cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Nuremberg Code and the Nuremberg Trial: A Reappraisal

The Nuremberg Code includes 10 principles to guide physician-investigators in experiments involving human subjects. These principles, particularly the first principle on "voluntary consent," primarily were based on legal concepts because medical codes of ethics existent at the time of the Nazi atrocities did not address consent and other safeguards for human subjects. The US judges who presided over the proceedings did not intend the Code to apply only to the case before them, to be a response to the atrocities committed by the Nazi physicians, or to be inapplicable to research as it is customarily carried on in medical institutions. Instead, a careful reading of the judgment suggests that they wrote the Code for the practice of human experimentation whenever it is being conducted.
Reexamining the titanic with current accident analysis tool: Multidisciplinary eduation and system safety primer for engineering students

We argue that the Titanic, being well known in pop culture, offers a unique opportunity to make learning about accident causation and system safety accessible and engaging. This work will walk the reader through the fundamental concepts of accident causation and system safety, using the Titanic as an illustrative example.
Continuous Monitoring of Cerebrocortical Blood Flow during Stimulation of the Cerebellar Fastigial Nucleus: A Study by Laser-Doppler Flowmetry:

Laser–Doppler flowmetry was used to continuously monitor cortical CBF during electrical stimulation of the fastigial nucleus (FN). Rats were anesthetized with isoflurane (0.75–5%), paralyzed, and artificially ventilated. The LDF probe was placed over a target region of the parietal cortex through a burr hole. The hypertension associated with FN stimulation was prevented by spinal cord transection at C1 with arterial pressure maintained by i.v. infusion of phenylephrine. After cord transection, CBF changed linearly with changes in arterial pco2 (r = 0.93; n = 23). FN stimulation (50–100 μA, 50 Hz, 1 s on/1 s off) produced sustained increases in CBF that developed slowly, reaching 50% of maximum within 24 ± 1 s of stimulation (n = 17). After stimulation, CBF returned to baseline gradually within a time period (84–540 s) proportional to the duration of the stimulation (r = 0.93; n = 15). The CBF response was stimulus frequency and intensity dependent, was elicited only from restricted sites in FN, and was ab...
A Balance Condition for Stochastic Numerical Models with Application to the El Niño-Southern Oscillation

Abstract Stochastic forcing due to unresolved processes adds energy to a measurable system. Although this energy is added randomly in time, conservation laws still apply. A balance condition for stochastically driven systems is discussed. This “fluctuation-dissipation relation” may be used either to deduce the geographical properties of the stochastic forcing from data given a model for the evolution of the macroscopic variables or to diagnose energy conservation in a stochastic numerical model. The balance condition in its first role was applied to sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the Indo-Pacific basin. A low-dimensional empirical dynamical model of SSTs was generated in such a way that observed statistical properties of the field are preserved. Experiments varying the stochastic forcing in this model indicated how the geographical characteristics of the forcing affect the distribution of variance among the various normal modes thereby determining the dominant timescales of the SST field. These result...
Crystal structure of cyclin-dependent kinase 2.

Cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) is a member of a highly conserved family of protein klnases that regulate the eukaryotic cell cycle. The crystal structures of the human CDK2 apoenzyme and its Mg2+ATP complex have been determined to 2.4A resolution. The structure is bi-lobate, like that of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, but contains a unique helix—loop segment that interferes with ATP and protein substrate binding and probably plays a key part in the regulation of all cyclin-dependent kinases.
Addiction and reward-related genes show altered expression in the postpartum nucleus accumbens

Motherhood involves a switch in natural rewards, whereby offspring become highly rewarding. Nucleus accumbens (NAC) is a key CNS region for natural rewards and addictions, but to date no study has evaluated on a large scale the events in NAC that underlie the maternal change in natural rewards. In this study we utilized microarray and bioinformatics approaches to evaluate postpartum NAC gene expression changes in mice. Modular Single-set Enrichment Test (MSET) indicated that postpartum (relative to virgin) NAC gene expression profile was significantly enriched for genes related to addiction and reward in five of five independently curated databases (e.g., Malacards, Phenopedia). Over 100 addiction/reward related genes were identified and these included: Per1, Per2, Arc, Homer2, Creb1, Grm3, Fosb, Gabrb3, Adra2a, Ntrk2, Cry1, Penk, Cartpt, Adcy1, Npy1r, Htr1a, Drd1a, Gria1, and Pdyn. ToppCluster analysis found maternal NAC expression profile to be significantly enriched for genes related to the drug action of nicotine, ketamine, and dronabinol. Pathway analysis indicated postpartum NAC as enriched for RNA processing, CNS development/differentiation, and transcriptional regulation. Weighted Gene Coexpression Network Analysis (WGCNA) identified possible networks for transcription factors, including Nr1d1, Per2, Fosb, Egr1, and Nr4a1. The postpartum state involves increased risk for mental health disorders and MSET analysis indicated postpartum NAC to be enriched for genes related to depression, bipolar disorder (BPD), and schizophrenia. Mental health related genes included: Fabp7, Grm3, Penk, and Nr1d1. We confirmed via quantitative PCR Nr1d1, Per2, Grm3, Penk, Drd1a, and Pdyn. This study indicates for the first time that postpartum NAC involves large scale gene expression alterations linked to addiction and reward. Because the postpartum state also involves decreased response to drugs, the findings could provide insights into how to mitigate addictions.
Towards a better-than-best-effort forwarding service for multimedia flows

