cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Estimators of Sire Merit

Abstract Nearly 7,000 first lactations of daughters of 90 sires 187 progeny test herds were used to compare estimators of sire merit. The standard model among the several contains fixed effects of herd-year-seasons and sire groups and random effects of error and sires within groups. The estimate of merit for a sire is the sum of the appropriate group and sire within group estimates from a generalized least squares solution. This approach accounts for sires of hedmates, considers the number of daughters and herdmates in each herd-year-season, and simultaneously regresses sire constants toward appropriate group means. Three definitions of groups, as well as a model not including groups, were compared with the conclusion that virtually any grouping is preferable to ignoring groups for sires in general. Two herdmate comparisons, Predicted Difference, and regressed-mean weighted difference were compared, and evaluations by the latter approach were more like those from standard method. Both herdmate comparisons ignore the merit of sires of herdmates. Neither this omission nor ignoring environmental correlation seriously altered evaluations of the majority of sires.
Was There a ‘Medieval Warm Period’, and if so, Where and When?

It has frequently been suggested that the period encompassing the ninth to the fourteenth centuries A.D. experienced a climate warmer than that prevailing around the turn of the twentieth century. This epoch has become known as the Medieval Warm Period, since it coincides with the Middle Ages in Europe. In this review a number of lines of evidence are considered, (including climate-sensitive tree rings, documentary sources, and montane glaciers) in order to evaluate whether it is reasonable to conclude that climate in medieval times was, indeed, warmer than the climate of more recent times. Our review indicates that for some areas of the globe (for example, Scandinavia, China, the Sierra Nevada in California, the Canadian Rockies and Tasmania), temperatures, particularly in summer, appear to have been higher during some parts of this period than those that were to prevail until the most recent decades of the twentieth century. These warmer regional episodes were not strongly synchronous. Evidence from other regions (for example, the Southeast United States, southern Europe along the Mediterranean, and parts of South America) indicates that the climate during that time was little different to that of later times, or that warming, if it occurred, was recorded at a later time than has been assumed. Taken together, the available evidence does not support a global Medieval Warm Period, although more support for such a phenomenon could be drawn from high-elevation records than from low-elevation records.
A measure for assessing the effects of audiovisual speech integration

We propose a measure of audiovisual speech integration that takes into account accuracy and response times. This measure should prove beneficial for researchers investigating multisensory speech recognition, since it relates to normal-hearing and aging populations. As an example, age-related sensory decline influences both the rate at which one processes information and the ability to utilize cues from different sensory modalities. Our function assesses integration when both auditory and visual information are available, by comparing performance on these audiovisual trials with theoretical predictions for performance under the assumptions of parallel, independent self-terminating processing of single-modality inputs. We provide example data from an audiovisual identification experiment and discuss applications for measuring audiovisual integration skills across the life span.
Relationship of Antihypertensive treatment regimens and change in blood pressure to risk for Heart failure in Hypertensive patients randomly assigned to doxazosin or chlorthalidone: Further analyses from the Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering treatment to prevent Heart Attack Trial

In high-risk patients with hypertension, the higher risk for heart failure while taking doxazosin compared with chlorthalidone is attenuated but not eliminated by adding other antihypertensive drug...
Internal mammary artery to lung parenchyma fistula after aortocoronary bypass grafting

Two unusual cases of internal mammary artery fistulization to lung parenchyma after coronary revascularization are reported. They were incidentally discovered during coronary angiography, and one of them was successfully closed with a percutaneous transvenous coil-spring occluder. The cause is thought to be the direct contact between the dissected mammary artery pedicle and the lung parenchyma.
Effect of metal ion and ligand on thermal stability of metal amine complexes

Abstract A series of transition-metal (II) pyridine complexes, [M(py) 2 X 2 where M  Cu 2+ , N 2+ , Co 2+ , Mn 2+ , Zn 2+ , and X  Cl − , NO 3 − , NCS − ,] and two series of copper (II) chloride complexes with mono- and dimethyl substituted pyridines and with 4-substituted pyridines were studied by differential thermal analysis. The thermal stability was correlated with thermodynamic constants determined in solution and with bond energies determined by far infra-red spectroscopy. In the transition-metal series thermal stability increased with increasing stability in solution. In the copper series the opposite trend was found. As base strength of the ligand increased the thermal stability decreased. This can be best explained by an oxidation-reduction reaction occurring during decomposition.
The inhibition of pyruvate decarboxylation in rat brain by α-ketoisocaproic acid☆

