cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nonrheumatic mitral insufficiency. Determination of operability and prognosis.

Twenty patients with mitral insufficiency (MI) due to ruptured chordae tendineae, papillary muscle infarction, or left ventricular enlargement with no organic disease of the mitral valve have been studied during the past 3 years. Nineteen had valve replacement, and one had plastic repair of ruptured chordae tendineae; all have been followed from 6 months to 3 years. Preoperative data were different in those who were improved by surgery (13 patients) and those who were not (seven patients). The group in which good results were obtained had a short history of heart failure, little or no evidence of left atrial (LA) enlargement in the electrocardiograms and x-rays, and striking LA ν waves at catheterization. In the group demonstrating poor results, heart failure was of longer duration, gross four-chamber cardiomegaly was present, and LA ν waves were only moderate. Thus, patients with nonrheumatic mitral insufficiency with high-pressure LA regurgitant waves and only moderate LA enlargement are likely to benef...
Peritoneal washing cytology of ovarian tumors of low malignant potential: correlation with surface ovarian involvement and peritoneal implants.

OBJECTIVE: To correlate the cytologic diagnoses of peritoneal washings (PWs) with histologic findings of ovarian tumors of low malignant potential (LMP). METHODS: PW cytology from 90 patients with histologically confirmed ovarian tumors of LMP were reviewed and correlated with histologic findings. RESULTS: In 90 LMP tumor patients who underwent PW, cytologic diagnoses were reported as positive in 30 (33%) cases, atypical in 5 (6%) cases and negative in 55 (61%) cases. On review of the five atypical cases, three were reclassified as negative and two as positive. Peritoneal washings were positive in 20 (33%) of 60 patients with serous LMP tumors, 12 (44%) of 27 patients with mucinous LMP tumors and none of 3 patients with mixed LMP tumors. The presence of positive cytology was highly indicative of surface ovarian involvement or peritoneal implants in completely staged or selectively biopsied patients (P<.0001). Of 60 (67%) patients who had a staging laparotomy, positive PWs were seen in 3 (75%) of 4 cases with surface involvement only, 13 (94%) of 14 cases with peritoneal implants only, 3 (100%) of 3 cases with both peritoneal implants and ovarian surface involvement, and 9 (23%) of 39 cases without evidence ofsurface involvement or peritoneal implants. PWs were positive in 4 (13%) of 30 cases without staging laparotomy. CONCLUSION: PW cytology is a sensitive indicator of peritoneal dissemination of ovarian tumors of LMP. In addition, PWs will detect a high percentage of patients with subclinical intraperitoneal extension of such tumors and should be used routinely in the staging ofovarian tumors of LMP.
Improving Students’ Diagram Comprehension with Classroom Instruction

The authors tested whether students can be taught to better understand conventional representations in diagrams, photographs, and other visual representations in science textbooks. The authors developed a teacher-delivered, workbook-and-discussion–based classroom instructional method called Conventions of Diagrams (COD). The authors trained 1 experienced teacher to deliver COD to two 10th-grade biology classes (n = 31) and compared gains in diagram comprehension from COD to those from a business-as-usual control condition (n = 30) in 2 classrooms taught by the same teacher. Students in the COD condition showed statistically significantly greater growth in comprehension of literal and inferential biology diagrams. The control condition in some cases advantaged high-spatial, high-knowledge students, whereas the COD condition for the most part did not. Entries in the COD workbooks were analyzed for amount of student effort. Students with a combination of low pretest biology knowledge and low effort showed mu...
Oxide-catalyzed growth of Ag2O/Zn2SnO4 hybrid nanowires and their reversible catalytic ambient ethanol/oxygen detection

Large scale hybrid nanowires consisting of Zn2SnO4 periodic nanowires and Ag2O nanoparticles on both nanowire surfaces and tips have been successfully synthesized at 650 °C using a unique one-step silver oxide catalyzed vapor-solid-solid (VSS) growth process. The single crystal Zn2SnO4 nanowires mainly grew along the [13] direction with three major morphologies including straight linear, L-shape, and radiative sparse. Two-dimensional nucleation and periodic ledge growth processes were proposed to be responsible for the Zn2SnO4 periodical nanowire formation. These Ag2O/Zn2SnO4 hybrid nanowires were responsive to ethanol at ∼150 °C upon ∼150 ppm ethanol pulses, with one order of magnitude electrical conductivity decrease. This surprising decrease might be triggered by ethanol pulses associated with Ag2O nanoparticles on nanowire surfaces and electrode-nanowire film interfaces, leading to a catalytic activation of ambient oxygen detection. Ar plasma treatment on the nanowire surface inversely leads to conductivity increase upon ethanol pulses, which suggests a successful plasma removal of catalytic Ag2O and oxygen ions, therefore enabling the detection of ethanol molecules, instead of ambient oxygen. This reversible catalytic ambient ethanol/oxygen detection mechanism enabled by the hybrid nanowire configurations could provide a new path for designing smart gas detection devices compatible with multiple-transient-gas detection.
A reevaluation of calcium-local anesthetic antagonism.

