cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Diabetic Myonecrosis: A Diagnostic and Treatment Challenge in Longstanding Diabetes.

Objective. Diabetes mellitus is associated with microvascular and macrovascular complications; the most commonly recognized ones include diabetic nephropathy, retinopathy, and neuropathy. Less well-known complications are equally important, as timely recognition and treatment are essential to decrease short- and long-term morbidity. Methods. Herein, we describe a case of a 41-year-old female with longstanding, uncontrolled type 2 diabetes, who presented with classical findings of diabetic myonecrosis. Results. Our patient underwent extensive laboratory and imaging studies prior to diagnosis due to its rarity and similarity in presentation with other commonly noted musculoskeletal conditions. We emphasize the clinical presentation, laboratory and imaging findings, treatment regimen, and prognosis associated with diabetic myonecrosis. Conclusion. Diabetic myonecrosis is a rare complication of longstanding, poorly controlled diabetes mellitus. The diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion in the right clinical setting: acute onset nontraumatic muscular pain with associated findings on clinical exam, laboratory studies, and imaging. While the short-term prognosis is good, the recurrence rate remains high and long-term prognosis is poor given underlying uncontrolled diabetes and associated sequelae.
#BlackEmployeesMatter: Mega-Threats, Identity Fusion, and Enacting Positive Deviance in Organizations

Despite recognizing the importance of events, researchers have rarely explored the influence of broader societal events on employee experiences and behaviors at work. We integrate perspectives on e...
Multiparametric MRI-guided dose boost to dominant intraprostatic lesions in CT-based High-dose-rate prostate brachytherapy.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the dosimetric feasibility of delivering focal dose to multiparametric (mp) MRI-defined DILs in CT-based high-dose-rate (HDR) prostate brachyt...
Teacher leadership for excellence in US National Blue Ribbon Schools

National Blue Ribbon Schools (NBRS) are a select group of US schools, identified annually, in recognition for their success at either (a) overall student achievement or (b) achievement gap closing....
A Survey of Modern Scientific Workflow Scheduling Algorithms and Systems in the Era of Big Data

This paper provides a survey of the state-of-the-art workflow scheduling algorithms with the assumption of cloud computing being used as the underlying compute infrastructure in support of large-scale scientific workflows involving big data. The survey also reviews a few selected representative scientific workflow systems in light of usability, performance, popularity, and other prominent features. In contrast to existing related surveys, which most try to be comprehensive in coverage and inevitably fall short in the depth of their coverage on workflow scheduling, this survey puts an emphasis on the two dominant factors in workflow scheduling, the makespan and the monetary cost of workflow execution, resulted in a useful taxonomy of workflow scheduling algorithms as an additional contribution. This survey tries to maintain a good balance between width and depth in its coverage – after a broad review, it spotlights on selected top ten representative scheduling algorithms and top five workflow management systems leveraging cloud infrastructure with an emphasis on support for big data scientific workflows.
A Dual-Route Perspective of SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Lung- vs. Gut-specific Effects of ACE-2 Deficiency

SARS-CoV-2, primarily considered a respiratory virus, is increasingly recognized as having gastrointestinal aspects based on its presence in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and feces. SARS-CoV-2 uses as a receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2), a critical member of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) involved in the regulation of blood pressure and fluid system. In addition to the systemic endocrine functions, RAAS components are also involved in intracrine and organ-specific local functions. The angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) is a key component of RAAS and a receptor for SARS-CoV-2. It is expressed in many tissues with gastrointestinal (GI) tract ACE-2 levels far exceeding those in the respiratory tract. SARS-CoV-2 binding to its receptor results in a deficiency of ACE-2 activity in endocrine, intracrine, and local lung and GI tract ACE-2. The local ACE-2 has different organ-specific functions, including hypertension-independent activities; dysregulations of these functions may contribute to multiorgan COVID-19 pathology, its severity, long-term effects, and mortality. We review supporting evidence from this standpoint. Notably, COVID-19 comorbidities involving hypertension, obesity, heart disease, kidney disease, and diabetes are associated with gastrointestinal problems and display ACE-2 deficits. While RAAS inhibitors target both endocrine and intracrine ACE-2 activity, the deficit of the local ACE-2 activity in the lungs and more so in the gut have not been targeted. Consequently, the therapeutic approach to COVID-19 should be carefully reconsidered. Ongoing clinical trials testing oral probiotic bound ACE-2 delivery are promising.
Early US experience with cardiac donation after circulatory death (DCD) using normothermic regional perfusion.

