cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
VESS17. Readmissions After Complex Aneurysm Repair: Frequent, Costly, and Primarily at Nonindex Hospitals

and more downward angulated renals were associated with longer times for f-EVAR (31.4 vs 15.7 minutes, P 1⁄4 .05). The quartile of patients with the longest renal catheterization times was associated with increased operative time (303 vs 214 minutes, P < .001), fluoroscopy time (125 vs 84 minutes, P 1⁄4 .01), and blood loss (767 vs 473 mL, P 1⁄4 .01) in the f-EVAR cohort, and increased fluoroscopy time (86 vs 69 minutes, P 1⁄4 .05) in the sn-EVAR group. Conclusions: Preoperative RAA directly impacts the time to renal catheterization and sheath placement, which is the key step in f-EVAR and sn-EVAR. Angles steeper than e30 favor the snorkel approach, whereas less angulated renal arteries favor the fenestrated strategy. Furthermore, renal artery catheterization time is related to procedural metrics of efficiency during complex EVAR; therefore, operative strategies and device/technique selection should take into account significant variations in renal artery angulation.
The effect of unit size on steam-electric generating station design

As the size of power systems and the capacity of interconnections continue to increase, the economic factors which affect the design of larger generating equipment and stations become more important. Such advantages as lower investment cost per kilowatt, higher efficiency, and lower operating costs are considered in this article.
Geochemical and man-made sources of lead and human health

Multiple sources of Pb have been identified for human populations, but there is little agreement as to their relative significance. Marked regional geochemical anomalies in the distribution of Pb have been identified and, in one district, their impact on rural communities has been determined. The absorption of ingested Pb is modified by its chemical and physical form, by interaction with dietary minerals and lipids and by the nutritional status of the individual. Studies on children of various ethnic groups have demonstrated differences in soft tissue Pb burdens which may in part have a nutritional basis. Erythrocyte protoporphyrin determinations suggest that metabolic disturbances attributable to Pb may occur at soft tissue burdens previously regarded as acceptable. The problem of defining an adverse health effect in relation to environmental sources of Pb is discussed.
Comment on: “The photolytic stability of the Martian atmosphere” by R. C. Whitten and J.S. Sims

Abstract It is pointed out that the models given contain internal contradictions: they produce more O 2 than they destroy by factors of 100 or more.
Activation and automaticity of colonial mentality.

Among Filipino Americans, colonial mentality (CM) is characterized by automatic preference for anything American and automatic rejection of anything Filipino that may be manifested overtly and covertly. Thus, 3 studies were conducted to test CM's theorized covertness and automaticity. Study 1 attempted to activate and capture the existence of CM-consistent cultural knowledge schemas; Study 2 investigated whether CM may be automatically activated using a lexical decision task; and Study 3 tested whether Filipino Americans have associated pleasantness with anything American, and unpleasantness with anything Filipino using the Implicit Association Test. The results suggest that many Filipino Americans hold a CM-consistent cultural knowledge schema, and that CM may be conceptualized as a set of automatic associations that cannot be consciously controlled.
High-frequency rock temperature data from hyper-arid desert environments in the Atacama and the Antarctic Dry Valleys and implications for rock weathering

In desert environments with low water and salt contents, rapid thermal variations may be an important source of rock weathering. We have obtained temperature measurements of the surface of rocks in hyper-arid hot and cold desert environments at a rate of 1/s over several days. The values of temperature change over 1-second intervals were similar in hot and cold deserts despite a 30 °C difference in absolute rock surface temperature. The average percentage of the time dT/dt > 2 °C/min was ~ 8 ± 3%, > 4 °C/min was 1 ± 0.9%, and > 8 °C/min was 0.02 ± 0.03%. The maximum change over a 1-second interval was ~ 10 °C/min. When sampled to simulate data taken over intervals longer than 1 s, we found a reduction in time spent above the 2 °C/min temperature gradient threshold. For 1-minute samples, the time spent above any given threshold was about two orders of magnitude lower than the corresponding value for 1-second sampling. We suggest that a rough measure of efficacy of weathering as a function of frequency is the product of the percentage of time spent above a given threshold value multiplied by the damping depth for the corresponding frequency. This product has a broad maximum for periods between 3 and 10 s.
Novel chemokine responsiveness and mobilization of neutrophils during sepsis.

