cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of Bronkosol and its components on cardiopulmonary parameters in asthmatic patients

Abstract Bronkosol and its components, isoetharine hydrochloride and phenylephrine hydrochloride, were compared in a double-blind randomized fashion for their effect on pulmonary and cardiovascular parameters in patients with reversible bronchospasm. Bronkosol and isoetharine produced significant bronchodilatation as measured by forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1 ), forced vital capacity (FVC), and mean forced expiratory flow during the middle half of the FVC (isovolume FEF 25% to 75%), and phenylephrine did not. There was no difference between Bronkosol and isoetharine in the degree or duration of bronchodilatation. Significantly more patients had to "discontinue" after 15 min on the day of testing with phenylephrine than with Bronkosol or isoetharine. Heart rate was not increased after Bronkosol or isoetharine, confirming its selective beta-2 action. The addition of phenylephrine to isoetharine had no beneficial effect on oxygen saturation. There was no significant difference between these drugs in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, pulse, or respiration. The results of this study cast doubt on the useful contribution of phenylephrine in Bronkosol.
Informal governance in international organizations: Introduction to the special issue

International organizations have proliferated in recent decades. Virtually every issueof broad international concern is the subject of an international agreement that isadministered by an international organization. Broad powers are delegated to some ofthese international agents, many of which exercise significant discretion and author-ity. International courts with broad jurisdiction and hundreds of more specializedjudicial organs have been established to interpret a rapidly expanding body ofinternational law. The organizational capacity of international governance has in-creased, while the capacity of domestic governance has declined in a range of failedstates and contested territories. Meanwhile, the depth of policy coordinationdemanded by international agreements has led to an unprecedented level of interna-tional policy activism by some of the leading international organizations, includingthe IMF, the WTO, and the EU. Given the importance of what international organi-zations do, it is increasingly important to understand how international organizationsactually work.Most of our theoretical models of international organizations are based on theirformal attributes rather than on their behavior. Formal rules are important, of course,and generally set the parameters within which informal interactions take place, butshared expectations and extra-legal practices often modify or overrule written pro-visions. As a result, models based on legal provisions can be misleading. Forexample, there are numerous international organizations in which votes are nevertaken, or are almost always unanimous; nevertheless, analyses of their governanceoften focus on the equilibria of majority voting games. Since the game being playeddoes not involve building minimum winning coalitions, however, voting modelsbased on majority voting can shed little light on the degree of influence that powerfulcountries exert over decision making, or on the practical limits of that influence.Similarly, procedural models of EU legislation assume that the game being playedfollows the legal procedures prescribed in the EU treaties; but this is often not the
Molecular modeling studies suggest that zinc ions inhibit HIV-1 protease by binding at catalytic aspartates.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 protease is inhibited in vitro by zinc ions at neutral pH. The binding site of these ions is not known; however, experimental data suggest that binding may occur...
Post-Hurricane Katrina challenge: Vibrio vulnificus.

Purpose: To describe the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of Vibrio vulnificus, a rare organism that surfaced following Huricane Katrina and caused serious problems for many victims. Data sources: Selected scientific literature supplemented with case presentations of patients seen following Katrina. Conclusions: After Hurricane Katrina and as a result of extensive flooding of below–sea-level New Orleans, toxic waters contaminated many areas of the city. As a result of this extensive flooding of toxic waters, people were exposed to V. vulnificus. Implications for practice: Consider V. vulnificus in the differential diagnosis and culture all wounds for this organism in any patients exposed to contaminated seawater. Prompt initiation of antibiotic treatment, especially before the onset of septic shock, provides the best outcomes.
CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS OF WATER INTOXICATION IN A CASE OF SEVERE DIABETES INSIPIDUS, WITH SOME NOTES ON THE DISTURBANCES OF BLOOD COMPOSITION AND VASOMOTOR MECHANISM*

In 1922, Weir, Larson and Rowntree described certain symptoms of water intoxication in a case of diabetes insipidus; the symptoms occurred after the administration of pituitary extract, the patient in the meantime taking water on request in the amounts to which he had become accustomed. In eight hours 5250 cc. of fluids was consumed, and 800 cc. of urine was passed; the nausea, vertigo, severe headache, and slight edema of the face and ankles resulted. Repetition of the experiment on the same and on another patient produced similar results. In 1923, Weir reported further studies on this peculiar form of intoxication and demonstrated a coincident increase in the relative volume of blood plasma. Rowntree conducted extensive experiments on the effect of the administration of excessive amounts of water to the experimental animal. He has produced ataxia, vomiting, and convulsions by this means, and Greene and Rowntree have demonstrated the fact that actual dilution of the blood may occur.
A High Speed Digital Decimation Filter with Parallel Cascaded Integrator-Comb Pre-Filters

Parallel Cascaded Integrator-Comb (CIC) pre-filters are proposed to greatly increase the speed of digital decimation filters. Several times of clock rate improvement can be achieved by paralleling computations. Unlike traditional poly-phase parallel decomposition, the new method avoids the substantial area/complexity increase, as a consequence of converting to parallel structure, by exploiting the simple and effective recursive filtering of the CIC pre-filters. With these two methods combined, the new filter achieves unprecedented clock rate and considerable area/complexity savings while providing frequency response similar to those of traditional decimation filters.
Adjuvant endocrine therapy for premenopausal women with hormone-responsive breast cancer

