cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hot oxygen atoms in the upper atmosphere of Venus

Using data obtained by an ultraviolet spectrometer on the Pioneer-Venus Orbiter, energy and altitude distribution of nonthermal oxygen atoms in the Venus atmosphere for typical daytime and nighttime conditions are calculated using two different numerical methods. Agreement is found between results obtained by the two-stream transport method and the diffusion equation technique. Dissociative recombination of molecular oxygen ions and charge exchange of atomic oxygen ions with the neutral hydrogen and oxygen gas are the source terms, and calculations show that the dissociative recombination term is the dominant one. It is shown that measured hot atom concentrations exceed estimates of the thermal hydrogen atom concentrations derived from Brinton et al. (1980) over most of the daytime exosphere, and the calculated concentrations do so to an even greater extent. It is concluded that hot oxygen atoms are an important component of the dayside exosphere of Venus, their most important effect being the absorption of solar wind.
Numerical Simulations of Near-Nozzle Exit Characteristics for an Effervescent Atomizer at Low Gas to Liquid Mass Flow Ratio

Effervescent atomization is a process in which a bulk liquid is transformed into a spray of droplets by injecting a small amount of gas into the liquid before it is ejected from the atomizer. Advantages of using effervescent atomization method include larger exit orifices to reduce clogging issues, reduced injection pressures, and lower gas to liquid mass flow ratios (GLR) as compared to pressure or air-blast atomizers [1]. Effervescent atomization has been used in a number of applications including agricultural sprays, paint sprays, combustion for lowering pollutant emissions, spray cooling for gas turbine and medical applications, waste incineration, and process industry applications. In the present work, the near-nozzle exit characteristics of an air-water effervescent atomizer at gas to liquid mass flow ratio such as 0.25% are investigated numerically through two-fluid Eulerian-Eulerian ensemble-averaged modeling. The two-fluid model is solved through the finite volume method. Numerical simulations are performed using the commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code ANSYS FLUENT. The effects of effective (average) air bubble diameter size inside the atomizer, exit nozzle diameter, and injection pressures on the average liquid water jet width are presented. An optimal bubble size is observed for increasing the average liquid jet width which leads to enhanced jet breakup at downstream of the nozzle. The water volume fraction profiles within the sprays are also reported. The numerical results are compared with experimental visualizations and jet-width measurements to further the understanding of the spray characteristics of effervescent atomization for atomizer design.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
The security of static typing with dynamic linking

Dynamic linking is a requirement for portable executable content. Executable content cannot know, ahead of time, where it is going to be executed, nor know the proper operating system interface. This imposes a requirement for dynamic linking. At the same time, we would like languages supporting executable content to be statically typable, for increased efficiency and security. Static typing and dynamic linking interact in a security-relevant way. This interaction is the subject of this paper. One solution is modeled in PVS, and formally proven to be safe.
A prototype two-decade fully-coupled fine-resolution CCSM simulation

Abstract A fully coupled global simulation using the Community Climate System Model (CCSM) was configured using grid resolutions of 0.1° for the ocean and sea-ice, and 0.25° for the atmosphere and land, and was run under present-day greenhouse gas conditions for 20 years. It represents one of the first efforts to simulate the planetary system at such high horizontal resolution. The climatology of the circulation of the atmosphere and the upper ocean were compared with observational data and reanalysis products to identify persistent mean climate biases. Intensified and contracted polar vortices, and too cold sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the subpolar and mid-latitude Northern Hemisphere were the dominant biases produced by the model. Intense category 4 cyclones formed spontaneously in the tropical North Pacific. A case study of the ocean response to one such event shows the realistic formation of a cold SST wake, mixed layer deepening, and warming below the mixed layer. Too many tropical cyclones formed in the North Pacific however, due to too high SSTs in the tropical eastern Pacific. In the North Atlantic anomalously low SSTs lead to a dearth of hurricanes. Agulhas eddy pathways are more realistic than in equivalent stand-alone ocean simulations forced with atmospheric reanalysis.
Immunomodulator therapy: Monoclonal antibodies, fusion proteins, cytokines, and immunoglobulins

The immune system consists of a diverse array of immunocompetent cells and inflammatory mediators that exist in complex networks. These components interact through cascades and feedback circuits, maintaining physiologic inflammation (eg, tissue repair) and immunosurveillance. In various autoimmune and allergic diseases, a foreign antigen or autoantigen might upset this fine balance, leading to dysregulated immunity, persistent inflammation, and ultimately pathologic sequelae. In recent years, there has been tremendous progress delineating the specific components of the immune system that contribute to various aspects of normal immunity and specific disease states. With this greater understanding of pathogenesis coupled with advances in biotechnology, many immunomodulatory agents commonly called "biologic agents" have been introduced into the clinic for the treatment of various conditions, including immune globulins and cytokines. The 2 most common classes of approved biologic agents are mAbs and fusion proteins with exquisite specificity. These agents have the potential both to optimize outcomes through more thorough modulation of specific parts of the dysregulated immune response and to minimize toxicity compared with less specific methods of immunosuppression.
On estimating end-to-end network path properties

