cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Just-in-Time Simulation to Guide Workflow Design for Coronavirus Disease 2019 Difficult Airway Management.

Objectives The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has required that hospitals rapidly adapt workflows and processes to limit disease spread and optimize the care of critically ill children. Design and setting As part of our institution's coronavirus disease 2019 critical care workflow design process, we developed and conducted a number of simulation exercises, increasing in complexity, progressing to intubation wearing personal protective equipment, and culminating in activation of our difficult airway team for an airway emergency. Patients and interventions In situ simulations were used to identify and rework potential failure points to generate guidance for optimal airway management in coronavirus disease 2019 suspected or positive children. Subsequent to this high-realism difficult airway simulation was a real-life difficult airway event in a patient suspected of coronavirus disease 2019 less than 12 hours later, validating potential failure points and effectiveness of rapidly generated guidance. Measurements and main results A number of potential workflow challenges were identified during tabletop and physical in situ manikin-based simulations. Experienced clinicians served as participants, debriefed, and provided feedback that was incorporated into local site clinical pathways, job aids, and suggested practices. Clinical management of an actual suspected coronavirus disease 2019 patient with difficult airway demonstrated very similar success and anticipated failure points. Following debriefing and assembly of a success/failure grid, a coronavirus disease 2019 airway bundle template was created using these simulations and clinical experiences for others to adapt to their sites. Conclusions Integration of tabletop planning, in situ simulations, and debriefing of real coronavirus disease 2019 cases can enhance planning, training, job aids, and feasible policies/procedures that address human factors, team communication, equipment choice, and patient/provider safety in the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic era.
The Rice University School Mathematics Project: Supporting Excellence in K-16 Mathematics Since 1987 (Survey)

This paper describes the efforts of the Rice University School Mathematics Project (RUSMP) to support K-16 mathematics education and more recently to support science, technology, engineering and the arts as they relate to mathematics. RUSMP was established in 1987 with funding from the National Science Foundation in order to provide a bridge between the Rice University mathematics research community and Houston-area mathematics teachers. RUSMP has received funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the United States Department of Education Eisenhower and Teacher Quality Programs, and from corporations, foundations, schools, and school districts. Since 1987, over 10,000 teachers and teacher leaders from over 100 districts and private and charter schools and over 12,000 K-12 students have benefited from RUSMP programs. RUSMP has evolved into an important regional STEM center and continues to grow and impact the K-16 educational community. Through its wide-ranging work, RUSMP is valued as a vital partner in meeting the educational needs of the greater Houston community and beyond.
Pivoting an Upper-Level, Project-Based Biochemistry Laboratory Class to Online Learning During COVID-19: Enhancing Research Skills and Using Community Outreach to Engage Undergraduate Students

Closing the university due to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a sudden shift from independent research projects in biochemistry to a virtual learning experience focused on essential research skills and an added community outreach activity. Here, pedagogical strategies and lessons learned on restructuring this upper-level biochemistry laboratory course to a remote format are described.
Hazardous simulations: Pricing climate risk in US coastal insurance markets

After suffering heavy losses from a string of natural disasters in the early 1990s, the US (re)insurance sector embraced a new technology called catastrophe, or ‘cat’, models to help solve pervasiv...
A knowledge base of clinical trial eligibility criteria

Abstract Objective We present the Clinical Trial Knowledge Base, a regularly updated knowledge base of discrete clinical trial eligibility criteria equipped with a web-based user interface for querying and aggregate analysis of common eligibility criteria. Materials and methods We used a natural language processing (NLP) tool named Criteria2Query (Yuan et al., 2019) to transform free text clinical trial eligibility criteria from ClinicalTrials.gov into discrete criteria concepts and attributes encoded using the widely adopted Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership (OMOP) Common Data Model (CDM) and stored in a relational SQL database. A web application accessible via RESTful APIs was implemented to enable queries and visual aggregate analyses. We demonstrate CTKB’s potential role in EHR phenotype knowledge engineering using ten validated phenotyping algorithms. Results At the time of writing, CTKB contained 87,504 distinctive OMOP CDM standard concepts, including Condition (47.82%), Drug (23.01%), Procedure (13.73%), Measurement (24.70%) and Observation (5.28%), with 34.78% for inclusion criteria and 65.22% for exclusion criteria, extracted from 352,110 clinical trials. The average hit rate of criteria concepts in eMERGE phenotype algorithms is 77.56%. Conclusion CTKB is a novel comprehensive knowledge base of discrete eligibility criteria concepts with the potential to enable knowledge engineering for clinical trial cohort definition, clinical trial population representativeness assessment, electronical phenotyping, and data gap analyses for using electronic health records to support clinical trial recruitment.
Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis of Emergency Physician Performed Biparietal Diameter Estimate for Gestational Age.