Multiple strategies for endocrine treatment of premenopausal women with hormone-responsive breast cancer have been assessed and results have been presented over the last two years. These include tamoxifen for 5-10 years (ATLAS and aTTom), tamoxifen for 5 years followed by aromatase inhibitor (AI) for 5 years for women who have become postmenopausal (MA-17); ovarian ablation (OA) by surgery (EBCTCG overview); ovarian function suppression (OFS) by LHRH agonist (LHRH agonist meta-analysis); or combinations of approaches including OFS plus tamoxifen or AI (SOFT, TEXT, ABCSG 12 and E3193). Many of these trials have taken place in the backdrop of (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy which can confound interpretation because such therapy can suppress ovarian function either transiently or permanently. Nonetheless these trials suggest in aggregate that 10 years of tamoxifen are better than 5 years and that a program of extended adjuvant therapy of tamoxifen for 5 years followed by aromatase inhibitor for 5 years is effective for suitable candidates. The SOFT and E3193 trials do not show a major advantage for use of OFS + tamoxifen compared to tamoxifen alone. The joint SOFT/TEXT analysis and ABCGS12 trials both suggest that outcomes can be excellent with the use of combined endocrine therapy alone in properly selected patients but give conflicting results with regard to potential benefits for OFS + AI compared with OFS + tamoxifen. Further work will be needed to ascertain long-term outcomes, identify factors that predict who will benefit from extended adjuvant endocrine therapy, and assess role of OFS by medical or surgical means. It is clear, however, that endocrine therapy is a critical part of the adjuvant regimen for most premenopausal women with hormone-responsive breast cancer, and a subset of these women with luminal A-type tumors can be safely treated with endocrine therapy alone.
Low-power radio frequency circuit architectures for portable wireless communications

Ultra-low-power implementations of radio-frequency integrated circuits are benefiting from rapid improvements in integrated circuit technology, circuit architecture techniques and wireless system innovations. Some of the key technological developments driving this field are discussed, in addition to new approaches for the realization of next generation wireless circuits and systems that dissipate very little dc power.
A Simple Thermodynamical Theory for Dust Devils

Based on the heat engine framework, a simple scaling theory for dust devils is proposed and compared to observations. This theory provides a simple physical interpretation for many of the observed characteristics of dust devils. In particular, it predicts the potential intensity and the diurnal variation of dust devil occurrence. It also predicts that the intensity of dust devils depends on the product of two thermodynamic efficiencies, corresponding respectively to vertical and horizontal temperature gradients.
Investigation of Ultraviolet Light-Enhanced H2O2 Oxidation of NOx Emissions

Injecting aqueous solutions of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) into hot flue gases can convert nitric oxide (NO) to higher oxidation states (NO2, HNO2, and HNO3), which can then be removed in a wet scrubber. The optimum temperature for such conversion is 500°C (930°F), at which H2O2 is thermally “activated” (split into free radicals). At lower temperatures ultraviolet (UV) light can be used to activate the peroxide molecules. In this pilot plant study at Kennedy Space Center, experiments were done with none, one, or two UV lamps on, with and without SO2 present in the flue gases, at various temperatures, and with various injection rates of peroxide. Temperatures ranged from 117 to 350°C (243 to 660°F), and the molar ratios (peroxide to NOx) ranged from 0.68 to 5.02. Conversions of NO varied from below 10 to above 70%, with the highest conversions occurring with higher temperatures, higher dosages of hydrogen peroxide, and with both UV lamps turned on. Conversions of NOx (NO+NO2) varied from below 5 to above 40%....
Hematopoietic growth factors and transfusion medicine

At least 20 different hematopoietic drugs (see Table 1) are currently under investigation. These most likely will impact on all aspects of transfusion therapy. Which agents to use and in what combinations will be the subject of scrutiny for many years to come as scientists try to recreate and enhance the process of hematopoiesis. Perhaps someday blood cells and hematopoietic progenitor cells can be manufactured for therapy with genetically selected phenotypes to avoid immune destruction and rejection. If this comes to pass, blood donations as we know them today, as a valuable adjunct to medical care, will fade into history, supplanted by the use of hematopoietic growth factors.
Charged wall growth in channel flow

Abstract The primary objective of this communication is to qualitatively describe charged wall growth in channel flow. The reduction of channel flow cross-section is often attributed to microscale suspensions and dissolved minerals which adhere to the flow boundaries (walls). In this analysis, the wall is comprised of an electrically conductive material, capable of carrying a charge. The flowing fluid, containing ions, is also assumed to be capable of carrying a charge. The resulting electrical field can be determined using Gauss’ law, which allows the associated electrical force to be computed at the solid–fluid interface. This force can impede or enhance the attachment of suspensions to the wall. Thus, there are two effects that play a role at the charged solid–fluid interface/wall: (1) mechanical shear due to the fluid flow and (2) an electrical force. It is the goal of this communication to develop a relationship that characterizes both contributions and to ascertain how this relationship scales with wall growth.
Adhesive Bonding of Various Materials to Hard Tooth Tissues. XV. Neutron Activation Analysis of Dentin Sorption of Mordant Salts

