cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Capping Arterial Sheaths in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Evidence-Based Practice

medications, the care for these patients changed. Instead of being left in overnight, the arterial and venous sheaths were removed when the activated clotting time was less than 180 seconds (approximately 2-4 hours after the procedure), and the transducer and heparinized flush device were discarded. Although the time the sheaths remained in place after PCI changed, nursing practice remained the same. Connecting a transducer to the arterial sheath requires additional nursing time to set up the heparinized and pressurized flush device. In sharing information with nurses from other institutions and with nurses who had joined our staff, we found that using a transducer and monitoring the arterial sheath are not universal nursing practices. Little clinical research has been done on management of the vascular access sites after PCI. Juran
The role of algorithms in the teaching of algebra

For the last several years I have been working in the field of group-theoretic algorithms and my second lecture [11] at this Summer Research Institute will be devoted to a survey of some of the more important algorithms which have been developed to solve problems in group theory. Other speakers have also provided evidence that the desire to obtain constructive solutions to specific mathematical problems motivates a great deal of research activity in algebra. For example, Professor Baker discussed some results which show that algorithms exist for solving certain types of Diophantine equations which have been studied for several hundred years. Also, Professor Rabin in his video-taped lectures described some very efficient algorithms for solving problems about polynomials over finite fields.
6.04 – Trophic Interactions in Coastal and Estuarine Mangrove Forest Ecosystems

Mangrove habitats are among the most productive ecosystems on the Earth. Their low vegetational diversity belies a remarkable richness of associated species and trophic interactions. This contribution summarizes what is known about these interactions. Information on interaction strengths, top-down versus bottom-up control, and the consequences of species interactions for community structure is only available for a few systems. At a more fundamental level, our understanding of the relative contributions of different sources of primary productivity and the patterns and mechanisms of their exploitation by herbivores, detritivores, and deposit feeders remains quite limited. Even less is known about the movement of carbon, nitrogen, and other elements through mangrove food webs to higher trophic levels. Long-standing paradigms asserting minimal consumption of living plant tissues by herbivores and the paramount role of mangrove detritus as fuel for secondary production of crustaceans and fish are being challenged by data gathered with newer methodologies, most notably, stable isotope analysis. Much remains to be learned about the role of mangroves as nurseries for juvenile life history stages and the trophic links between mangroves and neighboring ecosystems. Ongoing and future investigations of these processes that employ a balanced mix of quantitative observation and field experiments promise to generate exciting new insights about mangrove community and ecosystem processes, and at the same time inform general food-web theory.
Multi Focus Structured Light for Recovering Scene Shape and Global Illumination

Illumination defocus and global illumination effects are major challenges for active illumination scene recovery algorithms. Illumination defocus limits the working volume of projector-camera systems and global illumination can induce large errors in shape estimates. In this paper, we develop an algorithm for scene recovery in the presence of both defocus and global light transport effects such as interreflections and sub-surface scattering. Our method extends the working volume by using structured light patterns at multiple projector focus settings. A careful characterization of projector blur allows us to decode even partially out-of-focus patterns. This enables our algorithm to recover scene shape and the direct and global illumination components over a large depth of field while still using a relatively small number of images (typically 25-30). We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach by recovering high quality depth maps of scenes containing objects made of optically challenging materials such as wax, marble, soap, colored glass and translucent plastic.
P013 Steps leading to discovery of a rare allele

Sanger sequencing-based typing (SBT, Life Technologies), and LABType Sequence specific oligonucleotide (SSO) Typing (One Lambda) are performed on all bone marrow/stem cell transplant recipients and prospective donors at Mayo Clinic, Rochester. SSO performed on an 11 yr-old African American male with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis needing a stem cell transplant and his full-sibling donor, resulted in C*04/C*07 with group 1 results showing common allele possibilities. SBT of exons 2, 3, and 4 resulted in either a rare C*04 allele, a rare C*07 allele, or both C*04 and C*07 being rare alleles. (Fig. 1a). At base pair 862 in exon 4, a heterozygous A/G result was seen. At this base the G result was consistent with a C*07:18 while the A suggested C*04:165. (Fig. 1b). This nucleotide exchange from G → A in codon 264 resulted in an amino acid change from Glutamic Acid to Lysine GAG → AAG. Ambisolv Sequence Specific Primers (SSP, One Lambda) were performed to help differentiate the common alleles C*04:09 N, C*04:82, C*07:01, C*07:06, and C*07:18. Except for the C*07:18, all were negative and led to an initial interpretation of C*04:165 and C*07:18. Olerup C*04 and C*07 SSP trays were set up with C*04:01/C*07:18 results obtained. Included in the C*04 SSP tray was C*04:165 with negative results. To further confirm the presence of C*07:18, exons 5 and 6 were sequenced by SBT where results at position 1043 showed a T/C. (Fig. 1b). After SSO typing a maternal half-sibling showing a haplotype match at class I, SBT was performed showing a C*04:01 homozygous result. (Fig. 1c). To help resolve the typing, Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) using Omixon Holotype HLA was performed. This led to a conclusion of C*04:01/C*07:18 novel allele (Fig. 1d). The allele has been newly discovered and named C*07:607 in the IPD-IMGT/HLA Database. It was originally found in a Black East African female. NGS phasing proved extremely valuable in identifying the nucleotide change from G → A at position 862 (codon 264) belonging to the C*07 and not the C*04.
Challenges and strategies in the implementation of a two-item food insecurity screening tool in primary care

