cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Methods for parallel computation of SCF NMR chemical shifts by GIAO method: Efficient integral calculation, multi-Fock algorithm, and pseudodiagonalization

We implemented our gauge-including atomic orbital (GIAO) NMR chemical shielding program on a workstation cluster, using the parallel virtual machine (PVM) message-passing system. On a modest number of nodes, we achieved close to linear speedup. This program is characterized by several novel features. It uses the new integral program of Wolinski that calculates integrals in vectorized batches, increases efficiency, and simplifies parallelization. The self-consistent field (SCF) step includes a multi-Fock algorithm, i.e., the simultaneous calculation of several Fock matrices with the same integral set, increasing the efficiency of the direct SCF procedure. The SCF diagonalization step, which is difficult to parallelize, has been replaced by pseudodiagonalization. The latter, widely used in semiempirical programs, becomes important in ab initio type calculations above a certain size, because the ultimate scaling of the diagonalization step is steeper than that of integral computation. Examples of the calculation of the NMR shieldings in large systems at the SCF level are shown. Parallelization of the density functional code is underway. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 18: 816–825, 1997
β-Adrenergic-agonist stimulated taurine release from astroglial cells is modulated by extracellular [K+] and osmolarity

Astroglial cells are known to release taurine in response to stimulation by a variety of stimuli including β-adrenergic receptor agonists such as isoproterenol (IPR). The effects of changing osmolarity and extracellular [K+] on IPR-stimulated taurine release were studied with LRM55 cells, a continuous astroglial cell line. IPR-stimulated taurine release decreased almost 8% for each 1% increase in osmolarity, indicating that IPR-stimulated release is highly regulated by the osmolarity of the medium. IPR-stimulated taurine release was greatly enhanced when external [K+] was increased isosmotically by substituting KCl for NaCl but was strongly suppressed when external [K+] was increased hyperosmotically by adding KCl to the medium. Both IPR-stimulated and K+-stimulated taurine release depended on external [Cl−]; IPR-stimulated release declined approximately in parallel to K+-stimulated release as [Cl−] in the medium was reduced. The high sensitivity of IPR-stimulated release to factors that change cell volume (osmolarity, external [K+], external [Cl−]) is consistent with the idea that IPR, elevated [K+], and reduced osmolarity all elicit taurine release via a single tension-controlled mechanism.
Caloric requirements in patients with necrotizing fasciitis

Patients with necrotizing fasciitis (NF) and other soft tissue infections are often treated in burn centers due to the extent of wound care and surgical intervention needed. Sepsis and surgery increase metabolic needs and may limit oral intake and necessitate enteral (TEN) or parenteral (TPN) nutrition. We reviewed the records of patients admitted with necrotizing fasciitis or surgical soft tissue infections from January 1993 to June 1998 who had indirect calorimetry (IC) measurements performed. Records were also reviewed for surgical/medical management and nutritional intervention. Twenty-six patients were admitted with 17 of these having IC measurements (133 total IC measurements). The IC group had more surgeries (mean 4.9 versus 2.7) and 82% required mechanical ventilation (mean 17.9 days). Energy expenditure showed a moderate but significant increase in energy needs (mean 23.8 kcal/kg/day, 124% BEE) with large variations (10.7-42.4 kcal/kg/day, 60%-199% BEE) in individual energy requirements. Caloric intake averaged 73% of needs based on IC (range 53%-104%). Nearly all patients (94%) required TEN (82%) and/or TPN (41%) nutrition for a mean of 24 days (range 1-68 days). NF presents a broad range of metabolic and surgical needs. Our data indicates patients with NF have increased energy requirements and suggests provision of calories at 124% basal or 25 kcal/kg actual wt/d; but due to the large individual variation, routine assessment using IC is recommended. Clinicians need to recognize the likely need for nutritional support and possibly lengthy clinical course for these patients.
Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in calf-snout epidermis.

