cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Patients' perceptions of route of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug administration and its effect on analgesia.

Objective There is a commonly held belief among health care providers that patients respond better to parenteral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) than to oral forms by virtue of the patients' belief that getting an injection means they are receiving "stronger" medicine. To the authors' knowledge, this effect has never been adequately documented in the literature. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of a placebo analgesic injection vs placebo oral analgesia on patients with acute musculoskeletal pain. Methods A convenience sample of emergency department (ED) patients with acute musculoskeletal pain secondary to trauma were enrolled. Patients received 225 mL of orange-flavored drink containing 800 mg of ibuprofen. Patients then received either a physiologically inactive starch tablet resembling ibuprofen 800 mg in taste and appearance or a physiologically inactive saline intramuscular (IM) injection resembling ketorolac 60 mg. Both patients and research nurses were blinded to the addition of ibuprofen to the drink and the inactive nature of subsequent medication. Pain was evaluated at time 0 and at 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes on a 10-mm visual analog scale (VAS). Results Sixty-four patients completed the study protocol. The VAS scores between groups did not differ significantly at baseline or at each subsequent interval (p = 0.86). Conclusions These results contradict the belief that parenteral medications confer a selective placebo effect stemming from patients' beliefs regarding route of administration and efficacy. Therefore, the routine use of IM administration of NSAIDs for suspected enhanced analgesia appears unwarranted.
Optimal and nearly optimal distribution functions for 4 He

The properties of the Euler-Lagrange equation obtained by minimizing the hypernetted-chain energy of a boson fluid are studied. We consider the asymptotic form of the resulting two-body distribution function, $g(r)$, and show that $g(r)\ensuremath{-}1$ is proportional to ${r}^{\ensuremath{-}4}$ for short-ranged potentials. The stability condition for $g(r)$ is expressed as an eigenvalue problem, and the relation to the adiabatic compressibility is established. Previous numerical results for liquid $^{4}\mathrm{He}$ are shown to describe an energy minimum. The existence of low-lying eigenvalues for all $l$ and the nature of the related nonspherically symmetric eigenfunctions suggest the existence of additional "crystalline" solutions of the Euler-Lagrange equations.
Synthesis, structure, and electronic study of some group VII furoyl substituted complexes

Abstract The reaction of fulvene 1 with TlOEt in THF affords [Tl{1,2-C5H3(COC4H3O)2}] (2) in 60% yield. Treatment of 2 with [MBr(CO)5] (M = Mn, Re) in benzene reflux gave [Mn{η5-1,2-C5H3(COC4H3O)2}(CO)3] (3A) and [Re{η5-1,2-C5H3(COC4H3O)2}(CO)3] (3B) in 61% and 66% yields, respectively. Diacyl complexes 3A and 3B were ring-closed to the pyridazine by treating with hydrazine hydrate in methanol at room temperature. Fulvene 1 and diacyl complexes 3A and 3B have been structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. Additionally, the electronic structure of complexes 3A and 3B and their relaxed structures have been characterized with density functional calculations. Calculated vibrational frequencies are compared with the experimental characterizations.
Edge-flames and sublimit hydrogen combustion

We discuss edge-flames in the context of the plane counterflow of air and nitrogen-diluted hydrogen. For sufficiently dilute hydrogen streams, strong cellular instabilities arise which affect the dynamics of the edge-flames and, in the long term, give rise to residual cellular structures. Depending on the Damkohler number, solutions are constructed corresponding to: an advancing edge trailing a smooth flame; an advancing edge trailing a stationary periodic cellular structure, a warp of flame-strings; a finite array of flame-strings which drift apart from each other at a decreasing rate; a single stationary flame-string; dual stationary flame-strings; triple stationary flame-strings. Many of these solutions are sublimit in the sense that they exist for Damkohler numbers smaller than the one-dimensional quenching value defined for the counterflow configuration. The connection of these solutions to the linear stability of the one-dimensional system is discussed, and evidence of a subcritical bifurcation is presented. Comparisons are made with experimental results obtained by Ronney.
Spin-dependent spectroscopy of photoexcitations in conducting polymers and fullerenes

ABSTRACT We have used the novel technique of absorption detected magnetic resonance (ADMR) to investigate the photoexcitation properties in conducting polymers and fullerene C films. In conducting polymers we have identified both charged and neutral long-lived photoexcitations with distinct different properties in polymers with degenerate (trans polyacetylene; t-(CH)) and nondegenerate (polyparaphenylene vinylene; PPV) ground state backbone structure. In t-(CH)the photocarriers are charged solitons and the neutral photoexcitations are spin ½ soliton pairs, whereas the photoexcitations in PPV form charge bipolarons and triplet excitons. The neutral photoexcitations in Cm/polystyrene "glass" are tripletexcitons identified in ADMR through the triplet "powder-pattern" around g = 2.003. 1. IITRODUCTION Electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy is a fundamental method for studying electronic states and structuralproperties in condensed matter. Various optical techniques have been used in conjunction with ESR to study the properties
Imaging the mechanisms of axon stretch growth