Five metallic chlorides were compared simultaneously, with regard to their interaction with dentin surfaces. Neutron activation analysis was used to measure the quantities absorbed. Each metal was bound by dentin to some extent during a 60-second exposure, and was not removed during a 20-second rinse with distilled water. Quantitatively, the gram-atom amounts of ions sorbed increased in the order Co less than Al less than Zn approximately Cu less than Fe. These mordant salts warrant further study as a possible means of improving adhesive bonding between dental resins (via polyfunctional surface-active comonomers) and dentin.
Using object-oriented principles to optimize update propagation to materialized views

View materialization is known to be a valuable technique for performance optimization in relational databases, and much work has been done addressing the problem of consistently maintaining relational views under update operations. However, little progress has been made thus far regarding the topic of view materialization in object-oriented databases (OODBs). In this paper, we demonstrate that there are several significant differences between the relational and object-oriented paradigms that can be exploited when addressing the object-oriented view materialization problem. We use the subsumption relationships between classes to identify branches of classes to which we do not need to propagate updates. Similarly, we use encapsulated interfaces combined with the fact that any unique database property is inherited from a single location to provide a "registration/notification" service for optimizing incremental view updates. We also report results from the experimental studies we have run on the MultiView system measuring the impact of these optimization strategies.
Effect of acidosis on contractile system in skinned fibers of hypertrophied rat heart

Hypertrophied hearts have enhanced susceptibility to ischemia-induced contractile dysfunction. To explore the mechanisms of this phenomenon, we studied the effect of acidosis on the Ca2+ sensitivity of the contractile proteins and on Ca2+ accumulation by the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) in chemically (saponin) skinned cardiac fibers obtained from normal and pressure-overloaded hypertrophied rat left ventricles. Left ventricular pressure overload was induced by partial ligation of the abdominal aorta 6-8 wk before study. Age- and weight-matched normal rats served as controls. Pressure overload increased the left ventricular weight-to-body weight ratio by 48%. Reduction in pH shifted the pCa-tension curve to the right similarly in normal and hypertrophied preparations, and there was no difference in pCa-tension relationship at pH 7.0 or 6.5 between the two groups. However, reducing the pH of 1 microM Ca2(+)-loading solution from 7.0 to 6.5 decreased the amount of Ca2+ accumulated in the SR to 66.2 +/- 3.0% in normal fibers and 43.2 +/- 4.0% in hypertrophied fibers (P less than 0.01). We conclude that the enhanced susceptibility of hypertrophied hearts to ischemia-induced diastolic dysfunction may be partly explained by the greater depressing effect of acidosis on Ca2+ accumulation by the SR.
Non-ideal probe effect on the polarization extraction using the planar near-field phaseless antenna measurements

The introduction of phaseless techniques has intrigued many researchers due to their promising cost effectiveness and their appropriateness for higher frequency operation, where there is a lack of network instruments. These techniques are not vulnerable to the phase instability and more importantly they are shown to reduce the probe positioning error effect. A number of interesting solutions for phaseless antenna measurements techniques are suggested in the literature, but most of these methods are not deeply investigated in terms of their performance in dealing with all kind of real measurement scenarios. This paper is focused on the planar phaseless measurements and specifically the polarization extraction issue. In a recent paper the polarization extraction issue is solved through the introduction of a single extra measurement along a direction different from the principal x- and y-directions [1]. The single extra measurements will basically extract the phase difference between the x- and y-directed fields at a single point in the measurement plane. As discussed in that paper an amplitude-only measurement along a different direction from x- and y-axis will resolve the phase difference and ultimately solve the polarization issue in a two-component manner. Due to the non-ideality of the probes in a real measurement the voltage amplitude induced at the end of the probe is not necessarily proportional to the electric field magnitude at that point. Moreover in general the probe voltage is a combination of both x- and y-directed electric field. Therefore the question that remains is weather one can use the measured voltages magnitude and still extract the polarization data and consequently the true co- and cross-polarized far-field patterns. Using the Kerns [2] well-known theory of plane-wave transmitting characteristic of the antenna, this paper will show that having the plane wave characteristic of the antenna one is able to compensate the probe effects in the planar phaseless measurement technique and come up with the correct polarization data.
Directed flexibility: self-assembly of a supramolecular tetrahedron

Self-assembly of a tribenzo-27-crown-9 ether functionalized with six terpyridines generated (85%) an expanded tetrahedral structure comprised of four independent triangular surfaces interlinked by crown ether vertices.
Microtopographical roughness of shallow-water continental shelves

