cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Anesthetic care for patients with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis

Introduction: Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor encephalitis, an autoimmune disorder resulting from antibodies directed against the NMDA (glutamate) receptor, is the second most frequent cause of immune-mediated encephalitis. To date, the information related to the anesthetic care of children with this disorder is limited to anecdotal reports. Methods: We reviewed the anesthetic care of six patients with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis who underwent 21 procedures at our institution from 2014 through 2019. Results: The study cohort included six patients, ranging in age from 2 to 18 years, who required anesthetic care during 21 procedures. Airway management included a laryngeal mask airway (n = 8), endotracheal intubation (n = 12), and native airway with spontaneous ventilation (n = 1). Intravenous (IV) induction with propofol was used in 17 procedures for five patients, including three that required rapid sequence intubation using rocuronium or succinylcholine. Inhalation induction with sevoflurane in nitrous oxide (N2O)/oxygen (O2) was chosen for two procedures in two patients. A combination of both induction techniques was used for two patients in two procedures. Maintenance anesthesia was accomplished with a volatile agent, predominantly sevoflurane, for 18 of the 21 procedures; propofol infusion for one procedure; and single dose of propofol was used for two short procedures. N2O was not used for maintenance anesthesia in any of the encounters. None of the patients exhibited adverse events, including hemodynamic instability, thermoregulatory problems, or respiratory events perioperatively. Postoperatively, there was no observed deterioration in clinical status attributed to anesthetic care. Discussion: Multisystem involvement in anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis includes memory loss, behavior irregularity, psychosis, arrhythmias, blood pressure (BP) instability, and hypoventilation. In our study cohort, we noted no intraoperative issues and deterioration in clinical status following the use of volatile anesthetic agents, opioids, dexmedetomidine, and propofol for general anesthesia (GA) or sedation. As ketamine, xenon, and N2O mediate their anesthetic effects, primarily, through antagonism of NMDA receptors, theoretical concerns suggest that they should be avoided.
Effects of Bupivacaine on Opioid Patient-Controlled Intrathecal Analgesia in Chronic Pain Patients Implanted with Drug Delivery Systems.

Background Combining neuraxial opioids and local anesthetics in acute pain results in improved duration of analgesia and reduced dosages and adverse effects. Although commonly used in intrathecal drug delivery systems (IDDS) for chronic pain, the effectiveness of this admixture has not been examined specifically in relation to patient-controlled intrathecal analgesia (PCIA). Methods IDDS-implanted chronic noncancer pain patients receiving opioids with bupivacaine (O + B) were randomized to receive either opioids without bupivacaine (O) or O + B in a double-blind manner, at IDDS refills, for one week and then crossed over to the other solution for another week. Primary outcome measures included numeric rating scale (NRS) pain scores before and within 30 minutes after PCIA boluses. Secondary outcome measures included average NRS scores and functional outcome measures. Results Seventeen patients were enrolled, and 16 patients completed the study. There were no differences in NRS scores before and after PCIA boluses between the O and O + B conditions, though pain scores improved significantly (average decrease in NRS scores: O 1.81 ± 1.47 vs O + B 1.87 ± 1.40, P = 0.688). No differences were noted in speed of onset or duration of analgesia. Although more patients subjectively preferred the O + B treatment, the difference was not statistically significant. No differences were noted in secondary outcome measures, with the exception of global impression of change having higher scores in O compared with O + B. Conclusions Acutely removing bupivacaine from a chronic intrathecal infusion of opioids and bupivacaine in patients with chronic noncancer pain did not adversely affect PCIA effectiveness, nor did it affect speed of onset or duration of effect. These findings are divergent from those in acute pain and may have to do with study conditions and pain phenotypes.
Derivation and validation of a computable phenotype for acute decompensated heart failure in hospitalized patients

With higher adoption of electronic health records at health-care centers, electronic search algorithms (computable phenotype) for identifying acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) among hospitalized patients can be an invaluable tool to enhance data abstraction accuracy and efficacy in order to improve clinical research accrual and patient centered outcomes. We aimed to derive and validate a computable phenotype for ADHF in hospitalized patients. We screened 256, 443 eligible (age > 18 years and with prior research authorization) individuals who were admitted to Mayo Clinic Hospital in Rochester, MN, from January 1, 2006, through December 31, 2014. Using a randomly selected derivation cohort of 938 patients, several iterations of a free-text electronic search were developed and refined. The computable phenotype was subsequently validated in an independent cohort 100 patients. The sensitivity and specificity of the computable phenotype were compared to the gold standard (expert review of charts) and International Classification of Diseases-9 (ICD-9) codes for Acute Heart Failure. In the derivation cohort, the computable phenotype achieved a sensitivity of 97.5%, and specificity of 100%, whereas ICD-9 codes for Acute Heart Failure achieved a sensitivity of 47.5% and specificity of 96.7%. When all Heart Failure codes (ICD-9) were used, sensitivity and specificity were 97.5 and 86.6%, respectively. In the validation cohort, the sensitivity and specificity of the computable phenotype were 100 and 98.5%. The sensitivity and specificity for the ICD-9 codes (Acute Heart Failure) were 42 and 98.5%. Upon use of all Heart Failure codes (ICD-9), sensitivity and specificity were 96.8 and 91.3%. Our results suggest that using computable phenotype to ascertain ADHF from the clinical notes contained within the electronic medical record are feasible and reliable. Our computable phenotype outperformed ICD-9 codes for the detection of ADHF.
Discovery of Bispecific Antagonists of Retinol Binding Protein 4 That Stabilize Transthyretin Tetramers: Scaffolding Hopping, Optimization, and Preclinical Pharmacological Evaluation as a Potential Therapy for Two Common Age-Related Comorbidities

