cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Causes and control countermeasures for nosocomial infections in pediatric hematology wards

OBJECTIVE To investigate the causes,risk factors,and clinical features of nosocomial infections in the pediatric hematology wards so as to provide the reference for effectively reducing the incidence of nosocomial infections.METHODS The clinical data of hospitalized children who enrolled the pediatric hematology wards from Jan 2005 to Dec 2010 were retrospectively reviewed.The incidence of nosocomial infection,infection sites,pathogens,and risk factors were analyzed.RESULTS Of 3668 hospitalized children in the pediatric hematology wards,nosocomial infections occurred in 312 patients with the infection rate of 8.51%;the respiratory tract was dominant among the infection sites,accounting for 45.45%,totally 357 strains of pathogens were isolated,the use of broad spectrum antibiotics,hospitalization duration more than 15 days,less than one year of age,application of glucocorticoids and chemotherapy drugs,and the severe diseases were the risk factors for the nosocomial infections.CONCLUSION It′s necessary to focus on risk factors of nosocomial infections and strengthen the awareness of doctors and nurses in preventing nosocomial infections.Taking effective prevention measures can reduce the incidence of nosocomial infections in pediatric hematology wards.
Early Intervention for Children With Behavior Problems in Summer Settings: Results From a Pilot Evaluation in Head Start Preschools

The objective of this study was to evaluate two early intervention packages to promote successful transitions to kindergarten for preschoolers with behavior problems recruited from Head Start preschools. Fifty children (Mage = 61 months; 76% male; 98% minority) referred by teachers due to early externalizing behavior problems were randomly assigned to one of the two groups. Group 1 (high intensity; HI) received a 4-week intensive summer program before the start of kindergarten, weekly parent workshops, and monthly school consultation and parent workshops throughout kindergarten. Group 2 (low intensity; LI) received only parent workshops. Program feasibility, child improvement, and parental satisfaction data were collected along with parent and teacher reports and measures of school readiness. Children in the HI group demonstrated fewer problem behaviors and less student–teacher conflict as reported by teachers. Early intensive summer interventions prior to kindergarten were found to be a promising avenue ...
Reversible Inactivation of Monkey Superior Colliculus. II. Maps of Saccadic Deficits

Quaia, Christian, Hiroshi Aizawa, Lance M. Optican, and Robert H. Wurtz. Reversible inactivation of monkey superior colliculus. II. Maps of saccadic deficits. J. Neurophysiol. 79: 2097–2110, 1998. ...
Baroreflex modulation of sympathetic outflow during physiological increases of vasopressin in humans

Two studies were carried out to determine whether vasopressin influences the baroreceptor reflex of humans. In protocol 1, eight healthy subjects received sequential infusions of nitroprusside and phenylephrine to alter baroreceptor input. Muscle sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) was recorded to assess baroreceptor reflex modulation of efferent vasoconstrictor drive. Baroreceptor sensitivity (slopes) of the relationship between systolic pressure and R-R interval (cardiac baroslopes) and slopes relating muscle SNA to diastolic pressure were not altered during subpressor infusions of vasopressin, which raised basal plasma levels to 19 +/- 6 and 26 +/- 6 (mean +/- SE) pg/ml. A second protocol (n = 10 subjects) compared the reflex inhibition of SNA and heart rate produced by incremental pressor doses of phenylephrine and vasopressin. The calculated cardiac and sympathetic baroreflex gains did not differ between pressor agents. However, immediately following the peak dose of vasopressin (which elevated plasma levels to 35 +/- 3.6 pg/ml), reflex sympathoexcitation produced by unloading baroreceptors (with a bolus of nitroprusside) was significantly enhanced compared with an identical stress initiated at peak phenylephrine infusion. Thus increased levels of vasopressin ranging from 19 to 26 pg/ml did not alter cardiac or sympathetic baroreflex responses in humans. Higher levels of vasopressin may enhance the sympathetic response to unloading of baroreceptors.
Spirochetal Infection of the Central Nervous System

Four spirochetal diseases frequently involve the central nervous system: syphilis, leptospirosis, relapsing fever, and Lyme borreliosis. In particular, syphilis and Lyme borreliosis are increasing problems. During the spirochetemic phase there is seeding of the nervous system. After a quiescent latent period, there may be late disease flareups producing a variety of neurologic syndromes. Cerebrospinal fluid examination is very helpful in these infections.
The Social Life of the Japanese Language: Cultural Discourses and Situated Practice

