cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Perceived learning needs of patients with heart failure

Objective: To determine the perceived learning needs of patients with heart failure (HF) compared with identified needs by registered nurses (RNs). Design: Descriptive, comparative. Setting: Two midwestern hospitals: 1 community hospital and 1 that is part of a large, universityaffiliated, integrated health care system. Sample: A convenience sample of 84 adult patients with HF from left ventricular systolic dysfunction and 84 registered nurses. Outcome Measure: The Heart Failure Learning Needs Inventory, developed for this study, was used to rate 98 individual items divided into 8 subscales suggested in the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) practice guidelines. The subscales include general HF information, psychologic adaptation to illness, risk factors, medications, diet, activity, prognosis, and signs and symptoms. Results: Multivariate analysis of variance was completed. The patients perceived the subscales of general HF information, risk factors, medications, prognosis, and signs and symptoms as more important to learn than the RNs did (P < .05). Patients perceived diet information as less important to learn than the RNs did (P < .05). There were no differences in the patients’ and nurses’ perceptions in the activity and psychologic subscales. The patients perceived all 8 subscales as more realistic to learn than the RNs did (P < .05). Although not in identical order, both groups ranked education related to medication and signs and symptoms as the 2 priority areas. Diet information was ranked eighth by the patients and third by the RNs. Conclusion: The findings are consistent with previous research supporting the overall trend that patients with HF perceived patient education to be more important and realistic to learn during hospitalization than the nurses did. Patients and nurses identified education related to signs and symptoms and medication as the 2 most important content areas. In comparison with the AHCPR clinical practice guidelines, the group of RNs studied would ascribe the additional category of signs and symptoms as essential content to be taught during hospitalization. (Heart Lung® 1999;28:31-40)
Effects of Aromatase Inhibition on Bone Mineral Density and Bone Turnover in Older Men with Low Testosterone Levels

Context: Aging is associated with declining gonadal steroid production, low bone mineral density (BMD), and fragility fractures. The efficacy and safety of testosterone replacement in older men remains uncertain. Objective: The objective of the study was to assess the effects of aromatase inhibition on BMD in older men with low testosterone levels. Design and Setting: This was a 1-yr, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial that was conducted at a tertiary care academic center in Boston, MA. Participants: Participants included 69 men aged 60+ yr with borderline or low testosterone levels and hypogonadal symptoms. Intervention: Intervention included 1 mg anastrozole daily or placebo. Main Outcome Measures: Changes in gonadal steroid hormone levels, BMD, and bone turnover markers were measured. Results: Mean serum testosterone increased from 319 ± 93 ng/dl at baseline to 524±139 ng/dl at month 3 (P < 0.0001) and declined slightly to 474 ± 145 ng/dl by 1 yr. Estradiol levels decreased from 15 ± 4 pg/ml at baseline to 12 ± 4 pg/ml at month 3 and then remained stable (P < 0.0001). Posterior-anterior (PA) spine BMD decreased in the anastrozole group as compared with placebo (P = 0.0014). In the anastrozole group, PA spine BMD decreased from 1.121 ± 0.141 g/cm2 to 1.102 ± 0.138 g/cm2, whereas in the placebo group, PA spine BMD increased from 1.180 ± 0.145 g/cm2 to 1.189 ± 0.146 g/cm2. Qualitatively similar, but not statistically significant, changes occurred at the other sites. Bone turnover markers were not affected by anastrozole therapy. Conclusions: In older men, aromatase inhibition increases testosterone levels, decreases estradiol levels, and appears to decrease BMD. Aromatase inhibition does not improve skeletal health in aging men with low or low normal testosterone levels.
Role of gut flora in the genotoxicity of dinitrotoluene

Dinitrotoluene (DNT), an important industrial nitroaromatic compound, is a potent hepatocarcinogen in rats. Male Fischer-334 rats fed technical-grade DNT in the diet for 12 months showed a 100% incidence of hepatocellular carcinomas1. However, various in vitro and in vivo short-term tests using several genotoxic end points have failed to show activity with DNT or purified DNT isomers2–6, including unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) in primary hepatocytes in vitro7. In the in vivo–in vitro hepatocyte DNA repair assay, which measures chemically induced UDS in hepatocytes isolated from rats treated in vivo8, DNT was found to be a potent UDS inducer9 having a peak of activity 12 h after a single dose. A possible explanation for the discrepancy between the in vivo and in vitro results is that metabolism by gut flora may be required for formation of the proximate or ultimate carcinogenic metabolites of DNT. The importance of biotransformation of toxicants by intestinal microflora has been demonstrated for cycasin10,11 and other xenobiotics12. We have used the in vivo–in vitro hepatocyte DNA repair assay to study the role of intestinal microflora in DNT genotoxicity. We report here extensive DNT-induced DNA repair in rats having the normal complement of gut flora, but not in rats which have no gut flora. These results indicate that metabolism of DNT by gut flora is a necessary step in the genotoxicity of this compound and illustrate the value of the in vivo–in vitro hepatocyte DNA repair assay in assessing the carcinogenic potential of nitroaromatic compounds.
Changes in the composition of ovomucin during liquefaction of thick egg white.

