cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SANTIS: Sampling-Augmented Neural neTwork with Incoherent Structure for MR image reconstruction.

PURPOSE To develop and evaluate a novel deep learning-based reconstruction framework called SANTIS (Sampling-Augmented Neural neTwork with Incoherent Structure) for efficient MR image reconstruction with improved robustness against sampling pattern discrepancy. METHODS With a combination of data cycle-consistent adversarial network, end-to-end convolutional neural network mapping, and data fidelity enforcement for reconstructing undersampled MR data, SANTIS additionally utilizes a sampling-augmented training strategy by extensively varying undersampling patterns during training, so that the network is capable of learning various aliasing structures and thereby removing undersampling artifacts more effectively and robustly. The performance of SANTIS was demonstrated for accelerated knee imaging and liver imaging using a Cartesian trajectory and a golden-angle radial trajectory, respectively. Quantitative metrics were used to assess its performance against different references. The feasibility of SANTIS in reconstructing dynamic contrast-enhanced images was also demonstrated using transfer learning. RESULTS Compared to conventional reconstruction that exploits image sparsity, SANTIS achieved consistently improved reconstruction performance (lower errors and greater image sharpness). Compared to standard learning-based methods without sampling augmentation (e.g., training with a fixed undersampling pattern), SANTIS provides comparable reconstruction performance, but significantly improved robustness, against sampling pattern discrepancy. SANTIS also achieved encouraging results for reconstructing liver images acquired at different contrast phases. CONCLUSION By extensively varying undersampling patterns, the sampling-augmented training strategy in SANTIS can remove undersampling artifacts more robustly. The novel concept behind SANTIS can particularly be useful for improving the robustness of deep learning-based image reconstruction against discrepancy between training and inference, an important, but currently less explored, topic.
Chemokine CCR5 and cocaine interactions in the brain: Cocaine enhances mesolimbic CCR5 mRNA levels and produces place preference and locomotor activation that are reduced by a CCR5 antagonist.

Abstract C-C chemokine receptor type 5, also known as CCR5 or CD195, is best known as a viral co-receptor that facilitates entry of HIV into cells. Evidence that CCR5 knockout mice display fewer dopamine neurons, lower striatal dopamine levels, and reduced locomotor activation compared to wild types also suggest a link between CCR5 receptors and cocaine dependence. Here, we tested the hypothesis using male Sprague-Dawley rats that cocaine-induced locomotor activation and conditioned place preference (CPP) are inhibited by a FDA-approved CCR5 antagonist (maraviroc), and that CCR5 gene expression in mesolimbic substrates is enhanced by repeated cocaine exposure. Pretreatment with maraviroc (1, 2.5, 5 mg/kg, IP) reduced hyperlocomotion induced by acute cocaine (10 mg/kg) without affecting spontaneous locomotor activity. For CPP experiments, rats conditioned with cocaine (10 mg/kg × 4 days, IP) were injected with maraviroc (1, 2.5, 5 mg/kg, IP) before each injection of cocaine. Maraviroc dose-dependently inhibited development of cocaine CPP, with a dose of 5 mg/kg producing a significant reduction. In rats treated repeatedly with cocaine (10 mg/kg × 4 days, IP), CCR5 gene expression was upregulated in the nucleus accumbens and ventral tegmental area but mRNA levels of CCR5 ligands (i.e., CCL3, CCL4 and CCL5) were not affected. Our results suggest that mesolimbic CCR5 receptors are dysregulated by cocaine exposure and, similar to CXCR4 and CCR2 receptors, influence behavioral effects related to the abuse liability of cocaine.
A Ferromagnetic Resonance Measurement System for Small Volume Magnetic Nanowires

This work presents a ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) characterization system for magnetic nanowires on short-circuited coplanar waveguide (CPW) structure. The FMR frequency of cobalt (Co) nanowire chips, with three different volumes-small, medium and large, were measured and compared with Kittel equation. The FMR response of the large chip agrees well with Kittel equation with the mean difference of 0.865GHz. The small and medium chips have higher mean difference values of 1.855GHz and 2.205GHz, respectively. From the FMR response, the signal to noise ratio is reduced as the material volume decreased and resulted in less accurate FMR frequency extraction. Since the lowest detectable signal strength of VNA (Anritsu 37369D) is 0.0002, to detect FMR response accurately for this system, the volume of Co should be greater than 2. 2 ×10−4mm3 and the magnetization should be larger than 317µemu. This paper provides a framework for building identification systems such as nanolabels for low volume biosensing application.
Diagnosing atrial fibrillation by mobile technology: physician decision or device provision?

