cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Is there a role for inhaled nitric oxide as a rescue therapy in respiratory failure associated with hematologic malignancies

Inhaled nitric oxide has been demonstrated to improve oxygenation in critically ill patients requiring mechanical ventilation. We therefore performed a retrospective review to determine the outcome of patients with hematological malignancies and acute respiratory failure who received inhaled nitric oxide (INO) in a multidisciplinary intensive care unit of a single tertiary referral medical center. Thirteen patients with hematological malignancies who required endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation and received INO for acute respiratory failure between January 1998 and December 2002 were identified. Mean ± standard deviation (SD) age was 47.6 (±13.2) years. The mean ± SD Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) III score on the day of ICU admission was 94.1 ± 33.7 with a mean (SD) predicted probability of ICU death of 42.4% (±28.6). Mean APACHE III score on the day of initiating INO was 107.6 (±34.4) with a predicted mortality in the intensive care unit of 72.7% (±23.3). Mean PaO2 to FiO2 (PF) ratios (±SD) prior to, and immediately after, the initiation of INO were 62.6 (±28.2) and 111 (±65.1), respectively (P < 0.001). The median duration of INO therapy was 41.8 h (interquartile range, 6.3–98.2). Patients with hematological malignancies and acute respiratory failure to whom INO was administered had clinical deterioration since ICU admission. Despite a marked initial improvement in arterial oxygen tension, all patients ultimately died in the intensive care unit, 8 of them within 48 h of initiating INO. Therefore, despite initial improvement in oxygenation, we did not observe any survival benefit to INO in this setting. Am. J. Hematol., 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Mental energy : Assessing the motivation dimension

Content-based theories of motivation may best uti lize the meta-theory of work motivation. Process-based theories may benefit most from adopting Locke and Latham's goal-setting approaches and measures. Decision-making theories should utilize the measurement approach operationalized by Ilgen et al. Sustained effort theories should utilize similar approaches to those used in numerous studies of intrinsic motivation, but the measurement of which is typically observational or attitudinal. This paper explored the implications of the four approaches to studying motivation on the newly estab ished model of mental energy. The approach taken for examining motivation informs the measurement of mental energy. Specific recommendations for each approach were developed and provided. As a result of these efforts, it will now be possible to diagnose, measure, and experimentally test for changes in human motivation, which is one of the three major components of mental energy.
Integration and generalization of LVQ and c-means clustering (Invited Paper)

This paper discusses the relationship between the sequential hard c-means (SHCM), learning vector quantization (LVQ), and fuzzy c-means (FCM) clustering algorithms. LVQ and SHCM suffer from several major problems. For example, they depend heavily on initialization. If the initial values of the cluster centers are outside the convex hull of the input data, such algorithms, even if they terminate, may not produce meaningful results in terms of prototypes for cluster representation. This is due in part to the fact that they update only the winning prototype for every input vector. We also discuss the impact and interaction of these two families with Kohonen's self-organizing feature mapping (SOFM), which is not a clustering method, but which often lends itself to clustering algorithms. Then we present two generalizations of LVQ that are explicitly designed as clustering algorithms: we refer to these algorithms as generalized LVQ equals GLVQ; and fuzzy LVQ equals FLVQ. Learning rules are derived to optimize an objective function whose goal is to produce 'good clusters'. GLVQ/FLVQ (may) update every node in the clustering net for each input vector. We use Anderson's IRIS data to compare the performance of GLVQ/FLVQ with a standard version of LVQ. Experiments show that the final centroids produced by GLVQ are independent of node initialization and learning coefficients. Neither GLVQ nor FLVQ depends upon a choice for the update neighborhood or learning rate distribution--these are taken care of automatically.
Shock remagnetization associated with meteorite impact at planetary surfaces

The stages of a cratering event are considered together with four distinct magnetization volumes, taking into account the jetted material, the ejecta, the impact melt, and shock-compressed material which remains in situ. Shock classifications are discussed along with mineralogical aspects of shock remagnetization, the behavior of iron sulfides, defect cubic spinels, ilmenite-hematite series, the Fe-Ti-O system, alloys phases, and silicates. Remagnetization mechanisms considered include a first order reversible crystallographic transition in bcc iron-nickel, a second order Curie point transition in fcc iron-nickel, shock-induced anisotropy, and shock melting of iron containing silicates. Experimental results are reported together with a hypothetical crater model.
Introduction of lanthanide(III) Chelates to Oligopeptides on Solid Phase

The synthesis of oligopeptide building blocks for the introduction of nonluminescent and luminescent lanthanide(III) chelates to the oligopeptide structure on the solid phase is described. The oligopeptide conjugates synthesized were used in DELFIA-based receptor binding assay (motilin) as well as in LANCE time-resolved fluorescence quenching assay (caspase-3).
Preparation of School Psychologists in the United States

School psychology in the United States continues to evolve in response to shifts in the country's demographic characteristics, an increasing focus on the importance of child mental health, together with health and education reforms. The landscape of school psychological services in the United States also is shaped through the changing roles and responsibilities of federal, state, and local governments in education. General trends and future directions within the field along with a snapshot of an existing U.S. school psychology program provide further insight into the specialty. Multicultural and international emphases as well as program strengths and weaknesses are discussed.
Stability of uranium incorporated into Fe (hydr)oxides under fluctuating redox conditions.

