cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Studies on the movement of water through the isolated toad bladder and its modification by vasopressin.

Measurements of diffusion permeability and of net transfer of water have been made across the isolated urinary bladder of the toad, Bufo marinus, and the effects thereon of mammalian neurohypophyseal hormone have been examined. In the absence of a transmembrane osmotic gradient, vasopressin increases the unidirectional flux of water from a mean of 340 to a mean of 570 µl per cm2 per hour but the net water movement remains essentially zero. In the presence of an osmotic gradient but without hormone net transfer of water remains very small. On addition of hormone large net fluxes of water occur; the magnitude of which is linearly proportional to the osmotic gradient. The action of the hormone on movement of water is not dependent on the presence of sodium or on active transport of sodium. Comparison of the net transport of water and of unidirectional diffusion permeability of the membrane to water indicates that non-diffusional transport must predominate as the means by which net movement occurs in the presence of an osmotic gradient. An action of the hormone on the mucosal surface of the bladder wall is demonstrated. The effects of the hormone on water movement are most simply explained as an action to increase the permeability and porosity of the mucosal surface of the membrane.
Effects of cell tension on the small GTPase Rac

Cells in the body are subjected to mechanical stresses such as tension, compression, and shear stress. These mechanical stresses play important roles in both physiological and pathological processes; however, mechanisms transducing mechanical stresses into biochemical signals remain elusive. Here, we demonstrated that equibiaxial stretch inhibited lamellipodia formation through deactivation of Rac. Nearly maximal effects on Rac activity were obtained with 10% strain. GAP-resistant, constitutively active V12Rac reversed this inhibition, supporting a critical role for Rac inhibition in the response to stretch. In contrast, activation of endogenous Rac with a constitutively active nucleotide exchange factor did not, suggesting that regulation of GAP activity most likely mediates the inhibition. Uniaxial stretch suppressed lamellipodia along the sides lengthened by stretch and increased it at the adjacent ends. A fluorescence assay for localized Rac showed comparable changes in activity along the sides versus the ends after uniaxial stretch. Blocking polarization of Rac activity by expressing V12Rac prevented subsequent alignment of actin stress fibers. Treatment with Y-27632 or ML-7 that inhibits myosin phosphorylation and contractility increased lamellipodia through Rac activation and decreased cell polarization. We hypothesize that regulation of Rac activity by tension may be important for motility, polarization, and directionality of cell movement.
ICHABOD A Data Base Manager for Design Automation Applications

ICHABOD, a practical and easily implementable data base manager for Design Automation applications, is described. It is based on key aspects from both the network and relational data models. The user primitives and utilities support open-ended dynamic data structure definition and provide efficient data access mechanisms. Implementation techniques for the physical file structure and memory management are presented. ICHABOD has been successfully incorporated into two Honeywell production Design Automation systems.
Hyaluronate capsule and surface M protein in resistance to opsonization of group A streptococci

The major virulence determinant of group A streptococci is the ability to resist opsonization and phagocytic ingestion. The present studies were performed to compare the mechanisms of resistance to opsonization of type 18 and type 24 streptococci and to determine the relative roles of M protein-fibrinogen interaction and the hyaluronate capsule in preventing phagocytic ingestion and killing. By use of parent strains and acapsular transposon mutants in the presence and absence of fibrinogen, we show that type 18 and type 24 streptococci rely on somewhat different mechanisms for resistance to opsonization. Type 24 streptococci bound fibrinogen avidly to their surfaces, and encapsulated organisms were completely resistant to opsonization only in the presence of fibrinogen. In contrast, type 18 streptococci bound 10-fold less fibrinogen than type 24 streptococci and were fully resistant to phagocytosis only when they expressed capsule. The general structural characteristics of the amino-terminal halves of type 18 and type 24 M proteins differed in that type 18 M protein contained only one complete B repeat, whereas type 24 M protein contained five complete B repeats, a structural difference which could potentially be related to the differences in fibrinogen binding between the two serotypes. Immunofluorescence assays of complement deposition were used in combination with 125I-C3 binding assays to show that encapsulated type 24 streptococci were fully resistant to opsonization by C3 only in the presence of plasma. Encapsulated and unencapsulated type 18 streptococci were equally opsonized by C3 in either plasma or serum, yet only encapsulated organisms resisted phagocytic killing in blood. The results of this study indicate that opsonization by C3 does not necessarily lead to phagocytic ingestion and that the hyaluronate capsule and M proteins are variably important in resistance to different group A streptococci to opsonization and phagocytic killing.
Comparison of Performance of the Novel Chromogenic Spectra VRE Agar to That of Bile Esculin Azide and Campylobacter Agars for Detection of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci in Fecal Samples

