cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Outbreak in a Long-Term Care Facility Detected Using Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction: An Argument for Real-Time Detection Methods

Author(s): Caram, L Brett; Chen, Jodi; Taggart, E William; Hillyard, David R; She, Rosemary; Polage, Christopher R; Twersky, Jack; Schmader, Kenneth; Petti, Cathy A; Woods, Christopher W | Abstract: ObjectivesTo report an outbreak of respiratory synctyial virus (RSV) in a long-term care facility (LTCF) during ongoing routine respiratory illness surveillance.DesignRapid antigen testing, viral culture, direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) testing, and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing for up to 15 viruses in symptomatic residents and chart review.SettingA 120-bed LTCF.MeasurementsComparison of rapid antigen testing, respiratory viral cultures, and DFA testing and RT-PCR in residents with symptoms of a respiratory tract infection.ResultsTwenty-two of 52 residents developed symptoms of a respiratory tract infection between January 29, 2008, and February 26, 2008. RSV was detected using RT-PCR in seven (32%) of the 22 cases. None of the seven cases had positive RSV rapid antigen testing, and only two had positive culture or DFA results. This outbreak occurred during a time when state wide RSV rates were rapidly declining. One patient was admitted to the hospital during the infection and subsequently died.ConclusionRSV may cause outbreaks in LTCFs that traditional diagnostic methods do not detect. RT-PCR can provide a more timely and accurate diagnosis of outbreaks, which allows for early symptomatic treatment, rational use of antibiotics, and improved infection control.
Device Degrdation from the Effects of Nuclear Radiation on Passivation Materials

Devices that utilized three different commercial passivation processes were studied in a nuclear radiation environment to determine if the passivation process influences the radiation tolerance of the device. Comparisons were made between devices obtained from the same manufacturer. The passivation processes studied featured silicon dixoide, silicon nitride and aluminum oxide. Irradiations were performed with the devices in both a biased and unbiased mode. The results show that the device with silicon dioxide passivation degraded the most. The nitride devices having beam leads showed no saturation of the induced degradation while the other processes did for a dose of 1 × 107 (Si). All devices studied showed a small bias dependence. The addition of an aluminum oxide or silicon nitride passivation layer (over the silicon dioxide surface) for an increased reliability definitely induces no increased radiation degradation.
Further studies of stereospecificity at carbon 6 for membrane transport of tetrahydrofolates: Diastereoisomers of 5-methyltetrahydrofolates as competitive inhibitors of transport of methotrexate in L1210 cells

The unnatural d diastereoisomer at carbon 6 of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate was only slightly less effective than the natural 1 diastereoisomer as a competitive inhibitor of the carrier-mediated membrane transport of [3H]methotrexate into L1210 murine leukemia cells. The apparent Ki for a mixture containing equal amounts of both natural and unnatural diastereoisomers was not significantly different from that found for the unnatural form. These results show that the reduced folate carrier system in these cells has a strong affinity for the unnatural stereoisomer, a finding in contrast to that obtained with the corresponding diastereoisomer of 5-formyltetrahydrofolate.
Neutrophil Soldiers or Trojan Horses

Leishmania parasites convert the toxic environment within a neutrophil into a safe haven during infection.
The Drill Support Tooling Module Project

This paper describes an ROV-related development project undertaken by the author’s company with the assistance of external funding support. It will outline the project aim and discuss the source and level of funding, how application was made, criteria for acceptance and the project monitoring and administration requirements, etc.
A Tight Bound on the Worst-Case Number of Comparisons for Floyd’s Heap Construction Algorithm

In this paper a tight bound on the worst-case number of comparisons for Floyd’s well-known heap construction algorithm is derived.1 It is shown that at most \(2n - 2\mu (n) - \sigma (n)\) comparisons are executed in the worst case, where μ(n) is the number of ones and σ(n) is the number of zeros after the last one in the binary representation of the number of keys n.
Theory of pump-probe spectroscopy

We calculate the two-level pump–probe absorption coefficient including both upper-to-lower-level decay and level decays to a still lower-lying reservoir level. The probe-absorption profile can have arbitrary ratios of the natural linewidth and detuning to the Doppler width. We observe and explain new line-shape features that occur when the two main levels decay to the reservoir level at different rates.
Chemical Synthesis of Oligodeoxyribonucleotides on the Polystyrene Polymer Support

The synthesis of a decaeoxyribonucleotide, d-CpCpApApTpTpTpTpGpG, as an example of DNA synthesis on a polystyrene polymer support using the phosphotriesters is described. The procedures for the recovery of the unreacted protected nucleoside phosphotriesters are also included. All operations and reactions were carried out in a 4 ml polypropylene Bio-Rad Econo column fitted with a 3-way teflon valve and a rubber septum. The average yield of each monomer addition is 96%. The decamer was obtained in high purity with an isolated yield of 56%. The purified decamer was characterized using a modified Maxam-Gilbert procedure.
Teaching Undergraduate Business Students to Access Public Company Information: Assessing Students’ Use of Library Resources

