cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lamellae-Nanotube Isomerism in Hydrogen-Bonded Host Frameworks.

Inclusion compounds based on a flexible hydrogen-bonded sheet of guanidinium ions and sulfonate moieties display lamellar and tubular architectures, depending on the guest and the organic substituent attached to the sulfonate. The observed single-crystal architectures resemble lamellar and hexagonal microstructures in block copolymers and surfactant assemblies.
Minimal majority gate mapping of 4-variable functions for quantum cellular automata

Three-input majority gates and inverters form the basic Boolean primitive logic blocks of quantum cellular automata (QCA) circuits. Ideally, an optimized QCA design should have minimal number of gate counts and logic levels. However, existing majority gate logic synthesis methods based on three-feasible networks often result in inefficient use of majority logic gates. In this paper, we propose an improved majority gate logic synthesis technique and present a total of 143 four-variable standard functions and their majority gate implementations. These functions can be incorporated in the majority gate synthesis tools giving more efficient logic implementations. For the 13 MCNC benchmarks presented in this paper, the proposed approach yields a combined reduction of 16.2% in the number of gate counts and 5.21% in the number of levels when compared with the existing method.
The market valuation of wheat quality characteristics

Addresses whether the grain quality factors used by the Federal Grain Inspection Service of the US Department of Agriculture in determining the quality grades of wheat exported by the USA including test weight, dockage, moisture content, percentage of foreign material, percentage of shrunken and broken kernels, and protein content, are characteristics that influence the price of wheat for export. Using data on the transactions price for hard red winter wheat, hard red spring wheat, and soft white wheat and the associated quality characteristics, exported between January 1990 and October 1991 to 63 countries, finds that only the test weight and the protein content are characteristics consistently valued by the market.
The mechanism of vocal registration in folk singing

The use of falsetto register in alternation with chest register is common in folk music, in particular, Hawaiian song and Alpine yodeling. There is no special effort to merge or equalize the registers; rather, each register is cultivated in its own frequency range and some attempt is made to balance the intensity. An update on the acoustics and physiology of voice registration is given. Current thinking is that the thyroarytenoid muscle in the vocal fold regulates the tension and shape of the vocal fold. Chest register is associated with a more rectangular vocal fold shape (in the vertical direction), a more sudden interruption of airflow in the glottal cycle, and a strengthening of the second and third partials. Falsetto register, on the other hand, is associated with a more convergent glottis (in the vertical direction), a more gradual interruption of airflow, and a concentration of energy in the fundamental. [Work supported by NIDCD, Grant No. P60‐DC00976.]
The safety of the H1N1 influenza A vaccine in egg allergic individuals.

Background The safety of H1N1 vaccine is unknown in egg allergic (EA) recipients. Objectives To establish the safety of administering H1N1 vaccine and to evaluate the predictability of H1N1 skin testing in EA patients. Methods In a controlled, prospective trial, H1N1 skin testing and vaccination was compared between EA patients (n = 105) and non-EA controls (n = 19). Those with negative H1N1 skin test results received a full H1N1 dose; those with a positive skin test result received a graded challenge (10%, 90%). Booster vaccine, if required, was given as a single dose from a different lot without prior testing. Results Prick and intradermal test results were positive in 3 (2.4%) of 124 and 41 (33.1%) of 124 study participants, respectively. Forty-one individuals received a 2-step graded vaccine challenge, including 13 of 25 with a history of egg anaphylaxis. No significant allergic reactions resulted from either method of vaccination or from subsequent booster doses. Conclusion All study participants received the H1N1 vaccine without significant allergic reactions. Skin testing is unnecessary and does not predict vaccine tolerance. All study participants who received a graded challenge tolerated a single dose booster from a different, untested lot, including 7 individuals with a history of egg-induced anaphylaxis. We recommend administration of H1N1 vaccine to EA children without prior skin testing or graded challenge dosing.
Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Obesity Among US‐born and Foreign‐born Adults by Sex and Education

This study examines sex and education variations in obesity among US- and foreign-born whites, blacks, and Hispanics utilizing 1997-2005 data from the National Health Interview Survey on 267,585 adults aged > or =18 years. After adjusting for various demographic, health, and socioeconomic factors via logistic regression, foreign-born black men had the lowest odds for obesity relative to US-born white men. The largest racial/ethnic disparity in obesity was between US-born black and white women. High educational attainment diminished the US-born black-white and Hispanic-white disparities among women, increased these disparities among men, and had minimal effect on foreign-born Hispanic-white disparities among women and men. Comprehension of these relationships is vital for conducting effective obesity research and interventions within an increasingly diverse United States.
Computerized Ration Balancer Using Forage and Feed Tests

