cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neurotransmitters in central respiratory control

A diverse group of processes are involved in central control of ventilation. Both fast acting neurotransmitters and slower acting neuromodulators are involved in the central respiratory drive. This review deals with fast acting neurotransmitters that are essential centrally in the ventilatory response to H(+)/CO(2) and to acute hypoxia. Data are reviewed to show that the central response to H(+)/CO(2) is primarily at sites in the medulla, the most prominent being the ventral medullary surface (VMS), and that acetylcholine is the key neurotransmitter in this process. Genetic abnormalities in the cholinergic system lead to states of hypoventilation in man and that knock out mice for genes responsible for neural crest development have none or diminished CO(2) ventilatory response. In the acute ventilatory response to hypoxia the afferent impulses from the carotid body reach the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) releasing glutamate which stimulates ventilation. Glutamate release also occurs in the VMS. Hypoxia is also associated with release of GABA in the mid-brain and a biphasic change in concentration of another inhibitory amino acid, taurine. Collectively changes in these amino acids can account for the ventilatory output in response to acute hypoxia. Future studies should provide more data on molecular and genetic basis of central respiratory drive and the role of neurotransmitter in this essential function.
Hydrophone VSP imaging at a shallow site

We evaluated the capabilities of vertical seismic profiling (VSP) for imaging the complex heterogeneous unconsolidated sedimentary structures at a shallow site. We deployed a 24‐level hydrophone array with 0.5-m level spacing down a preexisting poly vinyl chloride (PVC) cased well. Data acquisition time was quick. Only 15 multioffset shot points using a hammer‐on‐plate source were needed to acquire reflection data between the water table at 3 m and the bedrock at 35 m to produce a depth section image. This image extended 9 m from the receiver well, yielding resolutions between fresh‐water‐bearing sands and impermeable muds and clays of better than 1 m. Depth accuracy of the image was confirmed by good correlation with cone penetrometer logs. We used conventional wavefield separation and VSP-CDP mapping techniques to image the data. Tube waves, created by seismic arrivals at cross‐sectional area changes in the borehole fluid column, were the primary source of coherent noise in the data. The tube‐wave arriv...
Brazilian external sector so far in the 21st century

Although Brazil has traditionally been characterized by a culture of inward-looking policy making, the presence of foreign firms in the Brazilian productive sector has always been significant. The share of foreign-owned firms is one of the highest that can be found among developing countries. This article discusses the main features of the external sector of the Brazilian economy, regarding trade flows, foreign investment, the internationalization of Brazilian entrepreneurial groups and the short-term financial requirements in foreign currencies
Computed tomography demonstration of unusual diffuse metastatic calcification secondary to renal failure

We report the computed tomography findings in an unusual case of diffuse metastatic calcification secondary to renal failure.
Entrepreneurial Orientation and Organizational Learning: The Impact of Network Range and Network Closure

This study develops theoretical propositions regarding the role that entrepreneurial orientation (EO) plays in enhancing an organization's level of acquisitive and experimental learning. It also de...
Synthesis of new alkyl‐ alkenyloxy‐ and hydroxy‐substituted diaza‐crown compounds

New diaza-crown compounds with the macro ring nitrogen atoms situated in the 1, 4-, 1, 7- and 1, 10-positions have been prepared. All of the new macrocycles contain alkyl groups on the nitrogen atoms and a functional group substituent in the form of either an allyloxymethyl, allyloxy or hydroxy group on one of the macro ring carbon atoms. A 1, 4-diaza-crown attached to silica gel removes Hg(II) ions from an aqueous mixture of Hg(II), Cd(II) and Zn(II) ions.
Individual Determinants of Participation in Community Development in Indonesia

Given the new decentralization legislation in Indonesia, citizen participation is an increasingly important factor in planning and development policies. Yet policymakers have inadequate information about the types of individuals likely to contribute their knowledge, time, and economic resources to the development process. This paper provides a background and conceptual framework for understanding citizen participation in community development as well as the related components of civil society and social capital in Indonesia. A series of logistic and ordinary least squares regression models are used to analyze the effect of individual demographic and socioeconomic characteristics on the likelihood of participation in community development. I conclude that participatory community development (1) restricts women's participation beyond the role of family caretaker, and (2) has a limited capacity to help the poor.
MEDICAL THERAPY OF NEUROCARDIOGENIC SYNCOPE

Syncope, the sudden temporary loss of consciousness and postural tone, can result from multiple causes. It is a common medical condition that results in 3% of all emergency department visits and as many as 6% of hospital admissions. 36 From the Framingham data, the incidence of syncope in patients 30 to 62 years of age over a 26 year period was 3.3% 61 , and in 30% of patients, syncope is recurrent. 47 The commonest type of syncope is considered to be neurocardiogenic, comprising approximately 60% of cases. 33 Alternatively referred to as vasovagal , vasodepressor , or neurally mediated syncope , many investigators have come to prefer the term neurocardiogenic syncope . In most cases, syncope is preceded by a prodrome of diaphoresis, nausea, dizziness, or yawning. Nonetheless, some patients have no warning before loss of consciousness. The pathophysiology of this syndrome is complicated and is not understood fully. As a result, the medical treatment is variable and at times confusing. Questions concerning the appropriate pharmacologic treatment and evaluation of therapy remain common for the clinician.
Mobile Social Networks and Social Practice: A Case Study of Dodgeball

