cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Management of acute appendicitis during covid-19 pandemic in a tertiary care centre: A descriptive cross-sectional study

Introduction: Acute appendicitis is the most common reason for abdominal surgery in children Though appendectomy considered the gold standard there are a lot of complications related to it Conservative management of acute appendicitis is not new to medical science In pandemic like COVID-19 when all the health systems were about to shut-down because of lack of manpower and resources, we started a trial of non-operative management The main aim of this study is to find out the management of acute appendicitis during COVID-19 Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in a tertiary care centre Data collection was done from the record section which included the patients diagnosed with acute appendicitis from February 2020 to July 2020 after obtaining ethical clearance from Institutional Review Committee Cases of appendicular lump, appendicular abscess, appendicular perforations have been excluded Data was collected and entry was done in Statistical Package for the Social Science software version 20, point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and proportion for binary data Results: The conservative management of acute appendicitis was done in 44 cases (55 7%) while 35 cases (44 3%) had to undergo appendectomy Conclusions: COVID-19 can complicate the perioperative course as a result of direct lung injury and multiple organ dysfunctions and can also bring serious threats to the safety of medical staffs involved in managing the acute appendicitis case operatively, so conservative management can be considered as an alternative way of management of acute appendicitis in the pandemic outbreak © The Author(s) 2018
Effect of Mineral Organic Fertilization and Inoculation with Phosphate- Solubilizing Microorganisms on Growth and Yield of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.)

Two field experiments were carried out at the Experimental Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture (Saba Basha), Alexandria University, at Abees region, Alexandria, Egypt during the two successive growing seasons of 2012 and 2013 to study the effect of mineral- organic N- fertilization and inoculation with phosphate solubilizing microorganisms on growth and yield of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L., cv. Dorado). The applied experimental design was split plot with three replicates. The main plots were conducted for the three mineral- organic manure fertilization (100% N, 75 % N + 25% organic and 50 % N + 50 % organic), while the uninoculation + 100 % P, phosphorein + 75 % P, A- Mycorrhizal + 75 % P and phosphorein + A- Mycorrhizal + 75 % P), which were arranged in the sub- plots. The main results could be summarized as follows: (1) The mineral- organic at (50% N + 50% organic), gave the highest mean values of all studied characters, also (2) The mixed biofertilizer inoculation (A- Mycorrhizal + Phosphorein) + 75 % P was the best treatment to obtain the highest mean values of plant height leaf area index, stalk diameter, no. of branches/head, Total chlorophyll, grain yield, yield components N, P and K%. However, all traits under this study increased, significantly, due to inoculation treatments over “uninoculation + 100 % P”. The investigation suggests the need to more studies concerning the effect of biofertilizers and their interaction, as well as applying micronutrients on sorghum plant under different environments using different types of soil to reach the optimum combination to achieve the highest sorghum yield and its quality.
Honesty, individualism, and pragmatic business ethics: Implications for corporate hierarchy

The boundaries of honesty are the focal point of this exploration of the individualistic origins of modernist ethics and the consequent need for a more pragmatic approach to business ethics. The tendency of modernist ethics to see honesty as an individual responsibility is described as a contextually naive approach, one that fails to account for the interactive effects between individual choices and corporate norms. By reviewing the empirical accounts of managerial struggles with ethical dilemmas, the article arrives at the contextual preconditions for encouraging the development of reflective moral agents in modern corporations.
cGMP-dependent protein kinase genes in Drosophila.

Abstract Two Drosophila genes encoding products related to cGMP-dependent protein kinase have been isolated by cross-hybridization to a Drosophila cAMP-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit gene. Both genes encode products with putative cGMP binding and kinase domains on the same polypeptide chain, as found for the prototypical bovine lung cGMP-dependent protein kinase. The deduced product of one gene (DG1; cytological position, 21D) is 14% larger than the bovine enzyme and differs substantially in sequence at the amino terminus, the region responsible in the bovine enzyme for dimerization. The second gene (DG2; cytological position, 24A) is transcribed into three major RNA species of different size. The largest (DG2; T1) and smallest (DG2;T3) RNAs encode overlapping polypeptides of similar sequence to the whole length of bovine lung cGMP-dependent protein kinase. The translation product of the third major RNA (DG2;T2) lacks sequences similar to those that constitute the dimerization and kinase inhibitory domains of the bovine enzyme. The percentage amino acid identity between DG1 or DG2 and bovine lung cGMP-dependent protein kinase is 55 and 64%, respectively. A common progenitor of the two cGMP-dependent protein kinase genes, DG1 and DG2, is strongly suggested by the conserved positions of introns in these genes.
Stagnant lid convection and the thermal subsidence of sedimentary basins with reference to Michigan

