cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lectins as Probes of Insulin Receptor Carbohydrate Composition: Studies in Glycosylation Mutants of Chinese Hamster Ovarian Cells with Altered Insulin Binding

We recently reported marked differences in insulin binding properties in Chinese hamster ovarian cell mutants with genetic defects in protein N-glycosylation. To further characterize the role of insulin receptor carbohydrates, we have now studied the effect of lectins on [125I]insulin binding to wild type (WT) Chinese hamster ovarian cells and to two mutant cell lines: B4-2-1, to which insulin was previously shown to bind with higher affinity than normal, and Lee 1, to which insulin binds with much lower affinity. The results show that of four lectins that bound to WT cells, only wheat germ agglutinin and phytohemagglutinin-E competed with insulin binding to these cells, while Concanavalin A (ConA) and Erythrina cristagalli agglutinin (ECA) did not. After solubilization of the cells, however, a potent inhibition of insulin binding was also seen with ConA and ECA. This suggests that sugar determinants for ConA and ECA are present on the insulin receptor, but are not accessible at the surface of the cells. ...
Cooperative Banks and Financial Stability

Cooperative banks are an important, and growing, part of many financial systems. This paper empirically analyzes the role of cooperative banks in financial stability. Contrary to some suggestions in the literature, we find that cooperative banks are more stable than commercial banks. This finding is due to the lower volatility of the cooperative banks' returns, which more than offsets their lower profitability and capitalization. This is most likely due to cooperative banks' ability to use customer surplus as a cushion in weaker periods. We also find that in systems with a high presence of cooperative banks, weak commercial banks are less stable than they would be otherwise. The overall impact of a higher cooperative presence on bank stability is positive on average but insignificant in some specifications.
Yugoslavia's sunny side: a history of tourism in socialism (1950s–1980s)

Yugoslavia's sunny side: a history of tourism in socialism (1950s–1980s), edited by Hannes Grandits and Karin Taylor, Budapest and New York, Central European University Press, 2010, xxii + 415 pp.,...
Design and development of a sensor for the direct and continuous measurement of inhaled nitric oxide: factors affecting sensitivity

Nitric oxide (NO), in concentrations between 0 and 20 ppm, is currently being used as an inhaled agent to treat patients with post surgical complications and respiratory disorders. Because excessive levels of NO can be detrimental to the patient, NO must be monitored accurately and continuously. Currently available instruments have problems that limit their usefulness for this application. This paper discusses the development of an inexpensive, direct and continuous sensor for the measurement of inhaled nitric oxide. The sensor incorporates a 0.05 inch, gas permeable, flow-through liquid cell into a probe, which can be incorporated into a ventilator circuit. Sensor operation is based on the complexation reaction of NO with cytochrome-c, a biologically derived heme. The complex is monitored spectrophotometrically by measuring the absorbance in the visible region of the spectrum at 563 nm. The sensor is specific to NO in the presence of oxygen. This paper will address experiments to optimize sensitivity of the sensor. Increasing the flow rate and pressure of NO into the sensing chamber increased the optical absorbance at a high concentration of NO. Increasing the concentration of cytochrome-c increased the sensitivity of the sensor. The sensor is currently sensitive to a minimum concentration of 5 ppm and linear in the range of 5 to 175 ppm.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
CloudNet: dynamic pooling of cloud resources by live WAN migration of virtual machines

Virtualization technology and the ease with which virtual machines (VMs) can be migrated within the LAN have changed the scope of resource management from allocating resources on a single server to manipulating pools of resources within a data center. We expect WAN migration of virtual machines to likewise transform the scope of provisioning resources from a single data center to multiple data centers spread across the country or around the world. In this paper, we present the CloudNet architecture consisting of cloud computing platforms linked with a virtual private network (VPN)-based network infrastructure to provide seamless and secure connectivity between enterprise and cloud data center sites. To realize our vision of efficiently pooling geographically distributed data center resources, CloudNet provides optimized support for live WAN migration of virtual machines. Specifically, we present a set of optimizations that minimize the cost of transferring storage and virtual machine memory during migrations over low bandwidth and high-latency Internet links. We evaluate our system on an operational cloud platform distributed across the continental US. During simultaneous migrations of four VMs between data centers in Texas and Illinois, CloudNet's optimizations reduce memory migration time by 65% and lower bandwidth consumption for the storage and memory transfer by 19 GB, a 50% reduction.
Monte Carlo simulations of environmental degradation on polymer coatings