A salient requirement of interactive multimedia applications is that they transmit data continuously at uniform rates with minimum possible end-to-end delay. The majority of these applications do not require hard and fast guarantees of network performance, but the current best-effort forwarding model of the Internet is frequently insufficient for realizing these requirements. Worse still, the requirement of uniform-rate transmission puts many multimedia applications at odds with current and proposed Internet network management practices that assume or require TCP-like reactions to packet loss. We are investigating router-based active queue management, specifically the use of queue occupancy thresholds to isolate TCP flows and to provide a better-than-best-effort forwarding service for flows in need of uniform-rate transmissions. Our current scheme, class-based thresholds (CBT), relies on a packet marking mechanism such as those proposed for realizing differentiated services on the Internet. CBT, when combined with existing active router queue management schemes such as random early detection (RED), provides a performance for TCP that approximates that achievable under a packet scheduling scheme and acceptable performance for multimedia flows. CBT is a simple and efficient mechanism with implementation complexity and run-time overhead comparable to that of RED.
Limited information likelihood and Bayesian analysis

In this paper, we study how to embed the optimal generalized method of moments (GMM) estimate in a likelihood-based inference framework and the Bayesian framework. First, we derive a limited information likelihood (LIL) under some moment-based limited information available in GMM based on entropy theory of I-projection theory. Second, we study a limited information Bayesian framework in which the posterior is derived from the LIL and a prior. As the LIL enables us to incorporate GMM or related inference methods in the likelihood-based inference framework, it allows us a rich set of practical applications in the Bayesian framework in which the posterior is obtained from a likelihood and a prior. Our results are primarily large sample results as inference in the underlying GMM framework is usually justified in asymptotics. Investigation of large sample properties of the posterior derived from the LIL reveals an interesting relation between the Bayesian and the classical distribution theories.
Making time for science

Abstract This work analyzes the evolution of time allocation for agricultural and life science faculty in Tier 1 US research universities from 1975 to 2005. Specifically, it explores the trends with respect to time spent on research versus administrative activities, and shows about a 20% decline in the former and doubling of time spent on the latter. Most of the research time decline is accounted for by increased pre and post-grant administrative efforts and other non-research administrative activities rather than changes in teaching activity. Despite the substantial decrease in time available for research, other key research inputs and overall journal article output per faculty have remained relatively stable over that same time period. These findings raise important concerns regarding whether faculty time is being used sub-optimally relative to other ways in which administrative activities might be completed and scholarly activity might be advanced.
Synthetic vascular grafts seeded with genetically modified endothelium in the dog: Evaluation of the effect of seeding technique and retroviral vector on cell persistence in vivo

Abstract Unique characteristics of endothelium make it an attractive target cell for gene transfer. Genetically modified endothelial cells (ECs) seeded on synthetic vascular grafts offer the potential to control neointimal hyperplasia, decrease graft thrombogenicity and improve small diameter graft patency. This study addresses the issue of synthetic vascular graft colonization with endothelial cells transduced with noninducible retroviral marker genes in the dog. Autologous endothelial cells were enzymatically harvested and transduced with either the bacterial Neo R gene or human growth hormone gene using retroviral vectors. All transduced cells were positive by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification for the transduced gene sequence prior to graft seeding. Transduced ECs were seeded on Dacron grafts ( n = 3) preclotted with autologous blood. These grafts exhibited complete endothelialization at times from 250 to 360 days. Recovered DNA, however, was negative for the transduced gene sequence when analyzed by PCR and Southern blotting. Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) was evaluated ( n = 8) using several different cell seeding protocols. Grafts were seeded at 3 densities (ranging from 6 × 10 3 to 1.5 × 10 5 cells/cm 2 ) and 2 different adherence times. Seeding substrate was also evaluated. Grafts were either preclotted with whole blood or incubated with 20 or 120 μg/ml fibronectin for 60 min. Graft biopsies were evaluated from 2 to 52 wk. Limited endothelialization was present in 4 dogs as early as 2 wk, but never progressed to full luminal coverage. The remaining dogs failed to ever exhibit any luminal EC adherence. Two dogs with limited EC coverage had positive DNA by PCR for the Neo R gene sequence at 2 and 3 wk. In contrast to transduced EC's, nontransduced EC colonization of ePTFE was complete at 2 wk when seeded under conditions that transduced cells had failed to persist. Neither seeding density, adherence time, seeding substrate or retroviral vector used influenced the uniformly poor graft coverage seen with transduced cells. Results of this study indicate that despite successful gene transfer using 4 different retroviral vectors, transduced endothelial cells seeded under varying conditions appear altered in their ability to stably adhere and colonize synthetic vascular grafts in vivo.
Type-inheritance combinatory categorial grammar

