cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The role of NF-κB signaling in impaired liver tissue repair in thioacetamide-treated type 1 diabetic rats☆

Abstract Previously we reported that an ordinarily nonlethal dose of thioacetamide (300 mg/kg) causes liver failure and 90% mortality in type 1 diabetic rats, primarily because of inhibited tissue repair. On the other hand, the diabetic rats receiving 30 mg thioacetamide/kg exhibited equal initial liver injury and delayed tissue repair compared to nondiabetic rats receiving 300 mg thioacetamide/kg, resulting in a delay in recovery from that liver injury and survival. These data indicate that impaired tissue repair in diabetes is a dose-dependent function of diabetes. The objective of the present study was to test the hypothesis that disrupted nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)-regulated cyclin D1 signaling may explain dose-dependent impaired tissue repair in the thioacetamide-treated diabetic rats. Administration of 300 mg thioacetamide/kg to nondiabetic rats led to sustained NF-κB-regulated cyclin D1 signaling, explaining prompt compensatory tissue repair and survival. For the first time, we report that NF-κB–DNA binding is dependent on the dose of thioacetamide in the liver tissue of the diabetic rats. Administration of 300 mg thioacetamide/kg to diabetic rats inhibited NF-κB-regulated cyclin D1 signaling, explaining inhibited tissue repair, liver failure and death, whereas remarkably higher NF-κB–DNA binding but transient down regulation of cyclin D1 expression explains delayed tissue repair in the diabetic rats receiving 30 mg thioacetamide/kg. These data suggest that dose-dependent NF-κB-regulated cyclin D1 signaling explains inhibited versus delayed tissue repair observed in the diabetic rats receiving 300 and 30 mg thioacetamide/kg, respectively.
Nonuniform initiation of photoreactions II. Diffusion of reactive intermediates

The influence of spatially nonuniform initiation is investigated for a class of photoreactions in which diffusion of intermediates is important. The investigation is centered on a differential equation for reaction and diffusion of reactive intermediates. The circumstances are set forth under which the equation is valid for several kinetically similar reaction types. A solution is obtained for Lambert's law attenuation. The characteristics of this solution and the solution obtained by Noyes for linear attenuation are discussed. The practical consequences of these solutions are shown through illustrative calculations based on the photochlorination of tetrachloroethylene. On etudie l'influence d'un declenchement non-uniforme dans l''espace dans le cas d'une serie de photoreactions ou la diffusion des produits intermediaires est importante. Le travail porte surtout sur une equation differentielle relative a la reaction a la diffusion des produits intermediaires et reaotifs. On etablit des circonstances dans lesquelles l'equation est valide pour plusieurs genres de reactions semblables au point de vue cinetique. On obtient une solution pour l'attenuation de la Loi de Lambert. On discute les caracteristiques de cette solution et de celle que Noyes a mis au point pour l'attenuation lineaire. On montre les consequences pratiques des dites solutions en les illustrant de calculs bases sur la photo-chlorination du tetrachlorethylene.
Effect of Copper as a Dopant on the Water Gas Shift Activity of Fe/Ce and Fe/Cr Modified Ferrites

The role of copper as a dopant on the WGS activity of Fe/Cr and Fe/Ce catalysts has been investigated. Our catalysts were synthesized via simultaneous precipitation of substituent metal cation/s (Cu2+/Mn+) with Fe3+ which leads to the formation of hematitic type of spinels. After activation, the catalysts are transformed into mixed or inverse spinels. Interestingly, impersonal shift activity findings reveal that copper behaves very differently when added to the Fe/Cr in comparison to the Fe/Ce catalyst formulations, namely Cu acts as a promoter for Fe/Cr, while it does not promote the activity of the Fe/Ce catalyst. Our XRD and Mossbauer studies reveal the formation of wustite phase (FeO) in activated Fe/Ce/Cu samples as the reason for their decreased activity. Moreover, TPR measurements indicate that copper promotes the Fe3O4 → FeO transformation to a much lower temperature which starts at 200 °C for the Fe/Ce/Cu sample compared to the Fe/Ce sample (starts at 450 °C). In contrast, no such behavior was observed for the Fe/Cr/Cu catalyst, since the reduction of Fe3O4 → FeO starts at 500 °C. Mossbauer studies show distortions in the cubic lattice of magnetite due to the incorporation of copper and ceria in the lattice. These distortions are reflected in the internal magnetic field of the iron octahedral sites with characteristic isomer shift ‘δ’.
Effects of liquid insecticide baits on Argentine ants in California's coastal vineyards