The thermal subsidence of basins formed above thick continental lithosphere differs from that of young passive margin basins and of young oceanic crust in that stagnant lid convection supplies significant heat flow from the asthenosphere. The lithosphere eventually approaches thermal equilibrium where the convective heat added to its base balances the heat lost by conduction to the surface. This paper presents a simple parameterization that quantifies these effects for modeling basin subsidence. The convective heat flow scales with the current lithosphere thickness squared while the conductive heat flow scales inversely to current lithospheric thickness. The predicted thermal subsidence rate scales to the difference between the conductive and convective heat flows and wanes gradually over hundreds of millions of years. The formalism can be modified to represent thermal subsidence where plume material has ponded within a catchment of locally thinned lithosphere. The base of the plume material forms a stable stratification that suppresses convective heat flow from below while heat continues to conduct to the surface by conduction. The predicted initial thermal subsidence rate scales with the large difference between conductive and zero convective heat flow. It is thus much greater than beneath lithosphere underlain by ordinary asthenosphere for a given amount of total eventual thermal subsidence. The paper compares thermal subsidence predictions from the models with and without plumes with sedimentation data from the Michigan basin. Observed initial Late Cambrian through Lower Devonian sedimentation in the Michigan basin is rapid as expected from the plume model, but the Ordovician sedimentation rate is slower than before and after. It is conceivable that this irregularity in the sedimentation curve is associated with low eustatic sea level and sediment-starved conditions at the basin center in the Ordovician and Early Silurian periods, as opposed to irregular tectonics. Sedimentation poorly resolves a long tail of gradual subsidence that may extend to the present.
Simian virus 40 small-t does not transactivate RNA polymerase II promoters in virus infections.

Abstract Transcriptional stimulatory properties of virus-encoded transactivators appear to be critical for viral gene expression and may be linked to cellular transformation in certain cases. Recently, the simian virus 40 (SV40) 17-kDa small-t antigen was shown to stimulate transcription of polymerase II and III genes in transient transfection assays. In experiments performed in our laboratory, two of the polymerase II promoters of the adenovirus genome, namely, the EII-early and EIII promoters, were transactivation, we examined the transient transfection assays. To further elucidate the mechanism of this transactivation, we examined the ability of small-t to transactivate the adenovirus type 5 EII-early and EIII promoters in CV-1 cells under conditions in which the small-t gene or the reporter genes were introduced into the cells through transfection and other routes. In one approach, we used established CV-1 cell lines which constitutively express the small-t gene, and study of the EII-early promoter was afforded by infection of an EIA-negative adenovirus type 5 variant. For the second approach, a recombinant adenovirus was constructed in which small-t was expressed from a replication origin-negative SV40 early promoter in the EIA region of an adenovirus vector (Ad-SV-t). The effect of small-t on adenovirus EII-early and EIII promoter expression was studied in coinfection or single-infection experiments. In both cases, transcription of the adenovirus early promoters was not stimulated by small-t. These and other results indicate that transactivation of polymerase II promoters by small-t occurs only when the target gene is in a transiently transfected state. Thus, small-t-mediated transactivation of polymerase II promoters is dependent on the type of assay system used and may be mechanistically different from that of the widely studied EIA.
Fractures of the Forearm

We began functional bracing of fractures of the forearm after having gained experience with bracing of tibial and femoral fractures. It was initially suspected that braces similar to prostheses worn by amputees could successfully stabilize the fragments and prevent deformities. However, further experiences have indicated that the soft tissues are primarily responsible for the stability of the osseous structures. The prevention of pronosupination of the forearm is achieved by molding the proximal portion of the brace over the olecranon and condyles of the distal humerus. It was also recognized later that isolated fractures of the ulna do not require the prevention of forearm pronosupination thus leading to the conclusion that such fractures can be successfully stabilized with a “sleeve” that simply compresses the soft tissues of the forearm while permitting motion of all joints of the extremity.
Knowledge, Belief, and Semantics in the Analysis of Cryptographic Protocols

We resolve a debate over the appropriateness for cryptographic protocol analysis of formalisms representing knowledge vs. those representing belief by showing that they are equally adequate for protocol analysis on the logical level. We discuss the significance of semantics for logics of cryptographic protocols. In particular, we look at semantics as a measure of a logic and as a reasoning tool in its own right. To illustrate the value of a semantics we use the semantics given in [AT91] to resolve a debate over an alleged flaw in the logic of [BAN89].
A family with Peutz‐Jeghers syndrome and bilateral breast cancer

The proband and her paternal grandmother had bilateral breast carcinoma and the Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. An ovarian sex cord tumor with annular tubules was an incidental finding when oophorectomy was performed as treatment of the proband's premenopausal breast cancer. Because there are previous reports of breast cancer in patients with this syndrome, the Peutz-Jeghers gene may be associated with an increased risk of breast tumors.
Purine substrates for human thiopurine methyltransferase

Thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) catalyzes the S-methylation of thiopurine drugs such as 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) and 6-thioguanine (6-TG). A genetic polymorphism regulating TPMT activity in human tissue is an important factor responsible for individual differences in the toxicity and therapeutic efficacy of these drugs. Because of the clinical importance of this polymorphism, we studied 18 purine derivatives, including ribonucleosides and ribonucleotides, as potential substrates for purified human kidney TPMT. Sixteen of the compounds studied were substrates for the enzyme, with Km values that varied from 29.1 to 1270 microM and with Vmax values that varied from 75 to 2340 U/mg protein. The thiopurines tested had Km values that were uniformly lower than were those of the corresponding ribonucleosides or ribonucleotides. 6-Selenopurine derivatives had the lowest Km values of the compounds studied. Finally, oxidized purines with an OH in the 8-position were methylated by the enzyme, but 2-OH compounds were potent inhibitors of TPMT.
Energy-based long-range path planning for soaring-capable unmanned aerial vehicles

To enable long-distance, long-duration flights by small soaring-capable uninhabited aircraft, a graph-based method for planning energy-efficient trajectories over a set of waypoints is presented. It introduces the energy map, which is an upper bound on the minimum energy required to reach a goal from anywhere in the environment while accounting for arbitrary three-dimensional wind fields. The energy map provides the path to the goal as a sequence of waypoints, the optimal speeds to fly for each segment between waypoints, and the heading required to fly along a segment. Trajectories computed using the energy map are compared with trajectories planned using an A * -based approach. Results are presented for simple wind fields representative of orographic lift. Finally a high-fidelity numerical simulation of a realistic wind field (ridge lift and wave over complex terrain) is used as a test case. The energy-map approach is shown to perform very well without the need for the heuristics associated with A * .
Cellulose digestion and metabolism by captive rock ptarmigan.

Abstract o 1. Carbon-14 labeled cellulose was fed to rock ptarmigan to provide evidence of cellulose digestion and metabolism. Digestibility of cellulose and energy metabolized by ptarmigan fed a diet of 6 and 30% cellulose were determined by a feeding trial. 2. Recovery of 14CO2 in expired gases from ptarmigan fed 14C labeled cellulose demonstrates the digestion and metabolism of cellulose by gut microbes and the ptarmigan. 3. Rapid recovery of 14CO2 in expired gases suggested prececal digestion of cellulose. 4. Cellulose digestibility averaged 34% and was not significantly different between groups of birds, however, total cellulose digestion was significantly different in birds fed 6 and 30% cellulose diets, 0·4 and 3·7 g/day, respectively. 5. Indirect evidence is presented which suggests cellulose digestion in the cecum is relatively complete. 6. Caged existence energy averaged 63 kcal/day and was not significantly different between birds fed low and high cellulose diets.
Modern Maturity: Middle‐Aged Anxiety in Modern American Fiction

‘Modern Maturity’ examines American fiction from the 1920s and 30s in light of the social and psychological difficulties attributed to middle age, specifically the anxieties attending the recognition of oneself as belonging to a supposedly mature generation. While the era saw the rise of youth culture, shifting generational demographics resulted in pointedly new roles for the middle aged, roles that appeared both amorphous and unappealing. While the category ‘middle age’ was widely applied to those in their 30s through their 50s, it consistently alluded to physical as well as psychological dissatisfaction. Detailing a series of personal and professional discontents, the idealization of youth, and a profound redefinition of familial and romantic roles, writing by Willa Cather, Edith Wharton, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Anzia Yezierska, Tillie Olsen, William Faulkner, Nella Larsen, Eugene O’Neill, Floyd Dell, Sinclair Lewis, Zora Neale Hurston, Gertrude Atherton, and Anita Loos pinpoints the considerable generational anxieties encircling the middle-aged moderns.
Students’ Perceptions of Terrascope, A Project-Based Freshman Learning Community

We present a descriptive case study of Terrascope, an innovative, year-long, project-based learning community at MIT. Each year, Terrascope students study a particular environmental or Earth-system problem from a multidisciplinary perspective. Terrascope includes both academic and non-academic components; this paper focuses on the academic components. The objectives of the academic subjects, and of the program as a whole, involve helping students develop their team-building, communication, problem-solving, and self-regulatory learning skills. This study focuses on cohorts of students from the first and second years of the program (2002–2003 and 2003–2004); it is based on end-of-semester surveys and focus groups, and on additional focus groups conducted when these students were upperclassmen. Students felt Terrascope helped them make significant improvements in their ability to work in teams and to take on complex, multidisciplinary problems. They felt that the program’s two-semester structure gave them an opportunity to develop and nurture these skills, and that the program prepared them well for their later work at MIT. They also felt that being engaged, as freshmen, in a distinct learning community, significantly eased their transition into MIT. We describe lessons learned in the development of Terrascope and offer suggestions for other institutions planning to develop similar programs.
The emerging role of TRPV1 in diabetes and obesity.

