cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lowering of dietary advanced glycation endproducts (AGE) reduces neointimal formation after arterial injury in genetically hypercholesterolemic mice

Restenosis remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality after coronary angioplasty. Injury-induced inflammation, thrombosis, smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation, and neointimal formation contribute to restenosis. These events are linked to circulating glucose-derived advanced gycation endproducts (AGE), known to promote cell proliferation, lipid glycoxidation and oxidant stress. This study evaluates the association between dietary AGE content and neointimal formation after arterial injury in genetically hypercholesterolemic mice. Male, 12-week-old, apolipoprotein E-deficient (apoE(-/-)) mice were randomly assigned to receive either a high AGE diet (HAD; AGE=15000 U/mg), or a similar diet with ten-fold lower AGE (LAD; AGE=1500 U/mg). These mice underwent femoral artery injury 1 week later, and were maintained on their diets for an additional 4 weeks. At 4 weeks after injury, significant decrease in neointimal formation was noted in LAD-fed mice. Neointimal area, intima/media ratio, and stenotic luminal area (LA) were less pronounced in the LAD group than the HAD group (P<0.05). These quantitative differences were associated with a marked reduction ( approximately 56%) of macrophages in the neointimal lesions, as well as an obvious reduction of SMC content of LAD-fed mice. The reduction of neointimal formation in the LAD mice correlated with a approximately 40% decrease in circulating AGE levels (P<0.0005). Immunohistochemistry also showed a reduced ( approximately 1.5-fold) deposition of AGE in the endothelia, SMC, and macrophages in neointimal lesions of LAD-fed mice. These results represent the first evidence in vivo for a causal relationship between dietary AGE and the vessel wall response to acute injury, suggesting a significant potential for dietary AGE restriction in the prevention of restenosis after angioplasty.
Decrease in cortisol reverses human hippocampal atrophy following treatment of Cushing's disease.

Background: Decreased hippocampal volume is observed in patients with Cushing’s syndrome and other conditions associated with elevated cortisol levels, stress, or both. Reversibility of hippocampal neuronal atrophy resulting from stress occurs in animals. Our study investigated the potential for reversibility of human hippocampal atrophy. Methods: The study included 22 patients with Cushing’s disease. Magnetic resonance brain imaging was performed prior to transsphenoidal microadenomectomy and again after treatment. Results: Following treatment, hippocampal formation volume (HFV) increased by up to 10%. The mean percent change (3.2 ± 2.5) was significantly greater (p < .04) than that of the comparison structure, caudate head volume (1.5 ± 3.4). Increase in HFV was significantly associated with magnitude of decrease in urinary free cortisol (r = −.61, p < .01). This relationship strengthened after adjustments for age, duration of disease, and months elapsed since surgery (r = −.70, p < .001). There was no significant correlation between caudate head volume change and magnitude of cortisol decrease. Conclusions: Changes in human HFV associated with sustained hypercortisolemia are reversible, at least in part, once cortisol levels decrease. While many brain regions are likely affected by hypercortisolemia, the human hippocampus exhibits increased sensitivity to cortisol, affecting both volume loss and recovery.
Determination of diflubenzuron residues in water by solid-phase extraction and quantitative high-performance thin-layer chromatography

Abstract A high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) method using channeled, preadsorbent silica gel plates and Bratton-Marshall detection reagent was combined with C 18 solid-phase extraction for quantification of diflubenzuron residues in water. The sensitivity of the technique for diflubenzuron was 0.1 μg, and residues in water at a concentration of 50 μg/l were determined with recoveries of 95–97% and relative standard deviations of 2–3%. Residues could be semi-quantitatively determined at concentrations down to 125 ng/l.
Inactivation of rabbit muscle l-α-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase by N-alkylmaleimides

Abstract A series of N -alkylmaleimides was shown to inactivate effectively rabbit muscle l -α-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase at pH 7.0. The second-order rate constants determined for this inactivation process increased with increasing chain length of the maleimide derivative. The binding of NADH was shown to protect the enzyme against maleimide inactivation while the binding of NAD, N 1 -butylnicotinamide chloride and a variety of adenine derivatives had no such effect. Product studies of the N -ethylmaleimide-inactivated enzyme revealed the presence of essentially equal amounts of S -succinylcysteine and ethylamine indicating selective modification of cysteine residues during the inactivation process. The number of lysine and histidine residues of the enzyme did not change on modification with N -ethylmaleimide. It is suggested that the chain-length effects observed in the inactivation process is related to nonpolar interactions in the binding of maleimides to the enzyme prior to an irreversible modification of sulfhydryl groups.
Using a dataflow language and the World Wide Web for scientific visualization

The visual programming language Data Explorer has been a powerful tool for teaching and learning introductory computer graphics. The World Wide Web was introduced as a mechanism for providing students with lab exercises, sample programs, and related course material, and as a site for the publication of their final design projects. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Identification and Visualization of Coupling Paths-–Part II: Practical Application

