cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The SQUIRE Guidelines: an evaluation from the field, 5 years post release

Background The Standards for Quality Improvement Reporting Excellence (SQUIRE) Guidelines were published in 2008 to increase the completeness, precision and accuracy of published reports of systematic efforts to improve the quality, value and safety of healthcare. Since that time, the field has expanded. We asked people from the field to evaluate the Guidelines, a novel approach to a first step in revision. Methods Evaluative design using focus groups and semi-structured interviews with 29 end users and an advisory group of 18 thinkers in the field. Sampling of end users was purposive to achieve variation in work setting, geographic location, area of expertise, manuscript writing experience, healthcare improvement and research experience. Results Study participants reported that SQUIRE was useful in planning a healthcare improvement project, but not as helpful during writing because of redundancies, uncertainty about what was important to include and lack of clarity in items. The concept "planning the study of the intervention" (item 10) was hard for many participants to understand. Participants varied in their interpretation of the meaning of item 10b "the concept of the mechanism by which changes were expected to occur". Participants disagreed about whether iterations of an intervention should be reported. Level of experience in writing, knowledge of the science of improvement and the evolving meaning of some terms in the field are hypothesised as the reasons for these findings. Conclusions The original SQUIRE Guidelines help with planning healthcare improvement work, but are perceived as complicated and unclear during writing. Key goals of the revision will be to clarify items where conflict was identified and outline the key components necessary for complete reporting of improvement work.
The Art of Narritjin

The Art of Narritjin. H. Morphy, P. Deveson, and K. Hayne. Canberra, Australian National University Press, 2005. CD-ROM.
Combine unsupervised learning and heuristic rules to annotate organism morphological descriptions

Biodiversity literature is a comprehensive compilation of information on living organisms and fossils. Rich factual information on characteristics of organisms is presented in narrative form, hence limiting its repurpose and reuse. Transforming narrative information into atomic forms has been of special concern to informatics researchers and biological researchers alike. Research done previously shows similar results but lacks a detailed, scientific evaluation that would help illuminate the problem and eventually lead to a higher performance approach. Due to the sublanguage nature of morphological descriptions, it is thought that general-purpose nature language processing (NLP) tools are not effective in this application. A heuristic-based approach has been suggested in the literature. In this paper, we report our experiments with such an approach, where a set of simple, intuitive heuristic rules, informed by results of an unsupervised learning algorithm, is used to segment taxonomic descriptions and identify the organs along with their associated character/value pairs (color=white, shape=ovoid). This model system allows us to investigate the character annotation problem further, study the characteristics of morphological descriptions, identify the areas where the system fails, and suggest ways to address those failures. One such suggestion is to make use of general-purpose syntactic parsers in a controlled manner.
Rapid Detection and Typing of Strains of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis from Broth Cultures

A liquid culture followed by molecular confirmation was evaluated for potential to improve sensitivity and reduce time to diagnosis of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis infection. Fecal samples from 240 animals from Ohio farms were assessed for presence of M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis using four different protocols: (i) sedimentation processing followed by inoculation on Herrold's Egg Yolk media (HEYM) slants (monitored biweekly up to 16 weeks), (ii) double centrifugation processing followed by inoculation on HEYM slants (monitored biweekly up to 16 weeks), (iii) liquid-solid double culture method using modified 7H9 broth (8 weeks) followed by subculture on HEYM slants (monitored up to 8 weeks), and (iv) liquid culture using modified 7H9 broth (8 weeks) followed by molecular assays for the presence of two M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis-specific targets. The number of positive samples detected by each protocol was 37, 53, 65, and 76, respectively. Twenty-seven samples were positive by all four methods. Based on samples positive by at least one method (n = 81), the sensitivities for sedimentation processing, double centrifugation processing, liquid-solid double culture, and liquid culture followed by molecular confirmation were 46%, 65%, 80%, and 94%, respectively. Fingerprinting of the positive samples using two polymorphic (G and GGT) short sequence repeat regions identified varying levels of within-farm and between-farm diversity. Our data indicate that liquid culture followed by molecular confirmation can significantly improve sensitivity and reduce time-to-diagnosis (from 16 to 8 weeks) of M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis infection and can also be efficiently employed for the systematic differentiation of M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis strains to understand the epidemiology of Johne's disease.
Locally Determined Smooth Interpolation at Irregularly Spaced Points in Several Variables

Abstract : A class of methods for local interpolation at irregularly spaced points for functions of two or more variables is developed. The methods are based on a weighted average of the values of local interpolating functions, with the local interpolating functions and the weighting functions chosen so as to incorporate the desired smoothness. Numerical results for several interpolation functions from this class are compared with global approximations, some of which are local when implemented on a computer.
Laguerre-Gauss basis functions in observer models

