cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Correlation of a Medication-Focused Risk Score to Medication Errors at Discharge

Pharmacy transitions-of-care services at the time of hospital discharge are helpful in reducing medication errors. Validated risk tools are commonly used by pharmacists to identify patients at greatest benefit of these services. However, current tools lack assessment of medication-related risk factors and predict hospital readmissions rather than medication errors. To address this, a novel medication-focused risk tool (UCSD-Rx risk score) was created to help classify patients at a higher risk for medication errors. This study was split into 2 phases aimed to internally validate the risk score. Phase I of the study compared the predictability of 30-day unplanned readmissions between the UCSD-Rx risk score and a well-validated risk tool, the LACE+ index. To further specify our risk score for pharmacist use, phase II of the study analyzed the predictability of the risk score to medication errors at discharge. Phase I demonstrated similar classification performance of 30-day unplanned readmissions between the UCSD-Rx risk score (C-statistic, 0.66; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.64-0.68; P < .0001) and the LACE+ index (C-statistic, 0.69; 95%CI, 0.67-0.71; P < .0001). In phase II, logistic regression showed an increasing UCSD-Rx risk score was predictive of individuals who would experience a medication error at discharge (odds ratio, 1.068; 95%CI, 1.005-1.136; P = .035). Results of this study demonstrate that the UCSD-Rx risk score is a promising tool targeted for pharmacist use to identify patients that may benefit most from transitions-of-care services prior to discharge.
Degradation of bio-based and biodegradable plastics in a salt marsh habitat: Another potential source of microplastics in coastal waters.

Degradation of bio-based (polylactic acid [PLA] cups, Mater-Bi® [MB] bags) and biodegradable plastics (biodegradable extruded polystyrene [bioPS] plates, biodegradable high density polyethylene [bioHDPE] bags) were compared to conventional plastics (recycled polyethylene terephthalate [rPET] cups, HDPE bags, extruded PS plates) in a salt marsh over a 32-week period. Following 4 weeks, biofilm developed on all plastics, resulting in an increased weight and concomitant decrease in UV transmission for most plastics. All plastics produced microplastic particles beginning at 4 weeks, with single-use bags producing the most microplastics over the 32-week period. At 32 weeks, SEM revealed microcracks and delamination for all plastics except PLA and MB, the latter of which degraded through embrittlement. IR spectral analysis indicated degradation for all plastics except PLA. Results suggest that degradation rates of bio-based and biodegradable plastics vary widely, with MB bags and bioPS plates demonstrating the greatest degradation, while PLA cups demonstrated the least degradation.
Income convergence across the U.S. states: further evidence from new recent data

Noting the analytical and empirical significance of the topic, this research revisits the theme of income convergence across the US states. The work fills several gaps in the existing literature by (a) covering the most recent period 1997–2018, (b) using the official data on real GDP per capita compiled by the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), (c) explicitly comparing the convergence scenario for 1997–2018 with that for 1977–1997, and (d) placing the observed patterns in the context of Piketty-like propositions about high returns to capital and increasing income inequality. One significant outcome of the exercise is an indication of sigma-divergence across the US states, as reflected in increased standard deviation of logs and coefficient of variation over the period, which correspond to a highly significant positive trend in both. Lack of significant beta-convergence is also of interest as is the contrast in the convergence patterns for 1977–1997 and 1997–2018. A simple explanation for income-divergence is pursued by studying the pattern of changes in K/L ratios across states from 2000 to 2015, and it is found that, contrary to the expected pattern of resource flows, K/L ratio tended to increase more in the high K/L-ratio states than in the low K/L areas. This divergence in K/L ratio underlies the sigma-divergence in income. The observed pattern may be deemed consistent with Piketty-like propositions about the high and increasing returns to capital which impeded its move to the poorer states with low K/L ratio.
RecT recombinase expression enables efficient gene editing in Enterococcus

Abstract Enterococcus faecium is a ubiquitous Gram-positive bacterium that has been recovered from the environment, food, and microbiota of mammals. Commensal strains of E. faecium can confer beneficial effects on host physiology and immunity, but antibiotic usage has afforded antibiotic-resistant and pathogenic isolates from livestock and humans. However, the dissection of E. faecium functions and mechanisms has been restricted by inefficient gene editing methods. To address these limitations, here we report the expression of E. faecium RecT recombinase significantly improves the efficiency of recombineering technologies in both commensal and antibiotic-resistant strains of E. faecium and other Enterococcus species such as E. durans and E. hirae. Notably, the expression of RecT in combination with clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-Cas9 and guide RNAs (gRNAs) enabled highly efficient scar-less single-stranded DNA recombineering to generate specific gene editing mutants in E. faecium. Moreover, we demonstrate that E. faecium RecT expression facilitated chromosomal insertions of double-stranded DNA templates encoding antibiotic selectable markers to generate gene deletion mutants. As further proof-of-principle, we use CRISPR-Cas9 mediated recombineering to knock out both sortase A genes in E. faecium for downstream functional characterization. The general RecT-mediated recombineering methods described here should significantly enhance genetic studies of E. faecium and other closely related species for functional and mechanistic studies. Importance Enterococcus faecium is widely recognized as an emerging public health threat with the rise of drug resistance and nosocomial infections. Nevertheless, commensal Enterococcus strains possess beneficial health functions in mammals to upregulate host immunity and prevent microbial infections. This functional dichotomy of Enterococcus species and strains highlights the need for in-depth studies to discover and characterize the genetic components underlining its diverse activities. However, current genetic engineering methods in E. faecium still require passive homologous recombination from plasmid DNA. This involves the successful cloning of multiple homologous fragments into a plasmid, introducing the plasmid into E. faecium, and screening for double-crossover events that can collectively take up to multiple weeks to perform. To alleviate these challenges, we show that RecT recombinase enables rapid and efficient integration of mutagenic DNA templates to generate substitutions, deletions, and insertions in genomic DNA of E. faecium. These improved recombineering methods should facilitate functional and mechanistic studies of Enterococcus.
Whole-slide image analysis outperforms micrograph acquisition for adipocyte size quantification