The biochemical characteristics of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in calf-snout epidermis were investigated. The activity of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase was higher in the lower layer than the upper layer of epidermis. The supernatant of homogenates of the lower layer of calf-snout epidermis was fractionated by DEAE-cellulose chromatography and contained two major peaks of protein kinase activity stimulated by cyclic AMP. This chromtographic pattern is similar to that referred to as Type I and Type II of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in bovine muscle. Both peaks of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in calf-snout epidermis could phosphorylate keratin polypeptides in vitro. The phosphorylation reaction was activated by cyclic AMP and inhibited by a heat-stable inhibitor of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. When Type II enzyme of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase was incubated with [γ-32P]ATP in the absence of substrates, such as histone or keratin polypeptides, the 54,000 dalton protein was phosphorylated and this autophosphorylation was inhibited by the addition of 10 μM cyclic AMP. These results suggest that cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in calf-snout epidermis has properties similar to those in bovine muscle and plays an important role in the phosphorylation of keratin polypeptides in calf-snout epidermis.
Low-Level Expression of MicroRNAs let-7d and miR-205 Are Prognostic Markers of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Small noncoding microRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to be abnormally expressed in every tumor type examined. The importance of miRNAs as potential cancer prognostic indicators is underscored by their involvement in the regulation of basic cellular processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. In this study, miRNA expression profiles of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) tumor and adjacent normal tissue were examined by microarray analysis and validated by quantitative TaqMan real-time polymerase chain reaction. Using TaqMan real-time polymerase chain reaction we measured the quantitative associations between a subset of miRNAs identified on microarrays in primary tumors at diagnosis and cancer survival in a cohort of 104 HNSCC patients undergoing treatment with curative intent. The majority of miRNAs exhibiting altered expression in primary human HNSCC tumors (including miR-1, miR-133a, miR-205, and let-7d) show lower expression levels relative to normal adjacent tissue. In contrast, hsa-miR-21 is frequently overexpressed in human HNSCC tumors. Using univariate and multivariable statistical models we show that low levels of hsa-miR205 are significantly associated with loco-regional recurrence independent of disease severity at diagnosis and treatment. In addition, combined low levels of hsa-miR-205 and hsa-let-7d expression in HNSCC tumors are significantly associated with poor head and neck cancer survival Our results show that miRNA expression levels can be used as prognostic markers of head and neck cancer.
Twenty-Five-Month-Old Children Do Not Have a Grammatical Category of Verb.

This study investigated experimentally the nature and development of children's early productivity with verb-argument structure and verb morphology. Twenty-two to 25-month-old boys and girls were, in the context of playing a game over a several week period, exposed to eight novel verbs modeled with experimentally controlled argument structures and verb inflections. The question was whether, when, and in what ways the children would become productive with these verbs in their spontaneous speech, going beyond the particular linguistic forms they had heard. In terms of verb-argument structure, the results showed that children most often followed the surface structure of the model, regardless of the argument they were trying to express. Thus, when children had heard an argument expressed for a verb, they almost always marked that argument correctly in their own utterances; when they had not heard an argument expressed for a particular verb, their correct marking dropped to chance levels. The children showed no signs of productive verb morphology, but they did use the newly learned verbs in some creative ways involving noun-like uses and the appending of locatives. Results are discussed in terms of Tomasello's (1992) Verb Island hypothesis.
The application of the quasi-geostrophic Eliassen-Palm flux to the analysis of stratospheric data

The quasi-geostrophic form of the Eliassen-Palm flux is calculated for steady linear planetary wave 1 in a realistic zonal flow with dissipation. This flux shows a region of divergence in the polar stratosphere that is similar to that found in time averages of observations. Comparison with the full primitive equation form of the Eliassen-Palm flux indicates that in the model this divergent region is spurious and results from the overestimation of the momentum flux divergence when it is calculated from geostrophic winds. An approximate expression for the Eliassen-Palm flux in terms of balanced winds is suggested as an alternative to the quasi-geostrophic form.
95-GHz millimeter wave radar

Recent advances in MMW solid-state technology, combined with state-of-the-art quasi-optical feed elements, have made possible upgrades to an instrumentation radar in the W-band. Mixer diodes capable of cryogenic operation have led to a reduction in the receiver noise figure, and a Gunn-effect diode amplifier has boosted transmit power. Application of Gaussian beam optics has provided a reduction in transmit and receive losses, while increasing transmit/receive isolation and power handling capability. In all, an improvement of almost two orders of magnitude is ought, yielding the capability to provide metric tracking and range-Doppler imaging on a variety of important targets.
Subliminal psychodynamic activation: mommy and I are not yet one

Aspects of Silverman's subliminal psychodynamic activation (SPA) method are critically evaluated and SPA results are discussed within the context of information processing. Silverman's method has q...
SIMULATING THE EFFECTS OF INITIAL PITCH-ANGLE DISTRIBUTIONS ON SOLAR FLARES

In this work, we model both the thermal and non-thermal components of solar flares. The model we use, HYLOOP, combines a hydrodynamic equation solver with a non-thermal particle tracking code to simulate the thermal and non-thermal dynamics and emission of solar flares. In order to test the effects of pitch-angle distribution on flare dynamics and emission, a series of flares is simulated with non-thermal electron beams injected at the loop apex. The pitch-angle distribution of each beam is described by a single parameter and allowed to vary from flare to flare. We use the results of these simulations to generate synthetic hard and soft X-ray emissions (HXR and SXR). The light curves of the flares in Hinode's X-ray Telescope passbands show a distinct signal that is highly dependent on pitch-angle distribution. The simulated HXR emission in the 3-6 keV bandpass shows the formation and evolution of emission sources that correspond well to the observations of pre-impulsive flares. This ability to test theoretical models of thermal and non-thermal flare dynamics directly with observations allows for the investigation of a wide range of physical processes governing the evolution of solar flares. We find that the initial pitch-angle distribution of non-thermal particle populations has a profound effect on loop top HXR and SXR emission and that apparent motion of HXR is a natural consequence of non-thermal particle evolution in a magnetic trap.
Pharmacological evaluation of halogenated Δ8-THC analogs

