cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Polarfronttheorie der Zyklonenbildung

Die Polarfronttheorie der Zyklonenbildung geht von der Anschauung aus, das Wellen mit bestimmter Wellenlange in einer Margules-Flache spontan anwachsen und dann verwirbeln. Diese Theorie wird sowohl an Hand von Untersuchungen an mathematischen Wellenmodellen als auch durch Untersuchungen synoptisch-meteorologischer Art gestutzt. Im Vortrag sollen einige synoptisch-aerologische Entdeckungen, die im engen Zusammenhang mit der Polarfronttheorie stehen, behandelt werden. Es handelt sich dabei um die Existenz von Wellen kleiner Amplituden, die sich einer quasistationaren Front entlang bewegen und nachher verwirbeln. Ferner werden die Zusammenhange zwischen einer quasistationaren Front und dem Strahlstrom besprochen, und zum Schlus wird noch darauf hingewiesen, das sich diffluente Hohentroge durch ageostro-phische Advektion von zyklonaler Wirbelgrose selbstandig verstarken konnen. Dieser Vorgang kann auch in Verbindung mit einer Zyklogenese in der unteren Troposphare auftreten.
Mechanisms of Bacterial Adhesion to Plant Surfaces

In comparison to the large amount of information available on mechanisms of bacterial adhesion to animal cells, relatively little is known about bacterial adhesion to the plant cell surface. Indeed, the role of adhesion in symbiotic and pathogenic interactions with plants is still not completely understood. The most detailed studies of bacterial adhesion to plant cells have been made with three systems—the interaction of rhizobia with legume roots resulting in the formation of nitrogen-fixing root nodules, the interaction of agrobacteria with dicot cells resulting in the formation of crown gall tumors, and the interaction of several species of phytopathogenic gram-negative bacteria with plants (which are not susceptible hosts for the bacteria) resulting in a hypersensitive response by the plant. Although occasional studies have been made on other bacterial interactions with the plant cell surface and a considerable literature exists on the microbial ecology of the surface of leaves and roots (Foster, 1981; Blakeman, 1982), these three examples are the only ones about which sufficient information is available to permit discussion of the mechanisms of adhesion; this chapter will consider only these three cases. The consequences for plant cells of bacterial adhesion are considered in Chapter 14.
The Role of Parallel and Distributed Computing Methods in Process Systems Engineering

Parallel computers are becoming available that offer revolutionary increases in capability. These capability increases promise to shatter notions of intractability and make a substantial difference in how scientists and engineers formulate and solve problems. This tutorial will explore some process systems areas where a parallel computing approach and advances in computer technology promise a substantial impact. The tutorial will also include a summary of trends in underlying technologies, current industrial applications, and practical difficulties. An important underlying theme of the tutorial is that researchers must begin to devise flexible algorithms and algorithm design environments to help close the widening gulf between software and hardware capability. In particular, since parallel and distributed computers complicate algorithm design and implementation, advanced software engineering methods must be used to reduce the burden.
Ureteroscopy: Opinion – No Access Sheath

There is no procedure in endourology changing more rapidly than ureteroscopy for renal and ureteral stones. Improved ureteroscopes, lasers, and laser fibers, along with lower stone-free rates using newer generation lithotripters all combine to support this trend. Today, endourologists must select only technical adjuncts which offer clear value clinically, resulting in either improved efficacy or efficiency. As such, my standard ureteroscopic technique does not routinely include ureteral access sheaths.
Racial disparities in chemotherapy administration for early-stage breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to measure the extent to which race is associated with delayed initiation or receipt of inadequate chemotherapy among women with early-stage breast cancer. We performed a systematic search of all articles published from January 1987 until June 2017 within four databases: PubMed/Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Cochrane CENTRAL. Eligible studies were US-based and examined the influence of race on chemotherapy delays, cessation, or dose reductions among women with stage I, II, or III breast cancer. Data were pooled using a random effects model. A total of twelve studies were included in the quantitative analysis. Blacks were significantly more likely than whites to have delays to initiation of adjuvant therapy of 90 days or more (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.06–1.87; X² = 31.05, p < 0.00001; I² = 90%). There was no significant association between race and chemotherapy dosing. Due to overlap between studies assessing the relationship between race and completion of chemotherapy, we conducted two separate analyses. Black patients were significantly more likely to discontinue chemotherapy, however, this was no longer statistically significant when larger numbers of patients with more advanced (stage III) breast cancer were included. These results suggest that black breast cancer patients experience clinically relevant delays in the initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy more often than white patients, which may in part explain the increased mortality observed among black patients.
Site and orbital selective correlations in β -Pu

We investigate the electronic structure of the highly anisotropic $\ensuremath{\beta}$ phase of metallic plutonium, within the combination of density functional theory and dynamical mean field theory. Its crystal structure gives rise to site and orbital selective electronic correlations, with coherent $\mathrm{Pu}\text{\ensuremath{-}}5{f}_{5/2}$ states and very incoherent $\mathrm{Pu}\text{\ensuremath{-}}5{f}_{7/2}$ states. The Hund's coupling is essential for determining the level of correlations of electrons in $\mathrm{Pu}\text{\ensuremath{-}}5f$ states, and for the quasiparticle multiplets features in the $\mathrm{Pu}\text{\ensuremath{-}}5f$ spectral function.
Preoperative Patient Education May Decrease Postoperative Opioid Use After Meniscectomy.