Abstract Liquid ant baits were evaluated for control of Argentine ants, Linepithema humile (Mayr), and associated mealybug pests ( Pseudococcus species) in commercial vineyards. In all trials, liquid baits were an insecticide dissolved in 25% sugar water. In 2000, two liquid baits—crystalline boric acid and imidacloprid—were deployed in ground-based dispensers at rates of 85 (site 1) and 175 (site 2) dispensers per ha. Season-long ant densities were significantly lower than a no-insecticide control in only the boric acid treatments, and at only 1 of 2 sites. In 2001, four liquid baits—imidacloprid, fipronil, and thiamethoxam, each mixed at 0.0001% (A.I.)—were delivered in ground-based dispensers at a rate of 120 dispensers per ha. There was no treatment impact on ant or mealybug densities. In 2002, a liquid bait—thiamethoxam, mixed at 0.0001% (A.I.)—was delivered in ground-based (site 1) and canopy-based (site 2 and 3) dispensers that were recharged every 2 wk and cleaned every 4 wk, and deployed at rates of 160 (sites 1 and 2) and 620 (site 3) dispensers per ha. There was a significant reduction of season-long ant densities in liquid bait treatments at all sites, and of mealybug densities at 2 of 3 sites; crop damage was significantly lower in the liquid bait treatment at all sites. The results are discussed with respect to the methodologies used to deploy liquid baits and the development of a viable commercial program.
Magnetic susceptibility of monoclinic Eu2 O3

Abstract The magnetic susceptibility of monoclinic Eu2 O3 has been found to be greater than that calculated from spectroscopic data.
Molecular and genetic analyses of a multivariate system specifying behavior and life span.

Recombinant inbred (RI) lines have been constructed by crossing the Bristol and Bergerac BO strains of the nematodeCaenorhabditis elegans. The F1 hermaphroditic progeny are allowed to self-fertilize for 20 generations, yielding the RI lines. Heritability estimates for several behavioral traits and for life span, as well as both phenotypic and genetic covariance estimates for these traits, have been obtained. Significant heritability is detected only for forward movement. Large genetic covariances are detected between different behavioral components, corroborating earlier studies based on observations of stereotypical behaviors in nematodes. A strain distribution pattern (SDP) has been generated using genetic loci defined both by mutation and by restriction fragment length polymorphisms. Estimates of the number of loci affecting the life span range from three to six; these estimates were obtained both by classic quantitative techniques and by mapping, using the SDP for these RI lines. Thus, loci specifying life span are distributed throughout the genome rather than localized to any one region. EMS-induced, long-lived (Age) mutants were also examined. In contrast to an earlier report, these mutants ingest normal amounts of food. Theage locus of one strain, MK546, segregates independently of a behavioral alteration which was coinduced in the original mutant hunt.
Cladoceran assemblages, seasonal succession and the importance of a hypolimnetic refuge

SUMMARY. 1. We investigate the importance of a refuge from fish predation to the abundance, species composition and seasonal succession of zooplankton. Thirty lakes representing a range of depths were sampled twice in summer for physical/chemical parameters and zooplankton community structure. 2. We define the refuge from centrarchid predators to be that space between the thermocline and the zone of anoxia. As lakes vary in rate of oxygen depletion from the hypolimnion. the refuge size and lake depth are independent: refuge size decreases during the summer period. 3. Lake depth and refuge size independently explain variation among lakes in zooplankton species composition, but seasonal community change within lakes is best predicted by loss of refuge size. 4. Refuge size also explains the substantial variation in the relative dominance of the two major daphnid species. Lakes possessing a large refuge are dominated by D. pulicaria; those with a small refuge are dominated by the smaller, D. galeata mendotae. We suggest that lakes of intermediate refuge size, which are characterized by high species diversity, represent a more equitable balance of predation and competition.
Partnerships and Experience in Building STEM Pipelines

AbstractThe creation of a robust K–12 science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) pipeline has been widely identified as critical to the future of American global competitiveness. The J. B. S...
Improving Timing-Independent Testing of Crosstalk Using Realistic Assumptions on Delay Faults

Test generation methodology previously developed for crosstalk targets in the presence of manufacturing defects and process variations results in low coverage. In this paper, under a realistic assumption about the nature of manufacturing defects, we show that by incorporating two new concepts, namely, non- criticality and delay-superiority, significantly higher coverage of targets and lower test generation and test application costs are achieved.
Kinetic Energy Bounds and Their Application to the Stability of Matter

The Sobolev inequality on R n, n ≥ 3 is very important because it gives a lower bound for the kinetic energy \({\int {\left| \nabla \right|} ^2}\) in terms of an L P norm of f. It is the following.
Effect of n-3 oral supplements on the n-6/n-3 ratio in young adults.

Epidemiological studies show that n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) ratios have risen dramatically in Western diets and are associated with numerous chronic inflammation-related diseases. More balanced ratios are linked to less inflammation. This study examines the effects of adding oral supplements containing n-3 eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) to diets of healthy young adults on plasma n-6/n-3 ratios. Thirty volunteers are randomly assigned to one of two groups: experimental group, EPA (1.6 g/day) and DHA (1.2 g/day); and the control group, mineral oil (2.4 ml/day). Plasma fatty acids, nutrients from foods, and anthropometric measures are evaluated at baseline and at the Week 4 endpoint. The mean (±SD) n-6/n-3 ratio for the experimental group is significantly lower (6.3 ± 1.6) than the placebo group (16.8 ± 3.5) by study completion. The results suggest that more balanced n-6/n-3 ratios may be achieved efficiently in healthy, young adults with supplements containing EPA...
Results of Contemporary Surgical Treatment of Descending Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms: Experience in 198 Patients