Observer models based on linear classifiers with basis functions (channels) are useful for evaluation of detection performance with medical images. They allow spatial domain calculations with a covariance matrix of tractable size. The term “channelized Fisher-Hotelling observer” will be used here. It is also called the “channelized Hotelling observer” model. There are an infinite number of basis function (channel ) sets that could be employed. Examples of channel sets that have been used include: difference of Gaussian (DOG) filters, difference of Mesa (DOM) filters and Laguerre-Gauss (LG) basis functions. Another option, sums of LG functions (LGS), will also be presented here. This set has the advantage of having no DC response. The effect of the number of images used to estimate model observer performance will be described, for both filtered 1/f3 noise and GE digital mammogram backgrounds. Finite sample image sets introduce both bias and variance to the estimate. The results presented here agree with previous work on linear classifiers. The LGS basis set gives a small but statistically significant reduction in bias. However, this may not be of much practical benefit. Finally, the effect of varying the number of basis functions included in the set will be addressed. It was found that four LG bases or three LGS bases are adequate.
Modeling the Effects of Velocity Coupling on the Global Dynamics of Combustion Chambers

Considerable data exists suggesting that the response functions for many solid propellants tend to have higher values, in some ranges of frequencies, than predicted by the conventional QSHOD theory. It is a familiar idea that such behavior is associated with dynamical processes possessing characteristic times shorter than that of the thermal wave in the condensed phase. The QSHOD theory, and most of its variants, contains only the dynamics of that process, which normally has a characteristic frequency in the range of a few hundred hertz. Two previous works seeking to correct this deficiency (T'ien, 1972; Lazima and Clavin, 1992) have focused their attention on including the dynamics of the thermal wave in the gas phase. Both include effects of diffusion that complicate the analysis although the second achieves some simplification by applying the ideas of 'activation energy asymptotics'. While their results differ in detail, both works show influences at frequencies higher than those near the broad peak of the response due to the thennal wave. Recent theoretical work and simulations show that a combustion response function based on simple pressure coupling is not enough to explain the characteristics of the instability observed experimentally. Namely, differences in the shape of the response function fail to reproduce the differences observed experimentally in the characteristics of the limit cycle reached by combustion chambers with propellants of different chemical (or physical) composition. On the other hand, velocity coupling in the combustion response seems a promising mechanism able to predict the changes in the unstable modes observed experimentally and to produce considerable effect on the shape of the resulting limit cycle. The Baum and Levine model is used as a starting point in the investigation of velocity coupling. Other models, in which the mass burning rate is modified by some function of the velocity, are also investigated through direct time-simulation and by the use of a continuation method. Modeling of particle damping at high frequency constitutes a serious consideration in the modeling of the interaction of combustion dynamics and chamber acoustics. The effect of particle size distribution is analyzed by considering an experimental particle size distribution. The ultimate goal of this work is to find a link between the global dynamics of the combustion chamber and small changes in the combustion dynamics, caused by differences in propellant chemical composition or physical characteristics (for example, particle size and distribution). Response functions are shown for realistic ranges of the chief parameters characterizing the dynamics of the propellant. The results are also incorporated in the dynamical analysis of a small rocket motor to illustrate the consequences of the combustion dynamics for the stability and nonlinear behavior of unsteady motions in a motor.
Calcium intake and adiposity

Limited epidemiologic and experimental data support the possibility that dietary calcium intake plays a role in human body weight regulation. The aim of this review was to present the data from human studies that link calcium and dairy intake to body weight, describe the existing evidence for an effect of calcium intake on body weight from animal models of obesity, present evidence of a role for intracellular calcium in the regulation of lipogenesis and lipolysis, elucidate the potential suggested relation between dietary calcium intake and intracellular calcium concentrations, and outline the effects of calcium supplementation on dietary fat absorption. We suggest that these data support the need for large, population based clinical trials to assess the effects of supplemental calcium and other components of dairy products on human body weight.
A self-guiding catheter for cardiac and pulmonary arterial catheterization and occlusion.

Summary1. A self-guiding catheter has been described for placement in the right heart or pulmonary arteries of dogs. 2. This technic does not require a fluoroscope and localization is determined from the pressure recording. 3. The same catheter has likewise been used routinely for occlusion of the left pulmonary artery.
An interacting multi-pattern probabilistic data association (IMP-PDA) algorithm for target tracking

A theoretical development of a novel approach for target tracking based on multiple patterns extracted from measurement sequences is presented in this paper. The introduction of patterns leads to a new paradigm for developing high performance algorithms. An interacting multi-pattern probabilistic data association (IMP-PDA) algorithm is developed, taking the advantage of clever formulation of the interacting multiple model approach. The IMP-PDA algorithm employs distance, directional and maneuver information for data association, which enhances significantly the capability of discriminating correct measurements from false measurements.
Spinal cord stimulation with implanted epidural paddle lead relieves chronic axial low back pain.

