cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Extracellular and Intracellular Potency of Botulinum Neurotoxins

Levels of botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) proteolytic activity were compared using a cell-free assay and living neurons to measure extracellular and intracellular enzymatic activity. Within the cell-free reaction model, BoNT serotypes A and E (BoNT/A and BoNT/E, respectively) were reversibly inhibited by chelating Zn2+ with N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis (2-pyridylmethyl) ethylenediamine (TPEN). BoNT/E required relatively long incubation with TPEN to achieve total inhibition, whereas BoNT/A was inhibited immediately upon mixing. When naive Zn2+-containing BoNTs were applied to cultured neurons, the cellular action of each BoNT was rapidly inhibited by subsequent addition of TPEN, which is membrane permeable. Excess Zn2+ added to the culture medium several hours after poisoning fully restored intracellular toxin activity. Unlike TPEN, EDTA irreversibly inhibited both BoNT/A and -E within the cell-free in vitro reaction. Excess Zn2+ did not reactivate the EDTA-treated toxins. However, application of EDTA-treated BoNT/A or -E to cultured neurons demonstrated normal toxin action in terms of both blocking neurotransmission and SNAP-25 proteolysis. Different concentrations of EDTA produced toxin preparations with incrementally reduced in vitro proteolytic activities, which, when applied to living neurons showed undiminished cellular potency. This suggests that EDTA renders the BoNT proteolytic domain conformationally inactive when tested with the cell-free reaction, but this change is corrected during entry into neurons. The effect of EDTA is unrelated to Zn2+ because TPEN could be applied to living cells before or after poisoning to produce rapid and reversible inhibition of both BoNTs. Therefore, bound Zn2+ is not required for toxin entry into neurons, and removal of Zn2+ from cytosolic BoNTs does not irreversibly alter toxin structure or function. We conclude that EDTA directly alters both BoNTs in a manner that is independent of Zn2+.
The role of hydrodynamic and surface forces in bubble–particle interaction

Abstract In modeling flotation, the process of bubble–particle interaction is usually divided into three subprocesses, including collision, adhesion and detachment. Of these, the hydrodynamics of bubble–particle collision has been studied most extensively by many investigators, and the results are useful for the design and scale-up of flotation cells. The process of adhesion, on the other hand, is least understood because it is essentially controlled by the chemistry of the system, which is complex and difficult to model mathematically. However, it is possible to determine the probability of the bubble–particle adhesion from the induction times that can be measured experimentally under different chemical environments. Furthermore, the new information reported in the literature on the hydrophobic forces of both particles and bubbles allow prediction of adhesion probabilities using various surface chemistry parameters. Consideration of both the hydrodynamic and surface force parameters is essential in predicting flotation rates from first principles.
Preparation and properties of polyamines. Part I. Polymers containing dinitro substituted aromatic groups

Abstract Relatively high molecular weight polyamines with aromatic nitro groups in the repeat units were prepared by the reactions of aliphatic diamines, and 1,5-difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, at elevated temperatures in diphenyl sulfone. The physical characteristics, including solubility, thermal stability, and viscosity of the resulting polyamines were found to be strongly dependent on the aliphatic chain length of the diamines used. All polymers exhibited exceptional solvent resistance. Except for strong acids with bulky counter-ions, including sulfuric, perchloric, and nitric acids, the polymers were found to be insoluble in all common organic solvents at room temperature.
Stress corrosion cracking of sensitized Type 304 stainless steel in thiosulphate solution. II. Dynamics of fracture

This work focuses on the study of noise (EN) in the coupling current that is generated during stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of sensitized Type 304 stainless steel (304SS) in thiosulphate solution. The noise was acquired under open circuit conditions using a zero-resistance ammeter to monitor the coupling current that flows from the crack in an insulated compact tension (CT) specimen to external cathodes. The time record is transformed to the frequency domain using a fast Fourier transform algorithm and wavelet analysis; the wavelet analysis proved to be of greater facility in determining the frequency values at which the fracture events occur. The mechanism proposed to explain the behaviour of the noise is hydrogen-induced fracture (HIF), in which the entry of hydrogen into the matrix ahead of the crack tip is catalyzed by adsorbed sulfur. Additionally, it was found that a 0.5 M sodium thiosulphate solution is capable of initiating and propagating the localized corrosion process under unloaded conditions and that the effect of the load is, simply, to increase the rate with which the process occurs.
Relationships between intermetallic compound structure and hydride formation

The structures of four families of intermetallic compounds are analyzed in terms of the number, sizes, positions and symmetry properties of tetrahedral interstitial holes. The structure types considered are hexagonal AB5 (D2d), cubic AB2 (C15), hexagonal AB2 (C14) and orthorhombic AB (Bf). Holes and clusters of holes are considered in terms of their suitability for hydrogen occupancy in the formation of intermetallic compound hydrides. In the cases of the hydrides LaNi5H6 and LaCo5H4, the parent hexagonal structure P6/mmm is changed on hydriding to trigonal P31m in the former case and to orthorhombic Cmmm in the latter case. The symmetry changes that correspond to these transformations are shown to be directly related to the amount of hydrogen absorbed; i.e. some potential sites in the parent compound are retained and others are not, depending on the structural change. In those cases where structural data for the hydride phases are not available or where the parent structure does not change on hydriding, it is shown that reasonable estimates of the extent of hydrogen absorption can be made based on the number and the sizes of available holes or hole clusters in the parent compound.
Differences in cytokine gene expression profile between acute and secondary injury in adult rat spinal cord.