ABSTRACT A total of 142 stool specimens were evaluated for vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE). Twenty-four-hour sensitivities and specificities, respectively, were 98% and 95% for Spectra VRE chromogenic agar (Remel, Lenexa, KS), 86% and 92% for bile esculin azide with vancomycin (BEAV; Remel), and 96.5% and 92% for Campylobacter agar (CAMPY; Remel). Spectra VRE and CAMPY are significantly more sensitive at 24 h than BEAV.
The Relationship Between Serum Prostate Specific Antigen Level and Tumor Volume Persists in the Current Era

Purpose: We compared the relationships of serum prostate specific antigen to tumor volume and to noncancerous prostate tissue volume using multivariate analysis in men undergoing prostatectomy during 2 periods.Materials and Methods: From our prostatectomy database we randomly selected 200 men from 1991 to 1994 (early group) and 200 from 2000 to 2003 (recent group) who underwent radical prostatectomy without neoadjuvant therapy. The variables analyzed were patient age, log prostate specific antigen, pathological stage, Gleason score, log total tumor volume and log noncancerous prostate tissue volume. Univariate correlation and multiple regression analyses were performed to assess the linearity of the relationships among the variables.Results: There was a significant difference between the early and recent groups in age (median 64 years, IQR 58–67 vs 59, IQR 53–65; p <0.001), prostate specific antigen (8.3 ng/ml, IQR 5.7–12.5 vs 5.8, IQR 4.4–7.8; p <0.001), total tumor volume (2.0 cc, IQR 1.0–3.6 vs 1.4, IQ...
Use of parameter estimation for stereolithography surface finish improvement

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that significant surface finish improvements can be accomplished in stereolithography (SL) fabricated parts by applying a new process planning method based on parameter estimation (PE).Design/methodology/approach – PE is a method that finds a set of parameter values that minimize a measure of deviation. In this work, the measure of deviation is the difference between the exposure received by points along down‐facing surfaces and the SL resin's critical exposure.Findings – The surface finish of down‐facing surfaces can be improved by a factor of 2‐9, depending upon the surface angle, compared with parts prepared using commercially available software. Surface finishes less than 1 μm Ra have been demonstrated on a SLA‐250/50 machine.Research limitations/implications – Only down‐facing surfaces can have their surface finish improved using this method.Practical implications – Common form errors known as “stair‐stepping” can be diminished on parts fabricated...
Nuclear Cardiology Reports

Until recently no standards for reporting results of nuclear cardiology studies existed. In 1997 the Intersocietal Commission for Accreditation of Nuclear Laboratories (ICANL) published standards and templates for optimal nuclear cardiology reports (1) (see http://www.icanl.org). The reason for this publication was that peer review of numerous laboratories revealed that the form, content, and quality of reports were highly variable and frequently poor. A poor quality report is at best of little value to the referring physician, and, at the worst, confusing, useless, and potentially harmful for patient care.
Constructing Load-Balanced Data Aggregation Trees in Probabilistic Wireless Sensor Networks

Data Gathering is a fundamental task in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). Data gathering trees capable of performing aggregation operations are also referred to as Data Aggregation Trees (DATs). Currently, most of the existing works focus on constructing DATs according to different user requirements under the Deterministic Network Model (DNM). However, due to the existence of many probabilistic lossy links in WSNs, it is more practical to obtain a DAT under the realistic Probabilistic Network Model (PNM). Moreover, the load-balance factor is neglected when constructing DATs in current literatures. Therefore, in this paper, we focus on constructing a Load-Balanced Data Aggregation Tree (LBDAT) under the PNM. More specifically, three problems are investigated, namely, the Load-Balanced Maximal Independent Set (LBMIS) problem, the Connected Maximal Independent Set (CMIS) problem, and the LBDAT construction problem. LBMIS and CMIS are well-known NP-hard problems and LBDAT is an NP-complete problem. Consequently, approximation algorithms and comprehensive theoretical analysis of the approximation factors are presented in the paper. Finally, our simulation results show that the proposed algorithms outperform the existing state-of-the-art approaches significantly.
Leadership in the Public Sector: Models and Assumptions for Leadership Development in the Federal Government

To fill the need for leaders and change agents throughout all levels of federal agencies, public sector human resource managers are now called on to develop innovative leadership development programs. Developing leaders for the 21st century requires attention to workforce trends as well as flexibility and creativity. Federal government leadership development programs need to address special leadership concerns of public agency managers, including creative thinking, collaboration, cross-organizational team building, and leading for results. This research provides overviews of federal leadership development programs and includes average and exemplary models. Lessons learned from this research offer a new set of leadership development assumptions for the public sector. Data were gathered from document analysis, preliminary network interviews, and in-depth personal interviews with program designers and participants.
Relative value of the third-order nonresonant susceptibility of water.

