cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of Storage Conditions on the Forage Quality Characteristics and Ergovaline Content of Endophyte-Infected Tall Fescue Hays

Throughout the southern Ozark Highlands, endophyte-infected tall fescue (Lolium arundi- naceum (Schreb.) Darbysh) hay often is stored outdoors, without cover. At two research sites (Fayetteville and Batesville, AR), the effects of unprotected storage were assessed for large round bales of tall fescue hay packaged at three diameters (≈1.1, 1.4, and 1.7 m). Bales were stored over winter either inside or outside on wooden pallets and then sampled at three depths (0-0.15 m, 0.15-0.31 m, and 0.31-0.46 m). At both locations, bale diameter had no effect (p > 0.05) on dry matter (DM) recovery or nutritive value. Generally, there was little dete- rioration of nutritive value during the storage period, regardless of treatment; however, some interactions (p ≤ 0.041) of storage location and sampling depth were observed at each experi- mental site. Ruminal disappearance kinetics of DM exhibited some statistical differences (p ≤ 0.030) in response to treatment; however, their relative magnitude was generally small, and there was little evidence to suggest biologi- cal relevance. After storage, concentrations of ergovaline were not affected (p > 0.05) by baling treatment at Batesville (overall mean 256 μg kg −1 ); however, this was a 27.3% reduction from the initial concentration immediately after mowing. At Fayetteville this reduction was even greater, falling by 79.4% between standing forage (539 μg kg −1 ) and samples taken from baled hay after storage (111 μg kg −1 ). At both sites, bales stored outside on wooden pallets exhibited relatively small changes in nutritive value, disappearance kinetics, and ergovaline at the bale surface rela- tive to the internal portions of the bale.
Prediction of hydrate dissociation conditions for alkanes in the presence of alcohol and electrolyte solutions using ion-based statistical associating fluid theory

Ion-based statistical associating fluid theory (SAFT2), coupled with van der Waals and Platteeuw theory, is applied to predict methane, ethane, and propane hydrate dissociation conditions in the presence of ethanol, ethylene glycol (MEG), and glycerol, as well as mixed MEG and electrolyte solutions, including NaCl, KCl, and CaCl2. Ion-based SAFT2 is found to give accurate predictions for these complex systems. The effects of temperature and concentration on hydrate dissociation conditions are well captured.
Uniform polymer particles formulated with ultraviolet protective materials for the protection of UV sensitive molecules

Abstract Ultraviolet radiation can cause significant degradation of skin, pharmaceuticals, and other materials. Previous work has shown that encapsulation of ultraviolet sensitive molecules or proximity to protective molecules can provide protection from photo-oxidation. This study explores the protective capacity of uniform polymeric particles containing both ultraviolet sensitive materials (beta-carotene) and ultraviolet protective materials (ultraviolet absorbers oxybenzone, avobenzone, and octyl-4-methoxycinnamate and the antioxidant vitamin E). Oxybenzone and avobenzone provided the most protection when used singly and provided the best protection overall when paired with vitamin E, preserving over 80% of the beta-carotene after 60 min of exposure. Ultraviolet absorber combinations did not show a synergistic effect due to photosensitization.
Binding of porcine von Willebrand factor to human platelets in the presence of ristocetin

Abstract The interaction of porcine von Willebrand factor (vWF) with human platelets in the presence of ristocetin was examined. Binding was rapid, specific, saturable and dependent on ristocetin concentration with half-maximal stimulation occuring at a ristocetin concentration of 0.5mM. Assuming vWF to be a tetramer with a MW of 9.5×10 −5 , approximately 94,000 vWF binding sites per platelet were found with an average binding constant of 2.1×10 −8 M. Humam vWF competed with the porcine protein for this site only in the presence of ristocetin. Binding of porcine vWF to platelets was found to be less sensitive to reduction with dithiothreitol than platelet agglutinating activity.
Decomposition of formic acid on copper, nickel, and copper-nickel alloys: III. Catalytic decomposition on nickel and copper-nickel alloys

Turnover rates for the catalytic dehydrogenation and dehydration of formic acid (HCOOH) on NiSiO2 and Ni and CuNi powders between 390 and 490K are reported. The decomposition rate constants calculated from these data are compared with values reported previously for the temperature-programmed decomposition (TPD) of HCOOH preadsorbed on Ni and CuNi. On these, catalytic dehydrogenation and dehydration seem to proceed through the same intermediate, believed to be a formate ion. The selectivity S, defined as the ratio of dehydrogenation to dehydration turnover rates, is independent of temperature, and between 4 and 6 on Ni and alloys with a surface Cu fraction less than 0.8. The observed selectivity is not affected by secondary reactions among the products. The intermediate appears to be bound to two adjacent Ni atoms. In contrast, TPD of HCOOH preadsorbed at low coverage on CuNi single crystals seems to involve a formic anhydride species that requires four adjacent Ni atoms, and decomposes with S equal to unity and a rate constant 5 × 103 times greater than that corresponding to the catalytic decomposition. Differences between catalytic and TPD data apparently arise from the effect of surface coverage on the relative surface density of formate and formic anhydride. Formate requires small nickel ensembles and predominates on fully covered surfaces typical of the catalytic reaction. This study demonstrates the differences in rate constant and S when reactive intermediates change with surface coverage because they require different ensembles for adsorption; in other words, they are structure sensitive.
Efficient Evaluation of k-Range Nearest Neighbor Queries in Road Networks