During the spring 2007 semester, a large cohort of undergraduates enrolled in the BUS110 course offered through the Stony Brook University College of Business. The business librarian and other library instruction librarians provided single library sessions to all sections of the course. Toward the end of the 1-hour library information session, the students were asked to fill out an online user satisfaction survey to assess how much they had learned and to evaluate the teaching tools and methodology of the librarians. Toward the end of the semester the business librarian posted a follow up survey to the BUS110 Blackboard site to assess whether the students had used the resources demonstrated by the librarians in the library session, whether they had had follow-up interactions with the librarians, and whether they had positive attitudes toward the library, librarians, and business databases. The majority of students had used the databases and had a positive attitude toward the instruction and the library.
Visualization of Interactions among bZIP and Rel Family Proteins in Living Cells Using Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation

Networks of protein interactions coordinate cellular functions. We describe a bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assay for determination of the locations of protein interactions in living cells. This approach is based on complementation between two nonfluorescent fragments of the yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) when they are brought together by interactions between proteins fused to each fragment. BiFC analysis was used to investigate interactions among bZIP and Rel family transcription factors. Regions outside the bZIP domains determined the locations of bZIP protein interactions. The subcellular sites of protein interactions were regulated by signaling. Cross-family interactions between bZIP and Rel proteins affected their subcellular localization and modulated transcription activation. These results attest to the general applicability of the BiFC assay for studies of protein interactions.
Spatially resolved transmission of highly focused beams through the cornea and sclera between 1400 and 1800 nm

We investigated the spatial confinement of laser beams focused through human cornea and sclera using long near infrared wavelengths. Using a 0.4 numerical aperture lens, we measured the spatial transmission of the smallest emergent beam on the back surface of the tissue. We found that standard axial transmission measurements over estimate the amount of unscattered light for the sclera and that 1600 nm to 1700 nm had the maximum unscattered transmission through cornea and sclera. The light confinement may be useful in producing localized subsurface linear and nonlinear optical processes.
Methylmercury-induced IL-6 release requires phospholipase C activities

Methylmercury (MeHg) is a neurotoxin capable of causing severe damage to the CNS, especially in the developing fetus. Glia in the CNS release a number of cytokines that are important for proper CNS development and function. We reported earlier that MeHg could induce interleukin-6 (IL-6) release in primary mouse glia. This finding is significant considering previous reports indicating that sustained IL-6 exposure could be detrimental to cerebellar granule neurons, one of the major cellular targets of MeHg cytotoxicity. By using pharmacological antagonists against phophatidycholine- and phosphoinositol-specific phospholipase C, the current study indicated that phospholipase C activity was necessary for MeHg-induced IL-6 release. Results from pharmacological antagonists further suggested that the calcium signaling initiated by phospholipase C appeared essential for this event. In contrast, protein kinase C activity did not appear to be important. Even though mitogen-activated protein kinases were important for IL-6 release in some experimental systems, these enzymes did not appear to be required for MeHg-induced IL-6 release in glia. Based on these data and those reported by us and others, there is a possibility that MeHg-induced phospholipase C activation initiates a calcium signaling that causes phospholipase A2 activation. This, in turn, leads to arachidonic acid and lysophosphatidyl choline generation, both of which are potent inducers for IL-6 release.
Automatic extraction of deformable part models

I deseribe a system that first segments an image into parts, and then fits deformable models to range data associated with the image. Models are represented by using modal dynamics applied to volumetric primitives, which significantly improves the computational complexity of both model recovery and subsequent processing. The segmentation procedure uses two simple mechanisms: a filtering operation to produce a large set of potential object parts, followed by a quadratic integer optimization that searches among these part hypotheses to produce a maximum-likelihood estimate of the image's part structure. Once a segmentation has been produced, a volumetric description is obtained by a fitting procedure that minimizes squared error between the range measurements an the model's visible surface. For simple part shapes, it is possible to compute the deformable model's parameters using only the shape of its symmetry axes.
Self-punitive behavior: Effects of percentage of punishment on extinction of escape and avoidance responses

In general, vicious-circle behavior was an increasing function of the percentage of punished trials, and avoidance-trained Ss showed more punishment-induced facilitation (and resistance to “regular” extinction) than escape-trained Ss.
Kisspeptin and GPR54: Discovery of a Novel Pathway in Reproduction

In order to find novel modulators of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion, genetic tools were employed in patients with idiopathic hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism (IHH). Mutations in a G-protein coupled receptor, GPR54, were identified, making this receptor a genetic determinant and indisputable gatekeeper of normal reproductive function. This article places these investigations into historical context and reviews some of the new findings relevant to this pathway.
Improved Production of l-Serine by Mutants of Corynebacterium glycinophilum with Less Serine Dehydratase Activity

