cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chromosomal rearrangements and their neoantigenic potential in mesothelioma

Chromosomal rearrangements are a defining molecular feature of mesothelioma that are not readily detected by standard DNA sequencing approaches but could be detected by whole genome sequencing methods such as mate-pair sequencing. These chromosomal rearrangements result in novel, unique gene junctions that can be expressed and potentially result in the presentation of several neoantigens. These predicted neoantigens can be presented by tumors on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins and are correlated with clonal expansion of tumor infiltrating T cells. T cells responsive to these neoantigens have been identified in the circulation of a patient. The predictive values of next generation sequencing-based tumor mutation burden measurements may be significantly enhanced by the addition of techniques such as mate-pair sequencing that can detect chromosomal rearrangements. Furthermore, rearrangement associated neo-antigens may also represent valuable targets for future anti-tumor vaccine strategies. Finally, chromosomal rearrangements are now recognized as a mutation signature in cancer and these events are likely to be important in the oncogenesis and immune recognition of not only in mesothelioma but multiple malignancies including non-small cell lung cancer.
Readmissions after hospital care for meningitis in the United States

Background Our objectives were to (1) characterize patient and clinical characteristics of adults hospitalized with meningitis; (2) describe meningitis hospitalization outcomes, including 30- and 90-day readmissions; and (3) determine whether clinical, patient, or index hospitalization characteristics are associated with readmission and readmission outcomes. Methods This retrospective study of the 2014 National Readmissions Database extracted data on hospitalized adults with a principal diagnosis of meningitis and examined hospitalization outcomes using descriptive statistics. Logistic regression models were built to determine whether characteristics were associated with 30- or 90-day readmissions. Results For the 30-day readmission analyses, 18,883 adults qualified. Meningitis hospitalizations commonly involved adults 25 to 54 years of age who were insured by private carriers. The readmission rates were 7.0% at 30 days and 11.4% at 90 days. Readmission was associated with greater comorbidity burden (2 conditions: adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.60, range 1.24-2.08; 3 conditions: AOR = 1.92, range 1.43-2.58; 4+ conditions: AOR = 2.68, range 2.04-3.51 vs 0 or 1 condition), public insurance (Medicare: AOR = 1.85, range 1.30-2.62; Medicaid: AOR = 1.48, range 1.16-1.90 vs private insurance), and medical error (AOR = 1.43, range 1.07-1.91). Readmissions were most often for meningitis, septicemia, or medical complications. Conclusions Readmission after hospitalization for meningitis is associated with both fixed and modifiable factors. More research is needed to determine which post-meningitis readmissions are preventable.
Governing Uncertainty or Uncertain Governance? Information Security and the Challenge of Cutting Ties:

Information security governance has become an elusive goal and a murky concept. This paper problematizes both information security governance and the broader concept of governance. What does it mea...
Surgical Comanagement by Hospitalists: Continued Improvement Over 5 Years

Surgical comanagement (SCM), in which surgeons and hospitalists share responsibility of care for surgical patients, has been increasingly utilized. In August 2012, we implemented SCM in Orthopedic and Neurosurgery services in which the same Internal Medicine hospitalists are dedicated year round to each of these surgical services to proactively prevent and manage medical conditions. In this article, we evaluate if SCM was associated with continued improvement in patient outcomes between 2012 and 2018 in Orthopedic and Neurosurgery services at our institution. We conducted regression analysis on 26,380 discharges to assess yearly change in our outcomes. Since 2012, the odds of patients with ≥1 medical complication decreased by 3.8% per year (P = .01), the estimated length of stay decreased by 0.3 days per year (P < .0001), and the odds of rapid response team calls decreased by 12.2% per year (P = .001). Estimated average direct cost savings were $3,424 per discharge.
Observations of the core of the Pleiades with the Chandra X-ray Observatory

We present results from a 36-ksec observation of the core of the Pleiades open cluster using ACIS-I on the Chandra X-ray Observatory. We have detected 57 sources, most of which do not have previously known optical counterparts. Follow-up photometry indicates that many of the detections are likely to be AGNs, in accordance with extragalactic source counts, but some of the sources may be previously undiscovered low-mass members of the Pleiades. We discuss our dataset and our findings about X-ray emission from early-type stars as well as very late type stars. In particular, the large X-ray fluxes, lack of variability, and hardness ratios of the four Pleiades B6 IV -- F4 V stars suggest a tentative conclusion that Pleiades stars in this spectral type range are intrinsic X-ray sources rather than previously unknown binaries in which the X-ray emission is from a late-type companion. Also the sensitivity of Chandra allowed us to detect nonflare X-ray emission from late-M stars.
The geologic record of Hurricane Irma in a Southwest Florida back-barrier lagoon

