cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Determination of the hydrophobicity of local anesthetic agents.

Abstract Hydrophobicity, a term used to describe a fundamental physicochemical property of local anesthetics, was in the past obtained by octanol/buffer partitioning. It has been suggested that the octanol method, despite its obvious advantages, also has some drawbacks. HPLC has become an attractive alternative for the measurement of hydrophobicity and has been applied to local anesthetics recently. However, the methods in current use for measuring the hydrophobicity of local anesthetics suffer from a number of limitations and remain obscure. This study introduces a new HPLC method for measuring the hydrophobicity of eight local anesthetics in current clinical use. Using a C 18 derivatized polystyrene–divinylbenzene stationary phase HPLC column, the log k ′ w values of local anesthetics were determined by measuring the capacity factor k ′ i in the process of chromatographic separation using a hydrophobic stationary phase and a hydrophilic mobile phase. A rapid reversed-phase HPLC method was developed to directly measure log k ′ w of eight local anesthetics. A high correlation between log k ′ w and hydrophobicity (log P oct ) from the traditional shake-flask method was obtained for the local anesthetics, demonstrating the reliability of the method. The results reveal an improved method for measuring the hydrophobicity of the local anesthetic agents in the unionized form. This simple, sensitive and reproducible approach may serve as a valuable tool for describing the physicochemical properties of novel local anesthetics.
Stabilizing controllers design for a class of time-varying sampling control system

In this paper, the mathematical model for a class of time-varying sampling control system with stochastic sampling period is established The necessary and sufficient conditions on the existence of the stabilizing controllers are established, and the controller design ensuring the stochastic stability of systems is also proposed by using the cone complementarity linearization method. The simulation results illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed controller design.
Simmel at a Distance: On the History and Systematics of the Sociology of the Stranger

Abstract Concepts made famous in “classic” works are often cited in ways that deviate from their original meaning. This often leads to cumulative confusion rather than the advancement of insight. Scrutiny of such confusions may provide fruitful points of departure for systematic codification. In the literature which refers to Simmel's excursus on “The Stranger,” four areas of confusion can be identified 1. Simmel's conception of the stranger has periodically been equated with the concept of the “marginal man,” a very different social type; 2. Simmel's conception of the stranger has often been equated with the newly arrived outsider, another distinct type; 3. the distinction (only latent in Simmel) between strangers as individuals and stranger communities has not been articulated in later studies; and 4. the significance of the variety of ways in which Simmel used the metaphor of simultaneous closenss and remoteness has been obscured. Clarification of the issues related to these four areas of confusion lay...
Immunonutrition and critical illness: An update

Dietary supplementation with nutrients that have physiologic effects on immune function has been shown to be beneficial in subsets of patients with surgical and medical critical illness. However, several meta-analyses have suggested potential harm when immune nutrients are used inappropriately. This has led to concern among clinicians that in turn has curtailed the more widespread use of immunonutrition as a therapeutic modality. This article discusses the mechanisms by which immune nutrients can be used to modulate alterations in innate and acquired immunity associated with critical illness. In addition, recent evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for use of immunonutrition in adults is reviewed as a means to clarify some of the more controversial issues and provide a "roadmap" for the practitioner.
Laparoscopic Approach for an Intra-Abdominal Kidney Allograft Nephrectomy After Pediatric Transplantation: A Case Report

We report a case of minimally invasive nephrectomy of a kidney transplanted into the abdominal cavity in a child. A 15-year-old girl underwent transplantation with a cadaveric donor kidney due to congenital pyelonephritis, vesicoureteral reflux, and secondary bladder atrophy. The transplant was complicated by hyperacute rejection, cytomegalovirus infection, and anastomotic stenosis of the Bricker neobladder. After recurrent urinary tract infections, the patient was reintroduced to hemodialysis in 2010. After pneumo-peritoneum, we placed 2 10-mm trocars in the hypochondrium and left side and 2 5-mm in the left iliac fossa and right upper quadrant. The transplanted kidney was skeletonized, the artery and vein were cut to the end-to-side anastomoses to the juxta-renal aorta and cava using an automatic 35-mm, stapler, and the ureter was dissected and closed with clips. Via a Pfannestiel minilaparotomy we extracted the allograft. The patient was discharged on the third postoperative day. After 4 months of follow-up, she is alive an on dialysis. Laparoscopic nephrectomy of a kidney transplanted into the abdominal cavity is feasible and safe in centers with skilled minimally invasive techniques.
Planning and Implementing Effective Instruction in Physical Education For Students with Learning Disabilities

The mainstreamed student's success in physical education is related to the quality of the program.
Inhibitors of renal chloride transport do not block toxicant-induced chloride influx in the proximal tubule