Purpose To identify the current opioid prescribing and use practices after arthroscopic meniscectomy and to evaluate the role of preoperative patient education in decreasing postoperative opioid consumption. Methods Patients undergoing arthroscopic meniscectomy were prospectively identified for inclusion. They were placed into 1 of 2 groups: Group 1 received no education regarding opioid use after surgery, whereas group 2 received a standardized overview on postoperative opioid use. Patients were assigned to the groups consecutively: Patients treated at the beginning of the study were assigned to group 1, and patients treated at the end of the study were assigned to group 2. Data from group 1 were used to identify "normal" opioid prescribing and use practices and to guide patients in group 2 regarding normal postoperative opioid use. Patients were surveyed weekly for 4 weeks after surgery to determine the number of opioids taken. Postoperative opioid consumption was analyzed and compared between the 2 groups. Results A total of 62 patients completed the study (32 in group 1 and 30 in group 2). Patients in group 1 were prescribed an average of 42.0 opioid pills (95% confidence interval [CI], 34.0-51.0 pills) and used an average of 15.84 pills (95% CI, 9.26-22.4 pills) after surgery, whereas patients in group 2 used an average of 4.00 pills (95% CI, 2.12-5.88 pills) after surgery. Patients in group 2 used 11.84 fewer opioid pills (P = .001), a 296% decrease in postoperative opioid consumption. The number of patients who continued to take opioid pills 4 weeks after surgery was 7 patients (21.9%) in group 1 and 1 patient (3.3%) in group 2. Conclusions Preoperative patient education regarding opioids may decrease postoperative opioid consumption and the duration for which patients take opioid pills after arthroscopic meniscectomy. Level of Evidence Level II, prospective comparative study.
Measuring Speech Intelligibility in Children With Motor Speech Disorders

Purpose Reduced speech intelligibility limits functional communication for many children with motor speech disorders, and improving intelligibility is often a primary goal of intervention. Objectiv...
Effects of innovation and insurance coverage on price elasticity of demand for prescription drugs: some empirical lessons in pharmacoeconomics

Prescription drug prices in the United States are considered rather extreme. Americans spend over $460 billion on drugs annually, or almost 17 percent of total national healthcare spending. How inn...
A variation on an old geometric theme

The purpose of this note is to introduce two challenging problems in geometry that were inspired by some well-known problems in high school geometry. These problems can be explored in the dynamic g...
Surgical stabilization of traumatic rib fractures is associated with reduced readmissions and increased survival

Abstract Background Surgical stabilization for rib fractures (SSRF) in trauma patients remains controversial, with guidelines currently suggesting the procedure for only select patient groups. How surgical stabilization for rib fractures affect hospital readmission in patients with traumatic rib fractures is unknown. We hypothesized that surgical stabilization for rib fractures would not decrease the risk of readmission. Methods The National Readmission Database was examined for adults with any rib fractures from 2010 to 2017. Readmission up to 90 days was examined. Patients receiving surgical stabilization for rib fractures were compared with those receiving nonoperative treatment. Results In total, 864,485 patients met criteria, with 13,701 (1.6%) receiving SSRF. For patients receiving SSRF, 338 (1.5%) were readmitted. Readmitted patients had higher Charlson Comorbidity Index and were more likely to have flail chest. On multivariate propensity score-matched analysis, SSRF (Hazard Ratio [HR]: 0.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.33–0.92, P = .022) was associated with reduced readmission. Addition of surgical stabilization for rib fractures to video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) (Odds Ratio [OR]: 0.95, 95% CI 0.52–1.73, P = .86) or thoracotomy (OR: 1.97, 95% CI 0.83–4.70, P = .13) was not associated with increased readmission. On further propensity matched analysis, VATS + SSRF when compared with SSRF alone (HR: 0.75, 95% CI 0.18–3.20, P = .696), and VATS + SSRF when compared with VATS alone (HR: 0.49, 95% CI 0.11–2.22, P = .355) was also not associated with increased readmission. SSRF on primary admission was associated with increased in-hospital survival (HR: 0.27, 95% CI 0.22–0.32, P Conclusion Surgical stabilization for rib fractures is associated with reduced readmission risk while also being associated with improved survival. Patients who had a thoracotomy for retained hemothorax appear to especially benefit from concomitant surgical stabilization for rib fractures.
iReason: Multimodal Commonsense Reasoning using Videos and Natural Language with Interpretability.

