cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CMIP5 projected changes in spring and summer drought and wet conditions over North America

Climate change is expected to alter the mean and variability of future spring and summer drought and wet conditions during the twenty-first century across North America, as characterized by the Standardized Precipita- tion Index (SPI). Based on Coupled Model Intercompari- son Project phase 5 simulations, statistically significant increases are projected in mean spring SPI over the north- ern part of the continent, and drier conditions across the southwest. Dry conditions in summer also increase, partic- ularly throughout the central Great Plains. By end of cen- tury, greater changes are projected under a higher radiative forcing scenario (RCP 8.5) as compared to moderate (RCP 6.0) and lower (RCP 4.5). Analysis of projected changes standardized to a range of global warming thresholds from +1 to +4 °C reveals a consistent spatial pattern of wet- ter conditions in the northern and drier conditions in the southwestern part of the continent in spring that intensifies under increased warming, suggesting that the magnitude of projected changes in wetness and drought may scale with global temperature. For many regions, SPI interannual
Temperature dependence of swelling of crosslinked poly(N,N′-alkyl substituted acrylamides) in water

The swelling of crosslinked poiy(N,N′-alkyl substituted acrylamides) in water was studied in relation to temperature changes. Conventional swelling theory and separation of the polymer solvent interaction parameter into enthalpic and entropic contributions were used to characterize the temperature dependence of swelling in water. The thermosensitivity of swelling can be attributed to the delicate hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance of polymer chains and is affected by the size, configuration, and mobility of alkyl side groups. A sharp swelling transition may occur at an optimum hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance but was found only in the N-isopropylacrylamide network among the networks tested. This swelling transition pattern was also reflected by the endothermic peak of the DSC thermogram of the swollen sample.
Secondary Disease Mortality in Rat-Mouse Radiation Chimeras

Two statistical experimental designs were used to investigate factors involved in 90-day mortality from secondary disease in lethally irradiated mice treated with rat bone marrow. Secondary disease is a graft-versus-host syndrome that has a mortality of about 65-95% in this transplant situation. When the factors--age-of-donor-cells, day-of-cell-injection, dose-of-marrow-cells, sex, and environment--were examined for their main effects and interactions, some combinations of these factors were found to give about 25% 90-day mortality. The experiments indicate that the lowest mortality can be achieved with an injection of 40 million or more cells 1 day after irradiation and an ultraclean environment of unlimited filter-top caging.
A Method to Correct for the Effects of Purifying Selection on Genealogical Inference

Accurate reconstruction of the divergence times among individuals is an essential step toward inferring population parameters from genetic data. However, our ability to reconstruct accurate genealogies is often thwarted by the evolutionary forces we hope to detect, most prominently natural selection. Here, I demonstrate that purifying selection acting at many linked sites can systematically bias current methods of genealogical reconstruction, and I present a new method that corrects for this bias by allowing a class of sites to have a time-dependent rate. The parameters influencing the time dependency can be estimated from the data, allowing for a general method to detect the presence of selected sites and correcting for their distortion of the apparent mutation rate. The method works well under a variety of scenarios, including gamma-distributed selection coefficients as well as entirely neutral evolution. I also compare the performance of the new method to relaxed clock models, and I demonstrate the method on a data set from the mitochondrion of the North Atlantic whale-"louse" Cyamus ovalis.
Increased binding of SP1 to the γ-globin gene promoter upon site-specific cytosine methylation

We have studied the effect of site-specific cytosine methylation on the binding of nuclear proteins to the γ-globin promoter region from −71 to −34. This sequence was recently shown to contain a stage selector element responsible for increased transcription from the γ compared to the β promoter when both are linked to Locus Control Region enhancer sequences. We observed that Sp1 binding to this sequence is increased upon site-specific cytosine methylation, such that only methylation of the cytosine in the −50 CpG dinucleotide effects Sp1 binding. Methylation of the distal C of the Hpall site has no effect. The possible functional role of Sp1 as a repressor of γ-globin synthesis is discussed. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION OF ENCAPSULATUS PNEUMONIAE (FRIEDLANDER'S BACILLUS).

A biological classification has been made of thirty strains of Friedlander's bacillus. This study reveals that there exist among these strains three sharply defined and specific types and one heterogeneous group. The three types are Type A, fifteen strains; Type B, six strains; Type C, three strains; and Group X, six strains. The agglutination, agglutinin adsorption, protection, thread, and precipitin reactions have been employed in the working out of this classification, and the types have been proved highly specific by means of each serological test.
Determination of pentachlorophenol and 2,3,4,6-tetrachlorophenol in human urine by high resolution gas chromatography.