We have previously demonstrated that chloride influx occurs during the late stages of mitochondrial inhibitor-induced renal proximal tubule (RPT) cell injury. The purpose of this study was to determine if chloride influx is a common pathway in toxicant-induced cell injury and if inhibitors of renal chloride transport block the chloride influx. Chloride influx occurred in the late stages of RPT cell injury induced by the diverse toxicants mercuric chloride, t-butyl hydroperoxide, bromohydroquinone, and tetrafluoroethyl-L-cysteine. Specific inhibitors of known renal chloride transport did not prevent antimycin A-induced chloride influx. Toxicant-induced chloride influx occurred prior to cell swelling and decreasing the extracellular chloride concentration diminished toxicant-induced cell death. Thus, chloride influx is a common pathway in the late stages of toxic cell injury and does not occur through known mechanisms of renal chloride transport. Further, we propose that toxicant-induced chloride influx is mediated by a novel receptor related to the neuronal strychnine-sensitive glycine receptor and that chloride influx is a key step in cell swelling and lysis.
Stability of Ionic and Radical Molecular Dissociation Pathways for Reaction in Supercritical Water

Molecular dynamics simulations have been used to examine the effect of supercritical water solvent density on the competition between reaction pathways for the dissociation step of a model SN1 reac...
Inflation in Tajikistan: Forecasting Analysis and Monetary Policy Challenges

This paper attempts to explain short- and long-term dynamics of-and forecast-inflation in Tajikistan using the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) and Autoregressive Moving Average Model (ARMA). By analyzing different transmission channels through the VECM, we were able to evaluate their relative dominance, magnitude, and speed of transition to the equilibrium price level, with the view of identifying those policy tools that will enhance the effectiveness of monetary policy. We found that excess supply of broad money is inflationary in both the short and long term. The dynamic analysis also demonstrates that the exchange rate and international inflation have a strong impact on local prices. Available monetary instruments, such as the refinancing rate, have proven to be ineffective. Therefore, the Tajik monetary authority could greatly benefit from enhancing its monetary instruments toolkit, including by developing the interest rate channel, to improve its monetary policy execution and to achieve stable inflationary conditions.
The effects of glassy microstructure on small molecule transport in amorphous poly (ethylene terephthalate)

Transport of carbon dioxide in amorphous poly (ethylene terephthalate) is found to vary with the conformational structure of the polymer. Analysis of transient CO2 discharge from the polymer film into a finite penetrant bath volume demonstrates that the mobilities of the individual Henrian and Langmuirian sorbed species are dependent upon polymer conformation as well. The increase in Henrian diffusivity with increasing gauche fraction is suspected to result from an increase in the excess free volume of those polymer regions associated with Henrian dissolution. The concurrent decrease in Langmuirian diffusivity appears to result from increased diffusional resistance arising from additional Langmuirian sorption capacity. Transient sorption data yields penetrant sorption and transport parameters from a single experiment and insures that these parameters reflect an isotropic polymer microstructure. A computer model incorporating the effects of isomerization on CO2 sorption and transport has been developed which simulates the onset of microstructural anisotropy during steady-state permeation trials and illustrates how such permeation data can result in inaccurate parameter estimations.
Vaccination with genetically modified Shiga-like toxin IIe prevents edema disease in swine.

Escherichia coli strains producing Shiga-like toxin II variant (SLT-IIe, formerly called SLT-IIv) cause edema disease in weaned pigs. Vaccination of pigs with a genetically modified form of Shiga-like toxin IIe, SLT-IIe(E167Q), has been previously shown to be nontoxic and to induce antibodies to SLT-IIe (V.M. Gordon. S.C. Whipp, H.W. Moon, A.D. O'Brien, and J.E. Samuel, Infect, Immun. 60:485-502, 1992). Fifty micrograms of SLT-IIe(E167Q) toxin was used to vaccinate suckling pigs at 1 and 2 weeks of age. Both vaccinated and nonvaccinated pigs were orally inoculated with an SLT-IIe-producing strain of E. coli after weaning (3 to 4 weeks of age). Pigs fed a low-protein diet that were not vaccinated with SLT-IIe(E167Q) developed subclinical edema disease, histologically evident as vascular necrosis. Pigs fed a high-protein diet that were not vaccinated with SLT-IIe(E167Q) developed clinical edema disease manifested as vascular necrosis, reduced weight gain, ataxia, palpebral edema, lateral recumbency, and death. Pigs vaccinated with SLT-IIe(E167Q) had a reduction in the incidence of subclinical edema disease and never developed clinical edema disease. These data demonstrate that vaccination with a genetically modified form of SLT-IIe prevents edema disease and are consistent with the notion that diet influences susceptibility to edema disease.
A Framework for High-Level Feedback to Adaptive, Per-Pixel, Mixture-of-Gaussian Background Models