Abstract Background An accurate estimation of fetal gestational age is essential for the management of pregnant patients who present to the emergency department (ED). Point-of-care-ultrasound (POCUS) is an integral part of emergency medicine training and includes measurement of fetal gestational age by the biparietal diameter (BPD) method. Objectives In this study we performed a quantitative assessment of emergency physician (EP)-performed BPD estimate of gestational age to identify the percentage of studies performed in our department that had an estimated gestational age within 14 days of an adjusted radiological or obstetrical estimation. Methods We performed a chart review of our ED ultrasound database and electronic medical records for cases where a BPD measurement was performed by an EP. We recorded the ED gestational age estimate in days and the radiological or obstetrical estimate of gestational age in days. We then calculated the difference in days between the two examinations. We used a normal binomial approximation to calculate 95% confidence intervals. A secondary analysis looked at the quality of the images based on measurement placement and the view obtained. Results Seventy-four cases met eligibility criteria; of those, 67 (91%) had a gestational age estimation within 14 days of the adjusted radiological or obstetrical estimate (95% confidence interval 81–96%). Conclusion This study shows that EP-performed BPD measurements for gestational age are quantitatively accurate, with 91% of estimates within 14 days of a standard radiological or obstetrical estimation.
Arithmetic Differential Equations

Main concepts and results: Preliminaries from algebraic geometry Outline of $\delta$-geometry General theory: Global theory Local theory Birational theory Applications: Spherical correspondences Flat correspondences Hyperbolic correspondences List of results Bibliography Index.
School Counselors' Provision of Career and College Transition Services to Students in Special Education

School Counselors’ Provision of Career and College Transition Services to Students in Special Education
A novel C/T polymorphism in the core promoter of human de novo cytosine DNA methyltransferase 3B6 is associated with prognosis in head and neck cancer.

New biomarkers for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients are being sought to help predict disease outcome, guide treatment, and develop new treatments. In the present study, the association between a novel functional C/T polymorphism in the core promoter of cytosine DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) 3B6 and overall survival of HNSCC patients was investigated. Genomic DNA was extracted from tumor tissue and leukocytes from each HNSCC patient. We used the PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay to determine the DNMT3B genotype. Kaplan-Meier product-limit method and univariate/ multivariate Cox proportional hazard models were used to correlate DNMT3B genotype with overall survival of HNSCC patients who underwent surgical resection. There was a marked association between DNMT3B C/T polymorphism and overall survival of HNSCC patients (P=0.004). The homozygotes (CC-genotype and TT-genotype) survived significantly longer than the heterozygotes (CT-type). The multivariate Cox proportional hazard modeling showed that HNSCC patients with CT-genotype had a hazard ratio of 4.829 over patients with CC-genotype or TT-genotype. A DNMT3B C/T polymorphism has been correlated with survival differences in HNSCC patients. If validated in larger studies, this polymorphism might be used to identify deleterious patterns of gene silencing by methylation in HNSCC.
Nonlinear worst case (H/sub /spl infin//) control

I previously (1994) presented necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of worst case controllers and estimators for nonlinear systems. These are also called H/sub /spl infin// suboptimal controllers and estimators. I considered affine and more general nonlinear systems, both time varying and autonomous over finite, semi-infinite and infinite intervals. In particular, I gave necessary and sufficient conditions for the solvability of a standard H/sub /spl infin// suboptimal control problem by measurement feedback that involve the solvability of a pair of partial differential equations of the Hamilton-Jacobi type. The first one is the one associated with the problem of H-infinity suboptimal control by state feedback that has appeared previously in the work of several authors. The second one is a new Hamilton-Jacobi equation associated with H/sub /spl infin// suboptimal estimation. I summarize some of these results in this paper. >
Studies on polynucleotides. CXVI. A further study of the T4 ligase-catalyzed joining of DNA at base-paired ends.

Abstract T4 polynucleotide ligase catalyzes the end-to-end joining of DNA duplexes at the base-paired ends. The reaction has been shown to be bi-molecular in character by using a mixture of two different duplexes, when covalent joining of the two duplexes was observed. The reaction showed a temperature optimum of 25 °C.
The Value of Uninformative Credit Ratings

We test the hypothesis that financial institutions and other regulated institutional investors benefit from relatively uninformative credit ratings. Using credit ratings without regulatory implications as a benchmark, we show that Moody’s certifies riskier bonds as investment grade. This arbitrary line affects regulated investors’ reserve requirements. We argue that Moody’s certification of marginal bonds allows regulated investors to mitigate the regulatory costs associated with yield chasing. This evidence supports an efficient market explanation – mitigating the costs of regulatory compliance – for the well-documented evidence that Moody’s credit ratings are less informative than those produced by smaller rating agencies.
Determinants of Supply Elasticity in Interdependent Markets

This paper draws out the implications of equilibrium in a two-product, two-factor model for elasticity of product supply, which is found to depend upon input supply elasticities, alternative product demand elasticity, elasticity of substitution between production inputs, relative factor intensity of the product, and relative importance of the product in its use of resources. These factors interact in a complex manner to determine supply elasticity. The author discusses related approaches of Buse, Muth, and Powell and Gruen, and considers several simplified examples in an attempt to provide an intuitive grasp of the workings of the model.
L-threo 3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine treatment during mouse perinatal and rat postnatal development does not alter the impact of dietary copper deficiency