Fermentative production of l-serine using glycine as a precursor and Corynebacterium glycinophilum as a microbial producer was improved by decreasing the enzymatic degradation of l-serine. The cellular activity of l-serine dehydratase (SD) [EC 4.2.1.13], which was responsible for the l-serine degradation, was decreased in mutants that could not assimilate l-serine as a nitrogen source or that required amino acids for their growth. Typical examples of the mutants were an l-leucine and l-isoleucine auxotroph (AJ-3414) which completely lacked SD and an l-leucine and l-methionine auxotroph (AJ-34A13) whose SD activity was 32% of that of the parent. They accumulated 13.8 and 13.9mg/ml of l-serine, respectively, from 30mg/ml of glycine with a production yield of 46% as compared to the parental productivity of 15.3%.
Stationary superfluid turbulent fronts

Abstract Stationary fronts of superfluid turbulence have been produced in small nonuniform channels. The front occurs at that position in the channel where the local velocity reaches the critical value. Converging and diverging flows in a channel of circular cross section and diverging flow in a channel of rectangular cross section have been studied. The front in the diverging circular channel is anomalous, becoming unstable at a position near the middle of the channel.
Gastrointestinal Blood Loss in Patients With Chronic Renal Failure

In the management of patients with chronic failure one of the persistent medical problems is that of anemia. Since iron deficiency can be an important component of this anemia, this study was designed to evaluate the possible contribution of gastrointestinal blood loss to their anemia. Blood loss was quantitated by 51 chromium labeling red cells in normals and in patients with chronic renal failure both before and during chronic hemodialysis. Four normal volunteers had a gastrointestinal blood loss of 0.83 ml/day, six azotemic patients not yet on hemodialysis had significantly greater gastrointestinal blood loss of 3.15 ml/day ( p p p
Tracing the Legacy of Anita Hill: The Thomas~Hill Hearings and Media Coverage of Sexual Harassment

Many anecdotal accounts suggest that the Clarence Thomas/Anita Hill hearings had an important effect on the politics of sexual harassment allegations. This research examines one part of this phenomenon, reporting the results of content analysis of articles published in major newspapers the month after reports of allegations against Bob packwood and Bill Clinton. Our data analysis provides a preliminary look at the continued significance of the Hill/Thomas case today and how it affects public discourse about sexual harassment, providing strong evidence that Anita Hill has indeed found a place in modern American political history as a symbol for the sexual harassment issue. Clearly, the hearings have significantly impacted the ways in which the media and the public view allegations of sexual harassment brought against political figures.
Modeling economic time series by forward and backward state space innovation models and IV estimators

Abstract This paper shows how the backward innovation model of a weakly stationary stochastic process with rational spectra is used together with the more familiar forward innovation model to estimate system and innovation covariance matrices. It is shown that state vectors of both forward and backward innovation models can be jointly used to construct asymptotically efficient IV estimators of state space models. The paper then shows how to improve the estimates iteratively while retaining the nestedness property of the original estimators proposed by Aoki in 1987.
Neuronal Plasticity in the Cingulate Cortex of Rats following Esophageal Acid Exposure in Early Life

Background & Aims The cingulate cortex has been reported to be involved in processing pain of esophageal origin. However, little is known about molecular changes and cortical activation that arise from early-life esophageal acid reflux. Excitatory neurotransmission via activation of the N -methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor and its interaction with postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95) at the synapse appear to mediate neuronal development and plasticity. We investigated the effect of early-life esophageal acid exposure on NMDA receptor subunits and PSD-95 expression in the developing cingulate cortex. Methods We assessed NMDA receptor subunits and PSD-95 protein expression in rostral cingulate cortex (rCC) tissues of rats exposed to esophageal acid or saline (control), either during postnatal day (P) 7 to 14 and/or acutely at adult stage (P60) using immunoblot and immunoprecipitation analyses. Results Compared with controls, acid exposure from P7 to P14 significantly increased expression of NR1, NR2A, and PSD-95, measured 6 weeks after exposure. However, acute exposure at P60 caused a transient increase in expression of NMDA receptor subunits. These molecular changes were more robust in animals exposed to acid neonatally and rechallenged, acutely, at P60. Esophageal acid exposure induced calcium calmodulin kinase II–mediated phosphorylation of the subunit NR2B at Ser1303. Conclusions Esophageal acid exposure during early stages of life has long-term effects as a result of phosphorylation of the NMDA receptor and overexpression in the rCC. This molecular alteration in the rCC might mediate sensitization of patients with acid-induced esophageal disorders.
Racial Identity From Adolescence to Young Adulthood: Does Prior Neighborhood Experience Matter?

