cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modeling N-methyl-D-aspartate-induced bursting in dopamine neurons.

Burst firing of dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta can be induced in vitro by the glutamate agonist N-methyl-d-aspartate. It has been suggested that the interburst hyperpolarization is due to Na+ extrusion by a ouabain-sensitive pump [Johnson et al. (1992)Science258, 665–667]. We formulate and explore a theoretical model, with a minimal number of currents, for this novel mechanism of burst generation. This minimal model is further developed into a more elaborate model based on observations of additional currents and hypotheses about their spatial distribution in dopaminergic neurons [Hounsgaard (1992)Neuroscience50, 513–518; Llinas et al. (1984)Brain Res.294, 127–132]. Using the minimal model, we confirm that interaction between the regenerative, inward N-methyl-d-aspartate-mediated current and the outward Na+-pump current is sufficient to generate the slow oscillation (∼0.5 Hz) underlying the burst. The negative-slope region of the N-methyl-d-aspartate channel's current-voltage relation is indispensable for this slow rhythm generation. The time-scale of Na+-handling determines the burst's slow frequency. Moreover, we show that, given the constraints of sodium handling, such bursting is best explained mechanistically by using at least two spatial, cable-like compartments: a soma where action potentials are produced and a dendritic compartment where the slow rhythm is generated. Our result is consistent with recent experimental evidence that burst generation originates in distal dendrites [Seutin et al. (1994)Neuroscience58, 201–206]. Responses of the model to a number of electrophysiological and pharmacological stimuli are consistent with known responses observed under similar conditions. These include the persistence of the slow rhythm when the tetrodotoxin-sensitive Na+ channel is blocked and when the soma is voltage-clamped at −60 mV. Using our more elaborate model, we account for details of the observed frequency adaptation in N-methyl-d-aspartate-induced bursting, the origin of multiple spiking and bursting mechanisms, and the interaction between two different bursting mechanisms. Besides reproducing several well established firing patterns, this model also suggests that new firing modes, not yet recorded, might also occur in dopaminergic neurons. This model provides mechanistic insights and explanations into the origin of a variety of experimentally observed membrane potential firing patterns in dopaminergic neurons, including N-methyl-d-aspartate-induced bursting and its dendritic origin. Such a model, capable of reproducing a number of realistic behaviors of dopaminergic neurons, could be useful in further studies of the basal ganglia-thalamocortical motor circuit. It may also shed light on bursting that involves N-methyl-d-aspartate channel activity in other neuron types.
Metric self calibration from screw-transform manifolds

This paper introduces a method for metric self-calibration that is based on a novel decomposition of the fundamental matrix between two views taken by a camera with fixed internal parameters. The method blends important advantages of the Kruppa constraints and the modulus constraint: it works directly from fundamental matrices and uses a reduced-parameter representation for stability. General properties of the new decomposition are also developed, including an intuitive interpretation of the three free parameters of internal calibration. The approach is demonstrated on both real and synthetic data.
Deep Convex Net: A Scalable Architecture for Speech Pattern Classification.

We recently developed context-dependent DNN-HMM (DeepNeural-Net/Hidden-Markov-Model) for large-vocabulary speech recognition. While achieving impressive recognition error rate reduction, we face the insurmountable problem of scalability in dealing with virtually unlimited amount of training data available nowadays. To overcome the scalability challenge, we have designed the deep convex network (DCN) architecture. The learning problem in DCN is convex within each module. Additional structure-exploited fine tuning further improves the quality of DCN. The full learning in DCN is batch-mode based instead of stochastic, naturally lending it amenable to parallel training that can be distributed over many machines. Experimental results on both MNIST and TIMIT tasks evaluated thus far demonstrate superior performance of DCN over the DBN (Deep Belief Network) counterpart that forms the basis of the DNN. The superiority is reflected not only in training scalability and CPU-only computation, but more importantly in classification accuracy in both tasks.
Activism, Drug Regulation, and the Politics of Therapeutic Evaluation in the AIDS Era: A Case Study of ddC and the `Surrogate Markers' Debate:

This paper presents an extended case study to demonstrate that the interpretation of clinical trials of antiviral AIDS drugs is significantly shaped by a widely dispersed allocation of scientific credibility. Specifically, the participation of AIDS activists in claims-making about AIDS trials and AIDS drugs complicates the politics of therapeutic evaluation, even as it challenges the monopolization of credibility by credentialed researchers. The paper tracks the social construction of belief about the efficacy of the combination therapy of AZT and ddC, between 1990 and 1995 in the United States. By intervening simultaneously in interpretative debates about the results of the clinical trials of this therapy and in methodological debates about how efficacy might best be measured in such trials, activists have helped to shape what is believed to be known about these drugs.
Chromosomes Can Congress to the Metaphase Plate Before Biorientation