Introduction: toward a dynamic model of Japanese language and social meaning Part I. The Notion of Nihongo 1. Standard Japanese and its others: building the national language 1.1 Standard Japanese: a building block in the making of modern Japan 1.2 Representations of standard and regional Japanese in the media 2. Standard and regional Japanese: diversity in attitudes and practice 2.1 Diversity in attitudes toward standard and regional Japanese 2.2 Meanings of standard and regional Japanese in practice: negotiating norms Part II. Japanese Honorifics and Japanese 'Politeness': 3. Keigo: from official policy to popular pedagogy 3.1 Institutional policy on honorific form and use: constructing the Japanese essence 3.2 Keigo for the public: authoritative accounts by linguists 3.3 Honorifics: popular pedagogy 4. Keigo: diversity in attitudes and practice 4.1 Diversity in attitudes toward honorifics 4.2 Honorifics in practice: negotiating norms Part III. Japanese Language and Gender: 5. Gendered Japanese: normative linguistic femininity and masculinity 5.1 Dominant narratives of gendered Japanese: a historical perspective 5.2 Media representations of gendered speech in contemporary Japan 6. Gendered Japanese: diversity in attitudes and practice 6.1 Diversity in attitude toward gendered speech 6.2 Meanings of gendered speech in practice: negotiating norms Reflections: looking backward, looking forward.
China's Employment Laws and Their Impact on Women Working in China

Since before and after the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, Chinese women have been discriminated against, despite the emphasis on women’s equality fostered by Mao Zedong during the reform era from 1949 to 1976. Mao fostered this equality by encouraging women to work. During Deng Xiaoping’s era of market reform economy, which started in 1979 with the opening up of China by the legalization of foreign joint ventures, many women in China became entrepreneurs and professionals. Reforms and the enactment of protective employment discrimination laws under Deng Xiaoping actually caused women to lose their jobs more quickly than men and to move women farther away from the equality promised by the 1954 and the 1982 Constitutions, especially in the area of labor. This article will provide background information on the history and development of employment discrimination against women in China since Confucius to the present; the impact of domestic and international laws on gender-based employment discrimination in China; the role that culture and tradition play in fostering discrimination against women in society and in the workplace; and proposals for changes that might aid in the elimination of multiple discrimination against women in the workplace in China.
Affinity Maturation by Chain Shuffling and Site Directed Mutagenesis

In the human immune system, antibodies with high affinities for antigen are created in two stages. A diverse primary repertoire of antibody structures is produced by the combinatorial rearrangement of germline V gene segments and antibodies are selected from this repertoire by binding to the antigen (Alt et al. 1987). Antibody affinities are then further improved by somatic hypermutation and further rounds of selection (Allen et al. 1987).
Abdominal electroacupuncture demonstrates an increase in complete spontaneous bowel movements

Commentary on: Liu Z, Yan S, Wu J, et al . Acupuncture for Chronic Severe Functional Constipation: A Randomized Trial. Ann Intern Med 2016;165:761–9. Chronic idiopathic constipation has been reported in ~11% of south Asian populations.1 Pharmacological agents, such as the 5-HT4 receptor agonist, prucalopride, result not only in increased spontaneous bowel movements (SBMs) but also in increased adverse events in the Asian population.2 Therefore, alternative therapies are being researched. Multiple abdominal points (‘acupoints’) have been associated with stimulation of parasympathetic nerves (ST25, ST37, BL25, ST36 and TE6).3 A recent report evaluated the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) applied at ST25, SP14 and ST37 on severe chronic constipation (CC) in a randomised controlled trial (RCT). This was a randomised, parallel, sham-controlled trial comparing EA with …
The geography of spatial synchrony

Spatial synchrony, defined as correlated temporal fluctuations among populations, is a fundamental feature of population dynamics, but many aspects of synchrony remain poorly understood. Few studies have examined detailed geographical patterns of synchrony; instead most focus on how synchrony declines with increasing linear distance between locations, making the simplifying assumption that distance decay is isotropic. By synthesising and extending prior work, we show how geography of synchrony, a term which we use to refer to detailed spatial variation in patterns of synchrony, can be leveraged to understand ecological processes including identification of drivers of synchrony, a long-standing challenge. We focus on three main objectives: (1) showing conceptually and theoretically four mechanisms that can generate geographies of synchrony; (2) documenting complex and pronounced geographies of synchrony in two important study systems; and (3) demonstrating a variety of methods capable of revealing the geography of synchrony and, through it, underlying organism ecology. For example, we introduce a new type of network, the synchrony network, the structure of which provides ecological insight. By documenting the importance of geographies of synchrony, advancing conceptual frameworks, and demonstrating powerful methods, we aim to help elevate the geography of synchrony into a mainstream area of study and application.
A Closer Look at Racism and Heterosexism in Medical Students’ Clinical Decision-Making Related to HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP): Implications for PrEP Education

Social biases among healthcare providers could limit PrEP access. In this survey study of 115 US medical students, we examined associations between biases (racism and heterosexism) and PrEP clinical decision-making and explored prior PrEP education as a potential buffer. After viewing a vignette about a PrEP-seeking MSM patient, participants reported anticipated patient behavior (condomless sex, extra-relational sex, and adherence), intention to prescribe PrEP to the patient, biases, and background characteristics. Minimal evidence for racism affecting clinical decision-making emerged. In unadjusted analyses, heterosexism indirectly affected prescribing intention via all anticipated behaviors, tested as parallel mediators. Participants expressing greater heterosexism more strongly anticipated increased risk behavior and adherence problems, which were associated with lower prescribing intention. The indirect effect via condomless sex remained significant adjusting for background characteristics. Prior PrEP education did not buffer any indirect effects. Heterosexism may compromise PrEP provision to MSM and should be addressed in PrEP-related medical education.
Ultrasound-guided percutaneous periarterial thrombin injection for paracentesis-related hemoperitoneum