The transition from embryo to adulthood involves a massive growth in the nervous system where axons in nerves extend and expand to accommodate to this growth. Applying mechanical forces to dorsal root ganglia neuronal cultures has previously shown that there is stimulation in axonal growth, gradually elongating the axon over a set period of time. In this research, the main focus is to study with live imaging how natural biomechanical forces, associated with growth of an organism, initiate unique neurobiological mechanisms that help drive the formation of long nerves. For this purpose, a bioreactor was developed for live imaging of stretch-growth as it occurs on the stage of a microscope. The bioreactor is independent from an incubator with external temperature controller and heating system regulated its physiological conditions. Morphology changes and cytoskeletal transport were captured live at magnifications up to 60x over weeks of culturing.
Seasonal Changes in Body Mass, Insulin, and Glucocorticoids of Free-Living Golden-Mantled Ground Squirrels

The aim of the present study was to determine the relationship between seasonal variation in levels of insulin, cortisol, and corticosterone and body mass in a natural population of golden-mantled ground squirrels (Spermophilus saturatus) over the active season, from April to August. The body mass of females is at an active season minimum on emergence from hibernation, increases during pregnancy and lactation, and shows a further rise during fattening, reaching a peak in August. Males are heavier than females on emergence from hibernation, lose mass during the mating period, then gradually increase to a maximum in August. Plasma insulin titers generally reflected these patterns of change in body mass. Levels in males were almost double those of females on emergence, then decreased as body mass was lost during mating. Male values increased in July and peaked in August, coincident with the body mass maximum. Females, in contrast, showed very low insulin levels in April on emergence and increased levels during lactation, continuing high into the fattening period. Corticosterone levels were low in both sexes at the beginning of the season and rose throughout most of the active season; female levels exceeded those of males during the lactation phase. Cortisol titers gradually decreased over the first half of the active season in both sexes, but later increased to a seasonal maximum at the end of the season, coincident with the peak in body mass.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Axon guidance in cultured epithelial fragments of Drosophila wing.

Growing axons can be guided by a number of different cues: adhesive substrates1,2, diffusible factors1–3, electrical fields1,2,4 and even factors intrinsic to the neurone itself1,2,5 have all been shown to affect axon orientation and outgrowth in vitro. However, in most intact systems it has proved difficult to test directly the role played by these putative guidance cues. Here, we describe a system, the developing wing of the fruitfly, in which we have tested simultaneously two putative guidance mechanisms, physical constraints to axon growth (channels) and the position of neuronal somata (guideposts), using surgical techniques. We show that pioneer sensory axons can navigate correctly and form their normal stereotyped pattern of axon bundles in wing fragments that apparently lack both physical and neural cues. This technique allows access to the surface along which neuronal pathfinding takes place, making possible a wide range of experimental manipulations on the developing system.
THE CANADIAN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION FUNCTION

Fitting production junctions has become little more than a quantitative exercise for economists. They have been computed for virtually every phase of the real economy with a considerable degree of accuracy. One of the areas that has continued to present some difficulties in this regard is agriculture. The difficulties have been of such magnitude in the United States that an accepted technique has been to proceed directly to the supply function. The authors suggest that the above procedure need not be followed in the Canadian case. They fit a five variable linear multiple regression relation to Canadian agriculture which fits the industry quite Well in terms of explained variation and adherence to the assumption of the analysis. This is substantially in contrast with the U.S. experience indicating a substantial difference in either data, the agricultural industries, or both. An aggregate production function of use for policy formulation purposes has been made available for the Canadian case. ľadjustage des fonctions de production ne devient guere que de ľeiercice quantatif pour les economistes. Elles ont ete calculees avec un degre de precision notable pour presque toute phase de ľeconomie reelle. Vn des domaines qui continuent a presenter des difficultes a ce sujet est ľagriculture. Les difficultes ont eteďune telle ampleur aui Etats-Unis qu'une technique accreditee est de se rendre directement a la fonction ďoffre. Les auteurs suggerent qu'au Canada on n'est pas oblige de suivre le procede ci-dessus mentione. Ils ajustent une relation lineaire de regression multiple a cinq variables aľagriculture canadienne. Elle s'ajuste aľindustrie assez bien quant a la variation expliquee et aľappui des presomptions de ľanalyse. Le contraste entre ces faits et ľexperience americaine indique qu'il y a une difference considerable ou des donnees ou des industries agricoles ou les deux. On met a la disposition de ľinvestigateur canadien une fonction de production globale qui est utile a formuler des politiques.
Development of a Metabolomic Radiation Signature in Urine from Patients Undergoing Total Body Irradiation