Blood neutrophils (PMN) are usually unresponsive to CC chemokines such as monacyte chemotactic protein-1 and macrophage inflammatory protein-1α. In rodents, the lung buildup of PMN as determined by myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity after airway instillation of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was independent of MCP-1 and MIP-1α. In striking contrast, during sepsis following cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), blood PMN demonstrated mRNA for CC chemokine receptors. Furthermore, PMN from CLP, but not from sham rodents, bound MCP-1 and MIP-1α and responded chemotactically in vitro to both MCP-1 and MIP-1α. In CCR2−/− mice or WT mice treated in vivo with antibodies to either MCP-1 or MIP-1α, MPO activity was greatly attenuated in CLP animals. In CLP mice, increased serum IL-6 levels were found to be dependent on CCR2, MCP-1, and MIP-1α. When PMN from CLP rodents were incubated in vitro with either MCP-1 or MIP-1α, release of IL-6 was also shown. These findings suggest that sepsis fundamentally alters the trafficking of PMN into the lung in a manner that now engages functional responses to CC chemokines.
WORDS V. DEEDS: A COMPARISON OF RELIGIOUS BELIEF AND ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION

Abstract In 1967 Lynn White, Jr. proclaimed that “Human ecology is deeply conditioned by beliefs about our nature and destiny…that is, by religion” (p. 1205). White attributed environmental problems to the Christians' adherence to the Genesis account of creation which provides an injunction for humans to use nature to their advantage and to have dominion over the Earth. His proclamation generated a debate among sociologists, theologians, philosophers, and historians about the role of Christianity in the environmental crisis. Much research has explored the current religion and environment relationship using data from statewide surveys, the General Social Survey, and the Gallup Poll but there has been no work that compares the relationship between ministers' knowledge of official church statements on the environment and environmental actions of congregants. This work seeks to address this void. The population for this study is the 307 churches in the state of Georgia that are a part of the Presbyterian Chur...
Effects of Indocyanine green on cultured retinal ganglion cells in-vitro

Indocyanine green (ICG) dye is commonly used to stain the inner limiting membrane during macular surgery. There are reports documenting the toxicity of ICG on retinal pigment epithelial cells, with conflicting results in retinal ganglion cells. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of ICG on retinal ganglion cells in vitro. Cultured rat retinal ganglion cells (RGC-5) were exposed to different concentrations of ICG (0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 1.25, & 5 mg/ml) and at various time intervals (1, 5, 15, 30, & 60 minutes). Changes in structural morphology were identified using phase contrast bright field microscopy. Cell viability was quantified using the neutral red assay and cell death was characterized using Annexin-V staining. Significant morphologic changes were observed at the 15 and 60 min intervals for all concentrations, where a reduction in cell size and loss of normal spindle shape was noted. A dose dependent decrease in cell viability was observed with increasing concentration of ICG as well as increasing exposure intervals. Compared to control, 48-74% reduction in neutral red uptake at all concentrations for exposures 5 min or greater (p < 0.001). Even at 1 min exposure, a dose dependent decline was observed in cell viability, with a 28-48% decline for doses above 1.25 mg/ml (p = 0.007). Staining with Annexin-V, demonstrated a similar dose and time dependent increase in number of cells exhibiting early apoptosis. A greater than two-fold increase in Annexin-V expression for all doses at exposures greater than 1 min was noted. ICG dye exhibits toxicity to retinal ganglion cells at clinically relevant doses following 1 min exposure.
Anchors: a technique of pre-classification and its effects on Hidden Markov Models

Hidden Markov Models have been prominent in the categorization of biological data in recent years. Genemark and Genscan, which incorporate Hidden Markov Models, are popular tools used to identify regions in DNA sequences.Hidden Markov Models make predictions about an observable sequence based on transition and emission probabilities of its states. A pre-classification of part of the observable sequence is proposed in order to increase the accuracy of prediction of the HMM. To pre-classify the sequence, we analyze overrepresented and under-represented substrings in the observable sequence and make a classification if the substring is significantly unique to one of the classification categories. With the addition of these 'anchors' in the sequence, the predictive accuracy of a HMM has been found to be improved.A previous experiment which studied the predictive accuracy of a first order Hidden Markov Model on a mix of English and Spanish (based upon consonant and vowel transitions) yielded favorable results at low probabilities of a language transition. The experiment is revisited with the addition of the pre-classification, which classifies approximately 1% of the sequence at a high accuracy (over 90%). This yields a considerable improvement in classification by the Hidden Markov Model. This addition to new or current HMM techniques of DNA sequence classification should improve accuracy.
Do-It-Right-First-Time (DRFT) Approach to Design Structure Matrix (DSM) Restructuring

This paper argues, using two real-world applications from the automotive industry, that the biggest benefit of a Design Structure Matrix (DSM) model may come not from re- sequencing and partitioning, but rather from "rewiring" the process/blocks. "Rewiring" means redefining relationships among elements and/or inserting new elements into the matrix. This requires intimate understanding of the process and cannot be done with application of context-free partitioning algorithms. The Do-it-Right-First-Time (DRFT) approach to DSM restructuring is another way to look at a DSM by inspecting the sources of iteration within a block and reversing it through inserting a DRFT activity at the beginning of the block. In this way, the traditional Design-Build-Test "Cycle" is reversed into a DRFT-Design-Build "Sequence". That is, the "wiring diagram" of a process or system overpowers the behavior of the individual nodes, so changing the system requires changing the wiring.
The Effect of Gestational Weight Gain by Body Mass Index on Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes

Abstract Objective To evaluate the effects of gestational weight gain on maternal and neonatal outcomes in different body mass index (BMI) classes. Methods We compared maternal and neonatal outcomes based on gestational weight gain in underweight, normal weight, overweight, obese, and morbidly obese (BMI ≥ 40.00) women. The study group was a population-based cohort of women with singleton gestations who delivered between April 1, 2001, and March 31, 2007, drawn from the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Perinatal Program Database. Univariate analyses and multivariate logistic regression analyses (controlling for maternal age, parity, smoking status, partnered status, and gestational age) were performed and odds ratios (ORs) were calculated. Results Only 30.6% of women gained the recommended amount of weight during pregnancy; 52.3% of women gained more than recommended, and 17.1% gained less than recommended. In women with normal pre-pregnancy BMI, excess weight gain was associated with increased rates of gestational hypertension (OR 1.27; 95% CI 1.08–1.49), augmentation of labour (OR 1.09; 95% CI 1.01–1.18), and birth weight ≥ 4000g (OR 1.21; 95% CI 1.10–1.34). In overweight women, excess weight gain was associated with increased rates of gestational hypertension (OR 1.31; 95% CI 1.10–1.55) and birth weight ≥4000g (OR 1.30; 95% CI 1.15–1.47). In women who were obese or morbidly obese, excess weight gain was associated with increased rates of birth weight ≥4000g (OR 1.20; 95% CI 1.07–1.34) and neonatal metabolic abnormality (OR 1.31; 95% CI 1.00–1.70). In morbidly obese women, poor weight gain was associated with less use of epidural analgesia (OR 0.34; 95% CI 0.12–0.95). In women who were of normal weight, overweight, or obese, the rate of adverse outcome (Caesarean section, gestational hypertension, birth weight Conclusion The effects of gestational weight gain on pregnancy outcome depend on the woman's pre-pregnancy BMI. Pregnancy weight gains of 6.7–11.2kg (15–25lb) in overweight and obese women, and less than 6.7kg (15lb) in morbidly obese women are associated with a reduction in the risk of adverse outcome.
Catheter-directed thrombolysis for deep vein thrombosis.

Purpose of review Strong proof-of-concept evidence suggests that catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) may enable prevention of the post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) in patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The goal of this review is to summarize recent publications and thereby improve physicians' ability to make sound clinical judgments on employing CDT. Recent findings Anticoagulation and compression therapy are necessary elements of PTS prevention efforts, but are not sufficient to prevent PTS in many DVT patients. Patients with acute iliofemoral DVT represent a subgroup at particularly high risk of developing recurrent venous thromboembolism and PTS. Three comparative studies and the preliminary results of one ongoing European randomized controlled trial (RCT) (the CaVenT trial) suggest that CDT is reasonably well tolerated and that it may provide superior clinical outcomes for patients with extensive proximal DVT. In the US, the ongoing NIH-sponsored ATTRACT trial should clarify the risk-benefit ratio of pharmacomechanical CDT for acute proximal DVT. In the meantime, the preponderance of available evidence suggests that CDT (with anticoagulation) should be routinely considered as first-line therapy for patients with extensive acute iliofemoral DVT, low expected bleeding risk, and good functional status. Summary CDT should be employed for DVT patients who have severe clinical manifestations such as acute circulatory limb threat, for patients who have not achieved therapeutic objectives with initial anticoagulation, and as first-line therapy for selected patients with acute iliofemoral DVT.
Tumor Suppressor PTEN Inhibits Integrin- and Growth Factor–mediated Mitogen-activated Protein (MAP) Kinase Signaling Pathways

The tumor suppressor PTEN dephosphorylates focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and inhibits integrin-mediated cell spreading and cell migration. We demonstrate here that expression of PTEN selectively inhibits activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. PTEN expression in glioblastoma cells lacking the protein resulted in inhibition of integrin-mediated MAP kinase activation. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)- induced MAPK activation were also blocked. To determine the specific point of inhibition in the Ras/Raf/ MEK/ERK pathway, we examined these components after stimulation by fibronectin or growth factors. Shc phosphorylation and Ras activity were inhibited by expression of PTEN, whereas EGF receptor autophosphorylation was unaffected. The ability of cells to spread at normal rates was partially rescued by coexpression of constitutively activated MEK1, a downstream component of the pathway. In addition, focal contact formation was enhanced as indicated by paxillin staining. The phosphatase domain of PTEN was essential for all of these functions, because PTEN with an inactive phosphatase domain did not suppress MAP kinase or Ras activity. In contrast to its effects on ERK, PTEN expression did not affect c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) or PDGF-stimulated Akt. Our data suggest that a general function of PTEN is to down-regulate FAK and Shc phosphorylation, Ras activity, downstream MAP kinase activation, and associated focal contact formation and cell spreading.
How to manage warts