The more information about current network conditions available to a transport protocol, the more efficiently it can use the network to transfer its data. In networks such as the Internet, the transport protocol must often form its own estimates of network properties based on measurements performed by the connection endpoints. We consider two basic transport estimation problems: determining the setting of the retransmission timer (RTO) for a reliable protocol, and estimating the bandwidth available to a connection as it begins. We look at both of these problems in the context of TCP, using a large TCP measurement set [Pax97b] for trace-driven simulations. For RTO estimation, we evaluate a number of different algorithms, finding that the performance of the estimators is dominated by their minimum values, and to a lesser extent, the timer granularity, while being virtually unaffected by how often round-trip time measurements are made or the settings of the parameters in the exponentially-weighted moving average estimators commonly used. For bandwidth estimation, we explore techniques previously sketched in the literature [Hoe96, AD98] and find that in practice they perform less well than anticipated. We then develop a receiver-side algorithm that performs significantly better.
Functional neuronal network activity differs with cognitive dysfunction in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus

Neuropsychiatric manifestations are common in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) and often include neurocognitive dysfunction (NCD). Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can measure brain activation during tasks that invoke domains of cognitive function impaired by cSLE. This study investigates specific changes in brain function attributable to NCD in cSLE that have potential to serve as imaging biomarkers. Formal neuropsychological testing was done to measure cognitive ability and to identify NCD. Participants performed fMRI tasks probing three cognitive domains impacted by cSLE: visuoconstructional ability (VCA), working memory, and attention. Imaging data, collected on 3-Tesla scanners, included a high-resolution T1-weighted anatomic reference image followed by a T2*-weighted whole-brain echo planar image series for each fMRI task. Brain activation using blood oxygenation level-dependent contrast was compared between cSLE patients with NCD (NCD-group, n = 7) vs. without NCD (noNCD-group, n = 14) using voxel-wise and region of interest-based analyses. The relationship of brain activation during fMRI tasks and performance in formal neuropsychological testing was assessed. Greater brain activation was observed in the noNCD-group vs. NCD-group during VCA and working memory fMRI tasks. Conversely, compared to the noNCD-group, the NCD-group showed more brain activation during the attention fMRI task. In region of interest analysis, brain activity during VCA and working memory fMRI tasks was positively associated with the participants' neuropsychological test performance. In contrast, brain activation during the attention fMRI task was negatively correlated with neuropsychological test performance. While the NCD group performed worse than the noNCD group during VCA and working memory tasks, the attention task was performed equally well by both groups. NCD in patients with cSLE is characterized by differential activation of functional neuronal networks during fMRI tasks probing working memory, VCA, and attention. Results suggest a compensatory mechanism allows maintenance of attentional performance under NCD. This mechanism appears to break down for the VCA and working memory challenges presented in this study. The observation that neuronal network activation is related to the formal neuropsychological testing performance makes fMRI a candidate imaging biomarker for cSLE-associated NCD.
Resource Acquisition and Alternative Mating Strategies in Water Striders

Behavioral polymorphisms occur among male and female water striders, Gems remigis , when competing for food and mates. Individuals of both sexes vie for positions in the fastest flowing portions of streams. Here prey capture rates are highest, as are those of swimming and aggression. Only the largest females, and males with the largest first appendages, can regularly maintain positions in these areas. The remaining females are arranged along the flow gradient according to their size with the smallest holding positions in pools of slow moving water. For the remaining males neither overall size, nor the size of the first appendages, appears to determine which males swim near the edge of streams, or which males swim as satellites behind those occupying the fast flowing productive areas. Preliminary data show that mating success of edge and satellite males are about equal, but significantly less than that of the centrally positioned males with the largest first appendages. Thus although it appears that morphological phenotype influences male competitive behavior, when the absolute size of the critical trait is small males adopt behavior after assessing the actions of others. For these “subordinate” males, behavioral assessment appears to produce an “ideal free” spatial distribution.
Congeneric phylogeographical sampling reveals polyphyly and novel biodiversity within black basses (Centrarchidae: Micropterus)

For groups of animals with limited or unstable taxonomic resolution, congeneric phylogeographical sampling represents a way to potentially increase resolution of species limits and internal branches during phylogenetic inference. We investigated species limits and whether there was better support for hypothesized relationships among Micropterus (black basses) using wide geographical sampling. Bayesian and maximum likelihood estimates of Micropterus phylogeny including 205 mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b (1140 bp) sequences (150 haplotypes) representing eight extant species and one subspecies recovered eight well-supported clades. Haplotypes from fish identified as Micropterus coosae, Micropterus henshalli, Micropterus punctulatus, Micropterus salmoides, and Micropterus treculii created eight forms of broad-sense polyphyly in the tree, which we hypothesized were the result of incomplete lineage sorting and hybridization-mediated introgression (natural and anthropogenic, i.e. associated with stocking). Our findings mostly agree with hypothesized relationships. However, they provide a more complex view of Micropterus biodiversity, highlighting population-level processes. Our data also provide a useful guide for expanding character sampling (nuclear loci and morphology) to evaluate the history, distinctiveness, and geographical distributions of genetic lineages within and among black basses. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 104, 346–363.
Establishing standard performance measures for adult brain tumor patients: a nationwide inpatient sample database study