The stable propagation of genetic material during cell division depends on the congression of chromosomes to the spindle equator before the cell initiates anaphase. It is generally assumed that congression requires that chromosomes are connected to the opposite poles of the bipolar spindle ("bioriented"). In mammalian cells, we found that chromosomes can congress before becoming bioriented. By combining the use of reversible chemical inhibitors, live-cell light microscopy, and correlative electron microscopy, we found that monooriented chromosomes could glide toward the spindle equator alongside kinetochore fibers attached to other already bioriented chromosomes. This congression mechanism depended on the kinetochore-associated, plus end-directed microtubule motor CENP-E (kinesin-7).
Dynamic Participation in Interdistrict Open Enrollment

Interdistrict open enrollment is the nation’s largest and most widespread school choice program, but our knowledge of these programs is limited. Drawing on 5 years of student-level data from the universe of public school attendees in Colorado, we perform a three-stage analysis to examine the dynamics of student participation in the state’s interdistrict open enrollment program. First, we explore the characteristics of students who open enroll in a defined baseline year. Second, we analyze the characteristics of students who continue to participate in the program in subsequent years. Finally, we examine the characteristics of students who—conditional on not open enrolling in the defined-baseline year—choose to participate in the program in one or more subsequent years.
Effects of array restriction on time-reversal methods

In this work, we consider two TR-based algorithms: DORT (decomposition of the TR operator) (Prada et al., 1994) and TR-MUSIC (TR-multiple signal classification).
Fecal-Sac Ingestion by Spotted Towhees

Abstract. Altricial nestlings encase excrement in fecal sacs that parents remove by either ingesting them or transporting them away from the nest. Ingestion may allow energetically or nutritionally deprived parents to recapture energy or nutrients that might be lost because of nestlings' inefficient digestion (the “parental-nutrition hypothesis”), but ingestion may also permit parents to avoid flights from the nest that interfere with parental care (e.g., brooding young; the “economic-disposal hypothesis”). We used a hypothetico-deductive approach to test the two hypotheses' ability to account for fecal-sac ingestion by the Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus). We confirmed the parental-nutrition hypothesis' predictions that more fecal sacs should be ingested in years of food shortage (males only), late in the season when food supplies decline (both sexes), by parents that had the greatest difficulty raising young (i.e., underweight young), and that adults' body condition should vary directly with their rate...
High-Frequency Oscillating-Hot-Wire Sensor for Near-Wall Diagnostics in Separated Flows

A new high-frequency oscillating-hot-wire sensor for magnitude and direction measurements of the wall-shear stress in separated flows is presented. The stress direction is determined from the phase angle between the imposed and measured oscillation velocity, and the corresponding magnitude is obtained from the low-pass filtered signal of the sensor, after removal of the modulating influence of the oscillation. The sensor was used to conduct measurements downstream of an axisymmetric backward-facing step (BFS) at different streamwise locations ranging from 0.3 to 10 step heights downstream of the step. The results agreed qualitatively with existing one-point measurements, such as the mean/rms skin-friction distribution, forward flow probability, and power spectra, in planar BFS flows. However, some fundamental quantitative differences were found including a shorter reattachment length and a larger streamwise location for the peak rms wall-shear fluctuations. These differences were attributed to the axisymmetric nature of the present geometry, transverse curvature of the step, or differences in the measurement methods. Additionally, the power spectra of the fluctuating wall-shear stress revealed the existence of two characteristic frequencies: f ∗ = 0.1 and 0.65. The former is associated with low-frequency shear-layer flapping, and the latter corresponds to the passage of the separated shear-layer vortex structures.
Self-reported dental hygiene, obesity, and systemic inflammation in a pediatric rural community cohort

A growing body of epidemiologic evidence links oral health, obesity, and cardiovascular health, though few studies have reported on these relationships in children. While underlying mechanisms are unclear, adult studies have suggested sub-acute systemic inflammation, also implicated in the etiology of both obesity and cardiovascular disease. This study investigated associations between self-reported dental hygiene, obesity, and systemic inflammation in children. 128 children < 19 years of age from rural counties in West Virginia participated in a community-based health screening that included anthropometric assessments, blood collection, and a questionnaire about dental hygiene and self-assessed oral health. Participants ranged from 3.0-18.7 years. Univariate analysis demonstrated an association between parent-reported dental hygiene, including frequency of preventive dental care and parent-assessed overall dental health, and markers of systemic inflammation but not obesity. In multivariable regression, parent-assessed overall dental health and obesity were independent predictors of systemic inflammation, after adjustment for age, gender, and parent education. This is the first known study of the association between dental hygiene, obesity, and systemic inflammation in children. These results highlight the importance of preventive dental care in overall, systemic health in children and are consistent with previous reports in adults.
Fibrous Monolithic Ceramics: II, Flexural Strength and Fracture Behavior of the Silicon Carbide/Graphite System