Preparations of purified ovomucin complex have been obtained from samples of thick egg white which were liquefied during incubation at 37 °C under sterile conditions. Chemical analyses of the ovomucin complex and analytical ultra-centrifugation of fully reduced derivatives of the ovomucin complex obtained from thick egg white thinned by incubation at 37 °C have shown that these preparations, unlike those obtained from “fresh” thick egg white, contained only small quantities of β-ovomucin. It is postulated that β-ovomucin is converted to a more soluble form during the natural thinning of thick egg white at 37 °C.
Tension between U.S. labor law and work restructuring: A focus on team-based work systems

Team-based work systems are part of a new management commitment paradigm. Recently, concerns have been raised regarding the legality of team-based work systems under the National Labor Relations Act. Workplace teams and team systems are not per se illegal. This review indicates that there is a high degree of certainty regarding the conduct and characteristics necessary to trigger legitimate challenges to team systems under the National Labor Relations Act. The National Labor Relations Board and Courts, on a case-by-case basis, look at consistent and reasonable criteria in determining the permissibility of any aspect of a team system. Nonetheless, a review and reevaluation of labor law is still warranted. This article begins with a description of team-based work systems. Next, pertinent features of the National Labor Relations Act are outlined. Third, National Labor Relations Board and Court decisions pertaining to team-based work systems are reviewed. Finally, implications for employers, employees, unions, and public policy are drawn.
Action of histamine and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine on cAMP activation of protein kinase in dog gastric mucosa

Dog gastric mucosa was incubated with histamine, IMX and db-cAMP, and the tissue was analyzed for cAMP content and cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity. Results show that in the absence of IMX, histamine does not produce measurable changes in either cAMP content or protein kinase activity ratios. In the presence of 5×10−5 mol/I IMX histamine elicits a dose-dependent accumulation of cAMP, and this accumulation is reflected in elevated protein kinase activity ratios. When IMX concentration is increased to 5×10−4 mol/l, the histamine effect is more pronounced. Incubation of gastric mucosa with 10−6 mol/l db-cAMP results in elevated cAMP tissue levels both in the absence and presence of IMX, but protein kinase activity ratio is significantly elevated only in the presence of 5×10−4 mol/l IMX. It is concluded that histamlen stimulates cAMP formation and protein kinase activation in dog gastric mucosa, but elevations are detectable only when the phosphodiesterase enzyme is inhibited.
Third-order optical mixing of frequencies of a strong bichromatic field interacting with a three-level atom in the “Lambda” configuration

Abstract We have considered the excitation spectra of three-photon processes arising from the interaction of a three-level atom, in the “lambda” configuration, with two strong electromagnetic fields whose initially populated modes ω a and ω b are at resonance with the two atomic transition frequencies, respectively. In the limit of high photon densities, expressions for the spectral functions are derived describing third-order nonlinear processes near the frequencies ω = ± (ω a − 2ω b ) and ω = ± (ω b − 2ω a ), respectively. Analytical calculations are then performed and the computed spectra are presented graphically for different values of the Rabi frequencies Ω a and Ω b , respectively. Expressions for the spectral function near the frequence ω = ω a − 2ω b are derived for specific values ω ⪡ η b , η b ≈ 2η a , η a ≈ η b , η a ≈ 2η a and η a ⪢ η b , where η a = Ω a /γ 0 and η b = Ω b /γ 0 are the reduced Rabi frquencies of the laser fields, respectively, and γ 0 is the s pontaneous emission probability. The computed spectra are compared with the corresponding ones for an atom in the “V” configuration.
Exercise: A Beneficial Activity for Older Adults

The article looks at some of the various physiological, psychological, and social benefits of exercise for older adults. Several different types of programs are described. Interviews of participants and brief case histories are included. Recommendations for exercise programs and perceptions on exercise for the elderly are discussed. The article concludes with implications for health professionals.
Microcomputers Implementation of Digital Control Strategies for Structural Response Reduction

: In the past, implementation of active structural control strategies employing PC-based hardware has often been problematic, and there seems to be a need to improve the understanding of the issues associated with implementation of digital control, as well as to reduce the excessive computational times required for I/O processes and calculation of control forces. Recently developed hardware based on dedicated digital signal processing (DSP) chips has offered new possibilities for control algorithm implementation. This paper discusses digital control system concepts and specific practical aspects of digital control implementation, including the use of supervision. Details regarding active structural control using the Texas Instruments TMS32OC30 DSP chip and experimental verification of the hardware performance are given.
Tensile properties of 0.05 to 0.20 Pct C TRIP steels