Time-Adaptive, Per-Pixel Mixtures Of Gaussians (TAPPMOGs) have recently become a popular choice for robust modeling and removal of complex and changing backgrounds at the pixel level. However, TAPPMOG-based methods cannot easily be made to model dynamic backgrounds with highly complex appearance, or to adapt promptly to sudden "uninteresting" scene changes such as the repositioning of a static object or the turning on of a light, without further undermining their ability to segment foreground objects, such as people, where they occlude the background for too long. To alleviate tradeoffs such as these, and, more broadly, to allow TAPPMOG segmentation results to be tailored to the specific needs of an application, we introduce a general framework for guiding pixel-level TAPPMOG evolution with feedback from "high-level" modules. Each such module can use pixel-wise maps of positive and negative feedback to attempt to impress upon the TAPPMOG some definition of foreground that is best expressed through "higher-level" primitives such as image region properties or semantics of objects and events. By pooling the foreground error corrections of many high-level modules into a shared, pixel-level TAPPMOG model in this way, we improve the quality of the foreground segmentation and the performance of all modules that make use of it. We show an example of using this framework with a TAPPMOG method and high-level modules that all rely on dense depth data from a stereo camera.
Secondary production of a dominant oligochaete (Monopylephorus rubroniveus) in the tidal creeks of South Carolina and its relation to ecosystem characteristics

Measurements of the annual production of the oligochaete Monopylephorus rubroniveus, microphytobenthos, pore-water ammonia, sediment composition, and water quality were made from January through December 2001 in the upper and lower reaches of two tidal creeks in southeastern South Carolina. Secondary production of M. rubroniveus was greater in the shallow upper reaches of tidal creeks (1.0‐10.5 g ash-free dry weight [AFDW] m 22 yr 21 ) than in the lower reaches (0.05‐0.2 g AFDW m 22 yr 21 ), as were benthic chlorophyll a levels and pore-water ammonia concentration. Production of M. rubroniveus was greater in both reaches of Okatee Creek (0.1‐10.5 g AFDW m 22 yr 21 ) than in Malind Creek (0.05‐2.0 g AFDW m 22 yr 21 ). The only significant difference in environmental characteristics between the two creeks was a greater incidence of hypoxia (dissolved oxygen , 28% air saturation) in Malind Creek than in Okatee Creek, 5% of all records observed versus 0.3%, respectively. The rates of production estimated for M. rubroniveus in these creeks were relatively high compared with similar macrobenthos in other environments. Furthermore, the pattern of production within and between creeks provides a basic understanding of energy and material flows out of these important ecosystems and the processes that influence them.
New spectral types L and T

The establishment of new spectral classes cooler than type M has had a brief, yet already rich, history. Prototypes of the new "L dwarf" and "T dwarf" classes were first found in the late 1980s to mid-1990s, with a flood of new discoveries occurring in the late 1990s with the advent of deep, large-area, digital sky surveys. Over four hundred and fifty L and T dwarfs are now cataloged. This review concentrates on the spectroscopic properties of these objects, beginning with the establishment of classification schemes rooted in the MK Process. The resulting grid of spectral types is then used as a tool to ferret out the underlying physics. The temperature ranges covered by these spectral types, the complex chemical processes responsible for the shape of their emergent spectra, their nature as either true stars or brown dwarfs, and their number density in the Galaxy are discussed. Two promising avenues for future research are also explored: the extension of the classification system to three dimensions to account for gravity- and metallicity-dependent features, and the capability of newer large-area surveys to uncover brown dwarfs cooler than those now recognized.
Serving People With Complex Health Needs: Emerging Models, With a Focus on People Experiencing Homelessness or Living in Permanent Supportive Housing

The Affordable Care Act of 2009 (P.L. 111-148) codified into law a strong emphasis on care coordination as an important strategy for improving the performance of the U.S. health care system. This article examines new structures for coordinating care for people with complex, co-occurring health conditions. Within that large group, the article focuses on people who are now or recently were homeless and the importance of including housing as part of coordinating their care. “Care coordination” is used as shorthand for a continuum of strategies and structures being developed to reach the three goals of better health care experience, better health outcomes, and cost savings. Six models are described, ranging from simple in structure—a partnership of one permanent supportive housing program and one community health center—to complex, including a limited liability, for-profit care coordination entity serving Cook County and two county-run programs (in Hennepin County, Minnesota, and Los Angeles County, Californi...
Comparison of single unit responses to tone, light, and compound conditioned stimuli during rabbit classical eyeblink conditioning.

Unit recordings and lesion studies have implicated the cerebellum as an essential site for the acquisition and maintenance of the conditioned eyeblink response. The current study looked at the neural characteristics of conditioned stimulus (CS) processing in the interpositus nucleus of the cerebellum after training New Zealand white rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in one of two conditioning paradigms: (a) compound conditioning (CMP), a compound CS consisting of light and tone paired with an air puff unconditioned stimulus (US); or (b) stimulus compounding (ALT), alternating blocks of tone CS and light CS trials paired with the air puff US. Single unit responses were recorded during five sessions after the animals had reached an asymptotic level of responding. Animals were tested for behavioral and neural responses to CS alone trials that included tone alone, light alone, and compound tone-light trials. For the CMP group, the compound CS elicited 80 to 90% conditioned eyeblink responses (CRs), whereas the individual tone and light CSs elicited only 40 to 50% CRs. For the ALT group, all three CSs (tone, light, and compound) elicited very high levels of responding of at least 80% CRs. For the CMP group, there were roughly equal numbers of cells responding to all of the CSs. This includes cells that responded exclusively to one, and only one, of the three stimuli and also those cells that responded to combinations of two or more. Cells from the ALT group were far more likely to respond exclusively to only one of the CSs. Both the behavioral and physiological results suggest that the compound tone-light stimulus was processed as a distinct stimulus, separate from the component tone and light. These results are discussed in the context of multisensory processing.
STUDIES ON THE METABOLISM OF AUTOTROPHIC BACTERIA I. THE RESPIRATION OF THIOBACILLUS THIOOXIDANS ON SULFUR