It is likely that the environment within the injured spinal cord influences the capacity of fetal spinal cord transplants to support axonal growth. We have recently demonstrated that fetal spinal cord transplants and neurotrophin administration support axonal regeneration after spinal cord transection, and that the distance and amount of axonal growth is greater when these treatments are delayed by several weeks after injury (Coumans et al., 2001). In this study, we sought to determine whether differences in inflammatory mediators exist between the acutely injured spinal cord and the spinal cord after a second injury and re-section, which could provide a more favorable environment for the axonal re-growth. The results of this study show a more rapid induction of transforming growth factor (TGF) β1 mRNA expression in the re-injured spinal cord than the acutely injured spinal cord and an attenuation of proinflammatory cytokine mRNA expression. Furthermore, there was a rapid recruitment of activated microglia/macrophages in the degenerating white matter rostral and caudal to the injury but fewer within the lesion site itself. These findings suggest that the augmentation of TGFβ-1 gene expression and the attenuation of pro-inflammatory cytokine gene expression combined with an altered distribution of activated microglia/macrophages in the re-injured spinal cord might create a more favorable milieu for transplants and axonal regrowth as compared to the acutely injured spinal cord.
Intuitive semantics for first-degree entailments and ‘coupled trees’

Classically, an argument A therefore B is ‘valid’ (or A is said to ‘entail’ B) if and only if (iff) each situation (model) is such that either A is false or B is true. This fits well with so-called ‘tableau’ methods for showing that A entails B by working out the mutual inconsistency of A and ~B. But both the classical notion of validity and the corresponding tableau methods allow that A may entail B because of some feature of A alone, irrespective of B, and vice versa. Thus if A is a contradiction, then each situation is such that A is false, and so a fortiori is such that A is false or B is true. And if A is a contradiction, then a tableau construction will show that A is inconsistent, and so a fortiori that A and ~B are inconsistent. Of course, the same points can be made dually when B is a logical truth.
Task dependence and termination in Ada

This article analyzes the semantics of task dependence and termination in Ada. We use a contour model of Ada tasking in examining the implications of and possible motivation for the rules that determine when procedures and tasks terminate during execution of an Ada program. The termination rules prevent the data that belong to run-time instances of scope units from being deallocated prematurely, but they are unnecessarily conservative in this regard. For task instances that are created by invoking a storage allocator, we show that the conservative termination policy allows heap storage to be managed more efficiently than a less conservative policy. The article also examines the manner in which the termination rules affect the synchronization of concurrent tasks. Master-slave and client-server applications are considered. We show that the rules for distributed termination of concurrent tasks guarantee that a task terminates only if it can no longer affect the outcome of an execution. The article is meant to give programmers a better understanding of Ada tasking and to help language designers assess the strengths and weaknesses of the termination model.
Inhaled Nitric Oxide Attenuates Increased Pulmonary Artery Pressure Following Diaspirin Crosslinked Hemoglobin (Dclhb) Administration

Intravenous administration of diaspirin crosslinked hemoglobin (DCLHb) can result in elevated pulmonary and systemic arterial pressures in some mammalian species. This study was designed to evaluate the ability of inhaled nitric oxide (INO) to attenuate elevations in pulmonary artery pressure in a closed-chested swine model. Yorkshire pigs received escalating doses of INO followed by escalating doses of DCLHb or a single dose of DCLHb followed by escalating doses of INO. Systemic and pulmonary arterial pressures were monitored continuously. Significant elevations occurred in systemic and pulmonary arterial pressure following a cumulative dose of 0.1 gm/kg DCLHb. A single dose of 0.3 gm/kg also resulted in elevations of pulmonary and systemic arterial pressure. Inhaled nitric oxide partially reversed the changes in pulmonary but not systemic pressure. These results indicate that INO might be a therapeutic option for humans who may experience increased pulmonary artery pressure following administration of DCLHb.
Management Chief Negotiators, Bargaining Strategies, and the Likelihood of Impasse in Public Sector Collective Bargaining