Introduction Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) provides significant relief for lumbosacral radiculopathy refractory to both medical and surgical treatment, but historically only offers limited relief for axial low back pain (LBP). We aim to evaluate the response of chronic axial LBP treated with SCS using a surgically implanted epidural paddle lead. Materials and methods This is a retrospective review of a consecutive series of patients with exclusive LBP or predominant LBP associated with lower extremity (LE) pain evaluated and treated with SCS using an implanted paddle lead within the dorsal thoracic epidural space. Baseline LBP, and if present LE pain, were recorded using the visual analogue scale (VAS) at an initial evaluation. At a follow-up visit (a minimum of 12 months later), LBP and LE pain after a spinal cord stimulator implantation were again recorded using the VAS. Patients were also asked to estimate total LBP pain relief achieved. Results Patients with either exclusive (n=7) or predominant (n=2) axial LBP were treated with SCS by implantation of a paddle lead at an average spine level of T9. The baseline VAS score for LBP was 7.2; after a follow-up of 20 months, the score decreased to 2.3 (P=0.003). The LE pain VAS score decreased from 7.5 to 0.0 (P=0.103). Patients also reported a subjective 66.4% decrease of their LBP at follow-up. There were no surgical complications. Conclusions Axial LBP is refractory to many treatments, including SCS. SCS using a surgically implanted paddle electrode provides significant pain relief for chronic axial LPB, and is a safe treatment modality.
Quality of life and psychologic adjustment in children and adolescents with early treated phenylketonuria can be normal.

Abstract Objectives: To assess quality of life and psychologic adjustment in children and adolescents with early treated phenylketonuria (PKU). Study design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Assessment of 37 patients with PKU between 3 and 18 years of age (mean, 10.9 years), with parents used as informants. The TNO-AZL Questionnaire for Children's Health-Related Quality of Life and Child Behavior Checklist scores were compared with healthy reference groups. Predictive values of sociodemographic and clinical variables for quality of life and psychologic adjustment were assessed. Results: Most dimensions of quality of life in children with PKU were not different from reference values. The only deviation in the PKU group was a reduction of positive emotions. Psychologic adjustment in patients with PKU was better than in a healthy reference group. Whereas sociodemographic variables and phenylalanine levels in the 12 months preceding the study were not associated to quality of life and psychologic adjustment, a long-term negative effect of higher phenylalanine levels during the first year of life on some dimensions of quality of life and psychologic adjustment could be identified. Conclusions: Although the results may not necessarily apply to patients with PKU in other geographic or socioeconomic contexts, they demonstrate that normal health-related quality of life and good psychologic adjustment is an achievable goal in children with PKU. (J Pediatr 2002;140:516-21)
Effect of diabetes on enzymes involved in rat hepatic corticosterone production.

Background: Numerous studies have explored the etiologic or permissive role of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD1) in obesity and Type 2 diabetes, biochemical conditions often with concurrent hyperinsulinism. In contrast, there are limited data on the effect of insulin deficiency (i.e. Type 1 diabetes) on 11β-HSD1 or endoplasmic reticulum enzymes that generate the reduced pyridine cofactor NADPH. Thus, the aim of the present study was to examine the effect of insulin-deficient, streptozotozin diabetes on key microsomal enzymes involved in rat hepatic corticosterone production. Methods: After rats had been rendered diabetic with streptozotocin and some had been treated with insulin (2–6 units, s.c., long-acting insulin once daily) for 7 days, hepatic microsomes were isolated. Serum corticosterone and fructosamine were obtained premortem. Intact microsomes were incubated in vitro and 11β-HSD1, hexose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (H6PDH), and isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) measured. Results: Although diabetes markedly altered body weight gain and serum protein glycosylation (assessed by fructosamine), there was no significant change in hepatic 11β-HSD1 reductase activity, with or without insulin treatment. However, serum corticosterone levels were significantly correlated with 11β-HSD1 reductase activity when all groups were analyzed together (P < 0.05). Untreated diabetes modified (P < 0.01) two hepatic microsomal NADPH-generating enzymes, namely H6PDH and IDH, resulting in a 37% decrease and 14% increase in enzyme levels, respectively. Conclusions: Consistent with most in vivo studies, chronic insulin deficiency with attendant hyperglycemia does not significantly modify hepatic 11β-HSD1 reductase activity, but does alter the activity of two microsomal enzymes coupled with pyridine cofactors.
A wireless and passive wafer cleanliness monitoring unit via electromagnetic coupling for semicondutcor/MEMS manufacturing facilities

Abstract This paper presents a wireless and passive chemical sensing system, in situ real time, via electromagnetic (EM) coupling, capable of monitoring wafer cleanliness during rinsing process at semiconductor/MEMS manufacturing facilities. A MEMS chemical sensor is embedded in a wafer-form transponder to evaluate the rinsing process in situ by measuring the conductivity of rinsing water inside micro-features formed by two interdigitated electrodes. All necessary power for the transponder is supplied from an external interrogator via the on-wafer transponder antenna. The modulated conductivity data is then emitted back from the transponder to the external interrogator in wireless and battery-free manner. The wireless system has been implemented on a 4-inch glass wafer to maintain the wafer form factor, not disturbing hydrodynamics of the rinsing process. The working distance of the system was measured to be about 25 cm, primarily limited by the coupled power to the transponder. Real time and in situ characterization of system was performed with three different control solutions: hydrochloric acid (HCl), sulfuric acid (H 2 SO 4 ), and sodium hydroxide (NaOH). Detection uncertainty of the system was observed to be less than 2% (2 ppb for a 100 ppb solution).
HIGHWAY INTERMODAL FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION: A Policy and Administration Challenge for the New Millennium