Abstract Although it has been shown that Ca 2+ can inhibit the conduction blocking action of local anesthetic agents in lobster peripheral nerve, it is not known whether Ca 2+ directly competes for anionic membrane sites or indirectly alters the drug-membrane interaction. The present experiments were carried out during a sufficiently long time course to determine whether the blocking action of lidocaine, procaine, or tetracaine was reduced by Ca 2+ or whether Ca 2+ only delayed the onset of local anesthesia. Lidocaine HCl (5 m m ) reduced the amplitude of the compound action potential by 50% in 10 min in low-Ca 2+ (5 m m ) lobster physiologic saline, whereas in high-Ca 2+ (75 m m ) saline, 5 m m lidocaine reduced the action potential amplitude 50% only after 25 min external bath perfusion. Similar results were seen with 2 m m procaine and 0.2 m m tetracaine. The data confirm the suggestion that Ca 2+ merely slows the passage of local anesthetic agents across glial membranes and are not compatible with a model that describes competition of Ca 2+ and local anesthetic agents for a specific binding site in nerve membranes.
The Fate of the Book Chambers and National Bibliography in the Former Soviet Republics Since 1991

During the Soviet years, each of the fifteen constituent union republics established a book chamber tasked with maintaining legal deposit of publications, archival preservation, national bibliography, centralized cataloging, and other book-related responsibilities. This introductory article summarizes the fate of the book chambers and national bibliographies after the dissolution of the USSR in late 1991. Several countries have maintained their book chambers, with varying success, while six countries have merged their book chambers' responsibilities and collections into their national libraries, again with varying degrees of success.
Matching with Contracts: Comment

The theory of two-sided matching markets has interested researchers for its theoretical appeal and its relevance to the design of real-world institutions. The medical residency matching mecha? nism in the United States, the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP), and student assign? ment systems in New York City and Boston are important mechanisms designed by economists using the theory.1 Hatfield and Paul R. Milgrom (2005) present a unified framework of matching with contracts, which includes the two-sided matching and package auction models as well as a simplified version of a labor market model of Alexander Kelso and Vincent P. Crawford (1982) as special cases. They introduce the substitutes condition of contracts, which is an adaptation of the substitutability condition in the matching literature (Roth and Marilda A. Oliveira Sotomayor 1990) to matching with contracts. They show that there exists a stable allocation if contracts are substitutes for hospitals, and that a number of other results in matching generalize to problems with contracts. They further claim that the substitutes condition on individual hospitals' prefer? ences is necessary to guarantee the existence of a stable allocation for all possible singleton preferences of others: that is, if contracts are not substitutes for a hospital, then there exists a preference profile of other hospitals with single job openings and doctors such that there exists no stable allocation. We show that this last claim of Hatfield and Milgrom (2005) does not hold in general. The counterexample we present involves a hospital which has two different kinds of positions, and the preferences of the hospital are a combination of preferences of these two positions. While the substitutes condition does not hold for that hospital, we adopt a technique developed by Bettina Klaus and Flip Klijn (2005) and show that there exists a stable allocation. We then present the weak substitutes condition, which we show is necessary to guarantee existence of stable allocations. The modified result we present, as well as the original contribu? tion of Hatfield and Milgrom (2005), suggest a connection between the substitutes condition and stability.2
Project management practices: Then and now

This article uses the results of a survey of 56 American construction project managers to identify some risks and improvement opportunities pertaining to the practice of effective project management. In the process, the most and least important project management variables are identified and ranked. Next, the extent of knowledge, extent of use, and extent of relevance to project success are examined for project managers with and without international project management experience. Results of these analyses suggest improvement opportunity for business and higher learning in terms of training and educating future project managers. Based on the results of this study, it is concluded that both higher learning and business must approach the art and practice of project management from a global open system perspective. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Applicant Appearance and Selection Decision Making: Revitalizing Employment Interview Education

As a topic within the larger corpus of materials on selection interviewing, applicant appearance has been addressed through advice giving, folk wisdom, and other prescrip tions. As presented, such ...
Imaging Contrast and Biomechanics using Optical Coherence Tomography to Sense Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Labeled Platelets

