cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ultraviolet hyperspectral interferometric microscopy (Conference Presentation)

Ultraviolet hyperspectral interferometric (UHI) microscopy is a novel molecular imaging technique that retrieves wideband, high-resolution spectral information of the wavelength-dependent real part of the refractive index (i.e., dispersion), and the total attenuation coefficient of biological samples in the deep-ultraviolet (UV) spectral region. This method enables highly sensitive, label-free molecular imaging with sensitivity to various dispersion-causing and absorptive biomolecules that play an important role in diseases, including cancer. UHI also provides insight into structure of biological samples by yielding quantitative phase maps with subcellular spatial resolution and nanometer-scaled sensitivity. In this work, we give a detailed description of the UHI system, signal processing methods, and demonstrate its ability to quantify the dispersive and absorptive properties of biological samples in the deep-UV spectral region (240-450 nm). We will show dispersion, absorption, and quantitative phase data from red blood cells, as well as nucleated cells (e.g., granulocytes). We will also assess the deep-UV dispersion and absorptive properties of important biomolecules (e.g., DNA, RNA, NADH, FAD, collagen, cytochrome C, and hemoglobin). Finally, we will discuss potential biomedical applications, including identification of various blood abnormalities and imaging of histology slides for cancer detection and staging.
PassiveRETRO: Enabling Completely Passive Visible Light Localization for IoT Applications

Identifying the accurate location of small objects is a key element of Internet of Things (IoT). This paper investigates the feasibility of tracking the real-time location of a completely passive retroreflector using visible light for IoT applications. Existing ultra-low power visible light retroreflector systems modulate light with a liquid crystal display (LCD) shutter, which is powered by a solar cell. However, the solar cell costs additional space exclusively for energy harvesting, and it may not be able to supply enough power to the advanced power-hungry LCD shutter and its driver circuit. To eliminate the power supply, we design, implement and evaluate PassiveRETRO, an enhanced retroreflector-based visible light localization system. The PassiveRETRO system completely eliminates the necessity of any electronic component on the IoT devices. Polarization-based modulation and bandpass optical filters are adopted to identify the retroreflected optical signal and create multiple channels. Each IoT device operates on a specific range of the visible light spectrum. Optical rotatory dispersion is further applied to mitigate the mutual interference among different channels. Experimental results from our prototyped system show that PassiveRETRO is robust to environmental reflection and can still achieve centimeter-level location accuracy when multiple IoT devices are deployed.
Accelerated blood clearance of targeted ultrasound contrast reduced molecular imaging signal intensity: Secreted Frizzled Related Protein-2 signal remained significantly higher than signal from either Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 or alpha V beta 3 integrin

Multiple doses of polyethylene glycol (PEG) decorated pharmaceuticals cause accelerated blood clearance (ABC) due to the generation of antibodies reactive to the PEG moiety. Using molecular imaging to monitor response to therapy could be complicated by the ABC effect due to PEG chains in microbubble lipid shells. Our objective was to measure the half-life of targeted contrast flowing through non-tumor tissue during longitudinal imaging studies, and to determine which targeted agent returned the highest signal intensity within tumors. The molecular imaging signals from contrast agents targeted to three distinct molecular targets, Secreted Frizzled-Related Protein-2 (SFRP2), Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 (VEGFR2), AlphaVBeta3 Integrin (avb3) were all significantly correlated to contrast half-life. The molecular imaging signal from SFRP2 remained significantly higher than the signal returned by ultrasound contrast targeted to either VEGFR2 or avb3 before and after restricting analyses to imaging exams with similar half-lives. We hypothesize that increasing immune clearance rates during our longitudinal studies limited the amount of targeted contrast able to perfuse tumor vasculature, and that this resulted in a global dose-dependent decrease in molecular imaging signals. Molecular imaging may underestimate biomarker levels as longitudinal studies progress and as contrast half-lives decrease, unless contrast dosing is normalized by the amount of contrast able to reach the tumor and surrounding tissue rather than by the injected dosage.
Aqueous solubility of beryllium(II) at physiological pH: effects of buffer composition and counterions

Beryllium ion elicits p53-mediated cell cycle arrest in some types of human cancer cells, and it is a potent inhibitor of GSK3 kinase activity. Paradoxically, Be2+ is regarded to have almost neglig...
Neurogenic bowel and bladder evaluation strategies in spinal cord injury: New directions.

Depending upon level and completeness of injury, spinal cord injury (SCI) is associated with a range of comorbidities that can limit functional independence, mobility and socialization. These condi...
Mutual caregiving: Living meaningfully as an older couple.