Accumulation of cytotoxic lipofuscin bisretinoids may contribute to atrophic age-related macular degeneration (AMD) pathogenesis. Retinal bisretinoid synthesis depends on the influx of serum all-trans-retinol (1) delivered via a tertiary retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4)-transthyretin (TTR)-retinol complex. We previously identified selective RBP4 antagonists that dissociate circulating RBP4-TTR-retinol complexes, reduce serum RBP4 levels, and inhibit bisretinoid synthesis in models of enhanced retinal lipofuscinogenesis. However, the release of TTR by selective RBP4 antagonists may be associated with TTR tetramer destabilization and, potentially, TTR amyloid formation. We describe herein the identification of bispecific RBP4 antagonist-TTR tetramer kinetic stabilizers. Standout analogue (±)-44 possesses suitable potency for both targets, significantly lowers mouse plasma RBP4 levels, and prevents TTR aggregation in a gel-based assay. This new class of bispecific compounds may be especially important as a therapy for dry AMD patients who have another common age-related comorbidity, senile systemic amyloidosis, a nongenetic disease associated with wild-type TTR misfolding.
Lift Equivalence and Cancellation for Airfoil Surge–Pitch–Plunge Oscillations

A NACA 0018 airfoil in freestream velocity is oscillated in longitudinal, transverse, and angle-of-attack directions with respect to the freestream velocity, known as surge, plunge, and pitch. The ...
Evidence that Maackia amurensis seed lectin (MASL) exerts pleiotropic actions on oral squamous cells to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 disease progression

COVID-19 was declared an international public health emergency in January, and a pandemic in March of 2020. There are over 23 million confirmed COVID-19 cases that have cause over 800 thousand deaths worldwide as of August 19th, 2020. COVID-19 is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. SARS-CoV-2 presents a surface "spike" protein that binds to the ACE2 receptor to infect host cells. In addition to the respiratory tract, SARS-Cov-2 can also infect cells of the oral mucosa, which also express the ACE2 receptor. The spike and ACE2 proteins are highly glycosylated with sialic acid modifications that direct viral-host interactions and infection. Maackia amurensis seed lectin (MASL) has a strong affinity for sialic acid modified proteins and can be used as an antiviral agent. Here, we report that MASL targets the ACE2 receptor, decreases ACE2 expression and glycosylation, suppresses binding of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, and decreases expression of inflammatory mediators by oral epithelial cells that cause ARDS in COVID-19 patients. This work identifies MASL as an agent with potential to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 related inflammatory syndromes.
Effectiveness and Safety of Direct Oral Anticoagulants versus Warfarin in Lung Transplant Recipients

Purpose Lung transplant recipients (LTRs) are at an increased risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE) after transplant, necessitating the use of anticoagulation. Guidelines recommend direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) over warfarin for most patients and indications; however, many of the studies upon which these recommendations were made excluded high-risk patient populations, including transplant recipients. The purpose of this study was to compare rates of new or recurrent VTE and bleeding in patients receiving DOAC versus warfarin after lung transplant. Methods This retrospective cohort study was approved by the local institutional review board. Adult lung transplant recipients transplanted at a single center from 2010 - 2018 who received an oral anticoagulant for treatment of VTE were included. Re-transplants, patients with a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation/flutter, and those taking oral anticoagulation prior to transplant were excluded. The primary outcome was new or recurrent VTE within 1 year of starting oral anticoagulation, as determined by review of radiology reports. Safety was evaluated by assessment of 1-year rate of bleeding requiring emergency department visit or admission. Propensity matching in a 1:1 ratio using was used to control for confounders. Variables chosen for inclusion in the propensity score were sex, age, and chronic kidney disease. Clinical outcomes were assessed using chi-2 or Fisher's exact test. Results 366 LTRs met inclusion criteria. Of these, 68 received DOACs and 298 received warfarin. The analysis cohort included 132 LTRs who were successfully propensity matched, 66 in each group. After matching, patient demographics and comorbidities were similar at baseline. In the 1-year follow up period, 17 patients (12.9%) experienced new or recurrent VTE. There was no difference in the rate of VTE between the DOAC and warfarin groups (13.6% vs 12.1%, p=0.80). Six total bleeding events requiring hospital visits were observed, 4 in the DOAC group and 2 in the warfarin group (p=0.68). Conclusion No difference in the rates of new or recurrent VTE or bleeding for DOAC versus warfarin were observed in this propensity-matched, single-center retrospective cohort study of LTRs. DOACs appear to be safe and effective alternatives to warfarin in LTRs. Larger studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Reimbursement Rates for Primary Care Services: Evidence of Spillover Effects to Behavioral Health

