cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Long-Term Drug Treatment of GERD

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most common disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. Clinical presentation can vary from simple heartburn to erosive esophagitis. Some patients require long-term, possibly life-long, therapy. The cost of treatment is substantial, as patients with moderate to severe disease are high consumers of healthcare resources. The goal of therapy is to control symptoms, and to prevent complications, at a reasonable and manageable cost. Formulary decision making is more complex than simply choosing between proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and histamine H2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs); more importantly, it involves choosing the most cost-effective treatment strategy for a patient population. Since there are no long-term prospective economic studies available on the management of GERD, modeling studies provide the primary source of data for decision makers. A critical review of selected studies found that conclusions can vary based on a number of factors. These include the severity of GERD in the population being modeled, effectiveness endpoints, costs (drug and nondrug), and the inclusion of anti-reflux surgery. Effectiveness variables used in these models are generally based on randomized control trials in which endoscopic findings are used to judge success. This differs from the management of symptoms, as is common in clinical practice. In addition, the selection of which randomized clinical trial is used to define effectiveness endpoints can have a significant effect on the outcome. Thus, generalizability of economic studies often limits their value to decision makers. Pharmaceutical manufacturers have funded most of the studies in this area. For formulary decision makers to apply long-term economic analysis to their clinical practice, a critical review of these analyses is essential. Economic analysis can be a supplement to rational clinical judgment and experience in formulary decision making.
Trends in steel-mill electrification

Increasing demand for sheet steel in the automotive, canning, and welding industries has caused the development during the last decade of mills for the continuous rolling of steel sheets as wide as 96 inches. Electrical power and control are used exclusively, and now influence the design of the mechanical equipment.
The effects of nerve growth factor and its antibodies on axonal numbers in the medial gastrocnemius nerve of the rat

The effects of the administration of nerve growth factor (NGF) or its antibody (anti-NGF) on axonal populations in a peripheral nerve have been investigated. The nerve is a motor nerve, the nerve to the medial gastrocnemius muscle in the rat. The findings are that the administration of NGF at birth and for 28 days thereafter results in an increase of 42% of the unmyelinated axons in this nerve as compared to normal, and that the administration of anti-NGF in the same way results in a 20 and 30% decrease, respectively, in the myelinated and unmyelinated axons in this nerve. We speculate that the unmyelinated axon increase after NGF administration indicates an increase in post-ganglionic sympathetic axons and that the decreases in myelinated and unmyelinated axons after anti-NGF administration indicate decreases in both post-ganglionic sympathetic and sensory axons. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Playing (and replaying) the waiting game.

A shortage of donor liver grafts unfortunately results in approximately 10% of patients dying whilst listed for a liver transplant in Europe and the United States. Thus it is imperative that all available organs are used as efficiently as possible. This paper reports upon the application of a simulation modelling approach to assess the impact of several alternative allocation policies upon the cost effectiveness of this technology at one liver transplant centre in the UK. The impact of changes in allocation criteria on the estimated net life expectancy, average net costs and overall cost effectiveness of the transplantation programme were evaluated. The incremental cost effectiveness ratio (ICER) for the base case allocation policy, based upon the time spent on the waiting list (i.e., longest wait first) was 11,557 pounds sterling at 1999 prices. The ICERs associated with an allocation policy based upon age (lowest age first), and an allocation policy based upon the severity of the pre-transplant condition of the patient (with most severely ill patients given a lower priority) were lower than the base case at 10,424 pounds sterling and 9,077 pounds sterling, respectively. The results of this modelling study suggest that the overall cost effectiveness of the liver transplantation programme could be improved if the current allocation policy were modified to give more weight to the age of the patient and the reduced chances of success of the most severely ill patients.
Negative Regulation of a Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase by Tyrosine Phosphorylation

The low molecular weight protein tyrosine phosphatase (LMW−PTP) is a ubiquitously expressed enzyme with several proposed roles in cell signaling. Previously, two tyrosine phosphorylation modifications of LMW−PTP at sites Tyr-131 and Tyr-132 in response to growth factor stimulation have been mapped and suggested to stimulate LMW−PTP phosphatase activity. Biochemical analysis of tyrosine phosphorylation of a tyrosine phosphatase is challenging because of the intrinsic instability of these modifications. Here we used expressed protein ligation to site-specifically incorporate a phosphotyrosine mimic (phosphonomethylenephenylalanine, Pmp) at the Tyr-131 and Tyr-132 positions and measured the catalytic activity of these semisynthetic LMW−PTPs. The phosphonate-modified LMW−PTPs were 10- to 23-fold less active in dephosphorylating phosphotyrosine peptides derived from the PDGF receptor and p190RhoGap, two putative cellular substrates. These findings suggest the first example of a tyrosine phosphatase that is inh...
High-dose chemotherapy followed by stem cell rescue for high-risk germ cell tumors: the Stanford experience.