The data of this paper indicate that: 1. The "energy of activation" (µ) of sulfur oxidation by the autotrophic bacterium, Thiobacillus thiooxidans, is similar to that of other respirations. 2. The pH of the menstruum does not influence the respiration on sulfur between the limits of pH 2 to 4.8 once contact between the bacterial cell and the sulfur particle has been established but it does influence the rate at which such contact occurs. 3. The pO2 has little effect upon the respiration of this organism. 4. Most organic materials have no detectable effect upon the respiration of Thiobacillus thiooxidans, but the organic acids of terminal respiration seem to stimulate the respiration in the absence of oxidizable sulfur and certain of them inhibit sulfur oxidation. 5. In so far as inhibitor studies on intact cells are trustworthy, sulfur oxidation goes through iron-containing systems similar to cytochrome. It is possible that the oxygen contained in the sulfuric acid formed during sulfur oxidation is derived from the oxygen of the water.
3 kA Power Supplies for the Duke OK-5 FEL Wigglers

The next generation electromagnetic OK-5/Duke storage ring FEL wigglers [1], [2] require three 3kA/70V power supplies with current stability about 20 ppm and current ripples less than 20 ppm in their full operating range. Duke FEL Laboratory acquired three out-of-service SCR controlled power supplies (Trans-Rex, 5kA/100V), which were built almost 30 years ago. The existing archaic firing circuit, lack of any output voltage filtering and with an outdated DCCT, would not be able to meet the above requirements. To deliver the desirable high performance with very limited funds, all three Trans-Rex power supplies have been completely rebuilt in-house at DFELL. Modern high stability electronic components and a high precision Danfysik DCCT have been used. A new symmetrical firing circuit, efficient passive filter and reliable transformer-coupled active filter are used to reduce output current ripples to an appropriate level. At the present time, all three refurbished power supplies are in operation. One of these power supplies was used since August, 2004 to feed OK-4 wigglers with good overall performance. Others two have been tested and used as power supplies for magnetic measurements.
Myosin Vc Is a Molecular Motor That Functions in Secretory Granule Trafficking

Class V myosins are actin-based motor proteins that have critical functions in organelle trafficking. Of the three class V myosins expressed in mammals, relatively little is known about Myo5c except that it is abundant in exocrine tissues. Here we use MCF-7 cells to identify the organelles that Myo5c associates with, image the dynamics of Myo5c in living cells, and test the functions of Myo5c. Endogenous Myo5c localizes to two distinct compartments: small puncta and slender tubules. Myo5c often exhibits a highly polarized distribution toward the leading edge in migrating cells and is clearly distinct from the Myo5a or Myo5b compartments. Imaging with GFP-Myo5c reveals that Myo5c puncta move slowly (approximately 30 nm/s) and microtubule independently, whereas tubules move rapidly (approximately 440 nm/s) and microtubule dependently. Myo5c puncta colocalize with secretory granule markers such as chromogranin A and Rab27b, whereas Myo5c tubules are labeled by Rab8a. TIRF imaging indicates that the granules can be triggered to undergo secretion. To test if Myo5c functions in granule trafficking, we used the Myo5c tail as a dominant negative and found that it dramatically perturbs the distribution of granule markers. These results provide the first live-cell imaging of Myo5c and indicate that Myo5c functions in secretory granule trafficking.
Petrogenesis of Basaltic Volcanic Rocks from the Pribilof Islands, Alaska, by Melting of Metasomatically Enriched Depleted Lithosphere, Crystallization Differentiation, and Magma Mixing

