cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Coronary embolization after balloon angioplasty or thromolytic therapy: An autopsy study of 32 cases

Abstract Objectives. This study was undertaken to examine the nature, extent and clinical relevance of coronary embolism after balloon angioplasty or thrombolytic therapy, or both. Background. Histopathologic documentation of postinterventional coronary embolization has been reported in only 10 patients from five studies. Methods. This retrospective autopsy-based study included 32 patients, treated with balloon angioplasty or thrombolysis, or both, who died within 3 weeks of the procedure and underwent autopsy at the Mayo Clinic. Clinical variables included patient age and gender, artery treated, site and type of obstruction, type of intervention, success of the procedure, and postprocedural changes in the electrocardiogram (ECG), cardiac enzymes and hemodynamic status. Histopathologic variables included characteristics of treated plaques, acutely infarcted myocardium and coronary microemboli. Associations between microemboli and clinical and microscopic factors were evaluated by ttests and simple and multiple linear regression. Results. Emboli were observed in 26 (81%) of the 32 patients. Among 83 emboli, 95% were thrombotic or atheromatous. The presence of microemboli was associated statistically with the development of postprocedural infarct extension, new myocardial infarction or new ECG abnormalities. Moreover, the greatest number of microemboli were associated with intervention in the left anterior descending coronary artery, multiple interventional sites, postprocedural medial dissection and plaque rupture or extrusion. Conclusions. Among patients undergoing balloon angioplasty or thrombolytic therapy who die and undergo autopsy, coronary microemboli occur in a substantial percent. The frequency in survivors is unknown. However, in living patients who develop acute myocardial ischemia or new ECG abnormalities after these interventions, coronary microembolization should be considered a potential cause.
SYNTHESIS OF POLYMERS WITH PHOSPHONIUM END GROUPS BY ATOM TRANSFER RADICAL POLYMERIZATION

The end groups of polymers prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), are well-defined and determined by the initiator used, at least one of them is a halogen end group. The halogen end groups can be transformed to other functionalities such as phosphonium salts as demonstrated in this paper. Kinetic studies with the compounds 1-phenylethyl bromide and methyl 2-bromopropionate, models for the polystyrene and polyacrylate chain ends respectively, indicated that bromine end groups were readily transformed to phosphonium end groups upon the addition of phosphines. Stability tests with the obtained phosphonium salts showed that 1-phenylethyl trialkylphosphonium bromide was stable, even at higher temperatures and in the presence of free phosphines. The stability of the propionate analogue was limited due to the presence of the ester group in the molecule. Polystyrene and poly(methyl acrylate) phosphonium salts were synthesized and the presence of the end groups was demonstrated by 1H NMR and ESI-...
Watching the Bacteriophage N4 RNA Polymerase Transcription by Time-dependent Soak-trigger-freeze X-ray Crystallography

The challenge for structural biology is to understand atomic-level macromolecular motions during enzymatic reaction. X-ray crystallography can reveal high resolution structures; however, one perceived limitation is that it reveals only static views. Here we use time-dependent soak-trigger-freeze X-ray crystallography, namely, soaking nucleotide and divalent metal into the bacteriophage RNA polymerase (RNAP)-promoter DNA complex crystals to trigger the nucleotidyl transfer reaction and freezing crystals at different time points, to capture real-time intermediates in the pathway of transcription. In each crystal structure, different intensities and shapes of electron density maps corresponding to the nucleotide and metal were revealed at the RNAP active site which allow watching the nucleotide and metal bindings and the phosphodiester bond formation in a time perspective. Our study provides the temporal order of substrate assembly and metal co-factor binding at the active site of enzyme which completes our understanding of the two-metal-ion mechanism and fidelity mechanism in single-subunit RNAPs. The nucleotide-binding metal (MeB) is coordinated at the active site prior to the catalytic metal (MeA). MeA coordination is only temporal, established just before and dissociated immediately after phosphodiester bond formation. We captured these elusive intermediates exploiting the slow enzymatic reaction in crystallo. These results demonstrate that the simple time-dependent soak-trigger-freeze X-ray crystallography offers a direct means for monitoring enzymatic reactions. Background: The two-metal-ion mechanism of the nucleotidyl transfer reaction by RNA/DNA polymerases has not been adequately elucidated due to lack of temporal resolution. Results: Soak-trigger-freeze x-ray crystallography revealed structures of natural, time-resolved intermediates of transcript initiation. Conclusion: First structural evidence shows that catalytic metal binds after the nucleotide and nucleotide-binding metal and right before reaction chemistry. Significance: Time-dependent soak-trigger-freeze x-ray crystallography can yield functionally relevant high resolution information to study enzyme reactions.
Electrocardiographic changes in children and adolescents treated with ziprasidone: a prospective study.

ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the electrocardiographic safety profile of low-dose ziprasidone (≤40 mg/day) among pediatric outpatients treated for up to 6 months. Method: This was a prospective, open-label trial involving 20 subjects with a mean age of 13.2 ± 3.0 years. Subjects received a mean ziprasidone dose of 30 ± 13 mg/day and were followed for 4.6 ± 2.0 months, receiving a median of nine electrocardiograms each (range 2-11; total, 176). Results: There were statistically significant changes from baseline to peak values in heart rate, PR, and QTc intervals, but not in QRS complex width. The mean QTc prolongation was 28 ± 26 milliseconds and not related to dose ( r = 0.16, p = .07). The peak QTc of three subjects reached or exceeded 450 milliseconds; one subject experienced a 114-millisecond prolongation. There was poor agreement (κ = 0.25) between automated and manual identification of long QTc intervals (≥440 milliseconds). Conclusions: These preliminary findings, occurring at doses low by current treatment standards, suggest that close electrocardiographic monitoring is warranted when prescribing ziprasidone to children, particularly at higher doses or when combined with other QTc-prolonging agents.
Hyalinization of Seminiferous Tubules and Clumping of Leydig Cells. Notes on Treatment of the Clinical Syndrome with Testosterone Propionate, Methyl Testosterone and Testosterone Pellets12

FIFTEEN of the cases described in the companion papers (1 and 2) were available for treatment. Therapy was deemed advisable for some because of their eunuchoidism, for others because of their climacteric symptoms but for most because of their lack of vigor and subnormal muscular strength. Those with marked gynecomastia, but with otherwise fairly normal development, were given androgenic therapy in order to gauge its effect upon the excessive breast development. Therapy consisted of daily injections of testosterone propionate5 given intramuscularly 5 times weekly to 14 of the 15 subjects. Methyl testosterone was administered sublingually in the form of specially compressed tablets or in the form of a liquid (dissolved in propylene glycol) in several instances. Implantation of 6 to 8 free testosterone pellets, weighing 75 mg. each, was undertaken in 5 Cases. In four instances determinations of the gonadotrophic excretion before, during and after therapy were made.
Comparative studies on the kinetic parameters and product analyses of chicken and rat liver and yeast fatty acid synthetase.

Abstract 1. 1. Comparative kinetics and product analyses of chicken and rat liver and yeast fatty acid synthetase. 2. 2. V max ' s for the three enzymes studied decrease with increasing primer chain-length, while K m ' s (except for yeast) increases. 3. 3. Palmitate is the main product (∼90%) of the rat synthetase whereas palmitate (60%) and stearate (40%) are the products of chicken and yeast enzymes. Increasing the primary chain length does not alter palmitate synthesis by rat and chicken enzymes but increases stearate synthesis by the yeast synthetase. 4. 4. The three synthetases could not synthesize fatty acids in the absence of primer acetyl-CoA suggesting that malonyl-CoA decarboxylase is not a component.
On the Aharonov-Bohm effect for bound states

The following model is discussed: A charged particle is bound by some potential to the origin of a coordinate system in three-dimensional space, while a shielded magnetic flux threads an axis through the origin, thus producing an Aharonov-Bohm effect. The Hamiltonian, boundary conditions, wave functions, and energy levels for this model are derived, and in particular the properties of the operators of kinetic angular momentum are discussed. The results obtained shed new light on some more general questions pertaining to boundary conditions and to the theory of angular momentum.
Determination of the pi NN coupling constant from elastic pion-nucleon scattering data.

We have analyzed the available pion-nucleon elastic scattering data with laboratory kinetic energy below 2 GeV and have extracted the charged-pion--nucleon coupling constant. The extracted value of ${\mathit{f}}^{2}$, using fixed-t dispersion relations, is found to be 0.0735\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0015, a value in conflict with the result of Koch and Pietarinen, yet consistent with the value of the ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\pi}}}^{0}$pp coupling determined in the recent Nijmegen analysis of pp scattering data.
Intimacy in response to direct gaze

Abstract Believing that they were participating in a study of encounter groups, male and female subjects were encouraged to deliver a personally revealing monologue to a same-sex listener whose visual behavior had been “programmed” by the experimenter. In the four experimental conditions, designed to explore the role of gaze as a stimulus, as a potential reinforcer, and as a source of feedback, the listener provided (a) continuous direct gaze; (b) direct gaze contingent upon intimate statements; (c) continuous gaze aversion; or (d) gaze aversion contingent upon intimate statements. The intimacy of the speaker's monologue was rated by a “blind” observer, the listener, and the speaker himself. Direct gaze, whether constant or contingent, appeared to promote intimacy between females and reticence between males, while gaze avoidance had the opposite effects. The only raters who disagreed with this assessment were the male speakers, who felt that they had been most intimate in the two direct gaze conditions. Positive feelings including liking for the listener and task satisfaction also were associated both with self-revelation and with direct gaze among females but not among males.
Restraint Reduction: Research Utilization and Case Study with Cognitive Impairment

Although great strides have been made in restraint reduction, restraints still present a challenge for long-term care facilities. Restraint reduction is particularly difficult with cognitively impaired residents. This article presents the implementation of a research-based approach to restraint reduction and a case study with a cognitively impaired resident. Two year after implementing the research-based approach, the restraint rate had decreased 28%. The case study with the cognitively impaired resident revealed an increase in nurse contacts but a decrease in nurse time after restraint reduction. Concern for the cognitively impaired resident's safety remained an issue for the staff. Discussion includes weighing the risk/benefit ratio of restraint use and considering dignity and quality of life.
Effects of condenser parameters on heat pipe optimization.

