cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Acid monoamine metabolites in cerebrospinal fluid during methadone maintenance.

SOME studies of the interaction of narcotic analgesics and brain monoamine systems have implicated brain monoamines in acute and long term effects of the principal narcotics1, but interspecies variation makes it difficult to apply these results to man. Techniques are now available which use monoamine metabolites in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as indicators of central monoamine metabolism2–4. Using measures which reflect central 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) and dopamine synthesis, we studied patients on methadone maintenance therapy for heroin addiction.
Efficient interaction between OS and architecture in heterogeneous platforms

Almost all hardware platforms to date have been homogeneous with one or more identical processors managed by the operating system (OS). However, recently, it has been recognized that power constraints and the need for domain-specific high performance computing may lead architects towards building heterogeneous architectures and platforms in the near future. In this paper, we consider the three types of heterogeneous core architectures: (a) Virtual asymmetric cores: multiple processors that have identical core micro-architectures and ISA but each running at a different frequency point or perhaps having a different cache size, (b) Physically asymmetric cores: heterogeneous cores, each with a fundamentally different microarchitecture (in-order vs. out-of-order for instance) running at similar or different frequencies, with identical ISA and (c) Hybrid cores: multiple cores, where some cores have tightly-coupled hardware accelerators or special functional units. We show case studies that highlight why existing OS and hardware interaction in such heterogeneous architectures is inefficient and causes loss in application performance, throughput efficiency and lack of quality of service. We then discuss hardware and software support needed to address these challenges in heterogeneous platforms and establish efficient heterogeneous environments for platforms in the next decade. In particular, we will outline a monitoring and prediction framework for heterogeneity along with software support to take advantage of this information. Based on measurements on real platforms, we will show that these proposed techniques can provide significant advantage in terms of performance and power efficiency in heterogeneous platforms.
Overcoming Failures: Fault-tolerance and Logical Centralization in Clean-Slate Network Management

We investigate the design of a clean-slate control and management plane for data networks using the abstraction of 4D architecture, utilizing and extending 4D's concept of logically centralized Decision plane that is responsible for managing network-wide resources. In this paper, a dynamically adaptable algorithm for assigning Data plane devices to a physically distributed Decision plane is presented, which enables a network to operate with minimal configuration and human intervention, while providing optimal convergence and robustness against failures. Our work is especially relevant in the context of ISPs and large geographically dispersed enterprise networks, where robust and scalable network-wide control of a large number of heterogeneous devices is desired.
Solution method for the transformed time-dependent Michaelis–Menten enzymatic reaction model

The dynamic form of the Michaelis–Menten enzymatic reaction equations provides a time-dependent model in which a substrate $$S$$ reacts with an enzyme $$E$$ to form a complex $$C$$ which is in turn converted into a product $$P$$ and the enzyme $$E$$ . In the recent paper [Mallory and Van Gorder in J Math Chem 52: 222–230, 2014], it was shown that this system of four nonlinear equations can be reduced to a single nonlinear differential equation, which is simpler to solve numerically than the system of four equations. Qualitative properties of solutions were discussed, and stability results were given. In the present paper, we apply the optimal homotopy analysis method to the solution of this problem in order to obtain quantitative results. To do so, we transform the governing equation into a form that is more amenable to analysis. From the homotopy solutions, we are then able to study the effects of the model parameters on the solutions to the dynamic Michaelis–Menten enzymatic reaction equations. The results demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the approach, with residual errors of $$10^{-6}$$ – $$10^{-10}$$ by considering relatively few iterations of the method. Therefore, the optimal homotopy analysis method is shown to be a rather useful tool for constructing analytical solutions to the dynamic Michaelis–Menten enzymatic reaction equations.
Poverty in Haiti: Essays on Underdevelopment and Post Disaster Prospects

Mats Lundahl New York: Palgrave, Macmillan, 2011, pp. 282, £64.13, ISBN 978 0 230 28941 3 On 12 January 2010, an earthquake of a magnitude of 7.0 on the Richter scale struck metropolitan Port-au-Pr...
A Clinical Case Study of Family-Based Music Therapy

Music therapists working with families provide creative interventions that can address relationship difficulties. The purpose of this study was to describe how participation in music therapy supported parent–child interactions with a family (a 35-year-old woman, her 3-year-old daughter, and her 18-month-old son) who had experienced domestic violence. Using a constructivist grounded-theory approach, the researcher collected data by videotaping eight clinical sessions, creating analytic memos and field notes, consulting with the parent, and collecting a parent journal. Results indicated bidirectional difficulties in engaging in reciprocal parent–child interactions. Establishing routines, participating in joint-attention tasks, and incorporating child-initiated ideas into the therapeutic play became vehicles for establishing trust. Music therapy may have provided experiences that facilitated the emergence of positive interactions.
A case-control analysis of lymphocytic chromosome 9 aberrations in lung cancer.