High-resolution (<1 cm) roughness height measurements were made of the seafloor at seven locations on continental-shelf sediments on water depths ranging from 18 to 50 m. Roughness profiles of the sediment-water interface were digitized primarily from stereo photogrammetric measurements of varying pathlengths and increments. The data show that the root-mean-square roughness height varies from 0.3 cm for flat, featureless bottoms to 2.3 cm for rippled bottoms. Slopes of the roughness power spectra were calculated to be -1.5 to near -3.0 and depended to a large extent on contributions in higher spatial frequencies due to coarse sediments. Correlation lengths of different bottom types were estimated by using the Weiner-Khintchine theorem and examining the low-frequency behavior of the roughness spectra derived from the longest roughness profiles.
The Effect of Single-Detector CT Versus MDCT on Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Suspected Acute Pulmonary Embolism and Negative Results on CT Pulmonary Angiography

OBJECTIVE. We sought to compare the clinical outcomes of patients in whom pulmonary embolism (PE) has been ruled out with single-detector CT versus MDCT, given the improved visualization of subsegmental clots with the latter and the recent increase in use of CT for evaluation of PE.SUBJECTS AND METHODS. Two cohorts of patients undergoing CT for suspected PE with either single-detector CT (3-mm collimation and pitch of 1.7) or MDCT (2-mm collimation and pitch of 1) scanners were prospectively observed and compared using predefined criteria for evidence of subsequent thromboembolic disease during the 6 months after the acquisition of their initial scan.RESULTS. Ninety-eight patients were scanned using a single-detector CT scanner. Of these, none had evidence of subsequent PE or deep venous thrombosis (DVT), and six (6.1%) died of unrelated causes. Of the 100 patients scanned using an MDCT scanner, one (1.0%) had a subsequent nonfatal PE 2 months after the initial scanning, one (1.0%) had DVT 1 month after t...
Vasodilator action of pentoxifylline on microcirculation of rat cremaster muscle.

Pentoxifylline improves microvascular blood flow in conditions of vascular insufficiency. The clinical benefits of pentoxifylline have been attributed to its effects on the cellular elements of whole blood, although a few studies suggest it may also be a vasodilator. The purpose of this study was to determine whether pentoxifylline has a vasodilator effect on the luminal diameter of small arteries preconstricted with norepinephrine and on resting small arteries in the rat cre master muscle.Intravital videomicroscopy was used in order to observe directly the vasodi lator capacity of topically applied pentoxifylline. The results reveal that pentox ifylline (100 μM and more) can significantly dilate small arteries preconstricted with norepinephrine. Pentoxifylline had no effect on the diameter of resting small arteries.These results suggest that vasodilation may play a role in the ability of pen toxifylline to improve arterial blood flow.
Spectrophotometric and Chemical Studies of 5-Mercaptouracil, 5-Mercaptodeoxyuridine, and their S-Substituted Derivatives

5-Mercaptouracil (1) and 5-mercaptodeoxyuridine (II), structural analogs of thymine and thymidine, respectively, are effective growth inhibitors in various biological systems and under study as potential antineoplastic and antiviral agents. Both compounds were found to be extremely unstable in aqueous solutions as they undergo rapid autoxidation to the corresponding disulfides. Determination of the ultraviolet spectra and pKa values of the thiols was possible only by special techniques, using dithiothreitol (DTT) as a “protecting” agent. Both I and II have very low pKa's, and their anionic forms show characteristic absorption maxima in the 330-mμ region. These results are discussed in comparison with the spectra and ionization equilibria of related compounds including some new S-substituted derivatives of I and II. DTT was found to be also a uniquely suitable reagent for the preparation of pure I and II by stoichiornetric reduction of the corresponding disulhdes. A special technique was developed for the quantitative determination of the free thiols.
Urinary testosterone fractions. Studies on the origin in certain diseases associated with elevated testosterone excretion.

Abstract The group of hirsuite females who had an initial elevation of testosterone glucuronoside (TG) excretion which decreased acutely with adrenocortical suppression was studied during chronic suppression. Testosterone excretion remained in the normal female range. This was accompanied by clinical improvement in 6 of 7 patients. That ovulation was indeed occurring after treatment was difinitely demonstrated in one patient by repeating the culdoscopy. The conversion rate of androstenedione (Δ),the immediate blood testosterone (T) precursor, to TG in patients with this pattern of testosterone excretion was similar to that observed in hirsute females with normal urinary TG and in females without endocrinologic disease. Increased adrenal secretion of T precursors or of T would seem to best explain the abnormalities in these patients. Measurement of T precursors in the adrenal effluent from a patient with Cushing's syndrome revealed no adrenal epitestosterone (Epi T) production although large amounts of dehydroepiandrosterone (D) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DS) were secreted. Free and sulfated urinary T fractions were quantitatively insignificant in the group of women studied with unexplained hirsutism and either normal or increased TG excretion.
α-SNAP Enhances SNARE Zippering by Stabilizing the SNARE Four-Helix Bundle

