cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Introduction: Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

1. Nicholas M. Moore, MS, MLS(ASCP)[⇑][1] 1. Rush University, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Chicago, IL 2. Maribeth L. Flaws, PhD, SM(ASCP)SI 1. Rush University, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Chicago, IL 1. Address for Correspondence: Nicholas M. Moore, MS, MLS (ASCP), Department of Medical Laboratory Science, 600 S. Paulina St., Suite 1014, Chicago, IL 60612, 312-942-2111, Fax: (312) 942-6464, Nicholas_Moore{at}rush.edu In 1882, Carle Gessard (1850-1925) first isolated Pseudomonas aeruginosa 1 from wound infections of soldiers whose bandages had a blue and green color. Walter Migula (1863-1938) first proposed the genus Pseudomonas in 1894 to encompass all gram-negative, rod-shaped aerobic bacilli that had polar flagella. Because this definition was so broad, unrelated organisms were added to the genus to the point that in 1984, there were over 100 species of Pseudomonas listed in Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology .2,3 When molecular-based methods were developed that involved sequencing and comparing 16S ribosomal RNA from all of these organisms, scientists were able to reassign many organisms originally classified as Pseudomonas into other genera. First, rRNA-DNA hybridization studies described by Palleroni4 divided the genus into five groups called rRNA Groups I-V. Over the last 30 years, members of rRNA Groups II-V have been all moved to different genera such as Burkholderia, Ralstonia, Acidovorax , and Brevundimonas .3 The only remaining species of Pseudomonas are members of rRNA Group I and are divided into the following eight groups: P. aeruginosa, P. chlororaphis, P. fluorescens, P. pertucinogena, P. putida, P. stutzeri, P. syringae and incertae sedis, which is Latin for uncertain placement. P. aeruginosa is a common organism in the soil and in water and it can also be found on plants and animals. It is an aerobic, saccharolytic, non-spore forming gram-negative bacillus measuring 0.5 to 0.8 μm by 1.5 to 3.0 μm.5 Most strains of P. aeruginosa possess a single polar flagellum that is used for motility. Pseudomonas aeruginosa … ABBREVIATIONS: RNA = ribonucleic acid; rRNA = ribosomal ribonucleic acid [1]: #corresp-1
Postoperative Enteral Nutrition Guidelines Reduce the Risk of Intestinal Failure-Associated Liver Disease in Surgical Infants.

Objective To assess the effectiveness of postoperative feeding guidelines in reducing the incidence and severity of intestinal failure-associated liver disease (IFALD) among infants. Study design Two cohorts of infants 2 mg/dL) and severity (DB >5 mg/dL for moderate-severe). Multiple logistic regression was used to determine the odds of developing IFALD. Other outcomes were time to reach 50% and 100% goal calories from enteral nutrition and the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis after feeding. Results The incidence of IFALD decreased from 71% to 51% (P = .031), and median peak DB decreased from 5.7 to 2.4 mg/dL (P = .001). After adjusting for diagnosis and prematurity, the odds of developing IFALD of any severity were reduced by 60% (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.20-0.85), and the odds of developing moderate-to-severe IFALD were reduced by 72% (OR 0.28, 95% CI 0.13-0.58) with guideline use. Time to reach 50% enteral nutrition decreased from a median of 10 to 6 days (P = .020) and time to reach 100% enteral nutrition decreased from 35 to 21 days (P = .035) with guideline use. The incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis after initiating enteral nutrition did not change (5% vs 9%, P = .346). Conclusions Implementation of feeding guidelines reduced time to reach feeding goals, significantly reducing IFALD incidence and severity.
Opioids and Social Connection

Social connection, the pleasurable, subjective experience of feeling close to and bonded with other people, is critical for well-being and continued social bonding. Despite the importance of social connection for many important outcomes, few researchers have experimentally examined how humans connect with those to whom they feel close. The strongest insights into the biological bases of social connection come from animal research, which shows that social bonds rely on the same neurochemicals that support general motivation. One class of neurochemicals, opioids, has received increased attention in recent years with the rise of pharmacological methods to manipulate opioids in humans. This article reviews emerging findings to show that opioids affect social feelings, behaviors, and perceptions in both positive and negative social experiences and concludes with the implications of such findings. Future work should consider the subjective feelings of social connection felt during interactions with close social...
Evaluating online-learning in memristive neuromorphic circuits

In this work we present an implementation of spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) in both a high level simulation and at a circuit level. It is verified that the high level simulation captures the behavior of the circuit implementation. We use the simulation to assess the effectiveness of STDP for online-learning, and find that STDP enables networks to improve performance online after training.
Comments on the convergence of the iterative physical optics method for electromagnetic scattering predictions

The Iterative Physical Optics (IPO) method has been shown to be an accurate approach for computing the scattering for many types of targets. However, the method has been plagued by convergence issues that can decrease confidence in the results and can make one less willing to rely on the method for routine engineering applications. In this paper, we explore the convergence of the IPO for a simple target whose scattering is dominated by cavity returns at certain scattering angles. We illustrate the rate of convergence, and assess the accuracy of the results by comparing with the Method of Moments.
Control of Actuators in Multilegged Robots