The degradation of a polymer coating and predicting the coating lifetime, based on physica properties and distribution within the coating of the polymer binder, pigments, and fillers, are economically very important. As technologies advance, allowing control of coatings at the nanoscale level, methods such as Monte Carlo can be used not only to predict the behavior of a nanodesigned coating with time but also to design coatings, such as optimizing pigment particle distributions or optimum hard and soft phase distributions of the binders in multiphase systems for maintaining the desired property with time. Erosion of the coating surface was simulated using Monte Carlo techniques where terrestrial solar flux is the initiator for polymer segment cleavage and removal. The impact on the sensitivity of the polymer adjacent to the detached polymer segment can be increased or decreased in the model based on the chemistry and surface energy of the remaining polymer matrix. Multiple phases with varying sensitivity to degradation can be modeled. The Monte Carlo generates a statistically similar surface topography and chemistry of the coating. The results of the Monte Carlo model are compared to measurable properties; such as gloss, fracture toughness, and wetting contact angle, using various published correlations of the property to the surface topology. The simulated properties change through the lifetime of the coating in ways that are consistent with observed behavior. Apparently, complicated changes in many properties can be described by the repeated application of simple, random processes.
Atomic layer deposition of tungsten disulphide solid lubricant thin films

The synthesis and characterization of crystalline tungsten disulphide (WS2) solid lubricant thin films grown by atomic layer deposition (ALD) using WF6 and H2S gas precursors was studied. A new catalytic route was established to promote nucleation and growth of WS2 films on silicon surfaces with native oxide. Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy were used to determine the film morphology, composition, and crystallinity. The films exhibited solid lubricating behavior with a steady-state friction coefficient of 0.04 in a dry nitrogen environment.
Reproductive Politics, Biopolitics and Auto-immunity: From Foucault to Esposito

The contingent cultural, epistemological and ontological status of biology is highlighted by changes in attitudes towards reproductive politics in the history of feminist movements. Consider, for example, the American, British, and numerous European instances of feminist sympathy for eugenics at the turn of the century. This amounted to a specific formation of the role, in late nineteenth and early twentieth century feminisms, of concepts of biological risk and defence, which were transformed into the justificatory language of rights claims. In this context, one can ask how reproductive politics are to be fitted into the paradoxical relationship between biopolitics and thanatopolitics discussed by Michel Foucault and more recently by Roberto Esposito. In this context, “reproductive life,” can be thought of arising at the intersection of thanapolitics and biopolitics as these relate to women’s bodies. Revisiting Foucault and Esposito in the light of reproductive politics also allows a reconsideration of the paradoxical feminist aims involved in defending individual rights by reference to overall biopolitical interest and futurity.
Simulator training enhances resident performance in transesophageal echocardiography.

Background Standardized training via simulation as an educational adjunct may lead to a more rapid and complete skill achievement. The authors hypothesized that simulation training will also enhance performance in transesophageal echocardiography image acquisition among anesthesia residents. Methods A total of 42 clinical anesthesia residents were randomized to one of two groups: a control group, which received traditional didactic training, and a simulator group, whose training used a transesophageal echocardiography-mannequin simulator. Each participating resident was directed to obtain 10 commonly used standard views on an anesthetized patient under attending supervision. Each of the 10 selected echocardiographic views were evaluated on a grading scale of 0 to 10, according to predetermined criteria. The effect of the intervention was assessed by using a linear mixed model implemented in SAS 9.3 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). Results Residents in the simulation group obtained significantly higher-quality images with a mean total image quality score of 83 (95% CI, 74 to 92) versus the control group score of 67 (95% CI, 58 to 76); P = 0.016. On average, 71% (95% CI, 58 to 85) of images acquired by each resident in the simulator group were acceptable for clinical use compared with 48% (95% CI, 35 to 62) in the control; P = 0.021. Additionally, the mean difference in score between training groups was the greatest for the clinical anesthesia-1 residents (difference 24; P = 0.031; n = 7 per group) and for those with no previous transesophageal echocardiography experience (difference 26; P = 0.005; simulator n = 13; control n = 11). Conclusion Simulation-based transesophageal echocardiography education enhances image acquisition skills in anesthesiology residents.
Spatial and temporal simulation of soil CO2 concentrations in a small forested catchment in Virginia

The question of how to extrapolate point measurements of soil CO2 processes to coarser scales remains unanswered because we know little about the spatial and temporal variability in the CO2 concentration of soil air. In this work, we describe a series of simple physically-based models that simulate soil temperature, soil tension, and soil CO2 processes. We apply these models to simulate the spatial and temporal dynamics of soil CO2 concentrations throughout a small catchment in the Virginia Blue Ridge. Output from the simulations is compared with field measurements. We find that despite some model deficiencies, we are able to simulate the gross patterns through space and time of soil air CO2 concentration. During the growing season when soil temperature is high, we find that soil water status is the limiting control on soil respiration and CO2 concentration. We also find that soil CO2 concentration can be high despite low respiration values due to decreased soil diffusivity as moisture fills pore spaces.
Assignment of the T-cell differentiation gene MAL to human chromosome 2, region cen----q13.

