cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Predictors of rehospitalization time during the first year after heart transplant.

Background Patient problems after heart transplant (HT) can lead to rehospitalization. Objective To examine rehospitalization patterns and identify predictors of the number of days rehospitalized at the transplant site during the first year after HT surgery. Methods Hierarchical regression identified predictors of greater rehospitalization time from chart data collected from two transplant sites during the first posttransplant year on 269 adult HT recipients. Variables (total = 32) were entered in six steps: clinical site, demographics, perioperative variables, cardiac function, immunosuppressant dosages, and post-HT complications. Results The number of days rehospitalized at the transplant site during the first year after HT ranged from 0 to 142 (mean = 25, median = 16); 64% were rehospitalized; 37% were rehospitalized more than once. Main reasons were rejections, infections, cardiovascular problems, and gastrointestinal (GI) problems. The regression model explained 48.7% of the variance in rehospitalization time, with post-HT complications explaining the most variance. Ten predictors were significant: intravenously treated infections, treated acute rejections, shorter stay for HT surgery, GI complications, higher prednisone dose, female gender, coma, sex mismatch between donor and recipient, renal complications, and clinical site. Conclusion Sixty-four percent of the patients were rehospitalized at the transplant site during the first year after HT surgery (with a median of 16 hospital days); 37% were rehospitalized more than once. Significant predictors of the amount of time rehospitalized pertained to five types of complications (rejections, infections, GI, renal, coma), shorter HT surgical stay, female gender, higher prednisone dose, sex-mismatched donor, and clinical site. The study identifies who uses the most hospital resources during the first year after HT.
Comparative morphology and chemical contents of male mandibular glands of several Centris species (Hymenoptera: Anthophoridae) in Costa Rica

Abstract The morphology and chemical contents of male mandibular glands from several species of Costa Rican Centris bees are described. Species that marked their territories with oral secretions had enlarged mandibular glands containing varying amounts of known monoterpenes. Species that marked territories with hindleg secretions and those that are not known to chemically mark territories had vestigial mandibular glands containing little or no volatile oil. With regard to territorial marking behavior, chemo-ecological and phylogenetic relationships of several Centris subgenera are discussed.
Interaction between endoplasmic/sarcoplasmic reticulum stress (ER/SR stress), mitochondrial signaling and Ca(2+) regulation in airway smooth muscle (ASM).

Airway inflammation is a key aspect of diseases such as asthma. Several inflammatory cytokines (e.g., TNFα and IL-13) increase cytosolic Ca2+ ([Ca2+]cyt) responses to agonist stimulation and Ca2+ s...
Capsule Commentary on Stephens et al., Who Needs Inpatient Detox? Development and Implementation of a Hospitalist Protocol for the Evaluation of Patients for Alcohol Detoxification

In this paper, Stephens et al.1 describe the development, implementation, and outcomes of a protocol to determine which patients presenting to an academic health center emergency department (ED) requesting alcohol detoxification require inpatient admission. Their interdisciplinary group synthesized existing evidence and developed a protocol that recommended admission for patients with a Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment (CIWA) score > 15, or for those with CIWA scores 8–15 and a prior history delirium tremens (DT). Admissions decreased from 18.9/month to 15.9/month post-implementation. (p = 0.037) Complete follow-up was not available for patients discharged from the ED; however; no patient discharged to outpatient treatment returned to the ED within 48 h and required inpatient admission for detoxification. Patient-centered alcohol outcomes, health-related and otherwise (patient costs, arrests, family stress, etc.) were not obtained. There is very limited previous literature. A 2004 algorithm admitted patients based on comorbidities, history of DTs and CIWA score > 8.2 They reported a decline in admissions for DT, but provided few details of patient outcomes. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing inpatient and intensive (daily) outpatient management of acute alcohol detoxification found no difference in patient outcomes.3 Additional studies with more robust outcome information, including more patient-centered outcome assessment, will be needed to determine the optimal protocol for this common problem. There is an increasing need for physicians to lead quality improvement activities; however, physicians engaged in quality improvement (QI) often confront challenges converting those activities into tangible scholarly products.4 Standards for Quality Improvement Reporting Excellence Guidelines (SQUIRE) provide an excellent checklist of items for authors to include when reporting QI activities, but don’t include specific recommendations on how to format a report on the development and implementation of a protocol.5 Stephens chose to employ a format that includes methods and results sections for each of protocol development, implementation, and evaluation. Others interested in taking a scholarly approach to protocol development and implementation may find this a useful template to follow.
What a surgeon needs to know about radiation

Background: A better understanding of the physical and biologic principles of radiation oncology, along with improvements in the technical and clinical aspects of this field, have been gained in recent years. Some of these aspects are presented, with an emphasis on their relevance to the oncologic surgeon.
Suggestion for a possible approach to molecular biology