Abstract The objective was to develop an accurate, easily understood, and inexpensive computerized program, the Badger Balancer, to assist dairymen in using forage and feed tests in balancing rations. The Badger Balancer uses forage and feed tests for crude protein, dry matter, and amount of forages fed to balance dairy rations using either a grain-concentrate mixture or high-moisture grain and protein supplement. The proportions of farm grains in the grain mixture and batch size are selected by the dairyman. A grain mixture using dairymen's farm grains, 44% crude protein supplement, dicalcium phosphate, and trace mineral salt are formulated for the dairyman. Dry matter and protein tests are required for forages and high-moisture grains. The program balances the total ration crude protein concentration to 15% for a 55:45 forage:grain ratio in formulating a grain-concentrate mixture. A feeding schedule showing the amount of high-moisture grain and 38% crude protein supplement is shown for eight milk yields when the high moisture grain feeding system is chosen. Preliminary results indicate a favorable response from dairymen using the Badger Balancer. The Badger Balancer does assist the dairyman to interpret forage and feed tests and to formulate balanced rations.
Radiation effects of thymidine-3H and thymidine-14C

Results are reported from a comparative study of the fequencies of chromosome aberrations induced by tritiumgroup and in the number two position of the pyrimidine ring, C/sup 14/ in the methyl group produced twice as many abberations as C/sup 14/ in the pyrimidine ring. (auth)
Does Sex Matter? The Moderating Role of Sex on the Relationship Between Stress Biomarkers and Cognition

We examined the moderating role of sex on the relationship between salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase (sAA) and a diverse battery of cognitive outcomes including measures of working memory capacity, executive functioning, and prospective memory in addition to a more traditional memory measure (episodic memory). The final sample for the analyses included 144 participants (34 men and 110 women). Multiple regressions were performed to test the moderating role of sex on the stress biomarker-cognition relationship. For backward counting performance, higher cortisol levels were related to worse performance in men, but not women. Higher cortisol levels were also related to lower word recall, but only in men. Finally, men, but not women, had higher switching costs in the Trail Making task as levels of sAA rose. The results provide evidence that sex moderates the stress biomarker-cognition relationship in a variety of cognitive outcomes. Although not part of the primary analysis, sAA and cortisol interacted such that increased sAA levels were only negatively related to backward counting performance when cortisol levels were low. The findings are discussed primarily in terms of biological sex differences in the stress response.
Alkaline lysis of mammalian cells for sedimentation analysis of nuclear DNA. Conformation of released DNA as monitored by physical, electron microscopic and enzymological techniques.

Abstract The degree of single strandedness of the DNA released from rat liver nuclei by various alkaline lysing solutions (including some with sodium dodecyl sulfate) was determined both before and after sedimentation in alkaline sucrose gradients employing electron microscopy, melting profiles, circular dichroism measurements, and digestibility by S1 nuclease. Regardless of the technique employed, the results obtained following alkaline sucrose gradient centrifugation of the DNA are consistent. The DNA was completely single stranded as judged by electron microscopy, circular dichroism spectra, and digestibility by S1 nuclease, an enzyme that specifically hydrolyzes single-stranded DNA. This was not true if the DNA was analyzed following alkaline lysis of the nuclei but before centrifugation. Under conditions which gave a complete transition to the single-stranded state, as judged by melting profiles and circular dichroism spectra, only 10–15% of the DNA was hydrolyzed by S1 nuclease. An increase in the susceptibility of the released DNA to S1 nuclease was observed with increases in the pH of the lysing solution. In order to release DNA which was single stranded as judged by both physical and enzymological techniques, the rat liver nuclei were lysed for 30 min with a 0.3 M NaOH lysing solution containing 0.5% dodecyl sulfate, 0.3M NaCl and 0.03 M EDTA.
Efficient Creation of Overset Grid Hole Boundaries and Effects of Their Locations on Aerodynamic Loads

Recent developments on the automation of the X-rays approach to hole-cutting in over- set grids is further improved. A fast method to compute an auxiliary wall-distance function used in providing a rst estimate of the hole boundary location is introduced. Subsequent iterations lead to automatically-created hole boundaries with a spatially-variable o set from the minimum hole. For each hole boundary location, an averaged cell attribute measure over all fringe points is used to quantify the compatibility between the fringe points and their respective donor cells. The sensitivity of aerodynamic loads to di erent hole boundary locations and cell attribute compatibilities is investigated using four test cases: an isolated re-entry capsule, a two-rocket con guration, the AIAA 4th Drag Prediction Workshop Common Research Model (CRM), and the D8 \Double Bubble" subsonic aircraft. When best practices in hole boundary treatment are followed, only small variations in integrated loads and convergence rates are observed for different hole boundary locations.
Total Synthesis and Biological Mode of Action of Largazole: A Potent Class I Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor

The efficient total synthesis of the recently described natural substance largazole (1) and its active metabolite largazole thiol (2) is described. The synthesis required eight linear steps and proceeded in 37% overall yield. It is demonstrated that largazole is a pro-drug that is activated by removal of the octanoyl residue from the 3-hydroxy-7-mercaptohept-4-enoic acid moiety to generate the active metabolite 2, which is an extraordinarily potent Class I histone deacetylase inhibitor. Synthetic largazole and 2 have been evaluated side-by-side with FK228 and SAHA for inhibition of HDACs 1, 2, 3, and 6. Largazole and largazole thiol were further assayed for cytotoxic activity against a panel of chemoresistant melanoma cell lines, and it was found that largazole is substantially more cytotoxic than largazole thiol; this difference is attributed to differences in the cell permeability of the two substances.
Biophysical Modeling of Nucleic Acid Nanostructure Solution Shape and Stability

