cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Changes in hospital admissions for urgent conditions during COVID-19 pandemic.

Objectives To determine whether patients are deferring necessary care for urgent conditions during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and, if so, to what extent. Study design Cross-sectional study. Methods Using billing data from 8 acute care hospitals, we identified 9 principal medical diagnoses from International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes across 4 medical specialties (cardiology, gastroenterology, neurology, and urology). In addition, we defined a combined obstetrical falsification end point. We compared daily admission rates during the pandemic period (3/1/2020-4/30/2020) with the same dates in 2019 (3/1/2019-4/30/2019). As a reference, we also compared a prepandemic period in the same years (1/1/2019-2/28/2019 and 1/1/2020-2/29/2020). We compared admission rates between years using t tests. Results There were 3219 admissions for the conditions of interest during the study period in 2019 and 2661 in 2020. There was no difference in prepandemic daily admission rates in 2020 compared with 2019 (29.04 vs 27.63 admissions per day; -4.9%; P = .50). During the pandemic period, there was a 33.7% decrease in admission rates for all conditions combined in 2020 compared with 2019 (24.68 vs 16.37; -33.7%; P = .03). By specialty, the combined gastroenterology (10.22 vs 7.20; -29.6%; P = .02) and cardiovascular (2.34 vs 1.29; -44.7%; P = .05) end points demonstrated reduction in daily admission rates. Conclusions Daily admission rates during the COVID-19 pandemic were lower for these acute medical conditions. Public awareness campaigns are urgently needed to reassure the public about the safety of presenting for care.
Does Judicial Independence Exist? The Lessons of Social Science Research

My frustration with much of the scholarshp on judicial independence is the lack of empirical grounding for its key claims. Whether one's goal is to protect judicial independence or to limit it, social science research regarding courts has much to offer and is ignored at the reformer's peril. This chapter examines several facts about courts that empirical research has consistently revealed and contrasts them with the claims made about judicial independence, noting the wide gap between the two. I conclude with a call for greater accuracy and less advocacy in our discussions about judicial independence and an appreciation of the virtues of limited judicial independence.
Recent advances on the antibacterial coating on titanium implant by micro-Arc oxidation process

Abstract Titanium (Ti) and its alloy are widely used for artificial joints, dental implantations, orthopedic and bone screws because of their good biocompatibility, magnificent mechanical properties, and great corrosion resistance. As the Ti is bioinert and lacking antibacterial properties, which impact the use of such materials in the field of biomedical applications. When microorganisms attached to the surface of biomaterials it will start the implant related infection, which is a serious clinical issue. Infection frequently begins with bacterial attachment to the implant surface, after that colonization of bacteria started on the implant surface, once the colonization increases to larger extent it forms the biofilm. Once biofilm form, it becomes remarkably impervious to antibiotics and the host immunity defensive system to eliminate the biofilm from implant surface which prompting further complexities. The counteraction of biofilm development by antimicrobial surfaces is the most ideal approach to avoid both the spread of microorganisms and material decay. Antibacterial coating on implant surface is a convincing method to decrease the event of implant related infections. Among available methods micro arc oxidation (MAO) is profoundly reasonable for the development of bioactive and antibacterial coatings on titanium implant. In this paper antibacterial mechanism some of nanoparticles such as Zn, Ag, Cu, and AgO when incorporated in MAO coating is discussed. It was observed that antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles is due to combination of contact killing and release of Ag nanoparticles, as well as the arrival of Ag+ ions from the coating surface to the electrolyte solutions. Zn coating can restrain bacterial development by producing responsive oxygen species (ROS). ROS is bacteria harmful species. In Cu nanoparticles incorporated antibacterial coating, bacteria absorbed Cu ions and resulted into the formation of cavities in the cell wall of bacteria through interaction with Cu ions.
Acute promyelocytic leukemia current treatment algorithms

In 1957, Hillestad et al. defined acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) for the first time in the literature as a distinct type of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with a “rapid downhill course” characterized with a severe bleeding tendency. APL, accounting for 10–15% of the newly diagnosed AML cases, results from a balanced translocation, t(15;17) (q22;q12-21), which leads to the fusion of the promyelocytic leukemia (PML) gene with the retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARA) gene. The PML–RARA fusion oncoprotein induces leukemia by blocking normal myeloid differentiation. Before using anthracyclines in APL therapy in 1973, no effective treatment was available. In the mid-1980s, all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) monotherapy was used with high response rates, but response durations were short. Later, the development of ATRA, chemotherapy, and arsenic trioxide combinations turned APL into a highly curable malignancy. In this review, we summarize the evolution of APL therapy, focusing on key milestones that led to the standard-of-care APL therapy available today and discuss treatment algorithms and management tips to minimize induction mortality.
Header biomechanics in youth and collegiate female soccer.

