cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In-hospital delays for stroke care: losing sight of patient-centered care

The emergence of patient-centered care has offered a challenge for health professionals in some settings to fully engage patients in all stages of the care process. For example, stroke is a condition that requires urgent and comprehensive care. This comprehensive care may be provided to patients who are experiencing compromised cognitive and communication skills. In addition, “in-hospital delays” in care can occur during the process of evaluation and treatment. In-hospital delays in receipt of acute stroke care and the challenges of post-stroke cognitive and communication functioning can result in some patients having negative perceptions of the care process. This brief communication is an exploration of focus group data that suggest achieving the key elements of patient-centered care is challenging in acute care settings that provide care for complex conditions such as stroke.
Meritocracies or Masculinities? The Differential Allocation of Named Professorships by Gender in the Academy:

This study analyzes differential appointments by gender to the rank of named professorship based on a sample of 511 management professors. This sample represents approximately 90% of our original survey sample of faculty at Tier 1 American research universities, with 10 or more years of experience since receiving their PhD, and whose contact information we could obtain online. Contrary to the tenets of the meritocratic evaluation model, we find that, after controlling for research performance and other factors, women are less likely to be awarded named professorships, particularly when the endowed chair is awarded to an internal candidate. Furthermore, we find that women derive lower returns from their scholarly achievements when it comes to appointments to endowed chairs. Our study suggests that a masculine-gendered environment dominates management departments, leading to shifting standards when it comes to the highest senior appointments in academe.
Observations of Ice Nucleation and Propagation in Plants Using Infrared Video Thermography

We evaluated the use of infrared (IR) video thermography to observe directly ice nucleation and propagation in plants. An imaging radiometer with an HgCdTe long-wave (8-12 [mu]m) detector was utilized to image the thermal response of plants during freezing. IR images were analyzed in real time and recorded on videotape. Information on the videotape was subsequently accessed and analyzed utilizing IR image analysis software. Freezing of water droplets as small as 0.5 [mu]L was clearly detectable with the radiometer. Additionally, a comparison of temperature tracking data collected by the radiometer with data collected with thermocouples showed close correspondence. Monitoring of an array of plant species under different freezing conditions revealed that ice nucleation and propagation are readily observable by thermal imaging. In many instances, the ice nucleation-active bacterium Pseudomonas syringae placed on test plants could be seen to initiate freezing of the whole plant. Apparent ice nucleation by intrinsic nucleators, despite the presence of ice nucleation-active bacteria, was also evident in some species. Floral bud tissues of peach (Prunus persica) could be seen to supercool below the temperature of stem tissues, and ice nucleation at the site of insertion of the thermocouple was frequently observed. Rates of propagation of ice in different tissues were also easily measured by thermal imaging. This study demonstrates that IR thermography is an excellent method for studying ice nucleation and propagation in plants.
The Impact of Quantitative Methods on Hedge Fund Performance

In the last 20 years, the amount of assets managed by quantitative and qualitative hedge funds have grown dramatically. We examine the difference between quantitative and qualitative hedge funds in a variety of ways, including management differences and performance differences. We find that both quantitative and qualitative hedge funds have positive risk-adjusted returns. We also find that overall, quantitative hedge funds as a group have higher αs than qualitative hedge funds. The outperformance might be as high as 72 bps per year when considering all risk factors. We also suggest that this additional performance may be due to better timing ability.
A Comparison of Public and Charter School Board Governance in Three States

In this article we compare the governance behaviors and preferences of nonprofit charter school board members with traditional elected public school board members in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Using originally collected survey data, we find that nonprofit charter school board members are less likely to place emphasis on relations with the public, engage in conflict, be ideologically diverse, and perceive the executive as responsible for key governance tasks than traditionally elected public school board members. The findings provide new information for policymakers weighing the potential benefits of education privatization through the use of nonprofit charter schools against the potential loss of democratic board accountability.
Gender, Race, and Symbolic Boundaries: Contested Spaces of Identity among Arab American Adolescents:

Attention to social patterns within immigrant groups provides a critical means for discerning processes of ethnic identity formation. This study draws from the theoretical foundations of boundary w...
Microsatellite DNA markers for assessing phylogeographic and population structure in Preble's meadow jumping mice (Zapus hudsonius preblei) and cross-amplification among neighbouring taxa

We document the isolation and characterization of 14 tetranucleotide microsatellite DNA markers in Preble's meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius preblei). The identified markers displayed moderate levels of allelic diversity (averaging 4.9 alleles per locus) and heterozygosity (averaging 55.1%). Genotypic and allelic frequencies in a collection of 30 individuals conformed to Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium expectations and indicated no linkage disequilibrium. High levels of cross-amplification (95% overall) among neighbouring subspecies and two congeners (Zapus princeps and Zapus trinotatus) were observed. Multilocus genotypes resulting from these markers appear to provide ample genetic diversity for studies assessing individual- and population–level ecological interactions within Z. h. preblei and evolutionary relationships among neighbouring subspecies (Z. h. campestris, Z. h. intermedius, Z. h. pallidus and Z. h. luteus).
SYNTHESIS OF, CHARACTERIZATION OF, AND PHOTOINDUCED PROCESSES IN POLYMETALLIC TRIAD COMPLEXES CONTAINING FE(II), RU(II), AND RH(III) METAL CENTERS

