cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chrysochromulina: Genomic assessment and taxonomic diagnosis of the type species for an oleaginous algal clade

Abstract Background Until recent studies documented their extensive contribution to primary productivity and carbon sequestration, haptophytes remained underappreciated players in global ecosystem processes. Contemporary analyses, augmented by the use of molecular probes, show the haptophyte taxon Chrysochromulina to be seminal to the ecology of both marine and freshwater ecosystems. Unfortunately, description for the type species for this clade remains enigmatic. Results Chrysochromulina parva Lackey was re-isolated from Big Walnut Creek (Ohio), the site where the original isolate was obtained. The sequenced haploid genome of this organism is 65.7 Mb in size. Several noteworthy nuclear-encoded genes identified include a novel ftsZ (mediates organelle division) that phylogenetically clusters with the Chloroarachniophytes. Also revealed, is a complement of genes associated with meiosis and DNA repair, indicating the presence of a sexual cycle in this alga. Mitochondrial genes lost to the nucleus include all extrinsic components of the nad complex, completing a punctate pattern of transfer that is observed among algal taxa. Comparison of the newly sequenced Chrysochromulina parva Lacky isolate was made with that of Chrysochromulina tobinii (59.1 Mb) – a fresh water strain isolated from a lake in Colorado. Conclusion Genomic analysis suggests that fresh water Chrysochromulina isolates, though geographically well separated, from a related clade. The name of the type species of Chrysochromulina parva Lacky is anchored with a lectotype and epitype, and the second isolate is described as Chrysochromulina tobinii sp. nov. Chrysochromulina represents a new, extremely tractable model organism for experimental studies. This oleaginous alga has a small genome and because it represents only the second haptophyte taxon to be sequenced and assembled, presents new opportunity to examine the evolution of an algal taxon that plays an intrinsic role in ecosystem function.
Surgical residents and palliative care, hospice care, advance care planning, and end-of-life ethics: An analysis of baseline knowledge and educational session to improve competence

Introduction: The American Board of Surgery expects competence in interdisciplinary palliative care, and dealing with advancing chronic conditions and end-of-life scenarios are part of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education general surgery milestones. Despite established standards, surgical trainees receive limited amounts of formal palliative care training, if any. Objective: The study purpose was to evaluate baseline knowledge and test effectiveness of an educational session for surgical residents focused on palliative care, hospice care, advance care planning (ACP), and related topics. Methods: The study was completed at Northeast Ohio Medical University with participation from general surgery residents, students, and faculty at Northside Regional Medical Center in Youngstown, Ohio. Participation involved a pretest, lecture, and posttest surrounding palliative and hospice care, ACP, and related topics to teach and assess baseline knowledge and usefulness of an educational session based on test comparison. Mean group scores for pre/post-tests were calculated. A paired one-tailed t-test was used to assess effective change in mean scores. Results: Twenty participants completed the session. The mean pretest score for the group was 60%. The mean posttest score for the group was 75%. Results show that, after the 30-min presentation, there was statistically significant improvement between means (P = 0.00002). Conclusions: Palliative care, hospice care, and ACP are not utilized to potential due to poor residency education as indicated by low mean pretest score. Statistically significant improvement between tests indicates that education focused on these topics can remedy the knowledge gap and presumably improve patient care involving these topics. The following core competencies are addressed in this article: Practice-based learning and improvement, Interpersonal and communication skills, Professionalism.
Learning Through Action: Creating and Implementing a Strategy Game to Foster Innovative Thinking in Higher Education:

Background. Interactive hands-on learning is effective for learners of all ages and professional backgrounds. A shift from traditional didactic classroom models to the adoption of an active learnin...
Guillain-Barre Syndrome

Guillain-Barre syndrome is classified as an acute immune-mediated polyneuropathy that occurs shortly after an infection. Pain is a common occurrence in patients who suffer with this disease process. This chapter will briefly cover the pathogenesis, clinical findings, diagnostics, and treatments.
Solving 0-1 Semidefinite Programs for Distributionally Robust Allocation of Surgery Blocks

We consider the problem of allocating surgeries in operating rooms (ORs) under random surgery durations. We minimize the cost of opening ORs and surgery assignments, while restricting OR overtime risk via distributionally robust (DR) chance constraints using the first two moments to construct an ambiguous set of the unknown distribution of surgery durations. Following the conic duality, the DR chance-constrained model is equivalent to a 0-1 semidefinite program (SDP) and that is solved by a cutting-plane algorithm. We also propose a 0-1 second-order conic program (SOCP) reformulation that approximates the result with a less conservative solution. We conduct numerical studies to show the performance of each method on randomly generated instances. The 0-1 SDP outperforms the 0-1 SOCP and a benchmark Sample Average Approximation approach in terms of CPU time and the out-of-sample reliability of having no overtime.
Macrophage Activation Syndrome and Secondary Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis in Childhood Inflammatory Disorders: Diagnosis and Management

Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS), a form of secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, is a frequently fatal complication of a variety of pediatric inflammatory disorders. MAS has been most commonly associated with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA), as approximately 10% of children with sJIA develop fulminant MAS, with another 30–40% exhibiting a more subclinical form of the disease. Children with other rheumatologic conditions such as systemic lupus erythematosus and Kawasaki disease are also at risk for MAS. Moreover, MAS also complicates various genetic autoinflammatory disorders such as gain of function mutations in the cytosolic inflammasome NLRC4, pediatric hematologic malignancies (e.g., T-cell lymphoma), and primary immunodeficiencies characterized by immune dysregulation. Disease-specific and broadly inclusive diagnostic criteria have been developed to facilitate the diagnosis of MAS. Recently, simple screening tools such as the serum ferritin to erythrocyte sedimentation rate ratio have been proposed. Early diagnosis and rapid initiation of immunosuppression are essential for the effective management of MAS. With a better understanding of the pathophysiology of MAS and the advent of novel therapeutics, a broad immunosuppressive approach to treatment is giving way to targeted anti-cytokine therapies. These treatments include agents that block interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6, IL-18, interferon-γ, as well as inhibitors of downstream targets of cytokine signaling (e.g., Janus kinases). Increased early recognition of MAS among pediatric inflammatory disorders combined with the use of effective and less toxic cytokine-targeted therapies should lower the mortality of this frequently fatal disorder.
Smaller and With More Bars: A Relay Transceiver for IoT/5G Applications

Computers and smartphones have become indispensable parts of human daily life. Driven by various modern applications, the demand for high-speed Internet connection is always growing. Because Internet speed strongly depends on signal strength and quality, a great deal of effort has been spent to increase the number of "bars" displayed on the screen of wireless devices. One effective approach toward "more bars" is deploying microwave relay systems to provide stronger signals, and thus higher data rates, to end users. Microwave relay links facilitate the transmission of signals from one point to another by receiving, recovering, and retransmitting wireless signals with enhanced quality and strength. With more bars on the end-user side, handheld wireless devices also become smaller because of reduced power consumption in their receivers. With the help of sophisticated radio relay links in the last mile of communications networks [1], wireless data can be efficiently communicated among a variety of devices, such as home appliances, smart Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, and autonomous vehicles [2], [3].
Average Age of Information in Update Systems With Active Sources and Packet Delivery Errors

This letter studies the “age of information” (AoI) in a multi-source status update system where $N$ active sources each send updates of their time-varying process to a monitor through a server with packet delivery errors. We analyze the average AoI for stationary randomized and round-robin scheduling policies. For both of these scheduling policies, we further analyze the effect of packet retransmission policies, i.e., retransmission without resampling, retransmission with resampling, or no retransmission, when errors occur. Expressions for the average AoI are derived for each case. It is shown that the round-robin schedule policy in conjunction with retransmission with resampling when errors occur achieves the lowest average AoI among the considered cases. For stationary randomized schedules with equiprobable source selection, it is further shown that the average AoI gap to round-robin schedules with the same packet management policy scales as $\mathcal {O}(N)$ . Finally, for stationary randomized policies, the optimal source selection probabilities that minimize a weighted sum average AoI metric are derived.
Glyphosate Induces Metaphase II Oocyte Deterioration and Embryo Damage by Zinc Depletion and Overproduction of Reactive Oxygen Species

Glyphosate is the most popular herbicide used in modern agriculture, and its use has been increasing substantially since its introduction. Accordingly, glyphosate exposure from food and water, the environment, and accidental and occupational venues has also increased. Recent studies have demonstrated a relationship between glyphosate exposure and a number of disorders such as cancer, immune and metabolic disorders, endocrine disruption, imbalance of intestinal flora, cardiovascular disease, and infertility; these results have given glyphosate a considerable amount of media and scientific attention. Notably, glyphosate is a powerful metal chelator, which could help explain some of its effects. Recently, our findings on 2,3-dimercapto-1-propanesulfonic acid, another metal chelator, showed deterioration of oocyte quality. Here, to generalize, we investigated the effects of glyphosate (0 - 300 μM) on metaphase II mouse oocyte quality and embryo damage to obtain insight on its mechanisms of cellular action and the tolerance of oocytes and embryos towards this chemical. Our work shows for the first time that glyphosate exposure impairs metaphase II mouse oocyte quality via two mechanisms: 1) disruption of the microtubule organizing center and chromosomes such as anomalous pericentrin formation, spindle fiber destruction and disappearance, and defective chromosomal alignment and 2) substantial depletion of intracellular zinc bioavailability and enhancement of reactive oxygen species accumulation. Similar effects were found in embryos. These results may help clarify the effects of glyphosate exposure on female fertility and provide counseling and preventative steps for excessive glyphosate intake and resulting oxidative stress and reduced zinc bioavailability.
A new approach for modeling aperiodic photonic bandgap crystals