Between April 1987 and March 1995, 198 patients (133 male [67.17%] and 65 female [32.83%]; mean age 63.85 years) underwent descending thoracic aortic aneurysm repair. Of these, 142 patients (71.71%) had symptoms. In most patients (n=123 [62%]) the aneurysmal disease was extensive, involving at least two thirds of the descending aorta. In 153 patients (77.27%), the repair was completed with the simple clamp technique (mean clamping time 24.6 minutes). Left atrium-to-femoral bypass was used in 26 patients (13.13%) at high risk (mean clamping time 37.4 minutes). Profound hypothermia and circulatory arrest were necessary in 19 patients (9.6%) with extensive aneurysms that involved the arch and ascending aorta (mean circulatory arrest time 46 minutes). Operative mortality was 5.1% (n=10). The causes of death were cardiac in three patients (1.5%), pulmonary in four (2.0%), and renal in three (1.5%). Postoperative paraplegia occurred in three patients (1.5%). Important predictors (p < 0.05) of mortality at regression analysis included renal failure, pulmonary complications, and paraplegia. The only independent predictor of paraplegia was clamping time. In conclusion, the simple clamp procedure remains the technique of choice in the majority of patients with descending aortic aneurysms. Atriofemoral bypass is an important adjunct in patients at high risk.
STT4 Is an Essential Phosphatidylinositol 4-Kinase That Is a Target of Wortmannin in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Wortmannin is a natural product that inhibits signal transduction. One target of wortmannin in mammalian cells is the 110-kDa catalytic subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase). We show that wortmannin is toxic to the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and present genetic and biochemical evidence that a phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase (PI 4-kinase), STT4, is a target of wortmannin in yeast. In a strain background in which stt4 mutants are rescued by osmotic support with sorbitol, the toxic effects of wortmannin are similarly prevented by sorbitol. In contrast, in a different strain background, STT4 is essential under all conditions and wortmannin toxicity is not mitigated by sorbitol. Overexpression of STT4 confers wortmannin resistance, but overexpression of PIK1, a related PI 4-kinase, does not. In vitro, the PI 4-kinase activity of STT4, but not of PIK1, was potently inhibited by wortmannin. Overexpression of the phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase homolog MSS4 conferred wortmannin resistance, as did deletion of phospholipase C-1. These observations support a model for a phosphatidylinositol metabolic cascade involving STT4, MSS4, and phospholipase C-1 and provide evidence that an essential product of this pathway is the lipid phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate.
Halothane-caffeine contracture testing in neuromuscular diseases

The association of malignant hyperthermia (MH) with neuromuscular disorders has been recognized since 1970. These disorders include central core disease, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, myotonia congenita, myotonic dystrophy, nonspecific myopathies, and King-Denborough syndrome. In order to assess the anesthetic risk of MH in the neuromuscular population, we performed halothane and caffeine contracture testing for MH susceptibility on biopsied muscle removed from 25 consecutive neuromuscular patients during diagnostic evaluation. Positive contracture tests were found in 7 of 18 patients with myopathic disorders and 3 of 7 patients with neurogenic disorders. Two of our patients had anesthetic events suggesting MH. These findings suggest that myopathic and neuropathic disorders share pathogenic mechanisms with MH, resulting in positive contracture tests and possibly leading to clinical events during anesthesia. Although there is controversy regarding the interpretation of a positive contracture test, contracture testing remains the most widely accepted test for MH susceptibility. Thus, a variety of neuromuscular disorders may be associated with MH susceptibility, and caution should be exercised during anesthesia in this group of patients.
From Cyclophanes to Molecular Machines

Author(s): Liu, Yi; Flood, Amar; Stoddardt, J | Abstract: Thus, this is not only an extremely valuable source of information for synthetic organic chemists, but also a ready reference for scientists working in related fields of arene chemistry, stereoselective synthesis, material science, and ...
Viscoelastic properties of pressure overload hypertrophied myocardium: effect of serine protease treatment

To determine whether and to what extent one component of the extracellular matrix, fibrillar collagen, contributes causally to abnormalities in viscoelasticity, collagen was acutely degraded by activation of endogenous matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) with the serine protease plasmin. Papillary muscles were isolated from normal cats and cats with right ventricular pressure overload hypertrophy (POH) induced by pulmonary artery banding. Plasmin treatment caused MMP activation, collagen degradation, decreased the elastic stiffness constant, and decreased the viscosity constant in both normal and POH muscles. Thus, whereas many mechanisms may contribute to the abnormalities in myocardial viscoelasticity in the POH myocardium, changes in fibrillar collagen appear to play a predominant role.
DNA vaccine combinations expressing either tissue plasminogen activator signal sequence fusion proteins or ubiquitin-conjugated antigens induce sustained protective immunity in a mouse model of pulmonary tuberculosis.