Background. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) patient safety indicators (PSIs) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) hospital acquired conditions (HACs) are used to evaluate the safety and quality of health care. We determined the incidence rates of PSIs and HACs among brain tumor patientsintheNationwideInpatientSampledatabase(NIS). Methods. We queried the NIS for all hospitalizations involvingabraintumor.Wedeterminedtheincidencerates ofvariousPSIsandHACsamongthesepatientsbysearching the hospital records for codes in the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision indicating each PSI or HAC. Results. Among the 501 908 hospitalizations involving a brain tumor in the NIS, there were 102 046 occurrences of an AHRQ PSI, with 16% of patients experiencing one or more AHRQ PSI. Among brain tumor patients treated without surgery, 17.2% experienced ≥1 PSI. Among brain tumor patients treated with surgery, 9.8% experienced ≥1 PSI. The most common PSIs were postoperative respiratory failure, deep vein thrombosis, and sepsis. ThetotalnumberofHACsassociatedwithbraintumorpatientswas13 778,with2.63%ofpatientsexperiencing ≥1 HAC.Amongbraintumorpatientstreatedwithoutsurgery, 3.0% experienced ≥1 HAC. Among brain tumor patients treated with surgery, 7.4% experienced ≥ 1H AC. The most common HACs were falls and trauma and pressure ulcers.Increasingcomorbidityscorewasassociatedwithincreased likelihood of almost all PSIs and HACs. Conclusion. These data may be used to determine individual institutional improvements or success by comparison.
Plasma amino acid concentrations in premature infants: effect of sampling site.

Amino acid concentrations in plasma obtained from infants by heel punc- ture differ from those in venous plasma primarily because ofskin contamination but data from the two sites might agree more closely in premature infants because oftheir poorly developed sweat glands. To evaluate the importance of sampling site, amino acids were analyzed by a sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method in plasma obtained both by heel puncture and venipuncture in 14 premature infants. Histidine, tryptophan, alanine, aspartic acid, glycine, and serine were higher in capillary plasma. Tryptophan and glycine levels in capillary plasma correlated strongly with those in venous plasma. An additional wash with soap and water done in five infants did not eradicate the differences. Thus the lack of agreement between data from the two sites may be due to factors other than contamination. Am J Clin Nutr l989;50: 1389-94.
Synchronization of laser oscillators, associative memory, and optical neurocomputing

A new computing paradigm, neurocomputing, is emerging from modeling artificial neural networks. A typical neurocomputer is a network of simple analog units, artificial neurons, that process information in parallel. Instead of performing a general purpose computation via execution of a program, the neurocomputer performs pattern recognition and associative recall via self-organization of neurons @1#. Using optics instead of electronics provides some advantages for neurocomputing, mainly because optical signals can go through each other without significant distortion. Most optical neurocomputer architectures ~see, e.g., @2‐5# and references therein! consist of a lattice of neuronal elements interconnected via a holographic medium; see Fig. 1. The neurons interact via light intensities. This corresponds to amplitude modulation ~AM! encoding when each neuron is a monochromatic laser. The phases do not play any role. In this paper we explore the possibility that the laser oscillators interact via phases, which corresponds to the phase modulation ~PM! encoding. This approach is in the spirit of FM interaction theory @6‐10#, which is motivated by the theoretical and experimental observations that cortical neurons are sensitive to the fine temporal structure ~timing or phase! of the incoming pulse train. In the next section we consider a simple model that describes some aspects of behavior of a network of identical coupled lasers. It can be treated as the reduction of MaxwellBloch equations after adiabatic elimination of the polarization. In subsequent sections we simplify the model even further to glimpse its neurocomputational features. We stress that we study pattern recognition via phase modulation in a simple model of laser networks. Our study is purely theoretical, and it might still be a long way before one can demonstrate experimentally that laser networks could have such neurocomputational properties.
All-atom structural models of insulin binding to the insulin receptor in the presence of a tandem hormone-binding element