Chief negotiators are uniquely positioned to affect the level of collective bargaining conflict because of their roles as external representatives and information processors during negotiations. The nature of these effects should be of special interest to government administrators who are concerned about improving their self-resolution track record in collective bargaining. In this article, the authors use a unique 1992 survey of municipal chief negotiators to examine the impact of various chief negotiator characteristics on the likelihood of impasses occurring in negotiations with municipal police unions. The findings support two major conclusions. First, chief negotiators who are positioned higher in the management hierarchy experience fewer collective bargaining impasses than do those who are lower in the organization. Second, negotiators' strategies and personality characteristics significantly influence the likelihood of an impasse but, in general, demographic characteristics of negotiators and envir...
A parallel simulation scheme for the rapid accurate calculation of nonideal electrochemical transients

Abstract A method for the digital simulation of certain electrochemical transients has been developed. The method involves the parallel calculation of the system of interest and an ideal analog to which an exact solution is available. A reduction in computer time of several orders of magnitude is realized compared to conventional simulations.
Paraphrasing Strategy Instruction for Struggling Readers.

Reading comprehension is important for academic success and is a skill required for many activities in school and beyond. This study investigated the effects of the TRAP (Think before you read, Read a paragraph, Ask myself, “What was this paragraph mostly about?” and Put it into my own words) paraphrasing strategy taught using the Self-Regulated Strategy Development model. Participants were seven middle school students identified as fluent readers who experienced difficulty with comprehension. All instruction for the participants was in pairs or small groups. Results indicate that the TRAP strategy increased reading comprehension as measured by the percentage of text recall and short-answer questions. Ideas for future research and implications are discussed.
Challenges in assessing costs of rheumatoid arthritis.

Abstract Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a prevalent inflammatory joint disease that afflicts up to 1% of the American population. 1 The consequences of this disease may beirreversible joint damage and physical disability, 2 which eventually may lead to work disability. 3 Although therapeutic agents are available to help minimize symptoms and delay disease progression, RA is chronic andincurable. When therapeutic agents fail to controlprogressive joint damage, surgery to repair or replace joints is required.
Propagation of uncertainty in hourly utility NOx emissions through a photochemical grid air quality model: a case study for the Charlotte, NC, modeling domain.

One of the major hypothesized sources of uncertainties in air quality model inputs is the emission inventory. A probabilistic hourly NOx emission inventory for 32 units of nine coal-fired power plants in the Charlotte domain for the year 1995 was propagated through the Multiscale Air Quality Simulation Platform (MAQSIP). The inventory was developed using time series techniques. Time series for a 4-d episode were simulated and propagated through the air quality model 50 times in order to represent the ranges of uncertainty in hourly emissions and predicted ozone levels. Intra-unit autocorrelation in emissions and inter-unit dependence were accounted for. The range of uncertainty in predicted ozone was greater when inter-unit dependence was included as compared to when units were treated as statistically independent. Uncertainties in maximum ozone hourly or 8-h concentrations at a specific location could be attributed to a specific power plant based upon regression analysis. Out of 3969 grid cells in the mo...
Fibre order in the pathways from the eye to the brain

Some topographic order has long been recognized among the fibres of the visual pathways, but the analysis of this order has varied, depending on the species, on the part under study (near the eye or in the brain), and on the point of view and the methods of the investigator. In some regions the fibres are arranged as a map of the retinal surface, in some the order is more readily related to time of arrival during development and in some the order is less easily read. Here we discuss the different interpretations, relate them to each other and to the developmental processes that produce a number of distinct visual field maps in the brain.
Abstract 5397: Crocetin, a carotenoid compound derived from Saffron, enhances antitumor effects of paclitaxol and cisplatin in pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States and no significant treatment is at present available. Although there are an increasing number of therapeutic options available for patients with advanced disease, their efficacy is time limited and non-curative. Presently approximately 50-60% of cancer patients in the United States utilize therapies derived from plants, herbs, flowers, or nutrients (complementary and alternative medicine [CAM]), exclusively or concurrently with their traditional therapies such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy. One such CAM therapy is “crocetin”, a carotenoid compound isolated from the saffron plant. Recent studies demonstrated that crocetin has a significant antitumorigenic effect in both in vitro and in vivo on pancreatic cancer. Two conventional chemotherapeutic agents, paclitaxol (a microtubule-targeted agent) and cisplatin (a platinum based anticancer drug binds to DNA), have been demonstrated significant reduction of growth and proliferation in pancreatic cancer. Therefore, the aim of the series of experiments was to determine whether crocetin enhances paclitaxol or cisplatin induced proliferation in pancreatic cancer. MIA-PaCa-2 and BxPC3 cells were treated with crocetin and paclitaxol or cisplatin together at different doses and a proliferation assay was utilized using Click-it Edu flurorometric assay. Paclitaxol or cisplatin alone at higher doses (50-100nM) inhibited proliferation in both MIA PaCa2 and BxPC3 cells but crocetin (200μM) in combination of paclitaxol or cisplatin showed significant additive effect even at lower doses (10 and 25nM) of paclitaxol or cisplatin. The combinational effect is more pronounced in BxPC3 cells. Paclitaxol or cisplatin alone at higher doses (50-100nM) stimulated apoptosis using Deadend flurorometric TUNEL apoptosis assay in MIA PaCa2 and BxPC3 cells and apoptosis is more pronounced at lower doses in combination with crocetin. This study indicated that crocetin in combination with lower doses of paclitaxol or cisplatin inhibited proliferation and stimulated apoptosis in pancreatic cancer. The antitumorigenic effect is more pronounced in BxPC3 cells and paclitaxol is more effective than cisplatin at lower doses in combination with crocetin. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5397.
Absorptive corrections to the Veneziano model