This article provides an overview of factors influencing highway intermodal freight transportation planning and policy in the United States. The article provides examples of state and local initiatives to manage or balance the increasing highway transportation of freight with decreasing system capacity. It also identifies important trends in commerce affecting intermodal freight generation. It concludes with a discussion of issues facing intermodal freight transportation planning and policy making at the millennium.
Comparison between green and orange visual displays

— Most military visual displays are monochrome and green. As systems develop, design, cost, or production factors may justify the use of differently colored displays. The choice of color may impact visual performance. The purpose of this study was to compare visual performance between green and orange chromaticities being considered for a helmet-mounted display (HMD) under development. Visual stimuli were generated on a color CRT monitor and viewed through colored filters to achieve the desired green and orange colors. Visual acuity (VA), contrast sensitivity (CS), flicker detection, vernier acuity, and peripheral target recognition were assessed in six subjects with measures repeated across green and orange displays. For central visual tasks (VA, CS, vernier, flicker), there was no difference in performance between green and orange displays. However, peripheral target recognition was enhanced with the green display. These results indicate the importance of considering underlying visual mechanisms when selecting parameters for visual displays.
Lumbar catheterization of the subarachnoid space with a 32-gauge polyurethane catheter in the rat.

Chronic catheterization of the subarachnoid space of rats is an important tool for intrathecal drug delivery in pharmacologic investigations of pain. We describe a technique using direct lumbar insertion of a small 32-gauge polyurethane (PU) catheter without extensive surgery. Location of the catheter was confirmed with 2% lidocaine injection 1 day later, and methylene blue injection after 7–14 days. This method improved recovery of the rat after catheter implantation and reduced neurologic complications. Copyright 2000 European Federation of Chapters of the International Association for the Study of Pain
Luminal Conversion and Immunoregulation by Probiotics

Beneficial microbes are responsible for the synthesis of nutrients and metabolites that are likely important for the maintenance of mammalian health. Many nutrients and metabolites derived from the gut microbiota by luminal conversion have been implicated in the development, homeostasis and function of innate and adaptive immunity. These factors clearly suggest that intestinal microbiota may influence host immunity via microbial metabolite-dependent mechanisms. We describe how intestinal microbes including probiotics generate microbial metabolites that modulate mucosal and systemic immunity.
Application of Thermoluminescence and Reflectance Methods to Study of Lattice Defects in Alumina Ceramics

Alumina ceramics irradiated with gamma rays emit light of varying intensity as they are warmed. The resulting glow curve may be resolved into discrete peaks, each of which corresponds to a separate electron trapping level. The energy depth of each trap may be estimated from the glow-peak temperature and the temperature at which the light intensity reaches half its maximum value. Resolved glow curves are presented for a series of alumina ceramics including specimens having less than 100 p.p.m. of impurities as well as others contaminated with low concentrations of Si, Ti, Fe, Mg, and Ca oxides. Curves are also given for high-purity aluminas which were heated in oxygen and in hydrogen after firing. Where possible, glow peaks are identified with the causative impurity ion or annealing treatment, and estimated trap depths are tabulated. Because of its inverse relation to optical absorption, reflectance is also sensitive to changes in the number and type of lattice defects. Annealing in oxygen and introduction of Ca2+ ions produce a significant lowering of the reflectance of irradiated alumina ceramics, whereas exposure to hydrogen has the opposite effect.
Baryons and string creation from the 5-brane world-volume action

We construct BPS-exact solutions of the worldvolume Born-Infeld plus WZW action of a D5-brane in the background of N D3-branes. The non-trivial background metric and RR five-form field strength play a crucial role in the solution. When a D5-brane is dragged across a stack of N D3-branes a bundle of N fundamental strings joining the two types of branes is created, as in the Hanany-Witten effect. Our solutions give a detailed description of this bundle in terms of a D5-brane wrapped on a sphere. We discuss extensions of these solutions which have an interpretation in terms of gauge theory multi-quark states via the AdS/CFT correspondence.
Fetal Exposure to Lisinopril: Neonatal Manifestations and Management

The use of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors in pregnancy has been associated with neonatal morbidity and mortality. The mechanism of renal dysfunction likely is related to fetal hypotension and prolonged decreased glomerular filtration. Six of 14 previously published cases of neonatal renal failure after maternal ACE inhibitor therapy resulted in death. Eight infants survived after peritoneal dialysis, some with residual renal impairment. Serum lisinopril levels and ACE activity in our patient indicate that during the anuric state the drug has an extremely prolonged half-life, and that it is removed by peritoneal dialysis. In view of this prolonged half-life and the drug's continued suppression of ACE activity and renal function, we recommend institution of early dialysis in infants with renal failure after maternal therapy with lisinopril.
Minimax nonparametric classification. II. Model selection for adaptation