AbstractDietary copper (Cu) deficiency was induced perinatally in Swiss Albino mice and postnatally in male Holtzman rats to investigate the effect of L-threo 3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine (DOPS) on pup survival and catecholamine levels in a 2×2 factorial design. Mouse dams were placed on one of four treatments 14 days after mating and rats at postnatal day 19 (P19). Treatments were Cu-adequate (Cu+) and Cu-deficient (Cu−) diets with or without DOPS (1mg/ml) in the drinking water. Mouse pups were killed at P14 and rats at P49. Mortality in Cu− pups was 46% and not significantly improved by DOPS, 39%. A repeat study with mice adding ascorbic acid in the water with DOPS showed no improvement. Compared to Cu+ animals, Cu− animals were smaller, anemic and had a 92% reduction in liver Cu. DOPS treatment made no improvement to and in some cases exacerbated the Cu deficiency. Catecholamine levels measured in heart and brain by LCEC showed decreased NE levels and increased DA levels in Cu− animals compared to control...
Pair behavior and spacing in butterflyfishes (Chaetodontidae)

Three species of butterflyfishes, Chaetodon multicinctus, C. quadrimaculatus and C. ornatissimus were observed over a seven month period on the Kona coast of the island of Hawaii. All three species were found to be exclusively paired. However, C. quadrimaculatus and C. ornatissimus pair mates spent less time together and had longer separations and fewer meetings than did C. multicinctus pairs. All three species occupied and defended intraspecifically exclusive territories. Territories were maintained through mutual avoidance with occasional agonistic interactions.
Extinction coefficient and skin depth of alkali metals from 10 to 1000 nm

Abstract The alkali metals have often been characterized as being transparent to optical radiation in the ultraviolet. An investigation was performed to evaluate the feasibility of exploiting this so-called transparency phenomenon for laser doppler velocimetry in these metals. The extinction coefficient, skin depth and skin depth divided by wavelength were determined from the literature for wavelengths between 10 and 1000 nm. Data is included for lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, and a sodium-75% potassium alloy. The results show that the skin depths are less than 3 μm, and the prospects for perfoming liquid metal laser doppler velocimetry are poor. The compilation of the data in one document and in a common format may be useful to other researchers.
Helminth Infections in Relation to Restricted Feeding on Range

Abstract THE following experiment was initiated to provide additional information on the factors affecting the growth of replacement stock on range. Parker and McSpadden (1944) revealed that lots of pullets raised on pasture were heavier, had lower mortality rates, consumed less feed, and utilized their feed more efficiently than those on bare range. Todd and McSpadden (1947) concluded that the supplemental green feed of pasture did not prevent parasitism, but it did apparently enable birds to withstand greater parasitic burdens. Todd (1948) examined four groups of birds, one group on a bare lot and the other three on variations of pasture. The present work considered standardized pastures in conjunction with degrees of restricted mash intake. PROCEDURE In each of the four successive summers (1951, 1952, 1953, and 1954), prospective replacement stock was divided into four groups and placed on range as follows: Group 1 had access to an all mash ration …
THICK‐WALLED ROOT HAIRS OF GLEDITSIA AND RELATED GENERA

A few years ago my attention was called by the late Professor T. J. Burrill to the peculiar appearance of the surface roots of Gleditsia triacanthos, the honey locust, growing in the "Forestry" at the University of Illinois. These roots, which were abundant and easily obtained, when examined with the naked eye looked somewhat like ectotrophic mycorrhizas. I t was noticed at once, however, that instead of the coral-like clusters of short,
Statins and hepatic steatosis: Perspectives from the Dallas Heart Study†

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and cardiovascular disease are independently associated. Due to the efficacy of 3-hydroxy 3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) in the prevention of cardiovascular disease, increasing interest has been shown in establishing the safety of these drugs in NAFLD. In this study, the relationship between statin use, hepatic triglyceride content (HTGC), and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels was examined in 2,264 Dallas Heart Study participants who were using no lipid-lowering agent (n = 2,124) or using only a statin for lipid management (n = 140). Statin use was not associated with a greater frequency of hepatic steatosis (38% vs. 34%) or elevated serum ALT (15% vs. 13%) by a pair-matched analysis. Statin use was also not associated with a greater prevalence of elevated serum ALT among subjects with hepatic steatosis (n = 638). This finding persisted when controlling for possible sample bias as a result of current prescribing practices for statins. Among subjects with serum lipid abnormalities who were not using a statin, hepatic steatosis was present in 60% of those with mixed hyperlipidemia and 83% of those with both mixed hyperlipidemia and an elevated serum ALT. In conclusion, statin use was not associated with a higher frequency of hepatic steatosis or serum ALT abnormalities, even among those with hepatic steatosis. Individuals meeting criteria for statin therapy are likely to have coexistent hepatic steatosis.
Interactive effects of prenatal cocaine and nicotine exposure on maternal toxicity, postnatal development, and behavior in the rat