The fibrous monolith microstructure consists of high aspect ratio polycrystalline cells of Sic separated by thin cell boundaries containing graphite. The SiC/lOO% graphite fibrous monolith has noncatastrophic fracture behavior, is damage tolerant, and is notch insensitive. The failure process is characterized by fracture along weak graphite cell boundaries. The room-temperature flexural strength is 3W350 MPa. The estimated shear strength along the graphite cell boundaries is =15 MPa. Increasing the strength of the cell boundary by additions of SIC (40-60 ~01%) results in a monolithic Sic material showing brittle fracture behavior but retaining damage tolerance. Strength and fracture behavior are also influenced by cell texture and orientation. I. Introduction IGNIFICANT improvements in the mechanical properties of S ceramic materials are obtained by microstructural design that promotes interactions of cracks with various microstructural features. Ceramics with duplex compositions have been shown to be flaw tolerant with R-curve behavior.‘ Laminar structures have been designed with useful characteristics like high work-of-fracture and graceful These microstructural designs and others can be created within a ceramic with additional spatial/dimensional control using the “fibrous monolith” processing approach introduced by Coblenz.“ Fibrous monoliths are sintered (or hot-pressed) monolithic ceramics with a distinct fibrous texture, consisting of intertwined cells of a primary phase, separated by cell boundaries of a tailored secondary phase. In a previous paper: the fabrication procedure, microstructure, indentation fracture, and preliminary mechanical properties were described for several fibrous monolithic ceramic systems. The microstructure is derived from a coated green fiber process whereby continuous green fiber containing the primary phase is coated with a slurry of the secondary phase. The coated fibers are pressed and fired, resulting in a monolithic ceramic with a fibrous microstructure. The SiC/graphite system is an example of a weak interface fibrous monolith where the graphitic cell boundary phase acts as the preferred path for crack propagation. Weak interfaces can deflect cracks6 or delaminate in shear, thereby increasing “toughness” and preventing brittle fracture. The high strain to failure and toughness of brittle ceramic matrices reinforced with high-strength fibers are a consequence of the weak bonding between the fibers and the matrix.’.8 In this paper, the fracture behavior of fibrous monoliths in the SiC/graphite system is described. The primary cell phase is
Effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 on soil microbial biomass, activity, and diversity in a chaparral ecosystem

This study reports the effects of long-term elevated atmospheric CO2 on root production and microbial activity, biomass, and diversity in a chaparral ecosystem in southern California. The free air CO2 enrichment (FACE) ring was located in a stand dominated by the woody shrub Adenostoma fasciculatum. Between 1995 and 2003, the FACE ring maintained an average daytime atmospheric CO2 concentration of 550 ppm. During the last two years of operation, observations were made on soil cores collected from the FACE ring and adjacent areas of chaparral with ambient CO2 levels. Root biomass roughly doubled in the FACE plot. Microbial biomass and activity were related to soil organic matter (OM) content, and so analysis of covariance was used to detect CO2 effects while controlling for variation across the landscape. Extracellular enzymatic activity (cellulase and amylase) and microbial biomass C (chloroform fumigation-extraction) increased more rapidly with OM in the FACE plot than in controls, but glucose substrate-induced respiration (SIR) rates did not. The metabolic quotient (field respiration over potential respiration) was significantly higher in FACE samples, possibly indicating that microbial respiration was less C limited under high CO2. The treatments also differed in the ratio of SIR to microbial biomass C, indicating a metabolic difference between the microbial communities. Bacterial diversity, described by 16S rRNA clone libraries, was unaffected by the CO2 treatment, but fungal biomass was stimulated. Furthermore, fungal biomass was correlated with cellulase and amylase activities, indicating that fungi were responsible for the stimulation of enzymatic activity in the FACE treatment.
Bayesian speckle tracking. Part II: biased ultrasound displacement estimation

Ultrasonic displacement estimates have numerous clinical uses, including blood flow estimation, elastography, therapeutic guidance, and acoustic radiation force imaging (ARFI). These clinical tasks could be improved with better ultrasonic displacement estimates. Traditional ultrasonic displacement estimates are limited by the Cramer-Rao lower bound (CRLB). The CRLB can be surpassed using biased estimates. In this paper, a framework for biased estimation using Bayes' theorem is described. The Bayesian displacement estimation method is tested against simulations of several common types of motion: bulk, step, compression, and acoustic-radiation-force-induced motion. Bayesian estimation is also applied to in vivo ARFI of cardiac ablation lesions. The Bayesian estimators are compared with the unbiased estimator, normalized cross-correlation. As an example, the peak displacement of the simulated acoustic radiation force response is reported because this position results in the noisiest estimates. Estimates were made with a 1.5-λ kernel and 20 dB SNR on 100 data realizations. Estimates using normalized cross-correlation and the Bayes' estimator had mean-square errors of 17 and 7.6 μm2, respectively, and contextualized by the true displacement magnitude, 10.9 μm. Biases for normalized cross-correlation and the Bayes' estimator are -0.12 and -0.28 μm, respectively. In vivo results show qualitative improvements. The results show that with small amounts of additional information, significantly improved performance can be realized.
Hemodynamic Evaluation and Monitoring in the ICU

