cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effect of probiotics on Clostridium difficile diarrhea.

Clostridium difficile is the leading cause of nosocomially acquired intestinal infection in the United States, affecting virtually all cases of pseudomembranous colitis and up to 20% of cases of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Even after receiving antibiotic treatment with either metronidazole or vancomycin, 20% of patients will have recurrent Clostridium difficile diarrhea. An innovative approach to the problem involves the introduction of competing, nonpathogenic (probiotic) organisms into the intestinal tract to restore microbial balance. The theoretical premise behind this approach is that the protective intestinal microflora is damaged by antibiotic treatment; the initial antibiotic exposure thus leaves the host susceptible to colonization and subsequent infection by Clostridium difficile. A so-called “second-hit” to the intestinal microflora occurs when the infected host is treated with flagyl or vancomycin, further destroying susceptible bacterial flora. Probiotic agents, such as Lactobacillus GG and Saccharomyces boulardii, have been studied for the treatment of Clostridium difficile. We are currently running a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of Lactobacillus GG in combination with standard antibiotics for the treatment of Clostridium difficile infection. Although it is too early to draw statistically significant conclusions, two patterns seem to be emerging: Lactobacillus GG is effective in reducing the 3-wk recurrence rate of Clostridium difficile, and patients feel better when taking Lactobacillus GG, as compared with the placebo, with early disappearance of abdominal cramps and diarrhea. In conclusion, the use of probiotics for the treatment of primary and recurrent Clostridium difficile diarrhea looks promising. Patients seem to have less recurrent Clostridium difficile diarrhea and early symptomatic improvement when using the probiotic Lactobacillus GG.
Evaluation of Guidance Performance in Urban Terrains for Different UAV Types and Performance Criteria Using Spatial CTG Maps

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) present in a wide range of scales, airframe types and possible systems configurations. Assessing how these different systems perform, therefore, should be an essential part of their design. This task, however, is particularly difficult due to the complex, dynamic interactions these vehicles are capable of, and the often complex operational conditions. In this paper we describe and apply an evaluation framework based on spatial cost-to-go (SCTG) maps. These maps describe the spatial distributions of optimal state and cost-to-go for a given geographical environment, and are computed using a finite-state approximation of the vehicle dynamics. The SCTG maps embed the interaction effects between vehicle dynamics and environment, and thus provide a rigorous basis for the evaluation of the airframe, various system and environment factors. The paper describes the results obtained applying this framework to a basic goal-directed guidance task taking place in an urban environment. Three small-scale UAV types are compared: a fixed-wing aircraft, a standard helicopter, and a quad-rotorcraft. Both minimum-time and minimum-energy performance criteria are analyzed to determine overall performance characteristics and highlight the basic features of the proposed framework.
Direct observation of cell migration into Xenopus thymus rudiments through mesenchyme

Thymus rudiments with their surrounding connective tissues were removed from 4-day-old larvae (stages 45–46) of Xenopus laevis, placed in shallow depression slides, and observed microscopically for 3 hours. In mesenchyme surrounding the rudiment, there were many cells frequently observed possessing conspicuous blebs or lobopodia and occasional constrictions. These cells consistently migrated toward the rudiment at the rate of approximately 10–35 μm/10 min. (60–210 μm/hr.). On attaching to the surface of thymus rudiments these cells became cone-shaped and then entered the rudiment. The migratory cells had histological characteristics of lymphoid stem cells: high nucleo-cytoplasmic ratio, prominent nucleolus, and basophilic cytoplasm. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed the occurrence of migratory cells with the above characteristics in the meshwork of fine mesenchymal fibers. These cells were no longer observable in 5-day larvae (stages 46–47), supporting earlier experimental results that immigration of thymis lymphocyte stem cells occurs only in 3-4-day-old larvae.
Non-ideal behavior in a model system: Contact degradation in a molecularly doped polymer revealed by variable-temperature electric force microscopy

We present an electric force microscope and transport study of the degradation of the contact between Au and TPD, a triarylamine widely employed as a hole transporting layer in light emitting diodes. TPD was dispersed into a polystyrene (PS) binder and spin casted onto a quartz substrate with coplanar gold electrodes. Electric force microscopy was used to map the electrostatic potential drop in the device channel while a voltage was applied and the current was measured. Two contact degradation mechanisms were observed. When the TPD-PS film was allowed to age in high vacuum, the TPD crystallized out of solution. We show that the observed loss of current is the result of both a decrease in bulk mobility and a decrease in injection efficiency. The operating temperature of a freshly prepared device was then varied from 296 K to 330 K to simulate heating that might occur during light emitting diode operation. While the current increased in an apparently smooth way as the temperature was raised, electric force microscopy revealed that the underlying injection efficiency had undergone a dramatic change. Above a temperature of 310 K, running current through the device led to a dramatic decrease in injection efficiency which was found to be associated with the creation of a dipole layer at the injecting contact. Upon decreasing temperature, we found that a measurable charge remained in the device channel when the applied voltage was switched to zero. The decay of the associated electrostatic potential, which appears to be governed primarily by charge-charge repulsion and not diffusion, provides an estimate the zero-field mobility of the holes in the film.
Outward Looking Policies and Economic Development: A Case of Taiwan since 1952