Two experiments were performed to investigate the interactive effects of prenatal coadministration of cocaine hydrochloride (C) and nicotine tartrate (N). Experiment I was designed to determine doses of C and N that could be coadministered without altering maternal gestational parameters and/or fetal viability. Exposure of Sprague-Dawley rats to combined high-dose C (20 mg/kg) and high-dose N (5.0 mg/kg) on gestation days 8-21 was not more toxic to dam or fetus that that of exposure to C alone. Experiment II investigated pregnancy outcome, postnatal development, and behavior of the offspring following drug exposure to either high-dose cocaine (20 mg/kg: CS), high-dose nicotine (5.0 mg/kg: NS), or both (NC) on gestation days 8-21. N was administered by osmotic minipump and C by sc injection. Saline-injected dams, fitted with saline-fitted pumps (SS), and untreated dams, pair-fed (PF) to NC females, served as controls. Alterations in maternal variables were limited to a 10-15% decrease in food consumption in NC and CS groups. Pregnancy outcome and birth statistics were unaffected by prenatal treatment, as was offspring body weight during the first four postnatal weeks. However, the development of surface righting was delayed inC CS pups, and only CS offspring were underresponsive to the stimulatory effects of dopamine agonists on activity and stereotypy. Behavioral responses to N challenge were similar in all groups. In addition, only CS offspring showed altered behavioral responses in a spontaneous alternation task. Treatment effects on dopamine D1 and D2 binding in the caudate nucleus were not observed. The combination of N and C did not exacerbate any of the behavioral changes seen in CS offspring. These results support the hypothesis that C is a behavioral teratogen in rodents, and suggest that in the present model, nicotine can mitigate some of the consequences of in utero exposure to cocaine.
Data compression methods to stream highest bandwidth radar pulses

Radar pulses are typically generated with an Arbitrary Waveform Generator (AWG). Highest speed AWG nowadays offer modulation bandwidths up to several GHz. Beside the large modulation bandwidth, radar pulse generation require very long playtimes. Ideally, the playtime shall be unlimited. Arbitrary Waveform Generators typically offer a large variety of functionality such as large sample memory combined with setting up complex sequences and scenarios to extend the playtime. While this approach can significantly extend the playtime, there are two major limitations to this approach: First the playtime is still limited. Second the sequence of radar pulses is predefined. This means that the radar pulse generation cannot be adapted to react on changes in the environment. A well known approach to overcome both limitations is to stream radar pulses to the Arbitrary Waveform Generator. The stream of radar pulses can be generated in real time or might be pre-calculated and played back from a storage device such as a Raid system or a Solid State Drive (SSD). Also, a capture, modify and playback operation to alter radar pulses requires to stream data to an AWG.
Analysis of axisymmetric upsetting based on flow pattern observations

Abstract A flow-based model for upset forging of cylindrical billets is presented. Four deformation zones are recognized. The size of the elastic zone (Zone I) is determined from empirical equations. Kinematically admissible velocity field equations are obtained for the other three zones. These equations are in terms of two arbitrary parameters which are optimized based on flow pattern observations. From the numerical solution of the velocity and strain rate equations the deformed grid patterns and the localized strains are determined. In general, good agreement with FEM solutions is observed. The phenomenon of side-surface foldover is also predicted with sufficient accuracy by the present solution.
Relation between the size of ovarian isografts and abnormal reproductive cycles in the mouse.

Groups of 10 to 14 castrated female BALB / c mice received viable uni- or bilateral intraocular isografts of one-eighth or of one-thirty-second of an ovary. Ten other animals remained intact. At biopsy five months later, the mammary glands of all animals showed little or no stimulation. Most animals with one or two one-eighth or two one-thirty-second, grafts had shown normal vaginal and ovarian cycles prior to this time, but some had been in continuous metestrus and had acyclic grafts with vesicular follicles. Most animals with one one-thirty-second grafts were similarly in metestrus, but some were in diestrus with grafts lacking follicular structures. At autopsy eight months after grafting, almost all mice with one or two one-eighth grafts had alveolar proliferaiton with secretion in the mammary glands. All were in continuous metestrus with acyclic grafts, and most had uterine cystic hyperplasia and peri-medullary adrenal degeneration. At the same time, slightly more and slightly less than a half of the mice with one or two one-thirty-second grafts, respectively, showed these same abnormalities. Intact mice were devoid of them. The development of this mammary-uterine-adrenal syndrome appeared to be directly related to grafted ovarian tissue per se and to the size of the grafts. It may depend upon a pituitary-ovarian imbalance with a failure of LH release.
In Situ Calcium Signaling of Chondrocytes Under Non-Serum and Serum Culture