Abstract A method for the determination of pentachlorophenol, 2,3,4,6-tetrachlorophenol, and their salts or hydrolyzable biological conjugates in urine, water, serum, or fish tissue is reported. The method utilizes fused silica capillary gas chromatography (GC) with electron capture detection of the free phenols following hydrolysis and extraction into toluene. A recovery standard (4-chloro-2-nitrophenol) and an internal standard for GC (1-nitro-2,3,5,6-tetrachlorobenzene) are used to monitor recovery and GC performance. The detection limit for TCP and PCP is 0.5 ppb and the precision observed for each sample in the 1- to 100-ppb range is between 3 and 12% relative standard deviation for both components.
A conceptual framework for accessibility tools to benefit users with cognitive disabilities

The authors present a conceptual framework which tool developers can use to chart future directions of development of tools to benefit users with cognitive disabilities. The framework includes categories of functional cognitive disabilities, principles of cognitive disability accessibility, units of Web content analysis, aspects of analysis, and realms of responsibility.
Ash-flow tuffs and paleovalleys in northeastern Nevada: Implications for Eocene paleogeography and extension in the Sevier hinterland, northern Great Basin

Northeastern Nevada is generally interpreted as an area of large-magnitude Eocene extension possibly due to gravitational collapse of crust thickened during the Sevier orogeny. The extensional interpretation is based in part on the presence of widespread Eocene conglomerates and lacustrine basins, as well as on thermochronology-based evidence of major Eocene cooling and uplift of the Ruby Mountains–East Humboldt Range core complex. The distribution of 45–40 Ma ash-flow tuffs and interbedded coarse conglomerates and lacustrine deposits, however, indicates they were predominantly deposited in a system of east-draining paleovalleys incised into a plateau or moderate-relief upland. A large, contiguous sedimentary basin probably was never present. Paleovalleys were as much as 10 km wide and 500 m to possibly as much as 1.6 km deep, based on the thickness of intra-valley deposits. Ash-flow tuffs are widely distributed near source calderas but are almost entirely confined to the paleovalleys as little as 20 km from their source. Basal, mostly pre-volcanic conglomerates contain clasts up to 6 m in diameter. The clasts are well rounded, indicating significant fluvial transport, not derivation from nearby fault scarps. Lacustrine deposits also are restricted to paleovalleys and accumulated during two periods that are interpreted to coincide with episodes of minor, northwest-directed extension, one before 41 Ma and possibly as old as 46 Ma, and another between 40 and 38 Ma. Extension formed small displacement, northeast-striking, mostly down-to-the-northwest faults that temporarily dammed the paleovalleys to form lakes. Lakes probably also formed where volcanic rocks or landslides dammed paleovalleys, a common process both in the Eocene and historically in the western United States. The absence of major Eocene extension suggests that gravitational collapse of overthickened crust, even assisted by thermal weakening of lithosphere by intense magmatism, was not sufficient to generate major extension. Absolute elevation of the high plateau is uncertain, but it was high enough to have paleovalleys as much as 1.6 km deep. Based on published paleoflora data, interfluves could have been at elevations of ∼4 km. The Eocene paleovalleys in northeastern Nevada most likely drained eastward to remnants of the Uinta basin. An approximately north-south paleodivide through northeastern Nevada separated these east-draining paleovalleys from paleovalleys that drained westward to the Pacific Ocean.
Geochemical Quantification of Semiarid Mountain Recharge

Analysis of a typical semiarid mountain system recharge (MSR) setting demonstrates that geochemical tracers help resolve the location, rate, and seasonality of recharge as well as ground water flowpaths and residence times. MSR is defined as the recharge at the mountain front that dominates many semiarid basins plus the often-overlooked recharge through the mountain block that may be a significant ground water resource; thus, geochemical measurements that integrate signals from all flowpaths are advantageous. Ground water fluxes determined from carbon-14 ((14)C) age gradients imply MSR rates between 2 x 10(6) and 9 x 10(6) m(3)/year in the Upper San Pedro Basin, Arizona, USA. This estimated range is within an order of magnitude of, but lower than, prior independent estimates. Stable isotopic signatures indicate that MSR has a 65% +/- 25% contribution from winter precipitation and a 35% +/- 25% contribution from summer precipitation. Chloride and stable isotope results confirm that transpiration is the dominant component of evapotranspiration (ET) in the basin with typical loss of more than 90% of precipitation-less runoff to ET. Such geochemical constraints can be used to further refine hydrogeologic models in similar high-elevation relief basins and can provide practical first estimates of MSR rates for basins lacking extensive prior hydrogeologic measurements.
Handling Ethical Conflicts in the Clinical Setting

Ethical conflict in the clinical setting generally arises in situation of uncertainty, ambiguity, and complexity. This report discusses 4 cases of conflict between clinicians, between clinicians and patient, and between clinicians and family. Presented in enough detail for the reader to appreciate the extent and nature of the conflict, these cases are difficult and in many ways unresolved. Some conflicts may be inevitable and would not be prevented by even the most conscientious clinician. The authors discuss various approaches and resources that may prevent or ameliorate conflict. However, no easy answers are offered, but the importance of open communication of differing viewpoints in an atmosphere of trust and respect are emphasized.
Biochemical and morphological characterization of growth and differentiation of normal human neonatal keratinocytes in a serum‐free medium

