cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dissociation of pig liver carboxylesterase measured by quantitative micro-complement fixation

Abstract Rate and apparent equilibrium constants for the dissociation of pig liver carboxylesterase into three subunit molecules have been determined by complement fixation. The dependence of the dissociation equilibria on pH are consistent with dissociation reactions involving the addition of two protons per subunit, a pH-independent dissociation, and a dissociation upon the loss of one proton per subunit. The rate constants for dissociation are consistent with terms first order in hydrogen and hydroxide ions and a pH-independent path. The equilibrium constants in the range 3–35 °C at pH 7.2 exhibit no dependence on temperature; the association reaction is entropy driven with ΔS = 68 cal mol −1 ∘ K −1 . The rate constants for the pH-independent dissociation follow ΔH≠ ≅ 6 kcal mol−1. The order of effectiveness of concentrated salts in promoting denaturation is correlated with their effect on the activity coefficient of acetyltetraglycine ethyl ester and suggests that peptide groups become more exposed upon dissociation. The increased dissociation in the presence of urea derivatives containing alkyl substituents suggests exposure of hydrophobic regions upon dissociation; this is also consistent with ΔH = 0 for dissociation. It is likely that hydrophobic interactions contribute to the stability of the trimeric whole molecule.
Mind, Brain, and Education: Building a Scientific Groundwork for Learning and Teaching1

The primary goal of the emerging fi eld of Mind, Brain, and Education is to join biology, cognitive science, development, and education in order to create a sound ground- ing of education in research. The growing, worldwide move- ment needs to avoid the myths and distortions of popular conceptions of brain and genetics and build on the best inte- gration of research with practice, creating a strong infrastruc- ture that joins scientists with educators to study effective learning and teaching in educational settings. Science and practice together provide many potentially powerful tools to improve education. Neuroscience and genetics make possible analysis of the " black box " of biological processes that under- pin learning. Understanding the biology of abilities and disabilities helps educators and parents to facilitate individual students ' learning and development. Cognitive science pro- vides analyses of the mental models/metaphors that pervade meaning making in human cultures, creating tools for avoid- ing unconscious distortions and crafting effective educational tools. Developmental and learning science produce tools to analyze learning pathways, including both shared patterns and learning differences. To reach the potential of grounding education effectively in research requires improving the infra- structure by creating (a) research schools where practice and science jointly shape educational research, (b) shared data- bases on learning and development, and (c) a new profession of educational engineers or translators to facilitate connecting research with practice and policy.
Growth of murine bone marrow adherent stromal cells in culture without hydrocortisone in a low oxygen environment

Successful culture of hematopoietic cells depends upon the growth of stromal cells. The growth of bone marrow stromal cells is best achieved when hydrocortisone is added to the culture medium. However, the hydrocortisone requirement is eliminated if the cultures are grown in an atmosphere of 5% CO2, 5% O2, and 90% N2 rather than 5% CO2 in air, which is more common.
Drug-induced changes in blood pressure lead to changes in extracellular concentrations of epinephrine, dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in the rostral ventrolateral medulla of the rat.

: Neurochemical changes in the extracellular fluid of the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) were produced by changes in arterial blood pressure. Blood pressure was raised or lowered with systemic infusions of phenylephrine or nitroprusside and neurochemicals were recovered from RVLM by in vivo microdialysis. A dialysis probe 300 μm in diameter and 500 μm in length was stereotaxically implanted in the RVLM of the urethane-anesthetized rat. Sterile physiological Ringer's solution was perfused at a rate of 1.5 μl/min. The perfusate was collected under ice-cold conditions every 15 min for the assay of epinephrine, dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), ascorbic acid, and uric acid. After stable baseline neurochemical concentrations were achieved, animals were infused with phenylephrine or nitroprusside intravenously to raise or lower the blood pressure. Increasing blood pressure 50 mm Hg above the baseline value by phenylephrine led to a significant reduction in heart rate and a reduction in extracellular epinephrine and DOPAC concentrations. The 5-HIAA concentration was increased during the hypertensive drug infusion. There were no changes in the concentrations of ascorbic acid or uric acid. Hypotension produced by nitroprusside (—20 mm Hg) led to neurochemical changes which were the reciprocal of those seen during hypertension. During hypotension, heart rate increased as did the extracellular fluid epinephrine concentration. The 5-HIAA concentration fell with hypotension and remained depressed following the nitroprusside infusion. Ascorbic acid and uric acid concentrations did not change during hypotension but ascorbic acid did increase after the nitroprusside infusion stopped. These data provide direct evidence that epinephrine release in RVLM is linked to changes in systemic blood pressure. Furthermore, because changes in epinephrine concentration parallel changes in sympathetic activity as measured by heart rate, epinephrine in the extracellular fluid space of the RVLM may be a marker for sympathetic nerve activity.
Spinning silk from music: The art of creating new materials

