cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Yield response of wheat and barley to inoculation of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria at various levels of nitrogen fertilization

The yield response of a wheat (Kirik) and a barley (Tokak 157/37) cultivar to inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense Sp246 and Bacillus sp. OSU-142 was studied in relation to three levels of N fertilization (0, 40, and 80 kg ha–1) under field conditions in Erzurum, Turkey, in 1999 and 2000. Seed inoculation with A. brasilense Sp246 significantly affected yield and yield components, both in wheat and barley. On average of years and N doses, inoculation with A. brasilense Sp246 increased spike number per m2, grain number per spike, grain yield, and crude protein content by 7.2, 5.9, 14.7, and 4.1 % in wheat and by 6.6, 8.1, 17.5, and 5.1 % in barley, respectively, as compared to control. Inoculation with Bacillus sp. OSU-142 significantly increased kernel number per spike in wheat, but no significant effect was determined in the other characteristics. Grain yields and yield components were also higher at all levels of nitrogen fertilizer in the inoculated plots as compared to the control. However, these increases diminished at high fertilizer levels. These results suggest that application of the growth promoting bacteria A. brasilense Sp246 may have the potential to be used as a biofertilizer for spring wheat and barley cultivation in organic and low-N input agriculture. No translation.
Interface cracks in anisotropic elastic bimaterials—a decomposition principle

Abstract For a mismatched bimaterial with a single interface crack subject to a constant traction along the crack surface, the solution can be written explicitly, separated into oscillatory part and non-oscillatory part. The separation is shown to be related to the decomposition of the surface traction t r into two components t 0 π and 7 π t 0 π is in the direction of the right null vector of the Ŝ matrix defined in the paper and t 7 π lies on the right eigenplane of Ŝ. The solution associated with t 0 π is non-oscillatory. It has the property that the traction along the interface is in the direction of the right null vector of Ŝ while the crack opening displacement is in the direction of the left null vector of Ŝ. The solution associated with t 7 π . on the other hand, is oscillatory. It has the property that the traction along the interface lies on the right eigenplane of Ŝ while the crack opening displacement lies on the left eigenplane of Ŝ. The same decomposition and properties hold for multiple interface cracks with variable tractions prescribed on the crack surfaces.
METHODS OF FITTING A STRAIGHT LINE TO DATA: EXAMPLES IN WATER RESOURCES

Three methods of fitting straight lines to data are described and their purposes are discussed and contrasted in terms of their applicability in various water resources contexts. The three methods are ordinary least squares (OLS), least normal squares (LNS), and the line of organic correlation (OC). In all three methods the parameters are based on moment statistics of the data. When estimation of an individual value is the objective, OLS is the most appropriate. When estimation of many values is the objective and one wants the set of estimates to have the appropriate variance, then OC is most appropriate. When one wishes to describe the relationship between two variables and measurement error is unimportant, then OC is most appropriate. Whee the error is important in descriptive problems or in calibration problems, then structural analysis techniques may be most appropriate. Finally, if the problem is one of describing some geographic trajectory, then LNS is most appropriate.
oskar organizes the germ plasm and directs localization of the posterior determinant nanos

Oskar is one of seven Drosophila maternal-effect genes that are necessary for germline and abdomen formation. We have cloned oskar and show that oskar RNA is localized to the posterior pole of the oocyte when germ plasm forms. This polar distribution of oskar RNA is established during oogenesis in three phases: accumulation in the oocyte, transport toward the posterior, and finally maintenance at the posterior pole of the oocyte. The colocalization of oskar and nanos in wild-type and bicaudal embryos suggests that oskar directs localization of the posterior determinant nanos. We propose that the pole plasm is assembled stepwise and that continued interaction among its components is required for germ cell determination.
Back to the scanner: expected and unexpected imaging findings following spinal puncture and access

Spinal canal procedures to withdraw fluid or introduce drugs are common minimally invasive techniques after which patients may experience new symptoms causing presentation to the emergency department. CT or MR imaging as part of the diagnostic workup may reveal expected or unexpected findings which may explain these symptoms. Small foci of gas within the spinal canal or intracranial compartment are common but are usually self-limited. Postlumbar puncture headache, presumed to be due to intracranial hypotension, may manifest on brain MR as dural thickening and low-lying cerebellar tonsils. Treatment with a blood patch is sometimes required for persistent symptoms. Spinal subarachnoid hemorrhage may be a devastating complication of dural puncture and may result in pain and paraplegia. In this review, technical details of these procedures are described and examples of common and uncommon postprocedure appearances on imaging are presented.
Purification and characterization of a glycoprotein, from normal human liver, which has the same molecular weight and chemical properties as plasma α1-antrypsin