A cDNA clone has recently been isolated that encodes a protein expressed only in the intermediate and late stages of T-cell differentiation, termed MAL. The polypeptide deduced from the MAL cDNA sequence contains four potential transmembrane domains. We have used a panel of 28 human × rodent hybrid cell lines to assign the MAL gene to the proximal long arm of human chromosome 2, region cen→q13. The significance of the MAL map position and its relationship with other genes on chromosome 2 are discussed.
Psychiatric nurses' knowledge of the Americans with disabilities act

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) provides civil rights protection for qualified individuals with disabilities. In spite of the protection afforded, people with serious and persistent mental illness may require advocates to help them benefit from the ADA. This descriptive investigation used primary data from 900 psychiatric nurses to determine their knowledge of the ADA. Subjects were also asked to provide information about their clinical practice responsibilities, and how frequently they have provided clients with ADA information. Results indicate that the majority of the psychiatric nurses in this study did not have the knowledge necessary to act as advocates with respect to the ADA. Moreover, few psychiatric nurses in the study had provided clients with ADA information.
High-resolution 3D Bayesian image reconstruction using the microPET small-animal scanner

A Bayesian method is described for reconstruction of high-resolution 3D images from the microPET small-animal scanner. Resolution recovery is achieved by explicitly modelling the depth dependent geometric sensitivity for each voxel in combination with an accurate detector response model that includes factors due to photon pair non-collinearity and inter-crystal scatter and penetration. To reduce storage and computational costs we use a factored matrix in which the detector response is modelled using a sinogram blurring kernel. Maximum a posteriori (MAP) images are reconstructed using this model in combination with a Poisson likelihood function and a Gibbs prior on the image. Reconstructions obtained from point source data using the accurate system model demonstrate a potential for near-isotropic FWHM resolution of approximately 1.2 mm at the center of the field of view compared with approximately 2 mm when using an analytic 3D reprojection (3DRP) method with a ramp filter. These results also show the ability of the accurate system model to compensate for resolution loss due to crystal penetration producing nearly constant radial FWHM resolution of 1 mm out to a 4 mm radius. Studies with a point source in a uniform cylinder indicate that as the resolution of the image is reduced to control noise propagation the resolution obtained using the accurate system model is superior to that obtained using 3DRP at matched background noise levels. Additional studies using pie phantoms with hot and cold cylinders of diameter 1-2.5 mm and 18FDG animal studies appear to confirm this observation.
Rheological properties of high concentrations of carboxymethyl cellulose solutions

The study was concerned with measurements of steady-state parameters, the transient shear stress response, and the yield stress of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) solutions at high concentrations. Tests also included thixotropic and viscoelastic behavior and dynamic responses. The concentrations ranged by weight from 5 to 8% of CMC. The steady-state shear flow showed that at higher shear rates the viscosities of CMC solutions tend to be less dependent on the concentration. The solutions showed rheopectic behavior for very small shear rates. No yield stress was detected. Measurements recorded the thixotropic behavior. At higher stress values, nonlinear viscoelastic effects were detected. Dynamic viscosities measured in a dynamic test were higher than were the shear viscosities at the same concentrations. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 79: 1787–1801, 2001
Combining color and geometric information for the illumination invariant recognition of 3-D objects

Traditional approaches to three dimensional object recognition exploit the relationship between three dimensional object geometry and two dimensional image geometry. The capability of object recognition systems can be improved by also incorporating information about the color of object surfaces. We derive invariants of local color pixel distributions that are independent of viewpoint and the configuration, intensity, and spectral content of the scene illumination. These invariants capture information about the distribution of spectral reflectance which is intrinsic to a surface and thereby provide substantial discriminatory power for identifying a wide range of surfaces. These invariants can be computed efficiently from color image regions without requiring any form of segmentation. We have implemented an object recognition system that indexes into a database of models using the invariants and that uses associated geometric information for hypothesis verification and pose estimation. The approach to recognition is based on the computation of local invariants and is therefore relatively insensitive to occlusion. We present several examples demonstrating the system's ability to recognize model objects in cluttered scenes. The discriminatory power of the invariants has been demonstrated by the system's ability to process a large set of regions over complex scenes without generating false hypotheses. >
Does Incidental Disgust Amplify Moral Judgment? A Meta-Analytic Review of Experimental Evidence.

