cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intranasal oxytocin modulates higher order social cognition in body dysmorphic disorder.

Background Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a psychiatric disorder with specific impairments in social cognition related to excessive concerns about one's appearance. Individuals with BDD have difficulty identifying emotional expressions and attribute internal factors for others' emotional expressions in self-referent (but not other-referent) scenarios. Given the role of oxytocin in regulating social approach behavior and social salience, we hypothesized that oxytocin would improve biases in emotion recognition, attributions, and threat interpretations in individuals with BDD, compared to healthy controls (HCs). This is the first study to examine the effects of oxytocin in people with BDD. Methods Eighteen participants with BDD and 16 HCs received a single dose of 24 international units of intranasal oxytocin (Syntocinon®) or matching placebo in a randomized, placebo-controlled, within-subject crossover design. Participants completed the Emotion Recognition Task and Interpretation Questionnaire 45 min after administration. Results Oxytocin, relative to placebo, did not improve emotion recognition accuracy in either self-referent or other-referent contexts for individuals with BDD. However, oxytocin led to greater internal attributions in other-referent contexts for those with BDD compared to HCs. Rather than reducing self-blame, oxytocin led to other-directed blame. Oxytocin did not impact threat interpretations in BDD. Conclusions Oxytocin may only impact specific aspects of higher order social cognition in BDD and may have unwanted effects on emotion attributions. Our results caution its clinical use in BDD.
Loss of the Na+/H+ Exchange Regulatory Factor 1 Increases Susceptibility to Cisplatin-Induced Acute Kidney Injury.

Na+/H+ exchange regulatory cofactor (NHERF)-1, a scaffolding protein, anchors multiple membrane proteins in renal proximal tubules. Cultured proximal tubule cells deficient in Nherf1 and proximal tubules from Nherf1-deficient mice exhibit aberrant trafficking. Nherf1-deficient cells also exhibit an altered transcription pattern and worse survival. These observations suggest that NHERF1 loss increases susceptibility to acute kidney injury (AKI). Male and female wild-type C57BL/6J and Nherf1 knockout mice were treated with saline or cisplatin (20 mg/kg dose i.p.) to induce AKI and were euthanized after 72 hours. Blood and urine were collected for assessments of blood urea nitrogen and neutrophil gelatinase–associated lipocalin, respectively. Kidneys were harvested for histology (hematoxylin and eosin, periodic acid-Schiff) and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay, Kim1 mRNA assessment, and Western blot analysis for cleaved caspase 3. Cisplatin treatment was associated with significantly greater severity of AKI in knockout compared with wild-type mice, as demonstrated by semiquantitative injury score (2.8 versus 1.89, P
New Method for Quantification of the Left Ventricular Function from Low-dose Equilibrium Radionuclide Angiocardiography: Comparisons with Conventional Methods in Patients

Planar equilibrium radionuclide angiocardiography (ERNA) has been used as a gold standard for assessments of the left ventricular (LV) function with high precision for over 3 decades. However, this imaging modality has recently gained less favor due to the growing concerns of radiation exposure to patients. Although single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) cameras with high-sensitivity detectors and high-resolution collimators can acquire images with much-reduced radiation dose and/or acquisition time, calculations of LV end-diastolic volume (EDV), ejection fraction (EF) and peak filling rate (PFR) from gated blood pool SPECT require a reliable LV segmentation. Furthermore, the segmentation accuracy is affected by image noise and the segmentation algorithms used, inevitably resulting in less reproducibility in the LV function quantification. We propose a heuristic scheme to forward project (re-project) the short axis (SA) slices of gated blood pool SPECT to generate a quasi-2D stack of images to improve the signal-to-noise ratio and simplify the LV segmentation process. Fourteen patients were randomly selected for this study that had standard in vitro 99mTc labeling of red blood cells. Patients were first imaged following a low-dose (8 mCi) injection using a cardiac dedicated SPECT camera and were then imaged following a high-dose (25 mCi) injection using a conventional planar camera. Left anterior oblique (LAO) views were generated from 3-D SPECT using GE multi-gated software and SA reprojections were created via a new Yale method. Six different quantification methods were compared for quantitative accuracy of EDV, LVEF and PFR assessments. The new method that incorporated the SA reprojection scheme was most comparable to the results from gold standard high-dose ERNA method in terms of EDV quantification. The new method allows for a greater than 67% dose reduction from 25 mCi to 8 mCi without compromising the accuracy of EDV, LVEF and PFR quantification.
A gentle introduction to fuzzy sets

The fuzzy set and its applications have been extensively applied in various disciplines. It is suitable in application problems where data is imprecise, historic data is either not available, or cannot be determined exactly. Fuzzy sets maybe used to model problems involving uncertainty. Using fuzzy sets, we can establish relationships that can be used by decision makers to make estimates or predictions in situations involving a great deal of uncertainty, impreciseness and vagueness. Although many such modeling problems using fuzzy sets need a strong foundation in mathematics, the emphasis here is to show how fuzzy sets may be used in simple application problems. Traditionally, very little about fuzzy sets is taught in undergraduate courses. This work establishes the notion of fuzzy sets and fuzzy set operations through examples, and shows how these concepts can be applied in simple real-world application problems for teaching purposes and for understanding the concepts in general.
When my four-year-old got cancer: a retrospective on resilience in a paediatric oncology ward

