cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Assessing damages for non-performance of a travel professional - a suggested use of "servqual".

Abstract The failure of a travel or tour professional to deliver adequate service as contracted for could result in a lawsuit. If the service provider loses the suit a judgment will be entered against it. The courts have recognized that a mere refund of the amounts paid for the trip is not a just or adequate remedy. At this time there are no standards or rules upon which the amount of such a damage award could be based. Thus the potential cost of a service failure to the service provider is unknown. For illustrative purposes, the SERVQUAL model which has been designed to measure a consumer's satisfaction with a service is used to help identify the service components which failed. Examples are given as to how such a model could be used to determine the amount of damages that would be awarded a traveler. Implications for travel and tourism professionals are discussed.
Percutaneous Treatment of Mitral Regurgitation: Current Status and Future Directions

The burgeoning field of catheter-based, percutaneous valve intervention takes an interdisciplinary approach to mitral valve regurgitation with the goal of maximizing clinical outcomes and minimizing procedure-associated morbidity. This exciting field continues to push the boundaries of technological innovation as it expands the armamentarium available to treat valvular disease. Around the world teams are working to create a catheter-based approach that is practical and durable. Several technologies are in various stages of development and clinical application.
The Effect of Lithium on the Osmoregulation of Arginine Vasopressin Secretion

The effect of lithium on the plasma arginine vasopressin (AVP) response to the iv infusion of 5% saline was determined in six patients with primary affective disorder. Lithium did not significantly affect baseline weight, plasma osmolality, sodium, or AVP levels. However, lithium significantly increased the mean rate of change or the sensitivity of the plasma AVP response to the osmotic stimulus (from 0.42 ± 0.17 to 1.08 to 0.24 pg/ml/mosmol/kg; P < 0.025, by paired t test). This change was associated with a slight but significant increase in the precision of the response, as reflected in the correlation coefficient, but there was no difference in the calculated intercept or osmotic threshold for AVP secretion. This study indicates that patients on lithium do not, as previously suggested, show partial central diabetes insipidus. Rather, AVP secretion seems to be enhanced. Moreover, the mechanism of this enhancement is a specific increase in the sensitivity of the osmoreceptor rather than a lowering of the...
Effect of reduced impulse activity on the development of identified motor terminals in Drosophila larvae

In Drosophila larvae, motoneurons show distinctive differences in the size of their synaptic boutons; that is, axon 1 has type Ib (“big” boutons) terminals and axon 2 has type Is (“small” boutons) terminals on muscle fibers 6 and 7. To determine whether axon 1 develops large boutons due to its high impulse activity, we reduced impulse activity and examined the motor terminals formed by axon 1. The number of functional Na+ channels was reduced either with the napts mutation or by adding tetrodotoxin (TTX) to the media (0.1 μg/g). In both cases, the rate of locomotion was decreased by approximately 40%, presumably reflecting a decrease in impulse activity. Locomotor activity was restored to above wild-type (Canton-S) levels when napts was combined with a duplication of para, the Na+-channel gene. Lucifer yellow was injected into the axon 1 motor terminals, and we measured motor terminal area, length, the number of branches, and the number and width of synaptic boutons. Although all parameters were smaller in napts and TTX-treated larvae compared to wild-type, most of these differences were not significant when the differences in muscle fiber size were factored out. Only bouton width was significantly smaller in both different napts and TTX-treated larvae: boutons were about 20% smaller in napts and TTX-treated larvae, and 20% larger in napts; Dp para+ compared to wild-type. In addition, terminal area was significantly smaller in napts compared to wild-type. Bouton size at Ib terminals with reduced impulse activity was similar to that normally seen at Is terminals. Thus, differences in impulse activity play a major role in the differentiation of bouton size at Drosophila motor terminals. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Neurobiol 54: 337–345, 2003
Analysis of the Stoichiometry of Rab Protein Prenylation

Abstract Rab5 is a Ras-related GTP-binding protein that is post-translationally prenylated with the 20-carbon isoprenoid geranylgeranyl. We have developed a method to determine the stoichiometry of prenylation of Rab5, and Rab family members in general, based on the cell-free translation of these peptides in the presence or the absence of appropriate isoprenoids. Modification of cell-free synthesized Rab5 can be monitored by following the conversion of 35 S-labeled peptide to a greater mobility isoform on urea-gradient sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. The mobility-shifted isoform also incorporates radiolabel in the presence of [ 3 H]mevalonate or [ 3 H]geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate, confirming post-translational modification with geranylgeranyl. A quantitative assessment of the conversion of mobility-shifted Rab5, promoted by prenylation, and the amount of incorporated radiolabel from [ 3 H]geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate was achieved by excising gel slices containing radiolabeled isoforms and measuring the covalently associated radioactivity. Using this approach, we have established that 2 moles of geranylgeranyl is attached per mole of Rab5 peptide. A 2:1 molar ratio of geranylgeranyl:peptide is observed for both Rab5 wt and a truncation mutant, Rab5 1-213 containing C-terminal motifs CCXX and XXCC, respectively. When Rab proteins ending in CXC are synthesized and processed in vitro , they also incorporate geranylgeranyl at a 2:1 stoichiometry, although extended times of incubation are required for full modification. Finally, a C-terminal Rab5 truncation mutant retaining only one cysteine also becomes modified, although only a minor fraction is fully processed. This method offers a novel, quantitative approach to investigate the stoichiometry of post-translational processing of cell-free synthesized peptides without the need to purify the native molecules.
Influence of adrenergic blocking drug [N-ethyl-N-(2-bromoethyl)-l-naphthylenemethylamine HBr] on pyrogenic reaction.