The capsaicin receptor transient receptor potential vanilloid subfamily member 1 (TRPV1) is highly expressed on sensory nerve fibers innervating the pancreas. Indeed, the role of TRPV1 in mediating pain during pancreatitis is well established. The initial excitation of these nerves by capsaicin is followed by a reversible refractory state (desensitization) or, under certain conditions such as neonatal treatment, neurotoxicity. Interestingly, ablation of TRPV1-positive fibers by subcutaneous capsaicin treatment not only ameliorates pancreatitis pain but also diminishes aging-associated weight gain and improves glucose tolerance both in mice on a high-fat diet and in rat models of type 2 diabetes. New evidence implies an unexpected, pivotal role for TRPV1 in type 1 (autoimmune) diabetes. Non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice carry a hypofunctional TRPV1 mutant. Ablation of nerves carrying this mutant TRPV1 by capsaicin prevents immune-mediated destruction of islet β cells despite the persistence of diabetogenic T cells. Collectively, these findings establish a crucial link among sensory nerves, obesity and diabetes and identify pharmacological TRPV1 blockade as a novel therapeutic approach for diabetes prevention and weight control.
Nodal Force Based Finite Element Method and its Application in Durability Analysis

In the conventional finite element methods, the stresses are obtained from the computed nodal displacements and are thus a derived quantity, which is not accurate. Additionally, equilibrium of resulted element stresses is, in general, not satisfied at every point in the conventional finite element solutions, which is one of the major reasons for severe mesh-sensitivity in stress or strain results. However, the equilibrium of nodal force is always guaranteed in all finite element solutions regardless of mesh sizes. This equilibrium of nodal force provides a good way to recovering stress with improved accuracy, and various methods, including the currently widely used structural stress procedure for fatigue life assessment, have been proposed with varying degrees of complexity and success. In this paper, a new post-processing procedure is proposed to calculate surface traction stress for 3-D solid elements in terms of nodal forces from the conventional commercial finite element analysis software, such as Abaqus and Nastran. The applicability and limitation of the nodal force based method is demonstrated by applying it to two-dimensional and three-dimensional linear elastic continuum solid elements. Finally, its application in durability analysis such as fatigue and creep life assessments is discussed.© 2012 ASME
Bone morphogenic protein 2 directly enhances differentiation of murine osteoclast precursors.

Previous studies found that BMPs support osteoclast formation, but it is not clear whether this is a direct effect on osteoclasts or mediated indirectly through osteoblasts. We have shown that a mouse deficient for the BMP antagonist Twisted gastrulation suggested a direct positive role for BMPs on osteoclastogenesis. In this report, we further determine the significance of BMP signaling on osteoclast formation in vitro. We find that BMP2 synergizes with suboptimal levels of RANKL to enhance in vitro differentiation of osteoclast-like cells. The enhancement by BMP2 is not a result of changes in the rate of proliferation or survival of the bone marrow derived cultures, but is accompanied by an increase in expression of genes involved in osteoclast differentiation and fusion. Treatment with BMP2 did not significantly alter expression of RANKL or OPG in our osteoclast cultures, suggesting that the enhancement of osteoclastogenesis is not mediated indirectly through osteoblasts or stromal cells. Consistent with this, we detected phosphorylated SMAD1,5,8 (p-SMAD) in the nuclei of mononuclear and multinucleated cells in osteoclast cultures. Levels of p-SMAD, BMP2 and BMP receptors increased during differentiation. RNAi suppression of Type II BMP receptor inhibited RANKL-stimulated formation of multinuclear TRAP positive cells. The BMP antagonist noggin inhibited RANKL-mediated osteoclast differentiation when added prior to day 3, while addition of noggin on day 3 or later failed to inhibit their differentiation. Taken together, these data indicate that osteoclasts express BMP2 and BMP receptors, and that autocrine BMP signaling directly promotes the differentiation of osteoclasts-like cells.
Abstract 5541: The dual effects of H6D polymorphism of NAG-1/GDF15 in prostate cancer carcinogenesis