The increased interest in robotics has led to the integration of robots in automated manufacturing systems. Since the robot’s area of operation (workspace) is limited by its reach, modification of some working environments is required in order to put the workpiece within the robot’s reach. One can also envision applications where considerable distance must be traversed by the robot to reach its workpiece. One example may be in crisis management, where the presence of human operators may not be possible. For instance, in the case of a nuclear reactor accident where the radiation level may exceed the safe level for human operators, a number of robots could be deployed to the accident site for assessment of damages and possible repairs.
Like-charged particles at liquid interfaces

Our experiment1 provides a clear measure of the interactions between charged particles at fluid–fluid interfaces and demonstrates that there can be a long-range attractive interaction between such particles.
Improving Homeless Point-In-Time Counts: Uncovering the Marginally Housed:

This article discusses improvements made to the methodology of the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) point-in-time (PIT) homeless census. HUD’s PIT results are presented to Congress as official d...
Comparison of automated and retrospectively calculated estimated glomerular filtration rate in electronic health record data

Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is the clinical standard for assessing kidney function and staging chronic kidney disease. Automated reporting of eGFR using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) study equation was first implemented within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in 2007 with staggered adoption across laboratories. When automated eGFR are not used or unavailable, values are retrospectively calculated using clinical and demographic data that are currently available in the electronic health record (EHR). Due to the dynamic nature of EHRs, current data may not always match past data. Whether and to what extent the practice of re-calculating eGFR on retrospective data differs from using the automated values is unknown. We assessed clinical data for patients enrolled in VA who had their first automated eGFR lab in 2013.We extracted the eGFR value, the corresponding serum creatinine value, and patient race, gender, and date of birth from the EHR. The MDRD equation was applied to retrospectively calculate eGFR. Stage of chronic kidney disease (CKD) was defined using both eGFR values. We used Bland–Altman plots and percent agreement to assess the difference between the automated and calculated values. We developed an algorithm to select the most parsimonious parameter set to explain the difference in values and used chart review on a small subsample of patients to determine if one approach more accurately describes the patient at the time of eGFR measurement. We evaluated eGFR data pairs from 266,084 patients. Approximately 33.0% (n = 86,747) of eGFR values differed between automated and retrospectively calculated methods. The majority of discordant pairs were classified as the same CKD stage (n = 74,542, 85.93%). The Bland–Altman plot showed differences in the data pairs were centered near zero (mean difference: 0.8 mL/min/1.73m2) with 95% limits of agreement between − 6.4 and 8.0. A change in recorded age explained 95.6% (n = 78,903) of discordant values and 85.02% (n = 9371) of the discordant stages. Values of retrospectively calculated eGFR can differ from automated values, but do not always result in a significant classification change. In very large datasets these small differences could become significant.
Lara Shalson. Performing Endurance: Art and Politics since 1960.

In Performing Endurance, Lara Shalson builds a robust analysis of ways endurance manifests itself in artistic and political arenas. Examining protest sit-ins from the civil rights movement and infl...
Recent measles outbreaks in the United States: A look at the causes and responses

As measles cases continue to rise in the United States and elsewhere, public health officials, health care providers and elected officials alike are facing critical questions of how to protect the ...
Binary Capacitor Voltage Control-based Multi-Level Converter for Low Nominal DC Voltage Applications

Multi-level converters synthesize the stair-shaped multi-level 3-phase voltage, the synthesized voltage with higher voltage levels are closer to the pure sinusoidal waveform. Thus this significantly improves DC/AC power conversion quality. The most promising multi-level converter is the modular multi-level converter (MMC) with high voltage levels nowadays because MMC is expandable to a wide range of voltage levels due to its modularity and simple capacitor voltage balancing. However, the design cost and DC voltage and sub-module ratings limit the number of voltage levels. Consequently, MMC with a low DC voltage rating has lower DC/AC power conversion quality than that of MMC with a high DC voltage rating. To provide high DC/AC power conversion quality for low nominal DC voltage applications, this paper proposes a new multi-level converter named as the binary capacitor voltage control-based multilevel converter. Compared to MMC, this proposed converter synthesizes significantly higher voltage levels for low DC voltage ratings with a significantly reduced number of circuit elements and control complexity. Still, it maintains the modular design advantage and compact 3-phase converter design of MMC. This paper presents theoretical and simulation studies of the proposed converter for eight-level applications using Matlab/Simulink.
Novel Algorithm for Automated Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter Measurement Using a Clustering Approach.