-(-)-5'-Bromo-delta 8-THC, (-)-5'-trifluoromethyl-delta 8-THC, (-)-5'-iodo-delta 8-THC, (-)-5'-fluoro-delta 8-THC, (-)-11-fluoro-delta 8-THC and (-)-2-iodo-delta 8-THC were synthesized and evaluated in male ICR mice for their effects on sedation, temperature, catalepsy and antinociception following intravenous injection. The analogs were also tested for relative affinities for cannabinoid binding sites derived from rat cortex membranes, using [3H] CP-55,940 as the tritiated ligand. The results showed that the 5'-bromo, 5'-iodo and 5'-trifluoromethyl analogs were 2-40 times more potent than (-)-delta 8-THC in all biological tests, while the 5'-fluoro and 11-fluoro derivatives were less active. With the 2-iodo analog, a 12-fold separation was observed between antinociception and sedation, pointing to the importance of the side chain orientation in determining cannabinoid activity and to the possible involvement of more than one cannabinoid receptor site. The pharmacological data closely paralleled the data obtained from the binding assay.
Molecular pH Probes at a Protein-Lipid Interface: Assessment of Local Dielectric Environment for Transmembrane Peptide

Spin-labeling EPR spectroscopy has found many applications in studying structure and dynamics of proteins and biological membranes. Recently, there has been substantial interest in utilizing EPR to characterize local effects of polarity and hydrogen bonding in these systems. Here we report on employing an pH-sensitive EPR probe IMSTL (S-(1-oxyl-2,2,3,5,5-pentamethylimidazolidin-4-ylmethyl) ester) to profile heterogeneous dielectric environments along the α-helix of a WALP peptide integrated in a lipid bilayer. A series of symmetrically positioned double cysteine mutants were labeled with a pH-sensitive nitroxide and the protonation state of IMTSL was directly observed by EPR. Q-band DEER experiments with double-labeled WALPs were employed to derive nitroxide-nitroxide distances of nitroxides before and after the protonation and, therefore, the positions of pH probes with respect to lipid bialyer. Thus, for the first time measurements of local electrostatics at peptide-bilayer interface were based on direct distance measurements rather than on assumptions on the probe location. For double-labeled WALP consecutive protonation of symmetrically positioned nitroxide tags was observed. The difference in observable pKa values was interpreted in terms of electrostatic interaction energy between titratable probes allowing us to estimate effective dielectric constant. Supported by NSF-0843632 to TIS.
Response of isolated Dahl rat kidney to calcium antagonists

Response of isolated Dahl rat kidney to calcium antagonists.We studied the responses of isolated perfused kidneys from prehypertensive, salt–sensitive (DS) and salt–resistant (DR) Dahl rats to nitrendipine or verapamil, after norepinephrine vasoconstriction. The perfusion pressure was kept constant. Superimposition of these calcium antagonists upon norepinephrine increased DS GFR by 155% and DR GFR by 58% (P = 0.03), with verapamil increasing the GFR more than nitrendipine (P = 0.02). Nitrendipine and verapamil also partially reversed norepinephrine induced increases in renal vascular resistance, but did not decrease vascular resistance or increase GFR in the absence of norepinephrine. During the increase in GFR produced by calcium antagonists, DR sodium excretion increased, but DS sodium excretion did not. Therefore, calcium antagonists disproportionately increased DS kidney GFR but did not correct DS kidney sodium retention. These data raise the possibility that the DS rat kidney possesses an abnormality of cell calcium regulation affecting glomerular dynamics, and provide evidence that the renal perfusion pressure is moe critical than the GFR in adjusting DS rat sodium–excretion.
Influence of interactions on flux and back-gate period of quantum hall interferometers

In quantum Hall systems with two narrow constrictions, tunneling between opposite edges can give rise to quantum interference and Aharonov-Bohm--like oscillations of the conductance. When there is an integer quantized Hall state within the constrictions, a region between them, with higher electron density, may form a compressible island. Electron tunneling through this island can lead to residual transport, modulated by Coulomb-blockade--type effects. We find that the coupling between the fully occupied lower Landau levels and the higher-partially occupied level gives rise to flux subperiods smaller than one flux quantum. We generalize this scenario to other geometries and to fractional quantum Hall systems, and compare our predictions to experiments.
Differences in invasion and adherence of Listeria monocytogenes with mammalian gut cells

Invasion and adherence proficiences of Listeria species isolated from various clinical, food and environmental sources were compared using two human colon cell lines and primary cultures of guinea pig gut epithelial cells. Invasion and adherence capabilities varied widely. Only four of the 23 L. monocytogenes strains tested exhibited greater invasion of RPMI-4788 and HT-29 cell lines than L. ivanovii. Half of the L. monocytogenes strains had invasion proficiencies of only 20–30% of that of L. ivanovii, thus showing no greater invasion capability than nonpathogenic Listeria species. L. ivanovii exhibited the greatest ability to adhere to gut epithelial cells. Whereas some L. monocytogenes strains adhered well, others adhered poorly. By contrast, the non-pathogenic L. innocua strains uniformly exhibited high levels of adherence. Listeria species which exhibited substantial levels of adherence were frequently, but not always, well internalized, suggesting independent processes. No correlation between the isolation source or serotype and invasion or adherence was observed. The results suggest that invasion and adherence may play an important role in determining the virulence potential of Listeria. The ability to distinguish highly virulent L. monocytogenes from strains with reduced virulence potential could lead to improved regulatory decisions concerning the presence of L. monocytogenes in food products.
Pseudo-prophet Inequalities in Average-Optimal Stopping