Abstract On 10 September 2017, Category 3 Hurricane Irma made landfall along the Southwest Florida coastline between Cape Sable and Cape Romano. Geologic evidence of this storm is preserved in a back-barrier lagoon behind the Big Hickory Barrier Island, which is located ~64 km north of the landfall point and is positioned 43–65 m east of the Gulf of Mexico. Modern dune height is ~0.83–0.88 m, which was exceeded by the storm surge (recorded height 0.9–1.5 m) allowing for sediment deposition in the Big Hickory Island Lagoon. Geologic evidence is likely found at this location due to proximity to the Gulf of Mexico and the shallow barrier itself. Three cores were analyzed for moisture, inorganic content, grain size, and foraminiferal assemblages. The presence of a hurricane signature (tempestite) is evident in the uppermost horizon of all the cores and includes a fining upward trend of medium sand to clay against a background of organics and fine-grained sediments. Tempestite layers were thicker behind narrower sections of the beach, indicating preferential back-barrier deposition behind narrow barrier sections. Several different foraminiferal species within the tempestite sediments corroborate a marine sediment origin. In addition, historic satellite imagery shows that the Big Hickory Barrier Island is very susceptible to geomorphological change through time, especially due to storm impacts. This research demonstrates the utility of back-barrier sediment cores in understanding hurricane history and barrier island vulnerability.
COVID-19 Effects on the Performance of Respiratory Care Students’ Standardized Patient Encounters

Background: The incorporation of clinical simulation (CS) in healthcare curriculum is relatively new, more specifically to respiratory care (RC). CS and standardized patient (SP) encounters are increasingly utilized to assess and prepare students for patient care in programs such as nursing, dental and medical schools. Preparation for this simulated experience has been offered in person for several years in our Division of RC. During the global COVID-19 pandemic, much of education has shifted virtually and daily human interactions are complicated by safety protocols and fear of viral exposure. The aim of this study was to determine if the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the UT Health San Antonio Respiratory Care’s first-year students9 SP encounter performance when compared to pre-pandemic groups. Methods: This was a retrospective review of faculty evaluations of respiratory therapy student (RTS) performance from a patient-encounter database. RTS (Bachelor9s and Master9s degree) engaged in an encounter with a SP presenting with cough and shortness of breath. The evaluations included 2018-2019 (pre-COVID group) and 2020 (COVID group). Faculty graded 54 different tasks (scale 1-100) to comprehensively assess interviewing skills during the simulated encounter. IRB approval was obtained. Results: Scores from 142 students were included in the study. The COVID group scored lower on 28 (51.9%) of the 54 areas evaluated compared to pre-COVID group and in 19 (73.1%) of those areas there was a ≥15% decrease in scores. A significant decrease (P Conclusions: This study demonstrated that RTS performance in this preclinical simulated encounter was negatively impacted by the COVID-19 virtual learning. Decreased in the face-to-face learning experience during the COVID-19 pandemic can negatively impact teaching of other academic areas of respiratory care programs and student performance.
Preventing Transmission of Respiratory Viruses in the Health Care Setting.

In their review, Klompas and colleagues provide a scholarly assessment of the need to modify our approach to managing respiratory virus infections in health care institutions. The editorialists dis...
Flexibility in Cylinder Group Oscillated in Water

Forces on unyielding groups of cylinders can be approximated as the sum of forces calculated for each member with due regard to sheltering and eddy forces caused by its neighbors and to group asymmetry; yielding members require in addition consideration of the vibrational dynamics. Asymmetric groups may feel lifts and moments. Natural frequencies of the systems are excited. Each flexible cylinder behaves much as if it were alone. Its influence depends on its transfer function to the group and the transfer function of the group to the support of the group. Although forces causing vibration of a member may be a fraction of the static force corresponding to its amplitude, the fluctuating force on its support corresponds to its amplitude. There is no apparent transfer of energy between lift and drag vibrational modes. Large transverse oscillations cause large mean drag and coupling with the wake. The oscillations of groups of flexibly mounted cylinders tend to be unsynchronized.
An Eigenfunction Expansion of Localized Disturbances

Turbulence inherently involves complicated three-dimensional motions, whereas laminar flow in many instances is two-dimensional. In investigations of the transition process from laminar to turbulent flow, the onset of three-dimensionality has therefore played a major role. The pioneering work of Klebanoff, Tidstrom & Sargent (1962) on the three-dimensional nature of transition in boundary layers started a process which led to the theory of secondary instability. Secondary instability, recently reviewed by Herbert (1988), is able to predict the onset of three-dimensionality as an instability of two-dimensional finite amplitude waves to infinitesimal oblique disturbances. The primary wave is usually taken as the least stable Orr-Sommerfeld (O-S) mode, which is two-dimensional in the Reynolds number range around the onset of growth, i.e. around the critical Reynolds number
Migration-induced variation of fatty acid transporters and cellular metabolic intensity in passerine birds