The ratio of the third-order nonresonant susceptibility of water to the nitrogen nonresonant susceptibility has been measured by coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy. The measured ratio (2.27) appears in good agreement with the value (2.24) obtained by dc-electric-field-induced optical second harmonic generation. Probable error in the measurement is estimated to be ~12%.
Polymorphism in sulfonamides

An evaluation of entropies and enthalpies of transition and fusion and a comparison of X-ray diffraction patterns and IR spectra of polymorphic forms of structurally related compounds were undertaken to obtain information which might prove useful in correlating the frequency of occurrence of polymorphism with certain aspects of chemical structure. Sixteen sulfonamides were selected for study. The screening procedures used in this research identified polymorphism in eight compounds and solvates in two compounds. The p-amino group, the acidic N1-hydrogen atom, and the oxygens of the sulfonamide group have been implicated in the various hydrogen-bonding arrangements which distinguish one polymorphic form from another. It is postulated that electron-withdrawing and electron-donating groups at the N1-position influence the strength of the hydrogen bonds which form and, hence, the tendency of these compounds to exhibit more than one crystalline form. In some cases, however, minor alterations in structure result in disproportionate changes in the compactness of the crystal lattice, and this fact makes it difficult to develop broad generalizations applicable to large groups of compounds.
A neural network approach for smoothing and categorizing noisy data

Abstract This paper describes an approach to smoothing and categorizing noisy data, using neural networks. The specific example is that of interpreting product order data as a preliminary step to forecasting future orders. However, the technique is quite general and can be applied to noisy data in a wide variety of systems, including natural, social and artificial ones. In recent years, a major characteristic of computer and electronic products has been their short life cycles. This creates unprecedented challenges, particularly for the task of sales volume forecasting in manufacturing enterprises. Owing to the short history of available past order data, traditional forecasting methods are not adequate. In this paper, a robust back-propagation neural network is adopted to extract an underlying shape for the order pattern of each product. The self-organizing map neural network is used to categorize products according to these shapes. The categorization results will establish a basis for further investigation toward new production introduction analysis.
A 300mm Semiconductor Manufacturing Foreign Material Reduction Initiative

It is well established that foreign material (FM) in a semiconductor manufacturing process can result in significant unplanned tool down time, reduced product yields, and potential reliability performance issues. This paper will present an overview of the strategy and subsequent results of a multifaceted effort to reduce FM impact during the ramp up of the IBM 300 mm semiconductor manufacturing facility in Hope well Junction, NY.
A Retrospective Analysis of Anterior Calcaneal Osteotomy with Allogenic Bone Graft

Abstract Anterior calcaneal osteotomy (ACO) with extension bone graft is commonly employed in the treatment of symptomatic supple, hypermobile flatfoot in adolescent as well as adult (≥ 18 years of age) patients. Although autogenous bone graft has been considered the gold standard, allogenic bone is widely used for this procedure because it is readily available, requires no additional procedure for procurement and has incorporation rates similar to autogenous bone graft. There is increasing agreement among surgeons that the union rates with allograft bone are comparable with that observed with autograft bone when used in the ACO. We reviewed the medical records of 51 consecutive patients who had undergone 53 ACO with allogenic bone graft for the repair of flatfoot deformity in an effort to further evaluate outcomes associated with the use of allogenic bone graft. All of the patients had at least 12 months of follow-up. The mean time to graft incorporation was 9.10 ± 1.54 weeks for adolescents and 9.81 ± 2.13 weeks for adults ( P = .0149), The incidence of graft incorporation (bone union) was 100% and 90% ( P = .1391) in the adolescent and adult groups, respectively. Complications included lateral column pain, sinus tarsitis, nonunion, calcaneocuboid capsulitis, complex regional pain syndrome, incisional dehiscence, and sural neuritis; and all of the complications occurred in the adult group. The results support the understanding that ACO with allogenic bone graft is a reasonable alternative to autograft bone graft in the treatment of flexible flatfoot in adolescent and adult patients.
THE ATHLETE'S HEART SYNDROME: A NEW PERSPECTIVE

Although earlier electrocardiographic and roentgenographic studies suggested that the heart of trained athletes differed from that of nonathletes, little was known of the cardiac dimensions of the athlete's heart until the advent of echocardiography. Echocardiographic studies have demonstrated that trained athletes may have increased left ventricular mass and that the structural change accounting for this increase is related to the type of physical conditioning. Athletes participating primarily in isotonic exercise have an increase in left ventricular end-diastolic volume with little or no increase in left ventricular wall thickness whereas those athletes participating primarily in isometric exercise have an increase in left ventricular wall thickness associated with normal left ventricular end-diastolic volume. Comparisons between echocardiographically determined cardiac changes in college and world class athletes were made, and the electrocardiographic and chest roentgenographic changes present in the athlete's heart syndrome were reviewed.
Transgression Severity and Forgiveness: Different Moderators for Objective and Subjective Severity

The current investigation examines insider/subjective and outsider/objective perspectives on forgiveness. Two hundred and thirty-two undergraduates in dating relationships were asked to describe situations in which they had been hurt by their romantic partners. Both subjective and objective ratings of event severity predicted forgiveness. In addition, rejection sensitivity proved consequential in moderating the impact of objective severity whereas responsibility attributions moderated the impact of subjective severity ratings. These results suggest the need to adopt a more complex model of forgiveness, and that as researchers develop increasingly sophisticated interventions to promote forgiveness, it will be important to consider both objective and subjective influences.
Effects of xanthan-locust bean gum mixtures on the physicochemical properties and oxidative stability of whey protein stabilised oil-in-water emulsions.

