cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The immune-related microRNA miR-146b is upregulated in glioblastoma recurrence.

// Shariq S. Khwaja 1 , Chunyu Cai 2 , Shahed N. Badiyan 3 , Xiaowei Wang 4 and Jiayi Huang 4 1 Department of Neurosurgery, UTHealth McGovern School of Medicine, Mischer Neuroscience Associates, Houston, TX, USA 2 Department of Pathology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA 3 Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA 4 Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA Correspondence to: Jiayi Huang, email: jiayi.huang@wustl.edu Keywords: miR-146b; GBM; glioma; recurrence; gene expression profiling Received: March 09, 2017 Accepted: May 16, 2018 Published: June 26, 2018 ABSTRACT Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) has a high rate of local recurrence despite chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Genome-wide expression profiling was performed on patient tumors before and after chemoradiotherapy to identify genes and gene pathways associated with recurrence. Results: Median time to recurrence was 8.9 months with median time to second surgery of 9.6 months. The microRNA (miRNA) analysis identified 9 oncologic and immune-related miRNAs to be differentially expressed, including the hypoxia-related miR-210 and the immune-modulatory miR-146b. More than 1200 differentially-expressed genes were identified with RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq). Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) identified p53 signaling, Notch, Wnt, VEGF, and MEK gene sets enriched in recurrent GBM. Consistent with the miRNA profiling data, the miR-146b target gene set from GSEA analysis was also associated with recurrence. Methods: Fourteen patients with GBM recurrence after CRT who had available tumor tissue from the initial diagnosis as well as recurrence were selected. Total RNA was isolated from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor specimens. Genome-wide expression profiling using RT-PCR for miRNA analysis and RNA-seq for messenger RNA (mRNA) analysis were conducted to identify differentially-expressed genes. GSEA was performed on the differential expression data. Conclusions: Genome-wide expression profiling identifies multiple oncologic and immune-related gene sets associated with GBM recurrence. In particular, immune-related miR-146b is upregulated in recurrence and deserves further investigation.
Applying Infant Massage Practices: A Qualitative Study.

This study explored the dynamic interaction between a mother and her 11-month-old visually impaired infant before and after the mother was taught infant massage. After the mother learned infant massage, she had more appropriate physical contact with her infant, engaged with him within his field of vision, directly vocalized to him, and had a greater ability to read his cues; the infant's interactions were reciprocal and reflected more-secure attachment, and the infant demonstrated beginning awareness of self and space. Infant massage has long been a traditional practice, and traditional applications of it are usually passed down from one generation to the next. In the early 20th century, many "folk practices," such as infant massage, were discarded in the interest of scientific advancement. Today, however, modern science is rediscovering age-old treatments, and the field of medicine is incorporating these interventions into scientific protocols (Muscarella, 1996). Infant massage is one such treatment that is currently being explored by scientists, physicians, physiologists, child development specialists, and educators with encouraging results. Among the benefits attributed to infant massage are greater relaxation and body awareness; strengthened circulatory, hormonal, and digestive systems; and improved muscle tone and sleep patterns (Scafidi et al., 1990; Scafidi et al., 1986; Schneider, 1996).
Modeling of Thermo-Electro-Magneto-Mechanical Behavior, with Application to Smart Materials

A key feature of smart materials is their ability to convert energy from one form into another. For instance, piezoelectric materials deform when exposed to an electric field, thus converting electrical energy to mechanical energy. Other common smart materials include magnetostrictives, magnetorheological fluids, shape memory alloys, and electroactive polymers. These materials couple different physical effects, e.g., thermal, electrical, magnetic, and/or mechanical. In this chapter, we present a continuum framework that lays the groundwork for modeling a broad range of smart materials exhibiting coupled thermal, electrical, magnetic, and/or mechanical behavior. This framework has the breadth to accommodate large deformations (i.e., geometric nonlinearities), anisotropy, and nonlinear constitutive response (i.e., material nonlinearity). We devote special attention to developing the fundamental laws of continuum electrodynamics and presenting key aspects of thermodynamic constitutive modeling. For instance, we show how the thermodynamic formalism that produced constitutive models for classical elastic solids and viscous fluids can also be used to facilitate the constitutive modeling of smart materials with coupled thermo-electro-magneto-mechanical (TEMM) behavior. Finally, we illustrate that our modeling approach provides an overarching framework that encompasses many well-known types of smart material behavior. For instance, we explicitly demonstrate that the linear theory of piezoelectricity falls out as a special case of our more general finite-deformation TEMM framework, much the same way linear elasticity falls out of finite-deformation elasticity.
Evaluation of the quality of life in LFA villages in the region of Nové Hrady.