The emergence of the threat of radiological terrorism and other radiological incidents has led to the need for development of fast, accurate and noninvasive methods for detection of radiation exposure. The purpose of this study was to extend radiation metabolomic biomarker discovery to humans, as previous studies have focused on mice. Urine was collected from patients undergoing total body irradiation at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center prior to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation at 4–6 h postirradiation (a single dose of 1.25 Gy) and 24 h (three fractions of 1.25 Gy each). Global metabolomic profiling was obtained through analysis with ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS). Prior to further analyses, each sample was normalized to its respective creatinine level. Statistical analysis was conducted by the nonparametric Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and the Fisher's exact test and markers were validated against pure standards. Seven markers showed d...
Towards A Case-Optimal Symbolic Execution Algorithm for Analyzing Strong Properties of Object-Oriented Programs

Recent work has demonstrated that symbolic execution techniques can serve as a basis for formal analysis capable of automatically checking heap-manipulating software components against strong interface specifications. In this paper, we present an enhancement to existing symbolic execution algorithms for object-oriented programs that significantly improves upon the algorithms currently implemented in Bogor/Kiasan and JPF. To motivate and justify the new strategy for handling heap data in our enhanced approach, we present a significant empirical study of the performance of related algorithms and an interesting case counting analysis of the heap shapes that can appear in several widely used Java data structure packages.
Nutrition, Epigenetics, and Diseases

Increasing epidemiological evidence suggests that maternal nutrition and environmental exposure early in development play an important role in susceptibility to disease in later life. In addition, these disease outcomes seem to pass through subsequent generations. Epigenetic modifications provide a potential link between the nutrition status during critical periods in development and changes in gene expression that may lead to disease phenotypes. An increasing body of evidence from experimental animal studies supports the role of epigenetics in disease susceptibility during critical developmental periods, including periconceptional period, gestation, and early postnatal period. The rapid improvements in genetic and epigenetic technologies will allow comprehensive investigations of the relevance of these epigenetic phenomena in human diseases.
Inhibition of gold and platinum catalysts by reactive intermediates produced in the selective oxidation of alcohols in liquid water

Solid catalysts containing supported nanoparticles of metals such as Au and Pt are very efficient in the oxidation of alcohols obtained from biorenewable sources under mild conditions. However, these reactions sometimes appear to be inhibited by the products formed during oxidation. In this work, the inhibition of glycerol oxidation with O2 by the product glyceric acid over supported Au and Pt catalysts at 333 K in water at high pH was explored in detail. Inhibition was not caused by strong adsorption of product carboxylates on the metal catalyst as anticipated but instead by strong adsorption of ketone intermediates and condensation products of ketones. These reactive intermediates, which can be produced from sugars, sugar alcohols or other oxygenated derivatives of biomass, can severely deactivate metal oxidation catalysts. Thus, high concentrations of these ketonic species should be avoided when processing biomass-derived feedstocks under mild conditions in base.
Inorganic Photo-sensitized Transparent Conductive Oxide (TCO) Nanocomposite Thin Films for Photovoltaic (PV) Energy Conversion

Nanophase semiconductor composites are widely researched for the development of third-generation photovoltaic (PV) devices. Through quantum-size effects and phase assembly manipulation the optical absorption and carrier transport properties of nanocomposite films can be influenced. We investigate the potential for improved PV-relevant material performance by examining the photo-sensitization of indium-tin-oxide (ITO) with nanophase germanium (Ge). Nanocomposite films are produced by a sequential, RF-magnetron sputter deposition technique. Deposition control and post-deposition annealing are used to demonstrate the manipulation of the extended-assembly of the nanocrystalline Ge phase. Optical absorption characteristics were correlated to variations in the composite film structure as confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. In addition to structure-dependent variation in spectral absorption, spectrally resolved photoconductivity measurements demonstrate enhanced photoconductivity of composite films associated with the incorporation of the Ge phase into the ITO host. These results support the further evaluation of such nanocomposite TCO materials in optoelectronic devices, including PV systems.
On the Reconfigurability of All-Digital Phase-Locked Loops for Software Defined Radios

A new all-digital phase-locked loop (ADPLL) for wireless applications has recently been proposed and commercially demonstrated. It replaces conventional phase/frequency detector and charge pump with a time-to-digital converter (TDC). Analog frequency tuning of a VCO is replaced with an all- digital tuning of a digitally-controlled oscillator (DCO). Due to its digital intensive structure, the ADPLL is well suited for single-chip radio solutions fabricated using state-of-the- art low cost and power nanometer-scale CMOS processes. Being integrated with a digital signal processor (DSP), the ADPLL parameters can be properly controlled and seamlessly reconfigured using the available on-chip DSP unit making the ADPLL a software defined radio (SDR) platform. In this paper, we present a DSP based technique for the fully dynamic control of the ADPLL settling performance that allows the loop band width to be seamlessly widened or narrowed allowing for fast frequency acquisition or tracking with excellent phase noise and spurious performance, respectively. The arbitrary and dynamic control of the frequency synthesizer loop bandwidth will address the dynamically varying nature of a multi-radio multi- standard SDR environment.
Acquired premature ventricular ectopy after cardiac transplantation.

