cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Liposome-encapsulated oxymorphone prevents hyperalgesia for 7 days in a rat model of neuropathic pain.

A delayed-release formulation of liposome-encapsulated oxymorphone (LEO) was produced using a novel dehydration–rehydration technique. Preparations were standardized spectrophotometrically against a known concentration of the drug. The purpose of this study was to test the analgesic properties of LEO in a rat model of neuropathic pain. Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into control (non-neuropathic) and test (neuropathic) groups. Control and test groups were administered one SC injection of (i) vehicle liposomes (negative control treatment); (ii) liposome-encapsulated morphine, 2.8 mg kg−1 (positive control treatment); or (iii) LEO, 1.2 mg kg−1. All treatments were administered after baseline thermal withdrawal latencies (TWL) were determined (9.2 ± 0.39 seconds (mean ± SEM)). Test groups then underwent sciatic ligation to induce neuropathic pain. TWL were determined in all six groups (n = 8) daily for 1 week. In a separate group of age-matched rats, blood (0.3 mL from the jugular vein) and urine (1–2 mL via metabolism cages) were collected daily for 7 days after administration of LEO (1.2 mg kg−1). TWL did not change in the control rats given liposome-encapsulated sucrose or morphine. There was a small increase (p = 0.04) in TWL in control rats given LEO, likely as a result of the relatively higher dose of oxymorphone compared with morphine based on receptor affinity. TWL in test rats given blank liposomes decreased significantly (p < 0.001) by day 4 (7.1 ± 0.5 seconds), with a maximal decrease by day 7 (5.1 ± 0.36 seconds), indicating development of full hyperalgesia. In contrast, rats given liposome-encapsulated morphine or oxymorphone had no change in TWL at day 4, indicating that these preparations prevented hyperalgesia after a single injection. This treatment effect persisted through day 7. Serum concentrations of oxymorphone after a single injection of LEO peaked at 4 hours (6.8 ± 0.82 ng mL−1) and were detectable through day 4 (0.98 ± 0.003 ng mL−1), while urine concentrations of drug were detectable through day 7. This result suggests that oxymorphone metabolites might have been responsible for the protracted analgesic response. The encapsulation efficiency of oxymorphone using this novel technique was approximately 96%. In conclusion, liposome encapsulation of oxymorphone proved to be an efficient mechanism to provide a delayed-release formulation of this opioid. This single dose of subcutaneously administered liposome-encapsulated oxymorphone was effective in preventing hyperalgesia for 7 days in this animal model of neuropathic pain.
Enhancing Placebo Effects: Insights From Social Psychology

Placebo effects are widely recognized as having a potent impact upon treatment outcomes in both medical and psychological interventions, including hypnosis. In research utilizing randomized clinical trials, there is usually an effort to minimize or control placebo effects. However, in clinical practice there may be significant benefits in enhancing placebo effects. Prior research from the field of social psychology has identified three factors that may enhance placebo effects, namely: priming, client perceptions, and the theory of planned behavior. These factors are reviewed and illustrated via a case example. The consideration of social-psychological factors to enhance positive expectancies and beliefs has implications for clinical practice as well as future research into hypnotic interventions.
Interval colorectal cancer after colonoscopy.

Abstract Background As more patients are screened for colorectal cancer a small but significant number of interval cancers develop after colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening. Materials and Methods We reviewed records of 75,314 adult patients who underwent colonoscopy for screening or diagnostic purposes between 1998 and 2006 inclusively, and identified 77 who developed interval cancers within the next 5 years. We reviewed their original endoscopic findings to determine the clinical and endoscopic factors that might predict a greater risk for future cancers. Results Patients aged ≥ 60 years had a higher risk of an interval neoplasm ( P P P = .799); however, examination completion rates did affect the rate of interval cancers ( P = .016). Conclusion Better identification of higher risk patients and assurance of follow-up examinations might increase the percentage of colon cancers discovered at an early stage. Special attention to careful examination of the right colon is key.
A disorder of biogenic amines in dihydropteridine reductase deficiency

A severe deficiency of dihydropteridine reductase (DHPR) in liver, brain, and cultured skin fibroblasts was demonstrated in a child with hyperphenylalaninemia and an atypical form of phenylketonuria. DHPR is required for regeneration of the cofactor, tetrahydrobiopterin. The cofactor is essential in hydroxylation of aromatic amino acid precursors in the biosynthesis of neurotransmitters, serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. In gray tissue at brain biopsy, dopamine was low at 3 ng per gram of tissue, serotonin was barely detected, and norepinephrine appeared high at 1600 ng per gram. In cerebrospinal fluid, homovanillic acid (HVA) was low normal at 33 ng/ml, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) was low at 4.2 ng/ml, and after a high dose of oral probenecid there was impaired accumulation of HVA to 128 ng/ml and 5-HIAA to 22.4 ng/ml. When the patient was 22 months of age, treatment with hydroxylated aromatic amino acid precursors was initiated, and after three months HVA and 5-HIAA levels were increased in CSF. The apparent restoration of biogenic amines in brain appears to have delayed the rate of neurological deterioration. DHPR activity in cultured skin fibroblasts of children with persistent hyperphenylalaninemia should permit early diagnosis and early treatment of this disorder.
Parameter setting and analysis of a dynamic tubular SOFC model