Paracentesis is a common procedure used in the diagnostic evaluation of peritoneal fluid as well as the therapeutic removal of high-volume ascites. Although generally regarded as a safe procedure, complications may arise from arterial injury, including hematomas and pseudoaneurysms. Transcatheter embolization and surgery are first-line interventions for injuries refractory to conservative management. We present a case where a patient failed conventional therapies for hemoperitoneum following a paracentesis which resolved after thrombin injection into the subcutaneous tissues, a novel use for thrombin. Using a linear 12-3 MHz transducer, approximately 3000-3500 U of thrombin was injected through connecting tubing and a 25-gauge needle by the interventional radiologist into the subcutaneous tissues around the origin of the arterial hemorrhage. The bleeding ceased and the patient's hemoglobin and hemodynamics stabilized.
Anthropomorphic breast phantoms for evaluation of FFDM/DBT and breast CT using inkjet printing

The breast phantoms currently available for evaluating full field digital mammography (FFDM), digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), and breast CT (bCT) systems often lack the complexity present in real breasts. In this work we present a new methodology for creating physical anthropomorphic breast phantoms for use in FFDM, DBT, and dedicated bCT systems using zinc acetate-doped ink. First, an uncompressed virtual phantom was created through analytical modeling. The model represented a breast with 28% fibroglandular density with 13 tissue classes and contained a 5 mm lesion. The breast was binarized to two tissue classes: adipose and fibroglandular tissue. The phantom was then realized through inkjet printing using dye ink doped with zinc acetate for the fibroglandular components and three candidate materials for the adipose background: parchment paper, organic paper, and office paper. The fabrication process was evaluated in terms of material realism and reproducibility using spectroscopy, a clinical FFDM system, and a benchtop bCT system. The linear attenuation coefficient of the doped ink plus parchment paper and parchment paper alone closely matched those of the fibroglandular and adipose tissues, respectively. A methodology for generating anthropomorphic breast phantoms was developed using a novel inkjet printing technique for use in FFDM/DBT, as well as dedicated breast CT systems. A novel uncompressed breast phantom for bCT was fabricated using inexpensive, easily available materials with realistic tissue properties.
Interprofessional Care and Teamwork in the ICU.

Objectives:We describe the importance of interprofessional care in modern critical care medicine. This review highlights the essential roles played by specific members of the interprofessional care team, including patients and family members, and discusses quality improvement initiatives that requir
Biocomputing for Portable, Resettable, and Quantitative Point‐of‐Care Diagnostics: Making the Glucose Meter a Logic‐Gate Responsive Device for Measuring Many Clinically Relevant Targets

It is recognized that biocomputing can provide intelligent solutions to complex biosensing projects. However, it remains challenging to transform biomolecular logic gates into convenient, portable, resettable and quantitative sensing systems for point-of-care (POC) diagnostics in a low-resource setting. To overcome these limitations, the first design of biocomputing on personal glucose meters (PGMs) is reported, which utilizes glucose and the reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide as signal outputs, DNAzymes and protein enzymes as building blocks, and demonstrates a general platform for installing logic-gate responses (YES, NOT, INHIBIT, NOR, NAND, and OR) to a variety of biological species, such as cations (Na+ ), anions (citrate), organic metabolites (adenosine diphosphate and adenosine triphosphate) and enzymes (pyruvate kinase, alkaline phosphatase, and alcohol dehydrogenases). A concatenated logical gate platform that is resettable is also demonstrated. The system is highly modular and can be generally applied to POC diagnostics of many diseases, such as hyponatremia, hypernatremia, and hemolytic anemia. In addition to broadening the clinical applications of the PGM, the method reported opens a new avenue in biomolecular logic gates for the development of intelligent POC devices for on-site applications.
Guinea pig serum and liver L-asparaginases. Comparison of serum and papain-digested liver L-asparaginases.

Abstract Guinea pig serum l-asparaginase was purified approximately 3000-fold by fractionation with sodium sulfate, precipitation with methanol, chromatography on a DEAE-cellulose column, continuous free flow electrophoresis, and electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gel. The purified enzyme was obtained in an over-all yield of 7%. The enzyme protein appeared as a single pure component on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, immunoelectrophoresis, and immunodiffusion. Guinea pig liver l-asparaginase was converted into the guinea pig serum type l-asparaginase by digestion with papain. The specific activity of the papain-digested liver l-asparaginase was, after purification by DEAE-cellulose column chromatography and electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gel, essentially the same as that of the 3000-fold purified serum l-asparaginase. There was no quantitative difference in the tumor inhibitory action between the papain-digested asparaginase and guinea pig serum l-asparaginase. The elution patterns on DEAE-cellulose columns and the mobilities on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were identical for the two enzymes, and a reaction of identity was obtained on immunodiffusion. A positive glycoprotein stain reaction was observed for both enzymes following the electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gel. Despite the similarity, the papain-digested liver l-asparaginase and the serum l-asparaginase were found to be not completely identical. The nonequivalence was indicated by slight differences in amino acid composition and also by different electrophoretic mobilities in agar gel.
Physiological Effects of Transforming Growth Factor α

