cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Short-term effects of intravenous clonidine in congestive heart failure

After intravenous bolus injections of clonidine HCl (150 micrograms) to 12 patients with congestive heart failure, peak effects appeared in 5 to 20 min. Clonidine reduced heart rate from 94 +/- 14 to 82 +/- 14 bpm (mean +/- SD, P less than 0.05), left ventricular filling pressure from 31 +/- 5 to 23 +/- 5 mm Hg (P less than 0.001), mean systemic arterial pressure from 98 +/- 13 to 82 +/- 13 mm Hg (P less than 0.001), mean pulmonary artery pressure from 46 +/- 6 to 38 +/- 6 mm Hg (P less than 0.001), and right atrial pressure from 14 +/- 5 to 11 +/- 5 mm Hg (P less than 0.05). Cardiac index increased from 1.6 +/- 0.4 to 1.8 +/- 0.6 l/min/m2 (P less than 0.05) and stroke volume from 32 +/- 10 to 43+/- 12 ml/beat (P less than 0.05). Systemic vascular resistance decreased from 2,342 +/- 800 to 1,795 +/- 345 dynes sec cm-5 (P less than 0.05) and pulmonary vascular resistance from 365 +/- 158 to 263 +/- 114 dynes sec cm-5 (P less than 0.05). We conclude that clonidine decreases heart rate and left ventricular preload and afterload in congestive heart failure.
Correlation between cerebral blood volume values and outcomes in endovascular therapy for acute ischemic stroke

Background Neurointerventionalists do not agree about the optimal imaging protocol when evaluating patients with acute stroke for potential endovascular revascularization. Preintervention cerebrovascular blood volume (CBV) has been shown to predict outcomes in patients undergoing intra-arterial stroke therapies. Objective To determine whether CBV can predict hemorrhagic transformation and clinical outcomes in patients selected for endovascular therapy for acute ischemic middle cerebral artery (MCA) stroke using a CT perfusion (CTP)-based imaging protocol. Methods We retrospectively reviewed cases of acute ischemic stroke due to MCA M1 segment occlusion and correlated favorable clinical outcomes (modified Rankin scale (mRS) ≤2) and radiographic outcomes with preintervention CBV values. All patients underwent whole-brain (320-detector-row) CTP imaging, and absolute CBV values of the affected and contralateral MCA territories were obtained separately for the cortical and basal ganglia regions. Results Relative CBV (rCBV) of the MCA cortical regions was significantly lower in patients with poor clinical outcomes than in those with favorable clinical outcomes (0.87±0.21 vs 1.02±0.09, p=0.0003), and a negative correlation was found between rCBV values and mRS score severity. rCBV of the basal ganglia region was significantly lower in patients with hemorrhagic infarction (p=0.004) and parenchymal hematoma (p=0.04) than in those without hemorrhagic transformation. Conclusions We found that cortical CBV loss is predictive of poor clinical outcomes, whereas basal ganglia CBV loss is predictive of hemorrhagic transformation but without translation into poor clinical outcomes. Our study findings support published results of baseline preintervention CBV as a predictor of outcomes in patients undergoing intra-arterial stroke therapies.
Involvement of p53 and p21 in Cellular Defects and Tumorigenesis in Atm−/− Mice

Disruption of the mouse Atm gene, whose human counterpart is consistently mutated in ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) patients, creates an A-T mouse model exhibiting most of the A-T-related systematic and cellular defects. While ATM plays a major role in signaling the p53 response to DNA strand break damage, Atm-/- p53-/- mice develop lymphomas earlier than Atm-/- or p53-/- mice, indicating that mutations in these two genes lead to synergy in tumorigenesis. The cell cycle G1/S checkpoint is abolished in Atm-/- p53-/- mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) following gamma -irradiation, suggesting that the partial G1 cell cycle arrest in Atm-/- cells following gamma -irradiation is due to the residual p53 response in these cells. In addition, the Atm-/- p21-/- MEFs are more severely defective in their cell cycle G1 arrest following gamma -irradiation than Atm-/- and p21-/- MEFs. The Atm-/- MEFs exhibit multiple cellular proliferative defects in culture, and an increased constitutive level of p21 in these cells might account for these cellular proliferation defects. Consistent with this notion, Atm-/- p21-/- MEFs proliferate similarly to wild-type MEFs and exhibit no premature senescence. These cellular proliferative defects are also rescued in Atm-/- p53-/- MEFs and little p21 can be detected in these cells, indicating that the abnormal p21 protein level in Atm-/- cells is also p53 dependent and leads to the cellular proliferative defects in these cells. However, the p21 mRNA level in Atm-/- MEFs is lower than that in Atm+/+ MEFs, suggesting that the higher level of constitutive p21 protein in Atm-/- MEFs is likely due to increased stability of the p21 protein.
Characterizing the Impact of Commercial Pollen Substitute Diets on the Level of Nosema spp. in Honey Bees (Apis mellifera L.)