The author presents an interpersonal experience between the author and her son during childhood cancer treatment and care, illustrating the complex relationship between childhood cancer and the ter...
Explosive sensing with insect-based biorobots

ABSTRACT Stand-off chemical sensing is an important capability with applications in several domains including homeland security. Engineered devices for this task, popularly referred to as electronic noses, have limited capacity compared to the broad-spectrum abilities of the biological olfactory system. Therefore, we propose a hybrid bio-electronic solution that directly takes advantage of the rich repertoire of olfactory sensors and sophisticated neural computational framework available in an insect olfactory system. We show that select subsets of neurons in the locust (Schistocerca americana) brain were activated upon exposure to various explosive chemical species (such as DNT and TNT). Responses from an ensemble of neurons provided a unique, multivariate fingerprint that allowed discrimination of explosive vapors from non-explosive chemical species and from each other. Notably, target chemical recognition could be achieved within a few hundred milliseconds of exposure. Finally, we developed a minimally-invasive surgical approach and mobile multi-unit electrophysiological recording system to tap into the neural signals in a locust brain and realize a biorobotic explosive sensing system. In sum, our study provides the first demonstration of how biological olfactory systems (sensors and computations) can be hijacked to develop a cyborg chemical sensing approach. SUMMARY We demonstrate a bio-robotic chemical sensing approach where signals from an insect brain are directly utilized to detect and distinguish various explosive chemical vapors.
Language development and brain reorganization in a child born without the left hemisphere

Abstract We present a case of a 14-year-old girl born without the left hemisphere due to prenatal left internal carotid occlusion. We combined longitudinal language and cognitive assessments with functional and structural neuroimaging data to situate the case within age-matched, typically developing children. Despite having had a delay in getting language off the ground during the preschool years, our case performed within the normal range on a variety of standardized language tests, and exceptionally well on phonology and word reading, during the elementary and middle school years. Moreover, her spatial, number, and reasoning skills also fell in the average to above-average range based on assessments during these time periods. Functional MRI data revealed activation in right fronto-temporal areas when listening to short stories, resembling the bilateral activation patterns in age-matched typically developing children. Diffusion MRI data showed significantly larger dorsal white matter association tracts (the direct and anterior segments of the arcuate fasciculus) connecting areas active during language processing in her remaining right hemisphere, compared to either hemisphere in control children. We hypothesize that these changes in functional and structural brain organization are the result of compensatory brain plasticity, manifesting in unusually large right dorsal tracts, and exceptional performance in phonology, speech repetition, and decoding. More specifically, we posit that our case's large white matter connections might have played a compensatory role by providing fast and reliable transfer of information between cortical areas for language in the right hemisphere.
Reassessing Opioid Use in Breast Surgery.

Abstract Background This study aims to assess multimodal pain management and opioid prescribing practices in patients undergoing breast surgery. Methods A retrospective review of patients undergoing breast surgery at an academic medical center between April 1, 2018 and September 30, 2019, was performed. Patients with a history of recent opioid use or conditions precluding use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or acetaminophen (APAP) were excluded. Opioid-sparing pain regimens were assessed. Opioids prescribed on discharge were recorded as oral morphine equivalents (OMEs) and concordance with the Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network (OPEN) determined. Results The total study population consisted of 518 patients. 358 patients underwent minor outpatient procedures (sentinel lymph node biopsy, lumpectomy, and excisional biopsy), 10-40% of whom were appropriately prescribed as per the OPEN. Perioperatively, 53.9% of patients received APAP, 24.6% NSAIDs, 20.4% gabapentin, and 0.3% blocks; intraoperatively, 95.8% received local anesthetic and 25.7% ketorolac. For mastectomy without reconstruction, 63-88% of prescriptions were concordant with the OPEN. For mastectomy with reconstruction, discharge opioids ranged from 25 to 400 OMEs with a mean of 134.4 OMEs; 25% of patients received a refill. Of all patients undergoing mastectomy ± reconstruction, 62.5% received APAP, 18.8% NSAIDs, 38.8% pregabalin, and 20.6% locoregional block perioperatively; 37.5% received local anesthetic and 15.6% ketorolac intraoperatively. Of 143 inpatient stays, 89% received APAP, 38% NSAID, and 29% benzodiazepines; 29 patients received no opioids inpatient but were still prescribed 25-200 OMEs on discharge. Conclusions There is need for a multidisciplinary approach to pain management with the use of enhanced recovery after surgery protocols as potential means to standardize perioperative regimens and mitigate opioid overprescription.
Equipment and methods for poultry euthanasia by a single operator