The uniaxial tensile properties of a series of TRIP steels of varying carbon contents and processing histories were determined over a wide range of test temperatures. The yield strengths at room temperature varied both with the deformation temperature (over the range 250° to 550°C) and with the carbon content (0.05 to 0.20 pct). Possible reasons for these variations are advanced. For all steels, the −100°C yield strengths were substantially lower than the 100°C yield strengths. The minima and maxima in the yield strengths vs temperatures curves were especially pronounced for the steels processed at the lowest deformation temperatures. Both the rate of work hardening and the elongation were influenced by the strain-induced austenite-to-martensite transformation. The rate of strain hardening and the rate of production of strain-induced martensite (per unit strain) increased with decreasing temperature.
Equivocal diagnoses in breast aspiration biopsy cytology: Sources of uncertainty and the role of 'atypical/indeterminate' terminology

In 1996, a National Cancer Institute committee recommended four categories as uniform terminology for breast fine-needle aspirations (FNAs): benign, malignant, suspicious/probably malignant, and atypical/indeterminate. The latter is a controversial category. This study evaluates the usefulness of the atypical/indeterminate term, and examines sources of diagnostic equivocation in breast FNA. Eight hundred and twenty-two consecutive breast FNAs were previously classified as benign, malignant, suspicious, or unsatisfactory. Two hundred and thirteen (25.9%) cases had surgical follow-up and were classified as true positive (TP), false positive (FP), true negative (TN), false negative (FN), true suspicious (TS), or false suspicious (FS). Slides from FN, FP, TS, and FS were reviewed for interpretative error, poor clarity or preservation, obscuring material, sampling error, or insufficient malignant criteria. Cases were also evaluated as to whether classification as “atypical/indeterminate” would have improved patient care. There were 21/822 (2.6%) FN, 37/822 (4.5%) TS + FS, and 0 FP diagnoses. Seventy percent of suspicious diagnoses showed cancer on follow-up. The majority of FN and suspicious cases were due to sampling problems and insufficient criteria of malignancy. None were deemed more appropriately classified as “atypical/indeterminate” All required surgical confirmation for treatment. All equivocal breast diagnoses are due to similar problems. Splitting them into “suspicious/probably malignant” and “atypical/indeterminate” would not lower the biopsy rate. A simpler three-part terminology of benign, malignant, and suspicious/equivocal, without qualification of the latter favoring benign or malignant, would provide more effective communication and appropriate follow-up. Diagn. Cytopathol. 1999;21:217–222. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Supervisory control of uncertain underactuated vehicles

In this paper, the author proposes a solution to the position tracking problem for fairly general class of underactuated autonomous vehicles that is applicable to motion in either two or three dimensional spaces. The tracking controller proposed yields global stability and exponential convergence of the position tracking error to a neighborhood of the origin that can be made arbitrarily small. The desired trajectory does not need to be a trimming trajectory and can be sufficiently smooth time-varying bounded curve, including the degenerate case of a constant trajectory (set-point). The control algorithm builds on iterative Lyapunov-based techniques, in particular, integrator backstepping. This is an important issue since the availability of a Lyapunov function suits the need of robust control designs in the presence of noise measurements, handed disturbances, and unmeasured thruster dynamics.
Strategy and abilities training for prose recall and comprehension in mentally retarded children.

Abstract This study compared the effects of training conditions, abilities, strategies, and a combination of abilities and strategies on the recall and comprehension of prose passages. The subjects were 45 educable mentally retarded children divided equally into the three conditions. Although there was significant pre- to post-test improvement within each condition for factual recall, no differences were observed among the conditions for either factual recall or comprehension.
Developing a Concept of Hope from a Human Science Perspective

This article explores concept development from a human science perspective and uses concept inventing, a method described by Parse, for developing the concept of hope as inspired by the Taiwanese folk song "Mending a Torn Fish Net." The synthesized definition is hope is resolute picturing of the possibilities amid the restrictions-opportunities of communion-aloneness while creatively metamorphosing. This definition is explicitly connected to the three principles of Parse's theory of human becoming. Reflections on research and practice are provided.
Administrative Review in a System of Conflicting Values

An issue of continuing debate in the legal and social science literature is how best to control and validate the exercise of essentially legislative powers by administrative agencies. This study examines one mechanism of control, administrative de novo review of agency decisionmaking. It explores how this device functions in immigration bail administration, a system where there is a broad and vague delegation of detention and bail powers to government officials in an area of law where there is no set of preferences as to how conflicting policy claims are to be weighed in decisionmaking. The study shows a system in turmoil. The de novo review body—the immigration court—frequently and substantially modifies the Immigration Service's initial bail decisions. Because there is no agreement on the norms to guide decisionmaking, these changes have little effect on ongoing agency activity and policies. Pronounced interagency conflict and extreme decisional disparity persist given limited institutional and political arrangements for dealing with this dissensus. The study explores in detail the institutional cultures and conflicting legal and social values that shape the practice and patterns of de novo review in this field of law and discusses the implications of such conflict for the full functioning of this external review device.
DESIGN OF LARGE-DISPLACEMENT COMPLIANT JOINTS