Germ cell tumors carry an excellent prognosis with platinum-based therapy upfront. The patients who either relapse or demonstrate refractoriness to platinum pose a challenge. There exist many reports in the literature on the use of high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell rescue improving the outcome in patients with relapsed germ cell tumors. However, the reports have great variability in the patient selection, prior treatments, the choice of the conditioning regimen and variability of the doses within the same regimen. In this report, we present 37 patients who underwent a uniform protocol of high-dose chemotherapy with stem cell rescue. Stem cell mobilization was performed with high-dose CY (4 g per m2) and we were able to collect adequate cells for marrow rescue in all patients. Patients received a high-dose regimen with etoposide (800 mg/m2 per day) days −6, −5 and −4 as a continuous infusion, carboplatin (667 mg/m2 per day) on days −6, −5 and −4 as a 1 h infusion, and CY (60 mg/kg per day) on days −3 and −2. In this high-risk group of patients, high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell rescue led to a 3-year overall survival of 57% and a 3-year event-free survival of 49%. The results are reflective of a single procedure. No tandem transplants were performed. The treatment-related mortality was low at 3% in this heavily pretreated group.
Studies of the Wall Shift in the Hydrogen Maser

Frequency shift in hydrogen maser due to atomic collisions with storage bulb surface /wall shift/, investigating temperature dependence
Validation of a trust in medical technology instrument

A patient's trusting attitude towards technology used in their medical care may be a predictor of acceptance or rejection of the technology and, by extension, the physician. The aim of this study was to rigorously determine the validity of an instrument for measuring patients' trust in medical technology. Instrument validity was established based on a framework, which included test and data evidence for validity assessment. The framework for validity assessment evaluates the instrument on content, substantive, structural, generalizability, external and consequential aspects of validity. The results of the current study show that the instrument is reliable and valid for assessing a patient's trust in obstetric medical technology.
A note on the teaching of ethics in the MBA macroeconomics course

While there is general agreement on the need to teach ethics in the MBA classroom, there are great difficulties in completely integrating such material within the confines of an actual MBA program. This paper attempts to address these difficulties by focusing on the teaching of such issues in one particular class — MBA macroeconomics.
Nuclear Disintegrations Produced by Cosmic Rays

From a study of 20,500 Wilson cloud chamber photographs, ten nuclear disintegrations have been identified in which heavily ionizing tracks are produced. These disintegrations are associated with the cosmic radiation as they are usually observed in time coincidence with the passage of other cosmic-ray particles through the chamber. The ejection of a number of heavy particles from a single source is interpreted as an "evaporation" from a highly excited nucleus.
MONITORING PATIENT MECHANICS DURING MECHANICAL VENTILATION

Accurate measurements of pressure, airflow, and volume are essential requirements in the operation of a mechanical ventilator. 102 From these measurements, basic physiologic properties of the respiratory system, such as resistance, compliance, and work of breathing, can be calculated. These parameters provide important information regarding the pathophysiology of a patient's condition. Monitoring these parameters is helpful in minimizing ventilator-induced complications, optimizing patient-ventilator interaction, and determining a patient's readiness for the discontinuation of ventilator support. 102
Single and paired point defects in a 2D Wigner crystal

Using the path-integral Monte Carlo method, we calculate the energy to form single and pair vacancies and interstitials in a two-dimensional Wigner crystal of electrons. We confirm that the lowest energy point defects of a 2D electron Wigner crystal are interstitials, with a creation energy roughly 2/3 that of a vacancy. The formation energy of the defects goes to zero at melting, suggesting that point defects may be the melting mechanism and that the melting could be a continuous transition. In addition, we find that the interaction between defects is strongly attractive, so that most defects will exist as bound pairs.
Killing tumor cells through their surface β2-microglobulin or major histocompatibility complex class I molecules

Targeted antibody-based therapy has been used successfully to treat cancers. Recent studies have demonstrated that tumor cells treated with antibodies specific for beta(2)-microglobulin (beta(2)M) or major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules undergo apoptosis in vitro and in vivo (mouse models). Antibodies against beta(2)M or MHC class I induce tumor cell apoptosis by 1) recruiting MHC class I molecules to lipid rafts and activating LYN kinase and the signal-transducing enzyme phospholipase C-gamma2-dependent c-Jun N-terminal kinase signaling pathway and 2) expelling interleukin 6 and insulin-like growth factor 1 receptors out of lipid rafts and inhibiting the growth and survival factor-induced activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt and extracellular signal-related kinase pathways. Consequently, mitochondrial integrity is compromised, and the caspase-9-dependent cascade is activated in treated tumor cells. However, although beta(2)M and MHC class I are expressed on normal hematopoietic cells, which is a potential safety concern, the monoclonal antibodies were selective to tumor cells and did not damage normal cells in vitro or in human-like mouse models. These findings suggest that targeting beta(2)M or MHC class I by using antibodies or other agents offers a potential therapeutic approach for beta(2)M/MHC class I-expressing malignancies. Cancer 2010. (c) 2010 American Cancer Society.
Pharmacologic evidence for direct dopaminergic regulation of striatal acetylcholine release.