Western honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) populations face declines commonly attributed to pesticide, pathogen, and parasite stress. One way beekeepers combat these stressors is by providing supplemental protein diets to honey bee colonies to ensure adequate colony nutrition. However Nosema spp., a microsporidian parasite of the honey bee, is thought to be associated closely with a colony’s nutritional intake, thus possibly negating any benefit the bees otherwise would have received from a nutritional supplement. Through three objectives, we examined how adult bees’ consumption of wildflower pollen or commercial pollen substitute diets affected Nosema levels in the bees’ midguts. For our first objective, we investigated how method of inoculation with Nosema affects infection levels in inoculated bees. Bees were infected with spores of Nosema four days after emergence. On day 15, bees were collected from the cages and Nosema spores were quantified. We found that inoculation through the pollen diet resulted in the highest Nosema levels in inoculated bees. In our second and third objectives, we provided the test diets to caged, newly emerged bees for a period of 15 days. Bees consuming pollen and a sucrose solution had more Nosema in their midguts than did bees consuming the sucrose solution alone (control). The overall volume of diet consumed by the bees did not correlate with the level of Nosema in their midguts. The level of Nosema was higher in bees fed certain commercial pollen substitute diets than in bees fed wildflower pollen. Our study illustrates how providing nutritional supplements to adult honey bees can impact the intensity of Nosema in their midguts.
A new instrument to measure plot-scale runoff

Abstract. Accurate measurement of the amount and timing of surface runoff at multiple scales is needed to understand fundamental hydrological processes. At the plot scale (i.e., length scales on the order of 1–10 m) current methods for direct measurement of runoff either store the water in a collection vessel, which is not conducive to long-term monitoring studies, or utilize expensive installations such as large-scale tipping buckets or flume/weir systems. We developed an alternative low-cost, robust and reliable instrument to measure runoff that we call the "Upwelling Bernoulli Tube" (UBeTube). The UBeTube instrument is a pipe with a slot machined in its side that is installed vertically at the base of a runoff collection system. The flow rate through the slot is inferred by measuring the water height within the pipe. The geometry of the slot can be modified to suit the range of flow rates expected for a given site; we demonstrate a slot geometry that is capable of measuring flow rates across more than 3 orders of magnitude (up to 300 L min−1) while requiring only 30 cm of hydraulic head. System accuracy is dependent on both the geometry of the slot and the accuracy of the water level measurements. Using a pressure sensor with ±7 mm accuracy, the mean theoretical error for the demonstrated slot geometry was ~17% (ranging from errors of more than 50% at low flow rates to less than 2% at high flow rates), while the observed error during validation was 1–25%. A simple correction factor reduced this mean error to 0–14%, and further reductions in error could be achieved through the use of taller, narrower slot dimensions (which requires greater head gradients to drive flow) or through more accurate water level measurements. The UBeTube device has been successfully employed in a long-term rainfall-runoff study, demonstrating the ability of the instrument to measure surface runoff across a range of flows and conditions.
Simulating a bubbly ocean

Bubbles, which form on the ocean surface when waves break, are an important part of air-sea gas transfer. They also affect the optical and acoustical properties of the near-surface ocean. Observations of oceanic bubbles are limited, and scientists do not yet fully understand subsurface bubble evolution and the role of bubbles in ocean dynamics as well as air-sea gas transfer. Liang et al., building on their previous study of bubbles in the ocean, used a multisize, multicomponent bubble model embedded in a large-eddy simulation model for turbulent oceanic boundary flows to study how bubbles evolve in the ocean after they form, what determines the subsurface bubble distribution, how bubbles affect boundary layer turbulence, and what the subsurface bubble distribution means for bubble-mediated gas transfer. They found that bubbles dissolve while being carried by turbulent flows, and the mean subsurface bubble distribution can be quantified using wind speed and sea state. The model could help improve understanding of bubbles' role in air-sea gas exchange. (Journal of Geophysical Research-Oceans, doi:10.1029/2011JC007766, 2012)
The emergent knowledge-based theory of competitive advantage: an evolutionary approach to integrating economics and management

This article explores the intersection of management and economics in the strategic management literature. Specifically, it examines knowledge-based advantages from management and economics perspectives to highlight differences in explanations of: (1) the source of an advantage, (2) determinants of sustainability of an advantage, and (3) the factors that predict rent appropriation patterns from a competitive advantage. I conclude that both perspectives contribute to our understanding of why firms perform differently. Furthermore, the gradual or evolutionary integration that has occurred over time is effective and efficient for exploring the nature of strategic management problems. Finally, the dynamic competitive and technological environment will continue to yield new opportunities for integration of theoretical approaches. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cohort Profile: The Themba Lethu Clinical Cohort, Johannesburg, South Africa

