cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Integrated anatomical and physiological mapping of striatal afferent projections

The dorsomedial striatum, a key site of reward-sensitive motor output, receives extensive afferent input from cortex, thalamus and midbrain. These projections are integrated by striatal microcircuits containing both spiny projection neurons and local circuit interneurons. To explore target cell specificity of these projections, we compared inputs onto D1-dopamine receptor-positive spiny neurons, parvalbumin-positive fast-spiking interneurons and somatostatin-positive low-threshold-spiking interneurons, using cell type-specific rabies virus tracing and optogenetic-mediated projection neuron recruitment in mice. While the relative proportion of retrogradely labelled projection neurons was similar between target cell types, the convergence of inputs was systematically higher for projections onto fast-spiking interneurons. Rabies virus is frequently used to assess cell-specific anatomical connectivity but it is unclear how this correlates to synaptic connectivity and efficacy. To test this, we compared tracing data with target cell-specific measures of synaptic efficacy for anterior cingulate cortex and parafascicular thalamic projections using novel quantitative optogenetic measures. We found that target-specific patterns of convergence were extensively modified according to region of projection neuron origin and postsynaptic cell type. Furthermore, we observed significant divergence between cell type-specific anatomical connectivity and measures of excitatory synaptic strength, particularly for low-threshold-spiking interneurons. Taken together, this suggests a basic uniform connectivity map for striatal afferent inputs upon which presynaptic-postsynaptic interactions impose substantial diversity of physiological connectivity.
Perspectives of Fear as a Barrier to Self-Management in Non-Hispanic Black Men With Type 2 Diabetes.

Background. Self-managing type 2 diabetes (T2D) is critical but often challenging for non-Hispanic Black (NHB) men. Fears may contribute to poor self-management; however, the evidence is sparse. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between fear and diabetes self-management in NHB men from the southern United States. Methods. Nineteen NHB men with T2D were recruited from barbershops and churches. Interviews were conducted using a semistructured interview guide. Transcripts were analyzed using a phenomenological approach and focused on identifying common themes describing the perceptions of fear as a barrier to self-managing T2D in the study participants. Results. More than 68% of the sample was >55 years of age, where 42% reported an annual income of ≥$100,000, 74% were married, and 26% had a college degree. Fifty-three percent expressed fear with diabetes management, while 47% reported no fears with diabetes management. Direct fears associated with self-management included the use of n...
Electrostimulation of Hearing

Volta in 1800 first reported evoking hearing sensation by direct electrical stimulation. Since that time many experimenters have produced a hearing sensation by placing one electrode in the ear canal which had been filled with a conducting fluid and the other electrode on the arm. This phenomenon of hearing was named “electrophonic hearing”by Stevens (1937). Stevens removed the wires from a speaker of a radio set and connected electrodes to the wires. The result was highly distorted music and speech which was not intelligible. By adding DC polarizing voltage both music and speech became “dramatically clear”compared to the previous report of “a mere sequence of sounds.”Davis and Silverman in 1962 stated that electrophonic research had practically ceased because it offered so little promise.
Kinetic and spectrophotometric investigation of the mechanism of α-chymotrypsin action

One of the fundamental areas of biochemistry is the mechanism of enzyme action. This problem in catalysis may be stated as: “How does a protein catalyze an organic reaction ?” Although no definitive answer has been given for any enzyme, sufficient progress toward this goal has been made to justify the present conference, and the future portends great advances in this area. The study of enzymatic reaction mechanisms offers the possibility of learning one of life’s secrets by the application of chemical principles, and also the possibility of enhancing chemical ideas from learning what the enzyme can do which the lowly chemist cannot.
The Relative Importance of Agricultural and Wetland Habitats to Waterbirds in the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta of California

Author(s): Shuford, W. David; Reiter, Matthew E.; Sesser, Kristin A.; Hickey, Catherine M.; Golet, Gregory H. | Abstract: Biodiversity loss from agricultural intensification underscores the urgent need for science-based conservation strategies to enhance the value of agro-ecosystems for birds and other wildlife. California’s Central Valley, which has lost over 90% of its historical wetlands and currently is dominated by agriculture, still supports waterbird populations of continental importance. A better understanding of how waterbirds use available habitat is particularly needed in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta, an ecosystem under threat. From 2013 to 2015, we studied waterbird habitat associations in the Delta during fall migration and winter by conducting diurnal counts at random locations in key waterbird habitats throughout the Delta. Waterbird use of cover types (agricultural crops and managed wetlands) varied substantially among waterbird groups, by season, and among geographic sub-regions of the Delta. Overall, wetlands were particularly important to waterbirds in fall. In winter, wetlands and flooded rice and corn were important to many waterbird groups, and non-flooded corn and irrigated pasture to geese and cranes. The factors that influenced waterbird abundance and distribution also varied substantially among groups and differed at various geographic scales. In both seasons, most groups had a positive association at the field level with flooded ground and open water, and a negative association with vegetation. Given the great uncertainty in the future extent and pace of habitat loss and degradation in the Delta, prioritizing the conservation actions needed to maintain robust waterbird populations in this region is urgent. For the Delta to retain its importance to waterbirds, a mosaic of wetlands and wildlife-friendly crops that accounts for the value of the surrounding landscape must be maintained. This includes restoring additional wetlands and maintaining corn, rice, alfalfa, and irrigated pasture, and ensuring that a substantial portion of corn and rice is flooded in winter.
Acute sleep deprivation during pregnancy in rats: Rapid elevation of placental and fetal inflammation and kynurenic acid.