An α1-mantitrypsin-like material has been purified to homogeneity from the soluble fraction of normal human liver by procedures adapted from those employed for plasma α1-antrypsin. The liver material, in contrast to a previous report1 has the same molecular weight as the corresponding normal plasma α1-antrypsin. The subunit structure, immunoelectrophoretic and immunological properties of the liver glycoprotein are identical to those of normal plasma α1-antrypsin. Amino acid and carbohydrate compositions of the liver material are similar to those of α1-antrypsin obtained from the plasma. The α1-antrypsin-like material has also been isolated and purified from the microsomal fraction of liver It has the same molecular weight and immunological properties as glycoprotein obtained from the cytosol. Although inhibitors of lysosmal proteases were added during the homogenization of the liver, the purified glycoprotein is devoid of trypsin-inhibitory capacity. The loss of inhibitory activity could be due to extensive cellular autolysis before autopsy.
Notch-Mediated Crosstalk Between Breast Cancer Cells And Endothelial Cells Induces A Transitional Endmt Phenotype Participating To An Endothelial Pro-Tumoral Niche

Notch-Mediated Crosstalk between Breast Cancer Cells and Endothelial Cells Induces a Transitional EndMT Phenotype Participating to an Endothelial Pro-tumoral Niche
Wave-packet motion

The time-dependent Schroedinger equation is integrated numerically to obtain the time evolution of an initially Gaussian packet in the presence of Eckart, truncated quadratic, and untruncated quadratic potentials. Potential and packet parameters are chosen with hydrogen interstitials in transition metals in mind and are varied over significant ranges. Use of the smooth, bounded Eckart potential eliminates the pronounced structure and the anomalous spreading reported previously for other potentials. An interesting transient feature of the scattered packet is found and discussed in terms of the Wigner time delay. Packet transmission coefficients are discussed, and a quasiclassical approximation is found to agree closely with the exact results.
Network reconfiguration to enhance reliability of electric distribution systems

Abstract This paper presents a model for improving the reliability of electric distribution systems through network reconfiguration. Three reliability indices are focussed on: the system average interruption frequency (SAIFI), the system average interruption duration (SAIDI), and the system average availability index (ASAI). It is shown that ASAI is linearly related to SAIDI. It is also shown that if the time required to restore service is the same as the time required to isolate a fault, minimizing SAIFI will lead to minimization of SAIDI. The mathematical formulations for calculating the change of SAIDI and SAIFI as a result of reconfiguration are presented. Methods for identifying beneficial load transfers are developed. The procedure is illustrated by an example. The relationship with electrical loss reduction is discussed.
Understanding requirements for computer-aided healthcare workflows: experiences and challenges

Medical informatics and software engineering researchers have studied how to use software technologies to define, analyze, automate, and provide decision support for healthcare workflows. We, as the requirement engineering and prototyping group of the Siemens R&D center, have been involved in the research and development of healthcare workflows. During interactions with the workflow users and developers, we found significant confusion about the terminologies and the purposes of supporting different healthcare workflows. Thus, we are motivated to classify computer-aided healthcare workflows, including their approaches, goals, and major characteristics. This paper also discusses workflow application issues and software challenges based upon our experiences and research.
Classification of fermented foods: worldwide review of household fermentation techniques

Abstract Fermented foods are of great significance because they provide and preserve vast quantities of nutritious foods in a wide diversity of flavors, aromas and textures which enrich the human diet. Fermented foods have been with us since humans arrived on Earth. They will be with us far into the future as they are the source of alcoholic foods/beverages, vinegar, pickled vegetables, sausages, cheeses, yogurts, vegetable protein amino acid/peptide sauces and pastes with meat-like flavors, leavened and sour-dough breads. While the Western world can afford to enrich its foods with synthetic vitamins, the developing world must rely upon biological enrichment for its vitamins and essential amino acids. The affluent Western world cans and freezes much of its foods but the developing world must rely upon fermentation and dehydration to preserve its foods at costs within the budgets of the average consumer. All consumers today have a considerable portion of their nutritional needs met through fermented foods and beverages. This is likely to expand in the twenty-first century when world population reaches 8–12 billion.
Design and Analysis of an Urban Building Integrated PV System

The objective of the present project is to estimate the power generated from solar energy absorbed by photovoltaic panels mounted on the facade of a building in an urban environment, taking into account shading and reflection from neighboring buildings. A simple prototype of an urban development has been designed and modeled in AutoCAD, with the help of AccuRender. This paper includes the simulation of the model, taking into consideration the building geometry, orientation with respect to the sun, material properties of the surrounding buildings, and ground reflections. Also included is a discussion about a scaled physical model that is being used to validate the computer modeling, followed by a case study on the installation of a BIPV system on Ten Penn Center in Center City, Philadelphia.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Finding the missing piece: Blocks, puzzles, and shapes fuel school readiness

Abstract Experiences with spatial toys such as blocks, puzzles, and shape games, and the spatial words and gestures they evoke from adults, have a significant influence on the early development of spatial skills. Spatial skills are important for success in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields [77] (e.g., Wai, Lubinski, Benbow and Steiger, 2010), and are related to early mathematics performance [48] (Mix and Cheng, 2012), as early as age 3 [73] (Verdine, Golinkoff et al., in press). This paper focuses on the effects of early spatial experiences and their impacts on school readiness, discusses factors that influence the amount and quality of spatial play, and suggests methods for providing a “spatial education” prior to school entry.
Utility of inframalleolar arterial bypass grafting.

