cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Addition of CORES to the I-PASS Handoff: A Resident-led Quality Improvement Study.

Quality patient handoff is vital in patient care and attainable with structured handoff systems, such as the I-PASS mnemonic. This paper describes a continuous quality improvement study occurring after the implementation of the I-PASS handoff bundle. Our objectives were to (1) determine compliance with the inclusion of I-PASS elements during handoff and (2) determine whether the addition of CORES, an electronic tool that generates a patient list designed for use with I-PASS, would improve compliance and sustainability. Methods We developed an aim statement: 90% of handoffs would include all 6 I-PASS elements within 6 months of the addition of CORES. Two plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycles were conducted. In PDSA 1, we implemented CORES. In PDSA 2, we reeducated residents on I-PASS elements and the importance of a quality handoff. We used a checklist to evaluate the inclusion of I-PASS elements. Following PDSA 2, we administered a survey regarding CORES to involved residents. Results During PDSA 1, illness severity, diagnosis, patient summary, contingency planning, action list, and receiver synthesis were present in 13%, 62%, 52%, 87%, 42%, and 25% of handoffs, respectively. Overall compliance was 47%. During PDSA 2, illness severity remained stable at 13% whereas the remainder increased to 84%, 82%, 93%, 91%, and 37%. Overall compliance increased to 67%. Following PDSA 2, 100% of survey respondents reported improved handoff with CORES. Conclusions In this study, we show that neither implementation of CORES nor resident reeducation resulted in the return to high postintervention compliance observed after implementation of the I-PASS handoff bundle.
Class Size and School Performance: An Analysis of Elementary and Middle Schools

The class size debate is still ongoing among researchers, even though smaller class sizes are widely supported by parents, teachers, and the public. To contribute to this discussion, data was taken from the North Carolina (NC) School Report Cards (SRC) datasets and used to address two questions: First, is there a relationship between an elementary school’s performance score and average class size? Second, is there a relationship between a middle school’s performance score and average class size? Using the results from a linear regression and ordered logit, we find that average class size significantly predicts both NC elementary and middle school performance. However, the estimates suggest that higher average class size is negatively related to elementary school performance, but positively related to middle school performance. These results suggest that the impact of class size on student and school performance may depend on the grade levels in question, for example, elementary or middle school. We conclude that policymakers should act carefully when manipulating class sizes, since the effect may depend on the grade levels.
Composition of Particulate Matter During a Wildfire Smoke Episode in an Urban Area

The composition of wildfire smoke particulate matter (PM) was investigated during a 2018 smoke episode in the San Francisco Bay Area and compared to non-wildfire periods. Scanning electron microsco...
Semiquantitative Assessment of Amniotic Fluid Among Individuals With and Without Diabetes Mellitus.

OBJECTIVE To compare the rate and severity of abnormal amniotic fluid volumes (oligohydramnios or polyhydramnios), as well as the distribution of amniotic fluid levels, in pregnancies with and without diabetes. METHODS We performed a retrospective cohort study of singleton nonanomalous pregnancies receiving an ultrasound examination (USE) in the third trimester. Pregnancies were categorized into those with and without diabetes and subcategorized by diabetes type. The primary outcomes were oligohydramnios or polyhydramnios. Polyhydramnios was also examined by severity. The association between maternal diabetes status and oligohydramnios or polyhydramnios was assessed using logistic regression. In addition, we computed gestational age-specific amniotic fluid index (AFI) and deepest vertical pocket (DVP) centiles for pregnancies with and without diabetes. RESULTS There were 60,226 USEs from 26,651 pregnancies that met inclusion criteria. There were 3992 (15.0%) pregnancies with diabetes and 22,659 (85.0%) without diabetes. Using AFI, the rate of polyhydramnios was 10.5 versus 3.8% (odds ratio [OR] 2.95; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.62-3.32) for pregnancies with versus without diabetes, respectively; using DVP, the rate of polyhydramnios was 13.9 versus 5.4% (OR 2.84; 95% CI 2.56-3.15). Rates of oligohydramnios were also increased in pregnancies with diabetes (3.3 versus 2.6%; OR 1.26; 95% CI 1.04-1.52). The AFI and DVP were significantly higher in the cohort with diabetes between 28 and 36 weeks. CONCLUSION Within our study population, pregnancies with diabetes had increased rates of oligohydramnios and polyhydramnios as well as increased gestational age-specific amniotic fluid volumes between 28 and 36 weeks. A higher prevalence of polyhydramnios was observed using DVP as compared to AFI; nevertheless, associations were similar using either method.
A data-driven binary-classification framework for oil fingerprinting analysis.