BACKGROUND More older couples are living independently while managing chronic health conditions. Though research is replete in identifying the influence of spouse's behaviours on each other's health, there is little known of the specific factors underlying the older couples' relational processes to explain this dynamic. Knowledge development is needed to provide a grounding for interventions to address such influences to improve health and well-being. AIM The aim of this study was to advance the understanding of older couples' experiences of living with chronic health conditions to gain insights into the potential benefits of 'being a couple' to manage behavioural health and life adjustments. METHOD A hermeneutic-dialectic phenomenology design based on Newman's theory of Health as Expanding Consciousness was used. Fourteen older couples were jointly interviewed. The interviews were non-structured and designed to capture their experience as a couple. RESULTS Three themes emerged (a) living meaningfully through mutual caregiving, (b) a pattern of spousal movement facilitating change and (c) co-creating as an older couple to move forward. CONCLUSION The study supports reframing older couple's care as a 'dyad of care'. This approach provides an opportunity to leverage the couples' mutuality to support health management as a couple. A motivation to action process between the spouses appeared to enable mutual caregiving, a reliance of each spouse on the another for identity, socialisation, health and daily living, which facilitated an evolving understanding of their lives and its meaning. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Mutual caregiving should be acknowledged as a significant relational dynamic within older couples, as a dyad of care, when managing health and well-being.
Skeletal Muscle and Peripheral Nerve Histopathology in COVID-19.

Objective To explore the spectrum of skeletal muscle and nerve pathology of patients who died after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and to assess for direct viral invasion of these tissues. Methods Psoas muscle and femoral nerve sampled from 35 consecutive autopsies of patients who died after SARS-CoV-2 infection and 10 SARS-CoV-2–negative controls were examined under light microscopy. Clinical and laboratory data were obtained by chart review. Results In SARS-CoV-2–positive patients, mean age at death was 67.8 years (range 43–96 years), and the duration of symptom onset to death ranged from 1 to 49 days. Four patients had neuromuscular symptoms. Peak creatine kinase was elevated in 74% (mean 959 U/L, range 29–8,413 U/L). Muscle showed type 2 atrophy in 32 patients, necrotizing myopathy in 9, and myositis in 7. Neuritis was seen in 9. Major histocompatibility complex-1 (MHC-1) expression was observed in all cases of necrotizing myopathy and myositis and in 8 additional patients. Abnormal expression of myxovirus resistance protein A (MxA) was present on capillaries in muscle in 9 patients and in nerve in 7 patients. SARS-CoV-2 immunohistochemistry was negative in muscle and nerve in all patients. In the 10 controls, muscle showed type 2 atrophy in all patients, necrotic muscle fibers in 1, MHC-1 expression in nonnecrotic/nonregenerating fibers in 3, MxA expression on capillaries in 2, and inflammatory cells in none, and nerves showed no inflammatory cells or MxA expression. Conclusions Muscle and nerve tissue demonstrated inflammatory/immune-mediated damage likely related to release of cytokines. There was no evidence of direct SARS-CoV-2 invasion of these tissues. Classification of Evidence This study provides Class IV evidence that muscle and nerve biopsies document a variety of pathologic changes in patients dying of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Cross-border Outsourcing: U.S. International Tax Pitfalls, Pratfalls, and Opportunities

During the past decade, there has been a surge in outsourcing by businesses both in the United States and abroad. In the face of this surge in outsourcing as well as the trend toward outsourcing activities that come closer and closer to a business' "core," some commentators have underscored the need for businesses to make an educated decision about whether and what to outsource. This article, which, as its title indicates, is particularly concerned with cross-border outsourcing, is written in the same vein. It provides a non-exhaustive examination of the myriad of circumstances under which a decision to outsource the provision of goods or the performance of services to a foreign provider can affect the application of the U.S. international tax regime to the outsourcing business. The purpose of this article is to foster greater awareness of the sometimes dissonant tax aspects of cross-border outsourcing and thereby impel businesses and their legal advisors to take a more holistic view of the decision to outsource - a view that encompasses not only the potential business benefits and detriments of a decision to outsource, but also the potential tax benefits and detriments of such a decision.
Addressing the Dichotomy of Federal Affordable Housing Policy and Program Implementation

Two of the most popular Affordable Housing initiatives administered by the Federal Government are the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) Program administered by The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Program administered by the Treasury Department. Although the two programs have significant programmatic differences, they both serve the same end. They provide affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans. However, there is a distinct divergence in the Federal Government’s policy regarding affordable housing and the concentration of poverty. In the last few decades, HUD has been ushering in a subtle, yet pervasive, change in affordable housing policy with the near-wholesale transition from Public Housing (typified by the ‘Housing Project’ or Developments) to Housing Choice Voucher which permits participants to select any rental unit in the private market. Unlike Public Housing which is predominantly located in areas of high-poverty, the HCV program works, not only by HUD’s design but by effect, to deconcentrate affordable housing options. Conversely the LIHTC program provides a substantial incentive in the construction of affordable housing options in areas that are designated by HUD to be either a Difficult Development Area or Qualified Census Tract. These areas often represent areas of extreme poverty, high crime, delinquency, psychological distress, various health problems, low property values, poor schools, and few employment or transportation options. The LIHTC approach seems, in effect, to provide affordable housing to areas where those who need it the most currently live, rather than rewarding development that would serve to draw those individuals from impoverished areas. While the QCT/DDAs were determined solely by HUD, the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 now permits the state housing finance agency to determine which areas are considered DDAs. This has led to a disparate application of standards throughout the country.
Variable-Scale Coarse-Graining in Macromolecular Global Optimization

