cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Examination of theoretical principles of gradient elution as applied to reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography separation of phenylthiohydantoin amino acids

Abstract More than twenty different phenylthiohydantoin (PTH)-derivatized amino acids were used in the examination of the relevance and the applicability of theoretical principles that have been postulated earlier to describe gradient elution in high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Reversed-phase HPLC conditions representative of PTH-amino acid assays, i.e. chemically modified silica microspheres in conjunction with an aqueous-organic mobile phase, were utilized. As predicted by theory, inevitable compromises between resolution and retention time were observed empirically. However, an a priori assumption of equivalent linear solvent strength conditions was shown to be inappropriate for selected PTH-amino acid solutes. These findings were supported by the experimentally determined variability among the different solutes of solvent strength values, S, i.e. the slope of the plots of the logarithm of isocratic capacity factor versus the fraction of organic modifier.
The half-hour synthetic 1–24 corticotropin testof adrenocortical reserve in children

Stimulation of the adrenal cortex by intravenous administration of synthetic 1–24corticotropin can be utilized as a rapid and economical means for assessing adrenocortical reserve in children. Since the test can be performed in 30 minutes, adrenal function in rapidly changing clinical conditions can be studied, and iatrogenic adrenocortical suppression more easily monitored. The present study reports the plasma 17-hydroxycorticosteroid responses of 9 normal control children, 6 1/2 to 12 years of age, to both 1–24 corticotropin and saline infusions and also describes the responses of 17 patients requiring adrenocortical evaluation and of 5 children with untreated meningitis. The synthetic corticotropin was a reliable stimulator of a rise in plasma 17-hydroxycorticosteroid levels. Among the 5 children with meningitis, 3 had a fivefold increase in resting plasma 17-hydroxycorticosteroid levels, in comparison with the concentrations in nonstressed individuals and responded to synthetic corticotropin with a further elevation of 17-hydroxycorticosteroid. Two patients with a ninefold elevation of resting plasma levels failed to respond to corticotropin. These results give no indication of adrenocortical insufficiency but suggest the upper limits of response during stress.
Subliminal visual oddball stimuli evoke a P300 component

Abstract Objective : To provide evidence that a P300 component can be elicited by subliminal stimuli in an oddball paradigm. Methods : The words LEFT and RIGHT were presented in a frequent-rare ratio (80–20%), counterbalanced between subjects. Stimuli were presented at the objective detection threshold ( d ′=0, via unmasked 1 ms presentations), a stringent measure for detecting any conscious perception. Results : A significantly larger amplitude component was found for rare vs. frequent stimulus presentations across electrodes Fz, Cz, and Pz using both a broad 200–900 ms window ( F (1,27)=5.75, P η 2 =0.18; one-tailed), and a more narrow 400–760 ms window defined using principal component analysis ( F (1,27)=10.10, P η 2 =0.27; one-tailed). No significant component latency effects were found. An analysis of the conscious perception index ( d ′) and the oddball effect (rare-frequent amplitude difference) revealed a negative relationship, further supporting the contention that conscious perception does not account for the finding, and suggesting that any conscious stimulus detection may inhibit this subliminal effect. Conclusions : Results provide evidence that an endogenous component can be elicited by undetectable subliminal stimuli in an oddball paradigm. Implications are discussed for comparing conscious and unconscious information processing, unconscious learning, and the measurement of ERPs to subliminal stimuli.
An adaptive and trustworthy software testing framework on the grid

Grid computing, which is characterized by large-scale sharing and collaboration of dynamic distributed resources has quickly become a mainstream technology in distributed computing and is changing the traditional way of software development. In this article, we present a grid-based software testing framework for unit and integration test, which takes advantage of the large-scale and cost-efficient computational grid resources to establish a testbed for supporting automated software test in complex software applications. Within this software testing framework, a dynamic bag-of-tasks model using swarm intelligence is developed to adaptively schedule unit test cases. Various high-confidence computing mechanisms, such as redundancy, intermediate value checks, verification code injection, and consistency checks are employed to verify the correctness of each test case execution on the grid. Grid workflow is used to coordinate various test units for integration test. Overall, we expect that the grid-based software testing framework can provide efficient and trustworthy services to significantly accelerate the testing process with large-scale software testing.
Low vitamin D level is associated with higher relapse rate in natalizumab treated MS patients.

