cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Protein degradation in response to spontaneous heating in alfalfa hay by in situ and ficin methods

Alfalfa forage, field-wilted to 29.9 or 19.7% moisture and packaged in five baling treatments (prestorage control; conventional bales; and laboratory bales made at 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 times the density of conventional bales), was evaluated for protein degradation characteristics by in situ and ficin assays. Relationships between degradation rates and accumulated heating degree days suggested that these degradation rates are controlled by two conditions. Degradation rates increased concurrently with conservation and minimal heating, primarily because of a large redistribution of highly degradable N that was soluble in prestorage controls, but not in conserved hays. For both methods, this effect appeared to be maximized between 100 and 125 heating degree days. With respect to the in situ method, these effects appeared to be less pronounced, and degradabilities were not affected. After bales accumulated about 125 heating degree days, degradation rates decreased predictably in response to heating by both methods, as did N degradabilities calculated from in situ data. Increases in degradation rates concurrent with conservation and minimal heating appear to be especially important considerations when results of the ficin assay are being interpreted.
Low temperature water-gas shift: kinetic isotope effect observed for decomposition of surface formates for Pt/ceria catalysts

In previous work, steady-state isotope switching was conducted on Pt/ceria with H2O and D2O, and a normal kinetic isotope effect was observed. Diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) indicated that the surface coverage of H-formate was more limited by the WGS rate than that of D-formate, linking the rate limiting step to the breaking of the formate C–H bond. In this work, the transient response of the decomposition of H and D formates was followed thermally and in the presence of H2O and D2O. A normal kinetic isotope effect was again obtained, in agreement with our previous findings, and those reported by Shido and Iwasawa. Consistent with their work, water was found to assist in promoting the forward decomposition of surface formates to hydrogen and unidentate carbonate, the precursor to CO2.
Fournier's gangrene: management and mortality predictors in a population based study.

Purpose: The Fournier's gangrene literature comes almost exclusively from tertiary referral centers. We used a population based database to evaluate variations in management and outcomes.Materials and Methods: Inpatients with Fournier's gangrene who underwent surgical debridement or died were identified from select states in the State Inpatient Databases. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was done to evaluate patient and hospital related predictors of mortality.Results: We identified 1,641 males with Fournier's gangrene treated at a total of 593 hospitals. At teaching hospitals more Fournier's gangrene cases were treated per year, and more surgical procedures, debridements and supportive care were reported. Patients treated at teaching hospitals had longer length of stay, greater hospital charges and a higher case fatality rate. Patient related predictors of mortality were increasing age (adjusted OR 4.0 to 15.0), Charlson comorbidity index (adjusted OR 1.20 per additional comorbidity), preexistin...
Self-reinforced composites of two thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers

Blends of two thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers (LCP) based on 6-oxy-2-naphthoyl and p-oxybenzoyl moieties and p-oxybenzoyl, terephthaloyl and hydroquinone moieties have been studied. The blends were prepared by melt mixing using a twin screw extruder. Thermal, rheological, mechanical, and morphological studies were carried out. Based on the dynamic mechanical thermal analysis and the morphological observations, the blends are found to be immiscible. The viscosity ratios of pure LCP melts exceed values of 10 over a wide range of shear rates, with the viscosity of the blends lying between those of the pure components. The prepared blends are shown to be self-reinforced composites in which one LCP enhances the molecular orientation of the other. Studies of the injection molded bars by scanning electron microscopy indicate a complicated hierarchical morphology with microfibrils of submicron level in diameter, bundled, and intertwined into fibrils of a substantially larger diameter. Due to self reinforcement, impact and tensile properties of the blends show significant synergism when compared to those of the pure LCP components. The properties obtained are remarkably higher than those known for any high performance engineering thermoplastics.
4D Micro-CT-based Perfusion Imaging in Small Animals

Quantitative in-vivo imaging of lung perfusion in rodents can provide critical information for preclinical studies. However, the combined challenges of high temporal and spatial resolution have made routine quantitative perfusion imaging difficult in rodents. We have recently developed a dual tube/detector micro-CT scanner that is well suited to capture first-pass kinetics of a bolus of contrast agent used to compute perfusion information. Our approach is based on the paradigm that the same time density curves can be reproduced in a number of consecutive, small (i.e. 50μL) injections of iodinated contrast agent at a series of different angles. This reproducibility is ensured by the high-level integration of the imaging components of our system, with a micro-injector, a mechanical ventilator, and monitoring applications. Sampling is controlled through a biological pulse sequence implemented in LabVIEW. Image reconstruction is based on a simultaneous algebraic reconstruction technique implemented on a GPU. The capabilities of 4D micro-CT imaging are demonstrated in studies on lung perfusion in rats. We report 4D micro-CT imaging in the rat lung with a heartbeat temporal resolution of 140 ms and reconstructed voxels of 88 μm. The approach can be readily extended to a wide range of important preclinical models, such as tumor perfusion and angiogenesis, and renal function.
High-strain, high-strain-rate deformation of tantalum and tantalum-tungsten alloys