In this paper I outline Type-inheritance Combinatory Categorial Grammar (TCCG), an implemented feature structure based CCG fragment of English. TCCG combines the fully lexical nature of CCG with the type-inheritance hierarchies and complex feature structures of Headdriven Phrase Structure Grammars (HPSG). The result is a CCG/HPSG hybrid that combines linguistic generalizations previously only statable in one theory or the other, even extending the set of statable generalizations to those not easily captured by either theory.
Evaluation of adrenal function in small-breed dogs receiving otic glucocorticoids

The objectives of this study were to evaluate adrenal function after otic glucocorticoid [Tresaderm (dexamethasone) and Otomax (betamethasone)] therapy in small-breed dogs without evidence of otitis and to evaluate the length of time needed for resolution of adrenal suppression after discontinuation of treatment. Fourteen clinically healthy, privately owned, small-breed dogs with normal ears and normal adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) stimulation tests were assigned to one of two treatment groups, receiving one of the medications at the manufacturer's recommended dosage twice daily for 2 weeks. All of the dogs in the betamethasone treatment group had normal ACTH stimulation tests after 2 weeks of treatment. In contrast, 5/7 (71.43%) in the dexamethasone group, had suppressed adrenocortical responses to exogenous ACTH. Three of these five dogs (42%) returned to normal values 1 week after ceasing the medication and two (28.57%) returned to normal values 2 weeks after ceasing the medication. In conclusion, it appears that adrenal function can be suppressed for up to 2 weeks in dogs receiving otic dexamethasone. A follow-up study repeating this work in dogs with inflamed ears is needed before further clinical recommendations can be made.
Performance of wind-electric and solar-PV water pumping systems for watering livestock

The water pumping performance of two wind-electric systems is compared to the water pumping performance of two solar-PV systems. The wind-electric systems were rated at 1.0 kW and 1.5 kW at a wind speed of about 12 m/s, and the rotor diameters were 2.75 m and 3.05 m, respectively. The solar-PV systems were rated at 0.1 kW and 0.9 kW at a radiation level of about 1,000 W/m{sup 2}, and the total solar panel surface areas were 1 and 17 m{sup 2}, respectively. Both wind-electric systems powered three-phase 230 V a-c induction motors with centrifugal pumps. The smaller of the solar-PV systems powered a d-c motor with a diaphragm pump, and the larger one powered a single phase 230 V a-c induction motor with a centrifugal pump. Only a well pumping depth of 30 m was evaluated for both wind-electric and solar-PV water pumping systems. The 0.1 kW and the 0.9 kW solar water pumping systems can provide enough water for 25 and 75 cattle, respectively, if the incident solar radiation is similar to that of Bushland, TX. The 1.0 kW and 1.5 kW wind-electric water pumping systems can provide enough water for 300 and 400 cattle, respectively, if themore » wind regime is similar to that of Bushland, TX.« less
Multiple-excitation-wavelength resonance-Raman explosives detection

Deep-ultraviolet resonance Raman spectroscopy (DUVRRS) is a potential candidate for stand-off detection of explosives. A key challenge for stand-off sensors is to distinguish explosives, with high confidence, from a myriad of unknown background materials that may have interfering spectral peaks. To address this, we have investigated a new technique that simultaneously detects Raman spectra from multiple DUV excitation wavelengths. Due to complex interplay of resonant enhancement, self-absorption and laser penetration depth, significant intensity variation is observed between corresponding Raman bands with different excitation wavelengths. These variations with excitation wavelength provide a unique signature that complements the traditional Raman signature to improve specificity relative to singleexcitation- wavelength techniques. We have measured these signatures for a wide range of explosives using amplitudecalibrated Raman spectra, obtained sequentially by tuning a frequency-doubled Argon laser to 229, 238, 244 and 248 nm. For nearly all explosives, these signatures are found to be highly specific. An algorithm is developed to quantify the specificity of this technique. To establish the feasibility of this approach, a multi-wavelength DUV source, based on Nd:YAG harmonics and hydrogen Raman shifting, and a compact, high throughput DUV spectrometer, capable of simultaneous detection of Raman spectra in multiple spectral windows, are being investigated experimentally.
Simultaneous measurement of magnetic vortex polarity and chirality using scanning electron microscopy with polarization analysis (SEMPA).