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines food insecurity as ‘not having enough food for an active, healthy life’. The USDA Economic Research Service reported that 12.3% (15.6 mill...
Disparity does not mean bias: making sense of observed racial disparities in fatal officer-involved shootings with multiple benchmarks

Racial disparities in officer-involved shootings have dominated the national discourse recently. Unfortunately, we have yet to identify an appropriate benchmark, or at-risk population, to put these...
Chapter 16 – Nucleic Acid Probe Technology

This chapter emphasizes the parameters that govern nucleic acid hybridization and studies the factors influencing hybridization kinetics and duplex stability. These factors include temperature, ionic strength pH, the organic solvent formamide, urea, guanine and cytosine content of molecules involved, their length, concentration, degree of complementarity, degree of mismatching, and the viscosity of the system. It is important to realize that the influence of each of these variables is also dependent on the mobility of the single-stranded molecules, specifically in solution hybridization, where both probe and target molecules move randomly in an application-specific hybridization cocktail, as in the nuclease protection assays and PCR; or mixed-phase hybridization in which the target sequences are immobilized on a solid support. This technology allows the identification and recovery of unique sequences from a mixed population of DNA or RNA molecules. When two complementary polynucleotides base-pair, the process is known as annealing; this term, as well as hybridization, duplex formation, and base-pairing all have the same meaning. When a double-stranded molecule dissociates into its constituent single strands, the process is known as melting. There are several parameters that are adjustable in order to promote, or prevent, the formation of double-stranded molecules; this is known as stringency. Thus, successful hybridization requires accurate base sequence information because, more than anything else, the process is guided by the ability of complementary bases to interact. To that end, conditions may be created that will also permit noncanonical base-pairing, assuming that level of base interaction is permissible within the experimental design. There are many methods for nucleic acid probe labeling and detection.
Recognition of Stroke Warning Signs and Risk Factors Among Rural Population in Central Pennsylvania.

Background Recognition of stroke warning signs and risk factors reduces prehospital delay and increases stroke survival. The goal of this study was to evaluate the public knowledge of stroke warning signs and risk factors in a rural area in Central Pennsylvania. Materials and Methods In this study, the 2016 Sullivan County Health Fair attendees in central Pennsylvania answered a structured close-ended multiple choice questionnaire about stroke warning signs and risk factors. Further questions were asked about their reaction to acute stroke, the source of their stroke knowledge, and if they had personally known a stroke victim. Results Out of 163 respondents, 85.3% selected ≥3 (out of 4) correct stroke warning signs and 71.8% of respondents selected ≥3 (out of 5) correct stroke risk factors. Regarding the wrong stroke warning signs, 34.4% mentioned neck pain followed by chest pain (33.1%). Identification of ≥1 (out of 3) wrong stroke warning signs were significantly lower among the respondents of postgraduate level education in comparison with other literacy groups. 95.7% of respondents chose "call 911 immediately" in response to an acute stroke. A relative with a history of stroke was the most cited source of information. Multivariate analysis found that a high level of education increases odds of recognition of ≥3 correct stroke risk factors (0.21; 95% confidence interval, 0.09-0.61). Knowing anyone with stroke was associated with an awareness of the life-threatening nature of stroke (r = 0.21, P < 0.01). Conclusion Respondents' recognition of stroke warning signs was favorable. About 85% of respondents recognized at least three stroke warning signs with no significant age and literacy effect. Our results provide evidence that the subjects most at risk of stroke are those with the least awareness of stroke risk factors.
Comparing the clinical presentation of eating disorder patients with and without trauma history and/or comorbid PTSD.

This study examined whether clinical characteristics among patients presenting to residential eating disorder (ED) treatment differed according to patients’ trauma history and current PTSD diagnost...
Multiplexed in-gel microfluidic immunoassays: characterizing protein target loss during reprobing of benzophenone-modified hydrogels.

From whole tissues to single-cell lysate, heterogeneous immunoassays are widely utilized for analysis of protein targets in complex biospecimens. Recently, benzophenone-functionalized hydrogel scaffolds have been used to immobilize target protein for immunoassay detection with fluorescent antibody probes. In benzophenone-functionalized hydrogels, multiplex target detection occurs via serial rounds of chemical stripping (incubation with sodium-dodecyl-sulfate (SDS) and β-mercaptoethanol at 50-60 °C for ≥1 h), followed by reprobing (interrogation with additional antibody probes). Although benzophenone facilitates covalent immobilization of proteins to the hydrogel, we observe 50% immunoassay signal loss of immobilized protein targets during stripping rounds. Here, we identify and characterize signal loss mechanisms during stripping and reprobing. We posit that loss of immobilized target is responsible for ≥50% of immunoassay signal loss, and that target loss is attributable to disruption of protein immobilization by denaturing detergents (SDS) and incubation at elevated temperatures. Furthermore, our study suggests that protein losses under non-denaturing conditions are more sensitive to protein structure (i.e., hydrodynamic radius), than to molecular mass (size). We formulate design guidance for multiplexed in-gel immunoassays, including that low-abundance proteins be immunoprobed first, even when targets are covalently immobilized to the gel. We also recommend careful scrutiny of the order of proteins targets detected via multiple immunoprobing cycles, based on the protein immobilization buffer composition.
A Pot Ignored Boils On: Sustained Calls for Explicit Consent of Intimate Medical Exams