Sous certaines conditions de vitesses elevees de deformation, la deformation plastique peut etre supposee adiabatique et une augmentation importante de temperature se produit en grandes deformations. Dans cette etude, du tantale et des alliages de tantale-tungstene ont ete soumis a des grandes deformations de cisaillement en grandes vitesses. Des echantillons specialement dessines ont ete utilises dans une barre de Hopkinson. La deformation est suivie d'un refroidissement a une temperature en dessous de la moitie de la temperature du a l'echauffement adiabatique en moins d'une milliseconde. L'analyse de microstructure par microscopie electronique a transmission montre que la region de bande de cisaillement consiste en une decroissance graduelle de la taille des cellules de dislocations avec l'augmentation du taux de deformation
VERIFICATION OF OFFSHORE PLATFORM DESIGN AND INSTALLATION: THE MARINE BOARD PANEL VIEW

At the request of the USGS, the Marine Board appointed a panel to determine whether or not independent third party verification of offshore structures would be of sufficient benefit to the Federal government, industry, and the public to warrant the time and costs involved. If the answer was yes, then the panel was asked to recommend the scope and detail for verification, the availability of suitable criteria and guidelines, and the relative merits of alternative organizational concepts for verification. The panel concluded that while the safety record of offshore structures has been excellent, an increased and formalized verification system should be undertaken in order to provide the government with a sound basis for assuring the public of the integrity of OCS structures, especially as they are extended to new frontier areas.
Bioenergetic differences between MCF-7 and T47D breast cancer cells and their regulation by oestradiol and tamoxifen

Oestrogen receptor α (ERα+) breast tumours rely on mitochondria (mt) to generate ATP. The goal of the present study was to determine how oestradiol (E2) and 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHT) affect cellular bioenergetic function in MCF-7 and T47D ERα+ breast cancer cells in serum-replete compared with dextran-coated charcoal (DCC)-stripped foetal bovine serum (FBS)-containing medium ('serum-starved'). Serum-starvation reduced oxygen consumption rate (OCR), extracellular acidification rate (ECAR), ATP-linked OCR and maximum mt capacity, reflecting lower ATP demand and mt respiration. Cellular respiratory stateapparent was unchanged by serum deprivation. 4-OHT reduced OCR independent of serum status. Despite having a higher mt DNA/nuclear DNA ratio than MCF-7 cells, T47D cells have a lower OCR and ATP levels and higher proton leak. T47D express higher nuclear respiratory factor-1 (NRF-1) and NRF-1-regulated, nuclear-encoded mitochondrial transcription factor TFAM and cytochrome c, but lower levels of cytochrome c oxidase, subunit IV, isoform 1 (COX4, COX4I1). Mitochondrial reserve capacity, reflecting tolerance to cellular stress, was higher in serum-starved T47D cells and was increased by 4-OHT, but was decreased by 4-OHT in MCF-7 cells. These data demonstrate critical differences in cellular energetics and responses to 4-OHT in these two ERα+ cell lines, likely reflecting cancer cell avoidance of apoptosis.
Dorsomedial hypothalamic lesions at weaning and ovariectomy after maturity: Somatic and metabolic changes

Abstract Weanling Sprague-Dawley rats received lesions in the dorsomedial hypothalamic nuclei or sham operations. Analysis of variance revealed a significant lesion-induced depression of body weight (BW) and food intake (FI). After sexual maturity, bilateral ovariectomy (OVX) and/or sham-ovariectomy (S-OVX) were performed in each of the above groups. OVX produced a significant increase in BW in both lesioned and non-lesioned rats without changes in food intake. Following DMN lesions efficiency of food utilization (EFU) was greater than normal and OVX caused a further significant increase, irrespective of hypothalamic manipulation. DMN lesions, as previously shown, were followed by a reduction in linear growth; subsequent OVX exerted a growth-promoting effect in both DMN-lesioned and sham-lesioned rats. However, OVX did not alter plasma growth hormone or insulin levels. When calculated on the basis of per gram tissue protein, DMN lesions significantly diminshed the incorporation of glucose into lipids of diaphragm and fat pad, but not of liver. DMN lesions had no effect on the incorporation of glucose into glycogen of diaphragm, fat pad or liver. OVX did not produce significant changes in lipogenesis from glucose or incorporation of glucose into glycogen in either sham-lesioned OVX or DMN-lesioned OVX rats. The data support the concept that increased weight gain following OVX can be attributed to factors other than increased food intake. They also support previous findings that DMN lesions lower the BW “settling point” (i.e., both lean body mass and fat commensurately). The data also suggest that the DMNL rat is responsive to various manipulations—in this case OVX—of the adipose tissue mass “settling point”.
MIP/Aquaporin 0 Represents a Direct Transcriptional Target of PITX3 in the Developing Lens