1053-2498/$ -see front matter © 2012 International Society for Heart and Lung doi:10.1016/j.healun.2012.02.030 of her heart beats despite beta-blocker treatment. Echocardiography revealed a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 45%. After ruling out transplant rejection with a biopsy and coronary vasculopathy with an angiogram, she was referred for electrophysiologic study and ablation. Multipolar catheters were placed at the His-bundle, right ventricle (RV) and coronary sinus (CS). The patient was in normal sinus rhythm with frequent PVCs. Her PVC morphology (Figure 1A) was negative in V1–V6, with R/S transition of the QRS complex later than V6, and the QRS axis was positive in Lead I and negative in the inferior leads; these findings suggested a focus located in the infero-
Financing Faith: Religion and Strategic Philanthropy

Over the last century, a new form of strategic philanthropy arose-that of the private foundation. Foundations do not account for a large portion of donations received by religious organizations, but they can deploy important resources at critical moments. Examining data between 1999 and 2003 from the Foundation Center on grants and grant making, we find that a very small number of foundations are dominant actors in religious strategic philanthropy. These organizations introduce isomorphic tendencies within American religion. Federal tax policies and financial scandals precipitated the emergence of more organizational forms-regranting organizations, supporting organizations, and oversight organizations. Factors such as secularization, religious pluralism, and globalization have generated new challenges for private foundations, and in the aggregate, these developments have contributed to a restructuring within the world of religious philanthropy.
A negative-index metamaterial design based on metal-core, dielectric shell resonators

In this paper a simple effective-media analysis (including higher-order multipoles) is used to design a single-resonator, negative-index design based on a metal-core, dielectric-shell (MCDS) unit cell. In addition to comparing the performance of the MCDS design to other core-shell negative-index designs, performance trade-offs resulting from the relative positioning of the electric and magnetic modal resonances in the MCDS design are also discussed.
Prevalence and comorbidities of somatoform disorders in a rural california outpatient psychiatric clinic.

Objective: This study examines the prevalence and comorbidities of somatoform disorders in a rural setting with a diverse ethnic population. Method: A retrospective chart review was conducted of active psychiatric outpatients in a clinic located in a rural community. Data abstracted included demographic variables, multi-axial diagnoses (DSM-IV-TR), length of treatment, psychotropic medications, and number of medications discontinued because of side effects. Improvement in level of function with treatment was measured by change in global assessment of functioning (GAF) scores. Results: Of 737 records reviewed, 37 (5%) contained a diagnosis of somatoform disorder. The most common comorbidities in the somatoform group were depression (P < .01), hypertension (P < .01), and arthritis (P < .05). The somatoform group was significantly more likely to have a chronic medical illness (P < .01) and history of surgeries (P < .05). The somatoform group patients' ∆GAF was one fourth the ∆GAF scores in all other psychiatric outpatients (1.41 vs 6.79, P < .01). The somatoform group changed medications more often because of side effects (1.35 times vs 0.71 times, P < .01), received a greater number of psychotropic medications (2.05 vs 1.62, P < .05), and was more likely to be taking an antidepressant (P < .05) than the nonsomatoform group. Conclusion: Somatoform disorder patients had a higher prevalence of depression, chronic medical conditions, and surgeries. They responded less favorably to treatment when compared to patients without a somatoform disorder, and manifested a decreased tolerance to medication side effects. Female gender, fewer years of education, and Latino ethnicity did not increase the probability of having a somatoform disorder.
"Choice" in End-of-Life Decision Making Researching Fact or Fiction?

Purpose: The contribution of bioethics to clinical care at the end of life (EOL) deserves critical scrutiny. We argue that researchers have rarely questioned the normative power of autonomy-based bioethics practices. Research on the ethical dimensions of EOL decision making has focused on an idealized discourse of patient "choice" that requires patients to embrace their dying to receive excellent palliative care. Design and Methods: Our critique is based on a comprehensive review of empirical research exploring bioethics practices at the EOL. In addition we will provide a brief review of our own ethnographic, longitudinal study of the decision-making experience of dying patients, their families, and their health care providers. Results: There is little or no empirical evidence to support the autonomy paradigm of patient "choice" in EOL decision making. What we found is that (a) prognostication at the EOL is problematic and resisted; (b) shared decision making is illusory, patients often resist advance care planning and hold other values more important than autonomy, and system characteristics are more determinative of EOL care than patient preferences; and (c) the incommensurability of medical and lay knowledge and values and the multifaceted and processual nature of patient and family decision making are at odds with the current EOL approach toward advance care planning. Implications: It is exceedingly difficult to identify, study, and critique normative assumptions without creating them, reproducing them, or obliterating them in the process. However, a fuller account of the morally significant domains of end-of-life care is needed. Researchers and policy makers should heed what we have learned from empirical research on EOL care to develop more sensitive and supportive programs for care of the dying.
DEVELOPMENT, ACCEPTABILITY, AND PROXIMATE ANALYSES OF HIGH‐PROTEIN, RICE‐BASED SNACKS FOR THAI CHILDREN