Summary Euthanasia of large poultry can be particularly challenging due to the difficulty of manual cervical dislocation of large older birds. Euthanasia is intended to swiftly render the animal unconscious and rapidly lead to death using humane methods. Euthanasia by a single operator can be challenging when euthanizing mature broiler breeders and turkeys weighing from 4 to 30 Kg. Owing to the difficulty of manual cervical dislocation on large poultry, development and assessment of alternative methods for euthanasia are necessary. Four American Veterinary Medical Association approved alternative euthanasia methods including mechanical cervical dislocation, nonpenetrative captive bolt, carbon dioxide, and electrical euthanasia were evaluated on broiler breeders, Beltsville Small White turkeys, and Broad Breasted White turkeys. A mobile bird euthanasia apparatus was designed allowing for individual bird euthanasia by a single operator. Mechanical cervical dislocation and nonpenetrative captive bolt devices were commercially available. The carbon dioxide and electrical euthanasia devices used were developed for this work. Each of the 4 euthanasia methods were assessed for kill success defined as one euthanasia attempt with no signs of recovery. In addition, the costs associated with purchase or construction of each device are reported. All four euthanasia methods resulted in successful euthanasia of 436 birds. The overall single application euthanasia success rates were 97% for mechanical cervical dislocation, 98% for captive bolt, 97% for carbon dioxide, and 99% for electrical euthanasia. Each method can be used to successfully euthanize broiler breeders and turkeys and can be used safely when the use of manual cervical dislocation is not feasible.
Fabrication of Antenna-Coupled KID Array for Cosmic Microwave Background Detection

Kinetic inductance detectors (KIDs) have become an attractive alternative to traditional bolometers in the sub-mm and mm observing community due to their innate frequency multiplexing capabilities and simple lithographic processes. These advantages make KIDs a viable option for the O(500,000) detectors needed for the upcoming Cosmic Microwave Background-Stage 4 experiment. We have fabricated an antenna-coupled MKID array in the 150 GHz band optimized for CMB detection. Our design uses a twin-slot antenna coupled to an inverted microstrip made from a superconducting Nb/Al bilayer as the strip, a Nb ground plane and a SiN $$_x$$ dielectric layer in between, which is then coupled to an Al KID grown on high-resistivity Si. We present the fabrication process and measurements of SiN $$_x$$ microstrip resonators.
A multipronged approach for systematic in vitro quantification of catheter-associated biofilms

Abstract Biofilms are a leading cause of infections, especially those initiated on medical tubing. Quantification of pathogenic biofilms is critical for systematic determination of infections, antibiotics prescription, and implant replacement. By the time infectious pathogens are detected in fluids such as blood or urine, substantial and potentially life-threatening biofilms are likely to have already formed. These biofilms can have broad ranging patient care and cost implications. Here we propose a non-strain-specific protocol combining four microbiological assays, which are rarely used together in clinical biofilm assessment, to accurately quantify cellular and extracellular components attached to medical surfaces. Our results demonstrate that the shortcomings of standard approaches can be overcome through the conjunct analysis of total protein (modified Lowry), total biomass (quantitative polymerase chain reaction), cellular activity (ATP luminescence), and extracellular polymeric substances (Periodic Acid-Schiff assay). The efficacy of this multipronged approach was verified using four pathogenic, clinical isolates (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin resistant-Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans) and two types of silicone catheters in vitro. Despite the variation of biofilm matrices among infectious agents, this approach comprehensively quantified the pathogenic load as well as fouling resistance in indwelling catheters obtained from patients. The sensitivity, reproducibility, multi-species specificity, and high-throughput potential makes this approach valuable for quality assessment of catheters, implants, and ventilators in hospital settings.
Neural Models of Motor Speech Control

Evidence indicates that speech movements are planned to follow auditory trajectories. This is followed by a description of the Directions Into Velocities of Articulators (DIVA) model, which provides a detailed account of the role of auditory feedback in speech motor development and control. A brief description of the higher-order brain areas involved in speech sequencing (including the pre-SMA and inferior frontal sulcus) is then provided, followed by a description of the Hierarchical State Feedback Control (HSFC) model, which posits internal error detection and correction processes that can detect and correct speech production errors prior to articulation. The chapter closes with a treatment of promising future directions of research into auditory-motor interactions in speech, including the use of intracranial recording techniques such as electrocorticography in humans, the investigation of the potential roles of various large-scale brain rhythms in speech perception and production, and the development of brain–computer interfaces that use auditory feedback to allow profoundly paralyzed users to learn to produce speech using a speech synthesizer.
Pasture Supplementation of Dakota Bran (TM) Pelleted Distillers Product to Growing Heifers in Southern Iowa