This work focuses on developing methods to identify and visualize electromagnetic coupling paths. In Part I [1] of this two-part series, the idea to utilize an analogy between electromagnetic energy flow and fluid flow was explained. The concepts of the electromagnetic energy parcel and its trajectory were introduced, and the characteristics of the trajectory of an energy parcel were discussed. Based on this idea, this paper (Part II) introduces methods and concepts developed for solving practical electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) problems. The utility of the methods will be demonstrated using a practical application.
Analysis of Phenobarbital Elixir by an Ion Exchange and Nonaqueous Titration Procedure

Phenobarbital elixir is analyzed by passing an aliquot through a strongly basic anion exchange resin. The phenobarbital is eluted from the column with acetic acid in ethanol. After evaporation of the solvent, the residue is dissolved in dimethylformamide and titrated with sodium methoxide in benzene-methanol. Other barbiturate elixirs are assayed similarly. Nonionic components, coloring agents, bases, most salts, and synthetic sweetening agents do not interfere.
On the 2-sum embedding conjecture

The 2-sum embedding conjecture (Lee-Sidiropoulos, FOCS 2009) states that all the shortest-path metrics supported on a family of graphs F admit a uniformly bi-Lipschitz embedding into L1 if and only if the same property holds for the closure of F under edge sums. The problem has an equivalent formulation in terms of multi-commodity flow/cut gaps and appears to be a fundamental step in resolving the well-studied question of which families of graphs admit an approximate multi-commodity max-flow/min-cut theorem.The 2-sum conjecture is known to be true when F = {K3}, where Kn denotes the complete graph on n vertices; this is equivalent to the seminal result of Gupta, Newman, Rabinovich, and Sinclair (Combinatorica, 2004) on embeddings of series-parallel graphs into L1. For F = {K4}, the conjecture was confirmed by Chakrabarti, Jaffe, Lee, and Vincent (FOCS 2008). In the present paper, we prove the conjecture holds for any finite family of graphs F. In fact, we obtain a quantitatively optimal result: Any path metric on a graph formed by 2-sums of arbitrarily many copies of Kn embeds into L1 with distortion O(log n). This is a consequence of a more general theorem that characterizes the L1 distortion of the 2-sum closure of any family F in terms of constrained embeddings of the members of F.
Effects of perinatal oxycodone exposure on the response to CRH in late adolescent rats

We hypothesized that prenatal oxycodone exposure suppresses the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) response to stress in late adolescence. Dark Agouti rats were given either intravenous oxycodone or vehicle (controls, CON) daily from gestation day 8 until postnatal day (PD) 5. At PD 45, the male and female offspring received intravenously either ovine corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) or saline. Plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone (CORT) levels were determined before, and 15, 30, and 60 min after injection. Prenatal oxycodone had no effect on baseline ACTH values; CRH elicited a greater ACTH response than saline. In males, prenatal oxycodone delayed and enhanced the peak ACTH response to CRH, but had no effect in females. The CORT response to CRH was not different between oxycodone and CON; however mean CORT levels in females were significantly higher than those in males at baseline and after stimulation. These results demonstrate that prenatal oxycodone increases pituitary response to CRH in late adolescent male rats, but not in females. The absence of an enhanced adrenal response in oxycodone-exposed males suggests either desensitization or maximal adrenal response to a high CRH dose. The mechanisms of postnatal sex-specific HPA dysregulation following prenatal oxycodone remain to be elucidated.
Synthesis and antiproliferative activity of benzyl and phenethyl analogs of makaluvamines

Analogs of marine alkaloid, makaluvamine, bearing substituted benzyl and substituted phenethyl side chains have been synthesized and their antiproliferative activities have been evaluated. 4-Methyl, 4-chloro, and 4-fluoro substituted benzyl analogs possessed pronounced antiproliferative effects on the breast cancer cell line, MCF-7 at IC(50) values of 2.3 microM, 1.8 microM, and 2.8 microM, respectively. 4-Methyl, 4-chloro, and 3,4-methylenedioxy derivatives showed the best activity against MCF-7 among the phenethyl analogs with IC(50) values of 2.3 microM, 2.8 microM, and 2.4muM, respectively. In general, methoxy substitutions resulted in slight loss in activity in both benzyl and phenethyl series. Benzyl, 4-fluorobenzyl, 3,4-dimethoxyphenethyl, and 3,4-methylenedioxyphenethyl analogs were tested by NCI in their 60 cell lines in vitro human cancer cell screen. All four compounds showed excellent inhibition against several tested cancer cell lines. Benzyl and 4-fluorobenzyl analogs were relatively more active than 3,4-dimethoxy phenethyl and 3,4-methylenedioxy phenethyl analogs. In NCI assays, the best LogGI(50) values were shown by the fluorobenzyl analog against the renal cancer cell line RXF-393 (<-8.0M) and dimethoxy phenethyl analog against the CNS cancer cell line, SF-268 (<-8.0M). The best LogLC(50) value was shown by the fluorobenzyl analog against the breast cancer cell line MCF-7 (-6.01 M).
Family and physician influence on asthma research participation decisions for adolescents: the effects of adolescent gender and research risk.