Warts are caused by DNA-containing human papillomavirus (HPV). These viruses are found in the upper epidermis and cause squamous epithelial cell proliferation. At least 70 types of HPV exist,1 but some types tend to be more common in certain body areas. Common warts (on hands) are due mainly to HPV2 but also to types 1 and 4. Plantar warts also involve HPV 1, 2, or 4 with mosaic warts commonly caused by HPV2. Flat warts are mainly due to HPV types 3 and 10. The incubation period is probably many months. Viral warts are extremely common in children, particularly in those over 3 years old. Incidence peaks between the ages of 12 and 16 years. Warts over the fingers (fig 1) are the most common presentation but plantar warts (verrucae vulgaris) and knee warts are also commonplace. It should be noted that gentle paring of plantar warts reveals small capillaries which will be absent if pared skin is simply hard skin (callus). When considering best management, it should be remembered that up to 30% of warts disappear spontaneously within six months and most disappear spontaneously within three years; this really does happen. It seems that the soil (that is, the skin) ceases to allow virus replication and the wart disappears. I should mention here that warts are often rough to touch unlike another common self limiting virus …
Pediatric laparoscopic appendectomy for acute appendicitis

Background: The benefit of laparoscopy in the treatment of pediatric acute appendicitis continues to be controversial, particularly as it relates to operative time and costs. Methods: We reviewed the charts of 200 children who underwent appendectomy for acute appendicitis concurrently over 35 months at a large teaching children’s hospital. Results: Laparoscopic (n = 106) and open (n = 95) appendectomies were performed. The operative times and postoperative lengths of hospital stay were similar for the two groups. The mean total hospital cost for the laparoscopic group ($5,572) was significantly higher than for the open group ($4,472); (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Notably, the results show similar operative times for laparoscopic and open appendectomy. The cost of laparoscopic appendectomy for acute appendicitis is higher than for the open procedure. This study challenges health care providers to reduce costs and develop new ways to measure beneficial outcomes in a pediatric population that may reveal laparoscopic benefits.
Improving intensive care performance: complex paths to simple truths.

The important change in JCAHO's approach to accredi- tation standards was influenced by several factors. First is the growth in size and importance of intensive care. This year, approximately 5 million Americans will be treated in ICUs, and each year, a greater proportion of hospital bed resources are dedicated to intensive care operations. Sec- ond, quality of and outcomes from ICU care are now widely acknowledged to be suboptimal. Preventable deaths occur every day in ICUs in the United States, and reducing the number of deaths is important. 2 Third, treatment of ICU patients is complex because of their wide spectrum of acute and chronic illnesses from multiple disease etiologies and because of their varying prior treatments and response situations; thus, comprehensive risk adjustment is needed to properly interpret various outcomes. 1 Along with its complexity, ICU care is expensive and can substantially affect institutions and patients; therefore, it should be monitored closely. The ICU requires extraordi- nary investments in people, in specific work process flow protocols, and in sophisticated and ever-changing tech- nologies, which must be integrated with a wide range of political, administrative, and institutional practices. The ICU staff deals intimately with some of the most important human outcomes, the quality of patients' lives and the dignity of their death. Two observations from recent studies of ICU care sug- gest to me that, within the complexity and life-and-death atmosphere of intensive care, there may be some simple but important truths that can save lives if properly measured and publicly acknowledged. The first observation is the contrast between the high cost and sophistication required to design specific clinical trials and the relative simplicity of many of the potentially
The physiology of climate change: how potentials for acclimatization and genetic adaptation will determine 'winners' and 'losers'.

SUMMARY Physiological studies can help predict effects of climate change through determining which species currently live closest to their upper thermal tolerance limits, which physiological systems set these limits, and how species differ in acclimatization capacities for modifying their thermal tolerances. Reductionist studies at the molecular level can contribute to this analysis by revealing how much change in sequence is needed to adapt proteins to warmer temperatures — thus providing insights into potential rates of adaptive evolution — and determining how the contents of genomes — protein-coding genes and gene regulatory mechanisms — influence capacities for adapting to acute and long-term increases in temperature. Studies of congeneric invertebrates from thermally stressful rocky intertidal habitats have shown that warm-adapted congeners are most susceptible to local extinctions because their acute upper thermal limits (LT 50 values) lie near current thermal maxima and their abilities to increase thermal tolerance through acclimation are limited. Collapse of cardiac function may underlie acute and longer-term thermal limits. Local extinctions from heat death may be offset by in-migration of genetically warm-adapted conspecifics from mid-latitude ‘hot spots’, where midday low tides in summer select for heat tolerance. A single amino acid replacement is sufficient to adapt a protein to a new thermal range. More challenging to adaptive evolution are lesions in genomes of stenotherms like Antarctic marine ectotherms, which have lost protein-coding genes and gene regulatory mechanisms needed for coping with rising temperature. These extreme stenotherms, along with warm-adapted eurytherms living near their thermal limits, may be the major ‘losers’ from climate change.
The Social Management Of Technology: Where Are We Headed?

