cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multi-axial failure of metallic strut-lattice materials composed of short and slender struts

Results of a parametric investigation on the failure of metallic strut lattices subjected to multi-axial loads are presented. The study involves two microscopic parameters related to the geometry of struts: strut-level strengthening and slenderness ratios. The strengthening procedure is designed such that minimum-strengthening represents the octetruss while maximum-strengthening represents the three-dimensional Warren truss. This way, the effects of both strut-level stretching and bending on the deformation responses together with coupled failure due to plastic yield and elastic buckling can be studied. The evaluated theoretical failure envelopes that include microscopic global and localized failure compare well with the numerical failure data obtained from finite element analysis. Among results, while the strengthening and slenderness ratios expectedly influence the sizes and shapes of the failure surfaces, they also dramatically alter microscopic deformation mechanisms leading to macroscopic failure.
Single-Cell Measurements of IgE-Mediated FcεRI Signaling Using an Integrated Microfluidic Platform

Heterogeneity in responses of cells to a stimulus, such as a pathogen or allergen, can potentially play an important role in deciding the fate of the responding cell population and the overall systemic response. Measuring heterogeneous responses requires tools capable of interrogating individual cells. Cell signaling studies commonly do not have single-cell resolution because of the limitations of techniques used such as Westerns, ELISAs, mass spectrometry, and DNA microarrays. Microfluidics devices are increasingly being used to overcome these limitations. Here, we report on a microfluidic platform for cell signaling analysis that combines two orthogonal single-cell measurement technologies: on-chip flow cytometry and optical imaging. The device seamlessly integrates cell culture, stimulation, and preparation with downstream measurements permitting hands-free, automated analysis to minimize experimental variability. The platform was used to interrogate IgE receptor (FceRI) signaling, which is responsible for triggering allergic reactions, in RBL-2H3 cells. Following on-chip crosslinking of IgE-FceRI complexes by multivalent antigen, we monitored signaling events including protein phosphorylation, calcium mobilization and the release of inflammatory mediators. The results demonstrate the ability of our platform to produce quantitative measurements on a cell-by-cell basis from just a few hundred cells. Model-based analysis of the Syk phosphorylation data suggests that heterogeneity in Syk phosphorylation can be attributed to protein copy number variations, with the level of Syk phosphorylation being particularly sensitive to the copy number of Lyn.
Electron Attachment to Molecules at Low Electron Energies

Experimental techniques, both single-collision and multiple-collision, for studying electron attachment to molecules at energies below 0.1 eV are reviewed. Recent attachment results in HI, DI, F2, SF6, CCl4, and CFCl3 are examined from the point of view of threshold behavior (s- or p-wave), threshold energetics, and the temperature dependence of the attachment rate constant. An interesting application of the s-wave phenomenon to trace-species detection is given.
Advantages of fast-track recovery after laparoscopic right hemicolectomy for colon cancer

Background Fast-track (FT) recovery protocols have demonstrated advantages over historical recovery routines after open colectomy; however, their impact in recovery after laparoscopic colectomy is not clearly defined. This study was designed to determine whether patients who recover on FT protocol after laparoscopic colectomy have a shorter length of stay (LOS) and fewer complications compared with patients who recover on standard (non-FT) protocol.
Genetic deletion of the MT1 or MT2 melatonin receptors abrogates methamphetamine-induced reward in C3H/HeN mice

The drug of abuse methamphetamine (METH) is known for its ability to enhance reward responses. The rewarding properties of psychostimulants have been shown to vary across time of day in mice. The goal of this study was to determine the role of the MT1 and MT2 melatonin receptors in METH-induced reward, as measured by the conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm during the light and dark phases. C3H/HeN wild-type mice were trained for METH-induced CPP at either ZT 6-8 (ZT: Zeitgeber time; ZT 0=lights on), when endogenous melatonin levels are low, or ZT 19-21, when melatonin levels are high. These time points also correspond to the high and low points for expression of the circadian gene Period1, respectively. The locomotor response to METH (1.2mg/kg, ip) treatment was of similar magnitude at both times; however only C3H/HeN mice conditioned to METH at ZT 6-8 developed a place preference. C3H/HeN mice with a genetic deletion of either the MT1 (MT1KO) or MT2 (MT2KO) receptor tested at ZT 6-8 or ZT 19-21 did not develop a place preference for METH, though both showed a similar increase in locomotor activity following METH treatment when compared to wild-type mice. We conclude that in our mouse model METH-induced CPP is dependent on time of day and the presence of the MT1 or MT2 receptors, suggesting a role for melatonin in METH-induced reward.
A Pilot Study of Mood in Epilepsy Patients Treated with Vagus Nerve Stimulation.