This study was done to provide pharmacologic evidence for the location of those striatal dopamine D-1 and D-2 receptors that participate in the regulation of local acetylcholine (ACh) release. Striatal tissue slices from adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were preloaded with [3H]choline and superfused in separate experiments with buffer containing either: (1) a D-2-specific agonist (LY141865 or LY171555), (2) a D-2 specific antagonist (L-sulpiride), (3) a D-1 specific agonist (SKF38393), or (4) a D-1 antagonist (SCH23390), in the presence or absence of tetrodotoxin (TTX), used to block interneuronal activity. With either D-2 agonist there was a dose-dependendent decrease in K+-stimulated [3H]ACh release, maximally at 5×10−7 − 10−6M [agonist] and to the same extent with each drug. Both SKF38393 and SCH23390 increased [3H]ACh release at tested concentrations of these agents. Results were unchanged when any of the drugs used was superfused in the presence of TTX, 5×10−7M. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that populations of striatal D-1 and D-2 receptors exist on local cholinergic neurons, where they regulate ACh release. Alternative interpretations are discussed.
Suppression of Pyk2 Kinase and Cellular Activities by Fip200

Proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 (Pyk2) is a cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase implicated to play a role in several intracellular signaling pathways. We report the identification of a novel Pyk2-interacting protein designated FIP200 (FAK family kinase–interacting protein of 200 kD) by using a yeast two-hybrid screen. In vitro binding assays and coimmunoprecipitation confirmed association of FIP200 with Pyk2, and similar assays also showed FIP200 binding to FAK. However, immunofluorescent staining indicated that FIP200 was predominantly localized in the cytoplasm. FIP200 bound to the kinase domain of Pyk2 and inhibited its kinase activity in in vitro kinase assays. FIP200 also inhibited the kinase activity of the Pyk2 isolated from SYF cells (deficient in Src, Yes, and Fyn expression) and the Pyk2 mutant lacking binding site for Src, suggesting that it regulated Pyk2 kinase directly rather than affecting the associated Src family kinases. Consistent with its inhibitory effect in vitro, FIP200 inhibited activation of Pyk2 and Pyk2-induced apoptosis in intact cells, which correlated with its binding to Pyk2. Finally, activation of Pyk2 by several biological stimuli correlated with the dissociation of endogenous FIP200–Pyk2 complex, which provided further support for inhibition of Pyk2 by FIP200 in intact cells. Together, these results suggest that FIP200 functions as an inhibitor of Pyk2 via binding to its kinase domain.
The phenomenal determination of retroaction and proaction: IV. The role of contextual and temporal factors with highly differentiated lists

A study was run on retroaction and proaction in which subjects had to learn two lists of pairs, consisting of color names and common nouns. The lists, which were highly differentiated by use of meaningful response items, were embedded within the context of two stories. One story related to Christmas Eve and the other, to New Year’s Eve. Thus, story context was used to establish a sequential relationship between the lists. Group 1 learned the Christmas Eve story first and the New Year’s Eve story last; Group 2 learned the stories in reverse order. For Group 2, there was a conflict between the contextual sequence and the temporal order of presentation. Delayed recall was assessed after 20 min and after 24 h to determine whether retroaction and proaction were affected in Group 2 by the conflict between the contextual cue to order and the temporal cue to order. There were no interference effects observed in either of the groups, as expected under conditions of list differentiation.
Worker exposure to 1,3,5-triglycidyl isocyanurate (TGIC) in powder paint coating operations.

(2003). Worker Exposure to 1,3,5-Triglycidyl Isocyanurate (TGIC) in Powder Paint Coating Operations. Applied Occupational and Environmental Hygiene: Vol. 18, No. 3, pp. 151-153.
On the number of bound states for Schrödinger operators with operator-valued potentials

Cwikel's bound is extended to an operator-valued setting. One application of this result is a semi-classical bound for the number of negative bound states for SchrSdinger operators with operator-valued potentials. We recover Cwikel's bound for the Lieb-Thirring constant Lo,3 which is far worse than the best available by Lieb (for scalar potentials). However, it leads to a uniform bound (in the dimension d>3) for the quotient Lo,d/L~l,d, where L~ia is the so-called classical constant. This gives some improvement in large dimensions.
Evolution of an englacial volcanic ridge: Pillow Ridge tindar, Mount Edziza volcanic complex, NCVP, British Columbia, Canada