High-protein snack items, primarily deep-fat fried, were developed for Thai children. Four snack formulations were prepared by adding high-protein ingredients to a rice base (66-68% dry basis): 32% full-fat soy flour; 26% full-fat soy flour plus 5% ground, whole sesame; 26% full-fat soy flour plus 5% fish protein concentrate (FPC); or 29% soy protein concentrate. The snack items were produced as dehydrated pieces and deep-fat fried to produce crispy chips, except for an extrusion-cooked, puffed curl that contained 29% soy protein concentrate. Acceptability of the samples was tested with 198 first-grade children at two schools. A five-point hedonic scale corresponding to facial expressions [very happy (5.0) to very sad (l.0)] was used to rate acceptability. Average scores for the snacks were from 3.6-4.8. The protein-enriched rice snacks scored significantly higher (P < 0.01) than one commercially-available (control) snack, and were comparable to a second commercially-available snack. Subjective evaluations of snacks stored 3 or 6 months indicated no significant changes in acceptability. Protein contents of the new snacks ranged from 17.2-24.6% (dry basis). Costs per unit protein were substantially lower than those of the commercially-available control snacks.
Progress in optical waveguide process and materials

A brief up-to-date review of the main technologies currently used in the fabrication of optical waveguides and a report on recent process and material advances that affect fiber performance and/or cost are presented. The processes reviewed include vapor phase oxidation as well as direct-melt. Rapid technical progress continues to be made on numerous processes used to fabricate single-mode and multimode fibers. Process strengths are being verified and utilized, and many process problems minimized and eliminated. As fiber performance differences between processes become smaller, manufacturing cost considerations become increasingly important.
Designing Compositional Tasks For Elementary Music Classrooms

The goal of this action research project was to discover ways to facilitate student musical learning through developmentally appropriate compositional strategies within the limited context of the researcher's own general music classes. Several specific questions guided the study which sought to determine whether classroom composition can be implemented with whole classes of very active elementary children, whether composition projects can be structured to fit within a limited time frame of 20-30 minutes once a week, and whether learning through composition can meet the needs of students with widely diverse ability levels. Referencing other research on children's composition, the researcher discussed her findings and described a few lesson sequences at different grade levels.
Characterization of an avian bone sialoprotein (BSP) cDNA: comparisons to mammalian BSP and identification of conserved structural domains.

Bone sialoprotein (BSP) is one of the major noncollagenous proteins found in mineralized vertebrate tissue. It is an acidic glycoprotein containing a high sialic acid content and is phosphorylated on several of its Ser and Thr residues. While it has been extensively characterized from various mammalian species, little is known about its sequence or expression in lower vertebrates. The cloning and characterization of several cDNAs encoding the chicken bone sialoprotein are reported here. A partial cDNA clone encoding the carboxyl terminus of the protein was initially isolated from a λGT11 expression library using a polyclonal antibody against BSP purified from chicken bone matrix. Subsequently, several additional clones were obtained by further screening and by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Three overlapping clones encompassing about 1 kb, which included the complete coding sequence for BSP, were analyzed. The deduced amino acid sequence revealed that chicken BSP contains 276 amino acid residues. Although the overall identity between chicken and mammalian BSP is only ∼39%, the diversity in amino acid sequence occurs mostly between the major functional domains of this molecule. These domains include: (1) three acidic poly-Glu regions; (2) two tyrosine-rich domains, which may be sites for protein sulfation; (3) several casein kinase II phosphorylation sites; (4) an Asn glycosylation site; and (5) an RGD cell-binding motif. Of interest in the chicken BSP is the identification of two additional RGD motifs within the avian sequence, unlike the mammalian forms of BSP which has only one. The existence of several consecutive gly-x-y triplets in the molecule suggest that it may bind to collagen, which is consistent with the fact that BSP protein is tightly associated with the matrix. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that chicken BSP was expressed specifically in bone tissue, and its expression was detected as early as Day 12 during chicken embryogenesis. BSP expression preceded osteopontin (OPN) expression, reaching maximal levels during embryogenesis in contrast to that of OPN, which only reaches its highest level of expression several weeks after hatching.
An auto-calibration method for Unattended Ground Sensors

We present an algorithm for locating and orienting a set of sensor arrays that have been deployed in a scene at unknown locations and orientation angles. This self-calibration problem is solved using a number of source signals also deployed in the scene. We assume each array can estimate the time-of-arrival and direction-of-arrival of every source. From this information we compute the array locations and orientations. We consider four subproblems, in which the source signals or emission times are either known or unknown. We develop necessary conditions for solving the self-calibration problem and provide a maximum likelihood solution and corresponding location error estimate.
The solubility and properties of a purified ichthyocol in salt solutions of neutral pH.

