cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Synchronized Retrovirus Fusion in Cells Expressing Alternative Receptor Isoforms Releases the Viral Core into Distinct Sub-cellular Compartments

Disparate enveloped viruses initiate infection by fusing with endosomes. However, the highly diverse and dynamic nature of endosomes impairs mechanistic studies of fusion and identification of sub-cellular sites supporting the nucleocapsid release. We took advantage of the extreme stability of avian retrovirus-receptor complexes at neutral pH and of acid-dependence of virus-endosome fusion to isolate the latter step from preceding asynchronous internalization/trafficking steps. Viruses were trapped within endosomes in the presence of NH4Cl. Removal of NH4Cl resulted in a quick and uniform acidification of all subcellular compartments, thereby initiating synchronous viral fusion. Single virus imaging demonstrated that fusion was initiated within seconds after acidification and often culminated in the release of the viral core from an endosome. Comparative studies of cells expressing either the transmembrane or GPI-anchored receptor isoform revealed that the transmembrane receptor delivered the virus to more fusion-permissive compartments. Thus the identity of endosomal compartments, in addition to their acidity, appears to modulate viral fusion. A more striking manifestation of the virus delivery to distinct compartments in the presence of NH4Cl was the viral core release into the cytosol of cells expressing the transmembrane receptor and into endosomes of cells expressing the GPI-anchored isoform. In the latter cells, the newly released cores exhibited restricted mobility and were exposed to a more acidic environment than the cytoplasm. These cores appear to enter into the cytosol after an additional slow temperature-dependent step. We conclude that the NH4Cl block traps the virus within intralumenal vesicles of late endosomes in cells expressing the GPI-anchored receptor. Viruses surrounded by more than one endosomal membrane release their core into the cytoplasm in two steps – fusion with an intralumenal vesicle followed by a yet unknown temperature-dependent step that liberates the core from late endosomes.
Computational Analysis of Transcriptional Circuitries in Human Embryonic Stem Cells Reveals Multiple and Independent Networks

It has been known that three core transcription factors (TFs), NANOG, OCT4, and SOX2, collaborate to form a transcriptional circuitry to regulate pluripotency and self-renewal of human embryonic stem (ES) cells. Similarly, MYC also plays an important role in regulating pluripotency and self-renewal of human ES cells. However, the precise mechanism by which the transcriptional regulatory networks control the activity of ES cells remains unclear. In this study, we reanalyzed an extended core network, which includes the set of genes that are cobound by the three core TFs and additional TFs that also bind to these cobound genes. Our results show that beyond the core transcriptional network, additional transcriptional networks are potentially important in the regulation of the fate of human ES cells. Several gene families that encode TFs play a key role in the transcriptional circuitry of ES cells. We also demonstrate that MYC acts independently of the core module in the regulation of the fate of human ES cells, consistent with the established argument. We find that TP53 is a key connecting molecule between the core-centered and MYC-centered modules. This study provides additional insights into the underlying regulatory mechanisms involved in the fate determination of human ES cells.
Immunological Time Scale for Hominid Evolution

Several workers have observed that there is an extremely close immunological resemblance between the serum albumins of apes and man. Our studies with the quantitative micro-complement fixation method confirm this observation. To explain the closeness of the resemblance, previous workers suggested that there has been a slowing down of albumin evolution since the time of divergence of apes and man. Recent evidence, however, indicates that the albumin molecule has evolved at a steady rate. Hence, we suggest that apes and man have a more recent common ancestry than is usually supposed. Our calculations lead to the suggestion that, if man and Old World monkeys last shared a common ancestor 30 million years ago, then man and African apes shared a common ancestor 5 million years ago, that is, in the Pliocene era.
Neutron single particle states for N ≈ 82 and the yrast states of 150, 151, 152Dy

Abstract A neutron single particle spectrum is obtained for N ≈ 82. This spectrum is used, together with a previously obtained proton single particle spectrum, and a residual pairing plus quadropole interaction to calculate the energies of aligned states in the Dy isotopes. The calculated spectra are compared with the experimentally deduced yrast lines.
Role of Sleep Disturbance in Chronic Hepatitis C Infection

Chronic infection with the hepatitis C virus (CHC) is associated with physical and mental symptoms including fatigue and depression that adversely affect quality of life. A related complaint, sleep disturbance, has received little attention in the literature, with the exception of sleep changes noted in cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease. We present an overview of studies indicating sleep problems in patients with CHC, with about 60% to 65% of individuals reporting such complaints. Evidence suggests that impairments in sleep quality exist independent of antiviral therapy with interferon-α and prior to advanced stages of liver disease. Further investigation of sleep disturbance in CHC patients with a mild stage of liver disease may provide important information on disease course as well as allow additional opportunities for patient support.
Plastic deformation behind strong shock waves