A k-Range Nearest Neighbor (or kRNN for short) query in road networks finds the k nearest neighbors of every point on the road segments within a given query region based on the network distance. The kRNN query is significantly important for location-based applications in many realistic scenarios. For example, (1) the user’s location is uncertain, i.e., user’s location is modeled by a spatial region, and (2) the user is not willing to reveal her exact location to preserve her privacy, i.e., her location is blurred into a spatial region. However, the existing solutions for kRNN queries simply apply the traditional k-nearest neighbor query processing algorithm multiple times, which poses a huge redundant searching overhead. To this end, we propose an efficient kRNN query processing algorithm in this paper. Our algorithm (1) employs a shared execution approach to eliminate the redundant searching overhead, and (2) provides a parameter that can be tuned to achieve a tradeoff between the query processing performance and the storage overhead, while guaranteeing the user’s exact k-nearest neighbors are included in the query answers. The experimental results show that our algorithm always outperforms the existing solution in terms of query response time, and the introduced tuning parameter is an effective way to achieve the tradeoff between the query response time and the storage overhead.
Type 2 Diabetes in Youth: Epidemiology and Current Research toward Prevention and Treatment

Type 2 diabetes mellitus has emerged as a diagnosis among adolescents in the United States, particularly among minority groups and concurrent with the well-documented epidemic of overweight and obesity. Opportunities for prevention of type 2 diabetes and approaches to optimized treatment regimens for adolescents with the disease have drawn largely from studies conducted in adult populations. Recognizing that much work remains to be done, this review summarizes key findings from recent research and highlights recent findings from large, ongoing studies of youth that address the prevalence and incidence of type 2 diabetes in young people, the prevalence of complications among this group, and the current knowledge base that informs opportunities for prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes in adolescents.
Random matrix model of QCD at finite density and the nature of the quenched limit.

We use a random matrix model to study chiral symmetry breaking in QCD at finite chemical potential $\ensuremath{\mu}$. We solve the model and compute the eigenvalue density of the Dirac matrix on a complex plane. A naive ``replica trick'' fails for $\ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{\ne}0$; we find that quenched QCD is not a simple $n\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0$ limit of QCD with $n$ quarks. It is the limit of a theory with $2n$ quarks: $n$ quarks with original action and $n$ quarks with conjugate action. The results agree with earlier studies of lattice QCD at $\ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{\ne}0$ and provide a simple analytical explanation of a long-standing puzzle.
Yield, size, and mushroom solids content of Agaricus bisporus produced on non-composted substrate and spent mushroom compost

Three crops of Agaricus bisporus were grown on non-composted substrate (NCS), spent mushroom compost (SMC), a 50/50 mixture of NSC/SMC, or pasteurized Phase II compost. NCS consisted of oak sawdust (28% oven dry wt), millet (29%), rye (8%), peat (8%), ground alfalfa (4%), ground soybean (4%), wheat bran (9%) and CaCO3 (10%). Substrates were non-supplemented or supplemented with Target® (a commercial delayed release nutrient for mushroom culture) or soybean meal at spawning or casing, or with Micromax® (a mixture of nine micronutrients) at spawning. Mushroom yield (27.2 kg/m2) was greatest on a 50/50 mixture of NCS/SMC supplemented with 10% (dry wt) Target® at casing. The same substrate supplemented with Target® at spawning yielded 20.1 kg/m2. By comparison, mushroom yield on Phase II compost supplemented at casing or at spawning with Target® was 21.6 kg/m2 and 20.6 kg/m2, respectively. On NCS amended with 0.74% or 0.9% Micromax® at spawning, yields increased by 51.8% (12.9 kg/m2) and 71.8% (14.6 kg/m2), respectively, over non-amended NCS (8.5 kg/m2). Conversely, mushroom yields were not affected when Micromax® was added to a 50/50 mixture of NCS/SMC. Mushroom solids content was higher in mushrooms harvested from NCS amended with 0.74% Micromax® (9.6%) compared to non-amended NCS (8.3%).
Use of cosmogenic 35S to determine the rates of removal of atmospheric SO2