For pt.I see ibid., vol.45, no.7, p.2271-84 (1999). We study nonparametric estimation of a conditional probability for classification based on a collection of finite-dimensional models. For the sake of flexibility, different types of models, linear or nonlinear, are allowed as long as each satisfies a dimensionality assumption. We show that with a suitable model selection criterion, the penalized maximum-likelihood estimator has a risk bounded by an index of resolvability expressing a good tradeoff among approximation error, estimation error, and model complexity. The bound does not require any assumption on the target conditional probability and can be used to demonstrate the adaptivity of estimators based on model selection. Examples are given with both splines and neural nets, and problems of high-dimensional estimation are considered. The resulting adaptive estimator is shown to behave optimally or near optimally over Sobolev classes (with unknown orders of interaction and smoothness) and classes of integrable Fourier transform of gradient. In terms of rates of convergence, the performance is the same as if one knew which of them contains the true conditional probability in advance. The corresponding classifier also converges optimally or nearly optimally simultaneously over these classes.
Shape Models in Computer-Integrated Manufacture

Existing computer—aided manufacturing systems are based on models of shape tailored to a particular process. Computer—integrated manufacture involves many different processes, and hence requires more complete models of components or assemblies. This can be provided by solid modelling techniques extended to include extra data related to manufacture such as form features and tolerances. These developments are being applied to many manufacturing processes, from casting to assembly, but profound questions remain concerning both the structure and the use of shape models in manufacture.
Shock Value: Are Lianas Natural Lightning Rods?

Lightning is among the most powerful and awe-inspiring environmental phenomena on earth. It is prominent in human cultural history and relatively well understood scientifically (Rakov and Uman 2007). Individual lightning strokes vary in intensity and may occur from cloud to ground (CG), ground to cloud (GC), or within and between clouds (intra/inter-cloud; IC). The visible electrical discharge (the “return stroke” formed when ascending and descending leaders meet) is both hot (ca. 30,000°C) and powerful (ca. 30,000A) and is the component of lightning that causes significant structural and biological damage (Fig. 15.1). Whereas the basic physics of lightning is relatively well understood (Rakov and Uman 2007), the ecology of lightning remains poorly studied.
Sustainable street vended foods and food safety: a conceptual framework

Street vended foods are the vehicle of pathogens transmission resulting in foodborne diseases. The purpose of this paper is to propose a conceptual public health risks framework of consuming road vended foods based on detailed review of existing literature in developing countries. Although street food is enjoying a wide range of acceptability, microorganisms from the genus Campylobacter, Clostridium, Salmonella, Escherichia, Listeria, Shigella, Yersinia, Vibrio, Staphylococcus and Norovirus are commonly isolated pathogens and recognised as the cause foodborne diseases. Although there is dearth of data and information on foodborne diseases in Nigeria, more than 200,000 are suspected to die each year and about 124,400 deaths of Nigerian children under the age of five occurred in 2008, due to diarrheal disease. Street vended foods are riddled with problems and numerous points of contamination. In conclusion education, inspections, surveillance of foodborne disease outbreaks policies and certification should be implemented in Nigeria.
Is Knowledge Regarding Tuberculosis Associated with Stigmatising and Discriminating Attitudes of General Population towards Tuberculosis Patients? Findings from a Community Based Survey in 30 Districts of India

Background Stigmatising and discriminating attitudes may discourage tuberculosis (TB) patients from actively seeking medical care, hide their disease status, and discontinue treatment. It is expected that appropriate knowledge regarding TB should remove stigmatising and discriminating attitudes. In this study we assessed the prevalence of stigmatising and discriminating attitudes towards TB patients among general population and their association with knowledge regarding TB.
The Effect of Interphase Coupling on the Structure and Mechanical Properties of Silica-Siloxane Composites

Abstract Silica-reinforced siloxane composites are synthesized with heat labile azo groups at the polymer-filler interface. The azo group serves as a “smart interface” in that it is responsive to heat. This system is used to assess the influence of interfacial chemical bonds on mechanical properties. By thermally severing the azo linkage, we can determine the influence of interfacial bonding on properties independent of other morphological factors. The virgin filler powders, azo-modified powders, silica-filled composites and azo-modified-silica-filled composites are characterized using small-angle x-ray scattering, IR spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Mechanical properties are correlated with the presence or absence of interface coupling, filler loading and thermal exposure. The data show that, at loadings above 5 wt%, elongation is enhanced in the azo-linked composites compared to the composites with bare fillers; modulus is enhanced at low silica loadings (<5wt%) but is reduced at high loa...
Oncogenic evaluation in hamsters of human picorna-, paramyxo-, and herpesviruses.

