cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
THE EFFICACY OF DEXAMETHASONE AND FLUNIXIN MEGLUMINE IN TREATING ENDOTOXIN-INDUCED CHANGES IN CALVES

Eicosanoids have been implicated in the pathophysiology of endotoxic shock. Drugs which alter eicosanoid production such as corticosteroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) are beneficial in treating endotoxic shock. Experiments were conducted to investigate the efficacy of dexamethasone, a corticosteroid, and/or flunixin meglumine, a NSAID, in treating endotoxin-induced changes in calves. Fourteen male calves were assigned to one of four treatment groups: group 1, endotoxin-untreated; group 2, endotoxin-flunixin meglumine treated; group 3, endotoxin-dexamethasone-treated; group 4, endotoxin-flunixin meglumine and dexamethasone-treated. Each calf was given three intravenous and intraperitoneal injections of E. coli endotoxin. Hemodynamic, blood gas, blood chemical and eicosanoid level determinations were obtained. Thirty minutes after endotoxin injection, pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) increased and cardiac output (CO) decreased compared with baseline, corresponding to increased thromboxaneB2 levels in groups 1 and 3. These groups exhibited a decreased mean arterial pressure (MAP) at three and five hours corresponding to increased 6-keto-prostaglandinF1 alpha. The MAP, PAP and CO of group 4 remained near baseline for the entire six hours, except for a late drop in MAP. Lactic acid levels were significantly increased and arterial bicarbonate levels were reduced by six hours in all groups except for group 4. These results indicate that the combination treatment of flunixin meglumine and dexamethasone prevents many of the metabolic derangements observed during endotoxic shock in calves.
Does Nation Building Increase the Strength of Citizen Loyalty? Theoretical and Empirical Investigations of Ukrainian Nationalism

A widespread—yet for the most part untested—proposition about nationalism is that it promotes political legitimacy, and thereby undergirds people’s allegiance to their state and their willingness to support and comply with government policies. This article reconsiders the general proposition through an examination of survey data from Ukraine. Using multivariate statistical analysis, the study isolates four dimensions of nationhood and explores how they might affect three dimensions of citizen loyalty. The study shows that all three types of citizen loyalty are influenced by one or more dimension of nationhood. Moreover, all four aspects of nationhood have an impact on citizen loyalty, though only particular types of nationhood are associated with particular dimensions of such loyalty. The empirical analysis thus reveals strengths and limitations to the notion that nationalism promotes political obligation and political obedience.
Varieties of interoperability in the transformation of the health-care information infrastructure

Health-care costs are rising dramatically. Errors in medical delivery are associated with an alarming number of preventable, often fatal adverse events. A promising strategy for reversing these trends is to modernize and transform the health-care information exchange (HIE), that is, the mobilization of health-care information electronically across organizations within a region or community. The current HIE is inefficient and error-prone; it is largely paper-based, fragmented, and therefore overly complex, often relying on antiquated IT (information technology). To address these weaknesses, projects are underway to build regional and national HIEs which provide interoperable access to a variety of data sources, by a variety of stakeholders, for a variety of purposes. In this paper we present a technologist's guide to health-care interoperability. We define the stakeholders, roles, and activities that comprise an HIE solution; we describe a spectrum of interoperability approaches and point out their advantages and disadvantages; and we look in some detail at a set of real-world scenarios, discussing the interoperability approaches that best address the needs. These examples are drawn from IBM experience with real-world HIE engagements.
Formation of the inner branchiostegal cuticle of the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus.

The noncalcified inner branchiostegal cuticle, which lines the branchial chamber, was examined histologically and ultrastructurally over the molt cycle in the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus. In intermolt crabs (stage C4 ) the epithelium underlying the inner cuticle is cuboidal and has abundant intercellular spaces and a prominent basement membrane. Apolysis occurs at stage D0 and dissolution of the cuticle is accompanied by the formation of numerous lysosomes in the epithelium. During stage D1 , cells increase in height, apical mitochondria become more abundant, and the cuticle continues to be resorbed. An epicuticle is formed in early D2 , arising from a fusion of small subunits apparently attached to short apical microvilli. Cuticle deposition continues through D2 and is complete by stage D3 . By the time cuticle deposition is complete, the epithelium has become extremely columnar and cells are filled with bundles of microtubules. In stage D4 , an amorphous electron-dense core appears in the microtubule-filled cells, which are attached to the cuticle at their apical end and anchored to their basement membrane at the basal surface. These microtubule-filled cells persist through ecdysis, stage E, but during stage A1 the cores disappear and some organelles begin to reappear in the cytoplasm. By stage A2 , the cells return to the cuboidal morphology seen in intermolt and remain so throughout the remainder of the molt cycle. This new pattern of cuticle deposition resembles that observed in the gills of crustaceans in that the cuticle is uncalcified and there is no postecdysial cuticle formation. However, instead of apolysis being delayed until just before ecdysis, the inner cuticle is formed during the first half of premolt, allowing the epithelial cells time to differentiate into a morphology that provides tensile strength for the stress of ecdysis. These new observations demonstrate that cuticle formation can follow very diverse structural and temporal patterns. In order to integrate and coordinate these diverse patterns, it is suggested that a suite of feedback mechanisms must be present. J. Morphol. 240:267-281, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Family Obligation, College Enrollment, and Emerging Adulthood in Asian and Latin American Families

