cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Activity of ceftolozane-tazobactam against Escherichia coli isolates from U.S. veterans (2011) in relation to co-resistance and sequence type 131 (ST131) H30 and H30Rx status.

Background Escherichia coli sequence type 131 (ST131), with its multidrug-resistance-associated H30R1 and H30Rx clonal subsets, causes most antimicrobial-resistant E. coli infections in the U.S., especially among veterans. The activity of ceftolozane-tazobactam (C/T), a new beta-lactamase inhibitor agent, against ST131 strains, and E. coli isolates from veterans, is undefined. Methods We determined broth microdilution MICs for C/T and five comparators–piperacillin-tazobactam (TZP) levofloxacin (LVX), gentamicin (GEN), ceftazidime (CAZ), and meropenem (MEM)–for 595 clinical E. coli isolates, collected in 2011 from 24 Veterans Affairs Medical Centers across the U.S. Categorical resistance and MICs were compared statistically with resistance category (fluoroquinolone-susceptible, fluoroquinolone-resistant, and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase [ESBL]-producing) and with PCR-defined ST131, H30R1, and H30Rx status. Results Resistance prevalence was ≤ 6% for C/T (6%) and MEM (0%), vs. from 8.0% (TZP) to 59% (LVX) for the other comparators. MICs generally increased by resistance category, from fluoroquinolone-susceptible through fluoroquinolone-resistant to ESBL, and by clonal subgroup, from non-ST131-H30 through H30R1 to H30Rx. For each comparator agent except MEM, although a significantly greater fraction of resistant than susceptible isolates were C/T-resistant, only a minority of comparator-resistant isolates were C/T-resistant (i.e., 9% if LEV-resistant, 12% if GEN-resistant, 21% if CAZ-resistant, 38% if TZP-resistant). Conclusions C/T was broadly active against E. coli clinical isolates from veterans, notwithstanding significant variation by resistance category and ST131-H30R1/H30Rx status, outperforming all non-carbapenem comparators. C/T should prove useful as a carbapenem-sparing therapy for multidrug-resistant E. coli ST131 infections, including in veterans.
Reflection: Evolution of the Field over Seven Decades

Marked expansion of physiologic understanding and the improvement of burn patient outcomes have resulted from multidisciplinary clinical/laboratory research programs at burn centers in the United States and elsewhere.
Does the ambulance environment adversely affect the ability to perform oral endotracheal intubation

OBJECTIVE: Oral endotracheal intubation (ETI) is the preferred method of controlling the airway in critically ill or injured patients. It was postulated that time could be saved if intubation was performed in the ambulance en route to the hospital. This study was designed to determine whether the ambulance environment adversely affected the ability of emergency medical technicians at the advanced-intermediate level (EMT-AI) to perform oral ETI. HYPOTHESIS: The restrictive environment of a moving ambulance would affect adversely the ability of EMT-AIs to perform ETI compared with a controlled setting. This would result in a significant increase in the time necessary to perform ETI in the ambulance compared with a controlled setting not complicated by restrictive space and motion. METHODS: Twenty on-duty EMT-AIs were recruited to volunteer for this prospective, nonrandomized, nonblinded trial. All participants performed three consecutive oral ETIs on an airway mannequin in two settings: 1) in the back of a moving ambulance; and 2) on a table in the rescue squad station. Of the participants, 10 performed the intubations in the ambulance first; the remainder performed the intubations at the station first. Time for intubation with the mannequin was recorded by stopwatch. The mean times for intubation in both settings were compared by Student's t-test (p < 0.05). RESULTS: All intubation attempts were successful. The mean time for intubation in the station was 13.0 +/- 3.4 seconds. The mean time in the ambulance setting was 13.2 +/- 5.3 seconds. There was no significant difference between the intubation times in the two settings (p = 0.88). CONCLUSION: The environment of a moving ambulance does not appear to hinder the ability of EMT-AIs to perform oral ETI in a laboratory setting with a mannequin model.
Post-acute care discharge delays for neurology inpatients: Opportunity to improve patient flow

Background Hospital stays for patients discharged to post-acute care are longer and more costly than routine discharges. Issues disrupting patient flow from hospital to post-acute care facilities are an underrecognized strain on hospital resources. We sought to quantify the burden of medically unnecessary hospital days for inpatients with neurologic illness and planned discharge to post-acute care facilities. Methods We conducted a retrospective evaluation of hospital discharge delays for patients with neurologic disease and plans for discharge to post-acute care. We identified 100 sequential hospital admissions to an academic neurology inpatient service that were medically ready for discharge from December 4, 2017, to January 25, 2018. For each patient, we quantified the number of medically unnecessary hospital days, or all days in the hospital following the determination of medical discharge readiness. Results Among 100 patients medically ready for discharge with plans for post-acute care disposition (47 female, mean age 72.5 years, mean length of stay 12.3 days), 50 patients were planned for discharge to skilled nursing, 37 to acute rehabilitation, 10 to hospice/palliative care, and 3 to other facilities. There was a total of 1,226 patient-days, and 480 patient-days (39%) occurred following medical readiness for discharge. Medically unnecessary days ranged from 0 to 80 days per patient (mean 4.8, median 2.5, interquartile range 1–5 days). Conclusion Unnecessary hospital days represent a large burden for patients with neurologic illness requiring post-acute care on discharge. These discharge delays present an opportunity to improve hospital-wide patient flow.
The Darkening of Europe: Afrofuturist Ambitions and Afropessimist Fears in Damir Lukacevic's Dystopian Film Transfer (2010)