Abstract Background Previous research suggested a relationship between low vitamin D and relapse rate. We examined whether vitamin D levels were associated with: 1) MS severity and 2) recent MS relapse activity, in patients treated with natalizumab. Methods All patients (n = 118) were treated with natalizumab and were tested for vitamin D levels during the winter of 2009–10. Number of relapses during treatment with natalizumab was determined by retrospective chart review. MS severity was estimated with the Roxburgh's MS Severity Score (MSSS) at the time of the initial blood draw and 1 year preceding and following initial draws. Vitamin D levels of 50 nmol/L or greater were defined as normal. Results Patients with deficient vitamin D levels (DVD) totaled 45. Sixteen of the 26 patients with relapse in the year prior to the initial blood draw (4 patients had multiple relapses — all were in DVD) and 12 of 17 patients with relapse in the following year were in the DVD group. There was a significant difference between the normal vitamin D group (NVD) and DVD in MS relapse activity in the year prior (p = 0.005) and following blood draw (p = 0.006). There was no significant between group differences in MSSS at any time. Conclusions Natalizumab treated patients with DVD were more likely to experience relapse and may experience more relapses than patients with NVD.
Mammalian Toxoplasmosis in Birds.

Abstract Naturally occurring infections with Toxoplasma have been sought in several species of wild birds, and one case has been found in a locally caught pigeon—the first known demonstration of toxoplasmosis of the mammalian type in birds in eastern North America. Experimental infections with a strain of Toxoplasma of human origin have been studied in pigeons, song sparrows, grackles, and chickens. Some of the birds became acutely ill and died within a few days or a week; others became chronically ill and exhibited no symptoms during the period of observation which, for certain birds, lasted more than 6 months. There was no indication that the parasites were in any way modified by such prolonged exposure to conditions in the avian host, except where chicks were experimentally employed. In the latter case, there was a definite indication of lessened virulence after twenty serial passages. Grackles with experimental infections exhibited an easily demonstrable parasitemia for at least as long as 5 days, during which as little as 0.1 ml of their blood was infective to mice. Two young pigeons, fed for 2 weeks by a mother with an acute case of toxoplasmosis, failed to become infected, but proved susceptible when later inoculated with parasites. They developed a chronic infection, characterized by a rise of antibodies in much the same fashion as in mammals having the disease. The antibody curve remained high for the entire period of observation (6 months). Mouse brains from experimentally induced cases of toxoplasmosis remained infective for as long as 18 days when stored in an ordinary electric refrigerator and immersed in sterile Difco skim milk. Exposure to higher temperatures however showed that 55 °C for 5 minutes is lethal to the parasite, and that in some cases they are no longer viable after an exposure of equal duration to 50 °C.
Miniaturized RPLC for the rapid determination of total tryptophan in pediatric plasma samples

A 8.3cm column packed with 3µm C18 particles was used for the quantitative analysis of total tryptophan in plasma. The plasma samples were deproteinized with cold perchloric acid and 5–20µl of the plasma extract were injected into the RPLC column The tryptophan was readily separated from other plasma components in 5 minutes using isocratic elution. Thus the method can be readily automated. The minimum detection limit was 5pmoles using UV detection, and 1 pmole using fluorescence detection. Since low concentrations of total tryptophan in small volumes (⩽ 500µl) of plasma can be determined reproducibly and rapidly, this fast RPLC method can be used in pharmaceutical and clinical laboratories for newborn, and infant and pediatric samples.
The zone of proximal development: Some conceptual issues†

Vygotsky's ideas about the zone of proximal development are elucidated and extended by inclusion of the theoretical constructs of situation definition, intersubjectivity, and semiotic mediation.
Lipidomics of human Meibomian gland secretions: Chemistry, biophysics, and physiological role of Meibomian lipids

Human Meibomian gland secretions (MGS) are a complex mixture of diverse lipids that are produced by Meibomian glands that are located in the upper and the lower eyelids. During blinking, MGS are excreted onto the ocular surface, spread and mix with aqueous tears that are produced by lachrymal glands, and form an outermost part of an ocular structure called "the tear film" (TF). The main physiological role of TF is to protect delicate ocular structures (such as cornea and conjunctiva) from desiccating. Lipids that are produced by Meibomian glands are believed to "seal" the aqueous portion of TF by creating a hydrophobic barrier and, thus, retard evaporation of water from the ocular surface, which enhances the protective properties of TF. As lipids of MGS are interacting with underlying aqueous sublayer of TF, the chemical composition of MGS is critical for maintaining the overall stability of TF. There is a consensus that a small, but important part of Meibomian lipids, namely polar, or amphiphilic lipids, is of especial importance as it forms an intermediate layer between the aqueous layer of TF and its upper (and much thicker) lipid layer formed mostly of very nonpolar lipids, such as wax esters and cholesteryl esters. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current knowledge on the lipidomics of human MGS, including the discussions of the most effective modern analytical techniques, chemical composition of MGS, biophysical properties of Meibomian lipid films, and their relevance for the physiology of TF. Previously published results obtained in numerous laboratories, as well as novel data generated in the author's laboratory, are discussed. It is concluded that despite a substantial progress in the area of Meibomian glands lipidomics, there are large areas of uncertainty that need to be addressed in future experiments.
ASIA AND WESTERN DOMINANCE