Cytogenetic aberrations on chromosome 9 have been reported to be one of the most frequent genetic changes in lung tumorigenesis. Although many of these changes have been detected in lung carcinoma specimens, there is growing evidence showing the concordance between chromosomal alterations in primary lung tumors and peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs). We investigated whether spontaneous aberrations on chromosome 9 in PBLs are associated with the presence of lung cancer and with a family history of cancer. A personal interview, to construct a detailed epidemiologic profile including family history of cancer, was conducted on 174 lung cancer cases and 162 matched controls. One hundred metaphases from PBLs of each subject were analyzed for chromosome 9 aberrations using the whole chromosome painting technique. Overall, the mean proportion of individuals with chromosome 9 abnormalities in their PBLs was significantly higher in cases (96.0%) than in controls (60.5%) (p < 0.05). After adjustment by age, gender, ethnicity, family size, and pack-years, there was a 16.63-fold significantly elevated odds ratio (OR) for lung cancer associated with chromosome 9 aberrations. When subjects were categorized by frequencies of the chromosome 9 lesions, we observed significantly increased odds ratios of 11.13 (4.66, 26.58) and 27.45 (11.15, 67.54) for individuals with 1 chromosome 9 aberration and ≥2 chromosome 9 aberrations, respectively. By performing family history analyses, we further observed that control individuals with chromosome 9 aberrations were more likely to report a family history of any cancer (OR = 1.67 [0.84, 3.32]) and lung cancer (OR = 2.49 [0.81, 7.67]). Our findings suggest that chromosome 9 aberrations in PBLs might be considered a marker of lung cancer predisposition and may be associated with familial aggregation of cancer. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Microwave absorption studies of Y-Ba-Cu-O.

We have measured the magnetic field dependence of the microwave absorption of bulk ceramic ${\mathrm{Y}}_{1}$${\mathrm{Ba}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{\mathrm{x}}$ as a function of temperature. Below the superconducting transition temperature, the microwave absorption increases with increasing magnetic-flux penetration into the sample, and the absorption exhibits considerable hysteresis resulting from hysteresis in sample magnetization. Also, when the applied magnetic field is removed there is a remanant absorption due to the remanant sample magnetization.
An Exploration of Sense of Community and Fear of Crime in Gated Communities

As communities become more urbanized, there is concern about a decline in sense of community and an increase in fear of crime. Developers are creating gated communities to reverse this trend, but their success remains unknown. This research empirically addresses the issues of sense of community, crime, and fear of crime in a comparative study of two gated and two nongated communities with similar attributes. Mail surveys were conducted in both a gated and a nongated community in two contexts: public housing and high-income suburban communities. Results showed that high-income gated community residents reported a significantly lower sense of community, significantly higher perceived personal safety and comparative community safety, and no significant difference in actual crime rate as compared to their nongated counterparts. In the low-income communities, there were no significant differences between the gated and nongated communities on any of the measures. Implications of creating gated communities in di...
Effect of particle size on combustion of aluminum particle dust in air

Abstract The combustion of aluminum particle dust in a laminar air flow is theoretically studied under fuel-lean conditions. A wide range of particle sizes at nano and micron scales is explored. The flame speed and temperature distribution are obtained by numerically solving the energy equation in the flame zone, with the particle burning rate modeled as a function of particle diameter and ambient temperature. The model allows for investigation into the effects of particle size, equivalence ratio, and chemical kinetics on the burning characteristics and flame structures of aluminum-particle/air mixtures. In addition, the flame behavior with ultra-fine particles in the sub-nanometer range is examined by asymptotically treating particles as large molecules. Calculated flame speeds show reasonable agreement with experimental data. As the particle diameter decreases from the micron to the nano range, the flame speed increases and the combustion transits from a diffusion-controlled to a kinetically controlled mode. For micron-sized and larger particles, the flame speed can be correlated with the particle size according to a d − m relationship, with m being 0.92. For nano-particles, a d −0.52 or d −0.13 dependence is obtained, depending on whether the d 1.0 - or d 0.3 -law of particle burning time is implemented in the flame model, respectively. No universal law of flame speed exists for the entire range of particle sizes.
Corn Acreage Response-Function Estimation with Pooled Time-Series and Cross-Sectional Data

A great deal of research has been done on the estimation of the parameters of acreage response models for various crops. Econometric acreage response studies have traditionally used more than twenty time-series observations to estimate the parameters of the model. A time period this long can include rapid advances in technology and changes in the acreage response coefficients. The nature of technology makes it difficult to quantify. Crop technology is comprised of a large number of variables including advances in herbicides and pesticides, new types of machinery, improved varieties, and better farm management practices. Past acreage response studies have largely relied on linear time trends to account for changes in technology. If technology does not advance linearly, then models accounting for technology with a linear trend are misspecified and likely will contain biased coefficients. This paper demonstrates how pooled time-series and cross-sectional data can be used to estimate the parameters of a Midwest corn acreage response function. The use of pooled data reduces the number of time-series observations that are necessary for parameter estimation. This reduction in the number of time-series observations lessens the effect of technology, and likely will eliminate the need to attempt to quantify it, as well as greatly reduce the possibility that the acreage response coefficients will change during the period under study.
SU‐E‐T‐243: Analysis of Planner Dependence in IMRT