Reaction pathways resulting in uranium-bearing solids that are stable (i.e., having limited solubility) under aerobic and anaerobic conditions will limit dissolved concentrations and migration of this toxin. Here, we examine the sorption mechanism and propensity for release of uranium reacted with Fe (hydr)oxides under cyclic oxidizing and reducing conditions. Upon reaction of ferrihydrite with Fe(II) under conditions where aqueous Ca−UO2−CO3 species predominate (3 mM Ca and 3.8 mM total CO3), dissolved uranium concentrations decrease from 0.16 mM to below detection limit (BDL) after 5−15 d, depending on the Fe(II) concentration. In systems undergoing 3 successive redox cycles (14 d of reduction, followed by 5 d of oxidation) and a pulsed decrease to 0.15 mM total CO3, dissolved uranium concentrations varied depending on the Fe(II) concentration during the initial and subsequent reduction phases. U concentrations resulting during the oxic “rebound” varied inversely with the Fe(II) concentration during the...
Dose-response models for developmental malformations.

An empirical dose-response model can generally be found for bioassay data, which provides a mathematical relationship between the incidence of a developmental malformation and dose of a toxicant in the experimental dose range. If biological principles and data can be used in the formulation of the dose-response model, the estimation of the incidence of malformations outside of the experimental dose range may be improved. In this paper, exponential growth of morphological structures in rodents during gestation is assumed. Further, it is assumed that some structural malformations are the result of reduced or delayed growth and the incidence of structurally normal fetuses is proportional to fetal weight raised to a power. When the exponential growth rate constant is reduced by dose raised to a power, a Weibull dose-response function is obtained. When the exponential growth rate constant is modeled by a polynomial function of dose, a polynomial-exponential dose-response model is obtained. The Weibull and the polynomial-exponential model, restricted to degrees from one up to the number of dosed groups, were fit to a database of bioassay data assembled from Teratology Vol. 1 (1968) to Vol. 42 (1990). In general the two models gave similar results and often gave exactly the same fit. The linear term appeared in the polynomial-exponential model in about one-fourth of the cases and was not related to the background incidence. Published 1993 by Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A Vacuum Tube Compensated Flat Top High-Current Pulse Supply for Symmetrical Torus Machine

The conversion of the Model C Stellarator to a symmetrical torus machine produced a longer plasma confinement time. This, In turn, required a longer ohmic heating current pulse than could be supplied by the existing vacuum tube system controlling the total energy flow. A new energy supply, consisting of a high-voltage capacitor bank and crowbar coupled with a low-voltage pulse-forming network of electrolytic capacitors, has been added In parallel with the existing vacuum tube system such that the two are complementary. The composite supply is capable of producing longer pulses with a greater amplitude and, at the same time, permits modulation of the flat top.
Aspergillus fumigatus arp1 modulates conidial pigmentation and complement deposition

Aspergillus fumigatus is an important pathogen causing invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in immunocompromised patients. The fungus propagates by conidia, which are the infectious structures inhaled by the human host. Opsonophagocytosis is thought to contribute to clearance of the inhaled conidia, a process that is facilitated by complement deposition on conidial surfaces. We now show that conidial colour mutants exhibit significant increases in C3 binding capacity compared with wild type. A reddish-pink mutation that led to enhanced C3 binding was complemented by a cosmid clone. A 3.3 kb DNA fragment from the subsequently rescued cosmid was sufficient to restore the bluish-green conidial pigment. The bluish-green transformant exhibited a level of C3 binding similar to that of the parental strain. A gene, designated arp1, was responsible for the complementation. Comparison of the genomic and cDNA sequences of arp1 revealed that it has two introns and encodes a putative protein of 168 amino acids. Arp1 is very similar to scytalone dehydratase, an enzyme involved in 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene-melanin synthesis in Colletotrichum lagenarium and Magnaporthe grisea. Northern hybridization analysis revealed that arp1 is developmentally regulated, being expressed during conidiation. Disruption of arp1 resulted in reddish-pink conidia and increased C3 binding. Our studies suggest that arp1 modulates the bluish-green pigmentation of conidia as well as complement deposition.
A subtle war of words on the internet

As people of many cultures do business with one another, they often struggle to find a common language. Or do they? English is typically considered not only the language of business, but also the language of the internet. But will its dominance continue as more Chinese start using the internet. The subtle and not so subtle implications of being a dominating language, be it English or Chinese, are discussed.
Specificity of serine proteases for cleavage sites on proatrial natriuretic factor