This study examined the influence of earlier neighborhood experiences on trajectories of racial centrality and regard among Black youth. Data were drawn from a sample of Black 11- to 14-year-old youth (N = 718) in the Maryland Adolescent Development in Context Study, a data set that permits the examination of structural and subjective neighborhood influences. Results suggest that centrality increases, whereas public regard remains relatively stable, across the transition to adulthood. Seventh graders who resided in neighborhoods in which adults were less willing to intervene or respond to problematic situations reported lower public regard in 11th grade. In addition, the trajectory of private regard varied according to the types of neighborhoods youth experienced in early adolescence.
Failure of recombinant factor VIIa to correct the coagulopathy in a case of severe postpartum hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) remains an important cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. Several published reports suggest that recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa) is effective in controlling bleeding in PPH. This study reports a case of severe PPH complicated by disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), in which early rFVIIa (44 µg/kg) administration not only failed to control the bleeding in vivo but also, surprisingly, failed to correct the patient's international normalized ratio (INR) in vitro. It was hypothesized that the failure of rFVIIa to correct the INR indicated a deficiency in a downstream coagulation factor(s). To investigate this, coagulation factor levels were measured in blood samples that had been drawn periodically during resuscitation in the operating room. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Clinical and laboratory data were extracted from the medical record. Plasma samples that had been obtained during resuscitation were frozen, and activity levels of the following factors were subsequently measured: fibrinogen, FII, FV, FVII, F IX, and FX. RESULTS: After rFVIIa administration, the patient's INR remained elevated at 1.9, and bleeding continued. It was determined that at the time rFVIIa was administered, the patient's fibrinogen level was very low (60 mg/dL). INR normalization and control of bleeding was achieved only after the patient's fibrinogen level was restored to normal. FII, F IX, and FX remained at hemostatic levels throughout resuscitation. CONCLUSIONS: In this case of severe PPH complicated by DIC, fibrinogen appears to have been limiting at the time rFVIIa was administered. It is suggested that fibrinogen levels should be corrected during PPH resuscitation before rFVIIa use is considered.
CTGF modulates cell cycle progression in cAMP‐arrested NRK fibroblasts

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is a 38-kDa cysteine-rich peptide, whose synthesis and secretion are selectively induced by transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) in connective tissue cells. Previous studies have demonstrated that CTGF functions as a downstream mediator of TGF-β mitogenic activity, where it controls cell cycle progression through late G1 and S-phase entry of NRK fibroblast suspension cultures. Here we report that CTGF induces this S-phase entry by upregulating cyclin A levels. The molecular mechanism for cyclin A induction appears to be via reduction of p27Kip1 levels, which results in hyperphosphorylation of pRb and release of E2F, a known modulator of cyclin A gene transcription. These data indicate that CTGF acts as a mediator of TGF-β–induced fibroblast proliferation in suspension cultures by regulating cdk activities. J. Cell. Physiol. 182:119–126, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Effect of estrogen on egg production, shell quality and calcium metabolism in molted hens.

Abstract Force-molted White Leghorn laying hens were implanted with 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 3 Compudose 200 pellets (24 mg 17β estradiol/pellet). Plasma estradiol increased with increasing E 2 dosages in a linear manner and decreased over time in a quadratic manner ( P 2 treatment had a nonlinear effect on total plasma calcium. Oviduct weight, shell thickness and egg weight were not significantly affected by exogenous estradiol whereas tibial bone ash percentage was increased at only one dose ( P
The Significance of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage after Penetrating Craniocerebral InjuryCorrelations with Angiography and Outcome in a Civilian Population

Certain clinical factors are considered to have an effect on patient outcome after penetrating missile injury. These include bilateral hemispheric injury, ventricular hemorrhage, intracerebral hemorrhage, mass effect, and missile or bony fragmentation. The relationship of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) after penetrating craniocerebral injury and outcome is unknown. In addition, controversy exists regarding the role of angiography and the incidence of traumatic intracranial aneurysm in this population. Finally, can we assume that the incidence of traumatic intracranial aneurysm is equal in military and civilian populations, given the absence of penetrating shrapnel injury in civilian populations? Now that computed tomography has supplanted angiography as the primary diagnostic modality, increasing vigilance on the part of the physician and examination of angiography in high-risk patients should allow for enhanced outcome. We evaluated 100 patients with a diagnosis of cerebral gunshot wound over a 12-month period. All patients were evaluated neurologically at the time of admission and had imaging studies. Thirty-one patients with radiological evidence of SAH on computed tomography underwent angiography. Angiograms were limited to the side of the injury in patients with single-lobe or unilateral multilobe injuries and were bilateral in patients with bilateral hemispheric involvement. One intracranial aneurysm (3.2%) was documented and treated surgically. In those patients who died within 48 hours of admission, 68% had SAH as compared with only 17% of those surviving. Outcome was based upon neurological evaluation at the time of discharge and at the time of clinical follow-up at 3 and 6 months.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Euthyroid Hyperthyrotropinemia in Children Born after in Vitro Fertilization

