cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Traumatic Brain Injury on Microbiome Composition: A Systematic Review:

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are a significant health problem, impacting millions of people every year. Although emerging evidence suggests that the composition of the gut microbiome is altered after TBI, no systematic review has been published on this topic. The objective of the present systematic review is to analyze publications that evaluate the impact of TBI on gut microbiome composition. Research articles were pulled from seven databases. The systematic review was performed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. In order for publications to be eligible for this review, they had to (1) report on original human- or animal-subjects research, (2) evaluate the impact of TBI on the microbiome, and (3) be written in English and (4) be published in a peer-reviewed journal. Of the seven articles that met these criteria, one involved human participants, while the other six reported on experimental animal studies. All studies found changes in the gut microbiome following TBI, with similar changes in bacterial populations observed across studies. The limitations of these studies included the use of primarily male animals, limitations of 16 S rRNA gene sequencing, and small sample sizes. This review was also limited by the small pool of studies conducted in this area. In summary, changes in bacterial populations of the gut microbiome, specifically increases in proteobacteria and firmicutes, were observed across the studies. By evaluating the changes in the microbiome resulting from TBI, potential therapeutic interventions could be explored.
A Novel Hybrid Approach to the Treatment of a Left Main Coronary Artery Aneurysm

Abstract A 66-year-old man with a ramus chronic total occlusion had escalating angina and a high-risk stress test. Coronary angiography the day of his planned ramus chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention demonstrated a large left main aneurysm. He underwent bypass with left internal mammary artery left anterior descending and failed saphenous vein graft ramus, followed by successful covered stent placement from left main into left circumflex and ramus chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.)
Task-based functional connectivity in aging: How task and connectivity methodology affect discovery of age effects.

Introduction Past studies have found that healthy aging has a significant effect on the organization and function of networks in the human brain. Many of these studies have examined how functional connectivity during one task or at rest is affected by aging; however, few studies have systematically examined how the effect of age on functional connectivity may vary as a function of choice of in-scanner task. Methods The present study included healthy adults between the ages of 20 and 80 and examined a variety of metrics of functional connectivity during performance of 11 in-scanner tasks, falling into 4 cognitive domains: vocabulary, processing speed, fluid reasoning, and episodic memory. Functional connectivity was assessed at three levels: average correlations within and between 10 networks, system segregation (sensorimotor vs. association networks), and whole-brain graph theory metrics (global efficiency and modularity). Results Results showed that the effect of age on these metrics differed as a function of task-for example, age had a more consistent effect on functional connectivity metrics computed during fluid reasoning tasks; however, there was less of an effect of age on functional connectivity metrics computed during tasks of episodic memory. Further, some of these measures showed relationships with behavioral performance on the in-scanner task, with different networks playing a role in the different cognitive domains. Conclusion These findings suggest that while aging may be generally associated with reductions in within- and between-network connectivity, system segregation, global efficiency, and modularity, the magnitude and presence of these effects varies by in-scanner task.
The Role of Goal Specificity in the Relationship Between Leadership and Empowerment

Although there has been much recent attention to empowerment in public sector research, most of this research focuses on structural empowerment, rather than psychological empowerment, and thus focu...
Approximation Algorithms for the Single Robot Line Coverage Problem

The line coverage problem is the task of servicing a given set of one-dimensional features in an environment. Its applications include the inspection of road networks, power lines, and oil and gas lines. The line coverage problem is a generalization of the standard arc routing problems, and is NP-hard in general. We address the single robot line coverage problem where the service and deadhead costs are distinct and asymmetric. We model the problem as an optimization problem that minimizes the total cost of travel on a given graph. We present approximation algorithms to obtain bounded solutions efficiently, using the minimum cost flow problem. We build the main algorithm in stages by considering three simpler subproblems. The subproblems are based on the structure of the required graph, i.e., the graph induced by the features that require servicing. We first present an optimal algorithm for the case of Eulerian graphs with only required edges. Next we consider general graphs, not necessarily Eulerian, with only required edges and present a 2-approximation algorithm. Finally, we consider the general case with both required and non-required edges. The approximation algorithm is dependent on the Asymmetric Traveling Salesperson Problem (ATSP), and is bounded by \(\alpha (C) + 2\), where \(\alpha (C)\) is the approximation factor of the ATSP algorithm with C connected components. Our upper bound is also an improvement over the existing results for the asymmetric rural postman problem.
Interprofessional Practice and Education