Unconsented intimate exams (UIEs) on men and women are known to occur for training purposes and diagnostic reasons, mostly during gynecological surgeries but also during prostate examinations and abdominal surgeries. UIEs most often occur on anesthetized patients but have also been reported on conscious patients. Over the last 30 years, several parties—both within and external to medicine—have increasingly voiced opposition to these exams. Arguments from medical associations, legal scholars, ethicists, nurses, and some physicians have not compelled meaningful institutional change. Opposition is escalating in the form of legislative bans and whistleblower reports. Aspiring to professional and scientific detachment, institutional consent policies make no distinction between intimate exams and exams on any other body part, but patients do not think of their intimate regions in a detached or neutral way and believe intimate exams call for special protections. UIEs are found to contribute to moral erosion and moral distress of medical students and compromise the sacred trust between the medical community and the general public. This paper refutes the main arguments in favor of the status quo, identifies a series of harms related to continuing the current practice, and proposes an explicit consent policy for intimate exams along with specific changes to medical school curriculum and institutional culture. Because patients are the rights-holders of their bodies, consent practices should reflect and uphold patient values which call for explicit consent for intimate exams.
Toward the elimination of medical oncology admissions

e20740 Background: While medical oncology is growing in volume, it is increasingly becoming an outpatient enterprise. Issues leading to hospital admissions in the past are commonly either prevented...
Elephant forests of the Classical Mediterranean

During the Hellenistic period technical and practical knowledge concerning elephants and their behaviour was transferred from an Indian context to a Mediterranean one. Scholars generally agree on t...
Trends in Surgical Volume in the Military Health System-A Potential Threat to Mission Readiness.

INTRODUCTION The Military Health System (MHS) is tasked with a dual mission both to provide medical services for covered patients and to ensure that its active duty medical personnel maintain readiness for deployment. Knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSA) is a metric evaluating the transferrable skills incorporated into a given surgery or medical procedure that are most relevant for surgeons deployed to a theatre of war. Procedures carrying a high KSA value are those utilizing skills with high relevance for maintaining deployment readiness. Given ongoing concerns regarding surgical volumes at MTFs and the potential adverse impact on military surgeon mission readiness were high-value surgeries to be lost to the civilian sector, we evaluated trends in the setting of high-value surgeries for beneficiaries within the MHS. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed inpatient admissions data from MTFs and TRICARE claims data from civilian hospitals, 2005-2019, to identify TRICARE-covered patients covered under "purchased care" (referred to civilian facilities) or receiving "direct care" (undergoing treatment at MTFs) and undergoing seven high-value/high-KSA surgeries: colectomy, pancreatectomy, hepatectomy, open carotid endarterectomy, abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair, esophagectomy, and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Overall and procedure-specific counts were captured, MTFs were categorized into quartiles by volume, and independence between trends was tested with a Cochran-Armitage test, hypothesizing that the proportion of cases referred for purchased care was increasing. RESULTS We captured 292,411 cases, including 7,653 pancreatectomies, 4,177 hepatectomies, 3,815 esophagectomies, 112,684 colectomies, 92,161 CABGs, 26,893 AAA repairs, and 45,028 carotid endarterectomies. The majority of cases included were referred for purchased care (90.3%), with the proportion of cases referred increasing over the study period (P < .01). By procedure, all cases except AAA repairs were increasingly referred for treatment over the study period (all P < .01, except esophagectomy P = .04). On examining volume, we found that even the highest-volume-quartile MTFs performed a median of less than one esophagectomy, hepatectomy, or pancreatectomy per month. The only included procedure performed once a month or more at the majority of MTFs was CABG. CONCLUSION On examining volume and referral trends for high-value surgeries within the MHS, we found low surgical volumes at the vast majority of included MTFs and an increasing proportion of cases referred to civilian hospitals over the last 15 years. Our findings illustrate missed opportunities for maintaining the mission readiness of military surgical personnel. Prioritizing the recapture of lost surgical volume may improve the surgical teams' mission readiness.
Closure device use for common femoral artery antegrade access is higher risk than retrograde access.

