cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
DC-SIGN on B lymphocytes is required for transmission of HIV-1 to T lymphocytes.

Infection of T cells by HIV-1 can occur through binding of virus to dendritic cell (DC)-specific ICAM-3 grabbing nonintegrin (DC-SIGN) on dendritic cells and transfer of virus to CD4+ T cells. Here we show that a subset of B cells in the blood and tonsils of normal donors expressed DC-SIGN, and that this increased after stimulation in vitro with interleukin 4 and CD40 ligand, with enhanced expression of activation and co-stimulatory molecules CD23, CD58, CD80, and CD86, and CD22. The activated B cells captured and internalized X4 and R5 tropic strains of HIV-1, and mediated trans infection of T cells. Pretreatment of the B cells with anti–DC-SIGN monoclonal antibody blocked trans infection of T cells by both strains of HIV-1. These results indicate that DC-SIGN serves as a portal on B cells for HIV-1 infection of T cells in trans. Transmission of HIV-1 from B cells to T cells through this DC-SIGN pathway could be important in the pathogenesis of HIV-1 infection.
Comparison between a Conductometric Biosensor and ELISA in the Evaluation of Johne’s Disease

Johne's disease (JD), caused by Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP), is an important gastrointestinal disease of cattle worldwide because of the economic losses encountered in JD-affected herds. These losses include reduction in milk yield in cows, premature culling and reduced carcass weight of culled diseased animals. In the U.S. dairy industry, economic losses from reduced productivity associated with JD are estimated to cost between $200 and $250 million annually. The development of non-laboratory-based assays would support more frequent testing of animals for JD and could improve its control. Conductometric biosensors combine immunomigration technology with electronic signal detection and have been adapted for the detection of IgG antibody against MAP. In the present study, a capture membrane with limited variability in the immunomigration channel and an optimal concentration of the secondary anti-bovine antibody used in a previously developed conductometric biosensor were compared with a commercially available antibody detection ELISA in their evaluation of JD, using samples of serum from cattle whose JD status where unknown. There was a moderate strength of agreement (kappa = 0.41) between the two assays. Findings from this preliminary study support the continued development of conductometric biosensors for use in the diagnosis of JD.
Periodontal healing following reconstructive surgery: effect of guided tissue regeneration

Clinical healing following guided tissue regeneration (GTR) in deep intrabony pockets was compared to healing following gingival flap surgery alone (GFS). 15 patients received the GTR treatment including an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane. 13 other patients received the control treatment GFS. A postsurgery protocol emphasizing wound stability and infection control was used. Treatment effects were evaluated 6 months postsurgery. Mean pre-surgery probing depth for the GTR and control treatments was 7.5 +/- 1.0 and 7.7 +/- 1.5 mm, respectively. Significant probing depth reduction (3.8 +/- 1.2 and 2.9 +/- 1.1 mm), attachment level improvement (2.4 +/- 2.1 and 2.2 +/- 1.2 mm) and bone fill (2.0 +/- 2.0 and 2.4 +/- 0.9 mm) followed the GTR and control protocols, respectively (p < 0.01). Significant differences between GTR and control treatments were observed in probing depth reduction (p < 0.01) and in gingival recession increase (1.7 +/- 1.5 and 0.7 +/- 0.9 mm, respectively; p < 0.05). The results suggest that GTR procedures compared to GFS have similar clinical potential in intrabony pockets, under the present protocol.
THE INHIBITION OF HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS MULTIPLICATION BY NUCLEOSIDES.

Deoxyadenosine and uridine in millimolar concentrations inhibit reversibly the multiplication of herpes simplex virus in a human epidermoid carcinoma line of cells (H.Ep. No. 2) by blocking RNA synthesis. This emerges from the following: 1. (1) The nucleosides inhibit RNA synthesis as measured in pulse-labeling experiments. 2. (2) The nucleosides block the synthesis of thymidine kinase (ATP: thymidine 5′-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.21), a virus-induced enzyme, when added to cell suspensions immediately after infection. The enzyme continues to be made if the cells are treated 4 h after infection, i.e., after the onset of synthesis of the enzyme. 3. (3) The nucleosides block the synthesis of viral DNA when added to cell suspensions immediately after infection; viral DNA synthesis is not appreciably affected if the nucleosides are added after 6 h, i.e., after the onset of viral DNA synthesis. 4. (4) The nucleosides block viral multiplication if added immediately after infection. Virus multiplication continues albeit the yield is reduced if the nucleosides are added at 6 h, i.e., after the onset of synthesis of viral DNA and viral capsid protein. 5. (5) The inhibition is reversed by withdrawing the nucleosides and not by addition of one or more of the ribose or deoxyribose nucleosides.
Spontaneous intracranial hypotension secondary to anterior thoracic osteophyte: Resolution after primary dural repair via posterior approach.

INTRODUCTION Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) is an uncommon syndrome widely attributed to CSF hypovolemia, typically secondary to spontaneous CSF leak. Although commonly associated with postural headache and variable neurological symptoms, one of the most severe consequences of SIH is bilateral subdural hematomas with resultant neurological deterioration.
The effect of BCG on the course of experimental Chagas' disease in mice.