Abstract The dislocation produced plastic deformation that must occur behind the front of strong shock waves is analysed in this paper. (A strong shock has a driving stress that is large compared with the bulk elastic modulus). Because the front of strong shock waves must be exceedingly narrow, there is a problem of how the effective shear stress, which is probably of the order of the theoretical shear strength at the immediate front itself, is relaxed in the region behind the shock front. Our analysis (Weertman and Follansbee, 1983)) of moderate strength shock waves is used for the relaxing region behind a strong shock wave front. It is concluded that a strong shock wave front has the following dislocation structure: The shock front, of atomic dimensions, consists of a Smith dislocation interface of dislocations that keep up with the front by moving at transonic or supersonic velocities. Immediately behind the Smith interface is a region of moving dislocations that do not keep up with the shock front. In this region normal dislocation motion and multiplication takes place. Within this region of normal plastic deformation the shock pressure rises by an amount that is quite small compared with the shock pressure itself.
Collaborative Activities in Virtual Settings: A Knowledge Management Perspective of Telemedicine

Advances in information and communications technology have made possible collaborative activities in virtual settings. Virtual settings can significantly expand the knowledge resources available, yet they also create additional challenges to the already difficult activities of collaborating. The purpose of this research is to provide a better understanding of how collaborative activities in virtual settings enable the different parties to achieve their desired objectives by examining them from a knowledge management perspective. Three aspects of knowledge management-- knowledge transfer, knowledge discovery, and knowledge creation--are examined in the context of telemedicine projects. The findings indicate that an association exists between the types of collaborative activities engaged in virtual settings and the effects such projects are perceived as having. While this research focuses only on virtual collaborative activities in health care, it is likely that these findings are applicable to other industries engaged in such activities in virtual settings.
Anomalous Luminescence Properties of GaAs grown by Molecular Beam Epitaxy

A shallow acceptor-like defect labeled “A” is frequently incorporated in molecular beam epitaxial GaAs. We report here anomalous photoluminescence effects that are induced by this defect. With increasing concentration of the “A” defect: (1) neutral and ionized donor-bound exciton peaks disappear almost completely even for donor concentration as high as 7×10 14 cm -3 and compensation ratio N D /N A ≈0.3; (2) a new, sharp line emerges at 1.513 8 eV, and (3) the relative intensity and line shape of the free exciton transition change dramatically. These observations are discussed in the perspective of previous reports, where similar effects were, in our opinion, misinterpreted.
The 2008 Election: Highlighting the Need to Explore Additional Communication Subfields to Advance Political Communication

This essay makes the argument that political communication researchers would be well served to look to communication theories developed in other communication subfields as a means by which to advance a number of different research agendas. A series of events or issues that came to light during the 2008 Presidential election are highlighted and specific theories from communication subfields, other than political communication, are isolated in order to show the utility these theories would bring to political communication scholarship. Five communication subfields are focused on in this essay: Interpersonal communication, persuasion, communication information technology, media effects, and strategic communication. The 2008 election topics covered in this essay include face-to-face political discussions of race and gender, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, YouTube, Saturday Night Live, and lifestyle political campaigning.
Membranes of polyvinylidene fluoride and PVDF nanocomposites with carbon nanotubes via immersion precipitation

Microporous polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and PVDF nanocomposite membranes were prepared via an isothermal immersion precipitation method using two different antisolvents (ethanol and water). The structure and morphology of the resulting membranes were investigated by wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The effects of the type of the antisolvent and the presence of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) on membrane morphology and the crystal structure developed within the membranes were studied. The crystallization of the PVDF upon immersion precipitation occurred predominantly in the α-phase when water is used as the antisolvent or in the absence of the carbon nanotubes. On the other hand, β-phase crystallization of the PVDF was promoted upon the use of ethanol as the antisolvent in conjunction with the incorporation of the MWNTs. The morphology and the total crystallinity of the PVDF membranes were also affected by the incorporation of the MWNTs and the antisolvent used, suggesting that the microstructure and the ultimate properties of the PVDF membranes can be engineered upon the judicious selection of crystallization conditions and the use of carbon nanotubes.
An Experimental and Computational Sensitivity Analysis of Synthetic Jet Cooling Performance

Synthetic jets are meso or micro scale fluidic devices, which operate on the "zero-net-mass-flux" principle. However, they impart a positive net momentum flux to the external environment, and are able to produce the cooling effect of a fan sans its ducting, reliability issues, and oversized dimensions. The rate of heat removal from the thermal source is expected to depend on the location, orientation, strength, and shape of the jet. In the current study, we investigate the impact of jet location and orientation on the cooling performance via time-dependent numerical simulations, and verify the same with experimental results. We firstly present the experimental study along with the findings. Secondly, we present the numerical models/results, which are compared with the experiments to gain the confidence in the computational methodology. Finally, a sensitivity evaluation has been performed by altering the position and alignment of the jet with respect to the heated surface. Two prime orientations of the jet have been considered, namely, perpendicular and cross jet impingement on the heater. It is found that if jet is placed at an optimum location in either impingement or cross flow position, it can provide similar enhancement.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Electrolyte Additive in Support of 5 V Li Ion Chemistry