The Themba Lethu Clinical Cohort was established in 2004 to allow large patient-level analyses from a single HIV treatment site to evaluate National Treatment Guidelines, answer questions of national and international policy relevance and to combine an economic and epidemiologic focus on HIV research. The current objectives of the Themba Lethu Clinical Cohort analyses are to: (i) provide cohort-level information on the outcomes of HIV treatment; (ii) evaluate aspects of HIV care and treatment that have policy relevance; (iii) evaluate the cost and cost-effectiveness of different approaches to HIV care and treatment; and (iv) provide a platform for studies on improving HIV care and treatment. Since 2004, Themba Lethu Clinic has enrolled approximately 30 000 HIV-positive patients into its HIV care and treatment programme, over 21 000 of whom have received anti-retroviral therapy since being enrolled. Patients on treatment are typically seen at least every 3 months with laboratory monitoring every 6 months to 1 year. The data collected include demographics, clinical visit data, laboratory data, medication history and clinical diagnoses. Requests for collaborations on analyses can be submitted to our data centre.
Viewpoint from occluding contour

Abstract In this paper we present the geometry and the algorithms for organizing a viewer-centered representation of the occluding contour of a polyhedron. The contour is computed from a polyhedral boundary model as it would appear under orthographic projection into the image plane from every viewpoint on the view sphere. Using this representation, we show how to derive constraints on regions in viewpoint space from the relationship between detected image features and our precomputed contour model. Such constraints are based on both qualitative (viewpoint extent) and quantitative (angle measurements and relative geometry) information that has been precomputed about how the contour appears in the image plane as a set of projected curves and T-junctions from self-occlusion. The results we show from an experimental system demonstrate that features of the occluding contour can be computed in a model-based framework, and that their geometry constrains the viewpoints from which a model will project to a set of occluding contour features in an image.
ANTIGENIC PROPERTIES OF MURINE SARCOMA VIRUS-TRANSFORMED BALB/3T3 NONPRODUCER CELLS

The isolation of clonal lines of murine sarcoma virus-transformed, non-producer BALB/3T3 cells has provided a model system for determining whether RNA tumor virus-transformed cells possess virus-specific transplantation antigens. MSV nonproducer cells (K-234) were clonally derived from an inbred mouse cell line, BALB/3T3. A parallel virus-producing cell line was obtained by infection of the MSV nonproducer cells with Rauscher leukemia virus. K-234 was much more tumorigenic than K-234(R). Preimmunization of syngeneic mice with either K-234(R) or with UV-inactivated Rauscher leukemia virus induced transplantation resistance to subsequent challenge with K-234(R), but not with K-234. In contrast, mice preimmunized with nonproducer cells were not made resistant to subsequent challenge with the homologous cells. Antisera prepared from mice immunized with K-234(R) were specifically cytotoxic and positive by fluorescent antibody staining for K-234(R) target cells, but not to either BALB/3T3 or K-234. The results show that MSV nonproducer cells lack detectable transplantation antigens and suggest that the transplantation resistance to the producing cells is attributable to maturing virus at the cell surface.
Anomaly intrusion detection in wireless sensor networks

We propose lightweight methods to detect anomaly intrusions in wireless sensor networks (WSNs). The main idea is to reuse the already available system information that is generated at various layers of a network stack. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first such approach for anomaly intrusion detection in WSNs.
Multi-Facet Of Regional Agricultural Truck Transportation: History, Tonnage, And Law 1997 And 2002

The paper presents a regional comparative analysis of agricultural products transported by truck among five states - Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota in 1997 and 2002. Sections of the paper include a brief history of the trucking industry, an outline of inefficiencies in truck transportation, discussion on the uniformity of trucking regulations, and analysis of the value and tonnage of commodities transported within the five-state region. The comparison reveals Nebraska is a major source of agricultural commodities for its neighbors and the country as a whole.
Internet Based Morphable Model

In this paper we present a new concept of building a morphable model directly from photos on the Internet. Morphable models have shown very impressive results more than a decade ago, and could potentially have a huge impact on all aspects of face modeling and recognition. One of the challenges, however, is to capture and register 3D laser scans of large number of people and facial expressions. Nowadays, there are enormous amounts of face photos on the Internet, large portion of which has semantic labels. We propose a framework to build a morph able model directly from photos, the framework includes dense registration of Internet photos, as well as, new single view shape reconstruction and modification algorithms.
Creating an Innovative Interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate Program

In response to a growing movement within higher education to provide interdisciplinary educational programs, this study describes the creation of an interdisciplinary graduate certificate program in healthcare policy and management. Building on prior research, we surveyed healthcare executives to examine their perceptions about the need for such a program and the importance of core subject areas. Drawing on our findings as well as the literature on “interactional expertise” and “wicked problems,” we provide a detailed method for launching an interdisciplinary program. Our process may be useful in guiding other institutions interested in setting up new interdisciplinary programs of their own.
Subpopulations of human peripheral blood lymphocytes