Insulin regulates blood glucose levels in higher organisms by binding to and activating insulin receptor (IR), a constitutively homodimeric glycoprotein of the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) superfamily. Therapeutic efforts in treating diabetes have been significantly impeded by the absence of structural information on the activated form of the insulin/IR complex. Mutagenesis and photo-crosslinking experiments and structural information on insulin and apo-IR strongly suggest that the dual-chain insulin molecule, unlike the related single-chain insulin-like growth factors, binds to IR in a very different conformation than what is displayed in storage forms of the hormone. In particular, hydrophobic residues buried in the core of the folded insulin molecule engage the receptor. There is also the possibility of plasticity in the receptor structure based on these data, which may in part be due to rearrangement of the so-called CT-peptide, a tandem hormone-binding element of IR. These possibilities provide opportunity for large-scale molecular modeling to contribute to our understanding of this system. Using various atomistic simulation approaches, we have constructed all-atom structural models of hormone/receptor complexes in the presence of CT in its crystallographic position and a thermodynamically favorable displaced position. In the "displaced-CT" complex, many more insulin-receptor contacts suggested by experiments are satisfied, and our simulations also suggest that R-insulin potentially represents the receptor-bound form of hormone. The results presented in this work have further implications for the design of receptor-specific agonists/antagonists.
Hydrogeology of sedimentary basins

Abstract Hydrogeologic environments in sedimentary basins are as variable as are the different types of basins. Important hydrologic characteristics can be used to distinguish the different types of basin: (1) the topographic setting as determined by the geologic and structural history of the basin; (2) permeability distribution within the basin; and (3) potential energy distributions and flow mechanisms. These parameters control residence times of waters, rates and directions of saline groundwater flow and the origin and chemical composition of the saline waters. The Gulf Coast and Palo Duro Basins, Texas, exemplify two end member types of sedimentary basins. The Gulf Coast Basin is a relatively young, Tertiary-age basin which is presently compacting; fluid movement is from the overpressured, undercompacted sediments up the structural dip or up fault zones into the hydrostatic section, natural fluid pressures are either hydrostatic or overpressured. The Palo Duro is an older, Paleozoic-age basin that has been tectonically uplifted. Fluid flow is gravity driven from topographically high recharge areas to discharge in topographically low areas. Fluid pressures are subhydrostatic. Fluids discharge more easily than they are recharged. Not all flow is derived by a simple recharge discharge model. Brines may flow from other basins into the Palo Duro Basin and waters may discharge from the Palo Duro Basin into other basins. Areal differences in the chemical composition of the basin brines may be the result of different origins.
alpha-Adrenoceptor attenuation of the coronary vascular response to severe exercise in the conscious dog.

SUMMARY The hypothesis that a-adrenergic vasoconstriction could limit the extent of coronary vasodilation during spontaneous strenuous exercise was tested in normal mongrel dogs instrumented for the measurement of left circumflex coronary blood flow, aortic pressure, and left ventricular pressure. These signals were radiotelemetered at rest and during free-ranging exercise with dogs either in the unblocked condition, or after ^-receptor blockade (propranolol, 1 mg/kg), a-receptor blockade (phentolamine, 1-2 mg/kg), or combined ft- and a-receptor blockades. Heart rate was held constant by electrical stimulation throughout the exercise period. After a-receptor blockade alone, late diastolic coronary resistance decreased during exercise to a significantly lower (P < 0.01) level (0.36 ± 0.06 mm Hg/ml per min) than in the unblocked condition (0.52 ± 0.04 mm Hg/ml per min). In the presence of /9-adrenergic blockade, exercise induced insignificant increases in mean left circumflex coronary blood flow and decreases in late diastolic coronary resistance. In contrast, after pretreatment causing combined a and p blockade, both the increase (P < 0.05) in mean left circumflex coronary blood flow (22 ± 4 ml/min) and the decrease (P < 0.01) in late diastolic coronary resistance (0.35 ± 0.07 mm Hg/ml per min) during exercise were significantly greater. This enhanced coronary vascular dilation during exercise following a-receptor blockade could not be attributed to increased metabolically induced vasodilation secondary to changes in aortic pressure, heart rate, left ventricular systolic pressure, or left ventricular dP/dt. These observations strongly support the hypothesis that a receptors in the coronary circulation can act to attenuate alterations in coronary vascular resistance, even during periods of high sympathetic discharge, as occurs during severe exercise. Ore Res 45: 884-660, 1979 BECAUSE of the striking ability of the heart to match an increase in metabolic demand with an increase in nutrient supply, it has been presumed that control of the coronary circulation is primarily an intrinsic phenomenon involving the release of vasoactive metabolites from myocardial cells (Berne, 1964). In recent years, however, work by a number of investigators supports the concept that the coronary circulation is also under direct neural control. For instance, it has become increasingly apparent that sympathetic activation can result in a-adrenergic-mediated coronary vasoconstriction, which in turn can compete with metabolic vasodilator influences, and thus modulate alterations in coronary vascular resistance (Mohrman and Feigl, 1978). Although the existence of sympathetic coronary vasoconstrictor activity appears to be well documented, the physiological importance of such a mechanism remains unresolved. Previous work in
Nonhomogeneous Model of Sequence Evolution Indicates Independent Origins of Primary Endosymbionts Within the Enterobacteriales (γ-Proteobacteria)