Abstract The conditions for optimal measurement of pyruvate decarboxylation in rat brain homogenates were determined to be: 6 mg of homogenate; 15 minutes incubation; 1 × 10−3 m pyruvate; pH 7.4; 37°. The apparent Km value for pyruvate decarboxylation under the above conditions was 6.7 × 10−4 m . The decarboxylation of pyruvate was competitively inhibited by 5 × 10−4 m KIC with a Ki of 1.0 × 10−4 m . At higher concentrations, a mixed type of inhibition was observed. These results are consistent with the current interpretation of the molecular lesion of branched-chain ketoaciduria, which holds that in the genetically determined absence of α-ketoisocaproic: α-keto-β-methylvaleric acid dehydrogenase αKIC accumulates and can inhibit both specific and general reactions leading to the symptomatology of the disease.
On predicting a band-limited signal based on past sample values

The prediction of samples of a band-limited real signal x a (t) from a finite number of past samples is considered. It is shown how a signal-independent linear predictor of finite order can be constructed based on Chebyshev polynomials, such that the prediction error tends to zero for sampling rate exceeding the Nyquist rate.
Differential effects of cocaine access and withdrawal on glutamate type 1 transporter expression in rat nucleus accumbens core and shell.

Abstract Cocaine addiction is characterized by compulsive drug seeking, including relapse after a period of withdrawal. The relapse response requires increased glutamate transmission in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Consistent with this view, glutamate type 1 transporter (GLT1), the transporter responsible for >90% of glutamate uptake, is downregulated in NAc after several days of withdrawal in rats previously trained to self-administer cocaine under limited access conditions (1–2 h/d). Human addiction, however, appears to be better modeled by extending daily drug access (6–8 h/d) and introducing long periods of withdrawal. Here, we determined the combined effects of manipulating cocaine access and withdrawal on GLT1 expression in NAc core and shell. Rats were trained to self-administer cocaine (0.25 mg per intravenous infusion) in daily limited or extended access sessions for 11 days followed by a period of short (1 day) or long (40–45 days) withdrawal. We found that although cocaine withdrawal decreases GLT1 expression in both core and shell, only in core is GLT1 downregulation sensitive to both access and withdrawal. In fact, after long withdrawal, GLT1 in core is downregulated more than in shell in either the limited or extended access condition. Thus, glutamate regulation in core appears to be a critical factor in the drug-seeking behavior that follows relatively long periods of cocaine withdrawal.
Variational methods for multichannel scattering. II. New variant of optimized anomaly-free method and restricted interpolated anomaly-free method

Several methods designed to avoid computational anomalies in the multichannel variational formalism of Kohn are considered. Two new methods are proposed. A new variant of the optimized anomaly-free method ensures that the computed $K$-matrix is symmetric. This method avoids spurious singularities but may give results that vary discontinuously with energy. A second new method, the restricted interpolated anomaly-free method, avoids both singularities and discontinuities, and produces a symmetric $K$ matrix. Two-channel model calculations show that both new methods have accuracy comparable to the earlier anomaly-free and optimized anomaly-free methods.
Plasmonic Photothermal Therapy Increases the Tumor Mass Penetration of HPMA Copolymers

Abstract Effective drug delivery to tumors requires both transport through the vasculature and tumor interstitium. Previously, it was shown that gold nanorod (GNR) mediated plasmonic photothermal therapy (PPTT) is capable of increasing the overall accumulation of N -(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA) copolymers in prostate tumors. In the present study, it is demonstrated that PPTT is also capable of increasing the distribution of these conjugates in tumors. Gadolinium labeled HPMA copolymers were administered to mice bearing prostate tumors immediately before treatment of the right tumor with PPTT. The left tumor served as internal, untreated control. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of both tumors showed that PPTT was capable of improving the tumor mass penetration of HPMA copolymers. Thermal enhancement of delivery, roughly 1.5-fold, to both the tumor center and periphery was observed. Confocal microscopy of fluorescently labeled copolymers corroborates these findings in that PPTT is capable of delivering more HPMA copolymers to the tumor's center and periphery. These results further demonstrate that PPTT is a useful tool to improve the delivery of polymer–drug conjugates.
The Sexual Debut of Girls in Early Adolescence: The Intersection of Race, Pubertal Timing, and Friendship Group Characteristics

Scholars who have studied the effects of early pubertal timing on girls sexual debut contend that this association may result from the company they keep. Although this basic biosocial model of adolescent behavior has been applied to various outcomes with diverse samples of adolescent girls less work has contextualized this microlevel developmental phenomenon within the larger macrolevel structures of race and ethnicity. Using a sample of White African American and Latina girls (N = 1299) drawn from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health this study conducted within-group multivariate analyses and found important differences in the linkages that make up this biosocial model by race and ethnicity with the linkages strongest for Whites followed by Latina and African American girls. These differences in association may reflect differences in the social construction of girlhood across race and ethnicity. (authors)
Insulin-degrading enzyme regulates extracellular levels of amyloid beta-protein by degradation.