Objective Although the use of closure devices (CD) for femoral artery antegrade access (AA) is not in the instructions for use (IFU) for many devices, AA has been reported to be associated with a lower incidence of access site complications compared to manual compression alone. We hypothesized that CD use for AA would not be associated with a clinically significant increased odds of access site complications compared to CD use for retrograde access (RA). Methods This was a retrospective review of the Vascular Quality Initiative from 2010 to 2019 for infrainguinal peripheral vascular interventions with common femoral artery access closed with a CD. Patients who had a cutdown or multiple access sites were excluded. Cases were then stratified into whether access was antegrade or retrograde. Hierarchical multivariable logistic regressions controlling for hospital level variation were used to examine the independent association between AA and access site complications. The primary outcomes were access site hematoma, stenosis, or occlusion as defined in the VQI. The secondary outcome was the development of an access site hematoma requiring an intervention, which was defined as transfusion, thrombin injection, or surgery. Sensitivity analyses after coarsened exact matching were performed to reduce residual bias. Results Overall, 72,463 cases were identified and 6,070 (8.4%) had AA. Patients with AA were less likely to be smokers (27.2% vs 33.0%) or obese (31.5% vs 35.6%; all P Conclusion In this nationally representative sample, the use of CDs for femoral access was associated with an overall low rate of access site complications. However, there was an increased odds of access site hematomas with AA. Patient selection for AA remains important and ultrasound guided access should be the standard of care for this approach.
Low Self-Control, Peer Delinquency, and Crime: Considering Gendered Pathways:

Objectives: We extend prior research by considering how low self-control and peer delinquency may work together in a mediating process whereby low self-control increases association with delinquent...
Leadership in Correctional Nursing: The First Step.

Correctional nurses fulfill many roles in the provision of health care to incarcerated individuals. The role most readily visible is health care provider, but today's nurses are also expected to fi...
Motivation, Rapport, and Resilience: Three Pillars of Adolescent Therapy to Shift the Focus to Adulthood

Purpose The purpose of this clinical focus article is to encourage speech-language pathologists (SLPs) to shift their operational framework as students grow from childhood to adulthood by focusing ...
AN EVOLUTIONARY APPROACH TO NONLINEAR DISCRETE-TIME OPTIMAL CONTROL WITH TERMINAL CONSTRAINTS

The nonlinear discrete-time optimal control problem with terminal constraints is treated using a new evolutionary approach which combines a genetic search for finding the control sequence with a solution of the initial value problem for the state variables. The main advantage of the method is that it does not require to obtain the solution of the adjoint problem which usually leads to a two-point boundary value problem combined with an optimality condition for finding the control sequence. The method is verified by solving the problem of discrete velocity direction programming with the effects of gravity and thrust and a terminal constraint on the final vertical position. The solution compared favorably with the results of gradient methods.
Vortex models for the control of stall

A model-based control theory for boundary flows requires a model for the relevant fluid dynamics that accurately captures the physics involved, including interactions between the actuators and the system, while also being simple enough to run in real time. In the present work, we develop a simple model for simulating stalled flow past a flat plate. Additionally, we show that analysis of results provided by the model motivates a control scheme using active vortex generator jets.
Hedgehog signaling and desmoplasia are regulated by hypoxia in pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive solid tumors, with less than 5% of patients surviving 5 years. Chemotherapy treatments have modest improvement in survival rates and surgical resection in most cases is not an option. New strategies for therapy are needed to improve overall survival in this deadly disease. Pancreatic tumors are notoriously hypoxic and characterized by a dense fibroinflammatory stromal reaction (desmoplasia). We hypothesized that signals emanating from tumor cells exposed to hypoxia enable pancreatic tumors to thrive. To explore this we conducted a transcriptome microarray study comparing genes transcribed in normoxia and hypoxia (1% O2 for 24 hrs). We have found that hypoxia significantly increases the levels of the hedgehog (Hh) pathway ligand, sonic hedgehog (sHh), and its receptor, patched (PTCH), in two pancreatic cancer cell lines, MiaPaca 2 and Panc-1. In addition, siRNA to HIF-1α showed that this increase is HIF-1α dependent. Western blotting confirmed a hypoxia/HIF-1α-dependent increase in sHh protein levels in both MiaPaca-2 and Panc-1 cells. To further explore the hypoxia-induced increase in expression of hedgehog pathway components we used a specific pathway array profiling the expression of 84 key genes involved in the hedgehog signaling. REN, (retinoic acid, EGF and NGF induced gene), was the only other hedgehog pathway gene to increase in hypoxia. Panc-1 cells transfected with a GLI-luciferase reporter of hedgehog activation, showed no increase in GLI activity in either normoxia, hypoxia or upon addition of conditioned media containing sHh, suggesting there is not an autocrine stimulation of the cancer cells themselves by the secreted sHh. This may be explained by the increase in PTCH and REN, both inhibitors of the hedgehog pathway. sHh is a known key factor promoting stromal desmoplasia in pancreatic cancer and therefore we tested whether sHh produced by cancer cells can activate fibroblasts. Indeed, NIH-3T3 fibroblasts stably transfected with GLI-luciferase (NIH-3T3/GLI-luc) showed an increase in GLI activity when co-cultured with MiaPaca-2 cells in hypoxia, but not normoxia, or when treated with conditioned media from Panc-1 or MiaPaca-2 cells grown in hypoxia. A 3-D system simulating conditions of tumor growth and demonstrating a hypoxic core within the cancer cells mass showed GLI transactivation in NIH-3T3/GLI-luc cells only when cells were co-cultured with pancreatic cancer cells (Panc-1, MiaPaca-2, Capan-2 or Su-86), but not when cells were cultured alone. Using siRNA this GLI activation was shown to be dependent on both HIF-1α and sHh. Finally, an immunohistochemical study in pancreatic cancer tumor samples showed a significant positive correlation between tumor and stromal HIF-1α staining and stromal sHh. Thus, we propose a new mechanism of the tumor9s response to hypoxia in which pancreatic tumor cells secrete sHh that acts on stroma to increase fibrosis which in turn leads to decreased blood flow, and thus a continuous cycle of more hypoxia and Hh signaling. [Supported by CA109552-05]
Analyzing test case quality with mutation testing approach