OBJECTIVE. There is considerable ethical and legal ambiguity surrounding the role of adolescents in the decision-making process for research participation. Depending on the nature of the study and the regulations involved, adolescents may have independent responsibility for providing informed consent, they may be asked to provide their assent, or they may be completely excluded from the decision-making process. This study examined parent and adolescent perceptions of decision-making authority and sources of influence on adolescent research participation decisions, and examined whether perceptions of influence differed based on adolescent gender and level of research risk. STUDY DESIGN: Adolescents (n = 36) with asthma and their parents reviewed 9 pediatric research protocols, decided whether they would choose to participate, rated the extent they would be responsible for the actual decision, and indicated the ability of family and physician to influence their decisions. Multivariate analyses of variance were used to evaluate differences in perceptions of decision-making authority and sources of influence on the decisions. RESULTS: Adolescents were less willing to cede decision making authority to parents than parents anticipated. Parents and adolescents acknowledged a greater openness to influence from physicians than from family for above minimal risk studies. Parents were more willing to consider opinions from male adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents desire responsibility for research participation decisions, though parents may not share these views. Physicians’ views on research participation are important to families, especially for above minimal risk studies. Parents may grant more decision-making autonomy to adolescent males than to females. Researchers, physicians, and institutions play a key role in facilitating the ethical enrollment of adolescents into biomedical research. Educational, policy, and oversight processes that support both adolescent autonomy and parental responsibility for research participation decision-making in biomedical research are discussed.
Enhancing diode laser tuning with a short external cavity

Abstract A simple and inexpensive system that extends the continuous tuning range ofa diode laser is described. Using this system, virtually any wavelength within a range of several nanometers of the nominal lasing wavelength is accesible. The system's behavior agrees well with that predicted by a semi-theoretical model.
Properties and use on In 0.5 (Al x Ga 1-x ) 0.5 P and Al x Ga 1-x As native oxides in heterostructure lasers

Data are presented demonstrating the formation of native oxides from high Al composition In0.5(AlxGa1-x)0.5P (x≳ 0.9) by simple annealing in a “wet” ambient. The oxidation occurs by reaction of the high Al composition crystal with H2O vapor (in a N2 carrier gas) at elevated temperatures (≥500° C) and results in stable transparent oxides. Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) as well as scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) are employed to evaluate the oxide properties, composition, and oxide-semiconductor interface. The properties of native oxides of the In0.5(AlxGa1-x)0.5P system are compared to those of the AlxGa1-xAs system. Possible reaction mechanisms and oxidation kinetics are considered. The In0.5(AlxGa1-x)0.5P native oxide is shown to be of sufficient quality to be employed in the fabrication of stripe-geometry In0.5(AlxGa1-x)0.5P visible-spectrum laser diodes.
An Ultra-Low Power QVCO Using Current-Coupling and Bulk-Injection Techniques

In this letter, a quadrature voltage-controlled oscillator (QVCO) using PMOS transistors to couple two VCO cores is presented. The power consumption is drastically reduced by using the bulk of the PMOS transistors to lower the transconductance of both differential pairs in the coupling network. The QVCO achieves a measured phase noise of ${-}116.02$ dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset and a quadrature phase error of 0.48 $^{\circ}$ with a center frequency of 3.5 GHz. The proposed QVCO consumes 230 $\mu$ W from a 0.45 V supply voltage. The QVCO is implemented in a standard 0.13 $\mu$ m CMOS process with core area of 0.315 mm $^{2}$ .
Emerging strategies for enhancing growth: is there a biotechnology better than somatotropin?

Abstract During the past 20 years, there have been many impressive advances in a number of scientific disciplines that have led to the discovery and development of exciting new biotechnologies that offer the potential to improve productive efficiency of animal agriculture. Some technologies have been developed from advances made in our understanding of how the endocrine system regulates growth and lactation. This information then has been used to devise viable strategies that alter circulating hormone concentration(s) to enhance animal production and productive efficiency. The most notable success to date using this approach has been bovine somatotropin, which has been adopted for use in the dairy industry in certain countries. Advances in transgenic biology, gene therapy, “knock-out” gene technologies, and cloning may lead to other novel products/strategies that enhance productive efficiency. The purpose of this paper is to discuss what future strategies might emerge that will increase meat and milk production and the efficiency of these processes.
Genetic and Epidemiologic Studies of Oral Characteristics in Hawaii's Schoolchildren: Dietary Patterns and Caries Prevalence

The relationship between the frequency of eating various foods and caries was studied in 910 eighth grade students of different races in Hawaii. There was a significant positive association between the frequency of candy and gum intake and DMF teeth. Racial differences still persisted after accounting for the dietary variation.
Raman spectroscopy of intercalated layered structure compounds