Damir Lukacevic’s dystopian film Transfer (2010) is one of a handful of recent German films that use science fiction to respond to Germans’ anxieties about the influx of refugees in the last ten ye...
The Pericentromeric Heterochromatin of Homologous Chromosomes Remains Associated After Centromere Pairing Dissolves in Mouse Spermatocyte Meiosis

In meiosis, crossovers between homologous chromosomes link them together. This enables them to attach to microtubules of the meiotic spindle as a unit, such that the homologs will be pulled away from one another at anaphase I. Homologous pairs can sometimes fail to become linked by crossovers. In some organisms, these non-exchange partners are still able to segregate properly. In several organisms, associations between the centromeres of non-exchange partners occur in meiotic prophase. These associations have been proposed to promote segregation in meiosis I. But it is unclear how centromere pairing could promote subsequent proper segregation. Here we report that meiotic centromere pairing of chromosomes in mouse spermatocytes allows the formation of an association between chromosome pairs. We find that heterochromatin regions of homologous centromeres remain associated even after centromere-pairing dissolves. Our results suggest the model that, in mouse spermatocytes, heterochromatin maintains the association of homologous centromeres in the absence crossing-over.
Forschungsfragen der Arbeit

Ziel der Untersuchung ist es, Einflussfaktoren fur das Aktivitatsverhalten der Babyboomer-Generation im landlichen Raum zu identifizieren. Die untersuchten Outcomes im ersten Untersuchungsteil stellen die Haufigkeit des zielbezogenen Gehens und die Haufigkeit des zielbezogenen Radfahrens dar. Mithilfe eines an das CADM (Klockner & Blobaum, 2010) angelehnten, aus dem aktuellen Forschungsstand abgeleiteten Modells sollen die relevanten psychosozialen und Umwelteinflussfaktoren identifiziert werden.
Elicited upper limb motions through transcutaneous cervical spinal cord stimulation

Objective: Transcutaneous cervical spinal cord stimulation (tsCSC) has been demonstrated to activate the dorsal root and activate targeted muscles. However, it is unclear whether tsCSC can elicit functionally relevant movements of the upper limb for assistive/rehabilitative purposes. Approach: The current study sought to elicit arm and hand movements by tsCSC by placing an electrode array near the cervical segments of the spinal cord. Anode stimulation current pulses were delivered to the dorsal side at 120 Hz and 30 Hz in separate trials. The elicited joint kinematics were captured using a motion tracking system. Main results: The results revealed that distal and proximal joint movements can be elicited either independently or synergistically. Specifically, different motions, including flexion and extension of the elbow, wrist, and five digits, can be selectively elicited by adjusting the stimulation parameters, such as stimulation location and stimulation intensity. Significance: The findings demonstrated the feasibility of the spinal cord stimulation technique in eliciting functional movements of the upper limb. The outcomes also revealed the potential of the tsCSC technique as a promising assistive or rehabilitative method for individuals with impaired function of the upper limb.
The Influence of Prior Knowledge on Memory and Metamemory for Famous Names and Faces

Abstract. Two experiments examined the effect of prior knowledge on memory and metamemory for names and faces using famous 1960s and 2000s actors as the manipulation of prior knowledge. In Experime...
Electrochemical Behavior of S and C Mono-Doped Sodium Tantalate Photocatalysts

Sodium tantalate powder was synthesized and doped with suitable anions using a low-temperature hydrothermal process. The prepared samples were investigated for photocatalytic and electrochemical behavior using various characterization techniques. The crystal structure, stretching frequencies, and surface morphology were studied using X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The electrochemical performances of the samples were studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis. Kinetics of hydrogen evolution (HER) and oxygen evolution (OER) reactions in a basic electrolyte were also investigated. From the above characterization techniques, it has been revealed that NaTaO3 (or, NT), c-NaTaO3 (or, cNT), and s-NaTaO3 (or, sNT) have a cubic crystal structure in the perovskite phase and possess direct band gaps of energies 3.9 eV, 3.8 eV, and 3.7 eV, respectively. The average crystallite size of NT, cNT, and sNT is calculated as 15 nm, 12 nm, and 20 nm, respectively. sNT has higher capacitive properties than NT and cNT, but it cannot be considered a typical supercapacitor electrode material. However, all the samples have shown optimal performance in hydrogen and oxygen evolution processes.
The Epidemic Initiation Model