Abstract A marine oil spill is one of the most challenging environmental issues, resulting in severe long-term impacts on ecosystems and human society. Oil dispersants are widely applied as a treating agent in oil spill response operations. The usage of dispersants significantly changes the behaviors of dispersed oil and consequently challenges the oil fingerprinting analysis. In this study, machine learning was first introduced to analyze oil fingerprinting by developing a data-driven binary classification framework. The modeling integrated dimensionality reduction algorithms (e.g., principal component analysis, PCA) to distinguish. Five groups of biomarkers, including terpanes, steranes, triaromatic steranes (TA-steranes), monoaromatic steranes (MA-steranes), and diamantanes, were selected. Different feature spaces were created from the diagnostic index of biomarkers, and six ML algorithms were applied for comparative analysis and optimizing the modeling process, including k-nearest neighbor (KNN), support vector classifier (SVC), random forest classifier (RFC), decision tree classifier (DTC), logistic regression classifier ( LRC ), and ensemble vote classifier (EVC). Hyperparameter optimization and cross-validation through GridSearchCV were applied to prevent overfitting and increase the model accuracy. Model performance was evaluated by model score and F-score through confusion matrices. The results indicated that the RFC algorithm from the diamantanes dataset performed the best. It delivered the highest F-score (0.871) versus the lowest F-score (0.792) from the EVC algorithm from the TA-steranes dataset by PCA with a variance of 95%. Therefore, diamantanes were recommended as the most suitable biomarker for distinguishing WCO and CDO to aid oil fingerprinting under the conditions in this study. The results proved the proposed method as a potential analysis tool for oil spill source identification through ML-aided oil fingerprinting. The study also showed the value of ML methods in oil spill response research and practice.
Electronic Composites: Modeling, Characterization, Processing, and MEMS Applications

Electronic composites, whose properties can be controlled by thermal or electromagnetic means, play an important role in micro- and nano- electromechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS) such as sensors, actuators, filters, and switches. This book describes the processing, simulation, and applications of electronic composites. Aimed at graduate students of electrical engineering and materials science, it will also be a useful reference for researchers and engineers in the MEMS industry.
Disgust and the Problematic Politics of Similarity

Martha Nussbaum's latest book, From Disgust to Humanity: Sexual Orientation & Constitutional Law,1 could not have come at a more opportune time in the history of gay rights in the United States. All signs point to progress toward "humanity," from same-sex couples' successful bids for marriage equality in a handful of states2 to the public's increasing acceptance of the prospect of gays and lesbians serving openly in the military.3 Even if recent cognitive science research indicates that same-sex relationships provoke more than a little disgust in some people,4 landmark marriage-equality victories in a few states suggest that the law is far less willing to tolerate that disgust as a valid basis for discriminatory and exclusionary legislation.5 And unlike its culture-war comrade abortion, homosexuality has become less, not more, taboo over time.6 Whereas abortion is rarely, if at all, mentioned on
Remembrance of Cinema Past: Reading Nostalgia and Writing Possibility in Annette Kuhn Dreaming of Fred and Ginger

Annette Kuhn _Dreaming of Fred and Ginger: Cinema and Cultural Memory_ New York: New York University Press, 2002 ISBN 0-8147-4772-8 xii + 273 pp.
Progressive depletion of peripheral B lymphocytes in 4-1BB (CD137) ligand/I-Eα-transgenic mice

Interaction of 4-1BB (CD137) and its ligand (4-1BBL) is thought to positively regulate cell-mediated and humoral immune responses. We have prepared transgenic mouse strains that express 4-1BBL cDNA under the control of MHC class II I-Ealpha promoter. The 4-1BBL-transgenic mice show progressive splenomegaly and selective depletion of B220(+) B cells accompanied with low levels of circulating IgG and defective humoral responses to Ag challenge. In addition, splenocytes from the transgenic mice fail to provide stimulation for allogeneic T cells in both lymphoproliferative and CTL responses in vitro, whereas their T cells remain functionally normal. Our results reveal unexpected functions of 4-1BBL in the regulation of humoral immune responses and Ag presentation.
A kinetic assay to monitor RNA decapping under single- turnover conditions.

Abstract The stability of all RNA polymerase II transcripts depends on the 5′-terminal cap structure. Removal of the cap is a prerequisite for 5′ to 3′-decay and is catalyzed by distinct cellular and viral decapping activities. Over the past decade, several decapping enzymes have been characterized through functional and structural studies. An emerging theme is that function is regulated by protein interactions; however, in vitro assays to dissect the effects on enzyme activity are unavailable. Here we present a kinetic assay to monitor decapping by the heterodimeric yeast Dcp1/Dcp2 complex. Kinetic constants related to RNA binding and the rate of the catalytic step can be determined with recombinant enzyme and cap-radiolabeled RNA substrate, allowing substrate specificity and the role of activating factors to be firmly established.
A Review of “Growing Greener Cities: Urban Sustainability in the Twenty-First Century”

A recent addition to the growing body of literature on green cities, Growing Greener Cities, brings together a number of different scholars and practitioners to explore issues of urban sustainabili...
Prorenin secretion from human placenta perfused in vitro

We examined whether renin (prorenin plus renin) is secreted from the human placenta into the maternal or fetal circulation and compared the secretion rate to that of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), progesterone, and estradiol. While estradiol and progesterone passed into both circulations, renin (mostly prorenin) and hCG were secreted predominantly into the maternal circulation. To examine if prorenin passed from the maternal to the fetal circulation and vice versa, we perfused both circuits separately with exogenous recombinant human prorenin. No prorenin passed from maternal to fetal circulations, but a small amount (less than 10%) slowly passed from fetal to maternal, beginning 15 min after the addition of prorenin. Exogenous prorenin was not converted to renin in either circulation. Perfusate total renin had close to 10% active renin, whereas that of tissue extracts was closer to 50%. In conclusion, the results are consistent with some tissue activation of prorenin, either in vitro or in vivo, but no activation in the maternal or fetal circulations. The human placenta may secrete prorenin into the maternal but not into the fetal circulation. The possibility that the placenta may secrete a small amount of active renin into the maternal circulation was not ruled out.
Communicating operational reliability requirements to designers