SummaryA potent adrenergic blocking drug, N-Ethyl-N- (2-bromoethy1)-1-naphthyl-enemethylamine · HBr, has been shown to reduce and alter the febrile response of normal and curarized dogs to the intravenous injection of a purified pyrogenic material obtained from pseudomonas aeruginosa. This evidence is interpreted as supporting the hypothesis that the pyrogenic reaction is due, at least in part, to a reduction in heat loss caused by adrenergic nerve mediated vasoconstriction in the skin.
Testing the efficiency and motion economy of two-finger robotic grippers

The aim of the research work described in this paper was to study the versatility and effectiveness of commercially available all-purpose robot grippers. In particular, the authors analyzed the capabilities of a two-finger, parallel-action gripper. Another aspect considered in this investigation was the relationship between motion economy and a variety of factors, viz. programming method, gripping configuration, speed of the robot's movement and the weight of the workpiece being handled, all from a standpoint of gripping effectiveness. The potential value of this research work is threefold, involving a knowledge of robot systems limitations, alternate gripping approaches and the development of an extendable gripping analysis method. Further research work is anticipated for a variety of different grippers and robotic arms.
Adrenal insufficiency secondary to carcinoma metastatic to the adrenal gland

Four patients are reported in whom adrenocortical insufficiency developed consequent to carcinoma metastatic to the adrenal glands. Recognition and treatment of this entity may lead to palliation of symptoms and prolongation of useful life. The computerized axial tomographic scanner is a valuable diagnostic aid in diagnosing adrenal enlargement.
Newts: Sun-Compass Orientation

Rough-skinned newts, captured from breeding ponds, oriented on courses that would have intersected the familiar shorelines at right angles, when released in a circular arena on land under the sun or moon. Pondward migrants oriented similarly. Reorientation failed under complete cloud cover and after 7 days of darkness in an environmental chamber, but persisted in newts whose eyes were excised and in those displaced more than 27 kilometers in darkness. Both normal and blind animals compensated for displacement in sunshine. Preliminary evidence suggests that alternative light receptors in blinded animals may be associated with the optic tectum. No evidence of olfactory guidance was observed.
Neuroprotective antioxidant STAZN protects against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Background Protecting the myocardium from ischemia-reperfusion injury has significant potential to reduce the complications of myocardial infarction and interventional revascularization procedures. Reperfusion damage is thought to result, in part, from oxidative stress. Here we use a novel method of percutaneous coronary occlusion to show that the potent antioxidant and neuroprotective free-radical scavenger, stilbazulenyl nitrone (STAZN), confers marked cardioprotection when given immediately prior to reperfusion.
Partial agonist activity of the bombesin-receptor antagonist [Leu14-ψ-CH2-NH-Leu13]-bombesin in frog peptic cells

The pseudopeptide [Leu 14 -ψ-CH 2 NH-Leu 13 ]-bombesin inhibited 125 I-GRP binding to membrane preparations of frog cerebrum and peptic cells, rat cerebral cortex and pancreas with IC 50 ′s of 44–250 nM (using 180 pM 125 I-GRP). It was unable to stimulate amylase release from rat pancreatic acini, but antagonized competitively BB stimulated amylase release with an IC 50 of 130 nM. By contrast the pseudopeptide stimulated pepsinogen secretion from frog esophageal peptic cells with an efficacy relative to bombesin of 36%, and with an EC 50 of 30 nM. By virtue of its partial agonist activity it inhibited submaximal BB stimulated responses to a level equal to the pseudopeptide alone. Thus [Leu 14 -ψ-CH 2 NH-Leu 13 ]-BB differentiates certain BB receptors by exhibiting selective intrinsic efficacy.
Microscale tipstreaming in a microfluidic flow focusing device

A microfluidic flow-focusing device is used to explore the use of surfactant-mediated tipstreaming to synthesize micrometer-scale and smaller droplets. By controlling the surfactant bulk concentration of a soluble nonionic surfactant in the neighborhood of the critical micelle concentration, along with the capillary number and the ratio of the internal and external flow rates, we observe several distinct modes of droplet breakup. For the most part, droplet breakup in microfluidic devices results in highly monodisperse droplets in the range of tens of micrometers in size. However, we observe a new mode of breakup called “thread formation” that resembles tipstreaming and yields tiny droplets in the range of a few micrometers in size or smaller. In this work, we characterize the growth of the thread and its maximum length as a function of flow variables and surfactant content, and we also characterize the period of droplet breakup as a function of these variables. Our results suggest possible methods for controlling the process. Using a simple flow visualization experiment as the basis, we report on preliminary efforts to model the thread formation process.
An endogenous Ca2+-sensitive proteinase converts the hepatic α1-adrenergic receptor to guanine nucleotide-insensitive forms