The distinction between biological processes of adipose tissue expansion is crucial to understanding metabolic derangements, but a robust method for quantifying adipocyte size has yet to be standardized. Here, we compared three methods for histological analysis in situ: one conventional approach using individual micrographs acquired by digital camera, and two with whole-slide image analysis pipelines involving proprietary (Visiopharm) and open-source software (QuPath with a novel ImageJ plugin). We found that micrograph analysis identified 10-40 times fewer adipocytes than whole-slide methods, and this small sample size resulted in high variances that could lead to statistical errors. The agreement of the micrograph method to measure adipocyte area with each of the two whole-slide methods was substantially less (R2 of 0.6644 and 0.7125) than between the two whole-slide methods (R2 of 0.9402). These inconsistencies were more pronounced in samples from high-fat diet fed mice. While the use of proprietary software resulted in the highest adipocyte count, the lower cost, ease of use, and minimal variances of the open-source software provided a distinct advantage for measuring the number and size of adipocytes. In conclusion, we recommend whole-slide image analysis methods to consistently measure adipocyte area and avoid unintentional errors due to small sample sizes.
Idea entrepreneurs: The United Nations Open-Ended Working Group & cybersecurity

Abstract The United Nations OEWG (Open Ended Working Group) focused on cybersecurity provides the context for an examination of idea entrepreneurship regarding the role of nonstate actors and the concepts of human rights, gender and sustainable development against the backdrop of a global pandemic and increasing cybersecurity challenges. Crafting a cross-disciplinary conceptual framework based upon a review of relevant literatures, this study uses archival and content analysis to highlight those organizations serving as idea entrepreneurs and those contesting such ideas. Findings include the presence of key divides among idea entrepreneur organizations (including among nation-state organizations themselves) as well as key linkages among a ‘galaxy’ or interconnection of ideas forged with potential to bridge such divides. Additionally, mention of the pandemic emerges as a factor catalyzing idea entrepreneurship with a focus on critical infrastructures.
Modelling Oil Pricing Across Different Regimes: A Neural Network Methodology

The global financial crisis of 2007-2009 caused major economic disturbances in the oil market. In this paper we consider five variables describing the microeconomics of supply of and demand for oil and evaluate their importance before, during and after the global financial crisis. We consider five dissimilar regimes during the period of January 1986 to the end of 2017: two regimes prior to the global financial crisis, the regime during the crisis and two regimes after the crisis. The main hypothesis tested is that oil fundamentals of supply and demand remain important even as the five regimes are dissimilar. We build five boosted and over-fitted neural networks to capture the exact relationships between spot oil prices and oil data related to those prices. This analysis shows that, while the inputs into an accurate neural network can remain the same, the impact of each variable can change considerably during different regimes. We find that the shifts in impacts of the various inputs are great enough to support the hypothesis that there are important structural breaks between periods.
Acute SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with an expansion of bacteria pathogens in the nose including Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Much of the research conducted on SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 has focused on the systemic host response, especially that generated by severely ill patients. Very few studies have investigated the impact of acute SARS-CoV-2 within the nasopharynx, the site of initial infection and viral replication. In this study we profiled changes in the nasal microbial communities as well as in host transcriptional profile during acute SARS-CoV-2 infection using 16S amplicon sequencing and RNA sequencing. These analyses were coupled to viral genome sequencing. Our microbiome analysis revealed that the nasal microbiome of COVID patients was unique and was marked by an expansion of bacterial pathogens. Some of these microbes (i.e. Acinetobacter ) were shared with COVID negative health care providers from the same medical center but absent in COVID negative outpatients seeking care at the same institutions suggesting acquisition of nosocomial respiratory pathogens. Specifically, we report a distinct increase in the prevalence and abundance of the pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa in COVID patients that correlated with viral RNA load. These data suggest that the inflammatory environment caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection and potentially exposure to the hospital environment leads to an expansion of bacterial pathogens in the nasal cavity that could contribute to increased incidence of secondary bacterial infections. Additionally, we observed a robust host transcriptional response in the nasal epithelia of COVID patients, indicative of an antiviral innate immune repones and neuronal damage. Finally, analysis of viral genomes did not reveal an association between viral loads and viral sequences.
Discovering the evolution of Jacques-Louis David’s portrait of Antoine-Laurent and Marie-Anne Pierrette Paulze Lavoisier