In the article the subjective evaluation of the quality of life in the LFA villages in the region of Nove Hrady is analysed. The research proved that women regard their lives as harder, while men evaluate their lives as good. An association exists between the level of education of the respondents and how they evaluate the quality of their lives. Complex evaluation of indicators of life clearly defined two groups of people: a group of satisfied and tolerant inhabitants and a group of unsatisfied inhabitants. Both groups, however, agree on the availability of financial services in the LFA villages is bad. Almost 45 % inhabitants feel their village economic weakness. Complex evaluation of reasons of economic weakness clearly defined three groups of people. First, most numerous group, we can specify as a group of active, thinking inhabitants, which think about reasons of economic weakness and want to their village help. Second, also numerous group, is a group of apathetic inhabitants, which aren´t in problems of their village interested. The third group is a group of radicals, which see reasons of economic weakness only in a small number of university students and in a big number of inhabitants in after – productive age. Local councillors evaluated the importance of finance resources, too. Surprisingly, they evaluate as very important own resources and as irrelevant or not too much important European funds.
Autoimmune cytopenias in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia treated with ibrutinib in routine clinical practice at an academic medical centre

The effects of ibrutinib on the natural history of autoimmune cytopenias (AIC) among chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) patients treated in routine clinical practice require further investigation. Using the Mayo Clinical CLL Database, 193 CLL patients treated with ibrutinib between November 2013 and January 2017 outside the context of a clinical trial were identified; complete review of their medical records was performed for details of past history of AIC and treatment-emergent AIC. We identified 29/193 (15%) patients with history of AIC prior to ibrutinib start. Of 12 patients requiring AIC therapy at ibrutinib start, 8 (67%) were able to discontinue or de-escalate AIC treatment, and no patient had worsening of their AIC after initiating ibrutinib. Eleven (6%) patients developed treatment-emergent AIC after a median of 59 (range, 6-319) days following the initiation of ibrutinib, 7 of whom (64%) were able to continue ibrutinib. Overall and event-free survival from time of ibrutinib start were not significantly different between patients with history of AIC and those with no history of AIC. Treatment-emergent AIC were seen exclusively in patients with unmutated IGHV and were associated with a shorter EFS. These results suggest a low rate of treatment-emergent AIC and improvement in patients with existing AIC.
Continuous control of a polymerization system with deep reinforcement learning

Abstract Reinforcement learning is a branch of machine learning, where the machines gradually learn control behaviors via self-exploration of the environment. In this paper, we present a controller using deep reinforcement learning (DRL) with Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (DDPG) for a non-linear semi-batch polymerization reaction. Several adaptations to apply DRL for chemical process control are addressed in this paper including the Markov state assumption, action boundaries and reward definition. This work illustrates that a DRL controller is capable of handling complicated control tasks for chemical processes with multiple inputs, non-linearity, large time delay and noise tolerance. The application of this AI-based framework, using DRL, is a promising direction in the field of chemical process control towards the goal of smart manufacturing.
Large area distributed strain monitoring using patterned nanocomposite sensing meshes

The ability to measure, monitor, and prevent catastrophic failure has made structural health monitoring crucial for aerospace, civil, and marine structures. Spatial strain sensing is necessary for quantifying distributed damage in structural systems. Previous studied that coupled electrical impedance tomography (EIT) algorithms with piezoresistive coatings opened up vast opportunities for distributed strain sensing. However, these approaches could not extract strain directionalities from the reconstructed EIT conductivity maps, and sensing resolution remained rather low. Therefore, this study aims to develop next-generation “sensing meshes” capable of resolving both spatial strain magnitudes and directionalities for distributed strain field monitoring. The approach is to design and fabricate piezoresistive graphenebased thin films and then patterning them to form a grid or mesh. The nanocomposite grid lines were designed to be of a high-aspect ratio so that each grid element could sense distributed strain along its length and direction. Various sensing mesh specimens were fabricated, and a load frame was employed to strain them in a controlled manner. Similar to conventional EIT, boundary voltage measurements were acquired when electrical current was applied between two boundary electrodes. The boundary voltage dataset was then used as inputs to the EIT inverse algorithm to reconstruct the conductivity distribution of the sensing mesh. For verification, these experimental results were compared to an elastic finite element model subjected to the same strain states. Good agreement between the experimental tests and numerical simulations were observed, thereby demonstrating the potential of this technology for distributed strain field monitoring.
Safety and Efficacy of Prehospital Diltiazem for Atrial Fibrillation with Rapid Ventricular Response.