Causality knowledge is vital to building robust AI systems. Deep learning models often perform poorly on tasks that require causal reasoning, which is often derived using some form of commonsense knowledge not immediately available in the input but implicitly inferred by humans. Prior work has unraveled spurious observational biases that models fall prey to in the absence of causality. While language representation models preserve contextual knowledge within learned embeddings, they do not factor in causal relationships during training. By blending causal relationships with the input features to an existing model that performs visual cognition tasks (such as scene understanding, video captioning, video question-answering, etc.), better performance can be achieved owing to the insight causal relationships bring about. Recently, several models have been proposed that have tackled the task of mining causal data from either the visual or textual modality. However, there does not exist widespread research that mines causal relationships by juxtaposing the visual and language modalities. While images offer a rich and easy-to-process resource for us to mine causality knowledge from, videos are denser and consist of naturally time-ordered events. Also, textual information offers details that could be implicit in videos. We propose iReason, a framework that infers visual-semantic commonsense knowledge using both videos and natural language captions. Furthermore, iReason's architecture integrates a causal rationalization module to aid the process of interpretability, error analysis and bias detection. We demonstrate the effectiveness of iReason using a two-pronged comparative analysis with language representation learning models (BERT, GPT-2) as well as current state-of-the-art multimodal causality models.
Cross-sectional Analysis of National Electronic Injury Surveillance System for Burn Injuries Presenting to United States Emergency Departments 2000-2018

Abstract Patients with burns commonly present to Emergency Departments (EDs), in addition to burn centers. Patients at burn centers typically have more severe burns than those at EDs, and previous studies have analyzed burn center databases. To update the overall burn epidemiology in the United States (US), we analyzed burn injury trends and sources across all age groups using the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), which collects all injuries reported to US EDs. A total of 97,986 burn injuries were recorded in NEISS, 2000-2018. There was a downward trend in the pediatric burn rate and an upward trend in the adult burn rate. Almost half of burns were in children (48.41%), especially in those under 5 (29.79%), and slightly more common in men (53.93%). Most were treatable in the ED (87.83%) and hot water was the most common source overall (20.88%), followed by hair curlers for children less than 2 years old, ranges/ovens for 2 to Although most burn injuries were potentially preventable, the overall burn rate did not decrease 2000-2018. Therefore, we offer guidance on prevention strategies for high-risk sources and age groups.
Colloidal quantum dot materials for infrared optoelectronics

Colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) are an attractive material for optoelectronic applications because they combine flexible, low-cost solution-phase synthesis and processing with the potential for novel functionality arising from their nanostructure. Specifically, the bandgap of films composed of arrays of CQDs can be tuned via the quantum confinement effect for tailored spectral utilization. PbS-based CQDs can be tuned throughout the near and mid-infrared wavelengths and are a promising materials system for photovoltaic devices that harvest non-visible solar radiation. The performance of CQD solar cells is currently limited by an absorption-extraction compromise, whereby photon absorption lengths in the near infrared spectral regime exceed minority carrier diffusion lengths in the bulk films. Several light trapping strategies for overcoming this compromise and increasing the efficiency of infrared energy harvesting will be reviewed. A thin-film interference technique for creating multi-colored and transparent solar cells will be presented, and a discussion of designing plasmonic nanomaterials based on earth-abundant materials for integration into CQD solar cells is developed. The results indicate that it should be possible to achieve high absorption and color-tunability in a scalable nanomaterials system.
Glial fibrillary acidic protein mRNA and the development of gliosis in mice with chronic relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis.

Publisher Summary This chapter presents an experiment to investigate the mechanisms of the formation of the gliotic scar and the agent(s) that activate astrocytes. To perform the experiment, SJL/J mouse is used as it undergoes repeated episodes of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), with increasing severity upon repeated injections with homogenized spinal cord. It is shown that these animals, over the course of several episodes of EAE, form gliotic scars in the brain and spinal cord, as shown by immunocytochemical staining for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). As the mice underwent several episodes, the total GFAP in the mouse central nervous system (CNS) more than doubled in relation to the 70 kDa neurofilament protein. The results indicate that the mRNAmessage for GFAP is labile and can rise and fall repeatedly with each cycle of immunological stimulation. In the rat, GFAP mRNA increased early in the disease, reaching levels 6-8 fold more than those of the control, and then slowly declined with a four-fold increase still detected at 65 days post-immunization when no clinical symptoms were apparent. This pattern is qualitatively similar to that of the SJL/J mouse, but the GFAP mRNA levels increased (20-fold increase) with acute paralysis and subsided within a few weeks.
Digitization of the Grand Teton National Park Herbarium

Examples of digitization projects in the history of science are understood to have lasting consequences for the intellectual history of their fields (Petersen, 2005; Roes 2001). Following this trend, herbarium collections around the world are beginning to be digitized with positive results for their institutions (Begnoche, 2002; Ong, 2002). Librarians, with their long history of making collections accessible, are participating in this trend (Foster, 2005). The University of Wyoming Libraries encourage Librarians to develop and maintain collections in a variety of subjects, and the Libraries are pursuing opportunities in digital collections. This project expands the University of Wyoming Libraries work in the digitizing of a unique collection of plant specimens.
Leftward transcription in the Escherichia coli bio operon does not require products of the rightward transcript.