Growth and differentiation of keratinocytes in a serum-free medium (keratinocyte growth medium of KGM) was studied and compared to that under conditions in which serum and feeder cell layers were used. Cells were grown in KGM containing 0.1 mM calcium (KGM/low calcium), KGM containing 1.2 mM calcium (KGM/normal calcium), or Dulbecco's modified Eagles medium containing 5% fetal calf serum and 1.8 mM calcium in presence of mitomycin treated 3T3 M cells (DMEM/5% FCS). Plating efficiency and rate of growth were similar in the three media till confluence. In postconfluent cultures, protein and DNA content of cells attached to the plate in KGM/low-calcium dishes decreased as an increased number of cells were shed into the medium. Cell shedding was much less evident in the presence of normal calcium. Cells grown in KGM/low calcium had a higher rate of cell proliferation (3H-thymidine incorporation into cellular DNA) than cells grown in normal calcium. Transglutaminase activity, involucrin content, and cornified envelope formation were greatest in cells grown in KGM/normal calcium, intermediate in cells grown in DMEM/5% FCS, and least in cells grown in KGM/low calcium. Keratin profiles from cells grown in KGM/low calcium showed a lower percentage of high molecular weight bands compared to the keratin profiles from cells grown in the presence of normal calcium. Keratinocytes in KGM/low calcium grew as a monolayer of cuboidal cells with few features of differentiation, whereas cells grown in KGM/normal calcium stratified into multilayered islands (3–5 layers) surmounted by 2–4 layers of enucleated cells with thickened cornified envelopes. Cells grown in KGM/normal calcium also contained tonofilaments and lamellar bodies unlike cells grown in KGM/low calcium. Cells grown in DMEM/5% FCS also formed stratified layers comparable to cells grown in KGM/normal calcium but lacked cornified cells, keratohyalin granules, tonofilament bundles, and lamellar bodies. These studies indicate the usefulness of serum-free conditions for the culture of human keratinocytes and confirm the importance of extracellular calcium in keratinocyte differentiation.
Evaluating Elastic Buffer and Wormhole Flow Control

With the emergence of on-chip networks, router buffer power has become a primary concern. Elastic buffer (EB) flow control utilizes existing pipeline flip-flops in the channels to implement distributed FIFOs, eliminating the need for input buffers at the routers. EB routers have been shown to be more efficient than virtual channel routers, as they do not require input buffers or complex logic for managing virtual channels and tracking credits. Wormhole routers are more comparable in terms of complexity because they also lack virtual channels. This paper compares EB and wormhole routers and explores novel hybrid designs to more closely examine the effect of design simplicity and input buffer cost. Our results show that EB routers have up to 25 percent smaller cycle time compared to wormhole and hybrid routers. Moreover, EB flow control requires 10 percent less energy to transfer a single bit through a router and offers three percent more throughput per unit energy as well as 62 percent more throughput per unit area. The main contributor to these results is the cost and delay overhead of the input buffer.
Analysis of metal ion-induced DNA damage, apoptosis, and necrosis in human (Jurkat) T-cells demonstrates Ni2+ and V3+ are more toxic than other metals: Al3+, Be2+, Co2+, Cr3+, Cu2+, Fe3+, Mo5+, Nb5+, Zr2+

It remains unclear how metal released from implants affects cells of the immune system and, in particular, cells of the adaptive immune system, that is, T-helper lymphocytes. In this study, we investigated the effects of aluminum, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, molybdenum, nickel, niobium, vanadium, and zirconium ions at concentrations from 0.05 to 5.0 mM on human CD4+ T lymphocytes. The DNA damage, apoptosis, necrosis, and proliferation responses of a human T-helper lymphocyte (Jurkat) cell line were evaluated to test our hypothesis that some metals will preferentially induce genotoxicity (DNA damage). Our results demonstrated that metal ions did not preferentially induce Jurkat T-lymphocyte DNA damage prior to other forms of toxicity, that is, apoptosis and/or direct necrosis. Nickel and vanadium induced the most DNA damage and were the most apoptotic metals tested, inducing >50% caspase-9 positive T cells at 0.05 mM and 0.1 mM concentrations, respectively. Cobalt and niobium were the most toxic metals, inducing 50% apoptosis (i.e., <0.05 mM). All the metals tested induced T-cell apoptosis at a lower dose than that required to affect DNA damage or toxicity, implying that soluble metals released from implants may not be preferentially genotoxic to lymphocytes.
ASSESSMENT AND TRAINING OF CLINICAL INTERVIEWING SKILLS: ANALOGUE ANALYSIS AND FIELD REPLICATION

Two studies were conducted to assess the train clinical interviewing skills. In Experiment 1, eight university practicum students ("therapists") and either role played or volunteer "clients" were audiotaped during simulated interviews. Following the collection of baseline data on both therapist and client responses, training was provided by way of written materials, classroom instruction and practice, and quizzes. Results of a multiple baseline design across subjects showed improvements in therapists' interviewing skills and subsequent increases in client responding. Experiment 2 replicated and extended the research to a hospital outpatient clinic, in which therapists interviewed the parents of children with behavior problems. In addition, four months following the completion of Experiment 2, follow-up data collected during a maintenance condition showed continued high levels of therapist and client behavior. Finally, a panel of expert peers indicated that each response category was judged highly relevant to the behavioral assessment process.
A brefeldin A-like phenotype is induced by the overexpression of a human ERD-2-like protein, ELP-1.