A series of new trimetallic mixed complexes containing Fe(II), Ru(II), and Rh(III) metal centers have been prepared and characterized, and their excited-state properties in a nanosecond time domain have been investigated. These new compounds were synthesized by following a building block strategy from monomeric Rh(III) and Ru(II) polyazines and tetracyanoferrate(II) ions. The products generated in each synthetic step were fully characterized and their excited-state properties investigated. These new trimetallic complexes, [(CN){sub 4}Fe{sup II}(BL(1))Ru{sup II}(bpy)-(BL(2))Rh{sup III}(tpy)(MQ{sup +})](PF{sub 6}){sub 4} (tpy = 2,2{prime}:6{prime}:2{double_prime}-terpyridine; BL(1) = 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine (dpp) or 2,2{prime}-bipyrimidine (bpm); BL(2) = dpp or bpm; MQ{sup +} = N-methyl-4,4{prime}-bipyridinium (monoquat)), consist of three fundamental parts linked by bridging ligands (1) an electron donor group, the tetracyanoferrate(II) unit; (2) an antenna fragment, the Ru(II) polypyridyl moiety; and (3) an electron acceptor group. The electron acceptor group is a Rh(III) polypyridyl that contains the ligands tpy and MQ{sup +}. No emission was observed in any of the reported complexes either in fluid solutions at room temperature or in glassy solutions at 77 K. Time-resolved experiments conducted on these triads showed formation of a transient intermediate within the laser pulse. Redox properties and transient absorption observations helped the authors to identify the nature of thismore » intermediate as an Fe(III)/Ru(II) mixed-valence species that decays exponentially by following a first-order law with a lifetime of {tau} {le} 70 ns in fluid solution at room temperature.« less
Vascular anomalies of the face and neck.

Dissection of a female cadaver revealed striking vascular anomalies in facial and neck regions. The left facial artery was completely absent; its functions were assumed by two branches of the maxillary. These branches supplied structures normally supplied by them and carried blood to structures typically supplied by the facial artery and its branches. The infraorbital artery replaced the superior labial, lateral nasal and angular arteries; the buccal artery replaced the inferior labial artery. Venous drainage of the left side of the face and anterior neck regions involved chiefly a single facial vein which arose typically, crossed the mandible, entered the neck and coursed to the suprasternal space. Turning laterad it entered the subclavian vein lateral to the entrance of the internal jugular. Vascularization of the right side of the face and neck was typical. Additional anomalies involved branches of the subclavian arteries. On the left side, a vertebral artery originated from the thyrocervical trunk and gave off a small inferior thyroid artery and a much smaller muscular banch. No left ascending cervical artery was evident. A dorsal scapular artery arose fom the third part of the subclavian. On the right side, thyrocervical and costocervical trunks were present branching typically but originating in reverse mediolaterad order. All branches from the right subclavian artery, including a dorsal scapular, arose from the first part of the subclavian.
Disruption of focal adhesion kinase and p53 interaction with small molecule compound R2 reactivated p53 and blocked tumor growth

Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) is a 125 kDa non-receptor kinase that plays a major role in cancer cell survival and metastasis. We performed computer modeling of the p53 peptide containing the site of interaction with FAK, predicted the peptide structure and docked it into the three-dimensional structure of the N-terminal domain of FAK involved in the complex with p53. We screened small molecule compounds that targeted the site of the FAK-p53 interaction and identified compounds (called Roslins, or R compounds) docked in silico to this site. By different assays in isogenic HCT116p53+/+ and HCT116 p53-/- cells we identified a small molecule compound called Roslin 2 (R2) that bound FAK, disrupted the binding of FAK and p53 and decreased cancer cell viability and clonogenicity in a p53-dependent manner. In addition, dual-luciferase assays demonstrated that the R2 compound increased p53 transcriptional activity that was inhibited by FAK using p21, Mdm-2, and Bax-promoter targets. R2 also caused increased expression of p53 targets: p21, Mdm-2 and Bax proteins. Furthermore, R2 significantly decreased tumor growth, disrupted the complex of FAK and p53, and up-regulated p21 in HCT116 p53+/+ but not in HCT116 p53-/- xenografts in vivo. In addition, R2 sensitized HCT116p53+/+ cells to doxorubicin and 5-fluorouracil. Thus, disruption of the FAK and p53 interaction with a novel small molecule reactivated p53 in cancer cells in vitro and in vivo and can be effectively used for development of FAK-p53 targeted cancer therapy approaches.
A resistive linear antenna for ground-penetrating radars