Abstract The effects of xanthan gum (XG)–locust bean gum (LBG) mixtures (0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2 and 0.5 wt%) on the physicochemical properties of whey protein isolate (WPI) stabilised oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions containing 20% v/v menhaden oil was investigated. At higher concentrations, the apparent viscosity of the emulsions containing XG/LBG mixtures was significantly higher ( p p
Contrasting Meteorological Conditions Associated with Winter Storms at Denver and Colorado Springs

Abstract Case studies of heavy snowstorms at Denver and Colorado Springs, Colorado, indicate that they occur under different meteorological conditions. The authors examine the hypothesis that there are in fact fundamental differences between the synoptic evolution of events in these two storm types by compositing a total of 28 cases, 17 (11) of which are defined as heavy snowstorms (at least 20 cm of snowfall) at Denver (Colorado Springs). These composited fields were constructed using data at three times in the history of each case. Results show distinct differences in the composited synoptic evolution of the two groups. At low levels the Denver composite shows low static stabilities, warm advection, and high values of potential temperature in the lee of the Rockies. The Colorado Springs composite, on the other hand, shows cold, stable air and cold advection in the lee. At upper levels an eastward-progressing short-wave trough is found at different longitudes in the two composites. The implied interactio...
The Effect of the Spatial Resolution of Conflict Data on the Analysis of Drought As a Local Determinant of Civil War Onset: Africa, 1980 – 2001

With the steady decrease in freshwater availability and the growth of world population, freshwater distribution is likely to become an increasingly prominent source of conflict. Given that civil wars by definition occur within national boundaries and therefore involve factors that vary within the country in which they occur, past studies examining the determinants of civil conflict using the state as the unit of observation are inherently flawed. Improvements in the accuracy of the delineations of such conflict should increase the ability to determine the local determinants of civil war. This analysis focuses on Africa between 1980 and 2001, utilizing a refined version of the International Peace Research Institute, Oslo (PRIO) Armed Conflict dataset at the 0.25-degree resolution, and juxtaposing this data on rainfall data using GIS analysis. Using socioeconomic factors as control variables, we perform a logistic regression analysis, comparing the correlation coefficients from this analysis to those of a previous study using conflict centroids with radii as the units of observation. Thus, this study aims to explore the effect a change in the spatial level of resolution of conflict data has on our ability to analyze geographic determinants of war outbreak. We find that, despite the altered delineation of conflict data, the statistical analysis produces similar results that confirm the causal relationship between drought and civil war outbreak. This calls to attention the need for further international cooperation in assisting developing nations to develop infrastructure for the sustainable management of water resources.
Modeling of a Piezoelectric Energy Harvester Mounted on a Quick-Return Mechanism

Piezoelectric materials are being used to harvest mechanical energy from ambient vibration and convert it to electrical energy. They are mainly used to power miniature wireless sensors such as accelerometers, tachometers and proximity probes, which are commonly used for machine monitoring applications. However, exciting a piezoelectric cantilever with its resonance frequency for maximum power output remains to be a challenge. This is because the natural frequency of piezoelectric cantilevers is much higher than the common ambient vibrations. This study answers the research question: “Does a quick-return mechanism enhance the power output of a piezoelectric energy harvester?” For this purpose, analytical methods were employed to model a piezoelectric energy harvester mounted on a quick-return mechanism. The proposed mechanism was able to generate approximately 13.5mW of power, which is 35%–75% greater than the existing designs. A study on the working frequency range of the harvester for maximum power output was employed by varying the dimensional parameters of the quick-return mechanism. It was determined that by varying the dimensions of the quick return it is possible to harvest maximum power at a range of excitation frequencies. It was demonstrated that the system can effectively produce the maximum power when excited at frequencies ranging from 2rad/s to 46rad/s.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Epigenetic regulation of gene expression in osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of joint disease and the leading cause of chronic disability in middle-aged and older populations. The development of disease-modifying therapy for OA currently faces major obstacles largely because the regulatory mechanisms for the function of joint tissue cells remain unclear. Previous studies have found that the alterations in gene expression of specific transcription factors (TFs), pro- or anti-inflammatory cytokines, matrix proteinases and extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins in articular cartilage may be involved in the development of OA. However, the regulatory mechanisms for the expression of those genes in OA chondrocytes are largely unknown. The recent advances in epigenetic studies have shed light on the importance of epigenetic regulation of gene expression in the development of OA. In this review, we summarize and discuss the recent studies on the regulatory roles of various epigenetic mechanisms in the expression of genes for specific TFs, cytokines, ECM proteins and matrix proteinases, as well the significance of these epigenetic mechanisms in the pathogenesis of OA.
Methods for treating temperature-sensitive effects of pressure-sensitive paints