Abstract Brefeldin A (BFA) is a unique drug affecting the molecular mechanisms that regulate membrane traffic and organelle structure. BFA's ability to alter retrograde traffic from the Golgi to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) led us to ask whether the ERD-2 retrieval receptor, proposed to return escaped ER resident proteins from the Golgi, might either interfere with or mimic the effects of the drug. When either human ERD-2 or a novel human homolog (referred to as ELP-1) is overexpressed in a variety of cell types, the effects are phenotypically indistinguishable from the addition of BFA. These include the redistribution of the Golgi coat protein, β-COP, to the cytosol, the loss of the Golgi apparatus as a distinct organelle, the mixing of this organelle with the ER, the addition of complex oligosaccharides to resident ER glycoproteins, and the block of anterograde traffic. Thus, these receptors may provide signals that regulate retrograde traffic between the Golgi and the ER.
Activin Regulation of the Follicle-Stimulating Hormone β-Subunit Gene Involves Smads and the TALE Homeodomain Proteins Pbx1 and Prep1

FSH is critical for normal reproductive function in both males and females. Activin, a member of the TGFβ family of growth factors, is an important regulator of FSH expression, but little is known about the molecular mechanisms through which it acts. We used transient transfections into the immortalized gonadotrope cell line LβT2 to identify three regions (at −973/−962, −167, and −134) of the ovine FSH β-subunit gene that are required for full activin response. All three regions contain homology to consensus binding sites for Smad proteins, the intracellular mediators of TGFβ family signaling. Mutation of the distal site reduces activin responsiveness, whereas mutation of either proximal site profoundly disrupts activin regulation of the FSHβ gene. These sites specifically bind LβT2 nuclear proteins in EMSAs, and the −973/−962 site binds Smad4 protein. Interestingly, the protein complex binding to the −134 site contains Smad4 in association with the homeodomain proteins Pbx1 and Prep1. Using glutathione S...
Blood Pressure and Alcohol Intake in Heart Patients

The association between alcohol consumption and blood pressure has been studied in 2025 male and 282 female patients undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography. The increase in amount of alcohol consumed correlated with higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure; this effect was especially pronounced in men over 50 years of age. The association was less marked in male patients under 50 years old, in women, and in patients on antihypertensive medication. Readings in the range of definitive hypertension were more prevalent among older patients consuming six or more drinks daily than in abstainers of the same age group.
Intergroup concordance: Definition and estimation

SUMMARY A coefficient of intergroup concordance is proposed which is consistent with the concept of intragroup concordance as measured by Kendall's coefficient of concordance (Kendall & Babington Smith, 1939). This approach reconciles the approaches of Schucany & Frawley (1973) and of Hollander & Sethuraman (1978) to the problem of two-group concordance. Estimation and test procedures for the population are based on jackknife procedures. Extension to the problem of multiple intergroup concordance when groups have factorial structure is noted.
A Comparison of Two Methods for Studying Box Turtle Movements

The accuracy of using radiotelemetry for studying animal movements has not been fully investigated. Although telemetry is a technological advance for tracking animals, it may lack the accuracy of thread trailing for quantifying distance traveled. The objective of this study was to compare straight-line distance between consecutive telemetry locations of eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina) and actual distances traveled between those locations using thread trailers. We randomly selected 20 radiotagged turtles per week. We radiolocated each of these turtles and attached a thread trailer for 24 ± 3 hours. We used the beginning and ending global positioning system (GPS) locations to calculate the straight-line distance, and we compared this distance to the actual distance the turtle moved (thread length). Thread-trailing distances were greater than telemetry distances (P < 0.001). We recommend that future studies investigating box turtle movements use thread trailing, though radiotelemetry may be accurate for coarse analysis of direct-route movements.
Pheromones from Female Mosquitofish at Different Stages of Reproduction Differentially Affect Male Sexual Activity

Abstract Through a series of odor preference and sexual activity tests, the response of male western mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis, to female odors was investigated. Male mosquitofish prefer female odors to male odors and plain water, indicating that female odors function as a sex attractant. In odor preference tests, males did not show preferences among odors from nongravid, gravid, and parturient females. However, odors from females in different stages of the reproductive cycle induced different sexual activities from males. Odors from gravid females increased copulation trials, whereas those from parturient females increased male-male interactions without changing copulatory activity. These results suggest that (1) female western mosquitofish may produce sex pheromones and (2) female pheromones from different stages of the reproductive cycle stimulate different male sexual activities, suggesting that males may discriminate parturient females from others based on pheromonal output. In populations where...
Evaluation of the Anisotropic Radiative Conductivity of a Low-Density Carbon Fiber Material from Realistic Microscale Imaging