Introduction:Atrial fibrillation (AFIB) with rapid ventricular response (RVR) is a common tachydysrhythmia encountered by Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Current guidelines suggest rate control in stable, symptomatic patients.Problem:Little is known about the safety or efficacy of rate-controlling medications given by prehospital providers. This study assessed a protocol for prehospital administration of diltiazem in the setting of AFIB with RVR for provider protocol compliance, patient clinical improvement, and associated adverse events.Methods:This was a retrospective, cohort study of patients who were administered diltiazem by providers in the Orange County EMS System (Florida USA) over a two-year period. The protocol directed a 0.25mg/kg dose of diltiazem (maximum of 20mg) for stable, symptomatic patients in AFIB with RVR at a rate of >150 beats per minute (bpm) with a narrow complex. Data collected included patient characteristics, vital signs, electrocardiogram (ECG) rhythm before and after diltiazem, and need for rescue or additional medications. Adverse events were defined as systolic blood pressure <90mmHg or administration of intravenous fluid after diltiazem administration. Clinical improvement was defined as a heart rate decreased by 20% or less than 100bmp. Original prehospital ECG rhythm interpretations were compared to physician interpretations performed retrospectively.Results:Over the study period, 197 patients received diltiazem, with 131 adhering to the protocol. The initial rhythm was AFIB with RVR in 93% of the patients (five percent atrial flutter, two percent supraventricular tachycardia, and one percent sinus tachycardia). The agreement between prehospital and physician rhythm interpretation was 92%, with a Kappa value of 0.454 (P <.001). Overall, there were 22 (11%) adverse events, and 112 (57%) patients showed clinical improvement. When diltiazem was given outside of the existing protocol, the patients had higher rates of adverse events (18% versus eight percent; P = .033). Patients who received diltiazem in adherence with protocols were more likely to show clinical improvement (63% versus 46%; P = .031).Conclusion:This study suggests that prehospital diltiazem administration for AFIB with RVR is safe and effective when strict protocols are followed.Rodriguez A, Hunter CL, Premuroso C, Silvestri S, Stone A, Miller S, Zuver C, Papa L. Safety and efficacy of prehospital diltiazem for atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2019;34(3):297–302.
Effect of long-term ageing on the rheological properties of rejuvenated asphalt binder

Recycled asphalt products are increasingly being used in asphalt concrete pavements to improve pavement sustainability. Asphalt recycling, while it is undoubtedly an environmentally sustainable pra...
High-resolution cavity ring-down spectroscopy of the ν1 + ν6 combination band of methanol at 2.0 μm.

Reported here are portions of the infrared absorption cross section for methanol (CH3OH), as measured by frequency-stabilized cavity ring-down spectroscopy (FS-CRDS) at wavelengths near λ = 2.0 µm. High-resolution spectra of two gravimetric mixtures of CH3OH-in-air with nominal mole fractions of 202.2 µmol/mol and 45.89 µmol/mol, respectively, were recorded at pressures between 0.8 kPa and 102 kPa and at a temperature of 298 K. Covering the experimental wavenumber range of 4990 cm−1 to 5010 cm−1 in increments of 0.0067 cm−1 and with an instrument linewidth of 30 kHz, we observed an evolution in the CH3OH spectrum from resolved absorption lines at a low pressure (0.833 kPa) to a pseudocontinuum of absorption at a near-atmospheric pressure (101.575 kPa). An analysis of resolvable features at the lowest recorded pressure yielded a minimum intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution (IVR) lifetime for the OH-stretch (ν1) plus OH-bend (ν6) combination of τIVR ≥ 232 ps—long compared to other methanol overtones and combinations. Consequently, we show that high-resolution FS-CRDS of this relatively weak CH3OH combination band provided an additional avenue by which to study the intramolecular dynamics of this simplest organic molecule with hindered internal rotation.
“Six of One, Half a Dozen of Another” or Do Mindfulness and Gratitude Each Add Unique Value to Relationship Functioning?

Although mindfulness and gratitude are both positive factors in relationship functioning, it remains unclear whether these two related variables represent unique contributions to relationships or are capitalizing on shared variance. The present study tests whether mindfulness and gratitude each account for unique variance in relationship satisfaction. The present sample consists of 76 married couples (N = 152) with an average relationship length of 24.25 years. Consistent with hypotheses, results indicate when controlling for gratitude individual mindfulness predicts one’s own but not one’s spouse’s relationship satisfaction. In addition, individual gratitude uniquely predicts both one’s own and one’s spouse’s relationship satisfaction. Contrary to expectations, individual mindfulness does not predict one’s spouse’s relationship satisfaction. Taken together, these findings suggest gratitude and mindfulness are related yet distinct constructs that uniquely contribute to relationship functioning. Results are interpreted in the context of relationship enrichment and suggestions are given for future research.
Rotating levitated nanoparticle sensors in a hollow-core photonic crystal fiber

Hollow-core photonic crystal fibers offer a versatile platform for developing cutting edge optical sensors through particle levitation. Here, the orbital angular momentum mode of such a fiber is utilized to rotate a dielectric nanoparticle, levitated inside the fiber via the gradient force. The rotation frequency, measured from the output intensity modulation caused by the particle rotation, enables sensing of the input power, core pressure, and particle size. Different types of particle dynamics can be obtained by using various orders of angular momentum modes supported by the fiber. At high input power, the system exhibits interesting nonlinear dynamics. Our proposal represents a versatile platform for fiber-based nanoparticle rotation sensing.
Crystal structures and comparisons of potassium rare-earth molybdates KRE(MoO4)2 (RE = Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Yb, and Lu).