INTRODUCTION Using ultrasound to measure optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) has been shown to be a useful modality to detect elevated intracranial pressure. However, manual assessment of ONSD by a human operator is cumbersome and prone to human errors. We aimed to develop and test an automated algorithm for ONSD measurement using ultrasound images and compare it to measurements performed by physicians. MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients were recruited from the Neurological Intensive Care Unit. Ultrasound images of the optic nerve sheath from both eyes were obtained using an ultrasound unit with an ocular preset. Images were processed by two attending physicians to calculate ONSD manually. The images were processed as well using a novel computerized algorithm that automatically analyzes ultrasound images and calculates ONSD. Algorithm-measured ONSD was compared with manually measured ONSD using multiple statistical measures. RESULTS Forty-four patients with an average/Standard Deviation (SD) intracranial pressure of 14 (9.7) mmHg were recruited and tested (with a range between 1 and 57 mmHg). A t-test showed no statistical difference between the ONSD from left and right eyes (P > 0.05). Furthermore, a paired t-test showed no significant difference between the manually and algorithm-measured ONSD with a mean difference (SD) of 0.012 (0.046) cm (P > 0.05) and percentage error of difference of 6.43% (P = 0.15). Agreement between the two operators was highly correlated (interclass correlation coefficient = 0.8, P = 0.26). Bland-Altman analysis revealed mean difference (SD) of 0.012 (0.046) (P = 0.303) and limits of agreement between -0.1 and 0.08. Receiver Operator Curve analysis yielded an area under the curve of 0.965 (P < 0.0001) with high sensitivity and specificity. CONCLUSION The automated image-analysis algorithm calculates ONSD reliably and with high precision when compared to measurements obtained by expert physicians. The algorithm may have a role in computer-aided decision support systems in acute brain injury.
G150(P) Forward thinking: seeking alternatives to bleeps

Introduction ‘Bleep’ systems are a central communication tool between medical and nursing teams in hospital. The majority of bleeps are for non-urgent tasks, this inefficient use of the bleep system leads to routine tasks take longer to complete and disruption of patient care. The Health and Social Care Secretary ordered pagers for non-emergency communications be removed from the NHS by 2021. Objective Reduction in the number of bleeps for non-urgent tasks in a tertiary paediatric hospital. Methods A multi-professional working group was established and developed a standard operating procedure (SOP) for bleeping including a ‘traffic light’ system with non-urgent tasks (completion within 1–4hrs) categorized as green. A job book with designated time slots for medical visits to each ward was introduced. A number of PDSAs (Plan, Do, Study, Act) cycles were completed using the job books but were ultimately unsuccessful. Therefore, a new direction using an electronic solution was explored. The FORWARD app (a secure messaging platform) was chosen to be piloted on two wards. Baton phones pre-installed with FORWARD were given to the medical and nursing teams alongside training. Communication via the platform was limited to non-urgent tasks and urgent tasks remained via the bleep system. Results Telecommunications records from two weeks either side of implementation of FORWARD app demonstrated a significant reduction in the number of bleeps, the median decreasing from 21 to 12 (run chart available). The feedback was positive, and the nurses reported doctors responded more quickly on FORWARD. The main challenge was inconsistent wireless internet connection, affecting acknowledgment of tasks. Conclusion This project has shown that a novel, secure messaging platform can effectively reduce the number of non-urgent bleeps. This requires an appropriate induction to the platform, a SOP on the use of the platform/bleeps and adequate IT infrastructure to ensure reliability and safety. This trial has also highlighted the importance of careful consideration of the governance implications when using patient identifiable data which is a clinical governance requirement for patient safety. Collaboration with the trust digital informatics and information governance team has led to the development of acceptable user policies to guide this.
Setting Up Parallel Illumination on the Talos Arctica for High-Resolution Data Collection.

Illuminating a specimen with a parallel electron beam is critical for many experiments in transmission electron microscopy as deviations from this condition cause considerable deterioration of image quality. Carefully establishing parallel illumination is particularly important on two-condenser lens transmission electron microscopes (TEMs) as the parallel illumination condition is limited to a single beam intensity value on these instruments. It was recently shown that a Thermo Fisher Scientific Talos Arctica, a two-condenser lens TEM operating at 200 kV, equipped with a Gatan K2 Summit direct electron detector is capable of resolving frozen-hydrated macromolecules of various sizes and internal symmetries to better than 3 A resolution using single particle methodologies. A critical aspect of the success of these findings was the careful alignment of the electron microscope to ensure the specimen was illuminated with a parallel electron beam. Here, this chapter describes how to establish parallel illumination conditions in a Talos Arctica TEM for high-resolution cryogenic data collection for structure determination.
Ultra-high dose intravenous nitroglycerin in an ESRD patient with acutely decompensated heart failure.

Acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema is a highly unstable and potentially lethal condition that is most commonly associated with markedly elevated blood pressure (BP). Use of nitrates, diuretics, and non-invasive positive pressure ventilatory support are the mainstays of early intervention and stabilization. Use of high-dose bolus intravenous nitroglycerin, which causes both preload and afterload reduction, has shown significant promise in studies to date, reducing the need for endotracheal intubation (ETI) and intensive care unit admission. To date, the highest recorded total dose of nitroglycerin used during the initial stabilization of acute pulmonary edema has been 20 mg. Here, we describe a patient with end-stage renal disease who developed acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema and received a total of 59 mg nitroglycerin (56 mg push dose intravenous + 3 mg intravenous drip) over 41 minutes leading to successful stabilization and avoidance of ETI, facilitating rapid initiation of emergent hemodialysis.
Las especies paisaje como estrategia de conservación de la biodiversidad: evaluación cuantitativa de su efectividad

Species-oriented conservation programs are a common strategy to halt biodiversity loss. The landscape species concept is based on the selection of a group of species with certain characteristics allowing to identify and address the threats to biodiversity present in a particular area. It has two main assumptions: 1) that conservation of landscape species will result in the conservation of other species in the ecosystem, and 2) that it will also maintain the ecosystem structure and its corresponding functions. To assess these hypotheses, we rely on data from the Wildlife Project, a conservation initiative developed with this approach in two areas of Colombia. We evaluated in a quantitative fashion the first hypothesis through multi-season occupancy models using data from camera traps (2015 to 2017). We then estimated the effect of conservation actions in reducing forest loss at the scale of individual land properties and at the landscape scale by comparing deforestation rates in similar areas but in the absence of conservation actions (counterfactual). The strategies, specifically conservation agreements, increased colonization rates and reduced extinction rates for some landscape species and other vertebrates. Other species were not affected by this specific strategy. Deforestation was lower in the landscape than in adjacent areas, although there was no significant effect. At the individual property scale, in 2017 conservation agreements reduced deforestation rates. The methods presented here allow assessing causality and testing clear hypotheses to measure the effect of specific actions in conservation programs.
Development, evaluation and characteristic of economically valuable traits in new sterile line of tomato for producing hybrids in the South of Russia

To meet the needs of the population and commodity producers in southern Russia for tomato fruits, it is necessary to develop hybrids of various purposes, taking into account their increased adaptability to abiotic environmental factors that meet modern production technologies and market requirements, as well as combine high economically valuable traits and an acceptable price for seeds. The use of lines with a sterility trait may reduce labor costs for the production of hybrids and improve their quality. The purpose of these studies was to develop sterile lines of tomato for open ground for various purposes (fresh consumption and processing) and to obtain high-yielding hybrids on their basis. As a result of the research carried out, promising functionally sterile lines of tomato with a number of economically valuable traits have been developed, including large fruit size, productivity, lack of stalk articulation, biochemical parameters and commercial attractiveness of fruits. According to the length of the growing season, all inbred lines were divided into 3 groups: mid-early, mid-season, and mid-late. Further involvement of new sterile lines in the hybridization process as parent components in development of heterotic tomato hybrids resistant to abiotic environmental factors will make it possible to develop hybrids of various purposes for growing in open ground in the soil and climatic conditions of southern Russia.
Neuroactive Amino Acids in Synaptosomes from Focal and Nonfocal Temporal Lobe Tissue of Patients with Intractable Complex Partial Seizures

The putative involvement of disturbances in amino acid patterns in the pathogenesis of epilepsy has been vigorously debated (13,34,36,47,50). Amino acid levels in whole tissue removed from epileptic foci at surgery or autopsy have been compared with levels in surrounding nonfocal tissue or with tissue removed at autopsy or surgery from nonepileptic subjects. The advantages and disadvantages of each procedure have been argued at length (13,34,36,47,50). No clear pattern of changes has emerged, however (2,5,7,10,12,13,15,1–8,19,21,23,26,30,32,35,36,38,40,48,50). The literature on changes in amino acids in epilepsy has been reviewed (9,16).
Sensing short range forces with a nanosphere matter-wave interferometer

We describe a method for sensing short range forces using matter-wave interference in dielectric nanospheres. When compared with atom interferometers, the larger mass of the nanosphere results in reduced wave-packet expansion, enabling investigations of forces nearer to surfaces in a free-fall interferometer. By laser cooling a nanosphere to the ground state of an optical potential and releasing it by turning off the optical trap, acceleration sensing at the ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}8}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{m}/{\mathrm{s}}^{2}$ level is possible. The approach can yield improved sensitivity to Yukawa-type deviations from Newtonian gravity at the $5\text{ }\text{ }\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$ length scale by a factor of ${10}^{4}$ over current limits.
Restriction Endonuclease Mapping of the Proviral DNA of the Exogenous RIII Murine Mammary Tumor Virus