A hypothetical “self-reproducing living molecule” has been recently frequently discussed in the literature. A physical theory of such a molecule is tentatively outlined. The relational, rather than the quantitative, aspects of the process are emphasized. The process of synthesis of such a molecule from its components is considered as a transition of a complex system between two quantum-mechanical states. The requirement that a “living molecule” should be able to multiply only by self-reproduction but not by a formationde novo leads to the conclusion that the above mentioned transition is a forbidden one. A constellation of conditions under which the forbiddenness is lifted by the presence of an already existing “living molecule” is suggested. The outlined mechanism leads to the conclusion that the property of self-reproduction does not so much reside in the self-reproducing molecule itself as in its relations to other molecules of a system.
Ionic conductivity of lithium phosphate-doped lithium orthosilicate

Abstract The ionic conductivities of samples of lithium orthosilicate containing up to 50 mole % of lithium phosphate have been measured by both a c and d c techniques. Results indicate a large enhancement in lithium ion conduction due to the presence of the phosphate, making these materials attractive candidates for use as solid electrolytes in applications such as battery systems.
Exonic DNA Sequencing of ERBB4 in Bipolar Disorder

The Neuregulin-ErbB4 pathway plays a crucial role in brain development and constitutes one of the most biologically plausible signaling pathways implicated in schizophrenia and, to a lesser extent, in bipolar disorder (BP). However, recent genome-wide association analyses have not provided evidence for common variation in NRG1 or ERBB4 influencing schizophrenia or bipolar disorder susceptibility. In this study, we investigate the role of rare coding variants in ERBB4 in BP cases with mood-incongruent psychotic features, a form of BP with arguably the greatest phenotypic overlap with schizophrenia. We performed Sanger sequencing of all 28 exons in ERBB4, as well as part of the promoter and part of the 3′UTR sequence, hypothesizing that rare deleterious variants would be found in 188 cases with mood-incongruent psychosis from the GAIN BP study. We found 42 variants, of which 16 were novel, although none were non-synonymous or clearly deleterious. One of the novel variants, present in 11.2% of cases, is located next to an alternative stop codon, which is associated with a shortened transcript of ERBB4 that is not translated. We genotyped this variant in the GAIN BP case-control samples and found a marginally significant association with mood-incongruent psychotic BP compared with controls (additive model: OR = 1.64, P-value = 0.055; dominant model: OR = 1.73. P-value = 0.039). In conclusion, we found no rare variants of clear deleterious effect, but did uncover a modestly associated novel variant that could affect alternative splicing of ERBB4. However, the modest sample size in this study cannot definitively rule out a role for rare variants in bipolar disorder and studies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm the observed association.
Deep brain stimulation for Alzheimer disease: a decision and cost-effectiveness analysis

Alzheimer disease (AD) is characterized by impairments in memory function. Standard AD treatment provides marginal improvements in this domain. Recent reports, however, suggested that deep brain stimulation (DBS) may result in improved memory. Given significant equipment costs and health expenses required for DBS surgery, we determine clinical and economic thresholds required for it to be as effective as standard AD treatment. Literature review yielded annual AD progression probabilities, health-related quality of life (QoL), and costs by AD stage. Our 5-year decision analysis model compared cumulative QoL in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and costs of standard therapy to theoretical DBS treatment of various success rates, using known complication rates and QoL data. The base case was a patient with mild-stage AD. DBS success was defined as regression to and maintenance of minimal stage AD, which was defined as midway between mild and no dementia, for the first year, and continuation of the natural course of AD for the remaining 4 years. Compared to standard treatment alone, DBS for mild-stage AD requires a success rate of 3 % to overcome effects of possible surgical complications on QoL. If DBS can be delivered with success rates above 20 % ($200 K/QALY) or 74 % ($50 K/QALY) for mild AD, it can be considered cost-effective. Above a success rate of 80 %, DBS treatment is both clinically more effective and more cost-effective than standard treatment. Our findings demonstrate that clinical and economic thresholds required for DBS to be cost-effective for AD are relatively low.
Trees, homologs, and poisons.

I am quoted out of context in the recent news article on forest biotechnology (News Focus, 1 Mar., p. [1626][1]) by Charles Mann and Mark Plummer. I indicated that “a tree is essentially a mountain of poisons” to give some context to considerations of the possible ecological effects of new, taxon-specific transgenes that increase pest resistance—not to indicate that dicotyledonous trees such as poplars (genus Populus) are not extensively genomically homologous to well-studied annual dicot plants like Arabidopsis . In fact, I recently submitted a proposal for which a primary goal is a detailed comparative genomic analysis of the full Arabidopsis and the soon-to-be-determined poplar genome sequences. Woody species such as poplar will certainly have embellished and at least somewhat distinctive genomic content compared with Arabidopsis as a result of their different adaptive and phyletic histories, but making use of the structural and functional homologies between annual and woody plants—whether for basic tree physiology or biotechnology—can easily keep generations of tree-loving scientists productively occupied. [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.295.5560.1626
THE ISOTOPE EFFECT IN SUPERCONDUCTIVITY. II. TIN AND LEAD