ABSTRACT—The appearance of emerging adulthood as a stage of life is occurring alongside record increases in immigration. This article discusses the nature of emerging adulthood among U.S. youth from Asian and Latin American backgrounds, the 2 fastest growing ethnic groups in the United States. It describes the results of a long-term, longitudinal study that extended from high school into the youths’ early 20s. Findings suggest that cultural traditions of family assistance, support, and respect make emerging adulthood particularly distinct for those of Asian and Latin American backgrounds. However, the ability of some members of these groups to pursue and receive 4-year college degrees may change the nature of family obligation and emerging adulthood for them in the future.
Long-Term Results of the Artificial Urinary Sphincter in Male Patients with Neurogenic Bladder

AbstractThe records of patients who received an artificial urinary sphincter at the University of Minnesota were reviewed. A total of 19 patients fulfilled the following criteria: male gender, neurogenic sphincteric incompetence, no previous surgery on the bladder neck, myelodysplasia and more than 5 years of followup. Mean age at the time of implantation was 8 years, mean age at the last followup was 16.5 years and mean followup was 8 years. At the last followup 16 patients (84.2 percent) were continent and 3 were expected to regain continence after revision or bladder augmentation. At the last followup 78.9 percent of the patients were on anticholinergic medications and 73.8 percent voided by clean intermittent catheterization. A fourth of the patients voided spontaneously. The annual revision rate was 0.2 revisions per patient. Seven patients (36.8 percent) have undergone or will require bladder augmentation. Upper tract dilatation developed in 2 patients and the function of 1 of 38 renal units at risk...
Accuracy of computed tomographic angiography for stenosis quantification using quantitative coronary angiography or intravascular ultrasound as the gold standard.

Computed tomographic angiography (CTA) is considered to have limited accuracy for quantifying exact percent diameter stenosis in coronary arteries. However, most studies evaluating CTA use quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) as the gold standard, a technique with its own limitations. We sought to determine whether CTA measurements of stenosis severity correlate better with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) than with QCA. Luminal dimensions of 67 de novo coronary lesions were measured by CTA, IVUS, and QCA. IVUS was performed when lesion severity by angiography was equivocal. Mean percent diameter stenosis by QCA was 51 ± 9.8% and mean IVUS minimal luminal area was 3.8 ± 1.8 mm 2 . There was a moderate correlation between CTA minimal luminal area and IVUS minimal luminal area (r 2 = 0.41, p 2 = 0.01, p=0.57) or diameter stenosis (r 2 = 0.02, p=0.31). There was also no relation between IVUS minimal luminal area and QCA diameter stenosis (r 2 = 0.01, p=0.50). When lesions with moderate or severe calcification were excluded, the correlation between CTA minimal luminal area and IVUS minimal luminal area was good (r 2 = 0.68, p
An Unprecedented Change in the Spectrum of S Doradus : As Cool as It Gets

Recent observations of S Doradus, the archetype of luminous blue variables (LBVs), reveal that the star's optical spectrum now resembles an F-type supergiant, with a rich complex of absorption lines. Despite nearly 50 years of spectroscopic monitoring, such a spectrum has never before been seen for S Dor despite numerous occasions when the star was equally bright. However, such F-type spectra have been seen in other LBVs, including Var B in M33 during a recent outburst, and in η Carina during an outburst in 1893. The singly ionized metal lines arise in a layer moving away from the star (toward us) at 50 km s–1, consistent with the lines forming in a "pseudophotosphere" originating in the stellar wind. The temperature suggested by the F-type spectrum is as cool as an LBV can get. Our CCD UBV photometry shows that the star has brightened only 0.3 mag in V since 1996, at which time it showed an emission-line spectrum characteristic of LBVs at minimum. The dereddened B–V color is consistent with an effective temperature suggested by the spectrum (7500 K), but there is a pronounced UV excess as evidenced by U–B. Why the behavior of S Dor has suddenly changed remains a mystery.
Galanin inhibits rat pancreatic amylase release via cholinergic suppression