Abstract Multiple staining protocols have been developed for the classification of subpopulations of human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Of the non-T (E−) cells, roughly half (10–20% PBL) have receptors for complement components as detected with complement-coated zymosan particles, but do not show Fc receptors as detected with Ripley IgG-coated human RBC. The other half are C−, Fc+, with a small percentage possessing both receptors. The C+, Fc− cells can be subdivided into cells which are IgM+ (75%) or IgM−. Cells with Fc receptors detected with aggregated IgG were IgM+.
Interuncal Distance: Marker of Aging and Alzheimer Disease

PURPOSE To evaluate the utility of a recently reported simple measure of brain atrophy on MR imaging, the interuncal distance (IUD). METHODS Measurements of the IUD were made over a 12-month interval in 10 patients with probable early Alzheimer disease and in a comparison group of age-matched healthy control subjects. The measurements were made in both the transaxial and coronal planes. RESULTS Significant group differences for the coronal measurement of IUD were found in both the absolute value of the measurement and the IUD corrected for head size. There was overlap in IUD between the disease and the control groups. These differences were not found for the transaxial IUD. Significant positive correlations of the IUD with Mini-Mental State Examination score and Clinical Dementia Rating Scale stage were observed. Over the age range tested, age was not significantly correlated with IUD in the sample. CONCLUSIONS The interuncal distance (IUD) is not a useful screening measurement for Alzheimer disease.
Differential activity and lack of synergy of lung surfactant proteins SP-B and SP-C in interactions with phospholipids.

This study shows that the hydrophobic lung surfactant proteins (SP)-B and SP-C are not synergistic in enhancing functionally relevant surface behaviors in films and dispersions with phospholipids, and that SP-B is more effective than SP-C in facilitating surface activity. Purified bovine SP-B, SP. C, or SP-B/C (1/1 by wt) were combined with chroma tographically purified calf lung surfactant phospholipids (PPL), or with dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) or complex phospholipid mixtures containing 75% or 50% DPPC (75% SPL or 50% SPL). Adsorption was consistently better in corresponding mixtures of phospholipids plus SP-B versus SP-C, but was not improved further by substitution of SP-B/C for SP-B. Interfacial films of DPPC or SPL plus 1.3% SP-B or 1.3% SP-C had improved respreading compared to phospholipids alone (Wilhelmy balance, 23 degrees C and 37 degrees C), but substitution of mixed SP-B/C for either pure apoprotein did not increase respreading further. Surface-excess films of phospholipids plus SP-B had higher maximum surface pressures, or maintained a high maximum pressure through more consecutive compressions, than corresponding films with SP-C. Dispersions of phospholipids plus 1.3% SP-B or mixed (1/1) SP-B/C (2.6%) rapidly lowered surface tension to
The Firm as the Nexus of Relational Contracts: An Empirical Assessment of Real Estate Brokers

The theory of the firm has long recognized that the separation of ownership from control may cause a firm to take actions that would not be taken were managers to have incentives identical to those of the firm's owners. Empirical studies have examined the actions of managers who are not adequately monitored and who have incentives that directly conflict with those of the owners. Other studies have examined the relationship between the choice to integrate a firm vertically and circumstances that are hypothesized to be related to differential levels of transaction costs. This Article alternatively examines the consequences of dividing the responsibilities of an agent between two firms, relative to engaging a single firm to perform the same duties. The transactions studied consist of a sample of 1,247 single family dwelling sales in a jurisdiction that followed the traditional legal rule, under which a selling brokerage firm in a transaction consummated through the auspices of the MLS acts as a sub-agent of the listing brokerage firm, absent an express contractual agreement to the contrary. This study provides evidence that a division of the responsibilities of the seller's agent between two firms is associated with a statistically significant decrease in the sales price realized by the seller, where the selling agent usually acts in the capacity of selling agent. Some models find such a statistically significant decrease, independent of the frequency with which the selling agent acts as a selling agent. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that there may be lesser transaction costs arising from engaging a single firm to perform two distinct but related tasks, relative to the transaction costs arising from engaging different firms to perform the two tasks, notwithstanding the absence of any variation in the applicable duties under law. That differential might be characterized as representing a component of the value arising from the ability to form a firm--to form a "nexus of contracts". As this study provides evidence that the extent of integration within a single firm of a set of related duties can affect the extent of compliance with those duties, this study supports the notion that a firm, in this context, should be viewed as a nexus of relational contracts.
Diagnosing the Disconnected: Where and Why is Broadband Access Unavailable in the U.S.?