Abstract Sixty-five patients received 68 inframalleolar arterial grafts for severe rest pain, foot ulceration, or gangrene. Patients were elderly with an average age of 68 years (median 72); most had several operative risk factors. Reversed saphenous vein grafts were used early, but most conduits were in situ vein grafts. The recipient vessel was the dorsalis pedis artery in 39 patients, the posterior tibial in 27, and tarsal branches in two. Preoperative angiography was routinely performed with biplanar and digital arterial techniques, but in nearly a third a suitable bypass vessel was not identified preoperatively. When vessels were identified there was usually only a single patent artery suitable for bypass grafting below the knee. There were five postoperative deaths (7.6%). Eight grafts (11%) required early revision for thrombosis or retained valve, and six were salvaged and remained patent. Poor vein quality appeared responsible for the two early failures. Six late graft occlusions occurred from 4 to 39 months (mean 14 months). Three of these patients had no recurrence of their ulceration, but two required amputation, and one has continued rest pain. One additional amputation was required in a patient with a patent graft. Eleven late deaths (16%) occurred (nine with patent grafts) primarily of cardiac causes. (J VASC SURG 1990;11:164-70.)
Quantum Counterpart of Gibbs Theorem on Entropy and Statistical Dependence

In terms of a quantum statistical operator $\ensuremath{\rho}$ and associated reduced statistical operators ${\ensuremath{\rho}}^{(1)}$ and ${\ensuremath{\rho}}^{(2)}$, one defines corresponding entropies $S$, ${S}^{(1)}$, and ${S}^{(2)}$. It is shown that $S\ensuremath{\leqq}{S}^{(1)}+{S}^{(2)}$, with equality if $\ensuremath{\rho}$ equals the direct product ${\ensuremath{\rho}}^{(1)}\ensuremath{\bigotimes}{\ensuremath{\rho}}^{(2)}$. Thus the statistical dependence and greater information implicitly contained in $\ensuremath{\rho}$ yields an entropy smaller than that obtained for the case in which $\ensuremath{\rho}$ factors into the statistically independent form ${\ensuremath{\rho}}^{(1)}\ensuremath{\bigotimes}{\ensuremath{\rho}}^{(2)}$. This is the quantum counterpart of a classical theorem published by Gibbs in 1902.
Impact of the University of California, Los Angeles/Charles R. Drew University Medical Education Program on medical students' intentions to practice in underserved areas

Purpose To estimate the impact of a U.S. inner-city medical education program on medical school graduates' intentions to practice in underserved communities. Method The authors conducted an analysis of secondary data on 1,088 medical students who graduated from either the joint University of California, Los Angeles/Charles R. Drew University Medical Education Program (UCLA/Drew) or the UCLA School of Medicine between 1996 and 2002. Intention to practice in underserved communities was measured using students' responses to questionnaires administered at matriculation and graduation for program improvement by the Association of American Medical Colleges. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to compare the odds of intending to practice in underserved communities among UCLA/Drew students with those of their counterparts in the UCLA School of Medicine. Results Compared with students in the UCLA School of Medicine, UCLA/Drew students had greater adjusted odds of reporting intention to work in underserved communities at graduation, greater odds of maintaining or increasing such intentions between matriculation and graduation, and lower odds of decreased intention to work in underserved communities between matriculation and graduation. Conclusions Training in the UCLA/Drew program was independently associated with intention to practice medicine in underserved communities, suggesting that a medical education program can have a positive effect on students' goals to practice in underserved areas.
A survey of microcomputer use in small psychology departments

A survey of microcomputer use in psychology showed equal frequency of use for teaching, research, and administration. Respondents with computer experience evaluated microcomputer contributions more highly than did those respondents without experience but with an interest in using computer systems. Apple lIe s were the most popular machines, word processing the most popular use, and experimental and statistical psychology the most popular courses for using com- puters. Sixty percent of the users wrote their own software. . As a psychologist at a small private university, I am particularly interested in the impact of microcomputer technology on small- to moderate-sized psychology departments across the country; a search of the literature failed to turn up any information about the application of this technology to psychology since Castellan's (1982) report ofa 1979 survey. Since Castellan' s survey preceded the widespread availability of microcomputers, I decided to conduct a survey to determine current usage in psy­ chology.
ROS as a tumour suppressor

Senescence is an important mechanism for suppressing mammalian tumours and it may also contribute to aging. A new study suggests that changes in the metabolism of oxygen radicals are important for establishing senescence and blocking cytokinesis to ensure senescent cells never divide again.
SOME STATISTICAL ISSUES IN THE ESTIMATION OF A SIMPLE COST‐VOLUME‐PROFIT MODEL*