The resistive vee dipole (RVD) loaded with the Wu-King profile has many advantages for use in ground-penetrating radar (GPR) applications. It can be designed to transmit a temporally-short pulse to a small spot on the ground. The shape of the transmitted pulse is simply related to the input signal, e.g., a derivative. The RVD also has a low radar cross section. In addition, it can be easily manufactured using a circuit board and discretely loading it with chip resistors. One drawback of the RVD is that the input impedance of the RVD increases significantly with decreasing frequency and, therefore, has a high voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) at low frequencies, which limits the low-frequency response of the antenna. To improve the low-frequency response, a discretely-loaded resistive linear antenna (RLA) has been developed, whose basic principle of operation is the same as that of the RVD. The RLA has curved arms loaded with a modified Wu-King profile instead of straight arms loaded with the Wu-King profile. With an appropriate selection of the curve and the loading profile, the low-frequency response is significantly better for the RLA than for the RVD. The RLA has been developed using a method of moments code. The performance of the RLA is validated both numerically and experimentally.
Synaptosomal transport and acetylation of choline.

Abstract Acetylcholine (ACh) synthesis can be impaired by reduction of the availability of either of its precursors, choline (Ch) or acetylcoenzyme A (AcCoA). The high affinity transport of Ch is inhibited by hemicholinium-3 and this results in reduced synthesis of ACh (1–3). Under some circumstances ACh metabolism in the brain appears to be affected by parenteral (4) or dietary (5, 14) administration of Ch. The production of AcCoA can apparently be reduced by inhibition of the utilization of pyruvate or glucose, which also decreases the synthesis of ACh (6, 7). Recent experiments by Barker and Mittag (8, 9) led them to propose that the high affinity transport of Ch and the subsequent transfer of an acetyl group from AcCoA, catalyzed by Ch acetyltransferase (CAT), were directly coupled. We have tested this hypothesis by reducing the availability of AcCoA and measuring both the rate of transport of Ch by the high affinity system and the rate at which it is converted to ACh.
QoS-Aware Multi-RAT resource allocation with minimum transmit power in multiuser OFDM system

A novel analytical framework of multiple radio access technologies (Multi-RAT) communication system is proposed where a small cell serves K mobile users via IEEE 802.11 Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) and 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) access technologies. A scheduler at the small cell is proposed in order to minimize the total transmission power subject to quality of service constraints on the users transmission rates. An optimal solution to the resulting nonconvex optimization problem is proposed to reach the optimal value by solving a group of convex problems using a proposed iterative optimal algorithm. Furthermore, the offloading transmission scenario is considered where each user is assigned either to WLAN or LTE and a solution of two steps is proposed. The first step finds the user-to-RAT assignment while the second step allocates the resources to the WLAN and LTE users. Numerical simulations are presented to demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed Multi-RAT scheduling schemes (saving 43% of the total transmission power) compared to the conventional Single-RAT LTE system.
Association of sulfhydryl oxidase and xanthine oxidase in bovine mammary tissue.

Abstract The presence of antigenically active xanthine oxidase was indicated in various relatively purified preparations of sulfhydryl oxidase obtained from bovine milk. Evidence for formation of a complex of the two enzymes was obtained by double immunodiffusion. Furthermore, sodium dodecylsulfate-gel electrophoresis of sulfhydryl oxidase and xanthine oxidase model mixtures indicated that high molecular weight species were present that reacted with both antisulfhydryl oxidase and antixanthine oxidase. Similar gel electrophoretic patterns visualized by protein-dye binding methods revealed a distinct band (>200 kdalton) was formed upon incubation of mixtures of the two enzymes, the presence of which was unaffected by reduction of protein disulfide bonds. Immunofluorescent staining techniques showed both enzymes in the apical plasma membrane. Because sulfhydryl oxidase previously has been shown to catalyze conversion of the dehydrogenase form of xanthine oxidase to the oxidase form, this conversion may occur when xanthine oxidase contacts sulfhydryl oxidase in the apical plasma membrane. This conversion and the resulting potential for production of active oxygen species could be significant to membranotropic processes, such as fat globule secretion, and to the oxidative stability of the milk fat globule membrane.
A stratospheric aerosol climatology from SAGE II and CLAES measurements: 1. Methodology

[1] This paper presents the methods used to produce a global climatology of the stratospheric aerosol using data from two satellite instruments: the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE II) and the Cryogenic Limb Array Etalon Spectrometer (CLAES). The climatology, which spans from December 1984 to August 1999, includes values and uncertainties of measured extinction and optical depth and of retrieved particle effective radius Reff, distribution width σg, surface area S, and volume V. As a basis for aerosol retrievals, a multiwavelength look-up table (LUT) algorithm was developed that matches the satellite-measured extinction ratios to precomputed ratios that are based on a range of unimodal lognormal size distributions. For cases in which the LUT does not find an acceptable match between measured and precomputed extinction spectra, a different technique called the parameter search technique is utilized. The combination of these two techniques and data from both satellites allows us to retrieve values of Reff, σg, S, and V over a wider range of conditions and from a wider range of wavelengths than used by other methods. This greater wavelength range helps constrain retrieved results, especially in postvolcanic conditions when particle sizes are greatly increased and SAGE II extinction spectra become essentially independent of wavelength. Our method includes an altitude- and time-dependent procedure that uses bimodal size distributions from in situ measurements to estimate bias and uncertainty introduced by assuming a unimodal functional form. Correcting for this bias reduces uncertainty in retrievals of Reff, S, and V by about 7%, 5%, and 1% (averaged over all altitude bands), leaving remaining uncertainties from the unimodal assumption of about ±18%, ±20%, and ±21%, respectively. Additional uncertainties, resulting from measurement error and spatiotemporal variability, are evaluated by propagating input uncertainties through the retrieval algorithm. In an accompanying paper we report on a climatology of Reff, S, and V and consider uncertainties in our retrieved values of these parameters. In this paper we examine the sensitivity of our retrievals to refractive index and measurement wavelength. We find, for example, that changing refractive index from a value for the stratospheric temperature of 215 K to that for 300 K can increase retrieved Reff by ∼7.5%, owing largely to effects at the CLAES 12.82 μm wavelength. When only SAGE II wavelengths are used, corresponding changes in Reff are much smaller.
Celebrating Love, Desire, and Melancholia: The Sonnets of Louise Labé