Six potassium rare-earth molybdates KRE(MoO4)2 (RE = Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Yb, and Lu) were synthesized by flux-assisted growth in K2Mo3O10. The crystal structures were determined using single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. The synthesized molybdates crystallize with the ortho­rhom­bic Pbcn space group (No. 60). Trendlines for unit-cell parameters were calculated using data from the current study. The unit-cell parameters a and c increase linearly whereas b decreases with larger RE cations, based on crystal radii. The unit-cell volumes increase linearly and the densities decrease linearly with larger RE cations. The average distances between the RE cations and the nearest O atoms increase with larger cations whereas the average distances of Mo—O and K—O do not show specific trends.
STAGE: Tool for Automated Extraction of Semantic Time Cues to Enrich Neural Temporal Ordering Models.

Despite achieving state-of-the-art accuracy on temporal ordering of events, neural models showcase significant gaps in performance. Our work seeks to fill one of these gaps by leveraging an under-explored dimension of textual semantics: rich semantic information provided by explicit textual time cues. We develop STAGE, a system that consists of a novel temporal framework and a parser that can automatically extract time cues and convert them into representations suitable for integration with neural models. We demonstrate the utility of extracted cues by integrating them with an event ordering model using a joint BiLSTM and ILP constraint architecture. We outline the functionality of the 3-part STAGE processing approach, and show two methods of integrating its representations with the BiLSTM-ILP model: (i) incorporating semantic cues as additional features, and (ii) generating new constraints from semantic cues to be enforced in the ILP. We demonstrate promising results on two event ordering datasets, and highlight important issues in semantic cue representation and integration for future research.
Identifying Subgroups of Toddlers with DSM-5 Autism Spectrum Disorder Based on Core Symptoms

The objective of this study was to identify subgroups of toddlers with DSM-5 ASD based on core ASD symptoms using a person-based analytical framework. This is a retrospective study of 500 toddlers (mean age 26 months, 79% male) with DSM-5 ASD. Data were analyzed using latent class analyses in which profiles were formed based on ASD symptomatology. Social communication (SC) symptoms favored a three-class solution, while restricted/repetitive behaviors (RRBs) favored a two-class solution. Classes with higher consistency of SC deficits were younger, with lower developmental functioning. The class with more RRBs was older, with higher functioning. If confirmed in other populations, these classes may more precisely characterize subgroups within the heterogeneous group of toddlers at time of ASD diagnosis.
Current Management of Refractory Germ Cell Tumors.

Germ cell tumors (GCTs) are the most common solid tumors affecting men between ages of 20 and 34 years. Most of the cases, even in advanced disease, will have good prognosis. However, around 20–30% of advanced disease will be refractory or develop relapse after treatment. Herein, we review the current management of refractory/relapsed GCTs. Salvage treatment of GCTs has been a controversial topic for the last few decades. Conventional dose chemotherapy (CDCT), high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) with stem cell infusion, and surgical salvage were proven to be effective and curative options in some cases. The international randomized trial (TIGER) will ultimately answer which chemotherapy approach may be optimal. Furthermore, the usage of immunotherapy is still under investigation with limited data so far in the setting of relapsed/refractory GCTs. Curative paradigms including with CDCT and HDCT are possible, although novel approaches beyond HDCT are still needed to eliminate mortality from this disease.
Multidetector CT diagnosis of massive hemobilia due to gallbladder polyposis in a child with metachromatic leukodystrophy

Hemobilia secondary to gallbladder polyposis is rare in children but has been reported in a few children with metachromatic leukodystrophy. We present a case with preoperative multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) diagnosis of massive hemobilia caused by gallbladder polyposis in a patient with metachromatic leukodystrophy. Our report highlights the importance of both awareness of the association of gallbladder polyposis with other syndromes such as metachromatic leukodystrophy as well as the possibility of this entity presenting with life-threatening bleeding.
Identification and characterization of a new surface membrane antigen found predominantly on malignant B lymphocytes

A monoclonal antibody, 1D10, was derived that identifies a new antigenic epitope on the surface of malignant B lymphocytes. Normal resting and stimulated lymphocytes do not express the antigen. The majority of individuals with acute Epstein-Barr virus infection express the antigen on their lymphocytes, and in these patients, the T lymphocyte may also be antigen positive. The antigen was found on B-lymphoid neoplasia from the early pre-B cell stage through terminally differentiated plasma cells, a characteristic not reported for other B cell-associated antigens. Studies on homozygous typing cells and cells from individuals with known HLA phenotypes indicate that the antigen does not segregate in a pattern characteristic for major histocompatibility antigens. The molecule is a heterodimeric polypeptide with the molecular weight and isoelectric points of the alpha and beta chains being 32,000 d/4 and 28,000 d/6, respectively. Evidence is presented that the 1D10 molecule is not HLA-DR, -DP, or -DQ. By extrapolation, we suggest that this novel molecule may represent HLA D-region gene expression of a gene(s) not normally expressed. Potential candidates are D-region pseudogenes. We conclude that the antigenic epitope identified by the 1D10 monoclonal antibody is unique among previously described B-lymphocyte antigens. Further studies of the factors controlling the expression of this molecule, as well as studies designed to look at the possible cellular function, may provide insights for understanding crucial events in the malignant transformation of lymphocytes.
Pore and Eroding Fluid Influences on Surface Erosion on Soil