Purpose: To establish trends in the observed variations within large sets of IMRT treatment plans. Past data of comparable treatments are statistically analyzed to identify clinical preferences and establish best practices for future decision‐making processes. Methods: We propose three statistical measures of variations in the DVH of 100 head and neck cancer patients from IU‐Simon Cancer Center: a) Standard deviation for delivered dose, std(D), to specific volumes, b) standard deviation for volume, std(V), receiving a specific of dose, and c) a steepness measure for DVH and 1‐standard deviation at specific dose points as a measure for falloff preference. Results: The three methods show considerable variation amongst DVHs: a) Negligible dose deviation until 70% volume, a steady increase to std(D)=22% at 100% volume, followed by a steady decrease to std(D)=0% at 115% volume. On the other hand, b) standard deviation of volume is rather constant at 3% until at high volumes (100%), where it increases to 15%. c) Average steepness of DVH over the 100 patients is negligible until 94% dose, after which it falls steadily to −13 at 104% dose. It then steadily climbs back to 0 at 110% dose. This change depicts the dose falloff on a typical DVH. The 1 standard deviation spread is most evident between 96% and 110% dose, with a maximum of 7.2 at 103% dose. Furthermore, there is a ripple effect at 85% dose with a standard deviation of 1.8 that is distinct from the usual trend. Conclusion: Unanimous decisions for DVHs exist only at lower values of volume and dose. However, significant variations are found in the falloff region of the DVH. For this region, the increased variations in the steepness suggest that individual preferences are more divergent. A closer unanimity in future decision‐making may lead to enhanced planner independence of IMRT treatments. Joint Purdue‐IU Seed Grant
Performance Implications of the Knowledge Chain

Knowledge management (KM) initiatives are undertaken in order to improve organizational performance. The goal of such improvement is to make an organization more competitive in delivering value to its customers, employers, and stakeholders. However, without a plan that links KM activities to organizational performance, the time, effort, and money devoted to a KM initiative may yield little benefit. Thus, understanding this linkage is crucial to competitiveness of knowledge-based organizations. This paper uses the Knowledge Chain model as the theoretical base for an empirical study of the linkage between KM activities and approaches to competitiveness. It finds that every one of the nine knowledge chain activities can be performed in ways that improve organizational competitiveness in any of four ways: enhanced productivity, agility, innovation, and reputation. Aside from offering empirical support for the Knowledge Chain model, the primary finding of this research is that each knowledge chain activity deserves to be considered as a possible means for implementing each of these four approaches to improving organization performance.
Mechanoelectricity of a nanoporous monel–electrolyte solution system

The electrification of an electrolyte solution in a nanoporous alloy is investigated through a mechanoelectricity measurement experiment. As the liquid flows across the nanoporous electrode, charge separation occurs over the large nanopore surface, resulting in a significant output voltage, which is in-phase with the actuator motion. This phenomenon is different from the conventional streaming current effect, since the solid phase is conductive and no voltage can be developed along its surface.
Microhydro electrification and climate change adaptation in Nepal: socioeconomic lessons from the Rural Energy Development Program (REDP)

This article explores the potential for microhydro installations in Nepal to improve adaptive capacity in addition to their ability to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. After explaining its methods of data collection—namely field research and research interviews—the article explores the climate change adaptation benefits of microhydro plants being promoted under the Renewable Energy Development Project (REDP). Besides displacing fossil fuels, in particular kerosene for lighting, microhydro electrification offers an effective way of improving community assets and bolstering social resilience (thereby enhancing the adaptive capacity of communities there). Our own survey of REDP project sites reveals how microhydro units have improved community income levels, equalized gender roles, enhanced access to education and information, and reduced migration patterns. The article concludes by highlighting three key lessons—the role of extensive community mobilization, proactive capacity building for efficient electricity use, and the need for comprehensiveness—for those wishing to adapt to climate change in other rural and developing economies.
Dopa decarboxylase activity in Aedes aegypti: a preadult profile and its subsequent correlation with ovarian development.