This paper presents point and interval estimators of both long-run and single-period target quantities in a simple cost-volume-profit (C-V-P) model. This model is a stochastic version of the “accountant's break-even chart” where the major component is a semivariable cost function. Although these features suggest obvious possibilities for practical application, a major purpose of this paper is to examine the statistical properties of target quantity estimators in C-V-P analysis. It is shown that point estimators of target quantity are biased and possess no moments of positive order, but are consistent. These properties are also shared by previous break-even models, even when all parameters are assumed known with certainty. After a test for positive variable margins, Fieller's [6] method is used to obtain interval estimators of relevant target quantities. This procedure therefore minimizes possible ambiguities in stochastic break-even analysis (noted by Ekern [3]).
A regulated solar-array model-a tool for power systems analysis

A digitally regulated solar-array represents a new concept in high-voltage power supply regulation, A mathematical model of the key elements of such a regulator is presented. It can be used in the performance evaluation of the interface between such a power source and a typical load. A range of load conditions and source states can be simulated. The model permits easy incorporation of source performance changes e.g. changes to solar-cell volt-ampere characterisitics due to temperature or due to radiation degradation.
Study on computing separating flows within a diffusion inlet S-duct

A three-dimensional implicit full Navier-Stokes (FNS) analysis and a three-dimensional reduced Navier-Stokes (RNS) initial value space marching solution technique have been applied to a class of separated flow problems within a diffusing S-duct configuration characterized as vortex-liftof f. Both the FNS and the RNS solution technique were able to capture the overall flow physics of vortex liftoff, and gave remarkably similar results which agreed reasonably well with the experimental performance data. However, the FNS and RNS also consistently predicted separation further downstream in the M2129 inlet S-duct than was indicated by experimental data. The separated region associated with vortex liftoff in M2129 inlet S-duct increased in size as the inlet mass flow increased, although the radial extent of the reverse flow region remained very small. Since the reverse flow velocity was also very small, the separated flow in the M2129 S-duct might be regarded as incipient. This, along with the fact that the RNS analysis was able to capture the topology of vortex liftoff, indicates that the parabolized form of the Navier-Stokes equations are appropriate for separated flows represented by the M2129 inlet S-duct.
Visitor patterns of a profitable website

The vast quantities of data generated from Web log files are a mixed blessing for marketers. On the one hand, they offer unprecedented opportunity to learn about customers and customise marketing programmes, but on the other hand they pose considerable difficulties for extracting relevant information. Well-defined metrics backed up by sound theoretical models and exploratory visualisation tools provide a way for managers to learn about their customers from records of their Web visits.
A new look at forecasting annual corporate earnings in the U.S.A.

Abstract In this study, composite earnings per share models are estimated for 35 chemical, food, and utility firms during the 1981–1982 period. Although it is generally held that financial analysts produce superior earnings forecasts when compared to time series model forecasts, the results of this study indicate that analysts fared very poorly in 1982 and the average mean square forecasting error of analyst forecasts may be reduced by 74.2 percent by combining analyst and univariate time series model forecasts. This reduction is very interesting when one finds that the univariate time series model forecasts do not substantially deviate from those produced by random walk drift models, the ARIMA (0, 1, 1) process. Moreover, despite the high degree of correlation existing among analyst and time series forecasts, the ordinary least squares estimation of the composite earnings model is a better forecasting model than the composite earnings models estimated with ridge regression and latent root regression techniques.
Towards a routing framework in ad hoc space networks

A routing framework called Space Gateway Routing (SGR) is proposed for routing through Autonomous Regions (ARs) in ad hoc space networks. SGR has two integral parts: External SGR (ESGR) and Interior SGR (ISGR). ESGR addresses the delivery of different traffic types through ARs. Location-Predicted Directional Broadcast is proposed for fast delivery of remote control messages and automatic data delivery, and Receiver-Initiated On-demand Routing is for controlled data delivery. ISGR exchanges inter-AR routing information among border routers within an AR and schedules inter-AR message transmissions. Longest Queues and Minimum Waiting policies are proposed for contact allocation and inter-region message scheduling, respectively.
Temporal trends (1975 through 1990) in the incidence and case-fatality rates of primary ventricular fibrillation complicating acute myocardial infarction. A communitywide perspective.