Background Given the shortage of suitable donor hearts for cardiac transplantation and the growing interest in donation after circulatory death (DCD), our institution recently began procuring cardiac allografts from DCD donors. Methods Between October 2020 and March 2021, 15 patients with heart failure underwent cardiac transplantation using DCD allografts. Allografts were procured using a modified extracorporeal membrane oxygenation circuit for thoracic normothermic regional perfusion (TA-NRP) and were subsequently transported using cold static storage. Data collection and analysis were performed with institutional review board approval. Results The mean age of the DCD donors was 23 ± 7 years and average time on TA-NRP was 56 ± 8 minutes. Total ischemic time was 183 ± 31 minutes and distance from transplant center was 373 ± 203 nautical miles. Recipient age was 55 ± 14 years, with 8 (55.3%) recipients on durable left ventricular assist device support. Post-transplant, 6 (40%) recipients experienced mild left ventricle primary graft dysfunction (PGD-LV), 3 (20%) recipients experienced moderate PGD-LV, and no recipients experienced severe PGD-LV. Postoperative transthoracic echocardiogram demonstrated left ventricular ejection fraction >55% in all recipients. One recipient (6.6%) developed International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation 2R acute cellular rejection on first biopsy. At last follow-up, all 15 recipients were alive past 30-days. Conclusions Cardiac DCD provides an opportunity to increase the availability of donor hearts for transplantation. Utilizing TA-NRP with cold static storage, we have extended the cold ischemic time of DCD allografts to almost 3 hours, allowing for inter-hospital organ transport.
Review of Textural Characteristics of World Foods

The texture of a food can often make or break one’s enjoyment of it, though food texture itself is not always something an eater thinks about unless it is particularly notable. Despite the everyday...
Exploring the Role of Machine Learning in Scientific Workflows: Opportunities and Challenges

In this survey, we discuss the challenges of executing scientific workflows as well as existing Machine Learning (ML) techniques to alleviate those challenges. We provide the context and motivation for applying ML to each step of the execution of these workflows. Furthermore, we provide recommendations on how to extend ML techniques to unresolved challenges in the execution of scientific workflows. Moreover, we discuss the possibility of using ML techniques for in-situ operations. We explore the challenges of in-situ workflows and provide suggestions for improving the performance of their execution using ML techniques.
Atypia in pulmonary cytology: Morphologic spectrum and causes

BACKGROUND The term "atypical" has had a long history of usage in cytology but has had variable definitions and usage. Most commonly the term was used to indicate a degree of cytomorphologic abnormality greater than that clearly due to reactive or reparative changes but not associated with a high concern on the part of the cytopathologist that a malignancy is present. The Papanicolaou Society of Cytopathology System for Reporting Respiratory Cytology provided a foundation for using the category "Atypical" along with the category "Suspicious for Malignancy" to categorize the spectrum of morphologic changes ranging from those which are clearly benign to those that are clearly malignant. The two intermediate categories of "Atypical" and "Suspicious for Malignancy" have characteristic recommendations resulting in clinical utility for both categories. CONCLUSION The Papanicolaou Society of Cytopathology System for Reporting Respiratory Cytology represents a useful system with defined intermediate categories of Atypical and Suspicious for Malignancy.
A Clinic for Swimming Officials

(1947). A Clinic for Swimming Officials. The Journal of Health and Physical Education: Vol. 18, No. 3, pp. 151-189.
A fast algorithm for denoising magnitude diffusion-weighted images with rank and edge constraints

Purpose To accelerate denoising of magnitude diffusion-weighted images subject to joint rank and edge constraints. Methods We extend a previously proposed majorize-minimize method for statistical estimation that involves noncentral χ distributions to incorporate joint rank and edge constraints. A new algorithm is derived which decomposes the constrained noncentral χ denoising problem into a series of constrained Gaussian denoising problems each of which is then solved using an efficient alternating minimization scheme. Results The performance of the proposed algorithm has been evaluated using both simulated and experimental data. Results from simulations based on ex vivo data show that the new algorithm achieves about a factor of 10 speed up over the original Quasi-Newton-based algorithm. This improvement in computational efficiency enabled denoising of large datasets containing many diffusion-encoding directions. The denoising performance of the new efficient algorithm is found to be comparable to or even better than that of the original slow algorithm. For an in vivo high-resolution Q-ball acquisition, comparison of fiber tracking results around hippocampus region before and after denoising will also be shown to demonstrate the denoising effects of the new algorithm. Conclusion The optimization problem associated with denoising noncentral χ distributed diffusion-weighted images subject to joint rank and edge constraints can be solved efficiently using a majorize-minimize-based algorithm. Magn Reson Med, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Design of low jitter phase-locked loop with closed loop voltage controlled oscillator

