.983 and r ≥ 0.972, SEM ≤ 3.49° and ≤4.48°), as were concurrent validity correlations (r ≥ 0.949, SEM ≤6.80°) to motion analysis. Conclusions: This error may be acceptable for lower extremity...
The clinical manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract The clinical manifestations, course, and outcome of a group of 45 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus have been presented. It is hoped that through recognition of this disorder early in its course and appreciation of therapeutic alteration of the disease picture, a better understanding of this condition can be reached.
Extremely compact hybrid III-V/SOI lasers: design and fabrication approaches

In this manuscript we discuss state of the art hybrid integration techniques and III-V/Si active components with an emphasis on hybrid distributed feedback (DFB) lasers for telecom applications. We review our work on ultra-compact III-V/Si DFB lasers and further describe design considerations and challenges associated with electrically pumped hybrid lasers. We conclude with a perspective on DFB lasers with extremely small footprint, a direction for future research with potential applications to densely-packed optical interconnects.
Developmental Systems Theory as a Conceptual Anchor for Generalist Curriculum on Human Behavior and the Social Environment

Human Behavior and the Social Environment (HBSE) is a formal curricular area within social work education that broadly addresses human behavior across the life course, the range of social systems in which people live, and the ways in which social systems promote or deter people in maintaining or achieving health and well-being. Reflecting this breadth of content, there has been concern for decades regarding the conceptual coherence and consistency of an HBSE curriculum. This paper responds to contemporary calls for systematically developing this area of social work education by presenting developmental systems theory (DST) as an organizing framework for generalist HBSE content. DST is a theoretical perspective that has been recently developed across the biological and social sciences and that focuses on complex transactions among individuals and social environments within diverse temporal and spatial settings. The paper demonstrates how DST can be used to guide a theory-focused, generalist HBSE course tha...
The Hilbert basis theorem revisited

Abstract An analog of the Hilbert Basis Theorem for commutative monoids in tensored abelian categories with mild exactness properties is established: in particular a necessary and sufficient condition for the free commutative monoid on an object to be noetherian is given. A separating example to distinguish this condition from the more obvious condition of noetherian-ness of the generating object is presented.
Quantum Mechanical/Molecular Mechanical Simulation Study of the Mechanism of Hairpin Ribozyme Catalysis

The molecular mechanism of hairpin ribozyme catalysis is studied with molecular dynamics simulations using a combined quantum mechanical and molecular mechanical (QM/MM) potential with a recently developed semiempirical AM1/d-PhoT model for phosphoryl transfer reactions. Simulations are used to derive one- and two-dimensional potentials of mean force to examine specific reaction paths and assess the feasibility of proposed general acid and base mechanisms. Density-functional calculations of truncated active site models provide complementary insight to the simulation results. Key factors utilized by the hairpin ribozyme to enhance the rate of transphosphorylation are presented, and the roles of A38 and G8 as general acid and base catalysts are discussed. The computational results are consistent with available experimental data, provide support for a general acid/base mechanism played by functional groups on the nucleobases, and offer important insight into the ability of RNA to act as a catalyst without explicit participation by divalent metal ions.