The magnetic vortex structure is an equilibrium configuration frequently found in patterned magnetic nanostructures. It is characterized by an in-plane curling of the magnetization with clockwise or anticlockwise chirality and by an out-of-plane vortex core that can have a positive or negative polarity. The small size of the vortex core, on the order of 10 nm, makes it technologically interesting due to potential data storage, but also difficult to measure or image directly. In this work, we used Scanning Electron Microscopy with Polarization Analysis (SEMPA) to directly image magnetic vortex cores in patterned NiFe/Ta bilayer structures. With SEMPA we can simultaneously measure the in-plane and the out-of-plane component of the surface magnetization and thereby determine both the vortex chirality and the vortex core polarity in a single measurement. Our magnetic simulation of the vortex core, considering only the exchange and magnetostatic energy, is in good agreement with the SEMPA measurement of the magnetization when other experimental factors are taken into account.
Fourier Transform Infrared Techniques for Studying Complex Biological Systems

Infrared spectroscopy has been of limited usefulness in the study of complex biological systems for some or all of the following reasons: 1. Biological systems are generally dilute aqueous solutions. Thus, spectra of biological systems were run either in H2O (or D2O) with a resulting loss of large areas of the spectra because of the strong H2O (D2O) absorptions, or the spectra were run after removal of the water, which usually brings about major changes in the biological system. The use of thin cells to minimize the H2O or D2O absorption is not possible because "real-life" biological systems generally have a low solute concentration. The use of D2O posed additional problems because of hydrogen-deuterium exchange. 2. Biological systems generally contain many different species of proteins and, in such protein mixtures, variations in individual proteins or conformation changes can be difficult to identify by infrared spectroscopy especially when the changes only represent a small portion of the proteins. Thus, many infrared studies were of model systems containing a single protein species. 3. Biological systems contain numerous other organic species (besides proteins) which can have interfering infrared bands.
Unnotched Izod impact characterization of glass hollow particle/vinyl ester syntactic foams

Vinyl ester matrix syntactic foams filled with hollow glass microspheres are characterized for unnotched Izod impact properties. The study is aimed to analyze the effect of wall thickness and volum...
Permeation properties and hydrothermal stability of silica―titania membranes supported on porous alumina substrates

Abstract A hydrothermally stable and H2-selective composite membrane was successfully prepared on a mesoporous alumina support by thermal decomposition of titanium isopropoxide (TIP) and tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) at high temperature. The membrane with a H2-selective silica–titania top layer of 10–20 nm in thickness had a H2 permeance 3 × 10−7 mol m−2 s−1 Pa−1 and a H2 selectivity over CH4 and CO2 in the range of 40–60. After 130 h exposure in 75 mol% H2O at 923 K, the H2 permeance was reduced by only 30%, compared to a pure silica membrane which suffered a loss of 90%. The use of the opposing reactants technique improved the quality of the composite membrane. Although considerable more efforts are needed to increase surface area, the stability properties suggest applicability of the composition at high temperature in the presence of high concentrations of steam.
Ohmic heating of peaches in the wide range of frequencies (50 Hz to 1 MHz).

UNLABELLED The ohmic heating (OH) rate of peaches was studied at fixed electric field strength of 60 V.cm⁻¹, square-shaped instant reversal bipolar pulses, and frequencies varying within 50 Hz to 1 MHz. Thermal damage of tissue was evaluated from electrical admittivity. It showed that the time for half disruption (τ(T)) of tissue was required more than 10 h at temperatures below 40 °C. However, cellular thermal disruption occurred almost instantly (τ(T) 90 °C). Electrical conductivity σ(o) and admittivity σ(o)* of tissue at T(o)= 0 °C and their temperature coefficients (m, m*) were calculated. For freeze-thawed tissues, σ and σ* as well as m and m* were nearly indifferent to the frequency. However, for the intact tissue, both σ(o), σ(o)* and m, m* were frequency dependent. For freeze-thawed product, the power factor (P) was approximately equal to 1 and indifferent to the frequency and temperature. On the other hand, strong frequency dependence was observed for intact tissue with the minimum P approximately equal to 0.68 in the range of tens of kHz. The time required to reach a target temperature t(f) was evaluated. The t(f) increased with frequency up to the middle of the range of tens of kHz and thereafter continuously decreased. Samples exposed to the low-frequency electric field demonstrated faster electro-thermal damage rates. The textural relaxation data supported more intense damage kinetics at low-frequency OH. It has been demonstrated that a combination of high-frequency OH with pasteurization at moderate temperature followed by rapid cooling minimizes texture degradation of peach tissue. PRACTICAL APPLICATION In this study, we investigated the electric field frequency effect on the rate of OH of peaches. It was shown that the time required for reaching the target temperature is strongly dependent upon the frequency. Samples exposed to low-frequency OH demonstrated higher electro-thermal damage rates. It has been shown that the combination of high-frequency OH with pasteurization at moderate temperature followed by rapid cooling minimizes texture degradation of peach tissue. Obtained results provide new information on the impact of electric field frequency on OH, which is useful for OH process design.
Debulking surgery: does it increase the quality of survival?