AsAnn Rosalind Jones has observed, “To be a woman writer at all during the sixteenth century was to be an exception” (“City Women” 299). Louise Labe, born circa 1520 in Lyons (–1566), employed her ...
Broadband-interference rejection for mobile satellite communications

The radiation pattern of the null-steering array in Figure 5 agreed well with the simulations in Figure 4. By taking advantage of the jamming signal's broader bandwidth, the interference-detection channel controlled the adaptive null-steered array, in order to steer the null in the direction of the interfering signal. The system was able to suppress a 20-Watt, 20-MHz jammer that was six feet from the satellite receiver and that overlapped the satellite signals bandwidth, to a SIR of better than 13dB. Since the system was adaptive, it was also able to suppress jamming signals that were moving relative to the satellite receiver.
Detailed record of the Neogene Sr isotopic evolution of seawater from DSDP Site 590B

A detailed study of strontium isotope variations in Neogene marine carbonate sediments from Deep Sea Drilling Project Site 590B, using techniques that allow the 87Sr/86Sr ratio to be determined to better than ±0.00001, gives a high-resolution record of the Sr isotopic evolution of seawater. The data show that the rate of change of the marine 87Sr/86Sr ratio has varied significantly even on time scales as short as 1 m.y. Periods of particularly rapid growth appear to follow major marine regressions and probably reflect an increase in the delivery of radiogenic Sr from the continents coupled with a decreased submarine carbonate dissolution rate (greater carbonate compensation depth). Periods of relatively slowly changing 87Sr/86Sr follow major marine transgressions. On the basis of correlations with the marine oxygen isotope record and the times of major continental glacier growth, it is inferred that the effects of sea-level variations are modified by climatic factors that affect the intensity of continental weathering and runoff. The effects of sea-floor generation rate variations are not discernible for the Neogene. The maximum attainable stratigraphic resolution using Sr isotopes is between 0.1 and 2 m.y. for this time period.
Conversational Pedagogy: Exploring Interactions Between a Teaching Artist and Young Learners During Visual Arts Experiences

In many early childhood classrooms, visual arts experiences occur around a communal arts table. A shared workspace allows for spontaneous conversation and exploration of the art-making process of peers and teachers. In this setting, conversation can play an important role in visual arts experiences as children explore new media, skills, and ideas. The investigation of informal conversations during visual arts experiences will serve to improve understandings of the cognitive, imaginative, social, and affective components of young children’s creative endeavors. In particular, the exploration of conversational discourse contributes to understandings of conversation as an integral component of pedagogy in early childhood arts. As an exploration of the nature of conversation as pedagogy in early arts experiences, I present a ‘telling case’ (Mitchell 1984) featuring the collaborative work between a teaching artist and two young students as they explore and create together. The findings from this research have important implications for early childhood and art education teacher educators striving to develop supportive educational practices that will assist early childhood teachers in promoting supportive visual arts practices.
A Note on a Theorem of R. Duffin

In [1], R. Duffinstudied the transverse vibrations of a string of n beads stretched between two fixed end points. On the assumption that longitudinal motion was constrained by channels and that tension only depends on the extension of the string segment, the motion was modelled by the system of equations $${m_{i}}{x''_{i}} = {f_{i}} = \left( {{x_{{i - 1}}} + {x_{i}}} \right) + {f_{{i + 1}}}\left( {{x_{{i + 1}}}} \right),1\underline{\underline < } i\underline{\underline < } n$$ (1.1) where the positive coordinate directions are as indicated in the figure below, \({x_0} quiv 0 quiv {x_{n + 1}},{m_i} >0\) is the mass of the i th bead, and f i is the force due to the tension in the segment joining x i−1 and x i. Let P denote the cone of positive vectors in \({R^n},i.e.P = x = ({x_1},...,{x_n})id {x_i} eqq 0,1 eqq i eqq n .\) Thus in the above coordinate system, if at time t, the beads lie in P, x i (t) lies above the line, l, joining the endpoints of the string, x 2 lies below 1, etc. and in particular adjacent points have displacements of opposite sign relative to l. Duffinused an elegant argument based on the Brouwer Fixed Point Theorem to prove
On the Origins of Interest-Group Theory: A Critique of a Process