Abstract The amount of leftward transcription in the Escherichia coli bio operon as measured by hybridization and by β-galactosidase assays in lac-bio fusion strains,was determined in bacteria lysogenic for λ bio phage carrying different amounts of DNA corresponding to rightward message,and in bacteria with polar or nonpolar bioB mutations. The positions of the bioB endpoints in relation to the p b promoter were determined by electron microscopy of heteroduplexes.Normal rates of leftward transcription were found in all cases,except that the shortest λ bio (λ bio 267) showed a 2- to 3-fold increase in leftward transcription, which was not abolished by the presence of a wild-type bio operon in trans .These results indicate that no product of the rightward transcript is needed to turn on leftward transcription.
Taking Shorthand for Literacy: Historicizing the Literate Activity of US Women in the Early Twentieth-Century Office

In this essay, I argue that neglect in literacy studies of the early twentieth-century office as a site of women’s literate labor has been reinforced by two commonplaces about clerical work: first, that clerical work was routinized and deskilled after the turn of the century (and, consequently, became “women’s work”), and second, that the labor of writing was split into the “head” work of male executives and the “hand” work of female clerical workers. Focusing on the figure of the early twentieth-century female stenographer, I identify some of the problems with these two commonplaces and urge literacy scholars to recover the labor of clerical workers in their histories. The essay concludes with a brief discussion of the diary of a stenographer named Irene Chapin, who lived and worked in Western Massachusetts in the late 1920s.
The gradient of malignancy in lymphoid lesions of the stomach

Summary A group of 24 cases of gastric lymphoma is studied, of which 20 were suitable for evaluation as to long range prognosis. The histological features of the tumors in fatal cases are contrasted with those of the lesions in survivors. A certain consistency is found in the characteristics of each of the two groups, suggesting possible criteria for prognosis based on histology. The question of the relationship between massive benign lymphoid hyperplasia and genuine lymphoma is raised, both from a diagnostic and a pathogenetic standpoint.
A second Epstein-Barr virus membrane protein (LMP2) is expressed in latent infection and colocalizes with LMP1.

Abstract Recent cDNA cloning and sequencing of two Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-specific mRNAs from latently infected cultures revealed that these RNAs are encoded across the fused terminal repeats of the viral genome and that they are likely to encode two nearly identical proteins with the same transmembrane domains. The smaller predicted protein (LMP2B) lacks 119 amino-terminal amino acids found in the larger one (LMP2A). To test whether these proteins are expressed in latently infected lymphocytes, antibodies to the LMP2 proteins were derived by immunizing rabbits with TrpE-LMP2A fusion proteins. Affinity-purified LMP2-specific antibodies recognized 54- and 40-kilodalton proteins, corresponding to LMP2A and LMP2B, in immunoblots of rodent fibroblasts stably transfected with eucaryotic expression plasmids containing either the LMP2A or LMP2B cDNA. Similar-size proteins were also identified in immunoblots of latently infected lymphocytes. LMP2A localized to membranes in cellular fractionation studies. In immunofluorescent studies, LMP2 localized in the plasma membrane of EBV-infected lymphocytes, with the majority of reactivity confined to the region of the LMP1 patch. This reactivity was detected in almost all lymphoblastoid cells latently infected with EBV.
Molecular dynamics of polybenzimidazole and contributions from chaos

Molecular dynamics has been used to study possible dynamic mechanisms that may contribute to the property degradation known to exist for polybenzimidazole (PBI) upon hydration. During this study, chaotic movements of a chain pair were observed. Changes in onset and duration of this movement were also observed, which depended upon both hydration state and stress direction involved. Such trends suggested that specific mechanistic pathways may exist that could directly lead to property (such as modulus) loss.
Effect of crystallographic orientation on phase transformations during indentation of silicon

In a statistical nanoindentation study using a spherical probe, the effect of crystallographic orientation on the phase transformation of silicon (Si) was investigated. The occurrence and the contact pressures at which events associated with phase transformation occur, for an indentation force range from 20 to 200 mN, were analyzed and compared for the orientations Si(001), Si(110), and Si(111). It was found that plastic deformation combined with phase transformation during loading was initiated at lower forces (contact pressures) for Si(110) and Si(111) than for Si(001). Also, the contact pressure at which the phase transformation occurred during unloading was strongly influenced by the crystallographic orientation, with up to 38% greater values for Si(110) and Si(111) compared to Si(001). Mapping the residual stress field around indentations by confocal Raman microscopy revealed significant differences in the stress pattern for the three orientations.
Acquiring a communication system by sign and speech in a child with Down syndrome: a longitudinal investigation:

This article reports on a longitudinal investigation of a child with Down syndrome who was taught to communicate initially by sign but who later became an entirely oral communicator. The article reports the rate and frequency of his first 50 signs and first 43 oral words along with a follow-up of his oral communication. The data suggest that early sign training enhanced the child's later speech production.
Designing peptide and protein ligands for biological receptors