Abstract Glaciovolcanic deposits are critical for documenting the presence and thickness of terrestrial ice-sheets, and for testing hypotheses about inferred terrestrial ice volumes based on the marine record. Deposits formed by the coincidence of volcanism and ice at the Mount Edziza volcanic complex (MEVC) in northern British Columbia, Canada, preserve an important record for documenting local and possibly regional ice dynamics. Pillow Ridge, located at the northwestern end of the MEVC, formed by ice-confined, fissure-fed eruptions. It comprises predominantly pillow lavas and volcanic breccias of alkaline basalt composition, with subordinate finer-grained volcaniclastic deposits and dykes. The ridge is presently ∼ 4 km long, ∼ 1000 m in maximum width, and ∼ 600 m high. Fifteen syn- and post-eruptive lithofacies are recognized in excellent exposures along the glacially dissected western side of the ridge. We recognize five lithofacies associations: (1) poorly sorted tuff breccia and dykes, (2) proximal pillow lava, dykes and tuff breccia, (3) distal pillow lava, poorly sorted conglomerate and well-sorted volcanic sandstone, (4) interbedded tuff, lapilli tuff, and tuff breccia units, and (5) heterolithic volcanogenic conglomerate and sandstone. Given the abundance of pillow lavas and the lack of surrounding topographic barriers capable of impounding water, we agree with Souther [Souther, J.G., 1992. The late Cenozoic Mount Edziza volcanic complex. Geol. Soc. Can. Mem., vol. 420. 320 pp] that the bulk of the edifice formed while confined by ice, but have found evidence for a more complex and variable eruption history than that which he proposed. Preliminary estimates of water-ice depths derived from FTIR analyses of H2O give ranges of 300 to 680 m assuming 0 ppm CO2, and 857 to 1297 m assuming 25 ppm CO2. Variations in depth estimates among samples may indicate that water/ice depths changed during the evolution of the ridge, which is consistent with our interpretations for the origins of different lithofacies associations. Given that the age of the units are likely to be ca. 0.9 Ma [Souther, J.G., 1992. The late Cenozoic Mount Edziza volcanic complex. Geol. Soc. Can. Mem., vol. 420. 320 pp], Pillow Ridge may be the best documentation of a regional high stand of the Cordilleran Ice Sheet (CIS) in the middle Pleistocene, and an excellent example of the lithofacies and stratigraphic complexities produced by variations in water levels during a prolonged glaciovolcanic eruption.
Effects of Prefrontal Cortical Inactivation on Neural Activity in the Ventral Tegmental Area

Dopamine (DA) cells have been suggested to signal discrepancies between expected and actual rewards in reinforcement learning. DA cells in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) receive direct projections from the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), a structure known to be one of the brain areas that represents expected future rewards. To investigate whether the mPFC contributes to generating reward prediction error signals of DA cells, we recorded VTA cells from rats foraging for different amounts of reward in a spatial working memory task. Our results showed that DA cells initially responded after the acquisition of rewards, but over training, they exhibited phasic responses when rats detected sensory cues originating from the rewards before obtaining them. We also observed two separate groups of non-DA cells activated in expectation of upcoming rewards or during reward consumption. Bilateral injections of muscimol, a GABAA agonist, into the mPFC significantly decreased the non-DA activity that encoded reward expectation. By contrast, the same manipulation of the mPFC elevated DA responses to reward-predicting cues. However, neither DA nor non-DA responses elicited after reward acquisition were affected by mPFC inactivation. These results suggest that the mPFC provides information about expected rewards to the VTA, and its functional loss elevates DA responses to reward-predicting cues by altering expectations about forthcoming rewards.
Simultaneous structure discovery and parameter estimation in gene networks using a multi-objective GP-PSO hybrid approach

This paper presents a hybrid algorithm based on Genetic Programming (GP) and Particle Swarm Optimisation (PSO) for the automated recovery of gene network structure. It uses gene expression time series data as well as phenotypic data pertaining to plant flowering time as its input data. The algorithm then attempts to discover simple structures to approximate the plant gene regulatory networks that produce model gene expressions and flowering times that closely resemble the input data. To show the efficacy of the proposed approach, simulation results applied to flowering time control in Arabidopsis thaliana are demonstrated and discussed.
Effect of Chlorides on Reinforcing Steel Exposed to Simulated Concrete Solutions

Abstract The behavior of steel in chloride-free and chloride-contaminated simulated concrete solutions was studied to observe the degradation of steel as a result of addition of chlorides. One of t...
Loop Antennas with Uniform Current

The properties of a circular loop carrying uniform current are calculated for loops of any size relative to the wavelength. The radiation resistance and the greatest directivity pass through a series of maxima and minima as the frequency is increased. At frequencies below that for which one wavelength is contained in the circumference, the directivity graph is nearly independent of frequency. As the frequency is increased, additional lobes appear, the principal lobe tending to point more nearly in the direction normal to the loop. The paper includes a note on other loops, and a mathematical appendix dealing with certain integrals involving Bessel functions.
Cell Aggregation: Its Enhancement by a Supernatant from Cultures of Homologous Cells

A supernatant medium has been prepared from living embryonic neural retina cells which specifically promotes their histogenetic aggregation. Its function is dependent upon at least two experimentally separable steps: selective uptake and functional utilization.
ESTABLISHMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A CELL LINE FROM THE AMERICAN OPOSSUM (DIDELPHYS VIRGINIANA)

A permanent tissue-cultured cell line (designated OK) has been established from kidney tissue of an adult American opossum. The OK line has been characterized with respect to morphology, chromosome constitution, tissue-culture requirements, and attainable mitotic arrest. The cells are epithelial-like with a stable nondiploid chromosomal modal number of 23. Cells grown in Eagle's minimal essential medium with 10% fetal bovine serum have a mean doubling time of 18 hr. The cell line OK is potentially useful for the isolation and purification of the mammalian X chromosome because of the size differential between the smaller X's and the larger autosomes.
Basic aspects of development and maturation of the brain: embryological contributions to neuroendocrinology