This paper presents a novel phase-locked loop (PLL) architecture to generate a low jitter output clock with a closed loop voltage controlled oscillator (VCO). The proposed closed loop VCO consists of an open loop VCO, an integrator, a non-overlapping clock generator and a switched-capacitor resistor. Because the closed loop VCO has a high-pass characteristic for a VCO noise transfer function and a negative feedback loop suppresses a phase noise of the open loop VCO, the closed loop VCO shows the low phase noise compared to the conventional open loop VCO. Moreover, the closed loop VCO can filter any perturbation at the control voltage due to a low-pass characteristic of input voltage transfer function. We design the proposed PLL scheme in 130 nm low power CMOS technology at 1.5V supply. An integrated RMS jitter is 5.81 psec at 300 MHz output frequency, which is 24% smaller than the jitter of previous PLL with the open loop VCO. The proposed PLL consumes 4.8 mW at 400 MHz output frequency.
Mass Spectrometer Monitoring of a Yeast Fermentation

The relative lack of appropriate transducers for the measurement of chemical cocnentrations in a fermentation often presents an obstacle to monitoring and controlling fermentations. Thus, the direct interfacing of a mass spectrometer (MS) to both the gaseous and liquid phase of a fermentor is under consideration (1, 2).
Enamel remineralization on teeth adjacent to Class II glass ionomer restorations.

PURPOSE To examine the in vitro remineralization of incipient carious lesions on teeth adjacent interproximally to teeth with Class II glass ionomer cement restorations. MATERIALS AND METHODS Artificial carious lesions were created at the contact area of 30 teeth. Ten teeth had Class II glass ionomer cement/resin composite restorations placed, 10 teeth had Class II glass ionomer silver cermet restorations placed and 10 teeth had Class II amalgam restorations placed. Sections 100 microns thick were obtained longitudinally through the caries sites and polarized photomicrographs were taken in imbibition media of water and Thoulet's (R.I. 1.41 and 1.47) solutions, representing 5%, 10% and 25% pore volume respectively. Varnish was placed on the section, leaving only the external section site exposed, then sections were situated back into the original tooth. The restored teeth were abutted to the carious tooth so that the restorations came into contact with the adjacent restoration. The specimens were placed into closed environments of artificial saliva for 14 days, then were photographed again under polarized light and areas of the carious lesions were quantitated. RESULTS An ANOVA indicated significant variance in adjacent tooth remineralization, when comparing the experimental groups, in imbibition media of water (P < 0.05), Thoulet's 1.41 solution (P < 0.008) and Thoulet's 1.47 solution (P < 0.006). Duncan's multiple range test demonstrated the glass ionomer cement/resin composite group to have significantly greater decrease in pore volume (P < 0.05) than the amalgam control group in water imbibition media and Thoulet's 1.47 media. There was no statistically significant difference between the glass ionomer cement/resin composite and glass ionomer silver cermet groups in these two imbibition media. The glass ionomer cement/resin composite group demonstrated significantly more (P < 0.05) decrease in pore volume than both the glass ionomer silver cermet group and amalgam control group in Thoulet's 1.47 imbibition media.
A quest for ABET accreditation: in retrospect

What is ABET accreditation? What is required to receive it? Is it worth the effort? This paper will examine the process as viewed through the eyes of one department chair. Details about the discussions leading up to the decision, the commitment from administration, the site visit, the responses to the ABET report and the end results will be explored. Problems encountered throughout the process will be detailed with the hope that others making the effort can avoid the same problems.
Approximations of Discrete, Continuous, and Hybrid Systems