Abstract The Raman spectra of intercalated 1TTaS2 and 2HTaSe2 have been measured for the first time. Normal symmetry allowed optic phonons and charge density wave induced modes are observed in both systems. The spectra of the ethylenediamine intercalated compounds are qualitatively similar to those of the pure materials with small quantitative shifts in frequency and changes in the relative intensities of the CDW induced modes. The qualitative similarities in the spectra of the pure and the intercalated compounds reflect the two dimensional character of these materials and show that the dynamic properties of the charge density wave states are largely determined by intralayer effects.
In situ protein degradation of alfalfa and birdsfoot trefoil hays and silages as influenced by condensed tannin concentration1

Dairy cattle often make poor use of protein when offered diets comprising high proportions of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) hay or silage because nonprotein N formed during forage conservation and ruminal fermentation exceeds requirements for rumen microbial protein synthesis; however, condensed tannins (CT) may reduce proteolysis in the silo and in the rumen, thereby potentially improving the efficiency of crude protein (CP) use in ruminant diets. Two harvests, yielding 12 hays and 12 silages made from alfalfa and birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) that varied in concentrations of CT, were evaluated for in situ disappearance kinetics of CP in 6 ruminally cannulated lactating Holstein dairy cows (627 ± 56.3 kg). Prior to conservation, alfalfa contained no detectable CT, whereas CT in fresh lyophilized birdsfoot trefoil ranged from 1.16 to 2.77% of dry matter, as determined by a modified acetone-butanol-HCl assay. Percentages of CP remaining at each incubation time were fitted to nonlinear regression models with or without a discrete lag time. Effective ruminal disappearance of CP (rumen-degradable protein, RDP) was calculated by 3 procedures that included (1) no discrete lag (RDPNL), (2) discrete lag (RDPL), and (3) discrete lag with a lag adjustment (RDPLADJ). Regardless of the calculation method, RDP declined linearly with increasing CT concentrations (R(2)=0.62 to 0.97). Generally, tests of homogeneity showed that conservation type (hay or silage) or harvest (silage only) affected intercepts, but not slopes in regressions of RDP on CT. A positive relationship between lag time and CT suggests that the RDPLADJ approach may be most appropriate for calculating RDP for legumes containing tannins. With this approach, regression intercepts were mainly affected by conservation method, and RDPLADJ averaged 77.5 and 88.7% of CP for hay and silage, respectively, when no CT was present. Greater estimates of RDP for silages were related to extensive proteolysis in laboratory silos resulting in conversions of protein into nonprotein N forms, which readily washed out of Dacron bags. When RDPLADJ and CT were expressed on a CP basis, regression slopes indicated that each unit of CT protected 0.61 units of CP from ruminal degradation in hays and silages. Applying this relationship to a typical mid-maturity forage legume containing 21% CP suggests that a CT concentration of 3.8% of DM would be required to reduce RDP from 81% to a 70% target considered optimal for improving protein utilization and milk yields by dairy cattle.
Galaxies and Gas in a Cold Dark Matter Universe

We use a combined gravity/hydrodynamics code to simulate the formation of structure in a random 22 Mpc cube of a cold dark matter universe. Adiabatic compression and shocks heat much of the gas to temperatures of 10 exp 6 - 10 exp 7 K, but a fraction of the gas cools radiatively to about 10 exp 4 K and condenses into discrete, highly overdense lumps. We identify these lumps with galaxies. The high-mass end of their baryonic mass function fits the form of the observed galaxy luminosity function. They retain independent identities after their dark halos merge, so gravitational clustering produces groups of galaxies embedded in relatively smooth envelopes of hot gas and dark matter. The galaxy correlation function is approximately an r exp -2.1 power law from separations of 35 kpc to 7 Mpc. Galaxy fluctuations are biased relative to dark matter fluctuations by a factor b about 1.5. We find no significant 'velocity bias' between galaxies and dark matter particles. However, virial analysis of the simulation's richest group leads to an estimated Omega of about 0.3, even though the simulation adopts Omega = 1.
344 – Weight gain in the first six months after diagnosis of depression associated with baseline BMI, not treatment outcomes

Introduction There is an observed inter-dependency between the onset of obesity and onset of depression. Less is known of the outcomes of depression treatment on changes in weight, when compared to baseline body mass index (BMI). In a prior study we demonstrated that six month depression outcomes were not related to patient's baseline BMI. Objectives/aims To determine if there were significant weight changes for patients diagnosed with depression over a six month period. Methods This was a retrospective chart review of 1,551 patients diagnosed with depression by their primary care provider from March 2008. Results A majority of the patients, 1,050 (67.7%) either had a weight loss or no significant change (+/- 2.5%). In logistic modeling, age was the only variable independently associated with weight gain of 2.5% or greater at six months (OR 0.9916, p = 0.0133). For the 501 patients with weight gain, BMI was inversely associated with weight gain at six months. With logistic modeling; increased BMI remained inversely associated with significant weight gain (+5%) at six months. The presence of clinical remission at six months was not associated with weight gain of greater than 5%. Conclusions The majority of patient diagnosed with depression by their primary care provider did not experience a significant change in their weight over the next six months. Clinical remission did not impact the weight changes seen. If a patient was going to gain weight, a baseline normal BMI was associated with an increased risk of >5% weight gain in six months.
Pharmacy student self-testing as a predictor of examination performance.