The role of emotion in moral judgment is currently a topic of much debate in moral psychology. One specific claim made by many researchers is that irrelevant feelings of disgust can amplify the sev...
Dissociation of visual, motor and predictive signals in parietal cortex during visual guidance

The role of the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) in the visual guidance of movements was studied in monkeys trained to use a joystick to guide a spot to a target. Visual and motor influences were dissociated by transiently occluding the spot and by varying the relationship between the direction of joystick and spot movements. We found a strong segregation of function in PPC during visual guidance. Neurons in area MST were selectively modulated by the direction of visible moving stimuli, whereas neurons in area MIP were selectively modulated by the direction of hand movement. In contrast, the selectivity of cells in the lateral intraparietal area (LIP) did not directly depend on either visual input or motor output, but rather seemed to encode a predictive representation of stimulus movement. These predictive signals may be an important link in visuomotor transformations.
Can southern ocean eddy effects be parameterized in climate models

Present-day control and 1%yr 21 increasing carbon dioxide runs have been made using two versions of the Community Climate System Model, version 3.5. One uses the standard versions of the ocean and sea ice components where the horizontal resolution is 18 and the effects of mesoscale eddies are parameterized, and the second uses a resolution of 1 /108 where the eddies are resolved. This is the first time the parameterization has been tested in a climate change run compared to an eddy-resolving run. The comparison is made not straightforward by the fact that the two control run climates are not the same, especially in their sea ice distributions. The focus is on the Antarctic Circumpolar Current region, where the effects of eddies are of leading order. The conclusions are that many of the differences in the two carbon dioxide transient forcing runs can be explained by the different control run sea ice distributions around Antarctica, but there are some quantitative differences in the meridional overturning circulation, poleward heat transport, and zonally averaged heat uptake when the eddies are parameterized rather than resolved.
Acetylcholine receptors in extrajunctional regions of innervated muscle have a slow degradation rate

Scanning EM autoradiography was used to determine the degradation rate of extrajunctional ACh receptors (AChRs) in innervated sternomastoid muscles of the mouse. We report that in innervated muscles, extrajunctional AChRs have a slow degradation rate (t1/2, approximately 8 d), similar to that seen at the neuromuscular junction. We conclude that slowly degrading AChRs (Rs) need not be localized at the specialized structure of the nerve-muscle junction. Degradation of extrajunctional as well as junctional AChRs may depend primarily on the state of innervation of the muscle.
Major bile duct injury requiring operative reconstruction after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a follow-on study.

Bile duct injury (BDI) after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has significant cost impact and is a significant source of morbidity and mortality. We undertook a population-based assessment of the national experience with BDI between 2001 and 2011 and compared this to our report for the prior decade. Using the nationwide inpatient sample (NIS) for 2001–2011, we identified patients who underwent LC or partial cholecystectomy, with and without biliary reconstruction. Data were analyzed using methods that accounted for the hierarchical, stratified random sampling of the NIS. Both univariate modeling and multivariate modeling were performed. LCs increased from 71.1 % in 2001 to 79.0 % in 2011 (p < 0.0001). Annual mortality decreased from 0.56 to 0.38 % (p = 0.002). In 2001, 0.11 % of LCs were associated with biliary reconstruction versus 0.09 % in 2011 (p = 0.15) with rates ranging from 0.08 to 0.12 %. The need for reconstruction was associated with an average in-hospital mortality rate of 4.4 %. Mortality rates from LC remained consistent across the study period (average mortality, 0.10 %, p = 0.57). Under multivariate analysis, admission to rural or urban non-teaching centers was associated with a decreased rate of injury; the majority of major BDIs were admitted from clinic or outpatient settings. These results are consistent with results from the prior decade. Neither emergent admission nor race was associated with increased odds of BDI, and this differs from our prior analysis. LC continued to increase in utilization between 2001 and 2011. Although rates of BDI have decreased, the need for reconstruction continues to be associated with a significant mortality. In addition, mortality related to biliary reconstruction is also higher than previously published series and may reflect the complexity of managing biliary injury as well as the higher likelihood of these patients having comorbid conditions.
Searching for Health: The Effects of Online Price Transparency

Recent technologies provide consumers with access to price information for medical services, a market with uncharacteristic price dispersion and opaque prices. This paper examines the effects of an online price transparency platform on consumer behavior. I find that consumer use of price transparency information leads to a 16% reduction in prices for lab tests, 15% reduction for advanced imaging, and has an approximately 1% effect for physician office visits. Consistent with a search costs model, I find larger effects in markets with high price dispersion. However, for physician office visits, the value of non-price information exceeds the value of price information.
Thermodynamics of Interfaces

Fundamental equations of thermodynamics are commonly written for homogeneous systems without explicitly accounting for effects of the container wall. Similarly, we treat a system consisting of multiple coexisting phases as if it is made of homogeneous parts separated by sharp interfaces. This is an acceptable practice provided that the number of molecules in the vicinity of the container wall or the interface is negligibly small compared to the number of the molecules in the bulk. The approach becomes inappropriate for microscopic systems in which the majority of molecules are near a wall or an interface. For example, inhomogeneity extends throughout the entire system of interest when a fluid is confined to a narrow pore of several atomic diameters. In this case, the phase behavior changes dramatically compared to that in the bulk. It is also possible that the phenomena of interest are dictated by the properties of the interface. Examples include formation of microemulsion, wetting of a solid surface, condensation of a vapor phase, and crystallization from a melt or a solution. In this Chapter, we examine how thermodynamics can be extended to explicitly account for effects of interfaces.
Is ESPN Really the Women’s Sports Network? A Content Analysis of ESPN’s Internet Coverage of the Australian Open