Standard methods of phylogenetic reconstruction are based on models that assume homogeneity of nucleotide composition among taxa. However, this assumption is often violated in biological data sets. In this study, we examine possible effects of nucleotide heterogeneity among lineages on the phylogenetic reconstruction of a bacterial group that spans a wide range of genomic nucleotide contents: obligately endosymbiotic bacteria and free-living or commensal species in the gamma-Proteobacteria. We focus on AT-rich primary endosymbionts to better understand the origins of obligately intracellular lifestyles. Previous phylogenetic analyses of this bacterial group point to the importance of accounting for base compositional variation in estimating relationships, particularly between endosymbiotic and free-living taxa. Here, we develop an approach to compare susceptibility of various phylogenetic reconstruction methods to the effects of nucleotide heterogeneity. First, we identify candidate trees of gamma-Proteobacteria groEL and 16S rRNA using approaches that assume homogeneous and stationary base composition, including Bayesian, maximum likelihood, parsimony, and distance methods. We then create permutations of the resulting candidate trees by varying the placement of the AT-rich endosymbiont Buchnera. These permutations are evaluated under the nonhomogeneous and nonstationary maximum likelihood model of Galtier and Gouy, which allows equilibrium base content to vary among examined lineages. Our results show that commonly used phylogenetic methods produce incongruent trees of the Enterobacteriales, and that the placement of Buchnera is especially unstable. However, under a nonhomogeneous model, various groEL and 16S rRNA phylogenies that separate Buchnera from other AT-rich endosymbionts (Blochmannia and Wigglesworthia) have consistently and significantly higher likelihood scores. Blochmannia and Wigglesworthia appear to have evolved from secondary endosymbionts, and represent an origin of primary endosymbiosis that is independent from Buchnera. This application of a nonhomogeneous model offers a computationally feasible way to test specific phylogenetic hypotheses for taxa with heterogeneous and nonstationary base composition.
A Discriminative Model for Tree-to-Tree Translation

This paper proposes a statistical, tree-to-tree model for producing translations. Two main contributions are as follows: (1) a method for the extraction of syntactic structures with alignment information from a parallel corpus of translations, and (2) use of a discriminative, feature-based model for prediction of these target-language syntactic structures---which we call aligned extended projections, or AEPs. An evaluation of the method on translation from German to English shows similar performance to the phrase-based model of Koehn et al. (2003).
Athletic training education program directors' concerns with the innovations of instructional media and instructional design

The utilization of instructional technology in allied health based education programs has increased over the last century. However, limited research in athletic training education programs (ATEPs) examines the adoption of instructional technology. The purpose of this study was to identify concerns of program directors (PDs) with the constructs of instructional technology. Using the Concern Based Adoption Model (CBAM) as a theoretical framework, this study employed a cross-sectional survey design based on the Stage of Concern (SoC) dimensions of the CBAM. A demographic survey and a Stage of Concern Questionnaire (SoCQ) for both constructs were completed by 57 PDs. The SoCQ identifies seven dimensions of concern: unconcerned, informational, personal, management, consequences, collaboration, and refocusing. Group profile and quantitative analyses (MANOVAs, ANOVAs, and Chi Square) of the data were conducted. Group profile analysis revealed PDs had high relative intensities on Stages 0-2 (low level concerns) with a tailing up (i.e., dramatic rise in relative intensity) of Stages 5 and 6 concerns for both constructs. Both SoC profiles had peak SoCs identified as Stage 0 (unconcerned). The instructional media profile displayed a secondary peak at Stage 1 (informational). While the instructional design presented two secondary peaks at Stage 3 (management) and Stage 1 (informational). The evaluation of the peak and secondary SoCs for both constructs uncovered a pattern of self-based concerns (Stages 0-2) for a majority of PDs. The overall SoC profile for both innovations was that of a non-user. Concerns with instructional media did not appear to be influenced by any variables in the study. Further results demonstrated age and tenure status influenced PDs concerns on Stage 0 when investigating instructional design. PDs that identified with the combined definition (tools and process) of instructional technology were found to be more likely located in low level concerns (Stage 0-2) was found with the innovation of instructional design. The findings of this study can (a) guide future research into the concerns of PDs as they relate to the adoption and diffusion of instructional technology and (b) direct change facilitators involved with ATEPs to address barriers to the adoption and diffusion of instructional technology.
SMU.746-SMU.747, a Putative Membrane Permease Complex, Is Involved in Aciduricity, Acidogenesis, and Biofilm Formation in Streptococcus mutans