In this paper, we analyze the transformation of Taiwan from an agriculture based natural-resource-abundant economy into a high-technology, advanced economy, with the help of comparative advantage i...
Size, shape and diffusivity asymmetries in the transient mass and heat transfer of a mixture of bodies introduced in a well-stirred fluid

Abstract The transient concentration of a solute in a fluid is studied when a mixture of absorbing bodies are immersed in it. The fluid is perfectly stirred and the bodies may be spherical, cylindrical as well as thin slabs. The treatment presented in this paper constitutes a generalization of the classical problem of a sphere absorbing a solute with a finite presence in a well-stirred fluid. In spite of the possible presence of an unlimited number of differential equations, the nature of the problem lends to an analytical solution. Several observations are made, based on the equations and the numerical results. Among others, an important and strikingly simple result is found in relating the velocity of the fluid's concentration decay to the number of bodies, for monodisperse systems.
A revision of the genus Tarsopolipus (Acari: Podapolipidae), parasites of African and European Scarabaeidae, with description of three new species

Abstract Tarsopolipus hallidayi n. sp. is described from Kheper lamarcki MacLeay (Scarabaeidae) from Natal, R. S. Africa and from Scarabaeus sp. from Meru National Park, Kenya; Tarsopolipus bisetalus n.sp. is described from Scarabaeus convexus Hausmann (Scarabaeidae) from Ulucania Hills, Kenya and from Scarabaeus gangeticus Castelnaud from Dinokwe, Botswana; and Tarsopolipus massai n. sp. is described from Scarabaeus semipunctatus Fabr. from Sicily, Italy. The genus Tarsopolipus is redefined to reflect newly discovered taxa and generic reassignments. Relationships between Tarsopolipus and other podapolipid genera are discussed. A key to the 5 species currently included in the genus is presented.
Quantifying the value of collaboration in supply chain management through business process simulation

In the background of flat world and widely international collaborations, it becomes critical for supply chain members to collaborate with each other. In this paper, we try to quantify the value of collaboration by improving business processes from the simulation point of view. We discuss different kinds of business process improvement manners, create simulation scenarios with or without collaboration, and analyze the simulation results. With the power of business process simulation, we have the capability to evaluate the benefits of collaboration with consideration of details of operations and stochastic characters.
Reduction of postsynaptic inhibition tolerated before seizure initiation: spinal cord.

Abstract The reduction of postsynaptic inhibition tolerated before initiation of intrinsic spinal seizures was assessed using intracellular recording from lumbar motoneurons in spinal cats anesthetized by pentobarbital or alpha-chloralose or decerebrated and unanesthetized. The amplitude of antagonist group Ia and recurrent (Renshaw) IPSPs was monitored while incremental doses of the specific glycine antagonist, strychnine, were injected until seizures developed. Both kinds of IPSPs were reduced to less than 25% of control at seizure onset, independent of anesthesia. Assuming the recorded pathways were representative of all glycine-mediated spinal pathways, the results suggested that postsynaptic inhibition could be virtually eliminated before intrinsic spinal seizures were triggered. These results place a constraint on theories of spinal seizure initiation due to reduction of postsynaptic inhibition.
Desmoplastic cellular neurothekeoma: Clinicopathological analysis of twelve cases

Background: Cellular neurothekeoma is a benign lesion most commonly found on the face and upper extremities in the first two decades of life. Methods: Retrospective clinicopathologic review of 12 examples of cellular neurothekeoma typified by prominent stromal sclerosis, a distinctive variant that we refer to as desmoplastic cellular neurothekeoma. Results: The mean age was 30 years (range, 3–55 years, 3 males, 9 females). The site was the head and neck in 3 cases, upper extremity in 4, lower extremity in 2, and trunk/abdomen in 3. All cases showed fascicles of slightly spindled and polygonal cells arrayed haphazardly in a prominent sclerotic background in the dermis and superficial subcutis. The cells displayed pale cytoplasm with indistinct membranes and vesicular nuclei with a single nucleolus. Lesional cells expressed NKI/C3, laminin, CD68, and CD10 and lacked expression of S-100 protein, EMA, and CD34. Clinical follow up was available on 10 cases with a mean duration of 24 months (range, 11–42 months) with no local recurrences or metastases. Conclusions: The immunohistochemical staining pattern, clinical findings, and benign nature are similar to “conventional” cellular neurothekeomas. The differential diagnosis includes desmoplastic melanocytic lesions, desmoplastic spindle cell carcinoma, dermatofibroma, “immature” scar, plexiform fibrohistiocytic tumor, perineurioma, and piloleiomyoma.
Isohormones of human growth hormone. II. Plasmin-catalyzed transformation and increase in prolactin biological activity.