The Pribilof Islands, Alaska, are located in the Bering Sea in a continental intraplate setting. In this study we examine the petrology and geochemistry of volcanic rocks from St. Paul (0·54^0·003Ma) and St. George (2·8^1·4Ma) Islands, the two largest Pribilof Islands. Rocks from St. George can be divided into three groups: group 1 is a high-MgO, low-SiO2 suite composed primarily of basanites; group 2 is a high-MgO, high-SiO2 suite consisting predominantly of alkali basalts; group 3 is an intermediateto lowMgO suite that includes plagioclase-phyric subalkali basalts and hawaiites. Major and trace element geochemistry suggests that groups 1 and 2 formed by small-degree partial melting of amphibolebearing to amphibole-free garnet peridotite. Group 1 rocks were the earliest melts produced from the most hydrous parts of the mantle, as they show the strongest geochemical signature of amphibole in their source.The suite of rocks from St. Paul ranges from 14·4 to 4·2 wt% MgO at relatively constant SiO2 contents (43·1^47·3 wt %). The most primitive St. Paul rocks are modeled as mixtures between magmas with compositions similar to groups 1 and 2 from St. George Island, which subsequently fractionated olivine, clinopyroxene, and spinel to form more evolved rocks. Plagioclase-phyric group 3 rocks from St. George are modeled as mixtures between an evolved melt similar to the evolved magmas on St. Paul and a fractionated group 2 end-member from St. George. Mantle potential temperatures estimated for primitive basanites and alkali basalts are 14008C and are similar to those of mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORB). Similarly, Sr/Sr and Nd/Nd values for all rocks are MORB-like, in the range of 0·702704^0·703035 and 0·513026^0·513109, respectively. Pb/Pb vs Pb/Pb values lie near the MORB end-member but show a linear trend towards HIMU (high time-integrated U/Pb). Despite isotopic similarities to MORB, many of the major and trace element characteristics are similar to those of ocean island basalts (OIB), including enrichment in alkalis and incompatible trace elements. These characteristics are interpreted to indicate that their mantle source experienced an ancient melt-removal event that is reflected in depleted radiogenic isotopic compositions and was then re-enriched by metasomatism that elevated incompatible trace element contents, but was too young to produce a time-integrated change in radiogenic isotopic ratios. Evidence suggests that the Pribilof Island basalts did not form in either a plume or a back-arc basin tectonic setting. Rather, they were produced by melting of metasomatically hydrated upper mantle peridotite at relatively low temperatures and were able to erupt at the surface through extensional or transtensional faults that served as conduits for the magmas.
Low Protein Intake: The Impact on Calcium and Bone Homeostasis in Humans

Increasing dietary protein results in an increase in urinary calcium. Despite over 80 y of research, the source of the additional urinary calcium remains unclear. Because most calcium balance studies found little effect of dietary protein on intestinal calcium absorption, it was assumed that the skeleton was the source of the calcium. The hypothesis was that the high endogenous acid load generated by a protein-rich diet would increase bone resorption and skeletal fracture. However, there are no definitive nutrition intervention studies that show a detrimental effect of a high protein diet on the skeleton and the hypothesis remains unproven. Recent studies from our laboratory demonstrate that dietary protein affects intestinal calcium absorption. We conducted a series of short-term nutrition intervention trials in healthy adults where dietary protein was adjusted to either low, medium or high. The highest protein diet resulted in hypercalciuria with no change in serum parathyroid hormone. Surprisingly, within 4 d, the low protein diet induced secondary hyperparathyroidism that persisted for 2 wk. The secondary hyperparathyroidism induced by the low protein diet was attributed to a reduction in intestinal calcium absorption (as assessed by dual stable calcium isotopes). The long-term consequences of these low protein-induced changes in calcium metabolism are not known, but they could be detrimental to skeletal health. Several recent epidemiological studies demonstrate reduced bone density and increased rates of bone loss in individuals habitually consuming low protein diets. Therefore, studies are needed to determine whether low protein intakes directly affect rates of bone resorption, bone formation or both.
Mixed bundling with profit and sales objectives

Suppose the marginal cost of a bundle is less than the sum of the marginal costs of the two products that make up the bundle. In this case, even when demands are completely uncorrelated, bundling is profitable but usually reduces total sales. The primary assumption of this paper is that firms are reluctant to bundle because they resist the loss in sales. Three optimization problems are analyzed: no bundling, mixed bundling, and bundling with profits and sales objectives, in which the firm has an objective function with a penalty for lost sales. This paper will show that firms benefit by bundling even if they modify their prices in such a way to reduce (or reverse) any loss in sales.
Light and photosynthesis in intertidal benthic diatoms

1. The rate of photosynthesis at varying amounts of natural sunlight has been measured for large pennate littoral diatoms which inhabit the sand flats of Barnstable Harbor, Massachusetts, and which exhibit vertical migration to the surface at low tide.
Cultivation studies of the solanaceous drugs. IV. Time and space in solanaceous culture.

In order to determine the best time to fertilize and harvest and the best field spacing in which to plant certain solanaeous species for optimum production and alkaloid yield, belladonna and hyoscyamus plants were chosen for an initial study of these problems. Ammonium sulfate fertilizer was applied at three different stages of belladonna growth; harvests were taken at the same three stages; and plantings of both belladonna and hyoscyamus (biennial variety) were made in three different field spacings.
Evidence on Stock Reaction to Market-Wide Information