Abstract Experiments were done to determine the effect of BCG treatment on longevity, development of parasitemia, and in vivo distribution of 51 Cr-labelled trypanosomes in C3H(He) female mice infected with a Brazil strain of Trypanosoma cruzi . BCG sensitization of mice was accomplished by a single IV injection of 3·0 mg (wet weight) of BCG. Twenty-one days after BCG injection mice were infected with 5 × 10 4 blood-form trypomastigotes. Parasitemia determinations were made on alternate days during the experiment while in vivo distribution of exogenously supplied 51 Cr-epimastigotes was made in groups of BCG or PBS stimulated mice on day 15 of the T. cruzi infection. It was found that BCG sensitization had no effect on longevity or parasitemia development in T. cruzi infected C3H(He) female mice. There were, however, some differences in the in vivo distribution of parasites between BCG treated and control mice. BCG stimulated mice accumulated greater numbers of radiolabelled trypanosomes in the kidneys and small intestines while PBS treated mice were found to have greater numbers of labelled parasites in the liver. Although no significant differences were observed in longevity of BCG or PBS treated mice, it was noted that BCG treated animals which were bled for parasitemia determinations lived significantly longer than those which were merely observed for longevity.
Overexpression of heat shock factor 1 inhibits butyrate-induced differentiation in colon cancer cells.

Produced by dietary fiber, butyrate is a potential chemopreventive agent against colon cancer. It stimulates proliferation of normal colonic epithelial cells but induces growth inhibition, differentiation, apoptosis, or a combination of effects in colon carcinoma cells. In this study, we used cDNA membrane arrays and real-time reverse transcriptase– polymerase chain reaction to identify stress genes that were differentially regulated by sodium butyrate (NaB) in HT 29 human colon carcinoma cells. The results indicated that a group of heat shock protein (hsp) genes were upregulated by 3 mM NaB within the first 24 hours of exposure. Because the transcription of hsp genes is under the control of heat shock factors (HSFs), we measured the effects of overexpressed HSF-1 on the responses of HT 29 cells to NaB. Overexpression of HSF-1 inhibited NaB-induced differentiation as measured by alkaline phosphatase activity and carcinoembryonic antigen expression. These results suggest that increased expression of HSFs and Hsps might render colon carcinoma cells resistant to the chemopreventive effects of butyrate.
Cold agglutinins in patients undergoing cardiac surgery requiring cardiopulmonary bypass

Objectives Cold agglutinins (CA) are circulating autoantibodies present in most humans. They are active below normal body temperatures. Cold hemagglutinin disease involves the presence of CA sufficiently active at temperatures in the periphery to produce hemolysis or agglutination. Systemic hypothermia and cold cardioplegia may result in agglutination or hemolysis. We reviewed the experience of a large referral center in managing patients with CA and cold hemagglutinin disease undergoing cardiac surgery requiring cardiopulmonary bypass. Methods The electronic medical records from 2002 to 2010 were searched to identify patients with CA or cold hemagglutinin disease who underwent cardiac surgery requiring cardiopulmonary bypass. Information related to preoperative CA testing and treatment, surgery, cardiopulmonary bypass, postoperative complications, and mortality was recorded. Results Sixteen patients underwent 19 procedures requiring cardiopulmonary bypass. Six patients had cold hemagglutinin disease. The identification of CA was made intraoperatively in 3 patients. One patient underwent preoperative plasma exchange. Cold blood cardioplegia was used in 2 of 16 procedures using cardioplegia, with the remaining using warmer blood cardioplegia. The lowest recorded intraoperative core temperature was less than 34°C in 1 case. CA-related postoperative hemolysis requiring transfusion was present in 1 patient, which was resolved with active warming. No patient had evidence of permanent myocardial dysfunction, had a neurologic event, required dialysis, or died within 30 days. Conclusions All patients with CA/cold hemagglutinin disease at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine safely underwent cardiac surgery without major adverse morbidity or mortality. Patients with CA but without evidence of cold hemagglutinin disease can safely undergo normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass at 37°C and warm cardioplegia without further testing. Patients with cold hemagglutinin disease should undergo laboratory testing including CA titers and thermal amplitude and hematology consultation before cardiac surgery.
An iterative approach to the solution of the inverse problem

The bioelectric inverse problem is framed as a search through a feasible set of solutions for one that is physiologically plausible. The definition of the feasible set of solutions takes into account the important effects of measurement noise. This leads to an iterative approach. At each step, a regularized inverse is used to limit the amount of brain that need be searched in the next step. The approach is tested in a model system that incorporates a digitized cadaver cortex into a 3-shell spherical replica of the head.
Extrarenal Production of Calcitriol in Normal and Uremic Humans