Abstract The effects of galanin on pancreatic exocrine function were examined using rat pancreatic tissues. In anesthetized rats, galanin (40 μg/kg/h) decreased amylase secretion stimulated by 2-deoxy glucose ( 5.8 ± 0.1 vs. 3.1 ± 0.1 times basal) and cholecystokinin octapeptide ( 21.5 ± 0.6 vs. 16.8 ± 0.5 ), while not inhibiting bethanechol-stimulated secretion. In dispersed acini, there was no effect of galanin alone (10−8 to 10−13 M) on amylase release, nor did galanin (10−6 or 10−8 M) coincubation affect amylase release stimulated by bethanechol (10−3 to 10−7 M) or CCK-8 (10−8 to 10−13 M). Using pancreatic lobules, coincubation with galanin (10−6 M) suppressed 75 mM KCl-stimulated amylase secretion and ACh release ( 10.1 ± 0.6% vs. 7.3 ± 0.4% ). Veratridine-stimulated (10−4 M) amylase secretion and ACh release ( 12.4 ± 1.7% vs. 8.5 ± 0.7% ) were similarly diminished.
SARS-CoV pathogenesis is regulated by a STAT1 dependent but a type I, II and III interferon receptor independent mechanism.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) infection often caused severe end stage lung disease and organizing phase diffuse alveolar damage, especially in the elderly. The virus-host interactions that governed development of these acute end stage lung diseases and death are unknown. To address this question, we evaluated the role of innate immune signaling in protection from human (Urbani) and a recombinant mouse adapted SARS-CoV, designated rMA15. In contrast to most models of viral pathogenesis, infection of type I, type II or type III interferon knockout mice (129 background) with either Urbani or MA15 viruses resulted in clinical disease outcomes, including transient weight loss, denuding bronchiolitis and alveolar inflammation and recovery, identical to that seen in infection of wildtype mice. This suggests that type I, II and III interferon signaling play minor roles in regulating SARS pathogenesis in mouse models. In contrast, infection of STAT1−/− mice resulted in severe disease, high virus titer, extensive pulmonary lesions and 100% mortality by day 9 and 30 post-infection with rMA15 or Urbani viruses, respectively. Non-lethal in BALB/c mice, Urbani SARS-CoV infection in STAT1−/− mice caused disseminated infection involving the liver, spleen and other tissues after day 9. These findings demonstrated that SARS-CoV pathogenesis is regulated by a STAT1 dependent but type I, II and III interferon receptor independent, mechanism. In contrast to a well documented role in innate immunity, we propose that STAT1 also protects mice via its role as an antagonist of unrestrained cell proliferation.
Formation of Invisible, Non-perceptible Films on Hands by Cationic Soaps.

SummaryCertain cationic soaps deposit an invisible, non-perceptible film on the hands. This film retains bacteria underneath it, and is very resistant to mechanical trauma. The inner surface of the film has a low bactericidal power, whereas the outer surface exerts a strong germicidal action.
On the COLTON Model for Clinical Trials with Delayed Observations‐Dichotomous Responses

In the COLTON model for clinical trials a choice is to be made between two medical treatments where there is a known patient horizon N. In an earlier paper we studied the COLTON model under the additional assumption that there is a time lag between the administration of the treatments and the availability of the responses where the responses are normally distributed. Here we extend the results of the earlier paper to the case where responses are dichotomous. The relative performance of two simple procedures for dealing with the patients who arrive during the waiting period between the end of the administration of treatment in the trial phase and observation of the final trial response is discussed within a BAYESIAN framework.
Estimating equations for a latent transition model with multiple discrete indicators

Summary. This paper proposes a two-part model for studying transitions between health states over time when multiple, discrete health indicators are available. The includes a measurement model positing underlying latent health states and a transition model between latent health states over time. Full maximum likelihood estimation procedures are computationally complex in this latent variable framework, making only a limited class of models feasible and estimation of standard errors problematic. For this reason, an estimating equations analogue of the pseudo-likelihood method for the parameters of interest, namely the transition model parameters, is considered. The finite sample properties of the proposed procedure are investigated through a simulation study and the importance of choosing strong indicators of the latent variable is demonstrated. The applicability of the methodology is illustrated with health survey data measuring disability in the elderly from the Longitudinal Study of Aging.
Ethical correlates of role conflict and ambiguity in marketing: The mediating role of cognitive moral development

Researchers in marketing ethics have identified the importance of cognitive moral development (CMD) in marketing ethics models. This study looks at selected correlates of role conflict and role ambiguity in marketing, especially the mediating role of CMD. Of the correlates examined, the results seem to support the existence of statistically significant relationships between CMD and role conflict and ambiguity. Implications for practitioners are provided. For example, the study could have direct implications for management personnel who have the responsibility of hiring ethical people and helping them address any role conflict or ambiguity that may arise from their job.
Medication dynamics in group psychotherapy

The use of medications in insight-oriented groups has not been adequately investigated. We report a group in which the anxiolytic buspirone appeared to be associated with attractiveness to the group in the face of impending therapists' termination. We feel that in this group, medications became a variable associated with group cohesiveness, served as a vehicle for the expression of group dynamics, and as an indicator of regression within the group. These observations suggest that, under certain circumstances, medications may become an important variable in the process and expression of group dynamics.
Crystal and molecular structure of tricarbonyl(5,6,7,8-η4-5,7-nonadien-2,4-diol)iron, C12H16O5Fe

The relative stereochemistry of the tricarbonyl(5,6,7,8-η4-5,7-nonadien-2,4-diol)iron was revealed to be (2S*,4S*,5S*) by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.
Bowel-related abscesses: MR demonstration preliminary results