From the conditioned medium of transformed cells, two types of mitogenic polypeptides (α and β) known as transforming growth factors were isolated and characterized. Because of their origin and their abilities to confer phenotypic transformation of cells in culture, much of the studies of transforming growth factors have been focused on their roles in malignancy and their relationship with the oncogenes (for a review, see Brown and Blakeley, 1984; Sporn and Roberts, 1985). However, because of the scarcity of these growth factors from natural sources, little is known about their physiological effects in animals. Recently, our laboratory has synthesized highly purified rat and human transforming growth factor (TGFα). These synthetic materials have been vigorously characterized and found to be indistinguishable from those obtained from the natural source. The availability of these growth factors has made it possible for the first time to study the physiological effects in whole animals. Here, we report our results using the synthetic TGFα.
Perceptions of Healthcare in Populations of Korean Descent in a Midwest Urban Setting

Purpose: The racial and ethnic composition of the U.S. population has undergone significant changes with Asian Pacific Islanders being the fastest growing population. Furthermore, the number of immigrant children has doubled in the past two decades, and a quarter of U.S. children are estimated to have at least one foreign-born parent. Despite such increases in immigrant populations and ethnic diversity, the current literature focuses primarily on African Americans and Hispanics/Latinos, with analyses of health inequalities among recent ethnic and immigrant groups from Asia relatively uncommon. Compared to their white …
Allocating medical resources fairly:the CSG bioethics guide.

On April 12, 2020, a bioethics guide for allocating scarce hospital resources during the current Covid-19 pandemic was posted on the website of the Consejo de Salubridad General(CSG) of the Government of Mexico. The guide, entitled Guia bioetica para asignacion de recursos limitados de medicina critica en situacion de emergencia, was intended as a preliminary document, but the website posting did not describe it as a first step in the process. The publicity resulted in a wide array of comments and criticisms. That first version posted on the CSG website contained an age-based criterion for breaking a tie between two or more medically eligible patients who needed of a ventilator: younger patients would have prefer-ence over older ones. The final version of the guide eliminated that criterion and instead, relied on the leading public health principle, "save the most lives", without regard to personal characteristics other than the possibility of benefitting from the scarce medical resources.
Utilizing Deep Learning and Oversampling Methods to Identify Children’s Emotional and Behavioral Risk:

Deep neural network (DNN) has been widely used in various artificial intelligence applications and is, unsurprisingly, penetrating the field of school psychology. In the school environment, univers...
Code for nuclear materials

Abstract Neutron irradiation can induce significant changes in the physical and mechanical properties of nuclear materials in reactors. These changes result from the interaction of energetic particles with atoms in the materials. For instance, neutron irradiation initiates collision cascades, which produce point defects in materials. These point defects migrate, react, nucleate, and grow, and eventually induce the microstructural and microchemical evolutions in irradiated materials, which change the material properties. To account for all the important material properties and reactor phenomena, it is necessary to develop and utilize multiscale models and simulations to address a wide range of space and timescales, starting with the nucleus, electronic, and atomic structure (angstrom) all the way to the reactor components (meters), and from defect formation (femtoseconds) to the operating characteristic times (months, years). In this chapter, we will briefly introduce these methods and the corresponding codes in the study of radiation in materials.
'Vesting' Uses in UVA Rotunda Founding Era Collection, 1776-1789