Digestion of human growth hormone (hGH) with the proteolytic enzyme, plasmin, leads to a progressive transformation of isohormone B to isohormones C, D and E. This transformation was followed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) at pH71π 7.8, 0 C as a progressive increase in intensity of bands of higher mobility, and a corresponding diminution of bands of lower mobility. This band transformation was paralleled by an increase of prolactin biological specific activity. Digestion was not accompanied by deamidation of hGH. (Endocrinology 93: 858, 1973)
Enhanced Corporate Governance for Restaurant Companies: The Role of Well Performing Audit Committees

ABSTRACT Corporate governance is a popular topic these days among public companies. An important piece of baggage for this journey is a solid corporate audit committee policy, which fosters a well performing audit committee. This article examines the evolution, composition, and duties of audit committees over the past thirty years. In addition it compares the basic audit committee policies and procedures of the Standard & Poor's 100 Index companies with those of the top fifty-one restaurant companies from Value Line, Inc.
Reading Music and Eroticism in Late Ming Texts

Numerous late Ming writings describe eroticism of that time with references to contemporary music. Reading these musical-erotic texts, one asks why and how late Ming words, music, and eroticism became interrelated, and what do their interrelationships inform us about their culture and society? One may also ask how did late Ming music express and catalyze erotic negotiations of the time. To stimulate discussions about the issues, this essay postulates that late Ming contemporaries manipulated music as objects, sites, and processes to advance their erotic agendas. This essay unfolds in two parts. The first part introduces cultural and historical features of late Ming musical-erotic discourse; the second part analyzes a number of its revealing texts.
A minimal phenomenology for decay and resonance

We discuss in what sense the decay-scattering system is a minimal phenomenological theory for particle decay and resonance scattering.
INVESTIGATING THE UTILITY OF ANALYTIC SCORING FOR THE TOEFL ACADEMIC SPEAKING TEST (TAST)

This study explores the utility of analytic scoring for the TOEFL® Academic Speaking Test (TAST) in providing useful and reliable diagnostic information in three aspects of candidates' performance: delivery, language use, and topic development. G studies were used to investigate the dependability of the analytic scores, the distinctness of the analytic dimensions, and the variability of analytic score profiles. Raters' perceptions of dimension separability were also obtained. Based on the phi coefficients and standard errors of measurement (SEMs), the dependability of analytic scores averaged across six tasks and double ratings was acceptable for both operational and practice settings. However, scores averaged across two tasks and double ratings were not reliable enough for operational use. Correlations among the analytic scores by task were high, but those between delivery and topic development were lower, and these results were corroborated by raters' perceptions. When averaged across tasks or task types (two or more tasks), correlations among the analytic scores were very high, and the profiles of scores were flat. The utility of analytic scoring is discussed, and both score dependability and whether analytic scores provide diagnostic information beyond that provided by holistic scores are considered.
Inhibition and labelling of isolated reaction centers from Rhodobacter sphaeroides by dicyclohexylcarbodiimide.

The effect of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD) on electron transfer in the acceptor quinone complex of reaction centers (RC) from Rhodobacter sphaeroides is reported. DCCD covalently labelled the RC over a wide concentration range. At low concentrations ( 100 μM) DCCD accelerated the rate of charge recombination of the P+QB- state, consistent with a decrease in the equilibrium constant between QA-QB and QAQB-. At similar concentrations, in the presence of cytochrome c as exogenous donor, turnover of the RC was inhibited such that only three cytochromes were oxidized in a train of flashes. Both these inhibitory effects were fully reversed by dialysis, indicating that stable covalent binding was not involved. Possible mechanisms of action are discussed in terms of the putative role of specific residues in proton transfer and protonation and release of quinol from the RC.
The impact of quality on learning

Abstract The strategic importance of learning curves has been recognized for a long time both in industry and in academia, but little is known about the huge difference in rates at which different firms learn. Recent theoretical studies and anecdotal evidence from Japanese manufacturing firms suggest that quality-related activities may be one major factor explaining the difference in learning rates. When the impact of quality on learning is considered, three important questions arise: (1) How well does cumulative output of defective or good units explain learning curve effects? (2) Do defective units explain learning curve effects better than good units? (3) How should cumulative experience be represented in the learning curve model when the quality level may have an impact on learning effects? This paper presents, to our knowledge, the first empirical study addressing these questions. Using time series data from two manufacturing firms, we find that cumulative output of defective or good units is statistically significant in explaining learning curve benefits. However, defective and good units do not explain learning curve effects equally as is implicitly assumed in traditional learning curve models. In particular, defective units are statistically more significant than good units in explaining learning curve effects.
Does money matter in the CIS? Effects of monetary policy on output and prices

Abstract In large industrial economies, changes in monetary policy affect real economic activity in the short run but only prices in the long run. In transition economies, the question of whether monetary-policy variables affect output in the short run is open. In this paper, we examine the real effects of monetary policy in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and Kazakhstan using time-series methods. We find mixed evidence that money matters in these countries, although the effects are greater in Russia. Hence, we conclude that activist monetary policy will have only a limited scope in these countries in the near term. Journal of Comparative Economics 33 (3) (2005) 441–461.
Relations of caregiving stress and health depend on the health indicators used and gender.