This paper considers the conflicts between the West and Asia in the age of globalization and its concomitant ideology of liberal values. It concludes that while the material wealth of the West is welcome everywhere, Asia has resisted, and will continue to resist, the attempts to homogenize Asian culture. The paper argues that the West should accept differences in human rights, ecological policies and forms of governments, and limit itself to the equalization of opportunities for commerce and trade.
CDIP1-BAP31 Complex Transduces Apoptotic Signals from Endoplasmic Reticulum to Mitochondria under Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress

SUMMARY Resolved endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response is essential for intracellular homeostatic balance, but unsettled ER stress can lead to apoptosis. Here, we show that a proapoptotic p53 target, CDIP1, acts as a key signal transducer of ER-stress-mediated apoptosis. We identify B-cellreceptor-associated protein 31 (BAP31) as an interacting partner of CDIP1. Upon ER stress, CDIP1 is induced and enhances an association with BAP31 at the ER membrane. We also show that CDIP1 binding to BAP31 is required for BAP31 cleavage upon ER stress and for BAP31-Bcl-2 association. The recruitment of Bcl-2 to the BAP31-CDIP1 complex, as well as CDIP1-dependent truncated Bid (tBid) and caspase-8 activation, contributes to BAX oligomerization. Genetic knockout of CDIP1 in mice leads to impaired response to ER-stress-mediated apoptosis. Altogether, our data demonstrate that the CDIP1/BAP31-mediated regulation of mitochondrial apoptosis pathway represents a mechanism for establishing an ER-mitochondrial crosstalk for ERstress-mediated apoptosis signaling.
Liquid crystal alignment by rubbed polymer surfaces: a microscopic bond orientation model

We discuss the microscopic origin of a previously poorly understood phenomenon, the alignment of a nematic liquid crystal (LC), consisting of rod-like molecular units, when placed on a rubbed polymer surface. After giving a brief review of the phenomenon and its technological utilization in flat panel displays we discuss the use of surface sensitive, polarization dependent near edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy for the study of rubbed polymer surfaces. These measurements are shown to provide a microscopic picture for the origin of the alignment process. It is shown that the LC orientation direction is set by an asymmetry in the molecular bonds, i.e. of the charge, at the rubbed polymer surface. The experimental results are explained by a general theory, based on tensor order parameters, which states that the minimum energy state of the interaction between the LC and oriented polymer surface corresponds to maximum directional overlap of the respective anisotropic charge distributions. q 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Environment delay in haptic systems

Investigates the influence environment delay has on haptic systems. Work presented by the authors (1999) demonstrated that it is possible to account for environment delay (even though it is a non-passive behavior) and still achieve a stability result based on passivity concepts. The details were given for haptic systems with environments having impedance causality. This paper presents the companion results for haptic systems with environments having admittance causality, resulting in a slightly more complicated analysis. Although the main focus is on delay, the approach is valid for analysing any environment that exhibits non-passive behavior.
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome with intact atrial septum associated with deletion of the short arm of chromosome 18.

We report on a female newborn with deletion of the short arm of the chromosome 18 (del 18p) and hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) with intact atrial septum. Several forms of congenital heart disease (CHD) are found in 10% of patients with this chromosomal abnormality, although HLHS has not been reported yet. Interesting coronary artery anomalies, as well as the presence of pulmonary lymphangiectasia, were found in our patient and were contributors to her fatal outcome. Del 18 p must be considered when evaluating a patient with characteristic phenotypical anomalies and HLHS with intact atrial septum.
Electrolytic charge inversion at programmable CMOS sensor interfaces

Electrochemical interface layer overcharging is experimentally demonstrated at planar MOS sensor interfaces by controlling the surface charge through nonvolatile charge injection. The electric field across the solid-fluid interface is modulated upon floating-gate program/erase and leads to electrolytic charge reversal, for which an analytical model is derived. This electrofluidic gating effect is further used to repel adsorbed DNA, realizing an electrical surface refreshable biosensor. Quasi-static and impedimetric measurements are presented for validation.
Simulation of amorphous carbon with a bond-order potential

Simulations of amorphous carbon were performed at densities ranging from 2.0 to 3.0gcm 3 with a reactive bond-order potential. The fraction of sp 3 bonding increases with increasing density, as is observed experimentally, but with generally too much sp 2 content. Ring size distributions are calculated, with a number of large rings observed. It is suggested that structural quantities that are more directly related to physical properties—such as void volumes and coordination numbers—are more useful than ring size distributions in characterizing the structure of amorphous carbon. Void fractions and void volume distributions are calculated, indicating that a percolating void network exists at 2.0gcm 3 , large, non-percolating voids exist at intermediate density, and no voids are found larger than atomic volumes at 3.0gcm 3 .
Rotating magnetic micro-robots for versatile non-contact fluidic manipulation of micro-objects