Cellular DNA containing integrated murine mammary tumor virus (MuMTV) was isolated from FeI/C6 feline kidney cells and CCL64 mink lung cells infected with milkborne RIII MuMTV. By using restriction enzyme HpaI, intact RIII MuMTV provirus (length, 8.7 kilobases [kb]) was excised from the cellular DNA. Subsequent restriction endonuclease analysis of this HpaI fragment with KpnI, HindIII, EcoRI, BamHI, BglII, PstI, SstI, SalI, and XhoI enabled us to construct a map of the RIII virus genome. A comparison of this map with the maps of the GR and C3H MuMTV's revealed that there are greater sequence differences between the RIII virus and the GR and C3H MuMTV proviruses than there are between the GR and C3H proviruses. The following are features of the restriction map unique to the RIII provirus: the presence of three BamHI and two EcoRI cleavage sites, a HpaI cleavage site in the terminal 3'-5' repeat unit of the provirus, and the absence of an XhoI cleavage site. Another distinguishing feature of the RIII provirus is that the sizes of some of the restriction fragments produced by cleavage of the RIII provirus with PstI are different from the sizes of the fragments obtained by PstI cleavage of the GR and C3H proviruses. Like the GR proviral DNA, the RIII proviral DNA has three SstI (SacI) cleavage sites, whereas the C3H provirus has only two SstI sites. HpaI digestion of MuMTV-infected mink lung cell DNA revealed only one class of provirus (an 8.7-kb fragment); however, we observed several minor classes of RIII proviral DNA in addition to the major class of provirus DNA in infected cat kidney cells. PstI digestion of the HpaI 8.7-kb fragments from both feline and mink cells generated a 3.7-kb DNA fragment identical in size to a PstI-generated fragment that has been found in GR and C3H milkborne virus-infected cells. Although a fragment similar in size to the milkborne 3.7-kb PstI fragment has been found as an endogenous component in many C3H and GR mouse tissues, we did not observe such an endogenous fragment in the RIII mouse strain. Therefore, the 3.7-kb fragment may be useful as a marker for the milkborne RIII MuMTV provirus in RIII mice.
Electron paramagnetic resonance studies of 95Mo-enriched NADH dehydrogenase isolated from iron-deficient Azotobacter vinelandii

1. 1. An asymmetric EPR signal at g = 1.95 is observed under reducing conditions in whole cells and fractions of Azotobacter vinelandii grown on an iron-deficient medium. This signal is absent under similar conditions when A. vinelandii is grown on a normal amount of iron. 2. 2. Growth of A. vinelandii on a low-iron medium using 95Mo in an EPR nuclear isotopic substitution study established that the g = 1.95 EPR signal is definitely due to monomeric Mo(V). 3. 3. This Mo(V) signal appears on reduction with NADH, NADPH or acetaldehyde and is associated with an apparently modified NADH dehydrogenase rather than a component of the nitrogenase complex. 4. 4. Based on observed g-values and hyperfine splitting constants from this and related studies, it appears that at the active site of NADH dehydrogenase, Mo(V) could be coordinated with cystein.
Resistance to transplantation of spontaneous akr lymphoma cells by substrains of akr mice. In vivo resistance and generation of an h-2 restricted cml response.

Abstract High leukemia incidence AKR/J (H-2k, Thy 1.1) and AKR/Cu (H-2k, Thy 1.2) substrains of AKR mice reject the reciprocal strains spontaneously arising lymphoma cells. In the course of rejection, splenic precursor cells are generated which, upon secondary stimulation in vitro, result in specific cytotoxic T-cells. The antigenic component of AKR cells resulting in this secondary CML response resides on both lymphoma and normal T- and B-cells, and is distinct from the Thy antigen. Primed AKR/J lymphocytes will respond to and only lyse immunogens and targets homologous at the K- and-or D-end of the MHC, while primed AKR/Cu cells require homology at the D-end of the MHC.
Parallel program debugging

Although parallel programs are significantly more complex than sequential programs the same debugging methodology, augmented with the appropriate tools, can be used to debug parallel and sequential programs. Experiments have shown that these tools can reduce the debugging cycle for a parallel program dramatically. Other techniques, such as verification and testing, can be integrated with the debugging methodology. For example, static analysis can be used to discover erroneous race conditions. Verification can be used to narrow the search space for errors during monitoring and debugging. Nonetheless, debugging remains the most widely used technique for developing correct parallel programs. >
The influence of nitric oxide synthase 1 on blood flow and interstitial nitric oxide in the kidney

The role of nitric oxide (NO) produced by NO synthase 1 (NOS1) in the renal vasculature remains undetermined. In the present study, we investigated the influence of systemic inhibition of NOS1 by i...
The use of Dynamic Environmental Control Systems (DECS) in Cavities of Double Skin Facades for Energy Savings

Abstract Dynamic and adaptive facade components have significant potential for energy efficiency goals. However, it is not yet common to see double skin facade (DSF) buildings integrating dynamic component systems to improve their energy savings. Previous studies have repeatedly found DSF buildings to increase their energy consumption during cooling seasons. Potential exists to counteract this problem by developing a kinetic mechanism within the DSF. The Dynamic Environmental Controls System (DECS) was designed and developed to improve their performance. Its application was examined, evaluated via energy modeling simulations, and showed a decrease of the energy demand. DECS has the ability to dynamically change the cavity compartmentation between four types of DSFs: multi-storey, corridor, shaft box, and box window; and twenty-one intermediate configurations. Their performances were examined in DesignBuilder for three climate zones: Los Angeles, New York, and Houston. The focus was each case study's performance for the hottest and coldest day per climate to determine the efficiency of DSFs in extreme weather conditions. The rationale was to locate the boundaries of their performance from perspective of most improvements via DECS. The energy usage of the intermediate configurations was then examined and the dispersion of the results between all types scrutinized. The simulations were made on hourly time steps, and the most efficient configuration per hour was being selected. The aggregation of all formed the DECS pattern for each 24-hour cycle. Two major results were obtained. The application of DECS and analysis of the generated results lead to a decrease of the energy consumption of DSF buildings for the hottest day up to 3.92%, 2.52% and 1.97% per climate and for the coldest day up to 0.55%, 1.90% and 4.00% accordingly. Secondly, the methodology of the research was made less efficient by the lack of a suitable software interface. This issue is addressed.
Marjorie Grene, ‘tTwo Evolutionary Theories’ and modern evolutionary theory