Dental caries induced by Streptococcus mutans is one of the most prevalent chronic infectious diseases worldwide. The pathogenicity of S. mutans relies on the bacterium's ability to colonize tooth surfaces and survive a strongly acidic environment. We performed an ISS1 transposon mutagenesis to screen for acid-sensitive mutants of S. mutans and identified an SMU.746-SMU.747 gene cluster that is needed for aciduricity. SMU.746 and SMU.747 appear to be organized in an operon and encode a putative membrane-associated permease. SMU.746- and SMU.747-deficient mutants showed a reduced ability to grow in acidified medium. However, the short-term or long-term acid survival capacity and F1F0 ATPase activity remained unaffected in the mutants. Furthermore, deletion of both genes did not change cell membrane permeability and the oxidative and heat stress responses. Growth was severely affected even with slight acidification of the defined medium (pH 6.5). The ability of the mutant strain to acidify the defined medium during growth in the presence of glucose and sucrose was significantly reduced, although the glycolysis rate was only slightly affected. Surprisingly, deletion of the SMU.746-SMU.747 genes triggered increased biofilm formation in low-pH medium. The observed effects were more striking in a chemically defined medium. We speculate that the SMU.746-SMU.747 complex is responsible for amino acid transport, and we discuss its possible role in colonization and survival in the oral environment.
Electoral Accountability: Recent Theoretical and Empirical Work

Competitive elections create a relationship of formal accountability between policy makers and citizens. Recent theoretical work suggests that there are limits on how well this formal accountability links policy decisions to citizen preferences. In particular, incumbents' incentives are driven not by the voters' evaluation of the normative desirability of outcomes but by the outcome's information about the incumbent's type (e.g., competence or ideology). This review surveys both this body of theory and the robust empirical literature it has spawned. It concludes with a short discussion of ongoing work that attempts to integrate this theoretical perspective with a richer view of policy-making institutions.
A comparison and assessment of hybrid filter topologies and control algorithms

Hybrid active filters inherit the efficiency of passive filters and the improved performance of active filters, and thus constitute a viable improved approach for harmonic compensation. This paper presents an assessment and comparison of hybrid active filters, including their topologies, ratings, and control algorithms. Simulations are presented, along with a comprehensive topology and performance comparison. In addition, a modified "p-q" theory is introduced for control strategies, which is more feasible for extracting harmonic components for distorted load voltages.
Adverse events after radiofrequency ablation of unresectable liver tumors: a single-center experience.

Abstract Background Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a relatively new modality to treat liver tumors that is being incorporated into practice despite the fact that its risk profile has not been well described. Methods A retrospective cohort study, using structured chart review, on patients with liver tumor(s) was conducted from August 1998 to November 2006. Univariate and multivariate exploratory analyses were used to evaluate factors associated with adverse events. Results RFA procedures were performed on 196 patients (58% primary tumors, 24% colorectal metastases, and 18% other metastases). Twenty-three patients (12%) experienced serious adverse events. Multivariate analysis showed advanced age (≥55 y), underlying liver disease, large tumor size (>4 cm), and concomitant procedure were associated with an increased risk of adverse events (P = .01, P Conclusions RFA was associated with acceptable morbidity and mortality. Factors associated with adverse events should be considered when counseling patients regarding RFA procedures.
An Exploratory Study of How Potential “Family and Household Capital” Impacts New Venture Start-Up Rates

Drawing from social capital theory, the authors examine the relationship between family capital characteristics and new venture start-up rates in the United States. The results of this study improve the understanding of (a) how families matter in an entrepreneur’s decision to start a business, (b) how wealth and health care considerations affect the start-up decision, and (c) whether and how these effects differ among the largest ethnic groups in the United States.
A TRIAL FOR TESTING CLAY BODIES AND BODY MATERIALS ON A LABORATORY SCALE1

A body trial is described which can be used to investigate, in the laboratory, the commercial possibilities of the members of a series of bodies, a given body, and the kind of materials to be used in a body. Some examples of its uses are given.
Accounting For OPEBs: Does Better Accounting Serve The Public Interest?

In 1992, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issues Employers Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions (SFAS 106). SFAS 106 requires public companies to account for postretirement benefits other than pensions (e.g., health care) on an accrual basis. While SFAS 106 is good accounting, it provides corporations with an excellent excuse to amend or terminate health care coverage for retirees. This paper discusses the economic and social consequences of SFAS 106 as well as the politics of the accounting standard setting process.
Exploratory analysis of early treatment discontinuation and clinical outcomes of patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Introduction This post-hoc analysis was to investigate the impact of treatment discontinuation on clinical outcomes in patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methods Data are from a 12-month, observational, multinational study that included outpatients aged 6–17 years who were diagnosed with ADHD and treated with atomoxetine, methylphenidate, or nootropic agents. Treatment effectiveness and proportions of patients who discontinued treatment were compared between China and the other non-Western countries/regions combined. Propensity score matching was used to further estimate the association between treatment discontinuation and effectiveness. Results Of the 546 patients who entered the study, 337 patients had complete data and were included in the analyses. Compared with the other countries/regions, China subgroup had a higher treatment discontinuation rate (odds ratio = 25.80; P < 0.0001) and poorer treatment effectiveness: least-squares (LS) mean changes were 5.74 versus 8.56 (P = 0.0225) for the Child Health and Illness Profile-Child Edition (CHIP-CE) Achievement domain and −1.87 versus −2.13 (P = 0.0401) for Clinical Global Impressions-ADHD-Severity (CGI-ADHD-S). Further analyses of matched discontinuer–maintainer pairs showed that discontinuers demonstrated poorer effectiveness: LS mean changes for the CHIP-CE Achievement domain and CGI-ADHD-S (discontinuer versus maintainer) were 5.36 versus 9.10 (P = 0.0255) and −1.32 versus −1.96 (P = 0.0179) for overall population, respectively, and 4.40 versus 10.17 (P = 0.0065) and −1.48 versus −2.45 (P = 0.0089), respectively, for China subgroup. Discussion This analysis found that early treatment discontinuation was associated with worse clinical outcomes for patients with ADHD. China subgroup had substantially higher discontinuation rates and poorer effectiveness outcomes. Strategies to improve medication persistence have the potential to improve outcomes for ADHD patients in China.
Regulation of 5'-aminolevulinate synthase activity in overloaded skeletal muscle