This work introduces new strategies for fluid-based manipulation of micro-scale objects using rotating magnetic micro-robots at low Reynolds numbers. By rapidly spinning the micro-robots, rotational fluid flow is induced which acts to move the micro-objects by fluidic drag. Acting in parallel, teams of these micro-robots are shown to work together to rapidly move micro-objects along planned “virtual channel”s to goal positions. As the micro-robots are themselves highly mobile, the manipulation trajectories are controlled to achieve accurate, fast manipulation of multiple micro-objects in 2-D environments. Experiments are performed in a viscous oil (50 cSt) to simulate the physics of micro-robots which are small enough to fit through small micro-fluidic channels or blood capillaries. The micro-robot and micro-object motions are characterized to support the proposed strategies. Spherical micro-robots 380µm in diameter are used to manipulate 200µm diameter particles with controllable speeds of up to 3.5 mm/s.
Elements of Strategic Management Process and PerformanceManagement Systems in U.S. Federal Agencies: Do Employee Managerial Levels Matter?

This study examines the relationship between strategic planning components and performance-based management systems in U.S. federal agencies. This research explores the correlation between government employee perception regarding strategic planning components in agencies and three dimensions of performance management systems (performance-based promotions or rewards, fairness and accuracy of performance appraisal, and managerial efforts to improve performance). This study also explores whether the perceived correlation differs across five managerial levels (non-supervisor, team leader, supervisor, manager and executive). This study explores data from the 2008 Federal Human Capital Survey (FHCS), conducted by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM). This study conducts a total of 15 regression analyses for the three dependent variables and the five supervisor levels. In the models, all five components of strategic planning are positively correlated with the three dimensions of performance management systems among all five supervisor levels. A series of regression analyses demonstrates that the correlation differs depending on the managerial level of the employee. Employees at different managerial levels have different perceptions of the correlation between strategic planning components and each dimension of performance management systems in the public sector.
Variational Multiscale Modeling for Turbulence Control

We explore the capabilities of the variational multiscale (VMS) method in the context of turbulence control by applying VMS to the simulation of a simple opposition control strategy for turbulent channel flow with the results compared to prior direct numerical simulations and large-eddy simulations (LES). In all cases, the VMS method is found to be more efficient and more accurate than traditional LES with the dynamic subgrid-scale model. The simplicity, accuracy, and generality of VMS makes it particularly attractive for turbulence control investigations.
Web server QoS models: applying scheduling rules from production planning

Most web servers, in practical use, use a queuing policy based on the Best Effort model, which employs the first-in-first-out (FIFO) scheduling rule to prioritize web requests in a single queue. This model does not provide Quality of Service (QoS). In the Differentiated Services (DiffServ) model, separate queues are introduced to differentiate QoS for separate web requests with different priorities. This paper presents web server QoS models that use a single queue, along with scheduling rules from production planning in the manufacturing domain, to differentiate QoS for classes of web service requests with different priorities. These scheduling rules are Weighted Shortest Processing Time (WSPT), Apparent Tardiness Cost (ATC), and Earliest Due Date. We conduct simulation experiments and compare the QoS performance of these scheduling rules with the FIFO scheme used in the basic Best Effort model with only one queue, and the basic DiffServ model with two separate queues. Simulation results demonstrate better QoS performance using WSPT and ATC, especially when requested services exceed the capacity of a web server.
The anatomy of easy problems: a constraint-satisfaction formulation

This work aims towards the automatic generation of advice to guide the solution of difficult constraint-satisfaction problems (CSPs). The advice is generated by consulting relaxed, easy models which are backtrack-free. We identify a subset of CSPs whose syntactic and semantic properties make them easy to solve. The syntactic properties involve the structure of the constraint graph, while the semantic properties guarantee some local consistencies among the constraints. In particular, problems supported by tree-like constraint graphs, and some width-2 graphs, can be easily solved and are therefore chosen as the target model for the relaxation scheme. Optimal algorithms for solving easy problems are presented and analyzed. Finally, an efficient method is introduced for extracting advice from easy problems and using it to speedup the solution of hard problems.
Redundancy Elimination for LF

We present a type system extending the dependent type theory LF, whose terms are more amenable to compact representation. This is achieved by carefully omitting certain subterms which are redundant in the sense that they can be recovered from the types of other subterms. This system is capable of omitting more redundant information than previous work in the same vein, because of its uniform treatment of higher-order and first-order terms. Moreover the 'recipe' for reconstruction of omitted information is encoded directly into annotations on the types in a signature. This brings to light connections between bidirectional (synthesis vs. checking) typing algorithms of the object language on the one hand, and the bidirectional flow of information in the ambient encoding language. The resulting system is a compromise seeking to retain both the effectiveness of full unification-based term reconstruction such as is found in implementation practice, and the logical simplicity of pure LF.
Formylpeptide Receptor Single Nucleotide Polymorphism 348T>C and Its Relationship to Polymorphonuclear Leukocyte Chemotaxis in Aggressive Periodontitis