“The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America.” The Executive Vesting Clause is one of three originalist pillars for the unitary executive theory, that as a strict separation of powers, the president possesses executive powers like removal, exclusive from congressional limitations (i.e., they are indefeasible). Many originalists generally tend to assume that “vest” means a formalist approach to separation of powers, rather than more functional Madisonian check-and-balances. Unitary judges and scholars, however, have not provided historical evidence that “vest” had such an original public meaning. This spreadsheet is part of "Vesting" (forthcoming, Stanford Law Review 2022), an article offering a close textual reading of the word “vesting” and an examination of its context, with the first survey of the available dictionaries from the era and the word’s usage in early colonial charters and American constitutions, the Convention, and ratification debates. The bottom line is that, in this era, the word “vest” did not connote exclusivity, indefeasibility, or a special constitutional status for official power. At best, the meaning of “vested” was unclear, and more likely, its ordinary meaning was a simple grant of powers without signifying the impermissibility of legislative checks and balances. This survey of the word "vest" ("vested," "vesting," etc.) in the Framers’ writings in the University of Virginia's Founding Era Collection (the papers of Washington, Adams, Hamilton, Madison, Jay, and Jefferson, and the Ratification debates) from 1776 to 1789 produces approximately 1,000 different uses. Most of the uses refer to "vesting" by itself as a grant of power, but approximately 10% modify the word "vesting" with words like "fully," "solely," "exclusively," "completely," or "absolutely," or with references to "plenipotentiary" or "all" power (or similar modfiers), specifying a more robust kind of vested power. Conversely, approximately 1% of the uses added words like "limited" or "partial" vesting and the like, specifying a weaker kind of vesting. These uses suggest that the word "vest" by itself did not signify complete or unconditional power, but it needed to be supplemented. This survey indicates a range of usage, from “fully vested” to simply vested to “partly vested,” and uses like "fully vested" appeared frequently in the context of military authority, diplomatic authority, and legislative powers over taxation and commerical regulation, suggesting that some kinds of traditional executive power and legislative power might be more complete, but not all kinds of such powers. This study of “vesting” in eighteenth-century constitutions and databases of Framers’ writings so that the “all” in the Legislative Vesting Clause may be more legally meaningful and potentially more support for the non-delegation doctrine, but the absence of "all" or similar words from Article II weakens the unitary executive theory of indefeasible executive power. Founding Era Collection site: https://rotunda.upress.virginia.edu/founders/default.xqy?keys=FGEA-info-search
Methanol Decomposition Bottoming Cycle for IC Engines

This paper presents the concept of methanol decomposition using engine exhaust heat, and examines its potential for use in the operation of passenger cars, diesel trucks, and diesel-electric locomotives. Energy economy improvements of 10-20% are calculated over the representative driving cycles without a net loss in power. Some reductions in exhaust emissions are also projected.
Power-Aware Design

It is noted that first power-aware design study examined Rosetta's capabilities for transforming and composing models to examine power trade-offs with respect to implementation technologies. This chapter illustrates whether it is best for a component from a TDMA receiver to be implemented in software, an FPGA, or an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) before prototyping the component. The approach chosen uses an activity-based power estimation model and simulation to determine activity in the component. These models have been analyzed in one form or another in Matlab, a custom Java analysis environment, and in the specialized Raskell Rosetta analysis environment. Analysis results reveal that the software solution was the least power efficient. In the most detailed analysis activity using Raskell, an algebra combinator is used to move results from a functional analysis to the power analysis domain. This allowed one to estimate the power utilization based on the actual function being performed.
What about wednesday? approximation algorithms for multistage stochastic optimization

We study the problem of multi-stage stochastic optimization with recourse, and provide approximation algorithms using cost-sharing functions for such problems. Our algorithms use and extend the Boosted Sampling framework of [6]. We also show how the framework can be adapted to give approximation algorithms even when the inflation parameters are correlated with the scenarios.
Allergens of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana.

Background Beauveria bassiana is an important entomopathogenic fungus currently under development as a bio-control agent for a variety of insect pests. Although reported to be non-toxic to vertebrates, the potential allergenicity of Beauveria species has not been widely studied.
Calibration and localization of AUV-acquired magnetic survey data

A system is being developed to enable the measurement of the magnetic signature of a surface vessel at forward locations. The system consists of a fleet of AUVs (Autonomous Underwater Vehicles) each equipped with a magnetometer. A magnetic signature measurement would be performed in a coordinated relative movement between the fleet and the surface vessel. The precision of the magnetometer system and the precision of each position associated with magnetic measurements in a survey are crucial to the value of this measurement. Results of experiments on these two issues are reported. Calibrations of the AUV/magnetometer systems are performed in-situ and on land and are characterized by a noise floor of less than 10 nT. In experiments performed at a deepwater facility free from extraneous ambient magnetic sources, an AUV passed near a known magnetic source at a fixed location and orientation. Measurements of magnetic field and position estimates based upon navigation data acquired by the AUV were associated. An independent, high-accuracy acoustic tracking system was used during the experiments to determine a ground truth position for the AUV. The predicted magnetic field at the AUV estimated position was compared to the magnetic field acquired by the AUV near the source and found to have an error of 15 nT.
Imaging the Intervertebral Disk Age-Related Changes, Herniations, and Radicular Pain

The articulations of the spinal motion segment, the intervertebral disk, and the zygapophyseal joints, inevitably undergo age-related changes. This article focuses on the intervertebral disk, specifically when fissures sufficiently weaken the posterior annulus so as to allow herniation of nuclear material into the outer annular structure as a contained protrusion or breach the annulus and pass into the epidural space as an extrusion. This article examines the imaging of the age-related changes of the disk and disk herniation: nomenclature, the reliability and relative merits of imaging modalities, the imaging natural history of disk herniations, and, most importantly, the clinical significance.
Contingency and the Cosmic Perspective