Abstract This note considers the average-optimal expected return of two players observing independent random variables X 1, … , X n , whose distributions are generated at random. One player, the pseudo prophet, knows the distributions prior to observing the random variables. The other player, the gambler, has no such foresight. Sharp difference and ratio comparisons of the two players' optimal expected returns are given. The key step in the proof is a reduction to a classical prophet inequality for i.i.d. random variables proved by Hill and Kertz (Hill, T.P.; Kertz, R.P. Comparisons of stop rule and supremum expectations of i.i.d. random variables. Ann. Probab. 1982, 10 (2), 336–345).
Radiation-induced lung injury.

Abstract Radiation therapy (RT) for thoracic-region tumors often causes lung injury. The incidence of lung toxicity depends on the method of assessment (eg, radiographs, patient's symptoms, or functional endpoints such as pulmonary function tests). Three-dimensional (3D) treatment planning tools provide dosimetric predictors for the risk of symptomatic RT-induced lung injury and allow for beams to be selected to minimize these risks. A variety of cytokines have been implicated as indicators/mediators of lung injury. Recent work suggests that injury-associated tissue hypoxia perpetuates further injury. Sophisticated planning/delivery methods, such as intensity modulation, plus radioprotectors such as amifostine, hold promise to reduce the incidence of RT-induced lung injury.
Providers’ and consumers’ perspective of nurses’ caring behaviours

Providers’ and consumers’ perspective of nurses’ caring behaviours The primary purpose of this article is to discuss the development and testing of a scale designed to examine nurses’ caring behaviours. A pilot study was conducted with a convenience sample (n = 81) of 42 nurses (providers) and 39 patients (consumers). The setting was two community hospitals in the New England Region. The respondents were able to assign a rank of the items (nurses’ caring behaviours) with a spread of mean values from 3·5 to 16·7. There was agreement on the most caring behaviour, ‘The nurses treat me as an individual’, on the behaviour in the middle range of caring, ‘The nurses comfort me by their silent presence’, and on the least caring behaviour, ‘The nurses did not talk about how my illness might affect my life’. The Wilcoxon two-sample rank-sum test was used to test the difference in rank of the 20 items between the providers and the consumers. There was a significant difference between the providers and the consumers in the ranking of nine of the 20 items. The consumers valued behaviours that recognized their individual perspective as well as that of their family and behaviours that helped them anticipate and prepare for change. The providers placed a greater emphasis on the behaviours that were more geared towards the comforting aspects of care by encouraging patients to express and vent their feelings. These findings allow clinicians to be sensitized to their caring behaviours by increasing their realization of how behaviours are perceived by patients. The instrument needs minor revision and then further testing is indicated.
Somatotopic organization of cortical fields in the lateral sulcus of Homo sapiens: evidence for SII and PV

The human somatosensory cortex in the Sylvian fissure was examined using functional magnetic resonance imaging to describe the number and internal organization of cortical fields present. Somatic stimuli were applied to the lips, face, hand, trunk, and foot of 18 human subjects. Activity patterns were transposed onto three-dimensional magnetic resonance images of the brain so that the location of activity associated with the different stimuli could be related to specific regions of the cortex. There were several consistent findings. First, there were three regions of activity in the lateral sulcus associated with stimulation of the contralateral body. The most consistent locus of activation was on the upper bank of the lateral sulcus, continuing onto the operculum. The other two areas, one rostral and one caudal to this large central area, were smaller and were activated less consistently. Second, when activity patterns in the large central area resulting from stimulation of all body parts were considered, this region appeared to contain two fields that corresponded in location and somatotopic organization to the second somatosensory area (SII) and the parietal ventral area (PV). Finally, patterns of activation within SII and PV were somewhat variable across subjects. Repeated within-subject stimulus presentation indicated that differences across subjects were not due to inconsistent stimulus presentation. Comparisons with other mammals suggest that some features of organization are found only in primates. It is hypothesized that these features may be associated with manual dexterity and coordination of the hands, a characteristic generally restricted to the primate lineage.
Arthroscopically Assisted Reduction and Internal Fixation of Scaphoid Fractures, Delayed Unions, and Nonunions