The quality of health services depends, in large part, on patients’ or clients’ interactions with healthcare practitioners, interactions among healthcare practitioners, and interactions between healthcare practitioners and their environment. These interactions among healthcare practitioners (sometimes inclusive of clients and families) are termed interprofessional collaborative practice. This chapter’s goal is to discuss how the Quality Health Outcomes Model (QHOM) helps understand the phenomenon of interprofessional practice (IPP) and interprofessional education (IPE) as an intervention to improve outcomes in the complex environment of healthcare. Despite being seen as a solution to many of the challenges facing healthcare delivery, demonstrating the benefit from interventions that enhance interprofessional practice, including interprofessional education, has been a challenge. The chapter discusses interprofessional practice within a complex system, including what IPP is and the difference between IPP and IPE. Further, the chapter explores what characteristics are essential for IPP at different levels, such as the micro, meso, and macro levels, with a specific focus on organizational culture. Next, IPP interventions are described, followed by an example of an IPP intervention in one health system. In summary and future directions, important questions and suggestions for new foci of research are discussed. The QHOM helps us understand how thinking differently about the challenge of IPP might lead to better construction of interventions and how to evaluate these efforts to truly improve IPP and health outcomes.
Implications of Microtubule Polarity for Microtubule Function

Microtubules (MTs) and actin filaments have an intrinsic molecular polarity based on the unipolar stacking of their asymmetrical subunits. Filament polarity is believed to be important for many cellular activities. For example, the interaction of actin and myosin that produces shortening of the sarcomere in striated muscle depends on the correct vectorial orientation of actin filaments relative to myosin. While a convenient polarity marker for actin has been available for over 20 years, similar biochemical tools became available for MTs only a few years ago. The purpose of this paper is to summarize some observations on the relation between MT polarity and MT involvement in cellular motility. For more complete accounts of MT biochemistry and physiology, the reader is referred to recent overviews and monographs (Roberts and Hyams, 1979; DeBrabander and DeMey, 1980; Gunning and Hardham, 1982; Sakai et al., 1982; Dustin, 1984; McKeithan and Rosenbaum, 1984).
A Useful Four-Valued Logic

It is argued that a sophisticated question-answering machine that has the capability of making inferences from its data base should employ a certain four-valued logic, the motivating consideration being that minor inconsistencies in its data should not be allowed to lead (as in classical logic) to irrelevant conclusions. The actual form of the four-valued logic is ‘deduced’ from an interplay of this motivating consideration with certain ideas of Dana Scott concerning ‘approximation lattices.’
Field-based technology education: teaching teachers

This paper outlines the current status of technology integration in schools from the perspective of researchers and policy makers. The focus of the paper then turned to how teacher education programs in the U.S. have been preparing future teachers to use technology. In order to illustrate the complex issues that must be addressed when preparing teachers to use technology, this paper reports on and summarized the past seven years of an intensive field-based course given at American University in Washington, DC. This course has provided students with an opportunity to experience technology within a real-life school setting while providing local teachers with knowledge and practical skills on integrating technology into their classrooms.
Utility of Intravascular Ultrasound Guidance in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Type C Lesions

Background: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of complex lesions (i.e., American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association class type C) remains challenging and the outcome may be compromised. The use of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) to guide PCI was suggested to improve outcome. Methods: A cohort of 1,984 patients who underwent PCI to type C lesions in our center from April 2000 to March 2010 was identified. Using propensity score matching with clinical and angiographic characteristics, we identified 637 patients who underwent IVUS guidance and 637 patients who had only angiographic guidance PCI. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), a composite end-point of all-cause mortality, Q-wave myocardial infarction and target lesion revascularization, were compared between the 2 groups. Results: After propensity score matching, baseline clinical and angiographic characteristics were well matched. Patients undergoing IVUS-guided PCI had less predilatation and more postdilatation, and were treated more often with cutting balloon. Final diameter stenosis was significantly smaller in the IVUS-guided group (3 ± 11% vs. 7 ± 19%, P < 0.001), resulting in higher angiographic success compared with the non-IVUS-guided group (97.9% vs. 94.8%, P < 0.001). The incidence of MACE was significantly lower in the IVUS-guided group compared to the angiography-guided group (11.0% vs. 15.6%, P = 0.017) as was cardiac death (1.9% vs. 4.4%, P = 0.010). Conclusion: IVUS-guided PCI for complex type C lesions is associated with better outcome and should be considered for these lesions. (J Interven Cardiol 2012;25:452–459)
Co-allocation in data grids: a global, multi-user perspective

Several recent studies suggest that co-allocation techniques can improve user performance for distributed data retrieval in replicated grid systems. These studies demonstrate that co-allocation techniques can improve network bandwidth and network transfer times by concurrently utilizing as many data grid replicas as possible. However, these prior studies evaluate their techniques from a single user's perspective and overlook evaluations of system wide performance when multiple users are using co-allocation techniques. In our study, we provide multi-user evaluations of a co-allocation technique for replicated data in a controlled grid environment. We find that co-allocation works well under low-load conditions when there are only a few users using co-allocation. However, co-allocation works very poorly for medium and high-load conditions since the response time for co-allocating users grows rapidly as the number of grid users increases. The decreased performance for co-allocating users can be directly attributed to the increased workload that their greedy retrieval technique places on the replicas in the grid. Overall, we determine that uninformed, blind utilization of greedy co-allocation techniques by multiple users is detrimental to global system performance.
Channel tracking for fast fading long-code WCDMA