Abstract An iodoazido[ 125 I]prazosin analogue was employed to photoaffinity label α 1 -adrenergic receptors in rat liver plasma membranes. Labeled proteins were separated by gradient polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate, and (−)-epinephrine displacement of [ 3 H]prazosin binding was concurrently measured in the presence or absence of guanosine 5′- O -( γ -thiotriphosphate) (GTP[γS]). Inclusion of EGTA and/or proteinase inhibitors during membrane preparation and incubation increased the effect of GTP[γS] on α 1 -adrenergic agonist binding and this could be correlated with increased concentrations of a 78 kDa photoaffinity labeled protein. In contrast, omission of EGTA or addition of exogenous Ca 2+ diminished or abolished the effect of GTP[γS] on binding and caused loss of the 78 kDa form and the appearance of lower molecular weight labeled proteins. Age-dependent differences in GTP[γS] effects on α 1 -adrenergic agonist binding were abolished when membranes were prepared and incubated in the presence of EGTA and proteinase inhibitors. However, the 78 kDa photoaffinity labeled protein observed in adult rats (over 225 g body weight) was not apparent in membranes from younger rats (50–75 g), even when the membranes were prepared and incubated in the presence of EGTA and proteinase inhibitors. Instead, a 68 kDa species was the major labeled protein. These data suggest that GTP effects on α 1 -adrenergic agonist binding in rat liver membranes require the presence of either a 68 or 78 kDa α 1 -adrenergic binding protein. Failure to inhibit proteolysis in the membranes leads to the generation of lower-molecular-weight binding proteins and the loss of GTP effects on α 1 -adrenergic agonist binding, although [ 3 H]prazosin binding characteristics are not changed. It is suggested that either the proteolyzed forms of the α 1 -adrenergic receptor are unable to couple to a putative guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory protein, or that such a protein is concurrently proteolyzed and is thus unable to couple to the receptor.
Wilms tumors in adults

A 63-year-old man had an unresectable metastatic Wilms tumor in the right kidney. Radiotherapy to the abdomen and chest wall as well as chemotherapy in the form of actinomycin D, vincristine, and cyclophosphamide was given. The tumor was radioresponsive but failed to respond to chemotherapy. The literature was reviewed. Other reported cases of Wilms tumor in adults treated with chemotherapy that is usually given to children are few, but the results are mostly disappointing.
Current-driven domain-wall depinning

The characteristics of magnetic domain-wall depinning driven by a spin transfer torque are dramatically different compared to those driven by a conventional magnetic field. By using the recently derived formalism of the spin torque, we describe key features in the dynamics of geometrically confined domain walls. We numerically calculated the pinning-depinning phase boundary in the presence of the external field and the current.
More than Lip Service: The Development and Implementation Plan of an Ethics Decision-Making Framework for an Integrated Undergraduate Business Curriculum

In the face of the business community’s widening concern about corporate ethical behavior, business schools are reexamining how they ensure that students appreciate the ethical implications of managerial decision making and have the analytical tools necessary to confront ethical dilemmas. The current approaches adopted by colleges vary from mere ‘lip service’ to embedding ethics at the core of the curriculum. This paper examines the experience of several US universities that have incorporated business ethics into their curricula. In particular, the paper describes the issues facing Central Washington University as it seeks to integrate ethical decision making into its core undergraduate business curriculum. Issues addressed include the technical challenges of establishing a common element of curriculum across the various business disciplines, determining the major conceptual foundations of ‘ethical thinking’ while recognizing students’ existing value systems, and how to obtain ‘buy in’ by faculty to the initiative.
A double chain reversal loop and two diagonal loops define the architecture of a unimolecular DNA quadruplex containing a pair of stacked G(syn)-G(syn)-G(anti)-G(anti) tetrads flanked by a G-(T-T) Triad and a T-T-T triple.

The architecture of G-G-G-G tetrad-aligned DNA quadruplexes in monovalent cation solution is dependent on the directionality of the four strands, which in turn are defined by loop connectivities and the guanine syn/anti distribution along individual strands and within individual G-G-G-G tetrads. The smallest unimolecular G-quadruplex belongs to the d(G2NnG2NnG2NnG2) family, which has the potential to form two stacked G-tetrads linked by Nn loop connectivities. Previous studies have focused on the thrombin-binding DNA aptamer d(G2T2G2TGTG2T2G2), where Nn was T2 for the first and third connecting loops and TGT for the middle connecting loop. This DNA aptamer in K(+) cation solution forms a unimolecular G-quadruplex stabilized by two stacked G(syn)-G(anti)-G(syn)-G(anti) tetrads, adjacent strands which are antiparallel to each other and edge-wise connecting T2, TGT and T2 loops. We now report on the NMR-based solution structure of the d(G2T4G2CAG2GT4G2T) sequence, which differs from the thrombin-binding DNA aptamer sequence in having longer first (T4) and third (GT4) loops and a shorter (CA) middle loop. This d(G2T4G2CAG2GT4G2T) sequence in Na(+) cation solution forms a unimolecular G-quadruplex stabilized by two stacked G(syn)-G(syn)-G(anti)-G(anti) tetrads, adjacent strands which have one parallel and one antiparallel neighbors and distinct non-edge-wise loop connectivities. Specifically, the longer first (T4) and third (GT4) loops are of the diagonal type while the shorter middle loop is of the double chain reversal type. In addition, the pair of stacked G-G-G-G tetrads are flanked on one side by a G-(T-T) triad and on the other side by a T-T-T triple. The distinct differences in strand directionalities, loop connectivities and syn/anti distribution within G-G-G-G tetrads between the thrombin-binding DNA aptamer d(G2T2G2TGTG2T2G2) quadruplex reported previously, and the d(G2T4G2CAG2GT4G2T) quadruplex reported here, reinforces the polymorphic nature of higher-order DNA architectures. Further, these two small unimolecular G-quadruplexes, which are distinct from each other and from parallel-stranded G-quadruplexes, provide novel targets for ligand recognition. Our results demonstrate that the double chain reversal loop connectivity identified previously by our laboratory within the Tetrahymena telomere d(T2G4)4 quadruplex, is a robust folding topology, since it has now also been observed within the d(G2T4G2CAG2GT4G2T) quadruplex. The identification of a G-(T-T) triad and a T-T-T triple, expands on the available recognition alignments for base triads and triples.
Do Soldiers Hate Peacekeeping? The Case of Preventive Diplomacy Operations in Macedonia