Excessive cerebral accumulation of the 42-residue amyloid β-protein (Aβ) is an early and invariant step in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Many studies have examined the cellular production of Aβ from its membrane-bound precursor, including the role of the presenilin proteins therein, but almost nothing is known about how Aβ is degraded and cleared following its secretion. We previously screened neuronal and nonneuronal cell lines for the production of proteases capable of degrading naturally secreted Aβ under biologically relevant conditions and concentrations. The major such protease identified was a metalloprotease released particularly by a microglial cell line, BV-2. We have now purified and characterized the protease and find that it is indistinguishable from insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE), a thiol metalloendopeptidase that degrades small peptides such as insulin, glucagon, and atrial natriuretic peptide. Degradation of both endogenous and synthetic Aβ at picomolar to nanomolar concentrations was completely inhibited by the competitive IDE substrate, insulin, and by two other IDE inhibitors. Immunodepletion of conditioned medium with an IDE antibody removed its Aβ-degrading activity. IDE was present in BV-2 cytosol, as expected, but was also released into the medium by intact, healthy cells. To confirm the extracellular occurrence of IDE in vivo, we identified intact IDE in human cerebrospinal fluid of both normal and Alzheimer subjects. In addition to its ability to degrade Aβ, IDE activity was unexpectedly found be associated with a time-dependent oligomerization of synthetic Aβ at physiological levels in the conditioned media of cultured cells; this process, which may be initiated by IDE-generated proteolytic fragments of Aβ, was prevented by three different IDE inhibitors. We conclude that a principal protease capable of down-regulating the levels of secreted Aβ extracellularly is IDE.
Is perchlorate ion contact adsorbed from aqueous solutions at polarizable electrodes

Abstract The potential and differential capacity of a mercury electrode in solutions containing perchlorate anion are examined at the point of zero charge within the context of modified Gouy–Chapman theory. It is shown that the data support a model of the inner layer in which the anion is closer to the electrode|solution interface than the cation without being contact adsorbed. It is also shown that the same model can explain data obtained at constant ionic strength in nitrate solutions. On the other hand, modified Gouy–Chapman theory cannot explain the behaviour of chloride ion at mercury because this anion is contact adsorbed.
Irritation by hydrophilic ointment under occlusion.

In the present study we have shown that hydrophilic ointment and a similar vehicle containing 1% sodium lauryl sulfate invariably produce contact irritant dermatitis when they are occluded 16 hours a day for more than three days. Sodium lauryl sulfate is the provocative agent. Previous experimental work on sodium lauryl sulfate suggests that denaturation of epidermal proteins and subsequent loss of the epidermal barrier are the likely mechanisms. Less irritating emulsifiers, or concentrations of sodium lauryl sulfate less than 1%, should be used in topical products, especially those that might be used under occlusion.
Students' perception of peer-assessment in the context of a treatment planning course

Objective Peer assessment is grounded in philosophies of active learning, and it would seem that this tool is a viable method for critical thinking development. The purpose of this article was to present how junior students at Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine (CWRU) perceive the value of a peer-assessment activity in the context of a treatment planning course. Methodology As a part of the final exam for the junior year Treatment Planning course, students were requested to evaluate a de-identified assignment submitted by one of their peers. Following the exam, a survey was sent to the students to determine how they perceived the peer-assessment activity and how this relates to other learning experiences in the course. Results Our results show that students' perception of the benefit of peer grading was not associated with any individual peer-assignment characteristics, or course characteristics. Similar results were obtained regarding the perceived benefit of identifying evidence. Moderate correlations were observed between peer evaluation characteristics. Conclusions It was concluded that: (i) junior dental students are not homogenous in their opinions regarding the value of an activity related to evaluation of a peer's assignment and (ii) student's perceptions regarding the peer-grading component of peer assessment were not correlated with perceptions related to other learning processes in the treatment planning course.
Generation of electromigration ground rules utilizing Monte Carlo simulation methods

A novel method is presented for determining ground rule limits for the maximum current allowed in a metal line based on the electromigration and process parameters. A Monte Carlo technique is utilized to simulate the distribution of metal width, metal thickness, and electromigration properties to determine the maximum current allowed for a given failure criterion. In linewidths of less than 6 mu m, the Monte Carlo method doubles the allowed current compared to the worst-case linewidth approach. Thus, increased currents are allowed in metal lines without sacrificing predetermined reliability goals. It is also demonstrated that the accuracy of the Monte Carlo simulation is based on the number of iterations executed. Specifically, it is shown that the accuracy of the simulation is dependent on the number of outer loop iterations performed. >
A Theory of Policy Expertise

The role of expertise in policy making has been a focus of political science research in recent decades. Underlying formal models in this area is a conception of expertise that is very simple: expertise is a single piece of information. Combined with a condition on the set of possible processes, this simplicity implies that expertise is invertible . Thus, a single recommendation by an expert can render a layperson an expert. In this paper, I offer a broader representation of expertise and policy making that relaxes these features. To demonstrate that this generality matters to political behavior, I develop a simple model of delegation and show that imperfect invertibility of expertise provides a resolution of the commitment problem of legislative–bureaucratic policy making. The theory predicts that only issues of sufficient complexity can be delegated, consistent with anecdotal evidence.
Evidence of Co/SiO2 reaction during rapid thermal annealing