Sixty-six fall born Angus heifers were used in a grazing study to evaluate supplementation of Dakota Bran TM pelleted distillers grain product supplemented on Southern Iowa pastures. The levels of supplementation were two groups of none (CONT) and two groups fed 1.5 percent of body weight (TRMT). Stocking rates were increased 29 percent for the treatment groups compared to controls. Daily gains were 0.79 lb. per day for the controls and 1.48 for the treatments during the supplementation period. Calculations based off of sward height measures for both groups indicate supplemented heifers had a 26.8 percent reduction in pasture dry matter intake. At current costs for Dakota Bran TM treatment groups extra gain slightly outweighed feed costs while higher stocking rates and pasture extension increased value of the product.
Mechanisms of interference and releasing action in atomic absorption spectrometry—IV: Releasing effect of ammonium chloride on chromium in an air-acetylene flame

Abstract The enhancement, in an air-acetylene flame, of chromium absorption from an iron matrix by the addition of releasing agents such as ammonium chloride and alkali sulphates, has been investigated with a view to elucidating the mechanism of this releasing action. The experimental evidence suggests a mechanism proceeding via a process of distillation, similar to the well known “carrier distillation”effect observed in emission spectroscopy.
Another look at dynamic ad-hoc wireless networks

The price, performance, and form factors of sensors, processors, storage elements, and radios today are enabling the development of network-supported applications for a wide range of environments, including the monitoring of disruptive phenomena, object tracking, establishment of on-demand network infrastructure for disaster relief or military purposes, and peer-to-peer vehicular or interpersonal networks. However,while in theory ad hoc networks are the ideal vehicle for such applications, the practice today is far from this theory.In this talk, I argue that many of the limitations of ad hoc networks today stem from the fact that the architectures and protocols used for them are in many ways a derivative of the Internet architecture, and describe a research agenda that considers developing ad hoc networks without having to adhere to many of the design choices that,until now, have proven so successful for internetworking of wired networks.
Fast Feldkamp algorithm for cone-beam computer tomography

We propose a new fast Feldkamp algorithm for 3-D cone beam tomography with a circular source trajectory. The algorithm is an extension of our recent fast native 2-D fan-beam reconstruction algorithm. It is based on a recursive hierarchical decomposition of the cone-beam backprojection operation into successively smaller sub-volumes. The algorithm reduces the computational complexity of the reconstruction from O(N/sup 4/) to O(N/sup 3/ log N). Simulations demonstrate the efficiency of our algorithm, with 7-fold speedup for a 128 /spl times/ 128 /spl times/ 128 image. Speedups will be much greater for images of more typical size encountered in medicine.
THE USE OF DIFFUSION TENSOR IMAGING TO EVALUATE THE SPINAL CORD IN NORMAL AND ABNORMAL DOGS

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a specialized magnetic resonance sequence to determine the direction of water molecule motion. Our hypothesis was that information derived from DTI will be significantly different in dogs with a spinal cord lesion compared with a normal dog. Eleven normal dogs and six dogs with a spinal cord lesions were imaged. DTI was performed along with standard T1- and T2-weighted sequences in transverse and sagittal planes. Fractional anisotrophy and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) were obtained using regions of interests centered on the cranial aspect, middle cranial, middle caudal, and caudal aspects of the spinal cord. In normal dogs, the DTI sequence was characterized by normal fiber tracking with no statistical difference between the four sections of spinal cord (P>0.05). In the dogs with a spinal cord lesion, there was a significant difference in fractional anisotropy between the two groups (P=0.0003) and the ADC analysis statistical significance (P=0.048) at the caudal most site. Based on these findings, DTI is a potentially useful method to evaluate the spinal cord in dogs.
Distinct actions of cis and trans ATP within the double ring of the chaperonin GroEL

The chaperonin GroEL is a double-ring structure with a central cavity in each ring that provides an environment for the efficient folding of proteins when capped by the co-chaperone GroES in the presence of adenine nucleotides. Productive folding of the substrate rhodanese has been observed in cis ternary complexes, where GroES and polypeptide are bound to the same ring, formed with either ATP, ADP or non-hydrolysable ATP analogues, suggesting that the specific requirement for ATP is confined to an action in the trans ring that evicts GroES and polypeptide from the cis side. We show here, however, that for the folding of malate dehydrogenase and Rubisco there is also an absolute requirement for ATP in the cis ring, as ADP and AMP-PNP are unable to promote folding. We investigated the specific roles of binding and hydrolysis of ATP in the cis and trans rings using mutant forms of GroEL that bind ATP but are defective in its hydrolysis. Binding of ATP and GroES in cis initiated productive folding inside a highly stable GroEL-ATP-GroES complex. To discharge GroES and polypeptide, ATP hydrolysis in the cis ring was required to form a GroEL-ADP-GroES complex with decreased stability, priming the cis complex for release by ATP binding (without hydrolysis) in the trans ring. These observations offer an explanation of why GroEL functions as a double-ring complex.
NSF Function in Neurotransmitter Release Involves Rearrangement of the SNARE Complex Downstream of Synaptic Vesicle Docking