Military personnel presumably resist missions that diverge from their primary goal of fighting and winning wars. Little attention has been paid to reasons why they might accept or even benefit from...
Imaging Synapse Formation during Thymocyte Selection: Inability of CD3ζ to Form a Stable Central Accumulation during Negative Selection

Abstract TCR signaling can result in cell fates ranging from activation to tolerance to apoptosis. Organization of molecules in an "immunological synapse" between mature T cells and APCs correlates with the strength of TCR signaling. To investigate synapse formation during thymic selection, we have established a reaggregate system in which molecular recruitment of GFP fusion proteins to thymocyte:stromal cell interfaces can be visualized in real time. We demonstrate that negative selection is associated with efficient conjugate formation and rapid recruitment of p56 lck and CD3ζ to an immunological synapse. Interestingly, CD3ζ-GFP does not accumulate at the center of the synapse, as in mature T cells, but at the periphery across a wide range of ligand densities. This implicates differences in synapse geometry in initiation of alternate signals downstream of the TCR.
OBSERVATION OF SPIN-GLASS-LIKE BEHAVIOR IN (Y, U)B4

Low field magnetization measurements, including time dependent thermoremanent magnetization, on UxY1-xB4, show spin-glass behavior for 0.1 < x < 0.55. The paramagnetic-spin glass phase boundary is reentrant, with the freezing temperature reaching about 14 K for x = 0.3. The temperature dependence of the magnetic viscosity scales for the x = 0.2 and x = 0.4 samples.
Isolation, Identification and Synthesis of a specific-behaviour-inducing Brain Peptide

A pentadecapeptide isolated from the brain of rats trained to avoid the dark has been chemically identified and its structure confirmed by synthesis. It induces dark avoidance in untrained animals.
Ion beam analysis of the effects of radiation on the chemical etching of poly(tetrafluorethylene)

Abstract Rutherford backscattering (RBS) and elastic recoil detection (ERD) have been used to characterize the effects of X-ray irradiation on the alkali etching of poly(tetrafluorethylene) (PTFE/Teflon). Etching of an irradiated (20 min MgKα X-rays) sample produces no RBS evidence of F surface loss (~ 150 A depth resolution) while X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements (~ 30 A sampling depth) show extensive F loss; thus the F loss in irradiated Teflon is limited to depths between 30 and 150 A. In sharp contrast, etching of an unirradiated sample produces an RBS measured F loss to depths of 3000–4000 A. ERD measurements show a similar H depth distribution, suggested to result from a water reaction during the dissolution of excess Na. An n-hexane rinse leaves a surface Na residue on X-ray irradiated material but subsurface on unirradiated etched material. The present results and those of previous adhesion studies show that the major factor affecting adhesion to Teflon is the mechanical interlocking of the porous etched surface.
Antibiotic Resistance Acquired through a DNA Damage-Inducible Response in Acinetobacter baumannii

Acinetobacter baumannii is an emerging nosocomial, opportunistic pathogen that survives desiccation and quickly acquires resistance to multiple antibiotics. Escherichia coli gains antibiotic resistances by expressing genes involved in a global response to DNA damage. Therefore, we asked whether A. baumannii does the same through a yet undetermined DNA damage response akin to the E. coli paradigm. We found that recA and all of the multiple error-prone DNA polymerase V (Pol V) genes, those organized as umuDC operons and unlinked, are induced upon DNA damage in a RecA-mediated fashion. Consequently, we found that the frequency of rifampin-resistant (Rif(r)) mutants is dramatically increased upon UV treatment, alkylation damage, and desiccation, also in a RecA-mediated manner. However, in the recA insertion knockout strain, in which we could measure the recA transcript, we found that recA was induced by DNA damage, while uvrA and one of the unlinked umuC genes were somewhat derepressed in the absence of DNA damage. Thus, the mechanism regulating the A. baumannii DNA damage response is likely different from that in E. coli. Notably, it appears that the number of DNA Pol V genes may directly contribute to desiccation-induced mutagenesis. Sequences of the rpoB gene from desiccation-induced Rif(r) mutants showed a signature that was consistent with E. coli DNA polymerase V-generated base-pair substitutions and that matched that of sequenced A. baumannii clinical Rif(r) isolates. These data strongly support an A. baumannii DNA damage-inducible response that directly contributes to antibiotic resistance acquisition, particularly in hospitals where A. baumannii desiccates and tenaciously survives on equipment and surfaces.
Underlying causal factors associated with construction worker fatalities involving stepladders