Context. Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are frequently used for their beneficial mood effects.Objective. We sought to determine if there was a quantifiable effect on mood of the vagus nerve stimulator (VNS) when used as an antiseizure treatment.Design. Mood was assessed before and 3 months after VNS implantation in adult epilepsy patients. A group of adult epilepsy patients on stable AED regimens were used as a comparison group. AED regimens were unchanged during the study. The change in mood scale scores across time was assessed by t test (intragroup) and two-factor repeated-measures ANOVA (intergroup).Setting. An epilepsy center in a university hospital was the setting.Subjects. Twenty consecutive adult epilepsy patients undergoing VNS implantation to improve seizure control and twenty adult seizure patients with no intervention were enrolled.Main outcome measures. The mood scales used were the Cornell Dysthymia Rating Scale (CDRS) and the Hamilton Depression (Ham-D), Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (Ham-A), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scales.Results. The VNS group showed a significant decrease in mood scale scores across time (t test CDRS P = 0.001, Ham-D P = 0.017, BDI P = 0.045), indicating a decrease in depressive symptoms. The Ham-A scores in the VNS group and the comparison group scores did not significantly change across time. There were no significant differences between groups across time, although the BDI approached significance at P = 0.07. The VNS group had a significant decrease in seizure frequency compared with the comparison group (P = 0.01). There was no difference in mood scales over time between the VNS treatment responders (defined by >50% decrease in seizure frequency) and nonresponders, suggesting dissociation between seizure frequency reduction and mood change.Conclusion. VNS treatment is associated with mood improvement as measured by multiple scales, but differences in mood scale scores over time between the VNS and a comparison group were not found.
Relationship between improvement in exercise performance with supplemental oxygen and hypoxic ventilatory drive in patients with chronic airflow obstruction.

The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a relationship between improvement in exercise capacity with supplemental oxygen and the magnitude of hypoxic ventilatory drive in patients with CAO. We hypothesized that those patients with the highest hypoxic drives would be the most likely to have increased exercise tolerance with supplemental oxygen. Seventeen patients with CAO (mean FEV 1 = 0.99 ±0.45 L) underwent identical maximal cycle ergometry exercise tests on two occasions 45 minutes apart while breathing either air or 30 percent oxygen in a randomized single-blind fashion. With supplemental oxygen, the ventilation decreased and the PaCO 2 increased significantly at rest. The patients had a significantly greater exercise tolerance on supplemental oxygen (76.7 vs 69.1 watts, p
A new braking and warning scoring system for vehicle forward collision imminent braking systems

Vehicle forward collision imminent braking (CIB) systems have been equipped in high-end passenger vehicles by many auto manufactures. Due to the complex nature of the CIB technology, the features and performance of various CIB systems differ significantly. As to date, there are no standards to evaluate and compare different CIB systems. This paper describes a systematic methodology for the evaluation of CIB systems which include both braking and warning. The percentage kinetic energy reduction is used as a common unit to allow the evaluation of the performance of both CIB braking and CIB warning. The information collected from some ongoing vehicle active safety testing projects will be used to validate the proposed methodology.
Web-based simulation 2: the ABELS system: designing an adaptable interface for linking simulations

The Agent-Based Environment for Linking Simulations (ABELS) provides a framework to facilitate the dynamic exchange of data between distributed simulations and other remote data resources. Specifically, the framework allows the formation of a dynamic "data and simulation cloud" that links a heterogeneous collection of networked resources. ABELS consists of three major components: user entities that serve as data producers and/or consumers, a brokering system for organizing and linking the various participants, and generic local agents that connect simulations and data resources to the cloud of participants. This paper describes the major redesign and implementation of the generic local agent, which serves as the adaptable interface between the user and the ABELS system.
Scaling factors for the rates of production of cosmogenic nuclides for geometric shielding and attenuation at depth on sloped surfaces

Abstract The decrease in rates of production of cosmogenic nuclides occurs because of shielding of cosmic rays by mountains, sloped surfaces, and local rock formations that block them. When a large part of the sky is blocked, this correction is large and requires detailed model calculations. This paper considers three geometries: a rectangular obstruction, a triangular obstruction, and a sloped surface. Other geometries can be considered as a combination of these. The results are presented in terms of formulas and graphs so that the reader can easily apply them to common field situations. Any use of cosmogenic nuclides in the study of geomorphic processes or forms must consider factors that introduce variations in the production of nuclides.
Fracture risk as determined by prospective and retrospective study designs.

Both retrospectively and prospectively designed studies consistently show low bone mass and/or bone mineral content (BMC) to be risk factor for low-trauma fractures in postmenopausal women. Along with the reports of such studies there has been concern expressed that BMC measurements overlap between fracture groups, i.e., some women with high BMC develop fractures and some women with low BMC do not. In these commonly used epidemiologic study designs, BMC does not discriminate between those who have and have not experienced the untoward event at some level of the exposure factor. The ability to discriminate is more properly determined by the sensitivity and specificity of the measured value. To contrast the concepts of risk and sensitivity, a nested case-control study was conducted within a 24-year cohort study of women at risk for osteoporosis. We found that for each 1.0 decrement of BMCz-scores, the adjusted relative risk for the prospective study design was 1.67, while the odds ratio obtained from the most recent BMCz-score measurements was 1.87. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calculated from the nested case-control study data, showed that BMCz-scores, measured after low-trauma fracture, have both low sensitivity and low specificity to detect existing fracture status.
Electrochemical behavior of copper ions and silver ion in hydracrylonitrile and some related nitriles