Extensive research has evaluated relations between stress and health. These studies have varied in the type of stress examined (acute vs. chronic) and in the way in which health has been operationalized. Here we examine relations between chronic stress and 25 indicators of various health dimensions (e.g., physiological indexes, medical records, and self-reports of global health; symptoms, functional status, health service utilization, and psychosocial distress/quality of life). We also assessed whether such relations are moderated by gender, an individual difference variable that is important to health and longevity. Samples included 157 community-residing older adults (M age = 69.4 years, 31.8% men), approximately half of whom were caregivers for a spouse with Alzheimer’s disease, and half were demographically similar noncaregiver spouses. Principal component analyses on the 25 health measures resulted in 5 factors that met standard criteria for acceptance. In women, caregivers reported worse physical health and psychological health than noncaregivers, but their physiological risk was similar. In men, caregivers had greater physiological risk, but they reported better physical health than did men noncaregivers. Researchers who study chronic stress and health should consider the possibility that the relation between chronic stress and health may vary for men and women depending on the type of health being assessed.
A ‘Pretty Good’ Measurement for Distinguishing Quantum States

Abstract We address the problem of extracting information from a single quantum system whose state is known to be in one of several possible states. In the generic case, it is notoriously difficult to find the optimal measurement, that is the measurement that provides the most possible information about the system's state. We consider a simple general prescription for a measurement that is typically not optimal but appears to be quite good. It seems to be particularly good when the states to be distinguished are equally likely and almost orthogonal.
Minimizing the Kohn–Sham total energy for periodic systems

Abstract We describe how a previously developed constrained minimization algorithm can be adapted to minimize the total energy of a periodic atomistic system under the Kohn–Sham density functional theory framework. The algorithm uses the Bloch theorem to reduce the complexity of the calculation by working with a number of unit cells separately. We present the Bloch theorem in terms of linear algebra, and point out its implication on the spectral property of the Kohn–Sham Hamiltonian.
Swamped! using plush toys to direct autonomous animated characters

Swamped! is an interactive experience in which instrumented plush toys are used as a tangible, iconic interface for directing autonomous animated characters. Each character has a distinct personality and decides in real time what it should do based on its perception of its environment, its motivational and emotional state, and input from its “conscience,” the guest. By manipulating a stuffed animal corresponding to the character the guest can influence how a given character acts and feels. The characters incorporate a novel model of behavior and emotion, multi-target motion interpolation and new techniques for real time graphics. Automatic camera and lighting control helps reveal the emotional content of each scene. By combining research in autonomous character design, automatic camera control, tangible interfaces and action interpretation, Swamped! seeks to create an evocative and novel experience
Optimization of fuzzy relation equations with max-product composition

Abstract An optimization problem with a linear objective function subject to a system of fuzzy relation equations using max-product composition is considered. Since the feasible domain is non-convex, traditional linear programming methods cannot be applied. We study this problem and capture some special characteristics of its feasible domain and the optimal solutions. Some procedures for reducing the original problem are presented. The problem is transformed into a 0–1 integer program which is then solved by the branch-and-bound method. For illustration purpose, an example of the procedures is provided.
Common Hypercyclic Vectors and the Hypercyclicity Criterion

An operator on a separable, infinite dimensional Banach space satisfies the Hypercyclicity Criterion if and only if the associated left multiplication operator is hypercyclic; see [14], [16], [29]. By examining paths of operators where each operator along the path satisfies the criterion, we provide necessary and sufficient conditions for a path of left multiplication operators to have an SOT-dense set of common hypercyclic vectors. As a corollary, we establish a natural sufficient condition for a path of operators to have a common hypercyclic subspace.
Enhanced microstrip stopband filter using a metamaterial substrate

A left-handed metamaterial consisting of split-ring resonators is constructed and used as a substrate for a microstrip line. Transmission measurements show that the substrate acts as a natural stopband filter. The effective parameters retrieved for the split-ring resonator unit cell show that the stopband in the microstrip measurement corresponds to the region of negative permeability of the substrate. The natural stopband of the substrate is used to enhance the total bandwidth of a quarter-wave stub stopband filter. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 48: 1522–1525, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.21703
An automatic speech recognition system for the Italian language

An automatic speech recognition system for Italian language has been developed at IBM Italy Scientific Center in Rome. It is able to recognize in real time natural language sentences, composed with words from a dictionary of 6500 items, dictated by a speaker with short pauses among them. The system is speaker dependent, before using it the speaker has to perform the training stage reading a predefined text 15--20 minutes long. It runs on an architecture composed by an IBM 3090 mainframe and a PC/AT based workstation with signal processing equipments.
Epidemiology and Biostatistics Content in Baccalaureate Education for Community Health Nursing