A major topic of analysis in sport has been the gender gap and hegemonic masculinity that have historically been present in the media. Following Cunningham’s rationale of analyzing sports that are as gender equal as possible, this current study examines the coverage of the Australian Open on ESPN’s website. The findings reveal that although ESPN emphasized the men’s game quantitatively, it did not give it more prominence proportionally. On one hand, despite having journalists on-site to cover the women’s tournament and despite not being limited by airtime, ESPN.com frames the men’s game as more important than the women’s game in the amount of coverage dedicated to each gender. On the other hand, there is no gender difference in terms of production value, which is in striking opposition to the previous literature about gender media coverage in sport.
Grammar emerges through reuse and modification of prior utterances

Given the growing consensus that grammar emerges as language is used in social interaction, how grammar emerges through interaction still remains much unknown. This study demonstrates that the beginnings of the emergence of constructions can be found in individual interactions. Through an investigation on videotaped English conversations and corpora using discourse analysis, conversation analysis, and corpus linguistic methodologies, I find that conversational participants have a tendency as high as 80% or more to reuse words in prior turns. I argue that reuse as the mechanism of resonance motivation and modification as the mechanism of relevance motivation work competitively and conjointly, shaping the emergence of grammatical structures of a language. Reuses lead to formation of the fixed frame; modifications form the category for an open slot. In summary, grammar emerges through interaction among participants who are constantly reusing and modifying prior utterances to achieve current interactive goals.
Instability in Chromosomes 9, 7, and 5 Correlate with Lymph Node Metastasis at Presentation in Basal Phenotype Carcinoma.

Introduction: Basal phenotype breast carcinoma has been described as an aggressive variant with comparatively poor prognosis; however, increasing experience suggests that only a subset show increased mortality. We performed microarray analysis of DNA from 11 basal phenotype carcinomas (from 10 patients) and paired normal breast tissue with copy number and loss of heterozygosity analysis with hierarchical clustering to see if characteristic genetic changes were present that correlated to lymph node metastasis at presentation. Materials and Methods: Electronic search of the medical records from 2006-2008 of our institution by an honest broker for all cases of basal phenotype carcinoma (based on medullary-like histology and immunohistochemistry positive for at least two of CK14, CK17, CK5/6 and EGFR) with known lymph node status at presentation and archived snap frozen fresh and tumor samples returned 10 cases (one with bilateral basal phenotype carcinoma), which were de-identified. 5 of these cases had lymph node metastasis at presentation. DNA isolation by column extraction was performed on 0.25 g of paired tumor and normal samples (confirmed by pathologist review before extraction). An Affymetrix 5.0 mapping microarray was performed on isolated DNA per manufacturer9s protocols, and analyzed with Partek Genomics Suite software using copy number/LOH workflows using hidden Markov model and genomic segmentation in separate analyses with unsupervised hierarchical clustering. Results: Copy number and LOH analysis using hidden Markov model and genomic segmentation methods gave equivalent hierarchical clustering for our data set. Adjusting the obtained cluster analysis for known lymph node metastasis showed that changes in chromosomes 9, 7, and 5 that differentially clustered 4 of 5 cases which presented with lymph node metastasis (and 2 closely related initially lymph node negative cases). Discussion: Our results suggest that changes on chromosomes 9, 7 and 5 may correlate with the most important prognostic indicator in breast cancer, lymph node status, in basal phenotype carcinomas. Globally suboptimal amplification prevented accurate quantitation of copy number changes or precise loss of heterozygosity localization on these chromosomes. Additional studies to confirm these results using separate molecular techniques are underway, as well as correlation with 5 year survival when the cohort reaches that milestone. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 6133.
Complications of biliary stents in obstructive pancreatic malignancies : a case report and review

Biliary stents have become a common palliative measure in the treatment of unresectable obstructive pancreatic cancer. Survival after endoscopic stenting rivals that of surgical bypass. Complications involving stents are not uncommon and can be categorized as related to placement, obstruction, migration, or fracture. A case report and review of stent-related morbidity is presented. Overall complication rates range from 15 to 34%, often requiring stent replacement and occasionally requiring surgical intervention.
TCT-452 Feasibility Of Carotid Artery Placement Of The Novel Impella Pediatric Prototype

Options for pediatric circulatory support are limited and highly invasive. A novel assist device is being developed based on the current Impella 2.5 (Danvers, MA) to provide less invasive support for children with heart failure. Limitation for placement of most devices is related to femoral vessel
Three-dimensional nonlinear solitary waves in shallow water generated by an advancing disturbance