Jacques-Louis David’s (1748–1825) iconic portrait of Antoine Laurent Lavoisier (1743–1794) and Marie-Anne Lavoisier (Marie-Anne Pierrette Paulze, 1758–1836) has come to epitomize a modern couple born of the Enlightenment. An analytical approach that combined macro-X-ray fluorescence with the examination and microanalysis of samples by Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry to investigate imprecise indications of changes to the composition observed by microscopy and infrared refectography allowed the visualization of a hidden composition with a high level of detail. The results revealed that the first version depicted not the progressive, scientific-minded couple that we see today, but their other identity, that of wealthy tax collectors and fashionable luxury consumers. The first version and the changes to the composition are placed in the context of David’s mastery of the oil painting technique by examining how he concealed colorful features in the first composition by using paint mixtures that allowed for maximum coverage with thin paint layers. The limitations of the analytical techniques used are also discussed. To our knowledge, this is the first in-depth technical study of a painting by J.-L. David.
Tick CAPA propeptide cDNAs and receptor activity of endogenous tick pyrokinins and analogs: Towards discovering pyrokinin function in ticks

Abstract Pyrokinins (PKs) are pleiotropic neuropeptides with significant roles in invertebrate physiology. Although functions of PKs are known in insects, there is a lack of knowledge of PK-encoding genes and PKs functions in ticks. Herein the first tick cDNAs of the capability (capa) gene were cloned from the southern cattle tick, Rhipicephalus microplus (Acari: Ixodidae), and the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis. Each cDNA encoded one periviscerokinin and five different pyrokinins. Two PKs were identical in sequence in the two species. The three PKs unique to R. microplus (Rhimi-CAPA-PK1, -PK2, and -PK5) were tested on the recombinant R. microplus pyrokinin receptor using a calcium bioluminescence assay. The Rhimi-CAPA-PKs acted as agonists with EC50s ranging from 101–188 nM. Twenty PK analogs designed for enhanced bioavailability and biostability were tested on the receptor. Five of these were designed based on the sequences of the three unique Rhimi-CAPA-PKs. Eight PK analogs were also agonists; four of them were full agonists that exhibited comparable efficacy to the native Rhimi-CAPA-PKs, with EC50 ranging from 401 nM-1.9 μM. The structure-activity relationships (SAR) of all analogs were analyzed. Our results suggested that a positively charged, basic lysine at the variable position X of the PK active core (FXPRLamide) conferred enhanced affinity to the analogs in their interaction with the tick receptor. These analogs are promising tools to elucidate the pyrokinin function in ticks in vivo as these analogs are expected to have prolonged hemolymph residence time in comparison to the native peptides.
My data just goes everywhere: user mental models of the internet and implications for privacy and security

Many people use the Internet every day yet know little about how it really works. Prior literature diverges on how people's Internet knowledge affects their privacy and security decisions. We undertook a qualitative study to understand what people do and do not know about the Internet and how that knowledge affects their responses to privacy and security risks. Lay people, as compared to those with computer science or related backgrounds, had simpler mental models that omitted Internet levels, organizations, and entities. People with more articulated technical models perceived more privacy threats, possibly driven by their more accurate understanding of where specific risks could occur in the network. Despite these differences, we did not find a direct relationship between people's technical background and the actions they took to control their privacy or increase their security online. Consistent with other work on user knowledge and experience, our study suggests a greater emphasis on policies and systems that protect privacy and security without relying too much on users' security practices.
Regulation of Cellular Gas Exchange, Oxygen Sensing, and Metabolic Control

Cells must continuously monitor and couple their metabolic requirements for ATP utilization with their ability to take up O2 for mitochondrial respiration. When O2 uptake and delivery move out of homeostasis, cells have elaborate and diverse sensing and response systems to compensate. In this review, we explore the biophysics of O2 and gas diffusion in the cell, how intracellular O2 is regulated, how intracellular O2 levels are sensed and how sensing systems impact mitochondrial respiration and shifts in metabolic pathways. Particular attention is paid to how O2 affects the redox state of the cell, as well as the NO, H2S, and CO concentrations. We also explore how these agents can affect various aspects of gas exchange and activate acute signaling pathways that promote survival. Two kinds of challenges to gas exchange are also discussed in detail: when insufficient O2 is available for respiration (hypoxia) and when metabolic requirements test the limits of gas exchange (exercising skeletal muscle). This review also focuses on responses to acute hypoxia in the context of the original "unifying theory of hypoxia tolerance" as expressed by Hochachka and colleagues. It includes discourse on the regulation of mitochondrial electron transport, metabolic suppression, shifts in metabolic pathways, and recruitment of cell survival pathways preventing collapse of membrane potential and nuclear apoptosis. Regarding exercise, the issues discussed relate to the O2 sensitivity of metabolic rate, O2 kinetics in exercise, and influences of available O2 on glycolysis and lactate production.
Purification of a Bovine Plasma Protein (Factor VII) Which Is Required for the Activity of Lung Microsomes in Blood Coagulation