We study spillover effects from the largest increase in Medicaid reimbursement rates in the history of the program for primary care services to behavioral health and healthcare outcomes; mental illness, substance use disorders, and tobacco product use. Much of the variation in Medicaid reimbursement rates we leverage is attributable to a large federally mandated increase between 2013 and 2014. We apply differences-in-differences models to survey data specifically designed to measure behavioral health outcomes over the period 2010 to 2016. We find that higher primary care Medicaid reimbursement rates improve behavioral health outcomes among enrollees. We find no evidence that behavioral healthcare service use is altered. Previous economic research shows that the mandated boost increased office visits. Thus our results suggest that primary care providers are efficient in improving behavioral health outcomes among Medicaid enrollees. Given established shortages of behavioral health providers, these findings are important from a healthcare workforce and policy perspective.
Routine Activities and Stalking Victimization in Sexual Minority College Students

Sexual minority individuals, due to additional chronic stress they experience from living with a marginalized identity, may be perceived as vulnerable targets by motivated perpetrators of stalking....
Heat illness data strengthens vulnerability maps.

BACKGROUND Previous extreme heat and human health studies have investigated associations either over time (e.g. case-crossover or time series analysis) or across geographic areas (e.g. spatial models), which may limit the study scope and regional variation. Our study combines a case-crossover design and spatial analysis to identify: 1) the most vulnerable counties to extreme heat; and 2) demographic and socioeconomic variables that are most strongly and consistently related to heat-sensitive health outcomes (cardiovascular disease, dehydration, heat-related illness, acute renal disease, and respiratory disease) across 67 counties in the state of Florida, U. S over 2008-2012. METHODS We first used a case-crossover design to examine the effects of air temperature on daily counts of health outcomes. We employed a time-stratified design with a 28-day comparison window. Referent periods were extracted from ±7, ±14, or ± 21 days to address seasonality. The results are expressed as odds ratios, or the change in the likelihood of each health outcome for a unit change in heat exposure. We then spatially examined the case-crossover extreme heat and health odds ratios and county level demographic and socioeconomic variables with multiple linear regression or spatial lag models. RESULTS Results indicated that southwest Florida has the highest risks of cardiovascular disease, dehydration, acute renal disease, and respiratory disease. Results also suggested demographic and socioeconomic variables were significantly associated with the magnitude of heat-related health risk. The counties with larger populations working in farming, fishing, mining, forestry, construction, and extraction tended to have higher risks of dehydration and acute renal disease, whereas counties with larger populations working in installation, maintenance, and repair workers tended to have lower risks of cardiovascular, dehydration, acute renal disease, and respiratory disease. Finally, our results showed that high income counties consistently have lower health risks of dehydration, heat-related illness, acute renal disease, and respiratory disease. CONCLUSIONS Our study identified different relationships with demographic/socioeconomic variables for each heat-sensitive health outcome. Results should be incorporated into vulnerability or risk indices for each health outcome.
Hierarchical Fuzzy Control of Robotic Manipulators

This article describes the implementation of hierarchical control on a robotic manipulator using fuzzy logic. A decentralized control approach is implemented, i.e., individual controllers control the two links of the robot. The kinematic aspect of the control is treated as the supervisory mode at a higher level, and the joint control is treated as the lower level. Fuzzy logic based rules determine the inverse kinematic mapping, which maps the Cartesian coordinates to the individual joint angles. This scheme is implemented using Togai Infra Logic software and the entire simulation software is implemented using the “C” language. The results of the simulation are discussed. This experiment is a proof of the principle that the fuzzy controller can be used to map the nonlinear mapping, which can be implemented to more complex problems of inverse kinematics of higher degree of freedom robots. A fuzzy PD controller is implemented on a Rhino robot. The performance is compared with a traditional PD controller. The fuzzy controller, being an adaptive technique, gives better performance than a traditional linear PD controller over a typical operational range. The fuzzy controller reaches the desired position with no overshoot, which is unlikely with a PD controller.
Potential enhancements to controller-pilot data link communications Build 1A lateral reroute functionality