Community health nursing leaders recommend including epidemiology and biostatistics in baccalaureate curricula but do not define essential content. Topic coverage and emphasis vary across schools ; students differ in academic achievement and in readiness for an epidemiologic approach to nursing. A review of textbooks showed wide variance in topic presentation. A survey of baccalaureate community health nursing faculty in a southeastern state uncovered a core of epidemiology course work comparable to that in graduate programs. Biostatistical content was sparse, and participatory learning strategies were seldom noted. Definition of essential introductory epidemiology and biostatistics content and greater linkage between knowledge and application is necessary to show their congruence with community health nursing practice, and enable differentiation between the level and scope of learning appropriate for undergraduate and graduate education
Khayyam: A second generation tunable spatial heterodyne spectrometer for broadband observation of diffuse emission line targets

We report on progress toward development of a second-generation tunable spatial heterodyne spectrometer (TSHS) at the fixed focus of the Coude Auxiliary Telescope (CAT) in the Shane observatory at Lick Observatory (Khayyam). SHS instruments are a class of interferometric sensor capable of providing a combination of large etendue, high resolving power (R=λ/dλ~ 10 5 ) and wide field of view (FOV~0.5 degree) at Optical and NUV wavelengths in a compact format. The TSHS implementation addresses the bandpass limitation of the basic SHS through controlled rotation of pilot mirrors in the interferometer. The use of a single grating as both a dispersing and beam-splitting element in the all-reflective SHS greatly relaxes the precision required in the alignment of the other optical elements relative to a more typical scanning Fourier Transform Spectrometer and allows the TSHS implementation to be accomplished with low-cost commercial rotation stages. The new design builds on a previous design originally tested in 2007, and will address several issues identified with the input beam, output imaging, and grating efficiency (Dawson and Harris, 2009). Here we will discuss the design considerations going into this new system and the initial results of the installation and testing of the TSHS and the future plans.
On the controllability to closed sets of nonlinear and related linear systems

This chapter discusses controllability to closed sets of nonlinear and related linear systems. It discusses the nonlinear control process x = f ( t , x , u ) in C 1 [ E × E n × E m ] and its related linear system x = A ( t ) x + B ( t ) u . The chapter presents a theorem in which the system x = f ( t , x , u ) in C 1 [ E × E n × E m ] is considered with a fixed closed target G . Supposing for ɛ > 0, there is a Lyapunov function V ɛ with the property that for each t 0 ≥ 0 and each ɛ > 0 there exists δ = δ( t 0 , ɛ) > 0 such that for all t ≥ t 0 , V ( t 0 , x ) d ( x , G ) G is globally asymptotically stable. This results along with an earlier result yield sufficient conditions for the controllability to G of x = f ( t , x , u ) in C 1 [ E × E n × E m ].
Efficient privacy-preserving biometric identification in cloud computing

Biometric identification is a reliable and convenient way of identifying individuals. The widespread adoption of biometric identification requires solid privacy protection against possible misuse, loss, or theft of biometric data. Existing techniques for privacy-preserving biometric identification primarily rely on conventional cryptographic primitives such as homomorphic encryption and oblivious transfer, which inevitably introduce tremendous cost to the system and are not applicable to practical large-scale applications. In this paper, we propose a novel privacy-preserving biometric identification scheme which achieves efficiency by exploiting the power of cloud computing. In our proposed scheme, the biometric database is encrypted and outsourced to the cloud servers. To perform a biometric identification, the database owner generates a credential for the candidate biometric trait and submits it to the cloud. The cloud servers perform identification over the encrypted database using the credential and return the result to the owner. During the identification, cloud learns nothing about the original private biometric data. Because the identification operations are securely outsourced to the cloud, the realtime computational/communication costs at the owner side are minimal. Thorough analysis shows that our proposed scheme is secure and offers a higher level of privacy protection than related solutions such as kNN search in encrypted databases. Real experiments on Amazon cloud, over databases of different sizes, show that our computational/communication costs at the owner side are several magnitudes lower than the existing biometric identification schemes.
Effects of pretreatment with inducers of hepatic mixed function oxidases on DNA repair elicited by various compounds in hepatocytes from adult and neonatal rats