We discuss the use of variable-scale coarse-graining for global minimization of macromolecular energy functions and compare three related methods. The Diffusion Equation Method and Adiabatic Gaussian Density Annealing are briefly reviewed and our Packet Annealing Method is discussed in more detail. All three methods dissect the global minimization problem into a sequence of local minimization problems on smoothed objective functions. They differ in the use of either energy averaging or free-energy averaging, the degree of anisotropy allowed in the objective function smoothing, and in tracking either single or multiple trajectories during the annealing procedure. Energy landscape scaling properties, which characterize the suitability of a potential landscape for this type of approach, are are also discussed.
Restoration Ecology: Principles

Restoration is defined as natural resource repair of an ecosystem which has been disturbed or damaged. The ecosystem is restored as closely as possible to its condition prior to the damage or disturbance (U. S. Research Council, 1992, p. 18). Both the structure and the functions of the ecosystem are recreated. Merely recreating the form without the functions, or the functions in an artificial configuration bearing little resemblance to a natural resource, does not constitute restoration. The goal is to emulate a natural, functioning, self-regulating system that is integrated with the ecological landscape in which it occurs. A major new issue for restoration ecology is the increased probability that a planetary state shift is in progress or likely to occur. A planetary state shift produces major alterations in the biosphere, resulting from major shifts in physical and chemical conditions. Restoration to predisturbance condition becomes increasingly improbable on such a major scale. Key Concepts: Ecological restoration to predisturbance condition, or an approximation thereof, is possible. Restoration should include both structure and function. At present, ecological damage markedly exceeds ecological repair. The goal of restoration is to emulate a natural, functioning, self-regulating system that is integrated with the ecological landscape in which it occurs. Biological, physical and chemical monitoring are essential to determine if pre-existing quality conditions have been met. A team qualified to take remedial action must be in place to take action if monitoring shows that quality control conditions are not being met. A restoration project must include a specific project mission, goals and objectives and a schematic restoration scenario. Restoring to predisturbance condition may not be possible due to climate change, so a constructed ecosystem may be the alternative. If a self-maintaining system cannot be achieved, subsidies may be essential. Restoration projects are never risk free, so attention should be given to the reasons that projects fail. Keywords: ecological restoration; restoration ecology; natural resource repair; assessing restoration success; restoration planning checklist; planetary state shift
Development of robust microvalves for large flow rate robust hydraulic actuators

A robust microvalve has been designed, fabricated and tested for large flow rate robust hydraulic actuators. The objectives for the hydraulic actuator, same for the microvalve, are challenging for MEMS based microvalves with large flow rate (10 cc/sec), large pressure support ability (up to 10 MPa) and able to operate at frequency (10 kHz). The designed microvalve meets all these requirements based on the simulation results with micro reinforced valve flap and a valve stopper. The flow rate of the microvalve tested is about 20 cc/sec under pressure of 50 psi and no damages identified during repeating tests.
Computer-based modeling of impacts of Prunus africana on groundwater in Northwestern Cameroon

AbstractThe community of Ntisaw in Northwestern Cameroon originally partnered with the Engineers Without Borders chapter at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2008 to design a gravity-fed distribution network for an existing groundwater source. The system, which was completed in 2012, continues to provide year-round access to clean water via public tapstands placed at convenient locations throughout the village, thereby reducing the time and labor needed to carry water and the threat of waterborne disease. However, the source itself is still at risk from contamination from cattle fecal matter. To ensure the water remains clean, the community has completed construction of a wood and barbed wire fence around the catchment area. In partnership with Agence Nationale d’Appui au devloppement FORestier (ANAFOR), the Cameroonian forestry agency, Ntisaw has also begun planting a grove of Prunus africana (African almond) trees that will provide income for the community as well as protection for the c...
Racial variations in processes of care for patients with community-acquired pneumonia.