The FAA Controller-Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC) Program is the result of a Government-Industry agreement to proceed with a deployment of air/ground data communications in a digital format. CPDLC uses the Aeronautical Telecommunications Network (ATN) and a digital radio known as Very High Frequency Data Link (VDL) Mode 2. Bringing this capability into the field will be a long-term project that has profound implications for all aviation stakeholders. As a result, the program has been structured in a spiral development manner with the first two phases, or builds, known as CPDLC Build 1 and Build 1A. CPDLC Build 1 consists of four services (initial contact, transfer of communications, altimeter settings, and informational text messaging) and is deployed for use in Miami Air Route Traffic Control Center airspace.CPDLC Build 1 is in the final stages of testing and certification with plans for daily use starting in October 2002. CPDLC Build 1A is currently planned as a national deployment in en route airspace with initial daily use starting in December 2005. CPDLC Build 1A is broader in scope than CPDLC Build 1, with nine services (adding speed, heading, altitude, and route clearances, plus pilot initiated requests for altitude changes).
Recovery and Growth in Transition Economies 1990-97: A Stylized Regression Analysis

This paper analyzes the determinants of growth in 25 transition economies during 1990-97. The paper`s main finding is that macroeconomic stabilization, structural reform, and reduction of government expenditures are key to achieving sustainable growth. Although the initial effect of reforms on output may be negative, over time the best growth performances are in those countries with the greatest progress in implementing reforms. The analysis also confirms that although adverse initial conditions hurt growth, their effect is small compared to the other factors.
The molecular reorganization of lipid bilayers by osmium tetroxide. A spin-label study of orientation and restricted y-axis anisotropic motion in model membrane systems.

Phospholipid dispersions spontaneously form oriented lamellar multilayers when dried onto glass slides. These oriented multilayers form useful model systems for studying the molecular dynamics of lipid bilayers. In order to examine the effects of osmium tetroxide on the orientation and motion of hydrocarbon chains in lipid bilayers, lecithin multilayers containing the spin label 3-doxyl-5α-cholestane (the 4′,4′-dimethyloxazolidine-N-oxyl derivative of 5α-cholestan-3-one) were prepared and examined by electron spin resonance spectroscopy. In egg lecithin multilayers at room temperature and 81% relative humidity the osmium tetroxide causes nearly complete loss of orientation and severe reduction of molecular motion. In contrast, the high degree of order in l-α-dipalmitoyl lecithin multilayers is not affected by exposure to osmium tetroxide vapors. Experiments are also reported on macroscopically disordered lecithin preparations, and the data support the conclusions drawn from the ordered lecithin multilayers that rotational mobility of the probe is severely reduced by fixation of the lipid chains. A simple mathematical model has been developed to account for the amplitude of the high-frequency (τ < 10−8 sec) restricted y-axis anisotropic motion occurring in the bilayer plane. Since the y-axis is roughly parallel to the molecular axis of the rigid steroid spin label, this model enables quantitative comparisons of various degrees of restricted motion about the molecular axis.
Flexible automated parameterization of hydrologic models using fuzzy logic

[1] Recent developments in model calibration suggest that information obtained from calibration is inherently uncertain in nature. Therefore identification of optimum parameter values is often highly nonspecific. A calibration framework using fuzzy logic is presented to deal with such uncertain information. An application of this technique to calibrate the streamflow of a hydrologic submodel embedded within an ecosystem simulation model demonstrates that objective estimates of parameter values and the range of model output associated with a failure to identify a unique solution can be obtained with suitable choices of objective functions. An iterative refinement in parameter estimates through a process of elimination was possible by incorporating multiple objective functions in calibration, thereby reducing the range of parameter values that capture the streamflow response. It is shown that objective function tradeoffs can lead to suboptimal solutions using the process of elimination without an automated procedure for reevaluation. Owing to its computational simplicity and flexibility this framework could be extended into a nonmonotonic system for automated parameter estimation.
Coefficients training methods for image and video quality measures

Combining multiple color image attribute measures by linear addition has been shown to be an effective method in evaluating color image and video quality. Therefore, appropriate selection of the linear combination coefficients determines the performance of the image quality measure. In this paper, training methods of obtaining the linear combination coefficients are discussed for two practical applications: (1) for image processing applications where images before and after processing have the same source; and (2) for video processing purpose where consecutive frames have different contents and suffer from different types of distortions. With the obtained linear combination coefficients, the overall image quality measure Color Quality Measure (CQM) is shown to be effective in benchmarking the qualities of images and video frames in terms that it has high correlations with subjective evaluation Mean Opinion Scores (MOS).
Lens optical quality is a direct function of lens sutural architecture.