BACKGROUNDAs part of a population-based study of acute myocardial infarction, we examined changes over time in the incidence and in-hospital case-fatality rates of primary ventricular fibrillation complicating acute myocardial infarction.METHODS AND RESULTSPatients with validated acute myocardial infarction hospitalized at 16 hospitals in the Worcester, Mass, metropolitan area between 1975 and 1990 comprised the study sample. During the 15-year study period, 5.1% of patients developed primary ventricular fibrillation in the setting of uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction, with this rate remaining relatively constant over time. Both age- and multivariable-adjusted analyses showed no significant trend in the incidence rates of primary ventricular fibrillation during the study period. The in-hospital case-fatality rate for patients with primary ventricular fibrillation was significantly elevated compared with the rate for those without primary ventricular fibrillation and uncomplicated acute myocardial ...
Absolute cross section of the K39(n,pp)A39 reaction for 2.5-MeV neutrons

The cross section for the K/sup 3//sup 9/(n,p)Ar/sup 3//sup 9/ reaction, at a neutron energy of 2.46 Mev, is found to be 96 plus or minus 6 mb. The experimental method consists of taking coincidences between the events in a KI(Tl) scintillation crystal and the He/sup 3/ particles that are produced simultaneously with neutrons in the d-d reaction. (auth)
Reactions of Organic Compounds in Explosive-Driven Shock Waves

Shock waves of 1 μs duration and peak temperatures from 900 to 1400 K and pressures from 6 to 16 GPa have been applied to measurement of the rates of a broad spectrum of organic compounds including decomposition of explosives. All reaction rates are consistent with known activation parameters and reaction conditions, and there is no indication of unique chemical processes connected with the subnanosecond rise time of the shock front. Reactions having both positive and negative activation volumes have been studied. Extreme pressure favors ionic reaction mechanisms, whereas extreme temperature favors homolytic mechanisms. Either influence may dominate; thus, cyclohexyl nitrate in benzene gives cyclohexylbenzene by a reaction of Friedel−Crafts type, whereas neopentyl nitrate undergoes homolysis, β-scission, and recombination to give 2-nitro-2-methylpropane. When methanol is used as a solvent, it ionizes extensively and promotes a variety of reactions which ordinarily require acid or base catalysis such as es...
Dialogues in Performance: A Team-Taught Course on the Afterlife in the Classical and Italian Traditions

This article provides a reflection on a teamteaching experience in which performative dialogues between co-instructors and among students provided a pedagogical framework within which comparative analysis of textual traditions within the classical tradition could be optimized. Performative dialogues thus provided a model for and enactment of interdisciplinary engagement.
Cardiomyopathy associated with noninsulin-dependent diabetes.

Cardiovascular disease represents the major cause of morbidity and mortality in noninsulin-dependent diabetic patients. While it was once thought that atherosclerotic vascular disease was responsible for all of these adverse effects, recent studies support the notion that one of the major adverse complications of diabetes is the development of a diabetic cardiomyopathy characterized by defects in both diastolic and systolic function. Contributing to the development of the cardiomyopathy is a shift in myosin isozyme content in favor of the least active V3 form. Also defective in the noninsulin-dependent diabetic heart is regulation of calcium homeostasis. While transport of calcium by the sarcolemmal and sarcoplasmic reticular calcium pumps are minimally affected by noninsulin-dependent diabetes, significant impairment occurs in sarcolemmal Na+-Ca2+ exchanger activity. This defect limits the ability of the diabetic heart to extrude calcium, contributing to an elevation in [Ca2+]i. Also promoting the accumulation of calcium by the diabetic cell is a decrease in Na+, K+ ATPase activity, which is known to increase [Ca2+]i secondary to a rise in [Na+]i. In addition, calcium influx via the calcium channel is stimulated. Although the molecular mechanisms underlying these defects are presently unknown, the possibility that they may be related to aberrations in glucose or lipid metabolism are considered. The evidence suggests that classical theories of glucose toxicity, such as excessive polyol production or glycosylation, appear to be insignificant factors in heart. Also insignificant are defects in lipid metabolism leading to accumulation of toxic lipid amphiphiles or triacylglycerol. Rather, the major defects involve membrane changes, such as phosphatidylethanolamine N-methylation and protein phosphorylation, which can be attributed to the state of insulin resistance.
The evolving theory of quality management: The role of Six Sigma

Abstract While Six Sigma is increasingly implemented in industry, little academic research has been done on Six Sigma and its influence on quality management theory and application. There is a criticism that Six Sigma simply puts traditional quality management practices in a new package. To investigate this issue and the role of Six Sigma in quality management, this study reviewed both the traditional quality management and Six Sigma literatures and identified three new practices that are critical for implementing Six Sigma's concept and method in an organization. These practices are referred to as: Six Sigma role structure, Six Sigma structured improvement procedure, and Six Sigma focus on metrics. A research model and survey instrument were developed to investigate how these Six Sigma practices integrate with seven traditional quality management practices to affect quality performance and business performance. Test results based on a sample of 226 US manufacturing plants revealed that the three Six Sigma practices are distinct practices from traditional quality management practices, and that they complement the traditional quality management practices in improving performance. The implications of the findings for researchers and practitioners are discussed and further research directions are offered.
Analysis of facial features of drivers under cognitive and visual distractions