The PITX3 bicoid-type homeodomain transcription factor plays an important role in lens development in vertebrates. PITX3 deficiency results in a spectrum of phenotypes from isolated cataracts to microphthalmia in humans, and lens degeneration in mice and zebrafish. While identification of downstream targets of PITX3 is vital for understanding the mechanisms of normal ocular development and human disease, these targets remain largely unknown. To isolate genes that are directly regulated by PITX3, we performed a search for genomic sequences that contain evolutionarily conserved bicoid/PITX3 binding sites and are located in the proximity of known genes. Two bicoid sites that are conserved from zebrafish to human were identified within the human promoter of the major intrinsic protein of lens fiber, MIP/AQP0. MIP/AQP0 deficiency was previously shown to be associated with lens defects in humans and mice. We demonstrate by both chromatin immunoprecipitation and electrophoretic mobility shift assay that PITX3 binds to MIP/AQP0 promoter region in vivo and is able to interact with both bicoid sites in vitro. In addition, we show that wild-type PITX3 is able to activate the MIP/AQP0 promoter via interaction with the proximal bicoid site in cotransfection experiments and that the introduction of mutations disrupting binding to this site abolishes this activation. Furthermore, mutant forms of PITX3 fail to produce the same levels of transactivation as wild-type when cotransfected with the MIP/AQP0 reporter. Finally, knockdown of pitx3 in zebrafish affects formation of a DNA-protein complex associated with mip1 promoter sequences; and examination of expression in pitx3 morphant and control zebrafish revealed a delay in and reduction of mip1 expression in pitx3-deficient embryos. Therefore, our data suggest that PITX3 is involved in direct regulation of MIP/AQP0 expression and that the alteration of MIP/AQP0 expression is likely to contribute to the lens phenotype in cataract patients with PITX3 mutations.
Body Image and Eating Disturbance in Gay and Bisexual Men: A Review

Gay and bisexual men have been consistently found to show more symptoms of eating disorders than heterosexual men. Males suffering from these disturbances often hesitate to seek help because of the stigma associated with being a male with an eating disorder, and men and boys with eating disorders may not present stereotypical disordered eating behaviors. Thus, these disorders in men are easily missed by clinicians. Knowledge is limited about gay and bisexual men struggling with these issues. Theories regarding such problems in these populations have evolved over time, with most experts currently agreeing that these disorders are a result of multiple factors. Body dissatisfaction appears to be the critical variable that creates vulnerability to disordered eating in homosexual men. Risk factors for the development of body-image problems and eating disorders have been identified and are included. Indications for clinicians are included in this review.
Freedom, immigration, and adequate options

According to the freedom argument for open borders, immigration restrictions are generally unjust because these restrictions infringe on important freedoms, such as freedom of association and the economic liberties. Some authors have objected to the freedom argument by claiming that potential immigrants only have rights to sufficient options to live decent or autonomous lives and, consequently, states can permissibly prevent people from immigrating when potential immigrants have adequate options. This paper shows that this objection to the freedom argument for open borders is unsound and that restrictions on international freedom of movement can be morally impermissible even when potential immigrants have adequate options.
Misconceptions about Lyme disease: confusions hiding behind ill-chosen terminology.

Twenty-five years after the description of Lyme disease, we have come far: Clinical features are well described, accurate tests support the diagnosis, effective therapy is available, and there is a...
Effects of acetylcholine on axonal conduction of lobster nerve.

Acetylcholine and related compounds have been tested for their effects on the electrical activity of lobster walking-leg nerve bundles. Changes in action and membrane potential were recorded with the “sucrose-gap” technique. ACh in concentrations of 5·10−3–10−2 M decreases the membrane potential; the simultaneously recorded action potentials initially display an increased amplitude and a marked prolongation and elevation of the descending phase which appears oscillatory. As the depolarization progresses, the spike height decreases and the effects on the descending phase decline. Finally reversible block of conduction occurs. d,l-Acetyl-β-methylcholine (10−2 M) produces similar effects on the action potential but the membrane potential is only slightly depolarized. Choline, acetate and bromide in concentrations equal to those of ACh have no effect; in 10-fold higher concentrations only choline produces minor changes in the action potential. Physostigmine (5 mM) produces effects similar to those seen with ACh while lower concentrations inhibit the action of ACh. Atropine and tetracaine reversibly block conduction and like physostigmine, also inhibit the effect of ACh. Although curare was nerve demonstrated to block conduction, it does inhibit the action of ACh. Irreversible cholinesterase inhibitors (phospholine, Paraoxon) block conduction. Paraoxon much faster than phospholine. The membrane potential is decreased by 20–30 mV, and while the effects of these inhibitors on the membrane potential are reversible, conduction remains blocked. The difficulties of interpreting some of these actions on a nerve bundle are discussed.
Conduction in fully ionized liquid metals

Electron transport is considered in high-density fully ionized liquid metals. Ionic structure is described in terms of hard-sphere-correlation functions and the scattering is determined from self-consistently screened point ions. Applications to the physical properties of the deep interior of Jupiter are briefly considered.
Intra-Arterial Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke: The Continued Evolution

The devastation caused by acute ischemic strokes is evident in every intensive care unit across the world. Although there is no doubt that progress has been made in treatment, it has been slow to come. With the emergence of new technologies in imaging, thrombolysis and endovascular intervention, the treatment modalities of acute ischemic stroke will enter a new era. In this review, we present the concept of the seven evolutionary phases in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke to date.
New Measurement of the Positronium Hyperfine Interval