GASEOUS sulphur dioxide supplied to the atmosphere is removed principally by three processes: direct scavenging in precipitation, oxidation to aerosol sulphate with subsequent deposition by vertical and horizontal precipitation, and 'dry' deposition, primarily on the surface of vegetation. The rates of these removal processes, which vary with environmental conditions, must be known in order to understand the fate of SO2 and the concentration and distribu-tion of aerosol sulphate1–3. The latter is thought to play a part in the heat balance of the lower troposphere4, and is thus relevant to the issue of global warming. Approaches to this problem using field observations5,6 have not given consistent or uncontested results. We report here the use of cosmogenic 35S (half-life 87.2 days) as a way of determining the time constants for oxidation, in-cloud scavenging and aerosol deposition. Our method involves determining 35S levels in gaseous SO2 , aerosol sulphate and precipitation. If these seasonally and regionally variable time constants can be applied to terrestrially produced SO2, 35S measurements could provide an independent method for studying the fate of SO2 in the atmosphere as a function of time and place.
Energetics of Quasiequivalence: Computational Analysis of Protein-Protein Interactions in Icosahedral Viruses

Quaternary structure polymorphism found in quasiequivalent virus capsids provides a static framework for studying the dynamics of protein interactions. The same protein subunits are found in different structural environments within these particles, and in some cases, the molecular switching required for the polymorphic quaternary interactions is obvious from high-resolution crystallographic studies. Employing atomic resolution structures, molecular mechanics, and continuum electrostatic methods, we have computed association energies for unique subunit interfaces of three icosahedral viruses, black beetle virus, southern bean virus, and human rhinovirus 14. To quantify the chemical determinants of quasiequivalence, the energetic contributions of individual residues forming quasiequivalent interfaces were calculated and compared. The potential significance of the differences in stabilities at quasiequivalent interfaces was then explored with the combinatorial assembly approach. The analysis shows that the unique association energies computed for each virus serve as a sensitive basis set that may determine distinct intermediates and pathways of virus capsid assembly. The pathways for the quasiequivalent viruses displayed isoenergetic oligomers at specific points, suggesting that these may determine the quaternary structure polymorphism required for the assembly of a quasiequivalent particle.
1676 CPAP DOES NOT ALTER CO2 SENSITIVITY

CPAP has been proposed as an effective treatment for the apnea of prematurity. Its mechanism of action is unknown. Twentyfour preterm infants receiving CPAP for the treatment of respiratory distress were studied at 0,5,and 10cm H2O CPAP. These infants were allowed to breathe 2%,5%,and 8% CO2 for 3 minutes each. During the 3rd minute, recordings of tidal volume,respiratory rate, and esophageal pressure were made. From these recordings, minute volume,inspiratory time (Ti) ,expiratory time (Te), compliance, duty cycle (Ti/Ttot), tidal volume/inspiratory time ratio (Vt/Ti) and CO2 sensitivity were calculated. Although CO2 sensitivity rose from 3.9±6.8 cc/min x mm Hg-1 at 0 cm H2O of CPAP to 4.8±8.0 at 10 cm H2O, this difference was not statistically significant. Significant differences in respiratory rate, Ti, Te, Vt/Ti, and Ti/Ttot were not observed when values for all 3 levels of CPAP were compared. Measurements of intraesophageal pressure indicated that 62% of the applied airway pressure was transmitted to the mediastinal structures at 5 cm H2O and 54% of applied pressure at 10 cm H2O. These results suggest that in a group of premature infants with poor CO2 sensitivity that CPAP does not either improve CO2 sensitivity or the drive to breathe, and that other explanations, such as improvement in arterial blood gases or stabilization of the chest wall must account for the relief of apnea in infants receiving CPAP therapy.
Snake river spring and summer Chinook salmon: Can they be saved?

Spring and summer chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha populations from the Snake River have declined precipitously from historical levels. Declines initially were the result of overfishing, but since the late 1950s they have been primarily the result of hydroelectric dams that blocked access to spawning areas, created slack water, and caused mortalities of juvenile outmigrants. Mitigation hatcheries and juvenile collection and bypass systems at dams, transportation of juveniles from upriver dams to a release site on the lower Columbia River, a water budget, allocated spill for fish at main-stem dams have not increased these populations appreciably. Ocean conditions may have been a factor in the low returns from 1976 through 1984, but the factors currently considered as controlling the viability of the run are the low genetic variability, lack of stress tolerance, and incidence of bacterial kidney disease inherent in the stock. With control of disease, reduced stress at main-stem projects, and continued efforts to maintain genetic variability, the chinook salmon populations should increase and their long-term viability should be assured.
Intubating conditions and time course of rocuronium-induced neuromuscular block in children.