Starting with nineteenth-century jurisprudence, this essay traces the changing perceptions of the nature and role of groups in politics as affected in turn by scientific reformism, classic pluralism, and descriptive science orientations to the study of politics. The work of Laski and Bentley is highlighted.The essay contends that political science has not grown by scientific study laid upon scientific study, but rather by a process of gradual encroachment of ideas in which basic premises, questions, and terms shifted without adequate examination. It is argued that this change is not properly portrayed as a trend from abstract legal metaphysics to ever more sophisticated approximations of reality. The forgotten contributions of past orientations are stressed, and the reasons that Bentley was ignored in his day discussed.More specifically, the study concludes that the process of accretion of ideas was of some benefit to political science as a discipline, but the heritage left by this process was negative in two important respects: the neglect of a dynamic in favor of a static perspective, and the divorce of normative theory from empirical research on American politics.
Mortality After Distal Femur Fractures in Elderly Patients

Background Hip fractures in the elderly are associated with high 1-year mortality rates, but whether patients with other lower extremity fractures are exposed to a similar mortality risk is not clear.
Reciprocal relation between the hypophysis and adrenals in fetal rats: effects of unilateral adrenalectomy and of implanted cortisone, DOCA and sex hormones.

WE HAVE recently presented some observations which suggested that in the fetal rat the hypophysis cerebri secretes a hormone (ACTH), that this hormone stimulates the secretion of an active principle(s) by the adrenal cortex and that the cortex does not produce any appreciable quantity of androgen, if any (Kitchell and Wells, 1951). It was observed that in fetuses of the 20th day the adrenal cortex has two zones. In those of the 22nd day it has three: outer, intermediate and inner. The cells of the intermediate zone are large, and they contain droplets of osmiphilic lipids. Implanted ACTH speeds up the growth of the cortex, while the removal of the fetal hypophysis by decapitation retards it. This retardation can be prevented by means of injected ACTH. Adrenalectomy does not inhibit the growth of the reproductive organs in the male. The view that ACTH from the fetal hypophysis stimulates the secretion of an active principle by the developing cortex
Molecular analysis of plasmids in epidemiologic investigation.

The techniques themselves fall into two categories: indirect and direct techniques. Indirect techniques include agarose gel electrophoresis and restriction endonuclease analysis. Electrophoresis of plasmids in an agarose gel provides a fairly accurate estimate of the size of a plasmid molecule [3]. Re-. striction endonucleases are bacterial enzymes that cleave double-stranded DNA at specific recognition sites to generate a series of plasmid fragments [4]. The number and sizes of these fragments depend upon the number and location of specific recognition sites present in the plasmid molecule. If two plasmids are of the same size and yield identical patterns of fragments on restriction endonuclease analysis, especially if two or more restriction enzymes are used, they may be assumed to be identical or nearly so. Conversely, two plasmids of the same size may have entirely different base sequences; this can be recognized by the different fragment patterns generated by a restriction endonuclease. Finally, two plasmids may be quite different in size but possess one or more homologous regions of DNA; an intimation of this may be obtained by finding shared fragments on restriction endonuclease analysis. Direct techniques involve hybridization of DNA
Computing Redox Potentials in Solution: Density Functional Theory as A Tool for Rational Design of Redox Agents

High-level density functional theory in combination with a continuum solvation model was employed to compute standard redox potentials in solution phase for three different classes of electrochemically active molecules: small organic molecules, metallocenes, and M(bpy)3x (M = Fe, Ru, Os; x = +3, +2, +1, 0, −1). Excellent agreement with experimentally determined redox potentials is found with an average deviation of approximately 150 mV when four different solvents commonly in use for electrochemical measurements were included. To obtain quantitative agreement between theory and experiment, the use of a large basis set is crucial especially when the redox couple includes anionic species. Whereas the addition of diffuse functions improved the results notably, vibrational zero-point-energy corrections and addition of entropy effects are less important. The computational protocol for computing redox potentials in solution, which has been benchmarked, is a powerful and novel tool that will allow a molecular-l...
Validation of model-based deformation correction in image-guided liver surgery via tracked intraoperative ultrasound: preliminary method and results

Soft tissue deformation represents a significant error source in current surgical navigation systems used for open hepatic procedures. While numerous algorithms have been proposed to rectify the tissue deformation that is encountered during open liver surgery, clinical validation of the proposed methods has been limited to surface based metrics and sub-surface validation has largely been performed via phantom experiments. Tracked intraoperative ultrasound (iUS) provides a means to digitize sub-surface anatomical landmarks during clinical procedures. The proposed method involves the validation of a deformation correction algorithm for open hepatic image-guided surgery systems via sub-surface targets digitized with tracked iUS. Intraoperative surface digitizations were acquired via a laser range scanner and an optically tracked stylus for the purposes of computing the physical-to-image space registration within the guidance system and for use in retrospective deformation correction. Upon completion of surface digitization, the organ was interrogated with a tracked iUS transducer where the iUS images and corresponding tracked locations were recorded. After the procedure, the clinician reviewed the iUS images to delineate contours of anatomical target features for use in the validation procedure. Mean closest point distances between the feature contours delineated in the iUS images and corresponding 3-D anatomical model generated from the preoperative tomograms were computed to quantify the extent to which the deformation correction algorithm improved registration accuracy. The preliminary results for two patients indicate that the deformation correction method resulted in a reduction in target error of approximately 50%.
4-Methylpyrazole and the cutaneous vascular sensitivity to alcohol in Orientals.