Hydraulic erosion studies were carried out with a modified rotating-cylinder apparatus on saturated Yolo loam soil at different pore fluid compositions. The critical shear stress, required to initate erosion has been shown to be controlled by the structure of the soil as influenced by the pore fluid composition. The critical shear stress, has also been shown to be dependent on the composition of the eroding fluid. The structure of the soil and the osmotic influences caused by the differences in the electrolyte concentration of the pore and eroding fluids are considered to explain the mechanism of surface erosion.
Numerical Simulation of Currents Distribution Along Grounding Grid Buried in Horizontal Multi-layered Earth in Frequency Domain Based Dynamic State Complex Image Method

AbstractA new mathematical model for accurately computing currents along a grounding grid buried in a horizontal multi-layered earth model has been developed in this article, which is a hybrid of Galerkin’s method of moment and the conventional nodal analysis method; the propagation effect of an electromagnetic wave has been considered. The dynamic state complex image method and closed form of Green’s function of a dipole or monopole in the multi-layered earth model are introduced to enhance efficiency of the method calculation; meanwhile, an analytical formula for mutual induction and impedance coefficients calculation have been adopted to accelerate the calculation. Finally, some numerical results about the distribution of an electromagnetic field and currents along a grounding grid have been discussed, and some conclusions have been obtained.
Anaerobic prosthetic joint infection

In an effort to improve mobility and alleviate pain from degenerative and connective tissue joint disease, an increasing number of individuals are undergoing prosthetic joint replacement in the United States. Joint replacement is a highly effective intervention, resulting in improved quality of life and increased independence [1]. By 2030, it is predicted that approximately 4 million total hip and knee arthroplasties will be performed yearly in the United States [2]. One of the major complications associated with this procedure is prosthetic joint infection (PJI), occurring at a rate of 1-2% [3-7]. In 2011, the Musculoskeletal Infectious Society created a unifying definition for prosthetic joint infection [8]. The following year, the Infectious Disease Society of America published practice guidelines that focused on the diagnosis and management of PJI. These guidelines focused on the management of commonly encountered organisms associated with PJI, including staphylococci, streptococci and select aerobic Gram-negative bacteria. However, with the exception of Propionibacterium acnes, management of other anaerobic organisms was not addressed in these guidelines [1]. Although making up approximately 3-6% of PJI [9,10], anaerobic microorganisms cause devastating complications, and similar to the more common organisms associated with PJI, these bacteria also result in significant morbidity, poor outcomes and increased health-care costs. Data on diagnosis and management of anaerobic PJI is mostly derived from case reports, along with a few cohort studies [3]. There is a paucity of published data outlining factors associated with risks, diagnosis and management of anaerobic PJI. We therefore reviewed available literature on anaerobic PJI by systematically searching the PubMed database, and collected data from secondary searches to determine information on pathogenesis, demographic data, clinical features, diagnosis and management. We focused our search on five commonly encountered anaerobic organisms associated with PJI. Since anaerobic PJI has also been linked to dental procedures, we also reviewed information on the use of dental procedures and prophylaxis, when available.
Baffin Island snow extent sensitivity: Insights from a regional climate model

[1] Recent modeling efforts suggest that the Little Ice Age (LIA) onset could be explained by a series of four large decadally-spaced volcanic eruptions. At that time, glaciers on Baffin Island advanced and did not retreat until the past century, perhaps due to Arctic and North Atlantic Ocean sea ice feedbacks. To try to determine what parameters sustain snow cover, we investigate the relative impacts of changes in radiation and advection on minimum summer snow extent over Baffin Island. We used the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model to run eight 6 month long (April-September), 10 km resolution simulations, in which we varied boundary condition temperatures, solar radiation, and sea ice cover. Although the Control Run underestimated cloud cover and thus produced an exaggerated diurnal 2 m temperature cycle, the relative changes of snow extent show that WRF accurately simulates snow expansion into the same regions as during the LIA. With an average temperature decrease from current temperatures by −3.9 ± 1.1 K, it only requires one season for the model to lower the snowline by comparable elevation changes seen during the descent into the LIA. WRF's maximum snow line sensitivity is 7 K/km, within the range of the typically assumed lapse rate of 5–7 K/km in the Canadian Arctic. Thus, if a shift in the Arctic climate greatly expanded sea ice coverage following large volcanic eruptions, this would have been enough to perpetuate an ice sheet on Baffin Island throughout the LIA.
The uptake of hydrogen fluoride by a forest