Background: Aggressive periodontitis (AgP) is associated with impaired polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) chemotaxis toward bacterial N-formylpeptides. Formylpeptide receptors (FPRs) play a major role in guiding PMNs to infection sites. Previous work revealed a significant association between FPR1 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) 348T>C and AgP in African Americans. We tested the hypothesis that 348T impairs PMN chemotaxis by decreasing FPR mRNA expression, thereby increasing susceptibility to AgP.Methods: Blood samples were obtained from African American subjects (37 AgP cases and 38 controls). Chemotaxis to N-formyl-methionine-leucine-phenylalanine by freshly isolated PMNs was assayed in a modified Boyden chamber. RNA was isolated from PMNs, and FPR1 gene expression was quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). To detect FPR1 5′ SNPs, genomic DNA was isolated, and four fragments spanning the FPR1 5′ region were PCR-amplified and sequenced. Haplotype associations between SNP 348T>C and ...
Grounding for Process Control Computers and Distributed Control Systems: The National Electrical Code and Present Grounding Practice

As part of a panel discussion, the relationship of the National Electrical Code to the installation of process control computers and distributed control systems is covered. The various design requests of the manufacturers with respect to grounding will be presented. Field installation practices will be discussed.
Successful directional coronary atherectomy in a patient with dextrocardia and situs inversus.

We describe a case of successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty of an infarct-related vessel followed later by directional coronary atherectomy of a noninfarct vessel in a patient with dextrocardia using standard preformed catheters. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
HOSPITAL PERSONNEL'S PERCEPTION AND KNOWLEDGE OF HOSPITAL ACQUIRED INFECTION CONTROL

Hospital acquired infections (HAI) are a major source of morbidity and mortality in human and veterinary hospitals. Research in human hospitals has shown that well focused staff education is an important step in limiting the development of HAI. Our hospital currently has no training program with respect to HAI. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the general knowledge of hospital staff concerning HAI as the first step in developing a hospital wide education program. Ninety doctors and technicians were given a questionnaire containing 15 questions about HAI. The questionnaires were hand distributed and immediately completed. Ten of the questions tested knowledge of HAI, while five questions concerned the individual's perception of HAI in our hospital. Answers were given as a range from strongly agree to strongly disagree or in the form of multiple choice. With respect to their perception of HAI, 66% of technicians and 50% of doctors believed that they possess a good working knowledge of HAI. Several areas for improvement in hospital staff knowledge were identified. Technicians were more likely than doctors to incorrectly believe that 1) routine environmental cultures are effective at preventing HAI (percent correct answer: technicians 30%, doctors 52%), 2) that all animals that aspirated gastric contents under anesthesia develop clinical evidence of pneumonia (percent correct answer: technicians 55%, doctors 84%), and 3) that animals with an indwelling urinary catheter should be treated with prophylactic antibiotics (percent correct answer: technicians 51%, doctors 90%). In addition, doctors were more likely to identify Amikacin as the antibiotic of choice for patients with HAI in our hospital (percent correct answer: technicians 27%, doctors 79%). Neither group was able to adequately identify the patients in the ICU as the primary reservoir for the multi-drug resistant pathogens that cause HAI (percent correct answer: technicians 20%, doctors 15%). The discrepancy in knowledge between the two groups is likely explained by attendance of faculty, residents, and interns at one or more continuing education rounds sessions where HAI were discussed. This finding is contrary to what is frequently found in human hospitals where the nursing staff typically demonstrates superior knowledge of HAI when compared to doctors. The results of this study demonstrate that knowledge of HAI is not optimal in both the doctors and technicians in our hospital. Further better focused efforts are warranted to address the educational shortcomings evidenced by this study.
Gender Differences in Political and Civic Engagement among Young People

The explosion of interest in the political and civic engagement of young people has brought increasing attention to the question of gender differences in youth engagement. One reason is that the study of young people may provide particular leverage on a common explanation for gender differences observed among adults, specifically that greater rates of participation among men—when present—arise from their advantage in the cognitive and material resources that promote political activity and that access to politically relevant resources are more equally distributed among younger citizens so that there is more gender uniformity than gender difference among the young.. This paper uses data from nationwide surveys of 18 to 24 year olds in 2006 and 2007 to examine the roots of gender differences in political activities and in community/nonprofit activities. After examining basic patterns of difference, it develops a multivariate model and applies it separately to young men and young women. The results of this analysis are then used as the point of departure for a preliminary analysis of the differential effects that male and female parents have on their children. Overall, we find evidence that having well-educated parents who are interested in politics affects women more than men. Talking to parents about politics seems to increase electoral engagement for young women more than for young men; but it also seems to increase community and nonprofit engagement for young men more than for young women.
Inmate Thinking Patterns: An Empirical Investigation

This study investigated patterns of maladaptive thinking in 435 offenders and sought to develop and preliminarily validate a measure of criminal thinking patterns. An exploratory factor analysis of 77 thinking errors derived from four theories of cognitive distortions that influence behavior yielded a three-factor model of dysfunctional thinking among offenders. Interpretations of these three factors were provided (i.e., Control, Cognitive Immaturity, and Egocentrism). Implications for treatment and future research with offenders, using the conceptualization of erroneous thinking posited by the three-factor model, are discussed.
Phase II trial of Paclitaxel and Dacarbazine with filgrastim administration in advanced malignant melanoma.