Photonic Bandgap Crystals (PBGs) have begun to see use in optical communication networks and photonic device coupling due to their high, selective transmission bandgaps and novel optical filtering properties. Understanding how PBGs can be designed for varying purposes is crucial in continuing to find practical applications of these crystals. PBGs are typically periodic as the math is well understood and the transmission or reflection of periodic optical structures is generally well-known, even in closed form. Crystal lattices in position space can be shown to correlate to an “inverse lattice” in momentum space through Fourier analysis. With further description, we can express any form of crystal as a sum of its fundamental, periodic lattices. For simplicity, we analyze only 1-dimensional structures but generate the groundwork for descriptions in higher dimensions. This description of aperiodic lattices allows us to extract information about effective lattice periods and effective lattice wave numbers supported by the crystal lattice. Using the Transfer Matrix Method (TMM) we further examine the optical properties of aperiodic structures by generating dispersion diagrams of general structures. By comparing the results of the TMM and the results of the effective lattice parameters, we seek to determine the efficacy of the claim that disordered structures are sums of ordered structures. To do so, we will apply novel disordered functions such as the logistic map to generate layer thicknesses of an aperiodic crystal and compare results from both the TMM and Lumerical FDTD simulations.
Selecting Mobile Health Technologies for Electronic Health Record Integration: Case Study

Mobile health (mHealth) technologies, such as wearable devices and sensors that can be placed in the home, allow for the capture of physiologic, behavioral, and environmental data from patients between clinic visits. The inclusion of these data in the medical record may benefit patients and providers. Most health systems now have electronic health records (EHRs), and the ability to pull and send data to and from mobile devices via smartphones and other methods is increasing; however, many challenges exist in the evaluation and selection of devices to integrate to meet the needs of diverse patients with a range of clinical needs. We present a case report that describes a method that our health system uses, guided by a telehealth model to evaluate the selection of devices for EHR integration.
Model-based Seismic Imaging and Analysis of Karst Water Hazards in Coal Mining

Accurate detection of karst water is the premise of karst water disaster control in coal mines. It is difficult to identify karst geological characteristics based on seismic data, so to solve this problem, a digital model including the coal measure strata and complete karst system was established based on the karst status of a coal mine in the Huaibei area of China. The entire process of seismic acquisition, processing, and interpretation was simulated and then the model was restored according to the seismic interpretation. Based on the results, karst identification and water inrush risk prediction were tried. The results allowed the overall karst geological framework, karst cave system, and stratum contact relationships to be restored more truly. Thus, seismic data can provide accurate geological information for large-scale hydrogeological mine exploration.
Real-Time 100.4 GBd PCS-64QAM Transmission of a 1.6 Tb/s Super-Channel Over 1600 km of G.654.E Fiber

First demonstration of a real-time 100.4 GBd PCS-64QAM 2 × 800G coherent MODEM. A record transmission distance of 1600 km is achieved for a dual-carrier 1.6 Tb/s channel over a fully loaded commercial line system, with an OSNR margin in excess of 2 dB to the FEC threshold.
Creating an Effective Print Advertisement for the China Market

Since 1979, the year when advertising was once again permitted in China following a ten year ban, marketing practitioners and academicians have expressed interest in gaining a greater understanding of advertising in China. This study evaluates the relationship between the ad content of U.S. industrial advertisements in Chinese edition industrial magazines and perceived overall effectiveness of the advertisements. The panel of Chinese business managers who evaluated the aids perceived that the most effective ads were those that provided information on product performance, were visually attractive and offered evidence as to the product's benefits using either a rational appeal and/or symbolism. The analysis indicates that, compared to the previous research on ad content in China, the industrial ads were more informative and relied to a greater extent on performance and quality cues.
Perplexity in Plato, Aristotle, and Tarski

Etude de la relation entre la perplexite et la philosophie chez Platon, Aristote et Tarski. Examinant la conception socratique de l'aporia chez l'un et la methodologie philosophique du paradoxe de l'enquete chez l'autre, l'A. montre que les analyses de Platon et Aristote contribuent au mouvement moderne de la normalisation de la perplexite qui consiste a traduire la perplexite en termes de problemes concernant la verite, tel que le montre Tarski a propos des antinomies
Scanning tunneling microscopy of NbSe3 and orthorhombic TaS3.

La microscopie d'effet tunnel a balayage (STM) est utilisee pour etudier la structure atomique de la surface des trichalcogenures des metaux de transition NbSe 3 et TaS 3 orthorhombique. Pour NbSe 3 , deux types d'images atomiques differentes sont obtenus. L'un deux montre clairement des details de la structure cristalline connue, tandis que l'autre suggere la presence d'un atome additionnel sur la chaine de type-I. Bien que la structure detaillee de O-TaS 3 ne soit pas connue, les images STM fournissent l'evidence qu'elle est beaucoup plus voisine de la structure ZγSe 3 que de celle du NbSe 3
Rethinking Modern European Intellectual History

The study of Modern European Intellectual History is as alive and well as it has been at any point in the last four decades. After having been sidelined since the mid-1970s in the American Academy ...
Active connection management in Internet services