Concerns about the effects of intentional heading in soccer have led to regulatory restrictions on headers for youth players. However, there is limited data describing how header exposure varies across age levels, and few studies have attempted to compare head impact exposure across different levels of play with the same sensor. Additionally, little is known about the biomechanical response of the brain to header impacts. The objective of this study was to evaluate head kinematics and the resulting tissue-level brain strain associated with intentional headers among youth and collegiate female soccer players. Six youth and 13 collegiate participants were instrumented with custom mouthpiece-based sensors measuring six-degree-of-freedom head kinematics of headers during practices and games. Kinematics of film-verified headers were used to drive impact simulations with a detailed brain finite element model to estimate tissue-level strain. Linear and rotational head kinematics and strain metrics, specifically 95th percentile maximum principal strain (e1,95) and the area under the cumulative strain damage measure curve (VSM1), were compared across levels of play (i.e., youth vs. collegiate) while adjusting for session type and ball delivery method. A total of 483 headers (n = 227 youth, n = 256 collegiate) were analyzed. Level of play was significantly associated with linear acceleration, rotational acceleration, rotational velocity, e1,95, and VSM1. Headers performed by collegiate players had significantly greater mean head kinematics and strain metrics compared to those performed by youth players (all p < .001). Targeted interventions aiming to reduce head impact magnitude in soccer should consider factors associated with the level of play.
Gradual adoption of needle biopsy for breast lesions in a rural state.

Background Minimally invasive breast biopsy (MIBB) is the standard of care for the diagnosis of breast cancer, with consensus guidelines suggesting MIBB goals of 90% of total biopsies. In a previous study of patients in the rural state of Vermont, USA (population size of 640,000), rural breast cancer patients had open biopsies 42% of the time compared to 29% of urban breast cancer patients. The aim of this study was to assess overall population-based biopsy trends in Vermont. Methods The Vermont Breast Cancer Surveillance System (VBCSS) was used to identify women receiving MIBB and excisional breast biopsies in Vermont. Patient zip code at the time of initial biopsy was used to determine the patient residence rurality by rural-urban commuting area codes (RUCA 2.0™). Results There were 9122 diagnostic episodes from 1999 to 2018. MIBB was the initial biopsy method in 7524 (82.5%) cases, while surgical excision was the initial biopsy method in 1598 (17.5%) cases. A linear trend fit estimated an increase of 1.3% per year (p Conclusions For the first time, we show that MIBB usage is above 90% in the state of Vermont and that there no longer exist disparities in breast biopsies between urban and rural patients or rural/urban facilities in the state, overall.
Research and history of policies in K-12 online and blended learning

This chapter provides a historical review of U. S. education policy from its earliest inception to the present day with a focus on policy developments in the 21st century that have influenced the growth and development of online and blended education and those that we can foresee will have the greatest impact moving forward. 21st century policies are synthesized into themes of Online and Distance Learning, Accountability, Innovation and Reform, and Teacher Preparation.
Intracellular Trafficking of Legionella pneumophila within Phagocytic Cells

A number of bacterial pathogens replicate within macrophages during host infections. Bacteria that establish a novel intracellular route either destroy the nascent phagosomal membrane to gain access to the host cell cytosol or else are targeted to a special membrane-bound compartment that allows exclusion of antimicrobial factors, and presumably access to nutrients. This latter group of pathogens includes Legionella pneumophila, Brucella abortus, Chlamydia species, and the eukaryotic parasite Toxoplasma gondii. The nascent phagosome formed by the coil has a distinct protein composition, an interesting observation likely to be important for subsequent events during intracellular growth. From a number of studies on the behavior of L. pneumophila within phagocytic cells, it is apparent that the phagosome bearing the microorganism is routed within the cell in a fashion distinct from that seen for phagosomes bearing nonpathogens. Protease mutants also appear to have virulences equal to those of wild-type microorganisms, although this result should be interpreted cautiously since partial differences in virulence or histopathology between the mutant and wild type may be difficult to detect in the guinea pig model. At this point, however, it can be said that the protease is dispensable for the intracellular trafficking pathway of L. pneumophila. Perhaps L. pneumophila, by disrupting the phagosomal membrane, causes a series of similar localized changes, with the result that the microorganism is eventually targeted to its replicative niche.
Sand Fly-Transmitted Diseases

Sand flies are delicate, gnat-like flies in the family Psychodidae which feed on a variety of mammals and sometimes other vertebrates such as reptiles and amphibians. Many species are significant public health nuisance pests and vectors of disease. This chapter explores the ecology and disease potential of sand flies, including discussion of the major sand fly species worldwide. Finally, the diseases leishmaniasis, bartonellosis, and sandfly fever are presented and discussed, including their geographic distributions, sand fly vectors, and comments about their treatment, prevention, and control.
Performance evaluation and reliability of thermal vias