Cobalt (Co)/silicon dioxide (SiO2) reactions during rapid thermal annealing (RTA) in an N2 ambient have been investigated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) show that islands consisting of Co and the cobalt oxide phase, Co3O4, form during high-temperature anneals (30 s−10 min at 800 °C). After a selective wet etch to remove the islands, groove-like features are produced in the SiO2 layer. The morphologies of the islands and grooves are strikingly similar, which strongly suggest that Co and the underlying SiO2 layer have reacted, most likely to form Co3O4. We propose that small concentrations of O2 are necessary to promote Co/SiO2 interactions.
Propagation characteristics of compression and rarefaction pressure pulses in one-component vapor-liquid mixtures

Abstract Experimental data on propagation characteristics of compression and rarefaction waves in steam-water mixtures are presented. The front velocity of both types of waves are shown to be essentially the same and can be predicted if the flow regime is known. Differences and difficulties in interpreting the total pressure wave behavior of rarefaction and compression waves are also discussed.
FOODSERVICE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

During a sabbatical in 1988, the author visited Southeast Asia and worked with an international hotel chain. The purpose of the sabbatical was to provide technical assistance to the hotel properties in their food and beverage operations and to obtain information and experience about foodservice in Southeast Asia to include in classes presented at the University of Hawaii. Of primary interest to the hotels was assistance in the areas of sanitation, prevention of foodborne illnesses, quality control and menu development. Seven hotel properties were visited in mainland China, Nepal, Bangladesh, Hong Kong and Singapore; and observations from these visits are summarized in this article. Problems peculiar to foodservice operations in China, Nepal and Bangladesh are commented on. e.g., motivating workers, sanitation, and lack of capital. Some of the corrective actions being taken by the foodservice industries in these countries are noted and a final section provides recommendations to persons planning to visit this part of the world.
An investigation of stigma in individuals receiving treatment for substance abuse

This study examined the impact of stigma on patients in substance abuse treatment. Patients (N=197) from fifteen residential and outpatient substance abuse treatment facilities completed a survey focused on their experiences with stigma as well as other measures of drug use and functioning. Participants reported experiencing fairly high levels of enacted, perceived, and self-stigma. Data supported the idea that the current treatment system may actually stigmatize people in recovery in that people with more prior episodes of treatment reported a greater frequency of stigma-related rejection, even after controlling for current functioning and demographic variables. Intravenous drug users, compared to non-IV users, reported more perceived stigma as well as more often using secrecy as a method of coping. Those who were involved with the legal system reported less stigma than those without legal troubles. Higher levels of secrecy coping were associated with a number of indicators of poor functioning as well as recent employment problems. Finally, the patterns of findings supported the idea that perceived stigma, enacted stigma, and self-stigma are conceptually distinct dimensions.
Risk of patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing noncardiac surgery

Aortic stenosis (AS) is a major risk factor for perioperative cardiac events in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery. We previously showed that selected patients with AS who were not candidates for, or refused, aortic valve replacement could undergo noncardiac surgery with acceptable risk. We extended our previous experience over a subsequent 5-year period by retrospectively analyzing the perioperative course of all patients with severe AS (aortic valve area index 50 mm Hg), determined with Doppler echocardiography or cardiac catheterization, who underwent noncardiac surgery. Nineteen patients underwent 28 surgical procedures: 22 elective and 6 emergency. The types of these procedures were 12 orthopedic, 6 intraabdominal, 4 vascular, 4 urologic, 1 otolaryngologic, and 1 thoracic. Mean age was 75 +/- 8 years. Of the 19 patients, 16 (84%) had > or = 1 symptom: dyspnea, angina, syncope, or presyncope. Mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 61 +/- 11%. The type of anesthesia was general in 26 procedures and continuous spinal in 2. Intraarterial monitoring of blood pressure was used in 20 of the 28 surgical procedures. Intraoperative hypotensive events were treated promptly, primarily with phenylephrine. In all cases the anesthesia team was aware of the severity of the AS and integrated this into the anesthetic plan. Two patients (elective operation in 1 and emergency in 1) had complicated postoperative courses and died. There were no other intraoperative or postoperative events in any of the other patients. Although aortic valve replacement remains the primary treatment for patients with severe AS, selected patients with severe AS, who are otherwise not candidates for aortic valve replacement, can undergo noncardiac surgery with acceptable risk when appropriate intraoperative and postoperative management is used.
Fully automated reconstruction of ungated ghost magnetic resonance angiograms.

