cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vitamin D deficiency and adult asthma exacerbations.

AbstractObjectives: There is growing evidence indicating a connection between vitamin D deficiency and the severity of asthma exacerbations. This study seeks to assess the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and the number and severity of asthma exacerbation in adults. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted in 92 patients being treated for asthma at the University of New Mexico Adult Asthma Clinic. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels were analyzed in adults with mild to severe persistent asthma. Using multi-variant modeling, the relationship was examined between serum vitamin D levels and the odds of asthma exacerbations ranging in severity from moderate to severe over the span of five years. Results: This study demonstrates that vitamin D sufficiency was significantly associated with a decreased total number of asthma exacerbations (incidence rate ratio [IRR]: 0.61, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.44–0.84, p = 0.002), decreased total severe asthma exacerbations (IRR: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.24–0.72,...
Usefulness of persistent silent myocardial ischemia in predicting a high cardiac event rate in men with medically controlled, stable angina pectoris.

The presence of silent myocardial ischemia that persists after medical therapy for unstable angina identifies a subgroup at high-risk for cardiovascular events.1–3 In addition, the presence of concomitant silent myocardial ischemic episodes in patients with angina pectoris appears to predict a higher risk of subsequent cardiac events.4–7 This study was designed to determine the incidence, extent and prognostic significance of silent myocardial ischemia in patients with stable angina pectoris who have been rendered pain-free by medical therapy.
Measuring and Improving Rationale Clarity in a University Office Building Design Process

This paper measures and improves the clarity of design rationale on an architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) project and observes the effects. The rationale clarity framework (RCF) defines decisions in terms of components of rationale—managers, stakeholders, designers, gatekeepers, objectives (constraints and goals), alternatives, and analyses (impacts and assessment of stakeholder value). RCF defines relations and conditions of clarity for each component—coherent, concrete, connected, consistent, credible, certain, and correct. Using RCF, the rationale clarity of decisions was observed and documented on an industry case project. A decision-assistance methodology that seeks to clarify rationale, called MACDADI, was then implemented and costs and benefits from each team member’s perspective were observed. Future work is identified that can lower costs and increase benefits of clarifying rationale.
A Monte Carlo Approach to Nonnormal and Nonlinear State-Space Modeling

Abstract A solution to multivariate state-space modeling, forecasting, and smoothing is discussed. We allow for the possibilities of nonnormal errors and nonlinear functionals in the state equation, the observational equation, or both. An adaptive Monte Carlo integration technique known as the Gibbs sampler is proposed as a mechanism for implementing a conceptually and computationally simple solution in such a framework. The methodology is a general strategy for obtaining marginal posterior densities of coefficients in the model or of any of the unknown elements of the state space. Missing data problems (including the k-step ahead prediction problem) also are easily incorporated into this framework. We illustrate the broad applicability of our approach with two examples: a problem involving nonnormal error distributions in a linear model setting and a one-step ahead prediction problem in a situation where both the state and observational equations are nonlinear and involve unknown parameters.
Stakeholder perspectives on converting forest biomass to energy in Oregon, USA

Within the state of Oregon, USA, there is considerable interest in the possibility of converting forest biomass to energy. A number of studies have assessed the technical feasibility of forest biomass energy, but few have focused on social aspects, an important consideration in projects involving public forests. This study explores the social context of converting forest biomass to energy, using qualitative research methods. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with forty individuals representing nine different stakeholder groups. Information gained through interviews was used to understand stakeholder views on forest biomass energy, including their perspectives on potential barriers and opportunities in Oregon. Findings indicate the most challenging barrier will be access to long-term, consistent supply. A related challenge is the long history of contention between parties over forest products coming from public lands. However, findings also show that there are many areas of common ground between these groups that have historically been at odds, such as agreement on the necessity of restoration treatments in certain forest types, the by-product of which could be used for biomass generation. Potential conflicts still exist, for instance over projects in mixed conifer forests. Development of policies and projects through inclusive, collaborative approaches could alleviate controversies, potentially allowing more activities to move forward. Information provided by this research creates a foundation for discussions as forest biomass energy becomes an increasingly prominent issue in Oregon, the western USA, and other regions of the world.
Rational design of vitamin D3 analogues which selectively restore activity to a vitamin D receptor mutant associated with rickets.