An electrolyte additive based on highly fluorinated phosphate ester structure was identified as being able to stabilize carbonate-based electrolytes on 5 V class cathode surfaces. The synthesis and structural analysis of the additive are described, and preliminary yet encouraging results from electrochemical characterization showed that this additive participates in forming a protective interphasial chemistry not only on transition metal oxide cathode at high voltage (∼5 V vs Li) but also on graphitic graphite at low voltage (∼0 V vs Li), making it possible to formulate an electrolyte supporting reversible Li + -intercalation chemistry in the coveted 5 V region.
Surimi Gel Colors as Affected by Moisture Content and Physical Conditions

Colors (CIE L * , a * , and b * ) of Alaska pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) and Pacific whiting (Merluccius productus) surimi gels were evaluated and related to compositional and physical conditions during preparation and measurements. Ten samples were used in each treatment. Water addition, sample size, species, cooking and test temperatures, and freeze/thaw affected lightness (L * ) and yellowness (b * ) values, while outside light conditions at measurement did not affect colors. Greenness (-a * ) values were less affected by all conditions
Iron testes: sperm mitochondria as a context for dissecting iron metabolism

A recent paper in BMC Developmental Biology reports that a mitochondrial iron importer is required for Drosophila male fertility and normal mitochondrial shaping in spermatids. This suggests that mitochondrial morphogenesis during insect spermatogenesis may be a useful new context in which to study iron metabolism.
Could the People Decide

Book reviewed in this article: Eric Alterman, Who Speaks for America? Why Democracy Matters in Foreign Policy
Fixation method useful for cytologic examination and dna flow cytometry of exfoliated bladder cells

Abstract Single-institution studies have shown that DNA flow cytometry is superior to routine cytologic evaluation of following patients for bladder cancer recurrence. For 15 urine and 15 bladder washing specimens, we evaluated a fixative employing methanol plus acetic acid (MA), freshly mixed 20:1 (vol/vol). Routine cytologic evaluation following Papanicolaou staining, and DNA flow cytometry were performed. Paired aliquots from the same washings and urines were processed as fresh spray fixed samples and MA-fixed samples. The majority of the MA-fixed specimens showed good nuclear preservation when assessed for chromatin texture, presence of distinct nuclear envelope, and clarity of nucleolus, while only a minority of the fresh urine and washing samples showed these features. Cytoplasmic degeneration was seen only in fresh specimens. The presence of aneuploidy and the percentage of hyperdiploid cells could be reliably determined in the MA-fixed samples. This fixation protocol is recommended for the transport of urine and bladder washing specimens to centralized laboratories for both cytologic and flow cytometric evaluation.
Femoral anteversion in infants: a method using ultrasound

To design a reproducible method to measure femoral anteversion in children under 1 year old. We conducted a prospective, observational study to determine intra- and inter-observer reproducibility of the sonographic measurement of femoral anteversion in infants. The method involves imaging of the proximal femur using a vertical transducer with the infant in the lateral position. Anterior femoral anteversion is measured using a vertical baseline and a line tangential to the anterior femoral head and the trochanter (anterior anteversion). We similarly measured true femoral anteversion using a line passing through the centre of the femoral head and the femoral neck (true anteversion). Anteversion measurements were taken at the time of routine ultrasound screening for developmental dysplasia of the hip when infants were an average of 10.4 weeks old. Anteversion measurements were made in 74 hips (37 infants). Our results showed that for the anterior anteversion measurements intra-observer repeatability was ±6.2° and inter-observer repeatability was ±7.8°. For true anteversion measurements intra-observer repeatability was ±9.5°, but inter-observer repeatability was ±23.5°. Our results have shown that our method for measuring "anterior femoral anteversion" has an acceptable level of inter- and intra-observer agreement. The method used to determine "true anteversion", however, proved to have an unacceptable level of inter-observer variability.
The Adjustment Process of Female Repatriate Managers in Australian and New Zealand (ANZ) Companies

Globalization in recent years has made the understanding of international human resource problems more important for managers in companies. Despite the growth of female managers with international ...
Comparison of Field Management Strategies for Preventing Iron Deficiency Chlorosis in Soybean