Abstract The kynurenine pathway (KP) is the dominant pathway for tryptophan degradation in the mammalian body and emerging evidence suggests that acute episodes of sleep deprivation (SD) disrupt tryptophan metabolism via the KP. Increases in the neuroactive KP metabolite kynurenic acid (KYNA) during pregnancy may lead to a higher risk for disrupted neurodevelopment in the offspring. As pregnancy is a critical period during which several factors, including sleep disruptions, could disrupt the fetal environment, we presently explored the relationship between maternal SD and KP metabolism and immune pathways in maternal, placenta, and fetal tissues. Pregnant Wistar rat dams were sleep deprived by gentle handling for 5 h from zeitgeber time (ZT) 0 to ZT 5. Experimental cohorts included: i) controls, ii) one session of SD on embryonic day (ED) 18 or iii) three sessions of SD occurring daily on ED 16, ED 17 and ED 18. Maternal (plasma, brain), placental and fetal (plasma, brain) tissues were collected immediately after the last session of SD or after 24 h of recovery from SD. Respective controls were euthanized at ZT 5 on ED 18 or ED 19. Maternal plasma corticosterone and fetal brain KYNA were significantly elevated only after one session of SD on ED 18. Importantly, maternal plasma corticosterone levels correlated significantly with fetal brain KYNA levels. In addition, placental levels of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were increased following maternal SD, suggesting a relationship between placental immune response to SD and fetal brain KYNA accumulation. Collectively, our results demonstrate that sleep loss during the last week of gestation can adversely impact maternal stress, placental immune function, and fetal brain KYNA levels. We introduce KYNA as a novel molecular target influenced by sleep loss during pregnancy.
Information system ecology: An application of dataphoric ascendancy

Abstract Information systems, like biological systems, are susceptible to external perturbations. Similar to flora and fauna in a biome, species of data can be classified within a dataphora. While entropic properties and data geometries can be used to describe local species of data within a dataphora, they are not designed to describe the global properties of an information system or evaluate its stability. Ecologists have used Information Theories to describe macro-level properties of biological ecosystems and statistical tools to evaluate biological systems. This research leverages an ecological perspective to model information systems as a living system. Our findings support the theory of dataphoric ascendancy with Wikipedia having a Diversity Index value of 0.68, within the range of 0.65 and 0.80 that indicates a balanced state. We further support our findings with additional evaluations of other ecosystems including the predicted collapse of the information service known as the Digital Universe. This research allows for an information system’s stability to be (a) characterized and (b) predicted using ecological measures specific to the diversity of data within the ecosystem.
Excisional haemorrhoidectomy: is it safe in patients with an ileal pouch-anal anastomosis?

AIM Excisional haemorrhoidectomy in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), especially those undergoing an ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA), remains controversial. The aim of our study was to determine the safety of excisional haemorrhoidectomy in UC patients with and without an IPAA. METHOD A retrospective review of all adult UC patients undergoing excisional haemorrhoidectomy between 1 January 1995 and 1 January 2019 at a tertiary inflammatory bowel disease referral centre was performed. Data collected included patient demographics, clinical characteristics of UC, prior surgical intervention for UC (colectomy, IPAA) and complications after haemorrhoidectomy. RESULTS Forty-one adult patients [50% male; median age 52 (range 25-79) years] with UC underwent excisional haemorrhoidectomy between 1 January 1995 and 1 January 2019. The majority (n = 23) had not previously undergone surgery for UC. However, eight had already undergone construction of an IPAA at the time of haemorrhoidectomy, seven had IPAA at the time of haemorrhoidectomy and three had an IPAA constructed subsequent to haemorrhoidectomy. Two (4.9%) patients need to go back to theatre for postoperative bleeding. There were no further 30-day complications or long-term nonhealing of the surgical site. There were no pouch complications in those who had haemorrhoidectomy at the time of IPAA construction or in the presence of an IPAA. CONCLUSION Our data suggest that excisional haemorrhoidectomy may be performed safely in carefully selected UC patients with symptomatic haemorrhoids with or without IPAA and even at the time of IPAA construction.
Fungal Disease Trends in Pediatric Patients, 2016-2019