Concurrency theory and formal verification of discrete systems have resulted in a wealth of system relationships, including the notions of language inclusion, simulation and bisimulation relations. These notions have had great impact in not only reducing the analysis complexity of discrete systems, but also in reducing problems for continuous and hybrid systems to purely discrete problems. Such relationships for discrete systems require system observations to be identical. When interacting with the physical world, modeled by continuous or hybrid systems, exact relationships are restrictive and not robust. In this talk, we will present a framework of system approximation that applies to discrete, continuous, and hybrid systems by developing notions of approximate language inclusion, approximate simulation, and approximate bisimulation relations. We define a hierarchy of approximation pseudo-metrics between two systems that quantify the quality of the approximation, and capture the established exact relationships as zero sections. Algorithms are developed for computing the proposed pseudo-metrics, both exactly and approximately. The exact algorithms require the generalization of the fixed point algorithms for computing simulation and bisimulation relations, or dually, the solution of a static game whose cost is the so-called branching distance between the systems. Approximations for the pseudo-metrics can be obtained by considering Lyapunov-like functions called simulation and bisimulation functions. We will present algorithms for computing the proposed pseudo-metrics for a variety of classes of continuous, hybrid systems, and stochastic hybrid systems, as well as in approximating continuous systems by purely discrete ones.
The polarity of the plasma membrane protein RET-PE2 in retinal pigment epithelium is developmentally regulated

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) differs from other epithelia in that the apical surface is not free; instead, it interacts with both photoreceptors and a specialized extracellular material, the interphotoreceptor matrix. Biochemical characterization of the apical and basolateral surfaces of RPE in adult rat eye cups, using a novel in situ biotinylation assay, revealed very different protein compositions and identified a major surface antigen, RET-PE2, with a predominantly apical distribution (approximately 74%). The apical polarity of RET-PE2 was confirmed by immunofluorescence and laser scanning confocal microscopy. In striking contrast, RET-PE2 antigen was preferentially basolateral in primary cultures derived from adult rat RPE and in an immortalized RPE cell line (RPE-J). Under all conditions, RET-PE2 was highly soluble in Triton X-100 (> 81% at 4 degrees C), suggesting that its redistribution was not dependent on changes in cytoskeletal interactions. Analysis of the localization of RET-PE2 in normal rats at postnatal (PN) days 1, 7, and 14 indicated that RET-PE2 redistributes from predominantly basolateral to predominantly apical during that time. Since photoreceptors develop during the first two weeks after birth in the rat, our results suggest that the apical redistribution of RET-PE2 is dependent on the establishment of adult interactions between the RPE and the neural retina and/or the interphotoreceptor matrix, either via direct contacts or through alterations in the intracellular sorting patterns of RPE cells.
Evolving Information Needs among Colon, Breast, and Prostate Cancer Survivors: Results from a Longitudinal Mixed-Effects Analysis

Background: This study describes how cancer survivors' information needs about recurrence, late effects, and family risks of cancer evolve over the course of their survivorship period. Methods: Three annual surveys were conducted from 2006 to 2008 in a cohort of Pennsylvania cancer survivors diagnosed with colon, breast, or prostate cancer in 2005 (round 1, N = 2,013; round 2, N = 1,293; round 3, N = 1,128). Outcomes were information seeking about five survivorship topics. Key predictors were survey round, cancer diagnosis, and the interaction between these variables. Mixed-effects logistic regression analyses were performed to predict information seeking about each topic, adjusting for demographic variables, clinical characteristics, and clustering of repeated observations within individuals. Results: Information seeking about reducing risks of cancer recurrence was the most frequently reported topic across survivors and over time. Breast cancer survivors were more likely to seek about survivorship topics at round 1 compared with other survivors. In general, information seeking declined over time, but cancer-specific patterns emerged: the decline was sharpest for breast cancer survivors, whereas in later years female colon cancer survivors actually sought more information (about how to reduce the risk of family members getting colon cancer or a different cancer). Conclusion: Cancer survivors' information needs varied over time depending on the topic, and these trends differed by cancer type. Impact: Clinicians may need to intervene at distinct points during the survivorship period with information to address concerns about cancer recurrence, late effects, and family members' risks. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 24(7); 1071–8. ©2015 AACR .
Mock jurors' perceptions of identifications made by intoxicated eyewitnesses