We have previously reported low serum levels of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25-(OH)2D3] and increased 1,25-(OH)2D3 production after the administration of 25-hydryoxyvitamin D (25OHD) to anephric humans. Since normal alveolar macrophages are known to synthesize 1,25-(OH)2D3 when stimulated with gamma-interferon or lipopolysaccharide, we determined whether macrophages derived from peripheral blood monocytes could be an extrarenal source of 1,25-(OH)2D3. Our results demonstrated that macrophages from normal individuals synthesize 1,25-(OH)2D3. The apparent Km for 25OHD3 was 6.6 +/- 0.5 nM and the maximum velocity was 47.4 +/- 13.7 fmol 1,25-(OH)2D3/h.microgram DNA. The activity of this enzyme was reduced 37.2 +/- 3.1% by physiological concentrations (96 pmol/L) of 1,25-(OH)2D3 in the incubation medium. Normal macrophages further hydroxylated 1,25-(OH)2D3 to more polar metabolites, and this catabolic activity was significantly enhanced by physiological concentrations of 1,25-(OH)2D3. In chronic renal failure, peripheral macrophages exhibited an enhanced 1 alpha-hydroxylase activity (8.2 +/- 0.8 vs. 4.2 +/- 0.5 fmol 1,25-(OH)2D3/microgram DNA.h in controls) and a decreased capacity to degrade 1,25-(OH)2D3. Exogenous 1,25-(OH)2D3, in physiological concentrations, reduced 1,25-(OH)2D3 synthesis to a degree (23.6 +/- 8.5%) comparable to that observed in normal cells. 1,25-(OH)2D3 production by macrophages did not correlate with the severity of hyperparathyroidism. Moreover, human PTH-(1-34) in supraphysiological concentrations (20,000 and 100,000 ng/L) did not stimulate the 1 alpha-hydroxylase activity of macrophages from either normal or uremic subjects. These results demonstrate that 1) normal peripheral macrophages metabolize 25OHD3 and 1,25-(OH)2D3; 2) macrophages in uremia display higher rates of 1,25-(OH)2D3 synthesis and lower rates of catabolism than normal macrophages; and 3) 1,25-(OH)2D3 deficiency, but not hyperparathyroidism, may play a role in the stimulation of 1,25-(OH)2D3 production by macrophages in chronic renal failure.
A Presynaptic ENaC Channel Drives Homeostatic Plasticity

An electrophysiology-based forward genetic screen has identified two genes, pickpocket11 (ppk11) and pickpocket16 (ppk16), as being necessary for the homeostatic modulation of presynaptic neurotransmitter release at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction (NMJ). Pickpocket genes encode Degenerin/Epithelial Sodium channel subunits (DEG/ENaC). We demonstrate that ppk11 and ppk16 are necessary in presynaptic motoneurons for both the acute induction and long-term maintenance of synaptic homeostasis. We show that ppk11 and ppk16 are cotranscribed as a single mRNA that is upregulated during homeostatic plasticity. Acute pharmacological inhibition of a PPK11- and PPK16-containing channel abolishes the expression of short- and long-term homeostatic plasticity without altering baseline presynaptic neurotransmitter release, indicating remarkable specificity for homeostatic plasticity rather than NMJ development. Finally, presynaptic calcium imaging experiments support a model in which a PPK11- and PPK16-containing DEG/ENaC channel modulates presynaptic membrane voltage and, thereby, controls calcium channel activity to homeostatically regulate neurotransmitter release.
Ab initio and model investigation of acetylene clustering around hydrogen cyanide

Ab initio calculations have been performed to determine the structures and interaction energetics of (HCCH)2–HCN and certain related clusters. The clusters have arrangements of each HCN–HCCH pair being essentially either T-shaped, with the HCN as a proton donor, or linear, with the acetylene as the proton donor to the nitrogen end of HCN. Three-body energetic features are small as are the polarization energy effects. A model potential has been applied to these and larger clusters. Though strongly polar, substitution of one HCN for acetylene in a pure cluster yields small structural differences.
State filling, Coulomb, and trapping effects in the optical nonlinearity of CdTe quantum dots in glass.

Microcrystallites of CdTe were grown in a special-formula glass, yielding CdTe dots; the linear-absorption spectrum exhibits as many as six quantum-confinement peaks. Excitation of the sample with pulses ranging from femtoseconds to microseconds has allowed us to distinguish between various mechanisms for optical nonlinearity. At very early times, phase-space filling and Coulomb interaction between the excited charged carriers is responsible for the absorption changes, \ensuremath{\delta}\ensuremath{\alpha}. At later times, Coulomb effects due to trapped carriers remain and last for nanoseconds or microseconds.
Governmental Regulation of Ocean Wave Energy Converter Installations

Interest in ocean energy converter technology has increased with the revival of renewable energy awareness. To date, ocean current energy converters have been implemented with relatively mature technology when compared to wave energy converters. Despite the novelty of wave energy, several commercial wave energy projects have recently been undertaken. However, this process has not been accompanied by the development of a legal process for developers to follow. Therefore, this paper focuses on wave energy legal jurisdiction issues. These issues are addressed with regards to siting license dilemmas and which government agencies may assert jurisdiction. Regulatory actions needed to promote wave energy conversion technology are also investigated.
β-Breakers: An aperiodic secondary structure