Past experience has shown that new weapons systems in the field generally fall short of needed reliability characteristics. The author summarizes previous studies that have identified possible reasons for reliability shortfalls and proposes an additional cause, the inability to properly communicate the real user reliability concerns to designers. The reliability of new systems can be improved if the concerns of operators, maintainers, and logistics support personnel can be communicated to design and manufacturing personnel. One means to communicate these concerns is through the development of a comprehensive definition for failure that is related to the field effects that are inherent in the user's operational reliability characteristics stated in the operational requirements document and requirements correlation matrix. >
Written in Stone: The Fossil Record of Early Eukaryotes

Eukaryotes represent one of the three major domains of living organisms. They diverged in the Paleoproterozoic and possibly Neoarchean Era, as indicated by morphologically complex microfossils and somewhat controversial molecular fossils. The early evolutionary history of the eukaryotes, as revealed by the Neoarchean–Proterozoic fossil record, can be described in three stages. Stage I (Neoarchean–Mesoproterozoic) is characterized by a relatively low diversity of eukaryotes, whose exact phylogenetic position within the eukaryotic phylogenetic tree is uncertain. In Stage II (late Mesoproterozoic–early Neoproterozoic), numerous phylogenetically constrained eukaryotic lineages evolved. These include the red algae, green algae, chromophyte algae, euglyphid amoebae, lobose amoebae, and possibly fungi. Their phylogenetic positions in the eukaryotic tree indicate that eukaryotes must have undergone some degree of phylogenetic divergence to give rise to the major clades such as plants (green and red algae), chromalveolates, rhizarians, amoebozoans, and possibly opisthokonts. Stage III (Ediacaran Period) is characterized by a significant increase in the diversity of eukaryotes, particularly multicellular eukaryotes including animals. Animals may have diverged in the early Ediacaran Period or earlier, but macroscopic bilaterian animals and biomineralizing animals did not appear in the fossil record until the late Ediacaran Period. This sequence of eukaryotic evolution, as recorded in the rock record, is broadly consistent with predictions from the molecular phylogeny of eukaryotes.
Right ventricular dysfunction after resuscitation predicts poor outcomes in cardiac arrest patients independent of left ventricular function

Abstract Objective Determination of clinical outcomes following resuscitation from cardiac arrest remains elusive in the immediate post-arrest period. Echocardiographic assessment shortly after resuscitation has largely focused on left ventricular (LV) function. We aimed to determine whether post-arrest right ventricular (RV) dysfunction predicts worse survival and poor neurologic outcome in cardiac arrest patients, independent of LV dysfunction. Methods A single-center, retrospective cohort study at a tertiary care university hospital participating in the Penn Alliance for Therapeutic Hypothermia (PATH) Registry between 2000 and 2012. Patients 291 in- and out-of-hospital adult cardiac arrest patients at the University of Pennsylvania who had return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and post-arrest echocardiograms. Measurements and main results Of the 291 patients, 57% were male, with a mean age of 59±16 years. 179 (63%) patients had LV dysfunction, 173 (59%) had RV dysfunction, and 124 (44%) had biventricular dysfunction on the initial post-arrest echocardiogram. Independent of LV function, RV dysfunction was predictive of worse survival (mild or moderate: OR 0.51, CI 0.26–0.99, p p =0.008) and neurologic outcome (mild or moderate: OR 0.33, CI 0.17–0.65, p =0.001; severe: OR 0.11, CI 0.02–0.50, p =0.005) compared to patients with normal RV function after cardiac arrest. Conclusions Echocardiographic findings of post-arrest RV dysfunction were equally prevalent as LV dysfunction. RV dysfunction was significantly predictive of worse outcomes in post-arrest patients after accounting for LV dysfunction. Post-arrest RV dysfunction may be useful for risk stratification and management in this high-mortality population.
Immunization with Rough Mutants of Salmonella minnesota: Protective Activity of IgM and IgG Antibody to the R595 (Re Chemotype) Mutant

We evaluated the immunoglobulin class responsible for the protective activity in serum obtained from humans and rabbits after immunization with the R595 (Re chemotype) mutant of Salmonella minnesota. Whole serum obtained before immunization and the IgG and IgM fractions failed to protect mice against lethal challenge with viable Klebsiella pneumoniae or Morganella morganii or with Salmonella typhi lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The protective activity of postimmunization serum resided solely in IgM antibody, whereas IgG antibody exhibited no protective activity. IgM antibody to the Re mutant was protective against bacterial challenge with both test strains of bacteria and S. typhi LPS. IgM antibody, at approximately the same concentration present in postimmunization serum, increased the LD50 of K. pneumoniae from less than 8.0 x 10(2) to greater than 2.0 x 10(4). These findings indicate that commercially prepared human IgG with high titers of antibody to antigens of the core portion of LPS would have little clinical utility.
Using P-splines to test the linearity of partially linear models