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-activated gene (NAG-1) is a divergent member of the transforming growth factor beta superfamily. NAG-1 has been implicated in many cellular processes, including inflammation, early bone formation, apoptosis, and tumorigenesis, in several types of cancers. Evidence from recent clinical studies suggests that a C to G single nucleotide polymorphism at position 6 (histidine to aspartic acid substitution, or H6D (G) of the NAG-1 protein is associated with lower incidence, but higher rate of mortality, of prostate cancer. The objective of the current study was to determine the activity of the NAG-1 H6D variant in prostate cancer using two different approaches. First, DU145 cells stably transfected with the H6D NAG-1 gene, wild-type NAG-1 gene, and empty pLXIN vector were injected into nude mice subcutaneously and tumor growth monitored for eight weeks. The H6D variant was less tumorigenic than the wild-type NAG-1, and significantly inhibited tumor growth, 67% by volume and 59% by tumor weight compared to control mice. The growth inhibition by the H6D variant of NAG-1 was associated with significant reduction of serum levels of adiponectin, leptin, and IGF-1, and expression of Cyclin D1 in tumor samples. Second, we examined whether the sequence variant in the NAG-1 gene was associated with prostate cancer tumor aggressiveness in blood samples from the North Carolina-Louisiana Prostate Cancer Project (PCaP). A total of 449 Caucasians Americans and 413 African Americans were examined for allele frequencies using Taqman SNP genotyping assay. Although statistically insignificant, African Americans carrying the H6D (G) allele had an increased risk of more aggressive prostate cancer than those carrying two copies of the C allele (Odds ratio, 1.63; 95% CI, 0.903-2.95; P = 0.25). This result may help to explain the higher mortality rate of prostate cancer in African Americans. In conclusion, our data suggest that the H6D polymorphism of NAG-1 may have a dual effect during the early and late stages of prostate cancer carcinogenesis. More studies are needed to further examine the association of H6D variant of NAG-1 with prostate cancer incidence and progression. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5541. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-5541
The Effects of Pollen Addition on Fruit Set and Sex Expression in the Andromonoecious Herb Horsenettle (Solanum carolinense)

Abstract Horsenettle (Solanum carolinense: Solanaceae) plants possess the ability to bear both hermaphroditic and male flowers on the same plant, a breeding system referred to as andromonoecy. As part of an ongoing investigation into the evolution and maintenance of andromonoecy in horsenettle we conducted a field investigation that addressed the following questions: Are fruit and seed production in horsenettle populations pollen limited? Do pollen additions affect sex expression? Is the size of the floral display or the percentage of flowers that are male associated with percentage fruit set, and therefore possibly related to the attraction of pollinators? We conducted pollen additions on 25 plants in each of two populations, and monitored 25 open pollinated control plants at each site. Mean percentage fruit set and seed set per fruit was significantly greater in the pollen addition treatment than in the control, which indicates that both populations were pollen limited. The percentage of flowers on a pl...
Comparison of Safety, Efficacy, and Outcome of Successful Versus Unsuccessful Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in True Chronic Total Occlusions

Despite improving techniques for opening chronic total occlusions (CTOs), the benefit of successful recanalization of the artery remains unclear. The aims of this study were to investigate the safety and efficacy of percutaneous coronary intervention for “true” CTO, defined by Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow grade 0 and duration ≥3 months, and to compare the outcome of successful versus failed procedures. A cohort of 172 consecutive patients with de novo CTOs of native vessels confirmed by angiographic review in which percutaneous coronary interventions were attempted was studied. End points included angiographic success, in-hospital complications, and long-term major adverse cardiac events. Technical success was obtained in 73.8% of CTO lesions (127 of 172). No deaths or nonfatal Q-wave myocardial infarctions occurred in the hospital. Repeat percutaneous coronary interventions in the hospital were required in 1.6% of patients (2 of 127) in whom the CTOs were initially opened. Perforation during the initial failed attempts occurred in 6.7% of patients (3 of 45). One patient required operative repair. After an average follow-up period of 2 years, patients with successful procedures experienced similar incidences of cardiac death and nonfatal Q-wave myocardial infarctions as did patients with failed procedures (5.3% and 4.9%, respectively, p = 0.3). Patients with successfully opened arteries required target vessel revascularization more frequently, but this did not reach statistical significance (18.8% vs 0%, p = 0.06). In conclusion, attempts to open CTOs with the devices available at the time of this registry were accompanied by a significant risk for perforation. Furthermore, successful recanalization did not translate into a reduction in 2-year mortality or nonfatal Q-wave myocardial infarctions compared with patients with failed procedures.
Events in procurement as risk factors for ischemic cholangiopathy in liver transplantation using donation after cardiac death donors

The use of donation after cardiac death (DCD) liver grafts is controversial because of the overall increased rates of graft loss and morbidity, which are mostly related to the consequences of ischemic cholangiopathy (IC). In this study, we sought to determine the factors leading to graft loss and the development of IC and to compare patient and graft survival rates for recipients of DCD liver grafts and recipients of donation after brain death (DBD) liver grafts in a large series at a single transplant center. Two hundred liver transplants with DCD donors were performed between 1998 and 2010 at Mayo Clinic Florida. Logistic regression models were used in the univariate and multivariate analyses of predictors for the development of IC. Additional analyses using Cox regression models were performed to identify predictors of graft survival and to compare outcomes for DCD and DBD graft recipients. In our series, the patient survival rates for the DCD and DBD groups at 1, 3, and 5 years was 92.6%, 85%, and 80.9% and 89.8%, 83.0%, and 76.6%, respectively (P = not significant). The graft survival rates for the DCD and DBD groups at 1, 3, and 5 years were 80.9%, 72.7%, and 68.9% and 83.3%, 75.1%, and 68.6%, respectively (P = not significant). In the DCD group, 5 patients (2.5%) had primary nonfunction, 7 patients (3.5%) had hepatic artery thrombosis, and 3 patients (1.5%) experienced hepatic necrosis. IC was diagnosed in 24 patients (12%), and 11 of these patients (5.5%) required retransplantation. In the multivariate analysis, the asystole-to-cross clamp duration [odds ratio = 1.161, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.021-1.321] and African American recipient race (odds ratio = 5.374, 95% CI = 1.368-21.103) were identified as significant factors for predicting the development of IC (P < 0.05). This study has established a link between the development of IC and the asystole-to-cross clamp duration. Procurement techniques that prolong the nonperfusion period increase the risk for the development of IC in DCD liver grafts.
Optimum experimental conditions for quantitative surface microanalysis by reflection electron energy-loss spectroscopy