Vitamin D3-resistant rickets (VDRR) is associated with mutations to the Vitamin D receptor (VDR) which effect ligand-dependent transactivation. Some VDRR associated mutants directly disrupt ligand binding. Using the reported VDR-1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) cocrystal structure, three 1,25(OH)2D3 analogues were designed to uniquely complement the rickets associated mutant VDR(Arg274→Leu). The three analogues were 17 to 286 times more potent than 1,25(OH)2D3 with the mutant in cell-based assays and did not substantially activate cellular calcium influx.
Analytical electron microscopy study of the plessite structure in the Carlton iron meteorite

Abstract In order to gain a better understanding of the formation of plessite in iron meteorites, various electron optical techniques were employed to study the range of plessite structures observed in the Carlton fine octahedrite. Compositional and structural studies of twins in clear taenite and the cloudy zone were made. Transmission electron microscopy studies of martensitic and duplex α + γ plessite regions show the presence of γ-taenite rods, 10–200 nm wide, in an α-kamacite matrix. Scanning transmission electron microscope X-ray analyses showed Ni contents in the y rods of ≥43 wt % and Ni contents in the a matrix of 3 wt% Ni. The reaction path involves the decomposition of α 2 martensite into α + γ and these reactions occur below 200°C and possibly below 100°C. Apparently the formation of plessite is intimately related to the formation of martensite and the further decomposition of martensite during the cooling history of the meteorite. It is quite probable that the martensite decomposition reaction has occurred in a large number of iron meteorites and is responsible for many of the observed plessite structures.
Pathogenic Bacillus anthracis in the progressive gene losses and gains in adaptive evolution

Sequence mutations represent a driving force of adaptive evolution in bacterial pathogens. It is especially evident in reductive genome evolution where bacteria underwent lifestyles shifting from a free-living to a strictly intracellular or host-depending life. It resulted in loss-of-function mutations and/or the acquisition of virulence gene clusters. Bacillus anthracis shares a common soil bacterial ancestor with its closely related bacillus species but is the only obligate, causative agent of inhalation anthrax within the genus Bacillus. The anthrax-causing Bacillus anthracis experienced the similar lifestyle changes. We thus hypothesized that the bacterial pathogen would follow a compatible evolution path. In this study, a cluster-based evolution scheme was devised to analyze genes that are gained by or lost from B. anthracis. The study detected gene losses/gains at two separate evolutionary stages. The stage I is when B. anthracis and its sister species within the Bacillus cereus group diverged from other species in genus Bacillus. The stage II is when B. anthracis differentiated from its two closest relatives: B. cereus and B. thuringiensis. Many genes gained at these stages are homologues of known pathogenic factors such those for internalin, B. anthracis-specific toxins and large groups of surface proteins and lipoproteins. The analysis presented here allowed us to portray a progressive evolutionary process during the lifestyle shift of B. anthracis, thus providing new insights into how B. anthracis had evolved and bore a promise of finding drug and vaccine targets for this strategically important pathogen.
Enhancement of the infectivity of influenza A and B viruses by proteolytic cleavage of the hemagglutinin polypeptide.

The infectivity of virions of the WSN strain of influenza A (AWSN) and the 1760 strain of influenza B (B/1760) which possess their hemagglutinin in the form of the uncleaved HA polypeptide can be enhanced as much as 100-fold by proteolytic cleavage of HA to yield HA1 and HA2. Hemagglutinating activity is unaffected by cleavage. The HA polypeptide of AWSN virions is susceptible to cleavage by trypsin and plasmin, whereas that of B/1760 virions is resistant to plasmin. The increase in infectivity can be demonstrated in different cell types, i.e., MDBK, BHK21-F, CEF, or HKCC cells, as well as in the chick embryo, and in titrations in both liquid medium and plaque assays under agar. Chymotrypsin cleaves the HA polypeptide of WSN virions in the same general region of the molecule as trypsin and plasmin, but without the enhancement of infectivity produced by the latter enzymes. Incubation of WSN virions with chymotrypsin prevents the enhancement by subsequent treatment with trypsin, but the increase in infectivity caused by an initial treatment with trypsin is not abolished by subsequent treatment with chymotrypsin. These results indicate that enhancement of infectivity of influenza virions results from proteolytic cleavage at a specific site on the HA molecule; however an increase in infectivity is not associated with cleavage at a nearby but different site. Both AWSN and B/1760 virions are capable of undergoing multiple cycles of replication in cells under conditions in which no cleaved HA polypeptides are detected on the virions produced. These results are compatible with the enhancement of infectivity being the result of an increase upon cleavage in the efficiency of some stage in the initiation of infection beyond the initial adsorption step. The increase in infectivity caused by proteolytic cleavage of the HA polypeptide provides a biochemical explanation for the previously observed enhancement of plaquing efficiency of influenza viruses by the inclusion of pancreation or trypsin in the agar overlay.
Aqueous solutions of hypovalent gallium; reductions using gallium(I)

Solutions 0.2 mol dm−3 in GaI, prepared by dissolving Ga2Cl4 in dry acetonitrile, are stable for more than seven days and may be diluted 300- to 1000-fold with O2-free water to give GaI preparations that may be handled by conventional techniques; these GaI(aq) solutions readily reduce I3−, Br2(aq), IrCl62−, Fe(bipy)33+ and aquacob(III)alamin (B12a) but are inert to Co(NH3)5Cl2+ and Co(NH3)5Br2+; reduction of HCrO4− in 2-ethyl-2-hydroxybutanoate buffers yields the CrIV chelate of the buffering anion.
Domain architecture and oligomerization properties of the paramyxovirus PIV 5 hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) protein