A mobile social network system MSNS allows groups of friends to be accessed and engaged with from one's mobile phone. Dodgeball is a MSNS that seeks to facilitate social connection and coordination among friends in urban public spaces. Based on a year-long qualitative field study, this article reports on the social and behavioral norms of Dodgeball use. A comparison between social network sites and Dodgeball highlights some of the communicative differences of mobile technology and the Internet. The findings of the study suggest that Dodgeball use can influence the way that informants experience public space and social relations therein. At times Dodgeball can facilitate the creation of third spaces, which are dynamic and itinerant forms of "third places." Additionally, exchanging messages through Dodgeball can lead to social molecularization, whereby active Dodgeball members experience and move through the city in a collective manner.
Using the Situation‐Oriented Miniplay and the Videotape Recorder in Advanced Conversation Classes

This article presents a three-stage approach for teaching advanced conversation. Students progressively master selected source materials, write and perform miniplays based on the sources, and finally “survive” in a real situation based on the material in the miniplays. Use of the VTR in this systematic progression toward an acceptable level of survival fluency can bring added motivation and better performance. Techniques, advantages, and disadvantages in the use of the VTR are discussed.
A PLURALISTIC ANALYSIS OF CHARACTER RELEASE IN PUMPKINSEED SUNFISH (LEPOMIS GIBBOSUS)

While the importance of competition in adaptive divergence has recently been demonstrated in a number of systems, its interaction with other ecological factors has been neglected. We attempt a more pluralistic approach in this comparative study of di- vergence in pumpkinseed sunfish (Lepomis gibbosus) from the Adirondack region of New York. In some lakes, pumpkinseed forms that use shallow- and open-water environments coexist. We tested four predictions relating to an hypothesis of character release: (1) Pump- kinseed divergence is favored in the absence of the closely related bluegill sunfish (L. macrochirus), a known competitor elsewhere, (2) divergence is favored when the combined effects of other planktivorous fish taxa that may impose diffuse competition is reduced, (3) divergence is positively related to lake size because larger lakes provide more distinct and diverse environments, and (4) divergence is favored in lakes dominated by open-water habitat. In two lakes with introduced bluegill (sympatry), bluegill appear to limit pump- kinseed divergence, as they do elsewhere. Pumpkinseeds were neither found in the open- water habitat, nor did they eat significant amounts of open-water prey. In nine allopatric lakes selected for their similarity to the sympatric lakes, pumpkinseeds were ecologically and morphologically divergent, consistent with a character release hypothesis. Morpho- logical divergence followed functional expectations. Open-water pumpkinseeds generally had longer caudal peduncles, shorter heads, thinner bodies, and smaller paired fins compared to shallow-water pumpkinseeds (heritable variation in body shape has been demonstrated elsewhere). Among 26 allopatric lakes, other planktivores had a negative effect on intra- population divergence as if they collectively imposed diffuse competition. Surprisingly, lake size was unrelated to divergence, and the amount of open-water habitat had an un- expected negative effect. Mean body size was also negatively related to divergence. Our findings illustrate that a variety of ecological factors, in addition to competition, may influence the divergence of pumpkinseeds, and possibly other fishes in postglacial north temperate lakes.
Limited efficacy of preoperative computed tomographic scanning for the evaluation of lymph node metastasis in patients before radical prostatectomy

Abstract Objectives To evaluate the efficacy of preoperative computed tomographic (CT) scanning in patients with presumed localized prostatectomy prior to radical retropubic prostatectomy. Methods A retrospective study of 173 consecutive patients believed to be candidates for radical retropubic prostatectomy who underwent preoperative CT scanning regardless of preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) value, clinical stage, or Gleason grade was undertaken. All patients underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy with bilateral pelvic lymph node dissection or aspiration needle biopsy of abnormal nodes on CT scanning. Results One hundred sixty-five of 173 patients (95.4%) were believed to have normal CT scans preoperatively. Of these 165 patients, 156 (94.5%) were found to have negative lymph nodes confirmed histologically at the time of lymphadenectomy. Nine patients (5.5%) were found to have lymph node metastases confirmed histologically, despite a negative CT scan. Computed tomographic scanning understaged 9 of 12 (75%) patients with proven metastases. Incidental abdominal pathology of clinical significance was documented in 4 patients (2.3%), including 2 with renal cell cancers, 1 with colon cancer, and 1 with a large (8 cm) abdominal aortic aneurysm. Prostate-specific antigen levels in patients with metastatic lymph nodes ranged from 0.7 to 130 ng/mL (Hybritech Tandem assay), with a mean level of 42 ng/mL Although 9 of 33 patients (27.3%) with PSA levels greater than 25 ng/mL had node metastases, only 3 of these 33 patients (9.1 %) were correctly diagnosed by CT scanning. Conclusions Although additional numbers of patients with high PSA levels need to be evaluated, we could not find any justification for routine preoperative CT scanning in patients with a PSA of less than 25 ng/mL. These results suggest that significant savings can be realized by abandoning the practice of routine CT scanning for lymph node metastasis in all patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer.
C/EBPbeta mediates bortezomib-induced EBV and KSHV lytic gene expression