While pressure-sensitive paint (PSP) is evolving into a viable alternative to conventional pressure taps for surface pressure measurements, the inherent temperature-sensitivity of the coating's fluorescence intensity is a prominent drawback. Unless the PSP is applied to a temporallyand spatially-isothermal surface, this inherent temperature-sensitivity effect severely limits the accuracy of the two-dimensional pressure distribution obtained from the coating. In this study, the pressureand temperature-sensitivity effects of three PSPs and two temperature-sensitive paints (TSPs) are evaluated over pressure and temperature ranges found in many compressible flow experiments. In addition, four PSP data reduction methods are compared by applying PSP to a transverse-jet-incrossflow experiment. Each data reduction method encompasses a different degree of temperature correction. Conventional pressure taps in the tunnel wall are used to evaluate the accuracy of each method.
Determination of double bond position in unsaturated triglycerides by analysis of the oxidation products by gas liquid chromatography

Oleic, linoleic, and linolenic esters and olive, sunflower, linseed, rapeseed, hydrogenated rape-seed, and coriander oils have been oxidized by the permanganate-periodate reagent. The relative amounts of the dibasic acids and of the mono-basic acids produced were determined by gas liquid chromatography (GLC). These results were used in combination with the compositions of the oils, also found by GLC, to calculate the positions of the double bonds in the unsaturated fatty acids of the oils. Evidence for the presence of small amounts of 11-octadecenoic acid and other unusual isomers was obtained.
Resource location in problem solving groups made up of married couples, friends, and strangers

Probability of opinion adoption and participation in problem solving was studied as a function of the type of social relationship between the pair of Ss (married couples, friends, and strangers) and as a function of E’s favoring the opinions of the male or the female in the pair through experimentally controlled success and failure feedback. The results showed that type of social relation and feedback were important in determining the ability of the pair to detect the experimentally allocated problem solving resources of the members. Male-favored married couples and male-favored friends were superior to the other treatments in locating these resources.
To certify or not to certify: clinical social work decisions and involuntary hospitalization.

This research compares, on a variety of clinical and contextual factors, case episodes in which Clinical Social Workers decided to certify patients for involuntary hospitalization with those episodes where they decided not to certify them. A cross-sectional exploratory design was developed, and descriptive data was collected using a modified critical incident technique and a structured interview schedule. Among certified cases, the dangerousness of the patient was the major reason for certification, especially dangerousness to others. Lack of dangerousness to others and use of alternatives to involuntary hospitalization were major factors in the decision to certify. Schizophrenic disorders were most frequently identified in certified patients; depressive and neurotic conditions in non-certified cases.
Maintenance, Reproduction and Growth of the Least Shrew in Captivity

Published accounts describe the nest and young of various species of shrews. Usually such young are of unknown ages, so that little information about growth and development is available. Similarly, little information is available concerning breeding and gestation periods of most soricids. Some observations upon reproduction and growth of Cryptotis have been made by Hamilton (1944) and Walker (1954). Additional information about growth, reproduction and behavior, obtained from a laboratory colony of Cryptotis parva , is given here. Maintenance in captivity .—During September, 1956, a laboratory colony of Cryptotis parva was established with 11 animals captured in sunken tin cans. The animals were maintained under conditions found satisfactory for soricids by other workers (Rudd, 1953; Crowcroft, 1951; Pearson, 1950). They were kept in 10- and 15-gallon aquaria with an inch of wood shavings and dry soil added to cover the bottoms. When wood shavings alone were used the fur became oily but this was prevented when soil was included. A handful of dry leaves and grass was provided for nest material and a small open container was used for water. Water was provided at all times and relatively large quantities were consumed by the shrews. Only meat was fed to the animals. Fresh, entire or ground rat, mouse or bird carcasses were the staple food. On some occasions frozen horse meat was used and this proved successful if supplemented with liver. A diet of liver alone, however, was unsatisfactory and resulted in rapid deterioration of the animals. The colony has now been maintained for nine months. Four to six animals of both sexes were kept in each cage. No difficulty was experienced in keeping several individuals together if they were all placed in the cage at the same time. This species is remarkably social in behavior. No …
Shades of Braitenberg’s Vehicle 5

A model with a hybrid neural network-expert system brain was designed. This model proved to have better memory than that of Braitenberg’s (1984) original simulated vehicles, on which it was based. The parallel nature of the neural network component provided more storage capacity with the same number of neurons, whereas the serial expert system component was able to use the increased memory to make fast, accurate decisions.
Orienting health care information systems toward quality: how Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound did it.

