cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
μ-Opioid receptor-knockout mice: the role of μ-opioid receptor in gastrointestinal transit

Abstract The role of μ-opioid receptor in gastrointestinal transit was investigated using μ-opioid receptor knockout mice (MOR-KO). Our result establishes unequivocally that inhibition of GI transit by morphine is a μ-opioid receptor mediated function. In addition, we show that neither δ nor κ receptor agonist given supraspinally or peripherally are able to inhibit GI transit in MOR-KO animals. It was interesting to observe that basal GI motility was lower in MOR-KO (−/−) compared to heterozygous (±) and wild type (+/+) animals.
PREDICTION OF PRESSURE DROP IN PNEUMATIC TRANSPORT SYSTEMS AT VARIOUS PIPE ORIENTATIONS USING AN EMPIRICAL CORRELATION FOR THE PARTICLE VELOCITY

ABSTRACT A new empirical correlation for the particle velocity which incorporates the angle of inclination is proposed here. This correlation coupled with the expression for the solids friction factor obtained from the force balance on the particle was used to predict the pressure drops in the 0.0266 m and 0.0504 m systems held at various angles of inclination. Particles used in these systems included glass particles of 67, 450, and 900 µm weight mean diameter. The existence of minimum points in the predicted pressure drop curves as a function of gas velocity was corroborated by these two expressions.
Korean American parents of children with developmental disabilities reveal their experiences communicating with European American rehabilitation counsellors

This study explored the consumer-reported communication patterns between rehabilitation professionals and ethnically diverse clients who are parents of children with developmental disabilities. Informants were Korean American mothers (n = 10) of children with developmental disabilities (n = 10) who were receiving services from a community rehabilitation agency. Interview data were collected and thematically analysed. The findings suggest that Korean American mothers were not likely to openly discuss possible options for their children with their rehabilitation counsellor. About 60% of participants stated that they worked with at least one counsellor whose communication they felt was ineffective. The findings of this study are congruent with the previous research findings that Koreans emphasize e harmonious relationships. Multicultural competences are important for counsellors with culturally and linguistically diverse clients.
Acquisition variables in human avoidance behavior

Human Ss were given avoidance training employing a blast of pressurized air directly behind the ear as the aversive stimulus, a button depression as the avoidance response, and a light as the warning signal. The contents of four sets of instructions were varied with regard to the “information about the study.” Better avoidance performance was obtained for the more informed conditions. The use of an escape contingency was not critical to response acquisition. Resistance to extinction appeared quite strong, and the suddenness of conditioning resembled all-or-none learning.
Dynamic versions of set covering type public facility location problems

Abstract This paper considers several multi-period public facility planning decision problems such as multi-period service coverage, multi-period service phase-out, and multi-period maximum coverage. Models for these situations and computational experience are presented.
Dependence of Annealing Temperature on the Conductivity Changes of ZnO and MgZnO Nanoparticle Thin Films from Annealing in a Hydrogen Atmosphere at Mild Temperatures

We report apparent robust doping of ZnO and MgxZn1-xO (x ~20%) nanoparticle films by annealing in hydrogen gas. The annealing was done at sequentially higher temperatures from about 20 °C to 140 °C. The effect of the annealing was determined by comparing current-voltage measurements of the samples at room-temperature and in vacuum after each annealing cycle. The nanoparticles were grown using an aqueous solution and heating process that created thin-films of ZnO or MgZnO nanoparticles with diameters of about 30 nm. When exposed to hydrogen gas at room-temperature or after annealing at temperatures up to about 100 °C, no measureable changes to the room-temperature vacuum conductivity of the films was observed. However, when the samples were annealed at temperatures above 100 °C, an appreciable robust increase in the room-temperature conductance in vacuum occurred. Annealing at the maximum temperature (~135-140 °C) resulted in about a factor of about twenty increase in the conductivity. Furthermore, the ratio of the conductance of the ZnO and MgZnO nanoparticle films while being annealed to their conductance at room-temperature were found to increase and then decrease for increasing annealing temperatures. Maximum changes of about five-fold and seven-fold for the MgZnO and ZnO samples, respectively, were found to occur at temperatures just below the annealing temperature threshold for the onset of the robust hydrogen gas doping. Comparisons of these results to other work on bulk ZnO and MgZnO films and reasons for this behavior will be discussed.
Production of a spark by a train of mode - locked laser pulses

Abstract The production of a spark in atmospheric air by means of a mode-locked laser beam has been investigated and some observations on the breakdown threshold conditions and subsequent development of the spark are reported.
Indomethacin Increases Plasma Growth Hormone Levels in Man

ABSTRACT In seven normal volunteers, the basal and arginine-stimulated levels of plasma growth hormone, glucose, glucagon, and free fatty acids and serum insulin was determined during placebo and during indomethacin 25 mg four times daily. Basal plasma growth hormone was higher during indomethacin (5.4 ± 1 vs 1.7 ± 2 ng/ml, p
A Molecular Switch Controlling Competence and Motility: Competence Regulatory Factors ComS, MecA, and ComK Control ςD-Dependent Gene Expression in Bacillus subtilis