Objectives. To determine if student self-testing improves performance during a doctor of pharmacy course.Methods. Students were given access to online quizzes with a large pool of randomly selected...
Turbulent Flow Field Measurements of Separate Flow Round and Chevron Nozzles with Pylon Interaction Using Particle Image Velocimetry

Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) measurements for six separate flow bypass ratio five nozzle configurations have recently been obtained in the NASA Langley Jet Noise Laboratory. The six configurations include a baseline configuration with round core and fan nozzles, an eight-chevron core nozzle at two different clocking positions, and repeats of these configurations with a pylon included. One run condition representative of takeoff was investigated for all cases with the core nozzle pressure ratio set to 1.56 and the total temperature to 828 K. The fan nozzle pressure ratio was set to 1.75 with a total temperature of 350 K, and the freestream Mach number was M = 0.28. The unsteady flow field measurements provided by PIV complement recent computational, acoustic, and mean flow field studies performed at NASA Langley for the same nozzle configurations and run condition. The PIV baseline configuration measurements show good agreement with mean flow field data as well as existing PIV data acquired at NASA Glenn. Nonetheless, the baseline configuration turbulence profile indicates an asymmetric flow field, despite careful attention to concentricity. The presence of the pylon increases the upper shear layer turbulence levels while simultaneously decreasing the turbulence levels in the lower shear layer. In addition, a slightly shorter potential core length is observed with the addition of the pylon. Finally, comparisons of computational results with PIV measurements are favorable for mean flow, slightly over-predicted for Reynolds shear stress, and underpredicted for Reynolds normal stress components.
Generic Development of Topical Dermatologic Products: Formulation Development, Process Development, and Testing of Topical Dermatologic Products

This review presents considerations which can be employed during the development of a semi-solid topical generic product. This includes a discussion on the implementation of quality by design concepts during development to ensure the generic drug product has similar desired quality attributes to the reference-listed drug (RLD) and ensure batch to batch consistency through commercial production. This encompasses the concept of reverse-engineering to copy the RLD as a strategy during product development to ensure qualitative (Q1) and quantitative (Q2) formulation similarity, as well as similarity in formulation microstructure (Q3). The concept of utilizing in vitro skin permeation studies as a tool to justify formulation differences between the test generic product and the RLD to ensure a successful pharmacodynamic or clinical endpoint bioequivalence study is discussed. The review concludes with a discussion on drug product evaluation and quality tests as well as in vivo bioequivalence studies.
Consultation-liaison fellowships: effect on internists' attitudes toward psychiatric consultation.

Abstract The results of a questionnaire sent to 495 internists indicated that they would be more likely to request psychiatric consultations for their patients if they had access to psychiatrists who had completed consultation-liaison (C-L) fellowships. The attitudes of those internists initially highly reluctant to obtain psychiatric consultation were significantly more enhanced on learning about the specially trained C-L psychiatrists than were the attitudes of less reluctant internists. Examination of various sources of reluctance suggests that many internists have low confidence in the value of psychiatric consultations. Only 31 % of the internists polled were aware of C-L fellowships.
Importance of adsorbate-adsorbate interactions for As and Sb chemisorption on Si(100).

The chemisorption of As and Sb on both the Si(100)(1×1) ideal surface and the (2×1)-reconstructed surface is studied using the first-principles DMol method and cluster models (with up to 63 atoms), and the result shows that single As and Sb atoms adsorbed on the Si(100) ideal surface are predicted to have different stable adsorption sites, which implies that As and Sb will display different behavior on the Si surface. In fact, experiments show similar results for As and Sb for the adsorption site on the Si surface. A consistent result within the theoretical model and with the experimental results is achieved by including the metal-metal interaction at the surface
Utility of peak shape analyses in determining unresolved interferences in exact mass measurements at low resolution

Low resolution methods can provide exact mass data comparable to that obtained with high resolution instrumentation and offer potential advantages in throughput and robustness. However, low resolution exact mass techniques have realized limited use largely because of the possibility of errors caused by unresolved interferences. Here the utility of statistical peak shape analysis for determining unresolved interferences at low resolution is considered. Equations describing the effect of unresolved interferences on statistical peak shape parameters are developed and used to investigate the extent to which evaluations of peak shape can be used to reduce the likelihood of mass measurement errors. Peak shape analysis is shown to be a highly effective and sensitive method of determining unresolved interferences. Mass measurement errors resulting from undetermined interferences are found to increase with increasing relative abundance of the interfering peak, to increase with decreasing resolution, and to increase with decreasing precision in the intensity measurement. At low resolution, undetermined interferences as small as a few percent relative abundance can produce mass measurement errors in excess of 5 ppm. Peak shape analyses alone do not appear adequate to eliminate the risk of significant mass measurement errors resulting from unresolved interferences at low resolution.
Normal Newborn Nursery – Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: What's in Between?