The SNARE hypothesis has been proposed to explain both constitutive and regulated vesicular transport in eukaryotic cells, including release of neurotransmitter at synapses. According to this model, a vesicle targeting/docking complex consisting primarily of vesicle- and target-membrane proteins, known as SNAREs, serves as a receptor for the cytosolic N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion protein (NSF). NSF-dependent hydrolysis of ATP disassembles the SNARE complex in a step postulated to initiate membrane fusion. While features of this model remain tenable, recent studies have challenged fundamental aspects of the SNARE hypothesis, indicating that further analysis of these components is needed to fully understand their roles in neurotransmitter release. We have addressed this issue by using the temperature-sensitive Drosophila NSF mutantcomatose (comt) to study the function of NSF in neurotransmitter release in vivo. Synaptic electrophysiology and ultrastructure in comt mutants have recently defined a role for NSF after docking in the priming of synaptic vesicles for fast calcium-triggered fusion. Here we report that an SDS-resistant neural SNARE complex, composed of the SNARE polypeptides syntaxin, n-synaptobrevin, and SNAP-25, accumulates incomt mutants at restrictive temperature. Subcellular fractionation experiments indicate that these SNARE complexes are distributed predominantly in fractions containing plasma membrane and docked synaptic vesicles. Together with the electrophysiological and ultrastructural analyses of comt mutants, these results indicate that NSF functions to disassemble or otherwise rearrange a SNARE complex after vesicle docking and that this rearrangement is required to maintain the readily releasable pool of synaptic vesicles.
A Review of “Web Metrics for Library and Information Professionals”

Web Metrics for Library and Information Professionals introduces librarians to the world of metrics, both the practical use and the broad range of research opportunities that exist through the use ...
Role of gap3 in Fap1 glycosylation, stability, in vitro adhesion, and fimbrial and biofilm formation of Streptococcus parasanguinis.

Background/aims: Streptococcus parasanguinis is a primary colonizer of the tooth surface. Its adhesion is mediated by the long fimbriae, which are composed of multiple subunits of a serine-rich glycoprotein, Fap1. Previous studies revealed that a chromosomal region located downstream of fap1 is involved in the secretion and glycosylation of Fap1. In this study, we investigated the role of a glycosylation-associated gene, gap3, in Fap1 biogenesis. Methods: A gap3 non-polar mutant was constructed by insertional inactivation. The phenotype of the mutant and the subcellular distribution of its products were investigated. The binding ability of the mutant was tested with saliva-coated hydroxyapatite (SHA). Electron microscopy was used to observe the morphological changes on the mutant cell surface. Confocal microscopy was utilized to determine biofilm formation ability. Results: The gap3 mutant produced a partially glycosylated Fap1 precursor, that was less stable than mature Fap1. The Fap1 precursor was distributed in all subcellular fractions including the cell surface and culture medium although in decreased amounts. These data suggest a role for Gap3 in Fap1 glycosylation as well as a link between glycosylation and secretion of Fap1. The gap3 mutant had reduced binding to saliva-coated hydroxyapatite. Electron microscopy revealed that the gap3 mutant had lost its long fimbriae. Biofilm formation was also inhibited by the gap3 mutation. Fewer gap3 mutant cells adhered to the biofilm surface and microcolony formation was decreased. Conclusion: Gap3 is required for the complete glycosylation and secretion of Fap1, which is important for fimbrial assembly, bacterial adhesion, and in vitro biofilm formation.
Patient-related barriers to pain management: the barriers questionnaire II (BQ-II)

Patients' beliefs can act as barriers to optimal management of cancer pain. The Barriers Questionnaire (BQ) is a tool used to evaluate such barriers. Here, the BQ has been revised to reflect changes in pain management practices, resulting in the Barriers Questionnaire-II (BQ-II), a 27-item, self report instrument. This paper presents the results from two studies where the psychometric properties of the BQ-II were evaluated. In the first study, the responses of 27 nurses trained in pain management were compared to responses of a convenience sample of 12 patients with cancer. The results indicated that patients with cancer had higher mean scores on the BQ-II than did nurses trained in pain management. In the second study, a convenience sample of 172 patients with cancer responded to the BQ-II and a set of pain and quality of life (QOL) measures. A factor analysis supported four factors. Factor one, physiological effects, consists of 12 items addressing the beliefs that side effects of analgesics are inevitable and unmanageable, concerns about tolerance, and concerns about not being able to monitor changes in one's body when taking strong pain medications. Factor two, Fatalism, consists of three items addressing fatalistic beliefs about cancer pain and its management. Factor three, Communication, consists of six items addressing the concern that reports of pain distract the physician from treating the underlying disease, and the belief that 'good' patients do not complain of pain. The fourth and final factor, harmful effects, consists of six items addressing fear of becoming addicted to pain medication and the belief that pain medications harm the immune system. The BQ-II total had an internal consistency of 0.89, and alpha for the subscales ranged from 0.75 to 0.85. Mean (SD) scores on the total scale was 1.52 (0.73). BQ-II scores were related to measures of pain intensity and duration, mood, and QOL. Patients who used adequate analgesics for their levels of pain had lower scores on the BQ-II than did patients who used inadequate analgesics. The BQ-II is a reliable and valid measure of patient-related barriers to cancer pain management.
Beyond SensorWebs: closing the loop in network embedded systems

A record of this keynote presentation was not made available for publication as part of the conference proceedings.
The relationship of biological defense mechanisms to the antibiotic activity of penicillin; the modifying influence of penicillin on the histopathological pattern of pneumococcus infection in normal and debilitated rats and guinea pigs.