Drivers are exposed to a growing risk of being distracted with the recent development of in-vehicle systems for navigation, communication and infotainment. As a result, there is a need for tracking systems that can monitor the drivers' attention. This study investigates driver distractions using a multimodal corpus collected from real world driving scenarios. The paper focuses on facial cues automatically extracted from a frontal camera facing the driver. We conducted subjective evaluations by external observers to assess the perceived visual and cognitive distraction of drivers performing secondary tasks. The data is divided into two classes - distracted and normal. This partition is separately created for visual and cognitive scores. Binary classifiers are built with features describing action units (AU) and gaze (e.g., head poses). The classifiers achieve 80.8% F-score for visual distractions, and 73.8% F-score for cognitive distractions. The study identifies features that are relevant for detecting both types of distractions. Furthermore, the paper presents a logistic regression analysis to identify facial features that are useful for detecting samples in which cognitive distraction scores are not related to visual distraction scores. The analysis reveals the benefits of using AU in cognitive related distraction detection.
USE OF INHALATIONAL ISOFLURANE TO PROMOTE AIRWAY RELAXATION DURING FIBEROPTIC BRONCHOSCOPY IN PEDIATRIC STATUS ASTHMATICUS 207

Background: Bronchospasm may be triggered by bronchoscopy. Inhalational anesthetics are known to promote relaxation of airway smooth muscle.
Effects of three doses of transdermal nicotine on post-cessation eating, hunger and weight

Smokers were randomly assigned to 0, 7, 14 or 21 mg doses of transdermal nicotine and had their eating and weight followed for 6 weeks. Among the 66 subjects who were abstinent for all 6 weeks, caloric, carbohydrate and fat intake, hunger, and weight increased in those on placebo, but alcohol, caffeine and protein intake did not. Nicotine patch decreased caloric, carbohydrate and fat intake in a dose-related manner, showed a trend for weight and showed no effect for hunger. Neither abstinence from smoking nor nicotine therapy shifted the percent of calories from sweets or carbohydrates. We conclude nicotine replacement reduces post-cessation increases in eating but does not have a specific effect on sweet intake.
A prospective study of anaemia and long-term outcomes in kidney transplant recipients

Background. Anaemia is prevalent in kidney transplant recipients (KTR), and only few KTR with anaemia receive treatment with erythropoietin. Some have claimed that this undertreatment might contribute to suboptimal outcomes such as mortality and cardiovascular events in these patients. However, no evidence is currently available that anaemia is actually associated with such risks in KTR. Methods. We merged two cohorts of KTR to study the associations between anaemia and two outcomes: all-cause mortality and kidney allograft loss. Detailed information on the demographic and clinical characteristics of these 825 patients was available at baseline. As recommended by the American Society of Transplantation, anaemia was considered present if the haemoglobin concentration was � 13 g/dl in men or � 12 g/dl in women. Patients were followed using the Austrian Dialysis and Transplant Registry. Results. After 8.2 years of follow-up, 251 patients died and 401 allografts were lost. In multivariate analyses, anaemia was not associated with all-cause mortality (HR: 1.08; 95% CI: 0.80–1.45), but it was associated with 25% greater risk of allograft loss (HR ¼ 1.25; 95% CI: 1.02–1.59). This association was even more pronounced in death-censored analyses. Analyses using haemoglobin as a continuous variable or in categories also found no association with mortality. Conclusions. Anaemia may not be associated with mortality in KTR. In light of the recent findings of increased mortality in chronic kidney disease patients with higher haemoglobin treatment target, further evidence is needed to guide clinicians in the treatment of anaemia in these patients.
OVERCOMING BARRIERS TO WRITING: COMPUTER SUPPORT FOR BASIC WRITING SKILLS

Students who find writing challenging often struggle with the basic transcription processes involved in writing, including handwriting or typing, spelling , capitalization, and punctuation. Problems with transcription are important both because they affect written products and because they interfere with students' ability to attend to higher order processes such as planning and evaluation. Computer tools, including word processing, spelling checkers, speech synthesis, word prediction, and speech recognition software, offer support to writers, but they also have limitations. In this article, the benefits and limitations of these tools are analyzed and the available research on their use is discussed.
A community-based strategy for improving asthma management and outcomes for preschoolers.