Programmed self-assembly of RNA and DNA provides a powerful approach to designing active, functional nanometer-scale structures for biomolecular science and technology. Scaffolded DNA Origami employs a long single-stranded DNA template to guide the hybridization of hundreds of shorter oligonucleotide staple strands to form twisted and bent double-stranded DNA structures of high precision and yield with well-defined mechanical properties. Biophysical models of nanostructure formation and stability are needed to inform the DNA Origami design process, which currently proceeds largely based on physical intuition and trial-and-error. Here we present a physics-based model for DNA Origami that incorporates double-stranded DNA mechanical properties in addition to screened electrostatic interactions on 3D solution shape and flexibility. Results are presented in detail for an eight-layer DNA Origami block designed on a square lattice (Ke et al., JACS 2009), whose 3D solution shape is computed under experimental folding conditions, revealing an undulating pattern of individual DNA double helices due to interhelix electrostatic repulsion. Effects of crossover spacing on solution shape and mechanical properties are also discussed.
Shiga Toxin 1 Targets Bovine Leukemia Virus-Expressing Cells

Direct evidence that Escherichia coli Shiga toxin (Stx) acts against bovine leukemia virus (BLV)-expressing cells was obtained. The active A subunit of Stx type 1 (StxA1) targeted a selected population of permeable cells expressing BLV and inhibited BLV replication in a culture of bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Cells were cultured with and without StxA1, and at various times cells expressing BLV were identified by being stained with MW1 monoclonal antibody specific for the BLV protein gp51. Before culture, permeable cells were tagged by uptake of one of the following: acetoxymethyl of 2',7'-bis-(2-carboxyethyl)-5-(and 6)-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF), BCECF conjugated to 70-kDa dextran, or 70-kDa dextran conjugated to fluorescein. The tagged cells costaining with anti-gp51 were selectively eliminated in StxA1-treated cultures. Electron microscopy analysis of purified B lymphocytes showed sharply reduced numbers of BLV particles in StxA1-treated cultures.
The Influence of the Light Transmission Properties of Plastic Window Coverings on Broiler Pigmentation

Abstract An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of different window coverings on broiler pigmentation. Equal numbers of male and female broilers were grown in open-type houses. The control house had open sides, while each treatment house had window coverings with either 42% or 89% light transmission properties. Birds from houses with window coverings deposited the same amount of pigment in the skin as did birds from the open house as indicated by blood xanthophyll level and excitation purity. Skin color scores, however, as well as dominant wavelengths and luminosities of shanks from these birds, indicated that pigmentation of birds grown in the house with 42% light transmission window coverings was significantly inferior to that observed for birds grown in either the open house or the house with 89% light transmission window covering. It was concluded that in situations where pigmentation is of concern, care should be taken in selecting window coverings which will not adversely affect pigmentation.
Chronic Sinusitis in Children

Clinical practice guidelines for the management of acute sinusitis in children have been published by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Of note is that in this document, a brief discussion of chronic disease concluded that the pathogenesis and management are essentially unknown. Although there are insufficient data in the literature to develop evidence-based clinical guidelines, a careful review of the literature and clinical experience of experts who manage pediatric chronic sinusitis is presented in an effort to develop specific recommendations and to offer practical treatment options. Factors associated with chronic sinusitis should be addressed individually and include recurrent viral upper respiratory infections, allergic and nonallergic rhinitis, ciliary dyskinesia, cystic fibrosis, immunodeficiency, and anatomic abnormalities. Bacteriology includes the 3 pathogens associated with acute disease i.e., Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis but with chronic sinusitis also includes Staphylococcus aureus, anaerobic bacteria, and fungi. Medical interventions discussed include endoscopic sinus surgery, saline nasal irrigation, intranasal decongestant therapy, intranasal steroids, and oral antibiotics. Clinical ranking without regard to side effects and cost suggests that endoscopic sinus surgery and antral irrigation have the highest probability of substantial symptom improvement. Other issues discussed include identification and management of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), allergy, and immune deficiency.
Language-measure-based supervisory control of a mobile robot

This paper presents the design, modelling, and supervisory control of a mobile robot based on a signed real measure of its automaton (i.e., discrete-event behavior) language. While the robot's dynamic behavior is manipulated in the continuous-time domain via motion control and visual servoing, the mission planning is performed in the discrete-event supervisory control setting. However, unlike the conventional qualitative framework of supervisory control following the Ramadge-Wonham approach that is based on a set of specified constraints, a quantitative approach has been adopted for synthesis of optimal supervisory controllers in robotic scenarios with a language measure being the performance index. The parameters of the language measure are identified via both experimental observations and simulation runs; the results are consistent with each other as well as with other measures. This approach complements the Q-learning method that has been widely used in robotics research to learn primitive behaviors.
Differential expression of Broad-Complex transcription factors may forecast tissue-specific developmental fates during Drosophila metamorphosis