Atrial fibrillation (AF), estimated to be present in over 30 million people worldwide as of 2010, is expected to increase by 2030 and one in four adults in Europe and the USA will likely develop AF over their lifetime.1 Although anticoagulation has been demonstrated to reduce stroke in patients with AF, stroke may be the first manifestation of AF in up to 25% of patients with AF.2 Screening for AF in vulnerable patients has been recommended.1 Arguably, the modern era of wearable technology was ushered in by the availability of Bluetooth technology in 2002 and has included products made by Garmin, Nike, Fitbit, Google and others over the ensuing decade.3 Industry projections estimate that, by 2020, more than 305 million units will be sold with an annual growth rate of over 55%. One company at the intersection of electrocardiography and portable technology has been AliveCor (Mountain View, California, USA), the makers of the product used in this study. In 2012, AliveCor received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance and CE Mark conformity for using its KardiaMobile product by licensed medical professionals.4 In 2013, doctors were able to prescribe these monitors to patients, and in early 2014, the devices became available for over-the-counter purchase. By late 2014, the FDA granted clearance for the device’s algorithm to detect AF, thereby offering users real-time identification of this arrhythmia. In 2015, the automated algorithms were updated to include ‘normal’ and ‘interference’, in addition to AF. In 2017, the KardiaBand was introduced as an accessory to the Apple Watch to allow users to record ECGs from a wristband and an application on the watch. In 2019, however, AliveCor stopped selling KardiaBand. In April 2019, the FDA cleared the KardiaMobile …
Towards Efficient Human-Robot Collaboration With Robust Plan Recognition and Trajectory Prediction

Human-robot collaboration (HRC) is becoming increasingly important as the paradigm of manufacturing is shifting from mass production to mass customization. The introduction of HRC can significantly improve the flexibility and intelligence of automation. To efficiently finish tasks in HRC systems, the robots need to not only predict the future movements of human, but also more high-level plans, i.e., the sequence of actions to finish the tasks. However, due to the stochastic and time-varying nature of human collaborators, it is quite challenging for the robot to efficiently and accurately identify such task plans and respond in a safe manner. To address this challenge, we propose an integrated human-robot collaboration framework. Both plan recognition and trajectory prediction modules are included for the generation of safe and efficient robotic motions. Such a framework enables the robots to perceive, predict and adapt their actions to the human's work plan and intelligently avoid collisions with the human. Moreover, by explicitly leveraging the hierarchical relationship between plans and trajectories, more robust plan recognition performance can be achieved. Physical experiments were conducted on an industrial robot to verify the proposed framework. The results show that the proposed framework could accurately recognize the human workers’ plans and thus significantly improve the time efficiency of the HRC team even in the presence of motion classification noises.
Cancer neoantigen prioritization through sensitive and reliable proteogenomics analysis.

Genomics-based neoantigen discovery can be enhanced by proteomic evidence, but there remains a lack of consensus on the performance of different quality control methods for variant peptide identification in proteogenomics. We propose to use the difference between accurately predicted and observed retention times for each peptide as a metric to evaluate different quality control methods. To this end, we develop AutoRT, a deep learning algorithm with high accuracy in retention time prediction. Analysis of three cancer data sets with a total of 287 tumor samples using different quality control strategies results in substantially different numbers of identified variant peptides and putative neoantigens. Our systematic evaluation, using the proposed retention time metric, provides insights and practical guidance on the selection of quality control strategies. We implement the recommended strategy in a computational workflow named NeoFlow to support proteogenomics-based neoantigen prioritization, enabling more sensitive discovery of putative neoantigens. Identifying mutation-derived neoantigens by proteogenomics requires robust strategies for quality control. Here, the authors propose peptide retention time as an evaluation metric for proteogenomics quality control methods, and develop a deep learning algorithm for accurate retention time prediction.
Benefits of the Subdural Evacuating Port System (SEPS) Procedure Over Traditional Craniotomy for Subdural Hematoma Evacuation

Background:There remains no consensus on the optimal primary intervention for subdural hematoma (SDH). Although historically favored, craniotomy carries substantial morbidity and incurs significant...
Training School Teachers and Administrators to Support LGBTQ+ Students: A Quantitative Analysis of Change in Beliefs and Behaviors

LGBTQ+ students experience discrimination within schools and increased rates of academic and mental health concerns when compared to heterosexual and cisgender peers. The researchers delivered an L...
Improving healthcare operations management with machine learning

Healthcare institutions need modern and powerful technology to provide high-quality, cost-effective care to patients. However, despite the considerable progress in the computerization and digitization of medicine, efficient and robust management tools have yet to materialize. One important reason for this is the extreme complexity and variability of healthcare operations, the needs of which have outgrown conventional management. Machine learning algorithms, scalable and adaptive to complex patterns, may be particularly well suited to solving these problems. Two major advantages of machine learning—the power of building strong models from a large number of weakly predictive features, and the ability to identify key factors in complex feature sets—have a particularly direct connection to the principal operational challenges. The main goal of this work was to study this relationship using two major types of operational problems: predicting operational events, and identifying key workflow drivers. Using practical examples, we demonstrate how machine learning can improve human ability to understand and manage healthcare operations, leading to more efficient healthcare. While computerization and digitization of medicine have advanced substantially, management tools in healthcare have not yet benefited much from these developments due to the extreme complexity and variability of healthcare operations. The ability of machine learning algorithms to build strong models from a large number of weakly predictive features, and to identify key factors in complex feature sets, is tested in operational problems involving hospital datasets on workflow and patient waiting time.
An Analysis of Spam from Predatory Publications in Library and Information Science