Iron deficiency chlorosis (IDC) is a serious management issue for soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] grown on calcareous soils. Strip trials were established on calcareous Mollisols to study the effects of Fe-ethylene diamine- N,N¢-bis (hydroxy phenyl) acetic acid (EDDHA) in-furrow (IF-Fe) and of an oat (Avena sativa L.) companion crop on two soybean varieties either tolerant or susceptible to IDC. The severity of IDC varied from low to severe within sites. The susceptible variety produced the highest yield in the absence of IDC. In-furrow Fe increased the yield of a variety susceptible to IDC under moderate to severe IDC. The oat companion crop increased yield consistently for the susceptible variety under severe IDC and sometimes reduced yield when oat grew beyond 25 cm in height. The tolerant variety without IDC management produced yields similar to those of the susceptible variety with IF-Fe or an oat companion crop. Oat reduced trifoliate nitrate N and Fe concentration regardless of IDC severity. Trifoliate Fe concentration lowered with IF-Fe, but only when oat was not planted. Grain protein and oil concentration were affected by variety, but were not affected by IDC management. Soil test factors such as soil organic matter (SOM), pH, electrical conductivity (EC), or diethylene triamine phentaacetic acid Fe (Fe-DTPA ) were poor predictors of the severity of IDC. Variety selection is the most important strategy for lessening the severity of IDC. In-furrow application of Fe-EDDHA provides a solution for mitigating moderate to severe IDC and provides less risk than an oat companion crop.
Antineoplastic agents. 587. Isolation and structure of 3-epipancratistatin from Narcissus cv. Ice Follies.

Bioassay-guided (cancer cell line) separation of an extract prepared from Narcissus cv. Ice Follies (from The Netherlands) led to the isolation of a new Amaryllidaceae isocarbostiryl, 3-epipancratistatin (1b), as well as narciclasine (2). This Narcissus cultivar was found to be a good source of narciclasine. The structure of 1b was established by high-resolution mass and high-field 2D NMR spectroscopic analyses. Against a panel of murine and human cancer cell lines, 3-epipancratistatin (1b) led to cell growth inhibition (GI50 2.2–0.69 μg/mL) some 100× less than that found for pancratistatin (1a) and narciclasine (2), thereby revealing an important configurational requirement in 1a for strong cancer cell growth inhibition.
Effect of Surface Moisture on the Polarization of Individual Glass Spheres

Abstract When glass particles adsorb water from humid environments their low frequency dielectric properties change drastically. To investigate the polarization mechanism, variable frequency measurements upon individual glass particles (∼ 50 μm diameter) suspended in silicone oil were performed with a computer-controlled dielectrophoretic levitator. The electrical properties of individual particles have been measured in the frequency range between 10 Hz and 100 kHz. A relaxation in the induced dipole moment of moistened glass particles suspended in silicone oil is clearly evident in measured spectra. Surface moisture causes the characteristic relaxation times of soda-lime glass particles to change by up to 5 orders of magnitude. The relaxation spectra are satisfactorily modeled by the Debye equation and a model based on ohmic surface conduction appears to explain the phenomenon. This research has potential implications with respect to the controversy surrounding the influence of moisture on the performanc...
Iron-Sulfur Clusters: Nature's Modular, Multipurpose Structures

Iron-sulfur proteins are found in all life forms. Most frequently, they contain Fe2S2, Fe3S4, and Fe4S4 clusters. These modular clusters undergo oxidation-reduction reactions, may be inserted or removed from proteins, can influence protein structure by preferential side chain ligation, and can be interconverted. In addition to their electron transfer function, iron-sulfur clusters act as catalytic centers and sensors of iron and oxygen. Their most common oxidation states are paramagnetic and present significant challenges for understanding the magnetic properties of mixed valence systems. Iron-sulfur clusters now rank with such biological prosthetic groups as hemes and flavins in pervasive occurrence and multiplicity of function.
Strategic Trade and Investment Policies: Implications for the Study of International Political Economy

Business gurus point out that successful firms often carefully strategise about what to sell, where to sell, how to sell, and how and where to manufacture their goods and services. Suppose a country, drawing inspiration from such firms, were to formulate a set of economic policies to become globally competitive in leading economic sectors. How specific or encompassing would such policies be and what might be the justifications for them? Even though the theory and practicality of such policies-the strategic trade and industrial policies (STIPs)—is contested, they retain their appeal for politicians and policymakers. In this paper we discuss how and why STIPs have created a new agenda for the study of international political economy.
Focal Adhesion Kinase Activated by β4 Integrin Ligation to mCLCA1 Mediates Early Metastatic Growth

Early metastatic growth occurs at sites of vascular arrest of blood-borne cancer cells and is entirely intravascular. Here we show that lung colonization by B16-F10 cells is licensed by β4 integrin adhesion to the mouse lung endothelial Ca2+-activated chloride channel protein mCLCA1. In a manner independent of Met, β4integrin-mCLCA1-ligation leads to complexing with and activation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and downstream signaling to extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). FAK/ERK signaling is Src-dependent and is interrupted by adhesion blocking antibodies and by dominant-negative (dn)-FAK mutants. Levels of ERK activation in B16-F10 cells transfected with wild-type or mutant FAK are closely associated with rates of proliferation and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) incorporation of tumor cells grown in mCLCA1-coated dishes, the ability to form tumor cell colonies on CLCA-expressing endothelial cell monolayers, and the extent of pulmonary metastatic growth. Parallel with the transfection rates, B16-F10 cells transfected with dn-FAK mutants and injected intravenously into syngeneic mice generate approximately half the number and size of lung colonies that vector-transfected B16-F10 cells produce. For the first time, β4 integrin ligation to its novel CLCA-adhesion partner is shown to be associated with FAK complexing, activation, and signaling to promote early, intravascular, metastatic growth.
Droperidol and diphenhydramine in the management of hyperemesis gravidarum