We consider the problem of unitarising the Veneziano model in a way which takes into account absorptive affects from other channels. Lovelace's K-matrix unitarising procedure is extended so that the Pomeranchuk appears naturally as the expression for the shadow of inelastic scattering. We compare the predictions of the model for ππ, KN and KN elastic scattering at low energies with the experimental data. Finally we consider inelastic scattering and discuss an absorptive Veneziano model for the process NN → KK.
The Neuroprotective Effect of Genetic Mannose-binding Lectin Deficiency is not Sustained in the Sub-acute Phase of Stroke

The complement cascade is a critical mediator of the inflammatory response following cerebral ischemia. Recent work has demonstrated that genetic deficiency of mannose-binding lectin (MBL) ameliorates reperfusion injury and improves outcome in the acute phase of stroke. The present study sought to further delineate the pathogenic role of MBL in stroke and to examine whether the neuroprotection associated with MBL deficiency is sustained beyond the acute phase. We hypothesized that genetic MBL deficiency would suppress complement activation and ameliorate reperfusion injury in the acute phase, but that persistent inhibition of complement into the subacute phase would serve to abrogate this neuroprotective effect. The time course and localization of post-ischemic cerebral MBL and C3 deposition were characterized using both Western blot and immunohistochemistry. MBL-a/c null (MBL-KO) mice subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion were then employed to investigate the histologic injury and functional outcome associated with genetic MBL deletion at both 24 h and 7 days. MBL-a/c rapidly deposit on ischemic endothelium and trigger downstream complement activation in the acute phase. Genetic deficiency of MBL abrogates C3 cleavage as well as the subacute accumulation of mononuclear cells in the ischemic region. Although MBL-KO mice demonstrate significantly improved outcome at 24 h, the neuroprotective effect associated with genetic MBL deletion is not sustained. Development of a successful anti-complement neuroprotective strategy will require carefully tailored inhibition coupled with a greater understanding of the functional effects of complement activation during later phases of stroke recovery.
A lower limit of 9.5 Gyr on the age of the Galactic disk from the oldest white dwarf stars

WHITE dwarf stars represent the final evolutionary state for most main-sequence stars. They cool slowly enough that even the oldest white dwarfs are still observable in sufficiently deep surveys and they therefore provide a record of the age and star-formation history of the local disk of the Milky Way1–7—and hence a useful constraint on the age of the Galaxy itself. Here we report the initial results of a very deep survey of white dwarfs, that avoids many of the problems associated with the incompleteness of earlier surveys. We use model age–luminosity relations to interpret the luminosity function of our sample of stars, and thus obtain a minimum age for the local Galactic disk of ∼9.5 Gyr. Our results lend weight to an emerging picture of the evolutionary history of the Milky Way, in which the halo formed ∼14–17 Gyr ago8,9, followed by the bulge globular clusters ∼12–14 Gyr ago10, with a modest hiatus before the onset of star formation in the local disk ∼10 Gyr ago.
Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass at a Veterans Affairs and high-volume academic facilities: a comparison of institutional outcomes.

Abstract Background Outcomes of bariatric surgery have been linked to institutional case volume. The objective of our study was to compare outcome of laparoscopic Roux-en-y gastric bypass (RYGB) in 2 settings: a low-volume Veterans Affairs (VA) and a high-volume university hospital (UH). Methods Over a period of 27 months, 140 patients underwent RYGB (137 laparoscopic, 3 open) performed by 1 surgeon. Fifty-five were performed at a VA and 85 at a UH with an annual caseload close to 300. Results The body mass index in both groups was similar, but patients at the VA were older, mostly men, and more likely to have hypertension (HTN), obstructive sleep apnea, and diabetes mellitus (DM). Operative and anesthesia times were significantly longer at the VA. There were no differences in 30-day mortality (none), major morbidity, conversion rates, or reoperation rates. Conclusion Laparoscopic RYGB can be performed safely at a VA facility despite a higher risk population and low annual volume.
Duality of the weak parallelogram laws on Banach spaces

Abstract This paper explores a family of weak parallelogram laws for Banach spaces. Some basic properties of such spaces are obtained. The main result is that a Banach space satisfies a lower weak parallelogram law if and only if its dual satisfies an upper weak parallelogram law, and vice versa. Connections are established between the weak parallelogram laws and the following: subspaces, quotient spaces, Cartesian products, and the Rademacher type and co-type properties.
The Vema fracture zone and the tectonics of transverse shear zones in oceanic crustal plates