The hyperfine interval $\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\nu}$ of the positronium ground state has been measured with significantly improved accuracy. Using a S${\mathrm{F}}_{6}$ buffer gas we obtain $\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\nu}=203.3875\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0017$ GHz and ${(\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\nu})}^{\ensuremath{-}1}\frac{\ensuremath{\partial}\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\nu}}{\ensuremath{\partial}D}=(\ensuremath{-}8.0\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.4)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}5}$ ${\mathrm{amagat}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. Using a ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$ buffer gas we obtain $\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\nu}=203.3854\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0029$ GHz and ${(\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\nu})}^{\ensuremath{-}1}\frac{\ensuremath{\partial}\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\nu}}{\ensuremath{\partial}D}=(\ensuremath{-}2.1\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.6)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}5}$ ${\mathrm{amagat}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. No evidence is found for a quadratic dependence of $\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\nu}$ on density in either gas.
A case study of the effects of random errors in rawinsonde data on computations of ageostrophic winds

Data input for the AVE-SESAME I experiment are utilized to describe the effects of random errors in rawinsonde data on the computation of ageostrophic winds. Computer-generated random errors for wind direction and speed and temperature are introduced into the station soundings at 25 mb intervals from which isentropic data sets are created. Except for the isallobaric and the local wind tendency, all winds are computed for Apr. 10, 1979 at 2000 GMT. Divergence fields reveal that the isallobaric and inertial-geostrophic-advective divergences are less affected by rawinsonde random errors than the divergence of the local wind tendency or inertial-advective winds.
Food Research Institute, Stanford University

Abstract The Food Research Institute of Stanford University is one of the oldest research and training institutions focusing on the production, distribution, and consumption of food on a global scale. Now a unit within the School of Humanities and Sciences, it was established in 1921 by an endowment grant from the Carnegie Corporation. At the present time, the Institute has a faculty of twelve social scientists, a student body of forty graduate students from all over the world, and a half-dozen ongoing research projects.
Escherichia coli bacteremia exacerbates cyclosporine-induced renal vasoconstriction

The clinical observation that cyclosporine (CSA) nephrotoxicity is particularly severe in patients during and following bacterial infections has recently been made. Transplant recipients develop a marked deterioration of graft function following Escherichia coli bacteremia secondary to urinary tract infection. CSA causes intrarenal vasoconstriction which may account for its nephrotoxicity. We therefore undertook a study using the split hydronephrotic kidney model to investigate the direct in vivo effects of CSA and E. coli bacteremia on the renal microcirculation. Hydronephrotic kidneys in Sprague-Dawley rats were suspended in an environmentally controlled tissue bath. Interlobular arterial (ILA) and afferent (AFF) and efferent (EFF) arteriolar diameters were measured by in vivo videomicroscopy and red cell velocity by Doppler velocimetry. Topical administration of CSA to the kidney in the tissue bath caused a 23 +/- 1% constriction of the ILA and a 67 +/- 5% reduction in blood flow. AFF and EFF arterioles were also constricted by 21 +/- 3 and 16 +/- 2%, respectively. The intravenous infusion of live E. coli was also followed by decreases in ILA diameters and flow (38 +/- 4 and 68 +/- 4%) and AFF diameters (22 +/- 5%) while EFF diameters were unchanged. The infusion of E. coli following addition of CSA to the tissue bath resulted in a dramatically increased constriction of ILA (49 +/- 4%) and AFF (31 +/- 2%) vessels and almost abolished ILA flow (90 +/- 2%). We conclude that in this model, E. coli bacteremia exacerbates CSA-induced preglomerular vasoconstriction and suggests a scientific basis for the severe renal dysfunction noted in transplant recipients during bacterial infection.
The structure and function of glycoprotein hormone receptors: Ganglioside interactions with luteinizing hormone

Summary Gangliosides inhibit the binding of 125 I-labeled luteinizing hormone to rat testis membranes. The inhibition is the result of an interaction between the hormone and the ganglioside rather than the membrane and ganglioside, and the interaction with ganglioside can be detected by fluorescence spectroscopy. In both the binding inhibition and fluorescence studies, luteinizing hormone recognizes an oligosaccharide sequence on the ganglioside molecule distinct from that of thyrotropin, human chorionic gonadotropin, and cholera toxin.
Effect of aminooxyacetic acid on audiogenic seizure priming in c57bl/6j and sjl/j mice.