Background Fungal infections can be life-threatening to vulnerable populations, including cystic fibrosis (CF) and immunocompromised patients. Our primary objective was to describe patient fungal isolate epidemiology at a pediatric medical center to enable analysis of risk factors for acquisition. Methods We performed a retrospective review of all fungal isolates from patients admitted to our center between 1/1/2016 and 9/30/2019. We included isolates from any body site and excluded Candida, Histoplasma, Blastomyces, and Cryptococcus species. We extracted patient characteristics from electronic medical records. We used descriptive statistics and rate comparison to identify trends among diagnoses and over time. Results One-hundred and thirteen patients were included, contributing 138 total fungal isolates. Sixty-six percent of the isolates were collected from throat or lung; 24% were from eye/ear/nose/skin/sinus, and 10% from wound/blood/urine. Aspergillus species were most commonly identified (43%), of which 78% were A. fumigatus. The rate of fungal isolates/1000 patient-days in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 was 0.201, 0.151, 0.117, and 0.304, respectively (0.117 vs. 0.304 isolates/1000 patient-days, p Conclusions Our cohort divided naturally into three groups: CF, immunocompromised, and other diagnosis. This will enable design of meaningful studies to identify and mitigate risk factors in each population. Increased fungal isolate rate in 2019 may be due to increased proportion of CF and immunocompromised patients. These and future data will be used to devise interventions to prevent healthcare-associated fungal infections.
Postoperative alignment in revision total knee arthroplasty, a comparison between intra and extra-medullary tibial alignment.

Abstract Background Revision total knee arthroplasty commonly involves stemmed components. If the diaphysis is engaged, this technique may be problematic for mechanical alignment (MA) in cases of tibial bowing, which are not infrequent (up to 30%). The aim of this study is to compare an intra-medullary(IM) and extra-medullary(EM) alignment method. We hypothesized that IM technique and canal-filling stems may result more frequently in valgus MA. On the other hand, an EM technique could produce less valgus knees but is at risk of creating MA outliers. Method A retrospective radiographic analysis of revision TKAs was performed. The patients were divided to either the EM or IM alignment group and compared on the overall post-operative MA. The following parameters were measured on standing, long leg x-rays: Hip-knee-Ankle angle (HKA), mechanical lateral distal femoral angle and mechanical medial proximal tibial angle (mMPTA). Results 119 cases of revision TKAs were included (EM = 80, IM = 39). There was a difference between the EM and IM group for the mean mMPTA (89.94° vs 90.92°, effect size = 0.45, p = 0.013) and HKA angle (1.64° vs 0.05°, effect size = 0.52, p = 0.0064). A higher proportion of IM patients were in overall valgus alignment (16/39, 41%) vs EM group (16/80, 20%, p = 0.0134). Both techniques showed the same proportion of outliers, defined as HKA angle more than 5 degrees from neutral mechanical alignment (11/80 vs 5/39, p = 0.286). Conclusion The extra-medullary alignment method with short cemented stems creates less valgus mechanical alignment than the intra-medullary technique with press-fit stems, without creating more MA outliers.
Fewer guns, less crime: evidence from Brazil

SUMMARYThis paper studies the effects of legislation in Brazil that banned the right to carry guns and provided for a voter referendum regarding whether to ban the sale of all firearms. Using a regression discontinuity design, I find that gun-related homicides decreased by 12.2% and gunshot wounds that were ‘intended to kill’ by 16.3%, with the reduction of the former being especially pronounced in high-crime areas and among black males. There is no evidence of substitution effect as non-gun-related homicides were not affected. Two pieces of evidence suggest that the mechanism explaining this result is a decrease in the number of people carrying guns in response to the legislation: first, the number of cases of illegal gun carrying decreased and second, only gun-related homicides taking place outside the residence were reduced. Analysis of the subsequent voter referendum, which was defeated by a wide margin, shows stronger support for the complete firearms ban in the areas more affected by gun violence.
Contemporary biomedical engineering perspective on volitional evolution for human radiotolerance enhancement beyond low-earth orbit

A primary objective of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is expansion of humankind's presence outside low-Earth orbit, culminating in permanent interplanetary travel and habitation. Having no inherent means of physiological detection or protection against ionizing radiation, humans incur capricious risk when journeying beyond low-Earth orbit for long periods. NASA has made large investments to analyze pathologies from space radiation exposure, emphasizing the importance of characterizing radiation's physiological effects. Because natural evolution would require many generations to confer resistance against space radiation, immediately pragmatic approaches should be considered. Volitional evolution, defined as humans steering their own heredity, may inevitably retrofit the genome to mitigate resultant pathologies from space radiation exposure. Recently, uniquely radioprotective genes have been identified, conferring local or systemic radiotolerance when overexpressed in vitro and in vivo. Aiding in this process, the CRISPR/Cas9 technique is an inexpensive and reproducible instrument capable of making limited additions and deletions to the genome. Although cohorts can be identified and engineered to protect against radiation, alternative and supplemental strategies should be seriously considered. Advanced propulsion and mild synthetic torpor are perhaps the most likely to be integrated. Interfacing artificial intelligence with genetic engineering using predefined boundary conditions may enable the computational modeling of otherwise overly complex biological networks. The ethical context and boundaries of introducing genetically pioneered humans are considered.
Cyperus flavicomus, the correct name for Cyperus albomarginatus

The correct name for Cyperus albomarginatus, a pantropical and warm-temperate sedge, is shown to be C. flavicomus Michaux.
Aspirin desensitization for cardiovascular disease.