The regulation of the mitochondrial enzyme 5'-aminolevulinate synthase (ALV synthase) activity during chronic weight-bearing activity (overload) in chicken skeletal muscle was investigated. Maximal enzyme activity was increased 2.5- and 4.0-fold after 3 and 7 days of overload. The content of ALV synthase mRNA (ng/mg total RNA) was not changed after 3 days but increased (20%; P less than 0.05) after 7 days of overload. Normalizing the content of ALV synthase mRNA relative to the increase in total RNA indicated that ALV synthase mRNA increased by 1.6- and 2.0-fold at 3 and 7 days, respectively. On this basis, the increase in enzyme activity per gram protein exceeded the increase in mRNA content per gram protein by 60-70%. During overload, the activity of cytochrome oxidase was unchanged after 3 days but increased by 1.5-fold (P less than 0.05) after 7 days of overload. The data indicate that 1) the initial rise in ALV synthase mRNA and activity due to overload occurs in the absence of a prior change in the level of cytochrome oxidase, an enzyme that requires heme for its assembly, and 2) induction of ALV synthase activity is regulated largely by processes at the translational or posttranslational steps.
Expanding the learning community : An academic library outreach program to high schools

Summary While educational partnerships between academic libraries and public schools have taken many forms throughout the later half of the century, a less common approach to building learning communities is coordinated outreach visits by academic librarians to secondary schools to provide active-learning, hands-on workshops that include remote access to the wide range of information technologies and electronic resources available in academic libraries today. This article reviews the concept and practice of learning communities, establishes a connection between learning communities and information literacy, and offers an outreach model that promotes information literacy and expands the academic learning community to college-bound high school students.
Another Step in the Control of the Hessian Fly

The Hessian fly, Phytophaga destructor Say, can be controlled very effectively in Kansas by early, deep plowing of the stubble, by destruction of volunteer wheat, delayed sowing and cooperative work along these lines. Observations show that the fly lives over in relatively small, low, moist springy places, usually of less than an acre though in some cases they may comprise 40-80 acres. The destruction of the fly in all such areas by turning under the stubble, keeping them free from volunteer wheat and restricting planting till after the f1y-free-date is recommended.
Hemoglobinophilic Bacilli from Infantile Meningitis

The spinal fluid from nine children with fatal cases of so-called influenzal meningitis was examined. In all cases, the fluid was cloudy, and microscopic examination revealed many polymorphonuclear leukocytes and small gram-negative bacilli interspersed with a few long, slender forms. In all except the second case these gram-negative bacilli were the only micro-organisms found. In the second case, a thick, gram-negative diplobacillus with rounded ends was also present. This organism was not identified.
Performance Assessment Modeling of a Multi-Purpose Container

A mathematical model to predict the cumulative failure distribution for the engineered barrier system employed in a deep geologic disposal facility as a function of container design and near-field environmental conditions has been developed. The model employs Weibull and exponential distributions to describe cumulative container failures as a function of time. Parameter values employed in the model are based upon simple, time-dependent, mechanistic models and relevant corrosion data, which describe failure of individual components of the container as a function of environmental conditions. Recent developments in container design for the Yucca Mountain site center on the possible deployment of Multi-Purpose Containers (MPC). These containers will be designed and constructed to serve as transport casks, interim storage containers, and disposal containers. The current container performance assessment model is applied to evaluate the long-term performance of various MPC designs under the areal power density and heat transfer regimes expected in the Yucca Mountain environment. This model has previously been employed to describe the performance of the container as one part of a risk-based performance assessment of the Yucca Mountain site. The relative importance of container design, areal power density, and dominant heat transfer mode on predicted MPC performance is demonstrated through comparison of the cumulative container failure distributions for each MPC design when exposed to expected Yucca Mountain environmental conditions.
Strengthening the Metrological Management to Improve the Medical Quality