Testing is the most important process for the validation and verification of the industrialized products. Similarly, in the field of software development it counts a lot. Sometimes it becomes difficult to judge the quality of test cases especially in the case of large and complex projects, where not even a single fault is tolerable and can have more consequences. So the solution lies in performing a mutation testing process which is a type of white box testing. In the mutation testing process, the quality of test cases is analyzed by just making mutants of the original code and then by killing them. In this paper, the whole process of mutation testing approach is analyzed and then the process is applied on a piece of code to give the complete step by step description of making and killing the mutants.
Role of Drilling Oil and Gas Wells in the Economy of Elk, Forest, Mckean, & Warren Counties

The oil and gas well drilling industry is an important part of the history and economy of Elk, Forest, McKean, and Warren counties in Pennsylvania. The industry creates jobs and compensation for workers throughout these counties and influences tax revenues in the counties.
COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE INFECTION RATES OF BROVIAC/HICKMAN CATHETERS (BHC) AND TOTALLY IMPLANTABLE VENOUS DEVICES (IVD) IN PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY PATIENTS

We reviewed the records of 30 patients with 37 venous access catheters who were prospectively identified at time of placement to compare complications of BHC (Broviac or Hickman, n=20) and IVD (Mediport or Infusaport, n=17). Choice of catheter type (BHC or IVD) was fay parental discretion. The groups were comparable with respect to age [BHC: mean 5.4y(0.3y-19.0y); IVD: 6.2y(0.7y-19.0y)], sex, diagnoses, days in place (mean=164d, BHC group; 154d IVD group), percent time neutropenic, percent inpatient days, and percent days accessed (BHC: 30% vs IVD: 28% of days). There were 10 catheter-associated infections in the BHC group (3282 days at risk), 3 local and 7 with bacteremia; 4 required catheter removal. There were 9 catheter-associated infections in the IVD group during 2618 days at risk (5 local, 4 with bacteremia); only 1 required catheter removal. All infections requiring catheter removal occurred in patients < 2 years of age. Pathogens included S. epidermidis (8), S. aureus (3), enterococcus (2), E. coli (1), and C. albicans (1). Noninfectious complications occurred in 14 BHC (5 resulting in catheter removal) and 11 IVD (5 resulting in catheter removal). Overall infection rate per 100 catheter days was 0.34 and 0.30 for the IVD and BHC groups respectively. Mechanical complication rate per 100 catheter days was 0.42 for both groups. Thus the incidence of infectious and noninfectious complications was comparable for both types of catheters.
Are Students of Color More Likely to Graduate from College if They Attend More Selective Institutions? Evidence from a Cohort of Recipients and Nonrecipients of the Gates Millennium Scholarship Program.

The study takes advantage of the nontraditional selection process of the Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS) program to test the association between selectivity of 4-year institution attended as well as other noncognitive variables on the college completion rates of a sample of students of color. The results of logistic regression and propensity score matching suggest these students are slightly more likely to graduate from college if they attend a highly selective institution. There is also evidence that other noncognitive variables such as leadership are good predictors of college completion. This suggests that admission offices interested in attracting a more diverse student body might want to consider expanding the traditional admission criteria.
The Difficulty of Diagnosing Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia

The diagnosis of pneumonia in intubated, ventilated patients is difficult to confirm. This relates to the lack of specificity of physical examination findings, diagnostic imaging, cultures, and other laboratory tests. Organisms recovered from the upper airway or by suction through an endotracheal tube may be colonizers and not represent lower respiratory flora. Even bronchoscopic specimens may be contaminated by pharyngeal flora. Advances have been made in diagnosing adult ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) by quantitating the number of organisms recovered in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Organisms recovered in large numbers are the presumed etiologic agent.1,2 This problem is more challenging for diagnosing the intubated newborn because of the lack of specimens other …
HIF Takes It Up a Notch

Notch signaling is used to choose cell fates in many developmental contexts. New evidence shows that circulating blood cells in Drosophila, in the absence of Notch ligand provided by neighboring cells, activate Notch signaling through stabilization with the hypoxia-inducible factor-α (HIF-α) transcription factor. Although HIF-α is a key regulator of the low-oxygen stress response, here it acts without its HIF-β partner by interacting with and stabilizing the Notch receptor. These roles for HIF-α and Notch are atypical in multiple ways, from the activity of HIF-α under normal oxygen tensions and without its partner HIF-β to the ligand-independent activity of Notch, and serve as a challenge to identify other noncanonical uses of well-studied signaling pathways.
Pretreatment with phencyclidine, an N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist, attenuates long-term behavioral deficits in the rat produced by traumatic brain injury.