The steroid hormone ecdysone initiates metamorphosis in Drosophila melanogaster by activating a cascade of gene activity that includes primary response transcriptional regulators and secondary response structural genes. The Broad-Complex (BR-C) primary response gene is composed of several distinct genetic functions and encodes a family of related transcription factor isoforms. Our objective was to determine whether BR-C isoforms were components of the primary ecdysone response in all tissues and whether tissue-specific isoform expression is associated with tissue-specific metamorphic outcomes. We used specific antibody reagents that recognize and distinguish among the Z1, Z2 and Z3 BR-C protein isoforms to study protein expression patterns during the initial stages of metamorphosis. Western blot analyses demonstrated that BR-C isoforms are induced at the onset of metamorphosis, each with unique kinetics of induction and repression. Whole-mount immunostaining showed that the BR-C proteins accumulate in the nuclei of all larval and imaginal tissues indicating that the BR-C is induced as a primary response in many tissues. Several tissues express different levels and combinations of the BR-C isoforms suggesting that the BR-C is important in determining the tissue-specific outcome of many parallel ecdysone response cascades. For example, prepupal salivary glands (destined for histolysis during metamorphosis) express Z1 isoforms while imaginal discs (destined for cell differentiation and morphogenesis) shift from the synthesis of Z2 isoforms to the synthesis of Z1 isoforms. The prepupal central nervous system (destined for tissue remodeling) expresses all isoforms, with Z3 predominating. Salivary gland chromosome immunostaining indicated that BR-C proteins interact directly with numerous loci in the polytene genome. Finally, western blot analyses showed that distinct BR-C genetic functions can be correlated with single and specific BR-C protein isoforms.
Trace Metal Inventories and Lead Isotopic Composition Chronicle a Forest Fire’s Remobilization of Industrial Contaminants Deposited in the Angeles National Forest

The amounts of labile trace metals: [Co] (3 to 11 µg g-1), [Cu] (15 to 69 µg g-1), [Ni] (6 to 15 µg g-1), [Pb] (7 to 42 µg g-1), and [Zn] (65 to 500 µg g-1) in ash collected from the 2012 Williams Fire in Los Angeles, California attest to the role of fires in remobilizing industrial metals deposited in forests. These remobilized trace metals may be dispersed by winds, increasing human exposures, and they may be deposited in water bodies, increasing exposures in aquatic ecosystems. Correlations between the concentrations of these trace metals, normalized to Fe, in ash from the fire suggest that Co, Cu, and Ni in most of those samples were predominantly from natural sources, whereas Pb and Zn were enriched in some ash samples. The predominantly anthropogenic source of excess Pb in the ash was further demonstrated by its isotopic ratios (208Pb/207Pb: 206Pb/207Pb) that fell between those of natural Pb and leaded gasoline sold in California during the previous century. These analyses substantiate current human and environmental health concerns with the pyrogenic remobilization of toxic metals, which are compounded by projections of increases in the intensity and frequency of wildfires associated with climate change.
Determination of biogenic amines in foods using ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC)

Abstract A rapid ultra-performance liquid chromatographic (UPLC) method for the determination of biogenic amines (putrescine, cadaverine, spermidine, spermine, phenylethylamine, histamine, tyramine and tryptamine) in selected food samples is described. The eight biogenic amines, which are the most important to be determined in food samples, were derivatized with dansyl chloride prior to UPLC separation. The dansylated amines were separated on an Agilent Zorbax Eclipse XDB – C18 column (50 × 4.6 mm ID, 1.8 μm) using gradient elution with a binary system of acetonitrile–water, a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min and UV detection at 225 nm. The analysis is very fast, all amines are well resolved and are eluted from the column in less than 6 min. The average repeatability of the method ranged between 1.02% and 2.14%. Limits of detection (LODs) for considered amines ranged between 0.032 and 0.098 μg/l; calibration curves showed very good linearity ( r = 0.9994–1.0000). The method was applied to the analysis of amines in pork, beef, chicken and fish meat, cheese and edible mushrooms.
Three amino acid changes in PB1-F2 of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus affect pathogenicity in mallard ducks

Despite reports that the PB1-F2 protein contributes to influenza virus pathogenicity in the mouse model, little is known about its significance in avian hosts. In our previous study, the A/Vietnam/1203/04 (H5N1) wild-type virus (wtVN1203) was more lethal to mallard ducks than a reverse genetics (rg)-derived VN1203. In search of potential viral factors responsible for this discrepancy, we found that synonymous mutations (SMs) had been inadvertently introduced into three genes of the rgVN1203 (rgVN1203/SM-3). Of 11 SMs in the PB1 gene, three resided in the PB1-F2 open reading frame, caused amino acid (aa) substitutions in the PB1-F2 protein, and reduced virus lethality in mallard ducks. The wtVN1203 and recombinant viruses with repairs to these three aa’s (rgVN1203/R-PB1-F2) or with repairs to all 11 SMs (rgVN1203/R-PB1) were significantly more pathogenic than rgVN1203/SM-3. In cultured cells, repairing three mutations in PB1-F2 increased viral polymerase activity and expression levels of viral RNA.
Dream reports of Subjects High and Low in Creative Ability

Summary This study explored the relationships between several aspects of dream reports and creative potential. Ten high creative and 10 low creative Ss were selected from a pool of 423 male and female university undergraduates on the basis of uniformly high or low performance on several measures of creativity. Dream reports were collected under carefully controlled sleep laboratory conditions. Dream reports of high and low creative Ss were discriminable along identifiable dimensions of dream setting, novelty, uniqueness, and number of content elements.
Promoting best-care practices in childhood asthma: quality improvement in community health centers.