Abstract An improved one-dimensional dynamic model of a tubular SOFC stack capable of system simulation in the virtual test bed (VTB) simulation environment is presented in this paper. This model is based on the electrochemical and thermal modeling, accounting for the voltage losses and temperature dynamics. The modeling of an external reformer is also included in this study. A detailed parametric analysis of working conditions and cell configuration of the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stack is the main focus of this paper. The following operating parameters are investigated: pressure ratio, temperature, mass flow rate, external reforming degree and stream to carbon (S/C) ratio. The cell geometric parameters studied include cell diameter and cell length. Elevated operating pressure improves the cell performance. Whereas, higher operating temperature decreases both the Nernst potential and the irreversible losses, resulting in an initial increase then a decrease in cell efficiency. It was found that a higher S/C ratio yields a lower H 2 concentration and partial pressure, which has a negative effect on the Nernst potential. Increased cell diameter is found to increase the power due to a larger activation area at the same time and due to longer current path length there is an increase in the ohmic loss. Increased length of the cell has the undesired affect of an increased pressure drop.
Use of cellular and plasma apheresis in the critically ill patient: Part II: Clinical indications and applications.

Apheresis is the process of separating the blood and removing or manipulating a cellular or plasma component for therapeutic benefit. Such procedures may be indicated in the critical care setting as primary or adjunctive therapy for certain hematologic, neurologic, renal, and autoimmune/rheumatologic disorders. In part I of this series, the technical aspects of apheresis were described and the physiologic rationale and clinical considerations were discussed. This review highlights the pathophysiologic basis, specific clinical indications, and treatment parameters for disorders that more commonly require management in the intensive care unit. The choice of plasma or cellular apheresis in these cases is guided by wellaccepted, evidence-based clinical treatment guidelines. For some disorders, such as liver failure, severe sepsis, and multiple-organ dysfunction syndrome, apheresis treatment approaches remain experimental. Ongoing studies are investigating the potential utility of conventional plasma exchange,...
CTTITEM: SAS macro and SPSS syntax for classical item analysis.

This article describes the functions of a SAS macro and an SPSS syntax that produce common statistics for conventional item analysis including Cronbach’s alpha, item difficulty index (p-value or item mean), and item discrimination indices (D-index, point biserial and biserial correlations for dichotomous items and item-total correlation for polytomous items). These programs represent an improvement over the existing SAS and SPSS item analysis routines in terms of completeness and user-friendliness. To promote routine evaluations of item qualities in instrument development of any scale, the programs are available at no charge for interested users. The program codes along with a brief user’s manual that contains instructions and examples are downloadable from suen.ed.psu.edu/~pwlei/plei.htm.
Disparities in surgery: access to outcomes.

Surgery is an important intervention to sustain human life through its ability to cure disease, heal fractures, avert maternal death, and provide comfort for those suffering. However, surgical care is unevenly delivered throughout the world. More surprisingly, we have little knowledge about the adequacy and quality of surgical resources globally.
Cerebral hyperthermia during cardiopulmonary bypass in adults

Accepted for publication June 7, 1995 In this report, we document that cerebral hyperthermia occurs regularly during rewarming from hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). These high brain temperatures are not adequately reflected by nasopharyngeal (NP) temperature and may contribute to neurologic morbidity. Stroke and neurocognitive injury remain significant components of perioperative morbidity associated with cardiac surgery. Hypothermic CPB is used in part for its cerebral protective effects. Recent reports, however, have indicated that the rewarming phase of hypothermic CPB is associated with a significant incidence of decreased cerebral venous oxygen saturation (Sjvo2; 50%). 1,2 Sjvo2 is thought to be a general index of the adequacy of the matching of cerebral oxygen supply with demand.
The effects of high-intensity sweeteners (saccharin and acesulfame potassium) on food intake and body weight regulation in rats.

Foods containing artificial sweeteners have become increasingly available; yet it is still unclear what role they may play in the regulation of energy balance. Our laboratory has suggested that rats exposed to saccharin, showed increased in body weight and caloric intake, compared to rats exposed to the caloric sweetener glucose. These data suggest that animals, including humans, use orosensory cues from foods to signal the nutritive consequences when eating, and a sweet taste that does not signal the arrival of these consequences may contribute to deficits in regulation of energy balance. In the present experiments, we examined whether these effects generalized to additional caloric and non-caloric sweeteners. Rats were divided into 4 groups (glucose, sucrose, saccharin or acesulfame potassium [AceK d in addition to ad lib chow and water. During the 2 week diet exposure, animals that received the high-intensity sweeteners gained significantly more weight than animals that received the caloric sweeteners. Additionally, the high-intensity sweetener groups consumed significantly more total calories than the caloric sweetener groups. These data show that the effects on food intake and body weight gain are not directly related to the consumption of a particular high-intensity sweetener, but that consumption of high-intensity sweeteners in general may disrupt energy balance.
Evidence of a cerebrovascular postarteriole windkessel with delayed compliance.