1. Purified citrate-extracted ichthyocol obtained from carp swim bladders has been further characterized with respect to its content of certain amino acids and carbohydrate substances. 2. The degree of solubilization or dispersion of ichthyocol by solutions of certain salts maintained in the range of neutral pH and at a temperature of 0–2°C. has been determined. 3. While a number of salts of monovalent cations had no significant solubilizing effects on ichthyocol, ammonium chloride in a concentration of 1 M did cause solution of the protein. 4. Sodium thiosulfate in a range of concentrations caused the solubilization of ichthyocol but was most effective in an intermediate concentration of 0.25 M. 5. Several salts of divalent cations, in particular the chlorides of calcium, magnesium, and barium, and magnesium thiosulfate in concentrations ranging from 0.3 to 1 M caused the immediate and complete solubilization of the ichthyocol. 6. Solutions of ichthyocol in calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, and sodium thiosulfate buffered or adjusted to pH 7.0, were studied with respect to intrinsic viscosity of the protein, optical rotation, ultracentrifugal sedimentation, and reconstitution into fibers. It was found in each case that the original characteristics of the collagen, as determined previously in acid solution, were maintained when the protein was dissolved in salt solutions of neutral pH. No evidence of denaturation or gelatinization could be found when ichthyocol was solubilized under the stated conditions. 7. Collagen in neutral solution with sodium thiosulfate, calcium chloride, or magnesium chloride was not attacked by trypsin as determined viscometrically at 20.0°C., but was rapidly degraded by a purified bacterial collagenase.
Transcriptional Control of Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy by Early Growth Response Gene-1 (Egr-1)

Expression of the zinc finger transcription factor early growth response gene-1 (Egr-1) is triggered rapidly after mechanical vascular injury or after a precipitous drop in ambient oxygen, whereupon it induces the expression of diverse gene families to elicit a pathological response. Initially characterized as an early response transcriptional activator, the role of Egr-1 in more chronic forms of vascular injury remains to be defined. Studies were designed to examine whether Egr-1 induction may serve as a causal link between early preservation injury and delayed vascular consequences, such as coronary allograft vasculopathy (CAV). The preservation and transplantation of heterotopic murine cardiac allografts strongly induce Egr-1 expression, leading to increased expression of its downstream target genes, such as intercellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, and platelet-derived growth factor A chain. Expression of these Egr-1-inducible gene targets is virtually obliterated in homozygous Egr-1-null donor allografts, which also exhibit attenuated parenchymal rejection and reduced CAV as long as 60 days. Congruous data are observed by treating donor hearts with a phosphorothioate antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotide directed against Egr-1 before organ harvest, which blocks subsequent expression of Egr-1 mRNA and protein and suppresses the late development of CAV. These data indicate that Egr-1 induction represents a central effector mechanism in the development of chronic rejection characterized by CAV. Blocking the expression of this proximal transcription factor solely at the time of organ harvest elicits beneficial delayed consequences for the cardiac allograft.
Application of mixed models to assess exposures monitored by construction workers during hot processes

Particulate exposures were assessed among construction workers engaged in hot processes in four jobs (boilermakers, ironworkers, pipefitters and welder-fitters) at nine sites in the U.S. After being trained by occupational hygienists, the workers obtained shift-long personal samples at each site for total particulates (TP). Selected samples were also assayed for manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), and chromium (Cr). Workers provided information about process- and task-related covariates that were present on the days of monitoring. Data were investigated with mixed-model regression analyses that designated the jobs and covariates as fixed eAects and the worker and error terms as random eAects. Results indicated that the within-worker variance components, but not the between-worker variance components, could be pooled among jobs. Mean air levels for a given agent varied by roughly six to 100 fold among the jobs, with boilermakers and ironworkers experiencing much higher levels of TP and Mn than pipefitters and welder-fitters. Limited data also suggested that welder-fitters were exposed to greater levels of Ni and Cr than pipefitters. SuAcient sample sizes were available to evaluate the eAects of covariates upon exposures to TP and Mn. As expected, processes involving more than 50% hot work led to substantially higher levels of TP and Mn than those involving shorter durations of hot work. Local-exhaust or mechanical ventilation reduced exposure to TP (but not Mn) by as much as 44%, and shielded or manual arc welding increased exposure to Mn (but not TP) by about 80%. Parameters estimated with these mixed models were used to calculate probabilities that workers were exposed at levels above U.S. occupational exposure limits (OELs). Regarding TP and Mn, these calculations suggested that 26‐95% of exposures to boilermakers and pipefitters and 2‐13% of exposures to pipefitters and welder-fitters exceeded the current Threshold Limit Values. Among welder-fitters, limited data also pointed to probabilities of 2‐50% for exceeding particular OELs for Ni and Cr. Using the significance of the estimated random-worker eAects as a gauge for the uniformity of exposure within a job, administrative or engineering changes appear appropriate for reducing exposures to boilermakers and ironworkers, while individual personal environments should be investigated for pipefitters and welder-fitters. # 1999 British Occupational Hygiene Society. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Facilitatory Mechanisms Shape Selectivity for the Rate and Direction of FM Sweeps in the Inferior Colliculus of the Pallid Bat

The inferior colliculus (IC) of the pallid bat has a large percentage of neurons that respond selectively to the rate and direction of the bat's echolocation pulse, a downward FM sweep. Three under...
Macrophage infiltration in acute coronary syndromes. Implications for plaque rupture.