Bacillus subtilis, like many bacteria, will choose among several response pathways when encountering a stressful environment. Among the processes activated under growth-restricting conditions are sporulation, establishment of motility, and competence development. Recent reports implicate ComK and MecA-ClpC as part of a system that regulates both motility and competence development. MecA, while negatively controlling competence by inhibiting ComK, stimulates ςD-dependent transcription of genes that function in motility and autolysin production. Both ComK-dependent and -independent pathways have been proposed for MecA’s role in the regulation of motility. Mutations in mecA reduce the transcription of hag. encoding flagellin, and are partially suppressed by comK in both medium promoting motility and medium promoting competence. Reduced ςD levels are observed in mecA mutants grown in competence medium, but no change in ςD concentration is detected in a comK mutant. The comF operon, transcription of which requires ComK, is located immediately upstream of the operon that contains the flgM gene, encoding the ςD-specific antisigma factor. An insertion mutation that disrupts the putative comF-flgM transcription unit confers a phenotype identical to that of the comK mutant with respect to hag-lacZ expression. Expression of a flgM-lacZ operon fusion is reduced in both sigD and comK mutant cells but is abolished in the sigD comK double mutant. Reverse transcription-PCR examination of the comF-flgM transcript indicates that readthrough from comF into the flgM operon is dependent on ComK. ComK negatively controls the transcription of hag by stimulating the transcription of comF-flgM, thereby increasing the production of the FlgM antisigma factor that inhibits ςD activity. There likely exists another comK-independent mechanism of hag transcription that requires mecA and possibly affects the ςD concentration in cells undergoing competence development.
Linearization of a nonlinear geometric system model for robust controller design

A large order flexible space structure, such as a segmented reflector space telescope, requires a high degree of precision and accuracy in order to maintain its nominal shape in order to form clear images. The tracking control for the pointing of such a large complex multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system requires a robust controller to maintain the telescope pointing accurately and reliably at it's target. The segmented space telescope testbed at the Structures, Propulsion, And Controls Engineering (SPACE) NASA University Research Center (URC) of Excellence at California State University, Los Angeles, utilizes a segmented primary mirror and a novel motorized laser platform for simulating the testbed's intended target and demonstrating the testbed's pointing accuracy. The motorized platform along with two sets of accessory mirrors comprises a Peripheral Pointing Architecture (PPA). In order to design a suitable controller, the highly nonlinear geometric model describing the laser paths from source to optical detector plane was linearized to produce an LTI state-space model for controller design.
Modeling uncertainty in an object-oriented reservoir operations model

In recent years, reservoir management considerations have expanded to include environmental and recreational objectives, many of which are often difficult to quantify. With a larger set of operational objectives comes the need to identify tradeoffs and uncertainties among the various objectives. Uncertainty modeling may contribute to better reservoir management by identifying and quantifying the sources of significant uncertainty in predicting reservoir and river conditions that affect environmental habitats and recreational conditions. We implement a first-order, second-moment algorithm in RIVERWARE, an object-oriented river and reservoir modeling environment. The method is developed and applied to a case study from the lower Colorado River, where a preexisting deterministic model is used for reservoir operations and planning. The case study involves evaluation of uncertainties associated with prescribed reservoir pool elevations for purposes of recovering endangered fish species. Comparison of historical forecasts with observed data can provide managers with insight into operational policies that result in greater system uncertainty. Identifying these sources of uncertainty can guide managers in the development of future operational guidelines.
Fever of unknown origin: temporal arteritis presenting with persistent cough and elevated serum ferritin levels.

Background Fever of unknown origin (FUO) at the present time is most frequently caused by neoplasm and less commonly by infection. Currently, collagen vascular diseases (CVDs) are an uncommon cause of FUO because most are readily diagnosable by serologic methods and do not remain undiagnosed for sufficient time to present as FUOs. CVDs presenting as FUOs not readily diagnosable with specific tests include late-onset rheumatoid arthritis, adult juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and polymyalgia rheumatica/temporal arteritis (TA). TA, or giant cell arteritis, is an uncommon arteritis of the mid- and large-sized extracranial arteries of the head and neck and is a rare cause of FUO. TA is characterized by headache, scalp tenderness, jaw pain on chewing, and sudden loss of vision. Fever, anorexia, weight loss, and night sweats may also be present. With TA, respiratory symptoms occur in 9% and are the presenting feature in 4%. Laboratory abnormalities associated with TA include a highly elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, anemia, and thrombocytosis, and mildly increased alkaline phosphatase/serum transaminases. Patient We present a patient with FUO caused by TA whose predominant presenting symptom was persistent cough that overshadowed head and neck symptoms of TA. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of TA presenting as an FUO, with a highly elevated serum ferritin level. Results We conclude that highly elevated serum ferritin levels in patients with FUO should alert the clinician to consider TA in the differential diagnosis.
Recurrence Pattern and Proposed Surveillance Protocol Following Post-Chemotherapy Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection

Purpose: We evaluated the recurrence pattern in patients with nonseminomatous germ cell tumors treated with post-chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection and determined the optimal surveillance strategy in these patients.Materials and Methods: Between 1980 and 2003, 236 patients with clinical stage IIA-III nonseminomatous germ cell tumors underwent post-chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. Patients with increased preoperative tumor markers (α-fetoprotein greater than 15 ng/ml and/or β-human chorionic gonadotropin greater than 2.2 U/ml) were excluded from study resulting in 198 patients for analysis. We retrospectively reviewed medical records for pertinent clinical and treatment related outcomes. In our patient population recurrence developed in 45 (23%) patients and 22 (11%) died of disease at a median followup of 41 months (range 6 to 250) after retroperitoneal lymph node dissection.Results: The clinical stage of testis cancer was IIA in 17, IIB in 49, IIC in 83 and III in 49 pa...
Influence of D-and L-thyroxine on pre-established atheromata in rabbits: effect of mode of administration.

Summary (1) If rabbits are returned to a normal diet for 8 weeks after 8 weeks on an atherogenic regimen, their atheromata become more severe. Addition of 5 % corn oil to the post-atherogenic diet inhibits progression of the atheromata, but they are still more severe than those observed after 8 weeks on a regimen of 2 % cholesterol in 6 % corn oil. (2) d -thyroxine (0.5 mg/day) or l -thyroxine (0.05 mg/day) administered by gavage during the post-cholesterol feeding period do not affect the progression of the pre-established lesions. When the diet of the treated animals also contains 5 % corn oil there is no observable effect other than can be attributed to the influence of the corn oil. (3) When d -thyroxine or l -thyroxine are admixed with the diet during the post-cholesterol feeding period, a reduction in severity of atheromata over that observed in untreated rabbits is observed. Addition of corn oil to the thyroxine diet does not result in an adjuvant effect, the reduction in severity of lesions being roughly that observed with corn oil alone. (4) When cholesterol-fed rabbits are given d -thyroxine (0.5 mg/day) or l -thyroxine (0.05 mg/day) by gavage, the severity of atheromata is reduced. When the thyroxine is present as a component of the diet, an even greater reduction in atheromata is observed with l -thyroxine.
Hematopoietic stem cell exhaustion impacted by p18INK4C and p21Cip1/Waf1 in opposite manners

Transplantation-associated stress can compromise the hematopoietic potential of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). As a consequence, HSCs may undergo “exhaustion” in serial transplant recipients, for which the cellular and molecular bases are not well understood. Hematopoietic exhaustion appears to be accelerated in the absence of p21Cip1/Waf1 (p21), a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (CKI) in irradiated hosts. Our recent study demonstrated that unlike loss of p21, deletion of p18INK4C (p18), a distinct CKI, results in improved long-term engraftment, largely because of increased self-renewing divisions of HSCs in vivo. We show here that HSCs deficient in p18 sustained their competitiveness to wild-type HSCs from unmanipulated young mice, and retained multilineage differentiation potential after multiple rounds of serial bone marrow transfer over a period of more than 3 years. Further, p18 absence significantly decelerated hematopoietic exhaustion caused by p21 deficiency. Such an effect was shown to occur at the stem cell level, likely by a counteracting mechanism against the cellular senescence outcome. Our current study provides new insights into the distinct impacts of these cell-cycle regulators on HSC exhaustion and possibly HSC aging as well under proliferative stress, thereby offering potential pharmacologic targets for sustaining the durability of stressed HSCs in transplantation or elderly patients.
Additive/subtractive decorrelated electronic speckle pattern interferometry

A hybrid additive-subtractive decorrelated electronic speckle pattern interferometry (ESPI) scheme using a continuous reference updating technique is presented. Unlike conventional ESPI techniques, this method uses speckle phase decorrelation between successively subtracted additive correlated speckle images, each of which contains information about the same two states of deformation of a test object undergoing vibrational stressing. It is shown that the susceptibility of this method to environmental noise caused by building vibrations or air currents is significantly lower than that of conventional subtractive ESPI methods, and fringe visibility and contrast are significantly improved over conventional additive ESPI techniques. The ability of this technique to work in a turbulent environment is demonstrated, and application to detection of defects in adhesively bonded structures, a problem of interest to the nondestructive evaluation (NDE) community, is shown.
Baroreceptor function during exercise: resetting the record

This paper briefly reviews the historical evolution of ideas about how baroreflexes operate and continue to regulate arterial blood pressure during exercise. Observations from studies conducted in conscious humans and animals are emphasized and three main questions are asked. First, do baroreflexes contribute to arterial blood pressure regulation during exercise? Second, if baroreflexes contribute to blood pressure regulation during exercise, how do they do it? Third, are there any pathophysiological conditions in which manipulation of baroreflexes or baroreflex 'dysfunction' might alter exercise responses? In this context, ideas related to baroreflex resetting during exercise are emphasized, and the potential improvement in exercise tolerance in cardiovascular disease that might be achieved by electrical stimulation of the carotid sinus nerve is highlighted. Additionally, the key contributions of John Shepherd and the late David Donald (along with their colleagues) on related issues are noted.
Approximate policy iteration with a policy language bias: solving relational Markov decision processes