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) provides 3D tissue imaging by contrasting light backscattering. OCT also senses nanoscale motions from optical phase shifts. We employ temporally modulated magnetic field gradients to mechanically displace superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIOs). By locking in to the modulation frequency, SPIOs are contrasted in OCT, dubbed magnetomotive OCT (MMOCT).Rehydrated lyophilized human platelets (“RL platelets”), are chemically stabilized infusion hemostatic agents retaining viability. We investigate similar dried platelets with intracellular SPIOs (“SPIO platelets”) as imaging therapeutics. SPIOs are uptaken into the surface connected open canalicular system of platelets where they form clusters. Platelets are then stabilized and dried with the same methods as RL platelets. These SPIO platelets retain the primary hemostatic functions of RL and fresh platelets.We found that MMOCT provides highly specific contrast to SPIO platelets at 1.5e6/μL in 1% agarose scaffolding (see figure). Furthermore, by sweeping the modulation frequency, a mechanical frequency spectrum is obtained, and resonance peaks are associated with the sample elasticity. This has potential for imaging sites of vascular damage and monitoring the local mechanical microenvironment to provide more detailed information about vascular pathologies.View Large Image | View Hi-Res Image | Download PowerPoint Slide
LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION AND POVERTY STATUS AMONG RURAL AND URBAN WOMEN WHO HEAD FAMILIES

This paper examines differentials in the propensity to be living in poverty among women who head families with minor children. Characteristics of mothers are examined for four subgroups: residents of central cities, suburbs, small towns, and rural areas. Using Public Use Microdata Sample data from the 1980 Census, results are presented using Multiple Classification Analysis. After controlling for the effects of mother's race, marital status, education, work status, and ages of her children, single mothers in central cities and smaIl towns have the highest rates of poverty (48% and 45% respectively), closely followed by those in rural areas (41%). Suburban single mothers are least likely to live in poverty (33%). Results show that employment status is the strongest predictor of poverty, followed by education and marital status. A subanalysis of women who work full-time reveals major differences in earned income, with suburban women earning the highest incomes, followed by women living in central cities, then rural areas and, finally, small towns. A decomposition of this difference reveals that about two-thirds of the difference is due to pay scales, and only one-third due to the structure of occupational opportunity.
Highly sensitive surface-enhanced Raman scattering using vertically aligned silver nanopetals

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has attracted great attention due to its high sensitivity and specificity in the detection of a variety of molecules. Recently, much effort has been focused on the development of novel nanostructured SERS substrate with reliable and excellent sensing performance. In this work, a transparent Ag thin film composed of vertically aligned, single-crystalline silver nanopetals with uniform distribution is fabricated by galvanic replacement reaction. The growth mechanism of such novel Ag nanopetals is proposed. Furthermore, the outstanding SERS performance of the as-prepared Ag nanostructured thin film is demonstrated using crystal violet as the model compound, and the Raman intensity shows concentration-dependent behavior following the Freundlich equation. Crystal violet as low as 500 pM is facilely detected with high reproducibility (n = 8). The enhancement factor is determined to be 108, which potentially enables the identification of crystal violet at single molecule level on the probed surface. The high sensitivity is attributed to the “hot spots” resulting from proximate edges of Ag nanopetals and the nanocavity architecture bounded by Ag nanopetals.
When Biased Language Use is Associated With Bullying and Dominance Behavior: The Moderating Effect of Prejudice

Biased language related to sexual orientation is used frequently among students and is related to prominent social concerns such as bullying. Prejudice toward gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals also has been examined among adolescents, but separately from these behaviors. This study tested whether biased language use was associated with bullying and dominance irrespective of sexual prejudice or if sexual prejudice moderated these associations among 290 high school students (50% female; 56% White). Sexual prejudice was associated with biased language use among boys only. Biased language was associated with bullying regardless of levels of sexual prejudice for boys. However, this association was dependent on sexual prejudice for girls. For dominance behavior, its association with biased language was moderated by sexual prejudice for boys, but not girls. However, girls’ engagement in all behaviors was significantly less than boys. These results indicate nuanced ways in which multiple factors contribute to the use of sexual orientation biased language. Also, they underscore the need to address biased language and prejudice as part of anti-bullying programs.
Unstructured finite element solvers in gyrokinetic turbulence simulations of burning plasmas

Many plasma physics simulation applications utilize an unstructured finite element method (FEM) discretization of an elliptic operator, of the form −∇2u + αu = f; when α is equal to zero a pure Laplacian or Poisson equation results and when α is greater than zero a Helmholtz equation is produced. Discretized equations of this form, often 2D, occur in many tokamak fusion plasma, or burning plasma, applications — from MHD to Gyrokinetic codes. This report investigates the performance characteristics of basic classes of linear solvers (ie, direct, one-level iterative, and multilevel iterative methods) on 2D unstructured FEM problems of the form −∇2u + αu = f, with both α = 0 and α ≠ 0. The purpose of this work is to provide computational physicists guidelines as to appropriate linear solvers for their problems via detailed performance analysis, in terms of both the scalability and the constants in the solution times. We show, as expected, almost perfect scalability of multilevel methods and quantify the solution costs on a common computational platform — the IBM SP Power3.
Determination of dissolved methane in natural waters using headspace analysis with cavity ring-down spectroscopy.