Abstract 1. Factor VII, essentially free of Factor X but containing traces of prothrombin, and Factor X, very low in Factor VII, have been prepared by a combination of adsorption to and elution from barium sulfate and chromatography on diethylaminoethyl cellulose. 2. The activation of Factor X by lung microsomes is due to contamination of Factor X with Factor VII rather than to a direct attack on the Factor X molecule by lung microsomes. 3. Factor VII, lung microsomes, and calcium react to form a complex which is able to act as enzyme in activating Factor X. Indirect evidence has been obtained indicating the enzymatic activity of the complex is due to activated Factor VII.
Randomized Clinical Trial of Daily Aspirin Therapy in Multi‐Infarct Dementia

Seventy multi-infarct dementia patients were randomized into an aspirin-treated group and an untreated control group for an exploratory investigation to determine any effects of 325 mg aspirin daily on cognitive performance. The control group did not receive placebo but evaluations were carried out in a blinded manner. The index group (N = 37, mean age 67.1 years) received 325 mg of aspirin by mouth once daily while the control group (N = 33, mean age 67.6 years) was followed and treated in a similar manner except that they received no aspirin. Both groups had comparable risk factors for stroke, which were treated similarly, as well as comparable initial cerebral blood flow values, as measured by the 133xenon inhalation method, and initial scores on Cognitive Capacity Screening Examination testing. Patients were evaluated at intervals of one year. Significant improvements were demonstrated for cerebral perfusion values (P less than .0001) and cognitive performance scores (P less than .0001) among aspirin-treated patients compared to untreated controls at each of three annual follow-up evaluations. Both men and women benefited from aspirin therapy and their quality of life and independence appeared to be improved, which was not apparent in the control group. Daily aspirin appears to improve or stabilize declines in cerebral perfusion and cognition among patients with multi-infarct dementia.
An extension of Hörmander’s theorem for infinitely degenerate second-order operators

We establish the hypoellipticity of a large class of highly degenerate second order differential operators of Hormander type. The hypotheses of our theorem allow Hormander’s general Lie algebra condition to fail on a collection of hypersurfaces. The proof of the theorem is probabilistic in nature. It is based on the Malliavin calculus and requires new sharp estimates for diffusion processes in Euclidean space.
A Robust Active Suspension Controller with Rollover Prevention

This paper discusses the mathematical modeling of suspension and rollover characteristics. Using dynamics analysis, a simple active suspension control is designed with rollover prevention. The paper also studies the framework of how to integrate active suspension and steering in the emergency situations besides regular ride and handling suspension control. Simulation results are also presented.
How to build Tatooine: reducing secular excitation in Kepler circumbinary planet formation

Circumbinary planetary systems recently discovered by Kepler represent an important testbed for planet formation theories. Planetesimal growth in disks around binaries has been expected to be inhibited interior to ~10 AU by secular excitation of high relative velocities between planetesimals, leading to their collisional destruction (rather than agglomeration). Here we show that gravity of the gaseous circumbinary disk in which planets form drives fast precession of both the planetesimal and binary orbits, resulting in strong suppression of planetesimal eccentricities beyond 2-3 AU and making possible growth of 1-100 km objects in this region. The precise location of the boundary of accretion-friendly region depends on the size of the inner disk cavity cleared by the binary torques and on the disk mass (even 0.01 M_Sun disk strongly suppresses planetesimal excitation), among other things. Precession of the orbit of the central binary, enhanced by the mass concentration naturally present at the inner edge of a circumbinary disk, plays key role in this suppression, which is a feature specific to the circumbinary planet formation.
Preparation and properties of retinal-oxidizing enzyme from rat intestinal mucosa.

Abstract An enzyme which converts retinal to retinoic acid was purified from rat intestinal mucosa approximately 160-fold via a combination of acetone precipitation, ammonium sulfate precipitation, and DEAE-cellulose ion exchange chromatography. The purified preparation appeared to be homogeneous in the ultracentrifuge, on ion exchange chromatography, and on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The molecular weight of the enzyme was approximately 80,000 and its isoelectric point was in the neighborhood of 6.7. The enzyme preparation contained approximately 2 moles of iron per mole of enzyme. The absorption spectrum of the enzyme indicated a maximum at 280 mµ and a much smaller band around 410 mµ. Purified retinal-oxidizing enzyme from rat intestinal mucosa stoichiometrically and irreversibly converted retinal to retinoic acid. The latter was identified as the product of the reaction by ultraviolet absorption spectrum, thin layer chromatography, and gas chromatography. The product was approximately 96% pure as determined by its E1%1 cm value. The enzymatic reaction exhibited Michaelis-Menten kinetics with a Km of approximately 3.0 x 10-4 m. The rate of the reaction was constant for 120 min, directly proportional to the enzyme concentration, and maximal when GSH, NAD, FAD, and Fe2+ were added. The pH optimum was approximately 7.7. The reaction proceeded well under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The enzyme acted upon both the all-trans and 13-cis forms of retinal. Reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide noncompetitively inhibited the reaction and was found to exhibit a control over the utilization of retinal in vitro. Thiols and metal ions stimulated the reaction, while thiol inhibitors and chelators inhibited the reaction. It is suggested that retinal-oxidizing enzyme is a metalloprotein which requires sulfhydryl groups for maximal enzymic activity. In the presence of H218O, the oxidation of retinal by retinaloxidizing enzyme appeared to resemble a dehydrogenase rather than an oxygenase or oxidase.
The Federal Commitment to Homelessness Prevention: A Silver Lining of the Economic Crisis

