cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Further evidence for the regulation of bacterial populations in soil by protozoa.

After the addition to soil of large numbers of a cowpea Rhizobium strain, the population declined steadily until the numbers reached about 107/g, and the protozoa rose to about 104/g. When indigenous protozoa were suppressed by the addition of actidione to the soil, the density of the test rhizobium did not fall initially, but its abundance declined to about 107/g when actidione-resistant protozoa arose in significant numbers. The addition to actidione-treated soil of an antibiotic-resistant strain of Paramecium led to a rapid decrease in the population of the rhizobium, the density reaching essentially the same value as in soil receiving neither the drug nor the paramecia. The same changes occurred with Xanthomonas campestris as test prey except that its numbers fell to about 105/g of soil. These data provide further evidence for the key role of protozoa in controlling the abundance of populations of certain bacteria introduced into soil.
Recognition and management of stroke in young adults and adolescents

Approximately 15% of all ischemic strokes (IS) occur in young adults and adolescents. To date, only limited prior public health and research efforts have specifically addressed stroke in the young. Early diagnosis remains challenging because of the lack of awareness and the relative infrequency of stroke compared with stroke mimics. Moreover, the causes of IS in the young are heterogeneous and can be relatively uncommon, resulting in uncertainties about diagnostic evaluation and cause-specific management. Emerging data have raised public health concerns about the increasing prevalence of traditional vascular risk factors in young individuals, and their potential role in increasing the risk of IS, stroke recurrence, and poststroke mortality. These issues make it important to formulate and enact strategies to increase both awareness and access to resources for young stroke patients, their caregivers and families, and health care professionals. The American Academy of Neurology recently convened an expert panel to develop a consensus document concerning the recognition, evaluation, and management of IS in young adults and adolescents. The report of the consensus panel is presented herein.
Hollow cathodes with BaO impregnated, porous tungsten inserts and tips

The technology of impregnated materials is described and some inherently advantageous characteristics of impregnated cathodes are discussed. Thermionic emission measurements are presented for oxide coated and impregnated cathodes. Five cathode configurations with barium oxide impregnated porous tungsten inserts and/or tips have been fabricated and tested. Reliability, durability, and stability of operation are characterized. One of the cathodes has accumulated over 9000 operational hours, another has been cycled on and off more than 800 times.
Do standardized tests penalize deep-thinking, creative, or conscientious students? Some personality correlates of Graduate Record Examinations test scores

Abstract The objective of the study reported here was to explore the relationship of Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) General Test scores to selected personality traits—conscientiousness, rationality, ingenuity, quickness, creativity, and depth. A sample of 342 GRE test takers completed short personality inventory scales for each trait. Analyses revealed statistically significant, but slight (positive) correlations of GRE verbal, quantitative, and analytical scores with both creativity and quickness. (Quickness was defined here by, for instance, the ability to handle a lot of information and the ability to understand things.) The results also revealed significant, but very slight (negative) correlations of GRE scores with conscientiousness.
Water yield, annual peaks and exposure in mountainous terrain

Abstract In steep, mountainous terrain of the western United States, where summer rains are negligible and annual runoff is primarily dependent on melting snow, the runoff distribution is such that a high energy recipient (HE) watershed generally yields more water per unit area than a low energy recipient (LE) watershed except during the latter's flood peak period, at which time the ratio of yields is reversed. HE watersheds peak sooner than their corresponding LE watersheds, but also vary more in their peaking date. The ratio of maximum peak flows may be greater or less than 1.0 depending on environmental circumstances.
'Dust' streaks on Mars

Global mapping and photometry of selected areas on Mars are used to investigate the nature of bright and dark wind streaks that extend from topographic obstacles. Occurrence of both bright and dark streaks is strongly latitude dependent and is only weakly correlated with surface properties such as albedo and thermal inertia. Data on the colors, albedos, and phase behavior of streaks are consistent with models of bright streaks as mosaics of plains materials and brighter, redder dust. Less than 20 percent of the ground need be covered by the optically thick dust in the brightest parts of the streaks; the amount of dust in optically thick layers could be as little as 0.001 g/sq cm. Dark streaks can be interpreted as erosional windows in a patchy dust cover. The model of dust deposition in optically thick patches is sedimentologically different from scenarios involving the deposition of ubiquitous, optically thin layers. It has the advantage that large amounts of dust can be deposited without affecting regional albedos.
Low Pressure Injection System Crossconnect Modification