The purpose of this paper was to review the debulking operations at our institution relative to the quality of patient survival. Objective and subjective criteria were used to determine the postoperative quality of life. The subjective quality of survival was determined independently by the oncology physician, oncology nurse, and enterostomal therapist. The subjective criteria were the acceptance and care of ostomy (if one was present), the continuance of normal activities, continuing employment, confinement to bed, confinement to a wheelchair, the ability to enjoy life, and the ability to eat a regular diet. The objective criteria included the number of thoracentesis, paracentesis, surgical procedures, nonchemotherapy-related hospital admissions, and incidence of bowel obstruction(s) per patient survival months. Group A, 19 patients, had debulking surgery performed on the gynecologic oncology service primarily for stage III ovarian carcinoma. Group B, 17 patients, had stage III ovarian carcinoma and the disease could not be debulked. Fifteen of the nineteen Group A patients utilizing all of the above subjective parameters seemed to enjoy life. Utilizing these parameters it is clearly evident that extensive, arduous surgery to remove the majority of masses greater than 2 cm in carefully selected patients is worthwhile. The quality of life will be good in the majority of instances, no matter how short the quantity.
The Semiconductor Research Corporation: Cooperative research

The SRC (Semiconductor Research Corporation) was formed in 1982 to conduct generic, cooperative university research in the field of integrated circuits. An overview is provided of the methodologies used by the SRC for the identification of pacing integrated-circuit technologies, for research program planning and management, and for the transfer of research results to members. Several case studies are developed that illustrate the SRC approach to the conduct of research and that give a perspective on the broad spectrum of research results being produced. The SRC has found that the process of defining generic research goals, followed by the development and implementation of research plans to achieve the stated goals, provides effective focus and metrics for measuring research progress. It is the SRC's experience that focused university research can provide substantial contributions to the advancement of semiconductor technology as well as an additional work force to enhance the industry, university, and government technical infrastructure of the United States. >
Faking moral judgement on the Defining Issues Test

In research by Emler, Renwick & Malone (1983), elevated moral judgement scores obtained under altered test conditions were interpreted as evidence that moral reasoning and political attitudes are essentially the same and that self-presentational strategies explain many differences in moral judgement that have previously been attributed to cognitive development. In the present study, politically liberal, moderate and conservative subjects completed the Defining Issues Test (DIT) of moral judgement, once from their own perspective and once from the perspective of a liberal/radical. The DIT was modified to include additional anti-establishment (A) items. Results indicated that subjects responding from the liberal/radical perspective strongly endorsed A items, and consequently decreased their principled moral judgement scores below their normal levels. Such findings contradict the conclusions of Emler et al. and offer an interpretation less antagonistic to cognitive developmental points of view.
High-gain, low-leakage GaAs pseudo-HBT's for operation in reduced temperature environments

GaAs pseudo-heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs) that make use of the difference in effective bandgap narrowing in n- and p-type GaAs have been fabricated and characterized. A current gain enhancement by a factor greater than 20 is observed as the transistors are cooled to 35 K. Current gains of over 100 at a current density of 2.5*10/sup 3/ A/cm/sup 2/ were observed in transistors with a base doping 10 times the emitter doping. Tunneling currents, which previously dominated the low-temperature base current, were eliminated by the use of a spacer layer between the base and the emitter. >
Dorsal penile nerve block for robot-assisted radical prostatectomy catheter related pain: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Following Robotic-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy (RARP) patients routinely have penile pain and urethral discomfort secondary to an indwelling urethral catheter. Our objective was to assess the effect of dorsal penile nerve block with bupivacaine on urethral catheter-related pain after RARP. From 2012–2013, 140 patients with organ-confined prostate cancer were enrolled in an IRB approved double-blinded, randomized control trial comparing a dorsal penile nerve block of bupivacaine versus placebo after RARP performed by a single-surgeon. Patients were asked to complete questionnaires using the Wong-Bakers FACES Pain Rating scale while hospitalized and for 9 days post-operatively, until the catheter was removed. The primary end-points were: catheter-related discomfort, abdominal (incisional) pain, and bladder spasm-related discomfort. Secondary end-points included narcotic and other analgesic usage. 120 patients were randomized to placebo vs. bupivacaine dorsal penile nerve bock. The two arms (n = 56 bupivacaine and n = 60 placebo) did not differ in preoperative, perioperative, or pathological results. There was no difference in narcotic utilization between the two cohorts. Abdominal pain was slightly lower in the bupivacaine arm at 6 hours compared to the placebo arm, but there was no difference in abdominal pain at other time points, and there were no differences in reported catheter-related discomfort or bladder spasm-associated discomfort at any of the measured time points. The data does not support the routine use of a dorsal penile nerve block with bupivacaine following RARP.
Precise tracking of remote sensing satellites with the Global Positioning System

The Global Positioning System (GPS) can be applied in a number of ways to track remote sensing satellites at altitudes below 3000 km with accuracies of better than 10 cm. All techniques use a precise global network of GPS ground receivers operating in concert with a receiver aboard the user satellite, and all estimate the user orbit, GPS orbits, and selected ground locations simultaneously. The GPS orbit solutions are always dynamic, relying on the laws of motion, while the user orbit solution can range from purely dynamic to purely kinematic (geometric). Two variations show considerable promise. The first one features an optimal synthesis of dynamics and kinematics in the user solution, while the second introduces a novel gravity model adjustment technique to exploit data from repeat ground tracks. These techniques, to be demonstrated on the TOPEX/Poseidon mission in 1992, will offer subdecimeter tracking accuracy for dynamically unpredictable satellites down to the lowest orbital altitudes. >
Covering radius and the chromatic number of Kneser graphs