The interpretation of studies on the development of neuroendocrine function presupposes a thorough knowledge of the complementary phenomena of morphogenesis and histogenesis of the brain. A short analysis of the morphogenesis of the diencephalic floor is given. The pituitary Anlage can be identified early in the neural plate stage. The hypophysis cerebri appears to be a key structure in the morphogenesis of both the head and the brain. The spatiotemporal pattern of histogenesis within the brain can be analysed by a study of the proliferative activity of the neuroepithelial matrix cell layer; a heterochrony of matrix (ventricular) layer mitotic activity and of mantle (intermediate) layer differentiation can be demonstrated. The process of neuron differentiation shows an articulate sequence of phenomena, among them migration, axon growth, dendrite growth, synapse formation and myelination. Dendritogenesis and the development of synapses in a particular area are strongly influenced by the ingrowth of axon nerve terminals from elsewhere. A number of structures observed in the developing central nervous system are only temporary phenomena that go into regression during subsequent stages; dendrites and synapses especially show a high degree of plasticity. Cell death occurs as a normal concomitant of development. Monoaminergic neuron systems originate early and show a positive histofluorescence shortly afterwards; their target areas are retarded as far as differentiation is concerned. The development of these target regions probably is influenced by the monoaminergic cells. The monoaminergic neurons are not subject to feedback regulation for some time, because of the typical late development of the dendritic receptive apparatus in these cells. Steroid receptors may play a role in the development of intersexual dimorphism of the brain. Probably a modulation of neurotransmitter synthesis is the intermediate between steroid receptor stimulation and a change in synaptogenesis in the target area of the neuron. Neuropeptide systems appear to possess a distribution beyond the limits of the hypophysiotropic area. The early presence of some of the neuropeptides within the embryonic brain suggests a role in histogenesis that is different from the usually presumed neurotransmitter or neuromodulator function of the neuropeptides.
Degree-associated reconstruction number of graphs

A card of a graph G is a subgraph formed by deleting one vertex. The Reconstruction Conjecture states that each graph with at least three vertices is determined by its multiset of cards. A dacard specifies the degree of the deleted vertex along with the card. The degree-associated reconstruction number drn(G) is the minimum number of dacards that determine G. We show that drn(G)=2 for almost all graphs and determine when drn(G)=1. For k-regular n-vertex graphs, drn(G)@?min{k+2,n-k+1}. For vertex-transitive graphs (not complete or edgeless), we show that drn(G)>=3, give a sufficient condition for equality, and construct examples with large drn. Our most difficult result is that drn(G)=2 for all caterpillars except stars and one 6-vertex example. We conjecture that drn(G)@?2 for all but finitely many trees.
Stopped-flow DNA polymerase assay by continuous monitoring of dNTP incorporation by fluorescence

Abstract DNA polymerase activity was measured by a stopped-flow assay that monitors polymerase extension using an intercalating dye. Double-stranded DNA formation during extension of a hairpin substrate was monitored at 75 °C for 2 min. Rates were determined in nucleotides per second per molecule of polymerase (nt/s) and were linear with time and polymerase concentration from 1 to 50 nM. The concentrations of 15 available polymerases were quantified and their extension rates determined in 50 mM Tris, pH 8.3, 0.5 mg/ml BSA, 2 mM MgCl2, and 200 μM each dNTP as well as their commercially recommended buffers. Native Taq polymerases had similar extension rates of 10–45 nt/s. Three alternative polymerases showed faster speeds, including KOD (76 nt/s), Klentaq I (101 nt/s), and KAPA2G (155 nt/s). Fusion polymerases including Herculase II and Phusion were relatively slow (3–13 nt/s). The pH optimum for Klentaq extension was between 8.5 and 8.7 with no effect of Tris concentration. Activity was directly correlated to the MgCl2 concentration and inversely correlated to the KCl concentration. This continuous assay is relevant to PCR and provides accurate measurement of polymerase activity using a defined template without the need of radiolabeled substrates.
Scheduling Web Advertisements: A Note on the Minspace Problem

Free services to internet users are commonly available on many web sites e.g., Hotmail and Yahoo. For such sites, revenue generated from advertisements (hereafter also called ?ads?) placed on the web pages is critical for survival. An effective way to schedule ads on web pages to optimize certain performance measures is an important problem that these sites need to address. In this note, we report improved approximation algorithms for the following problem: ads from a set of n ads A = {Ai,...,An} are to be placed on a web page during a planning horizon that is divided into N time intervals. In each time interval, ads are shown in a rectangular space called a slot. An ad Ai is specified by its size si and frequency wi and is to be scheduled in exactly wi slots. We are required to find a schedule that minimizes the maximum fullness among all the slots, where the fullness of a slot is the sum of the sizes of ads scheduled in that slot. Our results include (i) the first online algorithm with a performance bound of $$2 - \frac{1}{N}$$ , and (ii) two offline algorithms with performance guarantees of $$1 + 1\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}$$ and $$\frac{3}{2}$$]] , respectively. These bounds are significant improvements over those for previously known algorithms presented in Adler, Gibbons, and Matias (2002) and Dawande, Kumar, and Sriskandarajah (2003).
On-line arithmetic for recurrence problems

An arithmetic-level approach to increasing computation rate in solving recurrence problems is discussed. The approach, based on on-line arithmetic principles, is discussed in problems such as root finding and recursive filters. The main objective is to highlight the potential benefits and problems of the approach.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A novel zinc finger gene preferentially expressed in the retina and the organ of Corti localizes to human chromosome 12q24.3.