Intracellular membrane fusion is mediated by dynamic assembly and disassembly of soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor (NSF) attachment protein (SNAP) receptors (SNAREs). α-SNAP guides NSF to disassemble SNARE complexes after membrane fusion. Recent experiments showed that α-SNAP also dramatically enhances SNARE assembly and membrane fusion. How α-SNAP is involved in these opposing activities is not known. Here, we examine the effect of α-SNAP on the stepwise assembly of the synaptic SNARE complex using optical tweezers. We found that α-SNAP destabilized the linker domain (LD) of the SNARE complex but stabilized its C-terminal domain (CTD) through a conformational selection mechanism. In contrast, α-SNAP minimally affected assembly of the SNARE N-terminal domain (NTD), indicating that α-SNAP barely bound the partially assembled trans-SNARE complex. Thus, α-SNAP recognizes the folded CTD for SNARE disassembly with NSF and subtly modulates membrane fusion by altering the stabilities of the SNARE CTD and LD.
Characterization of Ga-Mn Decagonal Quasicrystals in GaAs

Ga-Mn decagonal quasicrystals (DQC), as well as a Ga-Mn approximant and a normal crystal in GaAs are investigated by electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) and energy dispersive X- ray spectroscopy (EDS) combined with Z-contrast imaging. Plasmon peak positions (Ep), full- width-half-maxima (FWHM) and Mn L3/L2ratios of these three phases are derived from their low-loss spectra and core-loss spectra respectively. Mn, Ga and As distributions in ion implanted GaAs layers are characterized by EDS at line-scan mode. These results show that the Ga-Mn DQC has higher Ep and FWHMs than those of its normal crystal counterpart, as well as all other reported QCs. The much larger L3/L2 intensity ratio of the Ga-Mn DQC over that of the Al-Mn icosahedral quasicrystals (IQC) may suggest Mn atoms in the Ga-Mn DQC have much larger local magnetic moments.
Preparation of extravillous trophoblast from the basal plate of term human placenta

Introduction: Placenta accreta-related pathologies are characterized by excessive trophoblast invasion of the uterus. Evidence suggests that the trophoblast-decidual interaction is abnormal in these pathologies. We decided to isolate extravillous trophoblast (EVT) from term placenta as a precursor to obtaining and investigating these cells in accreta-related pathologies. Methods: Basal plate tissue (2-3 mm) from normal term placenta was digested using trypsin, collagenase or dispase, individually or in combination. After digestion cells were spun on a 30%:60% discontinuous Percoll gradient and the interface layer was collected. Cells were incubated with a mAb to HLA-G (clone MEM/G9) coupled to phycoerythrin (PE; Abcam) for 30min, washed, then incubated for a further 15minwith anti-PEmagnetic microbeads. Positive selection of HLA-G-labeled cells was performed on an AutoMACS magnetic cell separator (Miltenyi). Cell fractions were analyzed by flow cytometry using PE and the dead cell stain, SYTOX Green, as markers. Results: Use of collagenase or dispase in DMEM/F12 for digestion produced a significant degree of cell death whereas there was minimal cell death with these agents when digested in HBSS. A combination of 0.25% trypsin, 0.1% dispase, 0.1% collagenase IV in HBSS (3 x 20min) gave the best digestion as assessed by number of cells released and percentage of dead cells (1.6 0.4%; mean SEM, n1⁄43). Optimal anti-HLA-G dilutionwas 1:500. HLA-G-labeled cells comprised 0.9 0.3% of total after digestion, 23.7 5.7% after gradient separation and 94.3 2.5% following magnetic bead separation. Of the non-PE (HLA-G) labeled cells remaining in final fraction, 5.9 1.0% were SYTOX Green-stained suggesting that the primary contaminating component is a dead cell population. Conclusions: The method outlined here selects for a fraction highly enriched in the EVT-specific marker, HLA-G. This technique appears to isolate EVT cells from third trimester placenta and will be of value in the investigation of accreta-related pathologies.
Habitat partitioning between the xanthid crabsPanopeus herbstii andEurypanopeus depressus on intertidal oyster reefs (Crassostrea virginica) in southeastern North Carolina

The abundances of the xanthid crabsPanopeus herbstii andEurypanopeus depressus were examined relative to surface oyster shell cover, surface oyster cluster volume, subsurface shell content, substrate sand and silt composition, and oyster reef elevation. During August 1986 through July 1987, xanthid crabs were collected monthly from twelve 0.25 m2×15 cm deep quadrats, during low tide, from intertidal oyster reefs in Mill Creek, Pender County, North Carolina, USA, with respective quadrat details recorded. The abundance ofP. herbstii, and to a lesser degreeE. depressus, was positively correlated with surface shell cover. The abundance ofE. depressus, and to a lesser degreeP. herbstii, was positively correlated with surface cluster volume. The majority ofP. herbstii inhabited the subsurface stratum of the oyster reef, whereas the majority ofE. depressus inhabited the cluster stratum. Seasonality (i.e., temperature) appeared to influence the strata habitation of both species, with a higher incidence of cluster habitation during warmer months and a lower incidence during colder months. Crab abundance was not related to other factors examined, such as subsurface shell, substrate sand and silt composition, or elevation within the oyster reef. The analyses show thatP. herbstii andE. depressus have partitioned the intertidal oyster reef habitat, withE. depressus exploiting surface shell clusters andP. herbstii the subsurface stratum.
Dietary phosphate affects food selection, post-ingestive phosphorus fate, and performance of a polyphagous herbivore.