Studies were conducted to assess the effects of inducers of hepatic mixed function oxidases on DNA repair responses to 13 different genotoxic agents in hepatocytes from adult male mice. Phenobarbital pretreatment increased DNA repair elicited by diethylnitrosamine but had no effect on responses to the other compounds. Pretreatment with p,p′-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, 3-methylcholanthrene or β-naphthoflavone induced the DNA repair responses to a variety of activation-dependent carcinogens. DNA repair responses to the direct-acting alkylating agents methyl methanesulfonate and N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine were not increased by any of the pretreatments, which indicated that the pretreatment-related enhancement of responses to the other compounds was due to induction of their metabolic activation. Taken together, the findings suggest that Aroclor, or other pretreatments, may increase the sensitivity of the hepatocyte DNA repair assay for detecting the genotoxicity of certain compounds; however, the potential benefit may be limited due to specific features of the assay. In contrast, Aroclor pretreatment did not produce any enhancement of in vivo DNA repair elicited by dimethylnitrosamine, diethylnitrosamine, o-aminoazotoluene, 2-acetylaminofluorene, 3-methylcholanthrene or aflatoxin B1, and thus does not appear to be useful for improving the sensitivity of the in vivo/in vitro assay. Whereas the amount of DNA repair produced by dimethylnitrosamine was not increased by classical inducers of liver microsomal enzymes, pretreatment with pyrazole greatly augmented in vitro and in vivo DNA repair responses to dimethylnitrosamine; responses to diethylnitrosamine were increased to a lesser degree by pyrazole pretreatment. The effects of lactational exposure to enzyme inducing agents on DNA repair in neonatal hepatocytes was also investigated.
Statistical discrimination of flotation models based on batch flotation data

Abstract An essential requirement for the optimization of design and operation of a flotation facility is the availability of a mathematical model that predicts how the amount of recovery of desirable particles during a certain time period depends on the design parameters. The selection of a best model from a collection of proposed models is a choice among competing theories and is based on empirical results obtained from experimental data. This paper focuses on how a choice for the appropriate model may be based on the statistical analysis of recovery data. Two general statistical criteria for model discrimination are considered based on the model's predictive capability. They are referred to as model fit and model stability. Statistical measures relating to these criteria are calculated for five different time-recovery profiles to evaluate five different flotation models. These calculated measures are used to infer about the suitability of these proposed models in representing experimental data.
Abstract 5263: Src inhibition enhances BMP receptor antagonists downregulation of Id1 and growth suppression of lung cancer cells with a K-Ras mutation.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC The bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) is aberrantly expressed in 98% of non-small cell lung carcinomas. Our studies show that selective antagonists (DMH1, DMH2, and LDN) of the type I BMP receptors inhibit the proliferation and induce cell death of lung cancer cell lines, which is mediated at least in part by downregulating the expression of Id1 and Id3. The Id proteins are known to regulate essential aspects of tumorigenesis in many carcinomas. The Src signaling pathway has been shown to increase the expression of Id1 in A549 cells. Src regulation of Id1 is mediated through the BMP pathway. Src binds to pSmad 1/5, which enhances its translocation into the nucleus. Src also mediates activity of response elements on the Id1 promoter that also bind pSmad 1/5. The BMP signaling pathway suppresses Src signaling, suggesting feedback inhibition. We examined the ability of a BMP receptor antagonist (DMH2) and a Src antagonist (PP2) to regulate Id1 and Id3 expression in three lung cancer cell lines with a K-Ras mutation (A549,H157,H727) and 3 without a K-Ras mutation (H1299,H865,U1752). PP2 caused a reduction in Id1 and/or Id3 in 2 of the 3 cell lines with a K-Ras mutation (A549,H157). PP2 had no effect or increased the expression of Id1 and Id3 in cell lines without a K-Ras mutation. DMH2 decreased expression of Id1 and Id3 and caused growth suppression of all the cell lines. In the A549 cells, the combination of DMH2 and PP2 caused significantly greater reduction in Id1 promoter activity and growth inhibition than either agent alone. Inhibition of BMP signaling caused an increase in the expression of phosphorylated Src, suggesting feedback regulation. The data suggests that Src inhibition leads to the downregulation of Id expression predominately in lung cancer cells with a K-Ras mutation. Inhibition of BMP signaling with receptor antagonists causes significant downregulation of Id1/Id3 and growth inhibition even in lung cancer cell lines with K-Ras mutations. Inhibition of BMP signaling may activate Src, suggesting that both BMP and Src antagonists are needed to suppress Id expression and inhibit tumor growth. Citation Format: John E. Langenfeld, Elaine Langenfeld. Src inhibition enhances BMP receptor antagonists downregulation of Id1 and growth suppression of lung cancer cells with a K-Ras mutation. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5263. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-5263
Transition to the convective regime in a vertical slot

Abstract The break-down of the conductive regime in a laterally heated vertical slot is shown to be associated with the inward penetration of nonlinear convective effects from the ends of the slot. This penetration can occur in two quite distinct ways, depending on the Prandtl number of the fluid and the aspect ratio of the slot. At finite and small Prandtl numbers it takes the form of an imperfect bifurcation at a critical value of the Rayleigh number, leading to the establishment of a multiple-roll state throughout the slot. At larger Prandtl numbers there is a different transition process in which convective effects gradually penetrate inwards as the Rayleigh number increases. In this case the solution of an eigenvalue problem provides a quantitative measure of the transition, which leads to the so-called ‘convective regime’ in the slot.
Science Isn't Science If It Isn't Reproducible

This Editorial introduces readers to the US National Institutes of Health's Proposed Principles and Guidelines for Reporting Preclinical Research.
Complications of total nodal irradiation of Hodgkin's disease stages III and IV