Establish a high-yield design approach for surface mount power packages utilizing PWB thermal vias, elastomeric material and heatsinks. A feasibility study proved that the thermal via concept could be implemented to meet cooling and producibility requirements. Reliability testing demonstrated negligible thermal path degradation for a 15-year life equivalent in airborne environment.
Scientific Workflows in the Cloud

The development of cloud computing has generated significant interest in the scientific computing community. In this chapter we consider the impact of cloud computing on scientific workflow applications. We examine the benefits and drawbacks of cloud computing for workflows, and argue that the primary benefit of cloud computing is not the economic model it promotes, but rather the technologies it employs and how they enable new features for workflow applications. We describe how clouds can be configured to execute workflow tasks and present a case study that examines the performance and cost of three typical workflow applications on Amazon EC2. Finally, we identify several areas in which existing clouds can be improved and discuss the future of workflows in the cloud.
N(2) Fixation Associated with Decaying Leaves of the Red Mangrove (Rhizophora mangle).

N2 (C2H2) fixation was associated with decaying leaves of Rhizophora mangle. The process was predominantly anaerobic, with about two-thirds of the nitrogenase activity being light dependent. Average N2 fixation rates in the light were 11 μg of N per g (dry weight) per h for leaves that had decayed for 2 to 3 weeks. This nitrogen input is probably significant in the estuarine, detrital food chains linked to R. mangle.
Monoclonal Antibody-Directed Analysis of Cytochrome P-450

The cytochromes P-450 metabolize a diverse array of xenobiotic and endobiotic compounds, including carcinogens, drugs, and steroids (1-3). The different isozymes differ in their substrate and product specificities and reactivities. The types and amounts of isozymes in a tissue therefore regulate the metabolic conversion of substrates to products. Progress in understanding the role of individual P-450s in metabolism of specific substrates, and in relating P-450 phenotype to individual differences in sensitivity to drugs and carcinogens, has been hindered by the multiplicity of the P-450s. The approach we have taken to the multiplicity problem is to prepare and use monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) as specific probes to individual and epitope-specific classes of P-450s (4–6).
Macrophage Colony-stimulating Factor Mediates Invasion of Ovarian Cancer Cells through Urokinase

The macrophage colony-stimulating factor (CSF-1) is best known as a hematopoietic cytokine important to macrophage activation. Recently, the importance of CSF-1 and its receptor (encoded by the c-fms proto-oncogene) in epithelial ovarian cancer has also been recognized, with overexpression of CSF-1 denoting poor prognosis in ovarian cancer patients. During macrophage activation, CSF-1 promotes urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) activity; in macrophages and in malignant cells of lung, breast, colon, and prostatic origin, uPA activity is strongly correlated with the ability to invade and, in the malignant cells, to metastasize. While there is clear evidence of CSF-1 and uPA expression in primary and metastatic ovarian cancer, the significance of their expression to invasion of these cells has not been explored. We find that all of our ovarian cancer cell lines which we have studied co-express CSF-1 and uPA transcripts and protein. Urokinase expression in these ovarian cancer cell lines correlates with the degree of tumorigenicity in nude mice, with the most virulent tumor resulting from Hey cells, a strong expressor of uPA. We studied the invasion of these primary and established ovarian cancer cells through a Matrigel (reconstituted basement membrane matrix) barrier. The ability of ovarian cancer cells to invade is strongly correlated with endogenous CSF-1 expression (Pearson's correlation, r = 0.91; P = 0.01). A total of 0.90 +/- 0.16% of Bix3 cells (very weak expressor of CSF-1) invaded through the barrier, in contrast to 6.95 +/- 0.75% of Hey cells (strong CSF-1 expressor) and 10.44 +/- 2.33% of Bixler cells (the strongest CSF-1 expressor). We studied the ability of two of the cell lines to invade human laminin and type IV collagen (Bix3, a weak invader of Matrigel, and Hey, a strong invader), to determine (a) whether our results on a Matrigel matrix may represent a relevant model for invasion in humans and (b) whether there is a potential confounding effect from the cytokines and proteases in Matrigel. On this human simple matrix, we confirm that Bix3 is a weakly invasive cell line (0.33 +/- 0.04% invasion) which contrasted to the strongly invasive Hey cell line (8.51 +/- 0.47%). Treatment of Bix3 cells with exogenous CSF-1 stimulates percentage of invasion by 2-fold and results in a similar increase in the level of uPA transcripts and cellular associated uPA antigen. Furthermore, cell surface-bound uPA increased from 74% in the absence of CSF-1 to 100% (fully saturated) in the presence of CSF-1.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Endoscopic Nd:YAG laser therapy for active esophageal variceal bleeding: A randomized controlled study

A randomized controlled double-blind study was undertaken to assess the efficacy and safety of endoscopic neodymium:yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser therapy for active esophageal variceal bleeding. Ten patients were randomized to the laser treatment group and 10 to a control group that received sham endoscopy and standard medical therapy. Initial hemostasis was achieved in seven laser-treated patients but in 0 of 10 controls receiving sham treatment (p
Surge Block Method for Controlling Well Clogging and Sampling Sediment during Bioremediation