A clearer understanding of structure-function relationships of protein hormone-receptor systems is emerging from the increased use of molecular biology approaches. On the other hand, the introduction of rationally designed conformation constraints into peptide hormones and neurotransmitters is leading to the development of highly receptor-selective ligands that allow further investigations into the topographic modulation of their bioactivities and rational design principles for peptide antagonists.
The presence of the casein kinase II phosphorylation sites of Vpu enhances the CD4+ T cell loss caused by the simian–human immunodeficiency virus SHIVKU-lbMC33 in pig-tailed macaques

Abstract The simian–human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV)/ macaque model for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 has become a useful tool to assess the role of Vpu in lentivirus pathogenesis. In this report, we have mutated the two phosphorylated serine residues of the HIV-1 Vpu to glycine residues and have reconstructed a SHIV expressing this nonphosphorylated Vpu (SHIV S52,56G ). Expression studies revealed that this protein was localized to the same intracellular compartment as wild-type Vpu. To determine if this virus was pathogenic, four pig-tailed macaques were inoculated with SHIV S52,56G and virus burdens and circulating CD4 + T cells monitored up to 1 year. Our results indicate that SHIV S52,56G caused rapid loss in the circulating CD4 + T cells within 3 weeks of inoculation in one macaque (CC8X), while the other three macaques developed no or gradual numbers of CD4 + T cells and a wasting syndrome. Histological examination of tissues revealed that macaque CC8X had lesions in lymphoid tissues (spleen, lymph nodes, and thymus) that were typical for macaques inoculated with pathogenic parental SHIV KU-1bMC33 and had no lesions within the CNS. To rule out that macaque CC8X had selected for a virus in which there was reversion of the glycine residues at positions 52 and 56 to serine residues and/or compensating mutations occurred in other genes associated with CD4 down-regulation, sequence analysis was performed on amplified vpu sequences isolated from PBMC and from several lymphoid tissues at necropsy. Sequence analysis revealed a reversion of the glycine residues back to serine residues in this macaque. The other macaques maintained low virus burdens, with one macaque (P003) developing a wasting syndrome between months 9 and 11. Histological examination of tissues from this macaque revealed a thymus with severe atrophy that was similar to that of a previously reported macaque inoculated with a SHIV lacking vpu (Virology 293, 2002, 252). Sequence analysis revealed no reversion of the glycine residues in the vpu sequences isolated from this macaque. These results contrast with those from four macaques inoculated with the parental pathogenic SHIV KU-1bMC33 , all of which developed severe CD4 + T cell loss within 1 month after inoculation. Taken together, these results indicate that casein kinase II phosphorylation sites of Vpu contributes to the pathogenicity of the SHIV KU-1bMC33 and suggest that the SHIV KU-1bMC33 /pig-tailed macaque model will be useful in analyzing amino acids/domains of Vpu that contribute to the pathogenesis of HIV-1.
Cytokinin receptor: Just another histidine kinase

The cytokinin family of plant hormones is involved in diverse aspects of plant growth and development in vivo and in culture. Two groups have recently shown that a two-component histidine kinase functions as a cytokinin receptor specifically required for vascular development.
An algebraic technique for context-sensitive parsing

A technique that represents derivations of a context-free grammarG over a semiring and that obtains for a wordw inL(G) the set of all canonical parses forw has previously been described. A state grammar is one of a collection of grammars that place restrictions on the manner of application of context-free-like productions and that generate a noncontext-free language. The “context-free” properties of a state grammar have been used to extend the algebraic parsing technique for languages generated by state grammars,viz., context-sensitive languages. The extension for state grammars is not unlike that required for other types of grammars in whose collection state grammars are representative.
Some questions of reachability in natural-resource management

Problems of reachability involving the transfer of the state of a dynamical process using admissible inputs are studied. A review of the mathematical procedures available for nonlinear processes is given, and these system-theoretic results are then applied in a variety of natural-resource management settings. The paper concludes with a discussion of associated issues such as monitoring, feedback, and network routing.
The Fluorescence Properties of Free and Cation-complexed Lariat Ethers having Sidearms Terminated by a Benzene Ring

Fluorescence and visible spectra of phenyl-sidearmed lariat ethers and of toluene, ethylbenzene, and propylbenzene were obtained in dichloromethane and acetonitrile solutions. Changes in their spectra were observed in the presence of KSCN or CF3COOH in an effort to obtain solution confirmation of cation–pi interactions. The lariat ether receptor molecules, Ph(CH2)1–3 (CH2)1–3Ph gave quite different results even though they varied only in the sidearm chain length. In previous studies, solid state cation–pi complexes were obtained only with Ph(CH2)2 (CH2)2Ph and not with either PhCH2 CH2Ph or Ph(CH2)3 (CH2)3Ph. Variations in behavior in solution were noted among the three lariat ethers in the presence of different Lewis acids but definitive evidence for cation–pi interactions proved elusive.
Prevalence and Etiology of Delayed Orthostatic Hypotension in Adult Women