One hundred twenty-seven patients with Hodgkin's disease, Stages III-IV, received total nodal irradiation. Of these, 101 patients were managed primarily by radiation therapy employing the split course sequential segmental radiation technique called the "3 & 2". A dose of 3800-4000 rad is delivered in 2 phases in an overall period of 12 to 13 weeks (TDF 61-64; 1094-1148 rets). For various reasons, the remaining 26 patients received their mantle irradiation to full doses 3800-4000 rad in 4 weeks (TDF 63-66; 1112-1184 rets) without rest periods and a few were irradiated after failing chemotherapy. Of the 101 patients treated between 1969-1974 using the "3 & 2" technique, 2 developed pericarditis (2.0%), none manifested symptomatic pneumonitis (0%), and 3 hypothyroidism )3.0%). The low incidence of severe complications is primarily the result of the technique employed to give total nodal irradiation. The overall incidence of Herpes Zoster was 42% (53/127), and there was a slightly higher incidence when TNI was given following splenectomy.
Maudsley Obsessional-Compulsive Inventory: obsessions and compulsions in a nonclinical sample

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is increasingly being studied in nonclinical samples. The self-report instruments used to select these samples, however, have not been validated with a diagnostic interview. This study thus investigated the predictive validity of the Maudsley Obsessional-Compulsive Inventory (MOCI) using the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule (ADIS), a semi-structured interview created according to DSM-III guidelines. Four sections of the ADIS--generalized anxiety disorder, simple phobia, social phobia and obsessive-compulsive disorder--were administered to 11 individuals who scored in the top 2% and 11 individuals who scored in the normal range of the MOCI 6-7 months prior to the interview. High nonclinical MOCI scorers reported more frequent and severe obsessions and compulsions as well as greater disturbance by these symptoms. In addition, the high MOCI group experienced more general worry and interference from worry, and more frequent and severe physiological symptoms when they worry. However, the two groups did not differ in terms of simple and social phobia symptoms. High MOCI scorers thus did not report a broad range of anxiety symptoms or fears, but specific obsessions and compulsions. These results provide further support for the validity of the MOCI in nonclinical samples over a 6-7 month interval.
MIG-13 Positions Migrating Cells along the Anteroposterior Body Axis of C. elegans

Abstract The C. elegans Q neuroblasts and their descendants migrate along the anteroposterior (A/P) body axis to positions that are not associated with any obvious landmarks. We find that a novel protein, MIG-13, is required to position these cells correctly. MIG-13 is a transmembrane protein whose expression is restricted to the anterior and central body regions by Hox gene activity. MIG-13 functions non–cell autonomously within these regions to promote migration toward the anterior: loss of mig-13 activity shifts the Q descendants toward the posterior, whereas increasing the level of MIG-13 shifts them anteriorly in a dose-dependent manner. Our findings suggest that MIG-13 is a component of a global A/P migration system, and that the level of MIG-13 determines where along the body axis these migrating cells stop.
Lower Respiratory Tract Infection

Abstract The most important lower respiratory infection is pneumonia, the fourth leading cause of death. Most cases of bronchitis are of viral etiology and are not major problems. Empyema can present an important problem in management. Although the diagnosis of pneumonia is usually relatively straightforward, the specific etiologic diagnosis remains a major problem. Availability of empyema fluid or a positive blood culture result can be helpful in making the etiologic diagnosis, but these are unavailable in most patients. Screening of sputum Gram stains under 100 × magnification is very important; there should be fewer than 10 squamous epithelial cells, more than 25 polymorphonuclear leukocytes, or both per field of this size. The major causes of pneumonia are Streptococcus pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, anaerobic bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, various gram-negative aerobic or facultative bacilli and Legionella. However, many other organisms are capable of causing pneumonia, even in the immunocompetent host. Further adding to the problem is the fact that a number of different organisms are manifesting increasing resistance to antimicrobial agents. Our study with ticarcillin plus clavulanic acid included seven patients with pneumonia, one with empyema, and one with purulent tracheobronchitis. Organisms recovered from pleural fluid, transtracheal aspiration and sputum or tracheostomy aspirate included multiple anaerobes, pneumococci, S. aureus, Hemophilus influenzae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, K. ozaenae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter, Enterobacter cloacae, Proteus mirabilis, beta-hemolytic streptococci, Neisseria meningitidis and Branhamella catarrhalis. Several of the organisms were ticarcillin resistant. Eight of the patients had cures and the other patient showed improvement. Only minor side-effects were encountered—Coombs' positivity (without hemolysis), eosinophilia, drug fever and one case of questionable neutropenia.
Unraveling Monogenic Channelopathies and Their Implications for Complex Polygenic Disease