A pronounced temporal mismatch was observed between the responses of relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) measured by magnetic resonance imaging and relative cerebral blood flow measured by laser-Doppler flowmetry in rat somatosensory cortex after electrical forepaw stimulation. The increase of relative cerebral blood flow after stimulus onset and decrease after stimulus cessation were accurately described with a single exponential time constant of 2.4 ± 0.8 seconds. In contrast, rCBV exhibited two distinct and nearly sequential processes after both onset and cessation of stimulation. A rapid change of rCBV (1.5 ± 0.8 seconds) occurring immediately after onset and cessation was not statistically different from the time constant for relative cerebral blood flow. However, a slow phase of increase (onset) and decrease (cessation) with an exponential time constant of 14 ± 13 seconds began approximately 8 seconds after the rapid phase of CBV change. A modified windkessel model was developed to describe the temporal evolution of rCBV as a rapid elastic response of capillaries and veins followed by slow venous relaxation of stress. Venous delayed compliance was suggested as the mechanism for the poststimulus undershoot in blood oxygen-sensitive magnetic resonance imaging signal that has been observed in this animal model and in human data.
Mesoscale Self-Assembly: Capillary Interactions When Positive and Negative Menisci Have Similar Amplitudes

This paper describes the two-dimensional self-assembly of hexagonal plates at the interface between perfluorodecalin and water. The plates were prepared with five different permutations of hydrophobic and hydrophilic faces. The shapes and amplitudes of the menisci that form on the faces of the plates determine the magnitude of the lateral capillary forces through which they interact. The amplitudes of the menisci also influencethrough their out-of-plane componentsthe position and orientation of the plate relative to the plane of the liquid−liquid interface. In these experiments, the plates were made of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) (ρ = 1.05 g/cm3) containing aluminum oxide (ρ = 4.00 g/cm3); this dopant adjusted the density of the plates, the extent to which they sank into the liquid−liquid interface, and thus the structure of their menisci. The plates studied had densities of 1.05 to 1.86 g/cm3. This work complements previous papers (Bowden, N.; Choi I. S.; Grzybowski, B. A.; Whitesides, G. M. J. Am. Che...
Measurement of an adhesion molecule as an indicator of inflammatory disease activity: Up‐regulation of the receptor for hyaluronate (CD44) in rheumatoid arthritis

The hyaluronate receptor (CD44) molecule is a multifunctional cell surface protein involved in T cell activation, monocyte cytokine release, fibroblast locomotion, and lymphocyte binding to high endothelial venules. To study the roles CD44 molecules play in inflammatory synovitis, we measured expression of CD44 in inflamed and noninflamed synovial fluid and tissue, using indirect immunofluorescence assays on tissue sections and quantitative Western blot analysis. The ability of purified CD44 protein to modulate T cell responses was tested in T cell activation assays in which CD44-containing liposomes were added in vitro. CD44 was widely expressed on many synovial cell types, and synovial tissue from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients contained 3.5 times more CD44 than tissue from osteoarthritis patients and 10.7 times more than tissue from patients with joint trauma. The level of soluble CD44 in RA synovial fluid was elevated only in fluids with low cell counts (less than or equal to 7,000/mm3), and not in RA synovial fluid with higher cell counts. Soluble purified CD44 protein in liposomes partially suppressed T cell activation in vitro. These data demonstrate that CD44 is up-regulated on many synovial cell types in patients with RA, and that the level of CD44 present in synovial tissue is related to the degree of synovial inflammation. Determination of ways to inhibit the proinflammatory functions of immune cell membrane CD44 molecules may provide new therapeutic modalities for RA.
Thermal distribution functions and finite-size effects for lattice fermions

Abstract We perform, analytically, the sum over the finite set of Matsubara frequencies that arises in the lattice thermodynamics of a free Fermi gas. The resultant expressions provide an easy demonstration that the correction continuum expressions are obtained in the limit of small lattice spacing.
Metabotropic glutamate receptor inhibition of visceral afferent potassium currents.

Abstract The effects of metabotropic glutamate receptor activation (mGluR) on voltage-gated potassium currents have been characterized in visceral sensory afferent neurons. l -Glutamate is known to be a primary neurotransmitter in visceral afferents which terminate at the level of the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS). Synaptic communication between these afferents and the NTS has been shown to involve both postsynaptic ionotropic and presynaptic metabotropic glutamate receptor activation. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effects of mGluR activation on voltage-gated potassium currents in visceral sensory neurons. Application of mGluR agonist t-ACPD inhibited both the peak and the steady state voltage-gated potassium current in 39 out of 56 visceral afferent neurons tested (70%) by 22.0 ± 3 and 22.8 ± 2%, respectively. Voltage and pharmacological protocols were utilized to isolate the potassium current affected by mGluR activation. Increasing the holding potential from −100 mV to −30 mV only partially attenuated the inhibitory effects of t-ACPD (decreased effect by 11%), suggesting that t-ACPD modulates both a voltage insensitive and a voltage-sensitive potassium current. In addition, 4-aminopyridine (5 μM) was applied to eliminate the 4-AP sensitive transient current. Also, this protocol only partially attenuated the inhibitory effects of t-ACPD (decreased effect by 6.3%), suggesting that mGluR activation inhibits both a 4-AP-sensitive and 4-AP-insensitive potassium current in visceral afferent neurons. Results from this study suggest that mGluRs may regulate visceral sensory afferent neuronal activity through inhibition of voltage-gated potassium channels.
Multidimensional scaling of sorting data applied to cheese perception