The radiative heat transfer inside a low-density carbon fiber insulator is analyzed using a three-dimensional direct simulation model. A robust procedure is presented for the numerical calculation of the geometric configuration factor to compute the radiative energy exchange processes among the small discretized surface areas of the fibrous material. The methodology is applied to a polygonal mesh of a fibrous insulator obtained from three-dimensional microscale imaging of the real material. The anisotropic values of the radiative conductivity are calculated for that geometry. The results yield both directional and thermal dependence of the radiative conductivity.
Recounting Cardiac Cellular Composition

The adult mammalian heart is composed of many cell types, the most abundant being cardiomyocytes, fibroblasts, endothelial cells (ECs), and perivascular cells. Cardiomyocytes occupy ≈70% to 85% of the volume of the mammalian heart.1–4 Although nonmyocytes occupy a relatively small volume fraction, they are essential for normal heart homeostasis, providing the extracellular matrix, intercellular communication, and vascular supply needed for efficient cardiomyocyte contraction and long-term survival. Both myocytes and nonmyocytes respond to physiological and pathological stress, and maladaptive changes in nonmyocytes, such as cardiac fibrosis or reduced capillary density, participate in the pathogenesis of heart failure. Article, see p 400 Despite the importance of nonmyocytes in cardiac health and disease, there are fundamental gaps in our knowledge about them. For instance, although there has been general consensus that cardiomyocytes constitute 30% to 40% of the cells in the mammalian heart,5–10 estimates of the frequency of ECs and fibroblasts have differed substantially (Figure). Inadequate tools and lack of reliable markers for fibroblasts have contributed to this uncertainty. In this issue of Circulation Research , Pinto et al9 revisit the question of the cellular composition of the modern heart using modern techniques and reagents. In doing so, they validate a useful new cell surface marker for cardiac fibroblasts, which may prove broadly useful to cardiac biologists. Figure. Cellular composition of the mammalian heart. Summary of studies that have measured the proportion of cardiomyocytes (CMs), endothelial cells (ECs), and fibroblasts (FBs) in the heart, using either stereology or flow cytometry. To allow comparison between studies, results are expressed as relative proportions of cells, with CMs assigned a value of 1. Where numbers of CM nuclei were measured, cell number was not corrected for multinucleation. Additional assumptions used are noted by superscript letters: A , CM volume is …
Privacy Implications of Commercial Office Building Security Technology in the Post-9/11 Era

This Note examines a full range of security issues involving privately-owned but publicly accessible office buildings in the post-9/11 era, from a landlord's basic security duties to privacy infringement. The analysis focuses on the recent proliferation of computer-enabled access control and surveillance technologies, which have emerged in the last ten years as a viable alternative to increased security personnel staffing. The Note makes several conclusions and recommendations. First, to overcome the possibility of negligent security lawsuits, property owners must reevaluate the security provided in their buildings on an ongoing basis. Second, access control and surveillance technologies offer cost-effective means of satisfying security minima for a majority of commercial properties. Third, to balance the benefits of these technologies with the potential for privacy infringement, property owners should consider contractual and/or unilateral notice of security monitoring and recording practices. Finally, the burgeoning partnership between private security and law enforcement creates the possibility of Fourth Amendment privacy infringements.
Abstract 394: Chronic Knockdown of the NTS AT1R Increases Circulating Inflammatory-Endothelial Progenitor Cells Ratio and Exacerbates Hypertension in the SHR

AT1R expression is increased in the nucleus of solitary tract (NTS) of many animal models of hypertension. However, the impact of its chronic regulation on cardiovascular control is not well understood. In this study, we investigated the hypothesis that NTS AT1R is involved in peripheral inflammatory status and hypertension-linked cardiovascular pathophysiology. AAV2- mediated expression of a shRNA targeted the AT1R in the NTS has been used to test the hypothesis. First,the efficacy of the AAV2-AR1R-shRNA was established with the use of neuronal cells in primary culture. Transduction of these cultures by AAV2-AT1R-shRNA resulted in a 72% decrease in AT1R mRNA compared with the AAV2- Sc-shRNA transduced control. This was accompanied by complete attenuation of AngII-induced increase in ERK1/2 phosphorylation and neuronal action potential frequency (control: 2.2±0.4 vs. AT1R-shRNA: 0.5±0.3 hz). We then microinjected AAV2-AT1R-shRNA or control vector, AAV2-Scrambled (Sc)-shRNA into the NTS of 8-week-old SHR and WKY rats. Nine weeks following microinjection, AAV2-AT1R-shRNA group of SHRs showed a 29 mmHg increase in mean arterial pressure (MAP) (control: 154.2±4.7; shRNA: 183.0±10.2 mmHg), insignificant effects on the MAP of WKY rats was observed. The increase in MAP in the SHR by AAV2-AT1R-shRNA was associated with a 42% decrease in baroreflex bradycardia (control: 0.57±0.02; shRNA: 0.33±0.06 ms/mmHg), profound cardiac hypertrophy, and significant increase in the plasma norepinephrine (control: 6.36±0.39, shRNA: 13.0±4.13 ng/mL). In addition, AAV2-AT1R-shRNA rats showed significant increases in water intake (control: 32.5±1.5; shRNA: 12.5±2.5 ml/16h) and urine output (control: 1.6 ±0.5; shRNA: 9.3±2.5 ml/16h). Furthermore, AAV2-AT1R-shRNA treated SHR exhibited 74% decrease in circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPC, CD90+, CD4/5/8-), and ∼300% increases in inflammatory cells (IC) including CD4/8+, T lymphocytes (CD45/3+) and macrophages (CD68+) . As a result, EPC/IC ratio was decreased by 8∼15 fold in AT1R-shRNA treated SHR. These observations suggest that increased AT1R in the NTS of SHR may present a counter-hypertensive mechanism involving inflammatory/angiogenic cells.
Fatal anaphylaxis due to oral penicillin.