Flexure joints are widely used to approximate the function of traditional mechanical joints, while offering the benefits of high precision, long life, and ease of manufacture. This paper investigates and catalogs the drawbacks of typical flexure connectors and presents several new designs for highly-effective, kinematically-behaved compliant joints. A revolute and a translational compliant joint are proposed (Figure 1), both of which offer great improvements over existing flexures in the qualities of (1) large range of motion, (2) minimal axis drift, (3) increased off-axis stiffness, and (4) reduced stress-concentrations. Analytic stiffness equations are developed for each joint and parametric computer models are used to verify their superior stiffness properties. A catalog of design charts based on the parametric models is also presented, allowing for rapid sizing of the joints for custom performance. Finally, two multi-degree-of-freedom joints are proposed as modifications to the revolute joint. These include a compliant universal joint and a compliant spherical joint, both designed to provide high degrees of compliance in the desired direction of motion and high stiffness in other directions.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Radioimmunoassay Screening of Dried Blood Spot Materials for Benzoylecgonine

used as urinary screening tests followed by confirmation by GC/MS. Immunoassay tests have been used primarily on urine specimens because of the ease of specimen collection and the relative abundance of the metabolite in urine following cocaine use. Levels of BE in blood are lower than those found in urine in concurrent samples, but they remain in the detectable range of immunoassays. The predictable half-life of BE in blood for extended periods has not been calculated, and the relationship between levels in blood and urine has not been correlated. Moreover, metabolism of BE in the blood during pregnancy and its half-life in the blood of newborns have not been investigated. Previously, investigators have described several techniques for the extraction of BE from blood using organic solvent extraction and subsequent assay in an aqueous or methanolic medium (5-7). Here, the authors describe the use of a commercial urinary BE immunoassay procedure with standards, calibrators, and quality control materials (QC) made up in aqueous eluates from blood spots or BE spiked into whole blood, spotted onto filter paper, and then eluted in aqueous solution. Postmortem blood samples were quantitated as blood spots for BE, and quantitation was confirmed by GC/MS analysis. The correlation of blood and urine levels of BE was measured on samples from pregnant women. Blood samples were collected from mothers; cord and blood spots from neonates were measured for BE. Finally, the quantitative immunoassay was used to measure BE levels in more than 500 anonymous residual blood spots obtained routinely from infants born in three states, at hospitals where high prevalence of cocaine use among childbearing women is suspected.
Deformation Behavior of Polycrystalline Aluminum Oxide

The steady-state creep behavior of polycrystalline aluminum oxide from 97 to 100% dense has been examined at temperatures from 1600° to 1800°C over a range of stresses from 100 to 2000 psi under four-point transverse bending. Grain size is shown to have an important effect on the deformation behavior. Stress-strain rate dependence for the fine-grained aluminum oxide (3 to 13μ) is of viscous behavior (°e∼σ). The strain rate is also inversely proportional to the square of the grain size (°e∼ 1/(GS)2). The creep behavior can be described by the Nabarro-Herring diffusional flow model although the diffusion coefficient does not agree with that for oxygen diffusion in sapphire. When the grain size becomes coarse, the Nabarro-Herring model no longer applies. Coarse-grained aluminum oxide (50 to 100μl) behaves plastically when deformed (°e∼σ). The strain rates observed on coarsegrained aluminum oxide are higher than one would predict from the deformation behavior of fine-grained aluminum oxide. This plastic flow probably occurs through some dislocation movement or glide mechanism.
The abbreviated comprehensive geriatric assessment (aCGA) for use in the older cancer patient as a prescreen: Scoring and interpretation

Abstract The abbreviated CGA (aCGA) can be used as a prescreening assessment to identify patients who would most benefit from the complete CGA. Objective To develop cutpoints for scoring the aCGA that are consistent with existing limitations as revealed by the full CGA. Design/setting A retrospective chart review of patients at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center. Participants Over 500 charts between 1995 and 2001 were reviewed on cancer patients 70 and over. Measurements Each of the four domains: functional status (activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), depression, using the geriatric depression scale (GDS), and cognition using the mini-mental state examination (MMSE)) are scored separately. Results For the depression domain, a score of 2 or more toward depression indicates that the entire GDS be administered. For the MMSE, a score of 6 or lower indicates necessity of the entire MMSE. For the ADL/IADL, any deficit on either scale (needs assistance or complete assistance) requires further clinical evaluation using the entire instruments. Conclusions These guidelines provide the clinician with parameters to target patients most likely to benefit from more intensive geriatric evaluation.
Applying digital evolution to the design of self-adaptive software

As software developers, we strive to create computational systems that are as robust and versatile as biological organisms have evolved to be in nature. We propose a software development methodology capable of producing self-adaptive software, using digital evolution to discover behaviors and optimize solutions. Employing this methodology we present an example behavioral concept from inception to fruition on physical hardware, as a proof of concept of the approach. We evolve environmentally-aware motility behaviors through digital evolution, automatically translate the evolved programs into C code, and compile and load the programs onto mobile robots.
Modeling the impact of COPD on the brain