At 11°N latitude, the Mid-Atlantic ridge is offset 300 km by the Vema fracture zone. Between the ridge offset, the fracture consists of an elongate, parallelogram-shaped trough bordered on the north and south by narrow, high walls. The W-E trending valley floor is segmented by basement ridges and troughs which trend W10°N and are deeply buried by sediment. Uniform high heat flow characterizes the valley area. Seismically inactive valleys south of the Vema fracture, also trending W10°N, are interpreted as relict fracture zones. We explain the high heat flow and the shape of the Vema fracture as the results of secondary sea-floor spreading produced by a reorientation of the direction of sea-floor spreading from W10°N to west-east. This reorientation probably began approximately 10 million years ago. Rapid filling of the fracture valley by turbidites from the Demerara Abyssal plain took place during the last million years.
Neutron and x-ray diffraction evidence for a structural phase transition in the sulfur-based ambient-pressure organic superconductor bis(ethylenedithio) tetrathiafulvalene triiodide

A low-temperature structural phase transition in the ambient-pressure organic superconductor, bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene triiodide, ${(\mathrm{B}\mathrm{E}\mathrm{D}\mathrm{T}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{T}\mathrm{T}\mathrm{F})}_{2}$${\mathrm{I}}_{3}$, abbreviated ${(\mathrm{ET})}_{2}$${\mathrm{I}}_{3}$, has been observed from single-crystal x-ray diffraction and time-of-flight neutron diffraction data. Superlattice peaks with indices of $(\mathrm{hkl})\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}q$, where $q=(0.08, 0.27, 0.205)$, appear when crystals are cooled below \ensuremath{\sim}200 K. This is the first example of an incommensurate modulated superstructure in the class of sulfur- and selenium-containing organic superconductors of which ${(\mathrm{ET})}_{2}$${\mathrm{I}}_{3}$ is the first ambient-pressure S-based derivative.
Probabilistic cost-benefit seismic design criterion for a dedicated shutdown heat removal system

A probabilistic methodology is developed for assessing the risk reduction potential and cost-benefit tradeoff of a Dedicated Shutdown Heat Removal System (DSHRS) for a PWR as a function of its seismic design capability. The option of coping with a very small LOCA is included. The annual seismic risk of a plant and a similar hypothetical plant having a proposed DSHRS with various seismic strengths are computed. The difference in the annual seismic risks is the annual seismic risk reduction benefit for having the system. The present value of the future risk reduction benefit is then compared to the cost of building a DSHRS and the incremental seismic cost associated with building the system to withstand a stronger earthquake. A reactor like Zion was used for application of the method due to the availability of data. Studies were performed to investigate the sensitivity of the results to the assumed seismic hazard, probability of occurrence of seismic-induced accident initiating events, equipment seismic fragility, accident costs, and discount rate. The incremental seismic risk reduction benefit computed in these studies ranges from $207 million for a DSHRS with a median seismic capacity of 1.70g (i.e. 10 × SSE) in a new plant built at the site. The total cost of a DSHRS is crudely estimated to be $25 million or more, if it were built to withstand the current SSE of the plant (for which the system probably would have a median seismic capacity of 0.85g or more due to various design and construction conservatisms). The cost associated with the seismic design aspect of such a system is estimated to be approximately $2.5 million and it may be doubled if the seismic design capability of the system is tripled. The cost/benefit results and their inherent large uncertainties are not definitive but indicate that probabilistic seismic design of a DSHRS should be examined in further detail.
1,2-and 1,3-dinitrate metabolites of nitroglycerin : spectroscopic characterization and initial administration to man

Abstract The purification and spectral characterization (IR, MS, NMR) of the 1,2- and 1,3-glyceryl dinitrate metabolites (1,2- and 1,3-GDN) of the anti-anginal agent nitroglycerin (GTN) were undertaken, prior to preliminary phase I administration of these compounds to healthy volunteers. Purification was accomplished using a combination of gravitational column chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. Spectral characterization of the 1,2- and 1,3-GDN molecules is discussed in relation to the chemical structure of the glyceryl dinitrate isomers. Preliminary pharmacokinetic evaluation following the oral administration of a single dose of 1,2- and 1,3-GDN to healthy volunteers demonstrated that these structural isomers possess comparable pharmacokinetic characteristics; area under the venous plasma concentration time curve normalized to dose (AUC; ng ml −1 min/kg body weight per mg dose) was 5.41 ± 1.67 for 1,2-GDN, and 4.52 ± 1.76 for 1,3-GDN; oral clearances ( (CL/ F ; ml/min per kg body weight) were 35.5 ± 2.1 (1,2-GDN), and 42.8 ± 10.4 (1,3-GDN); apparent volumes of distribution ( V area / F ; 1/kg body weight) were 2.17 ± 0.39 (1,2-GDN), and 1.92 ± 0.20 (1,3-GDN); elimination half-life ( t 1 2 ; min) was 40.4 ± 2.80 (1,2-GDN), and 33.6 ± 6.1 (1,3-GDN). The GDNs may significantly contribute to the therapeutic efficacy of GTN. The purification and spectroscopic procedures described here will allow the further manufacture and administration of 1,2- and 1,3-GDN to man, enabling examination of the relationship between the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of GTN and its dinitrate metabolites.
Genomic Characterization of Listeria monocytogenes Strains Involved in a Multistate Listeriosis Outbreak Associated with Cantaloupe in US