Abstract The nonparametric component in a partially linear model is estimated by a linear combination of fixed-knot cubic B -splines with a second-order difference penalty on the adjacent B -spline coefficients. The resulting penalized least-squares estimator is used to construct two Wald-type spline-based test statistics for the null hypothesis of the linearity of the nonparametric function. When the number of knots is fixed, the first test statistic asymptotically has the distribution of a linear combination of independent chi-squared random variables, each with one degree of freedom, under the null hypothesis. The smoothing parameter is determined by specifying a value for the asymptotically expected value of the test statistic under the null hypothesis. When the number of knots is fixed and under the null hypothesis, the second test statistic asymptotically has a chi-squared distribution with K = q + 2 degrees of freedom, where q is the number of knots used for estimation. The power performances of the two proposed tests are investigated via simulation experiments, and the practicality of the proposed methodology is illustrated using a real-life data set.
Contribution of Weddell Gyre to Global Overturning Circulation

The Southern Ocean plays a pivotal role in the Global Overturning Circulation (GOC), which transports warm, light water from the tropics to the poles, where it becomes cool, dense, and capable of influencing the global transport of carbon, nutrients, and energy.
Fluctuations in the ionizing background

A formalism is derived to deal with the fluctuations in the ionizing field produced by randomly distributed sources in an expanding universe, as well as in a Euclidean space. The probability distribution function P(J) is calculated for some models. Absorption by QSO absorption-line systems reduces the total number of sources involved in producing J and therefore enhances the fluctuations significantly. The possibility of detecting the «clearings» or «voids» in Ly α forests is explored. It is shown that it is very difficult to distinguish statistically between a real clearing and a large gap produced merely by fluctuations in the line distribution
Octanol, a gap junction uncoupling agent, changes intracellular [H+] in rat astrocytes

Octanol rapidly closes gap junction channels but its mechanism of action is not known. Because intracellular [H+], pHi, also affects the conductance of gap junctions, we studied octanol's effects on pHi in cultured rat astrocytes, which are highly coupled cells. Octanol (1 mM) caused an acid shift in the pHi of 90% of rat hippocampal astrocytes which averaged -0.19 +/- 0.09 pH units in magnitude. In 58% of the cells tested, a biphasic change in pHi was seen; octanol produced an initial acidification lasting approximately 10 min that was followed by a persistent alkalinization. The related gap junction uncoupling agent, heptanol, had similar effects on pHi. Octanol-induced changes in pHi were similar in nominally HCO(3-)-free and HCO(3-)-containing solutions, although the rate of initial acidification was significantly greater in the presence of HCO3-. The initial acidification was inhibited in the presence of the stilbene DIDS, an inhibitor of Na+/HCO3- cotransport, indicating that octanol caused acidification by blocking this powerful acid extruder. The alkalinization was inhibited by amiloride which blocks the Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE), an acid extruder, suggesting that the alkaline shift induced by octanol was caused by stimulation of NHE. As expected, octanol's effects on astrocytic pHi were prevented by removal of external Na+, which blocks both Na+/HCO3- cotransport and NHE. Octanol had only small effects on intracellular Ca2+ (Ca2+i) in astrocytes. Hepatocytes which, like astrocytes, are strongly coupled to one another, showed no change in pHi with octanol application. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) was used to study the effect of changes in astrocyte pHi on degree of coupling in hippocampal astrocytes. Coupling was decreased by intracellular acid shifts approximately -0.2 pH units in size. Octanol's effects on astrocyte pHi were complex but a prompt initial acidification was nearly always seen and could contribute to the uncoupling action of this drug in astrocytes. Because octanol uncouples hepatocytes without changing their pHi, this compound clearly can influence gap junctional conductance independent of changes in pHi.
Phase noise of mixers

A formula is derived for the output phase noise of a mixer when both the radio frequency RF and local oscillator LO carriers are impaired by phase noise. The calculation uses test results obtained with three discrete carriers. An application of the noise formula to frequency synthesis is included.
How to prevent losses of protein by adsorption to glass and plastic

An improved procedure for reducing the loss of protein by adsorption to glass or plastic surfaces is reported. For working with proteins at the microgram level, the solvent is modified by adding glycerol (50% final concentration) or Triton X-100 (0.2 mM final concentration). Coating the plastic or glass surfaces with proteins such as bovine serum albumin or other materials is not as effective; adding proteins such as bovine serum albumin to the solvent is counterproductive.
303 EFFECTS OF HYDROCORTISONE AND CHOLECYSTOKININ-OP ON MATURATION OF RAT PANCREAS