Chemically defined serum-free medium has been shown to maintain the mechanical properties of cartilage allografts better than serum supplemented medium during long-term in vitro culture [1]. Little is known about this beneficial mechanism at a cellular level. Intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) signaling is one of the earliest responses in chondrocytes under mechanical stimulation [2]. It was recently found that calcium signaling is involved in the regulation of chondrocyte morphology changes and its short-term anabolic and catabolic responses under mechanical stimulation [3]. In this study we hypothesized that the beneficial mechanisms of serum-free culture could be indicated by the spatiotemporal features of [Ca2+]i signaling of chondrocytes in situ. We aimed to: (i) compare the in situ spontaneous [Ca2+]i responses of chondrocytes cultured in medium with and without serum; (ii) investigate the correlation between the [Ca2+]i responses of chondrocytes and the biomechanical properties of cartilage explants.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
SU‐E‐T‐452: Dynamic Intensity Modulator

Purpose: To reduce the radiotherapytreatment time per freaction in order to decrease the possibility of patient movement during treatment and increase patient comfort. Methods: A prototype of a Dynamic Intensity Modulator (DIM) was created which changes fluence profiles dynamically and autonomously between treatment grantry angles. Radiation Absorbing Material (RAM) is dynamically displaced in and out of the radiation beam path by radio‐translucent columns. A reservoir regulates the amount of RAM in the beam path. Between gantry angles columns shift to create new fluence profiles. Measurements of beam fluence were acquired using portal images for various RAM thicknesses. Results: Imaging varying RAM thicknesses shows definite changes in image intensity. Initially the columns were at the zero position, so a constant height layer of RAM was achieved. By comparing a constant height layer of RAM against a thicker constant height layer of RAM, an increase in attenuation was observed. Different columns height configurations were also tested. Again, areas with a thicker layer of RAM had a higher level of attenuation than areas with a thinner layer of RAM. In all tests the prototype columns used to set the height of RAM were visible. This will be resolved by creating columns, which are more radio‐translucent. Also, a significant amount of noise was visible in the attenuation profiles. This was most likely due to the material choice of RAM, a homogenous mixture of 2 different diameter lead BB's. Conclusions: Despite the non‐uniformity within intensity profiles, this study demonstrates the fundamental concept of the DIM. The prototype was able to displace deformable RAM in different locations to create distinct fluence profiles.
Lie Algebras and Recurrence Relations II

This work is based on Lie Algebras and Recurrence Relations I (L.A.R.R.I). Here we first review the basic material presented in L.A.R.R.I and then we explore some topics in detail. Contents of L.A.R.R.II are: I. Review of RNL Theory II. The Hamiltonian Flow III. Examples. The Lorentz Case IV. Matrix Elements V. Topics in the Multivariate Theory
An assessment of buffer strips for improving damage tolerance of composite laminates

Graphite/epoxy panels with buffer strips were tested in tension to measure their residual strength with crack-like damage. Panels were made with (45/0/-45/90)2S and (45/0/-45/0)2S layups. The buffer strips were parallel to the loading direction. They were made by replacing narrow strips of the 0 deg graphite plies with strips of either 0 deg S-Glass/epoxy or Kevlar-90/epoxy on either a one-for-one or a two-for-one basis. In a third case, 0 deg graphite/epoxy was used as the buffer material and thin, perforated Mylar strips were placed between the 0 deg plies and the cross-plies to weaken the interfaces and thus to isolate the 0 deg plies. Some panels were made with buffer strips of different width and spacings. The buffer strips arrested the cracks and increased the residual strengths significantly over those of plain laminates without buffer strips. A shear-lag type stress analysis correctly predicted the effects of layup, buffer material, buffer strip width and spacing, and the number of plies of buffer material
The role of cross-national knowledge on organizational ambidexterity: A case of the global pharmaceutical industry

Using a sample of 70 global pharmaceutical firms, this study examined how cross-national knowledge affected the creation of exploitative (incremental) and explorative (breakthrough) types of technological innovations both of which are necessary for organizational ambidexterity. We found that there were significant differences for effectively using cross-national knowledge, which reinforces the need for organizational ambidexterity. The data used to study cross-national knowledge consisted of patent analyses of commercialized products, which is a step further than most studies that stop at just the patents themselves. Through the use of double-log regression analysis, the results suggested a notable conclusion: while the sourcing of intrafirm, cross-national knowledge enhanced explorative or breakthrough innovation, it did not enhance the development of exploitative or incremental innovation. The article concludes with managerial implications for managing ambidexterity.
Diagnodent useful adjunct but not substitute for clinical exam of occlusal surfaces for caries

Abstract Original Article Anttonen V, Seppa L, Hausen H. Clinical study of the use of the laser fluorescence device Diagnodent for detection of occlusal caries in children. Caries Res 2003;37(1):17–23. Level of Evidence 3b Purpose To evaluate the use of the laser fluorescence device Diagnodent as part of routine dental check-ups in children Source of Funding Not reported Type of Study/Design Case-control study
On the relationship between inflammation and altered cAMP metabolism in lungs ofB. Pertussis-vaccinated mice