The purpose of this study is to describe the appearance of bowel-related abscesses on magnetic resonance (MR) images. Sixteen consecutive patients who had bowel-related abscesses underwent MR examination at 1.5T. MR sequences included T1-weighted fat-suppressed imaging pre- and post-intravenous gadolinium chelate administration (all patients) and breathing-independent single-shot T2-weighted half Fourier turbo (fast) spin echo (6 patients). Patients with pelvic abscesses also underwent sagittal imaging with post-gadolinium T1-weighted images (9 patients) and T2-weighted turbo (fast) spin echo (8 patients). Abscesses were confirmed by open surgery or surgical drainage (6 patients), percutaneous drainage (8 patients), or combined physical examination, fluoroscopic fistulogram, and clinical follow-up (2 patients). Oval-shaped fluid collections were identified in all of the patients, which ranged in diameter from 2 cm to 18 cm, mean: 8 cm. Abscesses were low to intermediate in signal on T1-weighted images, heterogenous and moderately high signal on T2-weighted images, and low signal on post-gadolinium images. A layering effect of lower signal material in the dependent portion of the abscess was noted in abscesses in 6 of 14 patients on T2-weighted images. Post-gadolinium images demonstrated a definable 3- to 7-mm thick abscess wall, which enhanced substantially with contrast. Definition of the wall was best shown on fat-suppressed images post-gadolinium. Substantial enhancement of surrounding periabscess tissues was demonstrated in all cases and was most clearly defined on fat-suppressed images. Image acquisition in two orthogonal planes was of value to demonstrate that fluid collections were oval, and separate from bowel. Image acquisition in the sagittal plane was useful in the evaluation of pelvic abscesses. The results from this preliminary study show that bowel-related abscesses are demonstrable on MR images using gadolinium-enhanced fat-suppressed T1-weighted and turbo (fast) spin-echo T2-weighted sequences. The presence of a thickened, enhancing lesion wall and enhancement of perilesional tissues on T1-weighted fat-suppressed images were observed in all abscesses. A layering effect of low signal intensity material in the dependent portion of the abscess was an important ancillary feature.
Carotid Artery Pseudo-occlusion: Does End-diastolic Velocity Suggest Need for Treatment?

Objective: We reviewed our institution’s experience with carotid artery pseudo-occlusion (CAPO), to investigate whether internal carotid artery (ICA) end-diastolic velocity (EDV) as measured by duplex ultrasonography, was a predictor of need for further intervention. Methods: From February 2003 to January 2008, 7478 patients underwent duplex ultrasonographic evaluation of their carotid arteries. Diagnosis of CAPO included the appearance of a narrow flow jet (string sign) on power doppler images, low velocities in the ICA and additional criteria listed below. Results: Ten patients (0.13%) were identified as having a CAPO. All patients were asymptomatic and had an EDV < 78cm/s. Occlusion or functional occlusion was identified in nine patients on contrast imaging studies. Eight of these patients were treated medically without neurologic complication on follow-up. Two patients were treated with interventions and were asymptomatic at follow up. The mean follow up for the entire group was 12 months. Conclusions...
Stabilization of Soil Particles to Water: Effect of Cations

Tertiary cationic starch. quaternary cationic starch and cationic starch graft copolymers were each prepared at several levels ofcation content. Together with some commercial cationic starches. these materials were assayed by wet sieving to determine their ability to convey water stability to soil. Cations neither increase nor decrease the capacity of starch to stabilize the soil used in this study. Guar. which has excellent stabilizing action (SS % soil was retained after wet sieving at treatment level of less than 0.1 g per lOOg of soil), behaved similarly: Cation functionality did not inl1uence stabiliza­ tion. Cationic starch derivatives used as soil stabilizers promised low cost and easy application. However. their low activity, less than one­ fourth that of synthetics. casts doubt on their use for this purpose.
Calculating Frequency at Loads in Simulations of Electro-Mechanical Transients

This paper introduces a new method for calculating frequency at an electrical load in simulations of electro-mechanical transients. The method is designed for simulation studies that require accurate models of sensors such as phasor measurement units and F-Net devices, which measure frequency at locations away from generating plants. These sensors are poised to become critical components in the control systems of electrical power grids, and therefore simulation tools that incorporate accurate models of these devices are essential. The method proposed here corrects two drawbacks of using numerically computed phase angle derivatives to approximate frequency. First, it eliminates spurious spikes in frequencies calculated at loads. Second, it eliminates instabilities induced by the simulator in studies of frequency responsive loads. The proposed method is derived from a simplified model of the generators and loads in an electrical system, but in the final analysis does not depend critically on these simplifications and is therefore applicable to more sophisticated models. The method is demonstrated with the simplified model applied to the IEEE 14 and 300 bus systems.
Postreperfusion syndrome during living-related donor renal transplantation: a case report.