The unstable scaphoid fracture can be treated by a variety of different methods, including open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF), percutaneous fixation with either k-wires or cannulated screws, and arthroscopically assisted reduction and internal fixation (AARIF) with various cannulated screw systems. The drawbacks of ORIF include extensive soft-tissue dissection, disruption of the nondominant volar blood supply, division of the radioscaphocapitate and radioscapholunate ligaments and volar capsule, and prolonged rehabilitation. Percutaneous fixation avoids the aforementioned drawbacks, yet relies on fluoroscopic guidance alone to assure accurate reduction of the scaphoid fracture fragments and optimal positioning of the implant in the apex of the proximal pole. The technical limitations of plain radiography as well as fluoroscopy in detailed visualization of the oddly oriented scaphoid limit the accuracy of the percutaneous technique. AARIF avoids all the limitations of ORIF, yet allows direct visualization of the scaphoid fracture site and assures accurate reduction of the fragments before and during definitive arthroscopically assisted internal fixation. AARIF also assists in accurate targeting of the proximal pole apex or "sweet spot," in addition to allowing detection of concurrent pathology in the radiocarpal or midcarpal joints. Delayed unions and stable nonunions with normal intrascaphoid angles, even with ischemic proximal poles, can be treated with AARIF augmented with percutaneous cancellous bone grafting from the trapezial ridge plus autologous platelet-derived growth factor gel.
Laparoscopic Intracorporeal Cinch Knots: Changing the Square Knot Paradigm

Abstract Reliable knot tying is a cornerstone of surgical technique, and the square knot and surgeon’s knot constitute the greatest part of most surgeons’ knot-tying skills. Traditionally, laparoscopic intracorporeal knot tying of a square knot or surgeon’s knot is a direct translation from an open instrument tying technique. Given the technical and mechanical challenges imposed by standard laparoscopic instrumentation, performance of such a basic task is sometimes difficult and elusive, even for accomplished surgeons. Consequently, myriad technologies and techniques are used as work-arounds for this basic surgical task. However, the sometimes necessary tying of a snug and reliable intracorporeal knot is unavoidable. That laparoscopic intracorporeal knot tying must be translated from a 2-handed open surgical technique using flat knots deserves reassessment. Cinch knots, with unusual sliding and tightening properties, are currently used in surgery. With apparent complexity and exacting construction requirements, however, primary intracorporeal knot tying has not been described. Described herein is a technique for doing so. Also included is a review of cinch knot mechanics, an understanding of a fundamental scheme for their construction, and basic instrument maneuvers that enable easier intracorporeal tying of a most reliable knot, useful for multiport and, in particular, single-port laparoscopic knot tying.
Efficient approach to segment man-made targets from unmanned aerial vehicle imagery

. A typical target recognition system usually involves three stages: image enhancement, image segmentation, and object identification. We propose an efficient image segmentation approach to segment man-made targets from unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imagery using curvature information derived from image histogram smoothed by Bezier splines. The experimental results show that by enhancing the histogram instead of the original image, similar segmentation results can be obtained in a more efficient way. Algorithm complexity is analyzed. Segmentation results from images enhanced by variants of diffusion methods are also presented for comparison. Real-time automatic target recognition (aTr) is the main objective of the proposed approach.
Idiopathic left ventricular tachycardia with left and right bundle branch block configurations.

Fascicular Tachycardia. Introduction: Idiopathic left ventricular tachycardia typically has a right bundle branch block configuration. The purpose of this case report is to demonstrate that idiopathic ventricular tachycardia arising in or near the left posterior fascicle also may have a left bundle branch block configuration. Methods and Results: A 27-year-old woman underwent an electrophysiologic procedure because of recurrent, verapamil-responsive, wide QRS complex tachycardia. Two types of ventricular tachycardia (cycle lengths 330 to 340 msec) were reproducibly inducible, one with a right bundle branch block configuration and left-axis deviation that had been documented clinically, and the other with a left bundle branch block configuration and axis of zero. A Purkinje potential recorded at the junction of the left ventricular mid-septum and inferior wall preceded the ventricular complex by 40 msec in both tachycardias. A single application of ra-diofrequency energy at this site successfully ablated both ventricular tachycardias. Conclusion: The findings of this case report demonstrate that idiopathic ventricular tachycardia arising in or near the left posterior fascicle may have a left bundle branch block configuration
Review of HIV Testing Efforts in Historically Black Churches.

This paper aims to critically assess the state of HIV testing in African American churches. A comprehensive review of peer-reviewed publications on HIV testing in church-based settings was conducted by two independent coders. Twenty-six papers published between 1991 and 2015, representing 24 unique projects, were identified addressing at least one dimension of HIV testing. Thirteen faith-based projects have implemented HIV testing events or had clergy promote the importance of testing and knowing one’s HIV status, but empirical data and rigorous study designs were limited. Only eight papers reported onsite HIV testing in churches. Less than 5% of the studies reported the percentage of congregants who returned for their test results. Finally, no study has examined at baseline or post-intervention behavioral intentions to be screened for HIV. Future research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of HIV testing in churches and to explore the possibilities of the role of the church and leadership structure in the promotion of HIV treatment and care.
Malignant bowel obstruction: a review of current treatment strategies

Malignant bowel obstruction is common in individuals with intra-abdominal and pelvic malignancies and results in considerable suffering. Treatments target both the resolution of obstruction and symptom management. Emerging procedures include stents placement in the bowel to return patency and newer surgical procedures that are evolving to be less invasive. The use of medical interventions like corticosteroids, alone or in concert with additional drugs, can be utilized to achieve resolution of obstruction. Throughout treatment, it is important to also aggressively treat obstructive symptoms like pain and nausea/vomiting. This can mostly be achieved with medications, but use of venting percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) can also relieve symptoms. Parenteral hydration and nutrition use remain controversial with this population. The factor most closely tied to prognosis is performance status.
Fatty acid 2-hydroxylase regulates cAMP-induced cell cycle exit in D6P2T schwannoma cells.