Bortezomib is a proteasome inhibitor used clinically for the treatment of multiple myeloma and mantle cell lymphoma and is being evaluated for the treatment of AIDS-related lymphoma and Kaposi’s sarcoma in the AIDS Malignancy Consortium. Activation of herpes zoster infection is a well-recognized complication of bortezomib therapy. In previous work, we have shown that bortezomib is a potent inducer of EBV and KSHV lytic gene expression and demonstrated a novel approach to therapy that leverages this activation to facilitate tumor imaging and treatment. In an effort to better understand the relevant pathways, we confirmed that bortezomib at 20 nM concentrations induces expression of EBV and KSHV immediate early genes (EBV ZTA, KSHV RTA) as assessed by immunoblot and by reverse transciptase PCR for the associated transcripts. Bortezomib activates EBV ZTA promoter expression and KSHV RTA promoter expression in reporter assays. C/EBPalpha and beta protein family members are recognized activators of EBV ZTA and KSHV RTA expression. Bortezomib does not alter C/EBPalpha protein level as assessed by immunoblot but does lead to increased C/EBPbeta. C/EBPbeta includes activating isoforms (LAP) and an inhibitory isoform (LIP). In reporter assays, we show that C/EBPbeta LAP activates the EBV promoters whereas LIP is inhibitory. In ChIP assays we show that bortezomib treatment leads to increased C/EBPbeta binding to the ZTA promoter. Mutation of the binding sites abolishes activation of the promoter associated with bortezomib treatment. In order to determine whether C/EBPbeta expression simply tracks with lytic viral gene expression or plays a key role in mediating such expression, we created a tet-regulated C/EBPbeta knockdown. In the presence of doxycycline, C/EBPbeta is suppressed, and bortezomib lytic induction of EBV as measured by increases in ZTA mRNA, ZTA protein, and viral DNA copy number are all blunted. Induction of lytic viral gene expression in EBV Akata cell lines by anti-Ig treatment is also blunted. These results suggest that C/EBPbeta family members play a key role in mediating activation of EBV and KSHV lytic infection following bortezomib and other inducers.1
Virtual effects of excited quarks as probes of a possible new hardonic mass scale

Abstract The effects of spin - 3 2 excited quarks are considered as probes of a possible new hadronic mass-scale Λ. A specific model is developed which describes virtual spin - 3 2 quarks of mass of O(Λ). Induced effects, which are corrections to the standard SU(2) × U(1) electroweak model, include right-handed charged currents and flavor changing neutral currents. A model-independent classification of all SU(3) × SU(2) × U(1) invariant quark operators of dimension six or less is also presented. Ambiguities in converting this analysis and existing experiments to a definitive lower-bound for Λ are discussed. It is found, depending on the strength of certain Higgs couplings and the underlying global flavor symmetries in the absence of Higgs couplings, that a lower bound as small as Λ > 500 GeV or as large as Λ > 100 TeV is possible.
Electroporation for targeted gene transfer

The utilisation of nonviral gene delivery methods has been increasing steadily, however, a drawback has been the relative low efficiency of gene transfer with naked DNA compared with viral delivery methods. In vivo electroporation, which has previously been used clinically to deliver chemotherapeutic agents, also enhances the delivery of plasmid DNA and has been used to deliver plasmids to several tissue types, particularly muscle and tumour. Recently, a large number of preclinical studies for a variety of therapeutic modalities have demonstrated the potential of electrically mediated gene transfer. Although clinical trials using gene transfer with in vivo electroporation have not as yet been realised, the tremendous growth of this technology suggests that the first trials will soon be initiated.
Ultrasonigraphic Evidence of Abnormal Lymphatic Vessels in Young Men with Adult Wuchereria Bancrofti Infection in the Scrotal Area

AbstractPurpose: We determined the prevalence and magnitude of dilatation of the lymphatic vessels of the spermatic cord in men infected with Wuchereria bancrofti, which is a known major cause of hydrocele in the tropics.Materials and Methods: Scrotal ultrasound was performed with a 7.5 MHz, transducer in 78 men from Recife, Brazil (endemic for filariasis) and in 15 from a nonendemic area.Results: Among men from Recife the lymphatic vessels were dilated (1.3 to 15.0 mm., mean 3.8) at the location of the adult worm. Vessel diameter was not associated with hydrocele.Conclusions: Lymphatic dilatation was observed in all men with ultrasonographically detectable W. bancrofti infection, even those who were asymptomatic.
Formation of biogenic amines in fillets and minced flesh of three freshwater fish species stored at 3 °C and 15 °C