A multistate listeriosis outbreak associated with cantaloupe consumption was reported in the United States in September, 2011. The outbreak investigation recorded a total of 146 invasive illnesses, 30 deaths and one miscarriage. Subtyping of the outbreak associated clinical, food and environmental isolates revealed two serotypes (1/2a and 1/2b) and four pulsed-field gel electrophoresis two-enzyme pattern combinations I, II, III, and IV, including one rarely seen before this outbreak. A DNA-microarray, Listeria GeneChip®, developed by FDA from 24 Listeria monocytogenes genome sequences, was used to further characterize a representative sample of the outbreak isolates. The microarray data (in the form of present or absent calls of specific DNA sequences) separated the isolates into two distinct groups as per their serotypes. The gene content of the outbreak-associated isolates was distinct from that of the previously-reported outbreak strains belonging to the same serotypes. Although the 1/2b outbreak associated isolates are closely related to each other, the 1/2a isolates could be further divided into two distinct genomic groups, one represented by pattern combination I strains and the other represented by highly similar pattern combinations III and IV strains. Gene content analysis of these groups revealed unique genomic sequences associated with these two 1/2a genovars. This work underscores the utility of multiple approaches, such as serotyping, PFGE and DNA microarray analysis to characterize the composition of complex polyclonal listeriosis outbreaks.
Soil respiration as affected by long-term broiler litter application to a udult in the ozark highlands.

The United States produced 8.4 billion broiler chickens () and an estimated 10.1 to 14.3 million Mg of broiler litter (BL) in 2012. Arkansas' production of 1 billion broilers in 2012 produced an estimated 1.2 to 1.7 million Mg of BL, most of which was concentrated in the Ozark Highlands region of northwest Arkansas. Increased CO release from soils associated with agricultural practices has generated concerns regarding the contribution of certain agricultural management practices to global warming. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of long-term (>6 yr) BL application to a Udult on soil respiration and annual C emissions and to determine the predictability of soil respiration based on soil temperature and moisture in the Ozark Highlands region of northwest Arkansas. Soil respiration was measured routinely between May 2009 and May 2012 in response to annual BL application rates of 0, 5.6, and 11.2 Mg dry litter ha that began in 2003. Soil respiration varied ( 0.05) by BL application rate but differed ( < 0.01) among study years. Multiple regression indicated that soil respiration could be reasonably predicted using 2-cm-depth soil temperature (T) and the product of T and VWC as predictors ( = 0.52; < 0.01). Results indicate that organic amendments, such as BL, can stimulate release of CO from the soil to the atmosphere, potentially negatively affecting atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations; thus, there may be application rates above which the benefits of organic amendments may be diminished by adverse environmental effects. Improved BL management strategies are needed to lessen the loss of CO from BL-amended soils.
Cartilage suturing techniques for correction of nasal tip deformities

Cartilage suturing techniques used to alter nasal tip shape are reliable and effective in patients who may be difficult to manage because of variant anatomy. Patients with thin nasal tip skin may present problems with visible deformity (edges, bossae, etc) after aggressive cartilage excision, dome division, or tip grafting. Cartilage suturing techniques (transdomal suture, domal suture, etc) are particularly effective in patients with strong cartilages and tip bulbosity. These techniques can also provide increased tip projection and rotation. Cartilage delivery or the external rhinoplasty approach provides the exposure necessary to place these sutures. This article describes several different techniques of suturing tip cartilages that will provide precise narrowing of the nasal tip as well as increase tip projection and rotation. Modifications of the suturing techniques are based primarily on the anatomy of the lower lateral cartilages and desired contour changes.
Using Self-Regulation Strategies and Functional Assessment-Based Interventions to Provide Academic and Behavioral Support to Students at Risk Within Three-Tiered Models of Prevention

Some students exhibit behavioral issues as early as preschool and kindergarten. Conventional wisdom suggests waiting to see whether students outgrow these difficulties. However, there is extensive evidence that early detection and intervention is preferred to the wait-and-see approach because it is more likely to result in better academic and social outcomes later in students’ school careers. Schoolwide Positive Behavior Support is a multitiered model that uses primary, secondary, and tertiary levels of support to provide an instructive approach to behavior, as opposed to more reactive models. This article introduces suggestions for secondary and tertiary supports—self-regulation strategies and functional assessment-based interventions, respectively—to meet the multiple needs (academic, behavioral, and social) of students at risk for negative outcomes caused by behavioral issues.
A Network of Broadly Expressed HLH Genes Regulates Tissue-Specific Cell Fates