In the many recent investigations into the mode of action of the newer antibiotic agents attention has largely been devoted to in vitro studies of their effects on various microorganisms, to biochemical and physiochemical investigations of their effects on the metabolic processes of susceptible organisms, and to extensive clinical studies of their action on various disease processes. Those studies devoted to investigations of their mode of action in the experimental animal have, in the main, been centered about examinations of the toxic effects of the antibiotics, or have been concerned with comparisons of the survival times of treated and untreated
Diurnal, seasonal, and nighttime variations of atomic nitrogen in the equatorial thermosphere

The open source neutral mass spectrometer on board the equatorial Atmosphere Explorer E satellite (AE-E) measured atomic nitrogen densities at frequent intervals during both the elliptical and circular orbit phases of satellite operations. Elliptical orbit data presented here by means of empirical models at 225- and 300-km altitude provide diurnal and seasonal profiles at altitudes lower than previously possible. Data from individual circular orbits later in the AE-E mission confirm essential features of these models, particularly the diurnal density profile. At lower altitudes, considerable variation is evident near midnight, with density enhancements correlated with increasing levels of geomagnetic activity.
Response-Mode Variation Effects on Affective Measures.

The study investigated the effect of response mode variation (the use or nonuse of separate answer sheets) on subject responses (N = 1017) to affective instruments with respect to both instrument a...
FIRE FIGHTERS' COGNITIVE APPRAISALS OF JOB CONCERNS, THREATS TO WELL-BEING, AND SOCIAL SUPPORT BEFORE AND AFTER THE TERRORIST ATTACKS ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001

This investigation analyzed fire fighters' cognitive appraisals of job concerns, threats to personal well-being, and social support in two different temporal and trauma exposure contexts: day-to-day exposures to emergency calls 6 months prior to September 11, 2001, and vicarious exposure to the terrorist attacks 1 week following 9/11. The 73 participants provided data as part of an ongoing longitudinal, prospective study. The results showed significant differences between the two time periods on 6 of 10 variables examined (all p values < .05). That is, vicarious exposure to the terrorist attacks of 9/11 resulted in increased job concerns and personal threats to well-being when compared with direct exposure to day-to-day responses to emergency trauma. The most significant differences were on measures of personal competence and personal concerns about duty-related injury, disability, or death. Similarly, 5 of the 10 study variables were significantly correlated with trauma symptoms prior to the terrorist at...
Temporal regulation and intertemporal substitution: The effect of banning alcohol at college football games*

A wide variety of consumption goods and activities are regulated, and in a wide variety of ways. Excise taxes are levied on the consumption of tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, playing cards and gasoline. Consumption of certain narcotics, pesticides, and "unsafe" products are quantity-controlled, even prohibited in some cases. Driving a car, getting married, gambling in a legal casino, and drinking alcoholic beverages are regulated on the basis of age of the consumer. Smoking is often restricted to designated "smoking areas." So-called "blue laws" regulate the hours and days that retail businesses can operate. Hunting and fishing are restricted to specific locations and specific times of the year. This paper is concerned with the regulation of time and place of consumption, or temporal regulation. For some goods, temporal regulation can be rationalized on the basis of controlling negative externalities. The induced substitution of consumption into other periods and locations presumably reduces the magnitude of the externality. Cigarette smoking, hunting and fishing fit into that category. Confining smoking to certain times and locations may not reduce total smoking output, but it may reduce the amount of the tobacco smoke externality.1 Restricting hunting and fishing to certain times of the year reduces the impact of the common-pool problem on the steady-state stock of animals and fish. In these cases, increased consumption in other periods is not a policy problem. Alcohol, however, is a different story. Regulation of the consumption of alcohol is usually rationalized as a way of
Dissociation between Features and Feature Relations in Infant Memory: Effects of Memory Load

Four experiments examined the effects of the number of features and feature relations on learning and long-term memory in infants. Three-month-olds learned to activate a mobile composed of either two or three kinds of blocks that differed in color, the figures displayed on them, and the figures' colors. Twenty-four hours later, infants trained with two objects discriminated feature recombinations but those trained with three objects did not. Even infants trained with three objects discriminated novel features, however, indicating that they remembered the individual features but not the relations among them. A subsequent experiment revealed that this dissociation between features and relations was induced by differential accessibility to memory rather than an encoding failure. We conclude that the size of the memory load selectively constrains infants' long-term memory for relational information. These results suggest that in infancy, as in adulthood, features and relations are psychologically distinct and that memory organization parallels the organization of perceptual processing.
Fundamentals of Bubble Formation during Coagulation and Sedimentation Processes