How would you fix all of the Low Pressure Injection (LPI) system technical problems listed below with a single nuclear plant modification? • Large LPI Flow indication uncertainty; • Non-Safety power to important cross connect valves; • LPI Pump run-out / NPSH operator burden; • Unbalanced LPI cooling due to electrical single failure; • Unconventional response to valve single failure. A southeastern nuclear generation facility responded by contracting Framatome ANP to design a new passive single cross connect modification for each of their generating units. This new cross connect, consisting of approximately 130’ of 10” stainless steel piping, new gate valves, new check valves, and two new flow restrictors, was installed downstream of the LPI coolers and inside containment on each unit to tie the two injection trains together. The two flow restrictors (stemless globe valves with precision engineered disc stacks) were the centerpiece of the design. Though system resistance is increased, the flow restrictors eliminate all of the technical issues that the utility faced in the LPI system. The passive nature of this design eliminated the time-critical operator burden, the need for safety grade power on existing cross connect valves, the threat of pump run-out and marginal NSPHa, and the unusual single failure licensing basis to manually open LPI isolation valves in the event that they failed closed. The design also improved flow indication uncertainty with a change out of the existing flow measuring orifices. Framatome ANP faced many challenges during the design process. In addition to the problems to be solved, other constraints of the modification were significant, including: an unusually tight upper limit on pump strength, a narrow band of acceptable system resistance with an unknown baseline, first-of-a-kind accuracy requirements for the flow restrictor, and High Pressure Injection (HPI) system minimum flow limits challenged by modification operational changes. The NRC has approved the flow restrictor and the overall design for use in this facility. The passive cross connect modification has been installed in all units. All equipment has passed installation and post modification testing requirements.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Intra motion compensation and entropy coding improvements for HEVC screen content coding

Applications such as wireless displays, automotive infotainment, remote desktop, remote gaming, distance education, cloud computing etc. are becoming popular. Video in these applications often has mixed content consisting of natural video and screen content (text, graphics etc.) in the same picture. In text and graphics regions, patterns such as text characters, icons, lines etc. can repeat within a picture. Also since the graphics and text regions have sharp edges that are sometimes not predicted well by Intra prediction tools, the probability of prediction error having high amplitude increases. This paper presents two tools for improving the intra coding efficiency of the High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) standard when coding screen content. The first tool is a Coding Unit (CU)-level Intra motion compensation tool to eliminate redundancy from repeating patterns in text and graphics regions. The second tool is a modification to HEVC cRiceParam update process of coeff_abs_level_remaining entropy coding to adapt better to larger prediction errors in text and graphics regions. The combination of the two tools achieves an average bit-rate/Bjontegaard Delta-Rate savings in the range of 0.8% to 28.1% over HEVC Range Extensions Test Model on screen content test video sequences used in Range Extensions core experiments by the Joint Collaborative Team for Video Coding (JCT-VC).
Glucuronidation and sulfonation, in vitro, of the major endocrine-active metabolites of methoxychlor in the channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, and induction following treatment with 3-methylcholanthrene.

Abstract The organochlorine pesticide, methoxychlor (MXC), is metabolized in animals to phenolic mono- and bis-demethylated metabolites (OH-MXC and HPTE, respectively) that interact with estrogen receptors and may be endocrine disruptors. The phase II detoxication of these compounds will influence the duration of action of the estrogenic metabolites, but has not been investigated extensively. In this study, the glucuronidation and sulfonation of OH-MXC and HPTE were investigated in subcellular fractions of liver and intestine from untreated, MXC-treated and 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC)-treated channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus . MXC-treated fish were given i.p. injections of 2 mg MXC/kg daily for 6 days and sacrificed 24 h after the last dose. The 3-MC treatment was a single 10 mg/kg i.p. dose 5 days prior to sacrifice. In hepatic microsomes from control fish, the V max value (mean ± S.D., n = 4) for glucuronidation of OH-MXC was 270 ± 50 pmol/min/mg protein, higher than found for HPTE (110 ± 20 pmol/min/mg protein). For each substrate, the V max values observed in intestinal microsomes were approximately twice those found in the liver. The K m values for OH-MXC and HPTE glucuronidation in control liver were not significantly different and were 0.32 ± 0.04 mM for OH-MXC and 0.26 ± 0.06 mM for HPTE. The K m for the co-substrate, UDPGA, was higher in liver (0.28 ± 0.09 mM) than intestine (0.04 ± 0.02 mM). Treatment with 3-MC but not MXC increased the V max for glucuronidation in liver and intestine. Glucuronidation was a more efficient pathway than sulfonation for both substrates, in both tissues. The V max values for sulfonation of OH-MXC and HPTE, respectively, in liver cytosol were 7 ± 3 and 17 ± 4 pmol/min/mg protein and in intestinal cytosol were 13 ± 3 and 30 ± 5 pmol/min/mg protein. Treatment with 3-MC but not MXC increased rates of sulfonation of OH-MXC and HPTE and the model substrate, 3-hydroxy-benzo( a )pyrene in both intestine and liver. Comparison of the kinetics of the conjugation pathways with those published for the demethylation of MXC showed that formation of the endocrine-active metabolites was more efficient than either conjugation pathway. Residues of OH-MXC and HPTE were detected in extracts of liver microsomes from MXC-treated fish. This work showed that although OH-MXC and HPTE could be eliminated by glucuronidation and sulfonation, the phase II pathways were less efficient than the phase I pathway leading to formation of these endocrine-active metabolites.
Narrowband stimulated electromagnetic emissions (SEE) spectra: A new ionospheric diagnostic technique