We analyzed the structural and functional relationship between lens sutures and lens optical quality (focal length variability) by correlative scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and laser scan analysis. Twenty-two rabbit lenses (8 pigmented and 14 albino) were used in this study. Lenses were initially scanned by a low-power helium-neon laser beam that was passed either at an acute angle to a lens suture or along a lens suture. The results of laser scan analysis with the incident beam passed at an acute angle to a lens suture showed that generally, rabbit lenses were well corrected for spherical aberration. Subsequent SEM analysis showed that areas of lenses scanned that produced the least amount of focal variability were characterized by uniform fiber cells arranged in parallel, radial cell columns. In contrast, the results of laser scan analysis with the incident beam passed along a lens suture showed that there was significant focal length variability, i.e., spherical aberration at the lens sutures. Subsequent SEM analysis showed that the areas of lenses scanned that produced the greatest amounts of focal variability (lens sutures) were characterized by nonuniform fiber cell ends arranged as erratic suture branches in single growth shells and collectively as erratic suture planes formed between growth shells extending from the embryonic nucleus to the lens periphery. Furthermore, the amount of focal variability was directly proportional to the degree of structural disorder at the lens sutures. This is the first study to unequivocally show that the relationship between lens optical quality and specific parameters of lens morphology (lens sutures) can be quantified. These findings may help to elucidate the pathologic changes that lead to presbyopia and cortical cataractogenesis because these lenses are characterized by asymmetrical suture patterns and planes.
Materials-Data Needs for Fatigue Design of Pressure Vessel Systems

Materials data are essential to the proper formulation of fatigue-design guidelines for pressure-vessel systems. These data are needed for two main reasons: (1) to develop and evaluate prediction methods used in fatigue-damage analysis and (2) to quantify the fatigue behavior of various alloys from which pressure vessels are fabricated. The former reason involves verification of models of the fatigue-damage process and must include both deformation and life prediction as well as demonstrating that the reference damage basis and damage rules are relevant to actual hardware. The latter reason relates to the establishment of an adequate data base and must incorporate material variability, environmental effects, and temperature effects. In the above context, this paper addresses the data needs within the framework of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code. Low-temperature (negligible creep) and high-temperature (significant creep) regimes and crack-initiation and crack-propagation damage criteria are addressed. The background for existing fatigue-design guidelines of the ASME Code is briefly reviewed. Areas where fatigue-damage criteria need to be improved are creep/fatigue/ environmental interaction at low strain ranges and long times, thermal-mechanical fatigue, multiaxial fatigue, and long-life fatigue. Existing guidelines for crack initiation are based mainly on strain cycling of uniaxially loaded specimens. There are some crack-initiation data on notch effects at low temperature, but more information is needed for high temperatures and welded components. Additionally, crack-initiation data are needed for multiaxial conditions, especially nonproportional loading, for thermal-mechanical cycling, and for high-cycle fatigue. To apply fatigue crack growth methodology, data on the size, shape, and distribution of initial flaws, methods of dealing with small cracks, and techniques for treating cracks in inelastic strain fields are required. With these requirements in mind, guidelines for the development of fatigue data are discussed, and recommended guidelines for data development are outlined.
Graphical Methods for Assessing Effect Size: Some Alternatives to Cohen's d.

ABSTRACT. Reporting effect size plays an integral role in educational and psychological research and is required by many journals. Certainly, the best-known measure of effect size is Cohen's d, which represents a substantial improvement over using p values. But Cohen's d is known to suffer from some fundamental concerns. The author's goal was to illustrate some graphical methods aimed at addressing those concerns. These methods can be applied in a wide range of situations, including situations in which the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test is used.
Enhanced Lipid Stability in Whole Wheat Flour by Lipase Inactivation and Antioxidant Retention

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of dry heat, steam, and microwave treatments in decreasing lipase activity, while retaining antioxidant activity, to stabilize whole wheat flour against lipid degradation during storage. Bran was heat-treated in 230-g batches using four levels (exposure times) for each of the three treatment methods. Lipase activity and antioxidant activity were quantified for all treatment combinations. None of the treatments significantly decreased antioxidant activity; the levels determined to be optimal, inasmuch as further heating did not significantly decrease lipase activity, were 25 min of dry heat, 60 sec of microwave (1000W), and 60 sec of steam. These treatments effectively decreased lipase activity by 74, 93, and 96%, respectively. Optimum treatments were evaluated for acceptance using a consumer sensory panel during a 12-month storage period. No significant differences in acceptance were found between the control and any of the samples eith...
The thermal conductivity of mixtures of methane with argon and neon

Abstract The paper reports new measurements of the thermal conductivity of mixtures of neon and argon with methane at a temperature of 27.5°C. The measurements have been performed with a transient hot-wire instrument within the pressure range 1 to 22 MPa and the results have an estimated uncertainty of ±0.3%. The thermal conductivity data for the mixtures in the limit of zero density can be represented with the aid of the best available kinetic theory formulae, but not within their experimental uncertainty. The density dependence of the thermal conductivity of the mixtures is adequately described by a semi-empirical correlation scheme based on the modified Enskog theory.
THE COLUMNAR CELLS OCCURRING IN THE PARIETAL LAYER OF BOWMAN'S CAPSULE : Cellular Fine Structure and Protein Transport