This fourth reported death from anaphylaxis due to oral penicillin occurred in a 23-year-old postpartum Negro woman with no allergic history after she had taken one 400,000-unit tablet of potassium penicillin G. Autopsy disclosed periorbital and circumoral edema, pulmonary atelectasis, submucosal bronchial edema, bronchial mucous plugs, and visceral congestion. Serum obtained postmortem had moderately strong 7S and 19S IgG hemaggltitinating antibodies to penicillin.
Topiramate, zonisamide and weight loss in children and adolescents prescribed psychiatric medications: A medical record review.

BackgroundChildhood obesity is a growing epidemic that is contributed to by the use of psychopharmacological agents, such as antipsychotics. This study represents a preliminary investigation into t...
Tensegrity Structure as the Control Base of a Flight Simulator

The aircraft industry, military, and NASA mainly rely on the Stewart platform design, a fixed ground-based flight simulator, for the preliminary stages of pilot training and the testing of new aircraft. These systems are large, and expensive to maintain and repair. In this effort, we propose a Tensegrity based structural concept as the basis for a unique and effective flight simulator. Tensegrity structures are systems of tensile cables and compressive members. This structure has a high precision of control, is lightweight, and deployable. At the University of Cincinnati, preliminary Tensegrity models have been constructed to test our understanding of a dynamic nature of the system and to provide physical models to work with. Some of these models were constructed as static models in order to gain an understanding of construction methods. Another model was constructed as a dynamic model, consisting of small pulleys and cables, to simulate the basic operations of a flight simulator. Nomenclature θ = angular velocity about x-axis φ = angular velocity about y-axis ψ = angular velocity about z-axis I. Introduction HE main objective of this project was to use SIM Mechanics® to investigate the structural properties of a Tensegrity flight simulator. In order to accomplish this goal, it was necessary to develop algorithms that determine the necessary cable length variations to establish stable dynamic Tensegrity structures. These structures were then manipulated to simulate the perturbations required to accurately simulate the characteristics of an aircraft. Once the range of motion for a Tensegrity structure of this type was determined, the structures were subjected to external forces to determine the dynamic responses. This system will be dynamically controlled and respond in real time to the pilot's commands. The reasoning for this project is to design a flight simulator that could be used for micro UAV's in wind tunnels and the replacement of conventional high-energy flight simulators.
Administrators’ professional learning via Twitter: The dissonance between beliefs and actions

Purpose – Although there has been increasing optimism about the potential for social media platforms such as Twitter to support educators’ professional learning, it is yet unclear whether such promises hold true. Accordingly, the purpose of this paper is to explore school administrators’ use of Twitter for professional learning. Design/methodology/approach – This qualitative case study draws data collected from 17 school administrators from throughout the USA and Canada. In addition to individual, semi-structured interviews, administrators’ tweets were collected for two weeks. This resulted in 1,460 tweets. Analyses were aimed at perceptions about Twitter, the knowledge shared, and its impact on practice. Findings – Findings presented a paradox: although administrators were enthusiastic about the social and professional benefits associated with Twitter, they did not share or apply much knowledge commonly associated with administrator work. Topically, administrators’ tweets tended to focus on technology, r...
Gas Lift Technological Design for the High Volume Ratesin Oudna Oilfield Offshore Tunisia

It is very important to study the artificial lift scheme so that the maritime field can be developed quickly and with high efficiency.The maritime development for environmental condition usually requires that the volume of the equipment on the platform or production vessel is enough small,weight light,free repair long,adaptability good,etc.Gas lift is a kind of the mechanical production technology with good adaptability,has been used widely onshore or offshore.The paper depicts oudna reservoir geologic feature,reservoir conditions and fluid property.With the knowledge to Oudna field,Use of power generation exhaust as liftgas source is analyzed from the liftgas resource view,and gaslift surface procedure.By analyzing gas lift performance curve,the conclusion that gas lift can meet the requirement of big volume 3180m3/d(20000B/D)can draw.The main factors including in gas injection depth,gas lift mode,tubingcasing program,formation pressure and water cut are analyzed in detail with gas lift system analysis method,in the end,the ideas plan is suggested,compares with Lundin Petroleum AB's jet pump design,a great deal of money for completion well is saved.
Application of Chaotic Detection Technology to Active Sonar