We study an approach to policy selection for large relational Markov Decision Processes (MDPs). We consider a variant of approximate policy iteration (API) that replaces the usual value-function learning step with a learning step in policy space. This is advantageous in domains where good policies are easier to represent and learn than the corresponding value functions, which is often the case for the relational MDPs we are interested in. In order to apply API to such problems, we introduce a relational policy language and corresponding learner. In addition, we introduce a new bootstrapping routine for goal-based planning domains, based on random walks. Such bootstrapping is necessary for many large relational MDPs, where reward is extremely sparse, as API is ineffective in such domains when initialized with an uninformed policy. Our experiments show that the resulting system is able to find good policies for a number of classical planning domains and their stochastic variants by solving them as extremely large relational MDPs. The experiments also point to some limitations of our approach, suggesting future work.
An econometric analysis of world wheat trade : a trade flow approach

The central purpose of this study is to investigate the structure and mechanism of commercial world wheat trade with a primary emphasis on the networks of international trade flows of wheat. This was accomplished by constructing an econometric model of world wheat trade. First of all, the world was divided into five exporting countries and ten importing regions. For importing regions, two types of equations were estimated: total import demand equations on per capita basis and trade flow equations. The total import demand equations were specified in the framework of the traditional excess demand theory. In the estimation, special attention was paid to price and income variables to adjust for exchange rate changes. The trade flow equations were based on the theory of demand for products differentiated by place of production, which was originated with Armington. The elasticity of substitution for each importing region was estimated in the linear specification of Armington's model, which was provided by Hickman and Lau. For the supply side analysis of world wheat trade, domestic factors in each exporting country were examined by estimating three kinds of equations; production equations, domestic demand equations, and inventory equations. Each equation was specified and estimated separately for each exporting country;All the equations were incorporated into a system representing the world wheat trade model by introducing the price linkage equations, which were also estimated, and the quantity balanced equations. The complete system of the world wheat trade model was evaluated by historical simulation. The model showed a good ability to simulate most of the endogenous variables with small root-mean-square errors. The simulation model was also used to analyze the impacts of changes in several exogenous variables on world wheat trade. The impacts of income increases, population increases, ending PL 480 exports, and preference changes in importing regions were examined.
Sociality of Columbian ground squirrels in relation to their seasonal energy intake.

Seasonal energy intake was estimated for ten populations of Columbian ground squirrels (Spermophilus columbianus) in northwestern Montana. We calculated daily energy intake for an average ground squirrel in each population using measurements of feeding time, consumption rates of different vegetation types (monocots vs. dicots), and the proportion of monocots and dicots in the diet. These daily energy intakes were multiplied by the length of the plant growing season for each population to estimate seasonal energy intake, i.e. over the ground squirrel active season. Amicable interaction rates measured for each population varied with seasonal energy intake, but not with environmental heterogeneity, sex ratio, or the ratio of adults to juveniles. In particular, amicable interactions among adult-juvenile and juvenile-juvenile pairs increased as seasonal energy intake decreased. The proportion of females breeding as yearlings increased as seasonal energy intake increased. This suggests that “harsh” environments reduce the energy available for juvenile growth and development, leading to delayed dispersal and age at first reproduction. These responses may promote the formation of kin groups and increased amicable interactions within those groups. The length of the plant growing season may determine environmental “harshness” across elevational gradients, but at a particular elevation, “harshness” may depend on factors determining daily food intake.
Review of furosemide in horse racing: its effects and regulation

Furosemide has been used empirically and has been legally approved for many years by the US racing industry for the control of exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH) or bleeding. Its use in horses for this purpose is highly controversial and has been criticized by organizations outside and inside of the racing industry. This review concentrates on its renal and extra-renal actions and the possible relationship of these actions to the modification of EIPH and changes in performance of horses. The existing literature references suggest that furosemide has the potential of increasing performance in horses without significantly changing the bleeding status. The pulmonary capillary transmural pressure in the exercising horse is estimated to be over 100 mmHg. The pressure reduction produced by the administration of furosemide is not of sufficient magnitude to reduce transmural pressures within the capillaries to a level where pressures resulting in rupture of the capillaries, and thus haemorrhage, would be completely prevented. This is substantiated by clinical observations that the administration of furosemide to horses with EIPH may reduce haemorrhage but does not completely stop it. The unanswered question is whether the improvement of racing times which have been shown in a number of studies are due to the reduction in bleeding or to other actions of furosemide. This review also discusses the difficulties encountered in furosemide regulation, in view of its diuretic actions and potential for the reduction in the ability of forensic laboratories to detect drugs and medications administered to a horse within days or hours before a race. Interactions between nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and furosemide have also been examined, and the results suggest that the effects of prior administration of NSAID may partially mitigate the renal and extra-renal effects which may contribute to the effects of furosemide on EIPH.
Development of a full body balance model using an artificial neural network approach