Abstract An attempt was made to determine the effects of genetic and temporal factors on the inhibitory action of aminooxyacetic acid on priming for audiogenic seizures. SJL/J and C57BL/6J mice were administered 20 μg/g of AOAA subcutaneously, employing either a 2 hr or 5 hr injection-prime interval, and either a 2 day or a 9 day prime-test interval. It was found that an inhibitory effect on priming occurred only in C57BL/6J mice; this effect was significant only for the 9 day groups, and was observed when wild running was used as the criterion for seizures, but not when clonic convulsion was the criterion. Effects of AOAA are discussed in relation to theories of seizure development through disuse supersensitivity, or by chemical actions on the GABA system.
Recruitment of Damaged DNA to the Nuclear Matrix in Hamster Cells Following Ultraviolet Irradiation

We examined the relationship between the nuclear matrix and DNA in the dihydrofolate reductase domain following irradiation of Chinese hamster cells with UV light. The fraction of matrix-bound DNA increased in transcribed and non-transcribed regions during a 3 h period after irradiation. However, no increase was observed with excision repair-deficient cells mutant for the ERCC1 gene. The major UV-induced lesion, the cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer, increased in frequency in the matrix-bound DNA 1 h after irradiation, in both transcribed and non-transcribed regions, but decreased subsequently. This phenomenon was also lacking in excision repair-deficient cells. These data demonstrate that recruitment of lesion-containing DNA to the nuclear matrix occurs following UV irradiation and suggest that this recruitment is dependent upon nucleotide excision repair. This is consistent with the concept of a 'repair factory' residing on the nuclear matrix at which excision repair occurs.
The dynamics of heat removal from a continuous agitated‐tank reactor

The present investigation is concerned with the dynamic characteristics of a 12-in. diameter continuous agitated-tank reactor vessel. Response of the vessel effiuent temperature to a change in coolant flow rate through an internal cooling surface is the subject of theoretical and experimental study. Experimental data were obtained through the use of frequency and transient response techniques. Studies were made for the passage of vessel-charge fluids with widely differing physical properties. Also data were taken for various conditions of fluid turbulence both inside and outside the internal heat transfer coils. Experimental and theoretical results are graphically compared. Recommendations are presented for the development of theoretical dynamic relationships.
Predicting helix orientation for coiled‐coil dimers

The alpha-helical coiled coil is a structurally simple protein oligomerization or interaction motif consisting of two or more alpha helices twisted into a supercoiled bundle. Coiled coils can differ in their stoichiometry, helix orientation and axial alignment. Because of the near degeneracy of many of these variants, coiled coils pose a challenge to fold recognition methods for structure prediction. Whereas distinctions between some protein folds can be discriminated on the basis of hydrophobic/polar patterning or secondary structure propensities, the sequence differences that encode important details of coiled-coil structure can be subtle. This is emblematic of a larger problem in the field of protein structure and interaction prediction: that of establishing specificity between closely similar structures. We tested the behavior of different computational models on the problem of recognizing the correct orientation - parallel vs. antiparallel - of pairs of alpha helices that can form a dimeric coiled coil. For each of 131 examples of known structure, we constructed a large number of both parallel and antiparallel structural models and used these to asses the ability of five energy functions to recognize the correct fold. We also developed and tested three sequenced-based approaches that make use of varying degrees of implicit structural information. The best structural methods performed similarly to the best sequence methods, correctly categorizing ∼81% of dimers. Steric compatibility with the fold was important for some coiled coils we investigated. For many examples, the correct orientation was determined by smaller energy differences between parallel and antiparallel structures distributed over many residues and energy components. Prediction methods that used structure but incorporated varying approximations and assumptions showed quite different behaviors when used to investigate energetic contributions to orientation preference. Sequence based methods were sensitive to the choice of residue-pair interactions scored.
Study of the Automatic Reading of Watt Meter Based on Image Processing Technology

At present, the electromagnetic watt meter is still widely used in china, the workers from the electricity board have to collect electric data from door to door through manual reading, so that there is a great shortage of real-time, accurate, and evidence demonstrative reading. This practice is also manpower consuming and energy consuming, with high cost and low efficiency. Automatic meter reading has effectively overcome the low efficiency and inaccuracy in manual reading. In the present automatic meter reading system, electric impulse counting is adopted for automatic electric computation, that is, the electric impulse put out by the watt meter is counted and accumulated to obtain digital information about electricity. This method, however, can easily lead to the loss of the counting impulses, or lead to multi-counting impulses, which may lead to wrong counting. In this paper, an automatic watt meter reading system has been described. A video camera fixed in front of the watt meter will take real time pictures of the reading on the watt meter. The digits shown on the watt meter will be recognized by means of image segmentation and character recognition so that the reading will be real time, with high efficiency, and small errors.
The constraint database framework: lessons learned from CQA/CDB

We describe our experience with CQA/CDB, a prototype rational linear constraint database. First, we show that the standard semantics of constraint databases lead to an anomaly when queried in the presence of missing attributes. In CQA/CDB, this anomaly is avoided by enriching the CDB relational schema, resulting in heterogenous databases. Then, we present spatial databases as a special case of heterogenous databases and extend constraint query algebras (CQAs) with two additional spatial operators, proving that the resulting language is safe for linear constraints.
SALIVATION OF SENSORY PANELISTS: EFFECTS OF SELECTED PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL FACTORS