Abstract OBJECTIVE: Hyperemesis gravidarum is a common pregnancy complication requiring hospitalization. Continuous droperidol infusion and bolus intravenous diphenhydramine were instituted as treatment. We compared the number and length of hospitalizations for hyperemesis gravidarum, readmissions for this diagnosis, and pregnancy outcome in patients receiving this treatment protocol with a historic group of patients receiving other forms of parenteral therapy for hyperemesis gravidarum. STUDY DESIGN: All patients hospitalized with a diagnosis of hyperemesis gravidarum between January 1992 and January 1994 were offered the droperidol-diphenhydramine protocol. These patients were compared with patients admitted between January 1990 and January 1992 with a diagnosis of hyperemesis gravidarum but who were not treated with droperidol at any time or with diphenhydramine as primary therapy for the control of severe nausea and vomiting. Data regarding the number and length of hospitalizations and readmissions for hyperemesis gravidarum were compared, as were maternal and perinatal outcomes. RESULTS: Patients treated with the droperidol-diphenhydramine protocol had significantly shorter hospitalizations (3.1 ± 1.9 vs 3.8 ± 2.4 days, p = 0028), fewer days per pregnancy hospitalized for hyperemesis (3.5 ± 2.3 days vs 4.8 ± 4.3 days, p = 0018), and fewer readmissions with this diagnosis (15.0% vs 31.5%, p = 0015). There were no significant differences in maternal or perinatal outcomes. CONCLUSION: Droperidol and diphenhydramine infusion is a beneficial, cost-effective therapy for the treatment of hyperemesis gravidarum. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1996;174:1801-6.)
Viral RNA extraction for in-the-field analysis

Retroviruses encode their genetic information with RNA molecules, and have a high genomic recombination rate which allows them to mutate more rapidly, thereby posting a higher risk to humans. One important way to help combat a pandemic of viral infectious diseases is early detection before large-scale outbreaks occur. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) have been used to identify precisely different strains of some very closely related pathogens. However, isolation and detection of viral RNA in the field are difficult due to the unstable nature of viral RNA molecules. Consequently, performing in-the-field nucleic acid analysis to monitor the spread of viruses is financially and technologically challenging in remote and underdeveloped regions that are high-risk areas for outbreaks. A simplified rapid viral RNA extraction method is reported to meet the requirements for in-the-field viral RNA extraction and detection. The ability of this device to perform viral RNA extraction with subsequent RT-PCR detection of retrovirus is demonstrated. This inexpensive device has the potential to be distributed on a large scale to underdeveloped regions for early detection of retrovirus, with the possibility of reducing viral pandemic events.
Affordable dermascope for resource-poor settings

Skin diseases in developing countries receive little attention when compared with well-known killers such as HIV/AIDS, pneumonia and tuberculosis. In communities with few doctors and even fewer dermatological specialists (if any), Community Health Workers (CHWs) are charged with meeting the needs of these at-risk populations. However, skin diseases can be difficult to assess by CHWs and often signify larger underlying problems. Teledermatology is being increasingly employed as a means of remotely assessing and diagnosing skin ailments. Typical commercially-available dermascopes cannot withstand the harsh conditions of developing countries and there is a need for inexpensive and ruggedized dermascopes for resource-constrained settings. This paper presents the design and field-testing results for a dermascope intended for use in rural Kenya as a part of an operational telemedicine system. Though the design faced challenges with ambient light, material availability, and camera mobility, the final prototype produced images deemed acceptable for diagnosis by Kenyan clinicians.
Evaluation of the tilt test in an adult emergency medicine population.

Study objective: To evaluate the usefulness of the tilt test in identifying significantly dehydrated or occultly bleeding adult patients in an emergency department. Design: Prospective. Setting: Urban ED. Types of participants: Two hundred two ill adult patients with complaints suggestive of dehydration and/or occult blood loss and a control sample of 21 healthy individuals. Intervention: Orthostatic measurements were taken from blood samples from the ill and healthy patients. The estimates of the degree of dehydration measured or calculated were total body water deficit percentage (based on measured serum osmolality), ratio of blood urea nitrogen to creatinine, creatinine, and hematocrit. Multiple historical and physical examination variables related to dehydration or occult bleeding were recorded. Measurements and main results: Multiple analysis of variance testing of the historical and examination variables in the 166 dehydrated patients revealed the absence of syncope ( P = .037) and the lack of axillary sweat ( P = .026) to be significantly associated with an increased level of dehydration. Regression analysis of the orthostatic measurements and age with the estimates of dehydration found that orthostatic change in heart rate ( P = .0165) and age ( P = .0047) demonstrated a very small ( r 2 = .098) association with the level of dehydration. Orthostatic changes in systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure demonstrated no statistically significant association with level of dehydration.There was wide variation in the tilt test measurements in samples from both the healthy and the ill patients: heart rate, 6.8 ± 7.8 versus 13.2 ± 10.5; systolic blood pressure, −2.5 ± 8.0 versus −8.3 ± 12.8 mm Hg; and diastolic blood pressure, 5.3 ± 9.9 versus 0.6 ± 8.6 mm Hg, respectively. The only parameter that attained statistical significance between the 36 blood-loss patients and the healthy patients was change in systolic blood pressure ( P = .001); however, this was not clinically significant (−10.7 ± 13.7 versus −2.5 ± 8.0mm Hg, respectively). Conclusion: It appears impossible to define a "positive" tilt test that would adequately identify patients with clinically significant dehydration or blood loss; this is due to the large variance in patients' orthostatic measurements both in a healthy and in an ill state and the lack of a significant correlation of orthostatic measurements to a level of dehydration. Lack of axillary sweat, no complaint of syncope, and younger age all indicate greater degrees of dehydration.
Statistical Prediction with Kanerva's Sparse Distributed Memory