Abstract We have studied the architecture of parallel β-sheets in proteins and focused on the residues that initiate and terminate the β-strands. These β-breaker residues are at the origin of the kink between the β-strand and the turn that precedes or follows it. β-Breakers can be located automatically using a consensus approach based on algorithmic secondary structure assignment, solvent accessibility and backbone dihedral angles. These β-breakers are conformationally homogeneous with respect to side-chain solvent accessibility and backbone dihedral angle profile. A sequence-structure correlation is noted: a restricted subset of amino acids is observed at these positions. Analysis of homologous protein sequences shows that these residues are more highly conserved than other residues in the loop. We conclude that β-breakers are the structural analogs of the N and C-terminal caps of α-helices. The identification of this aperiodic substructure suggests a strategy for improving secondary structure prediction and may guide site-directed mutagenesis experiments.
The theory behind hoshin: a quantitative investigation of Toyota’s strategic planning process

Many companies have attempted to imitate and copy Toyota’s strategic planning process more formally known as hoshin kanri in the implementation of lean manufacturing. Unfortunately, most observations of hoshin fail to quantify and accurately represent how such preferences are designed and integrated into Toyota’s strategic planning process. This study combines classical strategic planning theory and latent semantic analysis in the study and classification of Toyota’s hoshin kanri practices. This study shows that Toyota’s hoshin practices inherently have preferences towards resourceand knowledge-based theory which means that internal development of resources, especially human capital is of high importance. Interestingly, Toyota’s blend between emergent and deliberate strategic planning approaches creates a targeted creativity style that is difficult to establish without a highly structured problem-solving process. Toyota’s hoshin process is also well balanced between the agency aspects of cross-organisatio...
Diabetes in First-Degree Family Members: A Predictor of Type 2 Diabetes in 159 Nonscreening Alabama Hemochromatosis Probands With HFE C282Y Homozygosity

OBJECTIVE We sought to identify predictors of diabetes diagnosed before hemochromatosis. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We studied these 16 variables in 159 nonscreening hemochromatosis probands with HFE C282Y homozygosity: age; sex; BMI; diabetes reports in first-degree family members (dichotomous); heavy ethanol consumption; cigarette smoking; elevated serum alanine aminotransferase/aspartate aminotransferase levels; nonalcoholic fatty liver; chronic viral hepatitis; cirrhosis; hand arthropathy; iron removed by phlebotomy; and positivity for HLA-A*01, B*08; A*03, B*07; and A*03, B*14 haplotypes. We performed univariable and multivariable analyses. RESULTS Twenty-three probands (14.5%) had diabetes; 19 were men. Each of the 23 probands had type 2 diabetes. Mean BMI was greater in probands with diabetes (31.7 ± 8.5 [SD] kg/m(2) vs. 27.6 ± 5.1 kg/m(2); P = 0.032). Reports of any first-degree family member with diabetes were more prevalent in probands with than in probands without diabetes (69.6 vs. 17.6%; P < 0.0001). In probands with diabetes, the odds ratio (OR) of maternal diabetes was 6.7 (95% CI 2.3-19.7; P = 0.0005) and of sibling diabetes was 11.7 (3.0-45.5; P = 0.0004). In a logistic regression model, predictors of diabetes at hemochromatosis diagnosis in 159 probands were diabetes reports in family members (OR 8.5 [95% CI 2.9-24.8]; P < 0.0001) and BMI (1.1 [1.0-1.2]; P = 0.049). This model explained 26.0% of total deviance contributing to diabetes. CONCLUSIONS In nonscreening hemochromatosis probands with HFE C282Y homozygosity, a heritable factor(s) increases the risk of diabetes diagnosed before hemochromatosis.
Developmental recall lag in learning-disabled children: perceptual deficit or verbal mediation deficiency?

To investigate the development of mediational deficiencies in verbal and non-verbal visual short-term memory of learning disabled children, the recall task of Atkinson, Hansen, and Bernback was administered to learning disabled children in two experimental conditions. In Experiment 1 no significant diferences on nonverbal short-term memory recall between normal and learning-disabled children were found. Similar recall responses (e.g., middle response bias, primacy effects, and recency effects) were found for both groups. Non-verbal recall was comparable for disabled and normal children as suggested by stimulus content and association scores/. Experiment 2 found that while the effects of overt rehearsal on pretrained labels on learning disabled children's recall was negligible, labels provided superior recall for normal children. Results suggested that learning disabled children suffer from a verbal mediational deficiency consistent with Flavell's (1970) mediation deficiency hypothesis.
A new approach to collecting farm accident data

Since the early 1940s, newspaper clippings and personal interview surveys have been the primary methods for collecting agricultural accident data. Accident data forms and survey procedures were standardized during the late 1960s, and many statewide surveys were conducted throughout the 1970s. In recent years, the implementation of the standardized survey procedure has become difficult and appears to no longer be viable. A personalized mail survey approach was recently tested in Pennsylvania with excellent results. The personalized mail survey research procedures may become an efficient, long-term method of agricultural accident data collection.
Optical Kerr effect measurements of methyl methacrylate/nitrobenzene solutions

We have performed optical Kerr effect measurements on methyl methacrylate (MMA)/nitrobenzene (NB) solutions. By measuring the string of the Kerr signal as a function of the concentration of nitrobenzene we have determined the relative value of the effective third-order susceptibility of MMA to that of nitrobenzene to be "formula available in paper"
Similarity of rectangles

Abstract Krantz and Tversky found that neither (log-) height ( y ) and width ( x ), nor area ( x + y ) and shape ( x − y ) qualify as “subjective dimensions of rectangles” because both pairs violate the decomposability condition for their dissimilarity data. However, the data suggest a nonlinear transformation of x , y into a pair of subjective dimensions u ( x , y ), v ( x , y ) for which decomposability should be approximately satisfied. An explicit statement of this mapping is given.
Competency issues in referrals to a consultation-liaison service.