BACKGROUNDRupture of atherosclerotic plaques is probably the most important mechanism underlying the sudden onset of acute coronary syndromes. Macrophages may release lytic enzymes that degrade the...
All Eyes on Egypt: Islam and the Medical Use of Dead Bodies Amidst Cairo’s Political Unrest

Using dead bodies for medical purposes has long been considered taboo in Egypt. Public health campaigns, physicians' pleas, and the urgings of religious scholars all failed to alter public opinion regarding the donation of dead bodies either for instructional material or for therapeutic treatments. Yet in 2011, amid revolutionary turmoil in Egypt, a campaign was launched for people to donate their eyes upon death; this time, people readily signed up to be donors. Focusing on mass eye trauma that occurred in Egypt amid the political uprisings of 2011, I raise questions about when and why Islam can explain people's attitudes and behaviors, particularly toward death and medicine. The case of mass eye trauma in Egypt and citizens' reformulations of questions once jealously controlled by state-aligned doctors, politicians, and religious scholars unsettles the boundaries between 'religion' and 'secularism' in medical practice. [Formula: see text].
Abstract TP177: Discharge to Skilled Nursing Facility May Explain the Association Between Neighborhood Disadvantage and Mortality after Stroke: the Cardiovascular Health Study

Background: Older adults who reside in disadvantaged communities have higher mortality after stroke. We examined whether hospital discharge disposition contributed to neighborhood differences in po...
Holding Device Design for Microhematocrit Capillary Tubes

We have designed a device that mechanically holds a glass microhematocrit tube and keeps the operator’s fingers from touching the capillary tube when being filled with blood or sealed against clay. This method reduces the hazard of lacerating fingers with glass fragments and contaminating that wound with the patient’s blood.
Bidirectional Plasticity of Hippocampal Glutamate Receptors Is Central to Expression of Benzodiazepine Withdrawal-Anxiety

Abstract Prolonged benzodiazepine (BZ) use increases the likelihood of withdrawal anxiety symptoms and drug dependence. BZs have their anxiolytic actions via inhibitory γ-aminobutyric acid-A receptors, yet during drug withdrawal bidirectional modulation of excitatory glutamate receptor subtypes at hippocampal Cornu Ammonis area 1 (CA1) neuron synapses is tightly coupled to the appearance and disappearance of anxiety in a preclinical rodent model. Electrophysiological and quantitative immunochemical studies of rat hippocampal CA1 neurons during withdrawal from 1-week oral flurazepam administration revealed increased synaptic insertion of homomeric glutamate AMPA receptor subunit subtype A1 (GluA1) α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors (AMPARs) as the initial step linked to the behavioral expression of anxiety. Calcium calmodulin kinase II-mediated Serine831 phosphorylation of GluA1 homomers further enhanced AMPAR single-channel conductance. Subsequent downregulation of glutamate NMDA receptor subunit subtype N1/glutamate NMDA receptor subunit subtype N2B N-methyl- d -aspartate receptors curbed BZ-induced withdrawal symptoms. The findings suggested that distinct glutamatergic mechanisms operative during activity-dependent plasticity are highly conserved in hippocampal CA1 neuron excitatory synapses during BZ withdrawal. The bidirectional homeostatic regulation of the glutamatergic system in the mesolimbic anxiety circuit initiates, which then limits BZ withdrawal symptoms and thus physical dependence.
The Multiple Grey Evaluation on the Outsourcing Risk of Software Project

Focusing on the risk management of software outsourcing phase,the main risk factors of four risk aspects are discussed and a three-level evaluation system is established . By using the grey evaluation theory, a model was presented to reflect the integrated software outsourcing risk. It can redound to the chosen of the software developing company and the decision-making of software outsourcing.
Exergy analysis of cascaded encapsulated phase change material—High-temperature thermal energy storage systems

Abstract The second law analysis of an example thermal energy storage (TES) system was conducted to determine the benefit of a system employing a multiple phase change materials. Six systems were considered: three single PCM systems (NaNO 3 , NaNO 2 , and KNO 3 ), a 2-PCM system a 3-PCM system, and a sensible heat only system as a comparison. The latent heat-based systems were able to store more energy and exergy with comparable efficiencies than a system that relies on sensible heat only. Furthermore, when the overall cyclic performance was examined and showed that systems with multiple PCMs outperform their corresponding single PCM-based systems. While for the operating conditions and PCMs chosen the 2-PCM system (NaNO3/NaNO2) was superior, great care is required during the design of an EPCM-based TES system as the difference between the melting point of the PCMs and the inlet temperatures during charging and discharging greatly affect the performance of the system.
A terahertz Fabry-Pérot modulator using charge injection-induced insulator-metal transition in vanadium dioxide