Purpose: To completely automate the reconstruction process during noncardiac-gated unenhanced ghost magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). Materials and Methods: Ungated unenhanced ghost MRA of the calf was performed in 16 volunteers. K-means and fuzzy c-means (FCM) clustering algorithms using prominent image features were applied to automatically create angiograms of the calf in volunteers undergoing ungated ghost MRA. Ghost angiograms reconstructed automatically were compared to those created manually on the basis of diagnostic image quality and apparent arterial-to-background contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). Images were also ranked by an expert user in their order of preference using an ordinal scale. Results: Compared with the ghost angiograms created manually, ghost angiograms reconstructed automatically with the use of clustering analysis provided similar arterial-to-background CNR values. No differences in diagnostic quality or preference were identified between images reconstructed manually and automatically. Conclusion: We present fully automated image reconstruction algorithms for use with ungated and unenhanced ghost MRA. These automated algorithms, based on the use of k-means or FCM clustering, can be used to eliminate manual postprocessing that is time-consuming and subject to variability. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2010;31:655–662. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Comparison of high-resolution microendoscope images and histopathological sections in ex vivo middle ear cholesteatomas and surrounding tissue

Objective: To investigate the concordance between optical images obtained with high-resolution microendoscopy (HRME) and conventional histopathology for ex vivo cholesteatoma specimens and surrounding middle ear epithelium. Methods: After resection of cholesteatoma and surrounding middle ear epithelium from surgical patients, tissues were stained with a contrast agent, proflavine, and the HRME fiberoptic scope was placed directly on each tissue specimen. 4- 10 short movie clips were recorded for both the cholesteatoma and surrounding middle ear epithelium specimens. The imaged areas were sent for standard histopathology, and the stained specimens were correlated with the HRME images. IRB approval was obtained, and each patient was consented for the study. Results: Ten cholesteatoma specimens and 9 middle ear specimens were collected from 10 patients. In each case, cholesteatoma was easily discriminated from normal middle ear epithelium by its hyperfluorescence and loss of cellular detail. Qualitative analysis for concordance between HRME images and histological images from the same surgical specimen yielded a strong correlation between imaging modalities. Conclusions: Keratinizing cholesteatoma and surrounding middle ear epithelium have distinct imaging characteristics. Loss of cellular detail and hyperfluorescence with proflavine are the hallmark characteristics of cholesteatoma which allow for differentiation from normal middle ear epithelium. Real-time optical imaging can potentially improve the results of otologic surgery by allowing for extirpation of cholesteatomas while eliminating residual disease. We anticipate performing an in vivo study to test this hypothesis.
Views of Policies Affecting Automobiles: A Comparison of High School Students and Specialists

The use of automobiles is a major cause of worldwide environmental disruption, including global warming. Policies designed to curb the environmental impact of automobiles present tradeoffs that high school graduates should be prepared to evaluate. This article compares how a group of high school students and a group of specialists with expertise in transportation issues, climate change, or both evaluated two policies designed to ameliorate the impact of automobiles. The policies were a $1 per gallon gasoline tax and a “feebate” policy, which creates additional fees on the purchase of fuel-inefficient automobiles but offers rebates on the purchase of fuel-efficient vehicles. One goal of the study was to identify knowledge and beliefs that students bring to the task as well as to identify misconceptions they may have. Another goal was to identify knowledge used by the specialists that may be accessible or useful to high school students.
Imaging neutrophil activation: Analysis of the translocation and utilization of NAD(P)H‐associated autofluorescence during antibody‐dependent target oxidation

Fluorescence intensified/enhanced microscopy has been used to study the metabolic activation of living human neutrophils in time-lapse sequences. The autofluorescence associated with NAD(P)H's emission band was studied within individual quiescent and stimulated cells. Excitation of NAD(P)H-associated autofluorescence was provided by a high-intensity Hg-vapor lamp. The background-subtracted autofluorescence signals were computer enhanced. In some cases the ratio image of NAD(P)H-associated autofluorescence to tetramethyl-rhodamine methyl ester (TRME) fluorescence, which was found to be uniformly distributed within neutrophils, was calculated to normalize autofluorescence intensities for cell thickness. Activation of the NADPH oxidase by phorbol myristate acetate, F-, N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP), or tumor necrosis factor (TNF) dramatically reduced autofluorescence levels. Membrane solubilization with sodium dodecyl sulfate eliminated autofluorescence. Thus, control experiments indicated that most or all of the detectable NAD(P)H-associated autofluorescence was due to NAD(P)H, consistent with previous non-microscopic studies. To understand the metabolic events surrounding the internalization and oxidative destruction of targets, we have imaged the NAD(P)H-associated autofluorescence of neutrophils and the Soret band of antibody coated target erythrocytes during cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Absorption contrast microscopy of the erythrocyte's Soret band is an especially sensitive indicator of the entry of reactive oxygen metabolites into this target's cytosol. Thus, it is possible to spectroscopically dissect and image the substrate (NADPH) and product (O2-) reactions of the NADPH oxidase in living unlabeled neutrophils. During real-time experiments at 37 degrees C, the level of NAD(P)H-associated autofluorescence surrounding phagosomes greatly increases before the disappearance of the target's Soret band. NAD(P)H-associated autofluorescence in the vicinity of phagocytosed erythrocytes is greatly diminished after target oxidation. This suggests that NAD(P)H is translocated to the vicinity of phagosomes prior to the oxidation of targets. The apparent cytosolic redistribution of NAD(P)H was confirmed by ratio imaging microscopy to control for cell thickness. We suggest that NADPH including its sources and/or carriers accumulate near phagosomes prior to target oxidation and that local NADPH molecules are consumed during target oxidation.
Effect of nitric oxide on the survival rate and incidence of lung injury in newborn lambs with persistent pulmonary hypertension.