Abstract Dopa decarboxylase activity was monitored throughout the entire life cycle of Aedes aegypti . Peaks of activity were detected at each larval molt, at the larval-pupal ecdysis, and at eclosion. The dopa decarboxylase activity in adults was high right after eclosion, but it then dropped rapidly and after 5 days very little activity was detectable. This activity, however, was persistent and remained essentially constant, albeit low, for up to 15 days of adult life. Throughout this part of the study no sex differences in enzymatic activity were observed. A dramatic increase in the level of dopa decarboxylase was noted after adult females were allowed to blood feed. Since a blood meal is necessary in order to initiate ovarian development in this species and since the rate of increase of enzymatic activity paralleled oocyte maturation a causal relationship was indicated. Specifically, we suggest that the dopa decarboxylase is incorporated into the eggs to be used later for subsequent sclerotization. Injection of the molting hormone β-ecdysone into non-blood fed females resulted in a marked stimulation of dopa decarboxylase activity. No such stimulation was observed in saline-injected adult females. The adult female enzymatic activity profile obtained with time after hormone injection was qualitatively the same as that seen after a blood meal. The possibility that ecdysone or an ecdysonelike hormone is necessary for normal ovarian development in Aedes aegypti is discussed.
Distortion of subordinate to superior communication in organizational settings

In a field setting it was found that messages concerning unfavorable situations were more distorted than messages concerning favorable situations, but mostly when the stimulus situation was task related. For non‐task related stimulus situations messages concerning unfavorable situations were distorted less than were messages concerning favorable situations. This latter finding was attributed to a “real‐life” pratfall effect.
Erratum: Magnetic-field-enhanced and -suppressed intrinsic optical bistability in nematic liquid crystals

It is shown that the optical-field-induced first-order molecular reorientation and intrinsic optical bistability in a nemiatic liquid crystal can always be enhanced or suppressed by a low magneitc field (typically l1 kG) and hence can be seen in all existing nematics at a low optical power (typically l1 kW/${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$).
Primary Sarcoid of the Breast with Incidental Malignancy

Breast sarcoidosis is rare and usually presents in patients with known sarcoid involving other organ systems. In the breast, sarcoidosis may mimic malignancy which must be excluded by core biopsy. We report a very unusual case of primary breast sarcoidosis with incidentally discovered breast carcinoma. The roles of mammography, ultrasound, and MRI in the diagnosis as well as other potential differential diagnosis are discussed.
Physical and genetic map of the mitochondrial genome of Cryphonectria parasitica Ep155

In the chestnut-blight fungus, Cryphonectria parasitica, a cytoplasmically transmissible (infectious) form of hypovirulence is associated with mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations that cause respiratory deficiencies. To facilitate the characterization of such mutations, a restriction map including the probable location of 13 genes was constructed for a relatively well-characterized virulent strain of the fungus, Ep155. The physical map is based on the order of all fragments generated by cleavage of the mtDNA by the PstI restriction endonuclease and includes some of the cleavage sites for HindIII, EcoRI, and XbaI. It was constructed from hybridization patterns of cloned mtDNA fragments with Southern blots of mtDNA digested with the four restriction enzymes. On this map, the probable locations of genes commonly found in the mitochondrial genomes of ascomycetes were determined by low-stringency hybridization of cloned Neurospora crassa mitochondrial gene probes to Southern blots of C. parasitica mtDNA. The data indicate that the mtDNA of strain Ep155 is a circular molecule of approximately 157 kbp and ranks among the largest mitochondrial chromosomes observed so far in fungi. The mtDNAs of 11 different C. parasitica isolates range in size from 135 to 157 kbp and in relatedness from 68 to 100 percent, as estimated from restriction-fragment polymorphisms. In addition to the typical mtDNA, the mitochondria of some isolates of the fungus contain double-stranded DNA plasmids consisting of nucleotide sequences not represented in the mtDNA of Ep155.
Evaluation of the Institutionalization of the Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH) in a U.S./Mexico Border Community

El Paso Coordinated Approach to Child Health (El Paso CATCH) was evaluated in 24 schools for outcome measures of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during physical education (PE), content of PE lessons, content of school meals, and numerous process measures. Chi-square analyses compared frequency data across time for activity during PE and percentage fat in school meals. Descriptive summaries were used for process questionnaire results. Data were also compared to CATCH program goals. For most intervention schools, El Paso CATCH significantly increased MVPA, decreased fat in school meals, and decreased sodium in school breakfasts. However, some schools were not meeting the fat content goals for school lunches, and no schools met the vigorous physical activity (VPA) goals for PE or the sodium goals for school lunches.
SmartSaver: turning flash drive into a disk energy saver for mobile computers

In a mobile computer the hard disk consumes a considerable amount of energy. Existing dynamic power management policies usually take conservative approaches to save disk energy, and disk energy consumption remains a serious issue. Meanwhile, the flash drive is becoming a must-have portable storage device for almost every laptop user on travel. In this paper, we propose to make another highly desired use of the flash drive --- saving disk energy. This is achieved by using the flash drive as a standby buffer for caching and prefetching disk data. Our design significantly extends disk idle times with careful and deliberate consideration of the particular characteristics of the flash drive. Trace-driven simulations show that up to 41% of disk energy can be saved with a relatively small amount of data written to the flash drive.
Long-term Follow-up of Graves Ophthalmopathy in an Incidence Cohort