Abstract The electrochemical behavior of copper ions in hydracrylonitrile and related nitriles has been investigated. It is of interest to note that in hydracrylonitrile copper(II) ion is solvated by the nitrile group, whereas in I:I alcohol-nitrile mixtures, it is solvated by the hydroxyl group. This unusual situation appears to be due to the fact that hydracrylonitrile (dielectric constant, 65), I:I ethanol-acetonitrile mixture (dielectric constant, 32), and. I:I I-butanol-propionitrile mixture are polar solvent systems and, therefore, favor the more polar solvated form of copper(II) ion. This, in- hydracrylonitrile has the solvent molecules oriented with the nitrile group attached to copper(II) ion and the hydroxyl group sticking out and forming a polar outer sheath and in I:I alcohol-nitrile mixture has alcohol rather than nitrile molecules in the co-ordination sphere. Nitrile-solvated copper(II) ion with an outer sheath consisting only of alkyl groups behaves like a non-polar solute. In view of the absence of any solvent effect on the potentials of the copper couples in hydracrylonitrile, 3-butenenitrile, and in the alkoxypropionitriles, copper ions are most likely solvated by the trans conformer of these solvents. The effect of substituents in the 3-position in propionitrile i.e., on the basicity of the nitrile group on the potentials of the copper couples, is consistent with the influence of the substituents on other functional groups in different compounds. Except for the fact that silver(I) ion is reduced at potentials more positive than those at which copper(I) ion is reduced, the electrochemical reduction of silver(I) ion in hydracrylonitrile and related nitriles is similar to that of copper(I) ion.
Specificities mediated by neighboring nucleotides appear to underlie mutation induced by antifolates in E. coli

The antifolate, trimethoprim (TRMP, 5 microM) caused a 10-fold increase in mutation frequency and primarily induced base substitution and deletion mutations in wild-type E. coli. Base-substitutions induced by antifolates were equally divided between transition and transversion mutations. When mutations consistent with expected antifolate-induced deoxynucleotide pool imbalances were considered, 29 out of 32 base-substitution mutations in the i-d region of the lacI gene were followed 3' by the same nucleotide substituted at the base mismatch site and all but one mutation occurred at sites consistent with next nucleotide effects resulting from antifolate-induced deoxynucleotide pool alterations. 66% of the TRMP-induced base-substitutions were also found at sites of frequent mutation identified in the spontaneous spectrum of a mutator D5 strain of E. coli which is deficient in the 3'-exonucleolytic proofreading function of DNA polymerase III holoenzyme. These results suggest that the pool imbalances induced by the antifolate trimethoprim compromise the proofreading activity of polymerase III holoenzyme and lead to mutation at specific sites. The results also imply that not all DNA sequence environments encountered by DNA polymerase III holoenzyme and its accompanying exonuclease are handled with equal facility at the level of nucleotide insertion and exonucleolytic proofreading when the enzyme is faced with an intracellular nucleotide pool imbalance. A number of small deletion and duplication mutations were also induced by the antifolate trimethoprim. In most cases these mutations were flanked by at least two A:T base pairs which could facilitate DNA-strand breakage at deoxyuridine misincorporation sites.
Gonadal hormones stimulate ultrasound production by female hamsters.

Abstract Two studies were conducted to examine the role of sex hormones in ultrasound production by female hamsters. Ovariectomized hamsters were treated with estradiol benzoate (EB), testosterone propionate (TP), progesterone (P), estradiol plus progesterone (EB + P), testosterone plus progesterone (TP+P), or oil vehicle. Rates of ultrasound production by these females were observed in response to brief male-female contact, and during exposure to synthetic ultrasounds. Maximal rates of ultrasound production required EB + P or TP+P replacement therapy. Intermediate call rates were stimulated by EB and TP individually, whereas P alone had no significant effect. These results support the hypothesis that ovarian estrogens and progesterone control proceptive as well as receptive behaviors in female hamsters.
Alternating sign matrices and descending plane partitions

Abstract An alternating sign matrix is a square matrix such that (i) all entries are 1, −1, or 0, (ii) every row and column has sum 1, and (iii) in every row and column the nonzero entries alternate in sign. Striking numerical evidence of a connection between these matrices and the descending plane partitions introduced by Andrews (Invent. Math. 53 (1979), 193–225) have been discovered, but attempts to prove the existence of such a connection have been unsuccessful. This evidence, however, did suggest a method of proving the Andrews conjecture on descending plane partitions, which in turn suggested a method of proving the Macdonald conjecture on cyclically symmetric plane partitions (Invent. Math. 66 (1982), 73–87). In this paper is a discussion of alternating sign matrices and descending plane partitions, and several conjectures and theorems about them are presented.
Transport of Hazardous Material: Probabilities of Profitability

The transport of hazardous material can involve the occurrence of catastrophes, particularly when multiple transport trips are made. This article shows how a corporation can estimate the likelihood of being able to make a profit from a large number of such trips, with due allowance being included for the potential of a catastrophic event. The main emphasis is on estimating and updating probabilities of catastrophe based on information from prior trips. In addition, a quantitative procedure is developed to allow a corporation to decide whether it is better to buy out of a contract to transport hazardous material based on anticipated revenues, including the hazard potential for a catastrophe. Several numerical examples are provided to show how such estimating procedures operate in practice.
In vitro effects of growth factors and hormones on three Perkinsus species and increased proliferation of P. marinus during cloning.