A new technique for tracking of fast fading channels in long code CDMA is proposed. Using a linear interpolation model, the proposed method tracks the time-varying channel without pilot symbols or with sparsely inserted pilots. The proposed method can be implemented efficiently using a state space inversion technique. A new identifiability condition is established and the performance of the method is assessed through the mean square error and bit error rate.
Conduction and Convection

As we discussed in Chapter 8, our knowledge of the pore-level fluid mechanics in two-phase flow through porous media is rather incomplete. In this chapter, we discuss thermal dispersion, i.e., convective heat transfer at the pore level, using the available knowledge about the subject. This knowledge is even more inconclusive. We begin with the local volume averaging of the energy equation, and then we arrive at the effective thermal conductivity tensor and the thermal dispersion tensor for the three-phase system (liquid-gas-solid). The same closure conditions used in the single- phase flow treatments are used. Then we examine the various features of these tensors such as their anisotropy, and we discuss some of the available models and empirical relations for the various elements of these tensors. We conclude by noting that near the bounding surfaces, the phase distribution nonuniformities lead to substantial variations in the magnitude of the components of the effective thermal conductivity and the dispersion tensors.
Charcot Arthropathy in the Diabetic Foot

The Charcot foot is a devastating but oftentimes preventable complication of diabetes with peripheral neuropathy. The condition has several synonyms including Charcot’s arthropathy, Charcot joint disease, Charcot syndrome, tabetic arthropathy, diabetic neuropathic osteoarthropathy, and many derivations or combinations thereof. It is named after Jean-Martin Charcot (1825–1893), a French neurologist who first described the joint disease associated with tabes dorsalis and named it the “arthropathy of locomotor ataxia.” In 1881, J-M Charcot presented his findings at the 7th International Medical Congress in London which was attended by many acclaimed physicians of the era. During this meeting the eponym “Charcot’s Disease” was designated by Sir James Paget to these degenerative neuropathic changes in bones and joints. Although W. Musgrave in 1703 and later J.K. Mitchell in 1831 ostensibly described osteoarthropathy associated with venereal disease and spinal cord lesions, respectively, Charcot’s name remains synonymous with neuropathic arthropathies regardless of etiology.
Transient current estimation using S3C (Standard cell current transient characterization)

This paper continues to build on the dynamic current transient estimation method introduced in previous work. Our previously introduced method uses pre-characterized data from standard cells to estimate the total current transient of a path. This method eliminates the necessity of running resource intensive full-chip SPICE simulations to estimate the current transient of a path. Novel contributions of this work include: estimation for multiple overlapping paths, multiple temporally distributed input transition estimation, and estimation for glitches in the logic due to dynamic hazards. Extra characterization points are also introduced which provide a considerably higher accuracy of estimation to SPICE simulations, at the cost of a slightly larger one-time investment during pre-characterization of the standard cell library. Data presented in this paper consists of current estimation of a logic path from the ISCAS-85 C6288 benchmark circuit with very promising results.
Avalanche slope angles in low‐gravity environments from active Martian sand dunes

[1] The properties of granular material have an important effect on surface landforms and processes. Recently, it has been suggested that material properties called dynamic and static angle of repose vary with gravitational acceleration, which would have a significant effect on many planetary surface processes such as crater collapse and gully formation. In order to test that hypothesis, we measured lee slopes of active aeolian sand dunes on Mars using the High Resolution Imaging Experiment (HiRISE) DTMs (Digital Terrain Model). We examined dune fields in Nili Patera, Herschel Crater, and Gale Crater. Our measurements showed that the dynamic angles of repose for the sands in these areas are 33–34° in the first region and 30–31° in the other two. These results fall within the 30° to 35° window for the dynamic angles of repose for terrestrial dunes with similar flow depths and grain properties and thus show that this angle does not significantly vary with decreasing gravity.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a group of man-made organic chemicals and have been widely used as coolants and lubricants in transformers, capacitors, and other electrical equipment. Food contamination is probably the single most significant source of human exposure. Studies in humans and animals have indicated that neurological development is one of the primary targets of PCBs. The effects included impaired visual recognition, depressed responsiveness, and intelligence quotient (IQ) deficits. Because PCBs persist in the environment and bioaccumulate in the food chain, steps can be taken to reduce unnecessary exposures to protect the human populaton from the possible long-term health effects of PCBs.
Structural Changes in Lipid Vesicles Generated by the Shock Waves: Dissipative Particle Dynamics Simulation