The main purpose of this paper is to show that the lack of misreaction to common information in previous research may be due to methodological weakness. As of now, there is no evidence which suggests that stocks under-react to common information at short horizons and over-react at longer horizons. Even if stocks under- and/or over-react to common information at the security level, the reaction pattern may not be evident at the market level if only some stocks have such a pattern and their capitalization is small. We show in this manuscript that the lack of misreaction to common information in previous research may be due to methodological weakness. By focusing on the stock level reaction, we find a statistically and economically significant reaction pattern to common information as the behavioral models suggest. This finding thus complements the findings of stock misreaction to firm-specific information, and may benefit researchers attempting to understand investor behavior.
Diagnostic Performance of Brain MRI in Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Central nervous system immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (CNS-IRIS) significantly negatively impacts the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected population on combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). We sought to determine the diagnostic performance of several magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features for CNS-IRIS in a cohort of HIV+ patients recently started on cART. METHODS Our radiologic database was searched from January 2003 to September 2014 retrospectively for patients diagnosed with HIV and worsening symptoms on cART. A total of 20 patients with HIV were identified; patients were classified as having CNS-IRIS on the basis of established clinical criteria (8 patients; 12 age- and sex-matched controls). Brain MR images were obtained at a single post-cART timepoint during hospitalization for acute neurologic deterioration and blindly interpreted by two experienced neuroradiologists for the presence of four variables: intrinsic T1 hyperintensity, marginal reduced diffusion, and marginal enhancement or perivascular enhancement. RESULTS Although each individual finding showed moderate predictive accuracy, the combination of MR findings demonstrated good test characteristics: sensitivity 88% (confidence interval [CI] 62-98), specificity 79% (58-93), positive predictive value 71% (44-90%), and negative predictive value 83% (CI 52-98%). In addition, this final diagnosis demonstrated good predictive accuracy, area under curve .78 (CI .63-.91), and moderate inter-reader agreement, κ = .55. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that although each individual MR finding shows only moderate diagnostic performance, the combined assessment of experienced neuroradiologists has good predictive accuracy. The absence of any described MRI findings makes the diagnosis of CNS-IRIS highly unlikely.
What we talk about when we talk about cloud network performance

Infrastructure-as-a-Service ("Cloud") data-centers intrinsically depend on high-performance networks to connect servers within the data-center and to the rest of the world. Cloud providers typically offer different service levels, and associated prices, for different sizes of virtual machine, memory, and disk storage. However, while all cloud providers provide network connectivity to tenant VMs, they seldom make any promises about network performance, and so cloud tenants suffer from highly-variable, unpredictable network performance.Many cloud customers do want to be able to rely on network performance guarantees, and many cloud providers would like to offer (and charge for) these guarantees. But nobody really agrees on how to define these guarantees, and it turns out to be challenging to define "network performance" in a way that is useful to both customers and providers. We attempt to bring some clarity to this question.
Oral cavity and oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma with metastasis to the parotid lymph nodes.

Summary To increase awareness of the potential of oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) to metastasize to the parotid region. We retrospectively reviewed patients who had undergone parotidectomy for metastatic oral or oropharyngeal SCC at a single tertiary care facility from January 1988 to January 2004. Exclusion criteria were a history of cutaneous SCC of head and neck or extension of primary tumor into the parotid gland. Twelve patients met study criteria. Parotid metastasis represented the initial disease manifestation in 4 cases. In 1 case, parotid metastasis presented synchronously with the primary tumor. Parotid metastasis represented recurrent disease in the other 7 cases. Primary subsites included tongue base ( n = 4), tonsil ( n = 3), lateral pharyngeal wall ( n = 2), oral floor ( n = 1), maxillary alveolus ( n = 1), and retromolar trigone ( n = 1). Pathologic findings showed grade 3 or 4 SCC in all patients. Parotid metastasis was located in the inferior parotid nodes in 7 cases; multiple superficial nodes, 3 cases; and both deep and superficial nodes, 2 cases. Oral and oropharyngeal SCC can metastasize to the intraparotid lymph nodes. The inferior parotid nodes are most commonly involved, and patients generally have substantial associated cervical metastases. When treating patients who have oral or oropharyngeal cancer with substantial cervical metastasis, physicians should consider removing the inferior parotid lymph nodes. We recommend that when intraparotid lymph node metastasis is detected, total parotidectomy and multidisciplinary adjuvant therapy should be conducted.
Expansion of the human embryonic brain during rapid growth: area analysis

This report focuses on growth of the brain of the early human embryo, Carnegie stages 12-23. Areas of median sections from 50 to 58 embryos were measured to determine the best mathematical model to describe growth of the three primary brain vesicles and to determine the change in the ratio of tissue to cavity areas (T/C). An exponential model best describes growth of the brain and head during this time period. The head expands 248-fold compared with a 171-fold growth of the brain. The whole brain, forebrain, and midbrain all exhibit larger cavities than tissue initially followed by a reversal of such at a critical time (stages 21-24). The presumptive cerebellar tissue which was twice the cavity initially grows to become more than six times the cavity. Boxplots of the T/C ratios for the head and brain plus its components reveal that initially the tissue is less than the cavity (10-20% and 40-60%, respectively) but eventually becomes larger (60-200%).
Drivers of readmissions in vascular surgery patients