Purpose of reviewThe use of aspirin in coronary artery disease and address the unmet need of aspirin therapy in patients with history of hypersensitivity reactions to aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid; ASA) or other nonsteroidal inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).Recent findingsAspirin hypersensitivity is repo
Productivity Measures: Descriptive Averages Versus Analytical Needs

The past decade’s sharp increase in studies of changes in industrial productivity has clearly enriched the perspectives provided by the earlier surge in such efforts during the 1930s, which was similarly stimulated by widespread concern about the declining competitiveness of domestic industries. But the more recent analyses by economists have been broadened to consider capital as well as labor inputs, have used better measures of output, and have applied more sophisticated methodologies, including econometric and input-output models. Nevertheless, the results have remained more serviceable as descriptions of past magnitudes and of gross relationships than as sources of analytical insights into the causes of observed changes, or of persuasive guides to the development of programs to improve productivity performance.
Respiratory endurance testing in healthy children

Background A respiratory endurance test (RET) that allows hyperventilation without decrease of arterial carbon dioxid (CO 2 ) has been used in adult subjects to assess respiratory endurance. Until now, this test has never been performed with healthy children. Methods A total of 83 subjects 10 to 12 years old participated in this study. The RET was performed with the SpiroTiger®, a device that allows hyperventilation without decrease in arterial CO 2 . In order to assess endurance performance, a 6 min running test was performed and the physical activity was measured by an accelerometer. The aim of the study was to analyze the feasibility of a RET in school children. Furthermore, the relationship between the respiratory endurance and the endurance performance as well as the physical activity was investigated. Results Median and interquartile range for respiratory endurance was 199 s and 155 s. There was a trend for boys to have a higher respiratory endurance (p = 0.069). Respiratory endurance was independent of lung function and physical activity. There is no correlation between respiratory endurance and the endurance performance for boys (r = 0.233, p = 0.232) or girls (r = 0.248, p = 0.171). Conclusion We have shown that the respiratory endurance test performed with the SpiroTiger® is feasible in healthy children 10 to 12 years old. Reference data for the RET in this age group will be presented at the congress.
The Structure of Solids

The properties of a material are determined by its structure and chemical composition. Since chemical behavior depends ultimately upon the internal structural arrangement of the atoms, all material properties may be attributed to structure. Structure occurs on many levels of scale. These scales may be somewhat arbitrarily defined as the atomic or molecular (0.1–1 nm), nanoscale or ultrastructural (1 nm–1 µm), microstructural (1 µm–1 mm), and macrostructural (>1 mm). In pure elements, alloys, ceramics, and in polymers, the major structural features are on the atomic/molecular scale. Polycrystalline materials such as cast metals consist of grains, which may be quite large; however, the boundaries between the grains are atomic-scale features.
1/f Noise Inside a Faraday Cage

We show that quantum 1/f noise does not have a lower frequency limit given by the lowest free electromagnetic field mode in a Faraday cage, even in an ideal cage. Indeed, quantum 1/f noise comes from the infrared‐divergent coupling of the field with the charges, in their joint nonlinear system, where the charges cause the field that reacts back on the charges, and so on. This low‐frequency limitation is thus not applicable for the nonlinear system of matter and field in interaction. Indeed, this nonlinear system is governed by Newton’s laws, Maxwell’s equations, in general also by the diffusion equations for particles and heat, or reaction kinetics given by quantum matrix elements. Nevertheless, all the other quantities can be eliminated in principle, resulting in highly nonlinear integro‐differential equations for the electromagnetic field only, which no longer yield a fundamental frequency. Alternatively, we may describe this through the presence of an infinite system of subharmonics. We show how this was proven early in the classical and quantum domains, adding new insight.
Dispensing inhalers to patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on hospital discharge: Effects on prescription filling and readmission

Purpose The effects of dispensing inhalers to patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on hospital discharge were evaluated. Methods Data were collected in 2011–12 for patients with COPD who had hospital orders for the study inhalers (preintervention group) and after implementation of the multidose medication dispensing on discharge (MMDD) service (2013–14) (postintervention group). The primary objective of this study was to assess inhaler adherence and readmission rates before and after MMDD implementation. Adherence was defined as filling the discharge prescription for the multidose inhaler at a Harris Health pharmacy within three days of discharge or having at least seven days of medication left in an inhaler from a previous prescription that was filled or refilled before hospital admission. All patients in the postintervention group were considered adherent, since every patient was given the remainder of his or her multidose inhaler when discharged. Results Data from 620 patients (412 in the preintervention group, 208 in the postintervention group) were collected. During the preintervention time period, 88 of 412 patients were readmitted within 30 days compared with 18 of 208 patients during the postintervention period ( p < 0.001). The intervention was associated with a significant reduction in 30-day readmissions ( p = 0.0016) and 60-day readmissions ( p = 0.0056). Conclusion A targeted pharmacy program to provide COPD patients being discharged from the hospital with the multidose inhalers they had used during hospitalization was associated with improved medication adherence, as measured by prescription filling behavior, and reduced rates of 30- and 60-day hospital readmissions.
The effects of ketoconazole and rifampin on the single-dose pharmacokinetics of crizotinib in healthy subjects