Abstract Purpose: To provide long-term follow-up data on patients with Graves ophthalmopathy in an incidence cohort of 120 patients. Methods: Data were obtained from a comprehensive review of each patient's community medical record, a follow-up survey, or both. Results: The median interval between the initial ophthalmic examination and most recent follow-up was 9.8 years (range, 64 days to 17.4 years). Follow-up of more than 5 years was available for 96 patients (80.0%), whereas follow-up exceeding 10 years was achieved for 59 patients (49.2%). Persistent visual loss from optic neuropathy occurred in two eyes, with final visual acuities of 20/30 and 20/60, respectively. None of the patients reported deterioration of vision attributable to Graves ophthalmopathy in the interval since their last ophthalmic examination at the authors' institution. Two patients (2.2%) had constant diplopia, but it was correctable with spectacles (prisms) in each case. Nearly one third of respondents had had ocular discomfort during the preceding 4 weeks; the most frequent cause in 72% of patients was dry eyes. Among the respondents to the survey, 60.5% believed that the appearance of their eyes had not returned to what it had been before the development of thyroid disease, 51.6% thought that their eyes appeared abnormal, and 37.9% were dissatisfied with the appearance of their eyes. Conclusions: Although with treatment few patients have long-term functional impairment from Graves ophthalmopathy, more than one third of patients are dissatisfied with their ultimate appearance. The psychologic, aesthetic, economic, and social sequelae of the disorder require further definition by formal outcomes studies.
Shoreline change at an infinite jetty for wave time series

Abstract Future shoreline changes on a sandy beach with a structure such as a jetty or groin can be estimated when wave time series is known (i.e. sequence of wave height, period, and direction). This paper presents an extension of an existing solution ( Pelnard-Considere, 1956 ) for the linearized partial differential equation for shoreline change at an infinite jetty where waves are time varying and when the angle of the shoreline is small with respect to the waves breaking at the shoreline. The novel solution provided in this paper allows the previous constant wave condition solution to be extended to the case where wave properties (i.e. wave direction, wave height, and wave period) are time varying. Example usage of the method presented shows that shorelines may be of different final plan form shape for time varying wave conditions even though the sediment transport along adjacent beaches is not spatially varying (i.e. spatially constant) from time step to time step. Although this difference in shape may have been known previously using numerical models, it could not be proved analytically. Reversals of wave height, period, and direction time series are shown to provide different final shoreline shapes even though the time series consists of the same waves although in different ordered time. The solution provided will allow one line numerical shoreline models to be tested using an analytic solution.
Theory of coherent optical control of exciton spin dynamics in a semiconductor dot

We use the spin-polarized excitons in a single quantum dot to design optical controls for basic operations in quantum computing. We examine the ultrafast nonlinear optical processes required and use the coherent nonlinear optical responses to deduce if such processes are physically reasonable. The importance and construction of an entangled state of polarized exciton states in a single quantum dot is explained. We put our proposal in perspective with respect to a number of theoretical suggestions of utilizing the semiconductor quantum dots.
Thermodynamic Properties of Diphenylmethane

Measurements leading to the calculation of the standard thermodynamic properties for gaseous diphenylmethane (Chemical Abstracts registry number [101-81-5]) are reported. Experimental methods include adiabatic heat-capacity calorimetry, vibrating-tube densimetry, comparative ebulliometry, inclined-piston gauge manometry, and differential-scanning calorimetry (dsc). Measurement results for the enthalpy of combustion were reported previously. The critical temperature was measured with a differential scanning calorimeter. The critical pressure and critical density were estimated. Standard molar entropies, standard molar enthalpies, and standard molar Gibbs free energies of formation were derived at selected temperatures between 298.15 K and 700 K. All results are compared with experimental values reported in the literature.
A Maternal Form of the Phosphatase Cdc25A Regulates Early Embryonic Cell Cycles in Xenopus laevis

In mammalian cells the Cdc25 family of dual-specificity phosphatases has three distinct isoforms, termed A, B, and C, which are thought to play discrete roles in cell-cycle control. In this paper we report the cloning of Xenopus Cdc25A and demonstrate its developmental regulation and key role in embryonic cell-cycle control. Northern and Western blot analyses show that Cdc25A is absent in oocytes, and synthesis begins within 30 min after fertilization. The protein product is localized in the nucleus in interphase and accumulates continuously until the midblastula transition (MBT), after which it is degraded. Upon injection into newly fertilized eggs, wild-type Cdc25A shortened the cell cycle and accelerated the timing of cleavage, whereas embryos injected with phosphatase-dead Cdc25A displayed a dose-dependent increase in the length of the cell cycle and a slower rate of cleavage. In contrast, injection of the phosphatase-dead Cdc25C isoform had no effect. Western blotting with an antibody specific for phosphorylated tyr15 in Cdc2/Cdk2 revealed a cycle of phosphorylation/dephosphorylation in each cell cycle in control embryos, and in embryos injected with phosphatase-dead Cdc25A there was a twofold increase in the level of p-tyr in Cdc2/Cdk2. Consistent with this, the levels of cyclin B/Cdc2 and cyclin E/Cdk2 histone H1 kinase activity were both reduced by approximately 50% after phosphatase-dead Cdc25A injection. The phosphatase-dead Cdc25A could be recovered in a complex with both Cdks, suggesting that it acts in a dominant-negative fashion. These results indicate that periodic phosphorylation of Cdc2/Cdk2 on tyr15 occurs in each pre-MBT cell cycle, and dephosphorylation of Cdc2/Cdk2 by Cdc25A controls at least in part the length of the cell cycle and the timing of cleavage in pre-MBT embryos. The disappearance of Cdc25A after the MBT may underlie in part the lengthening of the cell cycle at that time.
Long-term use of aspirin and the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding.