The aim of the present study was to compare the dynamics of biogenic amines formation in three freshwater fish species, to compare the progress of chemical changes in filleted and minced flesh, to find correlations of such changes with sensory properties and to find possible quality indicators for selected fish species. Samples (n = 156) of fish fillets and fish mince of common carp (Cyprinus carpio), rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and perch (Perca fluviatilis ) were stored at 3 °C and 15 °C. The amines were determined as the N-substituted benzamides, after derivatization with benzoylchloride by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography. Based on the biogenic amine contents and sensory properties, the shelf life of samples at 3 °C was 11–16 days and 7–10 days for fillets and mince, respectively, and 2–3 days at 15 °C regardless of sample processing. Content of putrescine seems to be a good quality indicator for all examined fish species. The fish species and the method of flesh processing did not have a significant influence on the putrescine formation. Tyramine was formed mainly in carp and trout mince at 15 °C. Samples of good and acceptable quality did not contain toxicologically significant concentrations of histamine or tyramine. Contrary to marine fish, information about biogenic amines contents in freshwater fish is scarce. Comparison of the dynamics of amines formation in fillets and processed fish flesh has not been studied yet. The progress of decomposition processes is compared based on dynamic models.
A possible solution to the rotational invariance and silicon parameter problem in the MNDO approximation

In the original formulation of the MNDO method, the approximation of two-center two-electron integrals over p orbitals is not rotationally invariant, and the coulombtype integrals do not match their one-center counterparts. In recent computer codes the rotational invariance has been restored by dropping the original approximation for two-center exchange integrals over π orbitals, which at the same time disconnected these too from the one-center values. It is shown in this paper that the rotational invariance problem can be overcome in the framework of the original approximation. It is also demonstrated that the mismatch between the one- and two-center two-electron integrals may be the reason for the too short Si-Si bond lengths predicted by MNDO.
Mortality of Employees of Two Cotton Mills in North Carolina

Carl Ortmeyer, Ph.D. A lthough respiratory morbidity associated with exposure to cotton dust in the primary textile industry has been extensively studied and documented, relatively little research has been directed toward assessment of morbidity and mortality of former cotton textile workers. There are frequent anecdotal references to early retirement and death in the early literature on cotton, flax, and hemp exposure.1-4 Reviews of the 1880-1932Dicennial Supplements to the Annual Report of the Registrar General of Births, Deaths and Marriages in England and Wales revealed increased overall mortality for employed males (particularly excesses among older cardroom and blowroom operatives) for cardiovascular, renal, and respiratory disease. Schilling6 reported that due to classification practices in Britain prior to 1939, a substantial proportion of cardiovascular deaths should have been classified as respiratory deaths, but were not because with multiple certification, cardiovascular and renal deaths were given priority. Recent mortality studies of cotton textile workers conducted in the United States have not revealed the excess mortality of earlier studies. Henderson and Enterline studied cotton textile workers as controls to asbestos workers in Georgia. Although overall mortality did not differ from asbestos building product workers and asbestos friction material workers, there was no evidence of excess respiratory deaths among cotton textile workers. Similarly, Daum and associatess studied a three mill cohort in South Carolina. They, too, found no overall increase in mortality, but did observe some increases in cardiovascular deaths among men and women and among women, some excess in respiratory deaths. The purpose of this report is to examine mortality patterns in a mature cohort thought to have had significant exposure to cotton dust and with welldocumented work histories.
Probabilistic analysis of underground excavation stability

Abstract The deterministic description of rock excavation stability with a safety factor is frequently insufficient and, sometimes, misleading. The applications of the probabilistic analysis to determine the likelihood of a rock excavation failure have been proposed by many researchers. The probabilistic analysis will lead to a better understanding of excavation stability and provide more complete information. The difficulty in estimating the failure probability of a underground excavation is the complexity of mathematics involved. In order to overcome this limitation, the first-order second-moment approximation of the failure probabilities is utilized. The technique simplifies the computation significantly and allows for the analysis of relatively complex stability problems. Two underground excavation stability problems are investigated in the study, including the stability of a horizontally layered rock roof and the stability of a underground rock prism. The study indicates that the distributions of parameter values play a significant role in the excavation stability, which can not be disclosed by the conventional methods of stability analysis. Greater dispersiveness of the parameter values will lead to a different probability of failure, although the factor of safety estimated by conventional methods remains the same if the mean values of the parameters are unchanged.
Bayesian localization in wireless networks using angle of arrival

Using existing wireless communication networks as a localization infrastructure promises enormous cost and deployment savings over specific localization infrastructures. In this work we investigate a Bayesian network approach that uses a combination of radio signal strength (RSS) to distance estimation along with angle-of-arrival (AoA) information. We characterize the resulting localization accuracy using data collected outdoors using different radios, indoor data, and simulated data. We show how the localization performance degrades in indoor environments and analyze the different sources of errors that cause this performance degradation as compared to outdoor settings. We found our network is quite sensitive to variations in the distance to signal strength, and the additional angle information had only a small impact on localization accuracy.
Level of conceptual system functioning in experience with sex and drugs.