Abstract Let C be a binary linear code with covering radius R and let C 0 be a subcode of C with codimension i . We prove that the covering radius R 0 of C satisfies R 0 ⩽ 2 R + 2 i − 1, by setting up a graph coloring problem involving Kneser graphs.
Selective Bypass of a Lagging Strand Roadblock by the Eukaryotic Replicative DNA Helicase

The eukaryotic replicative DNA helicase, CMG, unwinds DNA by an unknown mechanism. In some models, CMG encircles and translocates along one strand of DNA while excluding the other strand. In others, CMG encircles and translocates along duplex DNA. To distinguish between these models, replisomes were confronted with strand-specific DNA roadblocks in Xenopus egg extracts. An ssDNA translocase should stall at an obstruction on the translocation strand but not the excluded strand, whereas a dsDNA translocase should stall at obstructions on either strand. We found that replisomes bypass large roadblocks on the lagging strand template much more readily than on the leading strand template. Our results indicate that CMG is a 3' to 5' ssDNA translocase, consistent with unwinding via "steric exclusion." Given that MCM2-7 encircles dsDNA in G1, the data imply that formation of CMG in S phase involves remodeling of MCM2-7 from a dsDNA to a ssDNA binding mode.
1B-3 Ultrasound Radiation Force Enables Targeted Deposition of Molecularly Targeted Nanoparticles Loaded on Microbubbles Under Flow Conditions

Novel drug delivery vehicles that specifically target using ultrasound radiation force (USRF) and molecular interactions are presented. The first model vehicle consists of commercially available Neutravidin fluorescent nanobeads bound directly to the biotinylated lipid shells of preformed microbubbles. USRF was used to deflect the vehicle from the center of flow to a tube surface in order to facilitate molecular interactions and induce adhesion. In order to reduce acoustic reflections, a cellulose tube was used as the substrate. At wall shear stress levels commensurate with venous and arterial flow, USRF (1.3 sec pulse at 3 MHz and 150 kPa peak negative pressure (PNP)) was used to direct these model vehicles to the biotinylated cellulose tube surface. Subsequent high-pressure pulses (three 5-cycle pulses at 1.5 MHz and 1.1 MPa PNP) fragmented the carrier, and biotin-Neutravidin interactions induced deposition of the nanobeads on the wall. Targeting of nanobeads to the cellulose tube was molecularly specific and dependent on, in order of importance, vehicle concentration, wall shear stress, nanobead size, and insonation time. The second vehicle takes the next steps to molecularly target the nanoparticles to biologically-relevant receptors/ligands and change the fluorescence emission to the near infrared to allow for in vivo imaging. This is accomplished by attaching Peptide LLP2A, which specifically targets integrin alpha4beta1 expressed on angiogenic vessels, to commercially available quantum dots which emit at 800 nm. These new vehicles specifically adhere to the MOLT-4 cell line which highly expresses integrin alpha4beta1, while vehicles without the specific peptide had minimal binding. This versatile method of delivery is shown to enable targeted deposition of nanoparticles in shear flow and could be used as a diagnostic tool to optically observe diseased areas as well as modified to carry therapeutic agents for controlled release in targeted delivery applications
MTII attenuates ghrelin-and food deprivation-induced increases in food hoarding and food intake

Food deprivation triggers a constellation of physiological and behavioral changes including increases in peripherally-produced ghrelin and centrally-produced agouti-related protein (AgRP). Upon refeeding, food intake is increased in most species, however hamsters primarily increase food hoarding. Food deprivation-induced increases in food hoarding by Siberian hamsters are mimicked by peripheral ghrelin and central AgRP injections. Because food deprivation stimulates ghrelin as well as AgRP synthesis/release, food deprivation-induced increases in hoarding may be mediated by melanocortin 3 or 4 receptor (MC3/4-R) antagonism via AgRP, the MC3/4-R inverse agonist. Therefore, we asked: Can a MC3/4-R agonist block food deprivation- or ghrelin-induced increases in foraging, food hoarding and food intake? This was accomplished by injecting melanotan II (MTII), a synthetic MC3/4-R agonist, into the 3rd ventricle in food deprived, fed or peripheral ghrelin injected hamsters and housed in a running wheel-based food delivery foraging system. Three foraging conditions were used: a) no running wheel access, non-contingent food, b) running wheel access, non-contingent food or c) a foraging requirement for food (10 revolutions/pellet). Food deprivation was a more potent stimulator of foraging and hoarding than ghrelin. Concurrent injections of MTII completely blocked food deprivation- and ghrelin-induced increases in food intake and attenuated, but did not always completely block, food deprivation- and ghrelin-induced increases in food hoarding. Collectively, these data suggest that the MC3/4-R are involved in ghrelin- and food deprivation-induced increases in food intake, but other neurochemical systems, such as previously demonstrated with neuropeptide Y, also are involved in increases in food hoarding as well as foraging.
IMPROVED RECOGNITION PERFORMANCE WITH SYNTHETIC CORRELATOR