Development of pancreas and pancreatic secretory function was studied in the rat. Neonatal rat pancreas failed to respond to carbachol with increased secretion of amylase at 8, 12, or 17 hours of age but responded at age 24 hours. Pancreas from enterally fasted neonatal rats failed to respond to carbachol at 24 hours of age, however, fasted newborn rats parenterally treated with hydrocortisone (HC) (10mg/kg) or cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-OP) (5μg/kg) shortly after birth responded to carbachol at age 24 hours. HC or CCK-OP was injected into pregnant rats on days 16-19 of gestation. Term fetal pancreas from mothers treated with HC or CCK-OP responded to carbachol with increased secretion of amylase. At 24 hours of age, HC treated pancreas responded to carbachol but CCK-OP treated pancreas did not. In fetal pancreas, HC and CCK-OP significantly increased pancreatic weight, DNA, protein and lipase but not amylase or chymotrypsinogen. In HC and CCK-OP treated 24 hour old pancreas, DNA was increased but secretory proteins were decreased. Conclusions: 1) The ability of the rat pancreas to respond to secretagogues develops between 17 and 24 hours of age. 2)Enteral feeding is necessary for normal development of secretory function. 3) HC and CCK-OP mimic the effects of first feeding on secretory function. 4) HC and CCK-OP induce hyperplasia and precocious maturation of function. Speculation: The actions of these exogenous agents may mimic endogenous release stimulated by first feeding.
Expression of Retinoid X Receptors in Human Dermal Fibroblasts

Abstract Retinoic acid (RA) is known to exert profound effects on growth and differentiation in human dermal fibroblasts. In the observations presented here, we examined the regulation of expression of members of the RXR multigene family in human dermal fibroblasts. We showed that the messenger RNAs for both RXRα and RXRβ are expressed in human fibroblasts, but that the messenger RNA for RXRγ is not detectable in these cells. Electrophoretic mobility shift studies of binding to the β2RARE in human dermal fibroblasts demonstrated that a single complex binds to β2RARE in the absence of RA. Stimulating cells with all- trans RA induced a second complex. An antibody to the RXRβ protein supershifted both complexes, while an antibody to the RXRα S/B protein had no effect on the binding. These data demonstrate that RXRβ plays an important role in retinoid-regulated signal transduction pathways in human dermal fibroblasts and the regulation of expression of the RXR gene family is different from that of the RAR gene family.
Diverging Kinematic Wave Flow

AbstractThe governing equation for converging kinematic wave (KW) flow was derived and compared with laboratory measurement and field tests. The key factors for converging KW flows are found to be excess rainfall depth, surface slope in the radial flow direction, and converging geometry in terms of fan angle and radius. Although the complete analytical solutions for KW flow rate and depth on a converging surface are not yet found in this study, the peak flow under equilibrium condition has been derived for the prediction of design flow. The numerical solution provides a deterministic approach to predict the KW water surface profile on a converging surface. This new method will definitely improve the current practice for determing the boundaries of a floodplain on a converging alluvial fan and the radial flow patterns towards a culvert entrance.
Early African American social welfare pioneer women: Working to empower the race and the community

Abstract This article uses selective aspects of the careers of Ida Bell Wells-Barnett, Lugenia Burns Hope, Elizabeth Ross Haynes and Janie Porter Barrett to provide a critical overview of the ways that African American women addressed the needs of their communities through social welfare services during the early part of the twentieth century. Furthermore, the article also shows how individual and collective forms of empowerment helped to build private social institutions to address the community's needs.
Activation of Carbon-Hydrogen Bonds via 1,2-Addition across M-X (X = OH or NH2) Bonds of d6 Transition Metals as a Potential Key Step in Hydrocarbon Functionalization: A Computational Study

Recent reports of 1,2-addition of C-H bonds across Ru-X (X = amido, hydroxo) bonds of TpRu(PMe3)X fragments {Tp = hydridotris(pyrazolyl)borate} suggest opportunities for the development of new catalytic cycles for hydrocarbon functionalization. In order to enhance understanding of these transformations, computational examinations of the efficacy of model d6 transition metal complexes of the form [(Tab)M(PH3)2X]q (Tab = tris-azo-borate; X = OH, NH2; q = -1 to +2; M = TcI, Re(I), Ru(II), Co(III), Ir(III), Ni(IV), Pt(IV)) for the activation of benzene C-H bonds, as well as the potential for their incorporation into catalytic functionalization cycles, are presented. For the benzene C-H activation reaction steps, kite-shaped transition states were located and found to have relatively little metal-hydrogen interaction. The C-H activation process is best described as a metal-mediated proton transfer in which the metal center and ligand X function as an activating electrophile and intramolecular base, respectively. While the metal plays a primary role in controlling the kinetics and thermodynamics of the reaction coordinate for C-H activation/functionalization, the ligand X also influences the energetics. On the basis of three thermodynamic criteria characterizing salient energetic aspects of the proposed catalytic cycle and the detailed computational studies reported herein, late transition metal complexes (e.g., Pt, Co, etc.) in the d6 electron configuration {especially the TabCo(PH3)2(OH)+ complex and related Co(III) systems} are predicted to be the most promising for further catalyst investigation.
Initiating delivery room stabilization/resuscitation in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants with an FiO(2) less than 100% is feasible.