Because lipids are the main fuel supporting avian endurance activity, lipid transport and oxidation capacities may increase during migration. We measured enzyme activities, mRNA expression and protein levels in pectoralis and heart for several key steps of lipid transport and catabolism pathways to investigate whether these pathways were upregulated during migration. We used yellow-rumped (Setophaga coronata) and yellow (S. petechia) warblers and warbling vireos (Vireo gilvus) as study species because they all show migration-induced increases in organismal metabolic capacities. For yellow-rumped warblers, β-hydroxyacyl CoA-dehydrogenase (HOAD) activities and fatty acid transporter mRNA and/or protein levels were higher during spring than fall in pectoralis and heart, except that fatty acid translocase (FAT/CD36) protein levels showed the opposite pattern in heart. Lipid transporter protein levels, but not mRNA expression, in pectoralis and heart of warbling vireos were higher either during spring or fall than summer, but this was not true for HOAD activities. For yellow warblers, pectoralis, but not heart, protein levels of lipid transporters were upregulated during migration relative to summer, but this pattern was not evident for mRNA expression or HOAD activity. Finally, muscle and heart citrate synthase and carnitine palmitoyl transferase activities showed little seasonal variation for any species. These data suggest that pectoralis and heart lipid transport and catabolism capacities are often, but not universally, important correlates of elevated organismal metabolic capacity during migration. In contrast, migration-induced variation in cellular metabolic intensity and mitochondrial membrane transport are apparently not common correlates of the migratory phenotype in passerines.
SU-E-I-86: Ultra-Low Dose Computed Tomography Attenuation Correction for Pediatric PET CT Using Adaptive Statistical Iterative Reconstruction (ASiR™)

Purpose: To develop ultra-low dose computed tomography (CT) attenuation correction (CTAC) acquisition protocols for pediatric positron emission tomography CT (PET CT). Methods: A GE Discovery 690 PET CT hybrid scanner was used to investigate the change to quantitative PET and CT measurements when operated at ultra-low doses (10–35 mAs). CT quantitation: noise, low-contrast resolution, and CT numbers for eleven tissue substitutes were analyzed in-phantom. CT quantitation was analyzed to a reduction of 90% CTDIvol (0.39/3.64; mGy) radiation dose from baseline. To minimize noise infiltration, 100% adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASiR) was used for CT reconstruction. PET images were reconstructed with the lower-dose CTAC iterations and analyzed for: maximum body weight standardized uptake value (SUVbw) of various diameter targets (range 8–37 mm), background uniformity, and spatial resolution. Radiation organ dose, as derived from patient exam size specific dose estimate (SSDE), was converted to effective dose using the standard ICRP report 103 method. Effective dose and CTAC noise magnitude were compared for 140 patient examinations (76 post-ASiR implementation) to determine relative patient population dose reduction and noise control. Results: CT numbers were constant to within 10% from the non-dose reduced CTAC image down to 90% dose reduction. No change in SUVbw, background percent uniformity, or spatial resolution for PET images reconstructed with CTAC protocols reconstructed with ASiR and down to 90% dose reduction. Patient population effective dose analysis demonstrated relative CTAC dose reductions between 62%–86% (3.2/8.3−0.9/6.2; mSv). Noise magnitude in dose-reduced patient images increased but was not statistically different from pre dose-reduced patient images. Conclusion: Using ASiR allowed for aggressive reduction in CTAC dose with no change in PET reconstructed images while maintaining sufficient image quality for co-localization of hybrid CT anatomy and PET radioisotope uptake.
Customer focus, supply‐chain relational capabilities and performance : Evidence from US manufacturing industries

Purpose – This paper aims to investigate the extent to which a firm's customer focus drives several interlinked facets of supply chain management and their relationships to customer service and financial performance.Design/methodology/approach – Drawing on diverse streams of research, the authors develop and test an integrated model in which customer focus is proposed to foster supply‐chain relational capabilities, leading to beneficial performance outcomes. This study's empirical validity is enhanced by collecting data from over 200 US manufacturing firms and testing the model using SEM.Findings – This empirical investigation documents significant positive relationships between (a) customer focus and supply‐chain relational capabilities, (b) customer focus and customer service, (c) supply‐chain relational capabilities and customer service, and (d) customer service and financial performance.Practical implications – This study holds the important implication for managers that, in order to be effective, sup...
A Tree Semantics of an Orchestration Language

This paper presents a formal semantics of a language, called Orc, which is described in a companion paper[3] in this volume. There are many styles of presentation of programming language semantics. The more operational styles give more concrete guidance to the implementer on how a program should be executed. The more abstract styles are more helpful in proving the correctness of particular programs. The style adopted in this paper is neutral between implementer and programmer. Its main achievement is to permit simple proofs of familiar algebraic identities that hold between programs with different syntactic forms.
Universal Banking Deregulation and Firms Choices of Lender and Equity Underwriter

I empirically examine whether firms engage in one-stop shopping for loans and equity underwriting, following the relaxation of regulatory restrictions. I find that large rated firms often obtain both these services from the same financial intermediary. Such one-stop shopping remains rare among smaller unrated firms. I show that this difference is because unrated firms borrow from geographically proximate, commercial banking lenders. Conversely, in the nationally integrated equity underwriting market, unrated firms value the intermediary's distribution capabilities more than lending relationships or proximity. The results suggest that universal banking has not improved access of more opaque firms to the equity market.
Modeling and analyzing periodic distributed computations

The earlier work on predicate detection has assumed that the given computation is finite. Detecting violation of a liveness predicate requires that the predicate be evaluated on an infinite computation. In this work, we develop the theory and associated algorithms for predicate detection in infinite runs. In practice, an infinite run can be determined in finite time only if it consists of a recurrent behavior with some finite prefix. Therefore, our study is restricted to such runs. We introduce the concept of d-diagram, which is a finite representation of infinite directed graphs. Given a d-diagram that represents an infinite distributed computation, we solve the problem of determining if a global predicate ever became true in the computation. The crucial aspect of this problem is the stopping rule that tells us when to conclude that the predicate can never become true in future. We also provide an algorithm to provide vector timestamps to events in the computation for determining the dependency relationship between any two events in the infinite run.
Successful colonization and immunization of adult rabbits by oral inoculation with Vibrio cholerae O1.