We have investigated the potential of rocuronium 0.6 mg kg-1 (2xED95) and 0.9 mg kg-1 (3xED95) for rapid sequence induction in 100 children, aged 3-7 yr. Intubating conditions with the two different doses of rocuronium were assessed in 70 children (n = 35 in each group) undergoing elective surgery. Intubation was carried out by mimicking rapid sequence induction, and intubation conditions were evaluated according to a standard score. Intubating conditions were good to excellent in all 70 patients investigated (2xED95: excellent 29, good 6; 3xED95: excellent 33, good 2). In another 30 children (n = 15 in each group), we examined the times of rocuronium-induced neuromuscular block using electromyography. Lag time and recovery index did not differ significantly between the two groups (lag time: 37 (SD 12) vs 33 (14) s; recovery index: 9 (3) vs 10 (4) min). Three times the ED95 induced deeper neuromuscular block, 1 min after injection compared with 2xED95 (twitch height: 42 (24) vs 25 (19)%, respectively; P
Rapid oxidation of palmitate with concomitant phosphorylation of adenosine 5′-diphosphate by moth flight-muscle mitochondria

Abstract A procedure is described for isolating mitochondria from the thoracic muscle of the southern armyworm moth, Prodenia eridania . These mitochondria are capable of very rapidly oxidizing palmitate with concomitant phosphorylation of adenosine 5′-diphosphate. There is an absolute requirement for adenosine 5′-diphosphate and inorganic phosphate, but added nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide, nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate and carnitine have no effect. Maximal rates of oxygen uptake are found when a high-energy phosphate trap and some protein are present.
Theoretical Formulation of Collision Rate and Collision Efficiency of Hydrodynamically Interacting Cloud Droplets in Turbulent Atmosphere

A methodology for conducting direct numerical simulations (DNSs) of hydrodynamically interacting droplets in the context of cloud microphysics has been developed and used to validate a new kinematic formulation capable of describing the collision rate and collision efficiency of cloud droplets in turbulent air. The theoretical formulation is formally the same as the formulation recently developed for geometrical collision rate of finite-inertia, nonsettling particles. It is shown that its application to hydrodynamically interacting droplets requires corrections because of a nonoverlap requirement. An approximate method for correcting the kinematic properties has been developed and validated against DNS data. The formulation presented here is more general and accurate than previously published formulations that, in most cases, are some extension to the description of hydrodynamic–gravitational collision. General dynamic and kinematic representations of the properly defined collision efficiency in a turbulent flow have been discussed. In addition to augmenting the geometric collision rate, air turbulence has been found to enhance the collision efficiency because, in a turbulent flow, hydrodynamic interactions become less effective in reducing the average relative radial velocity. The level of increase in the collision efficiency depends on the flow dissipation rate. For example, the collision efficiency between droplet so f 20 and 25m in radii is increased by 59% and 10% by air turbulence at dissipation rates of 400 and 100 cm 2 s 3 , respectively. It is also shown that hydrodynamic interactions lead to higher droplet concentration fluctuations. The formulation presented here separates the effect of turbulence on collision efficiency from the previously observed effect of turbulence on the geometric collision rate.
Complete unilateral leg duplication with ipsilateral renal agenesis.

UNLABELLED A case of a 5-month-old infant with complete duplication of the right leg and ipsilateral renal agenesis is presented. There was also a duplicated scrotum, posterior urethral valves with hydronephrosis, abnormal pelvic bones, and a ventricular septal defect. Complete caudal duplication is exceedingly rare. Associated defects are common. Several aetiological theories have been proposed. Among them, an underlying polytopic (acro-renal) developmental field defect has been suggested. It best explains the specific findings in our patient. However, the aetiology of caudal duplication syndromes may be multifactorial. In the light of twinning theories, associated duplication of hindgut derivates should be suspected in similar cases. Further research is needed. The motor-skeletal functional outcome after leg duplication surgery is mostly favourable. CONCLUSION A case of complete unilateral leg duplication with ipsilateral renal agenesis is presented. It appears to support the theory of a polytopic developmental field defect.
Radiation damage to chromosomes in the scanning transmission x-ray microscope

Imaging with soft x rays having energies between the carbon and oxygen K edge (284 - 531 eV) yields large absorption contrast for wet organic specimens, but these soft x rays are known to be very effective in damaging biological specimens. The commonly used criterion of mass loss was employed for assessing radiation damage in the scanning transmission x-ray microscope. Multiple images of freeze-dried V. faba chromosomes show no significant mass loss after 150 Mrad. Experiments performed on fixed hydrated chromosomes revealed them to be radiation sensitive. The greater total mass loss observed in multiple low dose images compared to that incurred during a single high dose image suggests that the effects of radiation damage occur slower than the acquisition time for neighboring pixels. The radiation sensitivity of chromosomes depends critically on the fixative used, with damage minimized in glutaraldehyde fixed samples. Radiation damage to chromosomes is independent of ionic strength above 65 mM, but increases for ionic strengths below 65 mM. Using free radical scavengers in the buffer, and changing the design of the sample cell reduced the amount of damage incurred as a function of dose.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Job and data clustering for aggregate use of multiple production cyberinfrastructures