Newborn Care Poster Presentation Purpose for the Program A trend of term newborns requiring transfer from the newborn nursery to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) was identified in a Level III NICU at a Magnet hospital. This offering will detail the pragmatic strategies utilized to decrease NICU admissions of high-risk transition newborns and present specific obstetric-related diagnoses.
Store and haul with repeated controlled flooding

This paper investigates the benefits and drawbacks of repeating controlled flooding at different time intervals in mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) to overcome episodic connectivity. Specifically, we examine the efficiencies in repeating transmissions by quantifying the packet delivery ratio (PDR) and recording the resulting delays in different types of MANET scenarios. These scenarios focus on the performance gains in frequently partitioned networks. The nodes store transmitted data and haul it across the MANET in the hope that it will come in range of a node that leads to the destination. A customized version of the Network Simulator 2 (ns-2) is used to create the simulations. A qualitative analysis follows and shows the cost and benefits of increased transmissions at varied time intervals.
Selective predation on the seeds of woody plants

predation was equivalent in both sites. Seed predators preferred Acer saccharum, Ilex verticillata, and Viburnum dentatum, but this was not related to seed mass. Predation intensity was more variable in the old field than in the forest, possibly related to the higher ground-layer heterogeneity of the old field site. We conclude that predator choice will allow some species to escape seed predation, potentially altering future plant community composition.
Ordered Au Nanodisk and Nanohole Arrays: Fabrications and Applications

We have advanced nanosphere lithography for fabricating ordered Au nanodisk and nanohole arrays on glass substrates. Further, we demonstrate the applications of the nanodisks and nanoholes in understanding exciton-plasmon couplings and patterning micro-/nano-particles, respectively.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
A sound and complete algorithm for distributed commerce transactions

In a multi-party transaction (also called a distributed commerce transaction) agents face risks from dealing with untrusted agents. These risks are compounded in the face of deadlines, e.g., an agent may fail to deliver purchased goods by the time the goods are needed. We characterize the risks, and present a distributed algorithm that mitigates these risks, by using pairwise exchanges and trusted intermediaries. The algorithm generates a safe sequence of actions that completes a commerce transaction without risk, if such a sequence exists. We show that the algorithm is sound (produces only safe multi-agent action sequences) and complete (finds a safe sequence whenever one exists). The initial restriction of guaranteeing safety even when none of the principals trusts another can be relaxed in some cases, so we show how to handle principals that do trust each other and interact directly rather than through a trusted intermediary.
The diffusion of minimally invasive radical prostatectomy in the United States: a case study of the introduction of new surgical devices.

The diffusion of minimally invasive radical prostatectomy (MIRP) in the United States may have led to adverse patient outcomes due to rapid surgeon adoption and collective inexperience. We hypothesized that throughout the early period of minimally invasive surgery, MIRP patients had inferior outcomes as compared with those who had open radical prostatectomy (ORP). We used the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results-Medicare dataset and identified men who had ORP and MIRP for prostate cancer from 2003–2009. Study endpoints were receipt of subsequent cancer treatment, and evidence of postoperative voiding dysfunction, erectile dysfunction (ED) and bladder outlet obstruction. We used proportional hazards regression to estimate the impact of surgical approach on each endpoint, and included an interaction term to test for modification of the effect of surgical approach by year of surgery. ORP (n=5362) and MIRP (n=1852) patients differed in their clinical and demographic characteristics. Controlling for patient characteristics and surgeon volume, there was no difference in subsequent cancer treatments (hazard ratio (HR) 0.89, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.76–1.05), although MIRP was associated with a higher risk of voiding dysfunction (HR 1.31, 95% CI 1.20–1.43) and ED (HR 1.43, 95% CI 1.31–1.56), but a lower risk of bladder outlet obstruction (HR 0.86, 95% CI 0.75–0.97). There was no interaction between approach and year for any outcome. When stratifying the analysis by year, MIRP consistently had higher rates of ED and voiding dysfunction with no substantial improvement over time. MIRP patients had adverse urinary and sexual outcomes throughout the diffusion of minimally invasive surgery. This may have been a result of the rapid adoption of robotic surgery with inadequate surgeon preparedness.
Using the NXT as an educational tool in computer science classes

Introducing real-world representations of fundamental concepts in computer science can drastically increase interest levels of students over standard lecture-based teaching. Therefore, the primary focus of the project was to develop an interactive educational platform centered on physical depictions of abstract concepts. A custom application was built to control Lego Mindstorms NXT robots or drones. The application sends instructions to the drones and watches them complete the tasks in real time using RoboRealm. In addition to developing the project as an educational tool, scalability and modularity were maintained at all times. This allows for such a project to be adapted and used in a multitude of fields. The concept of an autonomous mapping system that uses unmanned robots and implements machine learning can be put to use in fields such as geological surveying, search and rescue, and military applications.
Use of Dopamine Antagonists in Treatment of Migraine