Abstract Methane (CH4) is the third most abundant greenhouse gas (GHG) but is vastly understudied in comparison to carbon dioxide. Sources and sinks to the atmosphere vary considerably in estimation, including sources such as fresh and marine water systems. A new method to determine dissolved methane concentrations in discrete water samples has been evaluated. By analyzing an equilibrated headspace using laser cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS), low nanomolar dissolved methane concentrations can be determined with high reproducibility (i.e., 0.13 nM detection limit and typical 4% RSD). While CRDS instruments cost roughly twice that of gas chromatographs (GC) usually used for methane determination, the process presented herein is substantially simpler, faster, and requires fewer materials than GC methods. Typically, 70-mL water samples are equilibrated with an equivalent amount of zero air in plastic syringes. The equilibrated headspace is transferred to a clean, dry syringe and then drawn into a Picarro G2301 CRDS analyzer via the instrument’s pump. We demonstrate that this instrument holds a linear calibration into the sub-ppmv methane concentration range and holds a stable calibration for at least two years. Application of the method to shipboard dissolved methane determination in the northern Gulf of Mexico as well as river water is shown. Concentrations spanning nearly six orders of magnitude have been determined with this method.
A NEW MEMBER OF THE PSITTACOSIS-LYMPHOGRANULOMA GROUP OF VIRUSES THAT CAUSES INFECTION IN CALVES

From portions of intestine and feces of apparently normal calves, a virus that produces elementary bodies was procured in guinea pigs and in embryonated eggs. Morphologically and tinctorially this virus closely resembled members of the psittacosis-lymphogranuloma group of viruses and it shared a common antigen or antigens with them. Comparison of serological, pathogenic, and other properties indicated that this virus from calves is a new member of the psittacosis-lymphogranuloma group and in keeping with classification practices it is provisionally named Miyagawanella bovis. Miyagawanella bovis when fed to experimental calves established an infection in the intestinal tract that resembled the inapparent infection seen in natural cases but failed to produce evident disease. Ability of the virus to infect experimental animals by feeding, and its presence in feces of infected animals indicate its natural mode of spread. This method of dissemination and persistence of virus for long periods of time in infected animals suggested the virus should be widespread and more than 60 per cent of the calves in the vicinity of lthaca were found to be infected.
Facilitation of cardiac sympathetic function by angiotensin II: Role of presynaptic angiotensin receptors

Abstract Intravenous infusion of two separate doses of angiotensin II in pentobarbital-anesthetized, desipramine-treated animals produced dose-related increases in arterial blood pressure and caused significant potentiation of the cardioacceleration observed during the stimulation of the right postganglionic cardiac sympathetic nerve fibers. Positive chronotropic effects of intravenous norepinephrine were not altered during angiotensin II infusion. Prior administration of Saralasin, an angiotensin receptor antagonist, caused significant attenuation of the pressor action of angiotensin II, and also significantly antagonized the facilitatory effect of angiotensin II on sympathetic transmission to the myocardium. These results suggest that angiotensin II can cause facilitation of symphatetic nerve function to the myocardium via an actioon on agiotensin receptors which may be located on sympathetic nerve terminals.
Polymerization of Olefins with Magnesium Chloride-Supported Catalysts

There is a resurgence of interest in Ziegler-Natta coordination catalysis of olefin polymerization owing to the development of MgCl2-supported high mileage catalysts. The research activities have intensified, as witnessed by several symposia dealing, either in part or entirely, with the subject. This volume is the result of one such international symposium. Review articles have also appeared. For instance, a historical perspective of stereospecific polymerization of propylene by Pino and Mulhaupt,50, discussions on the advances in the manufacturing of polypropylene by Galli et al.,28,29 and surveys onatent and scientific literature by Dumas and Hsu26 and Choi and Ray.18
In Vitro and In Silico Annotation of Conserved and Nonconserved MicroRNAs in the Genome of the Marsupial Monodelphis domestica

The gray short-tailed opossum, Monodelphis domestica, is the world’s most widely utilized marsupial model for biomedical research. Recent completion of the initial M. domestica genome assembly offers the first opportunity to examine genome-wide phenomena in a marsupial. Using in silico methods, we have mapped 124 conserved microRNAs (miRNAs) to 94 loci in the M. domestica genome. In addition, using RNA pooled from 5 tissues, we cloned 85 miRNAs. Seventy-two of these are conserved miRNAs that we had mapped in silico. The additional 13 are nonconserved candidate miRNAs in 11 loci. Nine of these 13 are also found in the wallaby (Macropus eugenii) genome. Two of the candidate miRNA clones, located on the X chromosome, are part of a cluster containing a total of 24 potential miRNAs spanning more than 100 kb.
Code and receiver design for the noncoherent fast-fading channel