Abstract Herein we report a case of postreperfusion syndrome (PRS) occurring during renal transplant. PRS, which is defined as a drop in mean arterial blood pressure by at least 30% for a minimum of 1 minute within 5 minutes of reperfusion and classically includes braydycardia and high pulmonary filling pressures, was first described in liver transplantation. Surprisingly, no case of PRS has been previously reported during renal transplantation. Case Report A 66-year-old woman underwent a living-related renal transplant. Upon completing the vascular anastomosis, arterial and venous clamps were removed to restore kidney perfusion. Subsequently, the patient developed persistent sinus bradycardia at 30 bpm with simultaneous hypotension that lasted for approximately 2 minutes. Although saline boluses, ephedrine, atropine, and 100 μg of epinephrine were administered, the patient's hemodynamics were not restored until an additional 300 μg of epinephrine were administered. Conclusion This case confirms the hypothesis of previous authors who predicted that PRS likely occurs in non–liver transplantation.
Focus groups with African American adolescents: enhancing recruitment and retention in intervention studies.

Abstract This study explores African American adolescents' perceptions about recruitment and retention strategies for intervention studies. Fifteen African American adolescents, ages 13 and 17 years, participated in this focus group study. Adolescents attended one of three groups which varied by size, gender, and the type of chronic condition: well adolescents (n = 7), adolescents with sickle cell disease (n = 5), and adolescents with diabetes (n = 3). Each group of adolescents participated in two group sessions. Content analyses of the two major categories in the study, recruitment and retention, yielded 10 themes. These themes included adolescents' (1) knowledge about their disease; (2) attitudes and expectations of self-care classes; (3) expectations about the research interventions; (4) instructor characteristics; (5) relationships with the researchers; (6) logistical considerations, such as time, location, and setting of interventions; (7) involvement and choice during the intervention; (8) relationships with other teens; (9) incentives for participation, such as food, fun, and money; and (10) the role of health care providers in recruitment and retention for research studies. Copyright © 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company
Genomic analysis of murine pulmonary tissue following carbonyl chloride inhalation

Carbonyl chloride (phosgene) is a toxic industrial compound widely used in industry for the production of synthetic products, such as polyfoam rubber, plastics, and dyes. Exposure to phosgene results in a latent (1−24 h), potentially life-threatening pulmonary edema and irreversible acute lung injury. A genomic approach was utilized to investigate the molecular mechanism of phosgene-induced lung injury. CD-1 male mice were exposed whole body to either air or a concentration × time amount of 32 mg/m3 (8 ppm) phosgene for 20 min (640 mg × min/m3). Lung tissue was collected from air- or phosgene-exposed mice at 0.5, 1, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h postexposure. RNA was extracted from the lung and used as starting material for the probing of oligonucleotide microarrays to determine changes in gene expression following phosgene exposure. The data were analyzed using principal component analysis to determine the greatest sources of data variability. A three-way analysis of variance based on exposure, time, and sa...
Characterization of aroma compounds of chinese "Wuliangye" and "Jiannanchun" liquors by aroma extract dilution analysis.

Aroma compounds in Chinese “Wuliangye” liquor were identified by gas chromatography−olfactometry (GC−O) after fractionation. A total of 132 odorants were detected by GC−O in Wuliangye liquor on DB-wax and DB-5 columns. Of these, 126 aromas were identified by GC−mass spectrometry (MS). Aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA) was further employed to identify the most important aroma compounds in “Wuliangye” and “Jiannanchun” liquors. The results showed that esters could be the most important class, especially ethyl esters. Various alcohols, aldehydes, acetals, alkylpyrazines, furan derivatives, lactones, and sulfur-containing and phenolic compounds were also found to be important. On the basis of flavor dilution (FD) values, the most important aroma compounds in Wuliangye and Jiannanchun liquors could be ethyl butanoate, ethyl pentanoate, ethyl hexanoate, ethyl octanoate, butyl hexanoate, ethyl 3-methylbutanoate, hexanoic acid, and 1,1-diethoxy-3-methylbutane (FD ≥ 1024). These compounds contributed to fruit...
Transition Between Condensed Phases In Si And Ge

The thermodynamic interrelation between the amorphous semiconducting (a-sc), the diamond cubic (c-sc) and the liquid metal (lm) states of Ge and Si is reviewed with especial emphasis on the question of the thermodynamic uniqueness of the a-sc state following its structural relaxation. The experience on the occurrence of the direct lm→a-sc transition and its reverse is surveyed and interpreted. This experience, in conjunction with the lm undercooling studies of Devaud and the author, indicates that the formation, in the metastable regime, of a-sc from lm results from preferential growth rather than preferential nucleation.
Impact of Dose De-Escalation and Escalation on Daptomycin's Pharmacodynamics against Clinical Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Isolates in an In Vitro Model