In this paper, we address the challenges of reducing the time-to-solution of the data intensive earthquake simulation workflow "CyberShake" by supplementing the high-performance parallel computing (HPC) resources on which it typically runs with distributed, heterogeneous resources that can be obtained opportunistically from grids and clouds. We seek to minimize time to solution by maximizing the amount of work that can be efficiently done on the distributed resources. We identify data movement as the main bottleneck in effectively utilizing the combined local and distributed resources. We address this by analyzing the I/O characteristics of the application, processor acquisition rate (from a pilot-job service), and the data movement throughput of the infrastructure. With these factors in mind, we explore a combination of strategies including partitioning of computation (over HPC and distributed resources) and job clustering.We validate our approach with a theoretical study and with preliminary measurements on the Ranger HPC system and distributed Open Science Grid resources. More complete performance results will be presented in the final submission of this paper.
Intravenous Aminobisphosphonates for Managing Complications of Malignant Osteolysis in Companion Animals

Aminobisphosphonates are a class of drugs effectively used for the management of pathologic skeletal conditions in people, most notably hormonally mediated osteoporosis and cancer-associated bone metastases. Based on their physicochemical properties, aminobisphosphonates concentrate within areas of active skeletal remodeling and exert protective bone biologic effects through the induction of osteoclast apoptosis. Given the similar mineral composition and cellular components of bone tissue shared among mammals, it would be expected that aminobisphosphonates should also be effective in managing malignant bone diseases in dogs and cats. The first half of this review article briefly summarizes the general properties of aminobisphosphonates including their pharmacology, mechanism of action, and potential adverse side effects. The second half of this review focuses on the clinical utility of aminobisphosphonates and measures of response in dogs and cats diagnosed with malignant skeletal tumors.
Selenium in Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a devastating and invariably fatal neurodegenerative brain disorder with no cure. Recent studies suggest that selenium may be beneficial in reducing Alzheimer’s pathology. Selenoprotein P is associated with Alzheimer’s pathology, and deletion of selenoprotein P impairs memory formation and synaptic function. Selenoproteins may be beneficial by reducing oxidative stress and ER stress, regulating intracellular calcium levels, and signaling through specific lipoprotein receptors. The benefits of different forms of selenium supplementation are currently being explored in research and clinical trials.
The role of rhenium in the conversion of glycerol to synthesis gas over carbon supported platinum-rhenium catalysts

Reaction kinetics measurements were carried out to study the conversion of aqueous solutions of glycerol (30 and 80 wt%) over carbon-supported Pt and Pt-Re catalysts at temperatures from 483 to 523 K. The results of these studies show that the turnover frequencies for production of H2, CO, CO2, and light alkanes (primarily methane) all increase upon the addition of Re to Pt/C catalysts. The molar ratio of H2/CO increases, while the CO/CO2 ratio decreases with Re addition, indicating increased rate of water-gas shift. For glycerol conversion over a Pt-Re/C catalyst with an atomic Pt:Re ratio of 1:1, increasing pressure or decreasing temperature leads to an increase in the production of alkanes and light oxygenated hydrocarbons (ethanol, methanol, propanediols, and acetone) at the expense of CO and CO2. Temperature-programmed desorption studies and microcalorimetric measurements indicate that addition of Re to Pt modifies the interaction of CO with surface sites. X-ray absorption spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy studies provide evidence indicating that Pt-Re/C catalysts consist primarily of bimetallic nanoparticles with sizes below 2 nm, and Re inhibits the sintering of these nanoparticles during reaction conditions for glycerol conversion. The results of these reaction kinetic studies and characterization studies indicate that the performancemore » of Pt-Re/C catalysts for glycerol conversion is related to the formation of Pt-Re nanoparticles, for which Re promotes the overall rate of glycerol reforming by reducing the binding energy of CO to Pt, thereby leading to less extensive blocking of surface sites by reaction intermediates and/or products. In addition, the presence of Re facilitates water-gas shift and Csingle bondO bond cleavage reactions.« less
Conscious sedation in pediatric speech endoscopy

Objective: Speech nasoendoscopy is one of the gold standards for evaluating velopharyngeal insufficiency. The vast majority of pediatric patients are able to tolerate this procedure within the clinic under local anesthetic. However, a select group of pediatric patients is unable to cooperate with the examination. Conscious sedation is commonly used in pediatrics to aid in patient tolerance and cooperating with selected procedures. Conscious sedation has never been reported in the literature for use in speech endoscopy. The purpose of this study is to describe a technique for performing sedated speech endoscopy and to review our experience with sedated speech endoscopy in a selected group of patients who were unable to cooperate with examination under local anesthesia alone. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed of pediatric patients between the ages of 2 and 15 who underwent conscious sedation for the speech nasoendoscopy. All examinations were performed at a tertiary care pediatric hospital. Sedation agent, tolerance of procedure, success of procedure, and complications associated with the procedure were recorded. Results: Fifty-seven sedated speech endoscopies were evaluated. Adequate examinations were obtained in 93% of patients overall and 100% of the patients evaluated while sedated with nitrous oxide. Complication rates and post-endoscopy speech management are reported. Conclusions: Sedated speech endoscopy is a promising modality for evaluating velopharyngeal insufficiency in the pediatric population that may not otherwise be able to cooperate with examination in the clinic.
Biological Dialogues: How to Teach Your Students to Learn Fluency in Biology