We propose a new connection management architecture for clustered Internet services called active connection management (ACM) to improve the availability, quality of service, and manageability of Internet services. ACM extends the API of load-balancing switches to include application-level primitives. These primitives enable Internet services to manage load-balancing switches dynamically to control how client connections are mapped to physical resources as they enter the cluster. ACM provides several properties ideal for Internet services over static configuration. First, ACM increases availability through automated configuration, rolling reboots, and reduced server failure detection and recovery time. Second, ACM provides better load conditioning by enabling dynamic allocation of front-end resources and enabling more control over graceful degradation. Third, it provides better manageability by automating configuration, reducing human errors and improving scalability. We present a design, implementation, and evaluation of an ACM system, called COMICS (COnnection Manager for Internet-Centric Services), that enables services to actively control how connections are mapped to servers. We believe that ACM primitives should be implemented into future switches and be utilized by application servers to build more robust Internet service platforms.
Information transfer along the ventral auditory processing stream in the awake macaque

Few studies have examined the physiology of the auditory cortical processing streams in the context of information transfer among cortical areas. This study examines information transfer in two cortical areas in the ventral auditory processing stream in an awake macaque. We show conditional information examined over different durations of neural responses provides insight into the time scale and direction of cortical hierarchical processing.
Integrity versus Accuracy

The purpose of this article is to suggest that the services we offer as certified security professionals may evolve beyond the traditional view of information integrity to include the concept of information accuracy. Such an evolution is controversial and counter to our long-standing view, but if we don't make this evolution we may be left behind.
Slow Spin Relaxation of Optically Polarized Sodium Atoms

In order to obtain as narrow as possible paramagnetic resonance signals, it is of importance to investigate the conditions under which long relaxation times can be realized. In the present experiment on sodium atoms diffusing in argon gas, relaxation due to sodium-sodium collisions was minimized by employing very low sodium partial vapor pressures (about ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}7}$ mm Hg). While at lower pressures the argon is serving its function well to slow down relaxation by inhibiting wall diffusion, at about 10 cm Hg relaxation due to sodium-argon collisions becomes the decisive factor. Nevertheless it was possible to realize a relaxation time of 0.21 sec for a 1-liter spherical bulb filled with 3 cm argon. About 0.02 sec was found for a 0.1-liter, 40 cm argon sample. In carrying out the experiments, optical pumping by circularly polarized resonance radiation was used to create an orientation of the sodium atoms which then was monitored by measuring the transmission of the pumping radiation through the sample. By suddenly reversing a small axial magnetic field, the polarization of the atoms could be made to reverse too. From the decay rates of this inverted polarization under the combined effects of relaxation and continuing optical pumping, the experimental relaxation times were deduced. The strong signals obtained are indicative of available signal to noise ratios in future radio-frequency resonance reorientation experiments using the transmission monitoring technique. A theoretical analysis of the optical pumping process, including the dynamic aspects and allowing for collisions with argon that the sodium atoms undergo while in the excited state, was carried out and used to describe the experimental data.
2.9 Å resolution structure of an anti-dinitrophenyl-spin-label monoclonal antibody fab fragment with bound hapten

The crystal structure of the Fab fragment of the murine monoclonal anti-dinitrophenyl-spin-label antibody AN02 complexed with its hapten has been solved at 2.9 A resolution using a novel molecular replacement method. Prior to translation searches, a large number of the most likely rotation function solutions were subjected to a rigid body refinement against the linear correlation coefficient between intensities of observed and calculated structure factors. First, the overall orientation of the search model and then the orientations and positions of the four Fab domains (VH, VL, CH1 and CL) were refined. This procedure clearly identified the correct orientation of the search model. The refined search model was then subjected to translation searches which unambiguously determined the enantiomer and position in the unit cell of the crystal. The successful search model was refined 2.5 A crystal structure of the Fab fragment of HyHel-5 from which non-matching residues in the variable domains had been removed. HyHel-5 is a murine monoclonal antibody whose heavy and light chains are of the same subclass (gamma 1, kappa, respectively) as AN02. After molecular replacement the structure of the AN02 Fab has been refined using simulated annealing in combination with model building and conjugate gradient refinement to a current crystallographic R-factor of 19.5% for 12,129 unique reflections between 8.0 and 2.9 A. The root-mean-square (r.m.s.) deviation from ideal bond lengths is 0.014 A, and the r.m.s. deviation from ideal bond angles is 3.1 degrees. The electron density reveals the hapten sitting in a pocket formed by the loops of the complementarity determining region. The dinitrophenyl ring of the hapten is sandwiched between the indole rings of Trp96 of the heavy-chain and Trp91 of the light-chain. The positioning of the hapten and general features of the combining site are in good agreement with the results of earlier nuclear magnetic resonance experiments.
Garlic powder and Allyl sulfur compounds enhance the ability of dietary selenite to inhibit 7,12‐dimethylbenz[a]anthracene‐induced mammary DNA adducts