Twelve healthy subjects of Oriental ancestry were challenged with topical applications of lower aliphatic alcohols and aldehydes after topical pretreatment consisting of 4- methylpyrazole in hydrophilic ointment on the volar aspect of one forearm and hydrophilic ointment alone on the contralateral volar forearm. Cutaneous blood flow was monitored by laser Doppler velocimetry. Pretreatment with 4-methylpyrazole, a specific inhibitor of alcohol dehydrogenase led to a significant decrease in the cutaneous vascular response to the alcohols as a group, but did not lead to changes in the cutaneous vascular response to the aldehydes as a group. Among the individual alcohols, pretreatment with 4-methylpyrazole reduced the response significantly to all concentrations of 1-propanol and 1-butanol. The means of the vascular response to the different concentrations of ethanol decreased, but not significantly. Additionally, 4- methylpyrazole did not have an independent effect on cutaneous blood flow. These results are consistent with the view that the cutaneous vascular reaction to primary alcohols applied topically to the skin of Orientals is provoked, in large part, by the corresponding aldehyde.
The Effect of Video-Based Interventions on Self-Care

Caregivers for dependent, elderly community dwellers are frequently themselves at risk for illnesses exacerbated by stress. This study evaluates a videotape scenario intervention designed to increase self-care behaviors in three groups of caregivers randomly assigned to a control or to one of two experimental groups. Within the 6- to 8-week trial, attitudes toward self-care became more positive in the experimental groups, and all groups reported endorsement of behavioral changes related to self-care.
Experimental Investigation of the Effects of Suffusion on Physical and Geomechanic Characteristics of Sandy Soils

This paper reports the measured effects of suffusion, a type of internal erosion, on the physical and geo-mechanical properties of soils including permeability, volume change, compressive strength, and soil grains gradation. A poorly graded river sand with the addition of 10 % kaolinite clay was used to create three gap-graded soils and an unaltered poorly graded “original soil.” Testing was performed using a modified triaxial apparatus that permits seepage through compacted specimens and allows collection of effluent and eroded soils. The specimens, 5.1 cm in diameter and 10.2 cm in length, were monitored for changes in volume and permeability during the suffusion tests. After erosion, the specimens were compressed using the consolidated-undrained (CU) test. The collected effluent samples were dried to determine the erosion rate and eroded soil particle gradations with respect to effluent volume. Companion control specimens were tested without erosion. The results revealed that suffusion may affect some physical and geo-mechanical properties of soils. Permeability reduction was generally observed in all soils, indicating fine grains migration and clogging within the specimens. The three gap-graded soils each exhibited a greater degree of internal erosion (suffusion), permeability reduction, and volume change than the original soil. The experimental setup and testing protocol also provided a feasible methodology for further research on the effects of suffusion on the physical and geo-mechanical properties of soils. Limitations of this research and future research recommendations on this topic are provided at the end of this paper.
Maternal Protein Deprivation: Changes in Systemic Renin-Angiotensin System of the Mouse Fetus

We tested the hypothesis that maternal protein deprivation during gestation results in changes in expression of the systemic renin-angiotensin system in fetal mice. Fetal weight was decreased significantly as a consequence of 50% maternal protein deprivation during second half of gestation. In fetal liver, angiotensinogen protein expression was reduced significantly despite a significant increase in messenger RNA (mRNA). In fetal kidneys, both mRNA and protein levels of renin were increased significantly. In the lungs, we observed a decrease in both angiotensin-converting enzyme I and II mRNA expression, whereas protein expression of both isoforms was increased significantly. The fetal heart showed significant increases in expression of angiotensin II type 1 (AT-1) and type 2 (AT-2) receptors mRNA. Protein expression of AT-1 receptors increased, while that of AT-2 receptors decreased. We conclude that maternal low-protein diet during gestation leads to significant changes in expression of the systemic reninangiotensin system in fetal mice and may be important in the genesis of hypertension in the adult.
Early Screening and Assessment of Alcohol and Substance Abuse in the Elderly: Clinical Implications