A joint-Fourier-transform JFT correlation technique wherein the reference image is synthesized from the point-spread function () ( ) PSF of a preselected filter is inestigated. The phase-only filter POF and one of itsariations are considered to be possible candidates for the synthetic PSF. Filters with optical distortion inariance and higher discrimination can be easily implemented with the use of this technique, resulting in an efficient target recognition system. Q 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 14: 274)278, 1997.
The Rejection of Large CW Interferers in Spread Spectrum Systems

An electronic CW interference rejection technique for spread spectrum systems is presented and analyzed. Analytical results indicate that essentially complete rejection is achieved. More conservative examination of performance indicates performance comparable to a notched filter implementation but with the greater flexibility of a narrowband tracking loop implementation.
Eigenvalue/eigenvector assignment using output feedback

The problem of pole-assignment in a linear time-invariant multivariable system using output feedback is considered. New sufficient conditions are derived to assign an almost arbitrary set of min (n,m+r- 1) distinct eigenvalues, where n, m , and r are the number of states, inputs, and outputs, respectively. The analysis also highlights the freedom in selection of closed-loop eigenvectors which can be used for response shaping.
Multimodal Image Retrieval from Construction Databases and Model-Based Systems

In the modern and dynamic construction environment it is important to access information in a fast and efficient manner in order to improve the decision making processes for construction managers. This capability is, in most cases, straightforward with today’s technologies for data types with an inherent structure that resides primarily on established database structures like estimating and scheduling software. However, previous research has demonstrated that a significant percentage of construction data is stored in semi-structured or unstructured data formats (text, images, etc.) and that manually locating and identifying such data is a very hard and time-consuming task. This paper focuses on construction site image data and presents a novel image retrieval model that interfaces with established construction data management structures. This model is designed to retrieve images from related objects in project models or construction databases using location, date, and material information (extracted from the image content with pattern recognition techniques).
Analyzing in situ gene expression in the mouse brain with image registration, feature extraction and block clustering

Many important high throughput projects use in situ hybridization and may require the analysis of images of spatial cross sections of organisms taken with cellular level resolution. Projects creating gene expression atlases at unprecedented scales for the embryonic fruit fly as well as the embryonic and adult mouse already involve the analysis of hundreds of thousands of high resolution experimental images mapping mRNA expression patterns. Challenges include accurate registration of highly deformed tissues, associating cells with known anatomical regions, and identifying groups of genes whose expression is coordinately regulated with respect to both concentration and spatial location. Solutions to these and other challenges will lead to a richer understanding of the complex system aspects of gene regulation in heterogeneous tissue. We present an end-to-end approach for processing raw in situ expression imagery and performing subsequent analysis. We use a non-linear, information theoretic based image registration technique specifically adapted for mapping expression images to anatomical annotations and a method for extracting expression information within an anatomical region. Our method consists of coarse registration, fine registration, and expression feature extraction steps. From this we obtain a matrix for expression characteristics with rows corresponding to genes and columns corresponding to anatomical sub-structures. We perform matrix block cluster analysis using a novel row-column mixture model and we relate clustered patterns to Gene Ontology (GO) annotations. Resulting registrations suggest that our method is robust over intensity levels and shape variations in ISH imagery. Functional enrichment studies from both simple analysis and block clustering indicate that gene relationships consistent with biological knowledge of neuronal gene functions can be extracted from large ISH image databases such as the Allen Brain Atlas [1] and the Max-Planck Institute [2] using our method. While we focus here on imagery and experiments of the mouse brain our approach should be applicable to a variety of in situ experiments.
Point-Counterpoint: A Comparison of Levalbuterol and Racemic Albuterol in the Treatment of Pediatric Asthma

1. Myles B. Abbott, MD 1. Clinical Professor of Pediatrics University of California School of Medicine San Francisco, CA (Dr. Abbott is a consultant for Express Scripts) 1. Robert H. Levin, PharmD 1. Professor Emeritus of Clinical Pharmacy University of California School of Medicine San Francisco, CA 1. Jennifer A. Miller, MD 1. Children’s Hospital & Research Center Oakland, CA A reader writes: In regard to their article “Levalbuterol in Managing Pediatric Asthma” (Pediatr Rev. 2002;23:401[OpenUrl][1][FREE Full Text][2]), the authors concluded that levalbuterol does not decrease adverse effects (tachycardia, tremors, nervousness) and, thus, has no clinical advantages over the use of racemic albuterol. From my research and clinical experience, I strongly disagree. The issue of determining which medications cause the fewest adverse effects and are most effective in managing this disease has become a priority, especially for short-acting beta2 agonists. The introduction of levalbuterol to the market has prompted a debate about its efficacy and safety. With the use of albuterol, patients and parents commonly complain of beta2-initiated adverse effects. Concerns revolve around increased … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DPediatrics%2Bin%2BReview%26rft.stitle%253DPediatr.%2BRev.%26rft.issn%253D0191-9601%26rft.aulast%253DSundel%26rft.auinit1%253DE.%26rft.volume%253D23%26rft.issue%253D11%26rft.spage%253D401%26rft.epage%253D403%26rft.atitle%253DQuestion%2BFrom%2Bthe%2BClinician%253A%2BLevalbuterol%2Bin%2BManaging%2BPediatric%2BAsthma%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F12415020%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/ijlink?linkType=FULL&journalCode=pedsinreview&resid=23/11/401&atom=%2Fpedsinreview%2F25%2F3%2F108.atom
“Mandatory” Influenza Immunization (FluImm) of Healthcare Workers (HCW) at Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC)