Research growing out of Harvey, Hunt, and Schroder's (1961) theoretical work in Conceptual Systems Theory has tended to describe System 1-functioning persons as rigid, rule-obeying, authority- and culmre-oriented, while System 4 persons have been described as flexible, relativistic, and culmrally independent (autonomous). Very little has been presented, however, in terms of the way these persons actually function outside of a laboratory setting, or how they describe themselves as behaving, save for a brief summary report by Harvey (1966). If System 4 persons are culturally independent, then one would expect this independence to be expressed behaviorally in a manner which is inconsistent with cultural norms. Seventy-four System 1 Ss and 10 System 4 Ssl were identified by means of Harvey's "This I Believe" test (Greaves, 1970). Under conditions designed to guarantee their anonymity, Ss were given a series of quesaons about their behavior and asked to agree or disagree with them. Among these questions were seven target questions related to sex and drug activities, the "official" cultural norms for which are generally quite unambiguous, (e.g., have you ever taken LSD? ) . System 4 persons reported themselves as experimenting with marijuana more often than their System 1 counterparts 29.88, P < .001), as was the case for use of LSD (x' = 18.48, p < .001), premarital petting experiences (x' = 5.63, p < .02), premarital intercourse (X' = 15.45, p < .001), and their anticipation of having extramarital intercourse (x2 = 15.45, p < .001). Only one person of 84 reported having used heroine (a System 1 S), and the number of married persons was too small ro compare reports of extramarital activities (two of 24 married System 1 Ss reported extramarital relations and four of 4 System 4 Ss). Whether these data represent a greater candidness on the part of System 4 Ss in reporting their behavior or actually represent differences in behavior is not clear. In any case these 10 Ss showed a general willingness to report culrurally unacceptable behavior, which is consistent with an atypical style as expected from the work of Harvey, Hunt and Schroder.
Thermal conductivity and Raman spectra of carbon fibers

The thermal conductivity between 12 and 300 K is reported for graphite fibers carbonized from a variety of precursors, including spun polyacrylonitrile, petroleum pitch, or grown by chemical vapor deposition of methane. The fibers were studied as grown as well as heat treated to temperatures up to 3000 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C. First-order Raman spectra of the same fibers were taken with use of a microprobe, and the intensity ratio ${I}_{1360}$/${I}_{1580}$ between the disorder-induced line at 1360 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ and the Raman-allowed line at 1580 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ correlates well with the amplitude of the low-temperature thermal-conductivity data. Using the Kelly model for the phonon-dominated thermal conductivity, we deduce the defect-limited phonon mean free path ${L}_{\ensuremath{\varphi}}$ from our data below 100 K. We find ${L}_{\ensuremath{\varphi}}$ approximately equal to ${L}_{a}$, the x-ray in-plane correlation length which had been related by Tuinstra and Koenig to the Raman intensity ratio ${I}_{1360}$/${I}_{1580}$. We show further correlations between ${L}_{\ensuremath{\varphi}}$ and the electrical resistivity \ensuremath{\rho}, the interplane distance (1/2)${c}_{0}$, and the c-axis correlation length ${L}_{c}$.
A general form of probability kriging for estimation of the indicator and uniform transforms

Probability kriging is implemented in a general cokriging procedure (c.f. Myers, 1982) for estimatingboth the indicator and uniform transforms. Paired-sum semi-variograms are used to facilitate the modeling of the cross-covariance between the uniform transform and each indicator transform. Estimates of the uniform transform are averaged over all cutoffs, the average used to derive an estimate of the original data. This estimate can be biased with respect to the mean data value, but is unbiased with respect to the data median.
Energetics of acid-base equilibria in aqueous solution. MNDO, AMI, and PM3 results for compounds with functionalities analogous to the nucleic acids

Abstract A recently developed model for the inclusion of hydration effects in the standard MNDO, AM1, and PM3 methodologies (B. Wang and G.P. Ford, J. Chem. Phys., 97 (1992) 4162) is found to reproduce the experimentally determined hydration energetics for ten proton transfer equilibria involving bases with functionalities analogous to those of the nucleic acids, with r.m.s. errors of 2.6, 3.5, and 3.9 kcal mol −1 respectively. The pK −1 a values for protonation of the less basic sites of deoxyguanosine relative to the experimental data for 7-protonation are estimated at the AM1 level.
Automatic Hybrid OpenMP + MPI Program Generation for Dynamic Programming Problems