Since the development of modern technology in medical science,the medical metrology has been advanced.This paper puts forward how to strengthen the metrological management and improve the medical quality according to the new characteristics of metro-logical management.With the rules perfected and the metrological software used,the level of metrological dynamic and standard man-agement and the medical quality can be improved.
Divalent cations modulate the transient outward current in rat ventricular myocytes

The modulation of the transient outward K+ current (Ito) by divalent cations was studied in enzymatically isolated rat ventricular myocytes with the whole cell patch-clamp technique. At holding potentials negative to -70 mV, 1 mM Cd2+ suppressed Ito, whereas, at potentials positive to -50 mV, the current was augmented. These effects were caused by shifts in the voltage dependence of both activation and inactivation of Ito toward more positive potentials. Cd2+ also slowed the activation kinetics of Ito by shifting the voltage dependence of its rate of activation, but the rate of inactivation was unaffected. Other divalent cations produced similar shifts but at markedly different concentrations. Thus, in the millimolar range, a rightward shift of approximately 20 mV was produced by 3 Co2+, 5 Ni2+, and 10 Ca2+, whereas 10 microM concentrations of Cu2+ and Zn2+ produced equivalent shifts. Similar effects were seen in hippocampal neurons with micromolar concentrations of Zn2+. Thus divalent cations have marked and specific effects on the kinetics and voltage dependence of Ito and may serve as a regulatory mechanism in its activation, particularly in cells with resting potentials positive to -60 mV.
Transperitoneal Live Donor Nephrectomy

AbstractWe review 171 anterior transperitoneal live donor nephrectomies. The transperitoneal approach provides optimum exposure for atraumatic dissection of the kidney and renal vessels. The total and major postoperative complication rates were 30.4 and 3.5 per cent, respectively. These results compare favorably to reported series of extraperitoneal live donor nephrectomies. Transperitoneal live donor nephrectomy is a safe and effective operation with low risk to the donor.
Categorization in Mechanically Ventilated Pediatric Subjects: A Proposed Method to Improve Quality

BACKGROUND: Thousands of children require mechanical ventilation each year. Although mechanical ventilation is lifesaving, it is also associated with adverse events if not properly managed. The systematic implementation of evidence-based practice through the use of guidelines and protocols has been shown to mitigate risk, yet variation in care remains prevalent. Advances in health-care technology provided the ability to stream data about mechanical ventilation and therapeutic response. Through these advances, a computer system was developed to enable the coupling of physiologic and ventilation data for real-time interpretation. Our aim was to assess the feasibility and utility of a newly developed patient categorization and scoring system to objectively measure compliance with standards of care. METHODS: We retrospectively categorized the ventilation and oxygenation statuses of subjects within our pediatric ICU utilizing 15 rules-based algorithms. Targets were predetermined based on generally accepted practices. All patient categories were calculated and presented as a percent score (0–100%) of acceptable ventilation, acceptable oxygenation, barotrauma-free, and volutrauma-free states. RESULTS: Two hundred twenty-two subjects were identified and analyzed encompassing 1,578 d of mechanical ventilation. Median age was 3 y, median ideal body weight was 14.7 kg, and 63% were male. The median acceptable ventilation score was 84.6%, and the median acceptable oxygenation score was 70.1% (100% being maximally acceptable). Potential for ventilator-induced lung injury was broken into 2 components: barotrauma and volutrauma. There was very little potential for barotrauma, with a median barotrauma-free state of 100%. Median potential for a volutrauma-free state was 56.1%. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate the first patient categorization system utilizing a coordinated data-banking system and analytics to determine patient status and a surveillance of mechanical ventilation quality. Further research is needed to determine whether interventions such as visual display of variance from goal and patient categorization summaries can improve outcomes. (ClinicalTrials.gov registration NCT02184208.)
Ventral hernia: Patient selection, treatment, and management.

Ventral hernias are among the most common pathologic conditions seen by clinicians, with an estimated one fourth of all individuals being born with, developing, or acquiring a ventral hernia in their lifetime. Repair of ventral hernias is among the 5 most common procedures performed by a general surgeon, and it is estimated that in the United States more than $ 3.4 billion will be spent this year on the surgical management of ventral hernias. These repairs are fraught with complications including surgical site infections (SSIs), wound complications, and hernia recurrences. Despite the increasing use of advanced surgical techniques, availability of modern prosthetic materials, and increasing understanding of ventral hernias, the long-term outcome for ventral hernia repair remains poor, with a 10-year failure rate (recurrence) of 30% in the simplest ventral hernia defects and more than 70% in more complex ventral hernias. One of the main reasons for persistently poor outcomes despite the advances made is the increasingly comorbid patient population. Within Westernized nations, obesity is a growing epidemic. In the United States, 66% of adults are overweight or obese. Patients with hernias typically have an even higher BMI, and