Abstract An immunological approach was used to investigate the specificity of protease cleavage sites on proANF. Cleavage of 35S-cysteine biosynthetically-labeled proANF by whole serum, thrombin and kallikrein was examined. Reaction products were immunoprecipitated with two antibodies directed to different epitopes: a previously characterized antibody directed toward the carboxy-terminus of ANF103–126, which cross reacts with proANF, ANF99–126 and ANF103–126, and a newly prepared antisera to synthetic ANF99–105, which uniquely recognizes ANF99–126, but not proANF or ANF103–126. With increasing time of incubation with rat serum, proANF is sequentially cleaved at the C-terminus of a monobasic Pro-Arg dipeptide sequence to form ANF99–126, and then at the C-terminus of a dibasic Arg-Arg dipeptide sequence to yield ANF103–126. This cleavage activity of serum is blocked by leupeptin (40 μg/ml), but not by hirudin (100 nM), a specific inhibitor of thrombin, or by aprotinin (200 KIU/ml), a kallikrein inhibitor. When 100-fold purified serum cleavage enzyme was used in place of crude serum, similar results were obtained. Thrombin cleaves proANF only at the monobasic site to produce ANF99–126 while kallikrein cleaves only at the dibasic site to produce ANF103–126. As expected, the generation of these cleavage products can be inhibited by hirudin or aprotinin respectively. These data indicate that the substrate specificity of the serum cleavage activity is broader than that of thrombin or kallikrein, and that cleavage of proANF by serum proteases may be influenced by conformational restraints. The methods developed here should help in the future characterization of the physiological proANF cleaving enzyme.
Clofibrate Microcapsules: III. Mechanism of Release

AbstractThe mechanism of release of clofibrate from microcapsules prepared in a gelatin-sodium sulfate system has been investigated. A theoretical model was developed to explain the release pattern of the drug from the microcapsules. It was shown that the release of the drug followed four stages giving individual zero-order profiles. The overall release from the thin-walled microcapsules showed greater deviation from the zero-order kinetics but followed the square-root of the time plots. Microcapsules having thicker walla approximated overall zero-order release but deviated from the square-root of time plots. The effect of hardening on the release profiles and possible explanations for the differences observed in the release of clofibrate from the thin-walled and thick-walled microcapsules are discussed.
Multiagent allocation of Markov decision process tasks

Producing task assignments for multiagent teams often leads to an exponential growth in the decision space as the number of agents and objectives increases. One approach to finding a task assignment is to model the agents and the environment as a single Markov decision process, and solve the planning problem using standard MDP techniques. However, both exact and approximate MDP solvers in this environment struggle to produce assignments even for problems involving few agents and objectives. Conversely, problem formulations based upon mathematical programming typically scale well with the problem size at the expense of requiring comparatively simple agent and task models. This paper combines these two formulations by modeling task and agent dynamics using MDPs, and then using optimization techniques to solve the combinatorial problem of assigning tasks to agents. The computational complexity of the resulting algorithm is polynomial in the number of tasks and is constant in the number of agents. Simulation results are provided which highlight the performance of the algorithm in a grid world mobile target surveillance scenario, while demonstrating that these techniques can be extended to even larger tasking domains.
Hydrophilic Polymer Surfaces Via Radiation-Chemical Treatments

Nylon film and fabric and polyester film substrates have been treated to render their surfaces more hydrophilic. Pre- irradiation in air was followed by treatments in solutions containing acrylic acid, sodium styrene sulfonate, N-methylol acrylamide, polyethylene oxide and water. The relative effectiveness of the different treatments was estimated by measur ing contact angles of water on the polymer film surfaces. A nylon fabric was also radiation-grafted and it exhibited significantly improved stain release under water.
Cytoplasmic regulation of two G1-specific temperature-sensitive functions

Abstract tsAF8 and ts13 cells are temperature-sensitive (ts) mutants of BHK cells that specifically arrest, at nonpermissive temperature, in the G 1 phase of the cell cycle. These two mutants can complement each other. Both cell lines can be made quiescent by serum deprivation (G o ). When subsequently stimulated by serum, they can enter S phase at 34°C but not at 39.5°–40.6°C. We have used these mutants to determine whether the nucleus is needed during the G o →S transition for the expression of the G 1 ts functions. For this purpose, we fused cytoplasts of G o -tsAF8 with whole ts13 cells in G o , and cytoplasts of G o -ts13 with whole tsAF8 cells in G o . Serum stimulation at the nonpermissive temperature induced DNA synthesis in both types of such fusion products. No DNA synthesis was induced by serum stimulation at the nonpermissive temperature in fusion products constructed between either G o -tsAF8 cytoplasts and whole G o -tsAF8 cells or G o -ts13 cytoplasts and whole G o -ts13 cells. These results demonstrate that the information for these two ts functions, which are required for entry of serum-stimulated cells into the S phase, are already present in the cytoplasm of G o cells—that is, before serum stimulation commits them to the transition from the nonproliferating to the proliferating state.
Early experience and immunity.