OBJECTIVE: Outpatient asthma management remains suboptimal. We previously reported significant improvements in asthma guideline adherence and outcomes in children by using quality-improvement processes and community health workers. We hypothesized that a larger project could achieve comparable outcome improvements with streamlined quality-improvement processes and decreased technical assistance. METHODS: Seventeen clinics treating 12 000 children with asthma were evaluated through interviews of a subset of patients with persistent or high-risk asthma (n = 761) at baseline and at 12 and 21 months and chart reviews randomly selected from all patients with asthma at baseline and 12 and 24 months (n = 2040). Multidisciplinary teams developed data-driven continuous quality-improvement activities. Asthma coordinators provided patient education and were active team members. RESULTS: Study children were predominantly Hispanic (77%) and black (11%); 60% were enrolled in Medicaid, and 9% were uninsured. Comparing results between baseline and the 21-month follow-up, significantly fewer families reported emergency-department visits (29.6% vs 9.3%), hospitalizations (10.9% vs 3.4%), frequent daytime symptoms (44.0% vs 11.7%), and missed school days (28.7% vs 13.6%); significantly more reported confidence in asthma management (70.6% vs 95.5%); and quality-of-life scores increased significantly for both children and caregivers (all P CONCLUSIONS: On a larger scale, this approach realized impressive changes in provider clinical practice associated with major improvements in health outcomes. It holds great potential for significantly reducing asthma-related morbidity among low-income children.
Spectrometers based on anisotropic metamaterials

We show a new spectrometer class achieved through resonant cones associated with dispersive anisotropic metamaterials. The anisotropic slab can be implemented by metal-insulator stacks, and a Ag/GaAs multilayer stack example is described.
Symbols within words: Have we neglected the AdeNOsine A2 receptor?

See article by Xu et al. [10] (pages 803–812) in this issue . Although considerable experimental effort has been expended during the past two decades in identifying mechanisms of cardioprotection, little of this work has been of direct benefit to patients. Thus, Bolli et al. have expressed concern that the field of myocardial protection is at a crossroads and have emphasized that there is an urgent need for the extensive experimental work in this area to be translated into clinically effective therapy [1]. The authors of this article, who represented a Working Group convened by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, concluded that a Phase III clinical trial of adenosine be undertaken in patients with acute myocardial infarction [1]. This recommendation was based on preclinical studies and on Phase I and II clinical trials of adenosine and related compounds, which showed promise, but which only studied surrogate markers or were insufficiently powered to demonstrate definitive clinical benefit [2–4]. Thus, accumulating a greater understanding of the mechanisms of action of adenosine and its cognate receptor subtypes is both relevant and timely. It is well-recognized that adenosine has multiple effects on the cardiovascular system. Among its many actions, adenosine enhances coronary blood flow, inhibits adenylyl cyclase activation, and has … joel.karliner{at}med.va.gov
PEPTIDE INFLUENCES THE FOLDING AND INTRACELLULAR TRANSPORT OF FREE MAJOR HISTOCOMPATIBILITY COMPLEX CLASS I HEAVY CHAINS

Class I major histocompatibility complex molecules require both beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m) and peptide for efficient intracellular transport. With the exception of H-2Db and Ld, class I heavy chains have not been detectable at the surface of cells lacking beta 2m. We show that properly conformed class I heavy chains can be detected in a terminally glycosylated form indicative of cell surface expression in H-2b, H-2d, and H-2s beta 2m-/- concanavalin A (Con A)-stimulated splenocytes incubated at reduced temperature. Furthermore, we demonstrate the presence of Kb molecules at the surface of beta 2m-/- cells cultured at 37 degrees C. The mode of assembly of class I molecules encompasses two major pathways: binding of peptide to preformed "empty" heterodimers, and binding of peptide to free heavy chains, followed by recruitment of beta 2m. In support of the existence of the latter pathway, we provide evidence for a role of peptide in intracellular transport of free class I heavy chains, through analysis of Con A-stimulated splenocytes from transporter associated with antigen processing 1 (TAP1)-/-, beta 2m-/-, and double-mutant TAP1/beta 2m-/- mice.
Continuous cardiac index monitoring: A prospective observational study of agreement between a pulmonary artery catheter and a calibrated minimally invasive technique