This paper deals with the design of coding/modulation and demodulation/decoding schemes for single- or multiple-antenna systems with focus on fast-fading channels, where channel state information (CSI) is not available at the transmitter and the receiver. We explore two possible solutions for this channel with increasing degree of sophistication. The first one utilizes pilots at the transmitter and a simple and explicit noniterative channel estimation algorithm at the receiver. We show that this pilot-assisted system is exactly equivalent, in terms of performance analysis and design, to an appropriately "degraded" system having perfect CSI at the receiver. The second scheme utilizes pilots and a family of well-justified and simple suboptimal iterative detection/estimation algorithms. It is shown that when turbo-like codes are considered in conjunction with this pilot-assisted transmission scheme and the proposed receiver algorithm, the unitary constellations investigated in the literature are inferior to simple pilot-assisted constellations in both complexity and performance. Specific instances of the proposed systems (that use optimized irregular low-density parity-check outer codes) are designed. The design examples provided show that the proposed systems can achieve a good tradeoff between complexity and performance and can be used to bridge the gap between the high complexity/high-performance optimal scheme and low-complexity/mediocre performance noniterative estimation/coherent detection scheme.
Impulse response solution to the three-dimensional vector radiative transfer equation in atmosphere-ocean systems. II. The hybrid matrix operator--Monte Carlo method

A hybrid method is developed to solve the vector radiative transfer equation (VRTE) in a three-dimensional atmosphere-ocean system (AOS). The system is divided into three parts: the atmosphere, the dielectric interface, and the ocean. The Monte Carlo method is employed to calculate the impulse response functions (Green functions) for the atmosphere and ocean. The impulse response function of the dielectric interface is calculated by the Fresnel formulas. The matrix operator method is then used to couple these impulse response functions to obtain the vector radiation field for the AOS. The primary advantage of this hybrid method is that it solves the VRTE efficiently in an AOS with different dielectric interfaces while keeping the same atmospheric and oceanic conditions. For the first time, we present the downward radiance field in an ocean with a sinusoidal ocean wave.
Enhancing build-portability for scientific applications across heterogeneous platforms

The paper addresses the build problem in the HPC arena that results from heterogeneity in hardware architectures, system software, and application build systems. We propose a new approach that generalizes current build systems, and enhances their portability across heterogeneous high-end platforms. Although the original application build system needs to be modified it is a one-time activity that allows us to extract target platform specific information and store it into profiles. Our toolkit exploits profiles to retrieve appropriate target-specific information during the actual build process. Our developed mechanism termed late binding enables dynamic concretization of platform-specific variables from profiles. This approach simplifies the build process for heterogeneous environments, promotes profile reuse, and improves its portability. In order to verify our approach in practice we have applied our methodology to a production molecular dynamics code (the CPMD application).
Forensic rehabilitation services in the United States: Contemporary status and future directions

La prestacion de servicios publicos de rehabilitacion ha existido por casi 100 anos en los Estados Unidos. En este periodo de tiempo, la profesion esta madurando y se ha definido su preparacion educativa y clinica requerida, y las oportunidades profesionales abundan. En los Estados Unidos hay una buena demanda de consejeros de rehabilitacion y sus funciones estan cambiando. Este manuscrito actualiza brevemente a los lectores sobre la formacion en consejeria de rehabilitacion y explora el desarrollo y la creciente demanda de consejeros de rehabilitacion en el sector privado. Al termino de este trabajo, el lector reconocera las oportunidades de empleo que los consejeros de rehabilitacion pueden acceder y a traves de su labor satisfacer a las diversas demandas que la sociedad tiene en esta materia.
Application of the stochastic mixing model to hyperspectral resolution enhancement

A maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimation method is described for enhancing the spatial resolution of a hyperspectral image using a higher resolution coincident panchromatic image. The approach makes use of a stochastic mixing model (SMM) of the underlying spectral scene content to develop a cost function that simultaneously optimizes the estimated hyperspectral scene relative to the observed hyperspectral and panchromatic imagery, as well as the local statistics of the spectral mixing model. The incorporation of the stochastic mixing model is found to be the key ingredient for reconstructing subpixel spectral information in that it provides the necessary constraints that lead to a well-conditioned linear system of equations for the high-resolution hyperspectral image estimate. Here, the mathematical formulation of the proposed MAP method is described. Also, enhancement results using various hyperspectral image datasets are provided. In general, it is found that the MAP/SMM method is able to reconstruct subpixel information in several principal components of the high-resolution hyperspectral image estimate, while the enhancement for conventional methods, like those based on least squares estimation, is limited primarily to the first principal component (i.e., the intensity component).
Genetic dissection of R gene signal transduction pathways.