The mechanism by which the paramyxovirus hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) protein couples receptor binding to activation of virus entry remains to be fully understood, but the HN stalk is thought to play an important role in the process. We have characterized ectodomain constructs of the parainfluenza virus 5 HN to understand better the underlying architecture and oligomerization properties that may influence HN functions. The PIV 5 neuraminidase (NA) domain is monomeric whereas the ectodomain forms a well-defined tetramer. The HN stalk also forms tetramers and higher order oligomers with high α-helical content. Together, the data indicate that the globular NA domains form weak intersubunit interactions at the end of the HN stalk tetramer, while stabilizing the stalk and overall oligomeric state of the ectodomain. Electron microscopy of the HN ectodomain reveals flexible arrangements of the NA and stalk domains, which may be important for understanding how these two HN domains impact virus entry.
Intracranial Hemorrhage as the Synergistic Effect of Urokinase and Renal Dysfunction—A Case Report

This case report details a patient treated for a gangrenous toe by angioplasty, sympathectomy, and aortobifemoral grafting who arrived at the hospital with acute renal dysfunction and an occluded bypass graft. The patient had no abnormal results from coagulation studies and no absolute contraindications to urokinase therapy but died from intracranial hemorrhage. The authors believe that hemostatic system impairments related to renal dysfunction act synergistically with thrombolytic agents to produce abnormal bleeding. This case report suggests a synergistic interaction between acute renal dysfunction and urokinase therapy.
Quantitative motion analysis in patients with hallux rigidus before and after cheilectomy.

The purpose of this study was to quantify changes in temporal-spatial parameters and multisegmental foot/ankle kinematics in a group of patients with hallux rigidus following cheilectomy. Three-dimensional motion analysis was conducted using a 15-camera Vicon Motion Analysis System on a population of 19 patients who underwent cheilectomy for hallux rigidus. Data were analyzed using the four-segment Milwaukee Foot Model. Preoperative and postoperative tests were compared using paired parametric methods. Results showed significant improvements in walking speed, cadence, stride length, and stance/swing ratio from preoperative to postoperative state. Altered hallux and forefoot positions preoperatively showed shifts towards normal after cheilectomy. Although clinical improvements in pain and passive range of motion were statistically significant, similar improvements in range of motion were not demonstrated during ambulatory testing. The results of this study provide insight into ambulatory improvements following cheilectomy, and suggest further study of the rehabilitation process to improve the recovery of functional range of motion. © 2008 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 27:128–134, 2009
interactions of ionizing radiation, nitrosamines, sulfonoxyalkanes and antioxidants as they affect carcinogenesis and survival in mice.

Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) pretreatment of 8-wk-old BALB/c mice for 28 days protected against 30-day lethality by X-rays, diethylnitrosamine (DEN), dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) and ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) but not against methyl methanesulfonate (MMS). In X-ray survivors, neither mean survival nor leukemia incidences were affected by BHT. However, BHT (lifetime), given alone or with DEN (300 mg/kg BWin H2O) or 250 R X-rays, increased irradiated survivors at 18 months but not leukemia or tumor incidences. BHT + DEN treated females had increased survival and a decreased frequency of forestomach squamous carcinomas compared with DEN alone; no differences were seen in males or in pulmonary adenomas. In X-ray + DEN treated females, effect upon survival was additive, but the specific diseases causing this affect were not identified.
Visual detection accuracy and target-noise proximity

This experiment demonstrates what we call a proximity effect in forced-choice visual detection: Detection accuracy improves as the distance is increased between the target and the noise items in the array that are confusable with it. The proximity effect is a natural prediction of Estes’s theory that detection is mediated by feature-detecting receptive fields, but other recent models of visual detection do not predict it. However, the pattern of results seems best explained in terms of perceptual configurations in the array; when the target is grouped with confusable noise its visibility is less than when it is not.
Endovascular Treatment of a Ruptured Dual Aperture Cavernous Aneurysm

The authors describe the diagnosis and endovascular management of a multiaperture, ruptured cavernous internal carotid artery aneurysm causing a carotid cavernous fistula (CCF) using both transarterial and transvenous techniques. Although uncommon, recognition of the imaging characteristics of such a lesion will aide in successful management and improve treatment outcome. To the authors' knowledge, CCF due to a ruptured cavernous aneurysm with multiple shunts has not been previously reported.
Potential immunomodulatory activity of phenylphosphonothioates.