The renal corpuscles of adult, C3H Swiss, male mice contain testosterone-sensitive, columnar cells in the parietal layer of Bowman's capsule. A study of the normal fine structure of these cells reveals several distinctive characteristics: a microvillous brush border; apical tubular invaginations and apical tubules; an elaborate infolding of the basal surface membrane forming cellular compartments, which contain numerous mitochondria; and a complex group of membrane-limited cytoplasmic inclusions. This appearance is remarkably similar to the fine structure of cells in the proximal convoluted tubule. 1 hr after an in vivo injection of horseradish peroxidase, numerous protein-absorption droplets occur in the columnar cell cytoplasm. The speed and cytomorphology of protein transport by these capsular cells closely resemble the handling of peroxidase by the proximal convoluted tubule. Origins for these testosterone-sensitive cells are discussed briefly. Morphological evidence is presented for the differentiation of squamous cells in Bowman's parietal capsule into columnar cells, which appear structurally and functionally identical with proximal convoluted tubular epithelium.
Toxoplasma from the Crow, a New Natural Host.

Abstract Toxoplasmosis has been found in the crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos brachyrhynchos, although the incidence of natural infection seems to be low (perhaps in the order of 1 %). The strain of Toxoplasma isolated from this host is morphologically like other strains of the parasite, but is less pathogenic to mice than some (such as the RH strain), killing only some 80 % of these animals, and taking longer to do it. It is highly pathogenic to rabbits, but ducklings seem refractory.
Ultra-violet mutagenesis of Synechocystis sp. 6701: mutations in chromatic adaptation and phycobilisome assembly

Mutations affecting pigmentation of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. 6701 were induced with ultraviolet light. Two mutants with phycobilisome structural changes were selected for structural studies. One mutant, UV08, was defective in chromatic adaptation and incorporated phycoerythrin into phycobilisomes in white or red light at a level typical of growth in green light. The other mutant, UV16, was defective in phycobilisome assembly: little phycocyanin was made and none was attached to the phycobilisome cores. The cores were completely free of any rod substructures and contained the major core peptides plus the 27,000 Mr linker peptide that attaches rods to the core. Micrographs of the core particles established their structural details. Phycoerythrin in UV 16 was assembled into rod structures that were not associated with core material or phycocyanin. The 30,500 Mr and 31,500 Mr linker peptides were present in the phycoerythrin rods with the 30,500 Mr protein as the major component. Phycobilisome assembly in vivo is discussed in light of this unusual mutant.
Experimental investigation of the Pauli exclusion principle using noise in coherent electron transport

We study, low frequency noise and noise correlation in two kinds of mesoscopic conductors to investigate the contribution of Fermi statistics in coherent electron transport. In Y-shaped triple quantum point contact structures, we observe multi-level switching noise which is much bigger than the expected contribution due to Fermi statistics. In a second device structure, a partially transmitting surface gate is used to split ballistic electrons injected from a quantum point contact. In our noise measurements on these second kind of structures, within the resolution of our noise measurement setup (10 -20 V 2 /Hz), no excess noise correlation between the reflection and transmission voltages is observed.
Endocrine activity in air traffic controllers at work. I. Characterization of cortisol and growth hormone levels during the day

This is the first in a series of three reports on repeated endocrine studies in the working environment for a group of 416 air traffic controllers. Twenty-minute integrated concentrations for plasma cortisol and human growth hormone across five-hr work periods are described and compared with a selection of studies of normal males reported in the literature. On average, across three repeated studies, controllers were secreting more cortisol and less growth hormone than the most comparable group of normal males. Cortisol and growth hormone levels were not appreciably related, and both hormones showed a lack of consistency across repeated studies in terms of average level or measures of episodic secretory activity. Small increases in cortisol secretion in response to venipuncture were apparent in some controllers during the morning hours; on the other hand, no growth hormone responses were evident. Neither hormone showed decreased secretion with repeated blood collections. Relationships between hormone secretion and the work environment, which possibly explain the lack of hormone consistency across time, will be examined in the second report.
Investigation of Critical Stress Concentration Factor in Analytical Stress Based Forming Limit Criterion

Tearing concerns in sheet metal forming have traditionally been predicted by comparing the strain state imposed on a material to its associated strain based Forming Limit Diagram. A shortcoming of this strain based failure criterion is that the Forming Limit Curves exhibit strain path dependence. Alternatively, a stress based failure criterion was introduced and shown analytically and numerically to exhibit less strain path dependence. In our past research, an analytical model was created to predict the stress based Forming Limit Curve. Inputs into the model include a material constitutive relationship, anisotropic yield criterion and a critical stress concentration factor, defined as the ratio of the effective stress in the base material to the effective stress in the necking region. This stress concentration factor is thought to be a material parameter, which characterizes a material’s ability to work harden and prevent the concentration of stress which produces the necking condition. In this paper, the critical stress concentration factors for steel and aluminum alloys were determined by comparing analytical model predictions and experimental data and found to be significantly different. A setup is then proposed to experimentally measure the critical stress concentration factors and initial results are presented.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
The myth of science education