Adult rabbits were inoculated orally (or duodenally) with virulent Vibrio cholerae O1. Jejunal colonization occurred only when hypoperistalsis was induced at the time of inoculation by tincture of opium given intraperitoneally (or by temporary ileal obstruction). For oral inoculation, prior neutralization of gastric acid was also required. Inoculation with 10(9) V. cholerae caused jejunal colonization for 1 to 2 days and ileal colonization for 5 to 6 days. The extent of small bowel colonization 18 h after oral inoculation was related to inoculum size but also reflected limited multiplication of small inoculum sizes and net death, clearance of large inoculum sizes, or both. Serious diarrhea occurred only in rabbits fed large inoculum sizes, i.e., 10(10) V. cholerae, and then rarely. Rabbits colonized once with 10(10) V. cholerae became highly resistant to recolonization with either the same or opposite serotype. After 18 weeks, these rabbits were still partially protected, whereas twice-colonized rabbits were highly protected. Protection against recolonization appeared to be due, at least partly, to interference with the adherence of V. cholerae to the bowel mucosa, thus allowing rapid removal of V. cholerae when peristalsis resumed. Prior colonization also protected against cholera-like diarrhea in rabbits challenged by the removable intestinal tie-adult rabbit diarrhea technique, the 50% effective dose for severe or lethal diarrhea being increased more than 100-fold, and probably more than 10,000-fold, for challenge with either the homologous or heterologous serotype of V. cholerae. The described rabbit model appears well suited for the study of immunity evoked by enteric colonization with V. cholerae O1.
Ab Initio Calculation of the Anomalous Acceleration of Pioneer 10 In Vacuo

The anomalous acceleration of Pioneer 10 is presented as a calculation using a simple optical model. The model is based on the bending of background gravity behind the Sun in the same way that light is bent by the Sun. Structures of ponderable matter about the Solar system, neutron stars, and galaxies are described. Viewable red and blue shiftings of light are predicted.
Hormonal and Signaling Role of Branched-Chain Amino Acids

Amino acids (AAs), especially BCAAs, play pivotal roles in hormonal secretion and action as well as in intracellular signaling. There is emerging data showing that BCAAs regulate gene transcription and translation. Signaling proteins such as the mammalian target of rapamycin act as sensors of BCAAs, especially leucine, to modulate anabolic action. AAs stimulate protein synthesis and inhibit protein breakdown in skeletal muscle and liver. The specific role of BCAAs in regulating synthesis and breakdown of individual protein or proteins with common function or functions remains to be defined. Future studies should also focus on potential adverse effects of BCAAs on insulin sensitivity, renal function, and tumor growth. It also remains to be determined whether potential adverse effects of BCAA supplementation is similar in people of different age groups.
Quality of life and smoking.

Background and Objectives Smoking tobacco is the leading cause of preventable illness in the United States and around the world. However, much remains unknown about the factors that motivate individuals to smoke. Quality of life (QoL) has become an important measure of outcomes across all medical specialties, in both research and clinical settings. To date, there has not been a critical review of the research relevant to QoL in smokers. In this review, we describe which scales are used to quantify the QoL of smokers, the relationship between smoking and QoL and the positive impact of smoking cessation. Methods Fifty-four relevant studies are included in our review. Results Low QoL and depression are associated with higher odds of smoking initiation and lower odds of successful smoking cessation. There is a negative relationship between smoking and QoL and the magnitude of this association is related to the number of cigarettes smoked. Secondhand smoke also appears to be negatively associated with QoL. Smoking cessation significantly improves QoL. These findings have been replicated across populations with diverse socioeconomic and cultural groups around the world. Discussion and Conclusions QoL data promotes smokers and practitioners to become more sensitive to the sub-clinical adverse effects of cigarette smoking, thereby improving motivation to quit, cessation rates, and treatment outcomes. Scientific Significance Understanding the relationship between QoL and tobacco smoking is important for patients, clinicians, and researchers. (Am J Addict 2014;23:540–562)
Decreased bone mass and bone elasticity in mice lacking the transforming growth factor-β1 gene

Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) knockout (TGF-β1−/−) mice were used to investigate the role of TGF-β1 in postnatal bone development. Volumetric bone mineral density (BMD) and mineral content (BMC) in these mice and in their normal (TGF-β1+/+) and heterozygous (TGF-β1+/−) littermates were analyzed by quantitative computed tomography (pQCT). Analysis of the proximal tibial metaphysis showed a significant decrease in the BMC of the TGF-β1−/− mice compared to TGF-β1+/+ or TGF-β1+/− mice; however, no significant difference was observed in BMD between the groups of mice. pQCT analysis of the tibial midshaft diaphysis showed no difference in the BMD or BMC of cortical bone between the groups. Histomorphometry revealed no significant difference in trabecular connectivity or in trabecular bone volume, number, or thickness. However, the width of the tibial growth plate and the longitudinal growth rate were significantly decreased in the TGF-β1−/− mice, resulting in shorter tibia. Acoustic velocity measurements showed significant differences between the groups of mice with an apparent dosage effect of TGF-β1 expression on the anisotropic properties of the bone. These data show that longitudinal growth and total mineral content are affected in mice lacking TGF-β1, as well as the elastic properties of the bone, consistent with an important role for TGF-β1 in bone modeling and bone quality.
Electrical, enzymatic graphene biosensing of 5-aminosalicylic acid

We present an electrical biosensing of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) based on a peroxidase-immobilized graphene sensor on a microfluidic paper. The sensor shows a sensitive detection range from 0.5 to 20 μM and a total measuring time of 2 min with a simple fabrication procedure.
Longevity of Zygocotyle lunata in Balb/c mice and long-term survival of digeneans in vertebrate hosts

This study used Balb/c mice to examine the longevity of Zygocotyle lunata in a murine host. Of 11 mice, each exposed to 20 Z. lunata cysts, six were infected with a total of 12 worms from 11 to 24 weeks postinfection (PI). Live worms recovered at 24 weeks PI had a mean body area of about 25 mm2. These worms produced viable eggs with well-developed miracidia following embryonation in artificial spring water for 2 weeks at 28°C. The Balb/c mouse is a useful model to study longevity of this paramphistomid trematode for at least 6 months PI. An additional aspect of this article is a review of the pertinent literature published from 1937 to 2007 on ageing and longevity of digeneans.
Electron spin relaxation times for the alanine radical in two dosimeters.

Abstract The spin–lattice relaxation times for the alanine radical in dosimeters were measured by long-pulse saturation recovery and by inversion recovery. The strong dependence of the recovery time constants on experimental conditions show that spectral diffusion processes contribute to enhanced relaxation rates, analogous to what was observed previously for 60Co γ-irradiated polycrystalline l -alanine. The spectral diffusion processes make it possible to run quantitative CW spectra of the alanine radical at substantially higher microwave powers than could be used in the absence of spectral diffusion processes.
High pressure-controlled intramolecular-twist of flexible molecules in solid polymers

Abstract We report the effect of pressure on fluorescence of two flexible dye molecules of a series of para-substituted benzylidenemalononitriles dissolved in solid poly(methyl methacrylate). Under pressure these molecules exhibit a remarkable increase of intensity and slowing of excited state decay. We show that these changes can be well explained by a kinetic model in which the pressure is assumed to control the barrier for the intramolecular transformation of the flexible molecules in their excited state.
Sensitivity of drosphila mutants to chemical carcinogens

Abstract 7 single-mutant and five double-mutant strains of Drosophila melanogaster were tested for their relative sensitivity to the chemical carcinogens: 1-acetylaminofluorene, benzo(α)pyrene, N -methyl- N ′-nitro- N -nitrosoguanidine, 4-nitro quinoline-1-oxide and aflatoxin B 1 . Among the single mutants, mei-9 a , mei-41 D5 and mus(1)104 D1 are hypersentive to all 5 chemicals, whereas mus(1)107 D1 is hypersensitive only to 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide and is slightly sensitive to benzo(α)pyrene. The mei-9 a mei-41 D5 double-mutant is the most sensitive of 5 tested double-mutants which carry the mei-9 a allele. when treated with 0.025 mM benzo(α)pyrene this double-mutant produces significantly more sex-linked recessive lethals and dominant lethals than does the control. Analysis of double-mutants reveals that the mei-9 + product functions in a different repair pathway of methyl methanesulfonate-induced damage than do the normal products of the mus(1)101, mus(1)103, mus(1)104 and mus(1)107 loci. Our findings suggest that the sensitivity of Drosophila repair-deficient mutants could be exploited in screening for potential mutagens and carcinogens.
Clinical Problem Solving

In the lead article of this forum, Ken Bleile explains his approach to the initial assessment of Bobby, a 4;3 (years; months) old child with suspected problems with articulation and phonology. Blei...
The Spectrum and Frequency of Critical Procedures Performed in a Pediatric Emergency Department: Implications of a Provider-Level View