The critical magnetic fields, $H$, of various isotopic mixtures of tin and of lead have been measured as a function of temperature, $T$.For tin, the critical temperature ${T}_{c}$ at zero field, is related to the average mass number, $M$, by the relation ${M}^{0.46}{T}_{c}=\mathrm{const}$. The critical magnetic fields, ${H}_{0}$, at absolute zero are proportional to the critical temperatures. The normalized values of critical field, $\frac{H}{{H}_{0}}$, are the same function of the variable $\frac{T}{{T}_{c}}$ for all the isotopes. An analytic expression for this function giving the best fit to the experimental data is given.The measurements on lead were made in the temperature range 1.6\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K to 4.2\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. The data clearly indicate that the isotope effect is present in this superconductor.
Springback Analysis and Control in Small Radius Air Bending

A critical factor for quality small lot sheet metal production is the control of flange angles. For small radius pressbrake bending operations, i.e., punch radius less than sheet thickness, control of angle requires extensive setup time, making small batch runs inefficient. This paper demonstrates the use of relatively simple measurements of material properties to provide the information necessary to estimate and control springback with accuracy approaching 1/4 degree. The control method combines the generality of a model-based approach with accurate on-line loaded angle measurement. An analytic bending model is developed which provides insights into the material and geometric variables that affect springback. Estimates are made of the relative sensitivity ofspringback to changes in these variables. In addition, a set of variable ratios are determined which are linearly related to springback and thus serve as the input data for a linear regression model of springback based on experimental results.
Cushing's syndrome: problems in diagnosis.

Cushing's syndrome, an unusual group of disorders characterized by hypercortisolism, must be considered in the differential diagnosis of such common clinical problems as hirsutism, menstrual irregularity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and obesity. Its distinct forms--pituitary-dependent Cushing's syndrome (Cushing's disease), adrenal tumor and ectopic ACTH syndrome--must be identified correctly so that specific therapy can be administered. In the majority of cases, use of a relatively simple diagnostic sequence will provide accurate and rapid diagnosis. However, in our experience with more than 60 patients, diagnostic difficulties may arise from a variety of conditions (e.g., drug interference, alcohol ingestion, and depression). In addition, unusual circumstances, such as unexpected responses to dexamethasone, may complicate the diagnosis. Our approach to these problems is illustrated through a report of seven cases, and we emphasize that the proper management of Cushing's syndrome mandates a thorough marshalling of all the available data.
Wafer level system integration for SiP

A family of novel wafer-level-system-integration technologies (WLSI) was proposed. This paper reviews WLSI feasibility work first. Further results on the reliability, the compatibility of the integration with both more advanced node Logic and DRAM devices, and the higher-level system integration of the WLSI technologies are then presented. Foundry has established a comprehensive system integration technology portfolio in wafer form to fulfill the needs from mobile to cloud computing for the future growth of the Si-based nano-electronics industry.
Kinetics of the gas phase reaction of Cl atoms with a series of organics at 296±2 K and atmospheric pressure

Using a relative rate technique, rate constants have been determined for the gas phase reactions of Cl atoms with a series of organics at 296 ± 2 K and atmospheric pressure of air. Using a rate constant of 1.97 × 10−10 cm3 molecule−1 s−1 for the reaction of Cl atoms with n-butane, the following rate constants (in units of 10−11 cm3 molecule−1 s−1) were obtained: ethane, 6.38 ± 0.18; propane, 13.4 ± 0.5; isobutane, 13.7 ± 0.2; n-pentane, 25.2 ± 1.2; isopentane, 20.3 ± 0.8; neopentane, 11.0 ± 0.3; n-hexane, 30.3 ± 0.6; cyclohexane, 31.1 ± 1.4; 2,3-dimethylbutane, 20.7 ± 0.6; n-heptane, 34.1 ± 1.2; acetylene, 6.28 ± 0.18; ethene, 10.6 ± 0.3; propene, 24.4 ± 0.8; benzene, 1.5 ± 0.9; and toluene, 5.89 ± 0.36. These data are compared and discussed with the available literature values.
A Lorentzian analysis of the cosmological constant problem

We argue that the essential features of the Baum-Coleman-Hawking mechanism for setting the cosmological constant to zero are (a) the existence of variable cosmological constant, and (b) the boundary value data for the wave function of the universe are supplied at small three-geometries. In particular topology change, baby universe, or other details of Planck-scale physics are not essential. We analyze the problem by solving the Wheeler-DeWitt equation for a large single universe with variable Λ using the (real time) WKB approximation. It is argued that the only sensible questions in this context are joint probabilities for the cosmological constant and the scale factor a (or other suitable observable) of an expanding universe. The most probable values of Λ in this model are found to be highly peaked around 9Mp216a2, in minor disagreement with previous authors, but consistent with the experimental bounds in our universe.
Causes of Import Penetration from the Pacific Basin Newly Industrializing Countries into the United States