A surge block treatment method (i.e. inserting a solid rod plunger with a flat seal that closely fits the casing interior into a well and stocking it up and down) was performed for the rehabilitation of wells clogged with biomass and for the collection of time series sediment samples during in situ bioremediation tests for U(VI) immobilization at a the U.S. Department of Energy site in Oak Ridge, TN. The clogging caused by biomass growth had been controlled by using routine surge block treatment for18 times over a nearly four year test period. The treatment frequency was dependent of the dosage of electron donor injection and microbial community developed in the subsurface. Hydraulic tests showed that the apparent aquifer transmissivity at a clogged well with an inner diameter (ID) of 10.16 cm was increased by 8–13 times after the rehabilitation, indicating the effectiveness of the rehabilitation. Simultaneously with the rehabilitation, the surge block method was successfully used for collecting time series sediment samples composed of fine particles (clay and silt) from wells with ID 1.9–10.16 cm for the analysis of mineralogical and geochemical composition and microbial community during the same period. Our results demonstrated that the surge block method provided a cost-effective approach for both well rehabilitation and frequent solid sampling at the same location.
Automatic target recognition in SAR using digitally spotlighted phase history data

This paper is concerned with a representation of a target's complex Synthetic Aperture Radar signature that could be used for classification purposes. In this representation, the complex SAR signature of a desired target area (chip) as a function of the radar frequency and aspect angle ((omega) , (phi) ) i.e., the target area phase history data) are shown to directly map into the two-dimensional spectrum of the target's image via a nonlinear transformation; the same information base in the ((omega) , (phi) ) domain is shown to be retrievable from the digitally-spotlighted complex SAR signature of the desired target region. For the classification problem (Automatic Target Recognition), the resultant complex SAR signature in the ((omega) , (phi) ) domain is compared with a finite and discrete set of reference complex SAR signatures via a process that we refer to as signal subspace matched filtering.
Thumbs up: a new definition of reference

Purpose – The purpose of this editorial is to examine the changing nature of the role of reference services, and to work towards a new definition of the term “reference”.Design/methodology/approach – The paper assesses the current situation and looks forward to a new definition of “reference”.Findings – The paper finds that a new definition of “reference” holds great promise.Originality/value – A definition of “reference” that takes into account the activities of a twenty‐first century reference librarian will serve to advance reference services and, by so doing, will both impact reference librarians' future and preserve and renew the value of reference librarianship.
Fast Paths in Concurrent Programs

Compiling concurrent programs to run on a sequential processor presents a difficult tradeoff between execution time and size of generated code. On one hand, the process-based approach to compilation generates reasonable sized code but incurs significant execution overhead due to concurrency. On the other hand, the automata-based approach incurs a much smaller execution overhead but can result in code that is several orders of magnitude larger. This paper proposes a way of combining the two approaches so that the performance of the automata-based approach can be achieved without suffering the code size increase due to it. The key insight is that the best of the two approaches can be achieved by using symbolic execution (similar to the automata-based approach) to generate code for the commonly executed paths (referred to as fast paths) and using the process-based approach to generate code for the rest of the program. We demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach by implementing our techniques in the ESP compiler and applying them to a set of filter programs and to VMMC network firmware.
Compound Conflicts of Interest in the US Proxy System.

The current proxy voting system in the United States has become the subject of considerable controversy. Because institutional investment managers have the authority to vote their clients’ proxies, they have a fiduciary obligation to those clients. Frequently, in an attempt to fulfill that obligation, these institutional investors employ proxy advisory services to manage the thousands of votes they must cast. However, many proxy advisory services have conflicts of interest that inhibit their utility to those seeking to discharge their fiduciary duties. In this article, we describe the current proxy advisory network as an example of how current notions of conflicts of interest fall short when explaining the behavior of an interconnected set of market players whose remit is to act in the best interests of their investors. We discuss what participants in this system should do to bring transparency and accuracy to the proxy advice industry.
Complete amino acid sequence of the myoglobin from the Pacific sei whale, Balaenoptera borealis

The complete amino acid sequence of the major component myoglobin from Pacific sei whale, Balaenoptera borealis, was determined by specific cleavage of the protein to obtain large peptides which are readily degraded by the automatic sequencer. The acetimidated apomyoglobin was selectively cleaved at its two methionyl residues with cyanogen bromide and at its three arginyl residues by trypsin. From the sequence analysis of four of these peptides and the apomyoglobin, over 75% of the covalent structure of the protein was obtained. The remainder of the primary structure was determined by the sequence analysis of peptides that resulted from further digestion of the amino-terminal and central cyanogen bromide fragments. The amino-terminal fragment was specifically cleaved at its two tryptophanyl residues with N-chlorosuccinimide and the central cyanogen bromide fragment was cleaved at its glutamyl residues with staphylococcal protease and at its single tyrosyl residue with N-bromosuccinimide. The primary structure of this myoglobin proved identical with that from the gray whale but differs from that of the finback whale at four positions, from that of the minke whale at three positions and from the myoglobin of the humpback whale at one position. The above sequence identities and differences reflect the close taxonomic relationship of these five species of Cetacea.
Types of physicians used by women for regular health care: Implications for services received