How the hidden structure of music can create stronger new materials like artifial spider silk
SU-GG-T-106: Simultaneous Integrated Boost Radiotherapy Using Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (RapidArc) in the Treatment of Head&Neck Cancer: A Dosi metric Comparison with Helical TomoTherapy and Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy

Purpose: To evaluate the treatment planning performance of volumetric modulated arc therapy (RapidArc) in patients with head and neck (HN the average minimum PTV70 doses were (97.9±1.0)%, (98.1±0.3)% and (96.7±1.9)%. The maximum and mean OAR doses for parotid glands, mandible and larynx were comparable while statistically significant differences were observed in the brainstem, spinal cord and esophagus. The average mean doses to brainstem, for instance, were 7±2.6 Gy (IMRT), 11.8±5.1 Gy (RA) and 20.2±6.3 Gy (HT). Conclusion:IMRT performed better in dose sparing for brainstem, spinal cord, and esophagus than did RapidArc and Tomotherapy when delivering SIB in patients with H&N cancer. Tomotherapy was found to provide the highest PTV dose homogeneity while the treatment delivery was more efficient with RA. Conflict of Interest: Research sponsored by Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
Alterations in fecal microflora enzymes related to diet, age, lactobacillus supplements, and dimethylhydrazine

The bacterial enzymes, beta-glucuronidase, azoreductase, and nitroreductase, have been measured in the fecal microflora of rats. The effects of diet, advanced age, Lactobacillus acidophilus supplements, and dimethylhydrazine on these microbial enzymes activities have been determined. The shift from a grain to a meat diet resulted in 1.5--2.5-fold increase in the activity of all three enzymes. Animals over 20 months of age, consuming a meat diet, showed further increases in fecal beta-glucuronidase activity, while the levels of all three microbial enzymes increased in old rats fed a grain diet. Feeding supplement of L. acidophilus significantly lowered the activity of fecal nitroreductase and azoreductase in meat-eating animals, but had no effect on nitroreductase activity in grain-fed animals. Dimethylhydrazine increased the fecal beta-glucuronidase activity in both grain- and meat-fed animals, but the carcinogen had no effect on nitroreductase or azoreductase activity. These findings have relevance to known features of the epidemiology and etiology of large bowel cancer, and suggest certain approaches to prevention.
The role of epistasis in protein evolution

Arising from M. S. Breen, C. Kemena, P. K. Vlasov, C. Notredame & F. A. Kondrashov , 535–538 (2012)10.1038/nature11510 An important question in molecular evolution is whether an amino acid that occurs at a given site makes an independent contribution to fitness, or whether its contribution depends on the state of other sites in the organism’s genome, a phenomenon known as epistasis1,2,3,4,5. Breen and colleagues recently argued6 that epistasis must be “pervasive throughout protein evolution” because the observed ratio between the per-site rates of non-synonymous and synonymous substitutions (dN/dS)7 is much lower than would be expected in the absence of epistasis. However, when calculating the expected dN/dS ratio in the absence of epistasis, Breen 6 assumed that all amino acids observed at a given position in a protein alignment have equal fitness. Here, we relax this unrealistic assumption and show that any dN/dS value can in principle be achieved at a site, without epistasis; furthermore, for all nuclear and chloroplast genes in the Breen et al. data set, we show that the observed dN/dS values and the observed patterns of amino-acid diversity at each site are jointly consistent with a non-epistatic model of protein evolution.
Nearly ideal unguarded vanadium-silicide Schottky-barrier diodes

Nearly ideal VLSI unguarded Schottky-barrier diodes were made using a VSi 2 /nSi junction. The reverse-current leakage of these diodes is fully explained in terms of electric-field enhancement present near the diode edges. The values of the diode quality factor were nearly equal to unity and were identical to those of guarded diodes built on the same wafer. The ideality of the VSi 2 /nSi diode characteristics is attributed to controlled outdiffusion of silicon that occurs around the diode perimeter.
Saturation broadening of laser-induced fluorescence from plasma ions

Saturation broadening is an obstacle in using laser‐induced fluorescence as a plasma diagnostic. The Doppler‐broadened line shape ideally yields the ion velocity distribution function, but at high laser power, saturation of the optical transition leads to additional undesirable line broadening. We test three different prescriptions for plasma experimentalists to avoid saturation broadening while maintaining a strong signal. Based on experiments in an argon plasma, and a semiclassical atomic physics simulation, we have identified the prescription that is the easiest to use and the least sensitive to the spatial profile of the laser beam. This procedure is to measure the laser intensity that leads to saturation on the peak of the spectral line, and then to reduce the intensity to 20% of the saturation level.
Stokes flow past finite coaxial clusters of spheres in a circular cylinder

Abstract Solutions are presented for the Stokes flow past finite axial assemblages of up to 9 spheres in an infinitely long cylindrical tube for a wide range of sphere spacings and sphere to cylinder diameter ratios. General solutions are constructed from the fundamental solutions to the governing equation in both the cylindrical and spherical coordinate systems. No-slip boundary conditions are enforced on the tube surface by constructing the Fourier transform of the general disturbance created by the spheres, as detected on the cylinder wall. The boundary conditions are then applied on the sphere surfaces by a previously developed series truncation technique. The calculated drag forces and zero-drag velocities demonstrate the interparticle interaction effects, the sphere-wall interactions, and the effects of wall damping on the inter-particle shielding phenomenon.
The acute arthritis-dermatitis syndrome. The changing importance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis.