Bordetella pertussis-vaccinated mice were examined for evidence of inflammation. Using polymorphonuclear leukocyte and fluid accumulation as markers, inflammation was evidenced in the lungs and to a lesser extent in the livers of such mice. Both heart and kidney showed no evidence of inflammation. Development of the inflammatory lesion followed a time course similar to that previously reported for increased sensitivity to histamine-mediated cAMP accumulation. This close parallelism between inflammation and altered cAMP metabolism supports the hypothesis that the increased cAMP accumulation might be related to a feedback mechanism regulating inflammatory mediator release.
Membrane damage to Escherichia coli and bactericidal kinetics by the alternative complement pathway of channel catfish

1. 1. Increased permeability of cytoplasmic membranes in Escherichia coli was a consequence of alternative complement pathway (ACP) activity of serum of channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. Evidence was provided by β-galactosidase activity extracellularly when E. coli was incubated with catfish serum. 2. 2. Lesions were detected on outer membranes of E. coli following exposure to catfish serum. 3. 3. Catfish ACP induced a temporal sequence of pre-killing and killing phases. 4. 4. Loss of cell viability, killing rate and cytoplasmic enzyme release increased with increasing serum concentrations. 5. 5. By incubating E. coli with sera treated to remove complement, both release of cytoplasmic enzyme and bactericidal activity were eliminated. 6. 6. Lethal activity associated with channel catfish ACP against Gram-negative bacteria was functionally comparable to that seen in mammalian and reptilian systems.
The surgical treatment of ventricular septal defect in infancy. The technic and results of pulmonary artery constriction.

Thirteen infants with ventricular septal defect, pulmonary hypertension, and severe congestive heart failure were treated by pulmonary artery constriction. The 12 children who survived operation have been followed from 1 to 4 years and have evidenced striking improvement in growth, weight gain, and exercise tolerance. None has had pneumonia or heart failure after operation. Considerations in the selection of patients for pulmonary artery constriction, the surgical method employed, and its hemodynamic control are described.
Blue-Green Laser Communications in Support of Undersea Dominance: Connecting with the Undersea Network

Considerable progress has been made in Submarine Laser Communications. As Network-Centric operations expand, however, the Navy needs to be a fully integrated part of the Joint Force and communications must be improved to ensure Undersea Dominance.
Carbonate equilibria and pH buffering by organic acids — Response to changes in pCO2

Abstract Organic acid anions such as acetate (a natural product of the thermal breakdown of kerogen) may buffer the pH of natural formation waters. The extent of pH buffering by acetate should determine whether an increase in the partial pressure of carbon dioxide ( p CO 2 ) will lead to calcite dissolution (porosity enhancement) or calcite precipitation (porosity destruction). Successful prediction of porosity therefore requires a quantitative understanding of this process. This paper presents computer simulations of the response of the acetic acid-carbonate system to changes in p CO 2 for typical reservoir fluid compositions and temperatures. The effects of variations in temperature, ionic strength, initial Ca 2+ concentration, and the magnitude of the change in p CO 2 were investigated. Natural formation waters from Cenozoic reservoirs in the Gulf Coast Basin and California show maximum organic acid concentrations at 100 ± 20°C. At 100°C, the simulations show that for concentrations of acetic acid up to ∼0.06 m (3600 mg l −1 ), increases in the p CO 2 of initially calcite saturated solutions will promote calcite undersaturation. At higher temperatures, equivalent buffering responses occur at lower acetic acid concentrations but acetic acid concentrations in natural formation waters also decrease rapidly with increasing temperature. Since present-day concentrations of acetic acid in formation waters from Cenozoic reservoirs rarely exceed 0.06 m , increases in p CO 2 will generally promote calcite dissolution by these waters. In the Gulf Coast Basin, variation in organic acid concentrations as a function of reservoir age suggests that reductions in dissolved organic acid concentrations over geologic time have been relatively small. It can be concluded, therefore, that at any point in the histories of these reservoirs, an increase in p CO 2 would have promoted calcite dissolution, despite the effects of pH buffering by acetate. Since increases in p CO 2 will in most Cenozoic basins promote calcite dissolution, knowledge of the location and timing of CO 2 production in the subsurface can more easily be applied to the prediction of calcite cementation and dissolution.
Lake rehabilitation: A status report

The widespread recognition of lake degradation as a major environmental concern has led to accelerated efforts to better protect and manage lake resources. Where it is too late for avoidance strategies, lake rehabilitation is receiving increasing attention as a natural resources management option. In recent years, a significant number of lake rehabilitation experiences has been documented throughout the world, and many nations and states have embarked upon major lake rehabilitation programs
Boyd's Legacy and Blackstone's Ghost