MANY physiological and behavioural variables in adult life have been related to infantile experience. There have, however, been no large scale studies of the effects of infantile stimulation on the immunological system—influences on which might have important implications in host resistance to infectious disease, to cancer (in view of growing evidence that resistance to many tumours is immunological in nature1,2) and possibly to auto-immune diseases, which may have an association with states of immunological insufficiency3. Emotions and stress have been related to the onset and course of infections, cancer and auto-immune diseases4, and we have now studied differential immunological responses to flagellin in rats handled and not handled before weaning.
Biological systems modeling of metabolic and signaling networks

Cells interact with the world around them, as well as monitor their own intracellular state, using powerful biochemical processing systems. The output of these systems drive complex phenotypic programs which encode cellular operations in response to changes in extracellular or intracellular states. Mathematical modeling plays an integral part in understanding the properties of these systems and is an invaluable tool for bioengineering applications. In this review, we discuss recent contributions in the field of biological systems modeling. We describe model construction and identification techniques along with computational tools to characterize cellular operation. We focus on two commonly studied and important subsystems, namely, prokaryotic carbon metabolism and eukaryotic signal transduction systems.
Using meta-analysis to inform risk assessment and risk management

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses are now routinely used to assess both the benefits and risks of medical treatments and drugs. The application of meta-analyses in the medical world is more straightforward than in the environmental arena because appropriate control treatments and measures of impact are more easily agreed on in medicine. Nonetheless, meta-analysis has great potential not only to inform specific regulatory decisions in the arena of plant biotechnology, but also to inform general risk management policy. Within the realm of genetically modified (GM) crops, meta-analyses provide quantitative syntheses of the benefits, risks, and information gaps of these emerging technologies. In this context, several published meta-analyses have examined the risks of insect resistant crops to nontarget organisms and the risk of outcrossing due to gene flow from GM crops. The three most critical challenges when applying meta-analysis to plant biotechnology risk analysis are: (1) identifying the appropriate comparison—risk compared to what baseline?; (2) using the meta-analysis to help identify the best levers for risk management; and (3) using the meta-analysis to estimate the probability of rare, larger magnitude hazards that are unlikely to occur during short duration studies. Meta-analysis is an important tool for risk analysis and risk management because patterns that might never be captured in individual studies can emerge from the aggregate collection.
Critical Examination of the Use of Coherent Gradient Sensing in Measuring Fracture Parameters in Functionally Graded Materials

Specific relations for out-of-plane deformation near crack tips of linearly graded materials are introduced and used with the optical method of coherent gradient sensing (CGS) to interpret experimentally obtained fringes. Stress intensity factors are thus derived and used to reconstruct synthetic fringes that are then compared to experimental ones. An error function is used with sets of 2-6 terms in the asymptotic solution to gage the incremental accuracy contributed by using these additional terms with the experimental results. The study reveals the necessity of using up to the sixth higher-order term to obtain a precise agreement between the analytical solution and the experimental interferograms. Specimen configurations with cracks consecutively positioned at the stiffer, and then at the more compliant end of the gradient are used. Distinct features of the interferograms indicate the benefits of having the crack on the compliant side of the elastic modulus variation.
Identification and quantitation of free radicals and paramagnetic centers from complex multi-component EPR spectra

Abstract We describe a comprehensive generalized method which was developed in an effort to analyze and obtain quantitative information from EPR spectral data. This method consists of several routines including isotropic simulation, anisotropic simulation, computerized auto-simulation for component optimization, multi-component fitting, and quantitation. Several examples, which demonstrate that this program can be applied to both isotropic and anisotropic systems, are shown.
Relationship of the Glyoxylate Pathway to the Pathogenesis of Cryptococcus neoformans

Functional genomics has become a major focus in the study of microbial pathogenesis. This study used a functional genomic tool, differential display reverse transcription-PCR, to identify a transcriptional profile of Cryptococcus neoformans cells as they produced meningitis in an immunosuppressed host. This serial global gene expression during infection allowed for the identification of up- and down-regulated genes during infection. During this profiling, a single gene for the enzyme isocitrate lyase (ICL1) was found to be up regulated at 1 week of infection in a rabbit meningitis model and during a time of maximum host cellular response. The finding suggested that this enzyme and the glyoxylate shunt pathway are important to this yeast's energy production during infection. However, site-directed icl1 mutants had no apparent virulence defect in two animal models and no growth defect within macrophages. These observations suggest that although the yeast responded to a certain environmental cue(s) by an increase in ICL1 expression during infection, this gene was not necessary for progression of a C. neoformans infection. Compounds that specifically target only ICL1 are unlikely to cripple C. neoformans growth in vivo.
Nuclear spin-lattice relaxation in amorphous and crystalline B 2 O 3

The temperature and frequency dependence of the $^{11}\mathrm{B}$ nuclear spin-lattice relaxation time in amorphous and crystalline ${\mathrm{B}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ has been investigated by pulsed and continuous-wave NMR. A ${T}_{1}$ minimum with unusual properties has been discovered at \ensuremath{\sim} 300 K. A theory is developed, based on the existence of low-frequency phonons in amorphous materials whose lifetimes are limited by structural relaxation of two-level defects, which explains many of the experimental properties of the relaxation process. An average activation energy $\frac{E}{k}=3150$ K for the two-level defects in the glass is obtained. Portis's theory of rf saturation in inhomogeneously broadened resonance lines is extended, and applied to the saturation curves of ${\mathrm{B}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$.
DNA polymerase beta: contributions of template-positioning and dNTP triphosphate-binding residues to catalysis and fidelity.