Clonal cultures are essential for the genotypic and phenotypic characterization of Perkinsus species but their cloning, especially of P. marinus, can be tedious. The use of a growth factor and hormone supplement to facilitate cloning was, therefore, investigated. Many of the 16 supplements tested significantly increased P. marinus and P. olseni proliferation but only two significantly increased P. chesapeaki proliferation. The concentration of the most effective supplement for all three Perkinsus species (i.e., endothelial cell growth supplement, ECGS) and medium dilution were then optimized for P. marinus cultured at low densities. Finally, the advantage of using conditioned culture medium, a feeder layer, and ECGS alone and in different combinations to improve cloning of P. marinus were compared. Using conditioned culture medium, a feeder layer and ECGS in combination, each cell (N = 7) seeded singly yielded clonal cultures with 253 ± 167 cells after 21 days. In contrast, only 4 out of 7 cells seeded singly in culture medium yielded clonal cultures with 5 ± 4 cells after 21 days.
`The pillar of fire by night, to shew them light': Israeli broadcasting, the Supreme Court and the Zionist narrative

This article discusses cases in which the Israeli Supreme Court was asked to block the broadcasting of television programs produced by the national broadcaster – the Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA) – on the grounds that they purportedly misrepresented historical truths. The article shows, through various examples, how the court uses its ideological biases in order to serve the dominant interpretation of the history of Zionism and to perpetuate this interpretation by providing it with a judicial stamp of approval. Providing relevant background to the events portrayed in these television programs and the ideological controversies surrounding them, the article describes how the court’s traditional interpretation of Zionism, as well as its long-established view of the role of media in society, contribute to its decisions, and, consequently, how the court has joined the media in creating the ‘mediated/imagined’ Israeli community.
Spectra and structure of organophosphorus compounds Part LII. Raman and infrared spectra, conformational stability, and ab initio calculations for methoxydichlorophosphine

Abstract The Raman (3500 to 30 cm −1 ) and infrared spectra (3500 to 50 cm −1 ) of gaseous and solid methoxydichlorophosphine, CH 3 OPCl 2 , have been recorded. An infrared study of CH 3 OPCl 2 dissolved in xenon as a function of temperature, as well as a temperature study of the Raman spectra of all phases, definitively shows that only the trans conformer (methyl group trans to the phosphorus lone pair) is present in all phases. The far-infrared spectrum of the gas has been recorded from 350 to 30 cm −1 at a resolution of 0.10 cm −1 . The fundamental asymmetric torsional mode has been observed at 120 cm −1 , and the frequency of the methyl torsional mode is estimated to be 58 cm −1 from a combination band. A complete vibrational assignment is given for both the normal and d 3 -isotopomer which is supported by ab initio calculations employing the RHF/3-21G* basis set. The structural parameters and relative conformer stabilities have been obtained with the RHF/6-31G* and MP2/6-31G* basis sets. From these calculations, the gauche conformer is estimated to be more than 3.6 kcal mol −1 less stable than the trans conformer which is consistent with the observation of only the trans conformer in the Raman spectrum of the gas at ambient temperature. All of these results are discussed and compared with the corresponding quantities obtained for some similar molecules.
Enteric bacterial proteases in inflammatory bowel disease- pathophysiology and clinical implications

Numerous reports have identified a dysbiosis in the intestinal microbiota in patients suffering from inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), yet the mechanism(s) in which this complex microbial community initiates or perpetuates inflammation remains unclear. The purpose of this review is to present evidence for one such mechanism that implicates enteric microbial derived proteases in the pathogenesis of IBD. We highlight and discuss studies demonstrating that proteases and protease receptors are abundant in the digestive system. Additionally, we investigate studies demonstrating an association between increased luminal protease activity and activation of protease receptors, ultimately resulting in increased intestinal permeability and exacerbation of colitis in animal models as well as in human IBD. Proteases are essential for the normal functioning of bacteria and in some cases can serve as virulence factors for pathogenic bacteria. Although not classified as traditional virulence factors, proteases originating from commensal enteric bacteria also have a potential association with intestinal inflammation via increased enteric permeability. Reports of increased protease activity in stools from IBD patients support a possible mechanism for a dysbiotic enteric microbiota in IBD. A better understanding of these pathways and characterization of the enteric bacteria involved, their proteases, and protease receptors may pave the way for new therapeutic approaches for these diseases.
The impact of postimplant edema on the urethral dose in prostate brachytherapy.