A cDNA encoding a novel member of the zinc finger gene family, designated zφfOC1, has been cloned from the organ of Corti. This is the first transcriptional regulator cloned from this sensory epithelium. This transcript encodes a peculiar protein composed of 9 zinc finger domains and a few additional amino acids. The deduced polypeptide shares 66% amino acid similarity with MOK-2, another protein of only zinc finger motifs and preferentially expressed in transformed cell lines. Northern blot hybridization analysis reveals that zφOC1 transcripts are predominantly expressed in the retina and the organ of Corti and at lower levels in the stria vascularis, auditory nerve, tongue, cerebellum, small intestine and kidney. The human gene was mapped, using a human × hamster somatic cell hybrid panel and fluorescent in situ hybridization, to chromosome 12q24.3. Because of its relative abundance in sensorineural structures (retina and organ of Corti), this regulatory gene should be considered a candidate for hereditary disorders involving hearing and visual impairments that link to 12q24.3.
The Value of Curiosity and Naiveté for the Cross-Cultural Psychotherapist†

Therapists today face a dramatic increase in the cultural diversity of their client populations. Cultural literacy, long the dominant model for preparing to do cross-cultural therapy, advocates study of the prospective client's history and culture. This model, however, poses logistical problems, emphasizes scholarship over the experiential and phenomenological, and risks seeing clients as their culture and not as themselves. In this essay, we argue that teaching culture alone can obscure therapists' view of human diversity. To balance the cognitive model of preparation, a process-oriented approach is considered, whereby the therapists' attitudes of cultural naivete and respectful curiosity are given equal importance to knowledge and skill. We begin from a concern with clients' vulnerability in the power distribution that inevitably exists in therapy, especially with immigrant and marginalized populations. The use of acculturation narratives, which the therapist explores with naivete and curiosity, helps clients to find their voices.
Sterility of epidural solutions--recommendations for cost-effective use.

Abstract Background and Objectives: Specific recommendations or guidelines for duration of use or “hangtime” for epidural solutions have not been established. Presently, most hospital policies limit expiration dating of these solutions to 24 hours at room temperature. Extending expiration dating would reduce or eliminate the manipulation of the epidural system during the course of therapy. The objective of this study was to assess the bacteriologic status over time of pharmacy-prepared epidural solutions to determine if longer expiration dating could be safely instituted. Methods: Samples from both previously administered and nonadministered bags of epidural infusate solutions were retrieved for bacteriologic testing and maintained at room temperature. These solutions were tested every 5 to 7 days beginning 24 to 48 hours after preparation. Results: Samples of 54 infusion bags were tested for a median duration of 63 days. One hundred fifteen samples were tested. Only 5 samples of 4 solutions reported positive cultures; no growth was reported for multiple subsequent cultures of these solutions. Conclusions: Samples of pharmacy-prepared epidural solutions remained sterile for greater than 42 days. A change from epidural solution expiration dating of 24 hours to 48 or 72 hours would translate into a cost savings of $36,375 to $48,450 at our institution. Reg Anesth Pain Med 2000;25:368-371.
Environmental Impact of Two, Adjacent, Hazardous Waste Disposal Sites in the Niagara River Watershed

Abstract Sediment core samples were taken from the Niagara River at locations adjacent to the Love Canal and the 102nd Street dumps, two hazardous waste disposal sites in the City of Niagara Falls, New York. The samples were analyzed by capillary gas chromatographic mass spectrometry, and a variety of halogenated organic compounds (including chlorobenzene, -toluene, -naphthalene, -benzyl, and -norbornane derivatives) were identified and quantified. Based on the qualitative and quantitative data obtained, the sources of these pollutants were identified, and the relative migration of chemicals from the two dumps to the Niagara River was established. The impact on the river is localized to the immediate vicinity of the outfall of the sewer draining the Love Canal neighborhood. Remedial action could be as easy as removing 20 truckloads of contaminated sediment from the river.
Valnoctamide enhances phasic inhibition: a potential target mechanism for the treatment of benzodiazepine-refractory status epilepticus.