This paper constructs a framework for modeling the determinants of broad band availability in the United States, and applies it to a zip code-level database of economic, demographic, geophysical, and policy variables constructed by the author. Statistically significant state effects exist, suggesting that, after controlling for a long list of economic and demographic factors, state-level policies appear to have played a role in accelerating or retarding broadband deployment. I find that geophysical variables are important determinants of differences in broadband availability across zip codes, presumably because of their effects on broadband deployment costs. My results here suggest that omitting these variables from supply side analyses is likely to result in significant estimation biases in empirical econometric work. Geophysical variables are also excellent candidates for use as instruments in future work on broadband demand, where dealing with unmeasured variation in quality of service chosen by consumers is clearly an important problem for researchers, and availability of instrumental variables to deal with this issue has been problematic. Interesting results on the impact of a variety of socioeconomic variables on broadband deployment are available. Income and wealth variables unsurprisingly seem to be among the determinants of lack of broadband availability, but population density’s role is much more problematic. When a full set of explanatory variables is used, the results suggest that absolute market size, not some measure of density relative to physical area, is the key determinant. I note that the 'digital divide' reducing African American use of broadband, cet. par., seems to have vanished. A statistically significant impact of the eRate (Universal Service Fund) program linking schools and libraries was evident in 2005, with a positive impact on reducing areaswithout broadband service.
Disorders of Sexual Differentiation, Gynecological, and Anorectal Abnormalities

Evaluation and management of gynecological malformations, disorders of sexual differentiation (DSD), and anorectal malformation can be complex and often requires a multidisciplinary approach. Evaluation of these children includes a thorough physical examination, laboratory tests, imaging, and, occasionally, cystoscopy, vaginoscopy, hysteroscopy, and laparoscopy. A brief description of the embryology of the lower genitourinary tract is provided to understand the pathophysiology and classification of these malformations. Ultrasound should be the primary modality for the evaluation of most gynecologic and DSD pathologies. In more complex cases, a multimodal imaging approach is necessary to delineate the malformation and any associated anomalies. We describe the imaging approach in the diagnosis and management of interlabial masses (introital cysts, imperforate hymen, prolapsed ureterocele, and botryoides rhabdomyosarcoma tumor), internal gynecological abnormalities (vaginal agenesis, abnormalities of vertical fusion, and abnormalities of lateral fusion), DSD (complete androgen insensitivity syndrome, ovotesticular DSD, and urogenital sinus, including congenital adrenal hyperplasia), as well as anorectal anomalies (imperforate anus and cloacal malformation).
CASE STUDY: Using Urine pH as a Predictor for Ketosis in Transition Dairy Cows1

An experiment was conducted to determine whether urine pH could be used to predict the incidence of ketosis in transition dairy cows. Urine was collected three times weekly from 41 Holstein cows from approximately 21 d prepartum until 21 d postpartum. Concentrations of acetoacetate and the pH of the urine were measured immediately; then, the urine was stored frozen until later analysis for concentrations of β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA). Correlations between urine pH and concentrations of acetoacetate and BHBA were −0.50 and −0.65, respectively. Stepwise regression was used to determine variables that were related to concentrations of ketones in the urine. Urine pH was a significant (P<0.05) predictor for both acetoacetate and BHBA concentrations in urine. Additional predictor variables for acetoacetate concentrations were somatic cell count score (SCCS), DMI, milk protein yield, day relative to calving, and calving date. Additional predictor variables for BHBA concentrations were SCCS, DMI, milk protein percentage, milk fat yield, day relative to calving, calving date, and animal identification. Inclusion of the cow-specific variables calving date, day relative to calving, and animal identification as significant predictors is an indication that urine pH is not a good predictor of ketosis status across an entire herd but may be useful for specific cows with a known history.
Pattern of neck recurrence after lateral neck dissection for cervical metastases in papillary thyroid cancer.

Background The objective of this study was to determine the rate and pattern of nodal recurrence in patients who underwent a therapeutic, lateral neck dissection (LND) for papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) with clinically evident cervical metastases and to determine if there was any correlation between the extent of initial dissection and the rate and pattern of neck recurrence. Methods A total of 3,664 patients with PTC treated between 1986 and 2010 at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center were identified from our institutional database. Tumor factors, patient demographics, extent of initial LND, and adjuvant therapy were recorded. Patterns of recurrent lateral neck metastases by level involvement were recorded and outcomes calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results A total of 484 patients had an LND for cervical metastases; 364 (75%) had a comprehensive LND (CLND) and 120 (25%) had a selective neck dissection (SND). The median duration of follow-up was 63.5 months. As expected, patients with CLND had a greater number of nodes removed as well as a greater number of positive nodes (P Conclusion Patients with clinically evident neck metastases from PTC managed by CLND have lesser rates of recurrence in the dissected neck compared with patients managed by SND. SND should only be done in highly selected cases with small volume disease.
Parasites and Predators Associated with Five Species of Leaf-Mining Insects in Black Locust