Abstract Mutant screens have identified several genes in tomato, barley and Arabidopsis that are required for the function of specific plant disease resistance (R) genes. Two of these genes, NDR1 and EDS1 have recently been cloned from Arabidopsis . Most Arabidopsis R genes require NDR1 or EDS1 but not both. In a complementary approach, yeast two-hybrid screens have identified several proteins in tomato that interact with the Pto R gene protein, including a kinase and three putative transcription factors. The present data indicate that R gene proteins directly activate multiple signal transduction pathways, and that common defense responses can be activated via independent pathways.
Diamond Growth in an Oxy-Acetylene Flame by an Alternating Gas Ratio Technique

Diamond films were grown using a computer controlled oxy-acetylene torch that allowed precise programming of O 2 and C 2 H 2 gas profiles. This enabled more accurate control of the diamond growth chemistry. With this torch, systematic and complex variations in gas chemistry were applied during growth and the resulting film morphology and film quality was investigated. Plan view scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed predominately (111) faceting as a result of a sawtooth variation in the O 2 :C 2 H 2 gas ratio from 0.97 to 1.00. Raman spectroscopy indicated mostly sp 3 bonding, with little non-diamond component present. Furthermore, crosssectional SEM showed small grains during normal growth (O 2 :C 2 H 2 = 0.97), whereas grain size increased significantly after onset of a sawtooth variation in the gas ratio.
What Every Clinician Should Know About Polysomnography

Polysomnography studies are an essential tool for the sleep physician and aid in the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders. Polysomnography refers to the recording, analysis, and interpretation of multiple physiologic signals collected simultaneously. Rapid advancements in technology have transformed the field from a time when analog studies were collected on paper to computer-assisted collection of digitally transformed studies. Sleep clinicians, whether physicians, respiratory therapists, or sleep technologists, must therefore have an understanding of a broad array of principles underlying the collection of the various signals. In addition, an understanding of basic technical rules in the evaluation of polysomnography studies is necessary for both the scoring and interpretation of such studies. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine published a new manual for the scoring of sleep and associated events in 2007. These changes included modifications to the visual scoring of sleep, the scoring of sleep-disordered breathing events, and movement disorders during sleep. A few early studies have evaluated the effects of the changes in scoring guidelines to the previous Rechtschaffen and Kales (R&K) rules for sleep and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine rules for respiratory events. Some controversy regarding the scoring of respiratory events continues to exist and requires further studies to be performed.
Expanding the Clinical Development of Bevacizumab

Bevacizumab (Avastin; Genentech, Inc.; South San Francisco, CA) is a recombinant, humanized monoclonal antibody to vascular endothelial growth factor, a key regulator of tumor angiogenesis. Bevacizumab demonstrated potent antitumor activity in preclinical models and has also shown biologic activity and clinical benefit in clinical studies. Notably, a randomized, placebo-controlled phase II trial in renal cell carcinoma demonstrated a significantly longer time to tumor progression with bevacizumab monotherapy. Furthermore, in a phase III trial for untreated advanced colorectal cancer, the addition of bevacizumab to chemotherapy led to significantly longer overall survival and progression-free survival times than chemotherapy alone. The clinical development of bevacizumab has been expanded to include confirmatory phase III trials and exploratory phase II trials in a variety of solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. Treatment regimens being examined include bevacizumab alone and in combination with conventional chemotherapy, radiation, immune therapy, and biologically targeted agents.
Intestinal Flora and Chicken Flavor

SUMMARY– Chickens, including those reared under germfree, gnotobiotic (in contact only with Clostridium perfringens, Escherichia coli, and Streptococcus faecalis) or conventional conditions were compared for flavor utilizing the triangle taste testing technique. Dark and light meat were evaluated separately. The results of these tests indicated a highly significant difference between the flavor of germfree and conventional chicken meat, a difference of lower significance between gnotobiotic and conventional chicken meat and no significant difference between the -flavor of gnotobiotic and germfree chicken meat. Meat from the conventionally-reared chickens had a stronger and more characteristic chicken flavor than that from germfree chickens. These results indicate that bacteria present in the intestinal tract do affect flavor of the meat of the chicken.
Antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic activity of eugenol-related biphenyls on malignant melanoma cells.

Malignant melanoma is one of the most aggressive skin cancer and chemotherapeutic agents currently in use are still unsatisfactory. Prevention and early diagnosis are the only effective tools against this tumour whose incidence and mortality rates are highly increased during the last decades in fair skin populations. Therefore the search for novel therapeutic approaches is warranted. Aim of this work was to identify and test new compounds with antiproliferative and cytotoxic activity on melanoma cells. We tested eugenol together with six natural and synthetic eugenol-related compounds for their capability to inhibit cell growth on primary melanoma cell lines established from patients' tissue samples. Eugenol and isoeugenol monomers and their respective O-methylated forms did not show to inhibit melanoma cells proliferation. Conversely, the dimeric forms (biphenyls) showed some antiproliferative activity which was mild for dehydrodieugenol, higher for its O,O'- methylated form (O,O'-dimethyl-dehydrodieugenol), and markedly pronounced for the racemic mixture of the brominated biphenyl (6,6'-dibromo-dehydrodieugenol) (S7), being its enantiomeric form (S) the most effective compared to the other compounds. Such activity resulted to be selective against tumour cells, without affecting cultured normal human skin fibroblasts. Dose and time dependence curves have been obtained for the enantiomeric form S7-(S). Then IC50 and minimal effective doses and times have been established for the melanoma cell lines tested. TUNEL and phosphatidylserine exposure assays demonstrated the occurrence of apoptotic events associated with the antiproliferative activity of S7-(S). Cytotoxic activity and apoptosis induced by treating melanoma cells with eugenol-related biphenyls was partially dependent by caspase activation. Our findings demonstrate that the eugenol related biphenyl (S)-6,6'-dibromo-dehydrodieugenol elicits specific antiproliferative activity on neuroectodermal tumour cells partially triggering apoptosis and its activity should be further investigated on in vivo melanoma models in order to evaluate the real anticancer effectiveness on such tumour.
Random waypoint considered harmful