Condenser parameter effect on maximum heat transport in heat pipes for nonradiative and radiative cases
Developing the 1280 by 1024 AMLCD for the RAH-66 Comanche

A miniature 1280 by 1024 transmissive active matrix liquid crystal display (AMLCD) was developed for the helmet-mounted display in the RAH-66 Comanche helicopter. To meet the stringent environmental and optical performance requirements, improvements were made in the AMLCD's operating temperature range, viewing angle, pixel size, and transmission. These features were combined with technology previously developed to provide uniform gray scale, rapid optical response times, and ultra high-brightness imagery for the combination of high-resolution FLIR imagery and flight symbology viewable in daytime environments.
The Effects of a Gastric Inhibitory Substance on Gastric Secretion in the Pylorus Ligated Rat1

An extract was prepared from juice secreted by vagally denervated isolated pouches of the gastric antrum in the dog, by dialyzing against water and lyophilization. This gastric inhibitory substance (GIS) was assayed in pylorus ligated rats. Three groups of rats served as controls. One group received no injections, while the two other were injected with saline (1 ml/100 g rat) intravenously (i.v.) or intraperitoneally (i.p.). Two different types of gastric secretion were studied: (a) basal or spontaneous gastric output, and (b) gastric acid response to exogenous gastrin. GIS lowered significantly the basal or spontaneous output of acid, but did not alter the basal output of pepsin significantly. When GIS was injected into animals stimulated by gastrin, there was a highly significant lower output of both acid and pepsin.
Domain of EPI suite biotransformation models.

Knowledge of the interpolative region or applicability domain (AD) of structure–activity relationships is believed to improve predictive accuracy. The present work was undertaken to characterize the AD of EPI Suite™ biotransformation models and evaluate the performance of selected AD assessment methods. AD methods were applied to the training sets of four models representing different end-points, and the predictive accuracy was then evaluated using six independent validation sets. Two of the models estimated a continuous variable (log half-life) from fragment descriptors. For biotransformation in fish (BCFBAF™) and hydrocarbon biodegradation (BioHCwin), the approach using ranges, with preprocessing by analysis of principal components, worked reasonably well in identifying subsets of validation chemicals that have higher root mean squared error than for all validation chemicals. AD methods were also applied to two classification models, Biowin3 (which predicts the time required to achieve complete aerobic ...
THE USE OF OVERGENERALIZATION AND TRANSFER LEARNING STRATEGIES BY ELEMENTARY AND INTERMEDIATE STUDENTS OF ESL1

An orally administered test requiring the written English translation of eighty Spanish sentences was administered to twenty native Spanish speaking students of English as a second language at the elementary and intermediate levels. A taxonomy of twenty error types was designed to analyze the errors in the Auxiliary (Aux) and Verb Phrase (VP) of the translations. The error types were categorized into errors of overgeneralization, transfer, translation, indeterminate origin, and errors not considered. The results indicated that the errors made by the elementary and intermediate students were not qualitatively different. However, the subjects' reliance on the stategies of overgeneralization and transfer was found to be qualitatively different. The elementary subjects' reliance on the transfer strategy was found to be significantly higher than that of the intermediate subjects; the intermediate subjects' reliance on the overgeneralization stategy was found to be significantly higher than that of the elementary subjects. These findings appear to be consistent with a theory which considers second language acquisition to be an actively creative process dependent upon a student's ability to assimilate and subsume new information into already existing cognitive structures. The overgeneralization and transfer learning strategies appear to be two distinctly different linguistic manifestations of one psychological process: reliance on prior learning to facilitate new learning. The results also tend to confirm the weakness of a transfer-based theory of errors and require an explanation which takes into account not only interference from within the target language inself, but also the learner's cognitive characteristics and his resulting learning strategies.
Pore structure analysis without a pore shape model