Summary Valnoctamide (VCD), a derivative of valproate, suppresses electrographic seizures in animal models of status epilepticus (SE), even when the seizures are resistant to benzodiazepines (BZDs). We therefore tested the effect of VCD on miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs) in CA1 pyramidal cells to determine if VCD acts directly on γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)A receptors. Bath-applied VCD induced a specific, rapid, dose-dependent, and reversible slowing of the decay of mIPSCs (i.e., increased time constant) with no effect on their frequency or amplitude. This is similar to the effect of BZDs on mIPSCs, but the effect of VCD persisted in the presence of the BZD-binding site antagonist flumazenil, and was additive to the effect of the BZD, diazepam. These data suggest that VCD acts through a different binding site than that of BZDs, which likely accounts for its effect on BZD-refractory SE. A PowerPoint slide summarizing this article is available for download in the Supporting Information section here.
Optimal redundancy allocation for information technology disaster recovery in the network economy

A discrete optimization model is proposed to allocate redundancy to critical IT functions for disaster recovery planning. The objective is to maximize the overall survivability of an organization's IT functions by selecting their appropriate redundancy levels. A solution procedure based on probabilistic dynamic programming is presented along with two examples.
Optical Design with Epsilon-Dominated Multi-objective Evolutionary Algorithm

Significant improvement over a patented lens design is achieved using multi-objective evolutionary optimization. A comparison of the results obtained from NSGA2 and i¾?-MOEA is done. In our current study, i¾?-MOEA converged to essentially the same Pareto-optimal solutions as the one with NSGA2, but i¾?-MOEA proved to be better in providing reasonably good solutions, comparable to the patented design, with lower number of lens evaluations. i¾?-MOEA is shown to be computationally more efficient and practical than NSGA2 to obtain the required initial insight into the objective function trade-offs while optimizing large and complex optical systems.
CXCL1/KC and CXCL5/LIX are selectively produced by corneal fibroblasts and mediate neutrophil infiltration to the corneal stroma in LPS keratitis

The severity of corneal inflammation depends on the activity of infiltrating neutrophils responding to chemotactic factors such as CXC chemokines. This study examines the relative contribution of CXCL1/keratinocyte-derived chemokine (KC), CXCL2/monocyte-inhibitory protein-2 (MIP-2), and CXCL5/LPS-induced chemokine (LIX) in neutrophil recruitment to the corneal stroma during LPS keratitis, where neutrophils infiltrate the corneal stroma at 6 h after LPS injection and peak at 24 h. Consistent with this timeframe, KC was detected after 3 h, reached peak levels at 24 h, and decreased thereafter. In contrast, LIX production was not detected until 8 h after injection and peaked at 24 h. MIP-2 was detected at 3 h but did not reach the levels of KC and LIX. Cell types associated with corneal inflammation produced markedly different chemokines in vitro: Murine corneal fibroblasts (MK/T-1) produced LIX and KC in response to LPS but did not produce MIP-2, whereas peritoneal macrophages and neutrophils produced MIP-2 and KC but did not produce LIX. To determine the role of these chemokines in neutrophil recruitment to the cornea, anti-LIX, anti-KC, or anti-MIP-2 was injected into the corneal stroma of enhanced GFP chimeric mice prior to LPS, and total cell and neutrophil infiltration was examined. Antibody to LIX and KC, injected individually or in combination, significantly inhibited neutrophil recruitment to the cornea, whereas anti-MIP-2 had no inhibitory effect. Together, these findings demonstrate cell-specific production of CXC chemokines and show that LIX and KC mediate neutrophil recruitment into the cornea during LPS keratitis.
A Consumer's Guide to Texts on Mathematical Modeling

Five texts on mathematical modeling in the social sciences which have appeared within the last five years are described and evaluated. The analysis of the texts proceeds by considering such issues as the mathematical background required, general readability, ability of the text to train the reader to develop his own models, consideration of important philosophical issues inherent in modeling, and the types—substantive and mathematical—of models covered. The goal of the review is to pinpoint those texts, or parts of texts, that are most useful to the researcher in international relations.
The Incredible Years Teacher Classroom Management Training: The Methods and Principles that Support Fidelity of Training Delivery.

This article focuses on the Incredible Years Teacher Classroom Management (IY TCM) intervention as an example of an evidence-based program that embeds fidelity and adaptation within its design. Fir...
The Interesting and the Novel

Because it conflicts with deep-seated beliefs, it can be difficult to accept that deep innovations and discoveries are more likely when the search is aimless. It’s natural to be skeptical. To provide a concrete example of how abandoning objectives can be practical, this chapter explains an alternative to complete aimlessness that still avoids objectives. The key idea is to follow the scent of novelty and interestingness instead of any explicit objective. To test this idea scientifically, we created an unusual computer program called novelty search. Novelty search solves problems without directly trying to do so, driven only to find things different from what it has found before. Because searching directly for an objective can be deceiving, it turns out that novelty search can better solve challenging deceptive problems than programs that search directly and more conventionally for the objective itself. Strangely, this exotic process of discovery succeeds without trying and discovers without knowledge.
Nucleus Basalis Lesions and Recovery