Predatory journals pose a significant threat to the quality of scholarly publication across disciplines, including in library and information science (LIS). These publications are known to target r...
Cardiovascular Impact of Newer Diabetes Medications

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the diabetic patient is both widespread and fatal in nature. In the United States, roughly two-thirds of deaths in diabetic patients are due to CVD. In addition to the increased morbidity and mortality of CVD in a patient with diabetes, the impact of this comorbidity on health care expenditure is staggering. Unfortunately, researches on the effects of strict glycemic control on cardiovascular (CV) events have been unable to demonstrate a conclusive benefit, despite improvement for microvascular complications. Newer glycemic agents, specifically the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors, have shown much more promising cardioprotective properties, and are valuable as an add-on therapy for patients who do not reach their hemoglobin A1c goal on metformin alone. Most of the drugs in GLP-1 RA and SGLT-2 inhibitor class have shown strong cardioprotective effects in well-designed cardiovascular outcome trials and all of them have demonstrated CV safety. Multiple SGLT-2 inhibitors have shown renal protective effects as well as prevent hospitalization for heart failure and hence, should be preferred over GLP-1 RAs in patients with concurrent T2DM and heart failure or CKD.
Prognostic value of FDG PET/CT in the evaluation of hospitalized patients with FUO

547 Objectives The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the prognostic performance of FDG PET/CT in hospitalized patients with a recent history of referring-physician-identified fever of unknown origin (FUO). Methods The Johns Hopkins inpatient PET/CT report database was queried using “fever of unknown origin” and “FUO” as the key words and including scans from 2003 to 2012 in this IRB-approved analysis. A total of 151 patients were identified by these key words who underwent FDG PET/CT to help identify the underlying cause of fever. Seven patients were excluded due to insufficient follow-up data, leaving 144 evaluable patients (48.6% male and median age of 54 years). Each scan impression was assessed on a 5-point scale: 1 - no FUO cause identified, 2 - FUO cause not likely identified, 3 - equivocal identification of FUO cause, 4 - FUO cause probably identified, 5 - FUO cause definitely identified. Receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) analyses were applied to determine whether an equivocal score should be classified as positive or negative. Survival data were obtained from a variety of sources including the patient’s medical record and the social security death index. Clinical follow-up information was used to score each case as a true-positive, true-negative, false-positive, or false-negative and the outcomes of each of these groups were compared. Results Based on ROC analysis, a score of 3 was used as the positive cutoff for PET/CT scores (i.e. a score of 蠅 3 was considered positive). Kaplan-Meier statistics revealed a significant hazard ratio of 4.7 (p Conclusions A positive FDG PET/CT scan is associated with significantly worse prognosis than a negative FDG PET/CT scan in hospitalized patients with a recent history of fever of unknown origin.
Assessing the Angiogenic Efficacy of Pleiotrophin Released from Injectable Heparin-Alginate Gels

With this work, we design alginate-based hydrogels for therapeutically directing revascularization and repair processes in vivo. We immobilize pleiotrophin (PTN) in injectable hydrogel formulations...
Association of mid-infrared predicted milk and blood constituents with early lactation disease and herd removal in Holstein cows

Partial least square regression estimates of milk and blood constituents using Fourier transform mid-infrared (FTIR) analysis have shown promise as a tool for monitoring early lactation excessive energy deficit in dairy herds. However, the association of these various predicted constituents and subsequent disease events and production outcomes have yet to be established. Our objectives were to determine the association of early lactation predicted milk ~-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) concentrations, predicted blood nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations, and predicted de nova fatty acid percentages relative to total fatty acid concentrations with the risks of hyperketonemia (HYK), displaced abomasum (DA), and metritis (MET) diagnosis and removal from the herd (CULL).
Fall risk in patients with pseudophakic monovision.

Abstract Objective Vision changes can precipitate falls in the elderly resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. We hypothesized that pseudophakic monovision and ensuing anisometropia and aniseikonia impact elderly fall risk. This study assessed fall risk in patients with pseudophakic monovision, pseudophakic single vision distance (classic cataract surgery), and cataracts with no surgery. Design Retrospective single-institution cohort study Participants Patients with bilateral cataracts diagnosed at 60 years of age or older who underwent bilateral cataract surgery (monovision or single vision distance) or did not undergo any cataract surgery (n = 13 385). Patients with unilateral surgery or a fall prior to cataract diagnosis were excluded. Methods Data were obtained from the Stanford Research Repository. Time-to-fall analysis was performed across all 3 groups. Primary outcome was hazard ratio (HR) for fall after second eye cataract surgery or after bilateral cataract diagnosis. Results Of 13 385 patients (241 pseudophakic monovision, 2809 pseudophakic single vision, 10 335 no surgery), 850 fell after cataract diagnosis. Pseudophakic monovision was not associated with fall risk after controlling for age, sex, and myopia. Pseudophakic single-vision patients had a decreased time to fall compared with no-surgery patients (log rank, p Conclusions Pseudophakic monovision did not impact fall risk, but pseudophakic single vision may increase falls compared with patients without cataract surgery.
Nuclear Weapons and Sustainability