In the midst of the 2007–2009 economic crisis, the federal government altered its response to homelessness in significant ways. After years of providing services and support to individuals and families who were homeless, in 2009 the government bolstered its response and for the first time provided significant resources to prevent homelessness. The purpose of this article is to provide an explanation of the significant shift in federal homelessness policy in 2009. The author uses the multiple streams and social construction policy frameworks to analyze the 2009 homelessness policy change. Social, political, and economic changes during the recession provided a unique opportunity to implement policy solutions that were previously unattractive or politically unfeasible. While the economic crisis was a source of broad-based hardship in the United States, the crisis created unique conditions that contributed to a significant change in federal homelessness policy. The findings of this article are significant for scholars, policymakers, and advocates who seek to promote public policies that benefit vulnerable, oppressed, or marginalized populations.
Opening the door to mitochondrial protein import.

After reconstitution into liposomes, Tim23p, a mitochondrial inner membrane protein required for protein import, forms an aqueous pore that is activated by a transmembrane potential and mitochondrial targeting peptides. A report in this issue suggests that proteins are translocated into the mitochondrial matrix through a channel formed by Tim23p. These data also suggest a mechanism by which protein import can occur without disrupting the permeablility barrier of the inner membrane.
Developing Windows NT applications for PowerPC microprocessor based systems

IBM, Microsoft, and Motorola collaborated to port the Microsoft Windows NT operating system to the PowerPC microprocessor architecture. Combining Windows NT with the PowerPC architecture introduces high performance, low cost reduced instruction set computing (RISC) to the personal computer desktop. Developing Windows applications can be a confusing process for developers unfamiliar with the Microsoft Windows family of operating systems. This confusion is intensified when developers consider running their Windows NT application on multiple hardware architectures. Several major factors must be considered when developing for Windows NT, including which software development tools to use, which applications are compatible across the multiple platforms, which application programming interface to use, and which features are available on each platform. The paper identifies some of the issues involved in porting existing Windows applications as well as developing new applications to take advantage of the Windows NT/PowerPC microprocessor combination.
Understanding Nomophobia: A Modern Age Phobia Among College Students

Nomophobia, or no mobile phone phobia, is the fear of being out of mobile phone contact and considered a modern age phobia particularly common among young smartphone users. This qualitative study sought to identify the dimensions of nomophobia as described by college students and adopted a phenomenological approach to qualitative exploration. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine undergraduate students at a large Midwestern university in the U.S. Based on the findings, four dimensions of nomophobia were identified: not being able to communicate, losing connectedness, not being able to access information and giving up convenience. Given the widespread adoption of smartphones and integration of smartphones into educational settings, findings of this study can help educators better understand learners’ inclination to use their smartphones at all times.
Tryptophan depletion and HIV Tryptophan depletion and HIV infection: a metabolic link to pathogenesis

HIV-1-infected patients have low circulating tryptophan concentrations despite evidence of adequate dietary intake of this essential amino acid. A chronic increase in inducible tryptophan oxidation is the basis of HIV-1-associated tryptophan depletion. This metabolic process results in the irretrievable loss of tryptophan molecules from the available pool. Such sustained disruption of normal tryptophan metabolism over time disturbs the many metabolic processes involving this amino acid, and has been implicated in some features of AIDS pathogenesis. Normal T-cell function is adversely affected by tryptophan depletion, but the extent of the effect in HIV-1-infected patients is still unclear. Attempting to directly supplement tryptophan is not advised given the potential increase in circulating concentrations of neurotoxic intermediates. Although only preliminary data are available, evidence suggests that antiretroviral and nicotinamide treatments can boost plasma tryptophan concentrations in HIV-1-infected patients and impact the secondary effects of tryptophan depletion. Additional study of this metabolism could lead to improved treatment strategies for patients with HIV infection. In this review I focus on the potential links between disturbed tryptophan metabolism and pathogenesis.
A randomized trial of vaginal misoprostol for cervical priming before hysteroscopy in postmenopausal women.