Context: Assisted reproduction techniques are now commonly used. Although classic in vitro fertilization (IVF) started almost 30 yr ago, few long-term systematic prospective studies of children conceived with assisted reproduction have been performed. Objective: Our objective was to investigate thyroid function in children conceived after IVF vs. naturally conceived controls. Populations and Methods: A total of 106 children conceived after classic IVF and 68 naturally conceived controls, aged 4–14 yr, were studied. All children were thoroughly examined, and serum T3, T4, TSH, anti-thyroid peroxidase, and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies were measured. A second TSH determination and a thyroid ultrasound were performed for TSH higher than 5 μIU/ml, and children were considered to have persistent hyperthyrotropinemia, if the TSH elevation was confirmed. Results: Seven IVF children but none of the controls had persistent elevations of circulating TSH, suggesting euthyroid hyperthyrotropinemia or subclinical prim...
Paradoxical pulse: 100 years later.

The term paradoxical pulse was coined 100 years ago by Adolf Kussmaul. The reasons Kussmaul called this arterial pulse phenomenon paradoxical have frequently been forgotton or misinterpreted and are restated on the basis of Kussmaul's original text of 1873.
Adsorption, molecular exchange and defect formation in membranes

The past year has seen significant advances in our understanding of the key factors involved in determining whether a macromolecule or colloidal particle can reach, bind to, and absorb into lipid bilayer membranes. The highlights include the need to combine both electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions to achieve stable binding, the influence of membrane dipoles, the molecular-scale filter provided by grafted polymers, and the recognition that surfactants and peptides form defects that depend on their aggregated state in the membrane.
Mental Health Provider Perspectives on Co-occurring Substance Use Among Severely Mentally Ill Clients

This qualitative study explores strategies used by mental health providers (N = 17) to address substance use problems among seriously mentally ill (SMI) clients and their perspectives on barriers to treatment and how treatment can be improved. Providers identified numerous strategies, yet these were countered with perceptions of multiple obstacles, leaving them frustrated, helpless, and hopeless about their clients' substance use. Results suggest that, in addition to improving access to quality dual-diagnosis treatment, larger issues of poverty and social isolation must also be addressed. Not doing so limits what providers can do for SMI clients and could reduce the effect of larger system-level improvements.
Selenium deficiency inhibits prostacyclin release and enhances production of platelet activating factor by human endothelial cells

Selenium is an essential component of glutathione peroxidase, an enzyme which protects cells against peroxidation and controls concentrations of intracellular peroxides. Since selenium deficiency is clinically associated with an increased degree of atherosclerosis, the effects of selenium deficiency on prostacyclin (PGI2) and platelet activating factor (PAF) production by cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were investigated. In selenium-deficient HUVEC, histamine-induced PGI2 synthesis was significantly decreased when compared to selenium-supplemented HUVEC; in contrast, histamine-induced PAF production was increased by selenium deficiency. Histamine-induced inositol triphosphate and [Ca2+]i responses and the conversion of PGG2 and PGH2 to PGI2 were not altered by selenium deficiency. However, selenium deficiency decreased the conversion of exogenous arachidonate to PGI2 and markedly suppressed glutathione peroxidase activity. These results suggest that selenium deficiency, by decreasing glutathione peroxidase activity, makes HUVEC susceptible to peroxide-induced inhibition of the cyclooxygenase activity of PGH2 synthase, resulting in decreased PGI2 production. These changes may alter platelet function in vivo and thus play a role in the increased incidence of atherosclerosis reported in selenium-deficient individuals.
Absence of paradoxical pulse in patients with cardiac tamponade and atrial septal defects

Five patients with atrial septal defect and proved cardiac tamponade had neither paradoxical pulse nor the inspiratory reduction of left ventricular internal dimension associated with this sign. It is assumed that equilibration of flow across the atrial septal defect prevented paradoxical pulse. Patients with a large atrial septal defect and tamponade do not manifest a paradoxical pulse.
The Ambiguity of Text, Birth, and Nature

This essay examines the language of the Heng Xian and suggests that the text purposefully plays with Ru-style rhetoric, particularly that associated with the “Heart Method” for self-cultivation. The playful rhetoric is reminiscent of writings collected in the Zhuangzi and the use of parables associated with fourth century BCE philosopher Hu Shi.
Realistic expectations for public access defibrillation programs.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Public access defibrillation programs have increased dramatically over the past 15 years. This review will focus on their effectiveness and operational characteristics and discuss the characteristics of successful programs, which can improve outcomes. RECENT FINDINGS Automated external defibrillators increase survival from cardiac arrest when used by a bystander. Recent studies show that the best outcomes are achieved when devices are placed in areas with a high frequency of cardiac arrest and there is ongoing supervision with emergency plans and cardiopulmonary resuscitation training. Programs are cost-effective under these circumstances, but become very inefficient when placed in areas of low risk. There are few adverse events related to the public access defibrillation programs and volunteers are not harmed. Unguided placement results in devices not being used and a decline in organizational structure of the program. As most cardiac arrests occur in the home, the impact on overall survival remains low. SUMMARY Automated external defibrillators are highly effective at reducing death from ventricular fibrillation and easy access in public areas is most effective. Placement must be prioritized based on public health impact and characteristics of the community.
Absolve You to Yourself: Emerson's Conception of Rational Agency