ABSTRACT Objective: The purpose of this paper is to identify the specialties of physicians seen by women for regular health care, including the combination of an obstetrician-gynecologist (OBGYN) and a primary-care physician, and to examine associations between type(s) of physicians seen and number of visits made and preventive services received. Design: Data are from the 1993 Women's Health Survey, a nationally representative telephone survey conducted by Louis Harris and Associates for The Commonwealth Fund. Participants: National sample, excluding Alaska and Hawaii, of 2,525 U.S. women ages 18 and over. Main Outcome Measures: The specialties of physicians seen for regular care, number of annual physician visits, and receipt of key preventive services (Pap tests, cholesterol screening, mammography) within the last 2–3 years. Results: One-third of women see both a primary-care physician and an OBGYN; they make more visits than women seeing a primary-care provider alone. Women seeing a primary-care physic...
Microscopic calculation of nuclear correlations

The diagrammatic expansion of the two-body density $\ensuremath{\rho}({\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{r}}}_{1},{\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{r}}}_{2})$ in the nuclear ground state is given through second order in the reaction matrix. The second-order diagrams are grouped into sets and all diagrams of a given set have to be computed together in order to preserve its normalization $\ensuremath{\int}{d}^{3}{r}_{1}{d}^{3}{r}_{2}\ensuremath{\rho}({\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{r}}}_{1},{\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{r}}}_{2})=1$. Microscopic calculations of nuclear correlations have usually violated this normalization constraint.
Simulation of meteorological data for use in agricultural production studies

Abstract Meteorological variation is a primary source of risk and uncertainty in the production of agricultural commodities. Incorporation of meteorological variables in simulation models requires the recreation of the same stochastic relationships which underlie the basic meteorological process. This paper presents a methodology for using Monte Carlo techniques to simulate meteorological values on an aggregated basis (e.g. monthly or quarterly) using empirical distributions. An example for precipitation (rainfall) and temperature variables is developed with endpoints of the empirical functions distributed exponentially, stacked, and standard. Statistical properties, with the exception of the standard deviation, of the historical series appears to be fairly well maintained in the simulated series when the endpoints are not stacked or distributed exponentially.
Grid-computing portals and security issues

Computational grids provide computing power by sharing resources across administrative domains. This sharing, coupled with the need to execute untrusted code from arbitrary users, introduces security hazards. Grid environments are built on top of platforms that control access to resources within a single administrative domain, at the granularity of a user. In wide-area multidomain grid environments, the overhead of maintaining user accounts is prohibitive, and securing access to resources via user accountability is impractical. Typically, these issues are handled by implementing checks that guarantee the safety of applications, so that they can run in shared user accounts. This work shows that safety checks--language-based, compile-time, link-time or load-time--currently implemented in most grid environments are either inadequate or limit allowed grid users and applications. A survey of various grid systems is presented, highlighting the problems and limitations of current grid environments. A runtime process monitoring technique is also proposed. The approach allows setting-up an execution environment that supports the full legitimate use allowed by the security policy of a shared resource. For shell-based applications, performance measurements of the proposed scheme show up to 2.14 times less overheads as compared to the case where all applications including the shell are monitored.
Radiologic contributions to the investigation and prosecution of cases of fatal infant abuse.

Abstract In 1984 we started a two-year program in Worcester (Mass.) and Boston to provide additional radiologic data for the medical investigation of suspected fatal infant abuse. During that period the investigation of 12 cases of unexplained infant death included the review of complete radiographic skeletal surveys by a pediatric radiologist. Autopsies were supplemented with resection, high-detail radiography, and histologic study of all noncranial sites of suspected osseous injury. Thirty-four bony injuries were noted, including 12 acute and 16 healing fractures of the long-bone metaphyses and posterior-rib arcs in patterns indicative of infant abuse. The investigations determined that there were eight cases of abuse, two accidental deaths, and two natural deaths (sudden infant death syndrome). At this writing, the radiologic and osseous histologic studies appear to have influenced the determination of the manner of death in six of the eight cases of abuse and the criminal prosecution in four of the fi...
Abnormal regeneration in the planarian Dugesia tigrina as a function of the length: Width ratio of the regenerating fragment