Abstract A series of experiments examined the feasibility of using sorting data as input to multidimensional scaling (MDS) to create perceptual maps of cheeses. One study used a fairly diverse set of cheeses. Cheese names were also sorted for conceptual mapping. In a second study, only blue-veined cheeses were sorted. After sorting cheeses, intuitively sensible perceptual maps were obtained from MDS with low stress. Duplicate cheeses and those with highly similar characteristics were plotted close together. Regression of attribute scale data into the space revealed major dimensions corresponding to flavor and texture attributes (e.g. smooth and soft vs. firm and crumbly). Two consumer groups, one experienced and knowledgeable about cheeses and the other a group of cheese consumers with no special knowledge, training or expertise, participated. Data from the two knowledge groups were similar, except that the more knowledgeable group had a larger number of significant attributes when regressed through the MDS space for blue cheeses. The sorting task was rapid and simple for participants. The overall result substantiates the applicability of the MDS/sorting technique for perceptual modeling of food categories.
Pharmacology of ocular allergy.

Purpose of reviewTo evaluate the pharmacology of current drug development directed towards ocular allergy. Increased worldwide prevalence of ocular allergy has stimulated expansion of management strategies towards physiologic and immunologic drug targets.Recent findingsPresent drug targets are locat
Wetting−Dewetting Transition Line in Thin Polymer Films

Thin polymeric films are increasingly being utilized in diverse technological applications, and it is crucial to have a reliable method to characterize the stability of these films against dewetting. The parameter space that influences the dewetting of thin polymer films is wide (molecular mass, temperature, film thickness, substrate interaction) and a combinatorial method of investigation is suitable. We thus construct a combinatorial library of observations for polystyrene (PS) films cast on substrates having orthogonal temperature and surface energy gradients and perform a series of measurements for a range of molecular masses (1800 g/mol < M < 35 000 g/mol) and film thicknesses h (30 nm < h < 40 nm) to explore these primary parameter axes. We were able to obtain a near-universal scaling curve describing a wetting-dewetting transition line for polystyrene films of fixed thickness by introducing reduced temperature and surface energy variables dependent on M. Our observations also indicate that the apparent polymer surface tension gamma(p) becomes appreciably modified in thin polymer films from its bulk counterpart for films thinner than about 100-200 nm, so that bulk gamma(p) measurements cannot be used to estimate the stability of ultrathin films. Both of these observations are potentially fundamental for the control of thin film stability in applications where film dewetting can compromise film function.
The polarography of the nickel(II)-ethylenediamine system: II. Effects of variation of ethylenediamine concentration

Abstract The effect of variation, of ethylenediamine concentration from 0–2.1 × 10 −2 M on the polarography of 2.4 × 10 −3 M Ni 2+ solutions is studied. Two new waves are observed over this concentration range; a pre-wave arising before the Ni(H 2 O) 6 2+ wave for low concentrations of ethylenediamine, and a wave occurring at a slightly more negative potential than the Ni(H 2 O) 6 2+ wave for intermediate ethylenediamine concentrations. At high concentration of ethylenediamine, the Ni 2+ wave is not observed. The nature of the species and reactions corresponding to these waves is described. The visible and ultra-violet spectra of the system are also reported for the same ratios of Ni 2+ : ethylene diamine concentrations and are compared with the spectra obtained for the Ni(II)- o -phenylenediamine system which also exhibits a pre-wave.
Lives in Retailing: A Bibliography of American Retail Merchants in Books:

This article presents a bibliography of biographies of American retail merchants. The bibliography may be useful to scholars of marketing and retailing history, as well as to teachers of marketing principles, retailing, channels of distribution or related courses. The bibliography will be revised as changes are justified; updated versions will be available from the senior author.
Four VirB6 Paralogs and VirB9 Are Expressed and Interact in Ehrlichia chaffeensis-Containing Vacuoles