DNA vaccination has emerged as a powerful approach in the search for a more efficacious vaccine against tuberculosis. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of immunizing with combinations of 10 different tuberculosis DNA vaccines that expressed mycobacterial proteins fused at the N terminus to eukaryotic intracellular targeting sequences. In one vaccine combination, the genes were fused to the tissue plasminogen activator signal sequence (TPA), while in a second combination the same 10 genes were expressed as ubiquitin (Ub)-conjugated proteins. In ex vivo studies in which the secretion of gamma interferon was measured, cellular immune responses were detected in mice vaccinated with either the TPA DNA vaccine combination or the Ub DNA vaccine combination at 7 and 14 days following a low-dose Mycobacterium tuberculosis challenge. Moreover, mice vaccinated with the TPA combination, the Ub combination, and Mycobacterium bovis BCG were able to limit the growth of tubercle bacilli in the lung and spleen after a virulent tuberculous aerosol challenge. Histopathological analyses also showed that mice immunized with the DNA vaccine combinations had substantially improved postinfection lung pathology relative to the naive controls. Finally, in three different long-term experiments, the survival periods following aerogenic challenge were extended as much as sevenfold for vaccinated mice compared to naive controls. Interestingly, in all three experiments, no significant differences were detected in the mean times to death for mice immunized with the TPA combination or the Ub combination relative to the BCG controls. In conclusion, these studies demonstrate the effectiveness of immunization with DNA vaccine combinations against tuberculosis and suggest that further testing of these plasmid cocktails is warranted.
Fracturing Over Creation Care? Shifting Environmental Beliefs Among Evangelicals, 1984–2010

While evangelicals have been popularly portrayed as caring primarily about social issues including abortion and homosexuality, there have been more reports in recent years of evangelical leaders, congregations, and institutions shifting focus to environmental issues. Are evangelicals shifting attention to and becoming more progressive in their views on the environment? Moreover, are evangelicals fracturing over the issue of environmentalism, as some have suggested? Using content analysis of three evangelical periodicals (Christianity Today, Sojourners, and World) from 1984 to 2010, I find not only that attention to environmental issues has increased over time, but also that the discussion has grown increasingly polarized and politicized. This change represents a potentially important break with the Republican Party and the Christian Right, as moderate evangelicals have moved to the left on environmental issues. Even among highly religious, self-identified evangelical political elites, there is more diversity in views and political leanings than is commonly assumed. I conclude with a discussion of the implications of a lack of alignment between evangelical elites, traditional Christian Right leaders, and the Republican Party.
Single sensor sonar map-building based on physical principles of reflection

Conventional time-of-flight (TOF) systems generate sonar maps based on the range estimate obtained from the TOF measurement. This paper describes a novel characterization of sonar reflections from a single sensor based on the physical principles of reflection and scattering from surfaces. Considerable improvement over conventional TOF systems is achieved. Different types of environments are integrated into a single framework. A new parametrization is developed based on the energy content and duration of the echo. These parameters are functions of the surface roughness and orientation. Echo-energy and echo-duration maps are generated that allow the identification of smooth, moderately rough and rough surfaces. >
The Food's No Good and They Don't Give Us Enough: Reflections on Mintzberg's Critique of MBA Education

This article comments on a book on management education, titled Managers Not MBAs: A Hard Look at the Soft Practice of Managing and Management Development, by Henry Mintzberg. The first half of the...
In vivo experimental aneurysm embolization in a swine model with a liquid-to-solid gelling polymer system: initial biocompatibility and delivery strategy analysis.

Objective Current treatments for cerebral aneurysms are far from ideal. Platinum coils are prone to compaction, and currently used liquid embolics are delivered with angiotoxic agents. This work presents initial in vivo studies of a novel liquid-to-solid gelling polymer system (PPODA-QT), focusing on biocompatibility and effective delivery strategies. Methods PPODA-QT was used to embolize surgically created lateral wall carotid artery aneurysms in swine using three delivery strategies. Group 1 aneurysms were completely filled with PPODA-QT ( n = 5), group 2 aneurysms were subcompletely (80%–90%) filled ( n = 3), and group 3 aneurysms underwent three-dimensional coil placement followed by polymer embolization ( n = 3). The study was designed such that three animals per treatment group survived to 1 month. Results The group 1 delivery strategy (100% filling) resulted in survival of 3/5 animals. This strategy led to aneurysm stretching, which resulted model failure in 2/5 animals. Group 2 aneurysms, although initially Conclusions This small-scale pilot study highlighted first-time in vivo use of PPODA-QT as an embolic agent for aneurysm treatment. Filling aneurysms to 80% to 90% capacity proved to be a safe and effective delivery strategy, and PPODA-QT showed excellent biocompatibility. This study indicates that future investigation of PPODA-QT for aneurysm embolization is warranted, as it may prove to be a viable alternative to current embolic materials.
Importance of nitric oxide in the control of renal hemodynamics