Sustainability demands the wise use of resources and the avoidance of destructive technologies. Nuclear weapons represent a technology whose use could destroy the planet in a matter of minutes or hours. Global climate change, on the other hand, is the result of society making choices to alter global climate physical systems for profit and greed, with equally disastrous consequences, though occurring over centuries. Unless checked, these twin threats represent an existential threat to our civilization. Therefore, it seems appropriate for us to ask the question is it possible to have a sustainable society in the face of the existence of nuclear weapons of which we have enough to destroy the planet?
Field Sampling and Chemical Analysis

The mass of material plugging the B2 elbow was 4.1 mm in diameter and 0.6 mm thick. It consisted of both light and dark colored organic material mixed with stellate trichomes and the pollen of several plants found near where the aircraft wreckage was stored. The mass was colonized by fungi such as Alternaria and Cladosporium. The organic matrix consisted of two dissimilar materials: A dark “gum-like” material and a lighter, golden-colored “nectar” and was subjected to FT-infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic analyses. Both reflectance and transmission FTIR techniques were used in the analyses, but the best results were obtained from transmission FTIR. This required that opaque substances such as the organic matrix be prepared as thin films. Several materials were collected from near the storage site as reference materials and these were also analyzed by FTIR spectroscopy. The reference materials included leaf and sap from Sphaeralcea coccinea and Grindelia squarrosa growing around the storage site. Commercial honey, cleaning solvents, and other organic fluids used in the aviation industry were also analyzed as well as gummy deposits found in equipment unrelated to the aircraft wreckage but stored near the aircraft parts. Mixed FTIR spectra were obtained from the organic matrix found in the B2 elbow, but showed a significant carbohydrate component. Comparison of these spectra to the reference materials clearly showed that the organic matrix was composed of macerated Sphaeralcea leaves mixed with a honey-like nectar.
The Use of Modal Verbs as a Reflection of Cultural Values

Much research has focused on nonnative speaker (NNS) use of modal verbs of obligation and necessity, indicating that NNSs may have difficulty with these modals and use them in different contexts from those of native speakers (NSs). Research also indicates that appropriate modal verb usage relies on presuppositions commonly known and accepted in a language community. This article proposes that NNS usage of modal verbs reflects the pragmatic frameworks and norms specific to the learner's L 1 environment, which may be different from those expected in L2 conceptual structures. To determine whether NNS and NS usage of modals varies in relation to each other in the contexts of different topics, 455 essays written by speakers of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indonesian, and Vietnamese were compared to 280 essays on similar topics written by NSs of American English. The results of this study indicate that the usage of the root modals must, have to, should, ought to, and need to in NS and NNS writing appears to be culture and context dependent.
Socioeconomic Status and Health Care

There is a vast amount of evidence across countries that the use of health care services (including hospitalizations, physician services, and clinical preventive services) is positively associated with income, education and other markers of socioeconomic position. In some analyses, lower socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with greater physician and hospital use, although it appears that these findings are primarily driven by higher rates of poor health status or medical need in socioeconomically disadvantaged populations. Three general sets of explanations have been investigated to explain SES differences in health care use: (1) financial access or affordability differences (e.g. the poor use fewer services because they have fewer financial means); (2) knowledge, attitudinal and cultural differences in seeking care (e.g. the poor use fewer services because they value and/or understand the benefits of health care less than other people); and (3) health care system factors (e.g. the poor use fewer services because of ways in which the health care system is organized). The empirical evidence from a number of countries suggests that health care system variables, especially non-financial components of access, offer the greatest explanatory power regarding SES differences in utilization. The policy implications of such findings are important, for they suggests that providing universal coverage or offering free health services to the poor is not a panacea for reducing social inequalities in health care utilization. Research across countries also suggests that, although SES differences in the use of health care services may contribute to some portion of observed SES disparities in health status, the contribution here is likely to be small. Social inequalities in health status are driven by myriad factors other than access to and use of personal health services.
Who is being screened for melanoma/skin cancer?: Characteristics of persons screened in Massachusetts

We conducted a survey of persons who voluntarily attended melanoma/skin cancer screenings in Massachusetts in 1987. Of 1219 persons asked to fill out a questionnaire, 1116 (92%) completed it. Our study demonstrates that persons attending the melanoma/skin cancer screening program were, for the most part, at risk for the disease and appropriately selected themselves to be screened. Most were women, well educated (with college or advanced degrees), and white. More than 86% had at least one risk factor for melanoma/skin cancer whereas 78% had at least two risk factors. Future studies are necessary to determine whether our experience can be verified. Additional efforts should try to attract those who are at risk but perhaps are less willing to attend screening programs—men and those of lower socioeconomic status. These efforts can help target screening to those at highest risk and maximize the yield of these public health efforts.
Overproduction and identification of the ftsQ gene product, an essential cell division protein in Escherichia coli K-12.