To investigate the potential effects of strong CYP3A inhibitor ketoconazole and strong CYP3A inducer rifampin on the pharmacokinetics of crizotinib in human. Two separate open-label, 2-period, 2-treatment, 1-sequence, crossover, single-dose studies were conducted in healthy subjects with and without ketoconazole or rifampin. Series of plasma samples were collected after each crizotinib dose to determine concentration of crizotinib and its metabolite PF-06260182. Relevant pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters for crizotinib and PF096269182 were estimated by standard non-compartmental analysis (NCA) method. Co-administration of a single 150-mg oral dose of crizotinib with the strong CYP3A inhibitor ketoconazole resulted in an area under the plasma–concentration curve extrapolated to infinity (AUC0−inf) 3.2-fold that for crizotinib alone. Co-administration of a single 250-mg crizotinib dose with the strong CYP3A inducer rifampin caused an 82 % decrease in crizotinib AUC0−inf. Respective increases and decreases in systemic exposure to the crizotinib metabolite PF-06260182 following co-administration of ketoconazole and rifampin were greater than those seen for crizotinib. These findings suggest that CYP3A plays an important role in the metabolism of both crizotinib and PF-06260182, with the extent of this role being greater for PF-06260182. There were no serious adverse events or deaths and no dose reductions or temporary or permanent discontinuations due to drug-related adverse events in either study.
Infrared spectra of antimony and bismuth hydrides in solid matrixes

Laser-ablated Sb and Bi atoms react with hydrogen during condensation in excess hydrogen, neon, and argon to form the SbH and BiH diatomic molecules. In addition the new Group 15 MH2 dihydride radicals and the MH3 trihydrides are observed for Sb and Bi metals. Although BiH3 is of limited stability in the gas phase, BiH3 is formed by further H atom reactions with BiH2 in solid hydrogen and neon. No evidence is found for the thermochemically unstable BiH5 molecule.
A comparison of methodologies for efficient part-machine cluster formation

Abstract A comparison of two different models for solving machine cluster formation problems in cellular manufacturing is presented in this paper. The models focus on minimizing total part handling operations evaluated as a weighted sum of inter- and intracell moves. The concept used in the evaluation of intercell moves accounts for the difference between the two models. The utilization rate of active workstations has also been incorporated as an important measure and a targeted minimum utilization of 50% is used in this study. Performance of the models have been evaluated by the application of an example problem which has frequently appeared in published literature. The results indicate one model is significantly more attractive as a decision making tool for use in discrete parts manufacturing.
Models of E-Government: Are They Correct? An Empirical Assessment

Research into e-government is relatively new. Nevertheless, much contemporary thinking and writing about e-government is driven by normative models that appeared less than a decade ago. The authors present empirical evidence from three surveys of local e-government in the United States to test whether these models are accurate or useful for understanding the actual development of e-government. They find that local e-government is mainly informational, with a few transactions but virtually no indication of the high-level functions predicted in the models. Thus, the models do not accurately describe or predict the development of e-government, at least among American local governments. These models, though intellectually interesting, are purely speculative, having been developed without linkage to the literature about information technology and government. The authors offer grounded observations about e-government that will useful to scholars and practitioners alike.
The Snakelike Chain Character of Unstructured RNA

In the absence of base-pairing and tertiary structure, ribonucleic acid (RNA) assumes a random-walk conformation, modulated by the electrostatic self-repulsion of the charged, flexible backbone. This behavior is often modeled as a Kratky-Porod “wormlike chain” (WLC) with a Barrat-Joanny scale-dependent persistence length. In this study we report measurements of the end-to-end extension of poly(U) RNA under 0.1 to 10 pN applied force and observe two distinct elastic-response regimes: a low-force, power-law regime characteristic of a chain of swollen blobs on long length scales and a high-force, salt-valence-dependent regime consistent with ion-stabilized crumpling on short length scales. This short-scale structure is additionally supported by force- and salt-dependent quantification of the RNA ion atmosphere composition, which shows that ions are liberated under stretching; the number of ions liberated increases with increasing bulk salt concentration. Both this result and the observation of two elastic-response regimes directly contradict the WLC model, which predicts a single elastic regime across all forces and, when accounting for scale-dependent persistence length, the opposite trend in ion release with salt concentration. We conclude that RNA is better described as a “snakelike chain,” characterized by smooth bending on long length scales and ion-stabilized crumpling on short length scales. In monovalent salt, these two regimes are separated by a characteristic length that scales with the Debye screening length, highlighting the determining importance of electrostatics in RNA conformation.
Lattice models for heterogeneous catalysis