Objective: To perform hysteroscopy the cervix needs to be dilated and in nullipara and postmenopausal women this is sometimes difficult. Well-known, entry-related complications during hysteroscopy include cervical tear, creation of false tract, bleeding, uterine perforation, scarring, and subsequent anatomical stenosis. Materials and Methods: This study was done to investigate the priming effect of vaginal misoprostol on cervical dilatation in postmenopausal women, before hysteroscopy, to prevent such complications. Two hundred micrograms of misoprostol was inserted into the vagina at least 12 hours before the procedure and the control group did not receive any cervical priming agent. Pre-procedural dilatation, additional dilatation required, and time taken for dilatation was noted in each case. Observations: The study showed a significant difference between the study group (7.7 ± 1.7 mm) and the control group (4.5 ± 1.8 mm) in terms of pre-procedural cervical width and the number of women requiring a dditional dilatation (7 / 25 versus 22 / 25), and hence, the time required for dilatation (4.7 ± 8 seconds versus 20.6 ± 9.3 seconds). Conclusion: The pre-procedural cervical width was significantly more in the study group as compared to that in the control group. We found significant differences between the study and control groups with respect to the number of women who required cervical dilatation. To conclude, this study helps derive a conclusion that vaginal misoprostol as a cervical priming agent in postmenopausal women appears to be safe, effective, and inexpensive, with mild side effects.
A Quasi Elliptic Function 1.75–2.25 GHz 3-Pole Bandpass Filter With Bandwidth Control

A three-pole microstrip combline filter with a center frequency of 1.75-2.25 GHz and a tunable bandwidth of 70-100 MHz is presented. In this design, an extra transmission zero is created using a non-adjacent resonator coupling, and is placed on the lower side of the passband to improve the filter selectivity. The filter bandwidth is also tuned by controlling the non-adjacent resonator coupling. The measured S -parameters, third-order intercept point and power handling, for different center frequencies and bandwidths, are presented and with good agreement with simulations. This topology is simple to implement and requires only one additional tunable component between the first and third resonator for bandwidth control.
Mannosidase, glucosidase, and galactosidase in sweet almond emulsin.

Abstract Alpha- d -mannosidase from sweet almond emulsin was purified by ion exchange chromatography on CM-cellulose or by electrofocusing technique. The properties of of the purified almond emulsin β- d -mannosidase were also studied. Several components of β- d -glucosidase were present in sweet almond emulsin. Although these β- d -glucosidase components still contained β- d -galactosidase activity, some β- d -galactosidase activities were not conincident with the β- d -glucosidase enzyme in their response to inhibitors.
VISCOUS ENERGY DISSIPATION BY FLUX PILE-UP MERGING IN THE SOLAR CORONA

Magnetic field annihilation in resistive viscous incompressible plasmas is analyzed. Anisotropic viscous transport is modeled by the dominant terms in the Braginskii viscous stress tensor. An analytical solution for steady-state magnetic merging, driven by vortical plasma flows in two dimensions, is derived. Resistive and viscous energy dissipation rates are calculated. It is shown that, except in the limiting case of zero vorticity, viscous heating can significantly exceed Joule heating at the merging site. The results strongly suggest that viscous dissipation can provide a significant fraction of the total energy release in solar flares, which may have far-reaching implications for flare models.
Regression Residuals and Mean Profiles in Uniform Open-Channel Flows

In spite of the frequent use of regression in hydraulics, the analysis of regression residuals is often not performed and yet may be important in assessing the performance of proposed models. The present work discusses residuals analysis with respect to (1) velocity profiles in clear-water channel flows; and (2) suspended-sediment concentration profiles in sediment-laden flows. Three models proposed for the mean velocity profile in turbulent uniform open-channel clear-water flows, differing only in the treatment of the wake component, are studied. The analysis of residuals from linear regression applied to velocity measurements suggests that there are statistical grounds for believing that these wake-function models are inadequate. The traditional Rouse suspended sediment concentration profile provides the context for a comparison of a direct application of nonlinear regression for fitting purposes rather than the more traditional linear regression of a transformed problem. The importance of the uniform-variance assumption in least-squares fitting is emphasized. The analysis of residuals indicates that, in spite of smaller residual mean squares, direct nonlinear regression is inappropriate due to the nonuniform variance of the error term. Possible misleading interpretations of high values of the coefficient of determination (\iR²) are pointed out, and implications for velocity profiles in sediment-laden flows and more complicated models of suspended sediment concentration are discussed.
Experimental determination of quantum-phase distributions using optical homodyne tomography.