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a major health issue that is hard to diagnose since it often occurs without signs of external injuries. While it is well known that exposure of biological cells to shock waves causes damage to the cell membrane, it is currently unknown by which mechanisms damage is caused, and how it depends on physical parameters such as shock wave velocity, shock pulse duration, or shock pulse shape. In this computational study, we use a coarse-grained model of the lipid vesicle as a generic model of a cell membrane to elucidate the general principles of the cellular damage induced by the shock waves. The results show that the permeability of the cellular membrane is altered at pressures generated by supersonic shock waves, which are greater than 60 and 5 psi under compression and extension, respectively. Consequently, these permeability changes may lead to changes in the influx of sodium, potassium, and calcium ions.
Cerebellar Herniation After Cervical Transforaminal Epidural Injection

Objective: The purpose of this study is to inform readers of potential catastrophic complications associated with performing cervical transforaminal epidural steroid injections. Case Report: A 31-year-old man presented to the pain clinic with a history of cervical radicular pain and right upper-extremity radicular symptoms. He was referred from the orthopedic spine clinic for evaluation for epidural steroid injection, having failed conservative treatment consisting of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, oral steroids, and physical therapy. After undergoing a transforaminal epidural steroid injection at the right C8 nerve root, he developed a cerebellar infarct and brainstem herniation. He survived but has residual deficits of persistent diplopia on right lateral gaze and difficulties with short-term memory loss and concentration. Conclusions: Although transforaminal epidural steroid injections are an efficacious treatment for radicular syndromes, there can be catastrophic complications. In light of the growing body of similar case reports, further investigation is warranted to establish a safe protocol for the use of this modality.
Perioperative Management of Patients with Connective Tissue Disease

Diseases of the connective tissue are a varied group of disorders with major musculoskeletal manifestations such as joint pain and loss of function. As a consequence of the accompanying inflammatory joint disease, such patients often require surgery. Due to the protean organ-related consequences of these conditions, patients who suffer from chronic connective tissue disease are a highly challenging population in the perioperative context. This paper reviews the management of such patients in this clinical setting.
An Examination of the Relationships Established Between a Whitewater Rafting Provider and Its Male and Female Customers

ABSTRACT This study investigated the differences between females and males with respect to the way they developed relationships with a provider of nature-based tourism. The participants were 279 individuals who took a group on a whitewater rafting trip in the Southeastern United States. The findings indicated that looking at the resources exchanged between customers and provider can provide a theoretical basis for understanding customer relationships. In this study Resource Theory was used to conceptualize customer/provider exchanges. Results suggested that women and men tend to invest in their relationships with providers differently. Female customers received less status than males and also invested less love. Based on the findings it is suggested that using theoretical frameworks borrowed from the study of interpersonal relationships may prove useful in understanding customer/provider relationships. It is also suggested that marketers should develop differentiated relationship strategies when targeting...
Precise quark masses from R(s)

We discuss the extraction of the charm- and bottom-quark mass from the experimentally measured R -ratio in combination with higher order QCD corrections to moments of the vacuum polarization function. The results for the MS ¯ -masses are m c ( 3 GeV ) = 0.986 ( 13 ) GeV and m b ( 10 GeV ) = 3.609 ( 25 ) GeV .
Photomicrographic images of some features of Uncinaria spp (Nematoda: Ancylostomatidae) from otariid pinnipeds

Photomicrographs of several morphologic features of hookworms (Uncinaria spp) from northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus) and California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) pups are presented. The main purpose is to show and describe some physical characteristics of hookworms from the two hosts; it is not to decide from these attributes whether the Uncinaria spp are the same species. The number of species of Uncinaria in pinnipeds is uncertain and specimens need to be examined from the various infected seals and sea lions before the taxonomy of these parasites can be clarified. Information in the present paper should aid in this determination.
New concepts in treatment of poultry processing wastes

Prototype wastewater treatment plant using chemical coagulation plus dissolved air flotation is described. Removed pollutants are used as feed supplement thus eliminating sludge disposal. The composition of various effluents are given. The plant treats 120,000 broilers/day at $141 (plus fixed cost). Capital investment was $250,000.
Planning for Disaster-Relief Construction

The aim of this paper is to describe the state of emergency construction planning for hurricane disaster relief and to present the results of a survey of emergency-management agencies. Most emergency-management agencies are organized to coordinate the efforts of other agencies rather than take action themselves. However, efforts need to be made to further strengthen the ties between emergency-management agencies at all levels of government. The survey revealed that very little effort had been made to document the planning process or to implement emergency construction planning. In fact, construction planning was almost nonexistent. The survey also concluded that most emergency-management personnel are well-trained and that problems are rarely due to the quality of effort provided but rather to the lack of planning information available.
Allelic Diversity at the het-c Locus in Neurospora tetrasperma Confirms Outcrossing in Nature and Reveals an Evolutionary Dilemma for Pseudohomothallic Ascomycetes