Abstract Psychology research has generally neglected intoxicated eyewitnesses. The current study addressed this need by exploring mock jurors' perceptions of intoxicated witnesses. Undergraduate participants read summarized sexual or aggravated battery cases in which either the victim or a bystander identified the defendant under varying intoxication levels. They answered questions about the case and provided verdicts. Participants were sensitive to the effect that intoxication may have on witnesses' cognitive ability, but not to varying degrees of intoxication. Neither the role of the eyewitness nor the type of crime committed had an effect on perceptions of witness impairment. Participants' perceptions of witness impairment informed identification credibility ratings, and credibility assessments affected verdicts. Impairment and credibility ratings fully mediated intoxication's effect on verdicts. Unlike much prior research, our results suggest that mock jurors can consider potentially important witness...
Solar extreme ultraviolet irradiance measurements from sounding rockets during solar cycle 22

Abstract Our sounding rocket measurements during solar cycle 22 include solar extreme ultraviolet (EUV) irradiances below 12 nm with 0.2 nm spectral resolution, far ultraviolet (FUV) airglow spectra below 160 nm, and solar soft x-ray (XUV) images at 17.5 nm. Compared to the earlier observations, these rocket experiments provide a more accurate absolute measurement of the solar EUV irradiance because these instruments are calibrated at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) with a radiometric uncertainty of about 8%. These more accurate sounding rocket measurements suggest revisions of the previous reference AE-E spectra by as much as a factor of 2 at some wavelengths. Our sounding rocket flights during the past several years (1988–1994) also provide information about solar EUV variability during solar cycle 22.
Performance Analysis Of Systolic Array Architectures

In this paper we briefly describe the systolic array architecture. We discuss performance issues that arise in the evaluation of systolic array architectures. We review the fundamental concepts of Petri nets and consider their suitability as a tool for the modeling and analysis of systolic array architectures. We review known results concerning the use of timed decision-free Petri nets for performance evaluation of computing systems. We propose a new class of Petri nets (called coherent safety nets) that appear to be useful for performance evaluation of pipelined signal processing architectures. These techniques are applied to systolic array architectures.© (1982) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Angular resonances in the emission from a dipole located near a grating

Abstract Using a simple model we predict that pronounced angular resonances will be observed in the emission from a dipole located near a silver surface having a sinusoidal profile. The result is relevant to Raman and fluorescence spectroscopy.
How fast can the US economy grow, 1995–2020?

Abstract This article of concern with future US economic growth responds to several major policy issues presently absorbing widespread attention in American society. It shows that much faster growth than the conventional estimates is possible. This more optimistic forecast requires in particular a policy recognition that growth is not exclusively determined by supply side factors, but is also to an important extent dependent upon demand-side influences. Empirical records are greatly relied upon to show the potential prospect, particularly the experience of the vigorous growth years 1947–74. A standard supply-side equation is modified and combined with an aggregate demand estimate to indicate that an annual growth rate for the quarter century selected can approach 3.7 percent. This is considerably higher than the conventional forecasts approximating 2.5 percent.
Extinction of an emotional response in the presence of facial expressions of emotion

Previous studies (Lanzetta & Orr, 1980, 1981; Orr & Lanzetta, 1980) have demonstrated that fear facial expressions have the functional properties of conditioned excitatory stimuli, while happy expressions behave as conditioned inhibitors of emotional responses. The present study uses a summation conditioning procedure to distinguish between associative and nonassociative (selective sensitizations, attentional) interpretations of these findings. A neutral tone was first established as a conditioned excitatory CS by reinforcing tone presentations with shock. In subsequent nonreinforced test trials the excitatory tone was paired with either fear, happy, or neutral facial expressions. A tone alone and a tone/nonface slide compound were used as controls. The results indicate that phasic and tonic skin conductance responses to the tone/fear expression compound were significantly larger during extinction than for all other experimental and control groups. No significant differences were found among these latter conditions. The findings support the assumption that the excitatory characteristics of fear expressions do not depend on associative mechanisms. In the presence of fear cues, fear facial expressions intensify the emotional reaction and disrupt extinction of a previously acquired fear response. Happy facial expressions however, do not function as conditioned inhibitors in the absence of reinforcement, suggesting that the previously found inhibition was associative in nature.
Plasma IGF-1 levels and cognitive dysfunction in children with obstructive sleep apnea.