From the experimental measurement of probability distributions of quadrature-field amplitudes, followed by numerical inversion (optical homodyne tomography), we have determined distributions and/or moments of the optical phase of small-photon-number fields for several definitions of the phase variable, including those based on Hermitian operators and on quasiprobability distributions. These measurements were performed on a vacuum field, and a weakly squeezed field. It is found that each definition of phase yields different distributions and/or moments for the experimental data. In addition, all of the experimentally determined quantities agree with the corresponding theoretical predictions.
Mineralogical and textural controls on the organic composition of coastal marine sediments: Hydrodynamic separation using SPLITT-fractionation

Abstract SPLITT-fractionation was used to sort hydrodynamically surficial sediments from the Washington margin, USA, into sand- (>250, 63–250 μm), silt- (35–63, 17–35, 8–17, 3–8 μm), and clay-sized (1–3, 0.5–1, 64 μm) from the shelf, where terrestrially-derived vascular plant debris accounted for >95% of the organic matter. Organic matter that could not be separated from the inorganic sediment accounted for >90% of the total organic carbon in most fractions, and loadings of organic carbon increased as the surface area of the inorganic particles increased. For the sand- and silt-sized fractions, the observed relationship of 0.81 ± 0.04 mg C m−2 (r = 0.97) was consistent with the hypothesis that a monolayer of organic matter is sorbed to the mineral surfaces. Clay-sized particles had lower organic loadings (0.37 ± 0.07 mg C m−2, r = 0.85), probably because the large interlamellar area of expandable clays was inaccessible to most organic molecules. After correcting for interlamellar area, clay-sized particles have the same organic carbon: surface area relationship as sands and silts (0.78 ± 0.08 mg C m−2, r = 0.96). The relationship over all the particle sizes was 0.76 ± 0.03 mg C m−2, (r = 0.96). While total organic matter concentrations were largely controlled by sediment surface area, the elemental composition of the organic matter appears to be partially affected by sediment mineralogy, and shifted from carbon-rich material (atomic C:N ~ 18.0) in larger, quartz-dominated fractions to N-rich material (C:N ~ 9) in the smaller, clay mineral-dominated fractions. Nitrogen enrichment relative to carbon (atomic N:C) was correlated with the amount of total clay (r = 0.80), smectite (r = 0.79), and the iron content (r = 0.74) of the sediments. Measurements of stable carbon isotopes indicate that clay-sized particles preferentially transport sorbed soil organic matter to deep sites while sand-sized fractions contain terrestrial plant debris (discrete and sediment-associated) that is transported along the shelf. The concentrations of terrestriallyderived organic matter in organic matter from shelf and slope sediments was estimated to be 60–85% and 10–15%, respectively. The quantity, bulk chemical composition, and distribution of marine and terrestrially derived organic matter to Washington margin sediments are influenced by 1. (1) the surface area of the sediment minerals, 2. (2) the mineralogical composition of the sedimentary matrix, and 3. (3) the natural hydrodynamic sorting of sedimentary materials along the continental margin. The major fraction of organic material in these sediments is sorbed to mineral grains. Interactions between organic material and mineral surfaces strongly influence the distribution and elemental composition of the organic material present in marine sediments.
In vitro cytotoxicity of orthodontic bonding materials.

Abstract Previous studies have shown that toxic reactions to direct-bonding adhesives can be demonstrated both in animals and in cell culture tests. These effects have also been shown with other related dental materials. The purpose of this study was to compare the relative toxicity of a number of common orthodontic adhesives and to determine, by means of a rapid, sensitive in vitro cell culture agar overlay test, how their toxicity changed with time subsequent to polymerization. Various orthodontic bonding materials were tested either immediately or at various times up to 30 days after polymerization. The cells were stained with a vital dye (neutral red), the diameter of the area of unstained, nonviable cells was measured, and the results of three tests per sample were averaged and analyzed by means of Duncan's Multiple Range Tests. All materials were found to have some cytotoxic effect immediately after mixing, with the activator components of two “no-mix” materials exhibiting significantly higher toxicity (p
Complete recovery following an unusual cardiac stab wound

A 17-year-old female was stabbed in the chest and found by paramedics in extremis. She arrived at the receiving hospital with spontaneous respirations and an improved blood pressure. Upon thoracotomy in the operating room, lacerations through the main pulmonary artery and the left atrium were found. The combined efforts of a sophisticated EMS system providing rapid in-field stabilization and transport, a ready in-house trauma team able to quickly assess and provide definitive care, and a prepared operating room team, including cardiopulmonary bypass capability, resulted in a complete and uncomplicated recovery from this rare and lethal injury.
Effect of Oligosaccharides and Fibre Substitutes on Short-chain Fatty Acid Production by Human Faecal Microflora

Abstract The microbial fermentation of dietary fibre and oligosaccharides has been shown to be involved in several physiological mechanisms that promote colonic health. One of these beneficial mechanisms is the production of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) as the main by-products of dietary fibre and oligosaccharide microbial fermentation. Major SCFAs produced are acetate, propionate and butyrate. Each of these acids appear also to be involved in selective physiological events that lead to improving health. This study evaluated the fermentation of several oligosaccharides and commercial fibre substitutes using fresh faecal inocula. Typical SCFA production after 24 h was 42.4±5.5 mg/ml. Results indicated that hydrolyzed guar gum after 24 h significantly (P=0.0001) produced the highest levels of total SCFA (54.6±0.7 mg/ml) and was involved as well in high production of propionate and butyrate (19.8±0.3 and 15.5±0.03 mg/ml, respectively). Cellulose and psyllium husk were also involved in high production of propionate (21.0±0.5) and butyrate (16.8±0.5 mg/ml), respectively. The results of this study indicated several differences in the production of SCFAs by colonic microflora in the presence of oligosaccharides and fibre substitutes. The important physiological implications of these findings are discussed.
Efficient Numerical Computation of the Frequency Response of Cables Illuminated by an Electromagnetic Field (Short Papers)