Abstract ftsQ is an essential cell division gene in Escherichia coli. The ftsQ gene has been sequenced, and a presumptive open reading frame has been identified; however, no protein product has been observed (A.C. Robinson, D.J. Kenan, G.F. Hatfull, N.F. Sullivan, R. Spiegelberg, and W.D. Donachie, J. Bacteriol. 160:546-555, 1984, and Q.M. Yi, S. Rockenbach, J.E. Ward, Jr., and J. Lutkenhaus, J. Mol. Biol. 184:399-412, 1985). The ftsQ gene was isolated on a 970-base-pair EcoRI-PvuII fragment of the E. coli chromosome and used to construct a trp-lac (Ptac) transcriptional fusion in plasmid pKK223-3. The fused construct (pDSC78) complemented an ftsQ1(Ts) mutant strain in trans, restoring growth at 42 degrees C on low-salt medium. An ftsQ1(Ts) mutant strain transformed with pDSC78 appeared normal upon microscopic examination, with no indication of filamentation. The ftsQ gene product was identified by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of radiolabeled, isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside-induced maxicell and normal cell extracts. As predicted from the nucleotide sequence, the 970-base-pair EcoRI-PvuII fragment encoded a polypeptide of approximately 31,400 daltons. Analysis of the data obtained from pulse-chase experiments in maxicells and normal cells suggests that the FtsQ protein is stable. Most of the radiolabeled FtsQ protein from maxicells was found in the inner membrane. On the basis of available information, the prior inability to detect FtsQ can be attributed to low levels of transcription or translation rather than to proteolysis.
Sugar Phosphate Phosphohydrolase: I. SUBSTRATE SPECIFICITY, INTRACELLULAR LOCALIZATION, AND PURIFICATION FROM NEISSERIA MENINGITIDIS

Abstract A new type of phosphohydrolase that can hydrolyze only phosphate esters of sugars was purified from Neisseria meningitidis. The α-d-aldohexose 1-phosphates and d-ketohexose 1-phosphatase served as the best substrates for the sugar phosphate phosphohydrolase. The d-aldohexose 6-phosphates and d-ketohexose 6-phosphates were hydrolyzed at the same rate as the α-d-hexose 1-phosphates, with the exception of d-galactose-6-P and d-mannose-6-P, which followed at 30% and 28.5%, respectively. If the phosphate group of the d-aldohexose 1-phosphates was esterified in the β configuration at the first carbon atom, they no longer served as substrates. Both phosphate ester bonds of fructose-1,6-di-P were hydrolyzed. When position 6 of α-d-glucose-1-P was in the form of a carboxyl group giving the sugar acid α-d-glucuronic acid-1-P, its rate of hydrolysis was reduced only 25%. However, when position 1 of d-glucose-6-P or d-glyceraldehyde-3-P was in the form of a carboxyl group giving the nonsugars 6-P-gluconate and 3-P-glycerate, no significant hydrolysis was observed. The d-pentose phosphates and triose phosphates were hydrolyzed at a slower rate than the d-hexose 1-phosphates. The phosphate esters of the disaccharides α-gentiobiose-1-P and α-lactose-1-P were hydrolyzed at 66% and 15% of that of α-d-glucose-1-P, respectively. Phosphate esters other than the sugar phosphates were not hydrolyzed significantly by the purified enzyme. When cells were cultured in a complete basal medium, most of the sugar phosphate phosphohydrolase activity was specifically released into the sucrose-Tris-ethylenediaminetetraacetate and "cold water wash" fractions, implying a surface localization. When cells were maintained in a salt medium lacking glucose and lactalbumin hydrolysate, most of the activity remained with the insoluble cytoplasmic membrane fraction. The latter activity could be partially released after storing the cells at 1–3° for 3 or more weeks. A method is described for the purification of the sugar phosphate phosphohydrolase from N. meningitidis. A similar type of enzyme was also purified from Escherichia coli. A purified preparation of the sugar phosphate phosphohydrolase moved as a single peak in sedimentation, and the s20,w was calculated to be 3.29 x 10-13 sec.
Trace mineral composition of heavily fertilized grass in relation to A.R.C. standards for the requirements of dairy cows.

SUMMARY At six stages during the grazing season herbage samples from four plots, which had received various fertilizer treatments, namely high potash, high nitrogen, high nitrogen plus potash or no treatment, were analysed for Mn, Cu, Mo, I, Co, Zn and Fe. Nitrogen fertilizer alone or with potash depressed herbage Mn and I but increased herbage Cu and Zn. Potash alone depressed Mo content of the grass. Co and Fe were not affected by fertilizer treatments. These effects were sufficiently severe as to suggest that animals grazing this pasture might suffer trace element deficiency.
The application of computer-aided sensitivity analysis to a parallel resonant transistor microwave oscillator circuit