A mathematical model of hydrogen fluoride (HF) deposition and accumulation of fluoride in a Eucalyptus rostrata forest has been developed. The model is based on tree physiology and meteorological principles. The data base for the model was derived from a literature survey of the physiological characteristics of E. rostrata and similar eucalyptus species and from current knowledge of meteorological processes in plant canopies.
Friability and crushing strength of micrometer-size diamond abrasives used in microgrinding of optical glass

In abrasive grinding, the properties of the abrasives and their response to impact loading play a significant role in determining the results achievable. For micrometer-size diamond abrasives used for bound-abrasive microgrinding of optical glass, friability testing is used to estimate the related particle properties. Friability and crushing strength of diamond abrasives are estimated based on the data from comminution of sample powders on a commercial SPEX mixer/mill. Different diamond abrasives as well as a CBN abrasive are tested. Evolution of powder size and size distribution with comminution time is characterized with a HORIBA laser scattering analyzer. Correlation is established for the impact stress and the probability of fracture during comminution. This study demonstrates how to combine the ease of data acquisition found in a conventional friability test with the capability of predicting specific mechanical properties normally found only by crushing individual abrasive particles.
Effects of reducing agent concentration on soy protein fractionation and functionality

The concentration of the reducing agent SO2 significantly affected fraction yields, purities, and compositions during soy protein fractionation, especially the purity of the glycinin-rich fraction. The optimum amount of reducing agent was 5 mM SO2 based on protein yields, purities, and functional properties. With no SO2, the glycinin-rich fraction contained 29% of the total protein with only 63% glycinin, and the β-conglycinin-rich fraction contained 10% of the total protein with 94%β-conglycinin; whereas, by adding 5 mM SO2, the glycinin-rich fraction contained 23.4% of total protein with 81.5% glycinin, and the β-conglycinin-rich fraction contained 16.8% of the total protein with 83.7%β-conglycinin. Increasing amounts of storage proteins were lost in the whey fraction as SO2 concentration increased. The functional properties of the 2 major fractions were greatly influenced by the addition of SO2. The thermal behaviors of the fractions were only slightly affected by using higher amounts of SO2. The solubility and hydrophobicity of the glycinin-rich fraction decreased with increasing SO2 concentration, whereas the solubility of the β-conglycinin-rich fraction increased. Emulsification properties of the glycinin-rich fraction were adversely affected by higher SO2 concentrations, whereas, those of the β-conglycinin-rich fraction were improved. The β-conglycinin-rich fractions had better emulsification properties than did the glycinin-rich fractions. The best foaming properties were achieved at 5 mM SO2.
Effects of Personal versus Impersonal Rater Instructions on Relative Favorability of Thirteen Ethnic Group Stereotypes

Abstract When attitudes toward Blacks are measured with reactive instruments, social desirability biases may be observed: Subjects avoid expressing negative attitudes when they believe that these attitudes will be evident to other individuals. To study whether these sanctions apply to other ethnic stereotypes, subjects were asked to assign checklist traits to 13 ethnic groups. Reactivity was manipulated by asking subjects to indicate either their personal beliefs or beliefs of the “typical American.” Subjects indicating personal beliefs were expected to be more susceptible to social desirability bias than those indicating beliefs of an anonymous typical American, but the strength and direction of this effect was predicted to vary by ethnic group. The interaction was significant, F(12, 840) = 6.048, p < .001. Although the data are consistent with earlier findings of social desirability biases in stereotypes of Blacks, the interaction effect suggests that norms about expression of unflattering stereotypes a...
Cold wombs in Balmy Honolulu: Ethnogynecology among Korean immigrants

Abstract Koreans attribute a wide variety of complaints to naeng , literally ‘chill’. For women, a cold imbalance of the womb brings on a heavy vaginal discharge (also called naeng ), can lead to sterility, and may precipitate other kinds of discomfort. Working in Korea, Dorothea Sich and her colleagues have described the folk etiology of naeng and some subtle transformations of the concept in cosmopolitan medical settings. I am less interested in describing the concept of naeng than in appreciating the complex interlayering of information and experience that shapes a Korean woman's sense of illness or well-being when she describes an intimate condition as naeng , and that may be lost in translation when she presents her condition to an American clinician. My informants were socialized as Korean women, they were veterans of a plural medical system in Korea, they were novices at seeking health care in Honolulu, and they were individuals, carrying the baggage of their own lives. These various dimensions emerge through interview data and, especially, through three detailed case studies. It is argued that a cookbook definition of cold wombs as folk illness would not explain the particular anxieties that naeng sufferers bring to a clinic; the vocabulary they use is vested with nuances that are personal as well as Korean, humoral as well as cosmopolitan.
Turbulence memory in self-preserving wakes