The use and misuse of alcohol place older adults at risk for many detrimental physical, psychological, and social consequences that frequently go undetected. A number of risk factors have been identified in the development of alcohol-related problems, including chronic medical disorders and sleep disturbances. Social isolation, loneliness, bereavement, and the presence of experiencing acute or chronic pain are identified to increase risk for alcohol problems. Gender also has been identified as a risk factor; evidence suggests that women are more vulnerable to problems associated with alcohol than are men. A case study approach is used in this article to assist nurses in assessing and evaluating some of the major problems associated with alcohol misuse in the elderly including falls, skin trauma, insomnia, weight loss, and gastroenterological problems. The CAGE is discussed as an important instrument in assessment and evaluation of alcohol misuse.
Renal cell carcinoma induces prostaglandin E2 and T-helper type 2 cytokine production in peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Background: Patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) do not develop an effective antitumor immune response, despite significant infiltration by lymphocytes. Tumor production of immunosuppressive factors may account for this failure. The object of this study was to investigate the production of immunosuppressive mediators, especially prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), by RCC. Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were cocultured with conditioned medium (CM) from human RCC cell lines in the presence or absence of NS-398, a selective cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) inhibitor. Supernatants were analyzed for levels of PGE2, interleukin (IL)-10, IL-6, IL-2, interferon-γ, and IL-12. The effects of RCC CM on PBMC proliferation were also examined. The expression of basal and stimulated COX-2 messenger RNA in the cell lines was assessed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Results: RCC CM significantly increased PGE2 production by PBMC. T-helper type 2 (Th2) cytokine production was also significantly increased. Th1 cytokines were unchanged or decreased. RCC CM increased proliferation of PBMC. Coculture with NS-398 reduced PBMC PGE2 production to below control levels and significantly decreased IL-6 production and PBMC proliferation. NS-398 had no effect on cellular production of IL-10 or Th1 cytokines. Conclusions:Human RCC inhibits the host antitumor immune response by promoting PGE2 production and Th2 cytokines in PBMC. Selective inhibition of COX-2 may have a role in abrogating this effect.
Membrane properties of a human neuroblastoma

The electrical properties of the SK-N-SH human neuroblastoma cell were studied by standard intracellular recording techniques; the average resting membrane potential was -21 +/- 11 mV, with a few cells showing mebrane potentials greater than - 40 mV. Under standard tissue culture conditions, as used in these experiments, less than 1% of these cells show morphological differentiation (process formation). In response to current injection, a variety of graded responses with a relatively slow rise time were observed. In some cells only delayed rectification was observed. In no instance did current injection result in a characteristic action potential. An analogous method for determining electrical excitability was to measure (22)Na influx in the presence and absence of a depolarizing agent, veratridine (0.1 mM). In such experiments, the influx of (22)Na in SK-N-SH cells was only slightly altered by veratridine. Taken together, these data suggest that the morphologically undifferentiated human neuroblastoma cells are relatively inexcitable electrically. The iontophoretic application of acetylcholine to the cell body produced depolarizing responses whose amplitudes were dependent on the membrane potential.
The thyroid and reproductive performance in the adult female guinea pig.

THE general belief that the thyroid is related to reproductive function in the human female arose from the observations that the thyroid enlarges at puberty, at menstruation and during pregnancy (Gamier, 1921; Marine, 1935; Neumann, 1937; and others). This opinion was strengthened 1) by reports that sterility is frequently associated with a basal metabolic rate of –10 or lower (Litzenberg, 1926; Litzenberg and Carey, 1929), and 2) that pregnancy often occurs after treatment with thryoid preparations (Hertoghe, 1914; Veil, 1917; Huntington, 1929; Breckenridge, 1932; Mussey, 1938; King and Herring, 1939; Mason, 1939; Nicodemus and Ritmiller, 1945). Hypothyroidism has been incriminated as a causative factor in secondary amenorrhea and menorrhagia (Hertoghe, 1914; Garnier, 1921; Fluhmann and Murphy, 1941). These and other menstrual irregularities are often alleviated by thyroid therapy (Breckenridge, 1932; Mussey and Haines, 1934; Mason, 1939; Mussey, 1939; Foster and Foster, 1941; Lisser, 1942; Thompson, Tho...
The use of government publications: A selected review of the literature

Abstract Library surveys, citation studies, and user surveys concerned in whole or in part with the use of government publications are examined and their findings compared. While similar use patterns of government publications are found, differences in methodologies make comparison difficult. The author suggests that more attention to prior studies is needed and guidelines for categories of analysis in future studies are advisable.
Development of Computational Models for the Mark-IV Electrorefiner—Effect of Uranium, Plutonium, and Zirconium Dissolution at the Fuel Basket-Salt Interface

AbstractThe electrochemical processing of spent metallic nuclear fuel has been demonstrated by and is currently in operation at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). At the heart of this process is the Mark-IV electrorefiner (ER). This process involves the anodic dissolution of spent nuclear fuel into a molten salt electrolyte along with a simultaneous deposition of pure uranium on a solid cathode. This allows the fission products to be separated from the fuel and processed into an engineered waste form. A one-dimensional model of the Mark-IV ER has begun to be developed. The computations thus far have modeled the dissolution of the spent nuclear fuel at the anode taking into account uranium (U3+), plutonium (Pu3+), and zirconium (Zr4+). Uranium and plutonium are the two most important elements in the system, whereas zirconium is the most active of the noble metals. The model shows that plutonium is quickly exhausted from the anode, followed by dissolution of primarily uranium, along with small amounts of ...
Detection of IgG and IgM in sera from canines with blastomycosis using eight blastomyces dermatitidis yeast phase lysate antigens.