Introduction Continuous cardiac index (CCI) monitoring can provide information to assist in hemodynamic support. However, pulmonary artery catheters (PAC) pose logistic challenges in acute care settings. We hypothesized that CCI measured with a calibrated minimally invasive technique (LiDCO/PulseCO, UK) would have good agreement with the PAC. Methods We performed a prospective observational study in post-operative cardiac surgery patients. All patients had a PAC with CCI monitoring capability. We connected the LiDCO apparatus to a radial artery line and performed a one-time calibration with a lithium dilution indicator. In order to test the least invasive method possible, we used a peripheral intravenous (IV) line for indicator delivery rather than the conventional central line technique. We recorded paired PAC/LiDCO-PulseCO CCI measurements every minute for 3h. We blinded investigators and clinicians to minimally invasive data with an opaque shield over the monitor. We assessed agreement with Bland-Altman analysis. Results We obtained 1485 paired measurements in 8 subjects. The mean CI was 2.9L/min/m(2). By Bland-Altman plot, PAC and LiDCO measurements showed minimal bias (-0.01), but the 95% limits of agreement (+/-2SD) of+/-1.3L/min/m(2) were relatively wide with respect to the mean. Conclusions This calibrated minimally invasive (i.e. radial arterial line and peripheral IV) technique demonstrated low bias compared with CCI measured by PAC. However, the relatively wide confidence limits indicate that differences in the two measurements could still be clinically significant.
Scalable Network Synchronization with Pulse-Coupled Oscillators

The Pulse-Coupled Oscillator (PCO) is a novel protocol inspired by models used in mathematical biology to justify the emergence of synchrony in the natural world. Our paper introduces and demonstrates the efficacy of a new PCO protocol implementation that, by disabling all collision resolution mechanisms for a suitable portion of the node operations, lets the rapid establishment of a common clock and its maintenance. The key idea is to allow signals to be superimposed in time, a feature that is absent in previous implementations, because it is prevented by traditional medium access schemes. We map the PCO protocol into an event-driven asynchronous coloring algorithm, based on the local exchange of information to explain its convergence properties. The event-based description of the PCO protocol sets the stage for our experimental comparison with a competing decentralized network synchronization approach, namely, the Reference Broadcast Protocol (RBS). For comparison, we combined RBS with an asynchronous average consensus protocol, running exactly on the same MicaZ platforms. The experimental results showcase the better scalability of the PCO scheme compared to the competing method based on RBS, proving that the PCO primitive is a reasonable option to consider for wireless sensor network applications.
Experimentally biased model structure of the Hsc70/auxilin complex: Substrate transfer and interdomain structural change

A model structure of the Hsc70/auxilin complex has been constructed to gain insight into interprotein substrate transfer and ATP hydrolysis induced conformational changes in the multidomain Hsc70 structure. The Hsc70/auxilin system, which is a member of the Hsp70/Hsp40 chaperone system family, uncoats clathrin-coated vesicles in an ATP hydrolysis-driven process. Incorporating previous results from NMR and mutant binding studies, the auxilin J-domain was docked into the Hsc70 ATPase domain lower cleft using rigid backbone/flexible side chain molecular dynamics, and the Hsc70 substrate binding domain was docked by a similar procedure. For comparison, J-domain and substrate binding domain docking sites were obtained by the rigid-body docking programs DOT and ZDOCK, filtered and ranked by the program ClusPro, and relaxed using the same rigid backbone/flexible side chain dynamics. The substrate binding domain sites were assessed in terms of conserved surface complementarity and feasibility in the context of substrate transfer, both for auxilin and another Hsp40 protein, Hsc20. This assessment favors placement of the substrate binding domain near D152 on the ATPase domain surface adjacent to the J-domain invariant HPD segment, with the Hsc70 interdomain linker in the lower cleft. Examining Hsc70 interdomain energetics, we propose that long-range electrostatic interactions, perhaps due to a difference in the pKa values of bound ATP and ADP, could play a major role in the structural change induced by ATP hydrolysis. Interdomain electrostatic interactions also appear to play a role in stimulation of ATPase activity due to J-domain binding and substrate binding by Hsc70.
LIFETIME AND ACTIVATION ENERGY OF THE PHOTOINDUCED QUINOID INTERMEDIATE IN PYRIDOXAL CATALYSIS

— The lifetime of the p-quinoid intermediate of transamination was determined through photoinduction in the metal-ion model system. From the dependence of the lifetime on temperature, the Arrhenius activation energy for proton transfer was 4.2–8.4 kJ/mol (1-2 kcal/mol). The activation energy correlated well with the R group of the amino acid and demonstrated that native substrates have a very labile proton.
Micro and Macromorphology of Recycled Fiber and Wood

Wood is a major industrial raw material, with U.S. consumption approaching that of aluminum, plastics, cement, and steel combined. Partially as a result of the magnitude of wood and wood products in use, these products constitute a substantial portion of the solid waste stream. In order to reduce the amount of wood and wood fiber disposed in landfills, efforts to recycle these materials into useful products such as structural composites are needed. The success of such conversion depends in part on knowledge of the morphological characteristics of various sources of secondary wood and wood fibers, and the influence of wood element morphology on composite properties. An overview of wood and fiber morphology representative of major sources of secondary material is provided, with a discussion of how these morphological features may influence the properties of conventional wood composites and wood fiber/plastic composites.
Incidental Lesions in Nonhuman Primate Placentae