Abstract One hundred retrospective consultation reports were reviewed and 100 prospective consultations were followed for issues relating to medical patients’ competency to make treatment decisions. Fifteen percent of consultation requests were found to involve competency issues. Short case descriptions illustrate the three most frequent types of patients in competency referrals: those who have inflicted harm on themselves, elderly patients with cognitive deficits, and persons who present management problems. The development of a set of instruments to structure these evaluations and more resident training in this forensic area are highly desirable.
Honest Jim talks manners

A personal DNA sequence — as this week's cover story illustrates — is revealing yet frustrating. It could yield so much more useful information if we had the means of interpreting all that data. In a Commentary, Steven Brenner proposes the means: a Genome Commons. This is a public knowledge base of genetic variation and its effect, culled from databases, diagnostic labs and the scientific literature. Such a repository would be a vast resource for research, medicine and understanding ourselves. Continuing the personal genomics theme, autobiographies from two sequenced individuals who need no introduction are reviewed. And in a Special Report, Ricki Lewis looks at the growth of the genetic counselling profession.
Crystal structure of tandem type III fiibronectin domains from drosophila neuroglian at 2.0 å

We report the crystal structure of two adjacent fibronectin type III repeats from the Drosophila neural cell adhesion molecule neuroglian. Each domain consists of two antiparallel 0 sheets and is folded topologically identically to single fibronectin type III domains from the extracellular matrix proteins tenascin and fibronectin. β bulges and left-handed polyproline II helices disrupt the regular β sheet structure of both neuroglian domains. The hydrophobic interdomain interface includes a metalbinding site, presumably involved in stabilizing the relative orientation between domains and predicted by sequence comparision to be present in the vertebrate homolog molecule L1. The neuroglian domains are related by a near perfect 2-fold screw axis along the longest molecular dimension. Using this relationship, a model for arrays of tandem fibronectin type III repeats in neuroglian and other molecules is proposed.
Noncommutative point sources

We construct a perturbative solution to classical noncommutative gauge theory on R{sup 3} minus the origin using the Groenewald-Moyal star product. The result describes a noncommutative point charge. Applying it to the quantum mechanics of the noncommutative hydrogen atom gives shifts in the 1S hyperfine splitting which are first order in the noncommutativity parameter.
Direct assay for O6-methylguanine-acceptor protein in cell extracts.

Abstract A direct in vitro assay for O 6 -methylguanine-acceptor protein in cell extracts that measures the transfer of radioactivity from labeled O 6 -methylguanine ( O 6 MeGua) adducts in an exogenous DNA substrate to protein is described. The protein-bound radioactivity is released and separated from that remaining in the DNA by sequential digestion with protease K and aminopeptidase M, and appears in the alcohol-soluble fraction of the digest. Data obtained by the direct assay are similar to those obtained by an indirect assay that measures the amount of O 6 MeGua-acceptor protein as the loss of O 6 MeGua from the DNA. In addition to its accuracy, the direct assay is also simple and can measure the amount of O 6 MeGua-acceptor activity in cell extracts prepared from as few as 0.5–1.0 × 10 6 mammalian cells.
Earthquake magnitude research

When C.F. Richter introduced ‘an instrumental earthquake magnitude scale’ in 1935, his purpose was to attempt to put into an order local earthquakes in southern California. Now the ‘Richter Scale,’ a fairly sophisticated and distant offshoot of Richter's original arbitrary amplitude measurements, is a nearly universally accepted reference for earthquake magnitude. What factors earthquake magnitude encompasses, and to what degree of accuracy, are the subjects of intense research efforts today. The earthquake magnitude factor is the ‘most studied one in seismology,’ according to Markus Bath (Earthquake Magnitude—Recent Research and Current Trends, Earth Sci. Rev., 17, 315–398, 1981). Bath points out that magnitude is a far more fundamental concept than ‘size’ or strength, or how devastating to humans an earthquake might be. The magnitude scale is a measure of the total energy released by an earthquake, and thus is the basis of seismology. Applications of magnitude measurements include all aspects of earthquakes, such as epicentral distance, focal depth, wave type and period, and source analysis. Bath's recent study is indeed useful ‘for geologists, tectonophysicists and engineers—[and]—for seismologists…’
Success and Failure in Public Sector Consulting: The Consuming Slide

The responsibility for improved public sector utilization of research and recommendations by outside consultants has traditionally been placed squarely on consultants themselves. Case analyses of three consulting episodes in state government supports an alternative perspective: responsibility for improving utilization of consulting services must lie equally with contracting agencies—the consuming side. Fragmented and shifting managerial attention is identified as a major constraint on effective service utilization, and several factors contributing to unstable attention by decision makers are discussed. The authors begin to distinguish constraints on decision makers' attention that are positive and should be encouraged; those that are negative and should be discouraged; and those that are fortuitous and must be tolerated.
Proposal for Splinting the Adult Hemiplegic Hand to Promote Function