A new viewpoint of the processing performed by Kanerva's sparse distributed memory (SDM) is presented. In conditions of near- or over- capacity, where the associative-memory behavior of the model breaks down, the processing performed by the model can be interpreted as that of a statistical predictor. Mathematical results are presented which serve as the framework for a new statistical viewpoint of sparse distributed memory and for which the standard formulation of SDM is a special case. This viewpoint suggests possible enhancements to the SDM model, including a procedure for improving the predictiveness of the system based on Holland's work with 'Genetic Algorithms', and a method for improving the capacity of SDM even when used as an associative memory.
Effects of topography on pyroclastic density current runout and formation of coignimbrites

Laboratory experiments of dilute mixtures of warm talc powder in air simulate dilute pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) and show the effects of topography on current runout, buoyancy reversal, and liftoff into buoyant plumes. The densimetric and thermal Richardson, Froude, Stokes, and settling numbers for our experiments match those of natural PDCs. The laboratory currents are fully turbulent, although the experiments have lower Reynolds numbers than PDCs. In sum, our experiments are dynamically similar to natural currents. Comparisons of currents traversing flat topography or encountering barriers show that runout distance is not significantly reduced for currents that traverse barriers with height
A review of high frequency surface wave radar for detection and tracking of ships

In today’s resource-driven economy, maritime nations are claiming economic borders that extend beyond the continental shelf or the 200 nautical mile (nm) Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). However, claiming such large economic area places responsibilities on the parent nation to exercise jurisdiction through surveillance and enforcement. The requirement to see beyond the horizon has long been a goal of maritime security forces. Today, this is largely dependent on cooperative vessels voluntarily communicating their intentions to local shore-side authorities, as well as on those vessel sightings reported by patrollers. Recent advances in technology provide maritime nations with options to provide more systematic surveillance of both cooperative and non-cooperative targets. This paper presents an overview of a land-based High Frequency Surface Wave Radar (HFSWR) used to provide persistent, active, surveillance. The paper demonstrates that these radars have now reached a level of maturity where their performance is predictable and that they can, within known limits, reliably detect and track ocean going vessels throughout the EEZ.
Parameterizations of Reflectance and Effective Emittance for Satellite Remote Sensing of Cloud Properties

Abstract The interpretation of satellite-observed radiances to derive cloud optical depth and effective particle size requires radiative transfer calculations relating these parameters to the reflectance, transmittance, and emittance of the cloud. Such computations can be extremely time consuming when used in an operational mode to analyze routine satellite data. Adding–doubling (AD) radiative transfer models are used here to compute reflectance and effective emittance at wavelengths commonly used by operational meteorological satellite imagers for droplet effective radii ranging from 2 to 32 μm and for distributions of randomly oriented hexagonal ice crystals with effective diameters varying from 6 to 135 μm. Cloud reflectance lookup tables were generated at the typical visible-channel wavelength of 0.65 μm and the solar–infrared (SI) at wavelengths of 3.75 and 3.90 μm. A combination of four-point Lagrangian and linear interpolation between the model nodal points is the most accurate and economical metho...
Determining the Diffusivity of Nitrous Oxide in Soil using In Situ Tracers