ISSUE: Efforts to improve levels of immunization of HCWs have been widely published. Proposals have included mandatory FluImm for all hospital workers. The rationale for FluImm includes reducing employee absenteeism, benefits to the employee, and reducing nosocomial transmission thereby benefiting hospitalized patients who may suffer significant consequences of Flu-related infection including death. Both the Joint Commission and the state of California (SB 739 – Mandatory Reporting) incorporated FluImm efforts as an additional measure of improving patient safety. Mandatory FluImm may be tempered by allowing for declination while strongly encouraging HCW participation. It is already a condition of employment at our facility to have a current PPD and proof of immunity to MMR, Varicella and Hepatitis B. If not immune, associate (employee) health provides immunizations.
Outpatient outcomes and satisfaction in pediatric population: data from the postoperative phone call.

SummaryBackground Quality and patient/parent satisfaction are goals for pediatric perioperative services. As part of the implementation of our operating room electronic medical record (EMR), a postoperative phone call questionnaire was developed to assess patients discharged after outpatient surgery. The goal of this initiative was to determine the rate of common postoperative complications and understand reasons for patient/parent dissatisfaction. Methods Institutional Review Board approval was obtained for chart review. The postoperative phone call survey was attempted by our postanesthesia care unit nursing staff on all pediatric outpatients. The call was attempted for 3 days. From 2009 to 2013, more than 37 000 phone records existed in our EMR, Epic Optime (Epic Systems, Verona, WI). These data were extracted to a business intelligence (BI) program, QlikView (Qliktech, Radnor, PA, USA). A BI dashboard was constructed to obtain phone call results for any given time frame from monthly to spanning several years. Complications were logged as 4-point severity rating scales (none, mild, moderate, severe) with descriptions for each level. The BI dashboard calculated the overall and rates by severity for the following: (i) nausea, (ii) vomiting, (iii) pain, (iv) bleeding, (v) hoarseness, and (vi) difficulty eating. Results Of 42 688 outpatient cases, 37 620 postoperative phone calls were completed for an overall response rate of 88%. Pain, at 11.1%, was the highest reported postoperative complication. The rate of dissatisfaction was reported to be 0.31%. Most patients reporting dissatisfaction (62%) did not report any complications. Contingency coefficient showed that there was little relationship between satisfaction and presence of complications. Conclusion A postoperative phone survey is cost-effective and appreciated by patients. We found that satisfaction with our perioperative services was not related to the rates of reported complications. Although reducing complications is of utmost importance, improvements in wait times and other operational issues would yield greater improvements in satisfaction.
Fos expression in brain stem nuclei of pregnant rats after hydralazine-induced hypotension.

Fos and dopamine β-hydroxylase immunoreactivity were evaluated in the brain stems of 21-day pregnant and virgin female rats injected with either hydralazine (HDZ; 10 mg/kg iv) or vehicle. HDZ produced significant hypotension in both groups, although baseline blood pressure was lower in pregnant rats (96 ± 2.5 mmHg) than in virgin female rats (121 ± 2.8 mmHg). There were no differences in Fos immunoreactivity in the brain stems of pregnant and virgin female rats after vehicle treatment. HDZ-induced hypotension significantly increased Fos expression in both groups; however, the magnitude of the increases differed in the caudal ventrolateral medulla (CVL), the area postrema (AP), and the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVL). Fos expression after HDZ in pregnant rats was augmented in noncatecholaminergic neurons of the CVL but was attenuated in the AP and in noncatecholaminergic neurons in the RVL. These results are consistent with differences in the sympathetic response to hypotension between pregnant and virgin female rats and indicate that the central response to hypotension may be different in pregnant rats.
Ultrasound as Diagnostic Tool for Diaphragmatic Myoclonus

Background Diaphragmatic myoclonus is a rare disorder of repetitive diaphragmatic contractions, acknowledged to be a spectrum that includes psychogenic features. Electromyography has been the diagnostic tool most commonly used in the literature. Methods To test whether we could perform a noninvasive technique to delineate the diaphragm as the source of abnormal movements and demonstrate distractibility and entrainability, we used B-mode ultrasound in a patient with diaphragmatic myoclonus. Results Ultrasound imaging clearly delineated the diaphragm as the source of her abdominal movements. We were able to demonstrate entrainability of the diaphragm to hand tapping to a prescribed rhythm set by the examiner. Conclusions We recommend the use of ultrasound as a noninvasive, convenient diagnostic tool for further studies of diaphragmatic myoclonus. We agree with previous findings that diaphragmatic myoclonus may be a functional movement disorder, as evidenced by distractibility and entrainability demonstrated on real-time video with ultrasonography.