With the emergence of “new Protectionism” and the resurrection of international political economy as a legitimate field of international relations, international trade and trade relations have, once again, become the focal points of political science inquiries. Given its varied intellectual attractions, the central theme of international trade remains constant: What are the causes of trade relations? Specifically, what factors determine a flow of commodities from country A to country B? There are basically two major types of answers to this question.
β-BaV2(P2O7)2 : a new polymorph of barium vanadium (III) pyrophosphate characterized by intersecting tunnels

Investigation into the synthesis of reduced vanadium phosphate has led to the formation of a new form of the barium vanadium (III) pyrophosphate compound β-BaV2(P2O7)2. It is a polymorph of the previously known BaV2(P2O7)2, which is now labeled as the α-phase. The title compound crystallizes in the P-1 (No. 2) space group with a = 6.269(1) A, b = 7.864(3) A, c = 6.1592(9) A, α = 101.34(2)°, β = 105.84(1)°, and γ = 96.51(2)°. The structure consists of corner-shared VO6 octahedra and PO4 tetrahedra that are connected in V-O-P-O-V and V-O-P-O-P-O-V bonding arrangements. This interesting three-dimensional framework is characterized by seven types of intersecting tunnels, three of which are occupied by the barium cation, while the others are empty. It is important to know that one of the empty tunnels has a relatively large window with a minimum diagonal distance of 4.41 A, which facilitates a possible framework for a lithium ion insertion reaction. The barium atom has a 10-coordination sphere, BaO10, in which the oxygen atoms can be viewed as forming two intersecting pseudohexagonal planes. β-BaV2(P2O7)2 appears to form at a relatively higher temperature than its polymorph, α-BaV2(P2O7)2. A detailed structural analysis and structural comparison with the α-phase, as well as a brief comparison with SrV2(P2O7)2, are presented.
Alteration of adenovirus antigenic sites and infectivity by periodate oxidation.

Abstract The nature of the receptor site responsible for the hemagglutinating activity of adenoviruses was investigated by oxidation of viral antigen preparations and purified virus with sodium metaperiodate. Low concentrations of periodate reduced the hemagglutinating activity of adenovirus (Ad) types 7 and 14, while 25- and 50-fold higher levels of periodate were required to alter the activity of the Ad-2 hemagglutinin. It was also noted that a similar relative sensitivity was observed in the loss of infectivity when purified Ad-2 or Ad-7 virions were oxidized with periodate. Periodate oxidation had no effect on the antigens associated with the hexon. Immunization of animals with oxidized and control preparations of unfractionated antigens, purified pentons or purified virus substantiated the conclusion that the site affected by periodate oxidation was associated with the penton. Animals immunized with oxidized material produced only 4–7% as much hemagglutinin-inhibiting antibody as those which were immunized with control material. However, neutralizing and group-specific complement-fixation antibody titers were not substantially affected by oxidizing the immunizing material. While the mild oxidation conditions employed in the study indicate the possibility that a carbohydrate moiety is associated with the hemagglutinin-reactive site, they are also consistent with the alternative possibility that certain amino acid residues such as those of serine, threonine or cysteine may be essential for the reactive site.
Glass formation and local disorder: Amorphization in planar clusters

Structural aspects of amorphization in a cluster model of a disordered phase are presented. Molecular dynamics simulations were done within a “mobile cluster static boundary” model, in which static, disordered particles at the boundary of the simulation cell cause particles within the cell to adjust themselves structurally. With sufficient boundary disorder, both the radial distribution function and the orientational order parameter show onset of amorphization behavior. For Lennard-Jones particles, which are not good glass formers, the amorphization occurs only within a certain healing distance of the disordered boundary. With increasing boundary disorder, the orientational correlation function and the radial distribution function indeed show orientational phase scrambling, disappearance of long-range order, and the onset of glass-like amorphized structure.
Occult spinal dysraphism: evidence-based diagnosis and treatment

This article reviews the scientific evidence behind the diagnostic tools available for the appropriate workup and management of patients with occult spinal dysraphism (OSD). The diagnostic tools include the use of detailed history and physical examination, plain films, ultrasound, MR imaging, and neurophysiologic tests. In addition, the article discusses the epidemiology of the most common causes of OSD in children, which will allow physicians caring for children to develop a pretest probability of disease and make a more educated decision as to when additional diagnostic testing is required.
Successful treatment of a patient with chronic Lyme arthritis with extracorporeal photochemotherapy

We report the use of photopheresis in a patient with chronic Lyme arthritis with apparent resolution of the signs and symptoms. Further controlled trials will be required to determine whether there is a therapeutic role for photopheresis in this disease.
"I can't afford that!": dilemmas in the care of the uninsured and underinsured.