Although almost one in ten (8.6%) preschool children has been diagnosed with asthma, few asthma management programs are designed for parents of preschool children. The Asthma Basics for Children program addressed this need in 2003–2008 by implementing a multi-layered approach that offered educational activities to center staff, parents, and children and PACE training to physicians in 31 Northern Manhattan daycare centers. Following program participation, 85% of parents reported reducing their child's triggers, 89% said it was easier to talk to their child's physician, and 80% were confident in their ability to manage their child's asthma. Children's any daytime symptoms dropped from 78% to 42%, any nighttime symptoms from 81% to 49%, any daycare absences from 56% to 38%, any asthma-related emergency department (ED) visits from 74% to 47%, and any asthma-related hospitalizations from 24% to 11% (p < .001 for all differences). Outcomes varied by level of exposure. In the Center-Only group (no parent participation), the only reduction was from 19% to 10% (McNemar = 3.77, p = .052) in hospitalizations. Children whose parents participated in the program had significant reductions in daycare absences (62% to 38%, McNemar = 11.1, p < .001), ED visits (72% to 43%, McNemar = 19.2, p < .001), and hospitalizations (24% to 11%, McNemar = 5.54, p = .018). Children whose parents and healthcare provider participated had the greatest improvements with asthma-related daycare absences dropping from 62% to 32% (McNemar = 9.8, p = .001), ED visits from 72% to 37% (McNemar = 14.4, p < .001), and hospitalizations from 35% to 15% (McNemar = 8.33, p = .003). This study demonstrates that a multi-layered approach can improve asthma outcomes among preschoolers with a combination of parent and provider education having the greatest impact.
Agency Theory, Managerial Welfare, and Takeover Bid Resistance

Tender offers provide an ideal setting for the analysis of agency relationships since the best interests of the principal (target firm shareholders) and agent (target firm managers) are often in conflict. Moreover, the actions and stated rationale of target managers in resisting or not resisting tender offers are readily observable, and the size of the possible agency costs is great. This research provides direct empirical evidence on the relationship between managerial welfare and takeover bid resistance. Tests on a sample of cash tender offers provide support for the managerial welfare hypothesis. The existence or absence of bid resistance is found to be directly related to the personal wealth changes of the target firm's managers. The relationships between managerial actions and bid premium size, bidder nationality, conglomerate offers, and "ex post settling up" are also examined.
Independent fern gametophytes in the wild

Perennial indendent gametophytes of Hymenophyllaceae, Vittariaceae and Grammitidaceae are a well-known phenomenon in the eastern United States. Their persistence is attributed to the ability of gametophytes of these fern families to reproduce themselves vegetatively via gemmae. This paper reviews the biology of independent gametophytes of these families as they exist in the eastern United States and presents new evidence from enzyme electrophoresis regarding their identity and origin.
Analytical methods for heavy metals in herbal medicines.

Introduction – It is estimated that about 70–80% of the world's population relies on non-conventional medicine, mainly of herbal origin. However, owing to the nature and sources of herbal medicines, they are sometimes contaminated with toxic heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, mercury and cadmium, which impose serious health risks to consumers. It is critical to analyse source materials for heavy metals in order to ensure that their concentrations meet the related standards or regulations limiting their concentrations in herbal medicines. In this review, different analytical methods for analysis of heavy metals in herbal medicines are discussed. Objective – To provide a comprehensive review of the current state of the art in analytical methods used to detect heavy metals in herbal medicines. Methodology – We systematically searched and reviewed the research articles regarding analytical methods for heavy metals in herbal medicine from various databases, such as Medline/PubMed, ScienceDirect, SciFinder, Google Scholar, EBSCO, Gale InfoTrac, Ingenta, Ovid, ProQuest and ISI Web of Knowledge. Results – In this review, we discuss in detail several commonly used and sensitive analytical techniques, including atomic absorption spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry or mass spectrometry, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, high-performance liquid chromatography, differential pulse polarography, neutron activation analysis and anodic stripping voltammetry. We also provide some application examples of these analytical techniques for heavy metals in herbal medicines. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Treatment of glioma patients with ketogenic diets: report of two cases treated with an IRB-approved energy-restricted ketogenic diet protocol and review of the literature

Based on the hypothesis that cancer cells may not be able to metabolize ketones as efficiently as normal brain cells, the ketogenic diet (KD) has been proposed as a complementary or alternative therapy for treatment of malignant gliomas. We report here our experience in treating two glioma patients with an IRB-approved energy-restricted ketogenic diet (ERKD) protocol as monotherapy and review the literature on KD therapy for human glioma patients. An ERKD protocol was used in this pilot clinical study. In addition to the two patients who enrolled in this study, we also reviewed findings from 30 other patients, including 5 patients from case reports, 19 patients from a clinical trial reported by Rieger and 6 patients described by Champ. A total of 32 glioma patients have been treated using several different KD protocols as adjunctive/complementary therapy. The two patients who enrolled in our ERKD pilot study were monitored with twice daily measurements of blood glucose and ketones and daily weights. However, both patients showed tumor progression while on the ERKD therapy. Immunohistochemistry reactions showed that their tumors had tissue expression of at least one of the two critical mitochondrial ketolytic enzymes (succinyl CoA: 3-oxoacid CoA transferase, beta-3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase 1). The other 30 glioma patients in the literature were treated with several different KD protocols with varying responses. Prolonged remissions ranging from more than 5 years to 4 months were reported in the case reports. Only one of these patients was treated using KD as monotherapy. The best responses reported in the more recent patient series were stable disease for approximately 6 weeks. No major side effects due to KD have been reported in any of these patients. We conclude that 1. KD is safe and without major side effects; 2. ketosis can be induced using customary foods; 3. treatment with KD may be effective in controlling the progression of some gliomas; and 4. further studies are needed to determine factors that influence the effectiveness of KD, whether as a monotherapy, or as adjunctive or supplemental therapy in treating glioma patients. ClinicalTrials.gov# NCT01535911
On the limitation of Vezzosi's subspace rotation method for angle-of-arrival estimation