Abstract In the course of immunotoxicological studies of several organophosphorous compounds, it was noted that some phenylphosphonothioates enhanced the activation of rat splenocytes by concanavalin A. In the present study some of these compounds were compared to the well-characterized immunomodulatory thiol, 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME). Two of the compounds are able to substitute for 2-ME and allow near maximal growth of a strictly 2-ME-dependent lymphocyte cell line (CTLL-2). These compounds exhibit essentially additive effects with 2-ME on CTLL-2 cells and rat splenocytes. In agreement with previous results with 2-ME, the phosphonothioates have essentially no effect on interleukin-2 production in mitogen-stimulated splenocyte cultures. One phosphonothioate, as well as its possible thiol hydrolysis product, supports cell survival and enhanced cystine incorporation by CTLL-2 cells. However, 2-ME was more effective in stimulation of enhanced generation of extracellular thiols than were the other agents. These results suggest very similar modes of action for phosphonothionates and 2-ME. Finally, a phosphonothioate selected for low neurotoxic potential was examined and found to effectively supported lymphocyte growth in vitro and to exhibit relatively low acute toxicity in mice.
Reduced glutathione prevents nitric oxide-induced apoptosis in vascular smooth muscle cells

The control of medial and neointimal growth, in which vascular smooth muscle (VSM) plays a central role, is most important to the development of hypertension and atherosclerosis, respectively. Growth of vascular smooth muscle cells is regulated by a number of factors, including the vasodilator nitric oxide (NO). In addition, NO modulates intracellular thiol redox states and the thiol redox state of the cell influences NO production. We, therefore, examined the nature of the effect of NO on growth of VSM cells and its modulation by cellular glutathione content. Here, we report that NO, either generated by NO donors or synthesized by iNOS in VSM cells, inhibited DNA synthesis and induced apoptosis in this cell type. NO-induced apoptosis was associated with a significant decrease in the intracellular concentration of reduced glutathione and with an increase in the level of the tumor suppressor gene p53 mRNA. Moreover, addition of glutathione monoethylester to the culture restored the level of reduced glutathione in VSM cells, and prevented the NO-induced increase in p53 expression and programmed cell death. Our findings suggest a role for reduced glutathione in protecting VSM cells exposed to NO from apoptosis.
Temperature dependence of membrane lipid composition in early blastula embryos of Lytechinus pictus: selective sorting of phospholipids into nascent plasma membranes.

Lytechinus pictus eggs were fertilized and incubated at 10, 16, and 23°C until the early blastula stage of embryonic development. The phospholipid composition of the embryos and control unfertilized eggs remain identical and unchanged as incubating temperatures are varied; thus, neither incubating temperature, fertilization nor membrane assembly affect their total phospholipid composition. This result agrees with metabolic studies by others, using only a single incubation temperature, and indicates that embryonic development to the early blastula stage occurs with little, if any, de novo phospholipid biosynthesis. However, as in all poikilotherms, the phospholipid composition of the nascent plasma membranes varies with the incubation temperature. Thus, until the blastula stage of embryonic development, the lipids of these newly formed plasma membranes are derived from lipid pools within the embryo whose phospholipid composition is static. The variation of plasma membrane composition is primarily reflected in an increase in the phosphatidylethanolamine (PE): phosphatidylcholine (PC) ratio as incubating temperatures decrease; this is achieved by an exchange of PE for PC. Several mechanisms are considered for the specificity of the selective sorting and assembly of these phospholipids into the nascent plasma membranes.
Novel motor gestures for phonation during inspiration enhance the acoustic complexity of birdsong.

Sound generation based on a pulmonary mechanism typically occurs during the expiratory phase of respiration. Phonation during inspiration has been postulated for the calls of some amphibians and for exceptional sounds in some human languages. No direct evidence exists for phonation during inspiration in birds, but such a mechanism has been proposed to explain very long uninterrupted songs. Here, we report the first physiological evidence for inspiratory sound production in the song of the zebra finch ( Taeniopygia guttata ). Motor gestures of the vocal and respiratory muscles leading to the production of inspiratory phonation differ from those of silent inspirations during song as well as from those leading to phonation during expiration. Inspiratory syllables have a high fundamental frequency, which makes them acoustically distinct from all other zebra finch song syllables. Furthermore, young zebra finches copy these inspiratory syllables from their tutor song, producing them during inspiration. This suggests that physical limitations confine the production of these sounds to the inspiratory phase in zebra finches. These findings directly demonstrate how novel respiratory-vocal coordination can enhance the acoustic structure of birdsong, and thus provide insight into the evolution of song complexity.
A multiwire proportional chamber system for use in a storage ring experiment

Abstract A multiwire proportional chamber system is described which has been used successfully in an experiment at the 2.6 GeV electron-positron storage ring (SPEAR) at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. Detailed descriptions of the chamber construction and test procedures are given, together with a description of the electronic read-out circuitry. The performance of the system during the experiment is reported and on-line displays of typical events are shown.
Carbamazepine in pediatric psychiatry.