Sphingolipids are ubiquitous components of eukaryotic cells that regulate various cellular functions. In many cell types, a fraction of sphingolipids contain 2-hydroxy fatty acids, produced by fatty acid 2-hydroxylase (FA2H), as the N-acyl chain of ceramide [hydroxyl fatty acid (hFA)-sphingolipids]. FA2H is highly expressed in myelin-forming cells of the nervous system and in epidermal keratinocytes. While hFA-sphingolipids are thought to enhance the physical stability of specialized membranes produced by these cells, physiological significance of hFA-sphingolipids in many other cell types is unknown. In this study, we report novel roles for FA2H and hFA-sphingolipids in the regulation of the cell cycle. Treatment of D6P2T Schwannoma cells with dibutyryl-cAMP (db-cAMP) induced exit from the cell cycle with concomitant upregulation of FA2H. Partial silencing of FA2H in D6P2T cells resulted in 60–70% reduction of hFA-dihydroceramide and hFA-ceramide, with no effect on nonhydroxy dihydroceramide and ceramide. Under these conditions, db-cAMP no longer induced cell cycle exit, and cells continued to grow and divide. Immunoblot analyses revealed that FA2H silencing prevented db-cAMP-induced upregulation of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p21 and p27. These results provide evidence that FA2H is a negative regulator of the cell cycle and facilitates db-cAMP-induced cell cycle exit in D6P2T cells.
Improved Prediction Error Estimates for Multivariate Calibration by Correcting for the Measurement Error in the Reference Values

The validation of multivariate calibration models using measured reference values leads to a so-called apparent prediction error estimate, which is systematically larger than the true prediction error. The reason for this difference is clear: the measured reference values contain an irrelevant random component, the measurement error, which cannot be predicted by any model, not even the ''true'' one. However, the contribution of the measurement error in the reference values to the apparent prediction error estimate is interpreted as an inadequacy of the calibration model rather than an inadequacy of the reference values themselves. This phenomenon of confounding has been pointed out recently by several researchers, but no generally applicable solution was given. In this paper we propose a simple correction procedure that yields a more realistic estimate of the true prediction error. A large potential improvement over the conventional estimate is demonstrated for a variety of applications taken from the literature.
Morphological and sedimentological responses of streams to human impact in the southern Blue Ridge Mountains, USA

Abstract Morphological and sedimentological responses of streams to basin-scale impact have been well documented for intensively agricultural or urban areas. Sensitivity thresholds of streams to modest levels of disturbance, however, are not well understood. This study addresses the influence of forest conversion on streams of the southern Blue Ridge Mountains, a region that has received little attention with respect to human impact on stream channels. Basins were chosen for this study to represent the end members of the range of human impact in the area, with the forest cover of the basin used as a proxy for level of impact (ranging from about 70–100% regionally). Two pairs of lightly impacted (> 90% forest) and moderately impacted (70–80% forest) sub-basins of the upper Little Tennessee River were identified for comparison. Reach characteristics (e.g., slope, drainage area, and riparian cover) were aligned in each pair to isolate contrasting forest cover as the primary driver of any detected differences in morphology and sedimentology. A suite of standard cross-sectional and longitudinal data was collected for each reach for characterization of the sedimentology and morphology of the streams. Difference of means tests were conducted to identify parameters significantly differing between the lightly and moderately impacted streams in both pairs. Consistent and significant differences within both pairs were demonstrated in bankfull width/depth ratios, baseflow wetted width, and particle size on the stream bed both in the thalweg and throughout the channel bed. The moderately impacted streams are narrower than the lightly impacted streams, and the bed texture of the moderately impacted streams is finer than that of the lightly impacted streams. The moderately impacted streams contain a higher percentage of
Delamination detection of composite plates using piezoceramic patches and wavelet packet analysis

Composite materials are widely applied in aerospace, mechanical and civil structures. Delamination of composite material happens due to aging, chemical corruption and mechanical vibration, among other factors. It is important to detect the delamination in the incipient stage before the delamination reaches a notable level. Piezoelectric material can act as both actuators and sensors. In this research, two composite plates are fabricated as test specimen, of which one has a small delamination and the other is healthy. Four PZT patches are bonded at four corners of each composite plate, and one PZT patch is bonded in the middle of the composite plate. Wavelet packet analysis is applied as the signal-processing tool to analyze the sensor data. A damage index is formed based on the wavelet packet analysis to show the existence and the severity of damage. The experiment results show the proposed method can detect the delamination. This sensitive method is suited for delamination detection of inaccessible composite structures without using additional excitation facility.© (2004) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Does exposure to fluoridated water during the crown completion and maturation phases of permanent first molars decrease pit and fissure caries