The purpose of this paper is to identify body balance using an artificial neural network approach. This research entails the study of dynamic stability within a normal person. This study is inspired because persons suffering from lower extremity loss suffer a variety of complications including numbness on the residual limb and sores caused from the prosthetic. Because this occurs, they have a slightly abnormal gait pattern, possibly to keep balance while in motion. This study analyzes the gait motion of a normal healthy subject. We take the data and manipulate it to delete or alter the function of the right leg. Data was taken using an 8 camera VICON motion capture system at the Andrew Gitter GAIT Laboratory located in the Audie L. Murphy Veterans hospital. The markers placed at joints of the body were captured to give a 3-D position at a sampling rate of 120 MHz. A Neural Network was used for the modeling of normal walking gait using the given data.
A novel human DNA glycosylase that removes oxidative DNA damage and is homologous to Escherichia coli endonuclease VIII

Abstract Prokaryotes and lower eukaryotes possess redundant activities that remove the plethora of oxidative DNA base damages produced during normal oxidative metabolism and which have been associated with cancer and aging. Thus far, only one oxidized pyrimidine-specific DNA glycosylase has been identified in humans, hNthl. Here, we report the identification of three new putative human DNA glycosylases that are phylogenetically members of the Fpg/Nei family primarily found in the bacterial kingdom. We have characterized one of these, hNEI1, and show it to be functionally homologous to bacterial Nei, that is, its principal substrates are oxidized pyrimidines, it undergoes a lyase reaction by, β,δ-elimination and traps a Schiff base with a substrate containing thymine glycol (Tg). Furthermore, inactivation of active site residues shown to be important in Escherichia coli Nei inactivate the human enzyme. The hNEI1 gene is located on the long arm of chromosome 15 that is frequently deleted in human cancers.
Research Methods With a Smile: A Gender Difference Exercise That Teaches Methodology

In this activity, I provide a way to collect data on a gender difference-smiling in yearbook photos-without leaving the classroom. I also provide an effective procedure for reviewing or introducing a number of methodological concepts. Two sections of Psychology of Gender students (N = 45) rated the activity high on achievement of purpose and enjoyability, and 95% recommended using the exercise in future classes.
The frontal branch of the facial nerve across the zygomatic arch: anatomical relevance of the high-SMAS technique.

Background: The frontal branch has a defined course along the Pitanguy line from tragus to lateral brow, although its depth along this line is controversial. The high-superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) face-lift technique divides the SMAS above the arch, which conflicts with previous descriptions of the frontal nerve depth. This anatomical study defines the depth and fascial boundaries of the frontal branch of the facial nerve over the zygomatic arch. Methods: Eight fresh cadaver heads were included in the study, with bilateral facial nerves studied (n = 16). The proximal frontal branches were isolated and then sectioned in full-thickness tissue blocks over a 5-cm distance over the zygomatic arch. The tissue blocks were evaluated histologically for the depth and fascial planes surrounding the frontal nerve. A dissection video accompanies this article. Results: The frontal branch of the facial nerve was identified in each tissue section and its fascial boundaries were easily identified using epidermis and periosteum as reference points. The frontal branch coursed under a separate fascial plane, the parotid-temporal fascia, which was deep to the SMAS as it coursed to the zygomatic arch and remained within this deep fascia over the arch. The frontal branch was intact and protected by the parotid-temporal fascia after a high-SMAS face lift. Conclusions: The frontal branch of the facial nerve is protected by a deep layer of fascia, termed the parotid-temporal fascia, which is separate from the SMAS as it travels over the zygomatic arch. Division of the SMAS above the arch in a high-SMAS face lift is safe using the technique described in this study.
Comparison of in vitro dissolution and permeation of fluconazole from different suppository bases.

Fluconazole suppositories were prepared in hydrophilic, lipophilic, and amphiphilic bases. In vitro evaluation was conducted to compare the effect of different bases on the release and permeation of fluconazole. Four types of suppository bases were evaluated; hydrophilic (polyethylene glycol, PEG), lipophilic (cocoa butter, CB; Witepsol W45 WW45), and amphiphilic (Suppocire AP SAP, a polyglycolized glyceride). The uniformity of dosage units prepared with each base was determined by ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy. The influence of suppository base on the release of fluconazole was studied using USP dissolution apparatus I. Rate constants for each release pattern were determined and compared using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) on ranks. The order of in vitro dissolution of fluconazole from the bases was as follows: PEG > (SAP = WW45) > CB. Results suggest that in vitro release of fluconazole is greater from a hydrophilic base (PEG). Preliminary permeation studies were conducted on each type of base using Franz diffusion cells. Permeation was studied through the rat rectal membrane, and normal saline was used as the receptor medium. A modified reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was used and validated for analyzing fluconazole. Flux values (microgram/cm2/hr) were calculated and compared using a one-way ANOVA (p (PEG = WW45) > CB. The increased permeation characteristics seen with the SAP base are probably due to an alteration of the membrane characteristics due to the surface active properties of the base.
Control of norovirus outbreak on a pediatric oncology unit.