Since the early reports of cortical cholinergic deficits in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and loss of cholinergic cells in the basal forebrain a great deal of research effort has been directed towards strategies to affect recovery from the consequences of cholinergic deficits. Nucleus basalis of Meynert (nbM) lesions in non-human mammals have been found to consistently produce dramatic deficits in cortical cholinergic marker activity, as well as profoundly disrupting learning and memory functions (Olton and Wenk, 1987). Recovery of function at a neurochemical as well as a behavioral level has been demonstrated in animals with such lesions. Evidence can be cited for spontaneous, as well as experimentally induced recovery. Recovery from nbM lesions, and basal forebrain cholinergic systems can most readily be induced experimentally. In general, recovery has been induced by pharmacological or neurotrophic means.
Burdens and Benefits: The Impact of Early Childbearing on the Family

This paper explores the impact of teenage pregnancy and childbearing on the families of the adolescent and examines the amount and type of support extended by the family of origin to the pregnant teenager. The analysis draws on data from a longitudinal study of teenage childbearing in Baltimore and a series of intensive case studies of adolescents and their families carried out at the Philadelphia Child Guidance Clinic. The findings reveal that many services are furnished to the young parent. Various kinds of outcomes for the family, the adolescent parent, and her child are detailed. In particular, the paper discusses the family's relations with the father of the child, the division of child care responsibilities, the effect on the parents’ marriage, and the consequences for sibling relations.
Prevention of gentamicin-induced apoptosis with the mitochondria-targeted antioxidant mitoquinone

Objectives/Hypothesis: Antioxidants have been shown to protect against aminoglycoside-induced hearing loss. Mitoquinone (MitoQ) is a mitochondria-targeted derivative of the antioxidant ubiquinone. MitoQ is attached to a lipophilic triphenylphosphonium (TPP) cation, which enables its accumulation inside the mitochondria several hundred-fold over the untargeted antioxidant. The goals of this study were to determine if MitoQ attenuates gentamicin-induced activation of caspase-3/7 activity as a marker of apoptosis and to determine if MitoQ impacts aminoglycoside antimicrobial efficacy. Study Design: Prospective and controlled. Methods: Antibiotic efficacy and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of gentamicin against three strains each of Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were evaluated with and without MitoQ using broth dilution methods. Apoptosis was assessed by caspase-3/7 activity in untreated HEI-OC1 cells and cells exposed to 2 mM gentamicin for 24 hours, with and without a 24-hour preincubation with 0.5 μM each of MitoQ, idebenone (an untargeted ubiquinone), or decylTPP (positive control). Results: Gentamicin MICs for P aeruginosa and H influenzae were not affected by MitoQ at pharmacological levels. MICs for S aureus were enhanced by MitoQ. Cell viability was significantly lower in the gentamicin-treated cells. A significant increase in caspase-3/7 activity was observed in cells treated with gentamicin or with idebenone + gentamicin (P = .005). Preincubation with MitoQ decreased the gentamicin-induced apoptosis of HEI-OC1 cells to a greater extent compared to idebenone (P = .002). Conclusions: MitoQ attenuates gentamicin-induced apoptosis in HEI-OC1 cells and does not compromise gentamicin antibiotic efficacy. MitoQ holds promise as a means of preventing aminoglycoside ototoxicity. Laryngoscope, 2012
Risk factors for stroke in patients with nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation: a case-control study.

Abstract purpose: Randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that anticoagulant therapy is very effective at preventing stroke among patients with nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation. However, these trials have reported too few strokes for powerful risk factor analysis. Observational studies may provide additional information. The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors in a larger number of patients with stroke and nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation, using case-control methodology. patients and methods: We identified all patients discharged from one hospital over an 8year period who met our case definition of nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation and ischemic stroke (n = 134), and compared them with contemporaneous control subjects who were discharged with non-rheumatic atrial fibrillation without stroke (n = 131). results: Cases and controls were similar in terms of duration of atrial fibrillation; proportion with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation; percentage with a past medical history of angina, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, diabetes, or smoking; and mean left atrial size. In contrast, cases were significantly older than controls (78.5 versus 74.8 years, p=0.002) and more likely to have a history of hypertension (55% versus 38%, p=0.0093). The relative odds for stroke was 1.91 for patients with hypertension, 1.73 for patients older than 75 years, and 3.26 for patients with both factors. conclusion: Our analysis suggests that age and hypertension should be considered when deciding upon long-term anticoagulant therapy to prevent stroke in patients with nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation.
Mastering Alliance Strategy: A Comprehensive Guide to Design, Management, and Organization

The book review is for “Mastering Alliance Strategy: A Comprehensive Guide to Design, Management, and Organization,” by James D. Bamford, Benjamin Gomes-Casseres, and Michael S. Robinson.
Hyperparasitism, a Mutualistic Phenomenon

Hyperparasitism is a mortality factor that generally is beneficial to the continuous reproduction of the species involved. The parasites of a primary parasite of a phytophagous insect may exhibit two distinctive types of secondary relations to that insect. These types are defined as follows: Direct secondary parasitism: that type of host-parasite symbiosis where only the primary's parasitized host or the primary itself is attacked. Indirect secondary parasitism: that type of host-parasite symbiosis where the primary's phytophagous host is attacked whether parasitized or not parasitized. The host mortality caused by direct secondary parasitism may greatly exceed that caused by indirect secondary parasitism, this being manifested when the percentage of the primary parasitization of the phytophagous host is minimal.