Grene's ‘Two Evolutionary Theories’ (1958), a philosophical analysis of the nature of scientific disputes, itself contributed directly to discourse in evolutionary theory. I conclude that Grene's descriptions of two rival theories of evolutionary paleontologists — those of George Gaylord Simpson, who stressed traditional Darwinian continuity, and of Otto Schindewolf, who stressed discontinuity in paleontological data — were entirely accurate. But I further argue that both Simpson, as well as Mayr and Dobzhansky, had incorporated notions of discontinuity into their earlier work, but later removed, or at least de-emphasized discontinuity, in their later work. Grene's analysis, published in the year of the Darwinian centennial, was initially treated as a provocative sore point. The paper kept the issue of discontinuity alive in evolutionary theory, and directly influenced work in the 1960s and 1970s, which restored and further elaborated on the significance of discontinuity in evolutionary theory.
Entrepreneurial IT Governance: Electronic Medical Records in Rural Healthcare

Governance is traditionally viewed as a formal authority structure. Information Technology (IT) governance parallels this in that it refers to the patterns of authority over IT. However, traditional control theories of governance, particularly those applied to IT, may not apply in rural healthcare settings. Healthcare has significantly underinvested in IT. Even today, the vast majority of healthcare transactions occur via telephone, fax, paper, and EDI; much data is not captured, is captured incorrectly or inefficiently, and is difficult to retrieve and use. Employing an established IT governance framework, and working from the fundamental assumption that IT is a vital tool in the capture and use of healthcare data, the authors explore the appropriateness of the traditional IT governance framework within a rural healthcare setting. We present an innovative, non authoritative, relationship-oriented approach for those seeking successful adoption of IT as a means of improving healthcare in rural settings.
Raf-1 is activated by the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor, SB203580.

SB203580 (4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(4-methylsulfinylphenyl)-5-(4-pyridyl)1H-imidazole) is widely used as a specific inhibitor of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Here, we report that SB203580 activates the serine/threonine kinase Raf-1 in quiescent smooth muscle cells in a dose-dependent fashion. The concentrations of SB203580 required lie above those necessary to inhibit p38 MAPK and we were unable to detect basal levels of active p38 MAPK. SB203580 does not directly activate Raf-1 in vitro, and fails to activate Ras, MEK, and ERK in intact cells. In vitro, however, SB203580-stimulated Raf-1 activates MEK1 in a coupled assay. We conclude that activation of Raf-1 by SB203580 is not mediated by an inhibition of p38 MAPK, is Ras-independent, and is uncoupled from MEK/ERK signaling.
Fossil bird eggs from the Pliocene of Laetoli, Tanzania: Their taxonomic and paleoecological relationships

Abstract Recent paleontological investigations at the Pliocene site of Laetoli and at neighboring localities on the Eyasi Plateau of northern Tanzania have led to the recovery of a sizable collection of fossil bird eggs. The material comes from the Upper Laetolil Beds, dated at ∼3.6–3.8 Ma, and the Lower Laetolil Beds, dated at 3.8 Ma to older than 4.3 Ma. The preservation of relatively complete eggs (other than those of ratites) is an extremely rare occurrence in the fossil record, and Laetoli is the only locality in Africa that has produced such well-preserved eggs. Deposition of carbonatite air-fall tuffs led to the rapid burial of the eggs sub-aerially, and they were then preserved in paleosols that were geochemically conducive to their preservation. The collection of fossil eggs from Laetoli can be assigned to at least five different species of ground-nesting birds, including two or three species of francolins, a species of guineafowl, and a larger bird of uncertain taxonomic status about the size of a bustard. Most of the eggs can be assigned to a large species of Francolinus , similar in size to the extant F. afer and F. leucoscepus . A smaller species of francolin, about the size of Francolinus coqui or F. sephaena , is also represented, but is less common. A single egg may represent an even smaller species of francolin, about the size of Francolinus lathami or F. nahani , but its attribution to Francolinus is less certain. The evidence of at least two species of Francolinus at Laetoli indicates that francolins were already taxonomically diverse in East Africa by the mid-Pliocene. Three eggs are similar in their overall dimensions and morphology to the living Numida meleagris , the helmeted guineafowl. An avian community including at least one small species of francolin, a larger francolin, and a guineafowl (as well as ostriches and a vulture) implies that the paleoecology at Laetoli was likely to have been open woodland, bushland, savanna or grassland. However, francolins and guineafowl generally require low brush and thickets for refuge, as well as trees to roost in at night, so they tend to prefer mosaic ecotonal habitats offering open feeding areas with good visibility, but with dense vegetation cover and patches of woodland nearby.
On a min-max problem of leo moser