Abstract Purpose: The objective of this work is to determine the effect of timing of the postimplant CT scan on the assessment of the urethral dose. Methods and Materials: A preimplant CT scan and two postimplant CT scans were obtained on 50 patients who received I-125 prostate seed implants. The first postimplant CT scan was obtained on the day of the implant; the second usually 4 to 9 weeks later (mean: 46 ± 23 days; range: 27–135 days). The urethra was localized in each postimplant CT scan and a dose–volume histogram (DVH) of the urethral dose was compiled from each CT study. The relative decrease in the prostate volume between the first and second postimplant CT scans was determined by contouring the prostate in each CT scan. Results: The prostate volume decreased by 27 ± 9% (mean ± SD) between the first and second postimplant CT scans. As a result, the averaged urethral dose derived from the second CT scan was about 30% higher. In terms of dose, the D 10 , D 25 , D 50 , D 75 , and D 90 urethral doses derived from the second CT scan were 90 ± 56 Gy, 81 ± 49 Gy, 67 ± 42 Gy, 49 ± 44 Gy, and 40 ± 46 Gy higher, respectively. The increase in the urethral dose is correlated with the decrease in the prostate volume (R = 0.57, ρ Conclusion: The assessment of the urethral dose depends upon the timing of the postimplant CT scan. The mean D 10 dose derived from the CT scans obtained at 46 ± 23 days postimplant was 90 ± 56 Gy higher than that derived from the CT scans obtained on the day of the implant. Because of this large difference, the timing of the postimplant CT scan needs to be specified when specifying dose thresholds for urethral morbidity.
Primary Care and Health Reform

Skyrocketing health care costs are burdening our people and our economy, yet health care indicators show how little we are achieving with the money we spend. Federal and state governments, along with public-health experts and policymakers, are proposing a host of new initiatives to find solutions. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is designed to address both the quality and accessibility of health care, while reducing its cost. This article provides an overview of models supported by the Affordable Care Act that address one or more goals of the "Triple Aim": better health care for individuals, better health outcomes in the community, and lower health care costs. The models described below rely on the core principles of primary care: comprehensive, coordinated and continuous primary care; preventive care; and the sophisticated implementation of health information technology designed to promote communication between health care providers, enhance coordination of care, minimize duplication of services, and permit reporting on quality. These models will support better health care and reduced costs for people who access health care services but will not address health outcomes in the community at large. Health care professionals, working in concert with community-based organizations and advocates, must also address conditions that influence health in the broadest sense to truly improve the health of our communities and reduce health care costs.
Antioxidants in Potato

The content of compounds in potato that may act as antioxidants in the human diet is not widely appreciated. Carotenoids are present in the flesh of all potatoes. The contents mentioned in the literature range from 50 to 100 μg per 100 g fresh weight (FW) in white-fleshed varieties to 2000 μg per 100 g FW in deeply yellow to orange-fleshed cultivars. The carotenoids in potato are primarily lutein, zexanthin, and violaxanthin, all of which are xanthophylls. There is just a trace of either alpha or beta-carotene, meaning that potato is not a source of pro-vitamin A carotenes. In potatoes with total carotenoids ranging from 35 to 795 μg per 100 g FW, the lipophilic extract of potato flesh presented oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) values ranging from 4.6 to 15.3 nmoles α-tocopherol equivalents per 100 g FW. Potatoes contain phenolic compounds and the predominant one is chlorogenic acid, which constitutes about 80% of the total phenolic acids. Up to 30 μg per 100 g FW of flavonoids are present in the flesh of white-fleshed potatoes with roughly twice the amount present in red and purple-fleshed potatoes. The predominant flavonoids are catechin and epicatechin. Red and purple potatoes derive their color from anthocyanins. The skin alone may be pigmented, or the flesh may be partially or entirely pigmented. Whole unpeeled with complete pigmentation in the flesh may have up to 40 mg per 100 g FW of total anthocyanins. Red-fleshed potatoes have acylated glucosides of pelargonidin while purple potatoes have, in addition, acylated glucosides of malvidin, petunidin, peonidin, and delphinidin. The hydrophilic antioxidant activity of solidly pigmented red or purple potatoes is comparable to brussels sprouts or spinach. In red and purple potatoes with solidly pigmented flesh with levels of total anthocyanin ranging from 9 to 38 mg per 100 g FW, ORAC ranged from 7.6 and 14.2 umole per g FW of Trolox equivalents. Potato contains on average 20 mg per 100 g FW of vitamin C, which may account for up to 13 % of the total antioxidant capacity. Potatoes should be considered vegetables that may have high antioxidant capacity depending on the flesh composition.
Absence of MHC class ii molecules reduces CNS demyelination, microglial/macrophage infiltration, and twitching in murine globoid cell leukodystrophy