Biology courses have thousands of words to learn in order to intelligently discuss the subject and take tests over the material. Biological fluency is an important goal for students, and practical methods based on constructivist pedagogies can be employed to promote it. We present a method in which pairs of students write dialogues from instructor-assigned word lists that the student pairs then present before the class. This method helps students understand the contextual meaning of the biological terms, achieving true fluency rather than just memorizing definitions.
Discomfort associated with regional anesthetic placement in obstetrics: does alkalinization help?

Lidocaine is commonly used prior to intravenous catheter insertion as well as before instituting a regional anesthetic[ but it often causes a burning discomfort during injection. We undertook this study to determine if the addition of bicarbonate to lidocaine would decrease the discomfort associated with the initiation of regional anesthesia in obstetrics. Forty patients who were scheduled for elective cesarean section or who were in active labor were selected. Lidocaine was prepared before infiltration using 9 ml of preservative-free 1% lidocaine with either 1 ml of preservative-free normal saline or 1 ml of sodium bicarbonate (1 mEq.ml(-1)). A skin wheal was raised with 0.5 ml of the solution; the remainder (1.5 ml) was injected into the deep tissues. Pain was assessed using visual analog scales on three occasions, immediately after lidocaine placement, following introducer needle insertion (in the spinal group) or following epidural needle insertion (in the epidural group), and following the successful placement of the local anesthetic (in the spinal group) or the epidural catheter (in the epidural group). There was no difference in the visual analog scale scores at any of the assessment periods. We found no benefit from adding sodium bicarbonate to lidocaine used for infiltration before needle placement when initiating an obstetrical regional anesthetic.
Matching book-spine images for library shelf-reading process automation

Machine vision has become an important visual inspection technology for many automation applications. Using machine vision for automation can reduce operating costs and increase efficiency and accuracy. This paper presents an image matching technique designed specifically for improving the library inventory (shelf-reading) process. In contrast with more complex color image matching techniques, the proposed method quantizes color images of book spines into a limited number of color indices and performs image matching on the quantized color index images. This approach simplifies and speeds up the processing and improves the overall inventory process. The potential performance of this robust color quantization and image matching technique is demonstrated by the results of preliminary experiments.
What Teacher Educators Should Know about Poverty and Special Education

In this paper, we examine some modern myths of poverty and special education. Mythology has been a staple of curriculum for many years, particularly in the early grades. Students study mythology to understand historical societies, unearthing cultural values and mores communicated through fables. Not so benign are myths related to poverty and education, they perpetuate stereotypical thinking about special education and economically disadvantaged children. Mythology provides an ideal avenue by which teachers committed to social justice can begin to explore contemporary myths of poverty and education. We articulate three myths about special education and poverty herein, examining ways in which teachers can confront issues of equity through the study of contemporary mythology. Additionally, we suggest possible adaptations for teacher educators.
Multilane Highway to Congenital Infection

identification and prevention or treatment of some congenital infections. For example, primary maternal syphilis is likely to cause fetal death, and latent maternal syphilis may result in no fetal or neonatal disease or in an easily missed latent infection that ultimately causes devastating disease if not treated. Universal screening and treatment of pregnant women for syphilis has almost completely eradicated congenital disease. Likewise, antiviral interruption of mother-to-fetus transmission of
Workshop: Using a transcript catalog and paired-end RNA-Seq data to identify differential alternative splicing

Alternative splicing is one of the major contributors to transcript and protein diversity in many higher eukaryotes including humans, but so far the extent and impact of alternative splicing in plants has not been thoroughly investigated [1]. The purpose of our NSF-Eager grant is to use high-throughput RNA sequencing of the transcriptome to assess the role of alternative splicing in the host-pathogen interaction between Arabidopsis thaliana and Pseudomonas syringae. Although previous studies have demonstrated that alternative splicing plays an important role for individual genes during this interaction [2, 3], our whole-genome approach will investigate thousands of potential splicing events simultaneously. Our method employs a linear models framework to estimate the ratios of known isoforms in a given sample, taking into account the non-uniformity of RNA-Sequencing reads along the targeted transcripts [4]. Recently, we have adapted our method in order to accommodate paired-end sequencing technology. Briefly, we map reads to a transcript catalog (TAIR 10 gene models), partition the reads according to their compatibility with these models, identify reads that are informative for isoform quantification, and then use a linear model to estimate isoform expression ratios for each gene. Our results provide a first approximation of the extent of pathogen-induced alternative splicing and so far indicate evidence for a wide variety of novel alternative transcripts. In addition, the set of differentially spliced genes appears to be independent of the set of differentially expressed genes, providing new evidence for a hidden layer of regulation in the transcriptome [5]. Hence, the set of differentially spliced genes provides a promising set of candidate genes that researchers may have previously overlooked by focusing solely on differential gene expression.
Optimum DMOS cell doping profiles for high-voltage discrete and integrated device technologies