Abstract Heterogeneous catalysis processes had been traditionally studied with the aid of mean-field rate equations. However, evidence has mounted in recent years that phenomena associated with microscopic length scales, such as local fluctuations in concentrations and excluded volume effects, are relevant to the dynamics. History dependent kinetics, bistability, and dynamic phase transitions are among the many consequences of microscopic effects. The classical approach of rate equations fails to explain these results. The recently introduced lattice models for heterogeneous catalysis provide with a more appropriate microscopic way of analysis. We explain these models and focus on the kinetic effects arising from fluctuations in the number of reacting molecules. Our method consists of the studying of catalysis on complete graphs, i.e., lattices where all sites are connected to each other. We illustrate the method for the process A+B→AB and show that its upper critical dimensions is dc=2. We also discuss some of the many open problems in the field.
Comparative characteristics of estimators of the mean responding cell density in limiting dilution assays

The statistical problems associated with estimating the mean responding cell density in the limiting dilution assay (LDA) have largely been ignored. We evaluate techniques for analyzing LDA data from multiple biological samples, assumed to follow either a normal or gamma distribution. Simulated data is used to evaluate the performance of an unweighted mean, a log transform, and a weighted mean procedure described by Taswell (1987). In general, an unweighted mean with jackknife estimates will produce satisfactory results. In some cases, a log transform is more appropriate. Taswell's weighted mean algorithm is unable to estimate an accurate variance. We also show that methods which pool samples, or LDA data, are invalid. In addition, we show that optimization of the variance in multiple sample LDA's is dependent on the estimator, the between-organism variance, the replicate well size, and the numberof biological samples. However, this optimization is generally achieved by maximizing biological samples at th...
Design of Robust Estimated State Feedback Controllers for Time-Varying Uncertain Systems

A computer-aided method for the design of linear robust controller is studied. The control guarantees asymptotic stability of linear uncertain systems with time-varying uncertainties. The control is designed based on the possible bound of the uncertainty. Necessary and sufficient conditions for quadratic stabilisability are formulated. The controller is first designed by a two level optimisation process under the assumption that all states are available. An observer is then added to estimate unknown states. The allowable bound for combined controller-observer system is sought again by another two level optimisation process. Relevant references and proofs can be found in Chen and Chen (1990).
Introduction: Issues in the Classification of Pervasive Developmental Disorders: History and Current Status of Nosology

The current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association presents a comprehensive diagnostic system for what it terms "pervasive developmental disorders." This paper presents a critical review of this system. Advantages of the system include the use of explicit diagnostic criteria and a multiaxial approach. Disadvantages include the applicability of criteria to disordered children and adults and the rationale for including certain disorders. Available information suggests the need for revision of diagnostic categories and criteria for research and clinical purposes.
Peginterferon alfa-2b and ribavirin for treatment-refractory chronic hepatitis C

Background/Aims: Treatment regimens with pegylated interferons have yielded improved response rates, compared with conventional interferon-based regimens, for chronic hepatitis C. However, little is known about the utility of such regimens for individuals who failed to respond to prior conventional interferon-based treatment. Methods: 182 patients who had previously failed to eliminate circulating hepatitis C virus 24 weeks after completion of a multi-week course of either interferon monotherapy or interferon in combination with ribavirin were treated with peginterferon alfa-2b weekly and ribavirin daily for 48 weeks. Results: The sustained viral response, was 20% (23/116) in previous non-responders and 55% (36/66) in previous relapsers ( P P =0.03). In previous relapsers, the sustained viral response in those with viral genotype 1 was 53% (26/49) compared to 59% (10/17) with genotypes 2 and 3 ( P =0.78). Conclusions: The response to pegylated interferon and ribavirin in previous non-responders with genotypes 2 and 3 and in prior relapsers with chronic hepatitis C is comparable to overall sustained viral response rates seen in previously untreated patients.
DNA Binding and Cleavage by the Fowlpox Virus Resolvase

The first steps of poxvirus DNA synthesis yield concatemeric arrays of covalently linked genomes. The virus-encoded Holliday junction resolvase is required to process concatemers into unit-length genomes for packaging. Previous studies of the vaccinia virus resolvase have been problematic due to poor protein solubility. We found that fowlpox virus resolvase was much more tractable. Fowlpox resolvase formed complexes with a variety of branched DNA substrates, but not linear DNA, and had the highest affinity for a Holliday junction substrate, illustrating a previously unappreciated affinity for Holliday junctions over other substrates. The cleavage activity was monitored in fixed time assays, showing that, as with vaccinia resolvase, the fowlpox enzyme could cleave a wide array of branched DNA substrates. Single turnover kinetic analysis revealed the Holliday junction substrate was cleaved 90-fold faster than a splayed duplex substrate containing a single to double strand transition. Multiple turnover kinetic analysis, however, showed that the cleavage step was not limiting for the full reaction cycle. Cleavage by resolvase was also tightly coupled at symmetrical positions across the junction, and coupling required the complete Holliday junction structure. Last, we found that cleavage of an extruded cruciform yielded a product, which after treatment with ligase, had the properties expected for covalently closed DNA hairpin ends, as is seen for poxvirus genome monomers. These findings provide a tractable poxvirus resolvase usable for the development of small molecule inhibitors.
Forensic Examination and Failure Analysis of a 220 MV Step-Up Transformer Fire