The epidemic begins with the arrival in a disease-free area of an individual infected with smallpox, but not yet manifesting any symptoms. The infective arrives unnoticed and unknowingly transmits the disease to others; hence initially the epidemic grows out of control. Before too long, however, one or another of the infected individuals shows symptoms and is diagnosed as a carrier of smallpox. Once the disease is discovered, the initial phase of the epidemic is over.
Biomedical applications of accelerator mass spectrometry: kinetics of oxaliplatin-DNA binding in genomic DNA and human cancer cells

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 14-18, 2007; Los Angeles, CA 3205 Oxaliplatin is a relatively new platinum analogue that is currently used in chemotherapy of metastatic colorectal cancer. Oxaliplatin exerts its anti-tumor effects by covalent modification of DNA to form monoadducts, and intra- and interstrand diadducts, like other platinum-based anticancer drugs such as cisplatin and carboplatin. Very recently, we reported the use of accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS), an extremely sensitive detection method, to measure both in vitro and cell-based kinetics of carboplatin-DNA monoadduct formation. We report an application of our approach to measurement of both the kinetics of [14C]oxaliplatin-DNA adduct formation with genomic DNA and drug uptake and DNA binding in 833K human testicular cancer cells, T24 human bladder cancer cells and MDA-MB-231 multi-drug resistant human breast cancer cells. A strength of this approach is that because radiocarbon is located in the carrier group, not only the total amount of oxaliplatin-DNA adducts can be measured, but a series of adducts can also be discriminated following DNA digestion and HPLC separation. The in vitro binding study of [14C]oxaliplatin to salmon sperm DNA, and digestion of the resulting platinated DNA followed by HPLC-AMS measurement, allowed for straightforward kinetic calculations that revealed the mechanism of action for oxaliplatin, and for differential oxaliplatin-DNA adduct formation as a function of time. In addition, 833K cells, T24 cells and MDA-MB-231 cells were incubated with a sub-pharmacological dose of [14C]oxaliplatin, resulting in the both drug uptake and oxaliplatin-DNA adduct quantitation. Interestingly, HPLC-AMS data of the digested DNA resulting from the incubation of [14C]oxaliplatin with T24 cells for 24 h shows a similar compositional pattern, but a significantly different mass distribution of oxaliplatin-DNA adducts, compared with that from the in vitro experiments. Of importance, the lowest concentration of radiocarbon measured was approximately 1 amol/1 μg of DNA. This sensitivity may allow the method to be useful for clinical applications. Work was performed at the Research Resource for Biomedical AMS, operated at UC LLNL under the auspices of the U.S. DOE contract #W-7405-ENG-48 and partially supported by NIH/NCRR, Biomedical Technology Program grant #P41 RR13461 and DOE/LDRD grant 06-LW-023.
Chapter 38 Forensic Use of Heavy Minerals in Civil and Criminal Investigations

Abstract Extensive historic use has been made of heavy minerals in sedimentological and stratigraphic studies. More recently, heavy minerals have been utilised in a wide variety of forensic applications. Five examples are presented to show how heavy minerals have been used in a murder investigation, identify the source of groundwater contamination, quantify the volume of sediment deposited in a wetland area as a result of improper erosion control in an adjacent subdivision, identify the source and cause of the premature aircraft engine failure and in a case involving industrial sabotage. These examples illustrate well how a mineral component, which often comprises less than 1% of a typical sample, can provide the geoscientist with information that is critical in a wide variety of forensic investigations.
Keep Me Logged In: Electronic Resource Vendors and Facebook

Web 2.0, social networking in particular, has permeated the scholarly realm, allowing libraries to connect with and provides services to their users in new ways. However, are other library partners – namely electronic resource vendors and publishers – also making use of these new ways? This study examines whether or not a selected collection of databases and their publishers, drawn from the author‟s library, have Facebook profiles and briefly examines those profiles where applicable. The results of the study reveal that several vendors and their products are on Facebook, which the author feels is a step in the right direction; however, the author feels that this step is still passive and suggests further study to see who is actually accessing these vendors‟ profile and how this might affect the dynamic between vendors and users.
Characterization of Excision Repair in Neurospora crassa

The excision of pyrimidine dimers from the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of Neurospora crassa was examined. Postirradiation incubation in the presence of several chemicals known to inhibit various repair systems indicated that caffeine reduced the rate of excision twofold, but did not inhibit excision completely as did proflavine and quinacrine. Examination of the time course of excision showed that repair occurs at a relatively rapid rate: approximately 60 dimers excised per min after 500 ergs/mm(2). Further evidence for rapid excision was obtained by sedimentation analysis of DNA; the maximal number of breaks introduced during repair was three, suggesting that breaks are repaired almost as fast as they are made and that only a few dimers are repaired at a time. Repair synthesis was measured by prelabeling the DNA with (15)N and D(2)O, and then subjecting the DNA to equilibrium density gradient centrifugation after postirradiation incubation with (32)P. Accumulation of single-strand breaks with increasing dose of ultraviolet radiation suggested that the limiting step was subsequent to the incision and excision steps of repair. Equilibrium CsCl centrifugation demonstrated that the limiting step in excision was repair synthesis.
The glnB region of the Escherichia coli chromosome.