When patients lack sufficient health care insurance, financial matters become integrally intertwined with biomedical considerations in the process of clinical decision making. With a growing medically indigent population, clinicians may be compelled to bend billing or reimbursement rules, lower standards, or turn patients away when they cannot afford the costs of care. This article focuses on 3 types of dilemmas that clinicians face when patients cannot pay for needed medical services: (1) whether to refer the individual to a safety net provider, such as a public clinic; (2) whether to forgo indicated tests and therapies because of cost; and (3) whether to reduce fees by fee waivers or other adjustments in billing. Clinicians' responses to these dilemmas impact on quality of care, continuity, safety net providers, and the liability risk of committing billing violations or offering nonstandard care. Caring for the underinsured in the current health care climate requires an understanding of billing regulations, a commitment to informed consent, and a beneficent approach to finding individualized solutions to each patient care/financial dilemma. To effect change, however, physicians must address issues of social justice outside of the office through political and social activism.
Early housing experience modifies morphine self-administration and physical dependence in adult rats

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were raised from weaning in one of the three housing conditions: one, two or four per housing unit. At 60 days of age, animals were moved to individual cages and tested in the open field. Following a baseline period in which animals were allowed to adapt to their new housing condition, animals had their water replaced with a 0.8 mg/ml morphine sulfate solution. Following 12 days of access to the drug, animals were injected with naloxone and abstinence precipitated. While no differences were found in body weight among the three groups of animals at 60 days of age, significant differences in open field behavior were noted. Animals that were raised in groups were found to be more active in the open field than animals raised in isolation. Early housing experience was also found to modify later morphine consumption and physical dependence. Animals raised in isolation exhibited a trend to start drinking morphine sooner and experienced less severe withdrawal symptoms following naloxone administration than group-raised animals.
The role of von Willebrand factor in thrombus formation

Von Willebrand factor (VWF) is a large multimeric glycoprotein produced in endothelial cells and megakaryocytes and present in subendothelial matrix, blood plasma and platelets. VWF mediates adhesion and aggregation of platelets at sites of vascular injury, processes that are critical for both haemostasis and thrombosis. Thrombus formation involves complex events that are influenced by different environmental conditions. Progress in understanding the structure and function of VWF and the mechanisms that underlie its interactions with platelets has led to important insight into the differentiation between normal haemostasis and pathological arterial thrombosis. The conventional view of signalling-induced platelet aggregation has recently been extended to include activation-independent aggregation. A novel mechanism has been demonstrated for initiating thrombus formation under high haemodynamic forces that involves alpha(IIb)beta(3)-independent platelet aggregation at the interface between immobilised and soluble VWF. This VWF-mediated process may be a key determinant of platelet accumulation in stenotic arteries leading to acute thrombotic occlusion.
Childhood trauma and parental bonding among Japanese female patients with borderline personality disorder

The present study explored the relationship between borderline personality disorder (BPD) and childhood trauma and perceived parental behaviours among a sample of Japanese female outpatients. Participants were 45 female patients who were diagnosed with BPD and 45 female patients with a diagnosis of other nonorganic psychological disorders (aged 19 to 53). The participants completed surveys that assessed recollection of childhood abuse and neglect, perceived parental‐rearing behaviours, and symptoms of BPD. MANOVAs and logistic regression analyses were conducted in order to analyse the data. The results showed that the patients with BPD reported more severe forms of childhood traumas, including emotional, physical, and sexual abuse and emotional and physical neglect, than did the non‐BPD patients. This is consistent with previous findings in North America that have reported higher prevalence and greater severity of various childhood traumas in individuals with BPD compared with those with non‐BPD disorders...
A Note on Residuals in Two Dimensions

In this paper we consider the two-dimensional extension of the one dimensional problem of examining runs in a sequence plot of residuals. Such a problem often occurs when response surfaces are fitted in a geological or geographical context. Exact probability distributions for blocks of signs have been obtained for grids up t.o size 4 by 5, and it is explained how these can be used to examine both these and larger grids. The desirability of an asymptotic solution for the larger grids is discussed, also.
Bare rudiments of notch signaling: how receptor levels are regulated.

The Notch signaling pathway, a prototype for high-fidelity intercellular signaling mechanisms, regulates cell fate and other fundamental processes. Notch receptors are activated by transmembrane ligands present on neighboring cells through ligand-dependent proteolysis. This liberates the receptor intracellular domain, creating a transcriptional coactivator. Although tremendous progress towards elucidating the Notch activation mechanism and Notch-dependent processes has been reported, perhaps the most fundamental issue of Notch signaling is still poorly understood – how cell-type-specific Notch-receptor expression patterns are established and regulated. This is especially true for the four mammalian Notch receptors (Notch1–4), which exhibit unique and overlapping expression patterns. However, recent studies have demonstrated the transcriptional control of Notch receptor levels as an essential determinant of Notch signaling.
Pulsa: non-blocking packet switching with shift-register rings

This paper discusses the design of a switch for high-speed computer networking at gigabit rates. We present the Pulsar switch, a non-blocking design based on a high-spin-rate, port-dedicated, word-parallel, shift-register ring. Several design alternatives address the problem of Head-Of-Line blocking. In contrast to Batcher-Banyan switches, access to the ring is asynchronous which facilitates low delay and arbitrary packet length. The switch can support ATM cells simultaneously with packets sized for applications such as single characters, memory words, disk blocks, memory pages, or video images. Pulsar can be used as a high-throughput computer backplane replacement. The design can be implemented with existing high-speed circuit technology.
Spectroscopy methods for identifying the country of origin