Abstract Madhavan G, Goddard AA, McLeod KJ. Prevalence and etiology of delayed orthostatic hypotension in adult women. Objective To evaluate the contributing roles of venous status, microvascular filtration, and calf muscle pump activity in the etiology of delayed orthostatic hypotension (OH). Design Unblinded within-subjects trial. Setting Academic clinical research center. Participants Convenience sample of healthy adult women (N=30) with an age range of 30 to 65 years. Intervention Plantar micromechanical stimulation applied at a 45-Hz frequency and a 50-μm amplitude for a duration of 30 minutes during upright sitting. Main Outcome Measure Diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Results White women (mean age, 51.8±1.3y) were recruited and screened for delayed OH. About one quarter (9/33) of the screened subjects showed delayed OH as determined by a significant decrease in blood pressure after at least 15 minutes of quiet sitting. Air plethysmographic assessment provided no evidence of venous insufficiency (venous filling index, >2.5mL/s; venous volume, >80mL) or excessive microvascular filtration in the affected subjects, whereas activation of the calf muscle pump (CMP) through plantar-based micromechanical stimulation consistently resulted in a significant increase in systolic blood pressure (SBP) (ΔSBP=22.8±3.9mmHg, P =.003) and DBP (ΔDBP=20.9±3.3mmHg, P =.002). Conclusions About 25% of the adult women studied showed delayed OH during quiet sitting and the proximate cause appears to be neuromuscular in origin, specifically inadequate calf muscle tone, because venous and microvascular filtration status is normative in the delayed OH subpopulation and CMP stimulation reverses the hypotension.
The uptake and release of dissolved phosphorus by reef corals1*2

The fluxes of dissolved reactive, organic, and total phosphorus into and out of nonfeeding corals were measured by chemical and radiochemical techniques. A net uptake of reactive phosphorus from seawater by corals containing zooxanthellae was not, at typical ambient phosphorus levels, sufficient to offset simultaneous losses of organic P. Consequently, there was a net loss of total P. A coral without zooxanthellae was unable to remove net amounts of reactive P from solution even at levels above ambient. Reactive phosphorus uptake was light sensitive, was highly temperature dependent, showed characteristics of Michaelis-Menten kinetics, and could be inhibited by arsenate. An active transport mechanism appears to be involved. The kinetics of net reactive phosphorus uptake were described by a Michaelis-Menten equation modified to include a correction for an efflux of reactive P accompanying uptake. The mean half-saturation constant (K) for uptake was 377 nM and the mean maximum rate of uptake (unlax) was 293 ng atoms P * mg Chl a-l . h-l. Although the symbiotic corals tested cannot obtain all of the phosphorus they require by means of reactive phosphorus uptake at typical environmental concentrations, the ability of corals to obtain part of it in this manner, and the presence of mechanisms for efficient recycling of phosphorus within the symbiotic association, may help enable corals to flourish in waters low in phosphorus sources.
Preference for information about intensity of signaled tailshock

Abstract Three experiments are reported which were designed to demonstrate preference for signaled shock and to delineate the roles of the preparatory-response, information-seeking, and signaled-safety hypotheses of this phenomenon. Experiment 1 demonstrated a preference for a signal-tailshock condition over a tailshock-signal condition in a shuttlebox. In Experiment 3, rats were exposed to signaled tailshock of two intensities in both compartments of the shuttlebox, but in one compartment the signals provided information about the intensity of the impending tailshock, whereas in the other compartment the signals did not. The tailshock intensities were .6 and 1.3 mA for one group and .6 and 1.8 mA for a second group. Experiment 2 assured that even the smaller intensity difference was readily discriminable. For Group .6-1.8 a significant preference for the condition in which the signals predicted the intensity of the impending tailshocks was obtained, but no preference for either condition was found for Group .6-1.3. As signaled safety was equated in the two compartments of Experiment 3, the observed preference cannot be accounted for by the signaled-safety hypothesis. Information seeking cannot explain the lack of preference in Group .6-1.3 as the difference between those two intensities was proven discriminable in Experiment 2. Assuming that sufficient differences in shock intensity yield different preparatory responses, the present results are compatible with the preparatory-response hypothesis and suggest that preparatory responding plays a role in producing the preference for signaled shock.
Off-pump versus on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting in consecutive patients: decision-making algorithm and outcomes.

Background Debate continues between on-pump or off-pump approach for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). We used off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) as a tool within a decision-making algorithm driven by the patient-related factors of coronary anatomy and comorbidity. Our analysis presents this decision algorithm and describes outcomes using this approach. Methods From January 2000 to December 2003, 592 consecutive patients undergoing isolated CABG were assigned by one surgeon to a technique: on-pump CABG or OPCAB according to (1) anatomy and (2) predicted risk. Anatomic factors against OPCAB were target vessel size less than 1.25 mm, calcification, poor quality, intramyocardial location, and multiple stenoses. Given that OPCAB could be performed safely, patients in the moderate risk range, ie, those elderly with multiple comorbidities, were preferentially treated using OPCAB. Results The OPCAB group had higher predicted 30-day mortality compared with the on-pump CABG group, consistent with the protocol's intent. However, morbidity and mortality were similar between on-pump CABG and OPCAB. The OPCAB patients received the same number of internal mammary artery grafts but fewer distal grafts. Mortality and observed to expected ratios were favorable for both groups and below those The Society of Thoracic Surgeons' predicted for OPCAB. Conclusions Matching surgical strategy to patient-related factors and needs resulted in excellent outcomes. Our data support the use of a protocol based on patient characteristics to drive the surgeon's choice between an on-pump CABG or OPCAB approach. As such, OPCAB can be viewed as a tool to be used by the surgeon developing a best practice in treating coronary artery disease.
Variation in the early marine survival and behavior of natural and hatchery-reared Hood Canal steelhead.