These studies examined the ability of garlic powder or allyl sulfur compounds to modify selenite protection against 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary epithelial cell DNA adducts. In Study 1, female rats (n = 5) were fed diets containing sodium selenite at 0.1, 0.5, or 1.0 mg Se/kg and garlic powder at 0, 20, or 40 g/kg diet. Total DNA adducts correlated inversely with selenite or garlic powder intake. Garlic powder enhanced the selenite inhibition of mammary DNA adducts. In Study 2, selenite (2.0 mg Se/kg diet), garlic powder (20 g/kg diet), water-soluble S-allyl cysteine (SAC; 5.2 mumol/kg diet), and oil-soluble diallyl disulfide (DADS; 5.2 mumol/kg diet) inhibited (p < 0.05) total DNA adducts by 45%, 40%, 80%, and 75%, respectively. Combining selenite with garlic powder, SAC, or DADS further inhibited DNA adducts. Selenite, but not garlic powder, SAC, or DADS, enhanced liver glutathione S-transferase and uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase activities. Selenite, garlic powder, SAC, or DADS did not affect liver cytochrome P-450 1A1 activities. The present studies provide evidence that synergistic protection against the initiation of DMBA carcinogenesis occurs when selenite is supplemented in conjunction with garlic or its allyl sulfur components.
Analysis of Combined Experiments Revisited

Published in Agron. J. 107:763–771 (2015) doi:10.2134/agronj13.0485 Available freely online through the author-supported open access option. Copyright © 2015 by the American Society of Agronomy, 5585 Guilford Road, Madison, WI 53711. All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. ABSTRACT
Some Properties of Hadley Regimes on Rotating and Non-Rotating Planets

Abstract The problem of the steady symmetric motion of a Boussinesq fluid is considered for a system with small aspect ratio. It is assumed that the motion is driven by applying a periodic heat flux to the horizontal boundaries. Solutions are first found for a non-rotating system in which nonlinear effects are small, but not zero. The solutions show that if the fluid is heated from above, the meridional circulation tends to be concentrated near the upper boundary at the point where the cooling is a maximum; when the fluid is heated from below the meridional circulation tends to be concentrated near the lower boundary at the paint where the heating is a maximum. Then, it is shown for a non-rotating system that when nonlinear effects are dominant, vertical boundary layers must form. These vertical boundary layers form at points where the horizontal velocity is zero, and are characterized by small horizontal velocities and temperature gradients, but large vertical velocities and horizontal diffusion. By mean...
Disease-Suppressive Soil and Root-Colonizing Bacteria

Soils in many areas suppress certain plant diseases. Understanding the basis for this disease suppressiveness could lead to improved plant health in less favorable areas. Some forms of disease suppression may be caused by bacteria in the genus Pseudomonas which aggressively colonize root surfaces. Increased plant growth and yield are closely associated with the capacity of some of these bacteria to produce iron-binding compounds called siderophores. This article addresses the biological characteristics of these soil-bome root epiphytes, their contribution to plant health, and their potential use in biotechnology.
Do young children always say yes to yes-no questions? A metadevelopmental study of the affirmation bias

The present study investigated whether yes-no questions would lead to a yes bias in young children. Four experiments were conducted in which 2- to 5-year-olds were asked comprehensible and incomprehensible yes-no questions concerning familiar and unfamiliar objects. Consistent findings were obtained: (a) 2-year-olds displayed a consistent yes bias; (b) 4- and 5-year-olds exhibited no response bias toward comprehensible questions and a nay-saying bias toward incomprehensible questions; and (c) 3-year-olds' results were mixed, suggesting that the age of 3 years is a period of developmental transition in response tendency toward yes-no questions. The findings suggest that yes-no questions are suitable for older children, providing they are comprehensible, but may result in biased results when used with younger children and when incomprehensible.
Circulatory Management of the Unstable Cardiac Patient

The objective of this article is to provide an orderly and concise approach to the treatment of the unstable cardiac surgery patient. The common causes of hemodynamic instability in this patient population are reviewed. The various pharmacologic, mechanical, and electric therapeutic options available for each clinical situation are explored, and a sequential treatment algorithm is developed.
The enigma of organizational effectiveness

Effectiveness is an elusive concept that can be approached through several models, none of which is appropriate in all circumstances.
Comparing subgroups of suicidal homeless adolescents: Multiple attempters, single attempters and ideators

This study compared multiple attempters, single attempters, ideators and non-suicidal homeless adolescents from the Midwestern United States. The data were collected in 1999–2000 from youths aged 16–19 years. More than one-quarter (26.7%) of the 405 participants made multiple lifetime attempts, 9.8% attempted suicide once, 48.9% thought about – but did not attempt – suicide and 14.6% never attempted or thought about suicide. Multiple attempters, relative to all other youths, evidenced more family, street, psychological and psychiatric problems. Single attempters reported more suicidal ideation than did ideators, and single attempters endured more family problems and were more likely to meet criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than were non-suicidal participants. Finally, both single attempters and ideators experienced more psychological problems and number of psychiatric diagnoses than did non‐suicidal youths. The Editor on behalf of the Editorial Board of Vulnerable Children and Youth Stud...
Pleural disease in lymphangioleiomyomatosis