Stepladders are frequently utilized on construction projects as a means of access to elevation. Stepladder heights commonly range from 4 feet (1.2 m) to 14 feet (4.3 m). Since these heights are not extreme, there is a common misperception that stepladder use presents a low risk. On the contrary, extreme care must be exercised to ensure that work on stepladders is performed safely, as described in the conspicuously located recommendations and brightly-colored warnings that adorn virtually all newly-purchased equipment. Despite this, accidents involving stepladders occur on a regular basis. This study was conducted to better understand the underlying causes of these accidents. The narrative descriptions of 180 stepladder-related fatalities were obtained from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration and were analyzed to identify the at-risk behaviors that preceded the fatality incidents. The results showed that most of the incidents should have been anticipated and could have been avoided. Unsafe practices such as improper lockout-tagout of electrical equipment, loss of balance, working on a folded stepladder, over-reaching, straddling the ladder, “walking” the ladder, poor footing, and unstable/shifting ladders, among others were identified. Virtually all of these fatalities could have been avoided by adhering to the guidelines posted on the stepladders and by complying with basic safe construction practices.
Antitumor Agents LII: The Effects of Molephantinin on Nucleic Acid and Protein Synthesis of Ehrlich Ascites Cells

Molephantinin, a germacranolide, has previously been shown to possess antineoplastic activity in rodents. The principle effect of molephantinin on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells was to depress DNA and protein synthesis both in vivo and in vitro. DNA synthesis was inhibited at the following sites: DNA polymerase, purine synthesis specifically at inosinic acid dehydrogenase and to a lesser degree at dihydrofolate reductase, pyrimidine synthesis at orotidine monophosphate decarboxylase, thymidine kinase, histone phosphorylation, and oxidative phosphorylation processes. The protein synthesis inhibition pattern resembled more an initiation inhibitor as opposed to an elongation inhibitor.
A bang-bang principle for real-time transport protocols

A real-time protocol is usually concerned with the transportation of a real-time data stream over a packet switched network. Among the major issues distinguishing real-time protocols from ordinary transport protocols is the problem of trading delay for loss. That is, if some loss of packets may be acceptable, and usually inevitable, the objective of the protocol is to minimize the delay of packets, subject to constraints on the acceptable loss. This is unlike usual transport protocols, which are designed to guarantee no loss at the expense of increased delays.This paper presents a model for the delay-loss tradeoffs in a family of real-time transport protocols. It is demonstrated that, under very general assumptions, an optimal real-time protocol is a bang-bang protocol: there exists a threshold queue length such that as long as the packet queue length at the sender is less than the threshold the protocol should be an ordinary positive acknowledgement with retransmissions transport protocol. However, as soon as the threshold queue length is exceeded, a newly arriving packet causes the first (or any other) packet in the queue to be discarded. Closed form expressions for the threshold buffer size are obtained and analyzed in terms of the given parameters of the system.
Sa1443 Does Experience Matter? Increased ADRs in Experienced Gastroenterologists May Reflect Patient Population As Well As Technical Skill

established quality indicators for screening colonoscopy, as well as to offering sedation to the patient before the endoscopic investigation. Aim of the Study: To assess associations between the type of administered sedation and quality indices of colonoscopy. Methods: We analyzed data of 793 screening out-patients colonoscopies performed in our centre by 12 different Endoscopists between November 2013 and May 2014.Patient received intravenous analgesia with fentanyl two different regimen of moderate sedation: standard sedation with midazolam or propofol sedation administered by Gastroenterologist through Target Controlled Infusion (TCI) pump. For each patient we recorded: sex, age, ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) class of risk, type of sedation (standard vs propofol sedation), cecal intubation, quality of bowel preparation (low, mild, moderate or good), use of an high definition (HD) endoscope, presence or absence of polyps or cancer, number of polyps and number of detected adenomas. Multivariate logistic predictive models with panel data were generated. OR(95% CI) are reported. Results: Adenoma detection rate was predicted by age (1-yr-OR 1.05(1.03-1.06); P!0.001), propofol sedation (OR 1.70(1.06-2.71); PZ0.028) and cecal intubation (OR 3.91(1.51-10.18); PZ0.005). Cecal intubation was predicted by age (1-yr-OR 0.98(0.96-0.99); PZ0.042) and propofol sedation (OR 2.40(1.19-4.82); PZ0.014). Number of founded polyps/cancers was predicted by sex (OR 0.28(0.01-0.54); 0.038) and quality (low/mild vs moderate/good) of bowel preparation (OR -0.28(-0.46 -0.11); PZ0.001). Conclusion: In our study propofol TCI sedation does not increase PDR, but increases CIR and ADR.
Data broadcasting in linearly scheduled array processors