Article-at-a-Glance Background Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound (GHC), a large staff-model health maintenance organization based in Seattle, is redesigning its information systems to provide the systems and information needed to support its quality agenda. Planning process Long-range planning for GHC’s information resources was done in three phases. In assessment; interviews, surveys, and a benchmarking effort identified strengths and weaknesses of the existing information systems. We concluded that we needed to improve clinical care and patient management systems and enhance health plan applications. In direction setting, we developed six objectives (for example, approach information systems in a way that is consistent with quality improvement principles). Detailed planning was used to define projects, timing, and resource allocations. Major efforts Some of the most important efforts in the resulting five-year plan include the development of (1) a computerized patient record; (2) a provider-based clinical workstation for access to patient information, order entry, results reporting, guidelines, and reminders; (3) a comprehensive set of patient management and service quality systems; (4) reengineered structures, policies, and processes within the health plan, supported by a complete set of integrated information systems; (5) a standardized, high-capacity communications network to provide linkages both within GHC and among its business partners; and (6) a revised oversight structure for information services, which forms partnerships with users. Conclusions A quality focus ensured that each project not only produced its own benefits but also supported the larger organizational goals associated with “total” quality.
The occurrence of Wilms tumor in 2 patients with exstrophy of the bladder.

Abstract Wilms tumor and exstrophy of the bladder are 2 well known pathological entities affecting the pediatric population. While both have been described independently as occurring in association with other congenital anomalies and disease states, their association with each other has heretofore never been described. We report on 2 patients with exstrophy of the bladder in whom Wilms tumor was diagnosed subsequently.
Effect of an anterior fundoplication on lower esophageal sphincter competence.

The effect of an anterior fundoplication on lower esophageal sphincter (LES) competence was studied in 10 patients with reflux esophagitis, with 12 medically treated patients serving as controls. These studies were carried out before and 1 year after treatment. The surgical procedure increased the mean resting LES pressures from 10.9 ± 1.7 to 24.4 ± 2.8 mm Hg (P
Emerging Patterns of Stigma Management Communication Strategies Among Burn Survivors and Relational Partners

Despite recent theorizing on stigma management relevant to interpersonal settings and health communication, few studies have considered how people make sense of and discursively manage stigma in daily interaction. Burn survivors and relational partners present a unique population of potentially stigmatized individuals. Using in-depth interviews from participants across the United States, this study used Meisenbach’s stigma management communication model to explore the stigma management experiences of both burn survivors and relational partners. Results indicated that survivors managed stigma using four patterns of strategies: Accepters, Situational Adopters, Challengers, and Dissembling Challengers. Relational partners employed a distinct fifth pattern of strategies to manage their partner’s burn stigma. Furthermore, survivors made strategic choices about stigma management strategies based on relational and contextual factors, including prior stigma exposure or compounding stigmas. Overall, these findings...
A revolutionary history of interwar India: violence, image, voice and text

A Revolutionary History of Interwar India examines the place of violence in the anti-colonial struggle in India during the interwar period. ‘When the independent nation state set about crafting the...
Lactic acid bacteria in food and health: a review with special reference to enteropathogenic Escherichia coli as well as certain enteric diseases and their treatment with antibiotics and lactobacilli

Recent literature concerning enteropathogenesis and drug resistance transfer factors in Escherichia coli are summarized as well as related papers concerning the use of antibiotics in animal feed. E. coli infection in swine (colibacillosis) also is considered, especially citations indicating the similarity between the disease in man and animals. The role of intestinal bacteria in human health is reviewed, emphasizing the importance of (a) a maintained balance of organisms in the adult, (b) breast feeding in infants to establish a large population of bifidobacteria and (c) the presence of Lactobacillus organisms to maintain healthful conditions in the human vagina. The use of Lactobacillus organisms in intestinal and vaginal disease therapy is reviewed as well as the important ecological role that lactic acid bacteria play in the natural scheme where man is concerned.
A cooperative game approach to cost allocation in a rapid-transit network

Abstract We consider the problem of allocating costs of a regional transit system to its users, who employ shortest path routes between all pairs of nodes in the system network. We provide an axiomatic set of conditions that a solution should satisfy and use cooperative game theory to model the cost allocation problem. We provide an allocation, called the equal cost share solution, which is efficient to compute and is the unique solution that satisfies the conditions. In addition, we show not only that the cost allocation game has a nonempty core, but further, that the game is concave, meaning that the Shapley value allocation, which coincides with the equal cost share solution, always lies in the core of the game. We provide an application of the equal cost share solution to the Washington, D.C. Metro transit network and compare it to the existing fare pricing structure. As compared to equal cost share pricing, the Metro overcharges for short downtown trips and undercharges for very long commutes. The equal cost share solution is easy to update in real time as the cost data and user distribution change, or when the transit network expands.
Prevalence of Antiretinal Antibodies in Acute Zonal Occult Outer Retinopathy: A Comprehensive Review of 25 Cases