Abstract All methods presently employed for pore structure analysis are based on idealized models for the pore shapes. Most investigators assume that the pores are cylindrical; some use the parallel plate pore model. The extent to which valid inferences can be drawn from the structure curves based on such idealizations is open to question. A method is presented by which pore volume and surface distributions can be obtained without assuming any shape for the pores. The analysis is made in terms of hydraulic radii instead of Kelvin radii; the hydraulic radius being defined as V S , where V is the volume of a group of pores and S is the surface area of the pore walls. The volume is obtained in the conventional manner from adsorption or desorption isotherms; the surface is also obtained from the isotherms, by a new method. The volumes, surfaces, and hydraulic radii thus obtained are properties of the cores of a group of pores; the core being defined as the empty part of a pore that contains an adsorbed film on its walls. The relationships between core and pore properties are discussed.
PLAYGROUND: minimization of PLAs with mixed ground true outputs

A PLA (Programmable Logic Array) usually uses inverters to complement its output logic. The design can be easily modified using non-inverting buffers if complementary (or, ground true) outputs are needed. In this paper, we explore the tradeoffs in implementing PLAs with/without mixed ground true outputs. An efficient minimization algorithm, namely, PLAYGROUND, is presented. The PLAYGROUND program has been implemented on VAX 8600 in C language. The results of this study indicate that the number of product terms can be further reduced by as much as 50% from the results obtained by the ESPRESSO program when the mixed ground true outputs are used.
Visually guided movements suppress subthalamic oscillations in Parkinson's disease patients

There is considerable evidence that abnormal oscillatory activity in the basal ganglia contributes to the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. However, little is known regarding the relationship of oscillations to volitional movements. Our goal was to evaluate the dynamics of oscillatory activity at rest and during movement. We performed microelectrode recordings from the subthalamic nucleus (STN) of patients undergoing deep brain stimulation surgery. During recordings, the patients used a joystick to guide a cursor to one of four targets on a monitor. We recorded 184 cells and 47 pairs of cells in 11 patients. At rest, 26 cells (14%) demonstrated significant oscillatory activity, with a mean frequency of 18 Hz. During movement, this oscillatory activity was either reduced or completely abolished in all of the cells. At rest, 18 pairs (38%) of cells in five patients exhibited synchronized oscillatory activity, with a mean frequency of 15 Hz. In 17 of the 18 pairs, both of the cells exhibited oscillations, and, in one pair, only one of the cells was oscillatory. These synchronized oscillations were also significantly decreased with movement. There was a strong inverse correlation between firing rates and oscillatory activity. As the firing rates increased with movement, there was a decrease in oscillatory activity. These findings suggest that visually guided movements are associated with a dampening and desynchronization of oscillatory activity in STN neurons. One possible explanation for these observations is that the increased cortical drive associated with movement preparation and execution leads to a transient dampening of STN oscillations, hence facilitating movement.
Efficacy of nicotine patch in smokers with a history of alcoholism.

Background: Smokers with a history of alcohol dependence may have more difficulty quitting, might relapse to alcohol use, and might especially benefit from nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation. Methods: One hundred fifteen smokers with a history of alcohol dependence (median of 5 years previously) were randomly assigned to either a 21-mg nicotine patch or placebo in a trial designed to be as similar as possible to a prior study that examined smokers with no history of alcoholism. Both studies were of heavy smokers with similar levels of nicotine dependence; thus, any differences in trials would be due to a history of alcohol problems per se. Results: In the current trial, adjusted prolonged smoking abstinence in those with a history of alcohol dependence was higher in the active than the placebo group at end-of-treatment (28% vs. 11%; odds ratio, 3.2;p= 0.04) and at 6-month follow-up (24% vs. 6%; odds ratio, 4.9;p= 0.02). Among subjects not lost to follow-up, none reported drinking problems or increases in craving for alcohol. Smoking abstinence was not lower and the odds ratio for nicotine patch therapy was not greater in smokers with a history of alcohol dependence than in smokers with no such history. Conclusions: Heavy smokers with a history of alcoholism benefit from nicotine patch treatment. A history of alcohol problems after a period of stable sobriety does not appear to influence smoking outcomes or response to nicotine replacement. Although no smokers relapsed to alcohol use, a trial that follows up all subjects is needed to verify this.
Temperature distribution in a thin-walled combustion chamber

An equation for steady-state temperature distribution is given for a thin-walled circular duct with airflow through and over it and heat addition over the aft inside half. An example problem is worked out in detail and the results are discussed.
Hippocampal and ventral medial prefrontal activation during retrieval-mediated learning supports novel inference

Memory enables flexible use of past experience to inform new behaviors. Although leading theories hypothesize that this fundamental flexibility results from the formation of integrated memory networks relating multiple experiences, the neural mechanisms that support memory integration are not well understood. Here, we demonstrate that retrieval-mediated learning, whereby prior event details are reinstated during encoding of related experiences, supports participants' ability to infer relationships between distinct events that share content. Furthermore, we show that activation changes in a functionally coupled hippocampal and ventral medial prefrontal cortical circuit track the formation of integrated memories and successful inferential memory performance. These findings characterize the respective roles of these regions in retrieval-mediated learning processes that support relational memory network formation and inferential memory in the human brain. More broadly, these data reveal fundamental mechanisms through which memory representations are constructed into prospectively useful formats.
Appreciating the “Work” in Artwork: Handmade Ceramics from San Vicente de Nicoya, Costa Rica