ABSTRACT This study examined the effects of pretreatment with phencyclidine (PCP), a selective N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist, on behavioral and physiologic responses of the rat to experime...
Effectiveness of “Nochar” Solidifier Polymer in Removing Oil from Open Water in Coastal Wetlands

Abstract The use of solidifier in oil spill cleanup has been minimal due to lack of practical application method and in situ field testing and evaluation under various coastal and environmental conditions. Solidifiers are dry granular, hydrophobic polymers that react with oil and form a cohesive mass that floats on water. Unlike sorbents, the oil is retained in the solid mass allowing for easy removal. A field test was conducted in coastal Louisiana in which replicated open water enclosures were oiled with South Louisiana Crude. Granular solidifier was spread over oil and the solidified oil was then removed from the plots. Over 70% of the applied oil was recovered. Results demonstrated that solidifier may, under certain conditions, be an option for removing oil from wetlands.
Saying good-bye to DBMSs, designing effective interfaces

The Communications Web site, http://cacm.acm.org, features 13 bloggers in the BLOG@CACM community. In each issue of Communications, we'll publish excerpts from selected posts, plus readers' comments.Michael Stonebraker discusses the problems with relational database management systems and possible solutions, and Jason Hong writes about interfaces and usable privacy and security.
TECHNICAL NOTE: NUMERICAL ANOMALIES IN SIMULATING DIRECTIONAL SOLIDIFICATION OF BINARY ALLOYS

In a numerical model of the directional solidification of a binary alloy, unreasonable results and/or oscillatory values of the concentration can occur when simulations of solidification scenarios with large thermal gradients approaching plane front conditions are attempted.
Lateral column length in adult flatfoot deformity.

Introduction:In adult acquired flatfoot deformity, it is unclear whether the lateral column length shortens with progression of the deformity, whether it is short to begin with, or whether it is short at all. To our knowledge, no previous study has examined the lateral column length of patients with adult acquired flatfoot deformity compared to a control population. The purpose of our study was to compare the lateral column length in patients with and without adult acquired flatfoot deformity to see if there was a significant difference.Methods:The study was a retrospective radiographic review of 2 foot and ankle fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeons’ patients with adult flatfoot deformity. Our study population consisted of 75 patients, 85 feet (28 male, 57 female) with adult flatfoot deformity with a mean age of 64 (range, 23-93). Our control population consisted of 57 patients and 70 feet (23 male, 47 female) without flatfoot deformity with a mean age of 61 (range, 40-86 years). Weightbearing anteropo...
Litigation and legal reform in colonial Sri Lanka

(1979). Litigation and legal reform in colonial Sri Lanka. South Asia: Journal of South Asian Studies: Vol. 2, No. 1-2, pp. 78-90.
Determination of molecular weights and frictional ratios of proteins in impure systems by use of gel filtration and density gradient centrifugation. Application to crude preparations of sulfite and hydroxylamine reductases

The behavior of each of a series of proteins during chromatography on columns of Sephadex G-200 may be correlated with the Stokes radius of the protein, but does not correlate with molecular weight. Proteins with Stokes radii as high as 107 A or molecular weights as high as 1 300 000 may be characterized by the use of such columns. The Sephadex data are used in a critique of earlier mathematical treatments of the phenomenon known as “gel filtration”. With a Stokes radius measured by the chromatographic method and a sedimentation coefficient determined by density gradient centrifugation, reasonable estimates for both the molecular weight and the frictional ratio (f/f0) of a macromolecule are available. Since both of these methods are applicable to proteins present in mixtures, valuable information concerning the molecular weights and shapes of proteins may be obtained in anticipation of the achievement of high degrees of purity. The determination of the molecular weight and the f/f0 for each of several enzymes in unfractionated extracts of Salmonella typhimurium and Neurospora crassa illustrates this application.
Splenectomy and chemotherapy in acute myelocytic leukemia of childhood

This study was undertaken to explore the therapeutic and diagnostic value of splenectomy for children with acute myelocytic leukemia (AML) in remission. Of 29 consecutive untreated patients entering the study, 19 attained complete remission with mercaptopurine, vincristine, and 6-azauridine. Chemotherapy during remission consisted of mercaptopurine daily and cytosine arabinoside weekly. Because remission lasted 2 months or less in 5 patients, they did not undergo splenectomy. Fourteen patients underwent splenectomy while clinically in complete remission. Splenectomy was tolerated well with no major complications. Gross abnormalities of the abdominal organs were found in 11 patients. Histologic leukemia was found in 12 patients, most often in the spleen. Negro children did not respond to therapy as well as Caucasian children. Central nervous system (CNS) leukemia terminated clinical remission in 7 of the 14 patients. Four patients remain in initial CNS and hematologic remission for 18 to 24 months, and four others remain in initial hematologic remission for 16 to 18 months. These results suggest that in children with AML, splenectomy may influence the activity of leukemia and prolong the duration of remission.
Comparison of characteristics of admitted emergency department patients requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the ICU and non-ICU setting