We report the use of Insulator-Metal Transition (IMT) of vanadium dioxide (VO2) to modulate Fabry-Perot resonances in a terahertz Fabry-Perot resonator. Our two-plate Fabry-Perot modulator consists of one partially reflecting plate of monolayer graphene on a polymer substrate, and another plate of VO2-integrated copper electrodes. VO2, a strongly correlated electron system, undergoes IMT upon application of external stimuli. In our Fabry-Perot modulator device, we stimulated VO2 IMT by injecting charges into the VO2 via copper electrodes to realize a terahertz modulator. With 500mA DC at 12 V, we obtained 50% amplitude modulation depth at 0.884 THz.
The Statistical Analysis of Pharmacokinetic Data

Virtually all of the practical applications of pharmacokinetic data analysis involve two parts, one is the mathematical modelling of the underlying pharmacokinetic system and the other is the statistical analysis of pharmacokinetic data. The mathematical modelling has received great attention in the literature and has produced many practically useful and mathematically elegant models. The mathematical modelling of compartmental systems is described in (1–6). However, the statistical analysis of pharmacokinetic data has received relatively little attention in the literature. The limited attention that it has received usually addresses one of the following questions.
Standing the test of time: Reflecting on the relevance today of Levinson's Pet-Oriented Child Psychotherapy.

Having the opportunity to re-read Pet-Oriented Child Psychotherapy was like visiting an old friend and reminiscing about times gone by all too fast. The re-read allowed me an opportunity to concept...
Lymph node yield is an independent predictor of survival in rectal cancer regardless of receipt of neoadjuvant therapy

Aims Lymph node yield (LNY) is used as a marker of adequate oncological resection. The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) currently recommends that at least 12 nodes are necessary to confirm node-negative disease for rectal cancer. A LNY of 12 is not always achieved, particularly in patients who have undergone neoadjuvant treatment. This study attempts to examine factors associated with LNY and its prognostic impact following neoadjuvant chemoradiation in rectal cancer. Methods The 2006–2011 National Cancer Data Base was queried for patients with clinical stage I–III rectal cancer who underwent a proctectomy. Suboptimal LNY was defined as Results 25 447 patients met inclusion criteria. Overall, 62% of the cohort received neoadjuvant chemoradiation and 32% had suboptimal LNY. The median LNY for patients who received neoadjuvant therapy was 13 (IQR: 9–18) and for patients who did not receive neoadjuvant therapy was 15 (IQR: 12–21). After risk adjustment, there was a 3.5-fold difference in the rate of suboptimal LNY among individual hospitals (27%–95%). Suboptimal LNY was independently associated with an 18% increased hazard of death among patients who did not receive neoadjuvant treatment and a 20% increased hazard of death among those who did receive neoadjuvant treatment when controlled for adjuvant treatment, staging, proximal/distal margins and other patient factors. Conclusions Suboptimal LNY is independently associated with worse overall survival regardless of neoadjuvant therapy, pathological staging and patient factors in rectal cancer. This finding underlies the importance and challenge of an optimal lymph node evaluation for prognostication, especially for patients receiving neoadjuvant therapy.
The Pseudomonas aeruginosa Exoenzyme Y: A Promiscuous Nucleotidyl Cyclase Edema Factor and Virulence Determinant.

Exoenzyme Y (ExoY) was identified as a component of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa type 3 secretion system secretome in 1998. It is a common contributor to the arsenal of type 3 secretion system effectors, as it is present in approximately 90% of Pseudomonas isolates. ExoY has adenylyl cyclase activity that is dependent upon its association with a host cell cofactor. However, recent evidence indicates that ExoY is not just an adenylyl cyclase; rather, it is a promiscuous cyclase capable of generating purine and pyrimidine cyclic nucleotide monophosphates. ExoY’s enzymatic activity causes a characteristic rounding of mammalian cells, due to microtubule breakdown. In endothelium, this cell rounding disrupts cell-to-cell junctions, leading to loss of barrier integrity and an increase in tissue edema. Microtubule breakdown seems to depend upon tau phosphorylation, where the elevation of cyclic nucleotide monophosphates activates protein kinases A and G and causes phosphorylation of endothelial microtubule associated protein tau. Phosphorylation is a stimulus for tau release from microtubules, leading to microtubule instability. Phosphorylated tau accumulates inside endothelium as a high molecular weight, oligomeric form, and is then released from the cell. Extracellular high molecular weight tau causes a transmissible cytotoxicity that significantly hinders cellular repair following infection. Thus, ExoY may contribute to bacterial virulence in at least two ways; first, by microtubule breakdown leading to loss of endothelial cell barrier integrity, and second, by promoting release of a high molecular weight tau cytotoxin that impairs cellular recovery following infection.
Subthreshold Fission Cross Section of 240Pu and the Fission Cross Sections of 235U and 239Pu

The subthreshold fission cross section of 240Pu was measured relative to the 10B(n,α) or the 6Li(n,α) cross sections from 20 eV to 100 keV. Resonance parameter fits to the data were derived from 20...