Spatial and temporal expression of specific basic-helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors defines many types of cellular differentiation. We find that a distinct mechanism regulates the much broader expression of the heterodimer partners of these specific factors and impinges on differentiation. In Drosophila, a cross-interacting regulatory network links expression of the E protein Daughterless (Da), which heterodimerizes with bHLH proteins to activate them, with expression of the Id protein Extramacrochaetae (Emc), which antagonizes bHLH proteins. Coupled transcriptional feedback loops maintain the widespread Emc expression that restrains Da expression, opposing bHLH-dependent differentiation while enhancing growth and cell survival. Where extracellular signals repress emc, Da expression can increase. This defines regions of proneural ectoderm independently from the proneural bHLH genes. Similar regulation is found in multiple Drosophila tissues and in mammalian cells and therefore is likely to be a conserved general feature of developmental regulation by HLH proteins.
Helping to understand the impact of media compression in QoS networks

This paper discusses a technique which allows conversion of a variable-bit-rate MPEG stream at an input bit rate to a constant-bit-rate MPEG video at a specified target bit rate. This allows researchers to use real compressed VBR data to pseudo-generate a CBR stream without having the over-head of re-capturing the video sequence. Thus, using our technique researchers can use a relatively inexpensive video capture board to digitize video data and then statistically generate a variety of frame pattern and bit-rates for CBR streams. Our results will show that one can capture the long-term behavior of the video data while generating a CBR stream at a specified bit-rate. We will show experiments of our approach when applied to bandwidth smoothing and autocorrelation functions.
Sick-role susceptibility. A commentary on the contemporary data base (1989-1991) and classification system.

A brief review of the historical and current status of the ‘sick-role’ concept is followed by an extensive literature survey of 526 articles published on the sick role since 1989. The comm
A geographically distributed enterprise simulation system

Abstract Sandia National Laboratories has the role of system integrator in the US Department of Energy’s Nuclear Weapons Complex (NWC) and the responsibility for maintaining the nuclear stockpile. Maintenance is a complex task that involves a great number of geographically distributed functions, and a variety of analysis tools and models are used to plan operations, assess capabilities and guide political decisions. We are developing a framework for modeling the NWC unde interactive human control. The framework consists of a simulation system whose users and components are distributed across the entire United States. The purpose of the system is to support decisions about questions ranging from low-level operational matters involving only a sub-component of the complex to high-level policy issues requiring simulation of the entire complex. The system integrates multiple domain-specific legacy models and policy models and allows simulation at varying levels of detail. To provide such a framework, we have had to address a number of technical problems, whose solution is the focus of this paper. The three most fundamental problems are • to provide geographically distributed, synchronized human participation in the simulation; • to provide distributed ownership and security in such a way that the facility hosting a domain-specific model retains all rights to provide or deny a user access to its information; and • to integrate legacy models written in a variety of tools or languages and executed on different platforms. Key features of our approach are the use of the Java language and the coordination of the simulation through a new parallel discrete-event simulation system.
A better performance guarantee for approximate graph coloring

Approximate graph coloring takes as input a graph and returns a legal coloring which is not necessarily optimal. We improve the performance guarantee, or worst-case ratio between the number of colors used and the minimum number of colors possible, toO(n(log logn)3/(logn)3), anO(logn/log logn) factor better than the previous best-known result.
Advances and challenges in management of invasive mycoses

Invasive mycoses pose a major diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Advances in antifungal agents and diagnostic methods offer the potential for improved outcomes in patients with these infections, which are often lethal. Many fungal pathogens occur almost exclusively in opportunistic settings--in the immunocompromised host--and these infections are the focus of this review. Several areas of ongoing challenge remain, including the emergence of resistant organisms and the absence of reliable markers for early identification of patients at risk of developing invasive fungal disease. This Seminar reviews the changing epidemiology of invasive mycoses, new diagnostic methods, and recent therapeutic options and current management strategies for these opportunistic pathogens.
Noninvasive Ventilation in the Older Patient Who Has Acute Respiratory Failure

Older patients are at significantly increased risk of acute respiratory failure from multiple causes. Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation has been shown to dramatically improve care of patients with acute respiratory failure. Patient selection is important in all patients being treated with noninvasive positive pressure ventilation but is especially important in older patients. Delirium, confusion, and dementia can lead to difficulty for patients in tolerating this procedure and lead to a worsening respiratory status. The presence of a do-not-intubate order does not necessarily preclude the use of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation, and some patients may derive significant benefit from its use. Overall, noninvasive positive pressure ventilation is a reasonable and justifiable option in the treatment of acute respiratory failure in older patients.
Part II: Logic circuit simulation