Background Patients undergoing treatment for cancer with chemotherapy and hematopoietic stem cell recipients are at risk for severe morbidity caused by norovirus (NV). Methods We describe a NV outbreak on the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center's pediatric oncology unit. Stool testing for diagnosis of NV was performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results Twelve NV cases occurred; 7 were hospital acquired. Twenty-five health care workers reported NV compatible illness. Patient-to-patient transmission occurred once. The practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were supplemented with electronic surveillance, surrogate screening for NV, and heightened cleaning. Two additional cases occurred after implementation of interventions. Long-term shedding was detected in 2 patients. Conclusion We describe interventions for controlling NV on a pediatric oncology unit. High-risk chronic shedders pose ongoing transmission risks. PCR is a valuable diagnostic tool but may be overly sensitive. Surrogate markers to assess NV burden in stool and studies on NV screening are needed to develop guidelines for high-risk chronic shedders.
Evaluation of the mean-squared error for optimum line source patterns

An expression for the error, in the least mean-squared sense, between the desired pattern and the optimum line source approximation pattern is derived. It is shown that the previously used method of truncating the infinite series form for the error leads to highly inaccurate results.
Preventing hepatitis B: focus on women and their families.

Background: Infections contracted during infancy or childhood are responsible for 42 percent of cases of chronic hepatitis B disease, and in 25 percent or more these infections result in death from hepatoma or cirrhosis during adulthood. Hepatitis B vaccine and immune globulin provide the means of preventing the disease and its sequelae, but their proper use requires clinical strategies for deciding which patients are at risk and which responses are appropriate for family practice. Methods: A MEDLINE search of the literature pertaining to hepatitis B and its prevention, a review from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and critique by both practitioners and members of the CDC Hepatitis Branch led to the development of the clinical guidelines reported in this review. Results and Conclusions: Women at high risk for hepatitis B should be screened, including during pregnancy, by testing for hepatitis B core antibody. Those at low risk should be screened by testing for hepatitis B surface antigen. Susceptible high-risk women should be vaccinated; pregnancy is not a contraindication. Administration of hepatitis B immune globulin and vaccine to newborns is 95 percent effective in preventing transmission from a hepatitis B-infected mother. Follow-up vaccination is critical. Prophylaxis of contacts can include hepatitis B immune globulin and vaccination with or without previous testing, depending on age group and risk. Testing for hepatitis B surface antibody to assess development of immunity after vaccination is indicated only for those with ongoing exposure.
Retreat and Mutuation, 1918–1945

The end of the war brought defeat to the Germans of the Reich and Austria and demolished the structure of their respective empires, but it could not eradicate the effects of their wartime experiences or deprive them of their newly-found mid-European awareness. The years of economic blockade and ideological isolation; the vast military-geographic panorama opening to the East and Southeast; the fact of discovering kinsmen in remote parts of the mid-European area, personally experienced by at least a million men: these were events that had made a permanent impression on the thinking and attitudes of Germans at a time of acutely aggravated national sensitivity. This closing section of the Mitteleuropa story will outline where, and in what forms, mid-European thinking continued or was revamped after the war.
A Roadmap for Sustainable Ecosystems of CSE Software

The computational science & engineering (CSE) community is constantly developing and improving diverse algorithms and software for solving complex simulation and analysis problems. The best algorithms implemented as software packages by different experts from many institutions must be integrated into single executables to solve the most challenging problems. For this to happen, the CSE community must be able to affordably develop, integrate, and deploy software built from an ecosystem of these packages in a sustainable way over many decades and many changes in computer architectures (e.g. exascale). Some of the challenges and proposed solutions are the focus here.
Colorado's Tabor and Ohio's Proposal are More Restrictive than Other Limits

The authors compare a proposed expenditure limit initiative in Ohio with Colorado's limit. Both are too restrictive, they say. Tax and expenditure limits make it difficult for policymakers to make necessary decisions, the authors say. Other states' limits are less restrictive.
Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (HCT) For Fanconi Anemia (FA): Comparable Outcomes Regardless Of Stem Cell Source