It is shown that the implementation and activation sequences of B and As result in significant variations in the contact resistance and p-base sheet resistance beneath the n/sup +/-source diffusion of a DMOSFET cell. For identical process parameters, the contact resistance of As-doped n/sup +/ silicon was significantly improved when high-dose B was implanted due to higher As surface concentration. The SUPREM III process modeling results were found to be in qualitative agreement with the measured spreading resistance profiles and the discrepancies could be attributed to larger high-temperature diffusion constants used in SUPREM III and the coupled As-B diffusion/activation effects that are not accounted for in process modeling. The experimental results are discussed within the framework of fabricating high-performance DMOSFET cells and CMOS high-voltage devices on the same chip for discrete and smart-power applications. >
Benzo[a]pyrene-serum : Albumin/cysteine interactions: Fluorescene and electron spin resonance studies

Abstract The complex between bovine serum albumin (BSA) and benzo[ a ]pyrene (BaP) exhibits three different types of fluorescence. The visible fluorescence at 407, 431 and 458 nm is modified by the formation of both hydroxy-BaP derivatives and BaP products strongly bound to the protein. The ultraviolet fluorescence I is characterized by a triple-peaked structural fluorescence with maxima at 340, 357 and 378 nm. Upon addition of mercaptoethanol, this ultraviolet fluorescence decreases. The ultraviolet fluorescence II appears at 380 nm and corresponds to that of pyrene-like products. When irradiated with ultraviolet (365 nm) light, both the ultraviolet fluorescence I and the visible fluorescence decreases. In the interactions of BaP with BSA, a new radical has also been found in addition to the known 6-oxo-BaP radical. The lyophilized BSA-BaP complex exhibits two broad ESR bands, one of which increases in lipid-free BSA. In the concentrated aqueous solution of the BSA-BaP complex, the ESR signal is converted to a six-line spectrum. The benzene extract, which removes non-covalently bound BaP products, shows an ESR signal similar to that in aqueous solution except for the absence of two lower g -valued lines. When irradiated with ultraviolet (365 nm) light the signal intensity of the new radical species decreases, while that of 6-oxo-BaP increases. Upon addition of mercaptoethanol, the signal of the new radical also diminishes and is replaced by a single narrow signal. The mixture of BaP and cysteine kept at room temperature for one day in the dark produces both a six-line ESR spectrum and a broad ultraviolet fluorescence at 330 nm, which gradually decay in about one week. When BaP and cysteine are mixed at 65°C for several hours, little ultraviolet fluorescence and ESR signal are detected. The results indicate the formation of a BaP radical as an intermediate in the interaction of BaP with BSA and cysteine in the presence of oxygen and suggest the involvement of SH-groups in this interaction.
A robust WLAV state estimator using transformations

The authors present a robust weighted least absolute value (WLAV) power system state estimator which remains insensitive to bad measurements even when these are associated with leverage points. Leverage points are evenly distributed in the factor space of multiple regression via linear transformations. These transformations represent a change of coordinates in the state space. The transformed system of measurement equations is then used to obtain the WLAV estimator for the system states. The transformation-based WLAV estimator is shown to remain robust in the presence of leverage points. >
Sildenafil in Term and Premature Infants: A Systematic Review

Abstract Purpose Numerous medications are used off-label in term and premature infants, with limited safety or efficacy data. Although sildenafil is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension in adults, it is not approved for use in children. However, sildenafil use in term and premature infants with pulmonary hypertension is increasing. The goal of this study was to review controlled trials evaluating the efficacy of sildenafil use in: (1) term infants with pulmonary hypertension; (2) premature infants at risk for developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD); and (3) premature infants with BPD-associated pulmonary hypertension. Methods MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts databases were searched for citations related to sildenafil use in term or near-term infants with pulmonary hypertension or premature infants at risk for BPD or with BPD-associated pulmonary hypertension. Randomized and nonrandomized controlled trials were searched for that evaluated sildenafil use in term and premature infants compared with placebo or inhaled nitric oxide alone. Included studies were limited to English or Spanish language. Risk of bias was determined by using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Findings Five trials (4 full-text articles and 1 abstract) of the 802 screened citations met the criteria for inclusion. All 5 trials were randomized controlled trials; the largest had 51 participants. Four of the trials (with a total of 137 subjects) evaluated the use of sildenafil versus placebo for term or near-term infants with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn in low-resource settings in which inhaled nitric oxide was unavailable; there were no trials of sildenafil in areas in which inhaled nitric oxide is routinely available. The trials showed improvements in oxygenation index and a reduction in mortality in the sildenafil groups (5.9% vs 44%). One trial evaluated early sildenafil use (after day 7 of life) in premature infants for the prevention of BPD (n = 20). More premature infants in the sildenafil group died, were exposed to postnatal steroids, and had higher right-sided ventricular pressures later during hospitalization; these differences were not statistically significant. No trials evaluated sildenafil versus placebo in premature infants with BPD-associated pulmonary hypertension. Implications There is currently little evidence to support the use of sildenafil in term or near-term infants with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn in areas in which inhaled nitric oxide is available. More data are needed to determine the effectiveness and dosing of sildenafil in improving outcomes for term and premature infants. Sildenafil dosing and safety studies are needed, especially among premature infants, before efficacy trials are performed.
Performance and reliability evaluation of concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) power plants