Pleural disease is a common complication of lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). The incidence and recurrence rates of secondary spontaneous pneumothorax in LAM are the highest among chronic pulmonary disorders. Most patients have at least one pneumothorax before LAM is diagnosed, and pneumothorax is often the sentinel event that leads to the diagnosis. Although early, definitive treatment for recurrent pneumothorax by pleurodesis is recommended, the failure rate for chemical and surgical approaches is high. Chylothorax occurs owing to obstruction of lymphatics by proliferating smooth muscle cells and often requires pleurodesis to control expanding and recurrent effusions. Because of the rarity of the LAM, few data exist on whether the occurrence of pleural complications in LAM accelerates functional decline or portends a worse prognosis.
Programming language efficiency in real-time software systems

Early in the development cycle of a real-time software system, the designer must select one or more programming languages to be used in writing the system. As shown in Figure 1, there is available today a continuum of programming languages ranging from "high-level" languages like PL/I to "low-level" traditional assembly languages.
Synthesis and characterization of new non‐aromatic texaphyrin‐type expanded porphyrins

The synthesis and X-ray diffraction-based characterization of a texaphyrin-type non-aromatic expanded porphyrin, 13,18,22,27-tetraethyl-14,17,23,26-tetramethyl-20-p-nitrophenyl-3,10,28,29,30,31-hexaazahexacyclo[23.2.1.04,9.112,15.116,19.121,24]untriaconta-2, 4, 5, 7, 10,12,14,16,18,-20,22,24(30),25,27-tetradecaene (1), is reported. This Schiff base macrocycle was prepared in good yield via the 1:1 HCl-catalyzed condensation of a tetrapyrrole dialdehyde precursor, (di(5-formyl-4,4'-diethyl-3,3'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyrrole)-p-nitrophenylmethine), with 1,2-phenylenediamine. Compound 1 was assigned as being a 26 π-electron non-aromatic benzannulene on the basis of both proton NMR and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. The latter studies, in particular, revealed a non-planar macrocyclic structure co-crystallized with a molecule of water. By varying either the diamine used in the cyclization step and/or the substituent in the meso-position of the tetrapyrrolic precursor, a range of other systems analogous to 1 could be obtained. The resulting systems were found to present good stability both in the solid state and in solution.
β-Adrenergic Receptor Stimulation and Adenoviral Overexpression of Superoxide Dismutase Prevent the Hypoxia-mediated Decrease in Na,K-ATPase and Alveolar Fluid Reabsorption

Hypoxia has been shown to cause lung edema and impair lung edema clearance. In the present study, we exposed isolated rat lungs to pO(2) = 40 mm Hg for 60 min or rats to 8% O(2) for up to 24 h and then measured changes in alveolar fluid reabsorption (AFR) and Na,K-ATPase function. Low levels of oxygen severely impaired AFR in both ex vivo and in vivo models. The decrease in AFR was associated with a decrease in Na,K-ATPase activity and protein abundance in the basolateral membranes from peripheral lung tissue of hypoxic rats. Beta-adrenergic agonists restored AFR in rats exposed to 8% O(2) (from 0.02 +/- 0.07 ml/h to 0.59 +/- 0.03 ml/h), which was associated with parallel increases in Na,K-ATPase protein abundance in the basolateral membrane. Hypoxia is associated with increased production of reactive oxygen species. Therefore, we examined whether overexpression of SOD2, manganese superoxide dismutase, would prevent the hypoxia-mediated decrease in AFR. Spontaneously breathing rats were infected with a replication-deficient human type 5 adenovirus containing cDNA for SOD2. An otherwise identical virus that contained no cDNA was used as a control (Adnull). Hypoxic Adnull rats had decreased rates of AFR (0.12 +/- 0.1 ml/h) as compared with hypoxic AdSOD2 and normoxic control rats (0.47 +/- 0.04 ml/h and 0.49 +/- 0.02 ml/h, respectively), with parallel changes in Na,K-ATPase.
Assessing Glycemic Control in Diabetic Patients With Severe Nephropathy

Diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal failure in westernized societies, including the United States. In addition to renal manifestations, complications of poorly controlled diabetes include accelerated atherosclerosis, congestive heart failure, neuropathy, and retinopathy. The estimated total cost of diabetes care in the United States was $174 billion in 2007—a number expected to increase markedly in the coming decades. Clinicians must be able to accurately recognize patients with poor glycemic control to have opportunities to intensify treatment and potentially reduce hyperglycemia-related complications. Detecting hyperglycemia is uniquely difficult in patients with severe kidney disease. This paper reviews the literature on the accuracy of glucose monitoring assays in diabetic patients with advanced nephropathy. Interpretation of commonly used tests is affected to a great extent by the uremic milieu and frequently complicates disease management.
Introduction: Narratives in Ethics of Education

In introducing the works included in this special issue, this essay identifies some general ways that these and other narratives can function in ethical explorations in the field of education. The essay not only articulates ways that narratives can be useful to education scholars, but it also provides pedagogical reasons to connect stories with ethics in classrooms. It concludes with a brief nod to the dangers that Plato, contemporary scholars and teachers have about combining narratives with ethical inquiry, and touches upon some ways to temper them.
Preclinical evaluation of the abdominal aortic counterpulsation device