Abstract The tricyclic anticonvulsant carbamazepine (CBZ) is used in increasing numbers of pediatric patients to treat a wide variety of neuropsychiatric disorders, including hyperkinesis, aggression, impulsivity, and emotional lability. Although the literature investigating CBZ efficacy in adult patients is well established for certain disorders (complex-partial seizures, lithium nonresponsive bipolar patients), specific indications for CBZ in pediatric populations have not been studied within the parameters of well-controlled clinical trials. In this paper, the psychiatric literature regarding the potential utility of CBZ in pediatric psychiatry is reviewed. Three case studies are presented as examples of therapeutic successes and failures. Ideas are advanced for future research with emphasis on the need for carefully controlled, prospective investigations of carbamazepine in children with traditional neuropsychiatric disorders.
Ultra-thin wideband absorbers comprised of Frequency Selective Surfaces with concentric square loop elements

An ultra-thin wideband Frequency Selective Surface (FSS) type absorber consisting of a double square loop with a center patch is proposed. The admittance of the FSS is engineered so that it exhibits a capacitive response within the frequency range of interest. The latter is below the substrate's λ/4 resonance, where the substrate is characterized by an inductive admittance. The two admittances cancel each other resulting in an almost zero input reactance. A -10dB return loss is achieved for normal incidence from 12-27 GHz.
As A Matter of Fat

Excess fatty acid accumulation in nonadipose tissues is a hallmark of metabolic disease. When elevated lipid levels exceed the cell's capacity to store or utilize fatty acids, a lipotoxic-response is elicited, characterized by destruction of organelle membranes, activation of stress pathways, and apoptosis. This Minireview focuses on the mechanisms by which lipid overload causes nonadipose cell death and contributes to the pathogenesis of obesity and diabetes.
Hierarchical biphilic micro/nanostructures for a new generation phase-change heat sink

Abstract Pushing the critical heat flux (CHF) limit in boiling has been a century-old challenge. Overcoming this challenge can greatly benefit advancements of myriad devices in which a large quantity of heat must be removed from a small surface. The occurrence of CHF is accompanied by the formation of significant vapor adjacent to the heated surface, such that liquid cannot rewet the surface. Here, a new concept is implemented to ensure that liquid always displaces the vapor near the heated surface. In the new approach, flow is constrained within a hydrophilic microstructure by a hydrophobic vapor-permeable nanostructure. A bubble bounded between the two structures is pulled away from the hydrophilic heated structure and discharged from the flow, thus leading to a fundamental change in CHF dynamics. The performance of a device based on this principle exceeded that of prior studies, with some metrics exhibiting an order of magnitude improvement.
Ultrastructural investigation of neurons identified and localized using the confocal scanning laser microscope

Studies of labeled neurons at the light-microscopic level often pinpoint a substructure of particular interest, i.e., a synapse or a spine. An ultrastructural investigation would explain a lot about how these structures arose, how they function, and how they are regulated. Finding a small region in a large block can require constant checking during sectioning, until past the structure. In our pursuit of the synaptic structure of varicosities on the axons of neurons identified physiologically and morphologically at the light level, we have combined confocal scanning laser microscopy (CSLM) with conventional and high-voltage electron microscopy (EM). CSLM images were collected in the reflection mode to view neurons filled with horseradish peroxidase and stained with nickel-intensified diaminobenzidine, which is compatible with EM. The CSLM optical sections provided a record of what one should expect to see at regular intervals throughout the depth of the tissue block. We have shown that the CSLM greatly simplified the task of localizing small structures in brain tissue prepared for EM.
PATIS: Using partial configuration to improve static FPGA design productivity

Reconfigurable hardware development and debugging tools aspire to provide software-like productivity. A major impediment, however, is the lack of a module linkage capability permitting hardware blocks to be compiled concurrently, limiting the effective use of multi-core and multiprocessor platforms. Although modular and incremental design flows can reuse the layouts of unmodified blocks, non-local changes to the logical hierarchy or physical layout, or addition of debug circuitry, generally force complete re-implementation. We describe the PATIS dynamic floorplanner, targeting development environments in which some circuit speed and area optimization may be sacrificed for improved implementation and debug turnaround. The floorplan consists of partial modules with structured physical interfaces observable through configuration readback rather than synthesized logic analysis circuitry, allowing module ports to be passively probed without disturbing the layout. Although PATIS supports incremental design, complete re-implementation is still rapid because the partial bitstream for each block is generated by independent and concurrent invocations of the standard Xilinx tools running on separate cores or hosts. A continuous background task proactively generates floorplan variants to accelerate global layout changes. The partial reconfiguration design flow is easier to automate in PATIS because run-time module swapping is not required, suggesting that partial reconfiguration may serve a useful role in large-scale static design.
Measurement of Linear Dependence and Feedback between Multiple Time Series