• Sexually active young adults with an acute arthralgia or arthritis, with or without associated skin lesions, often have disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI). In recent years, an increasing proportion of patients seen with such complaints at the University of Washington Hospitals, Seattle, have had systemic meningococcal infection rather than DGI. Among 151 patients with acute arthritis studied prospectively from 1970 to 1972, blood or synovial fluid cultures yielded Neisseria gonorrhoeae in 30 patients and Neisseria meningitidis in two. Among 62 patients meeting the same criteria who were studied prospectively from 1980 to 1983, blood or synovial fluid cultures yielded gonococci in nine and meningococci in five. Separate analysis of blood culture results from two University of Washington Hospitals also revealed a decline in the number of cases of gonococcemia from 1970 through 1984 and a shift in the relative numbers of patients with bacteremia due to N gonorrhoeae and N meningitidis . The observed decline in gonococcemia coincides with a decline in the proportion of gonorrhea in Seattle caused by gonococcal strains that have been associated with DGI. ( Arch Intern Med 1987;147:281-283)
Fatigue crack initiation and growth in riveted specimens: an optical and acoustic microscopic study

While optical microscopy on riveted specimens reveals only surface cracks, the acoustic C-scan images reveal subsurface and buried cracks emerging to the surface. This is of particular interest for fatigue cracks that initiate below the outer surface such as with chamfered riveted panels. Fatigue crack initiation and growth in riveted panels of Alclad 2024-T3 were characterized using optical microscopy and scanning acoustic microscopy to obtain C-scan images. The C-scan images were obtained using a focused transducer with a center frequency of ca 50 MHz, and the peak value of the back surface echo of the plate with countersunk rivet holes was recorded in the C-scan images. Data on the initiation and development of fatigue cracks at rivets in riveted Alclad 2024-T3 are given.
Limitations and solutions for the use of integrated λ/4-Shifted distributed Bragg resonators in wavelength-division multiplexing applications

A new paradigm for writing long-range, spatially-coherent multiple-quarter-wave shifted Bragg gratings is described. The implementation of such a paradigm is essential for fabricating integrated optical devices for wavelength-division multiplexed applications.
Impact of EMS education on emergency medicine ability and career choices of medical students.

Objective. To determine whether a course in emergency medical services (EMS) impacts on the perceived ability of medical students to render care in emergencies such as choking and cardiac arrest, and affects their choice of emergency medicine as a career. Methods. An eight-question pre- and postcourse survey was given to first- and second-year medical students. The elective course lasted a semester (four months) and dealt with prehospital emergency care, including ambulance rides and helicopter observation. Surveys were collected over a period of seven semesters. The eight-question survey assessed the student's experience, interest, and perceived competence. Precourse and postcourse results were compared using a chi-square with p < 0.05 considered significant. Results. Two hundred ten students enrolled in the EMS course. A total of 384 surveys were completed, 190 precourse and 194 postcourse surveys. Eighty-three students (44%) had a family member in the medical profession, five students (2.6%) had experi...
Compiler-generated communication for pipelined FPGA applications

In this paper, we describe a set of compiler analyses and an implementation that automatically map a sequential and un-annotated C program into a pipelined implementation, targeted for an FPGA with multiple external memories. For this purpose, we extend array data-flow analysis techniques from parallelizing compilers to identify pipeline stages, required inter-pipeline stage communication, and opportunities to find a minimal program execution time by trading communication overhead with the amount of computation overlap in different stages. Using the results of this analysis, we automatically generate application-specific pipelined FPGA hardware designs. We use a sample image processing kernel to illustrate these concepts. Our algorithm finds a solution in which transmitting a row of an array between pipeline stages per communication instance leads to a speedup of 1.76 over an implementation that communicates the entire array at once.
Effects of social and visual contact on the oxygen consumption of juvenile sea bass measured by computerized intermittent respirometry

The resting metabolic rate (RMR) of juvenile European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax L. (47·5±1·5 g, 15–18 cm) was 126·2±2·5 mgO2 kg−1 h−1, and temporal patterns of oxygen consumption were not affcted by visual contact or social interaction with conspecifics. The results suggest that a group effect is not present in juvenile D. labrax, thus no selective advantage of shoaling is gained through lowered metabolism in this facultative schooling species.
Urological Malpractice: Analysis of Indemnity and Claim Data From 1985 to 2007