Abstract We present sequences of the glnB gene of Escherichia coli and of two open reading frames (ORFs) located directly upstream of glnB and transcribed in the same direction. The major transcriptional start sites for glnB are located between ORF-2 and glnB, but some transcription of glnB is initiated at the promoter for ORF-1. The putative amino acid sequence of the ORF-2 product has high homology to that of response regulators which by phosphorylation acquire the ability to activate transcription of sigma 54-dependent promoters. The product of ORF-1 showed no similarity to other known proteins. The product of neither ORF-1 nor ORF-2 is necessary for the ability of PII, the product of glnB, to bring about the repression of glutamine synthetase in response to nitrogen excess. On the other hand, the product of hmpA, a gene located on the other side of glnB and transcribed in the opposite direction, appears to play an auxiliary role in this process.
Ethical and Legal Issues in Decision Support

The use of computers to help humans make diagnoses and prognoses in the practice of medicine or nursing is an exciting and unsettling development in the evolution of clinical and hospital practice. Such use engenders ethical and legal challenges paralleling those challenges seen regularly to arise with the introduction of many new technologies in healthcare. In the case of computational decision support systems, the most salient ethical issues involve standards of care, appropriate uses and users and professional relationships. Balancing patient safety against opportunities to improve care constitutes a tension that mirrors the difficulty encountered in debates about whether and how the government should regulate decision support systems. At ground are questions of accountability, responsibility and liability. In most cases, we lack adequate empirical data to arrive at uncontroversial conclusions. In the context of an exciting new technology, the reduction of that ignorance itself becomes an ethical imperative.
Working capital, cash holding, and profitability of restaurant firms

Abstract Efficient working capital management is becoming important for restaurant firms coping with weak financial conditions and increased economic uncertainty. This study investigates the impact of restaurant firms’ working capital on their profitability. We further examine the effects of firms’ cash levels on the relationship between working capital and profitability. The findings ascertain a strong inverted U-shape relationship between working capital and a firm's profitability, which indicates the existence of an optimal working capital level for restaurant firms. This study also reveals that a firm's cash level is an important factor for efficient working capital management. The results suggest that interactive effects exist among working capital, cash levels, and profitability. Thus, restaurant managers should consider these different roles and impacts when developing an efficient working capital management strategy. Detailed results and implications are presented in the main body of this paper.
Propylene and ethylene glycol as solvents for Sudan IV and Sudan black B.

Propylene or ethylene glycol is recommended as a solvent for Sudan IV and Sudan black B to replace the commonly used alcohol-acetone mixtures for general lipid staining in tissue sections. Either glycol is used as a dehydrating agent, dye solvent, and differentiating solution. They offer the advantages of a stable solution, inert with respect to solubilities of lipid material in it, and excellent control of differentiation without loss of dye from lipid particles. Sections remain pliable and are not shrunken by the glycols. Counterstains may be used after staining with Sudan IV but are generally not necessary after staining with Sudan black B. With the use of propylene glycol as a solvent, Sudan IV appears to equal the staining ability of Sudan black B as regards the type of lipid material detected, and the choice of dye to be used would depend on the color contrast desired.
Hypertension in children and adolescents. II. Drug therapy.

A L T t l O U O H the shortand long-term efficacy, side effects, and metabolism of antihypertensive drugs have never been studied in children of various ages, they can be used intelligently in pediatric practice on the basis of data acquired from studies in adults. No attempt will be made in this review to describe in detail either the pharmacology or clinical pharmacology of the 0-ntihypertensive drugs. Interested readers are referred to recent reviews of the clinical pharmacology of antihypertensive agents by Nies and Melmon 1 and Gaffney. 2 The total daily dosage of any antihypertensive drug which may be given to an individual patient is in most instances determined by the hypotensive effect and the side effects which it produces in that patient. The dosage of each drug should be tailored for the patient with these factors in mind both during acute and chronic administration. For most effective use, the physician should have some knowledge of the mechanism of action of each drug. Even
Evaluation of thermal decomposition temperatures of amino acids by differential enthalpic analysis.

The latent power of thermal analysis (DTA, DSC, TGA) for ultramicroscopic analysis is widely recognized but has only begun to be applied to biochemical problems. In the present study, in order to provide insight into the thermal stability of the amino acids, a comprehensive set of thermal spectra of amino acids as observed on solid samples in the DSC has been determined. The direct measurements that are recorded have made the possibility of their systematic analysis quite useful and attractive.
Microbes take center stage on the coral reef

Coral reefs are the most diverse of all marine ecosystems, but most reef scientists have traditionally ignored the most diverse group of organisms on reefs, namely the microbes. In Coral Reefs in the Microbial Seas, however, microbes get their much-deserved place on center stage, in a delightful and informative book that combines cutting-edge science with masterful storytelling.
Chemical composition and antioxidant properties of mature and baby artichokes (Cynara scolymus L.), raw and cooked