Artisans in San Vicente de Nicoya, Costa Rica, sustain a pottery industry partially inherited from ancient traditions but greatly developed over the past three decades, hand-in-hand with a rise in tourism. Contemporary ceramics change aesthetically as individual artisans instill their own sense of beauty in their work and discern the preferences of buyers. However, few tourists and collectors assess the labor that goes into each stage of manufacture. Community members are trying to create an environment in which ceramics sell for a price that at least covers the material investments and hours of labor, while instilling a greater appreciation of the art form, its history, and the artisans themselves. In this photo essay, I propose photography as one of the many ways that an ecomuseum can educate visitors and help promote a “fair trade” environment.
β-Adrenergic and antiadrenergic modulation of cardiac adenylyl cyclase is influenced by phosphorylation

Adenosine protects the myocardium of the heart by exerting an antiadrenergic action via the adenosine A1 receptor (A1R). Because β1-adrenergic receptor (β1R) stimulation elicits myocardial protein ...
On the Origins of Property Rights: Conflict and Production in the State of Nature

I analyse the emergence of property rights in a model of conflict and production in the absence of institutions of enforcement. The population of agents evolves dynamically through conflicts for possession of factor goods among pairs of randomly matched agents. Conflicts are incomplete information wars of attrition with an agent’s type consisting of his or her independently drawn valuation of the prize and cost of competing for it. I prove equilibrium existence and show that in the steady state of the game, the population sorts into two stable groups (resource “haves” and “have-nots”) in accordance with a known function of their primitive types.
Scalar and categorical phenomena in a unified model of phonetics and phonology

It is often assumed that there is a sharp division between phonetic and phonological processes, but the two are often strikingly similar, as in the case of phonetic consonant‐vowel coarticulation and phonological assimilation between consonants and vowels. Parallels of this kind are best accounted for if both types of phenomena are analysed within a unified framework, so similarities result from the fact that both phonetic and phonological processes are subject to the same constraints. A unified model of phonetics and phonology is developed and exemplified through the analysis of parallel phonetic and phonological assimilation processes. The model operates in terms of scalar phonetic representations to accommodate phonetic detail, but categorical phenomena can still be derived from the interaction of speech production constraints with constraints that motivate the formation of distinct categories of sounds for the purposes of linguistic contrast.
A comparative study of patient evaluations of dental treatment performed by dental and expanded-function dental hygiene students.

A comparative study is made of patient evaluations of the periodontal and operative procedures that are performed by dental students and dental hygiene students. A comparison was made between patient evaluations of periodontal and operative procedures that were completed by dental and expanded-function dental hygiene students at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry. Patient evaluations of preventive periodontal procedures that are traditionally delegated to dental hygienists also were compared. Dental hygiene students received higher ratings from patients than did dental students on preventive periodontal functions. Patients accepted both student groups; they were highly satisfied with the operative and advanced periodontal treatment procedures that the student groups performed. Patients who seek oral health care in a dental school environment may be less critical of dental treatment than private practice patients; therefore, the real test of patient acceptance of operative and periodontal procedures that are performed by expanded-function dental hygienists may rest with the latter group.
Technology support of the handover: promoting observability, flexibility and efficiency

Background Efforts to standardise data elements and increase the comprehensiveness of information included in patient handovers have produced a growing interest in augmenting the verbal exchange of information with written communications conducted through health information technology (HIT). Objective The aim of this perspective is to offer recommendations to optimise technology support of handovers, based on a review of the relevant scientific literature. Recommendations Review of the literature on human factors and the study of communication produced three recommendations. The first entails making available “shared knowledge” relevant to the handover and subsequent clinical management with intended and unintended recipients. The second is to create a flexible narrative structure (unstructured text fields) for human-human communications facilitated by technology. The third recommendation is to avoid reliance on real-time data entry during busy periods. Implementing these recommendations is anticipated to increase the observability (the ability to readily determine current status), flexibility, and efficiency of HIT-supported patient handovers. Conclusions Anticipated benefits of technology-supported handovers include reducing reliance on human memory, increasing the efficiency and structure of the verbal exchange, avoiding readbacks of numeric data, and aiding clinical management following the handover. In cases when verbal handovers are delayed, do not occur, or involve members of the health care team without first-hand access to critical information, making ‘common ground’ observable for all recipients, creating a flexible narrative structure for communication and avoiding reliance on real-time data entry during the busiest times has implications for HIT design and day to day data entry and management operations. Benefits include increased observability, flexibility, and efficiency of HIT-supported patient handovers.
Models for Study of the Specificity by Which Indigenous Lactobacilli Adhere to Murine Gastric Epithelia