The type IV secretion system is an important virulence factor in several host cell-associated pathogens, as it delivers various bacterial macromolecules to target eukaryotic cells. Genes homologous to several virB genes and virD4 of Agrobacterium tumefaciens are found in an intravacuolar pathogen Ehrlichia chaffeensis, the tick-borne causative agent of human monocytic ehrlichiosis. In particular, despite its small genome size, E. chaffeensis has four tandem virB6 paralogs (virB6-1, -2, -3, and -4) that are 3- to 10-fold larger than A. tumefaciens virB6. The present study for the first time illustrates the relevance of the larger quadruple VirB6 paralogs by demonstrating the protein expression and interaction in E. chaffeensis. All four virB6 paralogs were cotranscribed in THP-1 human leukemia and ISE6 tick cell cultures. The four VirB6 proteins and VirB9 were expressed by E. chaffeensis in THP-1 cells, and amounts of these five proteins were similar in isolated E. chaffeensis-containing vacuoles and vacuole-free E. chaffeensis. In addition, an 80-kDa fragment of VirB6-2 was detected, which was strikingly more prevalent in E. chaffeensis-containing vacuoles than in vacuole-free E. chaffeensis. Coimmunoprecipitation analysis revealed VirB9 interaction with VirB6-1 and VirB6-2; VirB6-4 interaction with VirB6-1, VirB6-2, and VirB6-3; and VirB6-2 80-kDa fragment interaction with VirB6-3 and VirB6-4. The interaction of VirB9 and VirB6-2 was confirmed by far-Western blotting. The results suggest that E. chaffeensis VirB9, the quadruple VirB6 proteins, and the VirB6-2 80-kDa fragment form a unique molecular subassembly to cooperate in type IV secretion.
Prediction in science and policy

Prediction in traditional, reductionist natural science serves the role of validating hypotheses about invariant natural phenomena. In recent years, a new type of prediction has arisen in science, motivated in part by the needs of policy makers and the availability of new technologies. This new predictive science seeks to foretell the behavior of complex environmental phenomena such as climate change, earthquakes, and extreme weather events. Significant intellectual and financial resources are now devoted to such efforts, in the expectation that predictions will guide policy making. These expectations, however, derive in part from confusion about the different roles of prediction in science and society. Policy makers lack a framework for assessing when and if prediction can help achieve policy goals. This article is a first step towards developing such a framework. © 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Loss of 4E-BP1 function induces EMT and promotes cancer cell migration and invasion via cap-dependent translational activation of snail

The cap-dependent translation is frequently deregulated in a variety of cancers associated with tumor progression. However, the molecular basis of the translation activation for metastatic progression of cancer remains largely elusive. Here, we demonstrate that activation of cap-dependent translation by silencing the translational repressor 4E-BP1 causes cancer epithelial cells to undergo epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which is associated with selective upregulation of the EMT inducer Snail followed by repression of E-cadherin expression and promotion of cell migratory and invasive capabilities as well as metastasis. Conversely, inhibition of cap-dependent translation by a dominant active mutant 4E-BP1 effectively downregulates Snail expression and suppresses cell migration and invasion. Furthermore, dephosphorylation of 4E-BP1 by mTORC1 inhibition or directly targeting the translation initiation also profoundly attenuates Snail expression and cell motility, whereas knockdown of 4E-BP1 or overexpression of Snail significantly rescues the inhibitory effects. Importantly, 4E-BP1-regulated Snail expression is not associated with its changes in the level of transcription or protein stability. Together, these findings indicate a novel role of 4E-BP1 in the regulation of EMT and cell motility through translational control of Snail expression and activity, and suggest that targeting cap-dependent translation may provide a promising approach for blocking Snail-mediated metastatic potential of cancer.
Genetics, phylogenetics, and biogeography: Considering how shifting paradigms and continents influence fern diversity

Abstract About 25 years ago, a revolution began in evolutionary studies of seed-free vascular plants. Whereas common wisdom and laboratory-based observations had averred that minute spores and inbreeding of individual bisexual gametophytes diminished barriers to long distance migration, genetic analyses of sporophyte populations demonstrated outcrossing breeding systems that required two spores for each successful migration event. After those population-based discoveries, the processes controlling biogeographic patterns of ferns appeared to resemble those of seed plants, and vicariance took on renewed significance. More recently, data from DNA sequencing predicted that some of the most diverse extant fern families originated after the isolation of major land masses, and these new hypotheses also demanded fresh consideration of biogeographic assumptions. The Polypodiaceae yield phylogenetic insights through integration of DNA sequence analysis and biogeography. New evidence shows separate yet simultaneous ...
Hybrid Neural Networks for Immunoinformatics

Hybrid set of optimally trained feed-forward, Hop-field and Elman neural networks were used as computational tools and were applied to immunoinformatics. These neural networks enabled a better understanding of the functions and key components of the adaptive immune system. A functional block representation was also created in order to summarize the basic adaptive immune system and the appropriate neural networks were employed to solve them. Training and learning accuracy of all neural networks were very good. Polymorphism, inheritance and encapsulation (PIE) learning concepts were adopted in order to predict the static and temporal behavior of adaptive immune system interactions in response to typical virus attacks
A PASSIVE WIRELESS GAS SENSOR BASED ON MICROSTRIP ANTENNA WITH COPPER NANORODS