The parasites and predators associated with leaf mining insects in black locust, Robinia pseudoacacia L., are not well known. Records in the literature are limited and incomplete concerning predatism and parasitism even for the commonest species of leaf miner, the locust leaf miner, Xenochalepus dorsalis Thunberg. In 1963 and 1964, bionomical observations of 5 species of leaf-mining insects in black locust were conducted in the vicinity of Morgantown, W. Va., and their associated entomophagous insects were recorded. This paper reports the relationships of the parasites and predators of X. dorsalis, Lithocolletis robiniella Clemens, L. ostensackenella (Fitch), Parectopa robiniella Clemens, and a dipterous species of the family Agromyzidae as determined in this study and previously recorded in the literature.
Management of Interstate/International River Basins in a Multidimensional Society

The majority of the world’s river basins do not adhere to political, geographical or human-imposed boundaries. Even in a large country such as the United States, where many large rivers cross state boundaries, each state may have different needs and requirements. The degree of uncertainty between expectations of varying interest groups becomes even more pronounced when a river crosses an international boundary. For example, the needs of upstream riparian residents may be completely different than those of downstream residents. In many cases, the countries may work out a reasonable solution to these difficult problems. Overall, it is prudent for all the concerned entities, states, and/or countries to follow some basic concepts and principles to develop a solution that is acceptable to all parties. The present paper outlines several such concepts and principles for management of large rivers such as the Kankakee and Mississippi Rivers in the United States, and the Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers in Asia. A procedure also will be outlined to develop a reasonable, acceptable solution for integrated management of large river basins. River managers and engineers should keep in mind several points: each river basin is unique; river management must benefit people in the basin; priorities of various users may be differ; a basinwide institutional framework must be implemented; concepts and ideas must be developed for total river basin management; water in all forms must be shared among people in the basin; human health and environmental needs must be an integral component; and, finally, any and all management options must incorporate monitoring and data collection for use in the ultimate concept of “adaptive management.”
Reconstructive urology and geriatrics: issues in older adults.

Purpose of review The elderly population is continuing to expand at record pace in the vast majority of countries worldwide. Many urologic conditions that necessitate reconstructive surgery occur in geriatric patients. To date, there has been a paucity of research on the effects of aging with regard to reconstructive procedures in elderly patients. This review examines factors that influence the feasibility and outcomes of reconstructive urologic surgery in older adults. Recent findings Age alone has generally not been identified as a significant predictive factor for outcomes in geriatric patients undergoing surgery. Comorbid diseases associated with reduction of physiologic reserve capacity and impairments in the level of independence for activities of daily living appear to have more predictive value. Recent research has focused on defining frailty as a condition that frequently occurs in older adults and may influence clinical outcomes. A variety of cellular and tissue changes associated with aging have also been studied. Inflammatory mediators may play an important role in this process. Summary Many urologic conditions that require reconstructive surgery occur in elderly patients. Careful planning may help to improve outcomes. However, there appear to be inherent changes associated with the physiology of normal aging that can significantly influence this process.
Protein-calorie malnutrition impairs the anti-viral function of macrophages.

SummaryMice which are normally resistant to infection with Wesselsbron (WBV) virus became rapidly susceptible to disease due to this agent after being placed on protein-depletion diet. After ip inoculation large amounts of virus appeared in the circulation followed by fatal encephalitis. In normally fed mice only small amounts of virus could be detected in blood and no disease developed. This suggested that local defense mechanisms which normally restrict the extent of infection was sensitive to the early effects of protein-calorie malnutrition. That this was due at least in part to impaired antiviral function of macrophage under these conditions was confirmed by in vitro macrophage studies. Over the course of 24 hr infectious WBV disappeared after inoculation into cultures of normal macrophages whereas infectivity persisted at high titers in macrophages from protein-depleted mice.This work was supported by a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation.
Teaching techniques that motivate.

Abstract “Of studie took he most cure and most heede. Noght o word spak he moore than was neede; And that was seyd in forme and reverence, and short, and quyk, and ful of hy sentence. Sownynge in moral vertu was his speche; And gladly wolde he lerne, and gladly teche.” Chaucer—Prologue IN HIS Prologue Chaucer wrote nearly six hundred years ago that a scholar would gladly learn and gladly teach. But the leisurely pace of the Canterbury pilgrims has long vanished. When Russia rocketed the first Sputnik into space, a shocked world suddenly realized the crucial need for education. As a news bulletin from South Dakota State University recently put it, “Human life is a race between education and catastrophe.” National leaders have quickly seen the vital role science and technology play in the Cold War we are fighting to maintain our freedoms. Yet the good teacher knows that …
Partitioned Feasibility Tests for Sporadic Tasks on Heterogeneous Machines