Artichoke is a traditionally consumed vegetable in many countries. In the past decade, the immature (baby) variety has been successfully introduced in the international food markets. The aim of this study is to compare the chemical composition and antioxidant properties of mature and baby artichokes, in raw state and after cooking. For this purpose, the proximate chemical analysis was estimated, and aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts were obtained to determine the contents of total polyphenols, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, and cynarin. Proximate analysis revealed that cooking increased proteins and lipids in baby artichokes (p < 0.05). The total phenolics content was similar in mature and baby artichokes and increased after cooking (p < 0.05). Cooked baby artichokes exhibited the highest total phenolics, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, and cynarin contents, as well as free radical scavenging capacity, measured as DPPH. Our results show that baby artichokes exhibit higher scavenging capacity than mature artichokes, and thus they constitute a particularly interesting source of putative antioxidant polyphenols, a quality that is improved by the application of thermal treatment.
Gaseous interference to performance of a quartz crystal aerosol mass monitor

The response characteristics of a quartz crystal aerosol mass monitor (QCAM) to gaseous material have been examined with three pollutant gases: O3, NO2 and SO2. O3 (0.5 and 2.0 ppm) and NO2 (0.5 and 1.0 ppm) did not affect the base frequency of the crystals in QCAM. SO2 (1.0 and 3.0 ppm) caused a significant increase in frequency change (Δf) and the change was increased with increasing SO2 concentration, showing that the rates of increase were 17 ± 1 and 23 ± 1 Hz/min for dry SO2 of 1 and 3 ppm, respectively. The SO2-induced Δf was further increased with increasing humidity; 58 and 100% increase from the Δf values caused by dry gas stream at humidities of 40 and 80% R.H., respectively. With sensor crystals preloaded with particles, the effect of SO2 was reduced for all the particles tested, but the extent of the reduction was variable, depending upon the kind of particle material. Contrary to SO2, NO2 caused a significant increase in Δf with some particles. These results indicate that NO2 and SO2 gases in the concentration ranges tested would cause an overestimation of aerosol concentration of up to an order of 100 μg/m3.
Postglacial diatom stratigraphy of Kirchner Marsh, Minnesota

Abstract Fossil diatom assemblages from a 12-m core from Kirchner Marsh were compared with modern surface assemblages from 159 Minnesota and labrador lakes using cluster analysis. The deepest levels of the core (spruce pollen zone 13,000 to 10,200 yr B.P.) resemble modern diatom assemblages from deep oligotrophic lakes of northeastern Minnesota. Diatom assemblages of the pine pollen zone (about 10,200 to 9500 yr B.P.) have few modern analogs. In the oak zone (9500 yr B.P. to present) after a brief pulse of diatom species indicative of eutrophication, the assemblages are dominated by species characteristic of shallow lakes, suggesting a drop in the lake water level during the prairie period (5500 to 7500 yr B.P.). Macrofossil data of W. A. Watts and T. C. Winter (1966, Geological Society of America Bulletin77, 1339–1360) show that this shift to shallow-water diatoms occurred when aquatic macrophytes appeared at the site in abundance.
Epidemic boric acid poisoning simulating staphylococcal toxic epidermal necrolysis of the newborn infant: Ritter's disease.

An outbreak of boric acid poisoning caused a clinical picture indistinguishable from toxic epidermal necrolysis of the newborn infant. Coagulase-positive staphylococci were cultured from affected infants, but epidemiologic considerations suggested that these were not causing disease. Appropriate chemical assays enabled the correct diagnosis to be made.
Fluctuating Two-state Light Harvesting In A Photosynthetic Membrane

The mechanism by which light is converted into chemical energy in a natural photosynthetic system has drawn considerable research interest. Using fluorescence spectroscopy and microscopic imaging, ...
Ecological risk assessment in a large river-reservoir. 1: Introduction and background

The US Department of Energy initiated a remedial investigation of the Clinch River/Poplar Creek system Superfund Site in 1989. This site, located in eastern Tennessee near Oak Ridge, consists of 70 river kilometers and 40 km{sup 2} of surface area. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the nature and extent of contamination, perform an ecological and human health risk assessment, and evaluate possible remedial alternatives. This introductory article summarizes the environmental setting, the contamination history, and the study approach and provides some general results of the site characterization. Subsequent papers in this series describe the ecological risks to fish, piscivorous and insectivorous wildlife, and benthic invertebrates.
Shiva, Lord of Bhang.

In India, Cannabis Indica has been used for literally thousands of years in the worship of the god Shiva. Cannabis is used in an orally administered form called bhang which can be either the wet resinous leaves formed into pills of a drink made of milk, cannabis, and various spices consumed by worshipers of Shiva on festival days or by smoking the flowering buds of cannabis—a practice generally reserved for holy men who dedicate their lives to ascetic practice and the worship of Shiva. This practice is codified in the Vedas as well as in legends about the origin of cannabis and its relationship to Shiva.
Studies on the helminth fauna of Alaska. XXXIV. The parasites of wolves, Canis lupus L.