Use of high frequency (HF) heating experiments has been extended in recent years as a useful methodology for plasma physicists wishing to remotely study the properties and behavior of the ionosphere as well as nonlinear plasma processes. Our recent work using high latitude heating experiments has lead to several important discoveries that have enabled assessment of active geomagnetic conditions, determination of minor ion species and their densities, ion mass spectrometry, electron temperature measurements in the heating ionosphere, as well a deeper understanding of physical processes associated with electron acceleration and formation of field aligned irregularities. All of these diagnostic capabilities have been made possible for the first time by utilizing the narrowband Stimulated Electromagnetic Emission SEE spectrum. Narrowband SEE spectra from the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) facility are presented with theoretical models to demonstrate these new capabilities along with other supporting diagnostic measurements including, range-time-intensity of FAIs (field aligned irregularities) using SuperDARN HF radar, enhanced ion lines detected by MUIR radar, DMSP satellite observations over HAARP, and coordinated observations of pump induced optical emissions.
Interpretation of Domain Patterns Recently Found in BiMn and SiFe Alloys

It is shown that in a demagnetized crystal in which closure domains do not form, the domain pattern on a surface perpendicular to the easy-magnetization axis varies with the thickness of the crystal. For thin crystals the domain configuration should consist of plane-parallel walls. As the thickness of the crystal is increased, the plane walls become undular to form a rickrack-type pattern, the amplitude of the waves increasing with increasing thickness. At greater thicknesses the domain pattern becomes more complicated, a characteristic feature being many small domains of reverse magnetization penetrating as spikes from the surface into the interior. A typical pattern for a demagnetized sample could consist of a regular pattern of reverse-domain spikes within large domains demarked by plane-parallel walls extending all the way through the crystal. These theoretical predictions are compared with domain patterns recently observed in BiMn alloys and in barium ferrite. Recently reported domain patterns in polycrystalline SiFe alloys are interpreted as representing the latter thick-crystal configuration. The significance of the patterns found in SiFe alloys for the theory of flux reversal is also discussed.
Endoscopic Sedation: Equipment and Personnel

Endoscopic sedation is changing, in response to economic pressures, regulatory requirements, and new technology. Each endoscopy unit must tailor its personnel and equipment practices to its particular case mix, sedation preferences, and to its external environment. This article discusses sedation-related considerations regarding procedure room design, equipment for drug administration, equipment for patient monitoring, equipment for managing emergencies, and staff selection, training, and responsibilities.
Neurogenesis of the hamster suprachiasmatic nucleus.

Abstract Neurogenesis of the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) was described in the Syrian hamster ( Mesocricetus auratus ) using tritiated [ 3 H]thymidine autoradiography. Pregnant hamsters were given single intraperitoneal injections of [ 3 H]thymidine at different times during prenatal development, and labeled cells were analyzed in the offspring of 4–5 weeks of age. Cells of the hamster SCN became postmitotic (were ‘born’) over two and a half days from 10.5 to 13.0 days postfertilization (dpf) with a peak around 11.5 dpf, 4 days before birth. Two gradients in SCN neurogenesis were observed. Posterior cells were produced somewhat earlier than anterior cells and ventrolateral cells were produced before dorsomedial cells. An exception to the second gradient was a small population of ventrolateral cells produced near the end of SCN neurogenesis. The pattern of SCN neurogenesis in the hamster was similar to that described in the rat, including a predominant ventrolateral to dorsomedial gradient and the presence of ventral or ventrolateral cells produced relatively late, contrary to the predominant gradient.
Zinc deficiency, erythrocyte production, and chromosomal damage in pregnant rats and their fetuses☆

Abstract During periods of rapid growth and development, chromosomal and DNA damage has been observed in hepatic tissue samples of zinc-deprived animals. In this study, the erythrocyte micronucleus assay was used to estimate cytogenetic damage due to zinc deprivation in pregnant rat dams and their fetuses. Rat dams were assigned to one of three dietary groups on day 0 of gestation: zinc deficient (
Experimental study of bypass flow in near wall gaps of a pebble bed reactor using hot wire anemometry technique