There is a need in many industries and government functions to identify the source of origin for various materials. For example, the food industry needs to ensure that the claimed source of some of the food products (e.g. coffee, spices) are in fact legitimate due to the variation of quality from different source locations world-wide. Another example is to identify the source country for imported commodities going through Customs so as to assess the correct tariff which varies depending on the source country. Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) holds promise for being a field-portable tool for rapid identification of the country of origin of various materials. Recent research at Towson University has identified the elemental markers needed for discrimination of select spices back to their country of origin using wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF). The WDXRF device, however, is not particularly suitable for convenient and fast field analysis. We are extending this study to evaluate the potential of a benchtop commercial LIBS device that could be located at ports of entry and to compare its performance with WDXRF. Our initial study on the spice cumin has demonstrated that discriminant function models can not only be created with 100% separation between the 4 countries of origin (China, India, Syria, and Turkey), but also when tested they show 100% correct matching to the country of origin. This study adds to the growing number of publications that indicate the power of LIBS elemental fingerprinting for provenance determinations.
Changing proportions of DNA components in Euglena gracilis.

Abstract The ratios of satellite deoxyribonucleic acid components to chromosomal deoxyribonucleic acid in Euglena gracilis Z were measured by analytical density gradient ultracentrifugation. Chloroplast deoxyribonucleic acid with a buoyant density of 1.685 g/cm 3 exhibited a constant ratio to chromosomal deoxyribonucleic acid during exponential growth and increased twofold as the culture reached the end of the exponential growth phase. The quantity of a satellite deoxyribonucleic acid with a buoyant density of 1.691 g/cm 3 was not sufficient to measure the ratio to chromosomal deoxyribonucleic acid during exponential growth but increased to approximately equal the quantity of chloroplast deoxyribonucleic acid as the culture approached the end of the exponential growth phase. The quantity of a deoxyribonucleic acid component with a buoyant density of 1.700 g/cm 3 was not sufficient to measure the ratio to chromosomal deoxyribonucleic acid during exponential growth but represented approximately one-third of the total deoxyribonucleic acid as the culture entered the stationary phase of growth.
Hierarchical parallelization of gene differential association analysis.

Microarray gene differential expression analysis is a widely used technique that deals with high dimensional data and is computationally intensive for permutation-based procedures. Microarray gene differential association analysis is even more computationally demanding and must take advantage of multicore computing technology, which is the driving force behind increasing compute power in recent years. In this paper, we present a two-layer hierarchical parallel implementation of gene differential association analysis. It takes advantage of both fine- and coarse-grain (with granularity defined by the frequency of communication) parallelism in order to effectively leverage the non-uniform nature of parallel processing available in the cutting-edge systems of today. Our results show that this hierarchical strategy matches data sharing behavior to the properties of the underlying hardware, thereby reducing the memory and bandwidth needs of the application. The resulting improved efficiency reduces computation time and allows the gene differential association analysis code to scale its execution with the number of processors. The code and biological data used in this study are downloadable from http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/biostat/people/faculty/hu.cfm The performance sweet spot occurs when using a number of threads per MPI process that allows the working sets of the corresponding MPI processes running on the multicore to fit within the machine cache. Hence, we suggest that practitioners follow this principle in selecting the appropriate number of MPI processes and threads within each MPI process for their cluster configurations. We believe that the principles of this hierarchical approach to parallelization can be utilized in the parallelization of other computationally demanding kernels.
Stoponium decays to Higgs bosons

Abstract The JPC== 0++ bound state σ( t 1 t 1 ∗ ) of a scalar supersymmetric partner t 1 of the top quark may decay to two neutral Higgs bosons or to a Higgs boson and two gluons. We evaluate these stoponium decay branching fractions and the cross sections for σ production at hadron colliders. Stoponium could be discovered at the Tevatron through its decay to a Higgs boson pair if m σ M W and m H ≲ 1 2 M σ .
Oxygen transport in the llama (LAma glama)

Abstract Three male llamas 5–14 months old and born at sea level were studied first at 260 m altitude, and again after 5 and 10 weeks at 3420 m. Observations were made with the animals awake, standing and unsedated, at rest breathing air, acute hypoxia, acute hyperoxia and during treadmill exercise. O 2 tension, O 2 content, O 2 saturation and pH were measured on arterial and mixed venous blood. These data were adjusted to pH 7.40 and 37.0 °C to permit the construction of Hb-O 2 dissociation curves. Cardiac output () was measured by dye dilution. Llama Hb has a high affinity for O 2 : P 50 of 22.7 mm Hg at sea level, and 23.7 mm Hg at altitude, indicating no decrease in the affinity of Hb for O 2 at altitude. Exposure to 3420 m resulted in a decrease in Pao-from 87 to 51–53 mm Hg, but SaO 2 remained above 92%. With an increase in Hb concentration from 10.6 to 11.8 g per 100 ml, there was no decrease in CaO 2 . Furthermore, there was no change in , (CaO 2 -CVO 2 ), or systemic O 2 transport ( × CaO 2 ). Under all conditions, PVO 2 was lower than in most other mammals, but always exceeded 20 mm Hg, reflecting the efficient mechanisms of O 2 extraction in the llama.
The Effects of Constraint-Induced Therapy on Kinematic Outcomes and Compensatory Movement Patterns: An Exploratory Study