Ralph Waldo Emerson famously warned his readers against the dangers of conformity and consistency. In this paper, I argue that this warning informs his engagement with and opposition to a Kantian view of rational agency. The interpretation I provide of some of Emerson's central essays outlines a unique conception of agency, a conception which gives substance to Emerson's exhortations of self‐trust. While Kantian in spirit, Emerson's view challenges the requirement that autonomy requires acting from a conception of the law. The key to understanding Emerson's opposition to Kant rests in showing how obeying the law requires spontaneity on the part of the agent herself. Emerson's concerns about conformity and consistency further enrich the view of agency, argued for by Richard Moran, according to which we take responsibility for our minds by taking up a first‐person deliberative perspective on our minds. Conformity and consistency in one's thinking and acting permits society and one's own past to dictate when...
ECM1 and TMPRSS4 Are Diagnostic Markers of Malignant Thyroid Neoplasms and Improve the Accuracy of Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine whether genes that regulate cellular invasion and metastasis are differentially expressed and could serve as diagnostic markers of malignant thyroid nodules.
Synthesis of mannosylglucosaminylinositol phospholipids in normal but not paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria cells.

Abstract To identify mannosyl (Man)-containing intermediates of the human glycoinositol phospholipid (GPI) anchor pathway and examine their expression in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), mannolipid products deriving from in vitro guanosine diphosphate [3H]Man labeling of HeLa cell microsomes were characterized. The defined GPI species were correlated with products deriving from in vivo [3H]Man labeling of normal and (GPI-anchor defective) affected leukocytes. In vitro analyses in HeLa cells showed dolichol-phosphoryl (Dol-P)-[3H]Man and a spectrum of [3H]Man lipids exhibiting TLC mobilities approximating those of Trypanosoma brucei (Tryp) GPI precursors. Iatrobead HPLC separations and partial characterizations of the major isolated [3H]Man species (designated H1-H8) showed that all but H1 (Dol-P-Man) were sensitive to HNO2 deamination and serum GPI-specific phospholipase D digestion but were resistant to phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C digestion unless previously deacylated with mild alkali. [3H]Man label in H3, H4, and H6 but not in H5 or H7 was efficiently released into the aqueous phase by jack bean alpha-mannosidase digestion. BioGel P-4 and AX-5 sizing of the dephosphorylated core glycan fragments of H6 and H7 gave values that coincided precisely with the corresponding glycan fragments from the fully assembled Tryp anchor donor A' (P2). Affected leukocytes from four patients with PNH supported formation of GlcNAc- and GlcN-PI but all failed to express H6 and H7 as well as H8 and two showed complete absence of earlier Man-containing intermediates. These findings argue that human intracellular GPI mannolipids are built on acylated inositol phospholipids, that H6 and H7 contain differentially phosphoethanolamine-substituted Man3-GlcN-inositol cores, and that PNH cells are defective in conversion of GlcN-PI into these more mature mannolipid structures.
TURN LANE STORAGE LENGTH DESIGN: THEORY FOR THE PRACTITIONER

Transportation engineers use statistical distributions to determine the needed storage lengths of auxiliary left- and right-turn lanes. The theory behind the common design approach is reviewed. Field data are used to show shortcomings with the common design approach, and other storage length design perspectives and trade-offs are discussed. With this information, design engineers can better understand the relative strengths of various approaches and be more comfortable with a degree of flexibility in turn-lane storage length design.
Semen quality in spinal cord injured men: Does it progressively decline postinjury?☆☆☆

Abstract Objective: To determine if semen quality of men with spinal cord injury (SCI) undergoes a progressive decline as a function of years postinjury. Design: A retrospective analysis of cross-sectional data. Setting: University-based research center. Subjects: Semen quality was examined in 638 specimens from 125 men with SCI. Intervention: Penile vibratory stimulation, electroejaculation, and masturbation were used as semen retrieval methods. Routine semen analysis was performed to evaluate semen quality. Main Outcome Measures: Sperm concentration, total sperm count, and percent sperm motility were examined at 2-year intervals from men whose injuries had occurred 6 weeks to 26 years earlier. Results: No difference in any semen parameter was found as a function of time postinjury. Conclusions: Semen quality in men with SCI does not progressively decline after the SCI. Men with SCI who are considering biologic fatherhood should be advised that the number of years after injury need not be a determinant in deciding when to start a family.
Direct atomistic simulation of brittle-to-ductile transition in silicon single crystals