Dopamine antagonists are indicated for treatment of nausea or psychosis and have an established role in the treatment of migraine. Neuroleptics, including antipsychotics, act as antagonists at the dopamine D2 receptor type. These medications also have variable activity as antihistamines and anticholinergics, and they block alpha-adrenergic and some serotonin receptor types, but their actions on dopamine are likely the reason for their efficacy in treating nausea, psychosis, and acute migraine. Neuroleptics are first-line agents in the emergency room setting for migraine, especially for patients with nausea and vomiting. In the setting of a clear prodrome, antiemetics may prevent migraine when taken before an attack. They are also indicated in clinical situations such as patients who are pregnant or have contraindications to migraine-specific medications or NSAIDs. Recent developments suggest that dopamine is particularly important in chronic pain, and we most commonly use neuroleptic medications in the treatment of status migrainosus or medication-overuse headache. Clinicians may avoid dopamine antagonists because of unfamiliarity and a lack of large, controlled clinical trials. Their use requires special care to avoid adverse events such as sedation, akathisia or dystonic reactions, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, or movement disorders with long-term use. Some newer atypical neuroleptic agents appear promising for both acute and prophylactic migraine treatment with a lower risk of adverse events.
The subfamily Pselaphinae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) of Southwestern Bulgaria II: Belasitsa Mts

New data about the Pselaphinae fauna of South-Western Bulgaria (Belasitsa Mts) are presented. Bythinus angustioculus sp. n. is described. The genus Protamaurops Muller, 1944 and the species Plectophloeus nubigena (Reitter, 1877) and Bryaxis leonhardi Reitter, 1902 are reported for the first time in Bulgaria.
The PCB circuit analysis system based on AI

A parallel printed circuit board test system with artificial intelligence technique is discussed, and the algorithms for the intragroup test and the intergroup test are described. The basic idea is to read the standard connection status and compare it with the connection status of the test board. The concept of the expert system with the statistical analysis of the fault database is used to reduce the test time. The parallelism also reduces the test time. From the knowledge of the fault data, the fault trend can control activity at the manufacturing site. The test equipment is expandable by adding more controller and pin electronics. >
Core-like particles of an enveloped animal virus can self-assemble efficiently on artificial templates

Alphaviruses are animal viruses holding great promise for biomedical applications as drug delivery vectors, functional imaging probes, and nanoparticle delivery vesicles because of their efficient in vitro self-assembly properties. However, due to their complex structure, with a protein capsid encapsulating the genome and an outer membrane composed of lipids and glycoproteins, the in-vitro self-assembly of virus-like particles, which have the functional virus coat but carry an artificial cargo, can be challenging. Fabrication of such alphavirus-like particles is likely to require a two-step process: first, the assembly of a capsid structure around an artificial core, second the addition of the membrane layer. Here we report progress made on the first step: the efficient self-assembly of the alphavirus capsid around a functionalized nanoparticle core.
Personal AP protocol for mobility management in IEEE 802.11 systems

In mobile wireless systems, the quest to support delay-stringent multimedia applications challenges most existing solutions to the mobility support and traffic management problems. An infrastructure supported approach is required to provide non-disrupted services with seamless roaming capabilities. We propose a mobility management scheme called personal AP, to support station mobility efficiently. In personal AP mobility support system, the mobility context of each mobile station is defined by the relevant state information at the currently associated access point, including the MAC layer association states at the access point. When the mobile station roams, the access point context follows the mobile station from one physical access point to another, thus creating the "ghost" access point following the mobile station and eliminating the mobile station from re-associating with new access points. Personal AP system improve the seamless roaming support by avoid the lengthy re-association process commonly seen in IEEE 802.11 systems. The essential idea of personal AP is applicable in other wireless systems as well.
The postcholecystectomy syndrome: a review of etiology and current approaches to management

Postcholecystectomy syndrome (PCS) comprises a heterogeneous group of symptoms and disorders in patients who have previously undergone cholecystectomy. While it is relatively uncommon, it is defined by chronic recurring pain, often with no clear source. Recent studies suggest its pathogenesis depends on different factors, but it remains poorly understood and complex to treat. Here, we present a brief overview of this syndrome, review recent literature regarding its etiology, and present a systematic approach to diagnosis and management.
The Wheel of Virtue: Art, Literature, and Moral Knowledge