Salivation may affect texture and taste perception. Thus, any influences that affect salivation also might affect a panelist's sensory responses. Twelve sensory panelists were compared for psychophysiological factors that might influence their salivary responses. Medication, body mass index (Quetelet), dieting-induced deprivation, nutrient deficiency, and caffeine, tannin, and fiber consumptions along with smoking were considered. Specific nutrient deficiencies or fiber consumption did not affect salivation of the panelists studied. All other factors, especially smoking and diet-induced deprivation, appeared to warrant further study with a larger population.
Direct‐Write Fabrication of Zinc Oxide Varistors

Zinc oxide (ZnO)-based pastes with tailored rheological properties have been developed for direct-write fabrication of thick-film varistor elements in highly integrated, multifunctional electroceramic devices. Such pastes exhibited pseudoplastic behavior with a low shear apparent viscosity of roughly 1 10 4 Pas. Upon aging, the pastes attained printable, steady-state viscosities of approximately 3 10 2 Pa sa t 10 s 1 . Square and rectangular elements were patterned on dense alumina substrates and sintered at varying temperatures between 800° and 1250°C. Varistor elements fired at 900°C exhibited nonlinearity coefficients ( 30) that were equivalent to high-density (>95%) varistors formed by cold isostatic pressing at 100 MPa (15 ksi) of a similar chemically derived powder heat-treated under analogous conditions.
INDICATIONS FOR ADMISSION TO THE SURGICAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT AFTER RADICAL CYSTECTOMY AND URINARY DIVERSION

Purpose: We analyzed the practice of mandatory surgical intensive care unit admission after radical cystectomy, and defined objective criteria to predict active treatment requirements and surgical intensive care unit stay.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 115 consecutive patients admitted to the surgical intensive care unit after radical cystectomy and urinary diversion during the 36-month study period of January 1996 to December 1998. An Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score was calculated from postoperative patient parameters at admission to the unit. Active treatment mandating admission was defined as postoperative invasive cardiopulmonary monitoring, administration of vasopressors or inotropic medications, monitoring or treatment for life threatening complications, or mechanical ventilation for longer than 12 hours. We analyzed the correlation of outcome variables with the requirements for active treatment and surgical intensive care unit stay, and dev...
Cardiac responses to self-induced thoughts.

A psychophysiological procedure is described for obtaining time locked autonomic responses to specific internal (thought) stimuli in the absence of different external (environmental) stimuli. The procedure is illustrated by a heart rate experiment in which 10 Ss silently generated numbers followed by letters or affect-laden words, all in synchrony with externally paced tones. The shape of the cardiac response was found to be a function of the specific thought sequence. The data are interpreted as demonstrating that specific thoughts can act as potential stimuli of autonomic responses. General implications of the finding and the procedure are considered.
The Development and Evaluation of the Academic Entitlement Questionnaire

Validity evidence was gathered for the Academic Entitlement Questionnaire (AEQ). After reviewing entitlement literature, items were written to cover the breadth of academic entitlement. Results pro...
Bioética y psicoterapia: ¿Cuáles supuestos morales actúan cuando ejecutamos un acto psicoterapéutico?

Background: Since about 1970 biomedical ethics crystallized into a full-fledged discipline. The so called «ethical turn» is a fundamental conceptual challenge for the field of medicine and has generated heated controversy. Today, the ancient psychotherapeutic framework is under the severest strain in its long history. Aim: To review the relationship between psychotherapy and the conceptual shift in moral theory. Material and method: To forge a new model for the patient-physician relationship, speech acts and nature of man derived from a «pragmatic turn» of bioethics. Results: Research findings suggest that behavior, cognitive and psychodinamic psychotherapies are speech-acts constituted by a hierarchy of subordinate acts distributed on three levels: the level of the locutionary act, the act of saying; the level of the illocutionary act (or force), what we do in saying; and the level of the perlocutionary act, what we provoke by the fact that we speak. Conclusions: Advances in linguistic research have led to a more sophisticated understanding of how psychotherapy affect ethical issues. These developments point towards a new era of psychotherapeutical theory and practice in which specific modes of psychotherapy can be designed to target specific dilemmas of medical ethics (Rev Med Chile 2004; 132: 243-52). (Key Words: Bioethics; Ethics, medical; Linguistics; Psychotherapy)
Sensory Textural Properties of Stabilized Ice Cream

Vanilla ice cream samples containing five different levels of sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) were evaluated for textural differences using time-intensity and graphic rating (line-marking) methods. The time-intensity method showed significant correlations between CMC concentration and the sensory textural properties of iciness, viscosity, and melting time. The graphic rating tests showed significant correlations between CMC concentration and the sensory textural properties of coldness, iciness, viscosity, and firmness. Comparison of time-intensity and graphic rating tests for the same textural properties showed significant correlations for iciness and viscosity. This investigation showed time intensity and graphic rating to be complementary methods for the sensory evaluation of the textural properties of a stabilized vanilla ice cream.
Cutting Edge: CD4 T Cells Reactive to an Islet Amyloid Polypeptide Peptide Accumulate in the Pancreas and Contribute to Disease Pathogenesis in Nonobese Diabetic Mice