particularly for the Eskimos and Indians living in more remote regions. These aboriginal peoples continually have close association with canine animals and would appear to be quite vulnerable to infection from this source. That this is true is already evident, although data on morbidity from animal-borne diseases are far from complete. At the present time, at least in Alaska, these people have little ability to lessen the degree of exposure to zoonotic diseases, for poverty, ignorance of the problems, and adverse climatic conditions combine in making it difficult to effect sanitary practices necessary to prevent such exposures. The investigation of parasites and diseases of canine animals in Alaska was initiated by Rausch in January, 1949. Many canids, representing 5 species, have been autopsied over the 10-year period, and it is believed that these surveys are now sufficiently complete to permit an evaluation of the potential importance of the helminths to human health. The findings for each canine species will be reported separately. It is the purpose of this paper to present observations on the helminths of wolves, Canis lupus L., with a review of pertinent literature.
Reliability and Validity of Swallows as a Measure of Breast Milk Intake in the First Days of Life

Background: Breastfeeding assessment in the hospital to determine adequacy of feeds remains controversial. Swallow evaluation is integral to current assessment tools, but the literature is not clear about whether the number of swallows is an accurate indicator of breast milk intake in early postpartum. Objectives: To determine the reliability and validity of swallows as a measure of breast milk intake in the first days of a newborn’s life. Methods: Thirty mother-baby dyads were observed at one breastfeeding; pre- and postfeed weights were done, bedside audible swallows were counted, and feeds were videotaped for independent rating. Milk intake was determined from weight change, adjusted for insensible water loss. Results: Number of swallows was significantly and positively correlated with breast milk intake (r = .71). Number of swallows alone, however, accounted for only 50.8% (R2 = .508) of the variation in milk intake. Infant age was the best predictor of milk intake (sage = .56 vs sNo. swallows = .36), accounting for 68% of the variation in milk intake when combined with swallows. The majority of infants took in 10 g or less of breast milk (77%); length of feeds was variable. In-room (at bedside) lactation consultant (LC) and video rater LC swallow counts were significantly and positively correlated (r = .93;P < .01). However, the 2 lactation consultant swallow numbers include clinically important discrepancies in a Bland-Altman analysis. Conclusions: Number of swallows was not supported as a reliable or valid indicator of milk intake and adequacy of a feed in the first few days of life.
Delivering Deep Health Information Using Clinical Eye

This paper introduces a web-based semantic tool that provides more detailed information about a term selected by the user of a web browser, the Clinical Eye. This tool was initially designed for the medical area of cardiology, which is still controversial in terms of vocabularies. Anontology has been developed as a reference base where those different vocabularies converge. The information supplied by the tool was taken from specialized medical web pages and technical documents. It is a tool of low interference for ongoing activities, so it can be used during a clinical activity. It has been designed according to requirements raised by studies in various medical communities, which pointed the use of Internet during consultations and medical needs for deep information.
Survey-design and analytical strategies for better healthcare stated-choice studies.

Stated-choice (SC) surveys, such as conjoint analysis, present some interesting problems for researchers that are not addressed in the traditional survey-development literature. While the constraints imposed by preference theory, the experimental design of the choice sets, and the statistical methods used to analyze choice data all pose challenges for researchers new to SC methods, they also direct such researchers towards techniques that are not possible with more traditional survey methods. In this article, we focus on issues of preference heterogeneity (variation in preferences across subjects by observable and non-observable co-variates) and attribute dominance to illustrate the synergistic roles that survey-design and analytical strategies play in SC research. In this article, we show how advanced analytical techniques are likely to be more important than survey design solutions when addressing preference heterogeneity. Good practice supports the use of mixed-logit and similar modeling approaches to mitigate the problem of unobserved preference or variance heterogeneity. However, if the sample size is not large enough or the survey instrument does not contain questions about important subject characteristics, then the source of heterogeneity cannot be identified and the problems caused by heterogeneity will be magnified.
The configuration of the alloisoleucine present in maple syrup urine disease plasma

Abstract A gas liquid chromatographic method has been used to assign the l configuration to the alliosoleucine present in the serum of “branched chain ketonuric” patients.
The role of α-synuclein assembly and metabolism in the pathogenesis of Lewy body disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) are members of a family of disorders characterized by the presence of inclusion bodies, or Lewy bodies (LBs), filled with aggregates of α-synuclein. These diseases are a leading cause of movement disorders and dementia in the aging population, and it is crucial to understand the factors leading to the accumulation and assembly of these α-synuclein aggregates. Previous studies have uncovered much about the factors leading to aggregation and the mechanisms causing neurotoxicity of these inclusion bodies; however, little is known about factors that promote the degradation and prevent the aggregation of α-synuclein. The present article provides a review of recent efforts in the investigation of factors involved in α-synuclein metabolism and the mechanisms involved in preventing accumulation of α-synuclein and degrading this molecule. Understanding these processes might provide targets for the development of novel therapies for disorders such as DLB and PD.
Oxidation-reduction state of free NADP+ during mixed-function oxidation in perfused rat livers—Evaluation of the assumptions of near equilibrium by comparisons of surface fluorescence changes and calculated NADP+:NADPH ratios