Applications of copper (Cu) nanorod arrays, produced by glancing angle deposition (GLAD) technique, which extends the function of conventional microstrip antennas to encompass passive wireless gas sensors at microwave frequencies are presented. The proposed microstrip antenna consists of Cu nanorod arrays grown on silicon wafers which were coated with thin fllms of Cu of 50nm in thickness. To study the efiect of the length of Cu nanorods on antenna performance, Cu nanorods of difierent lengths (400, 700, and 1000nm) were fabricated. The efiects of Cu nanorods morphologies (Cu thin fllm, closely-spaced Cu nanorods, and well-separated Cu nanorods), were investigated too. Conventional microstrip antennas based on sputtered Cu thin fllm were prepared for comparison. It was found that as the length of Cu nanorods increases, the antennas exhibit a wider bandwidth and lower frequency resonance than those of the conventional antennas based on Cu thin fllm. Furthermore, moving from ∞at surface to well-separated nanorods results in a decrease in the resonant frequency, while there was no observable efiect on the bandwidth. These enhancements are attributed to the mutual coupling occurring among Cu nanorods. Based on the antenna characterization, the 1000nm long Cu nanorods sample was selected for gas detection measurements due to its observed sharp resonance and narrow bandwidth. The detection mechanism is based on the change of in the magnitude of the re∞ection coe-cient as well as the resonant frequency due to the introductions of difierent gases. The proposed sensor based on Cu nanorods shows a signiflcant response in
PET/CT Assessment of Follicular Lymphoma and High Grade B Cell Lymphoma - Good Correlation with Clinical and Histological Features at Diagnosis.

Background. Follicular lymphoma is a common type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma observed in Western countries. The diagnosis of this disease is based primarily on morphological and immunohistochemical assessment. The proliferative index Ki67 correlates with histological grading and clinical aggressiveness. Currently, positron emission tomography/computed tomography scanning are not applied for standard staging at diagnosis of follicular lymphoma and its use is limited to those patients for whom the identification of residual disease is crucial for therapeutic decisions and only when transformation to a high-grade lymphoma is suspected. Objectives. Our aim was to assess whether a correlation exists between the maximal standardized uptake value (SUVmax) at the biopsy site as detected via positron emission tomography/computed tomography and pathological (Ki67 and FL histological grade) and clinico-biological features (e.g. LDH, beta-2-microglobulin, Ann Arbor stage and FL International Prognostic Index – FLIPI) at diagnosis. Material and Methods. We retrospectively identified 16 patients during the previous 3.5 years in whom node biopsies were guided, taking into account the SUVmax as detected upon PET/CT scan at diagnosis. The results of these biopsies were diagnostic of follicular lymphoma. We also included 6 patients with high grade B cell lymphoma: 5 diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and 1 FL 3b histological grade. A 2-tailed non-parametric Spearman’s correlation analysis of the SUVmax with Ki67, histological grade, LDH and b-2-microglobuline was performed. Results. The Ki67 (r = 0.73) and follicular lymphoma histological grade (r = 0.75) at the biopsy displayed a significant correlation with the SUVmax at diagnosis (p < 0.01). Conclusions. Our results suggest that SUV detected by positron emission tomography/computed tomography correlates with histological grade in follicular lymphoma/high grade B cell lymphoma, Ki67 and LDH. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography should be considered for guiding lymph node biopsy when transformation to a high-grade B cell lymphoma is suspected (Adv Clin Exp Med 2015, 24, 2, 325–330).
Effects of millimeter wave irradiation and equivalent thermal heating on the activity of individual neurons in the leech ganglion

Many of today's radiofrequency-emitting devices in telecommunication, telemedicine, transportation safety, and security/military applications use the millimeter wave (MMW) band (30–300 GHz). To evaluate the biological safety and possible applications of this radiofrequency band for neuroscience and neurology, we have investigated the physiological effects of low-intensity 60-GHz electromagnetic irradiation on individual neurons in the leech midbody ganglia. We applied incident power densities of 1, 2, and 4 mW/cm2 to the whole ganglion for a period of 1 min while recording the action potential with a standard sharp electrode electrophysiology setup. For comparison, the recognized U.S. safe exposure limit is 1 mW/cm2 for 6 min. During the exposure to MMWs and gradual bath heating at a rate of 0.04°C/s (2.4°C/min), the ganglionic neurons exhibited similar dose-dependent hyperpolarization of the plasma membrane and decrease in the action potential amplitude. However, narrowing of the action potential half-width during MMW irradiation at 4 mW/cm2 was 5 times more pronounced compared with that during equivalent bath heating of 0.6°C. Even more dramatic difference in the effects of MMW irradiation and bath heating was noted in the firing rate, which was suppressed at all applied MMW power densities and increased in a dose-dependent manner during gradual bath heating. The mechanism of enhanced narrowing of action potentials and suppressed firing by MMW irradiation, compared with that by gradual bath heating, is hypothesized to involve specific coupling of MMW energy with the neuronal plasma membrane.
A decoding algorithm for finite-geometry LDPC codes

In this paper, we develop a new low-complexity algorithm to decode low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes. The developments are oriented specifically toward low-cost, yet effective, decoding of (high-rate) finite-geometry (FG) LDPC codes. The decoding procedure updates iteratively the hard-decision received vector in search of a valid codeword in the vector space. Only one bit is changed in each iteration, and the bit-selection criterion combines the number of failed checks and the reliability of the received bits. Prior knowledge of the signal amplitude and noise power is not required. An optional mechanism to avoid infinite loops in the search is also proposed. Our studies show that the algorithm achieves an appealing tradeoff between performance and complexity for FG-LDPC codes.
Upper esophageal sphincter function during gastroesophageal reflux events revisited.