Abstract Coolant flow behavior through the core of an annular pebble bed reactor is investigated in this experimental study. A high frequency hot wire anemometry system coupled with an X-probe is used for measurement of axial and radial velocity components at different points within two near wall gaps at five different modified Reynolds numbers (Rem = 2043–6857). The velocity profiles within the gaps verify the presence of an area of increased velocity close to the pebble bed outer reflector wall, which is known as the bypass flow. Moreover, the characteristics of the coolant flow profile are seen to be highly dependent on the gap geometry. The effect of Reynolds number on the velocity profiles varies as the geometry of the gap changes. The time histories of the local velocities measured with considerably high frequency are further analyzed using power spectral density technique. Power spectral plots illustrate substantial spatial variation of the energy content, spectral shape, and the slope of the energy cascade region. A significant correlation between Reynolds number and characteristics of the velocity power spectra is observed.
Comparative Lipidomics of Caenorhabditis elegans Metabolic Disease Models by SWATH Non-Targeted Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) with Sequential Window Acquisition of all Theoretical (SWATH) mass spectra generates a comprehensive archive of lipid species within an extract for retrospective, quantitative MS/MS analysis. Here we apply this new technology in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) to identify potential lipid mediators and pathways. The DAF-1 type I TGF-β and DAF-2 insulin receptors transmit endocrine signals that couple metabolic status to fertility and lifespan. Mutations in daf-1 and daf-2 reduce prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase (i.e., Cox)-independent prostaglandin synthesis, increase triacylglyceride storage, and alter transcription of numerous lipid metabolism genes. However, the extent to which DAF-1 and DAF-2 signaling modulate lipid metabolism and the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. MS/MSALL with SWATH analysis across the groups identified significant changes in numerous lipids, including specific triacylglycerols, diacylglycerols, and phosphatidylinositols. Examples are provided, using retrospective neutral loss and precursor ion scans as well as MS/MS spectra, to help identify annotated lipids and search libraries for lipids of interest. As proof of principle, we used comparative lipidomics to investigate the prostaglandin metabolism pathway. SWATH data support an unanticipated model: Cox-independent prostaglandin synthesis may involve lysophosphatidylcholine and other lyso glycerophospholipids. This study showcases the power of comprehensive, retrospectively searchable lipid archives as a systems approach for biological discovery in genetic animal models.
Air transport of patients with severe lung injury: development and utilization of the Acute Lung Rescue Team.

Background: Critical Care Air Transport Teams (CCATTs) are an integral component of modern casualty care, allowing early transport of critically ill and injured patients. Aeromedical evacuation of patients with significant pulmonary impairment is sometimes beyond the scope of CCATT because of limitations of the transport ventilator and potential for further respiratory deterioration in flight. The Acute Lung Rescue Team (ALRT) was developed to facilitate transport of these patients out of the combat theater. Methods: The United States TRANS-COM Regulation and Command/Control Evacuation System and the United States Army Institute of Surgical Research Joint Theater Trauma Registry databases were reviewed for all critical patients transported out of theater between November 2005 and March 2007. Patient demographics, diagnosis, and clinical history were abstracted and ALRT patients were compared with CCATT patients. Results: The ALRT was activated for 11 patients during the study period. Five patients were transported as a result of these activations. Trauma-related diagnoses were responsible for 82% of these requests. ALRT missions comprised 0.6% of all critical patient movements out of the combat theater and 1% of ventilator transports. Average FIO 2 was 0.92 ± 0.11 for ALRT patients and 0.53 ± 0.14 for CCATT patients (p = 0.005). ALRT patients required a mean positive end expiratory pressure of 19.0 cm H 2 O ± 2.2 cm H 2 O compared with 6.5 cm H 2 O ± 2.4 cm H 2 O in the CCATT group (p = 0.002). Conclusions: Lung injury in the combat theater severe enough to exceed the capability of CCATT transport is uncommon. Patients for whom ALRT was activated had significantly higher positive end expiratory pressure and FIO 2 than those transported by CCATT. One-fourth of patients for whom ALRT was considered died before the team could be launched; transport may have been a futile consideration in these patients. Patients with even severe acute respiratory distress syndrome can be successfully transported by experienced, equipped specialty teams.
Bi-2212: an HTS coated conductor

The Bi-2223 high-temperature-superconductor (HTS) powder-in-tube (PIT) tape, with useful performance for long lengths, has provided the ability to construct a wide range of HTS electric power components. The eventual commercialization of HTS power apparatus is primarily dependent on lowering the cost of HTS conductor. The present performance and cost of state-of-the-art Bi-2223 HTS tape, although acceptable for prototype construction, is viewed as a major factor that may compromise eventual commercialization. The so-called "second generation" coated conductor development, with emphasis on conductors employing HTS YBCO films, is viewed as the solution to this performance and cost issue. The potential for Bi-2212 for producing a low-cost HTS coated conductor as an alternative to Bi-2223 PIT (and YBCO) will be discussed with some recent results on Bi-2212 "coated conductor" development.
A Class of Patch-Use Strategies

A class of models for economic, or optimal, foraging in a patchy habitat is characterized. All models in the class share a number of ecologically important properties, but there are important differences, as well. These models are well suited to studying properties of a variety of simple behavioral rules which foragers might use in deciding when to leave a patch. Several extensions and limitations of the class are also pointed out.
Interethnic and interracial dating in college: A longitudinal study:

Longitudinal data on interethnic and interracial dating were collected from over 2000 students at a large multiethnic university. Results indicated that, controlling for relevant background variables, students who exhibited lower levels of ingroup bias, intergroup anxiety, and group identification before college were more likely to date members of other ethnic and racial groups during college. In addition, controlling for relevant background variables and precollege group attitudes, students who dated outside their group more during college showed less ingroup bias and intergroup anxiety at the end of college, but also felt more pressure not to socialize with or date members of other groups. Some findings varied across ethnic and racial groups. Results are discussed in terms of theories of intergroup contact and interethnic and interracial dating.
Interferon-α protects mice against lethal infection with St Louis encephalitis virus delivered by the aerosol and subcutaneous routes

In common with other flaviviruses, there is no specific therapy for St Louis encephalitis (SLE) virus infections. A number of cases have occurred where infection may have been acquired by the aerosol route in laboratory accidents. The recombinant human interferon hybrids IFN-alpha A/D (Roche Laboratories) and IFN-alpha B/D (Ciba-Geigy) have activity in murine models. Given for several days around the time of exposure to the virus or shortly after, these compounds reduce the mortality from SLE virus administered to mice subcutaneously by up to 70%. In an aerosol model of SLE disease, the mortality was reduced to 30-50% compared to 100% in controls, depending on the challenge level of virus. These results suggest that interferon-alpha could be used to reduce the mortality from SLE infection after known exposure to the virus.
Spillover of Secondary Foundation Species Transforms Community Structure and Accelerates Decomposition in Oak Savannas

Secondary foundation species facilitate biodiversity by providing complex habitat within the protective structures of many primary foundation species; whether they retain this role when they are dispersed in novel environments is unclear. Here, we explore how secondary foundation species’ density within hosts controls the rate at which individuals accrue and test if dislodged secondary foundation species then bolster the abundance and diversity of associated species and decomposition in a widespread system: southern live oaks, Quercus virginiana, hosting festoons of the bromeliad, Tillandsia usneoides, in southeastern US savannas. One year of monitoring showed that as Tillandsia density within oaks increases, Tillandsia deposition beneath oaks increases linearly in kind. Once on the ground, two manipulative experiments revealed that: on small scales, individual festoons retain moisture, reduce temperature, and facilitate invertebrates and fungi which combine to accelerate litter decomposition and, on larger scales, continual deposition of festoons dramatically reduces grass cover and increases litter layer depth, invertebrate and fungi richness and density, and decomposition. Surveys further suggest that Tillandsia populations within oaks, in moderating festoon accumulation, are shaping understory communities throughout this geographic region. Thus, disturbance-induced spillover enables secondary foundation species to define biodiversity and ecosystem functioning beyond the boundaries of their hosts.
The Ontogeny of Canine Small Intestinal Submucosa Regenerated Bladder

AbstractPurpose: Small intestinal submucosa has previously been shown to promote regeneration of transitional epithelium, smooth muscle and peripheral nerves in rat and dog bladders. The origin of these regenerated components is presently unknown. This study attempts to define the origin of vascular, smooth muscle and peripheral nerve regeneration.Materials and Methods: A total of 22 adult male dogs weighing 25 to 30 kg. underwent partial cystectomy and immediate augmentation with a small intestinal submucosa patch graft. The small intestinal submucosa graft-native bladder interface was marked with permanent marking sutures for future reference. Small intestinal submucosa regenerated bladders were harvested at 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 and 10 weeks after augmentation. The tissue was then studied with routine histology and immunohistochemistry using factor VIII, smooth muscle specific actin (1A4) and neurofilament staining.Results: Results demonstrated that epithelialization of the graft surface was complete by 3 to 4...
The knitting technique and its application to communication protocol synthesis

The Petri net (PN) can be incrementally expanded by adding paths of nodes according to the synthesis rules. These paths of nodes are generated to increase the number of concurrent, conditional, and iterative processes. A set of synthesis rules has been developed to ensure the correct generation of these paths of nodes. The advantages of these rules include the possibility of implementation as a CAD tool, the guarantee of liveness, boundedness, and reversibility (well-behaved properties), and the close control of concurrency and nondeterminism. These rules serve two functions for interactive design: prevention of potential problems and guidance of correct new path generations. Examples of synthesis and a procedure of finding invariants are presented to show that one can synthesize PNs beyond asymmetric-choice nets. The technique is applied to the synthesis of communication protocols and extended to synthesize local entities. >
Coherent generation of non-classical light on a chip via photon-induced tunnelling and blockade

Quantum dots in photonic crystals are interesting because of their potential in quantum information processing and as a testbed for cavity quantum electrodynamics. Recent advances in controlling and coherent probing of such systems open the possibility of realizing quantum networks originally proposed for atomic systems. Here, we demonstrate that non-classical states of light can be coherently generated using a quantum dot strongly coupled to a photonic crystal resonator. We show that the capture of a single photon into the cavity affects the probability that a second photon is admitted. This probability drops when the probe is positioned at one of the two energy eigenstates corresponding to the vacuum Rabi splitting, a phenomenon known as photon blockade, the signature of which is photon antibunching. In addition, we show that when the probe is positioned between the two eigenstates, the probability of admitting subsequent photons increases, resulting in photon bunching. We call this process photon-induced tunnelling. This system represents an ultimate limit for solid-state nonlinear optics at the single-photon level. Along with demonstrating the generation of non-classical photon states, we propose an implementation of a single-photon transistor in this system.
Understanding embryonic development: from screens to genes

A report on the 64th Annual Meeting of the Society for Developmental Biology, San Francisco, USA, 27 July-1 August 2005.
Mixed treatment comparisons for atrial fibrillation: evidence network or bewildering entanglement?