Previous studies have shown that COPD adversely affects distant organs and body systems, including the brain. This pilot study aims to model the relationships between respiratory insufficiency and domains related to brain function, including low mood, subtly impaired cognition, systemic inflammation, and brain structural and neurochemical abnormalities. Nine healthy controls were compared with 18 age- and education-matched medically stable COPD patients, half of whom were oxygen-dependent. Measures included depression, anxiety, cognition, health status, spirometry, oximetry at rest and during 6-minute walk, and resting plasma cytokines and soluble receptors, brain MRI, and MR spectroscopy in regions relevant to mood and cognition. ANOVA was used to compare controls with patients and with COPD subgroups (oxygen users [n = 9] and nonusers [n = 9]), and only variables showing group differences at p ≤ 0.05 were included in multiple regressions controlling for age, gender, and education to develop the final model. Controls and COPD patients differed significantly in global cognition and memory, mood, and soluble TNFR1 levels but not brain structural or neurochemical measures. Multiple regressions identified pathways linking disease severity with impaired performance on sensitive cognitive processing measures, mediated through oxygen dependence, and with systemic inflammation (TNFR1), related through poor 6-minute walk performance. Oxygen desaturation with activity was related to indicators of brain tissue damage (increased frontal choline, which in turn was associated with subcortical white matter attenuation). This empirically derived model provides a conceptual framework for future studies of clinical interventions to protect the brain in patients with COPD, such as earlier oxygen supplementation for patients with desaturation during everyday activities.
Quality by Design (QbD) Based Development of a Stability Indicating HPLC Method for Drug and Impurities

In this paper, an application of Quality by Design (QbD) concepts to the development of a stability indicating HPLC method for a complex pain management drug product containing drug substance, two preservatives, and their degradants is described. The QbD approach consisted of (i) developing a full understanding of the intended purpose, (ii) developing predictive solutions, (iii) designing a meaningful system suitability solution that helps to identify failure modes, and (iv) following design of experiments (DOE) approach. The starting method lacked any resolution among drug degradant and preservative oxidative degradant peaks, and peaks for preservative and another drug degradant. The method optimization was accomplished using Fusion AE™ software (S-Matrix Corporation, Eureka, CA) that follows a DOE approach. Column temperature (50 ± 5°C), mobile phase buffer pH (2.9 ± 0.2), initial % acetonitrile (ACN, 2 ± 1%), and initial hold time (2.5, 5, or 10 min) of the HPLC method were simultaneously studied to optimize separation of the unresolved peaks. The optimized HPLC conditions (column temperature of 50°C, buffer pH of 3.1, 3% initial ACN with 2.5 min initial hold) resulted in fully resolved peaks in the two critical pairs. The QbD based method development helped in generating a design space and operating space with knowledge of all method performance characteristics and limitations and successful method robustness within the operating space.
Temozolomide-Associated Organizing Pneumonitis

Temozolomide is an oral alkylating agent recently approved for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme. It has a favorable side effect profile and is generally well tolerated. Although mild respiratory symptoms have been described, pulmonary toxicity that requires discontinuation of therapy is rare. To our knowledge, this is the first case of temozolomide-associated organizing pneumonitis.
Seasonal Hydrological Forecasts for Watersheds over the Southeastern United States for the Boreal Summer and Fall Seasons

AbstractThe authors evaluate the skill of a suite of seasonal hydrological prediction experiments over 28 watersheds throughout the southeastern United States (SEUS), including Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, and North Carolina. The seasonal climate retrospective forecasts [the Florida Climate Institute–Florida State University Seasonal Hindcasts at 50-km resolution (FISH50)] is initialized in June and integrated through November of each year from 1982 through 2001. Each seasonal climate forecast has six ensemble members. An earlier study showed that FISH50 represents state-of-the-art seasonal climate prediction skill for the summer and fall seasons, especially in the subtropical and higher latitudes. The retrospective prediction of streamflow is based on multiple calibrated rainfall–runoff models. The hydrological models are forced with rainfall from FISH50, (quantile based) bias-corrected FISH50 rainfall (FISH50_BC), and resampled historical rainfall observations based on matching observed an...
New and improved orthopedic hardware for the 21st century: Part 2, lower extremity and axial skeleton

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this article is to provide a survey of new orthopedic products for use in the lower extremity and axial skeleton. CONCLUSION. Knowledge of the physiologic purpose, orthopedic trends, imaging findings, and complications is important in assessing new orthopedic devices.
Slope stability of bioreactor landfills during leachate injection: Effects of geometric configurations of horizontal trench systems

In bioreactor landfills, different configurations of closely spaced horizontal trench (HT) systems are often considered as leachate recirculation systems to achieve uniform and rapid distribution of moisture in municipal solid waste (MSW). In this study, a numerical two-phase flow modelling was adopted to study the effects of geometric configuration of HT systems on the moisture distribution in MSW, and the stability of a simplified bioreactor landfill slope during continuous and intermittent leachate recirculation. Transient variations in pore water and capillary pressures in MSW were assessed, and slope stability analyses were performed using strength reduction technique. MSW was considered as heterogeneous and anisotropic with varied unit weight and saturated hydraulic conductivity. The results demonstrated that geometric configurations of HT systems significantly affected the moisture distribution, generation and distribution of pore water and capillary pressures in MSW, and considerably influenced th...
Enhancing locality in structured peer-to-peer networks