ABSTRACT Comparisons of the carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus (P) content of plants and insect herbivores suggests that P limitation and herbivore foraging to balance P intake could be common. However, the lack of synthetic diets for testing the effects of lower ranges of dietary P has been a major impediment to experimental assessment of the ecological importance of, and physiological responses to, P limitation for terrestrial herbivores. We manipulated dietary P content (%P) over its observed range in terrestrial foliage using artificial diets containing near-optimal content of other nutrients for the grasshopper Schistocerca americana . Over much of the ecologically relevant range, when consuming single diets over a lifetime, higher P stimulated growth rates and increased survival, with an optimal dietary %P of 0.25–0.50% when measured throughout development. Excessive dietary P (1%) reduced growth and survival. However, with only short-term (3 day) confinement to single diets, dietary P had no effect on food consumption or growth rates. During these short exposures, fifth (but not third) instar hoppers increased the proportion of P excreted relative to P assimilated as dietary P increased. Target experiments demonstrated that, when given a choice, grasshoppers select among foods to attain a P intake target of 0.6%. These data suggest that P limitation could be common for terrestrial insect herbivores and that they can exhibit ingestive and post-ingestive mechanisms to attain sufficient but not excessive P.
Automatic Identification of Retinal Arteries and Veins in Fundus Images using Local Binary Patterns.

Artery and vein (AV) classification of retinal images is a key to necessary tasks, such as automated measurement of arteriolar-to-venular diameter ratio (AVR). This paper comprehensively reviews the state-of-the art in AV classification methods. To improve on previous methods, a new Local Bi- nary Pattern-based method (LBP) is proposed. Beside its simplicity, LBP is robust against low contrast and low quality fundus images; and it helps the process by including additional AV texture and shape information. Experimental results compare the performance of the new method with the state-of-the art; and also methods with different feature extraction and classification schemas.
Epidemiological Survey of Pneumoconiosis in Neijiang,2007-2011

Objective To understand the epidemiological characteristics of pneumoconiosis in Neijiang from 2007 to 2011 and to provide scientific evidence for developing prevention measures towards pneumoconiosis.Methods New cases of pneumoconiosis within 2007-2011 in Neijiang were statistically analyzed.Results Cases within 2009-2010 accounted for 62.4% of the total,and the pneumoconiosis patients were mainly in Weiyuan county and mainly from the coal industry(86.80%) and building material industry(4.79%).Mine worker was the main type of work among the onset population,accounting for 87% of the total.Cases with pneumoconiosis and silicosis accounted for 65.18% and 31.68% respectively.The first period of pneumoconiosis took the majority of the new cases,accounting for 67.3%.Cases under 5 years' exposure to dust took a proportion of 15.2%.The onset age mainly distributed in 45-65 years old.There were 13 cases complicated with pulmonary tuberculosis(2.15% of the total cases).Conclusion Coal industry is the main epidemic focus of the pneumoconiosis cases,mainly in terms of pneumoconiosis and silicosis;the first period patients are the major population of new cases;age between 45-65 years old is the high occurrence period with relatively more rapid cases.Thus,pertinent measures should be timely taken towards vulnerable area,especially Weiyuan county.
The process of industry exit in the Japanese context: Evidence from the flat panel display industry

This research studies industry exit in the Japanese context, by examining the process followed five Japanese flat panel display manufacturers as they de-committed to and later exited from the industry. The five cases examine firms with systematically different exit barriers due to the presence or absence of strategic centrality and vertical integration in each firm. With one exception, all the firms followed multi-staged exit processes involving cooperative arrangements with other industry participants. Firms with middle to high levels of commitment and exit barriers went through more steps in the process than those with the lowest levels of commitment. The effect of top management succession and long-term employment upon the exit process are considered, and the role of cooperative arrangements in reducing exit barriers are discussed.
Myocardial Ultrastructure in the Normal and Failing Heart

The first article in a new series on cardiac failure focuses upon the sarcomere as the basic contractile unit within the myocardium. The phenomena observable under the electron microscope are related to the functioning of the heart as a pump. And it is shown that derangements at the sarcomere level can be related to compensatory mechanisms that ultimately lead to heart failure.
Laparoscopic vs Open Pyeloplasty in Children: Results of a Randomized, Prospective, Controlled Trial

Purpose: Open dismembered pyeloplasty is the preferred repair for ureteropelvic junction obstruction. Minimally invasive techniques have been applied to the original open approach but no clear advantage has been demonstrated for these technological advances. We evaluate outcomes between transperitoneal laparoscopic and open pyeloplasty in children.Materials and Methods: All children 1 to 18 years old with ureteropelvic junction obstruction requiring operative repair were offered enrollment in the study. Patients were prospectively randomized to either laparoscopic or open pyeloplasty through a flank incision.Results: A total of 50 patients in the laparoscopic group and 48 in the open group were enrolled from 2005 to 2014. Mean followup was similar between the groups (13.7 months in the laparoscopic group vs 12.3 months in the open group, p = 0.54). The only significantly different outcomes were for mean operative time, which was 139.5 minutes (range 94 to 213) in the laparoscopic group and 122.5 minutes (...
Health Insurance Type and Control of Hypertension Among US Women Living With and Without HIV Infection in the Women's Interagency HIV Study.