Patients hospitalized with community acquired pneumonia (CAP) have a substantial risk of death, but there is evidence that adherence to certain processes of care, including antibiotic administration within 8 hours, can decrease this risk. Although national mortality data shows blacks have a substantially increased odds of death due to pneumonia as compared to whites previous studies of short-term mortality have found decreased mortality for blacks. Therefore we examined pneumonia-related processes of care and short-term mortality in a population of patients hospitalized with CAP. We reviewed the records of all identified Medicare beneficiaries hospitalized for pneumonia between 10/1/1998 and 9/30/1999 at one of 101 Pennsylvania hospitals, and randomly selected 60 patients at each hospital for inclusion. We reviewed the medical records to gather process measures of quality, pneumonia severity and demographics. We used Medicare administrative data to identify 30-day mortality. Because only a small proportion of the study population was black, we included all 240 black patients and randomly selected 720 white patients matched on age and gender. We performed a resampling of the white patients 10 times. Males were 43% of the cohort, and the median age was 76 years. After controlling for potential confounders, blacks were less likely to receive antibiotics within 8 hours (odds ratio with 95% confidence interval 0.6, 0.4–0.97), but were as likely as whites to have blood cultures obtained prior to receiving antibiotics (0.7, 0.3–1.5), to have oxygenation assessed within 24 hours of presentation (1.6, 0.9–3.0), and to receive guideline concordant antibiotics (OR 0.9, 0.6–1.7). Black patients had a trend towards decreased 30-day mortality (0.4, 0.2 to 1.0). Although blacks were less likely to receive optimal care, our findings are consistent with other studies that suggest better risk-adjusted survival among blacks than among whites. Further study is needed to determine why this is the case.
Approach/Positive Anticipation, Frustration/Anger, and Overt Aggression in Childhood

We examined mothers' ratings of children's affective and behavioral aspects of approach tendencies and links with overt aggressive behavior problems while considering the genetic etiology of these processes. Approach/positive anticipation (AP), frustration/anger (FA), and overt aggression in 4-9-year-olds were assessed using mothers' reports in a diverse national sample (n=992) and a sample of same-sex twins (n=195 pairs). AP and FA were positively correlated with each other and with overt aggression (r from .2 to .5), and these associations were very similar for boys and girls. AP and FA provided overlapping as well as independent statistical prediction of aggression. AP statistical prediction of aggression was substantially mediated by FA, an effect that was accounted for by underlying genetic and nonshared environmental influences.
Sensitivity analysis of hyperelastic-viscoplastic solids undergoing large deformations

This paper presents a new algorithm for sensitivity recovery in nonlinear solid mechanics problems. The material behavior is modeled by a unified viscoplastic constitutive model, together with a hyperelastic law. This algorithm is derived by the direct differentiation approach (DDA). The accuracy of this scheme is validated through several numerical tests. The agreement between the results obtained by the present method, and those from analytical or direct integration methods, is excellent. This algorithm can be implemented in a sensitivity version of the standard finite element method (FEM) or boundary element method (BEM) to obtain sensitivity coefficients for more general problems such as those for metal forming processes.
Black Holes and the Fate of a Closed Universe

To date observations have not yet unequivocally determined whether the universe is open or closed. Although for the luminous matter Ω≲0.1, the possibility of existence of non-luminous matter (especially if the neutrino has a non-zero mass) leaves ground for considering that the universe may indeed be closed. In this case the universe is expected to recollapse and become again, at a time to, radiation dominated. Hence R(t) ~ (tf-t)1/2 ~ 1/T (t), where tf is the time of collapse to the singularity and T is the temperature. During this new radiation dominated era, a black hole of mass Mo will accrete at a rate $$ \frac{{dM}}{{dt}} \simeq 4\pi {r^2}(t)\rho (t)c $$ (1) where ρ(t) ≃ αT4(t) and r(t) = 2GM(t)/c2. Eq (1) upon integration yields $$ \frac{M}{{{M_o}}} = {\left[ {1 - \frac{{4\pi_o^2{\rho_o}c{\tau_o}}}{{{M_o}}}\left( {\frac{{{\tau_o}}}{\tau } - 1} \right)} \right]^{{ - 1}}} \simeq {\left[ {1 - \frac{{4\pi_o^2{\rho_o}c{\tau_o}}}{{{M_o}}}\frac{{{\tau_o}}}{\tau }} \right]^{{ - 1}}} $$ (2) (All subscript zero quantities are taken at t = to). Eq (2)2 shows that the mass of the black hole diverges when τo/τ ~ Mo/4πro ρo cτo where τo = tf - to.
Inhibition of angiogenesis by a monoclonal antibody to kininogen as well as by kininostatin which block proangiogenic high molecular weight kininogen

High molecular weight kininogen (HK) exhibits two activities with respect to angiogenesis after cleavage by plasma kallikrein. Cleaved HK (HKa) and its cell-binding domain 5 (D5), kininostatin, are potent antiangiogenic polypeptides. They inhibit endothelial cell migration, proliferation and tube formation. HKa and D5 inhibit angiogenesis in the chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. D5 stimulates apoptosis and interferes with the cell cycle. In contrast, intact HK is proangiogenic by liberating bradykinin. A monoclonal antibody to HK can inhibit angiogenesis in the CAM assay, human colon carcinoma growing as a xenograft in nude mice, and murine hybridomas growing in syngeneic hosts. Not only are the tumors decreased in volume and weight to isotype controls but the mean vascular density is decreased. Thus, both D5 and its constituent peptide and monoclonal antibody have potential for inhibiting angiogenesis and tumor growth in human therapy.
International Uncertainty, Foreign Policy Flexibility, and Surplus Majority Coalitions in Israel