![Graphic][1] Historically, outcomes after alternative donor (AD)-HCT for FA have been strikingly inferior to those observed in recipients of HLA-matched sibling donor (MSD) hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) with excessive rates of graft failure, graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD), regimen related toxicity and infection, resulting in poor survival rates. Between 2006-2013, 44 FA patients with marrow aplasia and good organ function underwent AD-HCT after total body irradiation 300 cGy (single fraction) with thymic shielding, fludarabine (FLU) 140 mg/m2, cyclophosphamide (CY) 40 mg/kg and antithymocyte globulin (ATG). Outcomes were compared to those transplanted with HSC from an HLA matched sibling donor (n=24) after FLU 175 mg/m2, CY 20 mg/kg and ATG conditioning (1999-2013). GVHD preventative measures were identical with all recipients of marrow having the graft T cell depleted by CD34 selection (regardless of donor type) prior to infusion in addition to cyclosporine A and methylprednisolone or mycophenolate mofetil. Recipients of umbilical cord blood had no additional graft processing. Except for higher use of pre-HCT G-CSF in recipients of AD-HCT, patient characteristics were similar between the 2 groups. Probabilities of neutrophil recovery, acute and chronic GVHD were similar between the groups ([Table 1][2]). Most notably, probability of survival at 3 years was the same between the two groups ([Figure 1][3]). View this table: Table 1 Patient Characteristics and HCT Outcomes ![Figure 1][4] Figure 1 To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of comparable outcomes after AD-HCT and MSD HCT for FA patients with marrow aplasia. These findings have three important implications: 1) timing for HCT need not be delayed if the patient lacks an HLA matched sibling donor, 2) potentially reduced enthusiasm for in vitro fertilization and preimplantation genetic diagnosis to have a 'savior sibling' and 3) ineligibility of FA young patients with a suitable AD (HLA matched adult volunteer or 5-6/6 matched UCB) and good organ function for high risk trials, including gene modified HSC. Disclosures: Wagner: Novartis: Research Funding. [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-2.gif [2]: #T1 [3]: #F1 [4]: pending:yes
Theorizing the Silences: Cultural Media and the Contours of Ethnic Diversity and Communication.

For mass media scholars, diversity in media studies has articulated well the issues of representation and misrepresentation, highlighting patterns of inclusion and exclusion of mediated subjects. Connecting this line of inquiry with mass communication practices remains a challenge for both educators and practitioners. This article proposes an analysis of diaspora and acculturation theories in the context of ethnic communities to explore contexts in which "cultural media" serve as conduits for shaping a vital part of the messages about diversity.
Strain Mapping in InGaAsP Epitaxial Films by an X-Ray Diffraction Technique

A new x-ray diffraction method is developed to determine the full elastic strain tensor and its distribution about a strain center in single crystal materials. It is based on the recently developed Computer Aided Rocking Curve Analyzer and is particularly well suited for analysis of thin film structures common to electronic materials. This technique will be described in detail, and its application in measuring the non-uniform strains in InGaAsP epitaxial film on InP substrate will be presented. Also, possibility of using this method to measure the uniformity of film thickness will be discussed.
Scanning tunnelling engineering

SUMMARY The great potential for building molecular scale machines and other structures was first noted by Richard Feynman (1960). He also proposed the development of tools to construct nanoscale mechanisms and devices. The range of technology that he proposed is now called nanotechnology, a term coined by Taniguchi (1974). Emergence of STM and related technology should greatly facilitate the development of nanotechnology in the decades to come. Franks' (1987b) review of nanotechnology notes the tremendous potential of STM-derived tools for what he terms ‘scanning tunneling engineering’. However, STM technology can also augment the ‘bottom up’ approaches to nanotechnology, exemplified for example by Forrest Carter's (1979, 1980, 1982, 1983) proposals for building molecular electronic devices (nanocomputers) using synthetic ‘modular chemistry’ and related techniques of supramolecular chemistry (Kuhn & Mobius, 1971; Kuhn, 1983; Lehn, 1980, 1988). A multi-tip STM system integrated with an optical microscope was proposed in 1986 as a ‘nanotechnology workstation’ suitable for scanning tunnelling engineering (Schneiker & Hameroff, 1988). In this paper, we describe an overview of scanning tunnelling engineering, present concepts for nanosensors and nanoswitches, and discuss design considerations for dual tip STM. Finally, we repeat an announcement of a series of ‘Feynman’ prizes for miniature STM.
A Comparative Study of Owner-Manager Personal Values in Black and White Small Businesses

The authors discuss research they conducted that examined the personal value orientations of black and white owner-managers of small business firms. The authors note that the personal values of man...
Invited Editorial Comment: The Stock Market Level and Financial Information

1. Harold Bierman Jr. 1. is the Nicholas H. Noyes Professor of Business Administration at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY . The Internet, newspapers, and business magazines have a responsibility to supply more readily available financial information to investors. In this editorial I will
Anti-adrenergic effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors

The renin-angiotensin and adrenergic nervous systems are cross-regulated compensatory mechanisms that are induced or activated in the failing heart. In ventricular myocardium, the activation of one of these systems leads to activation or induction of the other, resulting in co-amplification of cellular mechanisms that result in cardiac myocyte hypertrophy, hyperplasia of nonmyocytic tissue components, increased contractility and heart rate, and increased ventricular volume. Although these changes serve to stabilize stroke volume and cardiac output following an insult to the myocardium, the chronic and continual activation of these systems produces ventricular dilatation and deleterious remodelling at a chamber level and progressive myocyte dysfunction at a cellular level. Because these systems are cross-regulated, inhibition of one of them attenuates the activity of the other. This appears to be especially true in the failing heart, where angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors can produce substantial anti-adrenergic effects in individuals with high levels of adrenergic activation. The anti-adrenergic properties of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors may be at least partially responsible for the salutary effects of these agents in the clinical setting of heart failure or ischaemic heart disease.
Study on water-based laminating adhesives for plastic/plastic lamination