Purpose: The possibility of a medical malpractice lawsuit is present in the practice of modern day medicine. A basic knowledge of trends, monetary values and types of claims involved in urological litigation is beneficial to the practicing surgeon.Materials and Methods: Cumulative analysis of claims data from 1985 to 2007 from more than 20 member companies of the Physician Insurers Association of America was performed. A total of 28 medical specialties are represented in 230,000 claims. An analysis of urological claims with regard to other specialties, trends, and most prevalent and types of procedures was performed.Results: Urology ranks 12th of 28 in the number of claims reported (5,577) and monies paid, totaling $285 million during 22 years. The average urology paid claim from 1985 to 2007 was $174,245, which is less than the average of all groups ($204,268). In 2007 the average indemnity paid was $227,838, which is an increase from $176,213 in 1997. The 2 most prevalent medical misadventures were impr...
LGB of Color and White Individuals’ Perceptions of Heterosexist Stigma, Internalized Homophobia, and Outness: Comparisons of Levels and Links

Conceptual discussions about LGB people of color suggest that, compared with White LGB individuals, LGB people of color may be exposed to greater levels of heterosexist stigma and its deleterious correlates (greater risk) or may be more resilient to such stigma (resilience). This study tested tenets of these two perspectives with a sample of 178 LGB persons, about 50% of whom identified as White and 50% as people of color. Findings suggested similarities between LGB people of color and White LGB individuals in levels of perceived heterosexist stigma, internalized homophobia, and comfort with disclosure of sexual orientation and in relations of heterosexist stigma with sexual orientation disclosure variables. But, compared with data for White LGB participants, data for LGB people of color suggested lower levels of outness and a weaker relation between perceived heterosexist stigma and internalized homophobia. Implications of these findings for further research and practice are discussed.
SOLUBILITY OF CARBON DIOXIDE, KRYPTON, AND XENON IN AQUEOUS SOLUTION.

The solubility of carbon dioxide, krypton, and xenon has been measured at 1 Atm. total pressure and at temperatures of 25, 30, 37, and 45° in distilled water, 0.9 per cent sodium chloride, and .066 M phosphate buffer solution at pH 7.0. The solubility of the gases studied in aqueous solution decreased as the temperature increased. Heats and entropies of solution have been calculated according to Eley's equation (16). The relation between ΔS° and ΔH° at various temperatures is exactly linear in every case, and the slope is approximately equal to 1/ T .
RGS4 overexpression in the rat dorsal striatum modulates mGluR5- and amphetamine-mediated behavior and signaling

Rationale Regulator of G-protein signaling 4 (RGS4) is a brain-enriched negative modulator of G-protein-coupled receptor signaling. Decreased availability of RGS4 in the frontal cortex and striatum has been described in animal models of schizophrenia and drug addiction. However, cellular and behavioral consequences of dysregulated RGS4-dependent receptor signaling in the brain remain poorly understood.
Malignant fibrous histiocytoma: an institutional review.

Background: A thorough understanding of malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH), the most common subtype of soft tissue sarcoma, will lead to improved histologic-specific protocols. Methods: 126 patients with histologically confirmed MFH were analyzed. The median follow-up was 42 months (range 1–233 months). Results: Overall survival was 58% at 5 years and 38% at 10 years. Grade significantly influenced prognosis, with 10-year survival of 90%, 60%, and 20% for low, intermediate, and high grade tumors, respectively (p = 0.0007). Distant metastases at initial presentation (p = 0.0002) and size of the primary tumor (p = 0.0007) influenced outcome. Neither anatomic site nor depth of the primary tumor were significant prognostic factors. Positive microscopic margins were associated with a decreased disease-free survival (p = 0.006). Conclusions: Tumor grade, size, and distant metastases at initial presentation remain the most important prognostic factors for MFH. Resection with negative microscopic margins decrea...
Endovascular management of chronic iliac vein occlusion

Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) affects millions of people in the United States. With CVI, higher venous pressure in the veins of the lower limb during exercise results in ambulatory venous hypertension and ulceration. The majority of cases of CVI occur after an episode of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). This results in damage to the valves in the deep venous system of the leg. Once damaged, the valves become scarred and incompetent, causing reflux of blood from the deep to the superficial venous system. Various theories are associated with the disease and ulceration process; the classic treatment of elevation, ambulation, and compression for venous disease remains unchallenged. A proportion of cases of CVI are caused by persistent venous obstruction, often superimposed upon valvular reflux. This article discusses techniques for endovascular reconstruction of iliac venous occlusions, which is an important cause of venous obstruction of the lower limb.
A relation between the active input impedance and the active element pattern of a phased array

It is well known that the active element pattern of a phased array, obtained by driving a single radiating element of the array while all other elements are match terminated, can be expressed in terms of the scattering matrix parameters of the array. It is shown how this relationship can be inverted so that the scattering parameters for all elements of a phased array can be obtained from the active element patterns of the array. In addition, it is also possible to obtain the active input impedance of any element in the fully excited array, at any scan angle, from active element pattern data. The theory is developed for linear and planar arrays and an example is presented for a linear array of slot antenna elements.
FETRAM. An Organic Ferroelectric Material Based Novel Random Access Memory Cell