Abstract Massie C, Malcolm MP, Greene D, Thaut M. The effects of constraint-induced therapy on kinematic outcomes and compensatory movement patterns: an exploratory study. Objective To determine changes in kinematic variables and compensatory movement patterns of survivors of stroke completing constraint-induced therapy (CIT). Design Pre-post, case series. Setting Clinical rehabilitation research laboratory. Participants Men (n=7) and women (n=3) with unilateral stroke occurring at least 9 months prior to study entry with moderate, stable motor deficits. Intervention Participants completed 10 consecutive weekdays of CIT for 6 hours a day comprised of trainer-supervised, functionally based activities using massed practice. Main Outcome Measures Kinematic measures included movement time, average velocity, trajectory stability, shoulder abduction, and segmental contribution. Functional measures included Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) performance time and functional ability scores and Motor Activity Log (MAL) "how-well" scores. All measures were administered before and after the 2-week CIT intervention. Results Movement time, average velocity, and trajectory stability significantly improved after CIT. Participants used more shoulder flexion to reach after CIT, but also demonstrated increased compensatory shoulder abduction. Functional scores also significantly improved, including WMFT performance time and functional ability and MAL scores. There was no change in trunk movement or amount of elbow extension. Conclusions CIT improved motor capacities in the hemiparetic arm as reflected in the functional outcomes and in some kinematic measures. Participants' reliance on common compensatory movements was not beneficially affected by CIT. The results of this study demonstrate that while functional capacity and some movement strategies in the hemiparetic arm improve after CIT, participants may not overcome their reliance on common compensatory movement patterns. Based on these findings, this study suggests that CIT may encourage subjects to generate movement through compensatory and/or synergy-dominated movement rather than promote the normalization of motor control. This outcome highlights the need to develop CIT further as an intervention that improves functional capacity and more normative movement strategies.
Are GABAB receptors involved in the pharmacological effects of ethanol

The interaction of ethanol with GABAB-receptor system and the selectivity of phaclofen for GABA-receptor subtypes were investigated by employing an in vitro model of 36Cl-influx assay in mammalian cultured neurons and also in vivo models of picrotoxin- and NMDA-induced convulsions in rats. Ethanol (20 mM), without having any effect per se, potentiated the effect of GABA on 36Cl-influx, whereas at concentration 50 mM, ethanol activated Cl−-channels directly in mice spinal cord cultured neurons. In contrast, (−)baclofen (100 μM) did not modify the effects of GABA or ethanol on 36Cl-influx. Similarly, phaclofen (500 μM), as well as pertussis toxin (140 ng/ml, overnight incubation) did not modify these effects. Interestingly, phaclofen (200 μg i.c.v.) reversed the anticonvulsant effect of ethanol, but not that of pentobarbital or diazepam or progabide, against picrotoxin-induced convulsions in rats. However, phaclofen failed to modify the anticonvulsant effect of ethanol against NMDA-induced convulsions. These observations indicate that phaclofen is devoid of GABAA-receptor blockade property, and the anticonvulsant effect of ethanol against picrotoxin may be mediated through the activation of both GABA-receptor subtypes.
A preliminary study on the measurement of static and dynamic motion at the glenohumeral joint

Measurement of glenohumeral joint motion has, for the most part, been performed with the simple goniometer. The purpose of this paper is to describe a method for measuring and recording static and dynamic external rotation of the glenohumeral joint using the Cybex II Isokinetic Dynamometer and an MFE model 815 X-Y plotter. Static range of motion was assessed at 60 deg/ sec using a slow arm action externally from a 90° abduction position. Dynamic motion was recorded at 300 deg/sec using a rapid rotational whipping action from a 90° abducted position.Measurements were recorded on three groups of athletes, and the influences of sex, hand dominance, overarm activity, and surgery were analyzed. The sub jects in the first two groups were divided according to sex and their participation in overarm versus nonover arm (control) activities. Static and dynamic motion in both groups was significantly influenced by sex and hand dominance (P < 0.05). Although there was no overall difference in the motion measurements b...
Perceptions of Accident Foreseeability and Stress and Coping During the Evacuation Period of Technological Disaster

The public depends on experts to manage risks of technologies and to prevent or warn of a possible mishap. Perceptions of experts’ ability to predict accidents were investigated in evacuees and con...
Graphene oxide colloidal suspensions mitigate carbon diffusion during diamond turning of steel