De-escalation and escalation therapeutic strategies are commonly employed by clinicians on the basis of susceptibility results and patient response. Since no in vitro or in vivo data are currently available to support one strategy over the other for daptomycin, we attempted to evaluate the effects of dose escalation and de-escalation on daptomycin activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates using an in vitro pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) model with simulated endocardial vegetations. Three clinical MRSA isolates, including one heterogeneous vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (hVISA) isolate and one vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (VISA) isolate, were exposed to daptomycin at 10 or 6 mg/kg of body weight/day for 8 days using a starting inoculum of ∼10(9) CFU/g of vegetations, with dose escalation and de-escalation initiated on the fourth day. Daptomycin MIC values ranged from 0.5 to 1 μg/ml. In the PK/PD model, high-dose daptomycin (10 mg/kg/day) and de-escalation simulation (10 to 6 mg/kg/day) appeared to be the most efficient regimens against the three tested isolates, exhibiting the fastest bactericidal activity (4 to 8 h) compared to that of the standard regimen of 6 mg/kg/day and the escalation therapy of 6 to 10 mg/kg/day. The differences in the numbers of CFU/g observed between dose escalation and de-escalation were significant for the hVISA strain, with the de-escalation simulation exhibiting a better killing effect than the escalation simulation (P<0.024). Although our results need to be carefully considered, the use of high-dose daptomycin up front demonstrated the most efficient activity against the tested isolates. Different therapeutic scenarios including isolates with higher MICs and prolonged drug exposures are warranted to better understand the outcomes of escalation and de-escalation strategies.
Scalable support for transparent mobile host internetworking

This paper considers the problem of providing transparent support for very large numbers of mobile hosts within a large internetwork such as the Internet. The availability of powerful mobile computing devices and wireless networking products and services is increasing dramatically, but internetworking protocols such as IP used in the Internet do not currently support host movement. To address this need, the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) is currently developing protocols for mobile hosts in the Internet. This paper analyzes the problem to be solved, reviews the current state of that effort, and discusses its scalability to very large numbers of mobile hosts in a large internetwork.
Effect of microcystin-LR on human placental villous trophoblast differentiation in vitro

Microcystin-LR is a cyanobacterial toxin found in surface and recreational waters that inhibits protein phosphatases and may disrupt the cytoskeleton. Microcystins induce apoptosis in hepatocytes at ≤2.0 µM. Nothing is known about the effects of microcystins on human placental trophoblast differentiation and function. The differentiation of villous trophoblasts to form syncytiotrophoblast occurs throughout pregnancy and is essential for normal placental and fetal development. To investigate the effects of microcystin, villous cytotrophoblasts were isolated from term placentas using an established method and exposed to microcystin-LR. Microcystin-LR below the cytotoxic dose of 25 µM did not cause cell rounding or detachment, had no effect on apoptosis, and no effect on the morphological differentiation of mononucleated cytotrophoblasts to multinucleated syncytiotrophoblast. However, secretion of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) increased in a microcystin-LR dose-dependent manner. When incubated with l-buthionine sulphoximine (BSO) to deplete glutathione levels, trophoblast morphological differentiation proceeded normally in the presence of microcystin-LR. Microcystin-LR did not disrupt the trophoblast microtubule cytoskeleton, which is known to play a role in trophoblast differentiation. Immunofluorescence studies showed that trophoblasts express organic anion transport protein 1B3 (OATP1B3), a known microcystin transport protein. In comparison to hepatocytes, trophoblasts appear to be more resistant to the toxic effects of microcystin-LR. The physiological implications of increased hCG secretion in response to microcystin-LR exposure remain to be determined. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol, 2014.
Women and the World of Dog Rescue: A Case Study of the State of Michigan

In the wake of the considerable cultural changes and societal shifts that the United States and all advanced industrial democracies have experienced since the late 1960s and early 1970s, one can also observe a dramatic change in how humans in these societies have come to relate to nonhuman animals, dogs in particular. One of the new institutions created by this change in attitude and behavior toward dogs is the canine rescue organization, examples of which have arisen all over the United States beginning in the 1980s. While the growing scholarship on the changed dimension of the human-animal relationship attests to its social, political, and intellectual salience to our contemporary world, the work presented here constitutes the first academic research on the particularly important institution of dog rescue. This paper presents some key findings from a survey of canine rescue workers in the state of Michigan, with a concentration on the dynamics of gender within canine rescue work.
Femtosecond dynamics of coherent photodissociation—recombination of I2 isolated in matrix Ar

Abstract Pump—probe studies of I 2 in matrix Ar, with a time resolution of 180 fs, are reported. The experiments are simulated using classical molecular dynamics. Dissociative excitation of I 2 (A) results in coherent cage-induced recombination on the A/A′ surfaces. The recombinant molecule vibrates coherently even after extensive energy loss.
Multi-criteria position and configuration optimization for redundant platform/manipulator systems

An important characteristic of practical mobile manipulators, i.e. manipulators mounted on mobile platforms, is their particular kinematic redundancy created by the addition of the degrees of freedom of the platform to those of the manipulator. This paper is concerned with the resolution of this kinematic redundancy, and in particular with the local optimization of the position and configuration of the system during task commutations when changes occur in both task requirements and task constraints. Optimization criteria for obstacle avoidance, manipulability, least torque norm and maximum actuator torque are first discussed. Emphasis is then placed on optimization methods for problems involving multi-requirements and multicriteria optimization. Sample results of the methods for a system including a three-link manipulator mounted on a mobile platform are presented and discussed. >
Learning Hybrid System Models for Supervisory Decoding of Discrete State, with applications to the Parietal Reach Region