A Phase II trial was conducted in patients with advanced malignant melanoma with intravenous Paclitaxel and Dacarbazine (DTIC). The initial starting dose for Paclitaxel was 135 mg/m2 followed by DTIC 800 mg/m2. Due to the lack of myelosuppression and other toxicities, the starting dose for Paclitaxel was escalated to 250 mg/m2 and the dose for DTIC escalated to l000 mg/m2. Twenty-five patients were enrolled in this study. Among the 25 patients assessable for response, three patients had a partial response with a response rate of 12% (CI 3–31%) and one patient had stable disease. Three additional patients showed evidence of anti-tumor activity with minor responses. For patients who had no prior chemotherapy or biochemotherapy, the response rate was 20%. Toxicity was generally tolerable and included mainly neurotoxicity from Paclitaxel. At the doses and schedule used, the combination of Paclitaxel and DTIC did not appear to increase the response rate compared to each agent used singly.
Improvements in Immunization Compliance Using a Computerized Tracking System for Inner City Clinics

Vaccination compliance rates were calculated for 1995 to 2001 for enrolled patients, based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and age-appropriate vaccine schedules. The results reported here indicate computerized tracking with the Doctor's Pediatric Immunization Program (Dr. PIP) maintained vaccine compliance rates (> 90%) in healthy and immunocompromised children at 2 months and 12 months of age. Instituting the computerized system has yielded nearly optimal results in both indigenous inner-city clinics. Despite the efficient progress made by automated tracking, the results for specific vaccine strategies (Varicella) and target groups (human immunodeficiency virus, high-risk indigent populations) may require on-going and intensive educational efforts to achieve optimization levels.
Incisional and port-site hernias following robotic colorectal surgery

The association between extraction site location, robotic trocar size, and the incidence of incisional hernias in robotic colorectal surgery remain unclear. Laparoscopic literature reports variable rates of incisional hernias versus open surgery, and variable rates of trocar site hernias. However, conclusions from these studies are confusing due to heterogeneity in closure techniques and may not be generalized to robotic cases. This study evaluates the effect of extraction site location on incisional hernia rates, as well as trocar hernia rates in robotic colorectal surgery. A retrospective review of multiport and single incision robotic colorectal surgeries from a single institution was performed. Patients underwent subtotal, segmental, or proctocolectomies, and were compared based on the extraction site through either a muscle-splitting (MS) or midline (ML) incision. Hernias were identified by imaging and/or physical exam. Demographics and risk factors for hernias were assessed. Groups were compared using a multivariate logistic regression analysis. The study included 259 colorectal surgery patients comprising 146 with MS and 113 with ML extraction sites. Postoperative computed tomograms were performed on 155 patients (59.8 %) with a mean follow-up of 16.5 months. The overall incisional hernia rate was 5.8 %. A significantly higher hernia rate was found among the ML group compared to the MS group (12.4 vs. 0.68 %, p < 0.0001). Of the known risk factors assessed, only increased BMI was associated with incisional hernias (OR 1.18). No trocar site hernias were found. Midline extraction sites are associated with a significantly increased rate of incisional hernias compared to muscle-splitting extraction sites. There is little evidence to recommend fascia closure of 8-mm trocar sites.
Tracheostomy decannulation in children: approaches and techniques

Various approaches and techniques are used in discontinuing tracheostomy in children. The variability in the use of resources is considerable. The objective of this study was to assess decannulation in children attended in a university-affiliated children's hospital. A retrospective analysis was made of the medical records of patients who had both tracheostomy (n = 177) and decannulation (n = 30) from 1985 to 1994. Tracheostomies, placed at a mean age of 38 months, were discontinued (on the average) 22 months later. Most children underwent airway endoscopy in the operating room in preparation for decannulation. Twenty-four children had downsizing, then capping of the tracheostomy as a functional trial. Six children underwent staged laryngotracheoplasty before decannulation. Two children had decannulation as part of a single-stage laryngotracheoplasty. Attention to at least one comorbid factor (e.g., pulmonary, neurologic, or cardiac disease) was important in the decannulation of each patient in this series. The individualization of tracheostomy decannulation is necessary for children.
Quality-of-service and error control techniques for network-on-chip architectures

Networks-on-a-Chip (NoC) has been proposed as a solution for addressing the design challenges of future high-performance nanoscale architectures. Real-time applications require multiple service levels to account for traffic with low delay jitter. As technology scales toward deep submicron, on-chip interconnects are becoming more and more sensitive to noise sources such as power supply noise, crosstalk, radiation induced effects, that are likely to reduce the reliability of data. This paper addresses two important aspects of NoC architecture, QoS (Quality of Service) and Error Control and makes the following contributions: (i) It presents techniques for supporting guaranteed throughput and best-effort traffic quality levels in NoC router, (ii) It provides models for integrating error control schemes in the NoC router architecture, and (iii) It presents cycle accurate power and performance models of the two architecture enhancements for a 4x4 mesh based NoC architecture.
Activators and inhibitors of brain glutaminase.