Hemodynamic monitoring, a cornerstone in the management of the critically ill patient, is used to identify cardiovascular insufficiency, its probable cause, and response to therapy. Still it is difficult to document the efficacy of monitoring because no device improves outcome unless coupled to a treatment that improves outcome. Several clinical trials have consistently documented that preoptimization for high-risk surgery patients treated in the operating room and early ( 65 mm Hg and then to increase Do2 to 600 mL/min/m2 within the first few minutes to hours of presentation. To accomplish these goals, hemodynamic monitoring focuses more on measures of cardiac output and mixed venous oxygen saturation to access adequacy of resuscitation efforts than on filling pressures. Although these protocols reduce mortality and morbidity is selected high-risk patient groups, the widespread use of monitoring-driven treatment protocols has not yet happened, presumably because all studies have been single-center trials using a single, proprietary blood flow-monitoring device. Multicenter trials are needed of early goal-directed therapies for all patients presenting in shock of various etiologies and when the protocol and not the monitoring device is the primary variable.
Covariance Matrices for Second-Order Vector Random Fields in Space and Time

This paper deals with vector (or multivariate) random fields in space and/or time with second-order moments, for which a framework is needed for specifying not only the properties of each component but also the possible cross relationships among the components. We derive basic properties of the covariance matrix function of the vector random field and propose three approaches to construct covariance matrix functions for Gaussian or non-Gaussian random fields. The first approach is to take derivatives of a univariate covariance function, the second one is to work on the univariate random field whose index domain is in a higher dimension and the third one is based on the scale mixture of separable spatio-temporal covariance matrix functions. To illustrate these methods, many parametric or semiparametric examples are formulated.
Update on Staphylococcal Superantigen-Induced Signaling Pathways and Therapeutic Interventions

Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) and related bacterial toxins cause diseases in humans and laboratory animals ranging from food poisoning, acute lung injury to toxic shock. These superantigens bind directly to the major histocompatibility complex class II molecules on antigen-presenting cells and specific Vβ regions of T-cell receptors (TCR), resulting in rapid hyper-activation of the host immune system. In addition to TCR and co-stimulatory signals, proinflammatory mediators activate signaling pathways culminating in cell-stress response, activation of NFκB and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). This article presents a concise review of superantigen-activated signaling pathways and focuses on the therapeutic challenges against bacterial superantigens.
Species limits and recent population history in the Curve-billed thrasher

Abstract We surveyed 1,115 base pairs of mitochondrial DNA sequence from three gene regions in 66 Curve-billed Thrashers (Toxostoma curvirostre) taken from throughout their range. We found that populations sorted unambiguously into three groups. Two of these groups, the Curvirostre and Palmeri groups, have been known for many years because of their distinctive phenotypic characteristics, and their status was recently confirmed with an intensive morphometric analysis. The third (southern) group consists of populations in Puebla and Oaxaca, Mexico. The strong morphological and mtDNA distinctiveness of the Curvirostre and Palmeri groups suggests that they warrant species status. We recommend that more specimens of the southern group be obtained prior to formal taxonomic recognition of this form. Coalescence analyses suggest that the Curvirostre group has undergone a recent population increase, whereas the Palmeri group seems to have been more stable in its Sonoran Desert range.
Harmonically informed multi-pitch tracking

This paper presents a novel system for multi-pitch tracking, i.e. estimate the pitch trajectory of each monophonic source in a mixture of harmonic sounds. The system consists of two stages: multi-pitch estimation and pitch trajectory formation. In the first stage, we propose a new approach based on modeling spectral peaks and non-peak regions to estimate pitches and polyphony in each single frame. In the second stage, we view the pitch trajectory formation problem as a constrained clustering problem of pitch estimates in all the frames. Constraints are imposed on some pairs of pitch estimates, according to time and frequency proximity. In clustering, harmonic structure is employed as the feature. The proposed system is tested on 10 recorded four-part J. S. Bach chorales. Both multi-pitch estimation and tracking results are very promising. In addition, for multi-pitch estimation, the proposed system is shown to outperform a state-of-the-art multi-pitch estimation approach.
Teaching Family Nursing Through Simulation: Family-Care Rubric Development

Abstract Background Van Gelderen Family-Care Rubric (VGFCR) was constructed to enhance learning experiences and offer consistent feedback during simulations. Method Instrument development and psychometric testing followed a three-phase design: (a) literature review, (b) refinement of family constructs, and (c) psychometric testing of the VGFCR. Results All constructs exhibited significance at the p = .05 level. VGFCR was determined to be reliable with an overall intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.928 (0.902-0.948) with a significance of p = .000 at the 95% confidence interval and Cronbach's alpha = 0.956 among three family nurse researchers. Conclusions Future research recommendations include utilizing the rubric with practicing nurses to discern the transferability to clinical practice.
Al3+-Ca2+ interactions in aluminum rhizotoxicity. I: Inhibition of root growth is not caused by reduction of calcium uptake