We previously showed that inhaling nitric oxide (NO) for up to 30 minutes selectively dilates the pulmonary circulation and improves oxygenation in newborn lambs with persistent pulmonary hypertension. In the current study we determined whether inhaling NO for 23 hours increased the survival rate of newborn lambs with persistent pulmonary hypertension, oxidized hemoglobin to methemoglobin, or damaged the lungs. Persistent pulmonary hypertension was created in newborn lambs by ligating the ductus arteriosus 13 days before delivery. Six lambs were randomly selected to breathe NO at 80 parts per million for 23 hours, and 7 control lambs were untreated. Each lamb was delivered at 135 days of gestation (term is 146 days), and the lungs were ventilated at a fraction of inspired oxygen of 0.92. Each of the control lambs died before the end of the study, whereas only one of the NO-treated lambs died ( p ≤0.05). Arterial oxygen tension was greater in the NO-treated lambs by 15 minutes after delivery (63±17 vs 14±4 mm Hg). Oxygen tension increased with time in the NO-treated lambs. Inhaled NO increased the concentration of methemoglobin, but this concentration reached a plateau at 3.0%±0.4%. There was evidence of early airway damage in both groups of lambs but no difference between the groups. We conclude that inhaled NO increased survival rates without increasing the incidence of acute lung injury in newborn lambs with persistent pulmonary hypertension.
Extending the Usability of Heuristics for Design and Evaluation: Lead, Follow, and Get Out of the Way

User-centered design practitioners have often relied on discount usability engineering methods using heuristics. Top 10 lists of design and evaluation heuristics have proliferated during the 1990s, leading to a plethora of heterogeneous heuristic guidelines for a multitude of user interfaces. A simple, unified set of heuristics that might be applicable across different technologies, understood between disciplines, and equivalent to metrics used to measure ease of use can be beneficial. Lead, follow, and get out of the way (LFG follows the user's progress and provides appropriate feedback and information when needed; and gets out of the way of the user to allow efficient and effective completion of tasks as the user attains mastery of the system, its concepts, and...
Li- and Na-reduction products of meso-Co3O4 form high-rate, stably cycling battery anode materials

High surface area (367 m2 g−1) meso-porous Co3O4 was investigated as the precursor of the anode material for lithium and also sodium ion batteries. Co3O4 is considered a potential anode material due to its theoretical capacity of 890 mA h g−1, over twice that of graphite. This comparatively higher capacity can be safely charged at rapid rates owing to a relatively high Li-insertion potentials, but, consequently, the discharged energy is yielded at an average potential near 2 V vs. Li/Li+, with full Li-extraction achieved over a continuum of potentials up to 3 V. The products of the lithium reduction of Co3O4 cycle stably from 0.01–3.0 V vs. Li/Li+ with 600–900 mA h g−1 capacity retention at C rates from 1–5; the products of its sodium reduction cycle stably from 0.01–3.0 V vs. Na/Na+ at C-rates up to 1 C with a lower 150–400 mA h g−1 capacity retention owing to greater ionic impedance. TEM, SAED and XRD were used to examine the cycled material and the stable performance is attributed to finding that the mesoporous structure is retained. Evaluation of five electrolyte formulations testing EC, FEC and Cl-EC showed that the stable meso-porous structure was best cycled with 5% FEC in EC:DEC at high charge/discharge rates, retaining 77% of its initial capacity at 5 C in a rate test. Comparison of the AC impedance spectra and of the XPS of the SEIs formed in the presence and in the absence of 5 vol% FEC shows that the SEI formed in the presence of FEC contains lithium fluoride and its carbonate layer is thinner than that formed in its absence, resulting in lesser impedance to Li migration through the SEI and facile ion de-solvation, improving the cycling performance. In cycling stability tests with EC:DEC, irregular cycling behaviour attributable to abrupt rises in cell resistance was regularly observed after testing over a few hundred cycles. Long-term cycling irregularities are inhibited by halogenated solvents and completely eliminated by adding fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC).
Sedimentary Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: The Historical Record

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in three sections of a dated sediment core from Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts, have been analyzed by gas chromatographic spectrometry. This historical information suggests that sedimentary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, at least at this location, result primarily from the anthropogenic combustion of fossil fuels.
The multi-generational workforce: Workplace flexibility and engagement