Computationally efficient numerical methods for determining the frequency response of uniform transmission lines consisting of a large number of mutually coupled conductors in homogeneous and inhomogeneous media, and illuminated by an electromagnetic (EM) field are presented.
Diet quality does not affect resting metabolic rate or body temperatures selected by an herbivorous lizard

Diet quality can influence many aspects of digestion, but the links between diet quality and resting metabolism are poorly understood. In nature, it might be beneficial to reduce energy expenditure when only poor quality diets are available. Alternatively, animals might increase the processing capacity of the gut to more thoroughly extract energy. If maintaining the processing capacity of the gut is energetically expensive, then increasing gut size or function might result in higher resting metabolism. In ectotherms, most digestive functions are temperature dependent, thus another strategy to maintain energy balance might be to alter selected body temperatures. We tested whether differing concentrations of dietary fiber affected the resting metabolic rate or body temperatures selected by chuckwallas (Sauromalus obesus) – lizards that naturally experience marked variation in dietary fiber. Resting metabolic rates measured at two temperatures and over three time intervals did not differ between groups of lizards force-fed low- (30% neutral-detergent fiber; NDF) and high-fiber (45% NDF) diets, nor did these diet differences influence body temperatures selected in a thermal gradient. We conclude that ecologically relevant differences in diet quality may have negligible effects on resting metabolic rates and body temperatures selected by chuckwallas.
Relation of Vitamin D Status to Congestive Heart Failure and Cardiovascular Events in Dogs

Background Vitamin D plays a pivotal role in cardiac function, and there is increasing evidence that vitamin D deficiency is associated with the development of congestive heart failure (CHF) in people. Hypothesis Serum vitamin D concentration is lower in dogs with CHF compared with unaffected controls and serum vitamin D concentration is associated with clinical outcome in dogs with CHF. Animals Eighty-two client-owned dogs. Methods In this cross-sectional study, we examined the association between circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], a measure of vitamin D status, and CHF in dogs. In the prospective cohort study, we examined whether 25(OH)D serum concentration was associated with clinical outcome in dogs with CHF. Results Mean 25(OH)D concentration (100 ± 44 nmol/L) in 31 dogs with CHF was significantly lower than that of 51 unaffected dogs (123 ± 42 nmol/L; P = .023). The mean calculated vitamin D intake per kg of metabolic body weight in dogs with CHF was no different from that of unaffected dogs (1.37 ± 0.90 μg/kg metabolic body weight versus 0.98 ± 0.59 μg/kg body weight, respectively, P = .097). There was a significant association of serum 25(OH)D concentration on time to clinical manifestation of CHF or sudden death (P = .02). Conclusion and Clinical Relevance These findings suggest that low concentrations of 25(OH)D may be a risk factor for CHF in dogs. Low serum 25(OH)D concentration was associated with poor outcome in dogs with CHF. Strategies to improve vitamin D status in some dogs with CHF may prove beneficial without causing toxicity.
Electric field phenomena in fluidized and fixed beds

Stabilization of a bed of dielectric particles against fluidization by an electric field (≥ 103 volts/cm) is described. Glass bead and silica gel particle beds have been observed to behave as packed beds with flow rates (and pressure drops) of the fluidizing gas up to 15 times the normal incipient fluidization rate. The pressure drop at the breakup of this fixed bed was dependent on the second power of voltage, the particular bed material, and geometry of the system. Under suitable conditions 100% bed expansion without diffusive particle motion or bubble formation was obtained using silica gel particles. Comparison with iron particle bed-magnetic field effects are presented. Surface polarization charge effects are the simplest explanation of the phenomena. Several of the possible applications are suggested, such as precipitation enhancement in an aerosol filter or as a new tool for investigating aggregative fluidization.
Statin Use and Risk of Prostate Cancer in a Population of Men Who Underwent Biopsy

Purpose: We determined the association between statin use and prostate cancer in men who underwent prostate biopsy.Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of men who underwent prostate biopsy from 2000 to 2007 at Cleveland Clinic. Statin use was determined using outpatient pharmacy records, and clinical and pathological outcomes were obtained. Multivariate logistic regression analysis to determine the effects of statins (and duration of use) was performed after adjusting for age, body mass index, African-American race, number of cores taken and prostate volume.Results: We analyzed data from 4,204 patients, and we identified 3,182 (75.7%) not on statins and 1,022 on statins. Men diagnosed with prostate cancer on statins compared to those not taking statins were less likely to have digital rectal examination positivity (5.3% vs 8.9%, OR 0.7, p <0.01), Gleason score 7 or greater prostate cancer (61.4% vs 72.4%, OR 0.78, p = 0.02) and high volume prostate cancer (27.2 vs 31.4, p <0.01...