Study objective We seek to provide current, comprehensive, and physician-level data for critical procedures performed in a high-volume pediatric emergency department (ED). Methods We conducted a retrospective study of all critical procedures performed in the ED of a tertiary care pediatric institution. Data were collected from written records of resuscitative care provided. The primary outcome measure was the cumulative frequency of each critical procedure during 12 consecutive months. Additional outcome measures included the number of critical procedures performed by pediatric emergency medicine faculty and fellows and a description of the other physician types performing each procedure. Results Two hundred sixty-one critical procedures were performed during 194 patient resuscitations, which represented 0.22% of all ED patient evaluations. Sixty-one percent of pediatric emergency medicine faculty did not perform a single critical procedure. Orotracheal intubation occurred 147 times and represented 56% of all critical procedures, yet 63% of pediatric emergency medicine faculty did not perform a single successful orotracheal intubation. Pediatric emergency medicine fellows performed a median of 3 critical procedures. Conclusion Critical procedures were rarely performed in a large, academic pediatric ED. Pediatric emergency medicine faculty are at significant risk for skill deterioration, and pediatric emergency medicine fellows are unlikely to achieve competence in the performance of critical procedures if clinical exposure is the sole basis for the attainment and maintenance of skill.
EFFECT OF NUTRIENT RATIO AND CONCENTRATION ON GROWTH AND COMPOSITION OF TOMATO PLANTS AND ON THE OCCURENCE OF BLOSSOM-END ROT OF THE FRUIT

Much work has been done on physiological balance where from two to six major elements have been varied, with the osmotic concentration nearly constant. In this experiment only one major element was. varied in the ratio, but no attention was paid to the osmotic concentration. This would be more nearly like the application of fertilizer under field conditions. Blossom-end rot has recently been reviewed by Robbins (2) with many references given on the subject. In most cases a disturbance of the normal water relations has been assigned as a cause of the physiological disease. This experiment was set up to study the effect of balance of nutrient elements on the growth of tomato plants grown in sand culture using the subirrigation method. Materials and methods
Walking for Transportation or Leisure: What Difference Does the Neighborhood Make?

Background Patients are often advised to initiate a physical activity program by walking for transportation or leisure. This study explored whether neighborhood factors beyond the individual might affect compliance.
Risk and final offer arbitration usage rates: Evidence from major league baseball

We use major league baseball data to examine risk and final-offer arbitration usage. Risk attitudes are proxied by the likelihood that FOA-generated salary increases place the player’s baseball employment at risk. Employment risk is inversely related to player quality. Our evidence suggests that higher-quality (low-risk) players are more likely to file for arbitration and seek an arbitrated settlement than lowerquality (high-risk) players.
Use of distorted waves in the theory of inelastic scattering

A distorted wave description of inelastic scattering of nucleons from nuclei is formulated so that the microscopic content of the various ingredients can be made explicit. Special care is taken to ensure that physical processes are not overcounted as a consequence of the use of distorted waves in both the initial and final channels. Two attitudes to applications of the theory are taken. In the first, it is assumed that phenomenological distorted waves are employed and attention is focused upon the microscopic transition potential and the final distorted wave. Theoretically based recommendations for practical calculations of both these quantities are given. Secondly, we present a completely microscopic treatment wherein the truncations of the microscopic distorting potentials and the transition potential, at the single scattering level, are consistent with the underlying theoretical framework which links them. Our approach is designed to embody the distorted wave impulse approximation as a suitable lowest order result. Again, recommendations for practical calculations are given.
Total syntheses of bioactive oxidized ethanolamine phospholipids.

Truncated ethanolamine phospholipids containing aldehyde functionality, e.g. OVPE, and the corresponding acids, are generated by oxidative cleavage of polyunsaturated phospholipids. To confirm their identities and facilitate studies of the chemistry and biological actions of these analogues of biologically active phosphatidylcholines, e.g. OVPC, total syntheses were developed. An efficient general strategy was used that features selective N-protection of 2-lysophosphatidylethanolamine, and generation of the target compounds by mild deprotection of stable precursors.
Forum Section: The Two Faces of Framing Individual-Level Framing and Collective Issue Definition in the European Union

Policy decisions are greatly affected by the way issues are understood collectively by policy-makers and the public. Naturally, advocates attempt to affect these dynamics by drawing attention to on...
Hybrid identity formations in Muslim America : The case of American Sufi movements

L'objectif de cette etude est de proposer une idee generale des principaux groupes soufis americains, leur histoire et leurs activites, aux Etats-Unis et au Canada, car leur impact non seulement sur la communaute musulmane mais aussi sur la culture americaine est important et en developpement. Le soufisme y est aussi une force positive dans le sens ou il offre une autre perception de l'islam qui est spirituellement et culturellement riche et attirante.
Transistor amplifier stages with prescribed gain and static and dynamic sensitivity

The many and varied aspects of transistor amplifier sensitivity to changes in temperature and transistor unit replacement have received considerable attention in the literature. Numerous investigations have been reported pertaining to the thermal displacement of the transistor operating point and the variation of its incremental parameters with the shift of the operating point and with temperature.1?5, 7, 10?16 Furthermore, various schemes for stabilizing the operating point have been considered in detail,3,7,8,9,12?16 and design procedures for specific as well as generalized bias network configurations to effect this stabilization have been proposed.3,6,8,12,16
Political Attitudes, Expressed Views, and the Centrality of Politics: A Case Study of French Secondary School Students*