Regeneration was examined in different regions of planaria (Dugesia tigrina) in order to determine the effect that the shape of a section exerts on regenerative success. Length:width ratios were used as an index of tissue proportion, and overall regenerative success was measured by percent of abnormal regenerates and number of abnormalities per abnormal regenerate. Frequency and number of abnormalities increased as section width exceeded section length. Frequency of specific abnormalities varied with changes in length:width ratios and followed a predictable pattern. As ratios decreased below 1.0, abnormalities typically consisted of characteristics regarded as being due to excess head formation. These included the presence of two heads, the “head hump” syndrome, and/or lack of pharynx. This excess head formation was due to the proportional shape of the section rather than to overall segment size, and the frequency of such abnormalities increased in proportion to decreases in length:width ratios. Abnormalities which were more typically seen at ratios over 1.0 consisted of the lack of head, pharynx, and/or polarity.
The potential to increase digestibility of tropical grasses with a fungal, ferulic acid esterase enzyme preparation

Abstract This study examined effects of an enzyme preparation (Depol 740L, Biocatalyst, Pontypridd, UK) containing high esterase (32 U/ml) activity on in vitro digestibility and ruminal in situ degradability of three tropical grass hays. The enzyme was applied at 0, 0.5, 1, 2 and 3 g/100 g dry matter (DM) to ground (1 mm), 12-week regrowths of Pensacola bahiagrass (BAH), Coastal bermudagrass (C-B), and Tifton 85 bermudagrass (T-85) hays in a 3 × 5 factorial experiment replicated thrice. Twenty-four hours later, samples were incubated in triplicate for 6, 24 and 48 h in buffered ruminal fluid in two ANKOM Daisy II incubators The enzyme was also applied at similar rates to ground (4 mm) samples of hays and incubated in duplicate in each of two cows for 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 h. Enzyme application enhanced (P in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of the hays increased linearly (P p -coumaric acid from T-85 and BAH. The 48-h IVDMD of C-B increased linearly (P=0.05) as enzyme application increased (487, 484, 489, 506, 510 g/kg) but that of T-85 and BAH did not. The 6-h neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility (IVNDFD) of T-85 increased linearly (P In vitro 24-h IVNDFD of hays increased linearly (P in situ washout fraction of all hays, and the potentially degradable fraction, the extent of degradability, and the effective degradability of C-B. Enzyme application increased (P in vitro digestion and ruminal in situ degradation of hays, but the pattern and extent of improvement was forage specific.
Nitrido and imido transition metal complexes of Groups 6–8

Abstract This review summarizes the syntheses and reactivities of Groups 6, 7, and 8 metal nitrido and imido complexes reported until August 2002. We begin with a general description of the bonding and reactivity of transition metal nitrido and imido complexes followed by a discussion of the common synthetic routes. The main focus of the review is the survey of the nitrido and imido complexes of Groups 6–8 with an emphasis on their synthesis and reactivity.
Santa Monica Bay Prep 94: MAJOR SPILL EXERCISE PLANNING/EXECUTION1

ABSTRACT The largest simulated response conducted under the most realistic conditions since the grounding of the Exxon Valdez has been captured on video. It shows the production and execution of the Preparedness for Response Exercise Program oil spill exercise held in September 1994 in Santa Monica Bay. The exercise involved over 500 people from more than 60 organizations. Chevron played the role of responsible party in this simulation of a spill of about 10,000 barrels of crude oil. The video focuses on the incident command system and the people for whom prevention and preparedness is a daily business.
Distributed grid-connected photovoltaic power system emission offset assessment: statistical test of simulated- and measured-based data

This study assesses the pollutant emission offset potential of distributed grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) power systems. Computer-simulated performance results were utilized for 214 PV systems located across the US. The PV systems’ monthly electrical energy outputs were based on a performance calculator called PVWATTS. Offset emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon dioxide (CO2), and nitrogen oxides (NOx) were determined from PV system outputs and average utility emissions data from each state. For validation, the simulated monthly results were statistically compared with measurement-based data (both production and corresponding emissions data) from 29 PV systems installed at different sites across the US. While the data shows high (geographic) variability, the substantial number of measurements allows reliable statistical analysis. The methods are found to give consistent results in spite of the necessity to employ some even quite crude input approximations—such as the use of statewide rather than specific emissions data for the systems. No significant differences between simulated and measured monthly means for any of the pollutants were noted on the basis of individual monthly analyses, though the results for NOx suggest the possible existence of some difference in that case. A more detailed statistical modeling using all monthly data in one combined analysis (allowing improved variability estimation) confirms these conclusions. Even the shorter confidence intervals for expected offsets obtained through the combined analysis show no significant differences between simulated and measured methods for SO2 and CO2. The differences for NOx are statistically significant but consistent—suggesting useful prediction by the simulations via a constant correction factor. As expected, significant differences between months are evident for both simulated and measured offsets.
Cow's milk allergy and neonatal short bowel syndrome: comorbidity or true association?