A Lactobacillus strain isolated from a mouse (indigenous) and another strain isolated from swine feces (nonindigenous) were compared in two model systems for their ability to adhere in vitro and in vivo to keratinizing squamous and columnar epithelia of mouse stomachs. In one model, stomachs dissected from specific-pathogen-free or germfree mice were injected with suspensions of lactobacilli labeled with [3H]thymidine and incubated at 37°C. Thereafter, the non-secreting and secreting tissues were separated and washed vigorously. The radioactivity remaining with each tissue was counted by liquid scintillation spectrometry. When the radioactivity remaining with these tissues ranged between 500 and 100,000 cpm, the calculated radioactivity (disintegrations per minute) was related linearly to the number of lactobacilli adhering to the tissue. The estimate of the number of bacteria adherent to the tissue was not influenced significantly by artifacts in the techniques used. In this model, both Lactobacillus strains adhered in equally high numbers to both types of epithelial surfaces from stomachs from germfree mice. In contrast, in the second model, in which germfree mice were monoassociated with one or the other of the Lactobacillus strains, only the strain indigenous to the mouse formed dense layers on the epithelia of the nonsecreting portions of the stomachs, although both strains maintained high population levels throughout the gastrointestinal tracts of the animals. The capacity to adhere to the mucosal surface is undoubtedly necessary for lactobacilli to colonize gastric epithelia in mice. Our findings suggest, however, that nutritional or environmental conditions dictate whether particular Lactobacillus strains can colonize particular surfaces in the stomachs of living animals.
Observers for multivariable systems with inaccessible inputs

A theory of observers for discrete-time linear systems with inaccessible inputs is developed utilizing a dynamical inverse/state observer structure. It is shown that without any assumption on the form of the inputs, an observer can be designed that asymptotically will track the state for a certain class of systems. Furthermore, a considerable saving in input sensors (hardware) can be accomplished by using software to implement the dynamical inverse. An illustrative example and recommendations for future research are included.
ReadN'Karaoke: visualizing prosody in children's books for expressive oral reading

We present a method for displaying prosody, the melody of speech, to aid beginning readers with fluent oral reading. We build on proven auditory techniques by manipulating and augmenting text in children's stories. The acoustic properties of a fluent recording are used to construct visualizations of pitch, loudness and length variations in read samples aligned with text. Our initial approach was to directly manipulate text, which was tested on ten children who showed significant increases in pitch modulation with manipulated text but reported difficulty with word recognition. This motivated designing the augmented text renderings, which display prosodic cues layered with text. Manipulated and augmented texts were compared with two beginning readers. Children showed similar prosodic gains with both versions and reported greater satisfaction with augmented pitch cues. Visual prosodic cues show promise for improving reading fluency in early readers and may have applications for disability education and second language learning.
Sources of n-type conductivity in ZnO

Zinc oxide (ZnO) is a strong candidate for energy-efficient white lighting and numerous optoelectronic applications. Hydrogen impurities play important roles, good and bad, in the pursuit of reliable p-type doping of ZnO. In pervious work, we identified hydrogen donors with the back-bonded or ‘‘anti-bonding’’ orientation, with an angle of 1111 to the c-axis. It is possible, however, that these hydrogen donors are complexed with another defect. Impurities besides hydrogen are also donors in as-grown ZnO. Results from secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) show significant concentrations of Al in samples of bulk single-crystal ZnO obtained from Cermet, Inc., Ga and B in samples from Eagle-Picher, and Si in both. r 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Examining the Links Among Magazine Preference, Levels of Awareness and Internalization of Sociocultural Appearance Standards, and Presence of Eating‐Disordered Symptoms in College Women

Research has shown that young women are negatively affected by media images representing thin female body types. Given the increasing prevalence of eating disorders among young women, it is important to look closer at this phenomenon and the role/responsibility of the media. This study examined the links among quantity of magazine exposure, preference for specific periodicals, awareness and internalization of sociocultural standards of beauty, and the presence of eating-disordered symptoms in a sample of college women. Small, but significant, correlations were found between magazine exposure and drive for thinness, and between preference for beauty and fashion magazines and internalization of sociocultural standards of appearance. Regression analyses found awareness and internalization of sociocultural standards of appearance to be significant predictors of body dissatisfaction, drive for thinness, and bulimic symptoms. The results of this study are discussed in terms of educational and social marketing strategies.
High performance computing at Intel: the OSCAR software solution stack for cluster computing