Abstract How should a pair of n-sided dice be loaded (identically) so that on throwing the dice the frequency of the most frequently occurring sum is as small as possible? A partial answer is given.
Energy and other resource conservation within urbanizing areas

The reported research seeks to answer several questions regarding energy conservation within urbanizing areas. As a practical matter, to what extent can dependence upon exhaustible resources be reduced? Can these reductions be achieved without severely impairing social well-being and environmental quality? And, what seem to be the prevailing institutional constraints limiting energy conservation within urbanizing areas?
A retrospective analysis of one implant system in an oral surgery practice. Phase I: Patient satisfaction

A questionnaire was used to rate patients' satisfaction, expectations, and level of discomfort associated with implant treatment. The questionnaire was sent to 262 patients who had been treated with Core-Vent implants between 1984 and 1988. Over 60% of the patients contacted completed the questionnaire. The distribution of the respondents was evaluated according to age, sex, occupation, and marital status. Statistical interpretation of the data revealed that (1) measures of the level of satisfaction and expectation were significantly less for housewives when compared with other occupations; (2) satisfaction significantly correlated with measures of expectations and lack of discomfort; and (3) expectations correlated with lack of discomfort. In general, most subjects were extremely satisfied with the treatment they received.
Mexican Birthdays: Independence and Revolution, 1810 and 1910.

The latter decades of the eighteenth century and first decades of the nineteenth century were full or revolutions and births of new nations, particularly in the Americas. The period has been termed the Age of Revolution. In 2010, Mexico celebrated along with several other countries the two hundred–year celebration of their movement toward independence from Spain. Mexico also celebrated the centennial of their 1910 revolution. Revolutions are catastrophic in their altering of existing social institutions such as government, religion, education, media, labor, and land ownership. Revolutions are also costly in terms of human capital: Many people die, typically the leaders of the insurrection. Others flee the path of destruction and harm, while others eke out an existence until normalcy returns, often years into the future. By definition, a revolution radically changes what is and initiates a process of social change that evolves as the formal and official violence between government forces and the revolution...
Pathology of Retinitis Pigmentosa

Abstract Eyes from patients with retinitis pigmentosa were obtained at autopsy. They were processed in celloidin and examined by light microscopy. The earliest evidence of retinal degeneration occurred in the equatorial zone and then extended peripherally and centrally. In the eyes with the earliest involvement, a sequence could be demonstrated in the zone of transition from the less involved macula to the more degenerated retina at the equator. The probable order for the development of degenerative changes in our material appeared to be as follows: (1) migration of nuclei from the outer nuclear layer to the rod and cone layer and the outer plexiform layer; (2) degeneration and loss of photoreceptors and their nuclei in the outer nuclear layer; (3) loss of connecting fibers in the outer plexiform layer; (4) migration of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) into the retina, mainly around the blood vessels, but also as isolated balls and spots (this prominent feature, which characterizes the disease, is secondary and only follows the loss of the photoreceptors and their nuclei); (5) adhesion of the retinal to the retinal pigment epithelium or Bruch's membrane in spots or broad areas and; (6) possible transneuronal degeneration of some cells in the inner nuclear and ganglion cell layers. Gliosis of the disc was universal as was the presence of glial membranes from the disc extending over the posterior retina, especially prominent in the macular region. As the material was obtained from 16 to 35 years ago, we lack electrophysiologic and familial data and electron microscopy was not possible
Dispersal of Golgi matrix proteins during mitotic Golgi disassembly

During mitosis, the mammalian Golgi disassembles into numerous vesicles and larger membrane structures referred to as clusters or remnants. Following mitosis, the vesicles and clusters reassemble to form an intact Golgi in each daughter cell. One model of Golgi biogenesis states that Golgi matrix proteins remain assembled in mitotic clusters and then serve as a template for Golgi reassembly. To test this idea, we performed a 3D-computational analysis of mitotic cells to determine the extent to which these proteins remain in mitotic clusters. As a control we used brefeldin A-induced Golgi disassembly which causes dispersal of Golgi enzymes, but leaves matrix proteins in remnant structures. Unlike brefeldin A-treated cells, in which matrix proteins were clearly sorted from non-matrix proteins, we observed extensive dispersal of matrix proteins in metaphase cells with no evidence of differential sorting of these proteins from other Golgi proteins. The extensive disassembly of matrix proteins argues against their participation in a stable template and supports a self-assembly mode of Golgi biogenesis.
Towards a threat management model of upward communication: A study of influence and maintenance tactics in the leader‐member dyad