Conventional coagulation and sedimentation processes can be significantly disrupted by gas bubbles, attaching to, and then floating coagulant floc. This study sought to understand the fundamental factors that lead to bubble formation and corresponding floating floc during coagulation and sedimentation. Gas bubbles (causing the floating floc) can form whenever the total dissolved gas pressure exceeds the local solution pressure, which can occur at localized minimum pressures during rapid mixing at high fluid velocities. Very high rate rapid mixers can cause bubble formation and floating floc even in waters undersaturated with dissolved gas. The formation and stability of floating floc are dependent on the local solution pressure, amount and type of dissolved gas supersaturation, temperature, length of rapid mixing, surface chemistry of the mixing paddle, floc, and attachment forces.
Development infrastructure characteristics and process capability

A substantial portion of most organizational budgets goes toward developing IT applications. Despite the existence of many tools and methodologies, Information Systems Departments (ISDs) continue to face burgeoning costs and delays. In this article, we explore methods of improving the productivity and effectiveness of the application development process using the Capability Maturity Model (CMM) by the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) at Carnegie Mellon University as a benchmark for process maturity levels.
Designation of Heavy Hydrogen

IN a recent issue of NATURE (132, 955; 1933) Lord Rutherford has suggested that the heavy isotope of hydrogen be named diplogen, instead of the name deuterium proposed by us. This was one name considered by us before we published our suggestion of the names protium and deuterium for the two isotopes of hydrogen.
The process of coping with a gross anatomy exam during the first year of medical school

A total of 42 freshman medical students were evaluated before a major exam, after the exam and before grades were announced and after grades were announced. They completed measures relating to mood, emotions, coping, social support and stakes. Significant time and academic performance differences were found in many domains.
Performing a complete transesophageal echocardiographic examination

Transesophageal echocardiographic (TEE) examination is a powerful and informative cardiac monitor and an important diagnostic tool for use during cardiac surgery. This article reviews how to perform a comprehensive TEE examination on a patient in the operating room and the important clinical uses of TEE during critical events.
TelEmergency: Distance emergency care using nurse practitioners

Study objectives: Delivering quality emergency care in rural areas is a difficult problem, largely because of physician allocation and economics. We test a telemedicine model using nurse practitioners and physician supervisors who are emergency specialists to address this concern. Methods: Thirty nurse practitioners enrolled, and 26 completed the training program. Training consisted of 7 10-hour didactic sessions and between 100 and 200 clinical hours functioning under direct supervision in a teaching hospital (emergency department [ED], operating room, pediatric ICU). Nurse practitioners were not approved to work in rural hospitals unless approved by all faculty supervisors. A nurse practitioner was contracted with a rural hospital and treated patients by a telemedicine link with the physician located at the teaching hospital. Currently, 21 of these nurse practitioners are contracted with a rural hospital. Results: The system began operation in October 2003 and now involves 7 rural hospital EDs. During the first 6 months (October 1, 2003, to March 31, 2004), a total of 5,864 patients were treated; 4,446 were treated and released, 542 admitted, 496 transferred to another institution, and 40 left before being treated. No patient was transferred for inability to deliver care or formulate a diagnosis; all transfers were for higher level of care (operating room, ICU, burn center). Hospital administrators have expressed unanimous approval. Physicians approved of the system but had occasional difficulty viewing radiographs initially (resolved with digital transmission). In response to a survey (n=242), 97.48% of patients were comfortable or very comfortable with the system, 95.4% had no difficulty with seeing or hearing the physician, 98.34% said care was as good as care from a physician alone, 96.28% stated care was as good as from a physician in person, 96.69% rated the overall care as good or excellent, 91.74% said they would use the system again, and 84.58% expressed no concern about privacy. Conclusion: A nurse practitioner–physician telemedicine model to deliver rural emergency care would appear to be a valid option and would be economically feasible. More experience is necessary.
Ion-exchange chromatography of nucleotides on poly-(ethyleneimine)-cellulose thin layers☆

Abstract A great number of naturally occurring mononucleotides can be separated and identified by poly(ethyleneimine)-cellulose thin-layer chromatography. RF data for 33 compounds are given, and the factors are discussed which influence the mobility under different elution conditions. The method is compared with other present techniques for separating nucleotides.
Characterization of SnO2 thin films grown from aqueous solutions

Nanocrystalline SnO2 thin films with the cassiterite structure and grains 5–10 nm in size were deposited from precipitating aqueous solutions of SnCl4×5H2O and HCl at 80°C. The substrates were single-crystal {100} silicon wafers, either with or without sulfonate-functionalized self-assembled monolayer (SAM) coatings. Films, 60–70 nm thick, were obtained in 12 h from a medium of 2 mM SnCl4/0.4 M HCl. These films grew at a rate of approximately 9 nm h−1 during the first 4 h. Thicker films, 160 nm thick, containing cassiterite grains 5–10 nm in size were obtained by continuously flowing a solution of 2 mM SnCl4/0.2 M HCl past the substrates. The as-deposited films were uniform and adherent. They contained ∼2–3 at.% Cl and excess oxygen (2<O/Sn<3). A detailed X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis of the oxygen content of the films indicates that the additional oxygen may be present in an amorphous tin oxyhydroxide phase.
Industrial Gas Turbine Exciters: Design Considerations for More Effective Products