This editorial refers to ‘Mixed treatment comparison of dronedarone, amiodarone, sotalol, flecainide, and propafenone, for the management of atrial fibrillation’ by N. Freemantle et al. , on page 329. Atrial fibrillation (AF) imparts significant morbidity and mortality, affecting more than 6 million patients in Europe alone. The impairment in quality of life attributable to AF is similar to the deficits associated with myocardial infarction or heart failure.1 Current clinical practice guidelines advocate antiarrhythmic therapy for patients with debilitating symptoms despite adequate rate control.2,3 Although successive generations of antiarrhythmic drugs have broadened the array of therapeutic options, rates of AF recurrence and toxicity remain frustrating.4 In 2009, dronedarone became the first antiarrhythmic drug in nearly 2 decades to be approved in the European Union for the treatment of AF. Direct comparisons between dronedarone and other antiarrhythmic agents are limited, creating uncertainty for clinicians. Given the paucity of direct, head-to-head data comparing dronedarone and other antiarrhythmic agents for AF, Freemantle et al .5 analysed outcomes from 40 different randomized-controlled trials of currently available guideline recommended class IC and class III agents (amiodarone, dronedarone, flecainide, propafenone, and sotalol).2 In addition to conventional random-effect meta-analysis models that evaluated only the direct comparisons between drugs, the investigators constructed a model that accommodated both the direct and indirect treatment comparisons within the available data. In direct comparisons, amiodarone had the greatest overall efficacy for the prevention of recurrent AF [odds ratio (OR) 0.15, 95% 0.10–0.22] and was superior to both sotalol and dronedarone. In terms of safety, all of the included …
Working towards the development of a standardized artificial soiling method

Solar glass coatings for photovoltaic (PV) modules include antireflection and antisoiling coatings. There are increasing number of claims related to dust resistant, abrasion resistant (during cleaning) and self-cleaning solar glass coatings. Currently, there is no standardized way of verifying the validity of such claims. As a first step towards validating such claims, the industry needs to develop a standardized artificial soiling method with actual laminated module construction of glass / EVA / cell / EVA / backsheet. This paper presents an approach for working towards the development of a standardized artificial soiling method for laminated photovoltaic (PV) cells or mini-modules. In this study, poly-Si mini-modules and single-cell mono-Si coupons were soiled and characterized using I-V, reflectance and quantum efficiency (QE) to calculate the effect of soiling on performance. From the results, the technique was found to be repeatable and soil pattern was uniform for both mini-modules and single cell coupons. The study compares poly-Si mini-modules with single-cell mono-Si to identify the ideal coupon for artificial soiling. Poly-Si mini-modules proved to be a good measure of soil uniformity, as any non-uniformity would effect the smoothness of curve at near Isc during I-V measurements. Single-cell mono-Si was identified to be more suitable for reflectance and QE measurements. This study indicates that the reflectance measurements between 600-700 nm wavelengths can be used as a direct measure to determined soil density on the modules.
Direct Economic Impact of the Value Chain of a Marcellus Shale Gas Well

This chapter examines the direct economic impact of a Marcellus Shale well located in Southwestern Pennsylvania. This study is an assessment of the economic impacts emphasizing the direct economic impact, rather than just focusing on the perceived benefits and impacts affecting the region. Our analysis is based on extensive field research, including a site visit and interviews with industry participants. From this field research, we determined that the direct costs of bringing a Marcellus Shale well to production are in excess of seven million dollars.
On the Treatment of Trucks for Analysis of Freeway Capacity

The influence of trucks on highway performance has always been of interest. However, planning studies today tend to assume that a certain percentage of the traffic stream is trucks (e.g., 5%) and to make adjustments accordingly. The Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) converts trucks into passenger car equivalents by using a passenger car equivalent factor. For the HCM, however, this situation is changing. This paper describes changes to the basic freeway section methodology that are being developed to better address truck-related issues. Specifically, new models predict the space mean speeds of autos and trucks in mixed traffic streams for a variety of road grades. Also presented is a capacity adjustment factor that allows conversion of capacity values for auto-only conditions to be transformed into equivalent capacity values for mixed traffic conditions. The methodologies are presented, their development is described, and examples are given to illustrate how the procedure works.
Tem Studies on the Morphology, Size Distribution and Structure of Nanocrystalline Iron Particles Using a Formvar Embedded Preparation Technique