In this paper we consider feasibility tests for partitioned scheduling sporadic tasks on a set of heterogeneous machines with different speeds. Previously a 3-approximate feasibility test was known. The feasibility test is a natural, fast and efficient algorithm which greedily assigns the tasks to machines and uses Earliest-Deadline-First (EDF) on each machine. The algorithm is 3-approximate even when compared against any schedule which need not be partitioned and therefore additionally bounds the loss due to using a partitioned scheduler. In our work, we consider the case where the adversary is required to be partitioned. We show that this natural algorithm has an improved approximate feasibility factor of 2. Building on our techniques, we further improve on the best known approximate algorithm when the adversary is partition and show the algorithm achieves a ratio better than 3. In particular, we show it is 2.98 approximate. We then consider the case where the partitioned scheduler is required to use Rate-Monotonic-Scheduling (RMS) on each of the machines. Previously, it was known that this algorithm is 3.41-approximate when compared to a non-partitioned adversary. We improve this to 2.41 when comparing to a partitioned adversary. Further, we build on these ideas to improve the best known result when compared against a partitioned adversary and show the algorithm is a 3.34 approximation.
Sparse Functional Dynamical Models — A Big Data Approach

ABSTRACTNonlinear dynamical systems are encountered in many areas of social science, natural science, and engineering, and are of particular interest for complex biological processes like the spiking activity of neural ensembles in the brain. To describe such spiking activity, we adapt the Volterra series expansion of an analytic function to account for the point-process nature of multiple inputs and a single output (MISO) in a neural ensemble. Our model describes the transformed spiking probability for the output as the sum of kernel-weighted integrals of the inputs. The kernel functions need to be identified and estimated, and both local sparsity (kernel functions may be zero on part of their support) and global sparsity (some kernel functions may be identically zero) are of interest. The kernel functions are approximated by B-splines and a penalized likelihood-based approach is proposed for estimation. Even for moderately complex brain functionality, the identification and estimation of this sparse fun...
A recommendation for timing of repeat Chlamydia trachomatis test following infection and treatment in pregnant and nonpregnant women.

The objective of this study was to describe the time required to obtain a negative chlamydia test in pregnant and nonpregnant women following treatment to inform test-of-cure collection and recommend an abstinence period to avoid reinfection. Seventy-two women with Chlamydia trachomatis infection, 36 pregnant and 36 nonpregnant, were enrolled in a prospective cohort study. Women were excluded less than 18 years of age, if they had been treated for chlamydia, reported an allergy to macrolide antibiotics, or if they had Myasthenia Gravis. Women were treated for chlamydia with single-dose therapy and submitted weekly vaginal chlamydia nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs). Once NAAT were negative, the participants completed the study. Forty-seven women completed the study per protocol. The primary outcome was to determine the time to a negative chlamydia NAAT following treatment, with secondary outcomes of determining the appropriate time to collect a test-of-cure following chlamydia treatment and to reco...
Opioid overdose prevention and naloxone rescue kits: what we know and what we don't know.

The opioid use and overdose crisis is persistent and dynamic. Opioid overdoses were initially driven in the 1990s and 2000s by the increasing availability and misuse of prescription opioids. More recently, opioid overdoses are increasing at alarming rates due to wider use of heroin, which in some places is mixed with fentanyl or fentanyl derivatives. Naloxone access for opioid overdose rescue is one of the US Department of Health and Human Services’ three priority areas for responding to the opioid crisis. This article summarizes the known benefits of naloxone access and details unanswered questions about overdose education and naloxone rescue kits. Hopefully future research will address these knowledge gaps, improve the effectiveness of opioid overdose education and naloxone distribution programs, and unlock the full promise of naloxone rescue kits.
A 58.6 mW 30 Frames/s Real-Time Programmable Multiobject Detection Accelerator With Deformable Parts Models on Full HD $1920\times 1080$ Videos

This paper presents a programmable, energy-efficient, and real-time object detection hardware accelerator for low power and high throughput applications using deformable parts models, with 2x higher detection accuracy than traditional rigid body models. Three methods are used to address the high computational complexity of eight deformable parts detection: classification pruning for 33x fewer part classification, vector quantization for 15x memory size reduction, and feature basis projection for 2x reduction in the cost of each classification. The chip was fabricated in a 65 nm CMOS technology, and can process full high definition 1920 × 1080 videos at 60 frames/s without any OFF-chip storage. The chip has two programmable classification engines (CEs) for multiobject detection. At 30 frames/s, the chip consumes only 58.6 mW (0.94 nJ/pixel, 1168 GOPS/W). At a higher throughput of 60 frames/s, the CEs can be time multiplexed to detect even more than two object classes. This proposed accelerator enables object detection to be as energy-efficient as video compression, which is found in most cameras today.
Cities and Business