Background Hatchery-induced selection and direct effects of the culture environment can both cause captively bred fish populations to survive at low rates and behave unnaturally in the wild. New approaches to fish rearing in conservation hatcheries seek to reduce hatchery-induced selection, maintain genetic resources, and improve the survival of released fish. Methodology/Principal Findings This study used acoustic telemetry to compare three years of early marine survival estimates for two wild steelhead populations to survival of two populations raised at two different conservation hatcheries located within the Hood Canal watershed. Steelhead smolts from one conservation hatchery survived with probabilities similar to the two wild populations (freshwater: 95.8–96.9%, early marine: 10.0–15.9%), while smolts from the other conservation hatchery exhibited reduced freshwater and early marine survival (freshwater: 50.2–58.7%, early marine: 2.6–5.1%). Freshwater and marine travel rates did not differ significantly between wild and hatchery individuals from the same stock, though hatchery smolts did display reduced migration ranges within Hood Canal. Between-hatchery differences in rearing density and vessel geometry likely affected survival and behavior after release and contributed to greater variation between hatcheries than between wild populations. Conclusions/Significance Our results suggest that hatchery-reared smolts can achieve early marine survival rates similar to wild smolt survival rates, and that migration performance of hatchery-reared steelhead can vary substantially depending on the environmental conditions and practices employed during captivity.
Isolation of a gramicidin S hyperproducing strain of Bacillus brevis by use of a flourescence activated cell sorting system

A gramicidin S (GS) hyperproducing mutant of Bacillus brevis was isolated by using a protein-staining flourescence dye (fluorescein isothiocyanate, FITC), and a fluorescence-activated cell sorting system (FACS). By flow cytometry (FCM) analysis after staining with FITC, higher producing cells of the wild-type had higher fluorescence signals than cells with low productivity or cells from a GS non-producing mutant. Staining with FITC did not affect the viability of cells under the conditions chosen for FCM analysis. This enabled us to recover viable cells after sorting. After wild-type cells were mutagenized with N-methyl-N′-nitrosN-nitrosoguanidine, mutants with higher fluoresennce than the parental strain were obtained by cell sorting. Among them, strain 18 was chosen as a GS hyperproducer; it produced 590 μg GS/ml compared to 350 μg/ml by the wild-type strain. This method has the advantage of being able to screen large numbers of cells in a short time. Furthermore, use of the flourescence dye technique will expand the use of FACS to the improvement of other cultures that produce metabolites that do not have a specific fluorescence or strong enough fluorescence for normal cell sorting.
Entropy and Uncertainty

This essay is, primarily, a discussion of four results about the principle of maximizing entropy (MAXENT) and its connections with Bayesian theory. Result 1 provides a restricted equivalence between the two where the Bayesian model for MAXENT inference uses an a priori probability that is uniform, and where all MAXENT constraints are limited to 0–1 expectations for simple indicator-variables. The other three results report on an inability to extend the equivalence beyond these specialized constraints. Result 2 establishes a sensitivity of MAXENT inference to the choice of the algebra of possibilities even though all empirical constraints imposed on the MAXENT solution are satisfied in each measure space considered. The resulting MAXENT distribution is not invariant over the choice of measure space. Thus, old and familiar problems with the Laplacean principle of Insufficient Reason also plague MAXENT theory. Result 3 builds upon the findings of Friedman and Shimony (1971,1973) and demonstrates the absence of an exchangeable, Bayesian model for predictive MAXENT distributions when the MAXENT constraints are interpreted according to Jaynes’ (1978) prescription for his (1963) Brandeis Dice problem. Last, Result 4 generalizes the Friedman and Shimony objection to cross-entropy (Kullback-information) shifts subject to a constraint of a new odds-ratio for two disjoint events.
Vibrational control of chaotic self-sustained oscillations during CO oxidation on a RhSiO2 catalyst

Vibrational control was applied to suppress the self-sustained oscillations during CO oxidation on a Rh/SiO2 catalyst wafer. Using the appropriate external sinusoidal vibration on the CO and O2 flow rate, the amplitude of CO2 concentration oscillations was reduced to one-tenth of the constant feed case and the time-averaged CO2 production increased by 30%. The decrease in the amplitude of the oscillations was accompanied by the suppression of the movement of the thermal patterns, measured by IR thermography, occurring during oscillations. The optimum control is attained at a specific frequency and amplitude of the forced oscillations.
Ru(III)-Catalyzed Cyclization of Arene-Alkene Substrates via Intramolecular Electrophilic Hydroarylation