By the common consent of all mankind who have read, poetry takes the highest place in literature. That nobility of expression, and all but divine grace of words, which she is bound to attain before she can make her footing good, is not compatible with prose. Indeed, it is that which turns prose into poetry. When that has been in truth achieved, the reader knows that the writer has soared above the earth, and can teach his lessons somewhat as a god might teach. He who sits down to write his tale in prose makes no such attempt, nor does he dream that the poet's honour is within his reach;-but his teaching is of the same nature, and his lessons all tend to the same end. By either, false sentiment may be fostered; false honour, false love, false worship may be created; by either vice instead of virtue may be taught. But by each, equally, may true honour, true love, true worship, and true humanity be inculcated; and that will be the greatest teacher who will spread the truth the widest.
LEARNING FROM HYPERTEXT: RESEARCH ISSUES AND FINDINGS

The question of how we learn from hypertext is more complicated than that of how we learn from traditional text. Although all the same elements of character decoding, word recognition, sentence comprehension, and so forth remain the same, a number of features unique to hypertext produce added complexity. It is these features that drive the research of hypertext in education and have shaped our discussion in this chapter. The most basic feature of hypertext, of course, is its nonlinear structure. How nonlinear structure alters learners’ mental representations or ability to use their new knowledge has been an active area of research. This feature gives way to a number of factors related to learning. Primary among these is a flexibility of information access. Whereas traditional text allows the author to assume what information has already been encountered and present new information accordingly, information within a hypertext may be retrieved in a sequence specified by each user. In other words, there is a greater degree of learner control when engaged in hypertext-assisted learning (HAL). The shift in control of access from author to learner places a greater cognitive burden on the learner. Specifically, the learner must now monitor to a greater extent whether he or she understands what has been read, determine whether information must be sought to close information gaps, and decide where to look for that information in the text. In short, there are greater metacognitive demands on the reader during HAL. While the vast majority of research on hypertext is not specifically relevant to learning, investigation into its educational utility began to heat up in the 1980s, and many research reports and articles have been published since then. Chen and Rada (1996) conducted a metanalytic study of learning from hypertext. Of 13 studies they found comparing learning outcomes for subjects using hypertext versus nonhypertext systems, 8 revealed an advantage of hypertext. Although the combined effect size was small to medium (r = .12), it was highly significant (p < .01). In addition, they report that the effect sizes and significance levels among studies comparing learning from hypertext and linear text were heterogeneous. They interpret this result as an indication that factors such as system design, system content, and experimental design influence educational effectiveness, and a number of empirical studies have pointed to the influence of such factors on learning outcomes. In addition to system variables, user traits such as goals, motivation, and prior knowledge are also factors in HAL. Moreover, these learner variables interact with hypertext characteristics to influence learning outcomes. We have attempted here to sort through the data to identify the variables that affect HAL most strongly and the mechanisms through which this occurs. Wherever it is appropriate, we have also tried to explain how user and system variables interact. Because of such interactions, the field is largely looking toward adaptive technology to tailor systems for the user, so we have also included a section on adaptive
Effects of infiltration and evaporation on geosynthetic capillary barrier performance

This study includes an experimental investigation of the transient movement of water in unsaturated soil layers underlain by a geocomposite drainage layer (GDL) during cycles of infiltration and evaporation. The distribution in volumetric water content with depth in a soil column having a height of 1350 mm underlain by a GDL was measured during transient infiltration. The capillary break effect was observed to affect the soil up to a height of 500 mm above the GDL, with an increase in volumetric water content up to 20% above that expected for the case of infiltration under a unit hydraulic gradient. Due to the long duration of this test (2000 h), a shorter 150 mm high soil column was also evaluated to investigate the soil–GDL hydraulic interaction during cycles of infiltration and evaporation. The capillary break was observed to have re-established itself after infiltration was stopped and the soil near the interface dried. The suction and volumetric water content measured in the soil at breakthrough were...
The YSIRK-G/S Motif of Staphylococcal Protein A and Its Role in Efficiency of Signal Peptide Processing

Many surface proteins of pathogenic gram-positive bacteria are linked to the cell wall envelope by a mechanism requiring a C-terminal sorting signal with an LPXTG motif. Surface proteins of Streptococcus pneumoniae harbor another motif, YSIRK-G/S, which is positioned within signal peptides. The signal peptides of some, but not all, of the 20 surface proteins of Staphylococcus aureus carry a YSIRK-G/S motif, whereas those of surface proteins of Listeria monocytogenes and Bacillus anthracis do not. To determine whether the YSIRK-G/S motif is required for the secretion or cell wall anchoring of surface proteins, we analyzed variants of staphylococcal protein A, an immunoglobulin binding protein with an LPXTG sorting signal. Deletion of the YSIR sequence or replacement of G or S significantly reduced the rate of signal peptide processing of protein A precursors. In contrast, cell wall anchoring or the functional display of protein A was not affected. The fusion of cell wall sorting signals to reporter proteins bearing N-terminal signal peptides with or without the YSIRK-G/S motif resulted in hybrid proteins that were anchored in a manner similar to that of wild-type protein A. The requirement of the YSIRK-G/S motif for efficient secretion implies the existence of a specialized mode of substrate recognition by the secretion pathway of gram-positive cocci. It seems, however, that this mechanism is not essential for surface protein anchoring to the cell wall envelope.