Silicon is an important material not only for semiconductor applications, but also for the development of novel bioinspired and biomimicking materials and structures or drug delivery systems in the context of nanomedicine. For these applications, a thorough understanding of the fracture behavior of the material is critical. In this paper we address this issue by investigating a fundamental issue of the mechanical properties of silicon, its behavior under extreme mechanical loading. Earlier experimental work has shown that at low temperatures, silicon is a brittle material that fractures catastrophically like glass once the applied load exceeds a threshold value. At elevated temperatures, however, the behavior of silicon is ductile. This brittle-to-ductile transition (BDT) has been observed in many experimental studies of single crystals of silicon. However, the mechanisms that lead to this change in behavior remain questionable, and the atomic-scale phenomena are unknown. Here we report for the first time the direct atomistic simulation of the nucleation of dislocations from a crack tip in silicon only due to an increase of the temperature, using large-scale atomistic simulation with the first principles based ReaxFF force field. By raising the temperature in a computational experiment with otherwise identical boundary conditions, we show that the material response changes from brittle cracking to emission of a dislocation at the crack tip, representing evidence for a potential mechanisms of dislocation mediated ductility in silicon.
Fast path-based timing analysis for CPPR

Common-path-pessimism removal (CPPR) is a pivotal step to achieve accurate timing signoff. Unnecessary pessimism might arise quality-of-result (QoR) concerns such as reporting worse violations than the true timing properties owned by the physical circuit. In other words, signoff timing report will conclude a lower clock frequency at which circuits can operate than actual silicon implementations. Therefore, we introduce in this paper a fast path-based timing analysis for CPPR. Unlike existing approaches which are dominated by explicit path search, we perform implicit path representation which yields significantly smaller search space and faster runtime. Specifically, our algorithm is superior in both space and time saving, from which the memory storage and important timing quantities are available in constant space and constant time per path during the search. Experimental results on industrial benchmarks released from TAU 2014 timing analysis contest have shown that our algorithm won the first place and achieved the best result in terms of accuracy and runtime over all participating teams.
Electrodynamics with Lorentz-violating operators of arbitrary dimension

The behavior of photons in the presence of Lorentz and CPT violation is studied. Allowing for operators of arbitrary mass dimension, we classify all gauge-invariant Lorentz- and CPT-violating terms in the quadratic Lagrange density associated with the effective photon propagator. The covariant dispersion relation is obtained, and conditions for birefringence are discussed. We provide a complete characterization of the coefficients for Lorentz violation for all mass dimensions via a decomposition using spin-weighted spherical harmonics. The resulting nine independent sets of spherical coefficients control birefringence, dispersion, and anisotropy in the photon propagator. We discuss the restriction of the general theory to various special models, including among others the minimal standard-model extension, the isotropic limit, the case of vacuum propagation, the nonbirefringent limit, and the vacuum-orthogonal model. The transformation of the spherical coefficients for Lorentz violation between the laboratory frame and the standard Sun-centered frame is provided. We apply the results to various astrophysical observations and laboratory experiments. Astrophysical searches of relevance include studies of birefringence and of dispersion. We use polarimetric and dispersive data from gamma-ray bursts to set constraints on coefficients for Lorentz violation involving operators of dimensions four through nine, and we describe the mixing of polarizations induced by Lorentz and CPT violation in the cosmic-microwave background. Laboratory searches of interest include cavity experiments. We present the general theory for searches with cavities, derive the experiment-dependent factors for coefficients in the vacuum-orthogonal model, and predict the corresponding frequency shift for a circular-cylindrical cavity.
Counseling High School Students for Their Individual Learning Styles

pletely. She tried again, with concern in her voice. "I'm here to help you Tony. We can work on your problems together and resolve them. But you have to confide in me." Tony looked up and met her eyes; his look conveyed a mix of frustration, disbelief, and anger. Attempting to reflect his feelings, Mrs. Fowler bent toward him saying, "You really feel pretty upset with things here at school, Tony. You're angry because your English teacher sent you from class and you're telling yourself that I'm probably the same-that I can't possibly understand you either." They waited for some time in silence, with Mrs. Fowler studying Tony intensely and Tony appearing to show more interest in his shoes and the floor than in the counseling session. At last, the dismissal bell rang and Tony raced for the door, slamming it as he left the office. Jane Fowler began to reflect on all the Tonys in her counseling group-students she could not seem to reach with the traditional counseling approaches. Consistently, she encountered strong resistance from some students who had difficulty verbalizing and other students whom teachers labelled as "learning disabled" and "non-achievers." Nothing in her counselor education program had really prepared her to work with these students. She was skilled in all the major counseling orientations, including behavioral, client-centered, trait-factor, rational emotive counseling, transactional analysis, and eclectic approaches; but these were all talking approaches that required the ability of students to verbalize their thoughts and feelings. She was knowledgeable of the developmental crises of adolescents, including a search for identity, a strong need for membership in the peer group, a need to achieve increased independence and disengage from parents, the continual development of conscience and values, an interest in developing heterosexual relationships, and the concern with career decision making. Certainly, her formal preparation as a school counselor included recognizing the importance of individual differences; diagnosing differences among students in aptitude, scholastic ability, academic achievement, personality, vocational interests; and applying these findings to help students make career and life decisions. However, she was uncertain about how to identify differences among students in motivation and learning modalities and how to provide for these individual differences in teaching and counseling students. In searching for a means to reach Tony, overcome his hostility, and deal effectively with his problems and concerns, Mrs. Fowler asked herself a question which is the most fundamental of all in evaluating counseling effectiveness:
Some comments on confirmation and selective confirmation