As digital integrated-circuits become more complex, the designer cannot rely on breadboarding but must use a digital computer for circuit simulation to verify correctness of the design. Top-down design, using many simulation levels in a hierarchical structure, is needed for complex systems. Simulation can be used at the Circuit, Logic, RTL, ISP, or Systems Analysis level. To verify the design of a circuit, True-Value Simulation is used. Fault Simulation must be used to determine the proper sequence of test signals used in circuit acceptance after fabrication. A general overview of simulation is given in this first part. A subsequent article will contain a description of a general purpose logic simulation with circuit examples.
Specialized Synapse-Associated Structures within the Calyx of Held

The calyx of Held exhibits fast glutamatergic neurotransmission at high rates with low temporal jitter and has adapted specialized synaptic mechanisms to support its functional demands. We report the presence in calyces of an atypical arrangement of subcellular organelles, called the mitochondria-associated adherens complex (MAC). We demonstrate that MACs are located adjacent to synapses and contain membranous elements linked with coated and uncoated vesicles. Mitochondria that form MACs have more complex geometries than other mitochondria within the calyx and can extend between clusters of synapses. We estimate that the calyx contains 1600 MACs, 2400 synapses, and 6200 readily releasable vesicles. We also identify synaptic vesicle endocytotic regions close to MACs and synapses and hypothesize that calyces are composed of multiple activity modules, each containing machinery for vesicle release and recycling.
On Constructing Efficient Shared Decision Trees for Multiple Packet Filters

Multiple packet filters serving different purposes (e.g., firewalling, QoS) and different virtual routers are often deployed on a single physical router. The HyperCuts decision tree is one efficient data structure for performing packet filter matching in software. Constructing a separate HyperCuts decision tree for each packet filter is not memory efficient. A natural alternative is to construct shared HyperCuts decision trees to more efficiently support multiple packet filters. However, we experimentally show that naively classifying packet filters into shared HyperCuts decision trees may significantly increase the memory consumption and the height of the trees. To help decide which subset of packet filters should share a HyperCuts decision tree, we first identify a number of important factors that collectively impact the efficiency of the resulted shared HyperCuts decision tree. Based on the identified factors, we then propose to use machine learning techniques to predict whether any pair of packet filters should share a tree. Given the pair-wise prediction matrix, a greedy heuristic algorithm is used to classify packets filters into a number of shared HyperCuts decision trees. Our experiments using both real packets filters and synthetic packet filters show that the shared HyperCuts decision trees consume considerably less memory.
Modeling Organizational Adaptation as a Simulated Annealing Process

Organizations can be characterized as complex systems composed of adaptive and intelligent agents. Organizational adaptation occurs through restructuring and learning. Organizations can be modeled using a dual-level model in which restructuring is modeled as a simulated annealing process and individual learning is modeled using a stochastic learning model and boundedly rational agents. Such a model is presented, and its behavior is illustrated using a virtual experiment where the type of organizational adaptation is varied. Results suggest that the organizational design and performance relationship may be chaotic, despite the simple rules of change. Simple restructuring rules lead to a wide range of emergent organizational structures that increases with individual adaptation. Organizations locate good designs (through chance and slow change) regardless of the agents' intelligence; however, emergent designs depend on adaptability. Design features are not systematically related to performance; rather, small...
Probabilistic Case Detection for Disease Surveillance Using Data in Electronic Medical Records

This paper describes a probabilistic case detection system (CDS) that uses a Bayesian network model of medical diagnosis and natural language processing to compute the posterior probability of influenza and influenza-like illness from emergency department dictated notes and laboratory results. The diagnostic accuracy of CDS for these conditions, as measured by the area under the ROC curve, was 0.97, and the overall accuracy for NLP employed in CDS was 0.91.
Influence of rise velocity of charge voltage on spark discharge from a metal sphere

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) is an electromagnetic disturbance source. ESD is usually generated as a form of spark discharge that occurs in the air gap between a charged body and a grounded one. The characteristics of a spark discharge depend on the humidity, the moving speed of a charged body to a grounded body, and the structure of a charged body. An ESD event in the time during which a charged body moves toward a grounded body has a more significant effect on electronic equipment than an ESD event from a stationary charged body with the same charge voltage. This peculiar phenomenon is not well understood due to reasons such as the difficulty of reproducibility. To further the understanding of the ESD, the influence of the rise velocity of the charge voltage on ESD from a stationary metal sphere was measured in the gap length between 20 and 80μm. The results of the experiment indicated that in instances where no sparking discharge occurred, at the same gap length the maximum voltage-charge value became higher with the rise in the charge-voltage velocity. In instances where the sparking discharge occurred for all applied charge voltages under each discharge condition, the average value of the sparking voltage increased with the rise in velocity of the charge voltage for the same gap length.