A Duffing oscillator for detecting weak signal is designed to reduce power consumption and enhance security of the active sonar system.The Duffing equation expresses amplitude and frequency sensitive property when system transits from chaotic to periodic motion.The frequency sensitive property fits for extraction of weak frequency variation through simulation.CW pulse transmitted by active sonar is received to detect range and Doppler shift of echo simultaneously.We improve the Duffing oscillator detection in ultrasonic distance measurement.The measurement is adopted as a criterion of chaotic state.The Duffing oscillator can not detect target because of phase deviation.The solution to this problem is also proposed by time shifting.Computer simulation results show that this is a good time-domain signal processing method which has a lower signal to noise ratio limitation of-20 dB.Compared with the classical active sonar detection method,the presented method reduces the transmitter power consumption and enhances the security of system.
397 THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PATIENT RACE AND PATIENTS' PERCEPTIONS OF THEIR PHYSICIANS' CULTURAL COMPETENCE AND PATIENT-CENTERED COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Background Patient-centered communication has been shown to improve compliance and health care outcomes. Recently, it has been suggested that the cultural competence of physicians can impact their ability to effectively communicate with a patient. Our study examines the relationship between patient race, patients9 perceptions of the physician9s patient-centered communication skills and cultural competence. Methods The CCTOP study (Cultural Competency Training and Outcomes in Patients) is a multicenter, cross-sectional study of patients9 and physicians9 attitudes regarding culture, bias, and clinical care. A 76-item questionnaire was administered to 167 patients. We performed a bivariate analysis of patients9 perception of their autonomy in making medical decisions and their doctors9 understanding of their culture. We then constructed regression models with patients9 perceptions of physicians9 communication skills as the outcome with race as the independent variable of interest while controlling for education, income, age, gender, and perceptions of physicians9 cultural awareness as possible confounders. Results We report preliminary data based on 167 patients surveyed: 72.5% female, 27.5% male. In terms of race, the patients were 28.7% white, 44.3% African-American, and 22.3% Hispanic. Seventy-seven percent of patients who felt their doctors are aware of their cultural beliefs believed that their doctors gave them some control regarding treatment decisions as opposed to only 58.7% of those who felt their doctor is unaware of their cultural beliefs (OR 5.44, p = .02). Logistic regression analysis adjusting for age, gender, income, and education showed that patients who felt that their doctor understands their culture remained 2.5 times (p = .046) more likely to feel that their doctor gave them some control over treatment decisions. Furthermore, white patients were approximately 4 times more likely to feel that their doctor gave them this autonomy compared to African-American (OR 0.25, p = .017) and Hispanic patients (OR 0.22, p = .022). Conclusions These preliminary findings suggest that minority patients are less likely to feel that they have some control in making decisions regarding treatment options. In addition, patients who feel that their doctors understand their culture perceive a greater sense of autonomy in making treatment decisions.
Solution of MoIP unified collaborative communication

To solve the problems of unified deployment and management of communication equipment based on different protocols for general users,for example,IP phone,soft-switching,PHS,common fixed line phone and H.320/H.323 based videoconference,ZTE Corporation pushed out the solution of MoIP Unified Collaborative Communication to cope with the issue of multi-network integration.The solution of MoIP can fully integrate conference call,videoconferencing and data conference to form a single network.Voice services and videoconferencing can share one GK server to implement the conjunct registration and management of the video terminal and the H.323 voice terminal together with the gateway,and owing to adopt the MCU,it is easy to implement multi-party conference call service among the H.323 terminals.The multi-media integrated service platform based on MoIP Unified Collaborative Communication is divided into operation support layer,media switching layer,and user access layer.
Cost and Cost-Benefit of Enteral Nutrition

Enteral nutrition is a therapy provided routinely in the hospital, extended care, and home care settings for patients who are unable to maintain adequate oral nutrition yet have a functioning gastrointestinal tract. Information about the cost and effectiveness or benefits of enteral nutrition in the hospital and home care settings is important to know when making decisions about providing this therapy. This article discusses the methods used in cost analysis, explains the difference between cost and charges, and reviews the current information known about the cost-effectiveness and cost-benefits of enteral nutrition in the acute-care setting and at home.
Management of Renovascular Hypertension

Renal artery stenosis is a potentially reversible cause of hypertension, and transcatheter techniques are essential to its treatment. Angioplasty remains a first-line treatment for stenosis secondary to fibromuscular dysplasia. Renal artery stenting is commonly used in atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis, although recent trials have cast doubts upon its efficacy. Renal denervation is a promising procedure for the treatment of resistant hypertension, and in the future, its indications may expand.
Neuromodulation in Psychiatry