Distributed hash tables (DHTs), used in a number of structured peer-to-peer systems, provide efficient mechanisms for resource location. A key distinguishing feature of current DHT systems such as Chord, Pastry, and Tapestry is the way they handle locality in the underlying network. Topology-based node identifier assignment, proximity routing, and proximity neighbor selection are examples of heuristics used to minimize message delays in the underlying network. While these heuristics are sometimes effective, they rely on a single global overlay that may install the key of a popular object at a node far from most of the nodes accessing it. Furthermore, a response to a lookup does not contain any locality information about the nodes holding a copy of the object. We address these issues by proposing a novel two-level overlay peer-to-peer architecture. In our architecture, local overlays act as locality-aware caches for the global overlay, grouping nodes close together in the underlying network. Local overlays are constructed by exploiting the structure of the Internet as autonomous systems. We present detailed experimental results demonstrating the practicality of the system, and showing performance gains in response time of up to 60% compared to a single global overlay with state-of-the-art localization schemes. We also present efficient distributed algorithms for maintaining local overlays in the presence of node arrivals and departures.
The Linear Multiple Choice Knapsack Problem

A fast algorithm is presented for the linear programming relaxation of the Multiple Choice Knapsack Problem. If N is the total number of variables and J and Jmax denote the total number of multiple choice variables and the cardinality of the largest multiple choice set, respectively, the running time of the algorithm is then bounded by 0J log Jmax + 0N. Under certain conditions it is possible to reduce this bound to 0N steps on the average. Possible further improvements are also discussed.
A Quality Improvement Project for Better Glycemic Control in Hospitalized Patients With Diabetes

PURPOSEa quality improvement (QI) study was designed to improve nursing interventions that impact glycemic control in hospitalized patients with diabetes. The objective was to improve the timing of premeal insulin to allow a half hour lag time for regular insulin.METHODSAn interdisciplinary planning team was established that included both medical and surgical units. Data were collected by concurrent review of electronic charts, evaluated monthly by management and the diabetes clinical coordinator, and shared with staff.RESULTSThis QI study increased staff nurses' awareness of the importance of their role in achieving better glycemic control for inpatients with diabetes. By the end of the study, the nurses delivered premeal insulin correctly 82% of the time on the medical unit, 65% of the time on the cardiac unit, and 61% of the time on the surgical unit. Even with concerted effort, however, it was difficult to consistently administer regular insulin with a half hour lag time in the hospital environment.CO...
The superoxide scavenger TEMPOL induces urokinase receptor (uPAR) expression in human prostate cancer cells

There is little understanding of the effect that reactive oxygen metabolites have on cellular behavior during the processes of invasion and metastasis. These oxygen metabolites could interact with a number of targets modulating their function such as enzymes involved in basement membrane dissolution, adhesion molecules involved in motility or receptors involved in proliferation. We investigated the effect of increased scavenging of superoxide anions on the expression of the urokinase receptor (uPAR) in PC-3M human prostate cancer cells. Urokinase receptor is a GPI-linked cell surface molecule which mediates multiple functions including adhesion, proliferation and pericellular proteolysis. Addition of the superoxide scavenger 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyloxy (TEMPOL) to PC-3M cultures stimulated expression of uPAR protein peaking between 48 and 72 hours. Cell surface expression of the uPAR was also increased. Surprisingly, uPAR transcript levels increased only slightly and this mild increase did not coincide with the striking degree of protein increase. This disparity indicates that the TEMPOL effect on uPAR occurs through a post-transcriptional mechanism. TEMPOL presence in PC-3M cultures reduced intracellular superoxide-type species by 75% as assayed by NBT dye conversion; however this reduction significantly diminished within hours following TEMPOL removal. The time gap between TEMPOL treatment and peak uPAR protein expression suggests that reduction of reactive oxygen metabolites in prostate cancer cells initiates a multistep pathway which requires several hours to culminate in uPAR induction. These findings reveal a novel pathway for uPAR regulation involving reactive oxygens such as superoxide anion.
Evaluating instruction set extensions for fast arithmetic on binary finite fields