It is argued that the manner in which we teach science in the high schools represents an outdated positivistic conception of science. The standard presentation of a year of each of chemistry, biology and physics should be replaced by an integrated science plus history, philosophy, and sociology of science which would take a total of three years to complete. A proper appreciation for the true nature of science is essential to the continued health of the scientific enterprise.
Effects of vertebrate herbivores on soil processes, plant biomass, litter accumulation and soil elevation changes in a coastal marsh

1 Submergence of coastal wetlands in Louisiana is currently rapid and widespread. A number of factors contribute to this loss of habitat, including the activities of herbivores. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of large mammals, predominantly nutria and wild boar, on processes controlling soil elevation in coastal marshes. 2 Effects of herbivores on soil and vegetation were assessed by the use of paired fenced and unfenced plots over two successive growing seasons. Above-ground biomass, litter production, changes in soil elevation, vertical soil accretion, shallow subsidence, below-ground production of roots and rhizomes, the thickness of the root zone, soil bulk density, and soil organic matter were measured. 3 Above-ground biomass, below-ground production, soil elevation and the expansion of the root zone decreased due to herbivore activity. Litter production, the rate of soil surface accretion and shallow soil subsidence were all higher in grazed compared to ungrazed plots, while soil organic matter and bulk density did not differ significantly between treatments. 4 The results indicate that herbivores can have a negative effect on soil building processes, primarily by reducing below-ground production and expansion of the root zone. Where natural rates of mineral sediment deposition are high, coastal marshes are expected to persist, despite herbivore activities. However, where sediment inputs are substantially less, herbivores may lead to destruction of habitat.
Evaluation of solanine toxicity.

Summary The ip LD 50 of solanine for mice was found to be 32·3 mg/kg. Rabbits given 20 mg/kg ip generally died within 24 hr and showed weak-to-moderate inhibition of both specific and non-specific cholinesterase. This inhibition was less marked in the erythrocytes than in the plasma in vivo . In an anaesthetized dog given doses of 6 mg solanine/kg at 10-min intervals, an initial inhibition of serum cholinesterase was followed by rapid recovery, while the erythrocyte enzyme was not affected. The mortality rate following ip injection of 40 mg solanine/kg to mice was reduced by prior ip injection of 2 mg atropine sulphate/kg, but similar administration of pargyline or amphetamine in doses of 5 mg/kg had no discernible effect. In a concentration of 10 mg/100 ml, solanine in a potato—dextrose—agar medium had no effect on the growth of the fungus Trichoderma viride , but in a concentration of 200 mg/100 ml it completely inhibited growth of the fungus. The LC 50 determined in this bioassay was 102·2 mg/100 ml.
Prediction Models for a Smart Home Based Health Care System

Technology holds great potential for improvements in the field of health care used in intelligent environments, with homes becoming the centers for proactive health care. Smart health care systems at home can be used to provide such solutions. A technology-assisted smart health care system would enable elderly people to lead their independent lifestyle away from hospitals and also avoid having expensive caregivers. In this paper, we present one such solution where a prediction model in an intelligent smart home system can be used for identifying health trends over time and enable prediction of future trends which can aid in providing preventive measures.
Thermal softening induced plastic instability in rate-dependent materials

Abstract A linear perturbation analysis is performed for a class of rate-dependent materials, such as the Johnson–Cook model, in which the rate contribution to the stress can be separated from that of the plastic strain and temperature and in which the temperature rises adiabatically. The analysis is facilitated by perturbing both the rate of momentum equation and the momentum equation. An identical material stability/instability criterion is deduced from the characteristic spectral equations for one-dimensional deformation, one-dimensional shearing, and general three-dimensional field equations, and thus shows that the instability derived here is a material constitutive instability. The criteria indicate that the materials become unstable once the thermal softening overcomes the strain hardening, regardless of the strain rate. The strain rate enters the criteria through its effects on the accumulated temperature and the current stress. Based on the criterion, the three-dimensional instability surface is established in the space of plastic strain, plastic strain rate, and temperature. Instability surface is shown as a material property and independent of deformation histories or modes. Both necking and shear banding are simulated to validate the excellent predictive capability of the criterion.
The slow motion of two identical arbitrarily oriented spheres through a viscous fluid