The specific catalytic roles of two groups of DNA polymerase β active site residues identified from crystal structures were investigated: residues possibly involved in DNA template positioning (Lys280, Asn294, and Glu295) and residues possibly involved in binding the triphosphate moiety of the incoming dNTP (Arg149, Ser180, Arg183, and Ser188). Eight site-specific mutants were constructed: K280A, N294A, N294Q, E295A, R149A, S180A, R183A, and S188A. Two-dimensional NMR analysis was employed to show that the global conformation of the mutants has not been perturbed significantly. Pre-steady-state kinetic analyses with single-nucleotide gapped DNA substrates were then performed to obtain the rate of catalysis at saturating dNTP (kpol), the apparent dissociation constant for dNTP (Kd), catalytic efficiency kpol/Kd, and fidelity. Of the three template-positioning residues, Asn294 and Glu295 (but not Lys280) contribute significantly to kpol. Taken together with other data, the results suggest that these two r...
Physical Interpretation of Results from the HIPLEX-1 Experiment

Abstract The general characteristics of the clouds that were included in the HIPLEX-1 experiment are reviewed, and the results for the response variables are interpreted in light of other measurements from the instrumented aircraft. In most seeded clouds, the HIPLEX-1 experimental hypothesis corresponded with the observed precipitation development for only the first ∼8 min after seeding. The failure to obtain a stronger statistical result is attributed to the inherent inefficiency of the small cumulus congestus selected as experimental units. This inefficiency was only partly due to low ice concentrations; a more significant cause of the low precipitation efficiency was the limited lifetime and low liquid water content of these clouds. Some calculations which indicate that these clouds could not support a rapid enough accretional growth process to lead to precipitation after seeding are discussed. Other reasons for the successes and failures of the experiment are discussed.
The pharmacokinetics of dihydroxypropyltheophylline: A basis for rational therapy

Dihydroxypropyltheophylline (dyphylline) was administered in a single dose on 7 different days to 7 normal subjects; 5 mg/kg was given by intramuscular injection and oral tablet; 10 mg/kg was given by these routes and also in 3 different liquid formulations. Dyphylline is rapidly absorbed, and bioavailability is independent of route of administration or formulation. The pharmacokinetics of dyphylline do not appear to be dose-dependent in the dosage range studied. The mean half-life of dyphylline is 2.11 +/- 0.36 hr; because of its short half-life and unproved efficacy, current dosage recommendations for dyphylline must be revised greatly. Further efficacy trials utilizing the pharmacokinetic data from this study are essential.
Measurements of conformational changes during adhesion of lipid and protein (polylysine and S-layer) surfaces.

The adhesion forces between various surfaces were measured using the "surface forces apparatus" technique. This technique allows for the thickness of surface layers and the adhesion force between them to be directly measured in controlled vapor or liquid environments. Three types of biological surfaces were prepared by depositing various lipid-protein monolayers (with thicknesses ranging from 1 to 4 nm) on the inert, molecularly smooth mica surface: (i) hydrophobic lipid monolayers; (ii) amphiphilic polyelectrolyte surfaces of adsorbed polylysine; and (iii) deposited bacterial S-layer proteins. The adhesion, swelling, and wetting properties of these surfaces was measured as a function of relative humidity and time. Initial adhesion is due mainly to the van der Waals forces arising from nonpolar (hydrophobic) contacts. Following adhesive contact, significant molecular rearrangements can occur which alter their hydrophobic-hydrophilic balance and increase their adhesion with time. Increased adhesion is generally enhanced by (i) increased relative humidity (or degree of hydration); (ii) increased contact time; and (iii) increased rates of separation. The results are likely to be applicable to the adhesion of many other biosurfaces, and show that the hydrophobicity of a lipid or protein surface is not an intrinsic property of that surface but depends on its environment (e.g., on whether it is in aqueous solution or exposed to the atmosphere), and on the relative humidity of the atmosphere. It also depends on whether the surface is in adhesive contact with another surface and-when considering dynamic (nonequilibrium) conditions-on the time and previous history of its interaction with that surface.
Positioning features within the Rapid Design System

A method for representing and manipulating information on dimensioning and positioning within a feature-based environment for mechanical parts design is described. In the feature-based design paradigm, designs are constructed using form features which are high-level representations of part geometry, i.e. block, hole, slot, pocket, chamfer, fillet, etc. In the system discussed two modes of positioning form features are supported. The first is a layout mode, which allows the user to position form features relative to each other, in order to layout the general geometry of the part. The second is a dimensioning mode, in which the user specifies which dimensions on the part are critically important, and what they should be. The system completes the dimensioning on request, producing enough dimensions to generate an engineering drawing. >
Presidential Perceptions of Trustee Involvement in Community College Decision Making.