Vegetative cells of the filamentous ascomycete Neurospora tetrasperma are typically heterokaryotic, possessing haploid nuclei of both A and a mating types. As a consequence, N. tetrasperma is self-fertile. This life cycle, referred to as pseudohomothallism, clearly derives from true heterothallism of the type exhibited by related species such as N. crassa. Occasional homokaryotic, single-mating-type (heterothallic) isolates occur; in the laboratory, such strains can be outcrossed. The potential for outcrossing in N. tetrasperma raises the question of how this organism avoids heterokaryon incompatibility. Heterokaryon incompatability in vegetatively growing fungi is controlled by multiple loci. Two strains must be identical at each het locus (11 in N. crassa) to form a stable heterokaryon. Prior to the present survey, it seemed plausible that N. tetrasperma avoids heterokaryon incompatibility by maintaining compatible allele combinations through continual selfing. A survey of het-c variation among wild-type isolates in this study demonstrated that N. tetrasperma outcrosses in nature and that such matings can result in incompatible combinations of het-c alleles. Whereas individual wild-type isolates are invariably homoallelic for het-c, closely related strains may possess functionally different het-c alleles, which predate the origin of N. tetrasperma. Therefore, pseudohomothallic ascomycetes such as N. tetrasperma face an apparent evolutionary dilemma: the benefits of outcrossing must be balanced against the fact that matings can produce unstable heterokaryons and disrupt the pseudohomothallic life cycle.
Interactions among nitric oxide and Bcl-family proteins after MPP+ exposure of SH-SY5Y neural cells II: exogenous NO replicates MPP+ actions.

In the preceding companion article, we showed that the neurotoxin methylpyridinium (MPP(+)) increases mitochondrial nitric oxide (NO), causes a post-transcriptional, NO-dependent increase in Bax protein and produces caspase-dependent apoptosis and caspase-independent cell death. In the present study, we show that exogenous NO replicates these findings. The long-term NO generator diethylenetriamine-NO (DETA-NO) reproduced the post-transcriptional Bax protein increase, but did not increase Bcl-2 or Bcl-X(L) proteins. Like MPP(+), DETA-NO caused an early decrease in Bcl-2 mRNA, did not increase Bax protein in rho(0) cells and caused caspase- and cycloheximide-dependent apoptosis and caspase-independent cell death. We developed cell lines with inducible overexpression of Bcl proteins, at levels relevant to those we found in cells exposed to MPP(+) or DETA-NO. Inducible overexpression ( approximately 2-fold) of Bcl-2 or Bcl-X(L) proteins reduced MPP(+) or NO-induced apoptosis but did not affect cell death. Inducible Bax overexpression ( approximately 5-fold) slightly increased cell death. Our results show that exogenous NO mimics actions of MPP(+) on SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells and supports the mediation of MPP(+) neurotoxicity by NO generated intracellularly in mitochondria.
Pregnancy's stronghold on the vaginal microbiome

Objective To assess the vaginal microbiome throughout full-term uncomplicated pregnancy. Methods Vaginal swabs were obtained from twelve pregnant women at 8-week intervals throughout their uncomplicated pregnancies. Patients with symptoms of vaginal infection or with recent antibiotic use were excluded. Swabs were obtained from the posterior fornix and cervix at 8–12, 17–21, 27–31, and 36–38 weeks of gestation. The microbial community was profiled using hypervariable tag sequencing of the V3–V5 region of the 16S rRNA gene, producing approximately 8 million reads on the Illumina MiSeq. Results Samples were dominated by a single genus, Lactobacillus, and exhibited low species diversity. For a majority of the patients (n = 8), the vaginal microbiome was dominated by Lactobacillus crispatus throughout pregnancy. Two patients showed Lactobacillus iners dominance during the course of pregnancy, and two showed a shift between the first and second trimester from L. crispatus to L. iners dominance. In all of the samples only these two species were identified, and were found at an abundance of higher than 1% in this study. Comparative analyses also showed that the vaginal microbiome during pregnancy is characterized by a marked dominance of Lactobacillus species in both Caucasian and African-American subjects. In addition, our Caucasian subject population clustered by trimester and progressed towards a common attractor while African-American women clustered by subject instead and did not progress towards a common attractor. Conclusion Our analyses indicate normal pregnancy is characterized by a microbiome that has low diversity and high stability. While Lactobacillus species strongly dominate the vaginal environment during pregnancy across the two studied ethnicities, observed differences between the longitudinal dynamics of the analyzed populations may contribute to divergent risk for pregnancy complications. This helps establish a baseline for investigating the role of the microbiome in complications of pregnancy such as preterm labor and preterm delivery.
FlyLoop: a micro framework for rapid development of physiological computing systems