Vezzosi (Ann. des Telecommun., vol.37, p.425-39, Sept. 1982) proposed an eigenvector (EV) rotation method to resolve multiple signal arrivals to a sensor array and to estimate their angles-of arrival. In the present work it is shown that the model assumed by Vezzosi implies uncorrelated sources, and that the criterion by which the EV rotation is carried out is based on this implicit assumption. The authors present simulation results demonstrating the behavior of the method in a correlated two-source environment with various magnitudes of correlation coefficient, and they show the dependence of the quality of the estimates on the phase of the correlation coefficient. It is concluded that Vezzosi's method is very effective for resolving uncorrelated arrivals. However, it will encounter problems when the arrivals are partly correlated. >
Physicochemical Properties, Solubility, and Protein Binding of Δ9 -Tetrahydrocannabinol

The rate and extent of glass binding of Δ9 -tetrahydrocannabinol in aqueous solution depend on the surface area and pretreatment of glass and the concentration of the drug. A total of 20 and 40% at 0.1 and 0.05 μg/ml, respectively, was bound to 50-ml volumetric flasks but could be minimized by silyl pretreatment of the glass. The drug rapidly diffused into plastics, and 70–97% was taken up by the rubber closures used for plasma vials. These bindings precluded classical methods of solubility determination, so spectral and particle-size counting determinations, which observed those concentrations at which true solution was terminated, were used. The aqueous solubility was a linear function of both the ethanol concentration (increasing) at constant ionic strength and the square root of the ionic strength (decreasing) at constant ethanol concentration. The salting-out coefficient was of high magnitude and typical solubilities were 2.8 mg/liter in water and 0.77 mg/liter in 0.15 M NaCl at 23°. The bindings also precluded the use of the classical methods of equilibrium dialysis and ultrafiltration to determine the protein binding of tetrahydrocannabinol. A method of variable plasma concentrations was devised, so protein binding was determined from the pseudoplasma concentrations of the drug after the separation of the pseudoplasma from the red blood cells added to form pseudoblood with known concentrations of Δ9 -tetrahydrocannabinol. This use of the competition between the high partitioning of drug between red blood cells with plasma water (D = 12.5) and the binding to plasma protein permitted an estimate of 97% binding which was not drug concentration dependent. The spectrophotometric pKa' of Δ9 -tetrahydrocannabinol was 10.6. Δ9 -Tetrahydrocannabinol degraded readily in acid solutions. Subsequent to a rapid loss, the kinetics appeared to be first-order and specific hydrogen-ion catalyzed. Concomitantly, small amounts of Δ8 -tetrahydrocannabinol were produced, as were two GLC observable products, P2 and P3, and the rate of their appearance appeared to parallel the rate of Δ9 -tetrahydrocannabinol degradation. A peak, P1, also appeared almost instantaneously but did not parallel drug degradation.
Collective mass spectrometry approaches reveal broad and combinatorial modification of high mobility group protein A1a.

Transcriptional states are formed and maintained by the interaction and post-translational modification (PTM) of several chromatin proteins, such as histones and high mobility group (HMG) proteins. Among these, HMGA1a, a small heterochromatin-associated nuclear protein has been shown to be post-translationally modified, and some of these PTMs have been linked to apoptosis and cancer. In cancerous cells, HMGA1a PTMs differ between metastatic and nonmetastatic cells, suggesting the existence of an HMGA1a PTM code analogous to the “histone code.” In this study, we expand on current knowledge by comprehensively characterizing PTMs on HMGA1a purified from human cells using both nanoflow liquid chromatography collision activated dissociation mediated Bottom Up and electron-transfer dissociation facilitated middle and Top Down mass spectrometry (MS). We find HMGA1a to be pervasively modified with many types of modifications such as methylation, acetylation, and phosphorylation, including finding novel sites. While Bottom Up MS identified lower level modification sites, Top and Middle Down MS were utilized to identify the most commonly occurring combinatorially modified forms. Remarkably, although we identify several individual modification sites through our Bottom Up and Middle Down MS analyses, we find relatively few combinatorially modified forms dominate the population through Top Down proteomics. The main combinatorial PTMs we find through the Top Down approach are N-terminal acetylation, Arg25 methylation along with phosphorylation of the three most C-terminal serine residues in primarily a diphosphorylated form. This report presents one of the most detailed analyses of HMGA1a to date and illustrates the strength of using a combined MS effort.