Abstract Changes in cellular pyridine nucleotide and flavoprotein oxidation-reduction states associated with mixed-function oxidation of p -nitroanisole, hexobarbital and aminopyrine by perfused rat livers were studied. Surface fluorescence techniques were compared with NAD(P) + /NAD(P)H ratios calculated from substrates assumed to be in near equilibrium with various dehydrogenases in freeze-clamped liver samples. p -Nitroanisole and p -nitrophenol caused a large decrease in pyridine nucleotide (366 → 450 nm) fluorescence as a result of fluorescence quenching. This decrease, therefore, did not reflect oxidation of pyridine nucleotides. Moreover, p -nitroanisole infusion decreased the free NADP + :NADPH ratios calculated from malic enzyme and isocitrate dehydrogenase. Hexobarbital, which did not produce fluorescence quenching, caused an oxidation in pyridine nucleotides as indicated by both a decrease in surface fluorescence and an increase in the calculated NADP + /NADPH ratio. These data indicate that free NADP + /NADPH ratios calculated from substrates, which are assumed to be in near equilibrium with NADPH-generating enzymes, indeed reflect the NADPH redox state in intact liver cells.
Photoinduced absorption and erasable optical information storage in polyanilines

Abstract Photoinduced absorption spectroscopy has been used to study a variety of forms of polyaniline. Experiments on emeraldine base and leucoemeraldine base have led to a picture of the photoproduction and decay of massive, long-lived defect states that can be described in terms of conformational changes involving rotations of the C 6 H 4 rings. Photoexcitation spectra of other polyanilines, such as pernigraniline base and poly( o -toluidine), exhibit similar features including relatively weak photoinduced infrared vibrations and a relatively strong photoinduced absorption peak near 1.4–1.5 eV. In several of these materials, the photoinduced changes are very long-lived, leading to an investigation of the polyanilines as media for erasable optical information storage.
Variation in Hormone Autonomy and Regenerative Potential of Cells Transformed by Strain A66 of Agrobacterium Tumefaciens

Mutant Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain A66 is shown to differ from its wild-type progenitor (strain A6) by a spontaneous 2.7 kb DNA insert into the T-DNA region of its Ti plasmid. Tobacco stems transformed by A66 exhibit an attenuated response characterized by slow growth and shoot proliferation. Clonal analysis demonstrates that this response is due to an alteration in the growth and regenerative potential of transformed cells, rather than to variation in the frequency of fully autonomous cells within the primary tumor. Cloned A66 transformed tobacco cells exhibit an auxin requirement for growth that can be overcome by shoot proliferation. Other host species, however, may complement the A66 mutation yielding fully auxin-independent tumors when transformed by this bacterium.
At Once Human and Not Human: Law, Gender and Historical Becoming in Colonial Egypt

This article explores two approaches to the gendered human that occupied the historical stage of colonial Egypt. The first was juridical, the second was Islamic and mystical. Elaborating on the first, ‘juridical humanity’, this article probes the constitutive force of modern law in cementing the human as its teleology as well as the colonial operations of this force. Fashioning itself as an answer to the question ‘who is the human?’, juridical humanity took on particular salience in relation to women while engendering disciplinary operations: the humanising powers of colonial law instituted a system of bondage between the law and the woman-human. The mystical articulation, on the other hand, offered a competing vision for the human, one that constituted an answer to the question ‘where is the human?’, thereby making impossible the unleashing of colonial humanising powers.
Dwarf Drosophila produced by ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid: a relationship to chelation of zinc.

MANY chemical and physical treatments have been used for producing non-heritable changes in development. When such changes resemble known mutants, they are called phenocopies. A variety of phenocopies has been induced by metals or metal-inhibiting compounds1.
Amplify-and-Forward cooperative relaying for a linear Wireless Sensor Network

This paper explores the benefits of cooperative diversity for a linear arrangement of Wireless Sensor Network (WSN). Such arrangement is typical for instance in the case of pipeline monitoring. The focus in this work is restricted to the Amplify-and-Forward (AF) protocol at the relay sensor node where a proper lightweight combining strategy is considered at the receiver. A linear 3-node arrangement of WSN network is considered in the simulation. Substantial gain was observable upon deploying our cooperative scheme. It is evident that the distance between sensor nodes plays a role in dictating the overall system performance. Though they both fall under the same paradigm, there can be a remarkable difference between a fully-cooperative and a partially-cooperative relay node. This motivated us to introduce the reliability of cooperation for the relay sensor node, and study its impact on the system performance. Simulation results make it clear that the cooperation reliability of the relay node can excruciately impact the system performance. Proper measure needs to be taken to account for this vulnerability in the cooperative scheme.
Plastic Strain, Environmental, and Crevice Effects on SCC Initiation and Propagation in Types 316NG and 304 Stainless Steel

Abstract Initiation of stress corrosion cracking (SCC) in constant-extension-rate (CERT) test specimens of type 316NG, solution-annealed type 304, and sensitized type 304 stainless steel (SS) has b...
Catheter Induced Error in Hepatic Venous Sampling