For centuries enlightened people have understood that technology changes the society that we live in. Historians, social thinkers, and psychologists have explored the matter, trying to analyze how technology impacts on the conduct of war and political history, on human civilization, on customs and mores, on life on the farm and in the city, on man’s perception of himself and the world around him, even on his artistic expressions.
Fine-tuning of ceramic-based chemical sensors via novel microstructural modification: I: Low level CO sensing by tungsten oxide, WO3

Abstract High selectivity, enhanced sensitivity, short response time and long shelf-life are some of the key features sought in the solid-state ceramic-based chemical sensors. Since the sensing mechanism and catalytic activity are predominantly surface-dominated, benign surface features in terms of small grain size, large surface area, and open and connected porosity, are required to realize a successful material. In order to incorporate these morphological features, a technique based on rigorous thermodynamic consideration of the metal/metal oxide coexistence, is described. By modulating the oxygen partial pressure across the equilibrium metal/metal oxide (M/MO) proximity line, formation and growth of new oxide surface on an atomic/submolecular level under conditions of ‘oxygen deprivation’, with exotic morphological features has been achieved in potential sensor materials. This paper describes the methodology and discusses the results obtained in the case of tungsten oxide-based carbon monoxide sensors (in the range of 14–100 ppm CO) with enhanced sensing characteristics.
Analysis of High-Efficiency Power Amplifiers With Arbitrary Output Harmonic Terminations

This paper presents an analysis of ideal power amplifier (PA) efficiency maximization subject to a finite set of arbitrary complex harmonic terminations, extending previous results where only purely reactive harmonic terminations were treated. Maximum efficiency and corresponding fundamental output power and load impedance are analyzed as a function of harmonic termination(s). For a PA restricted to second harmonic drain waveform shaping, maximum efficiency as a function of second harmonic termination is treated for cases of both purely real and complex fundamental frequency impedances. For the case of a PA restricted to second and third harmonic drain waveform shaping, peak efficiency as a function of third harmonic impedance with an ideal second harmonic termination is analyzed. Additionally, the sensitivity of PA efficiency with respect to the magnitude and phase of the second and third harmonic load reflection coefficients is examined. The analysis is extended to include device and package parasitics. The paper concludes with a discussion of how the presented general analysis method provides useful insights to the PA designer.
Klinefelter's syndrome, LSD usage and acute lymphoblastic leukemia

A 19-year-old boy, with Klinefelter's syndrome and a history of LSD usage, developed acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The possibility is discussed that this was caused by cytogenetic injuries subsequent to LSD exposure and the inherited chromosomal anomaly acting in concert.
Critical role of microglial NADPH oxidase-derived free radicals in the in vitro MPTP model of Parkinson's disease.

SPECIFIC AIMSThe specific aim of this study was to determine the nature of glial involvement in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Exploiting the advantages of cell culture systems, we e...
Practical random number generation in software

There is a large gap between the theory and practice for random number generation. For example, on most operating systems, using /dev/random to generate a 256-bit AES key is highly likely to produce a key with no more than 160 bits of security. We propose solutions to many of the issues that real software-based random number infrastructures have encountered. Particularly, we demonstrate that universal hash functions are a theoretically appealing and efficient mechanism for accumulating entropy, we show how to deal with forking processes without using a two-phase commit, we explore better metrics for estimating entropy and argue that systems should provide both computational security and information theoretic security through separate interfaces.
Industrialists, Bankers, and the Problem of Unemployment in the Weimar Republic

During the past decade and a half there has been considerable interest shown by economic and social historians in the problems of unemployment in the Weimar Republic, although we still await a work with the comprehensiveness and mastery of W. R. Garside's British Unemployment 1919–1939. Much of the literature on Germany has been devoted to the controversy over government studies of unemployment insurance and business and trade union attitudes toward work creation schemes. Social historians have engaged in a good deal of history from below and history of everyday life dealing with the unemployed themselves and have demonstrated, among other things, the devastating consequences of long-term unemployment and the welfare system on labor solidarity. Such historians are understandably more inclined to work on, and sympathize with, those who are fired rather than with those who do the firing, and are unlikely to lose much sleep about the effects of bad business conditions on capitalist behavior and solidarity. Nevertheless, I would argue that the everyday problems and decisions of Germany's bankers and industrialists have suffered from undeserved neglect.
Magnetic Mirror Structure for Testing Shell-Type Quadrupole Coils

This paper presents magnetic and mechanical designs of the quadrupole mirror structure to test single shell-type quadrupole coils. Three quadrupole coils made of different strands, cable insulation and pole materials were tested using this structure at 4.5 and 1.9 K. The coils were instrumented with voltage taps, spot heaters, temperature sensors and strain gauges to study their mechanical and thermal properties and quench performance. The quadrupole mirror model assembly and test results are reported and discussed.
Confirmation of viable E. coli O157:H7 by enrichment and PCR after rapid biosensor detection.