This is an exciting time in high performance computing (HPC). Radical change has become the norm as clusters of commercial off the shelf (COTS) computers have come to dominate HPC. The hardware for HPC is in good shape and is steadily getting better. What about the software? The software for HPC is in poor shape. Its great for organizations that can accept the "people-time" required to keep clusters up and running, but for the commercial side of technical computing, the software solutions available today just are not up to the task. We believe that the best way to solve our HPC software problems is to work together. Intel has worked to create cross-industry groups dedicated to solving HPC software problems. On the shared memory front, we are active in the OpenMP Architecture Review Board. Working with this group, we have helped standardize API's for shared memory programming. For clusters, we have helped found the Open Cluster Group. The Open Cluster Group is an informal consortium of commercial and research organizations interested in cluster-computing. Our mission is to make clusters a realistic option for organizations that use high performance computing to accomplish their goals. The first project from the Open Cluster Group is OSCAR: a fully integrated easy to install bundle of software designed to make it easy to build and use a cluster for high performance computing. Everything you need to build, maintain, and use a modest sized Linux cluster is included in OSCAR. We introduce OSCAR and provide the background information you need to use it.
Development of a brief measure of college stress: the college student stress scale.

The study included assessment of the psychometric properties of an 11-item measure of perceived stress and control in 273 first-year college students. Results indicated good internal consistency and stability over a 5-week interval, and the total score was highly correlated with another measure of perceived stress. Principal components analysis with varimax rotation indicated two possible factors which explained 55% of the variance. However, given the small number of items and low internal consistency of the second factor (α=.60), use of the Total score is recommended.
Factors Affecting Recruitment Dynamics of Great Lakes Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) Populations

ABSTRACT Knowledge of stock—recruitment dynamics is as important for control of pest species such as the sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) as it is for sustainable harvest management of exploited fish species. A better understanding of spatial and temporal variation in recruitment of pest populations may inform managers on where and when to effectively apply different control methods. Sea lamprey stock—recruitment data combined from streams across the Great Lakes basin into a Ricker stock—recruitment model indicated both compensation (density-dependent survival) and a large amount of density-independent recruitment variation. We evaluated the use of a mixed-effects model to look at common year effects and stream-level variables that could affect productivity and growing season length, with the objective of identifying factors that may explain this density-independent variation in recruitment. After selecting the “best model”, we tested factors that might affect recruitment variation, using a Great Lakes da...
Decayed Prospects: A Qualitative Study of Prison Dental Care and its Impact on Former Prisoners

As controversy surrounding the Affordable Care Act continues to occupy the national landscape, inequality in access to care, especially among disadvantaged groups such as prisoners, garners compara...
Sacred cows and the known unknowns

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe a methodology to identify potential reputation threats systematically before they become full-blown crises. Design/methodology/approach – The methodology is based on using the filter of four forces for change – demographics, technology, economics and future – to identify impending points of collision between an organization’s business and changing popular sentiment. Findings – The methodology, if applied retrospectively, could have identified such reputation damaging events as the emergence of data breaches through the loss of laptops, for example, in advance enabling companies with customer data to take precautions such as advanced encryption. Practical implications – Applied rigorously, the issues mapping process can help organizations predict and potentially avoid reputation-threatening crises. Originality/value – The paper is based on the personal experience, research and analytical work of the author, and while there may be similar frameworks in use by other practitioners, the authors do not believe they have been described publicly before.
In vivo Studies of Inducer-Repressor Interactions

The nature of the repressors which control gene expression and the mechanism of their action promise to be clarified very soon largely because of the recent successful development of in vitro assays for the lac repressor (Gilbert and Muller-Hill, 1966) and for the repressor controlling the temperate phage λ (Ptashne, 1967). These developments have followed earlier experiments with whole cells which originally led to the postulation of repressors and which continued to provide further support for their existence. In the present report, I would like to describe some studies in whole cells of the interaction of galactoside inducers with the lac repressor.
Is cardiac hypertrophy good or bad? The answer, of course, is yes.

In this issue of iJACC , Petrov et al. [(1)][1] examined patterns of hypertrophy in patients with aortic stenosis. They found that women had “adaptive” hypertrophy more often than men, but when women had “maladaptive” hypertrophy, their mortality was increased, adding more proof of the sex
Mechanisms of 5-HT1A receptor-mediated transmission in dorsal raphe serotonin neurons.