clear what is being asserted. Context may serve to establish that the person intended to assert "A said the words 'p,'" instead of 'A said that p.' In a formalized language of the Fregean sort, we would require the premise Q" in addition to the former in order to infer 'A said Q,' but we would require the different premise 'p q' in order to infer from the latter 'A said that q.' If the distinction between ' 'p' ' and 'p' is not always recognized in natural languages, then it is hardly surprising that one may appeal to the wrong identity-premise, and infer a false conclusion. In summary, Linsky seems to me to be correct in concluding that the law of substitutivity does not apply without exception in natural languages, but quite wrong in holding that logicians such as Quine, Frege, and Russell assume that it must.
Rapid screening of precursor and degradation products of chemical warfare agents in soil by solid-phase microextraction ion mobility spectrometry (SPME–IMS)

Abstract The use of solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled to ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) to detect precursor and degradation products of chemical warfare agents (CWAs) as soil contaminants was investigated. The development and characterization of a system to interface a thermal desorption solid-phase microextraction inlet with a hand held ion mobility spectrometer was demonstrated. The analytes used in this study were diisopropyl methylphosphonate (DIMP), diethyl methylphosphonate (DEMP), and dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP). Two SPME fibers with different stationary phases, 100 μm polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and 65 μm polydimethylsiloxane divinylbenzene (PDMS/DVB), were evaluated in this study to determine the optimal fiber and extraction conditions. Better results were obtained with the PDMS fiber. SPME–IMS offered good repeatability and detection of the precursor and degradation products in spiked soil at concentrations as low as 10 μg/g. Sample analysis time was less than 30 min for all the precursor and degradation products.
Influence of bottled water on rehydration following a dehydrating bout of cycling exercise

Background The purpose of this study was to compare the ability of two types of bottled water to rehydrate cyclists following a dehydrating bout of cycling exercise. It was hypothesized that rehydration would occur faster and/or more completely following the consumption of bottled glacier water supplemented with Alka-PlexLiquidTM (experimental condition) as compared to a filtered bottled water (placebo condition).
Electronic Broker Impacts on the Value of Postponement in a Global Supply Chain

Global and electronic markets are increasingly forcing manufacturing enterprises to become more competitive. As a result, many manufacturing enterprises are seeking to manage their supply chains more effectively. Product differentiation timing is one important factor in supply chain management. Under an early product differentiation process, finished products are manufactured and stored in a distribution center until delivery. Under a delayed product differentiation process, partially completed product components are manufactured and stored in a distribution center; later, based on demand information, finished products are completed from the product components. The difference in value between early product differentiation and delayed product differentiation is the value of postponement. Prior research has analytically shown that the value of postponement is affected by information precision in demand forecasts. In this article, we investigate whether adding a market-making electronic broker to a supply chain increases the value of postponement. We hypothesize that it may do so by providing greater accuracy in demand forecasting. We test this relationship by comparing the results of agent-based simulations that vary between early and late differentiation strategies and the use of an electronic broker. In each simulation, the effects of demand correlation, demand variability, and demand pooling are considered. The simulations show that an electronic broker increases inventory cost savings (compared to a non-broker) and increases the value of postponement in the face of increasing demand variability, increasing demand pooling, and decreasing demand correlation. Moreover, an electronic broker may, through its own actions, increase demand variability and demand pooling, while decreasing demand correlation, thereby creating the environment in which is best operates.
The effect of some erythropoietic agents on the 'tissue' tension of oxygen.

Summary. The effect was measured of four known erythropoietic agents (erythropoietin, haemolysate, cobalt chloride and testosterone propionate) on the 24-hr iron utilization of hypertransfused male rats and on the oxygen tension in a subcutaneous air pocket. Only testosterone propionate failed to increase the 24-hr iron utilization of hypertransfused rats. On the other hand, only cobalt chloride altered the oxygen tension in the gas pockets. A striking increase in PO2 was observed with cobalt chloride suggesting a block in oxygen utilization with intracellular hypoxia. Using more intense treatment of female hypertransfused rats with various androgen preparations, namely, testosterone propionate, norethandrolone and nandrolone decanoate, only the latter had significant erythropoietic effect. However, this was apparently not mediated by tissue hypoxia, since the oxygen tension in subcutaneous air pockets did not change.