Although there is no general consensus regarding splinting the hemiplegic hand, therapists continue to explore possibilities to facilitate functional use of the involved hand. A proposal for a dorsal splint adaptation, based on neurophysiological principles is described. Its use with two young hemiplegic patients, 10-11 months post onset, is presented. Following consistent use of the splint, both patients showed increased spontaneous use of the hemiplegic hand.
Thrombolytic Therapy in the Treatment of Stroke

Approximately 80 to 90% of cerebral ischaemic events that occur within 24 hours of symptom onset are due to atherothrombotic or thromboembolic occlusions. This forms the rationale for the use of thrombolytic agents in patients with acute ischaemic stroke.
Adherence to medical treatment: Overview and lessons from behavioral weight control☆

Abstract Adherence to medical treatment is a major problem in modern medicine. No more than 50% of patients adhere to long-term programs of diet and drugs. This problem is not due to personality characteristics of poor adherers, but to the social context in which the patient is treated. The regimen, the patient, the clinic, and the clinician all influence the extent of adherence. Research on behavioral control of obesity has led to new methods to improve adherence to dietary programs. Research on adherence to medication programs has begun and general principles of adherence are emerging.
Practice Talks Back to Theory: A Critical Reflection on Teaching

The article is a reflection on what I perceive to be a confusion about the relation between theoretical judgments and judgments of pedagogical efficacy. My interest in the issue originated with my own confusion over persistent student resistance to certain assigned texts that I had initially felt confident would prove valuable in the classroom. The essay unfolds in three segments. In the first, I recount how this concern about the relation between theoretical judgments and judgments of pedagogical efficacy evolved out of my own teaching. I next list three tentative conclusions about the correlation or lack of correlation between theoretical judgments and judgments of pedagogical efficacy. In the concluding segment, I call for concerted resistance to the tendency of pure rationality to colonize the aesthetic and dramatic components of experience so essential to transformative teaching and learning.
Two-phase Flow in Complex Porous Media using Lattice-Boltzmann Method

Summary We present results on two-phase flow simulation by Lattice-Boltzmann method. In this paper we focus on the steady state simulation that has a fixed saturation of nonwetting and wetting fluids. We used three rock models; Finney’s random dense pack of spheres and two samples of X-ray tomographic Fontainebleau sandstone. These were binary digital models describing the complex pore space. We investigated three aspects of two-phase flow; effect of initial distribution of two fluids on relative permeability, role of wetting fluid at low wetting fluid saturation, and relative permeability under different pressure gradient and surface tension. We found very small differences in relative permeability with various initial distributions of two fluids. Although the final distributions were a little different due to different initial distributions, the relative permeability was almost identical. At high water saturation, even though the nonwetting phase is not connected, they form blobs and move with the wetting phase. Thus the relative permeability of non-wetting phase is still considerable. In the next step, we investigated the role of wetting fluid at low wetting fluid saturation. Many studies and laboratory measurements have shown that small amount of water does not affect relative permeability of non-wetting phase. We observed same results from our simulation. In our digital rock samples, the permeability of non-wetting phase changed very little at a range of less than 10% wetting saturation. However, if we replace the small amount of water trapped in small pores by solid grain, the relative permeability of non-wetting phase decreases dramatically even for very small reduction of porosity. The small amount of wetting phase effectively reduces the viscous effect between grain boundary and nonwetting phase. Lastly, we explored two different regimes of pressure gradient (∆P) and surface tension (σ); when ∆P ≈ σ and when ∆P >σ . We observed the relative permeability of non-wetting phase increases with pressure gradient, while that of wetting phase stays almost the same. The amount of the relative permeability increase strongly depends on the details of pore geometry. In conjunction with lab calibration, this two-phase flow simulation provides a powerful computational tool for efficient estimation of multiphase fluid-flow with different physical parameters, and can complement physical lab measurement.
Purification and Properties of Barley Stem Fructan Exohydrolase

Summary Barley, Hordeum vulgare(L.) Morex, stem fructan exohydrolase (FEH) has been partially purified andcharacterized. The enzyme was purified 258-fold by salt precipitation, anion exchange chromatography, affinity chromatography, and size exclusion chromatography. FEH has an apparent molecular weight of 62,500, and has an acidic pH activity optimum (5.5-6.0) as expected for a vacuolar enzyme. Barley FEH hydrolyzes only plant fructans (barley, chicory, and dahlia) releasing a free fructose and an undegraded fructan polymer per cleavage. Bacterial levan, sucrose, and other carbohydrates tested were not hydrolyzed. Sulfhydryl reducing agents do not enhance activity, and iodoacetamide (5 μM and 100 μM) does not decrease activity, indicating that sulfhydryl groups are not required for hydrolysis. Barley FEH has an Arrhenius Ea of 8.8 kcal/mol; these data were linear from 5 to 40 °C. This indicates that low temperature induced increases in fructan content are not primarily due to direct temperature effects on fructan exohydrolase activity.
Daycare attendance and risk for respiratory morbidity among young very low birth weight children.