Key points In the dorsal raphe nucleus, it is known that serotonin release activates metabotropic 5-HT1A autoreceptors located on serotonin neurons that leads to an inhibition of firing through the activation of G-protein-coupled inwardly rectifying potassium channels. We found that in mouse brain slices evoked serotonin release produced a 5-HT1A receptor-mediated inhibitory postsynaptic current (IPSC) that resulted in only a transient pause in firing. While spillover activation of receptors contributed to evoked IPSCs, serotonin reuptake transporters prevented pooling of serotonin in the extrasynaptic space from activating 5-HT1A-IPSCs. As a result, the decay of 5-HT1A-IPSCs was independent of the intensity of stimulation or the probability of transmitter release. These results indicate that evoked serotonin transmission in the dorsal raphe nucleus mediated by metabotropic 5-HT1A autoreceptors may occur via point-to-point synapses rather than by paracrine mechanisms. Abstract In the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), feedback activation by Gαi/o-coupled 5-HT1A autoreceptors reduces the excitability of serotoninergic neurons, which decreases serotonin release both locally within the DRN and in projection regions. Serotonin transmission within the DRN is thought to occur via transmitter spillover and paracrine activation of extrasynaptic receptors. Here, we tested the volume transmission hypothesis in mouse DRN brain slices by recording 5-HT1A receptor-mediated inhibitory postsynaptic currents (5-HT1A-IPSCs) generated by the activation of G-protein-coupled inwardly rectifying potassium channels (GIRKs). We found that in the DRN of ePET1-EYFP mice, which selectively express enhanced yellow fluorescent protein in serontonergic neurons, the local release of serotonin generated 5-HT1A-IPSCs in serotonin neurons that rose and fell within a second. The transient activation of 5-HT1A autoreceptors resulted in brief pauses in neuron firing that did not alter the overall firing rate. The duration of 5-HT1A-IPSCs was primarily shaped by receptor deactivation due to clearance via serotonin reuptake transporters. Slowing diffusion with dextran prolonged the rise and reduced the amplitude the IPSCs and the effects were potentiated when uptake was inhibited. By examining the decay kinetics of IPSCs, we found that while spillover may allow for the activation of extrasynaptic receptors, efficient uptake by serotonin reuptake transporters (SERTs) prevented the pooling of serotonin from prolonging the duration of transmission when multiple inputs were active. Together the results suggest that the activation of 5-HT1A receptors in the DRN results from the local release of serotonin rather than the extended diffusion throughout the extracellular space.
Evolution of Resistance to Continuously Increasing Streptomycin Concentrations in Populations of Escherichia coli

The evolution of antibiotic resistance in bacteria has become one of the defining problems in modern biology. Bacterial resistance to antimicrobial therapy threatens to eliminate one of the pillars of the practice of modern medicine. Yet, in spite of the importance of this problem, only recently have the dynamics of the shift from antibiotic sensitivity to resistance in a bacterial population been studied. In this study, a novel chemostat method was used to observe the evolution of resistance to streptomycin in a sensitive population of Escherichia coli, which grew while the concentration of antibiotic was constantly increasing. The results indicate that resistant mutants remain at a low frequency for longer than expected and do not begin to rise to a high frequency until the antibiotic concentrations are above the measured MIC, creating a "lull period" in which there were few bacterial cells growing in the chemostats. Overall, mutants resistant to streptomycin were found in >60% of the experimental trial replicates. All of the mutants detected were found to have MICs far above the maximum levels of streptomycin to which they were exposed and reached a high frequency within 96 h.
The uptake of Manganese-54 by green algae (Protococcoidal chlorella), Daphnia magna, and fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas)

Concentration factors (CF) of 54Mn for three aquatic species: green algae (Protococcoidal chlorella), Daphnia magna, and fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) were determined following direct exposure to the isotope in solution. The maximum accumulation (CF = 911) in P. chlorella was reached at 48 hours of exposure; the maximum uptake (CF = 65) in Daphnia was reached at 8 hours of exposure; and the maximum accumulation (CF = 22.6) in fathead minnows was at 128 hours of exposure. The data indicate that 54Mn accumulation decreases with ascent up a theoretical aquatic food chain when water is the only source of contamination.
Creep Behavior of MoSi2 with Si3N4 Reinforcements

Because of its high melting point, excellent oxidation resistance and ductility at high temperatures, MoSi2 and its composites are attractive for elevated temperature applications. In this study, the compression creep behavior of hot pressed MoSi2 with various volume fraction of Si3N4 at 1200°C, 1300°C and 1400°C were investigated. Within the stress range of 115–425MPa, the stress exponent, n, was either 1 or 5 depended on the volume fraction of Si3N4. The activation energy of creep for MoSi2-50%Si3N4 composite was 750kJ/mol. At still higher volume fraction of Si3N4, the activation energy decreases to 693kJ/mol, which is the same as that for monolithic Si3N4.
Hydrothermal Carbonization (HTC) of Lignocellulosic Biomass

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of biomass involves contacting raw feedstock with hot, pressurized water. Through a variety of hydrolysis, dehydration, and decarboxylation processes, gaseous and water-soluble products are produced, in addition to water itself and a solid char. In this experimental effort, a 2 L Parr stirred pressure vessel was used to apply the HTC process to a mixed wood feedstock. The effects of the reaction conditions on product compositions and yields were examined by varying temperature over the range of 215−295 °C and varying reaction hold time over the range of 5−60 min. With increasing temperature and time, the amounts of gaseous products and produced water increased, while the amount of HTC char decreased. The energy density of the char increased with reaction severity. At reaction conditions of 255 °C for 30 min, the HTC char had 39% higher energy density than the raw biomass feedstock. Aqueous solutions from HTC experiments at lower temperatures (215−235 °C) contained signific...