Neonatal short bowel syndrome (SBS) follows early intestinal resections that may expose the children to increased intestinal contact with undigested food proteins and to the risk of food allergy. We report three consecutive cases of cow's milk allergy (CMA) in SBS infants. We reviewed three cases of CMA developed in 37 children with neonatal SBS followed up in the last 10 years. The setting of the survey was the Gastroenterology-Hepatology and Nutrition Unit of the Pediatric Hospital ‘Bambino Gesu’ in Rome. The diagnosis of CMA was based on the oral food challenge and was supported by the results of the skin prick tests (SPT) and/or the specific immunoglobulin (Ig) E. Two patients had persistent liquid stools and periodic episodes of vomiting when they were fed with an intact milk protein-based formula, that disappeared with extensively hydrolyzed formula and amino-acid-based formulae, respectively. The third patient developed maculo-papular rash, flushing and angioedema, when he was introduced a regular formula. The challenge-confirmed CMA in all patients. Positive specific IgE for milk proteins was documented in all the three patients. Two out of the three patients had positive familial history for allergy and positive SPT. Our findings suggest that the SBS patients require a careful clinical monitoring of the tolerance for the cow’s milk proteins, because CMA could be more frequent than expected. A prospective regular assessment for the potential cow milk sensitization by SPT and specific IgE may clarify the nature of the association and support the clinical surveillance. Multicenter studies are required to better evaluate this comorbidity.
Hydrogenic impurities in quantum wires in the presence of a magnetic field.

We report a calculation of the binding energy of the ground state of a hydrogenic donor in a quantum wire in the presence of a uniform magnetic field applied parallel to the wire axis. We assume that the impurity ion is located at the axis of the wire. The quantum wire is assumed to be a cylinder of GaAs material surrounded by ${\mathrm{Ga}}_{1\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{x}}$${\mathrm{Al}}_{\mathit{x}}$As. The calculations have been performed by using suitable variational wave functions for infinite and finite confinement potentials. For a given value of the magnetic field, the binding energy is found to be larger than the zero-field case.
Improved staging with pretreatment positron emission tomography/computed tomography in low rectal cancer.

Background 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT) are widely accepted in the evaluation for metastatic or recurrent rectal cancer. Only spiral CT and transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) are routinely used in the initial evaluation of primary rectal cancer. We wished to determine whether PET/CT could provide additional information in patients undergoing standard evaluation for primary rectal cancer.
Travel‐time tables for near earthquakes in east‐central North America

These tables are based on studies made at St. Louis University by Edward J. Walter of six near earthquakes occurring to the south of St. Louis and by Henry F. Birkenhauer, S.J. of eight near earthquakes occurring to the east and northeast of St. Louis. In both investigations an endeavor was made to find the crustal picture and velocity-values which would best account for the observed arrivals of earthquake-waves.
The Accretion of Dwarf Galaxies and Their Globular Cluster Systems

The question of where the low-metallicity globular clusters in early-type galaxies came from has profound implications for the formation of those galaxies. Our work supports the idea that the metal-poor globular cluster systems of giant early-type galaxies formed in dwarf galaxies that have been subsumed by the giants. To support this hypothesis, two linear relations, one involving globular cluster metallicity versus host galaxy luminosity and one involving metallicity versus velocity dispersion were studied. Tentatively, these relations show that the bright ellipticals do not obey the same trend as the dwarfs, suggesting that the low-metallicity globular clusters did not form within their parent bright ellipticals.
Noninvasive measurement of cerebral vasopasm in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Abstract Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was measured as fast flow clearance (F1) and the initial slope index (ISI2) after inhalation of 133Xe in 30 patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Vasomotor responsiveness to reduction in end-tidal PECO2 was examined in those patients who could carry out this procedure satisfactorily as a test for the presence or absence of vasospasm. F1 and ISI2 were significantly reduced in patients with recent SAH compared to 35 age-matched normal volunteers. The degree of reduction of F1 and ISI2 correlated directly with severity of the neurological deficit graded according to the Hunt and Hess rating scale. Topographic reductions of rCBF correlated with angiographically demonstrated vasospasm or intracerebral hematoma. The degree of impairment of cerebral vasomotor responsiveness to reduction of PECO2 by hyperventilation also correlated with the severity of vasospasm demonstrated angiographically in 16 patients. The reductions of rCBF values were maximal during the first week after SAH but returned gradually toward normal by the 5th week. Individual patients with SAH whose lowest F1 values were above 50 ml 100 g brain / min tolerated surgical intervention best. Non-invasive measurements of rCBF after SAH appear to be helpful in estimating the presence and time course of vasospasm, in recognizing the development of normal pressure hydrocephalus, and in planning medical and surgical management.
A convenient synthesis of 2S, 3S-[3-2H]-serine and 2S, 3R-[2, 3-2H2]-serine