With a special functional monomer(HT) as comonomer of acrylate monomers,so an water-based acrylate laminating adhesive(FM-45) for plastic/plastic lamination was prepared by seed-emulsion polymerization.The influences of composite functional monomers ratio for acrylates were investigated on the peeling strength,emulsification system and application properties of FM-45.The results showed that the combination property of FM-45 was best when mass ratio of m(acrylate acid)∶m(hydroxylpropyl acrylate)∶m(HT) was 2∶3∶1,mass fraction of composite emulsifier was 0.6% in total monomers.
Comparison of geochemical data obtained using four brine sampling methods at the SECARB Phase III Anthropogenic Test CO2 injection site, Citronelle Oil Field, Alabama

Abstract The chemical composition of formation water and associated gases from the lower Cretaceous Paluxy Formation was determined using four different sampling methods at a characterization well in the Citronelle Oil Field, Alabama, as part of the Southeast Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership (SECARB) Phase III Anthropogenic Test, which is an integrated carbon capture and storage project. In this study, formation water and gas samples were obtained from well D-9-8 #2 at Citronelle using gas lift, electric submersible pump, U-tube, and a downhole vacuum sampler (VS) and subjected to both field and laboratory analyses. Field chemical analyses included electrical conductivity, dissolved sulfide concentration, alkalinity, and pH; laboratory analyses included major, minor and trace elements, dissolved carbon, volatile fatty acids, free and dissolved gas species. The formation water obtained from this well is a Na–Ca–Cl-type brine with a salinity of about 200,000 mg/L total dissolved solids. Differences were evident between sampling methodologies, particularly in pH, Fe and alkalinity. There was little gas in samples, and gas composition results were strongly influenced by sampling methods. The results of the comparison demonstrate the difficulty and importance of preserving volatile analytes in samples, with the VS and U-tube system performing most favorably in this aspect.
What Is a System and What Is a Mess

This chapter and the next introduce the basic concepts and ideas that are used throughout to give a very different kind of analysis of TEM and eventually to offer strong prescriptions regarding how to “cope” with it. Since the concept of a mess is dependent on the concept of a system, we first define the concept of a system, especially social systems. The result of the discussion is that as important as it obviously is of having outstanding dedicated teachers, by itself no single component of a mess can improve the total performance of a system or mess.
Immunophenotypic and Ultrastructural Analysis of Mast Cells in Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome Type-1: A Possible Connection to Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome type-1 (HPS-1) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in HPS1 which result in reduced expression of the HPS-1 protein, defective lysosome-related organelle (LRO) transport and absence of platelet delta granules. Patients with HPS-1 exhibit oculocutaneous albinism, colitis, bleeding and pulmonary fibrosis postulated to result from a dysregulated immune response. The effect of the HPS1 mutation on human mast cells (HuMCs) is unknown. Since HuMC granules classify as LROs along with platelet granules and melanosomes, we set out to determine if HPS-1 cutaneous and CD34+ culture-derived HuMCs have distinct granular and cellular characteristics. Cutaneous and cultured CD34+-derived HuMCs from HPS-1 patients were compared with normal cutaneous and control HuMCs, respectively, for any morphological and functional differences. One cytokine-independent HPS-1 culture was expanded, cloned, designated the HP proMastocyte (HPM) cell line and characterized. HPS-1 and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) alveolar interstitium showed numerous HuMCs; HPS-1 dermal mast cells exhibited abnormal granules when compared to healthy controls. HPS-1 HuMCs showed increased CD63, CD203c and reduced mediator release following FcɛRI aggregation when compared with normal HuMCs. HPM cells also had the duplication defect, expressed FcɛRI and intracytoplasmic proteases and exhibited less mediator release following FcɛRI aggregation. HPM cells constitutively released IL-6, which was elevated in patients’ serum, in addition to IL-8, fibronectin-1 (FN-1) and galectin-3 (LGALS3). Transduction with HPS1 rescued the abnormal HPM morphology, cytokine and matrix secretion. Microarray analysis of HPS-1 HuMCs and non-transduced HPM cells confirmed upregulation of differentially expressed genes involved in fibrogenesis and degranulation. Cultured HPS-1 HuMCs appear activated as evidenced by surface activation marker expression, a decrease in mediator content and impaired releasibility. The near-normalization of constitutive cytokine and matrix release following rescue by HPS1 transduction of HPM cells suggests that HPS-1 HuMCs may contribute to pulmonary fibrosis and constitute a target for therapeutic intervention.