There are limits beyond which the Copernican Principle (the idea that there is nothing special about our place in the Universe) cannot be extended. Determining where these limits lie depends in part on the tension between contingency and convergence. Those who favor contingency dwell on how many things must not have gone “wrong” in order for us to be here. Those favoring convergence argue that there are often many parallel paths to similar functional outcomes, even if any given path is highly contingent. Regardless of how both points of view ultimately come together into a complete account, our particular civilization is unique, whether there are many others in the Galaxy or it is entirely alone. It would be good for universities to restructure themselves in ways that foster the interdisciplinary work needed for that civilization to meet the challenges it faces this century.
The acyl dihydroxyacetone phosphate pathway enzymes for glycerolipid biosynthesis are present in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Abstract The presence of the acyl dihydroxyacetone phosphate (acyl DHAP) pathway in yeasts was investigated by examining three key enzyme activities of this pathway in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In the total membrane fraction of S. cerevisiae, we confirmed the presence of both DHAP acyltransferase (DHAPAT; Km = 1.27 mM; Vmax = 5.9 nmol/min/mg of protein) and sn-glycerol 3-phosphate acyltransferase (GPAT; Km = 0.28 mM; Vmax = 12.6 nmol/min/mg of protein). The properties of these two acyltransferases are similar with respect to thermal stability and optimum temperature of activity but differ with respect to pH optimum (6.5 for GPAT and 7.4 for DHAPAT) and sensitivity toward the sulfhydryl blocking agent N-ethylmaleimide. Total membrane fraction of S. cerevisiae also exhibited acyl/alkyl DHAP reductase (EC 1.1.1.101) activity, which has not been reported previously. The reductase has a Vmax of 3.8 nmol/min/mg of protein for the reduction of hexadecyl DHAP (Km = 15 microM) by NADPH (Km = 20 microM). Both acyl DHAP and alkyl DHAP acted as substrates. NADPH was the specific cofactor. Divalent cations and N-ethylmaleimide inhibited the enzymatic reaction. Reductase activity in the total membrane fraction from aerobically grown yeast cells was twice that from anaerobically grown cells. Similarly, DHAPAT and GPAT activities were also greater in aerobically grown yeast cells. The presence of these enzymes, together with the absence of both ether glycerolipids and the ether lipid-synthesizing enzyme (alkyl DHAP synthase) in S. cerevisiae, indicates that non-ether glycerolipids are synthesized in this organism via the acyl DHAP pathway.
Evolutionary algorithms based on machine learning accelerate mathematical function optimization but not neural net evolution

For a decade, the second author has been dreaming of and working towards building artificial brains that consist of tens of thousands of evolved neural net circuit modules that are assembled according to the designs of human brain architects (BAs). The bottleneck with this approach is the slow evolution time of the modules (using software techniques in PCs). However, using Michalski's machine learning based evolutionary algorithms, such as "LEM (learnable evolution model)", the usual evolution time (for certain categories of applications, e.g. mathematical function optimization) can be reduced by a factor of hundreds (Michalski, 2000). The authors hoped that this breakthrough would allow neural net modules to be evolved far more quickly. Unfortunately, it appears that the LEM approach does not work well with the evolution of dynamic neural nets. This may be due to a combinatorial explosion of attribute-variable pairs arising during the machine-learning mode that poses a problem during the evolution of dynamic signals.
Climate Change and Agriculture

Abstract Agriculture contributes about 30% of the global anthropogenic emissions. Thus, the use efficiency of inputs must be improved to reduce emissions. Agro-ecosystems can be sink for atmospheric CO2 through sustainable intensification. The goal is to advance food security by adopting a climate-smart agriculture and making it integral to any agenda to address global issues.
Hemoglobin absorption in the proximal tubules of the kidney in the rabbit

Relatively small quantities of hemoglobin, 1.5 mg per cubic centimeter of blood, were injected intravenously into rabbits, and ultrastructural changes in the proximal tubular epithelial cells of the kidney were followed over a 24-hour period. These experiments and prior experiments have shown that the hemoglobin is absorbed by proximal tubular cells of the kidney, but the manner that it gets into the cytoplasmic organelles remains uncertain. The hemoglobin is segregated into apical vacuoles and then either transferred to type II A, B, and C cytoplasmic bodies or the vacuoles become changed into these types of cytoplasmic bodies. Definite evidence of metabolism has not been shown in these experiments, but observations would seem to indicate that the type II cytoplasmic bodies which do contain acid phosphatase in addition to hemoglobin are involved in the metabolic process. The observations of microvesicles and different types of apical tubules and their possible functions are indicated and discussed. Also described is a peculiar cytoplasmic body which apparently has not been described before and which may be peculiar to this species of rabbit.
Home-based technologies: A new paradigm for conducting dementia prevention trials

The approach toward treatment of Alzheimer's disease has evolved out of a large body of research, resulting in a common trial paradigm directed toward establishing efficacy and safety of putative treatments for dementia. To achieve the ultimate goal of preventing dementia, the future will build on this model but will need to incorporate new paradigms to more efficiently detect meaningful change over time. Among new innovations needed is the capability for assessing trajectories of change over many years. Intrinsic to this success is the ability to capture increasing variability as well as subject heterogeneity inherent in longitudinal aging cohorts. New methods of ubiquitous embedded home sensing and computing afford the opportunity to assess volunteers not only during long periods of time but with greater frequency and convenience. Clinical studies identifying the optimal ways of using these methods are needed.
Molecular Cloning of a Divinyl Ether Synthase IDENTIFICATION AS A CYP74 CYTOCHROME P-450