[reaction: see text] We herein report that PtCl(4) has proven to be a hydroarylation catalyst with an efficiency and substrate scope superior to previously known methods. This catalyst demonstrated consistent performance with arene-yne substrates of diverse structural features, including propargyl ethers, propargylamines, and alkynoate esters, providing good to excellent yields of the 6-endo products (chromenes, dihydroquinolines, and coumarins). In contrast, Pt(II), Pd(II), and Ga(III) salts were shown to be sensitive to the substitution on the alkyne moiety.
The effect of sudden strain‐rate change on the yield behavior of bisphenol‐A polycarbonate

We wish to investigate the path dependence of yield processes in glassy polymers and to understand this dependence, if any, in terms of molecular mechanisms. To this end the effect of sudden strain-rate change on the yield behavior of bisphenol-A polycarbonate has been investigated. In the experiment, a specimen was initially deformed at a constant elongation rate R1; at an elongation Δlc the rate was suddenly changed to another constant elongation rate R2. R1 was either lower or higher than R2. The yield stress subsequent to the rate change was found to be lower than if the entire deformation was at R1. These results can be satisfactorily explained in terms of Robertson's theory of the yielding of glassy polymers if it is assumed that the “bond flexing” in his theory manifests itself in anelastic deformation.
Doppler hemodynamic profiles of 82 clinically and echocardiographically normal tricuspid valve prostheses.

BACKGROUNDNormal Doppler hemodynamics for tricuspid prostheses have not been well characterized in a large group of patients. Therefore, we analyzed comprehensive Doppler echocardiographic examinations of 82 patients with tricuspid prostheses that were normal by clinical and two-dimensional echocardiographic examinations to establish the normal hemodynamics of various types and sizes of tricuspid prostheses.METHODS AND RESULTSThe earliest complete postoperative echocardiographic study from each patient was chosen for analysis. Doppler examinations were analyzed on an off-line station from tapes or Doppler strip charts. Early velocity, atrial velocity, end-diastolic velocity, pressure half-time, and mean gradient were obtained by digitizing tricuspid velocity curves. The incidence of "physiological" tricuspid prosthetic regurgitation was noted. Ten Doppler cycles were measured for each patient, and maximal, minimal, and average measurements were recorded. The mean values +/- SD of early velocity, atrial ve...
The Future of Narrative

This article raises questions about the basic assumptions of narrative research regarding representation, research relationships and the very construct of narrative as a method and a form of research. The author suggests the need to rethink the very understanding of narrative as research because this reduces stories to objects thereby reifying a positivist view of knowledge. An alternative view of narrative as outside of research is explored that rethinks research not as a scientific act but as a spiritual act, one that honors the sacredness of our stories and humanity.
Peer Leadership Programs in Schools: Historical Perspectives and Plans for Implementation.

Abstract This paper presents an outline for implementing a peer leadership program in the schools. It provides a brief overview of the historical roots of peer leadership. This paper also addresses issues relevant to implementing a peer leadership program such as selecting peer leaders, the roles peer leaders play in education, the role of educators in this process and how educators can be involved in peer leadership programs to create a more effective learning environment in the school. Peer leadership is discussed in the context of the public schools with a focus on future directions that peer leadership may pursue.
Laparoscopic versus open appendectomy in children: outcomes comparison based on a statewide analysis.

Background To compare the differences in hospital utilization and complications between laparoscopic (LA) and open appendectomy (OA) for pediatric appendicitis. Methods A retrospective study from 1999 to 2006 of children aged 1 to 18 y with appendicitis, from the California Patient Discharge Database was performed. Children with significant comorbidities were excluded. Initial hospital course, subsequent readmissions, and the need for additional procedures were analyzed. Results The use of LA increased steadily from 19% in 1999 to 52% in 2006. Overall, 95,806 children were studied. Readmissions were tracked over a median period of 3 y. LA was associated with increased need for postoperative intra-abdominal abscess drainage for both perforated appendicitis (4.9% versus 3.8%, P Conclusion LA has become the preferred operation for pediatric appendicitis. The need for postoperative abscess drainage is small, and laparoscopy appears to increase this risk slightly. However, LA did not affect long-term hospital utilizations.
The specific heat of copper from 40 to 920°C∗☆

Abstract The specific heat of high-purity copper has been measured from 40 to 900°C using three adiabatic calorimeters. Two polycrystalline samples and one bicrystal sample were used. The data were obtained under widely varying operating conditions and the reproducibility was ±0.7 per cent. The average specific heat is about one per cent above most previous data up to 600°C, above which it shows an increasingly positive deviation from linearity. However, the specific heat of aluminum oxide has been measured with the same calorimeters and shows excellent agreement with the data obtained by the National Bureau of Standards. From these new results, in conjunction with previous data. are tabulated values of the specific heat of copper from 40 to 900°C which are believed to be the most accurate available.