This paper explores the perceptions of employees of different ages regarding the flexibility they need at work (flexibility fit) and their engagement with work. Using 49,209 observations representing 183,454 employees in 22 different companies, we estimated a hierarchical linear model (HLM) to explain variation in employee engagement as a function of flexibility fit and age. Although flexibility fit was a powerful positive predictor of engagement for all employees, it was a more powerful predictor of engagement for employees ages 45 and older. The positive moderating effect of flexibility fit provides employers with guidance about how to maintain the engagement of workers of all ages, but especially older workers who want to extend their participation in the labor force.
Dorsomedial hypothalamic GABA regulates anxiety in the social interaction test

Blockade of GABAA function in the region of the dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH) of rats is known to elicit a constellation of physiologic responses including increases in heart rate (HR), mean arterial blood pressure (BP), respiratory rate, and plasma catecholamine levels, as well as behavioral responses such as increases in locomotor activity and anxiogenic-like effects as measured in a conflict test and the elevated plus-maze test. The aim of the present study was to test the effects of microinjecting GABAA antagonists bicuculline methiodide (BMI) and picrotoxin, as well as the GABAA agonist muscimol, into the DMH of rats placed in the social interaction (SI) test. Muscimol decreased HR and BP but increased SI, whereas the GABA antagonists increased HR and BP but decreased SI time. Blocking the HR changes elicited by GABAergic drugs injected into the DMH with systemic injections of atenolol and atropine methylbromide did not block their effects on SI.
The insulin-like growth factor 1 pathway is a potential therapeutic target for low-grade serous ovarian carcinoma

Objective To validate the overexpression of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and its receptor (IGF-1R) in low-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (SOC), and to investigate whether the IGF-1 pathway is a potential therapeutic target for low-grade SOC.
Scanning photographic processes

Photographs imply that they are representations of a particular scene in terms height, width and an instant in time. There are cameras that display time itself as a dimension of the final record. These are sometimes called "streak" or "strip" cameras. These cameras can be thought of as strip chart recorders where the subject information is gathered optically. This makes streak cameras powerful tools for non-contact measurement of subject changes over time. But they can also be used for other than purely technical applications. In this presentation several improvised cameras of this type based on film and CCD or solid-state technology are presented and illustrated with applications, based the application of a linear CCD removed from an inexpensive hand-scanner and installed in the back of a 35mm camera body. I've used them to demonstrate a variety of applications where quantitative data about subject performance is desired and have also applied the camera for more aesthetically oriented purposes such as peripheral and panoramic photography. The cameras and their applications will be described in this presentation.
Applications of analog and hybrid computers in electric power research

Recent applications of analog and hybrid computation techniques in research in variable-frequency drive systems and dc power systems are discussed. Although simulation techniques are not presented explicitly, publications are cited wherein the methods of analysis are set forth in de tail. Several new areas of electric power research which offer interesting and challenging applications of hybrid computation are briefly described.
Film Cooling Measurements for Novel Hole Configurations

Experimental Procedure: •Blower is set appropriately for required mainstream velocity •Heater is turned on and allowed to heat the air to a desired mainstream temperature •The coolant air is provided from separate compressed air supply and is metered for flow measurement •The mainstream and coolant are triggered at the same instant when the IR system starts taking images and saving to hard drive at set intervals •Images are saved then processed to calculate the heat transfer coefficients and film effectiveness using the theory
Adult outcomes as a function of an early childhood educational program: an Abecedarian Project follow-up.

Adult (age 30) educational, economic, and social–emotional adjustment outcomes were investigated for participants in the Abecedarian Project, a randomized controlled trial of early childhood education for children from low-income families. Of the original 111 infants enrolled (98% African American), 101 took part in the age 30 follow-up. Primary indicators of educational level, economic status, and social adjustment were examined as a function of early childhood treatment. Treated individuals attained significantly more years of education, but income-to-needs ratios and criminal involvement did not vary significantly as a function of early treatment. A number of other indicators were described for each domain. Overall, the findings provide strong evidence for educational benefits, mixed evidence for economic benefits, and little evidence for treatment-related social adjustment outcomes. Implications for public policy are discussed.
How ill the wind? Issues in aeroallergen sampling.