A methodology which allows one to perform sensitivity analysis on a given oscillator circuit prior to its construction is described. The method uses a computer program developed to obtain the solution of the oscillation equations, and commercially available curve-fitting routine. Classical sensitivity analysis methods are applied to obtain the first order and multi-parameter sensitivities of the embedding elements with respect to the variations of the s-parameters of the active device. The results of the sensitivity computations applied to a parallel resonant microwave oscillator circuit are presented. >
Endogenous Matrix Metalloproteinase (MMP)-3 and MMP-9 Promote the Differentiation and Migration of Adult Neural Progenitor Cells in Response to Chemokines

Adult neurogenesis is regulated by both intrinsic programs and extrinsic stimuli. The enhanced proliferation of adult neural stem/progenitor cells (aNPCs) in the subventricular zone and the migration of neuroblasts toward the ischemic region in adult brains present a unique challenge as well as an opportunity to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the extrinsic cue-induced neurogenic responses. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of proteinases known to play a role in extracellular matrix remodeling and cell migration. However, their presence in aNPCs and their potential function in injury-induced aNPC migration remain largely unexplored. Here we demonstrate that in response to two injury-induced chemokines, stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor, aNPCs differentiated into migratory cells that expressed increased levels of MMP-3 and MMP-9. Whereas differentiated neuroblasts and a subpopulation of astrocytes migrated toward the chemokines, undifferentiated progenitors did not migrate. Blocking the expression of MMP-3 or MMP-9 in aNPCs interfered with both the differentiation of aNPCs and chemokine-induced cell migration. Thus, endogenous MMPs expressed by aNPCs are important for mediating their neurogenic response to extrinsic signals.
Social Work Leadership: A Missing Ingredient?

literature of organizational behavior and in business management training, but until recently it was essentially a "non theme" in social work training. A review of social work publications suggests that training for leadership is not stressed,1 al though the concept of leadership appears in the literature sporadically.2 Leadership is an important concept for any profession, both in the romantic vi sion that it suggests of bold new directions and in the pragmatic consequences that follow from its practice Although the term itself is not without ambiguity, social workers are unlikely to deny the value of the leadership role. The idea of leadership carries with it the idea of setting a pace or influencing others, and it is my as
Addressing Prejudiced Statements A Four-Step Method that Works!

Abstract “Why would a talented and well-educated teacher like you choose to work in a neighborhood like that? Aren't most of your students African American [Asian American, Hispanic American, Native American or any group experiencing discrimination]?” “There is no way in the world that I am going to enroll my child in a school that places disabled children in regular classrooms. She is far too bright to waste time while the teacher is forced to help slower children.” “These students come from single parent families on public assistance, so it is no wonder that they are below grade level in math and reading.”
Laser Sources for Deep Tissue Multiphoton Imaging

Deep tissue multiphoton microscopy (MPM) using solitons generated from optical fibers are reviewed. The main characteristics of the excitation source for deep tissue MPM, such as wavelength, pulse energy, and repetition rate, are discussed.
Interaction of plasma proteins with heparinized gel particles studied by high-resolution two-dimensional gel electrophoresis

In order to further the understanding of protein-surface interactions in the coagulation system, we have chosen to study plasma protein adsorption onto heparin-immobilized surfaces. Heparin-binding proteins are abundant in plasma: a search of amino acid sequences revealed that many plasma proteins have possible heparin binding sites. Plasma protein adsorption to the heparinized surfaces is monitored by a novel technique in which the solution depletion of proteins is analytically determined using quantitative two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-D PAGE). This method enables simultaneous, quantitative detection of the majority of plasma proteins before, during, and after their adsorption onto high surface area adsorbents. Using computerized densitometry of silver-stained 2-D PAGE gels, the amount of each protein can be determined from the integrated optical density of each protein "spot." Kinetics of adsorption and adsorption isotherms of four important heparin binding proteins, antithrombin III (ATIII), complement factor C3 (C3), apolipoprotein AI (Apo-AI) and apolipoprotein AIV (Apo-AIV) are reported in this paper. From the adsorption isotherms, the apparent binding constants of each protein-immobilized heparin complex, Ka, were calculated. The surface binding constants were of the same order of magnitude as the respective solution binding constants in the literature. The surface binding constants followed the same order as the respective solution binding constants: Ka (ATIII) greater than Ka (Apo-AIV) greater than Ka (C3) greater than Ka (Apo-AI), indicating that protein binding to the immobilized heparin used is not essentially different from solution binding.
CMR and factors influencing grouping: Masker bands overlapping in frequency

The experiment described here addressed (a) whether a comodulation masking release (CMR) could be obtained using maskers overlapping in frequency, and (b) whether manipulations known to influence grouping would influence the magnitude of the CMR. Observers detected a tone added to a masker consisting of partially overlapping bands of amplitude‐modulated noise. Different portions of the masker were modulated with the same or different modulation patterns. Increasing the number of modulators from one to more than one consistently led to an increase in threshold, but increasing the number from two to four did not. In contrast with previous findings using nonoverlapping masker bands, grouping manipulations did not alter the magnitude of the CMR.
Improving our understanding of gastroparesis.