This article explains the prevalence of surplus majority government coalitions in Israel as a result of the interaction between international uncertainty and the need to preserve both government stability and latitude in the conduct of foreign policy. I develop a game-theoretic model of government formation in which the international environment is a source of uncertainty for the policy preferences of the prime minister. The model predicts that when uncertainty is high enough, it is optimal for the prime minister to establish an oversized coalition government. By including expendable parties in a government, the prime minister has greater freedom to modify foreign policy in response to the international environment without jeopardizing majority status in parliament. The logic of the model is analyzed through two case studies: Menachem Begin, 1977-1981, and Ehud Barak, 1999-2000. The findings of the model have larger theoretical implications for the connection between domestic politics and international re...
Diminishing Marginal Utility of Wealth and Calibration of Risk in Agriculture

Expected utility theory (EUT) has dominated the agricultural economics literature on behavior under risk, particularly since the late 1970s. In EUT, risk preferences are completely defined by the curvature of the utility function. An expected utility maximizer with a concave utility curve would avoid choices that represent a greater wealth risk. Estimates of risk aversion coefficients, based on assumed utility functional forms, have been valued in predicting producers' responses to proposed policy (see Saha, Shumway, and Talpaz for a review). Yet, these estimates are biased if there are omitted variables (such as knowledge, understanding, and managerial expertise) that are related to the probability distribution of profit. If the production function is jointly estimated with the utility function, then the riskincreasing or risk-reducing properties of production inputs may also wrongly be ascribed to the concavity of the utility function. Since Allais, substantial evidence has been accumulated to suggest systematic flaws in EUT, mostly in experimental settings with small stakes. Applied economists have regarded these violations as exceptions due to the special circumstances surrounding their observation. Recently, Rabin showed that attributing all risk behavior in small gambles solely to diminishing marginal utility of wealth leads to improbable levels of risk aversion. His calibration theorem, based on dichotomous choices, suggests that a person who turns down a lottery with a 0.5 probability of winning $125 and 0.5 probability of losing $100, will always turn down any bet with a 0.5 chance of losing $600, no matter how large of a gain may be had with the remaining 0.5 probability. We generalize Rabin's work to continuous payoff distributions and continuous choice problems to show that his criticism extends to realistic risky situations. The concavity problem is not limited to small money risks. Rather, when risky choices have similar average payouts, utility functions must display ridiculous levels of concavity to predict individual choices. Below, we present our general calibration problem and apply the results to an empirical risk study in agricultural economics to illustrate the unintended consequences of using EUT to explain risk response.
Bids and contracts: The state environment

Abstract Whereas the process of competitive procurement has historically been a source of frustration for acquisitions librarians, the author posits that the process can be desirable. She briefly discusses the background of competitive procurement in libraries, describes the state environment, furnishes up-to-date impressions of the process, and defends her thesis. Advice on the implementation of a bid procedure is offered to librarians.
Contemporary management of vascular complications associated with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

Objectives There has been debate regarding the safety of performing elective procedures in patients with vascular manifestations associated with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS). The purpose of this study was to review the surgical management and clinical outcomes of EDS patients undergoing vascular procedures at a tertiary medical center with multimodality expertise in connective tissue disorders. Methods All patients with EDS undergoing endovascular and open vascular procedures at a single-institution academic medical center from 1994 to 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical data were evaluated including patient demographics, length of stay (LOS), and mortality outcomes during hospital course and long-term follow-up. Results A total of 40 patients with EDS were identified, including individuals diagnosed with classic (n = 15), hypermobility (n = 16), and vascular (n = 9) types of EDS. These patients collectively underwent 45 endovascular and 18 open procedures for vascular disease during the time period, including embolization (n = 37), angioplasty (n = 8), arterial bypass (n = 5), and aortic aneurysm repair (n = 13). All cases were performed electively, except for one (2%) urgent endovascular and one (5%) emergent open procedure. Endovascular procedures were associated with a median LOS (interquartile range [IQR]) of 2 (1 to 3) days with no procedure-related mortality or in-hospital deaths among all EDS types, whereas open vascular procedures had median LOS (IQR) of 6 (5 to 8) days with one (6%) in-hospital death occurring in a vascular EDS patient. Survival free of any complication at 5 years was 85% and 54% following endovascular and open procedures, respectively. Conclusions The elective surgical management of vascular disorders in EDS patients using open and endovascular procedures has been associated with good outcomes. Our results suggest that vascular interventions in these EDS patients can be safely performed and should not be withheld until rupture or acute symptoms arise.
Translational control by CPEB: a means to the end

The regulated translation of messenger RNA is essential for cell-cycle progression, establishment of the body plan during early development, and modulation of key activities in the central nervous system. Cytoplasmic polyadenylation, which is one mechanism of controlling translation, is driven by CPEB — a highly conserved, sequence-specific RNA-binding protein that binds to the cytoplasmic polyadenylation element, and modulates translational repression and mRNA localization. What are the features and functions of this multifaceted protein?
Cavernous angioma presenting as atypical facial and head pain.