Abstract Recent trends and evolving relationships between business activity and urban development are examined in this chapter. The analyses described place considerable emphasis on the impact of globalization, the rise of information and computer technology (ICT) and changing political systems and ideologies on both business development and process, and urbanization. In short, an argument that much of urban growth over the past decade or two has been technology driven in nature. Consequently, the examination of the scale and geographic distribution of technology intensive business activity form the first part of the chapter. It is noted and importantly so, that the very large majority (about 90 percent) of such activity is located in urban areas due to agglomeration economies and other proximal benefits of such locations. The chapter also examines the impacts globalization, technology and political dynamics have had on business process and in turn how this has contributed to the locational dyanmics of commercial activity in urbanized areas. Some elements of urban and commercial location theory are reviewed and assessed in the context of this latter assessment along with emergent trends such as the rise of edge cites as new commercial centers “on the edge” and acceleration of so-called “urban sprawl”. Next, the rapid rise in importance of enterprise development or entrepreneurship policies and programs as part of the basic matrix of urban economic development efforts is recognized and assessed. The chapter concludes with a summary and conclusion that cities will increasingly make large investment in policies and programs designed to produce proportional increases in successful growth ventures and thus the sustainability of their economies.
Hypoxic proliferation requires EGFR-mediated ERK activation in human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells

We have previously shown that hypoxic proliferation of human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (hPMVECs) depends on epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation. To determine downstream signaling leading to proliferation, we tested the hypothesis that hypoxia-induced proliferation in hPMVECs would require EGFR-mediated activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) leading to arginase II induction. To test this hypothesis, hPMVECs were incubated in either normoxia (21% O2, 5% CO2) or hypoxia (1% O2, 5% CO2) and Western blotting was performed for EGFR, arginase II, phosphorylated-ERK (pERK), and total ERK (ERK). Hypoxia led to greater EGFR, pERK, and arginase II protein levels than did normoxia in hPMVECs. To examine the role of EGFR in these hypoxia-induced changes, hPMVECs were transfected with siRNA against EGFR or a scrambled siRNA and placed in hypoxia. Inhibition of EGFR using siRNA attenuated hypoxia-induced pERK and arginase II expression as well as the hypoxia-induced increase in viable cell numbers. hPMVECs were then treated with vehicle, an EGFR inhibitor (AG1478), or an ERK pathway inhibitor (U0126) and placed in hypoxia. Pharmacologic inhibition of EGFR significantly attenuated the hypoxia-induced increase in pERK level. Both AG1478 and U0126 also significantly attenuated the hypoxia-induced increase in viable hPMVECs numbers. hPMVECs were transfected with an adenoviral vector containing arginase II (AdArg2) and overexpression of arginase II rescued the U0126-mediated decrease in viable cell numbers in hypoxic hPMVECs. Our findings suggest that hypoxic activation of EGFR results in phosphorylation of ERK, which is required for hypoxic induction of arginase II and cellular proliferation.
Global Fish Trade, Prices, and Food Security in an African Coral Reef Fishery

This study evaluated the potential impact of global fish trade on local food prices by analyzing a 16-year locally collected time series of disaggregated coral reef fish products and prices that di...
The association of catastrophizing with quality-of-life outcomes in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

Background Catastrophizing is a cognitive process characterized by a propensity to concentrate on and magnify the value of an actual or anticipated painful stimulus and negatively assesses one’s ability to cope. Catastrophizing is an important predictor of pain-related outcomes. A cornerstone symptom of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is abdominal pain or discomfort. Also individuals with IBS have been reported to have a tendency to catastrophize. In a sample of individuals who suffer from IBS, we hypothesized that those individuals who catastrophize (catastrophizers) would have worse outcomes as compared to those who do not catastrophize (non-catastrophizers).
Rodrigo Fresán's Jardines de Kensington: Literature as Home

ABSTRACTReading contemporary arguments either in favor of or against cosmopolitanism, one cannot help but notice that it is almost exclusively debated as part of a sociopolitical discourse. Literary space per se, as a potentially cosmopolitan landscape and a plausible alternative to the political order, remains unexplored. In this article, I propose to redirect cosmopolitan discourse toward literature and explore how literature destabilizes and reimagines it. My touchstone will be Rodrigo Fresan, particularly his novel Jardines de Kensington, a text that theorizes writing literature and views it as an inclusive physical and geographical territory. In a world where national and cultural boundaries are blurred, where migration is a norm, and where the ideal of the nation-state seems to be incapable of articulating one's belonging, Fresan proposes to consider literature as a space that could be called home, challenging the tradition of authorial rights and property and suggesting that literature be viewed as...
A Conceptual Shift: an Operant Approach to Human Interaction

The operant approach to human interaction has been found weak in two areas of theoretical interest: explanatory power and the human organism. The discussion recapitulates an operant approach to human interaction in which these two areas of weakness are put into a different perspective, and an expanded representation of this approach is offered. From this perspective the absence of explanatory power is not seen as a fatal weakness, and descriptions of the nature of the human organism are not needed to make up for that absence.
Bodies in space: emplacement in Alice Rohrwacher’s Corpo celeste

Alice Rohrwacher’s debut feature film, Corpo celeste (2011), presents the coming-of-age story of a female adolescent as she unsuccessfully attempts to integrate herself into a postmodern, placeless...