Community college trustees play a variety of roles in governing their colleges, but there is little consistency in interpreting these actions. Defining the specific responsibilities of trustee involvement has increasingly developed into a priority for community college leaders. To what extent trustees should be involved in different decision-making processes is critical for college presidents and leaders, and the ability to use them as a resource to advance the college is important to help ensure the welfare and protect the mission of the college. The authors examined the involvement of community college trustees in making key institutional decisions, identifying college leaders’ perceptions of trustee involvement in comparison to desired roles that community college leaders prefer. Findings indicated a disconnect between the desired and actual role of trustees, specifically in the area of trustees raising money for the institution, having a voice in curriculum, determining financial priorities, and makin...
Modern diuretic agents

Summary The foregoing has been an attempt to review the pharmacology of a rapidly expanding group of agents broadly classified as diuretics. It is hoped that this material will provide a useful background to the pediatrician on whom calls to use these agents fall far less frequently than upon the internist. Details of dosage and administration of the various agents have been omitted from consideration. Instead, it has seemed preferable to group these latter considerations together in a companion report 8 dealing with the use of these agents in edema states commonly encountered in pediatric practice rather than to overburden with detail the present exploration of a large and complex area.
Influence of pH on hydrolytic decomposition of diethylpropion hydrochloride: Stability studies on drug substance and tablets using high-performance liquid chromatography

The influence of pH on the hydrolysis of diethylpropion hydrochloride was investigated. Hydrolytic decomposition of the drug in solution at 45° occurred at a very slow and constant rate at pH 3.5 and below but increased rapidly as the pH was raised above 3.5. Results of stability studies performed on six commercial tablet products from five manufacturers showed a similar relationship between the decomposition rate and the formulation pH. A reaction pathway based on the formation of an enamine structure is proposed for the pH-dependent hydrolysis. A high-performance liquid chromatographic assay for the drug is presented, which also separates and detects the hydrolysis product 1-phenyl-1,2-propanedione and the compound assumed to be the enol tautomer of this product.
Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl: Erasing the Last Vestiges of Human Property

In Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl, the U.S. Supreme Court gave a narrowing interpretation to the federal Indian Child Welfare Act and overturned state court decisions that, based on a misapplication of ICWA, undid one child's adoption. This Essay explains why the Court's decision is a welcome partial corrective to a grossly over-inclusive federal mandate that has wreaked havoc on adoption practice and harmed many children.
G Protein Control of Drosophila Photoreceptor Phospholipase C

Light stimulates phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate phospholipase C (PLC) activity in Drosophila photoreceptors. We have investigated the mechanism of this reaction by assaying PLC activity in Drosophila head membranes using exogenous phospholipid substrates. PLC activation depends on the photoconversion of rhodopsin to metarhodopsin and is reduced in norpAEE5 PLC and ninaEP332 rhodopsin mutants. NorpA PLC is stimulated by light at free Ca2+ concentrations between 10 nM and 1 μM. This finding is consistent with a Ca2+-mediated positive feedback mechanism that contributes to the rapid temporal response of invertebrate photoreceptor cells. The guanyl nucleotide dependence of light-stimulated PLC activity indicates that a G protein regulates NorpA. This was confirmed by the observation that light stimulation of PLC activity is deficient in mutants that lack the eye-specific G protein β subunit Gβe. These results indicate that Gβe functions as the β subunit of the G protein coupling rhodopsin to NorpA PLC.
Who is in the Conversation? Listening To Each Other and To Children

The articles in this special issue were written not only for you, teacher educators, but for others you might want to include in in-depth conversations about teaching and learning — parents, admini...
Quantum linearization instabilities

We discuss quantizing the perturbations of a symmetrical background space-time and are led to study the quantum analogue of linearization instabilities. We outline the derivation of the second-order quantum constraints that arise whenever perturbations of symmetric space-times with compact Cauchy surfaces are quantized. These second-order constraints require invariance of all the allowed quantum states (not just the “vacuum” state) under the symmetry group of the background space-time. This result is discussed in light of the conclusion by Gibbons and Hawking that the thermal radiation produced by event horizons in de Sitter space is invariant under the de Sitter group and thus does not admit a semiclassical interpretation.
ANAESTHESIA VIA THE UMBILICAL VEIN: CASE REPORT

The umbilical vein as an intravenous route for the induction and maintenance of anaesthesia in a human adult is described.
BILLING, CODING, AND DOCUMENTATION IN THE CRITICAL CARE ENVIRONMENT

Optimal conduct of modern-day physician practices involves a thorough understanding and application of the principles of documentation, coding, and billing. Physicians' role in these activities can no longer be secondary. Surgeons practicing critical care must be well versed in these concepts and their effective application to ensure that they are competitive in an increasingly difficult and demanding environment. Health care policies and regulations continue to evolve, mandating constant education of practicing physicians and their staffs and surgical residents who also will have to function in this environment. Close, collaborative relationships between physicians and individuals well versed in the concepts of documentation, coding, and billing are indispensable. Similarly, ongoing educational and review processes (whether internal or consultative from outside sources) not only can decrease the possibility of unfavorable outcomes from audit but also will likely enhance practice efficiency and cash flow. A financially viable practice is certainly a prerequisite for a surgical critical care practice to achieve its primary goal of excellence in patient care.
Position, direction, and their perceptual integrality