A valveless, single-orifice abdominal aortic counterpulsation device (AACD) was implanted retroperitoneally on the abdominal aorta and was pumped continuously, providing aortic diastolic augmentation for 45 ± 4.9 days in four calves (group A). The hematocrit, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), bilirubin, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine were obtained before implantation and weekly thereafter. Blocompatibility data were compared to those obtained from 11 calves (group B) that received a total artificial heart (TAH) and were electively terminated 50.0 ± 19.5 days after implantation. The hematocrit values in the first week were 20.9 ± 11.5% and 39.8 ± 11.5% below control values for group A and group B, respectively (p < 0.02); in the sixth week they were 5.1 ± 14.6% above control values (group A) and 22.6 ± 9.0% below control values (group B) (p < 0.05). LDH did not change in group A, while in group B it was constantly about 100% above control values. Autopsy revealed one to three infarcts 1 to 3 mm in diameter in 63% of the kidneys in group A, while in all of group B kidneys there were multiple infarcts of more than 10 mm. After the induction of left ventricular (LV) failure, the AACD decreased the LV end-diastolic pressure (EDP) by 21.2% (p < 0.005) and the aortic (AO) EDP by 18% (p < 0.005). It increased the endocardial viability ratio by 300% (p < 0.0005), and the cardiac index by 66.9% (p < 0.005). In conclusion, the AACD showed excellent blocompatibility compared to the TAH and is a promising device for chronic therapy of intractable LV failure, especially for patients awaiting heart transplantation.
A population-based study of blood lead levels in relation to depression in the United States.

Lead is a known neurotoxicant. Several studies have suggested that occupational exposure to lead may lead to depression, anxiety and other psychiatric illness, but few studies have examined environmental lead exposure and depression. We evaluated the relationship between blood lead levels (BLL) and depression in a sample representative of the US population. We analyzed data from 4,159 adults ages ≥20 who participated in the 2005–2006 cycle of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Depression was assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Relative risks were calculated using Poisson regression, and odds ratios were calculated with ordinal logistic regression using SUDAAN, controlling for pertinent covariates. The risk of depression was only slightly elevated with increasing blood lead levels when lead was modeled as a categorical variable, with adjusted relative risks of 1.16 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.99–1.36), 1.20 (CI = 1.07–1.36) and 1.16 (CI = 0.87–1.54) for 0.89–1.40 μg/dL, 1.41–2.17 μg/dL and >2.17 μg/dL, respectively, when compared to 0–0.88 μg/dL using Poisson regression. Similar results were obtained with ordinal logistic regression. Analyses using BLL as a continuous variable did not show a significant relationship with depression. This cross-sectional study did not provide consistent evidence for an association between environmental lead exposure and depression within the investigated blood lead levels.
Theoretical study of solid iron nanocrystal movement inside a carbon nanotube

We use a first-principles based kinetic Monte Carlo simulation to study the movement of a solid iron nanocrystal inside a carbon nanotube driven by the electrical current. The origin of the iron nanocrystal movement is the electromigration force. Even though the iron nanocrystal appears to be moving as a whole, we find that the core atoms of the nanocrystal are completely stationary, and only the surface atoms are moving. Movement in the contact region with the carbon nanotube is driven by electromigration forces, and the movement on the remaining surfaces is driven by diffusion. Results of our calculations also provide a simple model, which can predict the center of mass speed of the iron nanocrystal over a wide range of parameters. We find both qualitative and quantitative agreement of the iron nanocrystal center of mass speed with experimental data.
High-Dose Chromium(III) Supplementation Has No Effects on Body Mass and Composition While Altering Plasma Hormone and Triglycerides Concentrations

Chromium is generally believed to be an essential element and is often claimed to have value as a weight loss or muscle building agent. Recent studies in humans and rats have failed to demonstrate effects on body composition, although recent studies with pharmacological doses of the cation [Cr(III)3O(O2CCH2CH3)6(H2O)3]+ (or Cr3) (≤1 mg Cr/kg body mass) in rats have noted a trend toward body mass loss and fat mass loss. Thus, the effects of large gavage doses of Cr3 (1–10 mg Cr/kg) on body mass, organ mass, food intake, and blood plasma variables (insulin, glucose, leptin, cholesterol, and triglycerides) were examined over a 10-wk period using male Sprague-Dawley rats. No effects on body composition were noted, although Cr3 administration lowered (p<0.05) plasma insulin, leptin, and triglycerides concentrations. As Cr3 is absorbed greater than 10-fold better than commercially available nutritional supplements, the lack of an effect of the Cr(III) compound at these levels of administration clearly indicates that Cr(III) supplements do not have an effect on body composition at any reasonable dosage.
Progress in automatic information retrieval