SummaryGroups of newborn hamsters were inoculated with one of each of 33 picor-naviruses, 7 paramyxoviruses, 3 reoviruses, and 1 herpesvirus, of human origin, obtained from the American Type Culture Collection. Low tumor incidences were observed following inoculation of echovirus types 12, 17, 22, 23, and 29, respiratory syncytial virus, and reovirus type 3. Tumors observed in inoculated animals are compared with spontaneous tumors. The possibility of etiologic involvement of contaminating oncogenic viruses, or of enhancement or activation of enzootic latent tumor agents by non-oncogenic virus inoculation is discussed.The authors are grateful to Jack G. Burke for technical assistance and to Dr. H. J. Spjut for consultation on the histopathology.
More Hybrid Hummingbirds from the United States

HYBRID hummingbirds collected within the A.O.U. Check-List (1957) area were discussed and summarized by Banks and Johnson (1961). Those authors questioned the occurrence of the cross Archilochus alexandri X Calypte costae (Black-chinned x Costa's hummingbirds) reported by Gray (1958). However, Short found a specimen in the U. S. National Museum collection labelled by Phillips as representing this cross and, in correspondence concerning this specimen, Phillips mentioned a second individual he thought represented this cross and also a specimen of Eugenes fulgens x Cynanthus latirostris (Rivoli's x Broad-billed hummingbirds) in the American Museum of Natural History. Short's study of these sp2cimens convinced him that all three were indeed hybrids, and led to collaboration in preparing this report. The hybrids are described below in the manner of Banks and Johnson. We also offer comments concerning hybridization and the classification of A.O.U. Check-List hummingbirds.
Design and Stability Analysis of Dual-foot 3 DOF Climbing Robot for Blade Surface

A mechanism is established for the dual-foot biped robot with the vacuum sucker composed of three flexible hinge suction cups,and the curvature range in which the robot can move is analyzed.Based on the static force analysis,the force and torque equilibrium equations are derived under different rotation angles.The stability constraint equations are built for the suction cup radius and the gravity center position of the robot under the anti-sliding and anti-turning-over conditions.Through MATLAB optimization simulation,the minimum adsorption force for guaranteeing stability is solved,and the relationships between the climbing safety factor and the foot joint angle,the gravity center position are given and analyzed.The results show that the safety factor is nonlinear to the foot joint angle,its minimum value is obtained at robot horizontal pose,and the robot stability can be adjusted by the gravity center position.The physical prototype robot is developed and implemented to indicate that the proposed robot can climb and rotate on the wind turbine blade.
Defining Dynamic Protein Interactions Using SILAC-Based Quantitative Mass Spectrometry

Protein–protein interactions are essential to various physiological processes in living cells. A full characterization of protein interactions is critical to our understanding of their roles in the regulation of protein functions. Affinity purification coupled with mass spectrometry (AP-MS) has become one of the most effective approaches to systematically study protein–protein interactions. In combination with quantitative mass spectrometry, specific interacting proteins can be efficiently distinguished from nonspecific background proteins. Based on interaction affinity and kinetics, protein interactions can be classified into different categories such as stable and dynamic interactions. Standard biochemical methods are effective in capturing and identifying stable protein interactions but are not sufficient enough to identify dynamic interactors. In this chapter, we describe integrated strategies to allow the identification of dynamic interactors of protein complexes by incorporating new sample preparation methods with SILAC-based quantitation.
Cost consequences of implementation of an early obstetrical discharge programme in a military teaching hospital.

Summary: We evaluate the cost consequence of a voluntary early obstetrical discharge programme in a military teaching hospital. The study involved a control group of routine obstetrical discharge patients with uncomplicated vaginal delivery from March 1 to August 31, 1994 and the study group of early obstetrical discharge (24–48 hours) patients with uncomplicated vaginal delivery from March 1 to August 31, 1996. There were 1,042 total control patients with routine vaginal delivery totalling 2,668 hospital days with a mean number of hospital days of 2.56 per patient. The study group of early obstetrical discharge patients with uncomplicated vaginal delivery encompassed 1,050 patients with 1,965 hospital days with mean hospital days of 1.87 per patient (p <0.05) without an increase in postpartum clinic or emergency room visits. The total cost of admissions (cost calculation of $1,221 per hospital day) fell from $3,257, 628 in the routine discharge group to $2,399,625 in the early discharge cohort showing a total cost savings of $858,003 over the 6-months study period. The average cost per obstetrical admission for routine vaginal delivery fell from $3,126 per day to $2,285 per day without an increase in the postpartum paediatric adverse outcomes. Maternal postpartum readmission rates were statistically significantly increased (p <0.05) in the study group at 0.6% with an OR[2.32(2.17, 6.92)] but all readmissions fell outside the 48-hour early discharge window. This programme showed significant cost savings without concomitant increase in paediatric or maternal adverse outcomes.
Repair of Cardiac Injuries