Abstract Many rapid tests have been developed for the detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 from complex matrices such as food and water. However, many of these methods rely on traditional culture steps for confirmation, which can take an extra 24–48 h. The fiber optic biosensor has been used to rapidly detect pathogens from complex matrices. In this paper, we demonstrate a method using a rapid biosensor assay, recovery through a short enrichment, and PCR to detect and confirm the presence of at least 103 CFU/ml of E. coli O157:H7 in a sample in less than 10 h.
Analysis of genetic and environmental sources of variation in serum cholesterol in Tecumseh, Michigan. V. Variance components estimated from pedigrees

The human geneticist who wishes to estimate the genetic and environmental components of a quantitative trait has the choice of several sampling designs. Sets of monozygous and dizygous twins, parents and their offspring, and full siblings are often the most convenient samples but invariably yield estimators of genetic variance which are biased by shared environmental factors. More recently, fixed combinations of related and unrelated individuals have been proposed as sampling strategies to improve the separation of genetic and shared environmental correlations between relatives. These fixed designs take the form of family sets (Schull et al. 1970; Chakraborty et al. 1977) or sets of monozygous twins, their spouses and offspring (Nance & Corey, 1976). Unfortunately, human data cannot easily be collected according to a fixed design. A convenient sample usually consists of families which vary in the genetic relatedness of their members. Most human studies have utilized regression coefficients and interclass correlations estimated from pairs of individuals or intraclass correlations from subsets of individuals selected from a random sample of families. These statistics are generally contrasted to estimate the fractions of phenotypic variance due to genetic and environmental factors. The strategies available for combining these estimators do not adequately account for the double counting of individuals and alleles which may occur. For example, the full sib correlations and the parent-offspring correlations are usually estimated from individuals drawn from the same array of nuclear families. Elston (1975) has shown that the correlations between these correlation estimates may not be trivial. Despite the obvious implication, the precise effect of using correlated estimates on inferences about heritability estimates is not clear at this time. In order to minimize the inflation of type I1 error it is not uncommon to discard a large portion of the data. For example, in the Tecumseh Community Health Study, from the 6366 individuals typed for 12 blood markers, less than 100 genetically independent family sets, consisting of an index, a sib and a cousin could be constructed (Orr, personal communication). If the assumption of independence of family sets was rigorously met, only 5 yo of the available data could be utilized and the effect of the nonindependent index-sib and index-cousin correlations would still be unresolved. More importantly, samples of pairs or sets of relatives are usually not randomly sampled and therefore may not represent the same phenotypic variability of a quantitative trait that is determined by t,he frequency distribution of genotypes and environments among and within pedigrees which define the population. Alternatively, we may use the procedure of maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine all of the information available in a sample of randomly selected pedigrees to obtain
Performance characteristics of the iPSC/860 and CM-2 I/O systems

Typical scientific applications require vast amounts of processing power coupled with significant I/O capacity. Highly parallel computer systems can provide processing power at low cost, but have historically lacked I/O capacity. By evaluating the performance and scalability of the Intel iPSC/860 Concurrent File System and the Connection Machine DataVault, one can get an idea of the current state of parallel I/O performance. The performance tests show that both systems are able to achieve 70% of peak I/O throughput. >
The role of fibrinolytic genes and proteins in the development of allograft vascular disease.

BACKGROUND: We have previously shown that lack of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) expression in donor tissue greatly increases intimal proliferation (IP) after allogeneic transplantation. We sought to determine the relative role of PAI-1 and other fibrinolytic proteins in the development of IP. METHODS: We used an abdominal aortic transplant model in mice to investigate IP in 3 groups of 6 recipients. In the isograft group, CBA/J strain mice were donors and recipients, donors for allograft group were C57BL/6J mice, and for the allograft/knockout group, C57BL/6J PAI-1 knockout mice. All groups received weekly injections of anti-CD8/CD4 monoclonal antibodies. IP was calculated at 50 days, and sections were analyzed for fibrinolytic proteins, messenger RNA (mRNA) and PAI-1 activity using immunohistochemistry (IHC), in situ hybridization (ISH), reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Significantly more IP developed in the allograft/knockout group vs the isograft (p 0.001) and the allograft groups (p 0.003). There was marked intimal expression of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), urokinase PA (uPA), and uPA receptor (uPAR) proteins and mRNA in the allograft and allograft/knockout groups vs the isograft group. Allografts also showed significant intimal staining for PAI-1 protein and mRNA. RT-PCR demonstrated a stepwise increase in profibrinolytic protein mRNA from isograft to allograft to allograft/knockout groups, particularly uPA (p 0.02) and uPAR (p 0.016). Western blot data showed complementary findings. PAI-1 activity was persistently present in isograft and allograft animals, only. Intimas in allograft and allograft/knockout groups were primarily smooth muscle cells. CONCLUSIONS: PAI-1 reduces IP by limiting smooth muscle cell activity, with little change in matrix composition likely by modulating profibrinolytic protein expression. J Heart Lung Transplant 2011;30:935‐44 © 2011 International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation. All rights reserved.
Linkage and gene localization of hereditary spherocytosis (HS)