A major problem in executing algorithms in array processors is the implementation of broadcasts without unnecessary speed-up factor degradation. We discuss when and how broadcasts can be eliminated or reduced to easily implementable sequences of reduced local broadcasts. Algorithms are modelled as a structured set of indexed computations which operate on variables associated with a referencing or indexing function. The discussion is restricted to variables with linear indexing functions and to algorithms linearly scheduled for execution in array processors. Linear indexing functions are represented as affine matricial functions of the index set of the algorithm. The linear part of such representation is a coefficient matrix denoted the indexing matrix. Linear schedules are defined as linear time-space allocation functions mapping the computations of an algorithm into time and processors. We discuss necessary and sufficient conditions for the occurrence of broadcasts in a linearly scheduled algorithm. Necessary and sufficient conditions and constructive criteria are given for selecting linear schedules for which all broadcasts are eliminated or reduced to sequences of small local broadcasts.
EEG amplitudes in healthy, late-middle-aged and elderly adults: normality of the distributions and correlations with age

Abstract The interindividual distributions of EEG amplitudes were evaluated in 60 healthy subjects, aged 56–76. Skew and kurtosis were used to assess the normality of the amplitude distributions in 5 frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha and 2 beta ranges) and 28 scalp derivations while the subjects were awake and rested with their eyes closed and opened. Most of the interindividual EEG amplitude distributions were not normally distributed. Two transformations were applied to the EEG amplitudes: the square root and the natural logarithm. Evaluation of skew and kurtosis indicated that the natural logarithmic transformation was more effective than the square root in reducing the positive skew and leptokurtosis that characterized the untransformed interindividual EEG amplitude distributions. For all frequency bands except theta, the log transformation rendered the distributions approximately normal in form. Correlations between log transformed EEG amplitudes and agewere not statistically significant. These findings are discussed in the context of previous research, aging, and methodological features.
ROLE OF NITRIC OXIDE (NO) IN pH-DEPENDENT MODULATION OF VASOACTIVE RESPONSES IN NEWBORN PULMONARY ARTERIES (PA). • 1933

Pulmonary vascular responses to hypoxia are modulated by changes in pH(Δ pH). We examined the effect of acidosis (pH 6.8) and alkalosis (pH 7.7) on bradykinin (BK)-mediated relaxation in newborn piglet PA rings precontracted with the thromboxane A2 analogue, U46619 (0.1 μM). Responses to changes in pO2 and pH were compared to the response of that same vessel in 95% O2/5% CO2 (pH 7.4). Responses to 4 consecutive exposures to U46619 in 95% O2/5% CO2 (pH 7.4) varied by <10%. Hypoxia (pO2 <30 mm Hg) increased contraction to U46619 by 28 ± 4%. Alkalosis reversed, while acidosis restored the enhanced contraction in the presence of hypoxia. In 95% O2/5% CO2, BK(0.1 μM) caused 80 ± 10% relaxation. Hypoxia diminished by 50% the relaxation response to BK. Alkalosis partially reversed the inhibitory effect of hypoxia; acidosis plus hypoxia had a greater inhibitory effect on BK-mediated relaxation than hypoxia alone. To identify mechanisms by whichΔ pH may modify BK-mediated relaxation, we measured NO and prostacyclin(PGI2) production by EIA for cGMP and 6-keto PGF1α, respectively. PA endothelial cells (EC) and mixed EC/VSMC co-cultures were exposed to pH 6.8, 7.4 and 7.7 ± BK at high and low pO2. BK increased both PGI2 and cGMP production at all pH levels. At pH 7.4, hypoxia had no affect on BK-stimulated PGI2 release but decreased cGMP levels. Basal cGMP was depressed at pH 6.8. BK-stimulated PGI2 and cGMP was enhanced at pH 7.7. Indomethacin (0.01 mM) blocked the increase in PGI2 induced by BK but had no effect on BK-mediated relaxation in PA rings. NG-nitro-L-arginine (0.1 mM) completely abolished both the BK-mediated increase in cGMP and the relaxation response at all pH levels. We conclude that in the presence of hypoxia, pH-dependent alterations in pulmonary vascular responses to BK are modulated by an effect of pH on NO production. (Supported by ALA/ATS RG-080-N)
Characteristics of azaarenes and dioxins in gases emitted from waste incinerators

In this study, we propose an analytical method to determine the fourteen of azaarenes present in flue gas samples collected according to Japanese Industrial Standard K 0311, which designates the method for the determination of dioxins in flue gas. Azaarenes can be analyzed using the acidic water phase after shaking extraction with dichloromethane, which is unnecessary for dioxin analysis. Flue gas samples were obtained from 24 waste incinerators in Japan, and azaarenes were detected in all the flue gas samples (0.21–3800 μg/m3N). The most abundant of the detected compounds were quinoline and isoquinoline. The concentration of azaarenes had a tendency to increase with that of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans. The isomer distribution of heptachloro-dibenzofurans (HpCDFs) was calculated using the computed Gibbs energy of formation (ΔGf) obtained by the semiempirical molecular orbital method at various temperatures. The calculated isomer distribution was fitted to the measured value of HpCDFs. It seems that the temperature obtained from the fitting calculations is an indicator of the cooling capacity of the combustion gas in an incinerator. The computed ΔGf also explained the measured isomer distributions of azaarenes. It is suggested that the isomer distribution of azaarenes in the combustion process is thermodynamically controlled.
Phenotypic Changes in Immune Cell Subsets Reflect Increased Infarct Volume in Male vs. Female Mice