The success of deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery for movement disorders over the past 20 years with over 100,000 patient implants has revived the interest in neurosurgical treatment of refractory psychiatric disorders. The introduction of stereotaxis in the second half of the twentieth century aided with the technological evolutions enabled neurosurgeons to interrupt the white matter tracts while minimizing the cortical damage and thereby the side effects associated with leucotomies/lobotomies. Moreover, the integration of functional imaging, microelectrode recordings and computer based data with stereotaxis made it a robust technique to target the subcortical structures more precisely. With better understanding of the pathophysiology and neural circuits involved in these disorders, it may be possible to delineate the anatomical “target” or “targets” for neuromodulation. The role of cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical (CSTC) loops in the pathophysiology of these psychiatric disorders is well established. Preliminary results suggested the efficacy of this treatment modality in the management of refractory psychiatric disorders such as OCD and MDD and neurostimulation therapy may be an option in the management of these disorders. There are several advantages of neurostimulation therapy over ablation therapy such as reversibility and adjustability according to the patient’s symptoms and disease progression and the ability to switch the stimulation without patient’s awareness, thereby providing an opportunity for blinding in crossover research studies. The opportunity for surgical intervention is of importance given the large prevalence and the socioeconomic impact of psychiatric disorders, the presence of many refractory and disabled patients, improved understanding of the neural circuitry underlying these conditions, and increasing safety, precision, and technological innovations in the neurosurgical interventions. This chapter focuses on neurosurgery for severe and treatment-refractory psychiatric disorders including history of psychosurgery, ethical considerations, current concepts, and future goals.
Experiences with Health Insurance and Health Care in the Context of Welfare Reform

Studies have shown that in the wake of welfare reform there has been a drop in the health insurance coverage and health care utilization of low-income mothers. Using data from 20 telephone interviews, this study explored the health insurance and health care experiences of current and former welfare participants living in Los Angeles County. This study found that half of these women had been uninsured at some point. Many of these lapses in health insurance coverage were linked to employment transitions and lack of knowledge regarding eligibility for different safety net programs. This study also found that satisfaction with access to health care was high among the insured respondents; however, barriers to care remained for many individuals, including appointment scheduling issues, limited scope of health insurance coverage, narrow provider networks, lack of care continuity, and perceived low quality of care. Better linkages between social programs assisting with health insurance coverage and improved knowledge among program clients may reduce health insurance cycling in this group. New rules for Medicaid managed care, currently being considered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, have the potential to improve access to health care and the quality of care for these individuals.
Noether’s Problem in Galois Theory

This paper is essentially an expanded version of [Sw] and gives a more detailed discussion of some of the topics mentioned there. It is intended to serve as an introduction to recent work related to Noether’s problem. To avoid too much overlap with [Sw] a number of historical remarks, comments, and other topics have been omitted here.
Joining Dissimilar Materials Using Friction Stir Scribe Technique

The ability to effectively join materials with vastly different melting points, like aluminum to steel, and polymer composites to metals, has been one of the roadblocks to realizing multi-material components for lightweighting efforts. The friction stir scribe (FSS) technique is a promising method that produces continuous overlap joints between materials with vastly different melting regimes and high-temperature flow characteristics. FSS uses an offset cutting tool at the tip of the friction stir welding pin to create an in situ mechanical interlock between material interfaces. With investments from the U.S. Department of Energy Vehicle Technologies Office and several automotive manufacturers and suppliers, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is developing the FSS process and has demonstrated the viability of joining several material combinations. Details of welding trials, unique challenges, and mitigation strategies in different material combinations will be discussed. Joint characterization, including mechanical tests and joint performance, will also be presented.
The Effects of High and Low Sentence Contingency on Learning and Attitudes

By a logical analysis it was shown that the sentence contingency index is roughly equivalent to Shannon's measure of redundancy. In two independent experiments it was demonstrated that a significantly greater number of multiple-choice questions are answered by those who study text characterized by higher sentence contingency, or redundancy. The findings were compared to those found in investigations of the effects of redundancy on words and syllables.Data from a third experiment provided support for the conclusion that preference for text material also is related to sentence contingency.
In-hospital statin underutilization among high-risk patients: delayed uptake of the 2013 cholesterol guidelines in a U.S. cohort.

ABSTRACTObjectives: Clinician utilization of the 2013 cholesterol lowering guidelines remains variable and unknown. We sought to examine statin prescribing patterns and compare rates among specialists who treat high-risk cardiovascular patients admitted to the hospital.Methods: We retrospectively (via chart review) examined four specialty groups: (i) Cardiology, (ii) Cardiovascular or Vascular (CV) Surgery, (iii) Neurology, and (iv) Internal Medicine. Adult patients were included based on a discharge diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome, coronary artery bypass graft surgery, carotid endarterectomy, acute ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack, or high-risk chest pain. Prescribing patterns were evaluated 6 months and 18 months after the release of the 2013 guidelines. High-intensity statin was defined as atorvastatin 40–80 mg or rosuvastatin 20–40 mg per day.Results: 632 patients were included in our study. The following percentages of patients were discharged on high-intensity statin (6 months; 18 mon...