Fifteen kindreds with dominant hereditary spherocytosis (HS) were studied. Expansion of the data from a family with an 8/12 translocation provided further evidence that at least one locus for HS is located near the breakpoint of the translocation. Linkage analysis of all families showed a lack of linkage with all marker loci studied except for Gm (IgG). Linkage between Gm and HS was shown to be significant with a maximum lod score of 3.42 at a recombination fraction of 22%. No heterogeneity of the recombination fraction was observed either between sexes or between families. These results are compatible with the hypothesis that HS is not a heterogeneous disorder.
Health Disparities in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third most common cause of death in the U.S. There are numerous forms of disparities in COPD. These range from the obvious disparities in prevalence and outcomes in different racial and ethnic groups to more subtle disparities such as how COPD is perceived by patients and the general public relative to other chronic diseases. In this review, we present the topic of disparities in COPD from a range of perspectives: definition, diagnosis, care, outcomes, policies, and public funding of research. Recent years have shown considerable movement in decreasing many of these disparities, although there remains a need for continued progress on many fronts.
Dexras1 a unique ras-GTPase interacts with NMDA receptor activity and provides a novel dissociation between anxiety, working memory and sensory gating

Dexras1 is a novel GTPase that acts at a confluence of signaling mechanisms associated with psychiatric and neurological disease including NMDA receptors, NOS1AP and nNOS. Recent work has shown that Dexras1 mediates iron trafficking and NMDA-dependent neurodegeneration but a role for Dexras1 in normal brain function or psychiatric disease has not been studied. To test for such a role, mice with germline knockout (KO) of Dexras1 were assayed for behavioral abnormalities as well as changes in NMDA receptor subunit protein expression. Because Dexras1 is up-regulated during stress or by dexamethasone treatment, we included measures associated with emotion including anxiety and depression. Baseline anxiety-like measures (open field and zero maze) were not altered, nor were depression-like behavior (tail suspension). Measures of memory function yielded mixed results, with no changes in episodic memory (novel object recognition) but a significant decrement on working memory (T-maze). Alternatively, there was an increase in pre-pulse inhibition (PPI), without concomitant changes in either startle amplitude or locomotor activity. PPI data are consistent with the direction of change seen following exposure to dopamine D2 antagonists. An examination of NMDA subunit expression levels revealed an increased expression of the NR2A subunit, contrary to previous studies demonstrating down-regulation of the receptor following antipsychotic exposure (Schmitt et al., 2003) and up-regulation after exposure to isolation rearing (Turnock-Jones et al., 2009). These findings suggest a potential role for Dexras1 in modulating a selective subset of psychiatric symptoms, possibly via its interaction with NMDARs and/or other disease-related binding-partners. Furthermore, data suggest that modulating Dexras1 activity has contrasting effects on emotional, sensory and cognitive domains.
Culture and the State in America

During 1989-1990 the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) underwent a fierce attack because it indirectly funded allegedly anti-Christian work by Andres Serrano and an exhibition of photographs by Robert Mapplethorpe considered pornographic by some. In 1991 a revisionist, didactic display of western art at the National Museum of American Art (part of the Smithsonian Institution) aroused congressional ire. Yet that fracas now seems, in retrospect, fairly calm compared to the controversy generated in 1994-1995 by "The Last Act," a long-planned exhibition concerning the end of World War II in the Pacific slated to appear in the National Air and Space Museum, part of the Smithsonian. It was cancelled by the secretary of the Smithsonian because of immense political pressure and adverse publicity emanating from veterans' organizations and from Capitol Hill. Throughout 1995 those who hoped to eliminate entirely the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), the NEA, the Institute of Museum Services, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and to reduce support for the National Trust for Historic Preservation did not succeed, but they did achieve devastating budgetary cuts. Moreover, Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich insisted in a twopage essay in Time magazine that "removing cultural funding from the federal budget ultimately will improve the arts and the country."' These controversies and attacks, taken together, have had me wondering why it is that most nations in the world have a ministry of culture in some form, whereas the United States does not. Indeed, the very notion seems politically inconceivable in this country. It has been proposed from time to time, most notably in 1936-1938 (offered in Congress during Franklin D. Roosevelt's second term as the CoffeePepper bill), but each time abortively.2 It has been considered and rejected by several presidential administrations. Comparative investigation of State support for
On Instructing Students of Marketing in Business Ethics: Pedagogical Suggestions