Abstract Bipolar coordinates are employed to determine the terminal settling motion of two, identical, homogeneous, unconstrained spheres in an unbounded fluid at small Reynolds numbers. Exact numerical values are obtained for the linear and angular velocities of the spheres as a function of their relative separation and of the orientation of their line-of-centers relative to the direction of gravity. Comparison with published experimental data indicates good agreement, especially when wall effects are taken into account.
Underlying Principles of the Electronization of Business: A Research Agenda

Abstract This paper discusses the underlying principles of the electronization of business and its impact on accounting information systems (AIS). The concept of electronization of business processes and the consequent deconstruction of the value chain in the new economy is introduced. A bitable society requires an entirely new set of processes and players, where traditional companies will either perish or incorporate substantive changes in the way they conduct business. The general effects of electronization of business lead to the introduction of 8 emerging business issues and 13 research opportunities. The paper concludes that the phenomenon of electronization is a heterogeneous one, with firms and industries developing features at different paces. This heterogeneity presents yet another challenge to developing new and relevant accounting standards that drive the processes found in state-of-the-art systems.
Transmitting Instructional Development to University Faculty: Two Approaches

The future of both projects depends not only on success in meeting the established goals and objectives, but also on how successful it appears to the supportive groups sponsoring these two different approaches to training faculty in instructional development. The results of the CAUT Project have been deemed worth the investment; and the data are published in various documents, journals, and publications. It is too early, at this writing, to determine the effectiveness of the FIPSE Project; however, current reports are encouraging. This paper has dealt with the efforts of one university to stretch the instructional development expertise to as many faculty as possible yet maintaining centralized programs offering coordinated assistance and support. The cost-effectiveness of both approaches are meaningful in terms of the total faculty, students, and innovations served by increasing the campus instructional development knowledge and practices. The cases described in this paper speak to the effectiveness of four faculty who have prepared instruction as a result of attending one of these two methods of providing for the needs of faculty, students, and the total instructional community.
Industrial distribution options: Trade-offs to consider

Abstract The process of designing an appropriate channel of distribution is a complex task for industrial marketers as it includes both the dimensions of channel structure and intermediary selection. This article discusses a structured method by which to make channel design and intermediary selection decisions.
The role of the host defence response in the progression and outcome of ARDS: pathophysiological correlations and response to glucocorticoid treatment

The host defence response (HDR) to insults is similar regardless of the tissue involved and consists of an interactive network of simultaneously activated pathways that act in synergy to increase the host's chance of survival. Among this cascade of integrated pathways, three aspects of the HDR, inflammation, coagulation and tissue repair, are analysed separately to explain the histological and physiological changes occurring at the tissue level in unresolving acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Cellular responses in HDR are regulated by a complex interaction among cytokines, and cytokines have concentration-dependent biological effects. The degree of initial HDR may determine the progression of ARDS. On Day 1 of mechanical ventilation and over time, nonsurvivors of ARDS have significantly higher plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage inflammatory cytokine levels than survivors. In the absence of inhibitory signals, the continued production of HDR mediators prevents effective restoration of lung anatomy and function by sustaining inflammation with tissue injury, intra- and extravascular coagulation and proliferation of mesenchymal cells (fibroproliferation) with deposition of extracellular matrix resulting in fibrosis. Glucocorticoids inhibit the HDR cascade at virtually all levels; their gradual and generalized suppressive influence protects the host from overshooting. In patients with exaggerated HDR, however, cytokine elevation may cause a concentration-dependent resistance to glucocorticoids by reducing glucocorticoid receptor binding affinity. Recent clinical and experimental studies have shown that effective containment of the HDR in unresolving ARDS may be achieved only if glucocorticoid administration is prolonged. A double-blind randomized study is in progress to evaluate the role of prolonged glucocorticoid treatment in unresolving ARDS.
A reduced basis approach to quantifying damage dependent dynamic response of laminated composite structures

Abstract A finite element (FE) based formulation is utilized to represent the damage-dependent response of laminated composite structures. An internal-state-variable (ISV) approach provides a definition of the stiffness reduction caused by intralaminar crack propagation at the ply level. These ISVs are combined with simple stress criteria to accommodate ply property changes caused by fiber fracture, fiber microbuckling and interior delaminations. A set of orthogonal Ritz vectors are chosen as basis vectors to transform the dynamical equations of motion to a reduced coordinate space. The reduced basis form of the equations provides significant numerical efficiencies, especially for large ordered systems. Furthermore, damping and its variation with damage can be generally represented in any number of vibratory modes. The Newmark integration operator is used to solve the dynamic equations of motion, and equilibrium iterations are performed in each incremental time step to assure convergence. Results are given for laminated beam and plate geometries subjected to dynamic loads.
Saturation performance metrics of the IEEE 802.11 MAC

Under more realistic assumptions, we propose an improved analytical model to derive saturation throughput, saturation delay, frame-dropping probability, frame-dropping time, and number of retransmissions in this paper. These performance metrics have been studied over different parameters.