The cation Al3+ is toxic to plants at micromolar concentrations and can severely inhibit root growth in solution experiments. Trivalent aluminum hydrolyzes in solution, and, apart from the Al ion, which dominates speciation below pH 5.0, various mononuclear and polynuclear hydroxy-Al species can also occur (Kinraide 1991). Accumulating evidence suggests that Al is the rhizotoxic species under the experimental conditions used in the present study (Kinraide 1991; Kinraide et al. 1992). The inhibition of Ca2+ uptake in roots by Al3+ has been proposed as a possible mechanism for Al3+ toxicity, and in this study the hypothesis was tested directly. Root growth and Ca2+ uptake were measured in 5-d-old seedlings of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. Thell) during exposure to Al3+ in a low-Ca2+ basal medium, and to Al3+ in the presence of added cations. Uptake of Ca2+ in whole roots and translocation to the shoot were measured using 45Ca2+, and localized measurements of net Ca2+ flux were also made at the root apex using the technique of microelectrode ion-flux estimation. Treatment with 2.64 μM AlCl3 in 226 μM CaCl2, at pH 4.5, severely inhibited root growth without affecting Ca2+ uptake. Addition of 30 mM Na2+, 3 mM Mg2+ or 50 μM tris(ethylenediamine)cobalt(III) to this Al3+ treatment restored root growth but significantly reduced Ca2+ uptake measured over the entire root system and at the root apex. The Al3+ and Ca2+ concentrations were adjusted so that the activities of the Al3+ and Ca2+ ions were constant in all solutions (1.5 μM and 200 μM, respectively). Root growth can be severely inhibited by Al3+ concentrations that do not affect Ca2+ uptake, while the addition of ameliorating cations depresses Ca2+ uptake. These results argue against the hypothesis that Al3+ inhibits root growth by reducing Ca2+ uptake.
Design/optimization with advanced simulated annealing

The paper describes a global optimization method applicable to problems with both continuous or/and discrete design variables. The method integrates and improves Simulated Annealing, Genetic Algorithms, Tabu Search, and Quasi Monte Carlo optimization methods into a hybrid called here Advanced Simulated Annealing. The method is first validated by considering a test function with many local minima and a single global minimum, both with and without constraints. Then, the method is applied to a case with discrete design variables by optimizing a composite laminate. The potential for using the synthetic optimization method into an MDO environment is demonstrated and directions for further research are outlined.
Measurement of Cognitive Structure in the Domain of Art History

This research represents the first known application of protocol analysis to a liberal arts knowledge domain. The purpose of this study was to capture differences in cognitive structure between experts and novices in the area of art history. A sorting task consisting of twenty-five reproductions of paintings and prints covering the 14th through the 20th centuries was used to elicit verbal protocol data from a sample of four experts and four novices. The protocols were then transcribed and scored using concept mapping and content analysis procedures. Three knowledge breadth measures, concept map propositions, concept map examples, and implicit propositions, were strongly correlated with membership in the expert or novice group. In addition, the knowledge depth measure, concept map hierarchy levels, was also strongly correlated with the group membership variable suggesting that, as predicted, experts produced a significantly greater number of concept map propositions, examples, hierarchy levels, and implici...
GENE FREQUENCY IN SMALL POPULATIONS OF MUTANT DROSOPHILA

Studies of gene frequency changes in laboratory populations have for the most part been concerned with the systematic effects of selection and with discovery of the nature of the selective differences involved between genetic alternatives. The classical experiments of L'Heritier and Teissier (1934, 1937) with common mutants, the later work of Dobzhansky (Wright and Dobzhansky 1946), and that of Wallace (1948) on naturally occurring genetic variants are examples of such studies applied to rather large populations maintained in population cages of the sort developed by L'Heritier and Teissier (1933). Such experiments as these were carried out under conditions in which changes in gene frequency due to sampling accidents (random drift) were negligible. In the work of Reed and Reed (1948, 1950), Ludwin (1951) and Merrell (1953) on selective differences between mutants and wild type, non-systematic effects of considerable magnitude and attributable to accidents of sampling occurred; however, these data did not permit a close evaluation of the extent of this influence. An experimental design in which both random and systematic pressures are brought into play in an orderly fashion and the values of the several theoretical parameters can be ascertained was originated by Kerr (Kerr and Wright, 1954). The method consists in observations on the changes in gene frequency between generations in each of a large number of small cultures in which the size of the breeding population is controlled. Each initial culture founds a line in which each successive generation is inititated with a random sample of uniform size taken from among the flies of the preceding generation. The form is that of a fairly large experimental population divided into a number of very small completely isolated subunits. The present study was intended to provide information on the relative selective values of two mutant autosomal alleles and their several zygotic types under several different experimental conditions and to observe the effect of the interaction of selection and random drift on the distribution of gene frequencies among the elements of subdivided populations of the sort observed by Kerr.
The Clinical Efficacy of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Therapy in Children with Severe Pneumonia and its Effects on Oxygenation Function