This issue of Gastroenterology Clinics of North America was written to help provide physicians and clinical investigators a better understanding of gastroparesis, a symptomatic chronic disorder of the stomach characterized by delayed gastric emptying. Gastroparesis is an increasingly recognized and diagnosed disorder. Symptoms of gastroparesis can be variable and include early satiety, nausea, vomiting, postprandial fullness, and upper abdominal pain. These symptoms can range from mild to severe, leading to such complications as malnutrition, functional disability, and multiple hospitalizations. The three most common etiologies are diabetes, postsurgical complications, and idiopathic causes. Treatment consists of dietary manipulation, medical treatment, and surgical therapy and can be extremely challenging. New and effective therapies for symptomatic control and, ultimately, disease control, are needed; these will come through better understanding of the pathophysiology of gastroparesis and the biological basis of the disease. This issue provides a comprehensive and in-depth review that captures new and emerging information on this syndrome. Each article is written by an expert in the area, enabling the reader with a better appreciation of the
Nitric oxide gamma band emission rate factor

Abstract The molecular fluorescence emission rate factors for the strong bands of the nitric oxide gamma system have been calculated using a high resolution solar spectrum and individual rotational line strengths. The results show that the intensity of the Earth's day airglow, when viewed with resolution insufficient to resolve the details within a band, does not vary significantly with the temperature of the atmosphere. At higher resolution, the effect of temperature is observable. The present results are significantly different than those of Barth (1,2) due to an approximation by the latter which is removed.
Glycolysis inhibition by 2-deoxy-D-glucose reverts the metastatic phenotype in vitro and in vivo.

Metastasis is the primary cause of death from many tumors, and novel anti-metastatic therapies are necessary. Recently, we showed that metastatic tumors down-regulate key oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) genes in favor of glycolysis, a further enhancement of the Warburg effect. Therefore, we sought to determine if restriction of glycolysis using 2-deoxy-d-glucose (2DG) would lead to increased utilization of OXPHOS and inhibition of the metastatic phenotype. Noncytotoxic concentrations of 2DG dose-dependently inhibited in vitro migration and invasion in the highly metastatic DLM8-luc-M1 osteosarcoma (OS) cell line, as well as other metastatic human, canine, and murine cancer cells of different histotypes. This was associated with cytoskeletal rearrangement and inhibition of cathepsin L expression. A dose-dependent shift toward OXPHOS was confirmed by demonstrating increased oxygen utilization and decreased lactate production in 2DG treated cells. Finally, 2DG treatment significantly delayed metastasis and prolonged survival in an orthotopic postsurgical OS model. In conclusion, this work suggests that forcing cells away from glycolysis may inhibit key components of the metastatic phenotype, providing a novel avenue for metastasis prevention.
The Case for Multiple Advocacy in Making Foreign Policy

This paper discusses prescriptive theories of policy making in complex organizations with particular reference to foreign policy making in the Executive Branch. Instead of utilizing centralized management practices to discourage or neutralize internal disagreements over policy, an executive can use a multiple advocacy model to harness diversity of views and interests in the interest of rational policy making. Diversity is also given scope in “bureaucratic politics” and “partisan mutual adjustment,” but in contrast to these unregulated pluralistic systems, multiple advocacy requires management to create the basis for structured, balanced debate among policy advocates drawn from different parts of the organization (or, as necessary, from outside the organization). Multiple advocacy, therefore, is a “mixed system” that combines elements of a centralized management model with certain features of pluralistic and participatory systems.
Electrical Conductivity Studies of Tetragonal Zirconia

The a‐c and d‐c resistances for tetragonal zirconia were measured over the temperature range of 1100°–1500°C and pressure range of 1 to 10−14 atm oxygen. Polarization studies indicated that in oxygen atmospheres an oxygen electrode reaction occurs at the platinum‐zirconia interface so that it is not possible accurately to separate ionic and electronic conduction components from the resistance data. However, the data do indicate a significant ionic conduction component within the pressure and temperature range studied. Assuming that oxygen transport accounts for the ionic conduction some order of magnitude values for oxygen diffusion in zirconia at 1400°C were calculated.
The Use of Dimethylsulfoxide for Fixation of Yeasts for Electron Microscopy

Conventional methods of chemical fixation are often inadequate for preserving yeast ultrastructure. The thick cell wall severely limits penetration of fixatives rendering poor detail of the cell wall, membranes, and overall anatomy. Dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) enhances penetration of chemicals and has been added to fixatives to improve cell preservation. At high concentrations (5 to 50%), however, it affects ultrastructure unpredictably. We found that adding 0.1% DMSO to fixatives greatly improved retention of yeast ultrastructure. Candida albicans, C. glabrata and Aspergillusfumigatus were fixed for 3 hr in 3% paraformaldehyde, 1% glutaraldehyde, 1 mil MgCl2, 1 mM CaCl2, 0.1% DMSO in 0.1 M sodium cacodylate buffer followed by 1% OsO4, 1% K2Cr2O7, 0.85% NaCl. 0.1% DMSO in the same buffer. Thin epoxy sections were post-stained in uranyl acetate and lead citrate. The multilayered character of the cell wall was distinct and well structured. Addition of ruthenium red or alcian blue to the fixatives further enhan...
Ocular metastasis of a vaccine‐associated fibrosarcoma in a cat