A new, simple and effective method was developed for preparing specimens of Fecarbide ultrafine particles (UFP), by suspending them in Formvar films. Various samples of Fe-carbide UFP’s were obtained by a laser pyrolysis process by varying the process parameters. The UFP samples were mixed with different concentrations of Formvar in ethylene dichloride solution. The sample particles were embedded in ultra-thin Formvar films with thickness of 20 nm or more and mounted on the 200 mesh copper TEM grids. The influences of the concentration of the Formvar solution and the amount of sample powder on the UFP distribution in the micrographs were investigated to determine the optimal film-making parameters. The different sizes and same spherical morphology for the various UFP samples were revealed, indicating the main diameters to be between 5-20 nm. Compared with the size values obtained by using XRD, the UFP size measurements by the new process are in good agreement. The crystalline features and the surface of the UFP’s are presented and confirmed by micro-diffraction studies.
On the Effects of the Temperature of Food on the Gastric Gland Cells

It is well known that the parietal cells show a functional movement and a circle of the functional image following the administration of food. NAKAMURA (1952) has reported that the functional movement and the functional circle are characteristic according to the nature of the diet. In this paper it is noticed that the circle of the functional image of the parietal cells are also variable according to the temperature of the diet even with the same kind of food.Food of the same kind, kept at 5°C, 37°C or 55°C was given. In the case of 5°C, the parietal cells first show the produtive image of the secretory substance (30min. after the administration), then its discharging image (after 60min.), but afterwards the functional images become less active. In the case of 37°C, both discharge and production are marked from an early period (after 30min.), then they reach the maximum (after 60min.), but afterwards the function fell off as in the former case. And in the case of 55°C, discharge and production can be recognized soon after the administration (after 30min.) and they reach the maximum (after 60min.). Then the functional images of discharge and production decrease to its minimum (after 2hrs.), but they show again the maximum image 3hrs. after the administration.Here, it is very interesting to note that the functional images of the parietal cells are comparable with the ones of the peptic cells which were reported in a former paper. In the peptic and parietal cells the secretory substances are produced practically at the same time, but are always discharged somewhat earlier by the parietal cells.Broadly speaking the peptic and the parietal cells go hand in hand, and the characteristic fuuctional image of the peptic cells according to the difference of the food temperature reported in the 1st paper can be applied to the parietal cells.Therefore the author believes that the secretion of gastric juice itself will be characteristic according to the temperature of the food and is convinced that the suggestion which the author made in the forgoing study (I) i. e. as for the study of the digestion in the stomach, not only the nature of food but also its temperature must be taken into consideration, is not untrue.
Metal-cyclopentadienyl bond energies in metallocene cations measured using threshold collision-induced dissociation mass spectrometry.

Metal–cyclopentadienyl bond dissociation energies (BDEs) were measured for seven metallocene ions (Cp2M+, Cp = η5-cyclopentadienyl = c-C5H5, M = Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni) using threshold collision...
Determination of quintozene residues in vegetables by high performance liquid chromatography

Objective:To study and develop the determination method of quintozene residues in vegetables by HPLC.Methods:Vegetable sample was extracted by hexane and purified by florisil,and then determined by HPLC.Results:The detection limit was 0.05 mg/kg as sample was 10 g and the recovery rate was 85.0%~91.6% of this method.Conclusion:The results of this method are accurate and sample pre-treatment is simple and quick.The method can be applied in the determination of quintozene residues in vegetables.
Strategy for Implementing Traffic Engineering Based on CR-LDP TLV

【Abstract】In order to distribute the traffic in reason for MPLS networks, this paper proposes a new kind of strategy and algorithm based on the type length value in constraint route-label distribution protocol for implementing traffic engineering. Considering the attributes of network resource and the attributes of traffic flows synthetically, the strategy can transfer the suited traffic flows of TLV structure in time and enhance the utilization rate of network resources according to the estimation function for certain traffic flows. Furthermore, the validity of the strategy and algorithm is verified by simulation. 【Key words】MPLS; Traffic engineering; CR-LDP; ER-LSP
Characteristics of two types of calcium channels in rat pituitary gonadotrophs

The properties of Ca2+ channels in cultured rat pituitary gonadotrophs were analyzed by the patch-clamp technique. The inward Ca2+ currents, recorded in the presence of 5.2 mM Ca2+ or Ba2+, included a fast, transient component with activation-inactivation kinetics and a delayed component with slower activation. The midpoint of the activation curve lay at -30 mV for the transient component and at -12 mV for the delayed component. At the midpoint, changes in potential of 9.5 and 13 mV induced an e-fold change in the activation of the transient and delayed components, respectively. The rate of inactivation of the first component was strongly voltage dependent. At -43 mV, a 7.4-mV change in potential induced an e-fold change in the fraction of Ca2+ channels available to conduct Ca2+ current. During long-lasting (100-200 ms) low-frequency depolarizing voltage-clamp pulses, the size of the delayed component of the Ca2+ current remained constant. The differential effects of membrane potential on inactivation and the different time constants for activation of the two components of the Ca2+ conductance indicate the presence of two types of Ca2+ channels in the membrane of the gonadotroph: the rapidly inactivating current appears to be attributable to a T-type channel, and the noninactivating current corresponds to the L-type channel described in many other cell types.
An Exploration of the Ontology of the Intellectual