Lipoxygenase-derived fatty acid hydroperoxides are metabolized by CYP74 cytochrome P-450s to various oxylipins that play important roles in plant growth and development. Here, we report the characterization of a Lycopersicon esculentum (tomato) cDNA whose predicted amino acid sequence defines a previously unidentified P-450 subfamily (CYP74D). The recombinant protein, expressed in Escherichia coli, displayed spectral properties of a P-450. The enzyme efficiently metabolized 9-hydroperoxy linoleic acid and 9-hydroperoxy linolenic acid but was poorly active against the corresponding 13-hydroperoxides. Incubation of recombinant CYP74D with 9-hydroperoxy linoleic acid and 9-hydroperoxy linolenic acid yielded divinyl ether fatty acids (colneleic acid and colnelenic acid, respectively), which have been implicated as plant anti-fungal toxins. This represents the first identification of a cDNA encoding a divinyl ether synthase and establishment of the enzyme as a CYP74 P-450. Genomic DNA blot analysis revealed the existence of a single divinyl ether synthase gene located on chromosome one of tomato. In tomato seedlings, root tissue was the major site of both divinyl ether synthase mRNA accumulation and enzyme activity. These results indicate that developmental expression of the divinyl ether synthase gene is an important determinant of the tissue specific synthesis of divinyl ether oxylipins.
An inventory model with finite‐range stochastic lead times

This article considers an inventory model with constant demand and stochastic lead times distributed over a finite range. A generalization of the EOQ formula with backorders is derived and ranges for the decision variables are obtained. The results are illustrated with the case of uniformly distributed lead time.
Measurement by intracoronary ultrasound of in vivo arterial distensibility within atherosclerotic lesions.

Abstract Arterial distensibility is diminished by atherosclerosis. This process has not been well studied in the coronary arteries. The purpose of this study was to assess changes in coronary arterial distensibiltty in 4 groups of patients. Group I (n = 20) consisted of patients with normal vessels, group II (n = 40) with diseased undilated vessels, group III (n = 15) after successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), and Group IV (n = 20) after successful directional coronary atherectomy CDCA). Intracoronary ultrasound imaging was used to assess distensibiltty, plaque morphology and atherosclerotic burden (expressed as the percentage of total vessel cross-sectional area occupied by plaque: percent plaque area). Distensibility was defined as percent change in lumen area in a cardiac cycle. Group I (normal vessels) had a distensibility = 14 ± 5%, which was significantly greater than that seen in group II (distensibiltty = 4 ± 2%, p
Verification of high order optimality conditions using the polyadic representation of derivatives

Conditions involving derivatives higher than the second must be checked if the first and second optimality conditions fail to determine whether or not a point locally minimizes an unconstrained function. An implementable inductive algorithm for doing this is developed based on the presentation of higher derivatives by sums of symmetric polyads generalized outer product matrices. A set of equations is developed which must be satisfied for the odd order conditions to hold. Checking the even order conditions involves the solution of successive nonconvex programming problems. An example is included.
Outer retinal abnormalities associated with inner retinal pathology in nonglaucomatous and glaucomatous optic neuropathies

Inner and outer retinal morphology were quantified in vivo for 6 nonglaucomatous and 10 glaucomatous optic neuropathy patients. Custom, ultrahigh-resolution imaging modalities were used to evaluate segmented retinal layer thickness in 3D volumes (Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography), cone photoreceptor density (adaptive optics fundus camera), and the length of inner and outer segments of cone photoreceptors (adaptive optics-optical coherence tomography). Quantitative comparisons were made with age-matched controls, or by comparing affected and nonaffected retinal areas defined by changes in visual fields. The integrity of outer retinal layers on optical coherence tomography B-scans and density of cone photoreceptors were correlated with visual field sensitivity at corresponding retinal locations following reductions in inner retinal thickness. The photoreceptor outer segments were shorter and exhibited greater variability in retinal areas associated with visual field losses compared with normal or less affected areas of the same patient's visual field. These results demonstrate that nonglaucomatous and glaucomatous optic neuropathies are associated with outer retinal changes following long-term inner retinal pathology.
Brachial plexopathy from stereotactic body radiotherapy in early-stage NSCLC: dose-limiting toxicity in apical tumor sites.