Objective:To analyze the clinical efficacy of continuous positive airway pressure therapy in children with severe pneumonia and its effects on oxygenation function.Method:98 cases of severe pneumonia children were simply randomly divided into experimental group and control group,oxygen hood was used in the control group,while the nasal continuous positive airway was used in the experimental group pressure.The clinical efficacy after treatment and changes in pulmonary oxygenation, the days with of oxygenation,the volume fraction of inspired oxygen, hospitalized days were observed.Result:The effective rate of the experimental group(91.8%) was higher than that of the control group(77.6%)(P0.05), the improvement of oxygen index in the treatment group were better than those of the control group(P0.05),days of oxygen, Fi O2, days in hospital of the test group were less than those of control group(P0.05).Conclusion:Nasal continuous positive airway pressure therapy in children with severe pneumonia has clinical efficacy,and can significantly improve oxygenation,so it is worthy of promoting.
A SURVEY OF HAND HYGIENE STATUS OF MEDICAL STAFFS IN SHENZHEN

Objective To find out current status of hand hygiene in health care settings in Shenzhen and investigate the influential factors,for the purpose of taking effective measures to improve the quality of hand hygiene as well as reduce overall infection rate in hospitals.Methods The complexion of hand hygiene was investigated by questionnaire in randomly sampled 994 medical staffs from hospitals at all levels,and the hand hygiene compliance(HHC) was observed in randomly sampled 249 medical staffs.Results The state of knowledge of hand hygiene among medical staffs in Shenzhen was relatively good,but the HHC was low.The HHC after contacting patients' mucosa and wound of skin was the highest(31.40%),while before contacting patient was the lowest(9.76%).91.88% of the medical staffs washed hands with hand sanitizer and 61.37% of the medical staffs dried hands with disposable paper towel.Heavy workload was regarded as the most important factor that influenced the HHC.Conclusions The hand hygiene status of medical staffs in Shenzhen was not satisfactory.It is necessary to strengthen the hand hygiene training,reinforce the consciousness about hand hygiene,improve hand hygiene facilities,and implement the superintendents' instruction and supervision function on controlling nosocomial infection.
Analysis of genetic characterizations on HA1 region of influenza B viruses isolated in Jiangxi Province, 2008-2012

Objective To understand the genetic characterizations of influenza B viruses isolated in Jiangxi Province from 2008 to2012. Methods The specimens of nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from influenza suspected cases, which were from monitor hospitals and influenza epidemics. The RNA was extracted from the influenza B viruses isolated from the specimens. Then HA1 genes were amplified by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). The PCR products were sequenced and the data were analyzed by the softwares DNAStar5.0 and Mage. The amino acid sequences were deduced. Then gene conversion levels were assessed. Results The homology of the nucleotide acids within 10 Yamagata-like strains was 97.5%-100%. The homology of the nucleotide acids within 14 Victoria-like strains was 97.0%-99.9%. Compared with the vaccine strain, 10 amino acids sequences changed in 2008, and 5-7 amino acids changed in 2009-2011. Besides, 1-4 amino acids changed in 2012. Only 1 site was located in antibody induction domains. Conclusion The genetic characterizations on HA1 regions showed a low variability in Jiangxi from2008 to 2012. The vaccine produced by the influenza B vaccine strain recommended by WHO had a protective effect.
Discriminative template learning in group-convolutional networks for invariant speech representations

In the framework of a theory for invariant sensory signal representations, a signature which is invariant and selective for speech sounds can be obtained through projections in template signals and pooling over their transformations under a group. For locally compact groups, e.g., translations, the theory explains the resilience of convolutional neural networks with filter weight sharing and max pooling across their local translations in frequency or time. In this paper we propose a discriminative approach for learning an optimum set of templates, under a family of transformations, namely frequency transpositions and perturbations of the vocal tract length, which are among the primary sources of speech variability. Implicitly, we generalize convolutional networks to transformations other than translations, and derive data-specific templates by training a deep network with convolution-pooling layers and densely connected layers. We demonstrate that such a representation, combining group-generalized convolutions, theoretical invariance guarantees and discriminative template selection, improves frame classification performance over standard translation-CNNs and DNNs on TIMIT and Wall Street Journal datasets.
Kinetics of Desorption of Hydrogen from RFe2Hn Systems

The kinetics of desorption of hydrogen from GdFe2H3.2, TbFe2H3.3, HoFe2H3.3, ErFe2H3.3 and TmFe2H2.7 were measured over a range of temperature extending from 200 to 230 K. The desorption rate was measured using two methods: (1) by following the increase in gaseous pressure in a closed system and (2) by determining the rate of formation of C2H6 from C2H4. The initial desorption rate in each case conformed to the expression - \(\frac{{dC}}{{dt}} = kC\), where k = the rate constant and C is the concentration of hydrogen in the compound. The observed behavior is accounted for by assuming that the rate is controlled by interfacial diffusion of monatomic hydrogen, k varies with temperature according to the Arrhenius expression with activation energies ranging from 6.2 to 7.8 kcal/mole.
Design analysis of a high resolution detector block for a low cost small animal positron emission imaging system