The nonlinear long waves generated by a disturbance moving at subcritical, critical and supercritical speed in unbounded shallow water are investigated. The problem is formulated by a new modified generalized Boussinesq equation and solved numerically by an implicit finite-difference algorithm. Three-dimensional upstream solitary waves with significant amplitude are generated with a periodicity by a pressure distribution or slender strut advancing on the free surface. The crestlines of these solitons are almost perfect parabolas with decreasing curvature with respect to time. Behind the disturbance, a complicated, divergent Kelvin-like wave pattern is formed. It is found that, unlike the wave breaking phenomena in a narrow channel at Fh [ges ] 1.2, the three- dimensional upstream solitons form several parabolic water humps and are blocked ahead of the disturbance at supercritical speed in an unbounded domain for large time.
Glutathione-dependent bioactivation of xenobiotics: implications for mutagenicity and carcinogenicity.

Glutathione conjugate formation is now recognized as an important bioactivation mechanism for several classes of mutagenic and carcinogenic compounds. For example, dihalomethanes, 1,2-dihaloethanes, and 1,2,3-trihalopropanes are metabolized to glutathione conjugates that are direct-acting, i.e., that require no further enzymatic processing, and that are cytotoxic or mutagenic, or both. Nephrotoxic and nephrocarcinogenic haloalkenes are metabolized by a multistep pathway that involves hepatic glutathione S-conjugate formation, conversion of the glutathione S-conjugates to cysteine S-conjugates, translocation of the cysteine S-conjugates to the kidney, and bioactivation by renal cysteine conjugate beta-lyase. Fluoroalkene-derived conjugates are cytotoxic, whereas chloroalkene-derived conjugates are both cytotoxic and mutagenic. Beta-Lyase-dependent bioactivation may account for the observed nephrocarcinogenicity of hexachlorobutadiene, tetrachloroethylene, and trichloroethylene. Finally, glutathione conjugate formation has been implicated in the mutagenicity of Trp-P-2 and N-OH-Trp-P-2 and in the DNA damage produced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-5-nitroimidazole. Glutathione may also play a role in the toxicity or action of several cancer chemotherapeutic agents, including N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), N-methylformamide, cyclophosphamide, neocarzinostatin, and bleomycin.
Outcomes after aortic graft-to-graft anastomosis with an automated circular stapler: A novel approach

Abstract Objective Patients with complex aortic disease often require multistaged repairs with numerous anastomoses. Manual suturing can be time consuming. To reduce ischemic time, a circular stapling device has been used to facilitate prosthetic graft-to-graft anastomoses. Objectives are to describe this technique and assess outcomes. Methods From February 2009 to May 2014, 44 patients underwent complex aortic repair with a circular end-to-end anastomosis (EEA) stapler at Cleveland Clinic. All patients had extensive aneurysms: 17 after ascending dissection repair, 10 chronic type B dissections, and 17 degenerative aneurysms. Stapler was used during total arch repair as an end-to-side anastomosis (n = 36; including first stage elephant trunk [ET] in 32, frozen ET in 3) and an end-to-end anastomosis during redo thoracoabdominal repair (n = 11). Three patients had the stapler used during both stages of repair. Patients underwent early and annual follow-ups with computed tomography analysis. Results There were no bleeds, ruptures, or leaks at the stapled site, but 2 patients died. Complications included 7 reoperations not related to the site of stapled anastomosis and 6 tracheostomies, but there was no paralysis or renal failure. Mean circulatory arrest time was 16 ± 5 minutes. Mean follow-up was 26 ± 17 months and consisted of imaging before discharge, at 3 to 6 months, and at 1 year. Planned reinterventions included 21 second-stage ET completion: Endovascular (n = 18) and open (n = 3). There were 4 late deaths. Conclusions Use of an end-to-end anastomotic automated circular stapler is safe, effective, and durable in performing graft-to-graft anastomoses during complex thoracic aortic surgery. Further evaluation and refinement of this technique are warranted.
A Simple and Inexpensive Synthetic Method for Alkylcyanobiphenyls

4′-substituted-4-cyanobiphenyl1 has been widely used in the manufacture of twisted nematic display devices. This class of compounds offers several advantages, such as their moisture resistance, photo chemical stabilities, low-threshold voltages, and high speed of switching times. Until now, the availability of this material to small laboratories for testing purposes has been very limited, and it has not been amendable to synthesis by simple chemical reactions. As an alternative to the original cumbersome method, a very simple high yield synthetic method has been developed. This method utilizes very inexpensive starting materials and chemical reagents, and can be used for making gram quantities to multi kilo lots.
In the Pursuit of Justice for Women and Children and the Right to Development: A Review of Concluding Observations of the United Nations Human Rights Treaty Bodies