Based on Gibbs sampling, a novel method to identify mathematical models of neural activity in response to temporal changes of behavioral or cognitive state is presented. This work is motivated by the developing field of neural prosthetics, where a supervisory controller is required to classify activity of a brain region into suitable discrete modes. Here, neural activity in each discrete mode is modeled with nonstationary point processes, and transitions between modes are modeled as hidden Markov models. The effectiveness of this framework is first demonstrated on a simulated example. The identification algorithm is then applied to extracellular neural activity recorded from multi-electrode arrays in the parietal reach region of a rhesus monkey, and the results demonstrate the ability to decode discrete changes even from small data sets
Optimal catalyst temperature management of Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles

For driving cycles that require use of the engine (i.e. the trip distance exceeds the All Electric Range (AER) of a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) or a driving cycle demands power exceeding the battery peak power), the catalyst temperature management for reduced tailpipe emissions is a challenging control problem due to the frequent and extended engine shut-down and catalyst cool-down. In this paper, we develop a method to synthesize a supervisory powertrain controller (SPC) that achieves near-optimal fuel economy and tailpipe emissions under known travel distances. We first find the globally optimal solution using dynamic programming (DP), which provides an optimal control policy and state trajectories. Based on the analysis of the optimal state trajectories, a variable Energy-to-Distance Ratio (EDR) is introduced to quantify the level of battery state-of-charge (SOC) relative to the remaining distance. A novel two-dimensional extraction method is developed to extract engine on/off, gear-shift, and power-split control strategies as functions of both EDR and the catalyst temperature from the DP control policy. Based on the extracted results, an adaptive SPC that optimally adjusts the engine on/off, gear-shift, and power-split strategies under various EDR and catalyst temperature conditions was developed to achieve near-optimal fuel economy and emission performance.
A meta-analytic review of research on gender differences in sexuality, 1993–2007.

In 1993 Oliver and Hyde conducted a meta-analysis on gender differences in sexuality. The current study updated that analysis with current research and methods. Evolutionary psychology, cognitive social learning theory, social structural theory, and the gender similarities hypothesis provided predictions about gender differences in sexuality. We analyzed gender differences in 30 reported sexual behaviors and attitudes for 834 individual samples uncovered in literature searches and 7 large national data sets. In support of evolutionary psychology, results from both the individual studies and the large data sets indicated that men reported slightly more sexual experience and more permissive attitudes than women for most of the variables. However, as predicted by the gender similarities hypothesis, most gender differences in sexual attitudes and behaviors were small. Exceptions were masturbation incidence, pornography use, casual sex, and attitudes toward casual sex, which all yielded medium effect sizes in which male participants reported more sexual behavior or permissive attitudes than female participants. Most effect sizes reported in the current study were comparable to those reported in Oliver and Hyde's study. In support of cognitive social learning theory, year of publication moderated the magnitude of effect sizes, with gender differences for some aspects of sexuality increasing over time and others decreasing. As predicted by social structural theory, nations and ethnic groups with greater gender equity had smaller gender differences for some reported sexual behaviors than nations and ethnic groups with less gender equity. Gender differences decreased with age of the sample for some sexual behaviors and attitudes.
A Potential Role for Family Members in Mental Health Care Delivery: The Family Community Navigation Specialist

Objective:Opening Doors to Recovery (ODR) in southeast Georgia included a family community navigation specialist (F-CNS) in addition to a peer specialist and a mental health professional. This qualitative study assessed the usefulness of the F-CNS role.Methods:Semistructured interviews were conducted with 30 respondents (ten ODR participants with serious mental illnesses; ten family members; and ten ODR leaders and team members, including two F-CNSs). Interviews were recorded and transcribed for qualitative analysis.Results:Many respondents found the F-CNS to be helpful, providing psychosocial support, serving as a communication liaison, and being a team member dedicated to the family. Aspects that might require improvement include insufficient description of the F-CNS role to participants and the limited experience and training of the F-CNSs.Conclusions:The F-CNS represents an unexplored role for family members of persons with serious mental illnesses that may complement the roles of other service provid...
Optimal design of a welded beam via genetic algorithms

Introduction T HE welded beam structure is a practical design problem that is often used as a bench-mark problem in testing different optimization techniques. This problem is one of a family of structural optimization problems, which consists of a nonlinear objective function and five nonlinear constraints. There exist a number of optimization techniques that are successfully used in solving such problems. Some of these methods, like geometric programming, require an extensive problem formulation prior to the optimization procedure. Other methods, such as gradient search techniques, require derivative information that may not exist for others. This paper considers the application of a genetic algorithm (GA) in obtaining optimal design parameters for a welded beam structure. GAs are systematic search procedures—both global and efficient—based on the mechanics of natural genetics. GAs search through large spaces quickly even though they only require payoff information. Furthermore, because of the processing leverage associated with GAs, the method has a much more global perspective than many common methods in engineering optimization techniques. GAs have been applied to a variety of optimization problems—engineering, social sciences, physical sciences, computer sciences, biology, and others. In the welded beam problem described here, GAs are compared with other optimization techniques and found to have surprising speed of convergence to near-optimal solutions. Simulation results suggest that GAs can be used to solve other problems of this class with similar efficiency.
Teacher Attitudes toward Subject-Specific Acceleration: Instrument Development and Validation.