Subjects were shown an arrow inside a rectangle and were asked to decide on either its vertical direction (up vs. downl or its height (high vs. low) as quickly as possible. Whenever vertical direction was criterial, height was irrelevant, and vice versa. In four conditions, the irrelevant dimension (1) did not vary, (2) covaried positively with the criterial dimension, up with high and down with low, (3) covaried negatively with the criterial dimension, up with low and down with high, or (4) varied orthogonally with the criterial dimension. Height and vertical direction satisfied one of W. R. Garner’s prerequisites for “integral” dimensions in that Condition 4 took longer than Condition 1. But Condition 2 was faster than 1, and 3 was slower than 1, a pattern unlike those of other known integral dimensions. The positive correlation in Condition 2 facilitates, and the negative correlation in 3 interferes, it is argued, because height and vertical direction have interpretations with components in common or in conflict. This research was supported in part by Grant MH 20021 from the National lnstitute of Mental Health.
Genetics, Dementia, and the Elderly:

Whether or not an individual develops dementia is powerfully influenced by genes. For Alzheimer's disease, the most common type of dementia, one susceptibility gene with major effects has been identified, but progress finding other susceptibility genes has stalled. Twin studies have revealed that nongenetic risk also plays an important role, as there are many monozygotic twin pairs in which only one individual has dementia. Scientists have argued that gene-by-environment interactions will be key to understanding vulnerability to Alzheimer's disease; but to date, few substantial gene-by-environment interactions have been replicated. Often, too, the nongenetic or lifestyle factor appears to have a protective effect only for those individuals not carrying the risky version of the gene, not for those individuals who are at genetic risk.
The Ubiquitous Cellular Transcriptional Factor USF Targets the Varicella-Zoster Virus Open Reading Frame 10 Promoter and Determines Virulence in Human Skin Xenografts in SCIDhu Mice In Vivo

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) open reading frame 10 (ORF10) is a determinant of virulence in SCIDhu skin xenografts but not in human T cells in vivo. In this analysis of the regulation of ORF10 transcription, we have identified four ORF10-related transcripts, including a major 1.3-kb RNA spanning ORF10 only and three other read-through transcripts. Rapid-amplification-of-cDNA-ends experiments indicated that the 1.3-kb transcript of ORF10 has single initiation and termination sites. In transient expression assays, the ORF10 promoter was strongly stimulated by the major VZV transactivator, IE62. Deletion analyses revealed approximate boundaries for the full ORF10 promoter activity between -75 and -45 and between +5 and -8, relative to the ORF10 transcription start site. The recombinant virus POKA10-Deltapro, with the ORF10 promoter deletion, blocked transcription of ORF10 and also of ORF9A and ORF9 mRNAs, whereas expression of read-through ORF9A/9/10 and ORF9/10 transcripts was increased, compensating for the loss of the monocistronic mRNAs. The cellular factor USF bound specifically to its consensus site within the ORF10 promoter and was required for IE62 transactivation, whereas disrupting the predicted TATA boxes or Oct-1 binding elements had no effect. The USF binding site was disrupted in the recombinant virus, POKA10-proDeltaUSF, and no ORF10 protein was produced. Both ORF10 promoter mutants reduced VZV replication in SCIDhu skin xenografts. These observations provided further evidence of the contribution of the ORF10 protein to VZV pathogenesis in skin and demonstrated that VZV depends upon the cellular transcriptional factor USF to support its virulence in human skin in vivo.
A hybrid finite-volume/finite-difference scheme for one-dimensional Boussinesq equations to simulate wave attenuation due to vegetation

A numerical scheme is developed to solve the extended one-dimensional Boussinesq equations for wave propagation through vegetated water bodies. The effects of vegetation are added in the source term of the momentum equation in the form of drag force offered by vegetation to the flowing water. The governing equations are then arranged in such a way that a finite-volume method with the HLL Riemann solver is used to discretize the convective part of the equations, while a finite-difference method is used to discretize the remaining terms. The values of the variables at cell face for the use in the local Riemann problem are computed by a fourth-order MUSCL reconstruction method. The bed slope, bed friction, resistance due to vegetation and Boussinesq terms are discretized using centered finite-difference schemes of up to fourth-order accuracy. The unsteady term is discretized by the second-order MUSCL-Hancock scheme. The resulting discretized equations form a tri-diagonal matrix, which is solved efficiently by the Thomas algorithm. The use of Riemann solver makes the model capable of simulating both breaking and non-breaking waves from deep to shallow water regions. The developed model is validated against various experimental observations and demonstrated to be suitable for predicting wave propagation in vegetated water bodies.
1,1,1‐Trifluoroheptane