Inflammatory responses in the brain after cerebral ischemia have been studied extensively in male mice, but not female mice, thus potentially giving a less-than-accurate view of gender associated pathological processes. In humans, cerebral infarcts are typically smaller in premenopausal females than in age-matched males. In the current study, we confirmed smaller infarcts in female vs. male mice after middle cerebral artery occlusion and 96 h of reperfusion. Moreover, we explored immunological alterations related to this difference and found that the percentage of CD4+ T lymphocytes was significantly higher in spleens in males than females, with increased expression of the activation markers, CD69 and CD44. In contrast, the percentage of CD8+ T lymphocytes was significantly higher in spleens of females than males, leading to the identification of a small but distinct population of IL-10-secreting CD8+CD122+ suppressor T cells that were also increased in females. Finally, we observed that males have a greater percentage of activated macrophages/microglia in the brain than females, as well as increased expression of the VLA-4 adhesion molecule in both brain and spleen. This new information suggesting gender-dependent immunological mechanisms in stroke implies that effective treatments for human stroke may also be gender specific.
From Recreational to Functional Drug Use: The Evolution of Drugs in American Higher Education, 1960-2014.

The increasing prevalence of so-called cognitive-enhancing drugs is well documented in American higher education. There has been little historical analysis, however, specifically exploring the role of postsecondary institutions in this evolving drug narrative. This paper traces substance use and research trends in American higher education over the past half-century, divided into three eras defined by their disparate approaches to drug policy and public health. Contextualised by historic events, shifting policies and epidemiological data, this multidisciplinary analysis contends that functional, academically oriented drug use is likely to continue rising on US campuses, while recreational drug use will evolve and persist. As history provides a useful lens for understanding the involvement of academe in the first era of drug concern in America, ongoing innovations in medical and social science may be instructive to help ensure that institutions respond judiciously in the present era of new drug synthesis and drug policy recession.
Sedation for pediatric diagnostic imaging: use of pediatric and nursing resources as an alternative to a radiology department sedation team.

Objective. To develop a pathway to provide safe, effective, and efficient sedation for pediatric diagnostic imaging studies using non-radiology personnel. Materials and methods. A multidisciplinary team considered manpower and training requirements and national sedation standards before designing a sedation pathway, which included scheduling, pre-sedation history and physical, medication protocols, and monitoring. Oral and IV medication protocols were developed based on patient age and weight. Sedation delays were defined as >15 min (IV) or >30 min (PO) from start of sedation to start of imaging. A sedation failure resulted in an incomplete diagnostic imaging study. Failure rates of 124 sedations before and 388 sedations after the pathway were compared. Results. The sedation failure rate for 7 months prior to pathway initiation was 15% (19/124). In the first 25 months after pathway initiation, failures were significantly reduced to 1.5% (6/388) (P 55 min). Deviation from the recommended medication protocol accounted for most of the 115 delays. Only minor adverse events were seen (12/388, 3.1%). Conclusion. Implementing a pediatric sedation pathway significantly decreases the sedation failure rate. Pediatric residents and nurses can safely, effectively and efficiently sedate pediatric patients for routine diagnostic imaging procedures without the need for a radiology department sedation team in a department with a small-to-moderate volume of pediatric patients.
Beyond the comfort zone: residents assess their comfort performing inpatient medical procedures.

Abstract Purpose Resident physicians learn to perform inpatient bedside procedures in a manner that is neither standardized nor rigorous. As a result, residents may be unskilled and uncomfortable performing procedures. This study characterizes residents' comfort performing medical procedures and identifies factors associated with lack of comfort. Subjects Study subjects were internal medicine resident physicians who performed one of four medical procedures (central line, lumbar puncture, paracentesis, or thoracentesis) on adult medical inpatients between July 1, 2003, and June 30, 2004. Methods This prospective cohort study was conducted at a 556-bed Boston teaching hospital. Resident physicians evaluated their comfort with 9 aspects of 4 medical procedures, recording this information in an electronic log. We also abstracted operator characteristics and patient demographic data. We analyzed residents' comfort with each aspect of the procedure and defined "overall comfort" as comfort with each of the 9 aspects. Results A majority of resident physicians reported lack of comfort with at least one aspect of the procedure. Residents reported lack of comfort with 37% of unsupervised procedures. They also reported lack of comfort with the prospect of managing complications in 35% of procedures. In the multivariable analysis, overall comfort was associated with the use of a dedicated medical procedure service (odds ratio [OR] 1.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1-3.4) and inversely associated with postgraduate year 1 status (OR 0.3, CI 0.1-0.5), first time performing the procedure (OR 0.4, CI 0.2-0.8), thoracenteses (OR 0.4, CI 0.2-0.8), and emergent procedures (OR 0.6, CI 0.3-1.0). Conclusions Many resident physicians are uncomfortable performing common bedside procedures. Experience and supervision mitigate some, but not all, discomfort.
Kinetics of intraocular gases. Disappearance of air, sulfur hexafluoride, and perfluoropropane after pars plana vitrectomy

Intraocular gas bubbles are an important source of internal tamponade for the treatment of retinal breaks in eyes requiring vitrectomy. The kinetics of disappearance of air, 20% sulfur hexafluoride, and 10% perfluoropropane were prospectively evaluated in 76 eyes undergoing pars plana vitrectomy. The absorption of each gas approximated a first-order kinetic equation with respect to bubble volume. The half-life of air was 1.6 days in phakic and 0.9 days in aphakic eyes. The half-life of 20% sulfur hexafluoride was 2.8 days in phakic and 2.4 days in aphakic eyes. The half-life of 10% perfluoropropane was 5.7 days in phakic, 4.5 days in aphakic, and 4.3 days in pseudophakic eyes. The difference in half-life among the three gases was significant. Intraocular gases had a shorter half-life in aphakic than in phakic eyes.
Identification of Glis1, a novel Gli-related, Krüppel-like zinc finger protein containing transactivation and repressor functions