Computer simulations have been run to evaluate and optimize a high resolution block detector design for a low cost small animal PET system. The proposed detector module would be made using GSO crystals instead of the more commonly used scintillator, BGO. The main advantage of using GSO instead of BGO is that recent samples of GSO have been measured to produce at least twice the light output of BGO. Because of the additional light, it should be possible to develop a practical 6/spl times/14 crystal GSO detector module. This is approximately a factor of two greater than the number of crystals which are currently being decoded using BGO. Using the design the authors propose, the intrinsic spatial resolution of the detector module should be >
What role should interpersonal communication play (or not) in instructional communication research: a response to the forum essays

In one of his most renowned and yet cogent books, Experience and Education, Dewey (1938) wrote that “mankind likes to think in terms of extreme opposites. It is given to formulating its beliefs in ...
Mixed Acid Base Disturbances: A Clinical Approach

The analysis of a mixed acid-base disturbance begins with the history and physical examination from which data can be derived that make the clinician suspect a specific disturbance(s). The electrolytes are then evaluated with emphasis on the meaning of the values for serum bicarbonate, potassium and chloride concentration and on the level of the anion gap. Other laboratory data such as serum creatinine or glucose concentrations, blood cultures, and so forth, should also be reviewed for further clues to a possible disturbance(s). When it is clinically indicated, values for pH and Pco2 are obtained by blood gas determination. If the evidence up to this point indicates the presence of at least one disturbance, the data are examined to see if compensation for this disturbance is appropriate. If not, a mixed disturbance must be present. A normal pH in the setting of an abnormal serum HCO3(-) concentration or Pco2 also suggests a mixed disturbance since compensation rarely corrects the pH back to normal. Of course, a pH deviated in the opposite direction than that expected for a known primary disturbance makes the diagnosis of a mixed disturbance certain. The diagnosis of a mixed acid-base disturbance is therefore based on an analysis of all the clinical data and not just the blood gas measurements. Treatment of the disorders should be directed at maintaining a normal or near normal pH. Some combined acid-base disorders are important to recognize because they can result in a severe deviation in blood pH that demands immediate, specific therapy. Other mixed disturbances result in a pH which is near normal but are important to recognize since they can alert the clinician to the possibility of certain clinical derangements such as septic shock or drug ingestion. Careful analysis of mixed acid-base disturbances in this way is not peutic information to be used in caring for his (her) patients.
Integrated InAs/InP quantum-dot coherence comb lasers (Conference Presentation)

Current communication networks needs to keep up with the exponential growth of today’s internet traffic, and telecommunications industry is looking for radically new integrated photonics components for new generation optical networks. We at National Research Council (NRC) Canada have successfully developed nanostructure InAs/InP quantum dot (QD) coherence comb lasers (CCLs) around 1.55 m. Unlike uniform semiconductor layers in most telecommunication lasers, in these QD CCLs light is emitted and amplified by millions of semiconductor QDs less than 60 nm in diameter. Each QD acts like an isolated light source acting independently of its neighbours, and each QD emits light at its own unique wavelength. The end result is a QD CCL is more stable and has ultra-low timing jitter. But most importantly, a single QD CCL can simultaneously produce 50 or more separate laser beams at distinct wavelengths over the telecommunications C-band. Utilizing those unique properties we have put considerable effort well to design, grow and fabricate InAs/InP QD gain materials. After our integrated packaging and using electrical feedback-loop control systems, we have successfully demonstrated ultra-low intensity and phase noise, frequency-stabilized integrated QD CCLs with the repetition rates from 10 GHz to 100 GHz and the total output power up to 60 mW at room temperature. We have investigated their relative intensity noises, phase noises, RF beating signals and other performance of both filtered individual channel and the whole CCLs. Those highly phase-coherence comb lasers are the promising candidates for flexible bandwidth terabit coherent optical networks and signal processing applications.
CD137 Plays Both Pathogenic and Protective Roles in Type 1 Diabetes Development in NOD Mice.

We previously reported that CD137 (encoded by Tnfrsf9) deficiency suppressed type 1 diabetes (T1D) progression in NOD mice. We also demonstrated that soluble CD137 produced by regulatory T cells contributed to their autoimmune-suppressive function in this model. These results suggest that CD137 can either promote or suppress T1D development in NOD mice depending on where it is expressed. In this study, we show that NOD.Tnfrsf9-/- CD8 T cells had significantly reduced diabetogenic capacity, whereas absence of CD137 in non-T and non-B cells had a limited impact on T1D progression. In contrast, NOD.Tnfrsf9-/- CD4 T cells highly promoted T1D development. We further demonstrated that CD137 was important for the accumulation of β cell-autoreactive CD8 T cells but was dispensable for their activation in pancreatic lymph nodes. The frequency of islet-infiltrating CD8 T cells was reduced in NOD.Tnfrsf9-/- mice in part because of their decreased proliferation. Furthermore, CD137 deficiency did not suppress T1D development in NOD mice expressing the transgenic NY8.3 CD8 TCR. This suggests that increased precursor frequency of β cell-autoreactive CD8 T cells in NY8.3 mice obviated a role for CD137 in diabetogenesis. Finally, blocking CD137-CD137 ligand interaction significantly delayed T1D onset in NOD mice. Collectively, our results indicate that one important diabetogenic function of CD137 is to promote the expansion and accumulation of β cell-autoreactive CD8 T cells, and in the absence of CD137 or its interaction with CD137 ligand, T1D progression is suppressed.
Unimodal Permutations and Almost-Increasing Cycles