Globoid cell leukodystrophy (GLD) is a severe genetic demyelinating disorder with an increased number of Ia (immune response antigen) positive brain microglia/macrophages. To assess the role of aberrant Ia expression in the central nervous system (CNS), twitcher mice, which represent the murine model for GLD, were mated with Ia- transgenic mice. Compared with the Ia+ controls, Ia- twitcher mice showed a profound reduction in the severity of demyelinating lesions correlated with significantly fewer microglia/macrophages. Most importantly, Ia- twitcher mice showed significantly reduced twitching compared with ia+ twitcher mice. In contrast with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), there was no significant amount of inflammatory T cell infiltrates, implying that T cells may not play a predominant role in this disease. These findings may have broad therapeutic implications for Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Huntington's disease, which display enhanced Ia expression in the CNS without obvious T cell infiltrates.
Playing smallball: Approaches to evaluating pilot health information exchange systems

Health information exchange (HIE) systems are large, multimillion dollar efforts that are implemented despite initial institutional apprehension, with largely unanticipated effects on the clinical workflow, and with a primary goal of establishing a reason to sustain the effort. Traditional evaluation methods that rely on viewing HIE as generalizable tools that can be used to demonstrate impact are challenged by the realities of how HIE systems are created and the numerous systems they impact on the road to improved care. In short, it appears to be unrealistic to develop the definitive ''home run'' evaluation of this technology. Despite the existence of traditional approaches for large-scale evaluation, a more realistic approach may be a ''smallball'' model based on established IT implementation phases, with appropriate evaluation dimensions linked to each phase.
Determination of sodium monofluoroacetate (compound 1080) in biological tissues using oxygen combustion and a fluoride selective membrane electrode

Abstract Sodium monofluoroacetate (SMFA) was quantitated in plasma and liver homogenates after total fluoride analysis using an oxygen combustion method and fluoride selective electrode. The organic content of the samples were estimated by difference between total fluoride and inorganic fluoride. Recoveries (%±SD) of SMFA in aqueous samples, plasma and liver homogenates were 99.1 ± 2.3, 95.2 ± 3.3 and 95.3 ± 2.9, respectively. The within-run coefficient of variation in the 10.0-0.072 mg/ml (or mg/g) range for all samples was 4.7% or less. The method is suitable for quantitation of SMFA in biological materials and as a laboratory diagnostic aid in cases of acute SMFA intoxication.
Successful percutaneous coronary intervention with stent implantation in anomalous right coronary arteries arising from the left sinus of valsalva: a report of two cases.

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in an anomalous right coronary artery arising from the left sinus of valsalva can be technically challenging because of difficulty in selectively cannulating the vessel. We present two cases of successful stent implantation in an anomalous right coronary artery arising from the left sinus of valsalva. In both cases, we used an oversized 6 Fr Judkins left guiding catheter, which provided excellent angiographic visualization and guide support for stent delivery. Cathet Cardiovasc Intervent 2002;55:105–108. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Why I Write

Much of what I have to tell you is anecdotal, rooted in a personal meditation, but throughout I have tried to tease out the implications of my own experience. I am reminded of T.S. Eliot’s ideas about poets writing about poetry: “The poet, at the back of his mind, if not as his ostensible purpose, is always trying to defend the kind of poetry he is writing or to formulate the kinds he wants to write. He is not so much a judge as an advocate.” It seems to me that all writers, at some point, must respond to a question—posed either by themselves or someone else—in order to answer, as Orwell did in his 1946 essay, “Why I Write.” The first time I had to do this I was trying to get into a graduate creative writing program and I needed a statement of purpose. Back then, my father, a poet and professor of English, suggested that I read—of all things—Orwell’s essay. I could barely contain my excitement when I sat down with it. His words were thrilling; they seemed to speak directly to me, emboldening me as they provided a scaffolding of ideas that seemed to justify one of my evolving attractions to words. These sentences stood out to me: “I cannot say with certainty which of my motives are the strongest, but I know which of them deserve to be followed”; and, “Looking back through my work, I see that it is invariably where I lacked a political purpose that I wrote lifeless books and was betrayed into purple passages, sentences without meaning, decorative adjectives, and humbug generally.” Armed with Orwell’s words (I know I must have quoted him), I composed my essay, and—as I would find out a few years later—barely got into that graduate program. A famous poet on the admissions committee rejected the sheaf of poems and the statement included in my application by writing on a little slip of paper that I was “too concerned with my message to write real poetry.” I was lucky that a second poet on the committee, on yet another slip of paper, had concluded—instead—that I was “young and could be woken up.” Later, when I learned of their remarks, I had to look up the word message and ponder the definition: a significant point or central theme, especially one that has political, social, or moral importance. And then, I asked myself: What was wrong with that? Hadn’t those things always
Antenatal Glucocorticoid Corrects Pulmonary Immaturity in Experimentally Induced Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia in Rats