Science and technology in the electronics area have always been driven by the development of materials with unique properties and their integration into novel device concepts with the ultimate goal to enable new functionalities in innovative circuit architectures. In particular, a shift in paradigm requires a synergistic approach that combines materials, devices and circuit aspects simultaneously. Here we report the experimental implementation of a novel nonvolatile memory cell that combines silicon nanowires with an organic ferroelectric polymer—PVDF-TrFE—into a new ferroelectric transistor architecture. Our new cell, the ferroelectric transistor random access memory (FeTRAM) exhibits similarities with state-of-the-art ferroelectric random access memories (FeRAMs) in that it utilizes a ferroelectric material to store information in a nonvolatile (NV) fashion but with the added advantage of allowing for nondestructive readout. This nondestructive readout is a result of information being stored in our cell...
Quantifying clutter: A comparison of four methods and their relationship to bat detection

Abstract The degree of spatial complexity in the environment, or clutter, affects the quality of foraging habitats for bats and their detection with acoustic systems. Clutter has been assessed in a variety of ways but there are no standardized methods for measuring clutter. We compared four methods (Visual Clutter, Cluster, Single Variable, and Clutter Index) and related these to the probability of detecting bat calls. From June to July, 2005–2006, we used Anabat detectors to conduct acoustic surveys for 2–4 nights at each of 71 points representing three visual clutter classes. We used a cluster analysis to identify groups of plots with similar characteristics. We used backwards stepwise discriminant analyses to identify important plot structure variables that differentiated among clutter classes and used discriminant analyses to test the effectiveness of the plot structure variables in classifying plots into visual clutter classes or clusters. Two clutter volume indices (Indexmax and Index15m) were computed for each plot by calculating the ratio of vegetation volume to available space in the plot. We assessed the effects of the clutter estimation methods on the probability of detecting bats in low and high frequency phonic groups. Occupancy rates ranged from 0.30 to 0.78 and probability of detecting any bat was ⩾0.78 for each period; however, few identifiable calls were recorded. Live tree basal area, midstory live stem count, and canopy crown volume were the most effective measures of clutter for bats because each was a plausible predictor of bat detection and the former two were important for discriminating among plots with differing structure. The use of clutter indices has promise but such methods need to be tested prior to implementation. In future studies of bat foraging habitat, quantitative measures should be used to assess clutter so it is possible to make comparisons among habitats or studies.
Workers’ Compensation and State Employment Growth*

Workers' compensation reforms have been on the table in virtually every state over the last several years, and many states have launched comprehensive reforms. At least nine states undertook major reforms of their workers' compensation systems in 2004 alone, and the reforms were driven largely by claims that higher workers' compensation costs are driving away businesses and the employment that comes with them. This paper examines the relationship between workers' compensation costs, as proxied by benefits/earnings, and employment across U.S. states and the District of Columbia from 1976 to 2000. Workers' compensation costs are found to have a statistically significant negative impact on employment and wages, but the elasticities are very small, suggesting that workers' compensation is not a likely cause of jobs woes in most states. Unemployment insurance appears to have an effect of similar magnitude. Medical cost inflation is found to be a significant factor in explaining move- ments in workers' compensation costs over time.
Transcriptional activation of the γ-globin gene in baboons treated with decitabine and in cultured erythroid progenitor cells involves different mechanisms

Objective To investigate the mechanism(s) responsible for increased γ-globin expression in vivo in decitabine-treated baboons and in vitro in cultured erythroid progenitor cells (EPC) from adult baboon bone marrow (BM). Materials and Methods Fetal liver, adult BM erythroid cells pre- and post-decitabine, and cultured EPCs were analyzed for distribution of RNA polymerase II, histone acetylation, and histone H3 (lys4) trimethyl throughout the γ-globin gene complex by chromatin immunoprecipitation. DNA methylation of the γ-globin promoter was determined by bisulfite sequencing. Expression of the baboon Iγ- and Vγ-globin chains was determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Expression of BCL11A, a recently identified repressor of γ-globin expression, was analyzed by Western blot. Results Increased γ-globin expression in decitabine-treated baboons and cultured EPC correlated with increased levels of RNA polymerase II, histone acetylation, and histone H3 (lys4) trimethyl associated with the γ-globin gene consistent with a transcriptional activation mechanism. Cultured EPC expressed the Iγ- and Vγ-globin chains in a pattern characteristic of fetal development. The level of DNA methylation of the γ-globin gene promoter in EPC cultures was similar to BM erythroid cells from normal adult baboons. Different BCL11A isoforms were observed in BM erythroid cells and cultured EPC. Conclusion The mechanism responsible for increased γ-globin expression in cultured EPC was unexpectedly not associated with increased DNA hypomethylation of the γ-globin gene promoter compared to normal BM erythroid cells, in contrast to BM erythroid cells of decitabine-treated baboons. Rather, increased fetal hemoglobin in EPC cultures was associated with a fetal Iγ/Vγ chain ratio and a difference in the size of the BCL11A protein compared to normal BM erythroid cells.
Why Don't They Listen? Adherence to Recommendations of Infectious Disease Consultations