Ion channels are a large family of >400 related proteins representing >1% of our genetic endowment; however, ion-channel diseases reflect a relatively new category of inborn error. They were first recognized in 1989, with the discovery of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator, and rapidly advanced as positional and functional studies converged in the dissection of components of the action potential of excitable tissues. Although it remains true that diseases of excitable tissue still most clearly illustrate this family of disease, ion-channel disorders now cover the gamut of medical disciplines, causing significant pathology in virtually every organ system, producing a surprising range of often unanticipated symptoms, and providing valuable targets for pharmacological intervention. Many of the features shared among the monogenic ion-channel diseases provide a general framework for formulating a foundation for considering their intrinsically promising role in polygenic disease. Since an increasingly important approach to the identification of genes underlying polygenic disease is to identify "functional candidates" within a critical region and to test their disease association, it becomes increasingly important to appreciate how these ion-channel mechanisms can be implicated in pathophysiology.
Sensing: Infrared image upconversion

A high-resolution scheme for converting two-dimensional infrared images to the visible region has exciting consequences for applications such as night-vision technology and chemical sensing.
The Facilitated Early Enteral and Dietary Management Effectiveness Trial in Hospitalized Patients With Malnutrition

Background: The prevalence of malnutrition in the hospitalized setting is 30% to 55%. Previous studies reported an association of malnutrition with an increased hospital length of stay (LOS), morbidity, and mortality of patients. This study evaluated the role of early nutrition intervention on LOS, diagnosis coding of malnutrition cases, calculating case mix index, and reducing delays in implementing nutrition support to patients. Methods: Demographic data, anthropometric measurements, LOS, and serum albumin levels were collected from 400 patients in 2 medical wards to determine the prevalence of malnutrition and potential delays in nutrition consultation. Based on these results, a nutrition intervention study was conducted in 1 ward; the other ward served as a control. Patients were classified as normally nourished or malnourished. Multivariate general linear regressions were used to reveal the impact of intervention on the change in LOS, controlling for other potential confounding factors on the cohort ...
MULTIPLE QUANTUM TRANSITIONS OF A SYSTEM OF COUPLED ANGULAR MOMENTA

The transition probabilities of the multiple quantum transitions of a system of coupled angular momentum vectors in a uniform static plus perpendicular rotating magnetic field are studied both in the uncertainty width region, by time-dependent perturbation theory, and at higher amplitudes of the rotating field, by direct integration of the Schr\"odinger equation, in the case of well-separated resonance frequencies.
Observations of a naturally-occurring lattice array of ribosomes in ultrathin section of Ajellomyces dermatitidis.

A highly organized crystalline lattice array believed to represent an intact naturally-occurring polyrisobome was observed in ultrathin section of a hyphal cell ofAjellomyces dermatitidis. This remarkable structure was composed of approximately 120 ribosomal particles in a high degree of 3-dimensional order. Connecting fibers thought to be informational ribonucleic acid were clearly demonstrated between the adjacent ribosomal particles of the lattice array. Subsequent attempts to induce ordered arrays of ribosomes in the hyphae ofA. dermatitidis by pre-cooling and treatment with physiological concentrations of vinblastine sulfate were not successful. It was concluded that the demonstration of naturally-occurring polyribosomes in this fungal organism by conventional techniques of electron microscopy was entirely fortuitous, and that such observation in ultrathin sections is an exceedingly rare event. Further, we believe this report to be the first demonstration by electron microscopy of an intact naturally-occurring polyribosome from fungal tissue.
Petrochemistry and tectonic origin of the Ammonoosuc Volcanics, New Hampshire–Vermont

The Middle Ordovician Ammonoosuc Volcanics of the Bronson Hill anticlinorium in the upper Connecticut River valley, New Hampshire–Vermont, is composed of amphibolite, greenstone, and felsic schists. Major-element analyses of rocks believed to have been basaltic flows, such as pillowed greenstones and dense amphibolites, reveal that they are tholeiitic in composition. The felsic schists do not have igneous compositions, therefore indicating contamination by sedimentary detritus. Regional metamorphism appears to have been isochemical. However, sea-floor alteration prior to regional metamorphism probably depleted the basalts in MgO and slightly enriched them in SiO 2 and P 2 O 5 . On the basis of trace-element discrimination diagrams (Ti-Zr, Ti-Zr-Y, Ti-Zr-Sr), two distinct basaltic populations exist, suggesting an abyssal oceanic affinity for one group and an island-arc affinity for the other. It is proposed that the opening of the proto–Atlantic Ocean (Iapetus) in early Paleozoic time and its subsequent closure during the Taconic orogeny would explain the interfingering of Cambrian to Middle Ordovician abyssal tholeiite, island-arc tholeiite, and eugeosynclincal metasedimentary rocks in the northern Appalachians.
Do 3n−5 edges force a subdivision of K 5 ?

Abstract : A conjecture of Dirac states that every simple graph with n vertices and 3n - 5 edges must contain a subdivision of K5. We prove that a topologically minimal counterexample is 5-connected, and that no minor-minimal counterexample contains K sub 4 - e. Consequently, we prove Dirac's conjecture for all graphs that can be imbedded in a surface with Euler characteristic at least -2.