Experimental conditions for obtaining high quality core-shell ionization edges in reflection electron energy-loss spectroscopy (REELS) are investigated. Under the (600) specular- "mirror" reflection conditions and using the relative ionization cross-section measured from a MgO thin foil in the transmission geometry for collection semi-angle 03B2 = 1.2mrad, the chemical composition of MgO (100) surfaces is determined to be NO/NMg = 1.5 ± 0.15. This value is not significantly affected by varying the resonance diffraction conditions near the [001] zone axis, under which the spectra were acquired. An incorrect apparent composition will result if channeling effects along the [011] zone axis are not considered properly. Surface microanalysis is limited by the accuracy of the core-shell effective ionization cross-section (EICS), which depends not only on the property of a single atom but also on the dynamical elastic and inelastic scattering and channeling processes of electrons. An experimental method is outlined by which to measure the relative EICS from a thin foil specimen in the transmission case under the equivalent resonance conditions as in reflection geometry.
Analysis of manufacturing systems: computer simulation analysis of electricity rationing effects on steel mill rolling operations

This paper presents an application of computer simulation as a policy analysis tool for the electric utility industry. In the last decade, the amount of electricity generation capacity has remained constant while demand for electricity has been increasing. This situation puts industrial electricity users, those who use large highly varying quantities of electricity in potentially risky production and financial situations. In this paper, we describe a computer simulation model that examines the electricity requirements of a steel mill in a constrained electricity supply environment. By using simulation, we develop and analyze policies that quantify the costs and benefits of collaborative strategies for efficient electricity usage from both perspectives.
Low-dose naltrexone augmentation of nicotine replacement for smoking cessation with reduced weight gain: a randomized trial.

Background: Fear of weight gain is a significant obstacle to smoking cessation, preventing some smokers from attempting to quit. Several previous studies of naltrexone yielded promising results for minimization of post-quit weight gain. Given these encouraging findings, we endeavored to test whether minimization of weight gain might translate to better quit outcomes for a population that is particularly concerned about gaining weight upon quitting. Methods: Smokers (N = 172) in this investigation were prospectively randomized to receive either 25 mg naltrexone or placebo for 27 weeks (1 week pre-, 26 weeks post-quit) for minimization of post-quit weight gain and smoking cessation. All participants received open label therapy with the nicotine patch for the first 8 weeks post-quit and behavioral counseling over the 27-week treatment. The 2 pre-specified primary outcomes were change in weight for continuously abstinent participants and biologically verified end-of-treatment 7-day point-prevalence abstinence at 26 weeks after the quit date. Results: The difference in weight at 26 weeks post-quit between the naltrexone and placebo groups (naltrexone: 6.8 lbs ± 8.94 vs placebo: 9.7 lbs ± 9.19, p = 0.45) was not statistically different. Seven-day point-prevalence smoking abstinence rates at 26 weeks post-quit was not significantly different between the 2 groups (naltrexone: 22% vs placebo: 27%, p = 0.43). Conclusions: For smokers high in weight concern, the relatively small reduction in weight gain with low-dose naltrexone is not worth the potential for somewhat lower rates of smoking abstinence. © 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
Enhanced optical forces in 2D hybrid and plasmonic waveguides

We investigate the optical gradient force in 2D hybrid and plasmonic waveguides. By comparing with conventional dielectric waveguides, we show that the optical force can be enhanced by at least 1 order of magnitude in the hybrid and plasmonic waveguides due to strongly enhanced optical fields at the waveguide surfaces. We compare coupled plasmonic waveguides with different geometries, including rectangular, circular, and triangular cross sections and find that the rectangular waveguides provide the strongest force. We also show that the plasmonic enhancement is nonresonant and thus can be used for a broad range of wavelengths.
Judgments of originality and appropriateness as predictors of creativity