Section 1129(b) of the Bankruptcy Code gives each class of unsecured claims the right to insist that a reorganization plan be "fair and equitable" and to prevent those junior to them from receiving "property" on account of their old interests. The Bankruptcy Code is often said to embrace a rule of absolute priority, but if it does so, it is only through these restrictions. Hence, the meaning of the words "fair and equitable" and "property" is the terrain on which priority battles are contested. One must choose among different methods of statutory interpretation. One can derive priority rules by examining the judicial evolution of the words "fair and equitable" before they were incorporated into the 1978 Bankruptcy Reform Act. Alternatively, one can look to the word "property," and derive priority rules by trying to define this word. Opinions in the most recent Supreme Court case on this issue, 203 N. LaSalle, exemplify these competing approaches. Using these opinions as its starting point, this paper explores the way in which priority rules in bankruptcy have evolved over time and shows how the absolute priority rule is harder to derive from the statute and hence more contingent, positively and normatively, than commonly supposed.
SU-GG-T-447: Import of Gamma Knife Model C Treatment Plans Into CERR

Purpose: To import Gamma Knife treatment plans into an environment that allows for comparison and combination dose distributions with those from other treatment planning systems to include those for linear accelerators.Method and Materials: A set of software tools were developed that allow the binary files of GammaPlan, version 5.4, for Gamma Knife, Model C, to be converted and imported into CERR, version 3.0. The imported data files include CT scan sets, MR scan sets, anatomical contours, the location of the dose matrix relative to patient anatomy, the dose computed by GammaPlan. The functionality of CERR allows us to fuseimage sets, contours and doses. Results: We were able to import GammaPlan treatment plan data into CERR for comparison and combination with a Varian Eclipse/Helios treatment plan for recurrent tumor in the same patient. The recurrent tumor extended into anatomical regions that precluded re‐treatment with the Gamma Knife, Model C. This allowed superposition of isodose distributions of the two treatment plans in one viewable format. Areas of dose overlap for the two plans were identified and the progression of disease relative to the initially treatment location was observed. Conclusion: The software tools extend the capabilities of CERR to view GammaPlan treatment plans and combine the doses from other treatment planning systems supported by CERR. Further work will incorporate full plan specifications, including shot locations, gamma angle, and time for each shot so that CERR can export in DICOM RT format. These tools provide the potential for multi‐institutional stereotactic radiosurgery trials that include participation of the Gamma Knife, Model C.
Effects of wheat germ agglutinin on tunicate egg activation and fertilization: Is there a plasma membrane sperm receptor system on Ascidia ceratodes eggs?

Little work has been carried out on the sperm recognition systems present on the egg plasma membrane. Here it is shown that wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) interferes with the sperm-interacting system on the plasma membrane of eggs of the ascidian, Ascidia ceratodes. The WGA activates the dechorionated egg, indicating that a plasma membrane sugar residue can be directly tied to egg activation. Low concentrations of this lectin do not activate the eggs, but reduce fertilizability. This observation suggests that the WGA binding site might be part of a sperm reception-activation complex in the plasma membrane. While WGA also affects sperm binding to the chorion, the mechanisms of sperm interaction at the plasma membrane and chorion show different sensitivities to lectins, sugars and enzymes.
CYCLIC NUCLEOTIDE EXUDATION BY NEMATODES AND THE EFFECTS ON NEMATODE GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT AND LONGEVITY

The levels of the cyclic nucleotides, cAMP and cGMP, in the medium of aging mass cultures of Panagrellus redivivus were determined, respectively, by a protein binding assay and a radio-immunoassay. The amount of cGMP increased as the mass cultures aged while the amount of cAMP remained stable. Since premature death and an inhibition of development have been observed in aging mass cultures, investigators have speculated that a build-up of excretory products in the medium might be toxic to the nematodes and cause abnormal development. To examine this possibility, small cultures containing fixed numbers of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans were exposed to levels of cGMP analagous to the levels found in aging mass cultures of P. redivivus. Significant increases in growth and longevity occurred with no effect on fecundity, timing or the duration of the reproductive period. It appears then that cGMP is not responsible for the toxic effects observed in mass culture and, in fact, cGMP apparently enhances nematode longevity at concentrations which do not alter normal development.
Validity of Adler's active-constructive, active-destructive, passive-constructive, and passive-destructive typology

Abstract This research investigated the validity of Adler's typology: active-constructive, achievement-oriented; active-destructive, hostile; passive-constructive, attention-seeking; and passive-destructive, interpersonal detachment. Four possible measures of the constructive-destructive dimension and two possible measures of activity-passivity were used, with all eight possible combinations being used to establish the Adlerian types (active-constructive, etc.). A total of 192 male undergraduates served as subjects. The Full I-E Scale in combination with the CPS Activity-Lack-of-Energy Scale produced groups that demonstrated the Adlerian relationships, active-constructive, achievement-oriented, and so forth. There were strong secondary personality manifestations within the respective groups.
Effects of α2-adrenergic stimulation with UK 14,304-18 on the heart and peripheral circulation of intact dogs