The paper presents the results of investigation and engineering analysis by Exponent of the failure of a 220 MVA generator step-up transformer in Southern California. The incident was caused by a dielectric breakdown from the high side phase C bushing to the side wall of the transformer. The ensuing fire continued for 27 hours, fueled by approximately 11,000 gallons of dielectric HYTRANS 61 oil. The paper will discuss the investigation, conducted per the IEEE C57.125 “Guide for Failure Investigation, Documentation, and Analysis for Power Transformers and Shunt Reactors.” [1], and the engineering review and analysis to identify the likely failure scenario(s).© 2013 ASME
Developing the Future Workforce: An Approach for Integrating Interpersonal Skills Into the MBA Classroom

Interpersonal skills (IPS) are crucial in today's business environment. As collaboration is the foundation of business operations, executives consistently rank interpersonal skills as a critical co...
Assessment of the influence of irrelevant IgE on allergic sensitivity to two independent allergens.

Abstract Serum samples from 31 patients sensitive to both ragweed and rye grass were quantitated for IgE specific for ragweed antigen E (AgE) and rye grass group I (rye I) antigens employing the previously described radioallergosorbent test (RAST) elution technique. IgE anti-AgE ranged from 0.4 to 320 ng/ml and comprised 0.4% to 14.2% of total serum IgE. The same sera contained IgE anti-rye I ranging from 7.9 to 1,168 ng/ml, comprising 1.6% to 29.6% of total serum IgE. A new theoretical parameter (RF), representing the percent of total IgE-Fc receptors of target cells occupied by allergen-specific IgE, was calculated for each IgE specificity by using the determinations of allergen-specific IgE antibody, total serum IgE, and assuming an equilibrium constant for binding of IgE molecules to basophils of 10 9 M −1 . This "% occupancy" parameter correlated with skin test titration, basophil cell sensitivity, and hay fever symptom scores as well as, but not better than, the absolute values of allergen-specific IgE. This finding suggests that in most atopic patients, the quantity of irrelevant IgE plays a relatively minor role in determining allergic sensitivity to a given allergen. The implications of this finding are discussed.
The rate of establishment of a discrimination.

Resume Une methode utilisant la vitesse a laquelle un reflexe se montre sous une stimulation constante comme mesure de sa force pendant les processus du conditionnement et de l'extinction s'emploie dans l'investigation de l'etablissement d'une discrimination. Un reflexe arbitraire—la poussee d'un levier en bas par un rat—devient premierement conditionnel quand la reponse est immediatement suivie de la mise de nourriture dans un plateau commode et est eteint quand la reponse n'est pas ainsi suivie. Dans le cas present on conditionne de nouveau le reflexe et l'eteint alternativement en permettant que la response ne soit suivie de la mise de nourriture qu'a certains intervalles fixes. Les courbes separees de l'extinction se combient alors, et le reflexe assume une force constante, qu'il maintient sans une modification signifiante pendant měme vingt-quatre heures experimentales. La valeur de la force assumee est une fonction de l'intervalle auquel le reflexe devient de nouveau conditionnel. Aux plus hautes vi...
Ten-year results of the oregon program with 295 consecutive heart transplants in the pacific Northwest

Background The Oregon Cardiac Transplant Program provides a regional service. Since December 4, 1985, 284 patients, including 14 children, from Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Alaska, and Hawaii, underwent 295 orthotopic heart transplantation procedures at the Oregon Health Sciences University. Eleven patients underwent transplantations twice. Methods Detailed, up-to-date follow-up data were available on all patients. All patients have been followed up prospectively for transplant-related complications. Results The most common recipient diagnoses were coronary artery disease (50%) or idiopathic cardiomyopathy (33%). The mean age of the recipients was 48 ± 15 years (range, 3 months to 68 years). Donor hearts were retrieved from a procurement area of a 1,500-mile radius that involved Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, California, and Canada. The mean donor age was 28 ± 11 years and the donor heart ischemia time was 180 ± 56 minutes. The median recipient waiting time was 75 days. Operative mortality was 6%. One-year, 5-year, and 10-year actuarial patient survival rates are 86 ± 2%, 74 ± 3%, and 59 ± 5%, respectively. The majority of survivors are in very good functional status. Conclusions Now, more than 10 years into its existence, the Oregon Heart Transplant Program has fulfilled its goal of providing a most effective treatment option for patients with end-stage heart disease in the region.
Secondary benefits of greenhouse gas control : Health impacts in China

In addition to long-term benefits of greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions in the form of avoided health and ecosystem damage, there are important near-term benefits resulting from the reduction in health-damaging pollutants (HDP) that can accompany GHG reductions. This paper estimates such health benefits, using the power and household energy sectors of China as a case study for the method. Four policy scenarios were compared: business as usual, least-cost energy efficiency, least-cost per unit global-warming-reduction fuel substitution, and least-cost per unit exposure-reduction fuel substitution. The health benefits were estimated by converting PM10 emissions first to human exposures and then to avoided mortality and morbidity with existing exposure-response relationships. Our results demonstrate that the near-term health benefits from GHG reductions in China could be substantial but are highly dependent on the technologies and sectors chosen. Such near-term benefits provide the opportunity for a true “no-r...
Design, Synthesis, and Traveling Wave Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry Characterization of Iron(II)– and Ruthenium(II)–Terpyridine Metallomacrocycles