Counterfeit merchandise is just one of many particularly perplexing ethical problems that beset our economy today. Others that come to mind include dumping, check kiting, money laundering, product tampering, skimming, and software bootlegging not to mention insider trading. It would be far too demanding an enterprise and foolish of me to attempt a full explanation as to why we are faced on all sides by such difficult moral issues. Even so, as a teacher I am persuaded that some of our problems derive from sheer ignorance of first-order principles of ethics. In this regard, the remarks of Gerald Cavanagh, professor of ethics at the University of Detroit, are especially fitting: “most of us have a child’s notion of ethics and graduate-school notion of finance, marketing, and management" (U.S. News and World Report 1985, p. 58).
Impacts of long-time DC biasing magnetism on transformers

This paper analyzes the impacts of long-time DC biasing magnetism on 500 kV transformers in Jiangsu Power Network. Long-timeDC biasing magnetism caused by DC transmission line makes significant impacts on noise, harmonics, losses, and temperature rise of the coreand windings of transformers. According to theoretical analysis and calculations of testing data, the impacts of long-time DC biasingmagnetism on power network equipments are analyzed.
Establish a Common Interests-based Strategic Framework In Sino-Japanese Relations

Complex security dilemmas and some interdependence coexist in Sino-Japanese relations. Both countries realize that the most effective way to guarantee their core national interests is to be a responsible stakeholder in East Asia and to play a responsible and constructive role in dealing with regional affairs. In light of this understanding, the paper attempts to establish a common-interests-based strategic framework for Sino-Japanese relations, a common-interest matrix composed of domestic, bilateral, regional and global levels and political, economic, security, social and cultural dimensions. At the tactic level, the paper suggests that both countries should promote overall strategic adjustments through some idea innovations, set up bilateral contact mechanisms through trust-enhancing measures, set up some discussing in advance and briefing mechanisms on important international agendas that both the two countries involve, thus start up the bilateral strategic-trust construction.
Determination of ethyl carbamate in liquor by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Objective:To develop a method for determination of ethyl carbamate(EC) in liquor by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry using deuterated isotope internal standard.Methods:The samples were extracted by the solid-phase extraction(SPE) little diatomite column,then washed with aethers.Determination and confirmation were performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry at selective ions monitoring mode with internal standard method.Results:The calibration curve was linear within the range of 10~160 μg/L,and the correlation coefficient r was 0.9994.The lowest concentration determined was 4 μg/L.The extraction recovery was 93.3%~111.8%,the RSD was 3.4%~8.0%(n=5).Conclusion:The method is accurate and suitable for the analysis of ethyl carbamate in liquor.
Projected Gradient Descent for ℓ p -Constrained Least Squares

As mentioned in Chap. 2, to avoid the combinatorial computational cost of (2.2), often the l 0-norm is substituted by the l 1-norm to reach at a convex program.
Research Strategies for Mobile Healthcare

This chapter outlines a selection of methods and tools that aim to enhance collaboration and participatory interventions for mobile health prevention. It further gives a methodological outline of these tools and methods that we can utilize to involve patients, communities and individuals into their health prevention interventions through mobile technologies. The following pages explain tools and strategies used in action research focusing on the importance of qualitative tools as well as discuss the importance of the combination of mixed methods with quantitative tools for a complete data collection.
Electrode-stress-induced nanoscale disorder in Si quantum electronic devices

Disorder in the potential-energy landscape presents a major obstacle to the more rapid development of semiconductor quantum device technologies. We report a large-magnitude source of disorder, beyond commonly considered unintentional background doping or fixed charge in oxide layers: nanoscale strain fields induced by residual stresses in nanopatterned metal gates. Quantitative analysis of synchrotron coherent hard x-ray nanobeam diffraction patterns reveals gate-induced curvature and strains up to 0.03% in a buried Si quantum well within a Si/SiGe heterostructure. Electrode stress presents both challenges to the design of devices and opportunities associated with the lateral manipulation of electronic energy levels.
On-chip UV dispersive wave generation

UV dispersive wave generation is demonstrated using a silica ridge waveguide. The short wavelength edge of the spectrum reaches 320 nm and the phase matching condition can be engineered to tune the emission from 320–580 nm.
Stahl's Self-Assessment Examination in Psychiatry: Multiple Choice Questions for Clinicians

Dr Stahl's books occupy a central position as core educational resources in the psychopharmacology literature. Building on Dr Stahl's exceptional ability to communicate complex principles and make them easily understandable, this book offers 150 self-assessment questions derived from the Neuroscience Education Institute's Master Psychopharmacology Program. The self-assessment questions will help the reader to identify areas of competence or the need for further study and offers CME credit. In addition, the questions themselves are learning exercises: each question is followed by a thorough explanation of the correct and incorrect answer choices. Readers can work through the questions to prepare for formal tests, including American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology examinations and to achieve MoC credits towards ongoing ABPN re-accreditation. The questions are also ideal training tools for those working in related clinical fields and in industry.