That the composition of hepatic venous blood sampled by catheter is not representative of the mixed hepatic venous blood has been shown by demonstrating that the concentrations of mesenterically infused para-aminohippuric acid and systemically infused Rose Bengal are exceedingly variable in blood sampled by a catheter placed at various positions within the hepatic venous system. These results suggest that a large and previously unsuspected error may confound the estimation of hepatic blood flow by dye infusion technics employing catheterization of the hepatic veins.
Molecular mechanics—modeling molecular structure and energetics: the 2002 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Chemistry presented to Norman Allinger

The Franklin Institute of Philadelphia awarded the 2002 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Chemistry to Norman L. Allinger for his pioneering work in computational chemistry in the field of molecular mechanics with his development of the MM series of force fields, their widespread application to the fundamental understanding of molecular structure and energetics, and their implementation as a significant tool to practicing chemists.
Pulmonary Rehabilitation for Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome after Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) is a progressive, insidious lung disease affecting allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation recipients. Unfortunately, there is no standardized approach for treatment of BOS in post–hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients. Pulmonary rehabilitation is a standard treatment in emphysema, an irreversible obstructive lung disease secondary to tobacco abuse. The National Emphysema Treatment Trial (NETT) demonstrated improved exercise tolerance, decrease dyspnea, and increase of quality of life in patients with severe emphysema after pulmonary rehabilitation. We hypothesized that pulmonary rehabilitation may benefit patients with BOS. Patients with BOS were identified retrospectively from January 2005 to the present. Patients who enrolled in pulmonary rehabilitation were included in the study. We obtained summaries via chart review of each patient's progress after pulmonary rehabilitation enrollment from his or her respective rehabilitation centers. Six-minute walk distances, spirometry, and pulmonary symptoms were compared before and after the completion of pulmonary rehabilitation. We identified 11 patients with BOS documented from their pulmonologist's clinical notes who were enrolled into pulmonary rehabilitation. Ten of the 11 patients completed pulmonary rehabilitation. All patients had improvement in their 6-minute walk distances after the completion of pulmonary rehabilitation, with an average improvement in distance of 307 feet (P value=.005). Six of the 10 patients completed Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaires before and after rehabilitation. There was a significant improvement in the physical functioning score (P value=0.029). Pulmonary rehabilitation seems to improve 6-minute walk distance, subjective symptoms of dyspnea, and exercise tolerance in patients with BOS. This may be an important adjunctive therapy for a debilitating disease with limited treatment options.
In vitro activity of lomefloxacin (SC 47111 or NY-198) against Chlamydia trachomatis strains.

Abstract The in vitro activity of lomefloxacin (SC 47111 or NY-198), a new quinolone antibiotic, against 11 strains of Chlamydia trachomatis was determined and compared to doxycycline, norfloxacin, and ciprofloxacin. Lomefloxacin had anti-chlamydial activity comparable to that of ciprofloxacin. (MIC and MBC 90 , 2 μg/ml) .
Hybrid floating-point modules with low area overhead on a fine-grained processing core

This paper proposes Hybrid Floating-Point Modules (HFPMs) as a method to improve software floating-point (FP) throughput without incurring the area overhead of hardware floating-point units (FPUs). The proposed HFPMs were synthesized in 65 nm CMOS. They increase throughput over a fixed-point software FP implementation by 3.6× for addition/subtraction, 2.3× for multiplication, and require less area than hardware modules. Nine functionally equivalent FPU implementations using combinations of software, hardware, and hybrid modules are synthesized and provide 1.07–3.34× higher throughput than a software FPU implementation, while requiring 1.08–12.5× less area than a hardware FPU for multiply-add operations.
Fertility Transition, Conscious Choice, and Numeracy*

One of the preconditions of the fertility transition, as stated by A.J. Coale, is that reproductive decisions must be within the calculus of conscious choice. It is suggested that the change in mentality which leads to family limitation includes "numeracy about children," a clear notion of what family size ought to be and the awareness of individuals of where they stand with respect to the norm. The article explores the hypothesis that numeracy about children appeared historically in various times and places, and that the conceptualization of family size was a necessary condition for adopting family limitation.
Flame Speeds in Fuel Sprays With Hydrogen Addition

The influence of hydrogen addition on the burning rates of kerosene sprays in air is studies experimentally. Flame speeds are measured as a function of fuel drop size, equivalence ratio, and hydrogen concentration. The results obtained show that evaporation rates have a controlling effect on flame speeds over wide ranges of mean drop size. They also demonstrate that the burning rates of liquid kerosene air mixtures are augmented appreciably by the addition of small quantities of hydrogen to the air flowing into the combustion zone.
The bond length of Ni+2

Abstract The rotationally resolved photodissociation spectrum of mass-selected Ni+2 has been observed. Much of the spectrum is congested and perturbed, making the assignment of spectroscopic constants difficult. However the use of an accidental perturbation in the upper state is shown to simplify the interpretation of the rotational structure greatly. The bond length of the vibrationless ground state of the Ni+2 ion as determined from the rotational constant of that state is 2.2225 ± 0.005 A. Rotational band contour analysis indicates the ground state has an angular momentum spin plus orbit) along the bond axis Ω″, of 9 2 which is inconsistent with the ab initio theoretical prediction of a ground 4Σ+g state but is consistent with a 4Γg state.