Abstract Background and purpose We report frequency of brachial plexopathy in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer treated with stereotactic body radiotherapy. Materials and methods 276 T1–T2, N0 or peripheral T3, N0 lesions were treated in 253 patients with stereotactic radiotherapy at Indiana University and Richard L. Roudebush VAMC from 1998 to 2007. Thirty-seven lesions in 36 patients were identified as apical lesions, defined as epicenter of lesion superior to aortic arch. Brachial plexus toxicity was scored for these apical lesions according to CTCAE v. 3.0 for ipsilateral shoulder/arm neuropathic pain, motor weakness, or sensory alteration. Results The 37 apical lesions (19 Stage IA, 16 IB, and 2 IIB) were treated with stereotactic body radiotherapy to a median total dose of 57Gy (30–72). The associated brachial plexus of 7/37 apical lesions developed grade 2–4 plexopathy (4 pts – grade 2, 2 pts – grade 3, 1 pt – grade 4). Five patients had ipsilateral shoulder/arm neuropathic pain alone, one had pain and upper extremity weakness, and one had pain progressing to numbness of the upper extremity and paralysis of hand and wrist. The median of the maximum brachial plexus doses of patients developing brachial plexopathy was 30Gy (18–82). Two-year Kaplan–Meier risk of brachial plexopathy for maximum brachial plexus dose >26Gy was 46% vs 8% for doses ⩽26Gy ( p =0.04 for likelihood ratio test). Conclusions Stereotactic body radiotherapy for apical lesions carries a risk of brachial plexopathy. Brachial plexus maximum dose should be kept
Religion, Religiousness, and Narrative: Decoding Women's Practices in Senegalese Islamic Reform

Martin Riesebrodt argues that his theory of religion can help explain religion's enduring power in the contemporary globalizing and secularizing world. Although he emphasizes the necessity of objective categories for theorizing religion's purpose, adherents’ narratives about their religious practices reveal lived relationships between ideal-typical liturgical texts (which help comprise religion) and their appropriations of them for navigating rapidly changing social contexts (religiousness). The validity of Riesebrodt's approach for explaining religion in empirical settings is demonstrated by using ethnographic interviews of Muslim reformist women in Dakar, Senegal. These female adherents’ discourses on the practices of veiling, prayer, and preaching the uniqueness of God highlight the ways religion's directives operate in a dialectical relationship with a religiousness that encompasses their dual efforts to achieve closeness to God and overtly critique other Muslim groups, contemporary urban life, and the state.
Toward Orthopoxvirus Countermeasures: A Novel Heteromorphic Nucleoside of Unusual Structure

Two privileged drug scaffolds have been hybridized to create the novel heteromorphic nucleoside 5-(2-amino-3-cyano-5-oxo-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4H-chromen-4-yl)-1-(2-deoxypentofuranosyl)pyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione (2). Compound 2 inhibited the replication of two orthopoxviruses, vaccinia virus (VV) (EC(50) = 4.6 +/- 2.0 microM), and cowpox virus (CV) (EC(50) = 2.0 +/- 0.3 microM). Compound 2 exhibited reduced activity against a thymidine kinase (TK) negative strain of CV, implying a requirement for 5'-monophosphorylation for antiorthopoxvirus activity. Compound 2 was efficiently phosphorylated by VV TK, establishing that VV TK is more promiscuous than previously believed.
Dynamics for Droplets in Normal Gravity and Microgravity

A numerical study has been carried out to investigate the deformation dynamics of droplets under normal gravity and the thermocapillary migration of droplets under microgravity. The Navier–Stokes equations coupled with the energy conservation equation are solved on a staggered grid by the method of lines, and the mass conserving level set method is used to predict the surface deformation of the droplet. The simulation for the falling droplet in the air under normal gravity shows that the value of Weber number affects mainly the deformation of the droplet, while the value of Reynolds number has direct impact on the falling velocity of the droplet. From the simulation for the droplet thermocapillary migration and lateral oscillation under microgravity, it is found that the value of Marangoni number has obvious effects on the moving velocity and temperature distribution of the droplet.
Global and specific components of information integration

Lewis and Anderson (1976) found that learning nonsense facts about a famous person (e.g., George Washington wrote Tom Sawyer ) interfered with the retrieval of known facts about that person (e.g., George Washington crossed the Delaware ). This “fan effect” strongly suggests that the new nonsense facts were integrated with subjects' existing world knowledge about famous people. But other aspects of the data suggest that these two bodies of information were not integrated. In particular, subjects were much faster responding to known facts when the test consisted of nothing but well-known facts (“pure test”) than when the test contained both well-known and newly learned facts (“mixed test”). The present experiments examined the effect of using true but unknown facts in place of nonsense facts. Use of real learning material reduced or eliminated the pure—mixed difference, but had no effect on fan. To account for these data, we postulate two distinct components of information integration and argue that these components affect different stages in the process of retrieving known facts.
Subsampling Hair Samples Affects Accuracy and Precision of DNA-Based Population Estimates

Variance in population estimates is affected by the number of samples that are chosen to genotype when multiple samples are available during a sampling period. Using genetic data obtained from noninvasive hair-snags used to sample black bears (Ursus americanus) in the Northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan, USA, we developed a bootstrapping simulation to determine how precision of population estimates varied based on the number of samples genotyped. Improvements in precision of population estimates were not monotonic over all samples sizes available for genotyping. Estimates of cost, both financially and in terms of bias associated with increasing genotyping error and benefits in terms of greater estimate precision, will vary by species and field conditions and should be determined empirically.