1,1,1-Trifluoroheptane product: 1,1,1-Trifluoroheptane product: 1,1,1-Trifluorododecane product: 1,1,1-Trifluorohexadecane product: 1,1,1-Trifluoro-3,5,5-trimethylhexane product: (4,4,4-Trifluorobutyl)cyclohexane product: 1,1,1,10,10,10-Hexafluorodecane product: 1,1,1,6,6,6-Hexafluoro-3-hexene product: p-Bis(trifluoromethyl)benzene product: 2,4-Bis(trifluoromethyl)chlorobenzene product: p-Trifluoromethylnitrobenzene Keywords: replacement reactions, miscellaneous; sulfur tetrafluoride, poison; sulfur tetrafluoride, disposal; autoclaves and pressure reactors, Hastelloy-C vessels for fluorine compounds
Pneumonia in the very old

Pneumonia is a major medical problem in the very old. The increased frequency and severity of pneumonia in the elderly is largely explained by the ageing of organ systems (in particular the respiratory tract, immune system, and digestive tract) and the presence of comorbidities due to age-associated diseases. The most striking characteristic of pneumonia in the very old is its clinical presentation: falls and confusion are frequently encountered, while classic symptoms of pneumonia are often absent. Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and nursing-home acquired pneumonia (NHAP) have to be distinguished. Although there are no fundamental differences in pathophysiology and microbiology of the two entities, NHAP tends to be much more severe, because milder cases are not referred to the hospital, and residents of nursing homes often suffer from dementia, multiple comorbidities, and decreased functional status. The immune response decays with age, yet pneumococcal and influenza vaccines have their place for the prevention of pneumonia in the very old. Pneumonia in older individuals without terminal disease has to be distinguished from end-of-life pneumonia. In the latter setting, the attributable mortality of pneumonia is low and antibiotics have little effect on life expectancy and should be used only if they provide the best means to alleviate suffering. In this review, we focus on recent publications relative to CAP and NHAP in the very old, and discuss predisposing factors, microorganisms, diagnostic procedures, specific aspects of treatment, prevention, and ethical issues concerning end-of-life pneumonia.
Changes in myocardial blood volume over a wide range of coronary driving pressures: role of capillaries beyond the autoregulatory range

Objective: To determine whether, when the vasomotor capacity of the coronary arterioles is exhausted at rest, myocardial blood volume decreases in order to maintain a normal capillary hydrostatic pressure, even at the expense of myocardial oxygen delivery. Methods: 18 dogs were studied. In group 1 (n = 9), coronary driving pressure (CDP) was reduced by 10–80 mm Hg below normal by a stenosis; in group 2 (n = 9), it was increased 20–80 mm Hg above baseline by increasing aortic pressure with phenylephrine. Myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) was undertaken to measure the myocardial blood volume fraction and myocardial blood flow (MBF). Results: In group 1 dogs, as CDP was reduced, both coronary blood flow (CBF) and MBF decreased. Myocardial blood volume fraction also decreased and myocardial vascular resistance increased, while coronary sinus Po 2 decreased. In group 2 dogs, as CDP was increased, epicardial CBF increased but MBF remained unchanged because of a decrease in myocardial blood volume fraction. Myocardial vascular resistance decreased, however, implying the presence of coronary arteriovenous shunting, which was supported by a progressive increase in the coronary sinus Po 2 . Conclusions: When arteriolar tone is exhausted so that CBF becomes dependent on CDP, myocardial blood volume decreases in order to maintain a constant capillary hydrostatic pressure, which takes precedence over myocardial oxygen delivery. These novel findings implicate capillaries in the regulation of CBF beyond the autoregulatory range.
Information efficiency and transmission range optimization for coded MIMO FH-CDMA Ad Hoc networks in time-varying environments

Optimization of the transmission range in terms of maximizing information efficiency is studied in this paper for mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) with frequency-hopped (FH) CDMA and multiple antennas. Realistic channel models are employed to account for path-loss, log-normal shadowing, and Rayleigh fading. The shadowing and fading are assumed time-varying with different time-scales due to mobility and hopping. The receiver employs decision-feedback demodulation for differential unitary space-time modulation and erasure insertion decoding for Reed-Solomon codes [14] [15]. The decoding error probability is derived based on distributions of the multiple access interference power and the signal-to-interference ratio in a dwell for ground propagation model. The trade-off between information efficiency and transmission range is studied in detail and insight is obtained into the impact of various factors, including the spreading gain, modulation and coding schemes, feedback length, erasure insertion, order of spatial diversity, time-variation of the shadowing, and channel statistics such as Doppler frequency and shadowing spread.
Mache: no-loss trace compaction

Execution traces can be significantly compressed using their referencing locality. A simple observation leads to a technique capable of compressing execution traces by an order of magnitude; instruction-only traces are compressed by two orders of magnitude. This technique is unlike previously reported trace compression techniques in that it compresses without loss of information and, therefore, does not affect trace-driven simulation time or accuracy.