To determine the extent of alpha 2-adrenoreceptor control of cardiovascular function, we studied the hemodynamic effects of the relatively selective alpha 2-adrenergic agonist UK 14,304-18 on the heart and peripheral circulation of intact dogs. Administration of increasing intravenous doses of UK 14,304-18 to conscious dogs given atropine to maintain heart rate (HR) resulted in a reproducible increase in mean aortic (AO) pressure (77.6 +/- 5.0 to 136.4 +/- 6.5 mm Hg, p less than 0.05) and reductions in stroke volume (31.7 +/- 2.9 to 17.9 +/- 1.9 ml/kg/min, p less than 0.05) and left ventricular (LV) dP/dt (2,120 +/- 280.0 to 1,463 +/- 196.1 mm Hg/s, p less than 0.05). In ganglion-blocked dogs UK 14,304-18 did not alter the slope of the LV end-systolic pressure-volume relationship when compared with angiotensin and nitroprusside (79.9 +/- 11.1 control vs. 73.3 +/- 8.7 mm Hg/ml/kg UK 14,304-18, p greater than 0.05), nor did it change the volume intercept (-0.46 +/- 0.12 control vs. -0.53 +/- 0.16 ml/kg UK 14, 304-18, p greater than 0.05) indicating no direct effect on LV contractile function. Changes in indices of diastolic function, including the time constant of isovolumic relaxation, time to peak filling, and chamber volume elasticity were similar to those of equipressor doses of angiotensin, indicating no direct effect on LV diastolic function. Effects on the peripheral circulation were studied in dogs undergoing transient acetylcholine-induced circulatory arrest. UK 14,304-18 increased mean circulatory filling pressure (7.9 +/- 0.3 to 10.3 +/- 0.2 mm Hg, p less than 0.05) and the pressure gradient for venous return (7.6 +/- 0.4 to 9.0 +/- 0.3 mm Hg, p less than 0.05). Central blood volume increased with UK 14,304-18 (15.6 +/- 1.1 to 18.7 +/- 1.5 ml/kg, p less than 0.05), but this increase was not sufficient to maintain cardiac output (CO) during the UK 14,304-18 infusion, which decreased from 157.4 +/- 11.1 to 131.5 +/- 8.9 ml/kg/min (p less than 0.01) in the presence of increased LV afterload. The time constant of relaxation of the arterial system increased and the arterial compliance decreased with increasing mean arterial pressure. Thus, this relatively selective alpha 2 agonist does not directly alter cardiac function but increased tone in arterial resistance vessels and in systemic veins. The fall in CO appears to be caused by a mismatch between preload and afterload, which is the net result of quantitatively different effects on systemic veins and arteries.
Activation of IKK by TNFα Requires Site-Specific Ubiquitination of RIP1 and Polyubiquitin Binding by NEMO

The receptor interacting protein kinase 1 (RIP1) is essential for the activation of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha). Here, we present evidence that TNFalpha induces the polyubiquitination of RIP1 at Lys-377 and that this polyubiquitination is required for the activation of IkappaB kinase (IKK) and NF-kappaB. A point mutation of RIP1 at Lys-377 (K377R) abolishes its polyubiquitination as well as its ability to restore IKK activation in a RIP1-deficient cell line. The K377R mutation of RIP1 also prevents the recruitment of TAK1 and IKK complexes to TNF receptor. Interestingly, polyubiquitinated RIP1 recruits IKK through the binding between the polyubiquitin chains and NEMO, a regulatory subunit of the IKK complex. Mutations of NEMO that disrupt its polyubiquitin binding also abolish IKK activation. These results reveal the biochemical mechanism underlying the essential signaling function of NEMO and provide direct evidence that signal-induced site-specific ubiquitination of RIP1 is required for IKK activation.
Role of Baffles on Flow Fields Inside Wet-Lay Mixing Tanks and Their Potential Influence on Fiber Dispersion

Dispersion and separation of fiber bundles requires exposing them to a shear stress field to overcome interfiber frictional forces. To this end, fiber-mixing tanks are equipped with baffles to enhance shear and agitation in the water to help disperse the fiber bundles. The time and agitation required to separate and disperse the fibers depends on the fibers being used. It is well known, however, that excessive agitation will give rise to the formation of rope defects in the output because of the high-energy vortices that form behind these baffles. Optimizing the baffle geometry and position is therefore critically important in the wet-lay process. This paper presents some possible ways of eliminating the regions in the water velocity field where strong vortices may be present; in particular, the motivation for this paper is that minimizing vortex formation will lower the probability of rope formation. In this regard, we present a series of numerical simulations to model fluid-flow behavior inside wet-lay mixing tanks. A turbulent flow field is obtained by solving the Navier-Stokes equations in a two-dimensional geometry. The turbulent features of the flow are captured using the RNG k-e model. Fibers, modeled as spherical rigid particles with the same volume as the fibers, are introduced into the solution domain and their trajectories are tracked inside the mixing tank. The effects of the baffles and their orientation with respect to flow streamlines are simulated. We report the simulation results for different baffle configurations and show that aligning the baffles with the streamlines and increasing their surface area can eliminate the formation of vortices while still keeping the shear field at a satisfactory level. We hypothesize that eliminating the vortices in the mixing tank reduces the probability of rope formation, but this hypothesis needs to be verified experimentally.