— (1) The glutaminase activity of a guinea pig brain dispersion (a 1500g supernatant solution) was tested at pH 7.5 in the presence of a series of organic acids at 20 mm with or without the further addition of 7.5 mm-phosphate. (2) In the absence of phosphate, glutaminase activity was strongly enhanced by tricarboxylic acids, less strongly by dicarboxylic acids, and slightly, if at all, by monocarboxylic acids. Acidic amino acids were intermediate between mono- and dicarboxylic acids. In the presence of 7.5 mm-phosphate, the addition of 20 mm organic acids resulted in strong potentiation of the activating effect in many cases. The activating effect of even the most active of the organic acids tested, citrate, was only about half of the effect of an equimolar amount of phosphate. (3) At phosphate concentrations approaching the saturation level for activation, the further addition of citrate was without effect. (4) Glutaminase was strongly activated by ITP which was about three times as active as inorganic phosphate. IMP was less active than inorganic phosphate and creatine phosphate had only slight activity which seemed to be accounted for by its content of inorganic phosphate. (5) Glutaminase was activated by fluoride, in the presence as well as in the absence of added phosphate. Chloride, bromide, and iodide, at 100 mm, produced increasing inhibition of the phosphate-activated reaction. The inhibiting effect of iodide was qualitatively competitive with phosphate. (6) The effects of various other potential inhibitors and activators, including SH-reagents, d-glutamine, several amino acids, and amino acid derivatives were studied. (7) The results have been discussed with particular reference to their significance in elucidating the natural function of brain glutaminase. It has been suggested that glutaminase is an allosteric enzyme and that the secondary active site requires a reaction with three anionic groups for full activation.
A diagnostic comparison of the 1980 and 1988 U.S. summer heat wave-droughts

Abstract Observational analyses are performed to examine the roles of remote and local forcing in the evolutions of the extreme U.S. summer heat wave-drought cases of 1980 and 1988. At early stages, both events are associated with anomalous stationary wave patterns. Wave activity flux analyses suggest that in the 1980 case anomalous wave activity propagates southeastward from an apparent source region to the south of the Aleutians. The flux pattern is more complex in the 1988 case but suggests two possible source regions, one over the central North Pacific to the north of the Hawaiian Islands and a second located over the far western Pacific. The 1988 analyses show no anomalous wave propagation out of the eastern tropical Pacific, although this result does not necessarily preclude a role for tropical forcing in generating the anomalous wave train. In both cases the anomalous wave trains and associated wave activity fluxes become very weak by early July, indicating that remotely forced anomalous stationary...
Multimodal Media Production: New Landscapes For Crafting Future Selves

This article outlines a framework for using multimodal media production (MMP) with urban youth to sketch critical future selves that are collaborative, self-confident, college going, and resilient. Particularly today with the affordances of digital technologies, MMPs of alternative narratives by youth of color allow a particularly rich form of imagining and exploring different times and spaces, while also developing critical literacies, skills, and dispositions that allow them to actualize affirmative futures.
Gender Roles in a Masculine Occupation: Military Men and Women’s Differential Negotiation of the Work–Family Interface

Gender plays a key role in the attitudes and behaviors exhibited by individuals in both their work and family domains. Just as individuals can lie anywhere on a continuum from masculine to feminine, occupations can be similarly gender-typed. We argue that norms related to masculinity (vs. femininity) can influence one’s selfselection into an occupation and one’s work attitudes and behaviors once associated with an occupation. Since men and women associated with masculine occupations have unique work and family expectations, they also experience and negotiate the work-family interface differently than do individuals in more gender-neutral organizations. In this chapter, we use the military as an example of a gendered occupation – a masculine one to be specific. We introduce the Masculine Occupations’ Gender Role Model to provide a theoretical framework of how the gender of employees in a gendered occupation can influence attitudes and behavior in both the work and family domains.
Synthesis, equilibrium swelling, kinetics, permeability and applications of environmentally responsive gels