In this paper, we establish a natural bijection between the almost-increasing cyclic permutations of length $n$ and unimodal permutations of length $n-1$. This map is used to give a new characterization, in terms of pattern avoidance, of almost-increasing cycles. Additionally, we use this bijection to enumerate several statistics on almost-increasing cycles. Such statistics include descents, inversions, peaks and excedances, as well as the newly defined statistic called low non-inversions. Furthermore, we refine the enumeration of unimodal permutations by descents, inversions and inverse valleys. We conclude this paper with a theorem that characterizes the standard cycle notation of almost-increasing permutations.
The Heart Transplant Waiting List and the Interplay of Policy and Practice: In Search of Fairness.

See Article by Parker et al The national heart allograft allocation algorithm established by the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network has undergone several major changes over the years. The main goals of these policy modifications have been to respond to the evolving treatment options for advanced heart failure patients, minimize the risk of death on the waiting list, and maximize the benefit of transplant.1 An aspirational goal has also been to achieve as much uniformity as possible in the practical application of the allocation algorithm. Every modification of the allocation policy in the past has been met with a good dose of anxiety in anticipation of what the implemented change will mean. Will the benefits to transplant candidates predicted by the statistical modeling of waiting list events be realized? Will the change affect the required level of staffing or the established process logistics of organizations participating in donation, procurement, and transplantation? Will the change alter transplant volumes at one’s transplant center? Yet, the more contentious aspect has typically been the issue of uniform application of the policy from one transplant program to another and from patient to patient—a subject matter that can be best characterized as fairness. In this issue of Circulation: Heart Failure , Parker et al2 present their evaluation of one aspect of the fairness of the current heart allocation in the United States. They hypothesized that changes have taken place over time in the listing practices under the current Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network allocation …
Mechanochemical Effects on Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase Dynamics in Stem Cell Differentiation.

Understanding how key signaling molecules are coregulated by biochemical agents and physical stimuli during stem cell differentiation is critical but often lacking. Due to the important role of ext...
Thermal dissociation of alkyl nitrites and recombination of alkyl radicals

Abstract The thermal dissociations of three alkyl nitrites (C 3 H 7 ONO, n -C 4 H 9 ONO, and i -C 4 H 9 ONO) have been studied in a diaphragmless shock tube by laser schlieren densitometry over 700 T P k 1 , were obtained with an uncertainty of 30%. Rice–Ramsperger–Kassel–Marcus/Master Equation (RRKM/ME) calculations for dissociation of the nitrites were performed and provide excellent simulations of the experimental results. The high-pressure limit rate coefficients from the RRKM/ME calculations are: k 1 , C 3 H 7 ONO = ( 5.69 ± 1.71 ) × 10 21 T − 1.60 e x p ( − 21458 / T ) s − 1 ; k 1 , n − C 4 H 9 ONO = ( 9.91 ± 2.97 ) × 10 21 T − 1.59 e x p ( − 21588 / T ) s − 1 ; k 1 , i − C 4 H 9 ONO = ( 3.92 ± 1.18 ) × 10 21 T − 1.58 e x p ( − 21162 / T ) s − 1 . At the low temperatures of this work, the alkyl radicals are thermally stable and thus their recombination reactions were also studied. The recombination rate coefficients for ethyl, n- propyl and i- propyl radicals (uncertainties of 50%) are in excellent agreement with literature values, particularly recent theoretical results, and extend the range of experiments to higher temperatures.
Migration of fresh and cryopreserved human spermatozoa in polyacrylamide gel

The ability of freshly collected and frozen human spermatozoa to migrate in round capillary tubes containing specially formulated polyacrylamide gel was investigated, using 33 ejaculates from 27 donors. Each semen sample was divided; one portion was left undiluted, and the other portion was diluted to 50 × 10 6 sperm/ml. Glycerol was used as the cryoprotectant. The percentage of motile sperm cells was determined before and after freezing. Fresh semen contained a higher percentage of motile cells, which migrated farther than those of cryopreserved-thawed semen. Various correlations between the percentage of motile sperm and migration distance ranged from 0.57 to 0.62. There was a low positive correlation of migration distance with sperm cell concentration per milliliter, r=025 to 0.34; and thus adjusting semen samples to a standard sperm concentration improved the accuracy of the test only slightly. The regression coefficient of migration distance on the percentage of motile sperm in fresh semen was 0.65, indicating that for each 10% increase in sperm motility, migration distance is predicted to increase 6.5mm. Five batches of polyacrylamide gel gave uniform results, and the application of this stable gel to fertility investigations is discussed.