The effectiveness of an infectious diseases (ID) consultation is dependent on adherence to the recommendations. To delineate the factors that affect adherence, we conducted a prospective cohort study of 465 consultations at 2 academic institutions in which we evaluated the consultation process, patient and consultant characteristics, types of recommendations, and compliance with recommendations. The overall compliance rate was 80%, with 85% adherence to crucial recommendations. Multivariate analysis revealed that adherence to ID recommendations was higher when the recommendations were therapeutic instead of diagnostic, when they related to a specific clinical question, when recommendations were deemed crucial by the ID service, if the primary service was medicine, and if the consultation note was legible and organized. Whether modification of consultant practice will lead to improved recommendation compliance and patient outcomes warrants further study.
Cholera diffusion in Russia, 1823-1923.

All six cholera pandemics of the 19th and early 20th centuries struck Russia, causing millions of deaths. Cholera entered Russia from the south, with the Volga river system being a common and efficient route into the heart of the country. Diffusion was predominantly linear, along the navigable rivers and later, along the railroads. In contrast to Pyle's findings for the U.S.A., urban hierarchical diffusion was of only local significance in Russia.
Saddle node bifurcation in a PLL

New results are given on the phenomenon of false lock in second-order, Type I PLLs (phase-locked loops) with a constant frequency reference of /spl omega//sub i/ and a VCO (voltage-controlled oscillator) quiescent frequency of /spl omega//sub o/. Of interest here is the stable false lock state whose frequency error approaches /spl omega//sub i/-/spl omega//sub o/ as loop gain /spl delta/ approaches zero. Once the loop is in this stable false lock state, its closed-loop frequency error decreases with increasing /spl delta/ until a point /spl delta//sub 1/ is reached where the false lock state can be continued no further. Saddle-node bifurcation is shown to occur at /spl delta//sub 1/. The stable false-lock state is a stable hyperbolic limit cycle which bifurcates from /spl delta//sub 1/, and it can be continued on 0 /spl les//spl delta//spl les//spl delta//sub 1/. A second limit cycle bifurcates from /spl delta//sub 1/; it is unstable; and it can be continued on an interval /spl delta//sub 2/ 0. Both cycles become semi-stable at /spl delta//sub 1/, and neither can be continued for /spl delta/ > /spl delta//sub 1/. Two numerical algorithms are discussed which are useful for analyzing the false locked PLL under consideration. >
Estimation of Aircraft Unsteady Aerodynamic Parameters From Dynamic Wind Tunnel Testing

Improved aerodynamic mathematical models, for use in aircraft simulation or flight control design, are required when representing nonlinear unsteady aerodynamics. A key limitation of conventional aerodynamic models is the inability to map frequency and amplitude dependent data into the equations of motion directly. In an effort to obtain a more general formulation of the aerodynamic model, researchers have been led to a parallel requirement for more general testing methods. Testing for a more comprehensive model can lead to a very time consuming number of tests especially if traditional single frequency harmonic testing is attempted. This paper presents an alternative to traditional single-frequency forced-oscillation testing by utilizing Schroeder sweeps to efficiently obtain the frequency response of the unsteady aerodynamic model. Schroeder inputs provide signals with a flat power spectrum over a specified frequency band. For comparison, experimental results using the traditional single-frequency inputs are also considered. A method for data analysis to determine an adequate unsteady aerodynamic model is presented. Discussion of associated issues that arise during this type of analysis and comparison of results using traditional single frequency analysis are provided.
Frequency-Based Measurement of Mismatches Between Small Capacitors

The mismatch between two capacitors can be measured by alternately switching each into an oscillator and measuring the change in the oscillation frequency. Three-stage differential ring oscillators can provide multiple mismatch data points for capacitances as small as 8 fF. Experimental results obtained from test circuits fabricated in 0.13-?m CMOS technology also reveal lower mismatches for metal sandwich capacitors than for lateral fringe structures.
Advantages of Using C Language in Graphics Programming

Graphics programming involves, perhaps more than nongraphic programming, a good deal of memory management. This paper emphasizes the use of structures and unions creatively in declaring memory for use in graphics programs, which will help in keeping track of information that, in graphics programming, is often not easily comprehended.
Metacognition and consciousness: A review essay of Janet Metcalfe & Arthur P. Shimamura (Eds) metacognition: Knowing about knowing

Abstract The field of metacognition, richly sampled in the book under review, is recognized as an important and growing branch of psychology. However, the field stands in need of a general theory that (1) provides a unified framework for understanding the variety of metacognitive processes, (2) articulates the relation between metacognition and consciousness, and (3) tells us something about the form of meta‐level representations and their relations to object‐level representations. It is argued that the higher‐order thought theory of consciousness supplies us with the rudiments of a theory that meets these desiderata and integrates the principal findings reported in this collection.
Yeast sirtuins and the regulation of aging.