Recurrent headache is a common pediatric problem. As the differential diagnosis of headache is extensive, physicians rely on the mode of presentation to focus any investigation. A report of an adolescent in whom atypical facial and head pain caused by a preexisting cerebellar cavernous angioma is presented. Facial pain and headache resolved following excision of the tumor. (J Child Neurol 1990;5:27-30).
Radiographic parameters in adult epiglottitis

A retrospective study was undertaken to define precise radiographic criteria for the diagnosis of epiglottitis in the adult. We reviewed the standard lateral neck films of six patients over the age of 18 with epiglottitis and five with a normal epiglottis. Radiographic anatomy measured included the angle of the valleculae, retropharyngeal soft tissue width at C2, retrotracheal soft tissue width at C6, width of the epiglottis, width of the aryepiglottic folds, and the hypopharyngeal to tracheal air column ratio. The measurement diferences were significant between the groups only for the width of the epiglottis and aryepiglottic folds (P
Platelet-derived growth factor receptors and phospholipase C activation.

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) has been assigned a broad range of biological roles in contexts ranging from development and oncogenesis to wound healing and atherogenesis [1]. Originally assayed as mitogenic activity released from platelets, it is now appreciated that, in addition to its proliferative actions, PDGF stimulates other processes including chemoattraction, deposition of extracellular matrix and neuronotropism. All these biological activies are mediated through transmembrane cell surface tyrosine kinase receptors.
Development of combination tapered fiber-optic biosensor dip probe for quantitative estimation of interleukin-6 in serum samples

A combination tapered fiber-optic biosensor (CTFOB) dip probe for rapid and cost-effective quantification of proteins in serum samples has been developed. This device relies on diode laser excitation and a charged-coupled device spectrometer and functions on a technique of sandwich immunoassay. As a proof of principle, this technique was applied in a quantitative estimation of interleukin IL-6. The probes detected IL-6 at picomolar levels in serum samples obtained from a patient with lupus, an autoimmune disease, and a patient with lymphoma. The estimated concentration of IL-6 in the lupus sample was 5.9 ± 0.6 pM, and in the lymphoma sample, it was below the detection limit. These concentrations were verified by a procedure involving bead-based xMAP technology. A similar trend in the concentrations was observed. The specificity of the CTFOB dip probes was assessed by analysis with receiver operating characteristics. This analysis suggests that the dip probes can detect 5-pM or higher concentration of IL-6 in these samples with specificities of 100%. The results provide information for guiding further studies in the utilization of these probes to quantify other analytes in body fluids with high specificity and sensitivity.
Long-term graft patency (3 years) after coronary artery surgery. Effects of aspirin: results of a VA Cooperative study.

BACKGROUNDThe long-term success of coronary bypass surgery is dependent on graft patency after surgery. This trial was designed to determine if aspirin improved saphenous vein graft or internal mammary artery (IMA) graft patency between 1 and 3 years after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).METHODS AND RESULTSAfter receiving aspirin 325 mg/d for 1 year after CABG and undergoing a 1-year postoperative cardiac catheterization, patients were randomized to receive either aspirin (325 mg) or placebo for 2 additional years. Angiography was performed 3 years after surgery to determine the primary end point-saphenous vein graft patency in 288 patients and IMA graft patency in 167 patients. At 3 years after CABG, the saphenous vein graft occlusion rate was 17.0% (62 of 365) for patients treated with aspirin compared with 19.7% (74 of 376) for those who received placebo (P = .404). For saphenous vein grafts that were patent at 1 year, the occlusion rate at 3 years was 4.8% (15 of 313) for patients treated with ...
CaO--P2O5--Na2O-based sintering additives for hydroxyapatite (HAp) ceramics.

Abstract We have assessed the effect of CaO–P 2 O 5 –Na 2 O-based sintering additives on mechanical and biological properties of hydroxyapatite (HAp) ceramics. Five different compositions of sintering additives were selected and prepared by mixing of CaO, P 2 O 5 , and Na 2 CO 3 powders. 2.5 wt% of each additive was combined with commercial HAp powder, separately, followed by ball milling, and sintering at 1250°C and 1300°C in a muffle furnace. Green and sintered densities of the compacts were analyzed for the influence of additives on densification of HAp. Phase analyses were carried out using an X-ray diffractometer. Vickers microhardness testing was used to evaluate hardness of sintered compacts of different compositions. A maximum microhardness of 4.6 (±0.28) GPa was attained for a composition with 2.5 wt% addition of CaO:P 2 O 5 :Na 2 O in the ratio of 3:3:4. Results from mechanical property evaluation showed that some of these sintering additives improved failure strength of HAp under compressive loading. Maximum compressive strength was observed for samples with 2.5 wt% addition of CaO. Average failure strength for this set of samples was calculated to be 220 (±50) MPa. Cytotoxicity, and cell attachment studies were carried out using a modified human osteoblast cell line called OPC-1. In vitro results showed that these compositions were non-toxic. Some sintering aids enhanced cell attachment and proliferation, which was revealed from SEM examination of the scaffolds seeded with OPC-1 cells.
Early repair of hemitruncus: Excellent early and late outcomes