We previously reported a peptide KS20 from islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) to be the target Ag for a highly diabetogenic CD4 T cell clone BDC-5.2.9. To track IAPP-reactive T cells in NOD mice and determine how they contribute to the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes, we designed a new I-Ag7 tetramer with high affinity for BDC-5.2.9 that contains the peptide KS20. We found that significant numbers of KS20 tetramer(+) CD4 T cells can be detected in the pancreas of prediabetic and diabetic NOD mice. To verify pathogenicity of IAPP-reactive cells, we sorted KS20 tetramer(+) cells and cloned them from uncloned T cell lines isolated from spleen and lymph nodes of diabetic mice. We isolated a new KS20-reactive Th1 CD4 T cell clone that rapidly transfers diabetes. Our results suggest that IAPP triggers a broad autoimmune response by CD4 T cells in NOD mice.
Common Pathophysiologic Mechanisms in Migraine and Epilepsy

Migraine and epilepsy are comorbid episodic disorders that have common pathophysiologic mechanisms. Migraine attacks, like epileptic seizures, may be triggered by excessive neocortical cellular excitability; in migraine, however, the hyperexcitability is believed to transition to cortical spreading depression rather than to the hypersynchronous activity that characterizes seizures. Some forms of epilepsy and migraine are known to be channelopathies. Mutations in the same genes can cause either migraine or epilepsy or, in some cases, both. Given the likely commonalities in the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms, it is not surprising that some antiepileptic drugs, including valproate, topiramate, and gabapentin, are effective antimigraine agents. Ionotropic glutamate receptors play roles in both migraine and epilepsy, with NMDA receptors that are critical to cortical spreading depression of particular importance in migraine. Greater understanding of the shared mechanisms of epilepsy and migraine can provide a basis for the development of improved treatment approaches that may be applicable to both conditions.
A high-sensitivity magnetoresistive sensor

A magnetic sensor technology that addresses both higher sensitivity and lower power is described. The sensor is based on the magnetoresistive effect exhibited in a thin film of ferromagnetic material. The basics of the magnetoresistive transducer and the concept, design, fabrication, and characterization of a single-axis, thin-film magnetometer are presented. Minimum sensor noise is balanced with minimum sensor power dissipation to provide a sensor with a minimum noise of 2 mu G/ square root Hz at a power dissipation of 800 mu W. A discussion of the use of this sensor in magnetic anomaly detection applications is also included. The improvements in increased sensitivity and lower power of this magnetoresistance sensor technology open new possibilities for magnetic anomaly detection applications. The goal is to develop a system that maximizes the capability of the sensor and minimizes compromises due to background noise. >
Complete percutaneous approach for arterial access in transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement: A comparison with surgical cut-down and closure

Objectives This study sought to investigate the immediate safety and feasibility of complete percutaneous access/closure of arteriotomy for device deployment compared to the surgical approach for transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Background The percutaneous approach for arterial access for device deployment in transfemoral TAVR is a potential alternative to the surgical approach. Methods In 274 patients who underwent transfemoral TAVR using Edward Sapien heart valve, 140 had a complete percutaneous approach using a “pre-closure” technique whereas 134 had surgical cut-down/repair for arterial access/closure of device deployment. Immediate vascular access/closure success, associated complications and clinical outcomes were compared. Results While overall acute success of access/closure and in-hospital access-related events were similar, significant isolated stenosis/dissection at the access site developed more frequently in the percutaneous group (7.1% vs. 0.7%, P = 0.007). Contrary, wound infections requiring prolonged antibiotics use or surgical debridement occurred more frequently in the surgical group (0.7% vs. 6.7%, P = 0.007). Although the rate of major vascular complications was not different, the surgical group developed more frequent minor bleeding (27.1% vs. 38.8%, P = 0.04) and underwent transfusion of packed red blood cells of ≤3 units (25.7% vs. 43.3%, P = 0.002). Median hospital stay was shorter in the percutaneous group (3 days vs. 4 days, P = 0.002). Conclusions The percutaneous approach is a feasible access/closure method with a potential of lowering access site infection and bleeding, and shortening hospital stay, while maintaining similar rates of major vascular complications compared to the surgical approach. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Does intra-aortic balloon support for myocardial infarction with cardiogenic shock improve outcome?

Citation Thiele H, Zeymer U, Neumann FJ, Ferenc M, Olbrich HG, Hausleiter J, Richardt G, Hennersdorf M, Empen K, Fuernau G, Desch S, Eitel I, Hambrecht R, Fuhrmann J, Bohm M, Ebelt H, Schneider S, Schuler G, Werdan K; IABP-SHOCK II Trial Investigators: Intraaortic balloon support for myocardial infarction with cardiogenic shock. N Engl J Med 2012, 367: 1287-1296.
R. G. Collingwood’s Religion and Philosophy (1916)