Diffusion is a key process for understanding the movement of nitrous oxide (N₂O), carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), oxygen (O₂), and other biogeochemically important gases in soil. Soil gas diffusivity is highly variable, which makes the application of generic predictive models based on soil macrofeatures uncertain. In situ methods provide greater certainty but intensive sampling usually makes such determinations expensive. We compared single and inter-port diffusivity determinations using a sparse sampling alternative. We used 28 in situ profile probes with ports at five depths for pulse sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆) and N₂O tracer injections at single ports followed by two or three measurements in five adjacent ports at an agricultural site in southwest Michigan, USA. We repeated this procedure for three dates in the summer and two in the fall. In general, the sparse method provided accurate measurements of soil diffusivity. Estimated diffusivities of SF₆ and N₂O had poorer agreement in the summer (r² = 0.49) than in the fall (r² = 0.96), likely due to less uniform soil moisture in summer. The low N₂O to SF₆ diffusivity ratio (0.67 compared with 1.82 in free air) suggests that water solubility of N₂O plays a significant role in retarding its movement in the soil. Movement of the relatively insoluble SF₆ is not obscured by dissolution in water making SF₆ a superior tracer compared with N₂O. Median diffusivities in ports where the gas was injected were only moderately correlated (r² = 0.45) with diffusivities at the same depth measured by the inter-port method, likely due to an increase in the variability of diffusivity with distance from the injection port. Results show it is possible to estimate N₂O diffusivity with sparse measurements; accuracy can likely be further improved with knowledge of soil moisture and texture in the immediate vicinity of the injection and sampling ports, as uncertainty in water modeling is reduced.
Energy levels of channeled ions.

Energy levels of ions moving along crystal channels are considered. The approach is via an effective Hamiltonian. The calculations are related to an experiment in which resonant coherent excitation of channeled ions was measured. The systems under consideration are 44.16-MeV ${\mathrm{N}}^{6+}$ and 38.28-MeV ${\mathrm{O}}^{7+}$ ions in the 〈100〉 channel of an 850-A\r{}-thick Au crystal. The distributions of the transition energies were generated by the Monte Carlo method: All possible values of the impact parameter were taken into account. The obtained results are in very good agreement with the results of the experiment.
Sources of acoustic scattering in normal kidneys

Properties derived from acoustic backscatter measurements are examined to disclose sources of acoustic scattering in normal kidneys. The backscatter intensity from kidney parenchyma may be modeled using a two-component Gaussian correlation function. These two components yield effective scatterer size estimates of 220+or-15 mu m at low frequencies and 55+or-10 mu m at high frequencies, which correspond to the average glomerular and renal tubule diameters, respectively. A separate study using test media verifies the ability of the method to distinguish between mixtures of two different scattering structures from backscatter measurements at different frequencies. >
Assessing Antiretroviral Adherence via Electronic Drug Monitoring and Self-Report: An Examination of Key Methodological Issues

We explored methodological issues related to antiretroviral adherence assessment, using 6 months of data collected in a completed intervention trial involving 136 low-income HIV-positive outpatients in the Bronx, NY. Findings suggest that operationalizing adherence as a continuous (versus dichotomous) variable and averaging adherence estimates over multiple assessment points (versus using only one) explains greater variance in HIV-1 RNA viral load (VL). Self-reported estimates provided during a phone interview accounted for similar variance in VL as EDM estimates (R 2 = .17 phone versus .18 EDM). Self-reported adherence was not associated with a standard social desirability measure, and no difference in the accuracy of self-report adherence was observed for assessment periods of 1–3 days. Self-reported poor adherence was more closely associated with EDM adherence estimates than self-reported moderate and high adherence. On average across assessment points, fewer than 4% of participants who reported taking a dose of an incorrect amount of medication.
Use of a predictive equation for diagnosis of acute gangrenous cholecystitis.

Abstract Background Factors previously identified by multivariate logistic regression that were predictive for gangrenous cholecystitis (GC) were used to develop a predictive equation. Our objective was to evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, and positive (PPV) and negative (NPV) predictive values of this equation for detecting GC in patients with acute cholecystitis (AC). Methods Medical records of patients who presented to a tertiary care hospital with AC were reviewed. Twenty-one patient and clinical variables were recorded. We prospectively tested the results of the following equation against pathologic diagnosis: P=e (0.7116+0.9944·DM+1.7157·WBC−1.0319·ALT·2.0518·ALP+2.7078·PCF) /(1+e [−0.7116+0.9944·DM+1.7157·WBC−1.0319·ALT−2.0518·ALP+2.7078·PCF] ), where P=predicted value; DM=diabetes mellitus; WBC=white blood cell count; ALT=alanine aminotransferase; AST=aspartate aminotransferase; and PCF=pericholecystic fluid. Results Ninety-eight patients presented with AC and 18% had GC (18 of 98). Using a cutoff of P = 0.724, our equation had a specificity of 93%, sensitivity of 83%, PPV of 71%, and NPV of 96%, P Conclusions Our study demonstrates the equation may be useful in detecting the subset of AC patients who have GC.
A common symptom in two uncommon coexistent conditions: Glomus jugulare tumor and dysphagia lusoria

Glomus jugulare (GJ) tumors are paragangliomas originating rom chromaffin cells. GJ tumors are very rare with an estimated ncidence around one per 1.3 million people [1]. These neoplasms re highly vascularized and histologically benign in most cases but ay invade bone, blood vessels, dura mater, and cranial nerves. atients with GJ tumor usually present with conductive hearing oss and pulsatile tinnitus. Growth of the tumor can cause facial erve (FN) paralysis, vertigo, hoarseness, and paralysis of lower ranial nerves [2]. Active GJ tumors secrete catecholamine into the irculation presenting with vasomotor symptoms like headaches, xcess lacrimation, diarrhea and episodic flushing [3]. Dysphagia is n uncommon presentation of glomus jugulare tumor (6%) [1]. Dyshagia lusoria due to compression of the esophagus by an aberrant ubclavian artery is also uncommon with a prevalence of 0.5–1.8% 4]. We present a rare catecholamine secreting GJ tumor which coxisted with an aberrant subclavian artery. Although dysphagia was nitially attributed to the aberrant subclavian artery, later work up ndicated a GJ tumor as the main culprit. To our knowledge, coxistence of GJ tumor and aberrant subclavian artery has not been eported before in the literature. Moreover active catecholamine
Optimising postoperative pain management in the ambulatory patient.