Nous nous attaquons a un paradoxe de la science politique contemporaine. En effet on fait des sondages sur les attitudes des gens face au politique et l'on ne semble pas tenir compte de l'idee recue selon laquelle le politique n'est pas important pour la majorite des citoyens. Est-il raisonnable de solliciter les opinions des gens sur une question qui selon toute vraisemblance les laisse indifferents?Pour elucider cette contradiction nous avons elabore un instrument de mesure de l'importance du politique et nous l'avons applique a des el eves d'ecoles secondaires de France. Nous avons choisi notre echantillon de facon a verifier rigoureusement notre hypoth ese.Nos conclusions montrent en premier lieu que pour 16.4 pour cent des personnes interrogees le politique est tr es important; pour 23.3 pour cent, il importe mats relativement peu et pour 60.3 pour cent, il n'est pas important. Nos conclusions indiquent en deuxi eme lieu que la place accordee au politique varie selon l'engagement politique et les orientations partisanes.Nous traitons a la fin des consequences de ces decouvertes pour la recherche en science politique. En particulier, nous nous demandons ce que les politologues etudient vraiment lorsqu'ils analysent les reponses que donnent la plupart des gens aux sondages. En outre nous montrons l'utilite de mesurer l'importance du politique pour d'autres recherches.
Role-Played Relationships between Assertiveness and Mock Interviewing Success:

122 undergraduate business and psychology students conducted mock screening interviews in a laboratory setting. Interviewees' assertiveness was associated with this interviewing success. The interv...
A method of obtaining influenza virus growth curves in individual eggs.

SummaryWith the aid of an easily constructed needle a method has been devised for obtaining growth curves of influenza virus in individual embryonated eggs.
Evolution of an MHC class Ia gene fragment in four North American Morone species

A nucleotide sequence analysis of a fragment of a Morone MHC class Ia gene detected high levels of polymorphism in striped bass Morone saxatilis, white perch Morone americana and yellow bass Morone mississippiensis. Extremely low levels of MHC diversity, however, were detected in white bass Morone chrysops, suggesting the possibility of a severe population bottleneck for this species.
Antibody specificities generated during antigen-induced polyclonal hyperimmunoglobulinemia.

Abstract Much of the immunoglobulin produced during an immune response does not react with the eliciting antigen(s). The studies reported here were carried out to determine the antibody specificity of this immunoglobulin. Mice injected with antigen A displayed an increase in serum antibody to a previously experienced antigen (B). In addition, the spleens from such mice contained more antibody-forming cells directed against antigen B than did saline-injected controls. Thus, at least some of the immunoglobulin produced during the polyclonal hyperimmunoglobulinemia (PHIg) response is directed at antigens already experienced by the animal. In other studies, mouse serum reacted with autologous red cells treated with the proteolytic enzyme bromelain; the titer of this activity increased following immunization with several antigens and paralleled the PHIg response elicited by the same antigen. These results indicate that the antigen-induced PHIg contains antibody activity to autoantibodies.
Array factor approximation using physical optics and simple line integration

The computation of the array factor of a large two-dimensional (2D) array aperture can result in a large number of computations; this is prohibitive when implemented in a real or semi-real time environment for modeling or simulation purposes. The Fast Fourier transform (FFT) is commonly used where zero-padding is required to minimize aliased spectral leakage. This paper presents a method of fast computation of the array pattern of a large uniformly distributed excitation of the antenna elements within an arbitrarily shaped aperture. The large 2D array factor may be approximated using physical optics and the Navier-Stokes (NS) closed-line integral (NSLI) provided that the array elements are spaced by less than λ/2. Beam steering is still accommodated utilizing this method. With this method, a uniformly excited array with any aperture shape may be evaluated. Both radiation and monostatic scattering may be addressed using the NSLI method.
The role of adenosine triphosphate in the transport of phosphate in the human erythrocyte.

1. 1. The concentration of phosphate in several acid-soluble organic phosphorus compounds in human erythrocytes has been determined. 2. 2. The turnover of radioactive phosphate in several acid-soluble organic P compounds of human erythrocytes has been studied in vitro over an 8-hr. period under conditions such that the net movement of inorganic P is from the plasma into the cells. 3. 3. The experimental data are consistent with the hypothesis that phosphate enters the erythrocyte by formation of ATP on the cell membrane. Although no other organic P compound meets the conditions necessary for being a precursor of cell inorganic P, the possibility that some inorganic P diffuses into the cells is not excluded.
GRIP ‘STRENGTH’ IN THE HEALTHY

The grip pressures of a normal population were determined using a 900 mmHg column. Men were stronger than women. The dominant hand was the stronger and the difference between the dominant and nondominant hand pressures was less than 10% in both sexes. One determination of grip pressure is adequate for clinical purposes. Much information is lost if the standard 300 mm mercury or aneroid sphygmomanometers are used.
Optical Birefringence of Nano-porous Dielectric Thin Films

Nano-porous thin films grown using oblique-angle electron-beam evaporation are found to exhibit birefringence in addition to ultra-low refractive index. The properties of SiO2and TiO2films grown using this method are presented in this paper.
Comparison of standard and pediatric size concentric needle EMG electrodes