The Sirtuins are a phylogenetically conserved family of NAD+ dependent protein deacetylases that consume one molecule of NAD+ for every deacetylated lysine side chain. Their requirement for NAD+ potentially makes them prone to regulation by fluctuations in NAD+ or biosynthesis intermediates, thus linking them to cellular metabolism. The Sir2 protein from Saccharomyces cerevisiae is the founding sirtuin family member and has been well characterized as a histone deacetylase that functions in transcriptional silencing of heterochromatin domains and as a pro longevity factor for replicative lifespan, defined as the number of times a mother cells divides (buds) before senescing. Deleting SIR2 shortens replicative lifespan, while increased gene dosage causes extension. Furthermore, Sir2 has been implicated in mediating the beneficial effects of caloric restriction on lifespan, not only in yeast, but also higher eukaryotes. While this paradigm has had its share of disagreements and debate, it has also helped rapidly drive the aging research field forward. S. cerevisiae has four additional sirtuins, Hst1, Hst2, Hst3, and Hst4. This review discusses the function of Sir2 and the Hst homologs in replicative aging and chronological aging, and also addresses how the sirtuins are regulated in response to environmental stresses such as caloric restriction.
Left main coronary artery aneurysm

A 55-year-old woman presented with acute chest pain radiated to her jaw and left arm. She denied any history of dyspnea, orthopnea, dizziness or sweating. Her medical history was notable for hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea and obesity status after gastric bypass surgery 10 years ago. Medications included simvastatin, metoprolol, furosemide and folic acid. She drinks alcohol occasionally with no smoking or illicit drug abuse. On examination, her vitals were within normal limits. Her physical examination was unremarkable. Electrocardiogram showed T-wave inversion in lead II, without ST-segment changes. After the administration of sublingual nitroglycerin, her chest pain was substantially reduced, and she remained hemodynamically stable. Troponin T levels were positive at 0.106. The rest of her laboratory results were normal. On subsequent coronary angiography, the patient was noted to have a 1.8-cm saccular aneurysm that involved the distal portion of the left main (LM) coronary artery and extended into the origin of left anterior descending (LAD) and left circumflex (LCx) coronary arteries, with no significant coronary stenosis (Figure 1). Aspirin therapy was started. She was maintained on aspirin 81 mg daily without additional antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy. She was discharged in stable condition with follow-up appointment in the cardiology clinic.
"Learning Styles: Humpty Dumpty revisited"

What is a learning style? No one seems to know for sure. The language used by learning style theorists is filled with ambiguities. Price (2004) maintains that “learning style is often used as a metaphor for considering the range of individual differences in learning” (p. 681). Is learning style merely a fanciful metaphor or is it the wave of the future? The research offers mixed results. “Effects on improved test scores with testing conditions matched to student style have been published, but,” Curry (1990) adds, “there are also studies showing no discernible effect attributable to learning style variation” (p. 54). How many distinct learning style models are there? The Coffield (2004) team identified 71 different learning style models, which they subdivided into 13 major and 58 minor models. One of the most popular learning style models comes from Rita and Kenneth Dunn. They have developed an eclectic model featuring 21 (23) different variables that influence a person’s learning style. These variables run all the way from light and temperature to whether the person is analytic or global in his or her thinking. Rita Dunn says about the movement: “I want to convert the world” (Kortland, 2007, p. 8). And well she may. The Dunns’ model is used in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Australia, and a number of other countries. Is learning style a panacea or a placebo? The jury is still out on that question.
Analysis of Liver Transplantation

Liver transplantation has been developed to the point of a service operation, the exploitation of which depends upon the establishment of multiple regional centers. The increased use of this procedure will permit the delivery of optimum health care to victims of endstage liver disease.
A meta-analysis of surgical practice patterns in the endoscopic management of ureteroceles.

Purpose: We examined the contribution of patient features on reoperation after transurethral incision or puncture in children with ureteroceles.Materials and Methods: A systematic review was accomplished using Medline and article bibliographies to obtain articles related to endoscopic management of ureteroceles in English, Spanish, Italian, French and Japanese. Exposures of interest were ureterocele position and anatomy, and preoperative reflux. The outcome was secondary operation. Meta-analysis was done using Mantel-Haenszel calculations.Results: Meta-analysis of 10 studies demonstrated that ectopic ureteroceles are associated with significantly greater reoperation rates than intravesical ureteroceles in patients undergoing ureterocele incision. This remains true with longer followup and systematic ureterocele incision/puncture, in neonates and in patients with single and duplex collecting systems. In addition, a meta-analysis of 3 studies showed that patients with duplex system ureteroceles are more lik...
Self-Timed Regenerators for High-Speed and Low-Power Interconnect