We describe a program that automatically generates a hybrid OpenMP + MPI program for a class of recursive calculations with template dependencies. Many useful generalized dynamic programming problems fit this category, such as Multiple String Alignment and multi-arm Bernoulli Bandit problems. Solving problems like these, especially those involving several dimensions, can use a significant amount of memory and time. Our generator addresses these issues by dividing the problem into many tiles that can be solved in parallel. Programs generated using this program generator are capable of solving large problems and achieve good scalability when run on many cores. The input supplied to the generator is a high level description of the problem, the output is a fully functioning parallel program for a cluster of shared memory nodes. This high level approach to parallel computation allows the generator to have a large amount of control over memory allocation, load balancing and calculation ordering.
The impact of hepatitis C virus coinfection on HIV-related kidney disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background In the era of antiretroviral therapy, non-AIDS complications such as kidney disease are important contributors to morbidity and mortality. Objective To estimate the impact of hepatitis C coinfection on the risk of kidney disease in HIV patients. Design and methods Two investigators identified English-language citations in MEDLINE and Web of Science from 1989 through 1 July 2007. References of selected articles were reviewed. Observational studies and clinical trials of HIV-related kidney disease and antiretroviral nephrotoxicity were eligible if they included at least 50 subjects and reported hepatitis C status. Data on study characteristics, population, and kidney disease outcomes were abstracted by two independent reviewers. Results After screening 2516 articles, 27 studies were eligible and 24 authors confirmed or provided data. Separate meta-analyses were performed for chronic kidney disease outcomes (n = 10), proteinuria (n = 4), acute renal failure (n = 2), and indinavir toxicity (n = 5). The pooled incidence of chronic kidney disease was higher in patients with hepatitis C coinfection [6.2 versus 4.0%; relative risk 1.49, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.08-2.06]. In meta-regression, prevalence of black race and the proportion of patients with documented hepatitis C status were independently associated with the risk of chronic kidney disease. The relative risk associated with hepatitis C coinfection was significantly increased for proteinuria (1.15; 95% CI 1.02-1.30) and acute renal failure (1.64; 95% CI 1.21-2.23), with no significant statistical heterogeneity. The relative risk of indinavir toxicity was 1.59 (95% CI 0.99-2.54) with hepatitis C coinfection. Conclusion Hepatitis C coinfection is associated with a significant increase in the risk of HIV-related kidney disease.
Field evaluation of coverall fabrics: Heat stress and pesticide penetration

The effect of wearing coveralls on the heat stress of ten professional airblast applicators of ethion to Florida citrus were studied. During the period June 21, 1988 to August 9, 1988, applicators wore protective clothing of the same design, but made of seven different fabrics. Heat stress was evaluated by measuring the mean skin temperature, oral temperature, and heart rate of pesticide applicators. Subjects also provided subjective evaluations. Seven environmental variables were also monitored. Although each fabric was replicated an average of 17 times for thermal comfort and an average of 23 times for penetration, statistical tests for differences among fabrics were usually not significant at the p<0.05 level. Observed differences among suits were statistically significant at p=0.27 for the heat stress experiment, and extended over the range p=0.003–0.500 for the penetration experiment. Lighter weight, untreated fabrics marginally ameliorated heat stress under severe environmental conditions, but they allowed more pesticide penetration.
Maneuver-based motion planning and coordination for multiple UAVs

In this paper, we present an extension to multiple-vehicle coordination and formation flight of a recently developed framework for UAV motion planning. This framework leads to the development of a modeling language for UAV trajectories, based on the interconnection of a finite number of suitably defined motion primitives, or maneuvers. Building on similar considerations, a concept of motion coordination primitive is introduced, and used to define a motion description language for cooperative multiple-vehicle systems. Once the language is defined, algorithms for the efficient computation of feasible and optimal motion coordination plans can be implemented. The application of the proposed technique to motion planning for a group of small model helicopters is discussed, through examples on a high-fidelity simulation.
Consistent co‐trending rank selection when both stochastic and non‐linear deterministic trends are present

This paper proposes a model-free cotrending rank selection procedure based on the eigenstructure of a multivariate version of the von Neumann ratio, in the presence of both stochastic and nonlinear deterministic trends. Our selection criteria are easily implemented, and the consistency of the rank estimator is established under very general conditions. Simulation results suggest good …nite sample properties of the new rank selection criteria. The proposed method is then illustrated through an application of the Japanese money demand function allowing for the cotrending relationship among money, income and interest rates.
Ultrasound-Guided Access Improves Rate of Access-Related Complications for Totally Percutaneous Aortic Aneurysm Repair