Background: Hospitalised patients requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) have better outcomes in intensive care units (ICUs) than wards. Survival could potentially be improved for patients at high risk for CPR if they can be identified while in the emergency department (ED) and admitted to an ICU setting. It is currently unknown whether patients requiring CPR who are admitted to the ward show a similar pattern of physiological deterioration to those admitted to the ICU, and thus whether future research should consider these two patients groups as distinct. It is hypothesised that, since both groups of patients decompensate to the point of requiring acute resuscitation shortly after hospital admission, they should also share similar premonitory signs of deterioration in their basic physiological parameters. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed of adult patients at an urban ED requiring CPR within 72 h of admission from March 2002 to March 2005. Data were compared between subjects admitted to ICU and non-ICU beds. Results: 45 patients (58% women) of mean age 59 years met the inclusion criteria; 40% required CPR in a non-ICU ward. There were no differences in demographic characteristics, ED chief complaint or admission diagnosis between the two groups. Blood pressure was significantly higher in the non-ICU subjects at ED arrival (129/75 vs 100/50), time of admission (122/74 vs 103/58) and before CPR (117/70 vs 92/50) (p⩽0.054). Non-ICU subjects had higher pulse and respiratory rates at the last measurement before CPR (pulse 109 vs 88, p = 0.004; respiratory rate 26 vs 17, p = 0.002). Conclusion: This study indicates that patients who experience CPR after admission to non-ICU wards may have a different pattern of physiological deterioration from patients admitted to an ICU. Further studies to derive decision criteria in admitting patients at risk for inpatient CPR should treat these patient populations as separate.
Adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) and calcium-calmodulin interrelation in the control of prolactin secretion: evidence for dopamine inhibition of cAMP accumulation and prolactin release after calcium mobilization.

Calcium (Ca2+) ionophore A23187 increased the intracellular cAMP content and PRL release in normal ratanterior pituitary cells. Cotreatment with dopamine reduced both control and A23187-stimulated cAMP accumulation and PRL release. The dopamine antagonist spiperone restored the response of cAMP to ionophoric stimulation after pretreatment with dopamine in the greatest concentration used. Penfluridol, a compound with Ca2+-calmodulin-blocking properties, decreased control and A23187-stimulated cAMP content and PRL release. W7, a selective calmodulin-blocking agent, reduced basal cAMP and PRL release, whereas W5, a W7 analog with only 20% of its calmodulin-blocking ability, did not affect cAMP or PRL secretion. These data indicate that the Ca2+-calmodulin and cAMP systems are interrelated in the regulation of PRL secretion. They are also consistent with the hypothesis that the inhibition of PRL release by dopamine occurs after Ca2+ is mobilized and when or before it stimulates adenylate cyclase activity.
Postexposure vaccination with a virion host shutoff defective mutant reduces UV-B radiation-induced ocular herpes simplex virus shedding in mice.

Abstract A herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) recombinant (UL41NHB) deficient in the virion host shutoff ( vhs ) function was tested as a therapeutic vaccine in an ultraviolet (UV) light-induced mouse ocular reactivation model. Mice were infected with HSV-1 via the cornea. Following the establishment of latency by HSV-1 the mice were subsequently vaccinated intraperitoneally with one dose of UL41NHB or with uninfected cell extract. Mice were subsequently UV-irradiated to induce viral reactivation and during the 7 days post-UV irradiation, numbers of mice shedding virus were reduced from 13/23 (57%) to 3/25 (12%), and numbers of virus-positive eye swabs were reduced from 40/161 (25%) to 6/175 (3%) by the vaccine ( P vhs may be a useful strategy in the development of attenuated therapeutic HSV vaccines.
Activation-regulated expression and chemotactic function of sphingosine 1-phosphate receptors in mouse splenic T cells

Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) from platelets and macrophages stimulates migration and enhances survival of T cells. Mouse spleen CD4 and CD8 T cells are shown to express predominantly S1P1 (Edg-1) and S1P4 (Edg-6) G-protein-coupled receptors with only minimal representation of S1P2, S1P3, and S1P5. At and below plasma concentrations of healthy mammals (1 nM-1 microM), S1P evokes trans-Matrigel chemotaxis of mouse CD4 and CD8 T cells and recruits T cells into subcutaneous air pouches. T cell receptor-mediated activation of CD4 T cells suppresses expression of S1P1 and S1P4 receptors and eliminates their chemotactic responses to S1P. The immunoregulator FTY720, a structural homologue of S1P, lacks T cell chemotactic activity and competitively inhibits T cell chemotactic responses to S1P in vitro and in vivo. S1P may be a distinctive contributor to compartmental immunity by attracting naive and memory T cells preferentially over activated effector T cells.
Comparative experimental study of ionic polymer–metal composites with different backbone ionomers and in various cation forms