Article Title and Bibliographic Information Effects of Water Fluoride Exposure at Crown Completion and Maturation of Caries of Permanent First Molars Singh KA, Spencer AJ, Brennan DS. Caries Res 2004;41:34-42 Level of Evidence 2 Purpose/Question To evaluate the relative effects of exposure to fluoridated water during the pre-eruptive stages of the crown completion and maturation on caries prevention in the permanent first molars of 6- to 15-year-old Australian children. Source of Funding Government: Public Health Research and Development Grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council. Type of Study/Design Cross-Sectional Study
Gram stain detection of infection during revision arthroplasty

We reviewed 194 revision arthroplasties of the hip and knee performed over a ten-year period. The results of intraoperative Gram staining were available in 169 (87%). Thirty-two were found to be infected (11 hips and 21 knees) and 137 had no evidence of infection. Intraoperative Gram staining was negative in all 169 cases. The method therefore had a sensitivity of 0% for detecting infection. We conclude that the absence of organisms on intraoperative Gram staining during revision arthroplasty does not confirm the absence of infection.
Impedance of a narrow longitudinal shunt slot in a slotted waveguide array

A variational solution is derived for computing the impedance of a radiating longitudinal shunt slot of rectangular shape in the broad face of a rectangular waveguide. This solution, an extension of Oliner's deviation, yields the slot resonant length, accounting for the displacement of the slot from the center of the waveguide. Taking advantage of the results reported in the existent literature, the computation of impedance can be extended to that for a slot in a large array environment, with or without a dielectric sheath covering. Under some reasonable assumptions and comparing the experimental data with theoretical values, a semi-empirical equation is obtained for the resonant length of a slot with round ends in practical applications. The computational method presented in this paper is experimentally assessed to be valuable for the design of slotted waveguide arrays.
Acceleration of nutrient uptake by phytoplankton in a coastal upwelling ecosystem: A modeling analysis1,1

Studies of upwelling centers in the eastern Pacific suggest that maximum rates of nitrate uptake (light and nutrient saturated) increase, or shift-up, as newly upwelled water moves downstream. The rate of shift-up appears to be related to irradiance and the ambient concentration of limiting nutrient at the time of upwelling. A mathematical model was developed to evaluate effects of irradiance and initial nitrate concentration on temporal patterns of shift-up and subsequent time scales of nutrient utilization over a range of simulated upwelling conditions. When rates consistent with field studies were used, complete shift-up was possible only under certain conditions, and the time scale was on the order of 7-10 d. These results are consistent with field observations. Increased initial nitrate concentrations resulted in more rapid depletion of the nutrient supply. Making acceleration of V,,, constant and independent of the nitrate concentration reversed the qualitative pattern of nutrient utilization and predicted longer time scales in the region of optimal growth (1215 d) than have been observed in the field. Since changes in nitrogen-specific V,,,,, observed in situ may be due to downstream sinking of detrital nitrogen, a third hypothesis was evaluated, in which there was no shift-up in V,,,,,. This last scenario is untenable, predicting time scales of nutrient utilization two to three times longer than observed in the field.
Accuracy of Handheld Point-of-Care Fingertip Lactate Measurement in the Emergency Department.

Introduction: Early recognition of elevated lactate levels in sepsis may hasten the detection of those patients eligible for aggressive resuscitation. Point-of-care (POC) testing is now increasingly available for use in the emergency department (ED). We examined the accuracy and time-saving effect of a handheld POC device for the measurement of fingertip and whole blood lactate as compared with reference laboratory testing in critically ill ED patients. Methods: A convenience sample of adult ED patients receiving serum lactate testing was prospectively enrolled at an urban, tertiary care US hospital. Consenting patients underwent fingertip POC lactate measurement with a portable device and simultaneous whole blood sampling for analysis by both the POC device and standard laboratory analyzer (“reference method”). Lactate measurements were compared by intraclass correlation (ICC) and Bland and Altman plots. Differences in time to test result were compared by paired t test. Results: Twenty-four patients, 19 (79%) with sepsis and 21 (88%) with lactate levels below 4 mmol/L, were included from April 2005 to May 2005. Fingertip POC and whole blood POC lactate measurements each correlated tightly with the reference method (ICC = 0.90 and ICC = 0.92, respectively). Mean time between obtaining fingertip lactate samples and whole blood reference lactate samples was 8 ± 13 minutes. Mean time between obtaining POC and reference laboratory lactate results was 65 minutes (95% confidence interval, 30–103). Conclusion: Fingertip POC lactate measurement is an accurate method to determine lactate levels in infected ED patients with normal or modestly elevated lactate values and significantly decreases time to test results. These findings should be verified in a larger, more critically ill, ED population.
Structural responses of benthic macroinvertebrate communities from different stream orders to zinc