Abstract Measures of linear dependence and feedback for multiple time series are defined. The measure of linear dependence is the sum of the measure of linear feedback from the first series to the second, linear feedback from the second to the first, and instantaneous linear feedback. The measures are nonnegative, and zero only when feedback (causality) of the relevant type is absent. The measures of linear feedback from one series to another can be additively decomposed by frequency. A readily usable theory of inference for all of these measures and their decompositions is described; the computations involved are modest.
Sonographic Detection of Isolated Inferior Vena Cava Thrombosis An Incidental Finding

Inferior vena cava thrombosis is a potentially life-threatening condition in which a clot or thrombus forms in the major vessel that returns blood to the heart and lungs. The primary concern is that of potentially life-threatening pulmonary emboli, or clots traveling to the lung. Risk factors vary greatly, but all fall into the general categories of hypercoagulable state, venous injury, and venous stasis. Signs and symptoms vary with the extent of thrombus, and more than half of all patients remain asymptomatic until pulmonary embolism occurs. Although treatment for cases of localized inferior vena cava thrombosis is fairly straightforward with an excellent prognosis, the variability in and sometimes lack of signs, symptoms, and risk factors render isolated cases of inferior vena cava thrombosis difficult to detect prior to complications from pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis.
Expression of Neuron-Associated Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha in the Brain is Increased During Persistent Pain

Background and Objectives Evidence implicates the pleiotropic cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) in the pathogenesis of persistent pain. The present study employs a chronic constriction injury (CCI) model of neuropathic pain to examine TNFα production in the central nervous system (CNS) and in the periphery in this pain model. Methods CCI-induced hyperalgesia is assessed by measuring the nociceptive threshold using the hot-plate test. The development of hyperalgesia is correlated to levels of TNFα by assessing: bioactive TNFα in homogenates of sciatic nerves, cervical spinal cord, thoracolumbar spinal cord, as well as in plasma using the WEHI-13 variant cytotoxicity bioassay; and mRNA for TNFα in sections of locus coeruleus by in situ hybridization. Results We have previously demonstrated that TNFα bioactivity in the region of the brainstem containing the locus coeruleus is increased concurrent with the development of hyperalgesia, returning to baseline values by day 14, when hyperalgesia has ceased. Constitutive levels of TNFα are demonstrated in the plasma, sciatic nerves, and cervical and thoracolumbar spinal cord of control rats, sham-operated rats, and rats undergoing CCI. Levels of TNFα are significantly elevated in the injured sciatic nerve by day 8 postligature placement, concurrent with maximal hyperalgesia, and remain elevated when hyperalgesia has abated at day 14 postligature placement. Additionally, TNFα activity is increased in the thoracolumbar region of the spinal cord by day 4 postligature placement and remains elevated during hyperalgesia (day 8), as well as after hyperalgesia has dissipated (day 14). The increase in TNFα expression is specific to discrete regions of the CNS, rather than being the result of a systemic inflammatory response, since TNFα bioactivity in plasma is, in fact, decreased in rats undergoing CCI. Additionally, accumulation of mRNA specific for TNFα is significantly increased in neurons within a region of the brain containing the locus coeruleus at days 2, 8, and 14 postligature placement, contemporaneous with the development of hyperalgesia. Conclusions The increases in TNFα within regions of the brain and spinal cord that are associated with adrenergic neuron function, as well as with modulation of pain perception, and the time course and distribution of the increases in TNFα accumulation support a neuromodulatory role for TNFα within the CNS in the development and maintenance of neuropathic pain.
Arizona Go Local – A Journey

Arizona Go Local (AZGoLocal) was launched in 2006 in the midst of the Arizona Turning Point Project, an ongoing statewide effort to promote collaboration among communities, public health departments, and libraries. With a variety of funding sources, the Arizona Health Sciences Library of the University of Arizona used a combination of strategies to manage the AZGoLocal project, gather data, recruit and encourage partners, and publicize it in communities. There was no lack of enthusiasm. The database ultimately held 4,000 records. Concern about the ongoing sustainability (i.e., providing good coverage, adding and keeping data up-to-date, and staffing the project) was exacerbated by the Arizona 2-1-1 project, which had similar goals, was well-funded, and backed by state government. AZGoLocal was removed from the Internet in 2010, not long after the National Library of Medicine announced its decision to discontinue support of MedlinePlus Go Local.
On the nevanlinna characteristic of a composite function

Let f be a meromorphic function and g an entire function. T(r f) the Nevanlinna charachteristic of f and M (r g) the maximum modulus of g. We show that and discuss how far this inequality is best possible.
Optimal Customer Return Rate for an M/M/1 Queueing System with Retrials