Background Health care access is an important determinant of health. We assessed the effect of health insurance status and type on blood pressure control among US women living with (WLWH) and without HIV. Methods We used longitudinal cohort data from the Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS). WIHS participants were included at their first study visit since 2001 with incident uncontrolled blood pressure (BP) (i.e., BP ≥140/90 and at which BP at the prior visit was controlled (i.e., Results Most of the 1,130 WLWH and 422 HIV-uninfected WIHS participants who had an elevated systolic or diastolic measurement were insured via Medicaid, were African-American, and had a yearly income ≤$12,000. Among participants living with HIV, comparing the uninsured to those with Medicaid yielded an 18-month BP control risk difference of 0.16 (95% CI: 0.10, 0.23). This translates into a number-needed-to-treat (or insure) of 6; to reduce the caseload of WLWH with uncontrolled BP by one case, five individuals without insurance would need to be insured via Medicaid. Blood pressure control was similar among WLWH with private insurance and Medicaid. There were no differences observed by health insurance status on 18-month risk of BP control among the HIV-uninfected participants. Conclusions These results underscore the importance of health insurance for hypertension control-especially for people living with HIV.
Effects of fatigue and recovery on electromechanical delay during isokinetic muscle actions.

Objective: To examine muscle-specific differences and the effects of fatigue and recovery on electromechanical delay (EMD) during maximal isokinetic muscle actions. Approach: Thirteen men performed maximal isokinetic knee extension muscle actions at 60° s−1, pretest, posttest, and after 5 min of recovery from 25 maximal isokinetic knee extensions. The onsets of the electromyographic, mechanomyographic, and force signals were used to identify EMD measures from the vastus lateralis (VL), vastus medialis (VM), and rectus femoris (RF). Main results: There were posttest increases in all EMD measures for all muscles that returned to pretest levels after 5 min of recovery. There were, however, no differences in EMD measures between the VL and VM. All EMD values from the RF were greater than the VL and VM. Significance: These findings suggested muscle-specific differences in EMD and that excitation-contraction coupling failure and increased compliance of the series elastic component occurred posttest, but subsided after 5 min of recovery.
What Explains Local Policy Elites' Preferences Toward Sustainable Energy Policy?

Given the importance of climate change controversies in our society, inferences drawn from examining the way in which policymakers and business leaders form their preferences toward sustainable energy policy are important to craft future policy directions. In this paper, we attempt to identify individual-level determinants that shape sustainable energy policy adoption decisions, utilizing the grid-group cultural theory (CT) mixed with rational choice perspectives. Through an analysis of data collected from a statewide survey of 420 local policy elites in more than 50 Arkansas cities in 2014, we found that cultural values – particularly those of egalitarianism and individualism – significantly influence sustainable energy policy preferences, with egalitarians demonstrating higher support for sustainable energy policies and individualists demonstrating lower levels of support. We further found that feasibility considerations – particularly economic and land use feasibility perceptions – significantly influence sustainable energy policy preferences, with higher levels of perceived feasibility being associated with higher levels of support for sustainable energy policies. In sum, such feasibility considerations are present in policy elites’ related policy preference formation, but are constrained by their cultural value predispositions. We conclude by discussing various ramifications of our research findings.
Image quality affects deep learning reconstruction of MRI

The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) process is susceptible to a wide range of artifacts caused by various sources. In some cases, artifacts might be confused with pathology. In addition, state-of-the-art dynamic MR reconstruction algorithms are iterative in nature, causing longer reconstruction times. Recently, deep learning has been applied to MRI reconstruction and produces high quality images at high acceleration rates. Since deep learning highly depends on training data, the quality of training images must not be ignored. This article demonstrates how noisy images in the training data affect the quality of MR reconstruction. The proposed method modifies the loss function of the neural network to prefer higher quality target images by using a weighted loss function. In this paper mean squared error loss is used, but the approach can be extended to other types of loss function. Using still frames from cardiac MRI's, this approach is compared to existing approaches that discard noisy training data or ignore these quality differences. Even a basic weighting strategy improves the deep learning reconstruction quality over such methods.
5.19 – Artificial Membrane Technologies to Assess Transfer and Permeation of Drugs in Drug Discovery

The passive transfer and permeation of drugs across a membrane are important determinants of ADME processes, and are related to the physicochemical properties of drugs. Recently, it has become possible to assess the passive membrane permeation-utilizing artificial membrane technologies that mimic real biological membranes. The artificial membrane technologies can be mapped at the intersection of the biological and physicochemical approaches. Biological membranes have a large variation among each organ. The intestinal brush border membrane and the blood–brain barrier membrane are mainly composed of phospholipids. The skin permeation barrier (the intercellular lipids of the stratum corneum) is mainly composed of ceramides, cholesterol, and free fatty acids. These lipids organize a lipophilic permeation barrier for hydrophilic molecules. The permeation process across a lipophilic permeation barrier is theoretically described by the solubility–diffusion model and/or the two-step (flip-flop) model. Artificial membrane tools for drug discovery can be categorized into two types: permeation across the membrane (e.g., the parallel artificial membrane permeation assay and Fluorosome) and partition into the membrane (e.g., immobilized artificial membrane (IAM) column chromatography, immobilized liposome chromatography, liposome electrokinetic chromatography, pH titration, the surface plasmon resonance-based method, and the solid-supported lipid membrane). These technologies are reviewed from the viewpoint of in vivo predictability and drug discovery utility.
The Combat ICU Team