This article is a review of the research on environmentally responsive polymer gels done by Stevin H. Gehrke's research group at the University of Cincinnati. This group has studied a wide variety of responsive gels, including crosslinked cellulose ethers, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), and radiation-crosslinked poly(vinyl methyl ether). Equilibrium swelling has been studied both experimentally and theoretically, with the general goal of learning how to control the nature of the volume transition. Conditions under which transition-inducing stimuli affect the rate of volume change have been identified and a diffusion analysis is shown to be broadly useful for correlating the kinetics. Polymer scaling theory provides a qualitative basis for understanding how polymer composition and stimulus interval influence the magnitude of the network diffusion coefficient. The response rate of gels can be several orders of magnitude greater than this if they are microporous and can absorb and expel solvent by a convective process. Diffusion coefficients of solutes in gels decline as the gel shrinks, in generally good agreement with free volume theories. Hydrophobic interactions between gels and drugs are often quite strong, especially in deswollen gels. The ability of these gels to dewater coal slurries has also been established.
What Do We Tell the Children

Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) now offer multiple pathways to parenthood for infertile heterosexuals, gay and lesbian couples, and singletons of varying sexual preferences. For some, the explosion of ART-inspired families is cause for celebration; for others, it signals the subversion of important social values. But regardless of whether one embraces or reviles the trend, the proliferation of non-traditional baby-making poses a multitude of questions. One of the most vexing involves the ethics of disclosure. What do we tell the children? What are they ethically or legally entitled to know? How might disclosure affect other ART participants? And who is to make these difficult decisions - parents or the State? Continued stigma surrounding infertility, concerns about a child's "identity confusion," and worries that disclosure will impair bonding between the non-biologically linked parent and offspring lead many couples to keep the use of donor gametes secret. This secret-keeping reinforces existing policies of anonymous donation that signal to adoptive parents and donors alike that the act of donation is a "one-shot deal" carrying with it no enduring bond or connection. Today, a growing grassroots movement is questioning this operational premise. The children of sperm and egg donation have begun agitating for more open policies regarding donor identity. Countries in Europe and provinces in both Australia and New Zealand have moved toward open-donation policies and many contend that the United States should follow suit. But before following international trends toward open-donation in third-party assisted reproduction, it is important to assess what we know about ART children in both open and closed donation settings. Policy makers should ask, is closed donation exacting a psychological cost on ART progeny? Does clear data establish the superiority of open systems? This article examines these questions in light of the data we have on ART's "children of choice." It surveys developments in countries that have banned anonymous donation and offers suggestions of how the United States might best craft policies that preserve ART's capacity to fulfill the dreams of family-seeking adults, while maximizing the well-being and healthy functioning of donor offspring.
Benefits of Boundary Layer Ingestion Propulsion

This paper presents experimental measurements of propulsive power reduction due to boundary layer ingestion, for an electric ducted fan propulsor behind a NACA 0040 body of revolution at a Reynolds number of approximately 240,000. The propulsive power is defined as the electrical power required by the propulsor to obtain a zero net streamwise force on the body/propulsor combination, mimicking the cruise condition for an aircraft. The benefits of the boundary layer ingestion are quantified as a power saving coefficient, or ratio relative to the no-ingestion case where the propulsor is isolated from the wake. The measurements show a maximum power savings when the propulsor is closest to the body centered on the body axis, with savings of 26% for an untripped flow case and 29% for a tripped flow case. A second iteration of experiments were performed, showing a maximum power savings of 25% for a tripped flow case. Propulsor locations farther downstream and further off-axis show progressively smaller power saving benefits. An uncertainty analysis is performed to verify the measurements to within 99% confidence. Wake profiles were also measured to confirm that the wake was fully ingested for on-axis propulsor locations.
Patients who never get well.

Any or all forms of psychiatric therapy will fail in about 20 percent of patients representing all the diagnostic categories, according to a survey of 20 years' experience in this field. These “patients who never get well” generate some uncertainty concerning the present tendency to allow patients with serious psychiatric disorders complete freedom of movement within our society.
Bonhoeffer's Seminary Vision: A Case for Costly Discipleship and Life Together

While the modern church remembers Dietrich Bonhoeffer for his theological prowess, leadership in the Confessing Church, and co-conspiring to assassinate Hitler, few remember him as a theological ed...
Analysis on surveillance results for vector density in Miyun county in 2013,Beijing

Objective To understand the density of the vector organism in Miyun county,provide the scientific basis for prevention and control of the vectors organism. Methods The night trapping and cockroach paste were conducted to monitor the density of rats and cockroaches,the CO2 light trapping and cage trapping were conducted to monitor the density of mosquitoes and flies respectively. Results The density of rats was 0. 25%. Rattus norvegicus was the dominant species. The density of cockroaches was 0. 029( / night·pages). Blattella germanica was the dominant species. Flies density index was 2. 18 / cage. The dominant species was Flesh fly. The average density index of mosquitoes was 1. 07 /( light·hour). Culex pipiens pallens was the dominant species. Conclusion The density indexes of four vector organism were in low level,the dominant species were not changed. Basing on characteristics of vector organisms' breeding,perched habits and seasonal swing in growth,the strategy of comprehensive prevention including environmental management accompanied by physical means and chemical control when necessary should be conducted to reduce their density.