The zero capacity M/M/1 queue with returning customers is examined. Performance measures are calculated and an imposed optimal return rate is determined for customers who return until served. The optimal rate is then calculated for an arbitrary customer as a function of the return rate of the other customers, and limiting cases are analyzed. The other customers may then adjust their return rate each time the arbitrary customer adjusts his/hers until a fixed point solution is obtained. A comparison between systems is made.
A Study of AC Electrokinetic Phenomena Under DC Electroosmotic Flows

AC electrokinetic phenomena have drawn much attention in the microfluidics and lab-on-a-chip communities since these techniques have a great potential for effective manipulation of small particles (micro- to nanoscale particles, polymer beads to biological cells and molecules) and fluids in microchannel environments. One unanswered question is how the AC electrokinetic phenomena are affected by DC electroosmotic flows that are often employed in lab-on-a-chip systems as a pumping method. This paper presents experimental and numerical studies on the interaction between AC electrokinetic phenomena and DC electroosmotic flows. The motions of polystyrene microbeads suspended in deionized water in a microchannel were studied as the main AC and DC electrokinetics parameters were varied. Numerical simulations of flow field were performed using COMSOL Multiphysics software. The forces considered in the numerical simulation include electrophoresis, DC electroosmosis, dielectrophoresis, AC electroosmosis, electrothermal effect, diffusion, Stokes drag force, and gravity. The numerical simulation results showed good agreements with experimental data. We believe that this study will contribute to the understanding of the interactions between DC and AC electrokinetic phenomena and thus enable researchers to develop powerful microdevices based on the combination of these two techniques.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Bang for the buck: California court processing and budget allocations: 1976–1986

Abstract We collected California data by county involving total criminal justice system budgets, law enforcement budgets, court budgets, and the total number of criminal justice system personnel for the years 1976 through 1986. Rates of change for each county variable were calculated and compared to determine: (1) which criminal justice agency benefited the most from increases in funding at the system level, and (2) which branch of the court system had the greatest rate of increase in productivity due to increases in operating budget. We found that law enforcement received the greatest share of increases in the criminal justice system budgets, and lower courts produced the greatest increases in productivity due to increase in budget. We concluded that the court system, and specially the superior court system represent a bureaucratized institution, and state legislature attempts to improve the functioning of the court system by allocating additional funds, most often produce little positive change in operations.
Electro-nucleation of undercooled salol

Abstract Undercooled salol can be nucleated by the passage of an electric current. A fresh surface apparently provides an active nucleation site when current is passed, but this site is destructable through an adsorption or irreversible reaction with salol that leaves the current passing capacity unchanged. The current to cause nucleation may proceed in either sense and therefore the sign of the electromotive force must not be important. Spontaneous currents (from Galvanic pairs) are sufficient to cause electro-nucleation which occurs preferentially at the cathode; forced currents may be adapted to give nucleation at either electrode. This initiation of nucleation by electric currents is a new example of how important the electrically active states of surfaces must be.
Reconstitution of Human DNA Repair Excision Nuclease in a Highly Defined System

Xeroderma pigmentosum is a hereditary disease caused by defective DNA repair. Somatic cell genetics and biochemical studies with cell-free extracts indicate that at least 16 polypeptides are required to carry out the repair reaction proper, i.e. the removal of the lesion from the DNA by the dual incisions of the damaged strand. To find out if these proteins are necessary and sufficient for excision repair, they were obtained at a high level of purity in five fractions. The mixture of these five fractions reconstituted the excision nuclease (excinuclease) activity. Using the reconstituted excinuclease, we found that the excised fragment remains associated with the post-incision DNA-protein complex, suggesting that accessory proteins are needed to release the excised oligomer.
Clinical Development of Cabazitaxel for the Treatment of Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer

Castration resistant prostate cancer has historically been considered chemotherapy insensitive. However, the approval of estramustine phosphate, mitoxantrone, and docetaxel, over the past few decades, has challenged this notion. Despite these advances, until recently, only docetaxel had been shown to improve survival in patients with castration-resistant disease, and there has been no standard treatment options available for men with disease progression on docetaxel. In the last year, cabazitaxel, a novel taxane with decreased affinity for ATP-dependent drug efflux pump P-glycoprotein, became the first cytotoxic agent to demonstrate an improvement in survival in men with docetaxel-refractory disease, and has received regulatory approval for treatment in this setting. In this review, we examine the clinical development of cabazitaxel for the treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer, as well as rationale and direction of future therapeutic investigation.
Simplified relations for the application of rotational components to seismic design codes