In this paper, we propose a new circuit technique called self-timed regenerator (STR) to improve both speed and power for on-chip global interconnects. The proposed circuits are placed along global wires to compensate the loss in resistive wires and to amplify the effect of inductance in the wires to enable transmission line like behavior. For different wire widths, the number of STR and sizing of the transistors are optimized to accelerate the signal propagation while consuming minimum power. In 90nm CMOS technology, STR design achieved a delay improvement of14% over the conventional repeater design. Furthermore, 20% power reduction is achieved for iso-delay, and 8% delay improvement for iso-power compared with the repeater design
The Political Economy of Public Reform Adoption: Patterns in Twenty Indonesian Districts

ABSTRACTNew Public Management (NPM) reforms are often perceived as technical, with little attention to political and institutional factors. Comparing choices in 20 Indonesian districts, we explore which of four political economic factors influence uptake of NPM-based service delivery reforms. We find that democratic political competition laid the groundwork for political alliances, patterns of patronage, and party provision of benefits that condition reform choices. State-led policy entrepreneurship was evident from education agency technocrats. Public sector modernization may have increased orientation towards performance, with education reforms adopted by districts already achieving relatively good sectoral results. Health reforms were more common in districts providing greater opportunities for citizen participation. The complex interactions among the factors argue for working within these realities, rather than seeing them as impediments to be avoided in a drive for reforms. Education technocrats’ dom...
Integrins mediate mechanical compression–induced endothelium-dependent vasodilation through endothelial nitric oxide pathway

Cardiac and skeletal muscle contraction lead to compression of intramuscular arterioles, which, in turn, leads to their vasodilation (a process that may enhance blood flow during muscle activity). Although endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO) has been implicated in compression-induced vasodilation, the mechanism whereby arterial compression elicits NO production is unclear. We cannulated isolated swine (n = 39) myocardial (n = 69) and skeletal muscle (n = 60) arteriole segments and exposed them to cyclic transmural pressure generated by either intraluminal or extraluminal pressure pulses to simulate compression in contracting muscle. We found that the vasodilation elicited by internal or external pressure pulses was equivalent; moreover, vasodilation in response to pressure depended on changes in arteriole diameter. Agonist-induced endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilation was used to verify endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cell viability. Vasodilation in response to cyclic changes in transmural pressure was smaller than that elicited by pharmacological activation of the NO signaling pathway. It was attenuated by inhibition of NO synthase and by mechanical removal of the endothelium. Stemming from previous observations that endothelial integrin is implicated in vasodilation in response to shear stress, we found that function-blocking integrin α5β1 or αvβ3 antibodies attenuated cyclic compression-induced vasodilation and NOx (NO(-)2 and NO(-)3) production, as did an RGD peptide that competitively inhibits ligand binding to some integrins. We therefore conclude that integrin plays a role in cyclic compression-induced endothelial NO production and thereby in the vasodilation of small arteries during cyclic transmural pressure loading.
Bronchoalveolar lavage in silicosis. Evidence of type II cell hyperplasia.

In this report we describe the chronic effects of inhaled silica, a potent macrophage toxin, on cells which could be lavaged from the lung in man. Eight bronchoalveolar lavages were performed on patients with complicated silicosis, who had last been exposed to silica 1 to 12 years prior to lavage. We compared the results with those from 10 lavaged control subjects. All subjects in both groups were cigarette smokers. No differences were detected in cell number, viability, adherence or ability to phagocytize and killListeria monocytogenes, but significantly increased numbers of type II pneumocytes were present in lavages from the silicotic subjects. This finding probably indicates type II cell hyperplasia and provides indirect evidence of the continuing presence of biologically active material within the lung years after cessation of exposure to silica.
CYCLIC FATIGUE OF COMPOSITE AIRFOIL STRUCTURES

Progressive damage and fracture of a composite airfoil structure subjected to cyclic loading is evaluated via computational simulation. A computer model is utilized for the assessment of structural response, progressive fracture, and defect/damage tolerance characteristics. Critical locations for damage initiation are identified. Constituent material properties, stress and strain limits are scaled up to the structure level to evaluate the overall damage and fracture propagation for composites. Damage initiation, growth, accumulation, and propagation to fracture due to cyclic fatigue are included in the simulations. Results show the damage progression sequence and the changes in the structural response characteristics during different degradation stages. A procedure is outlined for use of computational simulation data in the assessment of damage tolerance, determination of sensitive parameters affecting fracture, and interpretation of experimental results with insight for design decisions.
Studies of impulsive vibrational influence on ultrafast electronic excitation transfer.

We investigated electronic energy-transfer dynamics in three model dimers within which coherent intramonomer nuclear motion had been induced by impulsive Raman excitation using an optimized, electronically preresonant control pulse. Calculations of the donor-survival probability, the ultrafast pump–probe signal, and the pump–probe difference signal are presented for dithia-anthracenophane and homodimers of 2-difluoromethylanthracene and 2-trifluoromethylanthracene. Survival probabilities and signals, along with phase-space analyses, elucidated the mechanisms, extent, and spectroscopic manifestations of external vibrational or torsional control over electronic excitation transfer.