In this paper I wish to explore the historical and sociological contexts that allowed the flourishing of philosophy and identify the modern intellectual’s relevance in a society that outside the realm of academia has appeared to regress in an appreciation or acknowledgement for the usefulness of philosophy. I will begin by examining the influence of socio-political and economic factors on the success of intellectuals primarily in the enlightenment period and the later 20 century French thought. I will include references to the motive of committed writing, ethical purity, investment in the academic community, autonomy of the discipline, and institutional roles. I wish to focus on the ontological identity of the public intellectual by examining the work of Pierre Bourdieu and Jean Paul Sartre on this topic, as well as their own public presence as applied philosophers. This exploration requires the secondary interpretations of Nathan Crick as well as Carl-Goran Heidegren and Henrik Lundberg. My aim is to illustrate the ontology of the modern intellectual through the understanding of (1) external identity–how outsiders perceive philosophy, (2) community identity–how members within the network perceive philosophy, and (3) personal identity–how the intellectuals themselves perceive philosophy. “Thus, by speaking, I reveal it to myself and to others in order to change it. I strike at its very heart, I transfix it, and I display it in full view; at present I dispose of it; with every word I utter, I involve myself a little more in the world, and by the same token I emerge from it a little more, since I go beyond it towards the future” (Jean Paul Sartre, What is Literature).
Abstract 3093: CDK4 amplification reduces sensitivity to CDK4/6 inhibition in fusion-positive rhabdomyosarcoma

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common pediatric soft tissue sarcoma and includes an aggressive, PAX3-FOXO1 fusion-positive subtype. Amplification of chromosomal region 12q13-q14, which contains the CDK4 proto-oncogene, was identified in a subset of fusion-positive RMS. Other tumor types with CDK4 amplification or overexpression, including liposarcoma and neuroblastoma, are sensitive to CDK4/6 inhibition, suggesting that CDK4/6-targeted therapies may provide a new treatment strategy in fusion-positive RMS. To evaluate the role of CDK4 in chromosomal region 12q13-14 amplification in fusion-positive RMS and the potential clinical utility of CDK4/6 inhibition in this disease setting, we examined the biological consequences of CDK4 knockdown, CDK4 overexpression, and pharmacologic CDK4/6 inhibition in fusion-positive RMS in vitro and in vivo. Knockdown of CDK4 abrogated proliferation and transformation of 12q13-14-amplified and non-amplified fusion-positive RMS cells via G1-phase cell cycle arrest. This arrest was associated with reduced RB phosphorylation and E2F-responsive gene expression. Significant differences in E2F target expression, however, were not observed in RMS cells overexpressing CDK4 or in fusion-positive tumors harboring 12q13-14 amplification relative to control cells or tumors lacking amplification, respectively. Treatment with the small molecule CDK4/6 inhibitor LEE011 phenocopied CDK4 knockdown, decreasing viability, RB phosphorylation, and E2F-responsive gene expression and inducing G1-phase cell cycle arrest. All fusion-positive RMS cell lines showed sensitivity to CDK4/6 inhibition, with evidence of differential antitumor activity resulting from an inverse relationship between CDK4 expression and inhibitor vulnerability. This variable responsiveness to LEE011 was recapitulated in xenograft models of CDK4-amplified and non-amplified fusion-positive RMS. Our findings demonstrate that CDK4 is necessary for RB-E2F-mediated G1-phase cell cycle progression, proliferation, and transformation in fusion-positive RMS regardless of CDK4 amplification status. Our studies further indicate that single-agent LEE011 is active in the setting of fusion-positive RMS and suggest that CDK4 amplification may be a marker of reduced sensitivity whereas low CDK4 expression may be associated with higher susceptibility to CDK4/6 inhibition. Collectively, our data provide preclinical evidence supporting further investigation of CDK4/6-targeted therapies in treatment regimens for fusion-positive RMS. Citation Format: Mary E. Olanich, Wenyue Sun, Stephen M. Hewitt, Zied Abdullaev, Svetlana D. Pack, Frederic G. Barr. CDK4 amplification reduces sensitivity to CDK4/6 inhibition in fusion-positive rhabdomyosarcoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 3093. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-3093
The Use of Relational Maintenance Behaviors in Sustained Adult Friendships

The purpose of this study was to investigate the enactment of relational maintenance behaviors across three types of adult friendship. Participants (N = 139) completed an online questionnaire in which they were randomly assigned to an active, dormant, or commemorative friendship condition. After reading a description of the friendship type, participants identified one friend who met this description and indicated their use of relational maintenance behaviors with this friend. The results of multivariate analysis of covariance treating age as a covariate indicated that individuals reporting on an active friendship used the understanding, self-disclosure, assurances, and tasks relational maintenance behaviors at a higher rate than individuals reporting on a commemorative friendship.