Abstract Most contemporary theories of creativity recognize originality and some kind of appropriateness (e.g. fit or practicality). The present investigation was conducted to assess the contributions of originality and appropriateness to judgments of creativity. Three different collections of ideas, or “ideational pools” were organized on stimulus cards, with the number of original and appropriate ideas systematically manipulated in each. The ideas were responses from two different Instances divergent thinking tasks. Judges (71 college students) were asked to sort the pools according to three different criteria: originality, appropriateness, and creativity. Trend analyses were used to assess the degree to which the subjective ratings were associated with the objective levels of originality and appropriateness. Regression analyses were also conducted with the subjective ratings of originality and appropriateness (and their interaction) as predictors of subjective creativity ratings. In general, the subjective ratings of originality and appropriateness followed the objective levels, but an inverse relation between originality and appropriateness was apparent, with the lowest originality ratings occuring for the ideational pools with the highest number of appropriate ideas and vice versa. Furthermore, only subjective originality ratings were associated with creativity ratings. When all ideas were unoriginal, creativity ratings decreased (though not significantly) with increasing numbers of appropriate ideas within the pools. However, when objective levels of both originality and appropriateness increased, creativity ratings increased significantly. These results suggest that although it is not necessary for an original idea to be appropriate to be viewed as creative, original ideas are not valued less by being appropriate. However, with unoriginal ideas, appropriateness may inhibit judgments of creativity.
Optimal rate of empirical Bayes tests for lower truncation parameters

Abstract In this paper, we consider the one-sided testing problem for lower truncation parameters through the empirical Bayes approach. The optimal rate of the monotone empirical Bayes tests is obtained and a test δ n achieving the optimal rate is constructed.
Cognitive integration of aerial and ground views in remote vehicle operations

Both unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) and unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) are being used in increasingly complex roles as this technology matures. There are many proposals for the joint use of UAVs and UGVs working together to achieve mission goals. Due to the spatial perception difficulties commonly reported in UGV operations, it has been postulated that the operation of UGVs could benefit from the use of live aerial views in scenarios where this is possible. In a series of experimental studies we examine the cognitive task of integrating air and ground views. Integrating these views is a key cognitive task component in UGV operations which usually require that maps for navigation be integrated with imagery from ground view cameras. Whether aerial views are used or not, integration with map views is crucial. In this paper we discuss a series of experimental studies relevant to the cognitive integration of air and ground views in UGV scenarios. The integration of map and ground camera views may be facilitated by the use of live aerial views. In urban search scenarios the addition of an aerial view to a UGV operator's task does not appear to have any measurable negative consequences and improves localization performance.
Detecting stress and fatigue cracks

Discoveries in using open ended rectangular waveguides for microwave surface crack detection and sizing have generated interest. The foundation, potential, advantages and disadvantages of this methodology, developed at the Applied Microwave Nondestructive Testing Laboratory in the Electrical Engineering Department at Colorado State University, are discussed. Microwave techniques in general and this particular approach offer certain unique advantages that can advance the state of the art of fatigue/surface crack detection. The basic features and capabilities of this technique have been theoretically and experimentally investigated these past few years. However, more developmental work is needed to bring this technique from the laboratory to the real testing environment. The microwave method described has proven to be very effective in detecting and characterizing surface cracks in metals. It is inexpensive and can readily be applied in various environments. This approach applies to exposed, empty, filled and covered cracks. Cracks may also be detected remotely (i.e. the use on a liftoff in between the waveguide aperture and the surface under examination).
Normally-off gate-recessed AlGaN/GaN-on-Si hybrid MOS-HFET with Al 2 O 3 gate dielectric

GaN-based HFETs offer a combination of high breakdown field, high current densities, and low on-resistance, making them well-suited for power-switching applications. Normally-off FETs are preferred in power switching applications for circuit simplicity and safety. Recently, a new type of normally-off GaN device has been reported: the hybrid metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS)- or metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS)-HFET, consisting of an MOS-type structure under the gate for normally-off operation and an HFET-like structure in the access regions for low on-resistance [1–6]. Optimization of the insulator-epi interface and insulator quality is critical for this type of device, since the electrons under gate electrode are in direct contact with the gate insulator. Previous reports of hybrid MOS-HFETs used SiO 2 or SiN gate dielectrics deposited by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). However, alternative deposition methods such as atomic layer deposition (ALD) have been shown to result in superior thickness control, uniformity, conformality, and film quality, while ALD high-k gate dielectrics such as Al 2 O 3 have generated significant interest for GaN HFETs due to excellent GaN interface quality. In this work, we fabricated normally-off AlGaN/GaN hybrid MOS-HFETs on (111) Si substrates using gate recess etching combined with an ALD Al 2 O 3 gate dielectric for low gate leakage, low on-resistance, and high breakdown voltage. The gate fabrication process was optimized to reduce the trap density associated with the dielectric and eliminate threshold voltage hysteresis, which can result from slow traps in the dielectric or at the dielectric-epi interface [7]. A three-terminal breakdown voltage (V B ) of 1370V was measured at a gate bias of 0 V on a device with a 20 mm gate periphery and a low specific on-resistance (R on ) of 9.0 mΩ-cm2. The resulting V B 2/R on figure of merit of 208 MW/cm2 is among the highest values reported to-date for normally-off GaN-on-Si HFETs.
Identity constraints and Spanish resyllabification