Importance of nitric oxide in the control of renal hemodynamics. The kidney vasculature is under tonic control by nitric oxide (NO) and in cortex, NO controls R A and K f . Systemic NO inhibition leads to systemic hypertension, increases in R E , mediated by Ang II and ET, and direct effects on R A and K f . The relationship between NO and other vasoconstrictor systems is variable. In the conscious relaxed animal, vasoconstrictor activity is low, yet acute NO inhibition leads to pressor and renal vasoconstrictor reponses. At physiologic levels, ET unexpectedly is a renal vasodilator, possibly via NO generation at R A . When vasoconstrictor activity is high, NO is very important in maintenance of renal perfusion. Chronic L-NAME produces dose dependent systemic and glomerular capillary hypertension and eventual proteinuria and glomerular damage. NO deficiency is key in this process, although the hypertension becomes refractory to L-arginine administration and dependent on Ang II and the SNS, by mechanisms not yet defined. In contrast, the renal vasculature remains fully responsive to L-arginine, suggesting that pressor and renal vascular responses to chronic NO inhibition are separately regulated. NO generated from iNOS does not normally control BP or renal hemodynamics. The relative contributions of NO from bNOS and eNOS, and importance of NOS in different locations in the kidney, remain to be determined.
Resonance Raman Investigation of Ru(phen)2(dppz) 2+ and Related Complexes in Water and in the Presence of DNA

Resonance Raman (rR) spectroscopy was utilized to gain insight into the electronic structure of dppz (dppz = dipyrido[3,2-a:2‘,3‘-c]phenazine) complexes of Ru(II) and Os(II). The time-resolved resonance Raman (TR3) spectrum of Ru(phen)2(dppz)2+ (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) collected under 355 nm (fwhm ≈ 10 ns) excitation is consistent with the population of a ligand-centered (LC) 3ππ* state of the dppz ligand. Since emission from the Ru(II) → (dppz) metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) excited state is observed, both states must possess similar energies. Lowering of the MLCT state energy in Ru(phen)2(F2-dppz)2+ and Os(phen)2(dppz)2+ with respect to that of the 3ππ* state results in the disappearance of the LC 3ππ* excited-state peaks in the rR spectrum, indicative of its fast deactivation to the lower MLCT state in these complexes. Addition of DNA to the samples containing Ru(phen)2(dppz)2+ and Ru(phen)2(F2-dppz)2+ leads to a decrease in intensity of the peaks associated with the intercalating phenazine...
The Relationship Among Body Mass, Wealth, and Inequality Across the BMI Distribution: Evidence From Nineteenth-Century Prison Records

Nineteenth-century U.S. Black and White body mass indexes (BMIs) were distributed symmetrically; neither wasting nor obesity was common. BMI values were also greater for Blacks than for Whites. During industrialization in the nineteenth century in the United States, there was a negative relationship between BMIs and average state-level wealth and an inverse relationship between BMI and wealth inequality. After controlling for wealth and inequality, rural agricultural farmers had greater BMI values than their urban counterparts in other occupations.
Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis: “There must be some kind of way out of here”

Over the past 7 decades, Mycobacterium tuberculosis has developed resistance to virtually every new drug used to treat tuberculosis, resulting recently in the global emergence of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis. In an individual, treatment with a single new drug results in acquired drug resistance within weeks to months. On a population basis, the pattern is just as consistent. After a new drug is introduced, drug-resistant cases or case series are reported within months to years, typically leading to focused surveys, and within several years, dramatic outbreaks with extraordinary mortality occur. Invariably, such outbreaks prove to be the tip of the iceberg. Incomplete and delayed diagnoses, drug costs, and drug supplies are frequently implicated. With new drugs and new diagnostics on the horizon, we must develop new ways of incorporating them into public health practice, basing treatment on rapid drug-susceptibility tests, ensuring that effective drugs are always used in combination, and making these drug available to persons who need them.
Solvent-free synthesis of polyacrylamide by frontal polymerization

Polymerization and characterization of polyacrylamide prepared by frontal polymerization are described. Frontally polymerized polyacrylamide is imidized and crosslinked during polymerization. Imide formation was determined by elemental analysis. The addition of commercial polyacrylamide or barium carbonate to the mono- mer (acrylamide) and initiator (potassium persulfate) decreased the reaction temper- ature from 235 °C to , 100 °C, thereby reducing imide formation. The commercial polyacrylamide-diluted product, frontally polymerized polyacrylamide-diluted product, and the barium carbonate-diluted product were characterized by IR, TGA, and elemen- tal analysis. Molecular weights of barium carbonate-diluted samples were determined by light scattering and found to be on the order of one million. Conversion of the barium carbonate-diluted product was determined to be 76 6 6%, independent of the amount of diluent over the range 0.8:1-1.5:1. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 1129 -1135, 2000
Bar Code Medication Administration Technology: Characterization of High-Alert Medication Triggers and Clinician Workarounds

BACKGROUND:Bar code medication administration (BCMA) technology is gaining acceptance for its ability to prevent medication administration errors. However, studies suggest that improper use of BCMA technology can yield unsatisfactory error prevention and introduction of new potential medication errors.OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the incidence of high-alert medication BCMA triggers and alert types and discuss the type of nursing and pharmacy workarounds occurring with the use of BCMA technology and the electronic medication administration record (eMAR).METHODS:Medication scanning and override reports from January 1, 2008, through November 30, 2008, for all adult medical/surgical units were retrospectively evaluated for high-alert medication system triggers, alert types, and override reason documentation. An observational study of nursing workarounds on an adult medicine step-down unit was performed and an analysis of potential pharmacy workarounds affecting BCMA and the eMAR was also conducted.RESULTS:Seventeen ...
The Generalizability of Psychographic Market Segments across Geographic Locations

Psychographic segmentation solutions developed for 17 different cities were compared. The findings indicate that psychographic segments which are developed for markets in one geographic location ar...
Plasma hemoglobin and hemoglobin fractions in sickle cell crisis.