New metallomacrocycles composed of 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine (tpy) ligands and RuII or FeII transition metal ions were prepared by stepwise directed assembly and characterized by 2D diffusion NMR spectroscopy (DOSY), electrospray ionization traveling wave ion mobility mass spectrometry (ESI TWIM MS), and molecular modeling. The supramolecular polymers synthesized include a homonuclear all-Ru hexamer as well as heteronuclear hexamer and nonamer with alternating Ru/Ru/Fe metal centers. ESI MS yields several charge states from each supramacromolecule. If ESI is interfaced with TWIM MS, overlapping charge states and the isomeric components of an individual charge state are separated based on their unique drift times through the TWIM region. From experimentally measured drift times, collision cross-sections can be deduced. The collision cross-sections obtained for the synthesized supramacromolecules are in good agreement with those predicted by molecular modeling for macrocyclic structures. Similarly, the hydrody...
Control of breathing in experimental anemia.

Abstract Pulmonary ventilation was measured by a plethysmographic technique in unanesthetized, unrestrained rats and cats before and several days after they were made anemic or underwent a sham procedure. Animals were tested while breathing air, pure O 2 , 10% O 2 in N 2 , 7% CO 2 in air, and a mixture of 11% O 2 and 6% CO 2 in N 2 . Baseline observations showed that ventilation on pure O 2 was no different from that on air, whereas hypoxia, hypercapnia and asphyxia evoked brisk ventilatory responses in all animals. Anemia did not influence ventilation during exposure to air or any of the other gas mixtures. Resting O 2 consumption was also found to be unaltered by anemia, as was the pH of arterial blood, evaluated by an in vitro equilibration method. Although the anemic state is associated with several processes that might be expected to affect the chemical control of breathing, the results of these experiments in resting, unanesthetized animals were all negative.
Family Size and Sex-Role Stereotypes

Social attitudes about sex roles have been implicated as important factors in population growth. Degree of incorporation of stereotypic sex roles into the self-concepts of mothers is found to be related to completed family size.
Nonthermal plasma-assisted catalytic NOx reduction over Ba-Y,FAU: the effect of catalyst preparation

Abstract The effects of catalyst preparation on the NO x reduction activity of a series of Ba-Y,FAU zeolites were investigated using a simulated exhaust gas mixture. The introduction of Ba 2+ ions into Na-Y,FAU results in a large increase in their nonthermal plasma-assisted NO x reduction activity. The NO x reduction activities of Ba-Y,FAU catalysts were found to increase with increasing Ba 2+ concentration in the aqueous ion-exchange solutions, which translated into increased Ba 2+ /Na + ratios in the resulting materials. Consecutive ion-exchange procedures at a given Ba 2+ concentration in the aqueous solution, however, did not improve the NO x reduction activities of Ba-Y,FAU catalysts; i.e., the activity of the four times ion-exchanged material was the same as that of the one that was ion-exchanged only once. The reaction profiles for all of these Ba-Y,FAU catalysts were the same. In contrast, a significant increase in NO x reduction activity was observed when a 773 K calcination step was implemented after each solution ion exchange. The reaction profile was also altered as a result of the ion-exchange/calcination cycles. Calcination that followed each ion-exchange step seems to further increase the Ba 2+ /Na + ratio in the zeolite, and in turn increases the NO x reduction activities of the catalysts prepared this way. Key differences in Na- and Ba-Y,FAU catalysts were found in NO 2 adsorption and TPD experiments. The amount of chemisorbed NO 2 is about twice as high in Ba-Y,FAU than in Na-Y,FAU, and Ba-Y,FAU holds NO x much stronger than Na-Y,FAU.
Flow transport in a microchannel induced by moving wall contractions: a novel micropumping mechanism

A novel micropumping mechanism based on a theoretical model that describes flow transport in a microchannel induced by moving wall contractions in the low Reynolds number flow regime is presented. The channel is assumed to have a length that is much greater than its width (\({\delta = W/L \ll 1}\)) and the upper wall is subjected to prescribed, non-peristaltic, localized moving contractions. Lubrication theory for incompressible viscous flow at low Reynolds number (Re ~ δ) is used to model the problem mathematically and to derive expressions for the velocity components, pressure gradient, wall shear stress, and net flow produced by the wall contractions. The effect of contraction parameters such as amplitude and phase lag on the time-averaged net flow over a single cycle of wall motions is studied. The results presented here are supported by passive particle tracking simulations to investigate the possibility of using this system as a pumping mechanism. The present study is motivated by collapse mechanisms observed in entomological physiological systems that use multiple contractions to transport fluid, and the emerging novel microfluidic devices that mimic these systems.