Performance and reliability evaluation and analysis of three concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) systems or power plants are presented at the string levels excluding the thermal and module level analyses. These plants are located in Arizona and were commissioned in mid-2012 (about 2 years old). The strings in all three power plants are operating between 79% and 0% of the rated capacity, and the average string operating capacity is only 34%. This paper indicates that the primary reason for power drop or complete loss of power in these CPV plants is due to misalignments in the tracking system. It was found that due to thermal stressing, wind loading, and tracker drift, tracking misalignment challenging the tracker controller was the most severe issue for performance drop or complete loss. This paper indicates that the reliability issues that need to be addressed by the CPV industry are not just on the cell level, but also on the precision of the systems' tracking.
Refractory celiac disease

Refractory celiac disease (RCD) affects patients who have failed to heal after 6-12 months of a strict gluten-free diet (GFD) and when other causes of symptoms (including malignancy) have been ruled out. It may also occur in patients who previously had responded to a long-term GFD. RCD may be categorized as RCD1 (normal immunophenotype) and RCD2 (aberrant immunophenotype). RCD1 usually responds to a continued GFD, nutritional support, and therapeutic agents such as corticosteroids. In contrast, clinical response in RCD2 is incomplete and prognosis is often poor. RCD (particularly RCD2) is associated with serious complications, such as ulcerative jejunitis and enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma (EATL). Strict clinical and laboratory criteria should be used to diagnose RCD and specialized tests for aberrancy and clonality should be interpreted in the context of their sensitivity and specificity. Adequate nutritional support and anti-inflammatory treatment may even allow patients with RCD2 to attain a clinical remission.
Living Donor Liver Transplantation (LDLT)

Liver transplant (LT) has become the standard of care of end-stage liver disease (ESLD) or unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. There are at least 18,000 patients on the wait list for a deceased donor liver donation. However, there is a critical shortage of donor organs, contributing to increasing wait-list mortality as well as profound acuity of patients when organs do become available. Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) has become widely accepted in United States (US) as a potential alternative source of organs for patients eligible for liver transplantation. Several important factors have limited the significant growth of LDLT. LDLT is a technically challenging procedure that requires significant training and institutional and programmatic commitment and support. Furthermore, there are risks associated with donor procedure including potential liver failure and death, which call the ethics of LDLT into question. For these reasons and since LDLT is relatively new procedure, there are a few major transplant centers in the US performing this procedure. The National Institute of Health organized a network of nine leading transplant centers establishing the Adult-to-Adult Living Donor Liver Transplantation Cohort Study (A2ALL) to study outcomes for LDLT in the US in 2002. The study was dedicated to reporting and investigating short and long-term outcomes for both recipients and donors. As the funding cycle concludes in 2015, the observations and publications of the consortium have contributed tremendously to the North American development of LDLT as an option for patients with ESLD and complications requiring transplantation.
Formability of Galvanized Steels - Revisited

Essais de toles d'acier revetues d'un depot anticorrosion, par resistance au poinconnement et en traction, a l'etat brut de reception et apres elimination du zinc par voie chimique. Les resultats montrent que la formabilite reduite des aciers galvanises ne peut pas etre attribuee a une augmentation du frottement tole-poincon
The interplay of persuasion inference and flow experience in an entertaining food advergame

Increasingly, unhealthy food is being advertised through online games known as advergames. The advergame is designed for entertaining fun to promote the brand featured in the game. But what happens if the food advertised is healthy or the source of the game is non-commercial? This study examines how people's entertainment (flow experience) interacts with their inference about the persuasion impact of food brands featured in an advergame, which vary according to their persuasion knowledge about the source (e.g., non-commercial versus commercial) and the perceived persuasion effect on self (e.g., beneficial versus harmful). Results of an experiment show that flow is positively associated with persuasion effects of the advergame. Brand attitudes and purchase intentions were the most favorable for non-commercial brands with perceived benefits (healthy food) followed by commercial brands (healthy food) and commercial brands with harmful effects (less healthy food). However, persuasion effects for purchase intention were mitigated when participants were immersed in a flow state. Ramifications for persuasion and health promotions are discussed. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.