Twenty-one placentae from uncomplicated pregnancies of rhesus macaques in the third trimester (1 24-1 64 days) were examined to determine placental incidental lesions. Placental weight (PW) generally cor- related with fetal weight (FW); PW:FW equaled approximately 1 : 3. Most placentae were bidiscoid (9.5% monodiscoid) with eccentric cord insertion and marginal or circummarginate membrane insertion. Macroscop- ically, there was in varying degrees, subchorionic, perivillous, and perilobular fibrin deposition, focal infarction, retroplacental hematoma, and calcification. Histologic changes included fibrinoid necrosis of villi, multifocal acute inflammation, excessive cytotrophoblasts, formation of syncytial knots, and intimal proliferation in um- bilical vessels. Volume density of fibrinoid necrosis and calcification in terminal villi showed nonstatistically significant increases to term. However, calcification in reference to entire placental tissue increased significantly to term. All lesions seen in the rhesus are also seen incidentally in human placentae, but may become significant in correlation with pregnancy wastage if present to a large degree. Reproductive failure in nonhuman primates is a sig- nificant problem and is characterized by embryonic, fetal, and early neonatal death in addition to infertility. In nonhuman primates, prenatal mortality is thought to conservatively exceed 15% of all diagnosed preg- nancie~.~ Identifying the causes and manifestations of nonhuman primate prenatal and early postnatal mor- tality is important for maintaining successful and healthy breeding colonies for the use of these animals in research, and to contribute to the understanding of similar conditions in man. The placenta is inherently important in the main- tenance and survival of an embryo or fetus. However, in order to identify and correlate abnormal findings in the placenta with conditions of reproductive difficulty and failure such as abortion, stillbirth, prematurity, malformation, growth retardation, and early neonatal death, it is necessary to first recognize lesions inciden- tally present in normal placentae from uneventful preg- nancies. Several reports have described an association between noninfectious or infectious causes of placental lesions and various types of reproductive fail- ure .2,6,7, O, However, reports detailing histo pathologic and morphometric evaluation of the nonhuman pri- mate placentae are few. The purpose of this study was to evaluate third trimester placentae from uncompli- cated pregnancies of rhesus macaques by morphologic and quantitative criteria.
Two-dimensional strain profiles in patients with physiological and pathological hypertrophy and preserved left ventricular systolic function: a comparative analyses

Objective This study was designed to examine the utility of two-dimensional strain (2DS) or speckle tracking imaging to typify functional adaptations of the left ventricle in variant forms of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Urban tertiary care academic medical centres. Participants A total of 129 subjects, 56 with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), 34 with hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy (H-LVH), 27 professional athletes with LVH (AT-LVH) and 12 healthy controls in sinus rhythm with preserved left ventricular systolic function. Methods Conventional echocardiographic and tissue Doppler examinations were performed in all study subjects. Bi-dimensional acquisitions were analysed to map longitudinal systolic strain (automated function imaging, AFI, GE Healthcare, Waukesha, Wisconsin, USA) from apical views. Results Subjects with HCM had significantly lower regional and average global peak longitudinal systolic strain (GLS-avg) compared with controls and other forms of LVH. Strain dispersion index, a measure of regional contractile heterogeneity, was higher in HCM compared with the rest of the groups. On receiver operator characteristics analysis, GLS-avg had excellent discriminatory ability to distinguish HCM from H-LVH area under curve (AUC) (0.893, p Conclusions 2DS (AFI) allows rapid characterisation of regional and global systolic function and may have the potential to differentiate HCM from variant forms of LVH.
Barriers to medical nutrition therapy in black women with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to explore food purchasing, preparation, and consumption among black women with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in an urban setting to assess barriers to medica...
Higher-loop structural properties of the β function in asymptotically free vectorial gauge theories

We investigate some higher-loop structural properties of the $\ensuremath{\beta}$ function in asymptotically free vectorial gauge theories. Our main focus is on theories with fermion contents that lead to an infrared (IR) zero in $\ensuremath{\beta}$. We present analytic and numerical calculations of the value of the gauge coupling where $\ensuremath{\beta}$ reaches a minimum, the value of $\ensuremath{\beta}$ at this minimum, and the slope of $\ensuremath{\beta}$ at the IR zero, at two-, three-, and four-loop order. The slope of $\ensuremath{\beta}$ at the IR zero is relevant for estimates of a dilaton mass in quasiconformal gauge theories. Some inequalities are derived concerning the dependence of the above quantities on loop order. A general inequality is derived concerning the dependence of the shift of the IR zero of $\ensuremath{\beta}$, from the $n$-loop to the ($n+1$)-loop order, on the sign of the ($n+1$)-loop coefficient in $\ensuremath{\beta}$. Some results are also given for gauge theories with $\mathcal{N}=1$ supersymmetry.
Chronic Sexual Dysfunction: Assessment, Intervention, and Realistic Expectations

This article describes critical sex therapy strategies and techniques to address chronic sexual dysfunction, especially inhibited sexual desire and the nonsexual marriage. Special attention should be given to ongoing assessment so the couple remains motivated and focused on specific change steps. The therapist should be active and work harder with chronic couples. The therapist is optimistic about change, is active (not authoritarian) in making suggestions about sexual scenarios and techniques, acknowledges and reinforces new learning, processes anxieties and failures, redesigns sexual exercises to increase comfort but still sets realistic expectations and goals, and keeps the couple motivated and focused.
Political Economy of Critical Internet Resources: South America vs. Amazon, Inc.: The Battle for Amazon (Economía política de los recursos críticos de Internet: América del Sur vs Amazon, Inc.: La Batalla por la Amazon)