Previous experience with totally percutaneous aortic aneurysm repair has identified morbid obesity and larger sheath sizes (> or =20F) as complicating factors for percutaneous access closure. We sought to evaluate the impact of ultrasound-guided femoral access on rates of technical success, conversion to open femoral repair, and access-related complications. A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database was performed. All consecutive patients undergoing totally percutaneous closure of large-bore-sheath (>12F) access sites with a suture-mediated closure device were included. The cohort was stratified into two groups by access technique, standard percutaneous femoral access, and ultrasound-guided femoral access. Patient variables were evaluated, and outcome measures included technical success, requirement for conversion to open repair, and access-related complications. Recorded conversions only included those related to access closure technique. During the study period, 88 consecutive patients underwent percutaneous closure of 152 large-bore access sites after endovascular aneurysm repair. There was no difference in the proportion of morbidly obese patients (body mass index >35 kg/m(2)) between the two cohorts. Access-related complications were significantly reduced in the group undergoing ultrasound-guided access. Despite the lower complication profile with ultrasound guidance, 24 sites (41%) had sheath sizes > or =20F compared to only 21 sites (24%) in the standard access group (p or =20F (p<0.05). Upon comparing the two cohorts, operative time continued to decrease from 154 (+/-64) to 101 (+/-56) min after the addition of ultrasound guidance for access (p<0.05). The addition of ultrasound-guided femoral access to totally percutaneous aortic aneurysm repair continues to increase the technical success rate for vessel closure and has a clinically profound impact on access-related complications. This technical adjunct appears to have the largest impact on patients requiring larger sheath sizes.
Application of the Theory of Heat Exchangers to a Physiological Study of the Goat Placenta

The exchange characteristics of the goat placenta were compared to those of several simple models. A technique is described whereby the fetal side of the placenta of the goat near term can be perfused with blood. The ratio of fetal to maternal blood flow was controlled in the range 0.17 to 4.80. The fractions of the maternal and fetal blood flows that did not enter the area of exchange (shunts) were determined by perfusion of the uterine and umbilical circulations with Krebs solution containing dextran and saturated with carbon monoxide and were found to be 36% (SD 3.9%) and 23% (SD 2.2%), respectively. These values were compatible with the shunt values obtained by graphical extrapolation of the data obtained with nitrous oxide and acetylene during perfusion with blood. The N2O and C2H2 data showed that the goat placenta has the exchange characteristics of a countercurrent exchanger with extremely unevenly distributed uterine and umbilical flows or those of a concurrent exchanger with moderately uneven distribution of flows. The only available information in the literature on the distribution of flow in this type of placenta indicates that the distribution is moderately uneven.
Solar Dynamic Concentrator Durability in Atomic Oxygen and Micrometeoroid Environments

Solar dynamic power system mirrors for use on Space Station and other spacecraft flown in low-Earth-orbit (LEO) are exposed to the harshness of the LEO environment. Both atomic oxygen and micrometeoroids/space debris can degrade the performance of such mirrors. Coatings will be required to protect oxidizable reflecting media, such as silver and aluminum, from atomic oxygen attack. Several protective coating materials have been identified as good candidates for use in this application. The durability of these coating/mirror systems after pinhole defects have been inflicted during their fabrication and deployment or through micrometeoroid/space debris impact once on-orbit is of concern. Studies of the effect of an oxygen plasma environment on protected mirror surfaces with intentionally induced pinhole defects have been conducted and are reviewed in this paper. It has been found that oxidation of the reflective layer and/or the substrate in areas adjacent to a pinhole defect, but not directly exposed by the pinhole, can
Policy Analyses and Program Implementation (P.L. 94-142)

Policy analysis has emerged as a new set of skills used to analyze proposed policies or review existing policies. The Education for All Handicapped Children (P.L. 94–142) is used to illustrate how such policy implementation analyses might be done. Significant barriers to policy implementation for this law include the power relationships between parents and schools, classroom teachers' feelings of uncertainty resulting from changed role expectations, and economic problems because of the federal government's inability to meet fiscal promises. Despite the issues raised in this analysis, the policy will probably continue with minor modifications because of strong constituent support.
Development and Use of Curricular Adaptations for Students Receiving Special Education Services

This study is a quasi-experimental descriptive design, with existing educator-made adaptations evaluated. The goals of this study were to (a) describe how educators develop adaptations and (b) evaluate the effectiveness of educator-made adaptations in facilitating the learning of students with disabilities. Findings suggest that (a) most adaptations were made in core general education classes; (b) experienced educators created more simplified curricular adaptations, whereas novice educators created more functional alternative adaptations; (c) educators are generally satisfied with the adaptation they have created and believe it was effective in teaching the student; (d) educators spent on average 59.1 min creating the adaptation; (e) educators in rural areas and novice educators provided adaptations that were rated lower in quality and clarity than experienced and urban educators; and (f) general education teachers provided adaptations that were of lower quality and clarity than special education teachers...
Do children really confuse appearance and reality

Our understanding of many mental, social and physical phenomena hinges on a general understanding that appearances can differ from reality. Yet young children sometimes seem unable to understand appearance-reality dissociations. In a standard test, children are shown a deceptive object and asked what it really is and what it looks like. Many preschool children give the same answer to both questions. This error has been attributed to children's inflexible conceptual representations or inflexibility in representing their own changing beliefs. However, evidence fails to support either hypothesis: new tests show that young children generally understand appearance-reality discrepancies as well as fantasy-reality distinctions. These tests instead implicate children's failure to understand the unfamiliar discourse format of the standard test. This misunderstanding might reveal a subtler difficulty in making logical inferences about questions.
Pathogen reduction: a precautionary principle paradigm.