ABSTRACT: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia, a highly lethal condition, displays at term the pulmonary biochemical and morphologic immaturity characteristic of premature delivery. We hypothesized that antenatal glucocorticoid, now the standard treatment to prevent hyaline membrane disease in premature human beings, might correct the parameters of the pulmonary biochemical and morphologic immaturity in severe congenital diaphragmatic hernia. A total of 112 fetal rats with or without nitrofcn-induced congenital diaphragmatic hernias from 34 pregnancies were treated antenatally with either saline or dexamethasone. Antenatal dexamethasone increased the lung disaturated phosphatidylcholine content, reduced the lung glycogen concentration, reduced the saccular septal thickness, and increased the mean saccular size and volume fraction of saccules in the lungs of rats with large congenital diaphragmatic hernia in comparison with similar rats not so treated. All differences were statistically significant. Antenatal glucocorticoid therapy was efficacious in treating rats with nitrofen-induced congenital diaphragmatic hernia. This encouraging finding warrants further investigation in a large animal model with surgically created congenital diaphragmatic hernia.
Large‐scale forcing impact on biomass variability in the South Atlantic Bight

[1] The Gulf Stream western front (GSF) follows the shelf slope topography for a great extent of the South Atlantic Bight (SAB). Sub-surface intrusions of the Gulf Stream are known to provide nutrient-rich waters to the outer shelf regions of the SAB and, consequently, promote phytoplankton growth. These intrusions are much more frequent during summer and are responsible for a significant portion of the annual SAB shelf carbon production. Based on the analysis of satellite ocean color data, sea surface temperature (SST), sea surface height (SSH), and climatologic data sets, we present evidence for a connection between these Gulf Stream intrusions and the seasonal variability of the size and strength of the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre (NASG). The intensity and frequency of intrusions depend on the proximity of the GSF to the shelf, which is modulated by the seasonal expansion and contraction of the NASG.
Anaerobic degradation of benzene in BTX mixtures dependent on sulfate reduction

Enrichment cultures from marine sediments mineralized benzene while using sulfate as the terminal electron acceptor. Parallel cultures using river marsh sediment displayed no activity. Mineralization was confirmed by release of 14CO2 from radiolabeled benzene. The dependence on sulfate reduction was demonstrated by stoichiometric balances and the use of specific inhibitors. This work supports recent observations that anaerobic benzene degradation takes place coupled to sulfate reduction.
Channel Strain Characterization in Semiconductor Device by Techniques Based on Transmission Electron Microscope

Three techniques based on transmission electron microscope (TEM) have been successfully applied to measure strain/stress in the channel area of PMOS semiconductor devices with embedded SiGe in the source/drain areas: convergent beam electron diffraction (CBED), nano beam diffraction (NBD) and dark-filed holography (DFH). Consistent channel strain measurements from the three techniques on the same TEM sample (eSiGe PMOS with 17%Ge) were obtained. Reliable strain/stress measurement results in the channel area have been achieved with very good agreement with computer-aided design (TCAD) calculations.
Multiplexed ion mobility spectrometry-orthogonal time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) coupled to orthogonal time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF) has shown significant promise for the characterization of complex biological mixtures. The enormous complexity of biological samples (e.g., from proteomics) and the need for both biological and technical analysis replicates imposes major challenges for multidimensional separation platforms with regard to both sensitivity and sample throughput. A major potential attraction of the IMS-TOF MS platform is separation speeds exceeding that of conventional condensed-phase separations by orders of magnitude. Known limitations of the IMS-TOF MS platforms that presently mitigate this attraction include the need for extensive signal averaging due to factors that include significant ion losses in the IMS-TOF interface and an ion utilization efficiency of less than ∼1% with continuous ion sources (e.g., ESI). We have developed a new multiplexed ESI-IMS-TOF mass spectrometer that enables lossless ion transmission through the IM...
‘I Am Not a Rubber Stamp’: My Experience as a Non-UK RAE Adviser

• Summary: In the United Kingdom a formal assessment of all universities’ research is undertaken through the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) approximately once every five years. The results are published and lead to each academic unit receiving a ranking (on a seven-point scale). Funding for research follows these rankings. Initiatives designed to review research quality have an obligation to clearly describe criteria on which assessments are made. Critical appraisals of published material prepared by RAE review panels should be based on criteria that permit rigorous appraisal of different kinds of publications. Criteria for reviewing the quality of different kinds of research are readily available. In empirical studies, such critical appraisals would reveal the likelihood that the research method used could answer questions raised. Efforts made by a non-UK adviser appointed to the 2001 RAE Panel for Social Policy and Administration and Social Work to identify criteria used by RAE organizers to review ...
Effect of anordrin on the development of mouse preimplantation embryos in vitro.

Purpose: The in vitro effect of anordrin and anordiol on the development of mouse two-cell embryos was studied.
Glucose regulates glut 1 function and expression in fetal rat lung and muscle in vitro.