Background In short-term trials, aspirin is associated with gastrointestinal bleeding. However, the effect of dose and duration of aspirin use on risk remains unclear.
Modulation of serum histamine releasing activity in chronic idiopathic urticaria.

Abstract Background —Sera of about 30% of patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) have increased histamine releasing activity (HRA + ) on normal basophils. It is not known whether other CIU sera would be HRA + if a more sensitive histamine release assay was used. Although most HRA + CIU sera appear to have anti FceR1 activity, it is not known whether post-binding basophil intracellular events are similar to those after anti-IgE stimulation. Results —In the presence of D 2 O, the HR stimulated by 28 previously documented HRA − sera increased from 4±0.4 to 21±4% with 13 of the 28 sera now considered HRA + . No previous HRA − sera was HRA + with IL-3 treated cells. Histamine release induced by both HRA + sera and anti-IgE were inhibited by genistein, and Ca 2+ /Mg 2+ depletion but not by bisindoylmaleimide. HRA + sera induced prominent HR from normal basophils with little surface IgE, but induced no increased HR from basophils unresponsive to anti-IgE. Conclusions —Up to 61% of CIU sera will induce increased HR from normal basophils in a sufficiently sensitive assay system. HR induced by most HRA + sera is more prominent in basophils with very little surface IgE. However, there may be similar post-binding intracellular activation pathways following stimulation by HRA + sera and anti-IgE.
ELEVATION OF δ -AMINOLEVULINIC ACID DEHYDRATASE (ALAD) AND ERYTHROCYTE PORPHYRINS (EP) IN SICKLE CELL SYNDROMES

In patients with sickle cell syndromes, EP levels may be markedly elevated. In 249 patients with sickle cell syndromes, we measured EP, ALAD, and ALAD after reactivation with dithiothreitol (ALADSH), in parallel with reticulocytes and pyruvate kinase (PK), two age-dependent parameters. EP, ALAD, ALADSH, reticulocytes and PK were much higher than normal in all patients, with the most marked elevation in patients with homozygous sickle cell disease. In many cases, the elevation of EP resulted from free protoporphyrin base, rather then Zn-protoporphyrin. The logarithm of EP was correlated both with reticulocytes and with the logarithm of PK; the regression lines intersected the normal ranges for EP and reticulocytes and for EP and PK respectively. For ALAD and ALADSH, there were similar correlations; however, the regression lines remained well above the normal ranges without intersecting them. The in vivo t1/2 in the erythrocytes of both ALAD and ALADSH were estimated on discontinuous gradients of arabino-galactane at 43 days, indicating an age-dependent loss of enzyme activity, and not just oxidation of SH-groups with time. The in vivo t1/2 of EP is 60 days (JCI 56: 1519, 1975). These data indicate that both EP and ALAD are increased in sickle cell syndromes as a result of young red cell age. However, the higher ALAD values and the unusual protoporphyrin species suggest additional factors, probably some degree of dyserythropoiesis or the presence of large numbers of normoblasts in these asplenic individuals.
Comparative efficacy of a Coxiella burnetii chloroform:methanol residue (CMR) vaccine and a licensed cellular vaccine (Q-Vax) in rodents challenged by aerosol.

Abstract Q fever is an acute and self-limited febrile illness caused by the obligate intracellular bacterium Coxiella burnetii . While phase I cellular Q fever vaccines are efficacious in humans, vaccination of immune individuals may result in sterile abscesses and granulomas. The chloroform:methanol residue vaccine (CMR) was developed as a safer alternative. The efficacy of a licensed phase I cellular vaccine (Q-Vax) was compared with that of CMR vaccine in A/J mice and Hartley guinea pigs challenged with virulent phase I C. burnetii by aerosol. Both vaccines were efficacious. The CMR vaccine dose required to protect 50% of mice (PD 50 ) against lethal aerosol challenge (11 LD 50 ) was one-third of the Q-Vax dose. However, the PD 50 for CMR was four times the Q-Vax dose in guinea pigs challenged by aerosol (60 LD 50 ). It was concluded that CMR is an efficacious alternative to cellular Q fever vaccines for the prevention of Q fever. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.
Magnetic immunoseparation PCR assay (MIPA) for detection of hepatitis a virus (HAV) in American oyster (Crassostrea virginica)