It is well established that benthic invertebrate community structure and function shift in a predictable fashion along longitudinal stream gradients as a result of variation in environmental conditions. Our research is concerned with experimentally testing whether this shift in community structure influences the response of benthic macroinvertebrates to heavy metals. Using artificial streams, we compared effects of Zn on natural assemblages of benthic macroinvertebrate communities collected from Little Beaver Creek (LBC; a third-order stream) and the Big South Fork of the Cache la Poudre River (SFP; a fourth-order stream) of the Cache la Poudre, Colorado, catchment. Organisms collected from LBC and SFP were exposed to 0 or 130μg/L Zn in indoor experimental streams for 7 d. In general, similar taxa were found at both sites, but densities were generally higher at SFP than at LBC. We observed significant effects at the community and population level as a result of Zn, stream order, and the interaction between Zn and stream order. Specifically, mayflies from both sites were sensitive to Zn, but the magnitude of the response varied between sites. Our results indicate that benthic macroinvertebrate communities from different stream orders may vary in sensitivity to Zn.
Identification of octocoral recruits using microsatellite primers: Relationships between recruitment and adult distribution of Pseudopterogorgia spp.

Octocorals are commonly identified from the structure of their calcium carbonate sclerites. However, small recruits cannot always be identified in this manner. Primers for microsatellite loci developed for the Caribbean branching octocoral Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae were used to identify six common Pseudopterogorgia spp. on the Little Bahama Bank. The primers consistently generated polymerase chain reaction products of different molecular weights for each species, and a combination of up to three primers enabled identification of recruits whose identity was otherwise indeterminate. Recruits were collected and adult density was surveyed at three depths at Cross Harbour, Great Abaco, Bahamas, during May and November 2005. More recruits were collected during May than November, suggesting that most of the Pseudopterogorgia species reproduced between November and May. There were differences in both recruitment and adult density between the three sites among the surface-brooding species. Covariation between adult and recruit abundance in P. bipinnata is consistent with the hypothesis that brooding species exhibit limited larval dispersal. Among the known broadcast-spawning species, there was a significant difference in adult distribution between the sites but no significant difference in recruitment between sites, suggesting that larvae of broadcast-spawning species are more widely dispersed.
Acting When Elected Officials Won't: Federal Courts and Civil Rights Enforcement in U.S. Labor Unions, 1935–85

Using the racial integration of national labor unions as a case study, I find that courts played an important and meaningfully autonomous role in integrating unions while elected officials largely failed to act. Courts, unlike elected officials, offered civil rights groups relatively easy access to the legal agenda. In response to thousands of cases in federal courts, judges rewrote key civil rights statutes, oversaw the implementation of their rulings, and used attorneys' fees and damage awards to impose significant financial costs on resistant unions. Court power was the product of multiple and historically contingent forces that involved the interaction of elected officials, civil rights activists, and the legal community. Elected officials delegated to the courts the power to enforce civil rights laws and tacitly endorsed procedural changes that augmented the courts' institutional powers and the legal community's professional influence. In response, judges and lawyers promoted and implemented a civil rights agenda far beyond the endorsement of elected officials. An historical–institutional approach helps explain how courts achieved and wielded independent power and the consequences of their action for civil rights, labor unions, and the American state.Thanks for very helpful comments go to Amy Bridges, Kerstin Carlson, Malcolm Feeley, Beth Garrett, Howard Gillman, Mark Graber, Jeff Haydu, David Karol, Ken Kersch, David Mayhew, Jim Morone, Shehzad Nadeem, Ruth O'Brien, Corey Robin, Pam Singh, John Skrentny, Mark Tushnet, Rick Valelly, Keith Whittington, Janelle Wong, the APSR reviewers, and Lee Sigelman. The University of California's Institute for Labor and Employment provided generous financial assistance.
The Role of Time–Limited Trials in Dialysis Decision Making in Critically Ill Patients

Technologic advances, such as continuous RRT, provide lifesaving therapy for many patients. AKI in the critically ill patient, a fatal diagnosis in the past, is now often a survivable condition. Dialysis decision making for the critically ill patient with AKI is complex. What was once a question solely of survival now is nuanced by an individual's definition of quality of life, personal values, and short- and long-term prognoses. Clinical evaluation of AKI in the critically ill is multifaceted. Treatment decision making requires consideration of the natural evolution of the patient's AKI within the context of the global prognosis. Situations are often marked by prognostic uncertainty and clinical unknowns. In the face of these uncertainties, establishment of patient-directed therapies is imperative. A time-limited trial of continuous RRT in this setting is often appropriate but difficult to execute. Using patient preferences as a clinical guide, a proper time-limited trial requires assessment of prognosis, elicitation of patient values, strong communication skills, clear documentation, and often, appropriate integration of palliative care services. A well conducted time-limited trial can avoid interprofessional conflict and provide support for the patient, family, and staff.