In the implementation process of the core United Nations (UN) human treaties, its monitoring bodies make recommendations to States parties regarding issues of concern. These include the justice issues involving improvements in education for women and children, women’s treatment by men and family at large (“domestic violence”), including femicide, rape, female genital mutilation, polygamy, sexual and labour exploitation, including trafficking in women and children. These issues have recently taken centre stage in the UN gender mainstreaming agenda as its contribution to equalize and advance their life chances as a succeeding generation, in line with the objectives of the UN Charter. This article analyses these intergenerational issues from both the local and global perceptions of justice, and looks into how the UN human rights treaty bodies advance the global justice standards and norms for the treatment of women and children, particularly with regard to victims. The article does this by reviewing concluding observations issued by treaty bodies for the period between 2003 and 2013. Finally, in the light of the reviewed concluding observations by the UN treaty bodies and the right to development in general, the article makes recommendations concerning gender mainstreaming in formal and informal education.
Large-Scale Video Retrieval Using Image Queries

Retrieving videos from large repositories using image queries is important for many applications, such as brand monitoring or content linking. We introduce a new retrieval architecture, in which the image query can be compared directly with database videos—significantly improving retrieval scalability compared with a baseline system that searches the database on a video frame level. Matching an image to a video is an inherently asymmetric problem. We propose an asymmetric comparison technique for Fisher vectors and systematically explore query or database items with varying amounts of clutter, showing the benefits of the proposed technique. We then propose novel video descriptors that can be compared directly with image descriptors. We start by constructing Fisher vectors for video segments, by exploring different aggregation techniques. For a database of lecture videos, such methods obtain a two orders of magnitude compression gain with respect to a frame-based scheme, with no loss in retrieval accuracy. Then, we consider the design of video descriptors, which combine Fisher embedding with hashing techniques, in a flexible framework based on Bloom filters. Large-scale experiments using three datasets show that this technique enables faster and more memory-efficient retrieval, compared with a frame-based method, with similar accuracy. The proposed techniques are further compared against pre-trained convolutional neural network features, outperforming them on three datasets by a substantial margin.
The State of Quality Improvement Training in Pediatric Emergency Medicine Programs: A National Survey of Fellowship Program Directors☆

Abstract The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education requires training in quality improvement (QI) but does not provide specifics of content or methods. We aimed to describe the current state of pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) fellowship training in QI and the integration of such QI training with related institutional efforts. We surveyed PEM fellowship program directors (PDs) between January 2017 and March 2017. A group of PEM-boarded physicians with expertise in QI created survey questions to assure face validity. Questions were focused on the current QI curricula, the integration of QI training within institutional efforts, and future fellowship needs in QI training. Of the 81 eligible PDs surveyed, 70 (86.4%) completed surveys. A formal QI curriculum was present in 68.9% of programs. A median of 12 hours was dedicated to the curriculum over the entire course of fellowship. Thirty (42.8%) PDs felt that their fellows were integrated into the broader departmental QI efforts. Only 3 (4.3%) PDs reported that they had evaluated the efficacy of the QI curriculum in their fellowship. QI training is common among PEM fellowship programs. However, integration, as well as formal evaluation of efficacy, is uncommon.
The growth of bismuth on Bi2Se3 and the stability of the first bilayer

Abstract Bi(0001) films with thicknesses up to several bilayers (BLs) are grown on Se-terminated Bi2Se3(0001) surfaces, and low energy electron diffraction (LEED), low energy ion scattering (LEIS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) are used to investigate the surface composition, topography and atomic structure. For a single deposited Bi BL, the lattice constant matches that of the substrate and the Bi atoms adjacent to the uppermost Se atoms are located at fcc-like sites. When a 2nd Bi bilayer is deposited, it is incommensurate with the substrate. As the thickness of the deposited Bi film increases further, the lattice parameter evolves to that of bulk Bi(0001). After annealing a multiple BL film at 120 °C, the first commensurate Bi BL remains intact, but the additional BLs aggregate to form thicker islands of Bi. These results show that a single Bi BL on Bi2Se3 is a particularly stable structure. After annealing to 490 °C, all of the excess Bi desorbs and the Se-terminated Bi2Se3 surface is restored.
Design and Synthesis of mGlu2 NAMs with Improved Potency and CNS Penetration Based on a Truncated Picolinamide Core

Herein, we detail the optimization of the mGlu2 negative allosteric modulator (NAM), VU6001192, by a reductionist approach to afford a novel, simplified mGlu2 NAM scaffold. This new chemotype not only affords potent and selective mGlu2 inhibition, as exemplified by VU6001966 (mGlu2 IC50 = 78 nM, mGlu3 IC50 > 30 μM), but also excellent central nervous system (CNS) penetration (Kp = 1.9, Kp,uu = 0.78), a feature devoid in all previously disclosed mGlu2 NAMs (Kps ≈ 0.3, Kp,uus ≈ 0.1). Moreover, this series, based on overall properties, represents an exciting lead series for potential mGlu2 PET tracer development.
The Role of Reactive Oxygen Species in Biological Damage and the Effect of Some Chemopreventive Agents