Abstract In this paper, I argue in favor of a constraint-based approach to Spanish resyllabification. An Optimality Theoretic analysis is proposed and compared to the rule-based account. A parallel analysis based on Correspondence Theory and Identity constraints (Kenstowicz's, 1995) demonstrates that aspiration of /s/ in an onset position does not constitute evidence in favor of a derivational account; in addition, the analysis proposed explains the interaction between resyllabification and aspiration and expands Kenstowicz's original proposal to various processes of derivation, suffixation and resyllabification.
Approximate Solution Procedure for Dynamic Traffic Assignment

This paper proposes an approximate dynamic traffic assignment algorithm for the analysis of traffic conditions in large-scale road networks over several days. The time-dependent origin-destination trips are assumed to be known. A case study for evacuation of the New Orleans metropolitan area prior to the landfall of Hurricane Katrina is presented to test the efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed procedure. The model results are compared to the traffic counts collected during the evacuation and then further tested by the mesoscopic simulation-based model, DynusT. The study shows that the traffic pattern produced by the proposed procedure is a good approximation to traffic count data and that the algorithm provides a good approximation to the computations performed by DynusT.
Detection of endogenous ethanol and other compounds in the breath by gas chromatography with on-column concentration of sample.

Abstract A new method is described for collecting and concentrating volatile compounds in the breath, in order to facilitate their assay by gas chromatography. Breath was collected into sealed Mylar bags containing an internal standard (isopropyl alcohol). The sample was pumped through a cooled gas chromatograph column, where the volatile compounds were concentrated by adsorption onto the resin packing (Porapak Q) at 35°C. The column was then heated, and the volatilized sample was separated for assay by flame ionization detection. The assay was highly sensitive for ethanol (detecting at least 4.0 nmol) and linear up to 20 nmol ( r 2 = 0.98). Accuracy and precision were determined by assaying nine replicates of a sample containing 12.0 nmol ethanol; a mean value of 12.18 nmol ethanol was obtained with a coefficient of variation of 10.26%. In a group of normal volunteers, endogenous breath ethanol concentrations ranged from 2.23 to 6.51 nmol/liter. This assay provided a number of advantages over previously described methods: The use of breath collection bags enabled the collection of samples outside the laboratory. The use of an internal standard in the collection bag reduced errors that might have resulted from leakage of the specimen. An on-column concentration of the sample in the gas chromatograph eliminated the need for an additional preconcentration device, such as a cryogenic or adsorptive trapping apparatus.
Effects of bromine on the template and messenger specificities of polynucleotides.

Abstract Reaction of poly(C) with bromine-water followed by exposure to pH 5.0 progressively transforms the cytidylic to 5-bromocytidylic acid residues. When such polymers are used as templates with RNA polymerase they lead to 5′-ATP incorporation, in proportion to their bromine content, into the poly(G) formed. This misreading is not due to the 5-bromocytidine residues, however, since authentic polymers containing 5-bromocytidylic acid, made with polynucleotide phosphorylase, do not cause 5′-ATP incorporation. The U-like activity of the brominated polymer is also not due to other known intermediates or minor products of the reaction. When used as messenger in an amino acid incorporation assay both types of 5-bromocytidylic acid-containing polymers show some A-like coding qualities in that threonine and histidine become incorporated.
Transfer function representation of the aggregate behavior of a class of economic processes

The purpose of this paper is to describe certain techniques which have proved useful in the systems analysis of large scale economic systems. A brief historical description of efforts to apply feedback control theory to management and economic systems is presented, which indicates the need for aggregation as a means of reducing the number of system variables to be considered. A transfer function is derived which, for two cases of practical interest, yields a simplified aggregate representation of the behavior of n system microunits. Accuracy of the aggregate transfer function representation is discussed as a function of n and of the bandwidth of input signals. Applications of the method are demonstrated with respect to problems arising in a systems analysis of the U. S. plywood industry.
Minimizing makespan with multiple-orders-per-job in a two-machine flowshop

We investigate a new scheduling problem, multiple-orders-per-job (MOJ), in the context of a two-machine flowshop. Lower bounds for the makespan performance measure are provided for combinations of lot-processing and item-processing machines. An optimization model is presented that addresses both job formation and job sequencing. We define a heuristic to minimize the makespan for the MOJ problem for two-machine item-processing flowshops. The heuristic obtains solutions within 2% of a tight lower bound and runs in O(HF) time, where H is the number of orders and F is the restricted number of jobs.