Both 2S, 3R-[2, 3-2H2]-serine 5 and 2S, 3S-[3-2H]-serine 6 have been prepared from (E)-methyl-[2, 3.-2H2]-acrylate and (Z)-ethyl-[3-2H]-acrylate, respectively. The acrylate esters were converted to a mixture of isomeric bromohydrins by treatment with N-bromoacetamide. The ratio of 2-bromo-3-hydroxy species to the 2-hydroxy-3-bromo isomer was approximately 3:1. Conversion to the corresponding azido alcohols by treatment with NaN3 followed by catalytic reduction over Pd gave the alkyl esters of serine and isoserine. Purification and hydrolysis yielded serine in typically 20–25% yield from methyl or ethyl acrylate. Resolution was accomplished enzymatically by hog kidney acylase I treatment of the N-acetyl derivative. Absolute configuration was determined by 1H NMR and the ratio of proton intensity in the diastereotopic positions at C–3 were measured to be HS/HR = 11 for 5 and HR/HS = 4.4 for 6.
A power electronic transformer for three phase PWM AC/AC drive with loss less commutation and common-mode voltage suppression

This paper presents a novel topology for the generation of adjustable frequency and magnitude PWM three phase ac from a balanced three phase ac source with a high frequency ac link. The proposed power electronic transformer system provides single stage power conversion with bidirectional power flow capability. This topology along with the proposed control has the following advantages : 1) Input power factor correction, 2) Common-mode voltage suppression at the load end, 3) High quality output voltage waveform (comparable to conventional space vector PWM modulated two level inverter) and 4) Minimization of output voltage loss, common-mode voltage switching and distortion of the load current waveform due to leakage inductance commutation. A loss less source based commutation technique for the leakage energy has been proposed. This results in soft switching of the output side converter. The entire topology along with the proposed control scheme has been analyzed and simulated. The simulation results verify the operation and advantages of the proposed power electronic transformer.
Increased Susceptibility of Alzheimer's Disease Temporal Cortex to Oxygen Free Radical-Mediated Processes

Reactive oxygen-mediated processes are though to contribute to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). To investigate this hypothesis we studied autopsy tissue from 11 pairs of AD cases and control individuals matched for age, postmortem delay, and tissue storage time. The temporal neocortex, which is severely involved by AD pathology, and the cerebellum, which is spared, were analyzed for tissue markers of lipid peroxidation (LPO). The average chemiluminescence formed from bond breakage in tissue homogenates during a 3-h incubation, without the presence of catalysts such as metal ions or ascorbate, was significantly increased in the AD temporal cortex to 130% of matched controls. Basal tissue content of LPO products (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances--TBARs) was not different between groups. However, TBARs were significantly elevated in AD temporal cortex to 135% of control after the incubation. In contrast, in the cerebellum there was no difference between AD and control tissue, indicating a disease-specific tissue effect. Because the use of oral antioxidants have received considerable attention in the last few years, the results seen in the testing of an AD patient who took daily vitamin E supplements for 4 years is particularly interesting. The time course for CL reactivity in the temporal cortex was considerably delayed compared to all other samples. This observation is consistent with the hypothesis that antioxidants within tissue will quench ROS-mediated reactions. This study indicates that there is increased susceptibility to ROS in the AD temporal cortex that may contribute to the pathogenesis of the disease. Furthermore, our observation suggest that oral antioxidant supplementation may be protective against LPO in the human brain.
ACS chemical neuroscience molecule spotlight on STX209 (arbaclofen).

STX209 (arbaclofen) is a γ-amino butyric acid type B (GABAB) receptor agonist from Seaside Therapeutics currently in clinical trials for autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The company has initiated a phase 2b study after positive results from a phase 2a trial, announced September 2010 (http://www.seasidetherapeutics.com/sites/default/files/STX209_ASD_P2b Trial_Initiation%206%2021%202011%20Final.pdf).
Toward Fully Synthetic Homogeneous β-Human Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (β-hFSH) with a Biantennary N-Linked Dodecasaccharide. Synthesis of β-hFSH with Chitobiose Units at the Natural Linkage Sites

A highly convergent synthesis of the sialic acid-rich biantennary N-linked glycan found in human glycoprotein hormones and its use in the synthesis of a fragment derived from the β-domain of human Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (hFSH) are described. The synthesis highlights the use of the Sinay radical glycosidation protocol for the simultaneous installation of both biantennary side-chains of the dodecasaccharide as well as the use of glycal chemistry to construct the tetrasaccharide core in an efficient manner. The synthetic glycan was used to prepare the glycosylated 20−27aa domain of the β-subunit of hFSH under a Lansbury aspartylation protocol. The proposed strategy for incorporating the prepared N-linked dodecasaccharide-containing 20−27aa domain into β-hFSH subunit was validated in the context of a model system, providing protected β-hFSH subunit functionalized with chitobiose at positions 7 and 24.