Over 60% of surgery is now performed in an ambulatory setting. Despite improved analgesics and sophisticated drug delivery systems, surveys indicate that over 80% of patients experience moderate to severe pain postoperatively. Inadequate postoperative pain relief can prolong recovery, precipitate or increase the duration of hospital stay, increase healthcare costs, and reduce patient satisfaction. Effective postoperative pain management involves a multimodal approach and the use of various drugs with different mechanisms of action. Local anaesthetics are widely administered in the ambulatory setting using techniques such as local injection, field block, regional nerve block or neuraxial block. Continuous wound infusion pumps may have great potential in an ambulatory setting. Regional anaesthesia (involving anaesthetising regional areas of the body, including single extremities, multiple extremities, the torso, and the face or jaw) allows surgery to be performed in a specific location, usually an extremity, without the use of general anaesthesia, and potentially with little or no sedation. Opioids remain an important component of any analgesic regimen in treating moderate to severe acute postoperative pain. However, the incorporation of non-opioids, local anaesthetics and regional techniques will enhance current postoperative analgesic regimens. The development of new modalities of treatment, such as patient controlled analgesia, and newer drugs, such as cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitors, provide additional choices for the practitioner. While there are different routes of administration for analgesics (e.g. oral, parenteral, intramuscular, transmucosal, transdermal and sublingual), oral delivery of medications has remained the mainstay for postoperative pain control. The oral route is effective, the simplest to use and typically the least expensive. The intravenous route has the advantages of a rapid onset of action and easier titratibility, and so is recommended for the treatment of acute pain. Non-pharmacological methods for the management of postoperative pain include acupuncture, electromagnetic millimetre waves, hypnosis and the use of music during surgery. However, further research of these techniques is warranted to elucidate their effectiveness in this indication. Pain is a multifactorial experience, not just a sensation. Emotion, perception and past experience all affect an individual's response to noxious stimuli. Improved postoperative pain control through innovation and creativity may improve compliance, ease of delivery, reduce length of hospital stay and improve patient satisfaction. Patient education, early diagnosis of symptoms and aggressive treatment of pain using an integrative approach, combining pharmacotherapy as well as complementary technique, should serve us well in dealing with this complex problem.
Coordinating feedback and switching for control of spatially distributed processes

This work proposes a methodology for coordinating feedback controller synthesis and actuator configuration switching in control of spatially-distributed processes, described by highly dissipative partial differential equations (PDEs) with actuator constraints. Under the assumption that the eigenspectrum of the spatial differential operator can be partitioned into a finite slow set and an infinite stable fast complement, Galerkin's method is initially used to derive a finite-dimensional system (set of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) in time) that captures the dominant dynamics of the PDE system. Using this ODE system, a stabilizing nonlinear feedback controller is designed, for a given actuator configuration, and an explicit characterization of the corresponding stability region is obtained in terms of the size of actuator constraints and the spatial locations of the actuators. Switching laws are then derived, on the basis of the stability regions, to orchestrate the transition between multiple, spatially-distributed control actuator configurations, in a way that respects actuator constraints, accommodates multiple (possibly conflicting) control objectives and guarantees closed-loop stability. Precise conditions that guarantee stability of the constrained closed-loop PDE system under switching are provided, and the proposed approach is successfully applied to the problem of constrained, fault-tolerant stabilization of unstable steady-states of a representative diffusion-reaction process and a non-isothermal tubular reactor with recycle.
Targeting Epigenetics for Cancer Prevention by Dietary Cancer Preventive Compounds - the Case of miRNA

In cancer, genetic mutations have long been considered to be the only driver of neoplasia. However, there is increasing evidence that epigenetic alterations could also play a major role in carcinogenesis and cancer. A number of experimental and epidemiologic studies have shown that many classes of dietary phytochemicals possess cancer-preventive and epigenetic-modifying properties. The report by Derry and colleagues in this issue of the journal shows that grape seed extract (GSE) prevents azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon colitis via epigenetic miRNA regulation. Although the precise mechanism underlying the control of miRNA expression is not well understood currently, epigenetic changes could play a major role. This report, along with increasing evidence demonstrating the impact of dietary phytochemicals on epigenetic activities, offers new perspectives on miRNA and epigenetic regulation in cancer prevention.