Daycare attendance and very low birth weight (VLBW, ≤1500 grams) are associated with respiratory morbidity during childhood. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether daycare attendance is associated with even higher risk for respiratory problems among VLBW children. We hypothesized that VLBW children attending daycare, in a private home or daycare center, are at higher risk for respiratory problems than VLBW children not attending daycare. We also investigated whether the effect of daycare is independent or synergistic with respiratory risk resulting from being VLBW, as indicated by having bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) as a neonate. We conducted a prospective study of VLBW children followed from birth to age 2–3 (N=715). Logistic regression was used to evaluate the relationship between daycare attendance and respiratory problems, adjusting for known neonatal risk factors for poor respiratory outcomes. Attending daycare in either a private home or in a daycare center was significantly associated with higher risk of lower respiratory infections than never attending. Attending a daycare center was also associated with higher risk for wheezy chest, cough without a cold, and respiratory medication use. While having BPD was associated with increased risk for respiratory problems, daycare attendance and BPD were not found to be synergistic risk factors for respiratory problems among VLBW children, but acted independently to increase risk. This implies that the increase in risk for respiratory problems associated with daycare attendance maybe similar among VLBW children and those of normal birth weight.
Intravenous Magnesium Sulfate as an Adjunct in the Treatment of Acute Asthma

Study objective This study was conducted to determine whether intravenous magnesium sulfate (MgSO4), when used as part of a standardized treatment protocol, can improve pulmonary function and decrease admission rate in patients presenting to the emergency department with exacerbations of asthma. Design In this randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study, patients with acute asthma were treated with inhaled β-agonists at regular intervals and intravenous (IV) steroids. At 30 min after entry, patients received either 2 g IV MgSO4 or IV placebo. Patients were monitored for up to 4 h with regular measurements of pulmonary function. Patients who were discharged from the emergency department were contacted at 1 day and 7 days for follow-up. Setting Emergency departments of a university-affiliated, voluntary hospital and municipal hospital. Participants Asthmatics aged 18 to 65 years during acute exacerbation with FEV1 less than 75% predicted both before and after a single albuterol treatment. Interventions Patients were given 2 g of MgSO4 or placebo as an adjunct to standardized emergency department procedure for acute asthma. Measurements and results One hundred thirty-five patients were studied. Hospital admission rates were 35.3% for placebo-treated group and 25.4% for the magnesium-treated group (p=0.21). FEV1 measured at 120 min was 56% predicted for the placebo-treated group and 55% predicted for the magnesium-treated group. (p=0.92) For subgroup analysis, patients were divided into "severe" (baseline FEV1 Conclusion Intravenous MgSO4 decreased admission rate and improved FEV1 in patients with acute severe asthma but did not cause significant improvement in patients with moderate asthma.
Scheduling real-time fork-join structures in cluster computing

Scheduling a large number of high performance computing applications on cluster computing environment is a complex task especially in real-time systems. Efficient scheduling strategies are critically important for achieving a good performance. A cluster scheduler should adequately manage the cluster resources. In this paper, we present an algorithm for scheduling real-time applications represented as parallel task graphs on a cluster. We utilise the available processing power on each processor to maximise the degree of parallelism while satisfying the required tasks' deadlines. The algorithm reduces the communication cost among tasks and the possibility of processing power fragmentation.
Endoscopic versus open radial artery harvesting for coronary artery bypass grafting

AbstractBackground and aim of the study. The radial artery has become the artery of choice after both internal thoracic arteries for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). This study compares wound healing and arm complications after endoscopic versus open radial artery harvesting. Methods. From January 2002 to July 2004, 509 patients underwent CABG including a radial artery conduit. Thirty-nine had endoscopic and 470 conventional open radial artery harvesting. A propensity score was used to obtain 1:3 matching of all endoscopic to 117 open-harvesting patients. Postoperative wound healing, local neurologic deficits, wound infection, and pain scores were compared. Results. Wound healing: 34 of 39 endoscopic wounds exhibited a perfect Hollander score versus 339 of 470 open-harvest wounds (p = 0.01). Wound appearance was better for endoscopic harvesting (p = 0.004). Three incomplete neurologic deficits were observed after open harvesting versus one complete neurologic deficit after endoscopic harvesting tha...
Aristotle as historian of philosophy

Doubts about the reliability of Aristotle's accounts of his predecessors have been current for some time, at least since Heidel's 1906 paper in which he aimed to show that the presocratics did not, pace Aristotle, have Aristotle's conception of ἀλλοίωσις, involving as it does the notions of unchanging substance or essence, and attribute. Such doubts were given massive substantiation in Cherniss' famous book. More recently McDiarmid has shown that Theophrastus' Physical Opinions, the main source for the subsequent doxographical tradition, while it may quote extensively from the writings of the presocratics, is heavily dependent (in wording, selection of quotations from the presocratics, and organisation of material) on Aristotle's account. I only mention McDiarmid's work here because some of what he says provides the point of departure for Guthrie's defence of Aristotle, which I want chiefly to examine. My thesis is that there are some misunderstandings and pseudo-issues which crop up among what may be referred to as the three parties (Cherniss, McDiarmid, and Guthrie) to the dispute over the trustworthiness of Aristotle's accounts of the presocratics; but that once these are cleared away there remains a genuine disagreement over the reliability of Aristotle's interpretations; and that in this disagreement Guthrie has not given arguments sufficient to prove his point.
COPD elicits remodeling of the diaphragm and vastus lateralis muscles in humans