Abstract In this paper, after reviewing the characteristics of earthquake rotational components, the acceleration response spectra of rocking and torsional components are presented. In addition, the proposed relations in the author’s previously published paper on the rotational loading of structures are extended, and application of the new relations is examined. The numerical results of this study show that the contribution of earthquake rocking components to the rotational loading of multistory buildings is strongly sensitive to structural irregularity, structural height and seismic excitation. The rocking component contribution to story shear can be one-third of the horizontal component contribution, and should be included in seismic design codes. Further, the value of the eccentricity of 0.05 plan dimension, which is prescribed in the most current seismic design codes for accidental torsional effects, is not a conservative approximation for the accidental eccentricity caused just by the influences of the torsional component, particularly in symmetric, torsionally stiff, multistory buildings.
Framework for Event Driven Sorter Operation

Recently most manufacturing operations in FAB are done in automated manner. Following the predefined process routing information, every lot is automatically dispatched, transported, and processed by manufacturing execution system (MES). However all kinds of wafer sorting operation cannot be predefined in the route because unplanned wafer sorting is required according to the process result, condition of process equipment, or other reason. This paper describes concerns to automate sorter operation and proposes the framework to cover both planned and unplanned sorter operation in the same automated manner with event driven base.
Perceived Service Quality and User Satisfaction with the Information Services Function

A constant concern of management information systems (MIS) researchers and practitioners has been improving user satisfaction with the information services function (USISF). Due to the growth of end-user computing, decentralization, and alternative sources of supply, an organization's information services function (ISF) is now faced with serving customers that possess substantial discretion in their use and purchase of information systems (IS) services. This increasingly market-oriented environment demands sensitivity to IS customers' expectations and perceived value of ISF services. One important source of guidance in such an IS management environment is to look at marketing literature for frameworks that may permit the ISF to more effectively determine and convey the value of their services. Recognizing the need to improve existing MIS measures of user satisfaction with the ISF, this study adapts the SERVQUAL measure from marketing to provide more specific information about user satisfaction with the information service function. It was found that, while the three original dimensions of the traditional user information satisfaction (UIS) measure remain strong predictors of overall ISF user satisfaction, two aspects of IS service quality, “reliability” and “empathy,” are also significant predictors. The results suggest that the original dimensions of UIS may not be comprehensive enough to capture the more detailed dimensions of ISF service quality in SERVQUAL, and that the reliability and empathy dimensions of service quality may be needed to supplement the traditional UIS measure in determining user satisfaction with the information services function. Implications for research and practice resulting from these findings are discussed.
Synthesis of concurrent programs for an atomic read/write model of computation

Methods for mechanically synthesizing concurrent programs for temporal logic specifications have been proposed by Emerson and Clarke and by Manna and Wolper. An important advantage of these synthesis methods is that they obviate the need to manually compose a program and manually construct a proof of its correctness. A serious drawback of these methods in practice, however, is that they produce concurrent programs for models of computation that are often unrealistic, involving highly centralized system architecture (Manna and Wolper), processes with global information about the system state (Emerson and Clarke), or reactive modules that can read all of their inputs in one atomic step (Anuchitanukul and Manna, and Pnueli and Rosner). Even simple synchronization protocols based on atomic read/write primitives such as Peterson's solution to the mutual exclusion problem have remained outside the scope of practical mechanical synthesis methods. In this paper, we show how to mechanically synthesize in more realistic computational models solutions to synchronization problems. We illustrate the method by synthesizing Peterson's solution to the mutual exclusion problem.
Rock-Weathering Rates as Functions of Time

The scarcity of documented numerical relations between rock weathering and time has led to a common assumption that rates of weathering are linear. This assumption has been strengthened by studies that have calculated long-term average rates. However, little theoretical or empirical evidence exists to support linear rates for most chemical-weathering processes, with the exception of congruent dissolution processes. The few previous studies of rock-weathering rates that contain quantitative documentation of the relation between chemical weathering and time suggest that the rates of most weathering processes decrease with time. Recent studies of weathering rinds on basaltic and andesitic stones in glacial deposits in the western United States also clearly demonstrate that rock-weathering processes slow with time. Some weathering processes appear to conform to exponential functions of time, such as the square-root time function for hydration of volcanic glass, which conforms to the theoretical predictions of diffusion kinetics. However, weathering of mineralogically heterogeneous rocks involves complex physical and chemical processes that generally can be expressed only empirically, commonly by way of logarithmic time functions. Incongruent dissolution and other weathering processes produce residues, which are commonly used as measures of weathering. These residues appear to slow movement of water to unaltered material and impede chemical transport away from it. If weathering residues impede weathering processes then rates of weathering and rates of residue production are inversely proportional to some function of the residue thickness. This results in simple mathematical analogs for weathering that imply nonlinear time functions. The rate of weathering becomes constant only when an equilibrium thickness of the residue is reached. Because weathering residues are relatively stable chemically, and because physical removal of residues below the ground surface is slight, many weathering features require considerable time to reach constant rates of change. For weathering rinds on volcanic stones in the western United States, this time is at least 0.5 my.