The geometric mean of plasma hemoglobin concentrations assayed by a modified benzidine procedure in 14 patients with sickle cell anemia (S-S hemoglobin) during 18 painful crises was 8.5 mg. per 100 ml. as compared with 5.9 mg. per 100 ml. during quiescent periods and 0.3 mg. per 100 ml. in normal controls. On the first and second days of crisis, plasma hemoglobin values were highest (15.3 and 10.1 mg. per 100 ml., respectively), dropping precipitously to steady state plateaus, sometimes with secondary rises and usually paralleling clinical symptomatology. Methemalbumin, free hemoglobin, and haptoglobin-bound hemoglobin were estimated by plasma electrophoresis and scan of benzidine-stained paper strips. Fraction values during crisis were variable, with high initial methemalbumin or free hemoglobin, or both, and often elevations of haptoglobin-bound hemoglobin. The highest plasma hemoglobin observed, 40.8 mg. per 100 ml., could be accounted for by intravascular hemolysis of only 20 ml. of blood. This indicates that “hyperhemolysis” in sickle cell crisis is minor, presumably secondary, and different in principle from the massive intravascular hemolysis observed in immunohemolytic anemias, hereditary enzyme deficiencies, or hemolytic septicemias.
Printable Electronics: Patterning of Conductive Materials for Novel Applications

The convergence of materials science, printing, and electronics promises to offer low cost and high volume production of devices such as transistors, RFID tags, wearable electronics and other novel applications. Although a number of “soft lithographic” techniques have been used to make these devices, they are slow and have a limited production volume [5], [14–15]. Here high volume printing processes like rotary letterpress, flexography and offset lithography have been investigated for patterning conductive materials [1]. The synthesis and development of conducting inks using electrically functional polymers has been studied. The feasibility of using such inks in high volume printing processes has been studied. An attempt has been made to print conductive interdigitated electrodes using these inks to obtain uniform coating properties and appropriate electrical characteristics. Various process parameters like type of substrate, inking time and speed, printing pressure, printing force and ink formulation have been investigated.
Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Kidney with Vena Caval Involvement: Report of 3 Cases and A Review of the Literature

Abstractuncommon, with only 9 cases having been reported to our knowledge. We report 3 additional cases and review this subject with particular attention to symptoms, radiographic evaluation and the importance of early diagnosis.
Direct evidence for tonic sympathetic support of resting metabolic rate in healthy adult humans

The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) plays an important role in the regulation of energy expenditure. However, whether tonic SNS activity contributes to resting metabolic rate (RMR) in healthy adul...
Nonalloyed Al ohmic contacts to Mg x Zn 1-x O

Al nonalloyed ohmic contacts were fabricated and characterized on MgxZn1-xO (0 ≤ × ≤ 0.34) epilayers, which were grown on R-plane sapphire substrates by metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). Specific contact resistances were evaluated by the transmission line method (TLM). A specific contact resistance of 2.5 × 10-5 Ωcm2 was obtained for Al contact to ZnO with an electron concentration of 1.6 × 1017 cm-3. The current flow mechanism was studied by investigating the dependence of specific contact resistances on electron concentration and on temperature. For Al contact to Mg0.34Zn0.66O, specific contact resistance values are two orders of magnitude larger than that of Al ohmic contacts to ZnO.
Contemporary outcomes of open thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair: functional status is the strongest predictor of perioperative mortality.

Abstract Background Open repair of thoracoabdominal and descending thoracic aneurysm (TAA) carries significant operative morbidity and mortality. Despite evolving operative techniques patient-level risk factors affecting mortality after open TAA repair, including patient functional status, remain to be fully understood. Materials and methods We identified all open TAA repair cases in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database between 2005 and 2013. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the effect of patients' age, gender, race, body mass index (BMI), comorbid conditions, functional status, ASA class, smoking, rupture, descending thoracic aneurysm versus Crawford types, dissection, and preoperative: transfusion, creatinine levels, on perioperative (30-d) mortality after open TAA repair. Results A total of 1048 patients underwent open TAA repair during the 9-y study period. Mean patient age was (mean ± SEM) 67 ± 0.4 y, mean BMI was 27 ± 6 kg m 2 , and most patients (60%) were male. Perioperative mortality was 14.0% (nonruptured 11.4% versus ruptured 34.2%, P P P P = 0.04), whereas each year in patient age or unit increase in BMI increased the risk of death by 4% (OR = 1.04, 95% CI = 1.02-1.07, P P = 0.04, respectively). Conclusions Patients' functional status is the strongest independent predictor of perioperative death. Other patient-level factors, including increasing age, BMI, and renal dysfunction, also play a role. Appropriate patient selection for open TAA repair is essential for achieving good outcomes.
What Actually Happened: Fascism and Anti-Fascism, 1918–51