A profound remodeling of the diaphragm and vastus lateralis (VL) occurs in patients with moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In this mini-review, we discuss the followi...
Changes in the position and angulation of incisura during contractions of the isolated cat stomach

Contractions change the configuration of the lesser curvature of the stomach while they indent the greater curvature. We studied these lesser curvature changes by measuring the position and angle of the gastric incisura on still frames captured from videotapes of isolated cat stomachs suspended in physiologic solution. In response to filling with 100 mL Krebs' solution stomachs generated a tonic contraction of the fundus/body segment and gave rise to a peristaltic contraction that spread from the body and through the antrum to the pylorus. In preparations where we left the duodenal cannula open we found that the incisura moves toward the gastro-oesophageal (GO) junction and the angle of the incisura widens as the contraction passes through the stomach and empties its contents. Furthermore, the angle of the incisura is most acute when the full stomach starts contracting in its fundic segment and again when the contraction involves the gastric sinus (the wedge-shaped segment adjacent to the incisura which forms the transition between the body and the antrum of the stomach). In preparations where the duodenal cannula was kept closed, the angle of the incisura becomes most acute when the contraction involves the gastric body and when the luminal pressure peaks. We conclude that changes in the position and angulation of the incisura are part of the mechanical response of the stomach to filling and emptying; unlike the peristaltic contraction along the greater curvature the net movement of the incisura goes in the orad direction. Movements of the incisura profoundly affect the configuration of the stomach and hence the distribution of luminal contents between various gastric segments. The gastric sling muscles are responsible for the formation of the gastric incisura but their role in any movements of the incisura remains to be defined.
The Zero Point of Extinction toward Baade's Window from K Giants

We measure the zero point of the Stanek extinction map by comparing the observed (V - K) colors of 206 K giant stars with their intrinsic (V - K)0 colors as derived from their Hβ indices. We find that the zero point of the Stanek map should be changed by ΔAV = -0.10 ± 0.06 mag, obtaining as a bonus a threefold reduction of the previous statistical error. The most direct way to test for systematic errors in this determination would be to conduct a parallel measurement based on the (V - K) colors of type ab RR Lyrae stars.
Adsorption equilibrium and transport kinetics for a range of probe gases in Takeda 3A carbon molecular sieve

Measurements of adsorption equilibria and transport kinetics for argon, oxygen and nitrogen at 20, 50, and 80 °C on commercially derived Takeda carbon molecular sieve (CMS) employed for air separation have been undertaken in an effort to elucidate fundamental mechanisms of transport. Results indicate that micropore diffusion which is modeled by a Fickian diffusion process, governs the transport of oxygen molecules and the pore mouth barrier controls argon and nitrogen transport which is characterized by a linear driving force (LDF) model. For the three temperatures studied, the pressure dependence of the diffusivity and the LDF rate constant appear to be well characterized by a formulation based on the chemical potential as the driving force for transport. Isosteric heat of adsorption at zero loading and activation energy measurements are compared with predictions made from a previously proposed molecular model for characterizing CMS.
Genetic Response to Climatic Change: Insights from Ancient DNA and Phylochronology

Understanding how climatic change impacts biological diversity is critical to conservation. Yet despite demonstrated effects of climatic perturbation on geographic ranges and population persistence, surprisingly little is known of the genetic response of species. Even less is known over ecologically long time scales pertinent to understanding the interplay between microevolution and environmental change. Here, we present a study of population variation by directly tracking genetic change and population size in two geographically widespread mammal species (Microtus montanus and Thomomys talpoides) during late-Holocene climatic change. We use ancient DNA to compare two independent estimates of population size (ecological and genetic) and corroborate our results with gene diversity and serial coalescent simulations. Our data and analyses indicate that, with population size decreasing at times of climatic change, some species will exhibit declining gene diversity as expected from simple population genetic models, whereas others will not. While our results could be consistent with selection, independent lines of evidence implicate differences in gene flow, which depends on the life history strategy of species.
Spectral geometry for simultaneously clustering and ranking query search results

How best to present query search results is an important problem in search engines and information retrieval systems. When a single query retrieves many results, simply showing them as a long list will provide users with poor overview. Nowadays, ranking and clustering query search results have been two useful separate post-processing techniques to organize retrieved documents. In this paper, we proposed a spectral analysis method based on the content similarity networks to integrate the clustering and ranking techniques for improving literature search. The new approach organizes all these search results into categories intelligently and simultaneously rank the results in each category. A variety of theoretical and empirical studies have demonstrated that the presented method performs well in real applications, especially in biomedical literature retrieval. Moreover, any free text information can be analyzed with the new method, i.e., the proposed approach can be applied to various information systems, such as Web search engines and literature search service.