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) can be generated by a variety of sources. The best known source is ionizing radiation which causes formation of hydroxyl radicals (·OH), and in the presence of O2, also superoxide anion radicals (·O-2) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) (Scholes, 1983). Cellular sources cause the formation of qualitatively the same ROS but in different proportions. These ROS arise by the enzymatically mediated reduction of molecular oxygen utilizing one to four electrons donated by various cellular reducing agents (Aust et al., 1985; Halliwell and Gutteridge, 1986; Vuillaume, 1987; Byczkowski and Gessner, 1988). These enzymatic processes include electron transport and redox cycling of endogenous quinones such as menadione (vitamin K), of chemotherapeutic quinone antibiotics such as adriamycin, daunorubicin, streptonegrin, and bleomycin, or of active agents such as paraquat. ROS can also be produced during oxidative metabolism of xenobiotics, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), nitroaromatics, and amines (Frenkel et al., 1988a; Leadon et al., 1988; Washburn and Di Giulio, 1988; O’Brien, 1988, Ochi and Kaneko, 1989; Wei and Frenkel, 1992b). Phagocytic cells are a very prolific source of the ROS that are generated during the respiratory burst. I will describe this last process in greater detail a little later.
Scale-up of amine-containing thin-film composite membranes for CO2 capture from flue gas

Abstract Membrane technology is a cost-effective and energy-efficient separation process for CO2 removal from flue gas. Recently, there have been remarkable advances in the development of polyvinylamine (PVAm)/piperazine glycinate (PG)-containing facilitated transport membranes for CO2 removal. The advanced PVAm/PG-containing membranes have demonstrated desirably high CO2/N2 selectivity of greater than 140 and good CO2 permeance of > 700 GPU (1 GPU = 10−6 cm3 (STP)/(s cm2 cmHg)) at the typical flue gas temperature of 57 °C. This work investigated the scale-up fabrication of the PVAm/PG-containing membranes and demonstrated it successfully. Effective and efficient continuous fabrication of the membranes in a roll-to-roll manner was developed using the thin-film coating (TFC) assembly of the pilot-scale machine at Ohio State. The design of the TFC assembly was improved and several operating parameters were optimized for the fabrication with desirable membrane thickness and gas transport performance. A total of > 2000 feet long and 14-in. wide membranes with a selective layer thickness of
Impact of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol on gastrointestinal function in gynecologic oncology patients undergoing laparotomy.

Abstract Objective To evaluate the impact of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) on postoperative gastrointestinal function in gynecologic oncology patients. Methods This retrospective cohort study compared gynecology oncology patients undergoing non-emergent laparotomy from 10/2016 to 6/2017 managed on an ERAS protocol to a control cohort from the year prior to ERAS implementation. Major changes to postoperative care after ERAS implementation included multimodal analgesia, early feeding, goal-directed fluid resuscitation, and early ambulation. The primary outcome was rate of postoperative ileus, defined as nausea and vomiting requiring nothing-per-mouth status or nasogastric tube (NGT) placement. Secondary outcomes included length of stay (LOS) and 30-day readmission. Results 376 patients met inclusion criteria; 197 in the control group and 179 in the ERAS group. Patient demographics were similar between groups. Ileus rate was significantly lower in the ERAS group (2.8% vs. 15.7%; p Conclusions Implementation of an ERAS protocol significantly decreases the risk of postoperative ileus in gynecologic oncology patients undergoing laparotomy. ERAS also reduced LOS compared to pre-ERAS controls.
Extreme low interfacial thermal resistance heat conductive sheet

High thermal conductive adhesive is important to cool power devices. Recently thermal conductivity reaches more than 10W/mK by efficient addition of thermal conductive filler(1). However, high loading of filler makes the thermal conductive sheet poor adhesion. In order to have high thermal conductivity and good adhesion, we tried to use AlN whisker developed by Nagoya university(2) to orient Z-direction. One volume percent of the AlN whisker improved the thermal conductivity drastically (3). Furthermore, we focused on reducing an interfacial heat resistance between high thermal conductive sheet composed of resin and heat conductive filler and metal such as Cu or Al. The interfacial heat resistance was determined by dispersion of high heat conductive filler and interfacial residual stress. The good dispersed sheet shows lower interfacial resistance than poor dispersed sheet, The interfacial residual stress causes an poor contact to metal to make void in the interface. To consider the effect of those facts, we successfully developed the high thermal conductive sheet with extremely low interfacial resistance. Bulk heat conductivity of the sheet is higher than 13W/mK. The interface heat resistance is below 0,009W/C.