Binary finite fields GF(2/sup n/) are very commonly used in cryptography, particularly in public-key algorithms such as elliptic curve cryptography (ECC). On word-oriented programmable processors, field elements are generally represented as polynomials with coefficients from [0, 1]. Key arithmetic operations on these polynomials, such as squaring and multiplication, are not supported by integer-oriented processor architectures. Instead, these are implemented in software, causing a very large fraction of the cryptography execution time to be dominated by a few elementary operations. For example, more than 90% of the execution time of 163-bit ECC may be consumed by two simple field operations: squaring and multiplication. A few processor architectures have been proposed recently that include instructions for binary field arithmetic. However, these have only considered processors with small wordsizes and in-order, single-issue execution. The first contribution of this paper is to validate these new arithmetic instructions for processors with wider wordsizes and multiple-issue (e.g. superscalar) execution. We also consider the effects of varying the number of functional units and load/store pipes. We demonstrate that the combination of microarchitecture and new instructions provides speedups up to 22.4x for ECC point multiplication. Second, we show that if a bit-level reverse instruction is included in the instruction set, the size of the multiplier can be reduced by half without significant performance degradation. Third, we compare the benefits of superscalar execution with wordsize scaling. The latter has been used in recent processor architectures such as PLX and PAX as a new way to extract parallelism. We show that 2x wordsize scaling provides 70% better performance than 2-way superscalar execution. Finally, we suggest a low-cost method, which we call multi-word result execution, to realize some of the benefits of wordsize scaling in existing processors with fixed wordsizes.
Gauss-Seidel accelerated: implementing flow solvers on field programmable gate arrays

Non-linear steady-state power flow solvers have typically relied on the Newton-Raphson method to efficiently compute solutions on today's computer systems. Field programmable gate array (FPGA) devices, which have recently been integrated into high-performance computers by major computer system vendors, offer an opportunity to significantly increase the performance of power flow solvers. However, only some algorithms are suitable for an FPGA implementation. The Gauss-Seidel (GS) method of solving the AC power flow problem is an excellent example of such an opportunity. In this paper we discuss algorithmic design considerations, optimization, implementation, and performance results of the implementation of the Gauss-Seidel method running on a Silicon Graphics Inc. Altix-350 computer equipped with a Xilinx Virtex II 6000 FPGA.
Yoga and Mindfulness Program: The Effects on Compassion Fatigue and Compassion Satisfaction in Social Workers

This article is reporting the effectiveness of a yoga and mindfulness program to decrease compassion fatigue and to increase compassion satisfaction in currently employed social workers by using a quasi-experimental design. Additionally, the qualitative arm of this study evaluated the social workers’ perception of their professional relationship with their clients. Eleven social workers participated in the study, with six in the control group and five in the experiment group. Quantitative results were gained by utilizing the ProQOL Version 5 that measures the levels of compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress. These results suggest that participation in a brief yoga and mindfulness program may halt the decrease of compassion satisfaction. The qualitative results provide a rich insight into the perceptions of the professional relationship that the social workers have with clients that they identified as being difficult to work with. These results suggest that participation in a yoga...
Four Problems in Radar

The rapid recent development in signal processing and waveform generation, timing, and control, has led to opportunities for fielding a vast array of new radar systems. Among these new sensor suites, we find that challenging problems remain unaddressed. Most notable is the incorporation of prior knowledge concerning the clutter environment into the likelihood ratio test. This work is expected to be a simple extension of Kelly’s work in the 1980’s.
Direct benefits of ejaculate-derived compounds on female reproduction and immunity in the field cricket, Gryllus texensis

Sex consumes energy and drastically increases rates of disease, yet many female animals mate more than is necessary to ensure reproductive success. Surprisingly, this trend exists even in species in which the only resource that females receive from mating is the ejaculate itself. In this dissertation, I use the Texas field cricket, Gryllus texensis, to investigate how high mating rates enhance female fecundity and immune response, resulting in increased lifetime fitness. Using laboratory experiments, I examine the effect that mating multiple times and with multiple males has on female fecundity and survival. My results demonstrate that although the risks associated with mating are significant, the immediate fecundity benefits that females receive from high mating rates likely outweigh the costs. Next, I investigate the sexual transfer and storage of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a component of the ejaculate that has long been hypothesized to be responsible for the increases in fitness that female crickets exhibit after multiple mating. My results confirm that PGE2 fits the predictions required of it to be a likely candidate, as it is 1) transferred to the female spermatheca during copulation, 2) ephemerally available after mating, and 3) replenished and accumulated by females that mate multiple times. If ejaculate-derived PGE2 truly acts as a fitness-enhancing compound providing direct benefits to females, it provides a proximate mechanism for why mated females experience increased fecundity and survival. In the final portion of this dissertation, I experimentally test the effects of sexual maturity, copulation, accessory fluids, and testes-derived compounds on female fecundity and survival of a bacterial pathogen. My results demonstrate that testes-derived compounds are responsible for both inducing egg laying and up-regulating immune response in mated
A Framework for Verification and Validation of Complex Aerospace Systems