This study examines the random waypoint model widely used in the simulation studies of mobile ad hoc networks. Our findings show that this model fails to provide a steady state in that the average nodal speed consistently decreases over time, and therefore should not be directly used for simulation. We show how unreliable results can be obtained by using this model. In particular, certain ad hoc routing metrics can drop by as much as 40% over the course of a 900-second simulation using the random waypoint model. We give both an intuitive and a formal explanation for this phenomenon. We also propose a simple fix of the problem and discuss a few alternatives. Our modified random waypoint model is able to reach a steady state and simulation results are presented.
Focus groups: a qualitative method complementing quantitative research for studying culturally diverse groups.

Context: Focus groups are becoming an important method for conducting qualitative research in health care. This strategy enables information to be gathered on the perceptions, beliefs, and values of a group's participants and is particularly well suited to addressing cultural characteristics that impact on a population's health status. As nations become more culturally diverse, qualitative research will likely play a growing role in helping health professions educators develop appropriate educational programs and in helping researchers better understand the needs of minorities and other vulnerable populations who are experiencing disparities in health care. Objectives: The purposes of this paper are to introduce the usefulness of a qualitative research strategy as an adjunct to quantitative survey research, and to describe briefly how researchers and educators at the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (Drew) have utilized this strategy when conducting combined qualitative and quantitative research. Discussion: Focus group research has been successfully used to develop culturally adapted surveys, to develop educational programs, and to conduct needs assessments at Drew, which serves a culturally diverse urban population.
An object-oriented approach to device simulation-FLOODS

C++ and object-oriented programming techniques are becoming popular for their modularity, ease of use, and simplicity to maintain and enhance. This paper describes an approach used for device simulation. The object library and organization are described. Specific areas of modularity and enhancement are illustrated in both the areas of physical models and mathematics. Comparisons of both performance and ease of enhancement are made to PISCES-II. >
Analysis of outer membrane proteins which are associated with growth of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron on chondroitin sulfate.

By analyzing outer membrane proteins of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron on two-dimensional polyacrylamide gels, we were able to identify 10 protein spots that were associated with growth on chondroitin sulfate but not with growth on glucuronic acid or other monosaccharides. These proteins were distinct from the outer membrane polypeptides that were associated with growth on two other negatively charged polysaccharides, polygalacturonic acid and heparin. Of the 10 protein spots that were associated with growth on chondroitin sulfate, 4 could be detected on immunoblots with antiserum that had been raised against outer membranes from bacteria grown on chondroitin sulfate and then cross-adsorbed with membranes from bacteria grown on glucose. Synthesis of these four proteins appeared to be regulated coordinately with synthesis of the two enzymes that degrade chondroitin sulfate, chondroitin lyase I and II. Although one of the four proteins (Mr 110,000) was similar in molecular weight to the chondroitin lyases, the cross-adsorbed antiserum which detected this outer membrane protein did not cross-react with either of these two enzymes. Images
Some Physiological Effects of Feeding High Levels of Vitamin A Acetate to Chicks

Abstract TOXICITY due to the ingestion of large amounts of vitamin A by animals has been reviewed by Nieman and Klein Obbink (1954), Moore (1957), and Deuel (1957). Only limited information could be found as to the gross and physiological effects of large intakes of vitamin A by the avian species. The effects of hypervitaminosis A on bone fragility in rats have been well described by Wolbach (1947). Failure to show any pathologic changes in the duck skeleton after feeding 200,000 I.U. (International Units) per day for the first three weeks of life was reported by Rigdon et al. (1951). Depigmentation of the feet and failure to gain in body weight were observed in the ducks but they failed to show the bone fragility which is a common sign of hypervitaminosis A in mammals. Wolbach and Hegsted (1952) fed chicks 50,000 I.U. of vitamin A daily by dropper (660 to 900…
The elusive nature of completing an uncompleted posthypnotic suggestion.