Objective Postoperative readmissions are frequent in vascular surgery patients, but it is not clear which factors are the main drivers of readmissions. Specifically, the relative contributions of patient comorbidities vs those of operative factors and postoperative complications are unknown. We sought to study the multiple potential drivers of readmission and to create a model for predicting the risk of readmission in vascular patients. Methods The 2012-2013 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program data set was queried for unplanned readmissions in 86,238 vascular patients. Multivariable forward selection logistic regression analysis was used to model the relative contributions of patient comorbidities, operative factors, and postoperative complications for readmission. Results The unplanned readmission rate was 9.3%. The preoperative model based on patient demographics and comorbidities predicted readmission risk with a low C index of .67; the top five predictors of readmission were American Society of Anesthesiologists class, preoperative open wound, inpatient operation, dialysis dependence, and diabetes mellitus. The postoperative model using operative factors and postoperative complications predicted readmission risk better (C index, .78); postoperative complications were the most significant predictor of readmission, overpowering patient comorbidities. Importantly, postoperative complications identified before discharge from the hospital were not a strong predictor of readmission as the model using predischarge postoperative complications had a similar C index to our preoperative model (.68). However, the inclusion of complications identified after discharge from the hospital appreciably improved the predictive power of the model (C index, .78). The top five predictors of readmission in the final model based on patient comorbidities and postoperative complications were postdischarge deep space infection, superficial surgical site infection, pneumonia, myocardial infection, and sepsis. Conclusions Readmissions in vascular surgery patients are mainly driven by postoperative complications identified after discharge. Thus, efforts to reduce vascular readmissions focusing on inpatient hospital data may prove ineffective. Our study suggests that interventions to reduce vascular readmissions should focus on prompt identification of modifiable postdischarge complications.
The delicate state of the nation-state: a discourse analysis of the Parti Québécois from 1960-2000

iv Acknowledgements vi List of Tables x List of Figures xi 1.0 Introduction 1 1.1 Study Site 5 1.2 Hypothesis 8 2.0 Sampling and Methods 9 2.1 Shipboard Analyses 9 a. Thorium-234 9 b. Whole Core Incubations 10 c. Pore-water Oxygen Penetration Depth 11 d. Pore-water Profiles 12 e. Benthic Fauna 12 2.2 Laboratory Analyses 13 a. Porosity 13 b. Solid-phase Iron and Manganese 13 c. Soluble Iron and Manganese in Pore-water 16 2.3 Statistical Analysis 16 3.0 Results 20 3.1 Bioturbation 20 3.2 Solid-phase Iron and Manganese 24
A Representative Volume Element Based Micromechanical Constitutive Modeling of Woven Composites

This paper presents a computationally intensive, multiscale constitutive model for 3D-woven composites exhibiting progressive damage. The model is based on analysis of a representative volume element (RVE), which is derived from the actual woven architecture. The link between the local phenomena and the overall response is described by a transformation field analysis (TFA) in terms of stress concentration factors and influence function, which reflect the microgeometry and properties of the constituents. In this way, the local geometric and physical effects are represented in the model with substantial details so that the local stress and strain fields and the overall response could be accurately computed. It seems to be a reliable approach to capture the effects of the material heterogeneity and damage on wave dispersion and attenuation in shockwave problems. The RVE/TFA-based constitutive model was implemented into the DYNA finite element code, and simulations of shock and impact problems were performed to describe the various damage mechanisms. The TFA model is computationally intensive and requires massively parallel computing. This paper examines the effects of the local field representation, and the in situ damage phenomena on the overall response.
A differential gene expression study: Ptpn6 (SHP-1)-insufficiency leads to neutrophilic dermatosis-like disease (NDLD) in mice

Abstract Background Irradiated syngeneic wild-type mice developed the same neutrophilic dermatosis-like disease (NDLD) after adoptive transfer of bone marrow cells from Ptpn6 meb2/meb2 mutant mice. Objective To analyze differentially expressed genes in the bone marrow of mice with NDLD to gain insight into the role of Ptpn6 in myelopoietic bone marrow pathology, and the mechanisms by which Ptpn6 insufficiency in the hematopoietic cells can lead to the development of skin lesions. Methods As Ptpn6 is involved in a myriad of signaling pathways, we used a global approach with microarray technology for the first time to characterize changes in the bone marrow and skin of motheaten-type mice. Results A total number of 1,511 probe sets in the bone marrow showed at least two-fold changes with FDR Tlr1 , Tlr2 and Tlr4 ) and C-type lectin innate immunity receptors ( Clec4e , Clec4d , Clec4n , Clec4a2 and Clec4a3 ) were significantly up-regulated in both NDLD bone marrow and skin. The Il1b gene was also significantly overexpressed in skin samples, confirming the importance of the IL-1/TLR pathway in the development of early skin inflammation in NDLD mice. Conclusion Our results suggest that innate immunity genes play a major role in development of neutrophilic dermatosis-like disease in mice.
Underworlds and Underdogs: Big Tim Sullivan and Metropolitan Politics in New York, 1889–1913

I believe in liberality. I am a thorough New Yorker and have no narrow prejudices. I never ask a hungry man about his past; I feed him, not because he is good, but because he needs food. Help your neighbor but keep your nose out of his affairs.... I never sued a man in my life and no man was ever arrested on my complaint. I am square with my friends, and all I ask is a square deal in return. But even if I don't get that, I am still with my friends. -Timothy D. ("Big Tim") Sullivan, 1907
Personality Correlates of Police Discretion to Enforce Traffic Laws