Abstract The effective size of bioaerosols is the principal determinant of their behavior during takeoff, transport, and deposition. Collection methods involving impaction, impingement, and filtration allow recovery of increasingly small aerosol units and do so "per unit volume of processed air" with more or less well-defined efficiency. These principles offer direction in choosing sampling devices for specific applications; similarly, a particle's appearance, growth potential, and assayability define the scope of relevant analyses. Where a variety of aerosol types occur, multiple collection and/or analytic approaches might be required. The development of a sampling grid in North America makes possible studies of distribution, transport, and climatic effects in ways never previously possible; however, some directive planning and oversight are essential to realize these goals. Methods sensitive to paucimicronic and submicronic particles should be included increasingly in new and ongoing survey protocols. Similarly, available means now facilitate study of aerosols at specific sites, both indoors and outdoors, with estimates of personal exposure during defined events. Resulting data describing airborne prevalence gain special value in light of competent inspection of implicated venues and consideration of alternative sources, such as incursion of bioaerosols into enclosed spaces. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 2003;112:3-8.)
A new and efficient CAD tool for model topology generation of RF/microwave transistors

Transistor modeling is an essential process for circuits and systems design. It consists of two steps. The first is to propose a circuit topology. The second is to assign values to those components, by employing optimization techniques, to best fit experimental data. Most of microwave transistor models use a standard topology. Other topologies with different configurations have also been proposed in recent research works and in commercial software packages. To reach an optimum topology, tuning of the initial topology is required. This tuning process is usually based on a manual, trial-and-error procedure and is often specific to a given type of transistor. In this work, a new and efficient tool is introduced. It is able to automatically generate the most appropriate transistor topology as well as find its component values accurately. To illustrate the tool efficiency, experimental transistor data (S-parameters) was used. In this case the results show that the tool-generated topology fits the measured data better than the standard topology. The frequency range of the measurement data is 1 to 40 GHz. Compared to existing techniques, our approach is fully automated and requires minimal expertise from the external user. This point becomes critical when characterizing new components.
Frequent promoter hypermethylation of PTPRT increases STAT3 activation and sensitivity to STAT3 inhibition in head and neck cancer

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) overactivation is a common event in many cancers, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), where STAT3 represents a promising therapeutic target. HNSCC is not characterized by frequent kinase mutations, in contrast to some malignancies where mutational activation of kinases upstream of STAT3 is common. Instead, STAT3 may be activated by loss-of-function of negative regulators of STAT3, including by promoter hypermethylation of PTPRT. Here we first analyzed The Cancer Genome Atlas data and determined that the PTPRT promoter is frequently hypermethylated in several cancers, including HNSCC (60.1% of tumors analyzed) in association with downregulation of PTPRT mRNA expression and upregulation of pSTAT3 expression. These findings were confirmed in an independent cohort of HNSCC tumors by methylation-specific PCR and immunohistochemistry. We demonstrate that PTPRT promoter methylation and gene silencing is reversible in HNSCC cells, leading to PTPRT-specific downregulation of pSTAT3 expression. We further show that PTPRT promoter methylation is significantly associated with sensitivity to STAT3 inhibition in HNSCC cells, suggesting that PTPRT promoter methylation may serve as a predictive biomarker for responsiveness to STAT3 inhibitors in clinical development.
Putting Concepts to Work: Some Thoughts for the Twentyfirst Century

Fodor's theory makes thinking prior to doing. It allows for an inactive agent or pure reflector, and for agents whose actions in various ways seem to float free of their own conceptual repertoires. We show that naturally evolved creatures are not like that. In the real world, thinking is always and everywhere about doing. The point of having a brain is to guide the actions of embodied beings in a complex material world. Some of those actions are, to be sure, more recondite than others. But in every case the contents of thoughts still look to depend, in some non-unique but vitally important way, on the kinds of doings they support.
Inhibition of Tumor Growth by NK1.1+ Cells and CD8+ T Cells Activated by IL-15 through Receptor β/Common γ Signaling in trans

IL-15 is an important cytokine involved in the survival and function of CD8+ T cells and NK cells. IL-15 can be presented by IL-15Rα (IL-15RA) to bind with the shared IL-2/IL-15Rβ and common γ-chains, which activate signaling pathways on NK cells and CD8+ T cells. In the present study, we characterized the function of trans-presented IL-15 on NK cells and CD8+ T cells using TC-1 tumor cells transduced with a retrovirus encoding IL-15 linked to IL-15RA (IL-15/IL-15RA). We demonstrated that the expression of IL-15/IL-15RA on TC-1 cells led to increased percentages of tumor-infiltrating NK cells, NKT cells, and CD8+ T cells, resulting in the inhibition of tumor growth in challenged mice. Additionally, in vivo Ab depletion experiments demonstrated that NK1.1+ cells and CD8+ T cells were important in this inhibition of tumor growth. Furthermore, this accumulation of immune cells and inhibition of tumor growth was abolished by a single amino acid mutation in the common γ-chain binding site on IL-15. We also observed that IL-15/IL-15RA-transduced TC-1 cells led to the activation of STAT5 in NK and CD8+ T cells in trans, which was abolished in the mutated IL-15/IL-15RA-transduced TC-1 cells. Taken together, our data suggest that common γ-chain binding-dependent activation of the shared IL-15/IL-2Rβ/common γ signaling pathway may play an important role in the activation of NK cells and CD8+ T cells, resulting in IL-15/IL-15RA trans-presentation-mediated inhibition of tumor growth.