In this study, we describe the identification and characterization of a novel Kruppel-like protein named Gli-similar 1 (Glis1). The Glis1 gene encodes an 84.3-kDa proline-rich protein. Its five tandem zinc finger motifs exhibit highest homology with those of members of the Gli and Zic subfamilies of Kruppel-like proteins. Glis1 was mapped to mouse chromosome 4C6. Northern blot analysis showed that expression of the 3.3-kb Glis1 mRNA is most abundant in placenta and adult kidney and expressed at lower levels in testis. Whole mount in situhybridization on mouse embryos demonstrated that Glis1 is expressed in a temporal and spatial manner during development; expression was most prominent in several defined structures of mesodermal lineage, including craniofacial regions, branchial arches, somites, vibrissal and hair follicles, limb buds, and myotomes. Confocal microscopic analysis showed that Glis1 is localized to the nucleus. The zinc finger region plays an important role in the nuclear localization of Glis1. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays demonstrated that Glis1 is able to bind oligonucleotides containing the Gli-binding site consensus sequence GACCACCCAC. Although monohybrid analysis showed that in several cell types Glis1 was unable to induce transcription of a reporter, deletion mutant analysis revealed the presence of a strong activation function at the carboxyl terminus of Glis1. The activation through this activation function was totally suppressed by a repressor domain at its amino terminus. Constitutively active Ca2+-dependent calmodulin kinase IV enhanced Glis1-mediated transcriptional activation about 4-fold and may be mediated by phosphorylation/activation of a co-activator. Our results suggest that Glis1 may play a critical role in the control of gene expression during specific stages of embryonic development.
Linear-array EUS improves detection of pancreatic lesions in high-risk individuals: a randomized tandem study

Background Studies comparing linear and radial EUS for the detection of pancreatic lesions in an asymptomatic population with increased risk for pancreatic cancer are lacking. Objectives To compare pancreatic lesion detection rates between radial and linear EUS and to determine the incremental diagnostic yield of a second EUS examination. Design Randomized controlled tandem study. Setting Five academic centers in the United States. Patients Asymptomatic high-risk individuals (HRIs) for pancreatic cancer undergoing screening EUS. Interventions Linear and radial EUS performed in randomized order. Main Outcome Measurements Pancreatic lesion detection rate by type of EUS, miss rate of 1 EUS examination, and incremental diagnostic yield of a second EUS examination (second-pass effect). Results Two hundred seventy-eight HRIs were enrolled, mean age 56 years (43.2%), and 90% were familial pancreatic cancer relatives. Two hundred twenty-four HRIs underwent tandem radial and linear EUS. When we used per-patient analysis, the overall prevalence of any pancreatic lesion was 45%. Overall, 16 of 224 HRIs (7.1%) had lesions missed during the initial EUS that were detected by the second EUS examination. The per-patient lesion miss rate was significantly greater for radial followed by linear EUS (9.8%) than for linear followed by radial EUS (4.5%) ( P = .03). When we used per-lesion analysis, 73 of 109 lesions (67%) were detected by radial EUS and 99 of 120 lesions (82%) were detected by linear EUS ( P P = .007). Limitations Most detected pancreatic lesions were not confirmed by pathology. Conclusion Linear EUS detects more pancreatic lesions than radial EUS. There was a "second-pass effect" with additional lesions detected with a second EUS examination. This effect was significantly greater when linear EUS was used after an initial radial EUS examination.
Lithium sorption to Yucca Mountain tuffs

The Li ion has been used as a reactive tracer in field tests performed in the saturated and unsaturated-zone in volcanic tuffs at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. Lithium sorbs weakly by cation exchange and permits field-scale testing of laboratory-based predictions of reactive-solute transport. A series of laboratory studies show that Li sorption is nonlinear and varies with lithology in the different horizons of the tuff. In particular, both Li sorption and Li-specific cation-exchange capacity vary as functions of tuff mineralogy, and can be predicted given quantitative X-ray diffraction data. These results indicate that Li sorption is dominated by clay and zeolite minerals, and that sorption coefficients can be predicted given mineralogic analysis results.
Prospective study of serum cholesterol and site-specific cancers.

Abstract From 1965 to 1968, 7716 Japanese-American men were examined and tested for serum cholesterol. After 22 years, 1380 incident cancer cases were identified. Of the site-specific cancers, only colon cancer cases had a significantly lower mean serum cholesterol value than that of noncases (213.0 mg/dl vs 219.0 mg/dl). When the study subjects were separated into either a low, middle or high group, based on their serum cholesterol values, there was a significant inverse trend for cases of oral/pharyngeal/esophageal cancer combined. The association was present for cases diagnosed within 10 years of examination (p = 0.012), but not for cases diagnosed after 10 years. This suggests that the inverse asociation is due to the metabolic effects of undiagnosed oral/pharyngeal/esophageal cancer upon serum cholesterol levels. These results are discussed in relation to other studies on serum cholesterol.