With the advent of wearable computing, cheap, commercial-grade sensors have broadened the accessibility to real-time physiological sensing. While there is considerable research that explores leveraging this information to drive intelligent interfaces, the construction of such systems have largely been limited to those with significant technical expertise. Even seasoned programmers are forced to tackle serious engineering challenges such as merging data from multiple sensors, applying signal processing algorithms, and modeling user state in real-time. These hurdles limit the accessibility and replicability of physiological computing systems, and more broadly intelligent interfaces. In this paper, we present FlyLoop - a small, lightweight Java framework that enables programmers to rapidly develop, and experiment with intelligent systems. By focusing on simplicity and modularity rather than device compatibility or software dependencies, we believe that FlyLoop can broaden the participation in next-generation user interfaces, and encourage systems that can be communicated and reproduced.
Sensitivity of the shear gage to normal strains

This paper documents an experimental study that was conducted to demonstrate the sensitivity of the shear gage to the presence of normal strains. The shear gage is a specially designed strain gage rosette that measures the average shear strain in the test section of notched specimens such as the losipescu, Arcan and compact shear specimens. These specimens can have complicated stress states with high shear and normal strain gradients. To evaluate the sensitivity of the shear gage to normal strains, shear gages were tested on an Arcan specimen. The Arcan specimen is a notched specimen that can be loaded in pure shear (90 deg), pure tension (0 deg) and at intermediate 15- deg increments. The shear modulus for an aluminum specimen was determined at each of these loading angles. It was found that the gages display nearly zero sensitivity to normal strains (ɛx,ɛy). Moire interferometry was used to document the shear and normal strain distributions in the test section and to provide an independent method for determining the average shear strain. These results reinforce the robust nature of testing with the shear gage.
Propensity case-matched analysis of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with atheromatous aortic disease

Abstract Objective Atheromatous aortic disease is a risk factor for excessive mortality and stroke in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. Outcomes of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting and coronary artery bypass grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass in patients with severe atheromatous aortic disease were compared by propensity case-match methods. Methods Routine intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography identified 985 patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting with severe atheromatous disease in the aortic arch or ascending aorta. Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting was performed in 281 patients (28.5%). Propensity matched-pairs analysis was used to match patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (n = 245) with patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass. Results Univariate analysis revealed decreased hospital mortality (16/245, 6.5% vs 28/245, 11.4%; P = .058) and stroke prevalence (4/245, 1.6% vs 14/245, 5.7%; P = .03) in off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting compared with coronary artery bypass grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass. Freedom from any postoperative complication was higher in off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting compared with coronary artery bypass grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass (226/245, 92.2% vs 196/245, 80.0%; P P = .01), fewer grafts ( P = .05), acute myocardial infarction (odds ratio=11.5; P P = .03), previous cardiac surgery (odds ratio=10.2, P = .05), and peripheral vascular disease (odds ratio=2.1; P = .05). Cardiopulmonary bypass was the only independent risk factor for stroke (odds ratio=3.6, P = .03). At 36 months' follow-up, comparable survival was observed in the off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting and coronary artery bypass grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass groups (74% vs 72%). Multivariable analysis revealed that renal disease ( P P P = .03), and lower number of grafts ( P = .02) were independent risks for late mortality. Conclusions Patients with severe atherosclerotic aortic disease who undergo off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting have a significantly lower prevalence of hospital mortality, perioperative stroke, and overall complications than matched patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass. Routine intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography identifies severe atheromatous aortic disease and directs the choice of surgical technique.
The effect of therapeutic touch on pain and anxiety in burn patients

The purpose of this single-blinded randomized clinical trial was to determine whether therapeutic touch (TT) versus sham TT could produce greater pain relief as an adjunct to narcotic analgesia, a greater reduction in anxiety, and alterations in plasma T-lymphocyte concentrations among burn patients. Therapeutic touch is an intervention in which human energies are therapeutically manipulated, a practice conceptually supported by Rogers' (1970) theory of unitary human beings. Data were collected at a university burn centre in the south-eastern United States. The subjects were 99 men and women between the ages of 15 and 68 hospitalized for severe burns, and they received either TT or sham TT once a day for 5 days. Baseline data were collected on day 1, data were collected before and after treatment on day 3, and post-intervention data were collected on day 6. Instruments included the McGill Pain Questionnaire, Visual Analogue Scales for Pain, Anxiety and Satisfaction with Therapy, and an Effectiveness of Therapy Form. Blood was drawn on days 1 and 6 for lymphocyte subset analysis. Medication usage for pain in mean morphine equivalents, and mean doses per day of sleep, anxiety and antidepressant medications were recorded. Subjects who received TT reported significantly greater reduction in pain on the McGill Pain Questionnaire Pain Rating Index and Number of Words Chosen and greater reduction in anxiety on the Visual Analogue Scale for Anxiety than did those who received sham TT. Lymphocyte subset analyses on blood from 11 subjects showed a decreasing total CD8 + lymphocyte concentration for the TT group. There was no statistically significant difference between groups on medication usage.
Characterization of Eroded Boron Atoms in the Plume of a Hall Thruster