Purpose To perform a comprehensive review and to investigate the presence and role of autoimmune antibodies in 25 cases of acute zonal occult outer retinopathy (AZOOR) identified using the classification originally proposed by J. Donald Gass. Design Observational case series. Methods Setting: Institutional. Study Population: Twenty-five patients were identified by characteristic symptoms (abrupt onset of photopsias, followed by large scotomata at or connected to the blind spot), ocular findings (paucity of pigmentary changes with no sign of vitreous inflammation and abnormal electroretinogram in at least 1 eye), and a negative family history for retinitis pigmentosa. Observation Procedures: Patients underwent a full comprehensive ophthalmologic examination, fundus retinography, Goldmann kinetic visual field (GVF), and full-field electroretinogram (ffERG). Blood samples were also obtained to verify for the presence of antiretinal antibodies by Western blot analysis. Main Outcome Measures: Clinical presentation, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), fundus abnormalities, visual field defects, ffERG changes, and presence of antiretinal antibodies. Results Sixteen patients (64%) presented with photopsias, 56% (14/25) with night blindness, and 56% (14/25) with loss of peripheral vision. Sixty-four percent (16/25) of cases were bilateral. All patients demonstrated retinal vascular attenuation, optic nerve head pallor, and mottling of retinal pigment epithelium. The most common visual field changes included enlargement and expansion of the blind spot extending into large pericentral or other types of scotomata (64%). Both scotopic and photopic ffERG values were abnormal and affected to a similar degree in our patients. Nine patients (36%) had a greater than 20% asymmetry in ERG values between the 2 eyes. All patients had antiretinal antibodies on Western blot with an average of 6.6 bands. Conclusion Evidence suggests that AZOOR is a unique form of autoimmune retinopathy and retinal manifestation suggests possible antiretinal antibody leakage from the disc margin with spread of immune products under the retina, resulting in large scotomata that connect to the optic nerve head.
Fire and Blood: The European Civil War 1914–1945

As we observe the centennials of the First World War and the October Revolution, we are reminded of the role played by violence in the political and cultural changes occurring during and between th...
How to Buy Better Testing Using Competition to Get the Most Security and Robustness for Your Dollar

Without good testing, systems cannot be made secure or robust. Without metrics for the quality and security of system components, no guarantees can be made about the systems they are used to construct. This paper describes how firms can make the testing process faster and more cost effective while simultaneously providing a reliable metric of quality as one of the outputs of the process. This is accomplished via a market for defect reports, in which testers maximize profits by minimizing the cost of finding defects. The power of competition is harnessed to ensure that testers are paid a fair price for the defects they discover, thereby aligning their incentives with those of the firm developing the system. The price to find, demonstrate, and report a defect that is set by the market serves as the measure of quality.
Role of GABA A receptors in alcohol use disorders suggested by chronic intermittent ethanol (CIE) rodent model

GABAergic inhibitory transmission is involved in the acute and chronic effects of ethanol on the brain and behavior. One-dose ethanol exposure induces transient plastic changes in GABAA receptor subunit levels, composition, and regional and subcellular localization. Rapid down-regulation of early responder δ subunit-containing GABAA receptor subtypes mediating ethanol-sensitive tonic inhibitory currents in critical neuronal circuits corresponds to rapid tolerance to ethanol’s behavioral responses. Slightly slower, α1 subunit-containing GABAA receptor subtypes mediating ethanol-insensitive synaptic inhibition are down-regulated, corresponding to tolerance to additional ethanol behaviors plus cross-tolerance to other GABAergic drugs including benzodiazepines, anesthetics, and neurosteroids, especially sedative-hypnotic effects. Compensatory up-regulation of synaptically localized α4 and α2 subunit-containing GABAA receptor subtypes, mediating ethanol-sensitive synaptic inhibitory currents follow, but exhibit altered physio-pharmacology, seizure susceptibility, hyperexcitability, anxiety, and tolerance to GABAergic positive allosteric modulators, corresponding to heightened alcohol withdrawal syndrome. All these changes (behavioral, physiological, and biochemical) induced by ethanol administration are transient and return to normal in a few days. After chronic intermittent ethanol (CIE) treatment the same changes are observed but they become persistent after 30 or more doses, lasting for at least 120 days in the rat, and probably for life. We conclude that the ethanol-induced changes in GABAA receptors represent aberrant plasticity contributing critically to ethanol dependence and increased voluntary consumption. We suggest that the craving, drug-seeking, and increased consumption in the rat model are tied to ethanol-induced plastic changes in GABAA receptors, importantly the development of ethanol-sensitive synaptic GABAA receptor-mediating inhibitory currents that participate in maintained positive reward actions of ethanol on critical neuronal circuits. These probably disinhibit nerve endings of inhibitory GABAergic neurons on dopamine reward circuit cells, and limbic system circuits mediating anxiolysis in hippocampus and amygdala. We further suggest that the GABAA receptors contributing to alcohol dependence in the rat and presumably in human alcohol use disorders (AUD) are the ethanol-induced up-regulated subtypes containing α4 and most importantly α2 subunits. These mediate critical aspects of the positive reinforcement of ethanol in the dependent chronic user while alleviating heightened withdrawal symptoms experienced whenever ethanol is absent. The speculative conclusions based on firm observations are readily testable.
Learning to Suggest Phrases.