Initiating delivery room stabilization/resuscitation in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants with an FiO 2 less than 100% is feasible
Molecular delivery into live cells using gold nanoparticle coated substrates fabricated by pulsed laser annealing

A massively-parallel molecular delivery system for mammalian cells is demonstrated by pulsed-laser irradiation of a gold-nanoparticles-coated substrate situated below a cell monolayer. This system is capable of high throughput and spatially-targeted delivery into desired areas of a cell culture by designing the laser irradiation pattern. Large area, rapid fabrication of the gold-nanoparticle-coated substrate is achieved by pulsed laser annealing of a continuous gold thin film. Randomly distributed gold nanoparticles and periodic gold nanoparticle arrays were obtained by pulsed laser flood exposure and by polymer mold guided laser annealing respectively. Optical image patterned molecular delivery into adherent cells were demonstrated in HeLa and HEK 293T cells. Delivery efficiencies of fluorescent dye, calcein, were as high as >90% with high cell viability (>90%) in HEK 293T using this device.
Feasibility of a whole-body 3 T MRI system for detecting macrophages in mouse carotid atherosclerosis using feco/graphite core-shell nanocrystals

2) FeCo/GC nanocrystals Composed of an iron-cobalt core encapsulated by a biocompatible graphite shell (size 7 nm) with Cy5.5 attached for fluorescence imaging. FeCo/GC have superior MRI properties with both cellular imaging and heating attributes. A higher dose (25 mgFe/kg) was used for detection at 3 T than 7 T (6 mgFe/kg). 3) MRI 2 weeks post-ligation, mice (n = 4) were imaged on a whole-body 3 T MRI scanner (Signa HDx, GE Healthcare) with installed gradients (50 mT/m, 150 T/m/s) and a custom 3 cm surface RF coil. As a comparison, another group of mice (n = 3) were imaged on a small-bore 7 T system (30 cm bore magnet, Varian Inc. plus GE "Micro-Signa" environment), with a 9 cm gradient insert (770 mT/m, and 2500 T/m/s, Resonance Research, Inc.) and a custom 6-cm RF coil. Similar gradient echo sequences were used (3 T: TR/TE = 100 ms/10 ms, slice thickness = 1.0 mm, from 13th Annual SCMR Scientific Sessions Phoenix, AZ, USA. 21-24 January 2010
Painful Taxation to contain Government

The experence of Value-Added Tax in Europe has attracted attention in America as a relatively painless way to raise goverment revences Professor Willion Field, of Nicholls State University, Thibodaux, Louisiana, argues that the hidden nature of VAT allows goverment to enlarge itself more than the taxpayer perceives.
Protection by zinc-metallothionein (ZnMT) against cadmium-metallothionein-induced nephrotoxicity.

Abstract Protection by Zinc-Metallothionein (ZnMT) against Cadmium-Metallothionein-Induced Nephrotoxicity. Dorian, C., and Klaassen, C. D. (1995). Fundam. Appl. Toxicol. 26, 99-106. In contrast to inorganic Cd, acute iv administration of Cd bound to metallothionein (CdMT) concentrates in renal tissue. This uptake of CdMT produces functional and morphological changes in kidneys, similar to those observed after chronic exposure to inorganic Cd. In order to examine the importance of the metal component of MT in the renal uptake of MT, the renal concentration of 35 S after administration of [ 35 S]ZnMT and [ 35 S]CdMT was compared. Renal uptake of 35 S from both CdMT and ZnMT was very rapid, with peak concentrations observed 15-30 min after administration. 35 S in kidneys increased in a dose-dependent manner after administration of various doses of [ 35 S]ZnMT, up to 1.3 μmole MT/kg; however, higher doses did not further increase renal 35 S concentrations. A similar saturation of 35 S reabsorption was observed for the renal uptake of [ 35 S]CdMT. CdMT produced renal injury with doses as low as 0.26 μmol MT/kg (0.2 mg Cd/kg). In contrast, with a dose of ZnMT as high as 5.12 μmol MT/kg (2 mg Zn/kg), no histopathological changes were observed. Therefore, ZnMT appears to be nontoxic even though ZnMT delivers more MT to the kidney than does CdMT. Because ZnMT and CdMT are apparently handled by the same renal transport mechanism, the effects of ZnMT on 109 CdMT renal uptake and nephrotoxicity were determined. One group of mice was given a nephrotoxic dose of 109 CdMT (0.51 μmol MT/kg containing 0.4 mg Cd/kg, iv), and the other group received an equimolar dose of unlabeled ZnMT 1 min before 109 CdMT administration. Renal function was evaluated by measuring urinary glucose and protein excretion, as well as histopathology. Marked renal toxicity was observed 24 hr after 109 CdMT administration. In contrast, renal function appeared normal in mice receiving ZnMT before 109 CdMT. However, a similar concentration of 109 Cd was found in kidneys of both groups. The present results demonstrate that ZnMT is not only nontoxic to the kidney at a dose as high as 5 μmol MT/kg, but can also protect against the nephrotoxic effect of CdMT without decreasing renal Cd concentration.
Random field models of heterogeneous materials