Abstract Objective To compare motor unit action potential (MUAP) metrics recorded by standard and pediatric size concentric EMG electrodes. Methods Commercial electrodes were used to record MUAPs from biceps brachii, first dorsal interosseous and tibialis anterior muscles in normal subjects and those with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Results In normal subjects, peak amplitude and area were significantly higher when recorded by the pediatric size electrode in tibialis anterior muscles and peak amplitude recorded in first dorsal interosseous muscles. In ALS subjects, peak amplitude was higher recorded by the pediatric size electrode in tibialis muscle but lower when recorded in first dorsal interosseous muscles. Conclusions Differences of MUAP metrics when recording with standard and pediatric size electrodes do not seem to have a clinical relevance. Significance Pediatric and standard concentric electrodes record similar MUAP metrics.
Fas activation in alveolar epithelial cells induces KC (CXCL1) release by a MyD88-dependent mechanism.

Activation of the Fas/Fas ligand (FasL) system is associated with activation of apoptotic and proinflammatory pathways that lead to the development of acute lung injury. Previous studies in chimeric mice and macrophage-depleted mice suggested that the main effector cell in Fas-mediated lung injury is not a myeloid cell, but likely an epithelial cell. The goal of this study was to determine whether epithelial cells release proinflammatory cytokines after Fas activation, and to identify the relevant pathways. Incubation of the murine alveolar epithelial cell line, MLE-12, with the Fas-activating monoclonal antibody, Jo2, resulted in release of the CXC chemokine, KC, in a dose-dependent manner. KC release was not prevented by the pan-caspase inhibitor, zVAD.fmk. Silencing of the adaptor protein, MyD88, with small interfering (si)RNA resulted in attenuation of KC release in response to Jo2. Fas activation resulted in phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated kinases extracellular signal–regulated kinase (ERK) and c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK), and pharmacologic inhibition of ERK and JNK attenuated KC release in a dose–response manner. Similarly, primary human small airways epithelial cells released IL-8 in response to soluble FasL, and this was abrogated by inhibition of JNK and ERK. In vivo confirmatory studies showed that MyD88-null mice are protected from Fas-induced acute lung injury. In summary, we conclude that Fas induces KC release in MLE-12 cells by a mechanism requiring MyD88, mitogen-activated protein kinases, and likely activator protein–1.
Cytotoxicity of Heterologous Sera to Normal and Leukæmic Human Lymphocytes

THEORETICALLY, cancer therapeutic agents should be able to differentiate between malignant and normal human cells and should be more toxic to the malignant cells. However, human leukaemic lymphocytes and cancer cells did not show, in in vitro studies1,2, any greater sensitivity than normal cells to X-rays and chemotherapeutic agents. These disappointing results led to tests on the capacity of heterologous sera to discriminate between cells.
Glomerulocystic kidney disease: MRI findings

Glomerulocystic kidney disease (GCKD) is a rare form of renal cystic disease characterized by cystic dilation of Bowman's capsule. The imaging findings of small renal cysts with a predominant cortical and subcapsular distribution allows for distinction from other, more common, polycystic kidney diseases. The appearance and distribution of the renal cysts by magnetic resonance imaging allow for a definitive diagnosis of GCKD.
Cellular characterization of synaptic modulations of a neuronal oscillator in electric fish

The two closely related gymnotiform electric fish, Eigenmannia and Apteronotus, modulate the rate of their electric organ discharges during orientation and communication behaviors in similar ways. These modulations are controlled through three prepacemaker nuclei that provide excitatory inputs to the medullary pacemaker nucleus. Whereas the projections from the prepacemaker nuclei onto the two identified cell types of the pacemaker nucleus appear to be very similar, species-specific differences in the synaptic effects of these connections exist. We examined the modulatory premotor inputs on relay and pacemaker cells in Eigenmannia and Apteronotus by performing intracellular in␣vivo recordings while pharmacologically stimulating the three prepacemaker nuclei. In both taxa, activation of the lateral portion of the diencephalic prepacemaker causes a depolarization of baseline and a lowering of peak voltage primarily in relay cells. Activation of the medial portion of the diencephalic prepacemaker depolarizes mainly pacemaker cells in both fish, yet also has different effects on peak voltage in each species. Excitation of the sublemniscal prepacemaker in Apteronotus results in a depolarization of relay cells, whereas its inhibition in Eigenmannia causes a lowering of peak voltage without affecting baseline voltage. Our results complement earlier pharmacological investigations by expanding them to the cellular level. They provide neurophysiological evidence for different receptor subtypes on relay and pacemaker cells mediating different behaviors.
Parallel Optical Computing And Symbolic Substitution

Nonlinear optics can contribute decisions to optical signal processing and computing. Etalons permit massive parallelism and global interconnectivity. GaAs etalons appear more attractive for eventual functioning systems, but ZnS interference filters are more convenient now for simple demonstrations of logic operations, pattern recognition, and symbolic substitution.© (1986) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.