Although remarkable advances have been made in the prevention of the major transfusion-transmitted diseases, long intervals have transpired between the first recognition of transfusion risk and the implementation of a preventive strategy. For hepatitis B virus, that interval was 30 years; for non-A, non-B/hepatitis C virus, 15 years; and for human immunodeficiency virus, West Nile virus, Trypanosoma cruzi , and bacteria, 3, 4, 5, and 18 years, respectively. In our existing reactive approach, there is a fundamental and inevitable delay before we can react; and thus, infections are destined to occur. The continued emergence or reemergence of transfusion-transmitted infections calls for a new paradigm of preemptive pathogen reduction (PR). Two PR systems, psoralen/UV-A and riboflavin/UV-A, have shown efficacy and safety for platelets and plasma; and psoralen/UV-A technology has been successfully implemented for platelets in Europe. Pathogen reduction can eliminate or reduce the risk for any nucleic acid containing agent, including bacteria, and thus will be effective for all but prion diseases. It is possible to introduce PR for platelets and plasma now and to concentrate resources on developing PR for red cells. This will require an intellectual and financial commitment from the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, industry, and the blood bank establishment, just as occurred for nucleic acid testing (NAT) technology. This can be done if there is sufficient will to do it.
Untangling multipath returns in MIMO radar via waveform diversity

In some radar operating environments multipath clutter is the dominant source of interference. Since the multipath clutter may hide the desired target returns, an effective method of clutter suppression is required. MIMO radar systems can discriminate multipath returns from target returns by estimating the directions of departure and arrival. Multipath clutter suppression using the conventional beamformer is not effective when the multipath returns are much stronger than the target returns. However, effective multipath clutter suppression can be achieved by using an adaptive transmit beamformer in conjunction with an adaptive receive beamformer while still illuminating the entire scene. This work explores the simulated performance of a MIMO radar system with two adaptive filtering algorithms: Iterative Adaptive Approach and Sparse Learning via Iterative Minimization. Simulation results show that these algorithms effectively suppress multipath returns at the cost of increased computational complexity.
Cellular manufacturing system design with alternative routing consideration

Abstract A heuristic approach for designing cells considering alternative routing is discussed. The methodology is concerned with choosing the right type of machines for performing all the operations required for parts in a family within the cell. Example problems solved using the methodology have provided encouraging solutions.
Correlation of transrectal ultrasound measurements of prostate and transition zone size with symptom score, bother score, urinary flow rate, and post-void residual volume

Abstract Objectives. To assess the correlation of total prostatic size and prostate transition zone dimensions with various measurements of the severity of bladder outlet obstruction secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia. Methods. Prostate-specific antigen, creatinine, American Urological Association symptom score, bother score, urinary history, uroflowmetry, and post-void residual urine volume determination was followed by measurement of the prostate gland and transition zone on transrectal ultrasound images in 136 men undergoing systematic prostate biopsies. Patients were divided into five groups based on past urinary tract treatment history and the presence of prostate cancer on the biopsies. The total prostate and transition zone dimensions, as well as calculated prostate and transition zone volumes, were compared by Pearson correlation with both the subjective and objective voiding parameters in each patient group. Results. The transition zone dimensions correlated positively with American Urological Association symptom score, bother score, and post-void residual urine volume and correlated negatively with maximum and mean flow rates, particularly in patients with no history of prostate surgery, alpha-blocker administration, urinary infections, irritative voiding symptoms, or prostate cancer. Conclusions. Transrectal ultrasound measurements of transition zone dimensions correlate better than total prostatic dimensions or calculated prostatic or transition zone volumes with the severity of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Of these, the transverse transition zone dimension demonstrated the best correlation; however, this correlation is probably not adequate for clinical utility.
A Simulation-Based Training Program Improves Emergency Department Staff Communication

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effectiveness of Project CLEAR!, a novel simulation-based training program designed to instill Crew Resource Management (CRM) as the communication standard and to create a service-focused environment in the emergency department (ED) by standardizing the patient encounter. A survey-based study compared physicians' and nurses' perceptions of the quality of communication before and after the training program. Surveys were developed to measure ED staff perceptions of the quality of communication between staff members and with patients. Pretraining and posttraining survey results were compared. After the training program, survey scores improved significantly on questions that asked participants to rate the overall communication between staff members and between staff and patients. A simulation-based training program focusing on CRM and standardizing the patient encounter improves communication in the ED, both between staff members and between staff members and patients.