Intelligent keyboards can support writing by suggesting content. Certain types of phrases, when offered as suggestions, may be systematically chosen more often than their frequency in a corpus of text would predict. In order to generate those types of suggestions, we collected a dataset of how human authors responded to suggestions offered to them during openended writing tasks. We present an offline strategy for evaluating suggestions that enables us to learn the parameters of an improved suggestion generation policy without the expense of collecting additional data under that policy. We validate the approach by simulation and on human data by demonstrating improvement in held-out suggestion acceptance rate. Our approach can be applied to other scenarios where what is typical is not necessarily what is desirable.
Conservative Management of Staghorn Calculi: When Is It Safe?

Abstract Background: To describe the clinical characteristics, infectious and kidney function patterns, and overall outcomes in a cohort of patients with staghorn calculi treated conservatively. Me...
A Novel Approach to Reembedding Thick Resin Sections for Ultramicrotomy

In transmission electron microscopy (TEM), it is often desirable to focus our attention on certain cells or structures that are sparsely distributed throughout a large tissue block. One method that is often used is to serially section through a large tissue block and then scan each thin section on the TEM for the cell or structure of interest. A much simpler and far less tedious method is to cut thick sections of the resin block, screen the sections using light microscopy for the cells or structures of interest and then somehow reembed only those sections with the cell or structure of interest so that they can be thin sectioned for TEM.
A simple cost-benefit analysis of brief interventions on substance abuse at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth

To determine the impact of brief interventions on substance abuse at the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, a retrospective review of all admissions in fiscal year 2001 was conducted. Patients receiving brief interventions had significantly lower readmission rates (12.6%) than those not receiving interventions (29.4%). For Internal Medicine patients, this difference was most pronounced: 15.4% as opposed to 40.0%. The average cost of a second admission was 17,834.31 dollars overall but 23,690.78 dollars for Internal Medicine specifically. The lower readmission rate associated with brief interventions represents a benefit of 606,366.54 dollars saved at a cost of 31,508.50 dollars for a cost-benefit ratio of 19:1. The data indicate a cost avoidance opportunity of 713,372.40 dollars if all identified substance abuse patients received interventions. Perhaps most significant, the gap between expected and identified substance use disorders (3.7% vs. 25%) suggests 3,400 unidentified persons who could benefit from interventions. This represents an additional cost avoidance opportunity of 10,200,000.00 dollars.
The goals and implementation success of state performance-based budgeting

There has been a great deal of research regarding the success and impact of state performance-based budgeting with findings ranging from hopeful to critical. Previous findings have also indicated that the success and impact of implementation have varied across the states. The practitioners' varied views of successful performance implementation are likely linked to their varied views of the purpose of performance implementation. We survey state executive budget officers regarding performance-based budget goals, implementation successes, and obstacles. Our findings suggest that program accountability as a goal, rather than budget allocation, makes a stronger foundation for determining performance-based budget success.
Beyond Algal Blooms, Oxygen Deficits and Fish Kills: Chronic, Long-Term Impacts of Nutrient Pollution on Aquatic Ecosystems

Despite advances in sewage treatment in some industrialized nations during the late 20th century, despite declines in agricultural fertilizer use in some geographic regions, and despite modest improvements in environmental education in localized areas, the exponential, global increase in human population growth has increased nutrient loadings to aquatic ecosystems(Figures1, 2)(Vitousek et al. 1997; Howarth et al. 1996; Howarth 2000; Caraco 1995). These increases have been greatest in estuarine and coastal marine areas where population growth has been highest, and where nearly two-thirds of the people of the world now reside (Howarth 2000; Miller 2000). Surface waters across the earth are now sustaining impacts from anthropogenic or human-derived nutrient over-enrichment; even the open oceans are no longer sufficiently isolated to avoid nutrient pollution from atmospheric deposition of nitrogen contributed by automobiles, fertilizers, concentrated animal feed operations, and other sources (Vitousek et al. 1997; Howarth 2000; Mallin 2000).
Polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medication use in older patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) leads to inferior survival and increased treatment-related toxicities.

10039Background: Survival outcomes for older patients with aggressive NHL are disproportionally inferior to those of younger patients. While differences in tumor biology may play a role, older pati...