Even before there were organised fascists in Britain, there were individuals who articulated ideas which were close to the ideas of fascism. The extreme wing of the Conservative Party, the so-called Radical Right, was anti-socialist and ultra-imperialist. Any number of respectable thinkers flirted with anti-Semitism or demagogic National Socialism. A list of such precursor-fascists would include Hilaire Belloc, Lord Milner, G. K. Chesterton, Joseph Chamberlain and Edward Carson.1 Most of these, however, looked to the traditional elites and to the Conservative Party as the means to protect the property of the rich. If they organised outside the Conservative Party they did so as individuals, around newspapers such as The Patriot and The Morning Post, or in pressure groups including the Parliamentary Alien Immigration Committee, the Tariff Reform League, the Anti-Socialist Union, the National League for Clean Government and the British Empire Union (BEU).2 At times these pressure groups did act as proto-fascist parties, such as during the organised campaign against Jewish immigration between 1901 and 1906. Even then, however, these were campaigns and not parties. The leaders of the groups came from within the establishment, they were usually rich and often Conservative MPs. The British Brothers’ League, for example, was founded by Tories, including William Stanley Shaw, Howard Vincent and Major William Evans- Gordon MP.3 There was not yet any fascist radicalism or anti-capitalism, not even at the level of rhetoric. So far these right-wing individuals were radical Tories, not fascists.
Complete Genome Sequence of a Novel Strain of Cyanobacterium, Anabaena sp. 4-3

ABSTRACT We report the complete nucleotide sequence of Anabaena sp. 4-3, an efficient producer of sucrose. It was isolated from salt flats near the University of Texas Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas, Texas. The genome may provide insight into the utilization of cyanobacteria as a source for biofuels.
Close Packing Existence of Short-Chain Ionic Liquid Confined in the Nanopore of Silica Ionogel

We used small/wide-angle X-ray scattering and nitrogen gas sorption to explore the structural confinement effects of confining hydrophobic ionic liquid (IL), 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([C6mim][PF6]), in the hydrophilic nanopores of silica ionogels. A nonhydrolytic sol–gel route with tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) as precursor and formic acid solvolysis was adopted to prepare the studied silica ionogels. The results revealed that all these ionogels had fractal silica frameworks, but three distinct nanopores (H2-type nanopores with various radiuses, H3-type board slit-shaped capillary nanopores, and H4-type narrow slit-like nanopores) would be respectively formed with increasing nIL/nTEOS molar ratios. Moreover, neat [C6mim][PF6] formed self-organized nanoscale segregation in the bulk. However, when [C6mim][PF6] was confined within nanopores, narrow H2 and H4 nanopores would destroy this nanoscale segregation; inversely, confined [C6mim][PF6] further formed a more close packing in the...
Catheter directed interventions for acute deep vein thrombosis

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is an extremely common form of vascular disease and impacts a great number of patients worldwide. Acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a subset of VTE and is traditionally been treated with anticoagulation. There is good quality data which suggests the use of catheter directed interventions for the treatment of acute DVT with the aim of reducing post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS). The present review will discuss the various therapies available for acute DVT, focusing on catheter directed interventions, ranging from traditional anticoagulation to the most novel forms of aspiration thrombectomy.
Employing vector quantization on detected facial parts for face recognition

Facial Parts Detection (FPD) approach in conjunction with Vector Quantization (VQ) algorithm are proposed in this paper for face recognition. There are three phases in the proposed system, namely, Preprocessing, Feature Extraction, and Classification. Detecting facial parts, which are nose, both eyes, and mouth, and choosing appropriate dimensions for each part are done in the preprocessing phase. In the feature extraction phase, four groups for each person, one group for each detected part, are constructed for dimensionality reduction and feature discrimination by considering all parts of all training poses. For further data compaction, VQ algorithm employing Kekre Fast Codebook Generation (KFCG) approach for codebook initialization is applied to each of the four groups. Finally, Euclidean distance criterion is used to obtain the recognition rates. Four databases, namely, ORL, YALE, FERET, and FEI that have different facial variations, such as illuminations, rotations, makeups, facial expressions, etc. are used to evaluate the proposed system. Experimental work is performed to evaluate the performance of the proposed technique and the state-of-the-arts approaches. Then, K-Fold Cross Validation (CV) is used to analyze the results. The proposed system consistently improved the recognition rates as well as the storage requirements. Sample results are given.
Comparison of caffeine disposition following administration by oral solution (energy drink) and inspired powder (AeroShot) in human subjects.