The persistence of the large vortices formed at the origin of wakes and mixing layers constitutes a kind of memory of initial conditions by the turbulence. In order to study the fading of this turbulence memory, and its effect on the rate of approach to the fully developed state, two wakes with different initial conditions have been examined experimentally. The wake of a sphere was compared with the wake of a porous disk which had the same drag, but did not exhibit vortex shedding. Measurements were made of the mean and fluctuating velocities, the anisotropy of the turbulence, and the intermittency. It was found that the wake of the sphere developed self-preserving behaviour more rapidly than the wake of the disk, and that even after both wakes became self-preserving there were differences between them in the structure of the turbulence and the scale of the mean flow. From this it is concluded that the behaviour of self-preserving wakes does not depend on the drag alone, but also on the structure of the dominant eddies. Generalizing these results, it is suggested that reported differences in the value of the entrainment constant of jets, wakes, and mixing layers are due to differences in the structure of the dominant eddies, rather than differences in the type of flow.
Quantitative Measurement of Plasma 3-Hydroxyisovaleryl Carnitine by LC-MS/MS as a Novel Biomarker of Biotin Status in Humans

An increased plasma concentration of 3-hydroxyisovaleryl carnitine (3HIA-carnitine) results from impairment in the leucine catabolic pathway at the conversion of 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA to 3-methylglutaconyl-CoA. The impairment is caused by reduced activity of the biotin-dependent enzyme 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase. Here, we describe an LC-MS/MS method for the quantitation of 3HIA-carnitine in plasma and present preliminary evidence validating plasma 3HIA-carnitine as a novel biomarker of biotin deficiency in humans. Three healthy adult subjects were successfully made marginally biotin deficient by feeding of a 30% egg-white diet for 28 days. For each subject, the plasma 3HIA-carnitine increased approximately 3-fold from Study Day 0 to Study Day 28 (p = 0.027). These results indicate that plasma 3HIA-carnitine concentration increases with biotin deficiency. If these results are confirmed in larger studies, plasma 3HIA-carnitine is likely to be an important indicator of biotin status in a variety of clinical circumstances because quantitation of 3HIA-carnitine by this method has several technical advantages over existing validated indicators of biotin status in humans.
Is human histone gene expression autogenously regulated

It has been well documented that core and H1 histone mRNAs accumulate in a manner which closely parallels the initiation of DNA synthesis and histone protein synthesis, suggesting that the onset of histone gene expression early during S phase is at least in part transcriptionally mediated. In fact, it appears that throughout S phase the synthesis of histone proteins is modulated by the availability of histone mRNAs. On the other hand, the stability of histone mRNAs and the destabilization of histone mRNAs when DNA replication is completed or inhibited are highly selective, tightly coupled and largely post-transcriptionally controlled. We present a model to account for histone mRNA turnover whereby the natural or inhibitor-induced termination of DNA replication results in an immediate loss of high affinity binding sites for newly synthesized histone proteins which in turn brings about a transient accumulation of unbound histones. These unbound histones could modify the histone translation complex, via interactions with polysomal histone mRNAs, in such a manner as to render histone mRNAs accessible to cellular ribonucleases. This type of mechanism would be operative solely at the post-transcriptional level and would be compatible with the rapid, RNA synthesis-independent destabilization of histone mRNAs which occurs following inhibition of DNA replication, as well as with the requirement for protein synthesis for histone mRNA destabilization to be initiated.
Effects of adding epinephrine to arthroscopic irrigation fluid on cultured chondrocyte survival in vitro.

Purpose This study evaluates the effect of low doses of epinephrine contained in common arthroscopic irrigation solutions on viability of in vitro human articular chondrocytes during short-term exposure. Methods Isolated cultured human chondrocytes were treated with culture medium, normal saline solution, 1:300,000 epinephrine solution (equivalent to 10 mL of 1:1,000 epinephrine added to a 3-L saline solution bag), or 1:3,000,000 epinephrine solution (equivalent to 1 mL of 1:1,000 epinephrine added to a 3-L saline solution bag) for 1 hour (N = 84). Twenty-four hours after treatment, chondrocyte viability was measured. Statistical analysis was performed with an analysis of variance with Bonferroni post-test. Results Chondrocyte viability was significantly better when exposed to normal saline solution alone versus high-dose 1:300,000 epinephrine (87.9% ± 5.4% v 74.6% ± 9.4%, P v 74.6% ± 9.4%, P v 87.9% ± 5.4%, P > .05). Conclusions In vitro, normal saline solution and low-dose 1:3,000,000 epinephrine are significantly less toxic than high-dose 1:300,000 epinephrine to cultured human articular chondrocytes. Clinical Relevance This in vitro study suggests that arthroscopic irrigation fluid containing 1:3,000,000 epinephrine is less chondrotoxic than solutions containing 1:300,000 epinephrine. Surgeons may wish to use the least amount of epinephrine required for adequate visual clarity during surgery. This study does not establish a contraindication to the use of higher doses of epinephrine.
Mass transport in sandstones around dissolving plagioclase grains