A number of large, complicated, aerospace programs have apparently come afoul of the verification and validation process in recent years. It is often alleged that these difficulties are the result of bad management and/or the ineffective application of well-known processes. It is becoming increasingly clear that, as usual, reality is much more complicated. In fact, the advent of systems-of-systems embedded in complex socio-technical frameworks, and indeed, the advent of engineered complex systems themselves, requires a new theory of test to match the challenging aspects of these new types of entity. The FAA has advocated such a new theory since at least 2006, has struggled with these challenges, and has experienced many successes in tackling them, although limitations continue to exist. This paper documents the agency’s experience with this approach over the past seven years, and reviews several promising methods, including the use of flexible System-of-system assessment platforms (that incorporate high fidelity human in the loop simulation, distributed live virtual and constructive simulation, and fast time simulation modeling,) a technique that allows flexible exercise of the system under test (which must always be full fidelity: only the environment should ever be subject to a greater or lesser degree of simulation) as required to address the challenges posed in each individual situation. In the long term, a different approach to system design is required: verification and validation can never make up for inadequate design (and in the complex system world, we may well only blindly hope that verification and validation will expose the most insidious design flaws.) In the meantime, application of sound traditional methods, use of innovative techniques, a continued pursuit of theoretical understanding, along with integration of verification and validation throughout the life cycle are the best guarantees against undesirable system failures in the field.
Protein-protein binding detection with nanoparticle photonic crystal enhanced microscopy (NP-PCEM)

We demonstrate a novel microscopy-based biosensing approach that utilizes a photonic crystal (PC) surface to detect protein-protein binding with the functionalized nanoparticles as tags. This imaging approach utilizes the measurement of localized shifts in the resonant wavelength and resonant reflection magnitude from the PC biosensor in the presence of individual nanoparticles. Moreover, it substantially increases the sensitivity of the imaging approach through tunable localized surface plasmon resonant frequency of the nanoparticle matching with the resonance of the PC biosensor. Experimental demonstrations of photonic crystal enhanced microscopy (PCEM) imaging with single nanoparticle resolution are supported by Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) computer simulations. The ability to detect the surface adsorption of individual nanoparticles as tags offers a route to single molecule biosensing with photonic crystal biosensor in the future.
The Study of Lead Content in Market Seafood and Their Absorption in Mice

By ICP- MS( Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry),the lead content as well as their isotope ratios of 16 kinds of seafood in shenzhen market were measured. The lead content in paphiaundulata,green mussel,oysters,are the highest of those seafood. They were 1. 52 ± 0. 21,1. 66± 0. 23 and 1. 16 ± 0. 15 μg /g dry weight respectively( which is exceeded the standard 1. 00 μg /g).Their isotope ratio207 Pb /206 Pb was between 0. 76 ~ 0. 89. The paphiaundulata,oysters,abalone were selected to feed kunming mice( n = 6,heavy 35 ~ 38 g). Before and after feeding( 24 hours) around,0. 030 mL blood from the mice eye was analyzed bu ICP- MS. The results show that after feeding oysters lead bioavailability significantly increased in pregnant mice. By adding hydrated lead acetate in rats fed grain,feeding pregnant mice during the suckling,blood lead in newborn mice proportional to the feedinglead,and the last group of mice to reach the lead in blood 1. 95 ± 0. 35 μg /g. After two months( 8 weeks) fed the weight of this group( 15 ±5 g),was significantly lower than that of control( 26 ±5g). This experiments show that the lead is passed to the mice through breast- feeding,pregnant rats with high lead early can lead to poor mouse lifelong developmental,individual small. Thus high levels of lead in seafood for pregnant women,infants and lactating mothers is more dangerous.
Effect of high-protein diet on renal concentration capacity in rabbits.

In the present studies, we have found that New Zealand White rabbits kept on normal rabbit chow (16% protein, LP) are unable to raise fractional free water reabsorption [TCH2O divided by glomerular filtration rate (GFR)] as the fractional osmotic load (Cosm/GFR) is increased. Acute administration of urea (400 mosmol/l) or indomethacin (10 mg/kg iv bolus, followed by 0.25 mg/min infusion) corrects the defect. Moreover, rabbits kept for 2 wk on a 40% protein diet (HP) showed marked improvement in their renal concentration capacity. Balance studies showed that, in rabbits on HP, urine prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) excretion was lower while GFR, urine urea, and osmolar excretion were significantly higher than in rabbits in the LP group. Medullary tissue electrolytes in the HP vs. LP group were as follows: urea, 1,035 +/- 90 vs. 790 +/- 60 mmol.l-1 x g wet tissue wt-1; tissue Na+, 548 +/- 96 vs. 298 +/- 37 meq.l-1 x g wet wt-1; and K+, 201 +/- 43 vs. 99 +/- 16 meq.l-1 x g wet wt-1. Also, medullary slices from animals on HP had a lower PGE2 synthesis than those on LP when stimulated with angiotensin II (ANG II). Papillary plasma flow (PPF) measured by the accumulation of 125I-labeled albumin, after infusion of vasopressin, was 13.7 +/- 2.0 in the HP group and 22.7 +/- 3.4 ml.min-1 x 100 g-1 in the LP group. These findings suggest that lower PPF and higher urea and electrolyte content in the medullary interstitium of HP intake results from inability to produce medullary PGE2 even during ANG II or antidiuretic hormone (ADH) stimulation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)