Objective Anomalous origin of 1 of the branch pulmonary arteries from the aorta with 2 normal semilunar valves (hemitruncus) is a rare entity. There have been several small case series reported. We report here our single-institution surgical experience with hemitruncus from 1982 to 2006. Methods A retrospective case review of all cases of conotruncal anomalies at Children's Hospital Boston revealed 16 patients with hemitruncus. Ten patients had surgery in the neonatal period ( Results There was 1 operative death in this series in an infant who died from sepsis following ligation of a tracheoesophageal fistula. One patient required reoperation for supravalvar aortic stenosis and right pulmonary artery stenosis 1 year postoperatively. Three patients required 4 catheter-based interventions postoperatively. At 20 years, survival by Kaplan–Meier was 93%; freedom from reoperation, 93%; and freedom from catheter reintervention, 79%. Conclusions Early repair of hemitruncus results in excellent hemodynamic and anatomic results. Survival is excellent, with a low incidence of reoperation or reintervention.
Do Parental Stressors and Avoidance Coping Mediate Between Parental Depression and Offspring Depression? A 23-Year Follow-Up

We examined whether parents' stressors and avoidance coping when offspring were children helped to explain associations between parent depression at baseline and offspring's avoidance coping and depression in adulthood. Self-report data were collected at baseline and 1 year from parents (N = 326) and at 23 years from adult offspring (N = 326). Associations between parents' depression symptoms at baseline, and their adult offspring's depression symptoms and avoidance coping 23 years later, were partially explained by parents' reliance on avoidance coping in response to negative events at 1 year after baseline.
Spontaneous in vitro neoplastic evolution: recurrent chromosome changes of newly immortalized Chinese hamster cells.

Abstract Spontaneous neoplastic progression in cultured Chinese hamster cells was studied at the earliest stage possible. Eighteen independent newly immortalized cell populations (from six individual chinese hamsters) were characterized for karyotype instability. Colonies were selected from initial sparse platings of adult or fetal cells and were expanded for study. The chromosomes from these newly established cell lines were studied using a combination of G-banding and flow karyotype analysis. At a slightly later passage, the 18 cell lines were tested for tumorigenicity in nude mice. Frequent recurring chromosome changes were observed in the karyotypes. The most frequent changes were either total or partial trisomy of chromosome #3 (83%) and trisomy of chromosome #5 (61%). Only 4 of 18 clones (22%) were tumorigenic at the time of testing, and these had long latent periods. The presence of recurrent chromosome changes did not obligate these cell lines to become tumorigenic, but the karyotype instability appeared to be an indicator of the ongoing process of neoplasia.
Does the Presence of Transverse Sinus Stenosis (TSS) Influence the Clinical Presentation and Outcome of Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH) (P07.266)

Objective: To evaluate differences in characteristics and visual outcomes between IIH patients with and without TSS. Background TSS is common in IIH, but its effect on the course and outcome of IIH is unknown. Design/Methods: All IIH patients seen in our institution between 9/2009 and 9/2011 who underwent brain MRV or CTV were included. Patients were separated into two groups based on the presence or absence of TSS. Patient characteristics, presenting symptoms/signs, and visual outcomes were recorded. All visual fields (VF; HVF/GVF) were graded as [1]=normal; [2]=blind spot enlargement; [3]=nasal/temporal defect; or [4]=diffuse constriction. Univariate statistics and linear regression were applied. Results: 134 patients were included: 49 with TSS (48 bilateral), 85 without TSS. There were no differences between the two groups with respect to mean age (29vs.27years, p=0.26), black race (53%vs.42%, p=0.23), female sex (92%vs.84%, p=0.17), mean BMI (36vs.37, p=0.38), or mean CSF-OP (38cm vs. 38 cm, p=0.99). Headache frequency in the two groups was similar at baseline (82%vs.81%, p=0.95) and at last follow up (41%vs.50%, p=0.36). Grade of papilledema, visual acuity, and VF were similar at baseline, but initial HVF mean deviation (HVF-MD) was better in the TSS group than in the no-TSS group (-4.8vs.-6.8, p=0.08). There was no medical or surgical therapy difference by TSS status. At last follow-up, grade of papilledema, visual acuity, and VF were similar. However, the no-TSS group had significantly more improvement in VF-grade (-0.60vs-0.28, p=0.049) and HVF-MD (3.0vs.1, p=0.026) than the TSS group. Linear regression suggested that the worse HVF-MD among no-TSS patients at baseline better predicted their degree of improvement than the patient9s TSS status. Conclusions: While TSS was found in 37% of IIH patients, the presence of TSS did not have a substantial impact on outcomes. Our findings do not support routine TSS stenting in IIH. Disclosure: Dr. Riggeal has nothing to disclose. Dr. Bruce has nothing to disclose. Dr. Saindane has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kelly has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ridha has nothing to disclose. Dr. Newman has received personal compensation for activities with Biogen Idec. Dr. Biousse has nothing to disclose.
Belief, Affect, and Attitude: Alternative Models of the Determinants of Attitude