A rising host of practical problems are plaguing activities (such as libraries) that exhibit the ‘cumulative effect.’ Time-sharing computer systems, and the automatic analysis of information by statistical and structural means, are shaping a variety of methods and procedures that may provide a feasible solution “So much time and effort has been spent chasing the will-o'-the-wisp of automatic document and data retrieval that far too little attention has been paid to those positive phenomena (such as man-to-man communication) which have kept the whole show going in spite of the alleged ‘information explosion.’” A. G. Oettinger1 “The geometrical rate of increase in scientific and technological publications raises no particular problems, does not create any particular threatening situations, and does not require crash programs…. The only areas in which the retrieval situation is intrinsically worsening are those which exhibit the ‘cumulative effect,’ especially the areas of law, patent searching, and library acquisitions.” Y. Bar Hillel2
An Exploratory Investigation of the Research Self-Efficacy, Interest in Research, and Research Knowledge of Ph.D. in Education Students

Faculty members in higher education are called to be effective researchers; however, there is limited research examining the research development of Ph.D. students. The cross-sectional, correlational investigation we report here examined levels of research self-efficacy, interest in research, and research knowledge of Ph.D. in education students (N = 67). Higher levels of research self-efficacy scores were predictive of higher interest in research and research knowledge. In addition, the students who engaged in research activities, including publishing manuscripts, scored higher in research self-efficacy than those not engaged in the publication process. Implications for doctoral student educators and higher education are discussed.
A novel murine model of orthopaedic wear‐debris associated osteolysis

Objective: To develop a mouse model of bone resorption to quantitatively evaluate wear‐debris induced osteolysis.Methods: Air pouches were established on the back of BALB/c mice, followed by the surgical introduction of a section of femur or calvaria from a syngeneic mouse donor. One group of bone‐implanted pouches was stimulated with ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) debris, and the remaining bone‐implanted pouches received saline alone as controls. The tissues were harvested at 2, 7, and 14 days after bone implantation for molecular and histological analyses.Results: Marked inflammatory responses (thicker membrane and increased cellular infiltration) were observed in UHMWPE‐stimulated pouches, compared with the saline control. Intensive tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining was identified in the UHMWPE‐stimulated pouches, especially at the attachment site of inflammatory tissue with implanted bone, where active osteolysis occurred. Image analysis showed that the bone collag...
Detection of histocompatibility-Y antigen: identification of sex of pre-implantation ovine embryos

Indirect immunofluorescence was used to detect the presence of a male-specific protein (H-Y antigen) on pre-implantation ovine embryos. Eight-cell to blastocyst stage embryos were surgically collected from superovulated ewes, classified as fluorescent (H-Y positive) or non-fluorescent (H-Y negative) and either transferred to recipient ewes or karyotyped to confirm embryonic sex. H-Y antigen was detected on eight-cell through blastocyst stage embryos. Overall, 88% (50/57) of the embryos (eight-cell to early blastocyst stage) classified as H-Y positive or H-Y negative were male and female, respectively. Survival after transfer of embryos subjected to the H-Y antigen assay was high (63%), which supports the use of this procedure in conjunction with embryo transfer in sheep to produce pregnancies in which sex of the fetus is known.
Coastwide Stock Structure of Winter Flounder Using Nuclear DNA Analyses

AbstractMany Winter Flounder Pseudopleuronectes americanus populations have declined dramatically. In U.S. waters, Winter Flounder are managed as three stocks: Gulf of Maine, southern New England–Mid-Atlantic Bight, and Georges Bank. Historically, it was believed that the spawning of inshore stocks occurs exclusively within natal estuaries. Based on the supposition of estuary-specific spawning, we hypothesized that Winter Flounder exhibit greater stock structure than predicted by the three-stock model and, in fact, that they exhibit genetic differentiation at the level of individual estuaries. We tested this hypothesis by conducting microsatellite DNA analysis at 12 loci and single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis at 4 loci on young-of-the year and adult Winter Flounder collected from 27 estuaries from Newfoundland to Delaware as well as from Georges Bank. We found highly significant coastwide genetic stock structure among Winter Flounder; however, there was little evidence of estuary-specific structure. ...
A hemophiliac dog colony: genetic studies and coagulation findings in hemophiliac and normal dogs.

Abstract 1. 1. A colony of hemophiliac dogs was developed as descendants of a single affected Pomeranian. Over a 13 year period, a total of 29 hemophiliac dogs survived to the age of 6 months or longer. Eleven were female and 18 were male. All five of the possible matings in a sex-linked recessive inheritance pattern were accomplished and the offspring fell into the expected sex and disease groups. 2. 2. Twenty-one dogs died from untreated hemorrhages which usually occurred in loose tissues or body cavities during the night. Clinically, there were no hemarthroses but 22 other hemorrhages responded promptly to treatment with dog cryoprecipitate. 3. 3. Coagulation studies showed that the hemophiliac dogs averaged about 0.23 U/ml equivalents of human F VIII:C while normal dogs averaged 8.0 U/ml equivalents of human. F's V, VII, II, X, IX, XI and XII were higher than human in both normal and hemophiliac dogs. Dog fibrinogen fell within the human range and Fletcher F was very low.