In order to detect the low numbers of hepatitis A viral (HAV) particles which may potentially be present in food and cause a serious illness, an original procedure which combines immunomagnetic separation and PCR is described. The use of streptavidin magnetic beads coated with biotinylated human anti-HAV IgG allows virus capture and the removal of the RT-PCR inhibitory compounds which usually are present in shellfish extracts. Following immunomagnetic capture, the separated HAV were lysed, the beads discarded, and the supernatant containing the viral RNA subjected to the RT-PCR protocol. Levels of HAV ranging from 10 to 105 pfu were successfully detected in artificially contaminated samples of shucked American oyster (Crassostrea virginica).
Formation of hydroxyl radicals, hydrogen peroxide and aqueous electrons by pulsed streamer corona discharge in aqueous solution

The initiation reaction rate constants for the formation of hydroxyl radicals, hydrogen peroxide, and aqueous electrons using a pulsed streamer corona discharge in aqueous solutions are determined in the present study. The free radical scavenging property of carbonate ions was used to determine the initiation rate constants for the formation of hydroxyl radicals and hydrogen peroxide from the pulsed streamer corona discharge. The effects of average current, voltage, and power input on the initiation rate constants were also studied. A reactor model including known chemical reaction kinetics was developed for the degradation of phenol, and the initiation rate constant for aqueous electrons was determined by fitting the experimental data of phenol degradation to the model. Transient concentration profiles predicted by the model were compared to those of experiments for the formation of hydrogen peroxide in deionized water and for the degradation of hydroquinone. It was observed that the model results match experimental results satisfactorily for the formation of hydrogen peroxide and qualitatively follow the experimental results for the degradation of hydroquinone. The model was improved by considering that the reaction rate constants vary with the current in the reactor. The current was observed to vary with time for the cases where no salts were added to the reactor. It was observed that the improved model follows the experimental results satisfactorily for high initial concentrations (> 5.4 × 10−5M) of hydroquinone.
Generalized linear quadratic Gaussian techniques for the wind benchmark problem

This paper presents a comprehensive study of the stage-3 benchmark problem for response control of wind-excited tall buildings based on the linear quadratic gaussian (LQG) approach, and on its generalization, the k-cost-cumulant control method. For control design, the original nodal building model is first transformed into balanced modal space. The Hankel singular values (HSVs) and the power spectral density of the wind disturbances are calculated; and, based on them, a reduced-order model is derived by keeping the first six low-frequency modes. A balanced LQG (BLQG) controller is then determined by adopting the HSVs as a basis to choose the design weights. The main results of the paper are that the BLQG control design is able to come within 5–10% of the performance of the sample LQG controller supplied with the benchmark, but with control actions on the order of one-third less than the sample LQG, and with stability improvement features of a substantial nature over the range of stiffness perturbations sp...
Transport of hydrophobic organic compounds by colloids through porous media 3. Diffusion from sediment porewater to overlying water in laboratory microcosms

Abstract The diffusion of colloidal organic carbon from the porewater of a local sediment University Lake, Baton Rouge, LA) was studied in laboratory microcosms. The effects of porewater ionic strength on the flux of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was studied using two different electrolytes, namely NaCl and CaCl 2 . The sediment porewater DOC concentration frofiles were used to obtain the effective diffusivities ( D e ) in the sediment. The values of D e (0.019 and 0.021 cm 2 d −1 ) obtained for the sediment sample used in this work indicated low colloid mobility in porewaters. The D e values increased slightly in the presence of electrolytes in the porewaters (0.030 cm 2 d −1 for 1 M CaCl 2 and 0.023 cm 2 d −1 for 0.5 M NaCl). The porewater concentration of colloidal DOC was consistently low in the presence of electrolytes, indicating larger adsorption to the sediment solids. The D e values were found to range from 0.019 to 0.103 cm 2 d −1 for sediments collected from different regions and during different seasons. The effect of ionic strength on the depletion of a hydrophobic organic contaminant (namely pyrene) from the sediment by diffusion was found to be minimal under the conditions of these experiments.
Acute Coronary Syndrome: Evidence-Based Practice in Action

ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME (ACS) is a heading for three smaller classes of ischemic myocardial disease: ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), unstable angina (UA), and non–ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Despite variation, each leads to a sudden decline in the blood flow to the myocardial cells. Coronary artery disease (CAD) negatively impacts approximately 15 million people in the United States, resulting in a cost of more than 71.2 billion dollars for inpatient treatment. Increases over the next 20 years in CAD-related deaths are estimated by the World Health Organization as 137% inmen and 120% inwomen. Large multisite research trials have led to the development of evidence-based practice recommendations by the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) for the medical and pharmacologic management of patients experiencing any of the three entities found under the heading of ACS. A fictitious perianesthetic case study will be used to introduce the discussion of ACS in terms of pathophysiology and emergent management. The application of the care of the patient with ACS in the perianesthesia setting will be discussed.
Proline metabolism in Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes.