Abstract One of the main challenges in solid mechanics lies in the passage from a heterogeneous microstructure to an approximating continuum model. In many cases (e.g. stochastic finite elements, statistical fracture mechanics), the interest lies in resolution of stress and other dependent fields over scales not infinitely larger than the typical microscale. This may be accomplished with the help of a meso-scale window which becomes the classical representative volume element (RVE) in the infinite limit. It turns out that the material properties at such a mesoscale cannot be uniquely approximated by a random field of stiffness/compliance with locally isotropic realizations, but rather two random continuum fields with locally anisotropic realizations, corresponding, respectively, to essential and natural boundary conditions on the meso-scale, need to be introduced to bound the material response from above and from below. We study the first- and second-order characteristics of these two meso-scale random fields for anti-plane elastic response of random matrix-inclusion composites over a wide range of contrasts and aspect ratios. Special attention is given to the convergence of effective responses obtained from the essential and natural boundary conditions, which sheds light on the minimum size of an RVE. Additionally, the spatial correlation structure of the crack density tensor with the meso-scale moduli is studied.
Global emission projections of particulate matter (PM): I. Exhaust emissions from on-road vehicles

Abstract We present global emission projections of primary particulate matter (PM) from exhaust of on-road vehicles under four commonly-used global fuel use scenarios from 2010 to 2050. The projections are based on a dynamic model of vehicle population linked to emission characteristics, SPEW-Trend. Unlike previous models of global emissions, this model incorporates more details on the technology stock, including the vehicle type and age, and the number of emitters with very high emissions (“superemitters”). However, our estimates of vehicle growth are driven by changes in predicted fuel consumption from macroeconomic scenarios, ensuring that PM projections are consistent with these scenarios. Total emissions are then obtained by integrating emissions of heterogeneous vehicle groups of all ages and types. Changes in types of vehicles in use are governed by retirement rates, timing of emission standards and the rate at which superemitters develop from normal vehicles. Retirement rates are modeled as a function of vehicle age and income level with a relationship based on empirical data, capturing the fact that people with lower income tend to keep vehicles longer. Adoption dates of emission standards are either estimated from planned implementation or from income levels. We project that global PM emissions range from 1100 Gg to 1360 Gg in 2030, depending on the scenario. An emission decrease is estimated until 2035 because emission standards are implemented and older engines built to lower standards are phased out. From 2010 to 2050, fuel consumption increases in all regions except North America, Europe and Pacific, according to all scenarios. Global emission intensities decrease continuously under all scenarios for the first 30 years due to the introduction of more advanced and cleaner emission standards. This leads to decreasing emissions from most regions. Emissions are expected to increase significantly in only Africa (1.2–3.1% per year). Because we have tied emission standards to income levels, Africa introduces those standards 30–40 years later than other regions and thus makes a remarkable contribution to the global emissions in 2050 (almost half). All Asian regions (South Asia, East Asia, and Southeast Asia) have a decreasing fractional contribution to global totals, from 32% in 2030 to around 22% in 2050. Total emissions from normal vehicles can decrease 1.3–2% per year. However, superemitters have a large effect on emission totals. They can potentially contribute more than 50% of global emissions around 2020, which suggests that they should be specifically addressed in modeling and mitigation policies. As new vehicles become cleaner, the majority of on-road emissions will come from the legacy fleet. This work establishes a modeling framework to explore policies targeted at that fleet.
Simultaneous carotid and coronary disease: Safety of the combined approach

Abstract Invoking unacceptable operative risks, many institutions have adopted a conservative policy toward carotid stenosis in patients who require cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). We have continued to apply simultaneous carotid endarterectomy/coronary artery bypass grafting (CEA/CABG) in selected patients, and in order to place operative risk in perspective, our experience with CEA/CABG was reviewed and contrasted with both CEA and CABG performed as isolated procedures. Seventy-one CEA/CABG were performed from 1978 to 1987, with the bulk of the experience (51/71) accumulated over the past 5 years. CEA/CABG was applied when the carotid lesion was severe (≥75% diameter stenosis). Clinical characteristics of patients with CEA/CABG (e.g., presence of unstable angina, left main coronary artery disease, and impairment of ventricular function) suggested these patients were at higher risk for complications when compared to patients with CABG alone. Yet, other factors influencing stroke risk during cardiopulmonary bypass (patient age, duration of CPB time) were similar between patients with CEA/CABG and patients with only CABG. Most complications in patients with CEA/CABG occurred in the early years of the study. Considering the recent (1983–87) patient cohorts of CEA/CABG and isolated CABG, respectively, there was no significant difference in either operative mortality (2.0% as compared to 2.2%) or perioperative stroke (2.0% as compared to 0.6%). Whereas precise patient selection criteria remain undefined, these findings verify the safety of the combined CEA/CABG approach for most patients who require treatment of both lesions. (J Vasc Surg 1989;9:56–64.)
Effects of stray inductance on hard-switched switched capacitor converters

Switched capacitor (SC) converters are becoming quite popular for use in DC-DC power conversion. The concept of equivalent resistance in SC converters is frequently used to determine the conduction losses due to the load current. A variety of methodologies have been presented to predict the equivalent resistance in hard-switched SC converters. These works, however, did not consider the effect of stray inductance on equivalent resistance. Current power converter design practices favor higher switching frequencies, moving hard-switched SC converters into operating areas in which stray inductance affects converter performance. This paper presents an analytic equation that can be used to evaluate the effects of stray inductance on the equivalent resistance of switched capacitor converters. The concepts proposed here are verified by both digital simulation and a prototype converter. The equations presented can be used to evaluate the effects of stray inductance on SC converter performance, thereby helping designers set a maximum operating frequency to limit its effect.
Tribological Performance of Cell-Treated Nickel Matrix