The erosion of boron particles from Hall thruster channel walls is a concern because it limits the lifetime of the device. A new optical experimental technique that measures path-integrated boron number density in the plume of a Hall effect thruster has recently been tested on an SPT-70 thruster. The data obtained may be used to infer the channel wall erosion rate, but further knowledge of the flow field is required. This development and the need to obtain a complete picture of the thruster channel and plume flows prompted a numerical simulation of the thruster erosion process. The direct simulation Monte Carlo method is used to study the sputtered boron atoms. These particles are introduced to the computational domain with velocities consistent with the sputtering process. The number flux is derived from a Sigmund-Thompson velocity distribution function. The number density values obtained in the plume are processed and compared with the measured values. The experimental and simulation results agree qualitatively, and disagree quantitatively by a factor of three to four, with the experimental results having lower values. Various causes of the discrepancy are discussed.
Line-narrowing in electron spin echo envelope modulation spectroscopy: a determination of the 15N hyperfine interaction parameters of para-nitrobenzo-15N-nitrile radical anion in frozen solution

Abstract A strategy for substantially reducing powder-pattern linewidths in ESEEM spectra of spin 1 2 nuclei is demonstrated in the 4 to 12 GHz ESEEM spectra of the radical anion of para-nitrobenzo- 15 N-nitrile. Line-broadening associated with axial hyperfine interactions can be eliminated in one branch of the ESEEM powder-pattern by optimal selection of external field strength. This line-narrowing strategy extends the applicability of ESEEM spectroscopy to systems with arbitrarily large dipolar couplings. 15 N hyperfine coupling constants of the studied radical are evaluated from the multifrequency ESEEM spectra. The impact of rhombic hyperfine couplings on the spectra is discussed and explicitly considered in the quantitative analysis of the experimental results.
Efficacies of Lipophilic Inhibitors of Dihydrofolate Reductase against Parasitic Protozoa

Competitive inhibitors of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) are used in chemotherapy or prophylaxis of many microbial pathogens, including the eukaryotic parasites Plasmodium falciparum and Toxoplasma gondii. Unfortunately, point mutations in the DHFR gene can confer resistance to inhibitors specific to these pathogens. We have developed a rapid system for testing inhibitors of DHFRs from a variety of parasites. We replaced the DHFR gene from the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae with the DHFR-coding region from humans, P. falciparum, T. gondii, Pneumocystis carinii, and bovine or human-derived Cryptosporidium parvum. We studied 84 dicyclic and tricyclic 2,4-diaminopyrimidine derivatives in this heterologous system and identified those most effective against the DHFR enzymes from each of the pathogens. Among these compounds, six tetrahydroquinazolines were effective inhibitors of every strain tested, but they also inhibited the human DHFR and were not selective for the parasites. However, two quinazolines and four tetrahydroquinazolines were both potent and selective inhibitors of the P. falciparum DHFR. These compounds show promise for development as antimalarial drugs.
Expression of heat shock protein 27 in developing and adult human kidney.

Abstract The expression of heat shock protein (hsp) 27 was examined in the developing and adult human kidney. Immunolocalization using a monoclonal antibody against human hsp 27 demonstrated immunoreactivity in both the developing and adult kidney. Low to moderate immunoreactivity for hsp 27 was observed in the fetal and adult proximal tubule, distal tubule, and mesangial cells of the glomeruli. Intense immunoreactivity for hsp 27 was localized to the cortical and medullary collecting ducts in both the adult and fetal kidney, with the most intense staining in the medullary regions. The loop of Henle demonstrated no immunoreactivity for hsp 27. The blastemal element of the developing kidney showed no hsp 27 immunostaining and the ureteric bud demonstrated moderate staining. Western, northern, and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analyses disclosed no significant differences in hsp 27 mRNA or protein level as a function of gestational age. An analysis of the phosphorylation state of hsp 27 showed the majority of hsp 27 to be present in the unphosphorylated isoform for both adult and fetal samples. These studies are the first to demonstrate the presence of hsp 27 in the human kidney. It is suggested that this pool of hsp 27 is constitutive as it appears in an inactivated state; localized to the cytoplasm and in an unphosphorylated state.
Quantitative assay for antibiotics used commonly in treatment of bovine infections.