Whether performed by an emergency physician or a surgeon, the majority of cardiac repairs performed at emergency department thoracotomy will be temporary in nature and require further revision in the operating room. This chapter’s main focus is the temporary control of cardiac injuries.
The Pharmacist's Role in Developing a Critical Pathway for Preterm Labor Management

Critical pathways strive to maintain or improve quality of care while reducing costs, and are generally designed for high-volume, high-risk or high-cost diagnoses or procedures. Obstetrically trained clinical pharmacists, due to their unique knowledge and understanding of medication use in pregnancy, can play a critical role in optimizing therapies utilized to manage preterm labor by working closely with the physician and nursing staff to devise individualized treatment plans. This report will describe a critical pathway for continuous subcutaneous terbutaline therapy, a therapy which is currently utilized to manage preterm labor, and is ideally suited to critical pathway principles.
Blind modal identification of non-classically damped structures under non-stationary excitations

Summary In the present paper, we extend a previously developed blind modal identification method to systems with non-classical damping, which have complex-valued mode shapes. Unlike conventional output-only identification methods, blind modal identification method can provide modal property estimates when the input excitations are unknown and non-stationary (e.g., for systems equipped with added dampers or soil–structure problems). In earlier work, we have developed a technique that can be used for non-classically damped systems, but it is only applicable to stationary (i.e., ambient) excitations. Herein, we present an extension to non-classically damped systems under non-stationary (e.g., seismic) excitations. The proposed method yields mode shapes, natural frequencies and damping ratios, sequentially. A critical ingredient in this new method is a combination of generalized eigen-decomposition and rough–fuzzy c-means clustering techniques, which are employed to identify the complex-valued mode shapes. The accuracy of the proposed method is verified through a simulated but realistic example. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Symmetry-Adapted Perturbation Theory Energy Analysis of Alkyl Fluorine–Aromatic Interactions in Torsion Balance Systems

Symmetry-adapted perturbation theory (SAPT) calculations are carried out to elucidate the intermolecular interactions present between fluorinated and nonfluorinated alkyl chain groups and aromatic π systems in the folded and unfolded conformers of Wilcox torsion balance systems. The calculations predict the folded conformers to be 2.0–2.3 kcal/mol more stable than the unfolded conformers, with the preference for the folded conformer being greater in the fluorinated alkyl chain case. We also establish that a simple electrostatic analysis, based on atomic charges, is inadequate for understanding the conformational preferences of these systems. In the folded conformers, there are sizable charge penetration contributions that are not recovered by point charge models. Additionally, the SAPT analysis reveals that exchange–repulsion interactions make a significant contribution to the relative stability of the folded and unfolded conformer.
Androgens and Bone: Basic Aspects

Publisher Summary The specific mechanisms by which androgens affect skeletal homeostasis, and whether these effects are directly mediated in bone, are areas of intensified research. As a classic steroid hormone, the biological cellular signaling responses to androgen are mediated through the androgen receptor (AR), a ligand-inducible transcription factor. ARs have been identified in a variety of cells found in bone and the characterization of AR expression in these cells thus clearly identifies bone as a target tissue for androgen action. The direct effects of androgen that influence the complex processes of proliferation, differentiation, mineralization and gene expression in the osteoblast are being characterized, but much remains to be established. Androgen effects on bone may also be indirectly modulated and/or mediated by other autocrine and paracrine factors in the bone microenvironment. This chapter reviews recent progress on the characterization of androgen action in bone.
Abstract P164: N-acetylglucosamine Conjugated to Nanoparticles Enhances Myocyte Uptake and Improves Delivery of a Small Molecule P38 Inhibitor for Postinfarct Healing

An estimated 985,000 new myocardial infarctions (MI) will occur in the U.S. in 2011. While many will survive the initial insult, the early damage will eventually lead to heart failure for which the only definitive cure is transplantation. Cardiomyocyte (CM) apoptosis is a large contributor to cardiac dysfunction, and although potential therapeutic molecules exist to inhibit apoptotic pathways, drug delivery methods are lacking. This damage is largely regional and thus localized delivery of therapeutics holds great potential. However, CMs are relatively non-phagocytic, which precludes existing delivery schemes using polymeric particles that target phagocytic cells. Recently, the carbohydrate N-acetyl-glucosamine (GlcNAc) was discovered to be bound and internalized by CMs, providing a potential mechanism for drug delivery. Here we demonstrate efficacy of a drug delivery system comprising a drug-loaded biodegradable polyketal nanoparticle that is surface-decorated with GlcNAc. Inclusion of the sugar enhanced uptake by CMs in vitro as measured by intracellular activated fluorescence. When delivered in vivo following ischemia-reperfusion injury, GlcNAc-decorated particles loaded with the p38 inhibitor SB239063 reduced infarct size and improved acute cardiac function. This was in contrast to our published data demonstrating no acute effect of non-sugar decorated, p38 inhibitor-loaded particles. These data suggest a novel therapeutic option to enhance uptake of drug-loaded nanoparticles to CMs, and perhaps to reduce the large amount of CM cell death following myocardial injury.
Response of Codiaeum variegatum ‘Gold Star’ as Influenced by Slow-Release Fertilizer