Abstract 1. 1. Oxygen uptake by epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi , Costa Rica strain, was stimulated by l -proline, l -glutamate and to a lesser degree by l -aspartate. 2. 2. l -proline reversed partially malonate-induced inhibition of respiration but did not reverse KCN-induced inhibition. 3. 3. Labeled proline, glutamate, aspartate, cystine and lysine were detected by thin-layer chromatography in the free amino acid pool from cells incubated with l -proline- 14 C. 4. 4. Labeled tricarboxylic acid intermediates were also found by this method in extracts from organisms incubated with l -proline- 14 C which contained also pyruvate. 5. 5. Labeled alanine was not found in epimastigotes incubated with l -proline- 14 C, l -glutamate- 14 C or aspartate- 14 C indicating a difference between T. cruzi amino acid metabolism and that found in other hemoflagellates. 6. 6. Labeled l -proline was not found in epimastigotes incubated with d -glucose- 14 C, glutamate- 14 C or aspartate- 14 C indicating that the flow of carbon from proline to glutamate and aspartate may not be reversible. 7. 7. All results suggest the presence of a proline-glutamate inter-conversion pathway in T. cruzi epimastigotes.
Don't Break Her Heart: Cardiac Telemetry for the Pregnant and Postpartum Patient

Paper Presentation Purpose for the Program When pregnant or postpartum patients are in need of telemetry monitoring, they often are separated from their newborns, or require the use of two nurses to attend to them because the units for perinatal services do not have telemetry access. As more patients with preexisting diseases become pregnant, this situation will only become more frequent. Proposed Change This nurse‐driven change involves the use of remote telemetry to monitor the obstetric patient. Communication standards and co‐nursing management plans were developed to enable this change. Implementation, Outcomes, and Evaluation Policy and procedures were developed based on a shared governance model of care. Outcomes have resulted in maintaining the postpartum mother–baby dyad and accomplishing remote telemetry for cardiac assessment. Implications for Nursing Practice This program allows for seamless maternal–newborn care. In addition, staff are engaged in collegial relationships and co‐management situations that were not available to them in the past.
Active transport of amino acids into bone cells.

Abstract The transport of the model amino acid α-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB) into bone cells isolated mechanically from metaphyses of 40-day-old rats has been examined. Net transfer of AIB into bone cells against a concentration gradient was observed. This process was temperature and energy dependent, thus fulfilling the criteria for “active” transport. Intact cell membranes were required. Glucose concentration in the medium, attempts to manipulate the intracellular electrolyte composition by means of leaching and variations of external calcium, magnesium and phosphate had no effect on this system. Two-thirds of the transport of AIB into bone cells was dependent on the concentration of sodium and potassium in the external medium. It is therefore suggested that two different mechanisms are involved, one independent and the other dependent on ambient sodium and potassium concentrations. The fact that the latter shares a group of properties with the cation-dependent ATPase system points to a possible relation between these two mechanisms. The experiments reported here suggested the possibility that this active transport step might represent a site of control in the biosynthesis of collagen and other proteins in this tissue.
Neuroendocrine Causes of Amenorrhea—An Update

Context: Secondary amenorrhea—the absence of menses for three consecutive cycles—affects approximately 3–4% of reproductive age women, and infertility—the failure to conceive after 12 months of regular intercourse—affects approximately 6–10%. Neuroendocrine causes of amenorrhea and infertility, including functional hypothalamic amenorrhea and hyperprolactinemia, constitute a majority of these cases. Objective: In this review, we discuss the physiologic, pathologic, and iatrogenic causes of amenorrhea and infertility arising from perturbations in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, including potential genetic causes. We focus extensively on the hormonal mechanisms involved in disrupting the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis. Conclusions: A thorough understanding of the neuroendocrine causes of amenorrhea and infertility is critical for properly assessing patients presenting with these complaints. Prompt evaluation and treatment are essential to prevent loss of bone mass due to hypoestrogenemia and/o...
The Changing Nature of Stock and Bond Volatility

This article examines the changing nature of U.S. stock and bond risk from 1871 through 2000 and the implications for asset allocation. Using geometric means and standard deviations, we examine nominal and inflation-adjusted monthly returns over nonoverlapping 5-year periods, as well as annual returns over periods of approximately 25 years, and we document how stock and bond volatility changed over the period. Our analysis suggests that the relative change in the volatility of stocks and volatility of bonds over the past 50 years has increased the importance of stocks in asset allocation. The change is even more pronounced when inflation is considered.