A 6-year-old, neutered male domestic shorthair cat was evaluated for a recurrent vaccine-associated fibrosarcoma. The cat had three excisions of the tumour prior to presentation and was referred for radiation therapy. Ten months following treatment with radiation therapy, the cat was presented again for a cloudy appearance to the eye. An exenteration was performed, and biopsy revealed fibrosarcoma. At the same time, two discrete pulmonary nodules were identified on thoracic radiographs. Two doses of doxorubicin (20 mg/m(2)) and cyclophosphamide (100 mg/m(2)) were administered intravenously 3 weeks apart. Despite treatment, the pulmonary nodule doubled in size. This case represents the first antemortem report of ocular metastasis of a vaccine-associated sarcoma and supports the highly aggressive nature of these tumours.
The Investigation of a Sound Change in Progress /ae/ to /e/ in Midwestern American English

L'A. examine un changement de son toujours en evolution dans l'ouest des Etats Unis. Ce changement de son implique les orthographes , et , en d'autres termes : le son /ae/ precedant les velaires voisees. L'analyse acoustique du discours de locuteurs natifs enregistres lors d'entretiens en face-a-face permet a l'A. de mettre en evidence trois etapes de changement pour ce son dans la communaute linguistique consideree
Effect of etodolac in patients with moderate renal impairment compared with normal subjects

Twenty subjects (10 with normal renal function and 10 with moderate renal insufficiency) participated in an 8-day study to assess the effects of acute and chronic etodolac dosing on renal function. Subjects and patients were hospitalized and followed a controlled diet (150 mEq sodium, 60 to 80 mEq potassium) during the study. A 3-day drug-free period was followed by 4 days of etodolac, 200 mg b.i.d. Sodium balance and body weight remained unchanged in both groups. Modest reductions in renal function as measured by clearances of inulin and p-aminohippurate occurred acutely only in the patients with renal impairment. Chronic therapy resulted in no decrements in daily creatinine clearance. In an average effective anti-inflammatory dose, etodolac did not produce a sustained effect on renal function in either normal subjects or patients with moderate renal insufficiency.
Host association and the capacity of sand flies as vectors of lizard malaria in Panama.

Abstract Kimsey R. B. 1992. Host association and the capacity of sand flies as vectors of lizard malaria in Panama. International Journal for Parasitology22: 657–664. In this paper the capacity of sand flies (Lutzomyia) as vectors of parasites that cause malaria in anoles (Anolis limifrons) in the Zona de Canal, Panama was investigated. Inhabiting all study plots, often in local abundance, L. trinidadensis emerged as the principal candidate sand fly vector; the results of surveys did not suggest a likely mosquito vector. Although L. trinidadensis and infected anoles co-inhabited all plots, their abundances seemed unrelated. No evidence that sand flies parasitized anoles was uncovered. As anole activity patterns in daylight reciprocate with those of sand flies and at night anoles seem to avoid locations that sand flies frequent, anoles may evade sand fly bites altogether. Further, these sand flies occurred in close numerical and ecological association with Thecadactylus rapicauda, a reclusive moist forest gecko, often parasitizing these hosts in large numbers. Thus, sand flies lack capacity as vectors of malaria-causing parasites in central Panamanian anoles.
Weimar Germany and its Histories

Years later, after the catastrophes of the Third Reich and World War II, Arnold Zweig remembered how he had returned home from another disaster, World War I. “With what hopes had we come back from the war!” he wrote. Zweig recalled not just the catastrophe of total war, but also the elan of revolution. Like a demon, he threw himself into politics, then into his writing. “I have big works, wild works, great well-formed, monumental works in my head!,” he wrote to his friend Helene Weyl in April 1919. “I want to write! Everything that I have done up until now is just a preamble.” And it was not to be “normal” writing. The times were of galloping stallions and wide-open furrows, and talent was everywhere. War and revolution had drawn people out of the confining security of bourgeois life. “The times have once again placed adventure in the center of daily life, making possible once more the great novel and the great story.”
Effect of adrenergic blocking agents on the cutaneous action of epinephrine.

Summary1) Both Dibenamine and SY-28 were absorbed by the intact rabbit skin and were capable of blockmg the vasoconstriction produced by intracutaneously administered epinephrine. By this route SY-28 was approximately 5 times as potent as Dibenamine.2) When administered by ion transfer, the penetration of both drugs into the skin was significantly facilitated.3) Both blocking compounds were fixed locally in the skin. Contiguous untreated areas were still capable of responding to epinephrine.4) By the intravenous route, SY-28 was approximately 8 times as potent as Dibenamine.5) The “epinephrine reversal” phenomenon has been noted for the first time in the skin of the rabbit and suggests the presence of vasodilator fibers.