R. G. Collingwood published his first book in 1916 under the title Religion and Philosophy, and an interesting book it is. In it, he tries to rescue the philosophy of religion from inroads of empirical psychology. By the latter he means the effort of psychologists to explain the human mind by recourse to laboratory techniques, such as measuring responses to stimuli. Empirical psychology also includes interviews to solicit descriptions of experiences and the practice of collating these descriptions into a survey. A notable instance of the latter procedure was William James’ The Varieties of Religious Experience, a work which Collingwood heaps with abuse.1
Targeted Initial Populations for Multiobjective Product Line Optimization

Genetic searches often use randomly generated initial populations that maximize genetic diversity to thoroughly sample the design space. While many of these initial configurations perform poorly, the tradeoff between population diversity and solution quality is typically acceptable for small design spaces. However, as the design space grows in complexity, computational savings and initial solution quality become more significant considerations. This paper synthesizes advancements from market-based design and heuristic optimization research to strategically construct “targeted” initial populations capable of reducing computational cost and improving final solution quality. Respondent-level utilities from a discrete choice model are used with a price segmentation strategy to efficiently populate designs in a multiobjective environment where designers can explore trade-offs between competing business objectives. Results from an automobile feature packaging problem demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach, and recommendations toward the extent of price segmentation required and future research efforts are offered.
Treating as Action

The events we commonly treat as actions cover a broad range — from the fully intentional to the disastrously mistaken, from the carefully premeditated to the unexpectedly spontaneous, from the predictably sensible to the thoroughly thoughtless. Philosophy of action, as practiced to date, is poorly suited to accommodate this variety. The near-ubiquitous approach has been to start with some events we take to be paradigmatic actions — something like clearly intentional doings — and build a theory premised on an understanding of those. Challenging cases at the periphery remain there, acknowledged only in passing.In this paper, I propose a new approach that removes intention from the spotlight — start by casting a wider net and try to account for the underlying commonalities of “paradigmatic” and “peripheral” cases all at once. Such an approach, if successful, would be well-placed to explain “action” in its various manifestations. To carry it through, some pre-theoretical way of identifying what events we treat as actions is needed. It is relatively common ground among action theorists that when we take something someone has done as an action, we hold him responsible for it. I use responsibility attribution as my mark — the events we treat as actions are those for which we hold an agent responsible. I argue that available, intention-focused theories of action do not align well with our practices of holding people responsible for what they have done. This clears the ground for a new theory of action that is responsive first and foremost to our actual practices of treating some events, but not others, as actions.
A study of the feasibility of low-dose spiral CT examination of lungs

Objective: To study the feasibility of low-dose spiral CT examination of lungs. Methods: To perform low-dose spiral CT scanning after having performed routine dose spiral CT scanning in 50 cases who underwent chest examination, then comparison of the quality of the films in these two groups were carried out. Results: There is no significant difference in demonstrating normal pulmonary structures in the images of these two groups, the images in both groups were able to provide the same diagnostic and differential diagnostic information in different pulmonary diseases. Conclusion: Low-dose spiral CT examination of lung is feasible, especially in mass physical examination.
Influence factors and preventive measures of Gout

Objective To strengthen the prevention of gout and reduce morbidity.Methods The clinical data and the influence factors and the development of preventive measures of 75 cases with gout were summarized.Results Coronary heart disease,hypertension,hyperlipidemia,obesity and diabetes were risk factors for gout.high purine diet,drinking less,the increase in uric acid caused by oral drugs,tired,wet and cold is the predisposing factors.Conclusion To avoid the risk factors and predisposing factors,can reduce and prevent the occurrence of gout.
Sequential pattern mining with the Micron automata processor

Sequential pattern mining (SPM) is a widely used data mining technique for discovering common sequences of events in large databases. When compared with the simple set mining problem and string mining problem, the hierarchical structure of sequential pattern mining (due to the need to consider frequent subsets within each itemset, as well as order among itemsets) and the resulting large permutation space makes SPM extremely expensive on conventional processor architectures. We propose a hardware-accelerated solution of the SPM using Micron's Automata Processor (AP), a hardware implementation of non-deterministic finite automata (NFAs). The Generalized Sequential Pattern (GSP) algorithm for SPM searching exposes massive parallelism, and is therefore well-suited for AP acceleration. We implement the multi-pass pruning strategy of the GSP via the AP's fast reconfigurability. A generalized automaton structure is proposed by flattening sequential patterns to simple strings to reduce compilation time and to minimize overhead of reconfiguration. Up to 90X and 29X speedups are achieved by the AP-accelerated GSP on six real-world datasets, when compared with the optimized multicore CPU and GPU GSP implementations, respectively. The proposed CPU-AP solution also outperforms the state-of-the-art PrefixSpan and SPADE algorithms on multicore CPU by up to 452X and 49X speedups. The AP advantage grows further with larger datasets.
Laparoscopic cauterization of endometriosis for fertility: a controlled study

Ninety infertility patients with moderate endometriosis were randomized between laparoscopic electrocautery and 6 months of danazol therapy and studied for 7 months after treatment. Twenty of the 45 patients undergoing electrocautery conceived (44%) during the follow-up interval. Forty-one of the 45 patients in the danazol group completed the course of therapy, and 16 of those conceived (39%) during the same follow-up interval. There was no statistical difference between the two groups ( P