You have just finished your second damage control laparotomy of the day, and are nervously watching the flurry of ICU nurses around this newly arrived patient. As they connect the arterial line to the monitor you notice that the blood pressure is 80 mmHg and he’s still pretty tachycardic. You order another round of blood products and some labs, but as you are writing the rest of the orders your pager alerts you to the next round of incoming wounded soldiers.
Abstract 402: Vitamin C Deficiency Impairs Cardiac Function and Post-infarction Survival in the Mouse

Introduction: L-gulonolactone oxidase (Gulo) is the rate limiting enzyme for Vitamin C (VitC) biosynthesis. Humans rely on dietary VitC for collagen synthesis, extracellular matrix formation, and tissue regeneration. VitC deficiency is an unrecognized condition and its role in cardiac homeostasis and post-acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remodeling is unknown. Hypothesis: Low levels of VitC impair cardiac function and tissue repair following AMI. Methods: Adult male Gulo -/- knockout mice (C57BL6 background, N=8) and control C57BL (N=8), which are able to synthesize VitC were used. VitC deficiency was maintained supplying low levels of VitC (30mg/l) to Gulo -/- mice in drinking water. Mice underwent M-mode and Doppler echocardiography to measure left ventricular (LV) diameters and wall thicknesses, fractional shortening (FS), E and A waves, E/A ratio, isovolumetric relaxation time (IRT) and myocardial performance index (MPI). Experimental AMI was induced by coronary artery ligation for 7 days. An additional group of Gulo -/- were mice supplemented with physiological levels of VitC (330 mg/l) and underwent AMI. Results: VitC deficient Gulo -/- mice exhibited significantly reduced LV wall thicknesses, reduced FS, and impaired diastolic function, measured as significantly reduced E/A ratio and longer IRT (Panel A, B & C). Following AMI, 100% (8/8) of deficient Gulo -/- mice died within 5 days. Supplementation with physiological levels of VitC significantly improved survival after AMI (Panel D). Conclusion: VitC deficiency impairs systolic and diastolic function. Moreover, VitC is critical for the post-AMI survival.
Urocitellus parryii (Rodentia: Sciuridae)

Urocitellus parryii (Richardson, 1825) is a high-latitude sciurid known as the Arctic ground squirrel. The largest of 12 species in the genus Urocitellus, its range extends farther north than any other species of squirrel. It is also the only member of family Sciuridae with a Holarctic distribution. U. parryii is colonial and a conspicuous inhabitant of tundra, meadows, and boreal forests across large tracts of Canada, Alaska, and eastern Siberia. Although the subject of significant research in some parts of its geographic range, aspects of U. parryii biology remain understudied in others, a trend that further characterizes its representation in museum collections both spatially and temporally. Although U. parryii is not currently of conservation concern (listed as “Least Concern” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources), filling remaining knowledge gaps will be an important component of continued persistence given predicted scenarios of environmental change.
Rapid Next-Generation Sequencing Method for Prediction of Prostate Cancer Risks

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed male cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men in the United States, with approximately 220,000 new diagnoses and approximately 27,000 deaths each year. Men with clinical low-risk disease can receive active surveillance to safely preserve quality of life, provided that the risk of an undetected aggressive cancer can be managed. Thus, prediction of a tumor's metastatic potential, ideally using only a biopsy sample, is critical to choosing appropriate treatment. We previously proposed and verified a metastasis potential score (MPS) based on regions prone to copy number alterations in metastatic prostate cancer; MPS is highly predictive of metastatic potential in primary tumors. We developed a novel, targeted postligation amplification sequencing approach, which we call the next-generation copy number alteration assay, to efficiently interrogate 902 genomic sites that belong to 194 genomic regions used in the MPS calculation. The assay is designed to work with the latest generation of sequencing platforms to produce estimates of copy number alteration events. The assay's technical reproducibility, robustness to low starting genomic material, and accuracy have been verified. The assay performed very well on cell lines, a cohort of prostate cancer surgical research samples, and matched punched biopsy samples, making it a significant step toward incorporating sequencing techniques for prostate cancer evaluation.
THE IMPACT OF ATRIAL FIBRILLATION AT TIME OF CARDIAC PET STRESS TESTING ON RESULTS, CORONARY OUTCOMES, AND MACE

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) and major cardiovascular adverse events (MACE); cardiac PET imaging may be used to determine the risk of these outcomes. However, it is unclear whether having AF at the time of the PET will impact the results and subsequent