Despite the research supporting acceleration, some teachers are still hesitant to recommend acceleration for advanced students. The Teacher Attitudes Toward Subject-Specific Acceleration (TATSSA) instrument was designed to uncover the factors that influence teacher decisions to recommend students for subject-specific acceleration. First, we describe the creation of the TATSSA and initial instrument validation process. Then we examine the validity of the established measurement model and explore the construct validity of the TATSSA. Scores on the TATSSA predicted teacher intent to recommend acceleration, were related to teacher past recommendation behavior, and discriminated between groups known to be more or less likely to accelerate. The most important findings were that teacher self-efficacy toward recommending acceleration was universally important in predicting teacher acceleration attitudes and behavior, administrative support of acceleration was critical, and teachers appeared to give more weight to...
Wet wound healing: from laboratory to patients to gene therapy

Wet treatment of wounds has been used as an "irrigation" method since the seventh century. We have developed the concept of an in vivo tissue culture that facilitates wound healing and allows tissue engineering. A transparent, flexible, round chamber provides the wet environment. This system heals clean wounds as fast or faster than any other method, with less scarring. It allows delivery of analgesics, antibiotics, growth factors, growth media, and cells into the chamber, becoming a platform for tissue engineering. Gene therapy of the wound can be done in the chamber with growth factor and other genes. A tetracycline switch allows precise timing and amounts of expression and provides the opportunity for sequential expression of genes delivered at the same time.
Driven classical diffusion with strong correlated disorder.

For driven classical diffusion quenched by a strong potential disorder V(x), we identify a prominent crossover regime between the regimes of very small and very large driving forces F, where the corresponding mobility values mu (F) differ exponentially. For disorder with power-law correlations at large distances 0, the crossover is characterized by power-law dependence of the logarithm of mu (F) on the driving force ln mu (F) approximately F(n/(n + 1)). For finite-range disorder (formally, n = infinity), the corresponding dependence is linear ("logarithmic susceptibility").
A Reevaluation of the Concept of the Homeostatic Organization of Temperature Regulation

Instinctive and motivated behaviors that serve a regulatory function, such as temperature regulation, feeding, and drinking, involve the interaction of reflexive, hormonal, and operant responses integrated in the central nervous system. Traditionally such behaviors are interpreted within the framework of the concept of homeostasis, which implies that when an organism is in a need state, with some physiological deficit, its behavior will be directed toward diminishing the deficit— in other words, behavior is goal-directed. A goal can be thought of as some ideal state the animal is trying to achieve, and that, translated into modern control systems terminology, is equivalent to a setpoint. Since behavior is under nervous control, it has seemed reasonable to search for a setpoint analog somewhere in the brain, and the most likely neuroanatomical site has been the hypothalamus, since stimulation there elicits and lesions destroy entire patterns of goal-directed behaviors. This path of scientific research I shall call “whole” analysis of the neural substrates of motivated behavior. Its major assumption is that since behavior is integrated to achieve a goal, there must be an integrator in the brain responsible for it. In this view there are multiple inputs that inform the organism of what needs to be regulated at any particular time, and multiple regulatory effectors available to correct any errors.
Metabolically stable bradykinin B2 receptor agonists enhance transvascular drug delivery into malignant brain tumors by increasing drug half-life.

Background: The intravenous co-infusion of labradimil, a metabolically stable bradykinin B2 receptor agonist, has been shown to temporarily enhance the transvascular delivery of small chemotherapy drugs, such as carboplatin, across the blood-brain tumor barrier. It has been thought that the primary mechanism by which labradimil does so is by acting selectively on tumor microvasculature to increase the local transvascular flow rate across the blood-brain tumor barrier. This mechanism of action does not explain why, in the clinical setting, carboplatin dosing based on patient renal function over-estimates the carboplatin dose required for target carboplatin exposure. In this study we investigated the systemic actions of labradimil, as well as other bradykinin B2 receptor agonists with a range of metabolic stabilities, in context of the local actions of the respective B2 receptor agonists on the blood-brain tumor barrier of rodent malignant gliomas. Methods: Using dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI, the pharmacokinetics of gadoliniumdiethyltriaminepentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA), a small MRI contrast agent, were imaged in rodents bearing orthotopic RG-2 malignant gliomas. Baseline blood and brain tumor tissue pharmacokinetics were imaged with the 1 st bolus of Gd-DTPA over the first hour, and then reimaged with a 2 nd bolus of Gd-DTPA over the second hour, during which normal saline or a bradykinin B2 receptor agonist was infused intravenously for 15 minutes. Changes in mean arterial blood pressure were recorded. Imaging data was analyzed using both qualitative and quantitative methods.