An ionic polymer–metal composite (IPMC) consisting of a thin perfluorinated ionomer (usually, Nafion or Flemion) strip, platinum, and/or gold plated on both faces and neutralized by a certain amount of appropriate cations undergoes large bending motion when, in a hydrated state, a small electric field is applied across its thickness. When the same membrane is suddenly bent, a small voltage of the order of millivolts is produced across its surfaces. Hence IPMCs can serve as soft bending actuators and sensors. This coupled electrical–chemical–mechanical response of IPMCs depends on the structure of the backbone ionic polymer, the morphology and conductivity of the metal electrodes, the nature of the cations, and the level of hydration (or other solvent uptake). We have carried out extensive experimental studies on both Nafion- and Flemion-based IPMCs in various cation forms, seeking to understand the fundamental properties of these composites, to explore the mechanism of their actuation, and finally, to optimize their performance for various potential applications. The results of some of these tests on both Nafion- and Flemion-based IPMCs with alkali-metal or alkyl-ammonium cations are reported here. Compared with Nafion-based IPMCs, Flemion-based IPMCs with fine dendritic goldelectrodes have higher ion-exchange capacity, better surface conductivity, higher hydration capacity, and higher longitudinal stiffness. They also display greater bending actuation under the same applied voltage. In addition, they do not display a reverse relaxation under a sustained dc voltage, which is typical of Nafion-based IPMCs in alkali-metal form. Flemion IPMCs thus are promising composites for application as bending actuators.
Night Illumination in the Visible, NIR, and SWIR Spectral Bands

This paper describes a spectral night illumination model. The model provides spectral irradiance on a horizontal surface for wavelengths between 0.4 and 2.0 microns. These wavelengths encompass the visible, near infrared, and short wave infrared spectral bands. The primary significance of this model is that consistent estimates of spectral irradiance are now provided for the visible through SWIR spectral bands. The primary sources of night illumination are described. The paper also describes how the new model was derived from spectroscopic data gathered by astronomers. Model predictions are compared to standard references commonly used to predict night illuminations.
A Three-Dimensional Model of Lake Ontario's Summer Circulation. II. A Diagnostic Study

Abstract A two-layer circular lake model is used to study the mean flow of Lake Ontario during midsummer. By computing the model only to the second order of amplitude, it is shown that the observed cyclonic circulation of Lake Ontario during summer is due to the rectified effects of the large, transient, wind-driven currents. This effect is strongly influenced by model grid resolution and friction.
Threats in bioterrorism II: CDC category B and C agents

A variety of agents have potential for use as weapons of biological terrorism. Knowledge of the likely organisms may be useful in preparations to mitigate the effects of a BT event. Recognition of the clinical presentation of these organisms could help physicians identify them quickly, allowing more appropriate management and possible prophylaxis of others who may have been exposed. Although many of these agents do not have specific treatments, it is important to recognize those that do. It is also important to know which infections require isolation because of potential for person-to-person spread. Table 3 summarizes important features of the CDC category B and C agents. The list of agents discussed in this article is by no means exhaustive. It is always possible that some "mad scientist" could modify an existing organism or engineer some new agent for use in biological terrorism. The possibilities are limited only by the ingenuity and depravity of those individuals who would take part in such an attack. Language: en
An Integrated Model of Attribution of Responsibility for Wrongdoing in Organizations

Sociologists and psychologists have spent several decades attempting to improve our understanding of the factors that influence how people attribute responsibility for outcomes of social action, particularly wrongdoing. Members of two disciplines continue to refine Heider's seminal work in distinct ways, but have not developed a definitive test of attribution of responsibility (AOR) because of the ad hoc nature of existing research. To move towards a definitive test of AOR, we propose an integrated AOR model that is especially well suited to a neglected substantive concern: wrongdoing within organizations. In constructing our integrated model, we synthesize insights from the sociological and psychological research on AOR, while also incorporating concepts from organizational studies. An integrated model has the potential to provide a more stringent test of AOR in cases of organizational wrongdoing, which would move the field beyond its current stagnation and would carry important legal implications.
"Metabolic memory": effects of diets, fed during the first refeeding, on hepatic enzyme responses, during a second starvation-refeeding.

SummaryA second starvation-refeeding episode increases food intake and G6PD and ME activities compared with one cycle of starvation-refeeding. The increases can be obtained even if dietary protein or carbohydrate is omitted during the first refeeding, but not if a high-fat diet is fed during the first refeeding. The parallel changes in food intake, body weight changes, and enzyme responses suggest a basic, underlying adaptive response to caloric restriction which may have important nutritional implications.
Some remarks on Adler's classical algebraic chromodynamics

A simple method for constructing Adler's algebra with $N$ quark source charges is presented. As a byproduct one obtains some interesting properties of direct products of $\mathrm{U}(n)\ensuremath{\lambda}$ matrices. It is shown that already for $N=3$ Adler's "trace" condition is not satisfied.