Upper esophageal sphincter (UES) function during gastroesophageal reflux events is not completely elucidated because previous studies addressing this issue yielded conflicting results. We reexamine...
Independent Indigenous Protestant Mega Churches in El Salvador

The smallest and most densely populated country in Central America is home to several indigenous mega churches. It is hoped that by comparing two of these, their successes, and the growth of these churches in the Global South, we can better understand this trend. The Tabernaculo Biblico Bautista “Amigos de Israel” is a movement with ties to the mission history of El Salvador, but a worship style influenced by Pentecostalism. Mision Cristiana Elim is a Pentecostal church which has used the concepts of the cell church movement to become one of the largest churches in the world.
Creating a Model of Acceptance: Preservice Teachers Interact With Non-English-Speaking Latino Parents Using Culturally Relevant Mathematics and Science Activities at Family Learning Events

The following describes a culturally relevant mathematics and science content program implemented by preservice teachers (PSTs) at Family Math/Science Learning Events (FM/SLEs) conducted through two different university programs in south Texas. These experiences are required course activities designed to inform PSTs of the importance of interacting with Latino families' culture and language in after school settings. Data were collected from elementary PSTs attending FMLEs and include interactions recorded during the FMLE and interviews with Latino non-English-speaking parents after the event. Anecdotal data were also included from parents' interviews collected during culturally relevant Family Science Learning Events. Researchers investigated the following questions: (1) what did Latino parents and PSTs report learning from the FMLE and, (2) how do perceptions toward Latino parents change when PSTs are given the opportunity to interact with and interview Latino parents? Results show that PSTs perceptions of Latino parents can be changed through these events. Implications for teacher preparation programs include providing PSTs with opportunities for participation in FM/SLEs that incorporate planning and teaching culturally relevant math and science activities. The following model of acceptance requires PSTs to identify and reconstruct misconceptions and perceptions of parents, especially non-English-speaking Latino parents.
Quantum Defect Theory of l Uncoupling in H 2 as an Example of Channel-Interaction Treatment

Formulas are developed which account for the details of the high-resolution photoabsorption spectrum of ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ near threshold observed by Herzberg. The treatment illustrates the application of Seaton's multichannel quantum defect method under schematic conditions, and might serve as a basis for further developments.
Management and Control Complexity and Scalable Architectures of Optical Networks

Future optical networks will integrate multi-layer functions in a fast adapting infrastructure. When data and control dynamics speed-up by 103-4, the entire architecture, from physical to application layers, must be redesigned to be scalable. Article not available.
Theory of kinetic arrest, elasticity, and yielding in dense binary mixtures of rods and spheres.

We extend the quiescent and stressed versions of naive mode coupling theory to treat the dynamical arrest, shear modulus, and absolute yielding of particle mixtures where one or more species is a nonrotating nonspherical object. The theory is applied in detail to dense isotropic "chemically matched" mixtures of variable aspect ratio rods and spheres that interact via repulsive and short range attractive site-site pair potentials. A remarkably rich ideal kinetic arrest behavior is predicted with up to eight "dynamical phases" emerging: an ergodic fluid, partially localized states where the spheres remain fluid but the rods can be a gel, repulsive glass or attractive glass, doubly localized glasses and gels, a porous rod gel plus sphere glass, and a narrow window where a type of rod glass and gel localization coexist. Dynamical complexity increases with rod length and the introduction of attractive forces between all species which both enhance gel network formation. Multiple dynamic reentrant features and triple points are predicted, and each dynamic phase has unique particle localization characteristics and mechanical properties. Orders of magnitude variation of the linear shear modulus and absolute yield stress are found as rod length, mixture composition and the detailed nature of interparticle attractions are varied. The interplay of total (high) mixture packing fraction and composition at fixed temperature is also briefly studied. The present work provides a foundation to study more complex rod-sphere mixtures of both biological and synthetic interest that include physical features such as interaction site size asymmetry, rod-sphere specific attractions, and/or Coulomb repulsion.
Datasets depicting mobility retardation of NCS proteins observed upon incubation with calcium, but not with magnesium, barium or strontium

In this data article we show the specificity of the Ca2+-induced mobility shift in three proteins that belong to the neuronal calcium sensor (NCS) protein family: Hippocalcin, GCAP1 and GCAP2. These proteins did not display a shift in mobility in native gels when incubated with divalent cations other than Ca2+ – such as Mg2+, Ba2+, and Sr2+, even at 10× concentrations. The data is similar to that obtained with another NCS protein, neurocalcin delta (Viviano et al., 2016, “Electrophoretic Mobility Shift in Native Gels Indicates Calcium-dependent Structural Changes of Neuronal Calcium Sensor Proteins”, [1]).
Towards Cost-Effective Moving Target Defense Against DDoS and Covert Channel Attacks