The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of eight Blastomyces dermatitidis yeast phase lysate antigens (T-58: dog, Tennessee; T-27: polar bear, Tennessee; ERC-2: dog, Wisconsin; B5894: human, Minnesota; SOIL: soil, Canada; B5896: human, Minnesota; 48089: human, Zaire; 48938: bat, India) in the detection of the immunoglobulins IgG and IgM in serum specimens from canines with blastomycosis. An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA, peroxidase system) was used to analyze sera collected during four different intervals post-infection. The yeast lysate antigen 48938 was a reactive antigen for the detection of both IgG (mean absorbance value range: 1.198–2.934) and IgM (mean absorbance value range: 0.505–0.845). For the same sera, antigen T-27 was also effective in the detection of IgG (mean absorbance value range: 0.904–3.356) and antigen 48089 was useful for the detection of IgM (mean absorbance value range: 0.377–0.554). The yeast lysate antigen B5894 proved to be a poor antigen for the detection of both IgG and IgM (mean absorbance value ranges: 0.310–0.744 for IgG, 0.025–0.069 for IgM). Inherent variations in yeast lysate antigens such as these may be utilized to develop improved immunoassay procedures for the specific detection of IgG or IgM in cases of blastomycosis.
A Review of Rotary Pressure-Gain Combustion Systems for Gas Turbine Applications

In the last two decades, jet engines and gas turbines attempting constant-volume combustion without positive–displacement mechanisms have regained attention, mainly due to their theoretical high efficiency, potential low emissions, and compact design features. The idea can be traced back to experiments in the 1930’s and production of devices like the V1 missile motor and the Comprex® supercharger. Both for power generation and for aerospace applications, specific hardware and ingenious cycle designs are being developed to address known technological challenges. Different thermodynamic approaches and design methods are proposed to predict the performance potential of these periodic-unsteady wave machines. There have been experimental studies and successfully operated test-rigs that were sometimes shelved due to immediate economic concerns. These “lost” previous studies and experiences are worth reviewing amidst the increased attention to pulse detonation engine and wave-rotor applications proposed for gas turbine cycles by engine makers and government laboratories. In this review paper, our aim is to summarize the status and important efforts in this field. Recent research is highlighted by specific research groups worldwide attempting diverse applications. A compilation of promising applications is presented, to help focus efforts on future work needed.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Viscous Analysis of Steam Turbine Rotor Blade Aerodynamics

Unsteady load predictions on steam turbine blades are needed for a better understanding of high cycle fatigue blade failures. The forced response due to rotor-stator interaction and the unsteady loads due to blade oscillatory motion are major factors for the cause of stresses. In addition, turbulence, which is generated through the stator nozzle passages of a turbine, significantly affects the flow characteristics and heat transfer of the rotor blades.This paper presents a numerical modeling of turbulence effects of a flow around a rotor blade which was extended to demonstrate unsteady calculations due to blade oscillations. The grids were generated by employing the boundary-fitted algebraic grid generation technique. In the computations, the unsteady compressible Navier-Stokes equations were solved for the simulation of the flows in the above mentioned regions to determine mean velocity components, the turbulence energy levels, pressures, and thermodynamic properties such as temperatures and densities. The computed pressure distributions along a blade were compared with the published experimental data and the code was validated by showing reasonable agreement with the results. Some numerical examples are presented by using different turbulence models to investigate the nature of the turbulence occurring in the flow around a blade. Furthermore, the computational model was tested for its applicability to blade flutter in three vibrational modes — tangential, axial, and twist modes.Copyright © 1997 by ASME
FluG-dependent asexual development in Aspergillus nidulans occurs via derepression.

The asexual spore is one of the most crucial factors contributing to the fecundity and fitness of filamentous fungi. Although the developmental activator FluG was shown to be necessary for activation of asexual sporulation (conidiation) and production of the carcinogenic mycotoxin sterigmatocystin (ST) in the model filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans, the molecular mechanisms underlying the developmental switch have remained elusive. In this study, we report that the FluG-mediated conidiation in A. nidulans occurs via derepression. Suppressor analyses of fluG led to the identification of the sfgA gene encoding a novel protein with the Gal4-type Zn(II)2Cys6 binuclear cluster DNA-binding motif at the N terminus. Deletion (Δ) and 31 other loss-of-function sfgA mutations bypassed the need for fluG in conidiation and production of ST. Moreover, both ΔsfgA and ΔsfgA ΔfluG mutations resulted in identical phenotypes in growth, conidiation, and ST production, indicating that the primary role of FluG is to remove repressive effects imposed by SfgA. In accordance with the proposed regulatory role of SfgA, overexpression of sfgA inhibited conidiation and delayed/reduced expression of conidiation- and ST-specific genes. Genetic analyses demonstrated that SfgA functions downstream of FluG but upstream of transcriptional activators (FlbD, FlbC, FlbB, and BrlA) necessary for normal conidiation.