The mechanisms that regulate cellular glucose transport (glucose uptake, Glut 1 protein, and mRNA) in the fetus are not known. We attempted to define the effects of glucose availability alone in vitro on glucose transport in fetal rat lung and muscle. On day 20 of gestation (term = 21.5 days), lung and muscle tissues were harvested from normal fetal rats, minced into explants, and cultured for 24 h in standard culture medium (lung, 28 mM; muscle, 5.5 mM glucose). Explant cultures were washed and cultured for an additional 1 or 24 h in medium containing one of four concentrations of glucose: 1) glucose free, 2) low glucose, 3) high glucose, and 4) standard. Twenty-four-hour, but not 1-h, treatment of fetal lung and muscle in vitro with low concentrations of glucose increased 2-deoxyglucose uptake and Glut 1 protein and mRNA levels (P < 0.05). Culture in high glucose medium for 24 h, but not 1 h, decreased 2-deoxyglucose uptake and Glut 1 protein and mRNA levels (P < 0.05). Culture in glucose-free medium fo...
Hematology, blood chemistry and protein polymorphisms in the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

Abstract 1. 1. Blood samples from forty-six fetal and 100 adult and juvenile deer, Odocoileus virginianus , were analyzed for twenty-five substances including hematology, chemistries, hormones and individual proteins with significant differences found between ages and sexes. 2. 2. Hemoglobin polymorphism was found in the adult and juvenile animals, but with a significant different frequency than reported for southern populations. 3. 3. None of the protein changes characterizing human pregnancy were observed in the pregnant deer. 4. 4. The fetal samples exhibited a protein polymorphism in the post-albumin area, a hemoglobin polymorphism, but only a single transferrin.
‘Hum’-Corrected Comparison of Viscoelastic Properties of Normal, Tumorigenic, and Metastatic Breast Cells

We tested the hypothesis that breast cancer cells have lower viscoelastic moduli than their normal counterparts. The moduli were evaluated by tracking peroxisomes within three human mammary epithelial cell types: normal, tumorigenic, and metastatic. Peroxisomes in these cells were labeled with GFP, and then imaged at 100 fps. From the resulting movies of peroxisome motion, mean squared displacements (MSDs) of the peroxisomes were evaluated. To assess the contribution of motor-driven ‘hum’ of the actomyosin network to the measured MSDs, peroxisome motion was also determined in the three cell types after they were treated with blebbistatin or sodium azide and 2-deoxy-D-glucose. Blebbistatin is a myosin II inhibitor, and sodium azide and 2-deoxy-D-glucose deplete cellular production of ATP. Our results indicate that peroxisome MSDs are larger in the presence of ATP and active myosin motors than when driven solely by thermal energy.By inserting these MSDs into the generalized Stokes-Einstein equation, apparent viscoelastic moduli were obtained for the cytoplasms of normal, tumorigenic, and metastatic breast cells with and without the motor-driven 'hum'. The generalized Stokes-Einstein equation assumes that the only energy that drives motion of the tracked peroxisomes in the cytoplasm is thermal. Peroxisomes in all three cell types report lowered apparent cytoplasmic viscoelastic moduli in the presence of uninhibited myosin II motors than when driven solely by thermal energy. The viscoelastic moduli determined from metastatic and tumorigenic cells without hum are significantly lower than those from their normal counterparts.This research is supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant CMMI-1106105. AMS has been supported by NIH/NIGMS T32 GM095440 and NSF GRFP 0907738.
SU-E-T-361: Use of a MEMS Accelerometer to Detect Motion in Patients During Delivery of Radiotherapy

Purpose: Patient movement during radiotherapy treatments can Result in delivery of dose to unintended areas resulting in a poor prognosis. It is desirable to minimize intra‐fraction (during treatment) motion since treatment times typically range from 5 to 30 minutes. A small MEMS (micro electromechanical systems) accelerometer can be placed on the patient's skin and be used to instantaneously detect slight motions exhibited by the patient. Information about patient motion can be displayed on the therapist's console and be used to interrupt the treatment or to coach the patient when a significant deflection occurs. Methods: A 12‐bit ST Microelectronics accelerometer (LIS3DH) of dimensions 3×3×1 mm on a 5×6 cm breadboard (Fig. 1) was used to measure deflections under simulated treatment conditions. The accelerometer can transfer data at rates ranging from 100 to 1600 Hz via either a USB cable or Bluetooth that relays acceleration data to a computer running a MATLAB program. This highspeed data rate allows for averaging which reduces random noise. The accelerometer provides a resolution of 9.8×10−3 m/sec2. We are currently investigating the use of a new low‐noise 16‐bit accelerometer which will improve signal to noise response. Results: Figs. 3 and 4 display data acquired at a rate of 100Hz while the accelerometer was attached to a subject's forehead. The data in Fig. 3 show the subject intentionally making two short, small movements. The data in Fig 4. show movement from the same subject intentionally turning their head slowly over a deflection of approximately 8 degrees. Conclusion: A MEMS accelerometer was used in this pilot study to detect subject motion in real time involving quick as well as slow deflections of the head. Data rates of 100Hz allowed point averaging which resulted in smooth traces. Thresholds can be configured in the monitoring software to alert when a significant deflection occurs.