A recent debate in the Journal of Consumer Psychology illustrates many of the unresolved issues concerning the development and application of models to predict attitude. A central issue in the debate is whether a noncognitive factor, such as affect, may exert a direct influence on attitude, or whether its influence is mediated by the cognitive structure. We describe the results of two studies designed to determine (a) whether affect and attitude are separate constructs and (b) whether affect influences attitude independently of cognitive structure. The studies address the methodological criticisms levied against previous research and provide results to indicate that affect does influence attitudes directly and independently of cognitive structure.
The SSA-MTM Toolkit: applications to analysis and prediction of time series

A toolkit of software for advanced spectral methods has been in the public domain since 1995 and an extensive revision has been made available on the Worldwide Web in Spring 1997. The toolkit emphasizes, besides the more traditional Blackman- Tukey and maximum-entropy methods, singular-spectrum analysis (SSA) and the multi-taper method (MTM); hence its name. The original developers of the SSA Toolkit (at first), the researchers involved in its recent extension as an SSA-MTM toolkit, and many independent investigators have applied successive versions of the toolkit to a variety of practical problems. Some of the methodological basics are reviewed, and applications to time-series prediction are outlined.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Serials Services and Records Unit: Genealogy and General Information

In the beginning there was the Documents Checklist, which became the Continuations Checklist, which became the Check List, which begat the prodigal Current Check List, which became the Visible File and part of the Check List again, in plenty of time to see the Check List officially become the Central Serials Record, which now is incorporating the Current Serials Service, formerly the Periodical Reading Room and more formerly, the Gold Star Collection. Now, Serials Services and Records embraces them all. Whatever you call it, the Check List is a main entry file containing all there is to know about serials holdings and acquisitions for the entire University Library system. If we keep it, discard it, or send it uncataloged, it's in the Check List. How we got it or how we get it (exchange, gift, standing order or separate order) is on the holding cards. There are order slips for new orders, and sometimes for awfully old ones. All this information is available if you understand how to use the Check List. In the past, the Check List has contained current recordings for everything except quarterly and more frequently received periodicals. In the future, the only regularly received serials that will .be recorded in the Check List are bound volumes; monographic titles that are analyzed or classed separately; and most multiple series. Everything else that is regularly received (including microfilm) will be in the Kardex (or Visible File), whichever we decide to call it.
Are Strong Irradiance Fluctuations Log Normal or Rayleigh Distributed

Probability distributions of fluctuating irradiance data from experiments involving light propagation through turbulent air indicate log-normal behavior. Nevertheless, the dependence of the variance upon wave-number, turbulence strength, and propagation distance is predicted reasonably well by calculations that yield a Rice distribution, but not by other calculations based on a log-normal distribution. We suggest that the discrepancy is caused by infrequent high-irradiance fluctuations, and present an approximate solution of the electric field valid only for high irradiance that extends the lower-irradiance distribution into a log-normal tail.
Comparison of effects of upright versus supine body position and liquid versus solid bolus on esophageal pressures in normal humans

New studies monitoring ambulatory esophageal pressures during food ingestion often compare results to normal values obtained from supine liquid swallows. We compared distal esophageal peristaltic and lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressures in 15 normal subjects during six liquid swallows in the upright and supine positions, and six solid (small marshmallow) swallows in upright position. LES pressures were significantly (P less than 0.05) higher supine than upright but no differences were noted in LES pressure, relaxation, and duration of relaxation between upright solid and liquid swallows. Distal peristaltic wave velocities were faster upright than supine. Peristaltic wave amplitudes, durations, and DP/DT were significantly (P less than 0.05) greater in supine than in upright position. Atypical wave forms, defined as nontransmitted, simultaneous, and simultaneous/repetitive, increased in the upright position compared to supine (P less than 0.01), and during solid vs liquid swallows (P less than 0.05). These results indicate that body position substantially affects normal distal esophageal peristalsis and LES pressure and that "abnormal" wave forms occur more frequently during swallowing solids than liquids in the upright position. Conclusions regarding "abnormal" motility over prolonged periods and during food ingestion in patients should be tempered by these findings.
Frequency measurement of optically pumped FIR laser emissions from the CH3OD methanol isotope

A three-laser heterodyne system has been used to measure the frequencies of seven previously observed optically pumped FIR laser emissions generated by the CH3OD methanol isotope. The frequencies, measured for the first time, are reported with fractional uncertainties up to ±2×10-7 for laser emissions ranging in wavelength from 80.1 to 183.3 μm. A previously measured FIR laser emission from CH3OD, observed at 57.2 μm, was also re-measured in this work.