Abstract Delvotest-P and Bacillus stearothermophilus Difco disc assay procedures were utilized, and assay sensitivity for detecting various antibiotics was tested. Bacillus stearotbermophilus spores used in the disc assay were purchased from two laboratories and compared. The dyes methylene blue, 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride, orange-O, and bromcresol purple were incorporated separately into agar used for the disc assay to determine if sharper, clearer zones could be produced. None of the dyes had an observable effect on zone size or clarity. Using the Difco disc assay, quantitation of penicillin, cephapirin, and oxytetracycline was accomplished with reliable precision by relating the size of the zone of inhibition to the log of the antibiotic concentration. The Delvotest-P and Difco disc assays were equal in sensitivity, as were spore suspensions used from the two laboratories.
A CULLINary ride across the secretory pathway: more than just secretion

Mulitmeric cullin-RING ubiquitin ligases (CRLs) represent the largest class of ubiquitin ligases in eukaryotes. However, most CRL ubiquitylation pathways remain uncharacterized. CRLs control a myriad of functions by catalyzing mono- or poly-ubiquitylation of target proteins. Recently, novel CRLs have been identified along the secretory pathway where they modify substrates involved in diverse cellular processes such as vesicle coat assembly and cell cycle progression. This review discusses our current understanding of CRL ubiquitylation within the secretory pathway, with special emphasis on the emerging role of the Golgi as a ubiquitylation platform. CRLs are also implicated in endosome function, where their specific roles are less well understood.
From soup to nuts the comprehensive IT help desk

Over the years, the IT Help Desk at the University of West Florida has evolved from a small student only operation to a robust 24/7 support center manned by certified help desk analysts. The current configuration of the help desk is the result of multiple transformations made to ensure our survival and to capitalize on strategic opportunities. Daily briefings combined with lead analysts in a highly team-oriented environment, allow help desk staff and student employees to move customer issues through a distributed support matrix. This matrix encompasses IT resources within the central IT department and resources outside the department in the form of "local support providers". It also includes offices and support providers that are not technical in nature. Customer surveys provide feedback and suggestions for continuous improvement. Constant review of well defined processes allows the Help Desk to deliver services on a scope of soup to nuts.
Policy Gatekeepers in Latin American Legislatures

Legislators who control the congressional agenda have a significant advantage over the membership at large. Policy gatekeepers can restrict change to outcomes they prefer over the status quo and can use this prerogative to keep a legislative party or coalition unified. This article examines agenda-setting rules in 26 Latin American chambers, shows why the institutional structure is theoretically relevant, and reveals some implications for policymaking with evidence from Argentina, Chile, and Mexico. Majority leaders in the Argentine and Chilean lower chambers have successfully blocked passage of legislation opposed by most of their fellow partisans despite the lack of codified gatekeeping rights. Since 1997, none of the major Mexican parties has benefited from the gatekeeping rights established in the rules. Instead, the benefits have come from the parties' advantageous position with respect to the other parties on the steering committee setting the plenary agenda.
Potentiation of cellular radiosensitivity by nitroprusside and vitamin B12

Abstract The effects of two cyano-metal complexes, sodium nitroprusside and vitamin B,2 on the radiosensitivity of plateau-phase V-79 monolayers were studied. Cells were irradiated under aerobic conditions or hypoxic conditions following degassing and purging with nitrogen. Concentrations of nitroprusside as low as 10- 6 M resulted in potentiation of radiation cell killing under aerobic and hypoxic conditions. Potentiation of radiation cell killing was also observed with the less-toxic vitamin B 12 at concentrations of 10 −3 M; this effect was observed only under anoxic irradiation conditions. These results suggest that cyanide-releasing compounds might be used to augment the effect of radiation therapy, providing a different effect on aerobic compared to hypoxic cells. An antihypertensive agent, nitroprusside, and vitamin B 12 are two cyano-metal complexes that might satisfy requirements for this approach to cancer therapy.
Sulfate incorporation by articular chondrocytes in monolayer culture

Articular chondrocytes in primary monolayers or subcultures synthesize sulfated macromolecules, presumably mucopolysaccharides. Intracellular 35SO4 incorporation by postnatal rabbit chondrocytes reached a steady level by 24 hr of incubation; the nondialyzable extracellular (centrifuged medium + trypsin digest) counts increased over 72 hr, when they were up to 100 times the intracellular value. Cell for cell, radiosulfate counts in each fraction were higher in chondrocytes than fibroblasts. Data from a 3-year-old rabbit were comparable to those from recently weaned animals. Secretion of sulfated mucopolysaccharide was also found in cultures of adult human and bovine articular chondrocytes. Although Ham's F12 medium is advantageous in establishing a primary culture of chondrocytes, sulfate incorporation was greater when Dulbecco-Eagle medium, with or without supplemental L-proline, was used for subcultures. Ascorbic acid (5 mg/100 ml) added to an already confluent monolayer had no consistent effect.
Peroxidases of Papaver somniferum

Abstract Extracts of Papaver somniferum that had peroxidase activity were ineffective in catalysing oxidation of reticuline. Two peroxidases were purified from young seedlings and their properties examined. Only one of them was active toward indole-3-acetic acid (IAA).