Police officers have a great deal of discretion in deciding whether to enforce certain laws in the community. For example, an officer may merely warn a motorist who disobeys traffic regulations or he may give him a ticket. It has been suggested (Lester & Genz, in press) that police officers may differ in the motives which affect their choice of law enforcement as a career and that these different kinds of police officers may differ in personality (especially on the set of needs described by Henry Murray). For example, some police officers are motivated by the service aspects of the job, others by the law-andorder aspects. This paper attempts to explore whether the personality of the police officer is related to his behavior on che job. Twenty-seven white male officers (M age = 32.6 yr., SD = 6.9) from two municipal police departments were given the Adjective Check List (Gough & Heilbrun, 1965), which measures Murray's need strengths, and asked about their enforcement of traffic regulations. Of the men 13 saw themselves as strict enforcers while 14 did not. The strict enforcers reported giving significantly more tickets than the other men (an average of 7.6 per week versus 1.2) but not significantly more warnings (an average of 11.3 per week versus 9.5 > . The self-perceptions of the officers as strict enforcers were not related to scores on any of the 24 scales of the Adjective Check List. The median correlation coefficient was 0.14, and the largest was 0.33. Correlations between Adjective Check List scores and actual number of tickets given were also nonsignificant. Thus, the present research did not identify a personality correlate of the strictness with which a police officer enforced traffic regulations.
Effects of bethanechol (urecholine) on renal electrolyte excretion in rats and chickens.

SummaryThe effects of bethanechol chloride (5 and 10 mg/kg) and arecoline hydrochloride (2 mg/kg) on the concentration gradients of sodium and potassium were determined in renal papilla, medulla, and cortex of rats sacrificed at the height of the saluresis produced by the subcutaneous injection of these agents. Bethanechol produced an increased urinary excretion of sodium and potassium and an increased osmolality of the urine with no change in volume. Arecoline had been reported previously to have similar effects in rats. The concentration gradients of sodium and potassium in the kidneys of the rats treated with bethanechol or arecoline were not decreased compared to control rat kidneys.In the chicken, bethanechol chloride (10 and 20 μg/kg/min) infused into the saphenous vein produced a unilateral increase in urinary volume and an increase in excretion of sodium, potassium, and chloride. Similar effects were noted in the dog when bethanechol was given into one renal artery. These effects were inhibited by...
Examining the Role Geometry Plays in Spectral Emissivity Retrieval

Remotely sensed longwave infrared hyperspectral imagery is often used for material identification. This imagery must be compensated for atmospheric effects in order to retrieve emissivity information about the objects in the scene. This work examines how surface geometry and sensor viewing geometry can impact the retrieved emissivity of objects.
The oleocanthal-based homovanillyl sinapate as a novel c-Met inhibitor

// Mohamed M. Mohyeldin 1 , Mohamed R. Akl 1 , Hassan Y. Ebrahim 1 , Ana Maria Dragoi 2 , Samantha Dykes 2 , James A. Cardelli 2 , Khalid A. El Sayed 1 1 Department of Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Louisiana at Monroe, Monroe, Louisiana, USA 2 Department of Microbiology and Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, Louisiana, USA Correspondence to: Khalid A. El Sayed, email: elsayed@ulm.edu Keywords: ABL1, breast cancer, c-Met, homovanillyl sinapate, olive oil Received: November 23, 2015 Accepted: March 16, 2016 Published: April 11, 2016 ABSTRACT The hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor (c-Met) signaling axis has gained considerable attention as an attractive molecular target for therapeutic blockade of cancer. Inspired by the chemical structure of S (−)-oleocanthal, a natural secoiridoid from extra-virgin olive oil with documented anticancer activity against c-Met-dependent malignancies, the research presented herein reports on the discovery of the novel olive-derived homovanillyl sinapate (HVS) as a promising c-Met inhibitor. HVS was distinguished for its remarkable potency against wild-type c-Met and its oncogenic variant in cell-free assays and confirmed by in silico docking studies. Furthermore, HVS substantially impaired the c-Met-mediated growth across a broad spectrum of breast cancer cells, while similar treatment doses had no effect on the non-tumorigenic mammary epithelial cell growth. In addition, HVS caused a dose-dependent inhibition of HGF-induced, but not epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced, cell scattering in addition to HGF-mediated migration, invasion, and 3-dimensional (3D) proliferation of tumor cell spheroids. HVS treatment effects were mediated via inhibition of ligand-mediated c-Met activation and its downstream mitogenic signaling and blocking molecular mediators involved in cellular motility across different cellular contexts. An interesting feature of HVS is its good selectivity for c-Met and Abelson murine leukemia viral oncogene homolog 1 (ABL1) when profiled against a panel of kinases. Docking studies revealed interactions likely to impart high dual affinity for both ABL1 and c-Met kinases. HVS markedly reduced tumor growth, showed excellent pharmacodynamics, and suppressed cell proliferation and microvessel density in an orthotopic model of triple negative breast cancer. Collectively, the present findings suggested that the oleocanthal-based HVS is a promising c-Met inhibitor lead entity with excellent therapeutic potential to control malignancies with aberrant c-Met activity.