Abstract Diamond-based cutting tools are preferred by the manufacturing community to machine high-value, hard-to-cut materials, especially for applications with stringent surface roughness requirements. However, these tools are not an economically viable option to machine any of the transition metals or their alloys. This is due to the extreme rates of tool wear caused by chemical diffusion of carbon from the diamond tool into the transition metal/alloy workpiece. In this paper we report the use of carbon-rich, graphene oxide colloidal suspensions, as a cutting fluid, to address this critical diamond tool wear issue. Our machining tests conducted on a low-carbon steel alloy reveal that the use of graphene oxide colloidal suspension results in a ∼74% reduction in the tool wear over that seen under the dry machining condition. It also results in a ∼50% reduction in the cutting temperatures and a ∼20 to 30% reduction in the cutting forces, when compared against the dry machining condition. The trends seen in the cutting temperatures, cutting forces and the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) data collectively point to the possibility of the graphene oxide platelets serving as a barrier to the carbon diffusion reaction. These findings have the potential to make diamond a cost-effective tool material for machining transition metal-based materials such as ferrous and titanium alloys that have wide-spread engineering applications.
Telescopic projective methods for parabolic differential equations

Projective methods were introduced in an earlier paper [C.W. Gear, I.G. Kevrekidis, Projective Methods for Stiff Differential Equations: problems with gaps in their eigenvalue spectrum, NEC Research Institute Report 2001-029, available from http://www.neci.nj.nec.com/homepages/cwg/projective.pdf Abbreviated version to appear in SISC] as having potential for the efficient integration of problems with a large gap between two clusters in their eigenvalue spectrum, one cluster containing eigenvalues corresponding to components that have already been damped in the numerical solution and one corresponding to components that are still active. In this paper we introduce iterated projective methods that allow for explicit integration of stiff problems that have a large spread of eigenvalues with no gaps in their spectrum as arise in the semi-discretization of PDEs with parabolic components.
Effects of Soil Water Salinity on Field Soil Hydraulic Functions

Unsaturated soil hydraulic parameters and functions used in numerical models to simulate water flow and solute transport in the unsaturated zone are generally considered invariant of soil water salinity levels. This study uses 5 years of field soil water salinity levels at three observation sites from the Land Retirement Demonstration Project (LRDP) (2006) located in western Fresno County, California, to test the hypothesis that field unsaturated soil hydraulic properties are also a function of soil water salinity level. The HYDRUS-1D software package for simulating one-dimensional (1D) movement of water, heat, and multiple solutes in variably saturated media, and Parameter Estimation (PEST), a model-independent parameter optimizer, is used to optimize the soil hydraulic parameters and downward bottom flux corresponding to three different average soil salinity levels at each site. The results show that at the same pressure head, soil water content is less with higher soil water salinity as compared with l...
Focal Lesions in the Canine Bundle of His: THEIR EFFECT ON VENTRICULAR EXCITATION

The alterations in ventricular excitation resulting from production of discrete punctate electrocautery lesions in the canine bundle of His were studied. Electrocardiographic changes were correlated with lesions identified anatomically by microscopic examination of the atrioventricular bundle. Although partial or complete atrioventricular block developed from lesions at several levels of the atrioventricular bundle, changes in the form of the QRS complex appeared only when lesions involved the distal portion of the bundle. Such QRS changes were recorded in 21 of 32 instances when the lesion involved the branching portion of the common bundle but in none of 6 instances when the lesion involved only the nonbranching portion of the common bundle. This study, then, provides evidence for functionally distinct longitudinal fascicles only within the distal portion of the common bundle. The syncytial character of the terminal fascicular (Purkinje) network may minimize the electrocardiographic evidence for such functional specificity within the common bundle.
Effect of Vitamin D and Calcium on Periodontitis

The anthropological record indicates that we are exposed to considerably less ultraviolet radiation (required for the synthesis of vitamin D) and consume considerably less calcium than did our early ancestors. Most U.S. citizens have calcium intakes and serum levels of vitamin D far below recommended values. This is despite there having been extensive evidence that optimal calcium and vitamin D intakes not only benefit our postcranial bone health but also have many other health benefits. Numerous articles indicate that vitamin D and calcium deficiencies result in bone loss and increased inflammation, which are well recognized symptoms of periodontal disease. For more than 40 years, investigators have suggested that calcium intake may be associated with alveolar bone resorption, and more recently there have been a number of studies in which investigators have suggested that calcium and vitamin D may benefit periodontal health, and it has been suggested that calcium deficiency may be a risk factor for periodontal disease. There has not, however, been a vitamin-D-calcium-periodontitis clinical trial in which randomization and masking were carefully controlled, the periodontal disease status of patients known, periodontal disease measures were the primary outcomes, and levels of intake optimized to produce maximal effects. Such research might demonstrate that calcium and vitamin D are important adjuncts to standard treatments for preventing and treating periodontal disease.