In this study, effects of cell culture on surface properties, and tribological performance were investigated. The wettability of Ni under dry and lubricated conditions, as well as cell-cultured specimens was evaluated. The tribological performance of these samples was compared using a pin-on-disk tribometer. Dry friction tests were conducted and compared with the bovine serum albumin (BSA) solution lubricated Ni and the cell culture media lubricated Ni. The lubrication behavior was discussed and new biofluid mechanisms were proposed.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Aerodynamic characteristics of proposed assured crew return capability (ACRC) configurations

The aerodynamic characteristics of seven reentry configurations suggested as possible candidate vehicles to return crew members from the U.S. Space Station Freedom to earth has been reviewed. The shapes varied from those capable of purely ballistic entry to those capable of gliding entry and fromk parachute landing to conventional landing. Data were obtained from existing (published and unpublished) sources and from recent wind tunnel tests. The lifting concepts are more versatile and satisfy all the mission requirements. Two of the lifting shapes studied appear promising - a lifting body and a deployable wing concept. The choice of an ACRC concept, however, will be made after all factors involving transportation from earth to orbit and back to earth again have been weighed.
Core Functionalization of Hollow Polymer Nanocapsules

Hollow nanoscale polymer capsules have found wide applications in drug delivery and catalysis. The use of nanocapsules and related materials for drug delivery, as nanoreactors, or as platforms for chemical separations requires control over cargo entry and exit and installation of diverse chemical functionality in the capsule interior. Despite the diversity of methods for nanocapsule preparation, methods for efficiently functionalizing the core of hollow nanocapsules are scarce. We report here a versatile and modular approach for the synthesis of hollow polymeric capsules that can be readily and diversely functionalized in the core. Capsules functionalized with pyrene, ferrocene, amines, and carboxylic acids have been prepared. The capsules are characterized using dynamic light scattering, fluorescence spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. These core functionalized capsules can selectively extract hydrophilic cationic or anionic dyes into organic solutions based on the charge complementarity ...
A Simple Torch Design for a Microwave-Induced Plasma:

This paper describes a simple torch design for use with a microwave- induced plasma (MIP). The torch is constructed from commonly available components with an absolute minimum of machining. The basic torch may be constructed with the use of only hand tools and a drill press. The design is adaptable to a variety of configurations, including a tangential flow torch.
Histone H2B ubiquitin ligase RNF20 is required for MLL-rearranged leukemia

Mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL) fusions are potent oncogenes that initiate aggressive forms of acute leukemia. As aberrant transcriptional regulators, MLL-fusion proteins alter gene expression in hematopoietic cells through interactions with the histone H3 lysine 79 (H3K79) methyltransferase DOT1L. Notably, interference with MLL-fusion cofactors like DOT1L is an emerging therapeutic strategy in this disease. Here, we identify the histone H2B E3 ubiquitin ligase ring finger protein 20 (RNF20) as an additional chromatin regulator that is necessary for MLL-fusion–mediated leukemogenesis. Suppressing the expression of Rnf20 in diverse models of MLL-rearranged leukemia leads to inhibition of cell proliferation, under tissue culture conditions as well as in vivo. Rnf20 knockdown leads to reduced expression of MLL-fusion target genes, effects resembling Dot1l inhibition. Using ChIP-seq, we found that H2B ubiquitination is enriched in the body of MLL-fusion target genes, correlating with sites of H3K79 methylation and transcription elongation. Furthermore, Rnf20 is required to maintain local levels of H3K79 methylation by Dot1l at Hoxa9 and Meis1. These findings support a model whereby cotranscriptional recruitment of Rnf20 at MLL-fusion target genes leads to amplification of Dot1l-mediated H3K79 methylation, thereby rendering leukemia cells dependent on Rnf20 to maintain their oncogenic transcriptional program.
Inhibition of cAMP-response Element-binding Protein Activity Decreases Protein Kinase B/Akt Expression in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes and Induces Apoptosis

White adipose tissue mass is governed by competing processes that control lipid synthesis and storage, the development of new adipocytes, and their survival. We have shown that the transcription factor cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB) participates in adipogenesis, with constitutively active forms of CREB inducing adipocyte differentiation and dominant negative forms of CREB blocking this process. In other cell types, CREB and related factors have been shown to play important roles in survival and apoptosis. Here we demonstrate that reduction of CREB activity by ectopic expression of the dominant negative CREB, KCREB, induces apoptosis of mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes in culture. Death by apoptosis was confirmed by increased nuclear condensation, changes in membrane morphology, and increased DNA fragmentation. Gene microarray analysis indicated that KCREB expression increased expression of several pro-apoptotic genes like Interleukin Converting Enzyme and decreased the expression of the anti-apoptotic signaling molecule, Akt/protein kinase B. Finally, introduction of constitutively active CREB, CREB-DIEDML, blocked death of mature adipocytes treated with TNF-α. The data indicate that CREB plays a central role in adipocyte survival, perhaps by regulating the expression of certain pro- and anti-apoptotic genes. These results not only extend the role of CREB in adipocyte biology but also highlight the general developmental and survival role of this factor in numerous cell and tissue types.