Ignition systems for industrial gas turbines, in use for decades, continue to evolve with improving technology. A recent development is the use of microprocessors and solid-state semiconductor power switching devices (digital systems). Extensive testing of digital systems has demonstrated excellent ignitability, reliability, and plug life compared to traditional analog systems. Furthermore, digital systems demonstrate a potential for combustion feedback.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Saadia’s Seven Guidelines for “Conviviality in Exile” (from His Commentary on Esther)

Saadia Gaon (892–942ce) viewed himself not only as a pedagogue and scholar, but also as the chief steward of his people’s religious health and interrelated constitutional ethos—that special scholar who is raised up by God “in every generation … to instruct and teach the people, that by his hand they might succeed in all of their affairs.” This self-perception is especially pronounced in Saadia’s commentary on Esther, which he construes as a specific paradigm of the manner in which Jewish life is to be lived amidst and in interaction with a dominant Gentile population. In his introduction Saadia didactically (and dialectically) unpacks the paradigmatic utility of the book by presenting seven “guidelines” (tadābīr) which are required for the socio-spiritual health of any ethnos (Arab. umma) “when abased beneath the population of the dominant powers”—which steps he subsequently applies to the situation of Israel in the book of Esther and around which, moreover, he organizes that book’s unfolding narrative structure. In the present article we briefly survey these seven “guidelines” and the manner in which they are “unpacked” by Saadia in the body of his commentary, focusing our attention on selected passages that reveal something of the realia—both psychological and practical—attending Jewish-Gentile conviviality, and Saadia’s approach thereto, in a tenth-century Islamicate milieu.
Practical service learning issues in HCI

We explore the practical difficulties of adding service learning to a regularly taught undergraduate HCI course. We explore ways to minimize instructor workload, particularly with regard to recruiting partner organizations. None of these approaches we describe was entirely satisfactory, however overall, student recruitment of organizations seemed to proceed most smoothly and have more positive outcomes for students, and required the least instructor workload. We also address issues pertinent to managing partner expectations in the absence of fully working interfaces.
Gene Therapy That Works

The concept of gene therapy is disarmingly simple: Introduce a healthy gene in a patient and its product should alleviate the defect caused by a faulty gene or slow the progression of disease ( 1 ). Why then, over the past three decades, have there been so few clinical successes in treating patients with this approach? A major obstacle has been the delivery of genes to the appropriate cell, tissue, and organ. How does one introduce a gene into the brain with trillions of cells, or the liver with billions of cells, or the rare hematopoietic adult stem cell that has the potential to populate all lineages of lymphoid and myeloid cells? Much effort has been devoted to finding ways to efficiently deliver a therapeutic gene to the desired cell type, resulting in sustained production of the gene product, ideally through the entire life of the recipient, without unwanted side effects like genotoxicity or unsettling the immune balance ( 2 ). On pages 864 and 865 in this issue, Biffi et al. ( 3 ) and Aiuti et al. ( 4 ) report encouraging results using lentivirus-mediated gene therapy to treat children with rare genetic defects.
The Flash-Lag Effect and Related Mislocalizations: Findings, Properties, and Theories

If an observer sees a flashed (briefly presented) object that is aligned with a moving target, the perceived position of the flashed object usually lags the perceived position of the moving target. This has been referred to as the flash-lag effect, and the flash-lag effect has been suggested to reflect how an observer compensates for delays in perception that are due to neural processing times and is thus able to interact with dynamic stimuli in real time. Characteristics of the stimulus and of the observer that influence the flash-lag effect are reviewed, and the sensitivity or robustness of the flash-lag effect to numerous variables is discussed. Properties of the flash-lag effect and how the flash-lag effect might be related to several other perceptual and cognitive processes and phenomena are considered. Unresolved empirical issues are noted. Theories of the flash-lag effect are reviewed, and evidence inconsistent with each theory is noted. The flash-lag effect appears to involve low-level perceptual processes and high-level cognitive processes, reflects the operation of multiple mechanisms, occurs in numerous stimulus dimensions, and occurs within and across multiple modalities. It is suggested that the flash-lag effect derives from more basic mislocalizations of the moving target or flashed object and that understanding and analysis of the flash-lag effect should focus on these more basic mislocalizations rather than on the relationship between the moving target and the flashed object.
A finite element model for simple straight wire rope strands

Abstract A finite element model of a simple straight wire rope strand is presented, which allows for the study of all the possible interwire motions. The role of the contact conditions in pure axial loading and in axial loading combined with bending is investigated. The model proves to be reliable compared with experimental and theoretical data when available. It appears that the interwire pivoting and the interwire sliding govern the cable response, respectively, for axial and bending loads. Moreover, pivoting can be considered as free. Finally, the influence of bending on wire tension is studied.