English Abstract: This paper is an early attempt to analyze the controversy about the allocation of critical Internet resources, generated by ICANN’s new gTLD program. This paper presents the preliminary findings of the .AMAZON case, a contested prime example in ICANN’s effort to extend the Internet’s name space. The analysis covers the argumentations of the major stakeholders involved, Amazon, Inc. on one side, and the South American governments on the other, but also examines ICANN’s role as administrator of the TLD. However, at the core of this paper there is a dichotomy to analyze: 1) the right of a private entity to assert a brand that it has used for the last 19 years as a new gTLD, and 2) the public interest of the Latin American people to preserve a name that reinforces the preservation of the Amazon region, and which has been used for the last 500 years.Spanish Abstract: Este trabajo es un primer intento de analizar la controversia acerca de la asignacion de los recursos criticos de Internet, generados por el nuevo programa de gTLD de ICANN. Este trabajo presenta los resultados preliminares del caso. AMAZON, un excelente ejemploen el esfuerzo de la ICANN de ampliar el espacio de nombres de Internet. El analisis abarca no solo las argumentaciones de los principales actores involucrados, Amazon, Inc., por un lado, y los gobiernos de America del Sur, por el otro, sino que tambien examina el papel de ICANN como administrador del dominio de nivel superior. Sin embargo, en el nucleo de este trabajo existe una dicotomia para analizar: 1) el derecho de una entidad privada para hacer valer una marca que se ha utilizado durante los ultimos 19 anos como un nuevo gTLD, y 2) el interes publico de la region de America pueblo estadounidense para preservar un nombre que refuerza la preservacion de la Amazonia, y que ha sido utilizado durante los ultimos 500 anos.
Incorporating Social Theories in Computational Behavioral Models

Computational social science methodologies are increasingly being viewed as critical for modeling complex individual and organizational behaviors in dynamic, real world scenarios. However, many challenges for identifying, representing and incorporating appropriate socio-cultural behaviors remain. Social theories provide rules, which have strong theoretic underpinnings and have been empirically validated, for representing and analyzing individual and group interactions. The key insight in this paper is that social theories can be embedded into computational models as functional mappings based on underlying factors, structures and interactions in social systems. We describe a generic framework, called a Culturally Infused Social Network (CISN), which makes such mappings realizable with its abilities to incorporate multi-domain socio-cultural factors, model at multiple scales, and represent dynamic information. We explore the incorporation of different social theories for added rigor to modeling and analysis by analyzing the fall of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) regime in Somalia during the latter half of 2006. Specifically, we incorporate the concepts of homophily and frustration to examine the strength of the ICU’s alliances during its rise and fall. Additionally, we employ Affect Control Theory (ACT) to improve the resolution and detail of the model, and thus enhance the explanatory power of the CISN framework.
$^{26}$Al: Measurement and Applications [and Discussion]

$^{26}$Al ($\tau \_{\frac{1}{2}}$ = 0.7 Ma), like $^{10}$Be ($\tau \_{\frac{1}{2}}$ = 1.5 Ma), is produced by cosmic rays in the atmosphere, but its production rate is low (ca. 4 $\times $ 10$^{-3}$ that of $^{10}$Be) and the crustal abundance of $^{27}$Al is high, resulting in $^{26}$Al: $^{27}$Al ratios rarely exceeding 10$^{-14}$. Both isotopes are also produced in surficial rocks by cosmic rays; in quartz the production rates of $^{26}$Al and $^{10}$Be are ca. 70 atoms g$^{-1}$ a$^{-1}$ and ca. 10 atoms g$^{-1}$ a$^{-1}$, respectively (at sea level). Because quartz frequently contains $^{27}$Al at less than 100 p.p.m. (by mass), the $^{26}$Al: $^{27}$ Al ratio resulting from this in situ production can be as high as 3 $\times $ 10$^{-11}$. In extraterrestrial matter, where the production rates are several hundred times greater, samples containing a few percent of $^{27}$Al have $^{26}$Al: $^{27}$Al ratios of 10$^{-11}$ or larger. We describe an experimental arrangement that was developed at the University of Pennsylvania for measuring $^{26}$Al: $^{27}$Al ratios as low as 10$^{-15}$. The size requirements for samples are approximately a factor of 100000 smaller than those of decay counting, and measurement times are less than an hour, compared with weeks or months. We discuss several applications of the technique to the measurement of terrestrial as well as extraterrestrial samples. Emphasis is placed on the combined measurement of $^{10}$Be and $^{26}$Al and the various uses to which the ratio of $^{26}$Al: $^{10}$Be in a sample can be put. In particular, we discuss the very high $^{26}$Al: $^{10}$Be ratios that are found in the outer few millimetres of extraterrestrial bodies, resulting from low-energy protons emitted by solar flares, and the diagnostic value of these ratios in determining the size of objects in space. The low value of the $^{26}$Al: $^{10}$Be ratio resulting from atmospheric production is used to prove the terrestrial origin of tektites. And finally, we discuss the manner in which the variable $^{26}$Al: $^{10}$Be ratio that results from in situ production in objects on the Earth's surface can be used to measure rates of weathering and exposure histories.