Traditionally, network and system configurations are static. Attackers have plenty of time to exploit the system's vulnerabilities and thus they are able to choose when to launch attacks wisely to maximize the damage. An unpredictable system configuration can significantly lift the bar for attackers to conduct successful attacks. Recent years, moving target defense (MTD) has been advocated for this purpose. An MTD mechanism aims to introduce dynamics to the system through changing its configuration continuously over time, which we call adaptations. Though promising, the dynamic system reconfiguration introduces overhead to the applications currently running in the system. It is critical to determine the right time to conduct adaptations and to balance the overhead afforded and the security levels guaranteed. This problem is known as the MTD timing problem. Little prior work has been done to investigate the right time in making adaptations. In this paper, we take the first step to both theoretically and experimentally study the timing problem in moving target defenses. For a broad family of attacks including DDoS attacks and cloud covert channel attacks, we model this problem as a renewal reward process and propose an optimal algorithm in deciding the right time to make adaptations with the objective of minimizing the long-term cost rate. In our experiments, both DDoS attacks and cloud covert channel attacks are studied. Simulations based on real network traffic traces are conducted and we demonstrate that our proposed algorithm outperforms known adaptation schemes.
Ecosystem discovery: Measuring clean energy innovation ecosystems through knowledge discovery and mapping techniques

Abstract While the term ‘innovation ecosystem’ is often utilized, the concept is rarely quantified. Oak Ridge National Lab conducted a ground-breaking application of natural language processing, link analysis and other computational techniques to transform text and numerical data into metrics on clean energy innovation activity and geography for the U.S. Department of Energy. The project demonstrates that a machine-assisted methodology gives the user a replicable method to rapidly identify, quantify and characterize clean energy innovation ecosystems. EPSA advanced a novel definition for clean energy innovation ecosystem as the overlap of five Ecosystem Components: 1) nascent clean energy indicators, 2) investors, 3) enabling environment, 4) networking assets and 5) large companies. The tool was created with the flexibility to allow the user to choose the weights of each of the five ecosystem components and the subcomponents. This flexibility allows the user to visualize different subsets of data as well as the composite IE rank. In an independent parallel effort, a DOE analyst in EPSA developed a short list of 22 top US clean energy innovation ecosystems; the Ecosystem Discovery tool was able to identify over 90% of the analyst-reported ecosystems. Full validation and calibration remain outstanding tasks. The tool and the underlying datasets have the potential to address a number of important policy questions. The initial broad list of U.S. clean energy innovation ecosystems, with geographic area, technology focus, and list and types of involved organizations can help describe regional technology activities and capabilities. The implementation of knowledge discovery techniques also revealed both the potential and limitations of an automatic machine extraction methodology to gather ecosystem component data. The project demonstrates that a machine-assisted methodology gives the user a replicable method to rapidly identify, quantify, and characterize clean energy innovation ecosystems.
Gold(I)-Induced Rearrangements of Propargyl Derivatives: A Gas-Phase Study

The gold(I)-induced rearrangements of a variety of propargyl derivatives (ethers, acetals, acetates, and carbonates) were explored in the gas phase with experiments in an ion-trap mass spectrometer as well as with computations at the M06/QZVP level. In accord with condensed-phase studies, it appears that propargyl ethers and acetals prefer 1,3-migrations to give allenes with the release of aldehydes. With propargyl acetates, we show that the preferred path is also a 1,3-migration of the acetate to give an allene species, but that a 1,2-migration to give a gold(I) carbene species is competitive. However, with the kinetic window of our gas-phase instrumentation, only systems that can be locked into a gold(I) carbene structure give carbenoid chemistry. Finally, we found that propargyl carbonates react with gold(I) species and release CO2 in the gas phase; the likely pathway involves sequential 1,3-migrations, leading to a propargyl ether. Overall, the results highlight the dynamic nature of gold(I)-induced r...
First Evidence of Vibrationally Driven Bimolecular Reactions in Solution: Reactions of Br Atoms with Dimethylsulfoxide and Methanol.

We present evidence for vibrational enhancement of the rate of bimolecular reactions of Br atoms with dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and methanol (CH3OH) in the condensed phase. The abstraction of a hydrogen atom from either of these solvents by a Br atom is highly endoergic: 3269 cm–1 for DMSO and 1416 or 4414 cm–1 for CH3OH, depending on the hydrogen atom abstracted. Thus, there is no thermal abstraction reaction at room temperature. Broadband electronic transient absorption shows that following photolysis of bromine precursors Br atoms form van der Waals complexes with the solvent molecules in about 5 ps and this Br•–solvent complex undergoes recombination. To explore the influence of vibrational energy on the abstraction reactions, we introduce a near-infrared (NIR) pump pulse following the photolysis pulse to excite the first overtone of the C—H (or O—H) stretch of the solvent molecules. Using single-wavelength detection, we observe a loss of the Br•–solvent complex that requires the presence of both photo...
Effective Instruction for Students with Disabilities: Perceptions of Rural Middle School Principals:

Instructional leaders must be proficient in their knowledge of effective instructional strategies in order foster an environment that uses what has been identified as “best-practice” for students w...