Abstract Codiaeum variegatum ‘Gold Star’ croton were grown at different nutritional levels of 3.3, 6.6, 9.9, 13.2, 16.5 and 19.8 g of slow-release 19N-3P-10K (19-6-12) per 12.5 cm (5 in) pot. Plant grade was highest with levels of 3.3–9.9 g per pot, with corresponding leachate electrical conductivity of approximately 200–1100 μmhos·cm−1.
A Compact Closed-Loop Optogenetics System Based on Artifact-Free Transparent Graphene Electrodes

Electrophysiology is a decades-old technique widely used for monitoring activity of individual neurons and local field potentials. Optogenetics has revolutionized neuroscience studies by offering selective and fast control of targeted neurons and neuron populations. The combination of these two techniques is crucial for causal investigation of neural circuits and understanding their functional connectivity. However, electrical artifacts generated by light stimulation interfere with neural recordings and hinder the development of compact closed-loop systems for precise control of neural activity. Here, we demonstrate that transparent graphene micro-electrodes fabricated on a clear polyethylene terephthalate film eliminate the light-induced artifact problem and allow development of a compact battery-powered closed-loop optogenetics system. We extensively investigate light-induced artifacts for graphene electrodes in comparison to metal control electrodes. We then design optical stimulation module using micro-LED chips coupled to optical fibers to deliver light to intended depth for optogenetic stimulation. For artifact-free integration of graphene micro-electrode recordings with optogenetic stimulation, we design and develop a compact closed-loop system and validate it for different frequencies of interest for neural recordings. This compact closed-loop optogenetics system can be used for various applications involving optogenetic stimulation and electrophysiological recordings
Clinical outcomes following mechanical plus oral antibiotic bowel preparation versus oral antibiotics alone in patients undergoing colorectal surgery.

Background Despite growing evidence to support use of preoperative mechanical bowel preparation (MBP) plus oral antibiotic bowel preparation (OABP) compared with MBP alone or no bowel preparation before colorectal surgery, evidence supporting use of MBP plus OABP relative to OABP alone is lacking. This study aimed to investigate whether the addition of MBP to OABP was associated with improved clinical outcomes after colorectal surgery compared with outcomes following OABP alone. Methods Patients who underwent colorectal surgery and preoperative bowel preparation with either OABP alone or MBP plus OABP were identified using the American College of Surgeons' National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Colectomy Targeted Participant Use Data File for 2012-2015. Thirty-day postoperative outcomes were compared, estimating the average treatment effect with propensity score matching and inverse probability-weighted regression adjustment. Results In the final study population of 20 594 patients, 90·2 per cent received MBP plus OABP and 9·8 per cent received OABP alone. Patients who received MBP plus OABP had a lower incidence of superficial surgical-site infection (SSI), organ space SSI, any SSI, postoperative ileus, sepsis, unplanned reoperation and mortality, and a shorter length of hospital stay (all P < 0·050). After propensity score matching and inverse probability-weighted regression adjusted analysis, MBP plus OABP was associated with a reduction in superficial SSI, any SSI, postoperative ileus and unplanned reoperation (all P < 0·050). Conclusions Use of MBP plus OABP before colectomy was associated with reduced SSI, postoperative ileus, sepsis and unplanned reoperations, and shorter length of hospital stay compared with OABP alone.
Approach to the Patient with Chronic Kidney Disease and Renovascular Disease

Renovascular disease results most commonly from atherosclerotic vascular occlusion. Although clinically significant loss of GFR is characteristic of its more severe forms, renovascular disease is often complicated by widespread cardiovascular manifestations and pre-existing microvascular injury, making management of these patients challenging. The kidney tolerates moderate reductions of blood flow and oxygenation, but severe arterial occlusion eventually leads to loss of kidney function. Recent studies demonstrate pro-inflammatory changes in the renal vasculature preceding kidney injury, which are followed by rarefaction of the renal microvasculature. Tissue inflammation and fibrosis ensue and eventually reach a point of irreversible structural injury that precludes recovery of glomerular filtration. Medical treatment of hypertension, comorbidities, anemia and electrolyte disorders is the cornerstone of management for these patients. Renal revascularization is beneficial for selected patients with progressive decline in kidney function, refractory hypertension and/or recurrent circulatory congestion or pulmonary edema. Experimental studies indicate that novel adjunctive measures, including cell-based therapies, may attenuate injury or facilitate renal repair mechanisms for more effective recovery of kidney function.
Quantifying Glycogen in Solids at Full-Scale Enhanced Biological Phosphorous Removal Wastewater Facilities

AbstractGlycogen is a chief metabolic storage pool in bacteria performing enhanced biological phosphorous removal (EBPR) and is a potential resource for the production of bio-based fuels and chemic...