This paper presents a descriptive model of factors affecting subordinates’ use of upward influence tactics. The model is based on the notion that enduring patterns of relationship maintenance tactics used by subordinates both reinforce and gradually alter perceptions of leader‐member exchange quality. These relational perceptions are primary considerations when subordinates assess threats and subsequently make tactic choices during influence episodes (and other potentially risky encounters). Context factors, including influence goals, are thought to magnify or mute the threat associated with a given episode. A study of 194 working adults explored several model components. The data support the conclusion that upward influence tactic choice is most influenced by the quality of the relationship between a leader and his/her subordinates.
The effects of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide on experimental pre-retinal neovascularization

Corticosteroids, alone or in combination with other drugs, have been shown to inhibit angiogenesis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of triamcinolone acetonide in a new model of preretinal neovascularization. Rabbit eyes were treated with intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide 24 h before partial liquefaction of the posterior vitreous with hyaluronidase and injection of 250000 homologous tissue-cultured dermal fibroblasts. Triamcinolone acetonide effectively inhibited new vessel growth in treated eyes. Only 14% of the treated eyes developed new blood vessels compared to 100% of sham-injected control eyes (P<0.001). These results suggest that intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide might be effective in inhibiting new vessel growth in patients with inflammatory retinal neovascularization, such as that associated with sarcoidosis or other uveitic syndromes.
The Impact of a Differential Social Power System on Latinos' Attitudes Toward the High School and the Community College Experience.

The perceptions of Mexican American students’ school attitudes toward the community college and high school experiences were examined in relation to a high‐USPI (unequal social power influence) environment (higher percentage of Anglos than Mexican Americans) and a low‐USPI environment (lower percentage of Anglos than Mexican Americans). A three‐factor analysis of variance indicated significant differences in attitudes and school experiences.
Association of Growth Substrates and Bacterial Genera with Benzo[a]pyrene Mineralization in Contaminated Soil

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is a carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) that is not known to be a bacterial growth substrate. Organisms capable of cometabolizing BaP in complex field-contaminated systems have not previously been identified. We evaluated BaP mineralization by a bacterial community from a bioreactor treating PAH-contaminated soil during coincubation with or after pre-enrichment on various PAHs as growth substrates. Pyrosequence libraries of 16S rRNA genes were used to identify bacteria that were enriched on the added growth substrate as a means of associating specific organisms with BaP mineralization. Coincubating the bioreactor-treated soil with naphthalene, phenanthrene, or pyrene inhibited BaP mineralization, whereas pre-enriching the soil on the same three PAHs enhanced BaP mineralization. Combined, these results suggest that bacteria in the bioreactor community that are capable of growing on naphthalene, phenanthrene, and/or pyrene can metabolize BaP, with coincubation competitively inhibiting BaP metabolism. Anthracene, fluoranthene, and benz[a]anthracene had little effect on BaP mineralization compared to incubations without an added growth substrate under either coincubation or pre-enrichment conditions. Substantial increases in relative abundance after pre-enrichment with phenanthrene, naphthalene, or pyrene, but not the other PAHs, suggest that members of the genera Cupriavidus and Luteimonas may have been associated with BaP mineralization.
Hurricane Sandy: The Science and Impacts of a Superstorm

It was the storm of a lifetime—a massive, freakish confluence of a tropical hurricane and a winter, extratropical vortex. Nicknamed “Frankenstorm,” Superstorm Sandy ravaged the mid-Atlantic, Northe...
Load Management Assessment Methodology at PSE&G

Recognizing the need for a procedure which can effectively analyze all of the variables involved in conducting an evaluation of end-use alternatives in power system planning, PSE&G developed a comprehensive methodology. This methodology encompasses all elements of corporate planning and establishes the financial impacts of specific load management and/or conservation activities or combinations thereof. This paper describes that methodology and uses one sample analysis to demonstrate its application
Continuous Modular Design Problem: Analysis and Solution Algorithms

This article studies the continuous modular design (MD) problem. First, the article presents duality results for problem (MD) based upon the Wolfe duality theory for nonlinear programming. From these results, an optimality test for problem (MD) is derived that consists of solving a single, balanced transportation problem. Second, the article shows that two well-known optimization approaches, the generalized Benders decomposition and the separable programming approach of linear programming, each have the potential to solve efficiently large instances of problem (MD).
Generation and cyclization of nitrilium ions from amides. Asymmetric synthesis of fused azabicyclics

Abstract Treatment of 2° amides with PPSE affords nitrilium ions which may be cyclized onto appropriate terminators. The conditions are compatible with esters in the molecule, and further elaboration to pyrrolizidine and indolizidine rings is possible via asymmetric reduction.
Recurrent pelvic organ prolapse in a woman with bladder exstrophy: A case report of surgical management and review of the literature

Management of gynecologic issues in women with bladder exstrophy is challenging. Congenital pelvic organ prolapse and prolapse-associated pregnancy and delivery are common. The management of prolapse is complicated by the anatomic changes involving the bony pelvis, connective tissue support, pelvic floor, and the length and axis of the vagina. A case of recurrent pelvic organ prolapse successfully managed with a sacral colpopexy and a review of the literature are presented.