Aims To determine the disposition and effects of caffeine after administration using a new dosage form (AeroShot) that delivers caffeine by inspiration of a fine powder into the oral cavity and compare it to an equivalent dose of an oral solution (energy drink) as the reference standard. Methods Healthy human subjects (n = 17) inspired a 100 mg caffeine dose using the AeroShot device or consumed an energy drink on separate study days. Heart rate, blood pressure and subject assessments of effects were measured over an 8-h period. Plasma concentrations of caffeine and its major metabolites were determined by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. Pharmacokinetic, cardiovascular and perceived stimulant effects were compared between AeroShot and energy drink phases using a paired t test and standard bioequivalency analysis. Results Caffeine disposition was similar after caffeine administration by the AeroShot device and energy drink: peak plasma concentration 1790 and 1939 ng ml–1, and area under the concentration–time curve (AUC) 15 579 and 17 569 ng ml–1 × h, respectively, but they were not bioequivalent: AeroShot AUC of 80.3% (confidence interval 71.2–104.7%) and peak plasma concentration of 86.3% (confidence interval 62.8–102.8%) compared to the energy drink. Female subjects did have a significantly larger AUC compared to males after consumption of the energy drink. The heart rate and blood pressure were not significantly affected by the 100 mg caffeine dose, and there were no consistently perceived stimulant effects by the subjects using visual analogue scales. Conclusion Inspiration of caffeine as a fine powder using the AeroShot device produces a similar caffeine profile and effects compared to administration of an oral solution (energy drink).
The effect of calf-hood pneumonia on heifer survival and subsequent performance

Abstract Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex (BRD) is a prevalent and economically important disease in growing cattle. The objectives of this research were to evaluate the effect of year and season of birth on BRD and other disease incidence during the first 6 months of life and to evaluate the effect of BRD and disease incidence at ≤6 months on survival and age at first calving. Additionally, we analyzed the effect of BRD and other disease on lactating dairy cow milk yield and body weight. Health events, cull and mortality records, and calving dates were obtained from Holstein heifer calves (n = 1590) born between January 2000 and April 2015 on the Pennsylvania State University (PSU) dairy herd. There were 1055 cattle included in the cow performance dataset, which yielded 708,162 daily milk yield observations and 560,059 daily body weight observations. Year of birth (P
In vitro reconstitution, functional dissection, and mutational analysis of metal ion transport by mitoferrin-1

Iron is universally important to cellular metabolism, and mitoferrin-1 and -2 have been proposed to be the iron importers of mitochondria, the cell's assembly plant of heme and iron–sulfur clusters. These iron-containing prosthetic groups are critical for a host of physiological processes ranging from oxygen transport and energy consumption to maintaining protein structural integrity. Mitoferrin-1 (Mfrn1) belongs to the mitochondrial carrier (MC) family and is atypical given its putative metallic cargo; most MCs transport nucleotides, amino acids, or other small- to medium-size metabolites. Despite the clear importance of Mfrn1 in iron utilization, its transport activity has not been demonstrated unambiguously. To bridge this knowledge gap, we have purified recombinant Mfrn1 under non-denaturing conditions and probed its metal ion–binding and transport functions. Isothermal titration calorimetry indicates that Mfrn1 has micromolar affinity for Fe(II), Mn(II), Co(II), and Ni(II). Mfrn1 was incorporated into defined liposomes, and iron transport was reconstituted in vitro, demonstrating that Mfrn1 can transport iron. Mfrn1 can also transport manganese, cobalt, copper, and zinc but discriminates against nickel. Experiments with candidate ligands for cellular labile iron reveal that Mfrn1 transports free iron and not a chelated iron complex and selects against alkali divalent ions. Extensive mutagenesis identified multiple residues that are crucial for metal binding, transport activity, or both. There is a clear abundance of residues with side chains that can coordinate first-row transition metal ions, suggesting that these could form primary or auxiliary metal-binding sites during the transport process.
Neoliberal restructuring of the world polity: the weakening of the Montreal Protocol and Basel Convention in historical perspective

ABSTRACTWorld polity theory argues that as nation-states become further integrated in global governance they adopt attributes associated with the institutional order, including concern for the envi...
Following a Student into Her Science Classroom to Better Understand the Tensions of Science Education

Much has been written about pedagogical content knowledge, and it continues to be an elusive yet tantalizing construct for science teacher educators. In my work in self-study of my teaching practices, I have spent considerable time examining the assignments given to students in my class by analyzing their work. In the process, I have learned much about my own practice. Although much of my work has focused on how novices develop, I have come to realize that I can also learn about factors that relate to how novices develop pedagogical content knowledge for teaching science. I present that case study of one student, Wendy, to illustrate some barriers to her development of pedagogical content knowledge and how those barriers were revealed in her early work in the teacher education program. In the process of studying Wendy’s development as a science teacher, my self-study helped me to understand and resolve my personal concerns about a significant tension in science education: formative assessment that supports learning versus standardized examinations that can constrain learning.
Esthetic considerations with removable partial dentures

The reduction in partial edentulism that has occurred due to successful preventive procedures and the predictable use of osseointegrated implants has reduced the need for removable partial dentures. However, for a variety of reasons, many patients can continue to benefit from partial denture therapy; and these patients deserve the best esthetic result possible. The primary esthetic objection to removable partial denture therapy is the unsightly display of the clasp assemblies. This article describes three strategies that can be used by the discriminating clinician to eliminate the display of the clasp assembly and provide an esthetic and functional removable prosthesis.
Enterprise Integration: An Experiential Learning Model

This chapter describes an Experiential Learning model that I developed and have used for several years in our IST senior-level Advanced Enterprise Integration capstone course. I have written and presented on this model many times over the last several years and in this chapter I will describe the rationale for the model, explain the components of the model, and discuss student reactions to the model.