Abstract Some variables related to completing an uncompleted posthypnotic suggestion were evaluated. A waking suggestion and a posthypnotic suggestion were compared as regards their propensity to bring about a response to an uncompleted suggestion. Hypnotic simulators were included in both conditions. The posthypnotic suggestion was more effective, however, the response of the simulating Ss indicated that the response to an uncompleted (or completed) posthypnotic suggestion may be a result of implicit experimental demands. Earlier findings of a positive relationship between hypnotic susceptibility and responding later to an uncompleted or (completed) posthypnotic suggestion were not found. Implications of the results as they relate to earlier findings and current theories were discussed.
Shell Evaluation of White and Brown Egg Strains by Deformation, Breaking Strength, Shell Thickness and Specific Gravity 2. Stepwise Regression Analysis of Egg Characteristics on Methods of Assessing Shell Strength

Abstract The egg characteristics of shell thickness, specific gravity, egg weight, width/length ratio and tint of the brown shell eggs were regressed on the shell strength measurements of non-destructive deformation and breaking strength. Six commercially available laying strains (3 white egg and 3 brown egg) were used to determine differences between strains and differences between white and brown strains. Specific gravity was the most important contributor to deformation of white and brown shell eggs when non-destructive variables were considered. However, when the destructive measure of shell thickness was added to the model it became the most important contributor to deformation for the brown shell eggs, whereas specific gravity remained the most important contributor for the white shell eggs. With breaking strength as the dependent variable, the most important source of variation in Hatch 1 was thickness for the brown shell eggs and specific gravity for the white eggs. However, in Hatch 2 thickness was the most important contributor for both white and brown shell eggs. Specific gravity remained significant in the white egg strains and became insignificant in the brown egg strains. Tint did not contribute significantly to either deformation or breaking strength in the brown egg strains.
Flow cytometric analysis of acute leukemias. Diagnostic utility and critical analysis of data.

Abstract Context.—Acute leukemia displays characteristic patterns of surface antigen expression (CD antigens), which facilitate their identification and proper classification and hence play an important role in instituting proper treatment plans. In addition to enzyme cytochemical analysis, multiparameter flow cytometric analysis has become commonplace in most laboratories for that purpose. The essential role and caveats of flow cytometry in that regard, however, have received little scrutiny. Objective.—To evaluate the expression of commonly used immunomarkers and patterns in various acute leukemias to help define the best use and role of multiparameter flow cytometry in the diagnosis and proper classification of acute leukemias. Design.—We have retrospectively analyzed the immunophenotypic data from 508 de novo adult and pediatric acute leukemia patients, as studied using multiparameter flow cytometry in addition to routine morphologic and enzyme cytochemical analysis. Cytogenetic and/or molecular data ...
Homodimerization via a leucine zipper motif is required for enzymatic activity of quiescent cell proline dipeptidase.

Quiescent cell proline dipeptidase (QPP) is an intracellular serine protease that is also secreted upon cellular activation. This enzyme cleaves N-terminal Xaa-Pro dipeptides from proteins, an unusual substrate specificity shared with dipeptidyl peptidase IV (CD26/DPPIV). QPP is a 58-kDa protein that elutes as a 120–130-kDa species from gel filtration, indicating that it forms a homodimer. We analyzed this dimerization with in vivoco-immunoprecipitation assays. The amino acid sequence of QPP revealed a putative leucine zipper motif, and mutational analyses indicated that this leucine zipper is required for homodimerization. The leucine zipper mutants showed a complete lack of enzymatic activity, suggesting that homodimerization is important for QPP function. On the other hand, an enzyme active site mutant retained its ability to homodimerize. These data are the first to demonstrate a role for a leucine zipper motif in a proteolytic enzyme and suggest that leucine zipper motifs play a role in mediating dimerization of a diverse array of proteins.
Solid Solution Hardening of Intermetallic Compounds

Solid solution hardening is sought and observed in two B2(cP2) CsCl and two C15(cF24) Cu2Mg type structures. New data are presented for the high-temperature compounds AlCo, AlRu, and Cr2Zr; prior data of Livingston on Cu2Mg are analyzed. From lattice parameters and specific gravities, cell occupancy numbers have been measured and used to infer likely defect types and concentrations. The effects of constitutional defects in binary compounds correlate with traditional substitutional solution hardening from elastic interactions due to size differences and modulus differences. The hardening from ternary solutes is similar in magnitude, but the defect structures are complicated and not yet adequately understood.
Creating False Memories of Words With or Without Recognition of List Items: Evidence for Nonconscious Processes

Subjects exposed to lists of semantically related words falsely remember nonstudied words that are associated with the list items (e.g., Deese, 1959; Roediger & McDermott, 1995). To determine if subjects would demonstrate this false memory effect if they were unable to recognize the list items, we presented lists of semantically related words with or without a concurrent memory load at rates of 2 s, 250 ms, or 20 ms per word (Experiment 1, between-subjects design) and 2 s or 20 ms per word (Experiment 2, within-subjects design). We found that the subjects falsely recognized semantically related nonstudied words in all conditions, even when they were unable to discriminate studied words from unrelated nonstudied words. Recognition of list items was unnecessary for the occurrence of the false memory effect. This finding suggests that this memory illusion can be based on the nonconscious activation of semantic concepts during list presentation.