The dissolution of plagioclase and precipitation of kaolinite is a common late diagenetic process in sandstones. The common occurrence on a thin-section scale of patchy kaolinite adjacent to a dissolving plagioclase grain is consistent with diffusional transport of dissolved constituents combined with precipitation on a favorable nucleation site. The absence in thin-section view of a diffusionally related halo of kaolinite around a dissolving grain can be explained by a lack of a halo of favorable nucleation sites. Numerical modeling results are presented for the transport of aqueous Al by diffusion coupled with fluid flow in sandstones at 100 °C. Within a few months the Al in the anorthite component of plagioclase grains can be removed by diffusion during diagenesis. Fluid velocities needed to overcome diffusion to prevent precipitation on the upstream side of a dissolving grain depend on the unknown minimum supersaturation needed for precipitation. These velocities are less than those predicted by the Peclet number but are of the order of metres per year at a distance of a few tenths of a millimetre from the dissolving grain. The nonlinear inverse relation of these velocities to the distance from the dissolving grain implies that mass transport to precipitation sites is dominated by fluid flow at distances greater than 1 cm.
An Elastic Actomyosin Network in Motile Fish Keratocytes

Crawling motility of eukaryotic cells is driven by net assembly of an actin network at the leading edge and net disassembly at the cell rear, orchestrated by a combination of biochemical and mechanical processes. To understand the distribution and function of mechanical forces in motile cells, it is necessary to determine the mechanical properties and connectivities of the structural components of the cell.We have investigated the mechanical properties of the actin network using detergent-extracted cytoskeletons from fish epithelial keratocytes. When stretched by a microneedle, the extracted lamellipodial network stretched significantly, up to several-fold its original dimensions. At moderate strains, the network was found to be highly elastic, at least over the timescales of 0.2 s to 30 s. These observations suggest that there is strong mechanical coupling within the cytoskeleton over distance scales comparable to the whole cell.Previously we have shown that activation of myosin II in detergent-extracted cytoskeletons by addition of ATP results in contraction and disassembly of the rear network. We have found that ATP analogs (AMP-PNP and ADP-fluoroberyllate) also cause partial disintegration and inward sliding of the rear network, toward the cell body, but without observable contraction within the network. The accompanied deformation of the cell body suggests that the cell body is stretched laterally in the live cell, anchored by the flanking actomyosin networks, and that release of actomyosin bonds (triggered by binding of ATP analogs to myosin) is sufficient for the network to rupture, allowing the cell body to relax. This raises the possibility that myosin may be playing a structural role, maintaining the integrity of the rear network under tension, while simultaneously driving its contraction. The cell body may serve as a reservoir for elastic energy, stress being distributed across the rear actomyosin network.
The safe use of cisplatin in hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion systems

A patient presenting with aggressive squamous cell carcinoma successfully received cisplatin chemotherapy via hyperthermic, isolated limb perfusion (renal impairment ruled out systemic use). Human tumor stem cell assay identified cisplatin as the drug of choice and supports the potential benefit of this procedure in single therapeutic situations. The case illustrates the safety of cisplatin and the ability to give large doses of the nephrotoxic drug with no damage to renal function. The potential efficacy over systemic cisplatin has yet to be established except when systemic use is limited from renal dysfunction.
Pricing deposit insurance when the insurer measures bank risk with error

Abstract If the deposit insurance agency (‘FDIC’) can observe bank risks without error, it can attain actuarial soundness equally well with either risk-related premium assessments or risk-related capital standards. However, many bank assets are difficult and expensive to evaluate, so their true value and risk cannot be ascertained without error. These risk measurement errors cause the FDIC to misprice its deposit insurance, which can be analyzed as a put option written on assets with uncertain volatility and current value. This paper evaluates the optimal means of pricing deposit insurance in such an environment. Because FDIC's insurance pricing errors increase with bank leverage, the impact of these errors on private-sector allocations can be minimized with a combination of risk-related capital standards and risk-related premia.
Medical facial surface scanner

Optical, non-contact three-dimensional range surface digitizers are employed in the 360-degree examination of object surfaces, especially the heads and faces of individuals. The resultant 3- D surface data is suitable for computer graphics display and manipulation, for numerically controlled object replications, or for further processing such as surface measurement extraction. We employed a scanner with a basic active sensor element consisting of a synchronized pattern projector employing flashtubes that illuminate a surface, with a CID camera to detect, digitize, and transmit the sequence of 24 images (per camera) to a digital image processor for surface triangulation, calibration, and fusion into a single surface description of the headform. A major feature of this unit is its use of multiple (typically 6) stationary active sensor elements, with efficient calibration algorithms that achieve nearly seamless superposition of overlapping surface segments seen by individual cameras. The result is accurate and complete coverage of complex contoured surfaces. Application of this system to digitization of the human head in the planning and evaluation of facial plastic surgery is presented.