Abstract Background Pediatric OSA is associated with substantial morbidity in cognitive function. However, for any given OSA severity level, altered cognitive performance may or may not be present. Since IGF-1 is neuroprotective, we hypothesized that higher systemic IGF-1 levels may identify children at lower susceptibility for cognitive morbidity. Methods Consecutive habitually snoring and non-snoring children ages 5–7 years were recruited from the community, and underwent overnight polysomnography, and neurocognitive testing and a blood draw the next morning. Snoring children were divided into OSA or no OSA, and OSA children were further subdivided into those with ⩾2 abnormal cognitive subtests and into those with normal cognitive scores. Plasma levels of IGF-1 were also measured using ELISA. Results Among snoring children without OSA, circulating IGF-1 was 910 ± 110 pg/mL compared with 1070 ± 240 pg/mL in those with OSA (p Conclusions IGF-1 levels are higher in children with OSA, particularly in those who do not manifest neurocognitive deficits, suggesting that the magnitude of the IGF-1 response elicited by OSA may play a significant protective role against the neurocognitive dysfunction associated with OSA.
Effects of Benzo(e)Pyrene, a toxic component of cigarette smoke, on human retinal pigment epithelial cells in vitro.

PURPOSE To better understand the cellular and molecular basis for the epidemiologic association between cigarette smoke and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the authors examined the effects of Benzo(e)Pyrene (B(e)P), a toxic element in cigarette smoke, on human retinal pigment epithelial cells (ARPE-19). METHODS ARPE-19 cells were cultured in Dulbecco modified Eagle medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum. Cells were treated for 24 hours with 1000 microM, 400 microM, 200 microM, and 100 microM B(e)P. Cell viability was determined by a trypan blue dye-exclusion assay. Activities of caspase-3/7, caspase-8, caspase-9, and caspase-12 were measured by a fluorescence image scanner, and DNA laddering was evaluated by electrophoresis on 3% agarose gel. RESULTS The mean percentage of cell viabilities of ARPE-19 cells was decreased in a dose-dependent manner after exposure to B(e)P at the higher concentrations of 1000 microM (20.0 +/- 0.4; P 0.05) compared with the equivalent dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-treated control cultures. There were significant increases in caspase-3/7, -8, -9, and -12 activities compared with the DMSO-treated controls (P < 0.001). DNA laddering revealed bands at 200-bp intervals. CONCLUSIONS These results show that B(e)P is a toxicant to human retinal pigment epithelial cells in vitro. It causes cell death and induces apoptosis by the involvement of multiple caspase pathways.
An efficient split-step optical fiber simulation package with global simulation accuracy control

A symmetric split-step Fourier (SSSF) simulation model with global simulation accuracy control was developed so that the prescribed global simulation accuracy can be automatically achieved for the waveform level simulation of optical signal propagation through a single mode fiber. Combined with the novel control of the one-step or local simulation error, tens of times of enhancement in the computational efficiency can be achieved, compared to SSSF simulation method without step-size control. With new findings from the optimization of the scaling factor of the local error bound for the dispersion compensation fiber (DCF), the simulation package can significantly speed up the time-consuming simulations which are typical in coherent optical fiber communication system design for systems with inline DCF.
Antipyrine Kinetics in Patients with Primary Biliary Cirrhosis

Fourteen antimitochrodrial antibody-positive patients (13 women, 1 man) with biopsy-proven primary biliary cirrhosis, aged 40 to 71 years (mean, 57 years) weighing 43 to 102 kg (mean, 63 kg), along with 14 age- and sex-matched healthy controls, received a single 1.0- to 1.2-g dose of intravenous antipyrine. Plasma antipyrine levels were determined during a 12- to 24-hour period. Patients' mean serum chemistry values were: albumin, 3.9 g/dL (range, 3.1-4.4) and total bilirubin, 1.9 mg/dL (range, 0.3-10.9). Seven of the fourteen patients had cirrhosis. Mean kinetic variables for antipyrine in controls and primary biliary cirrhosis patients were: Vd, .54 versus .49 L/kg; half-life, 12.0 versus 15.1 hours (P < .07); clearance, .55 versus .41 mL/min/kg (P < .04). Within the primary biliary cirrhosis group, there was no correlation between total bilirubin and clearance (r = .09), nor did clearance vary significantly among histologic categories. Clearance of antipyrine in primary biliary cirrhosis patients is reduced by an average of 25%, but the clinical prognosticators of serum bilirubin levels and histologic grade do not correlate with or predict the degree of clearance impairment.
Radio-frequency magnetic response of vortex lattices undergoing structural transformations in superconducting borocarbide crystals

We report a clear anomaly in the rf response of tunnel-diode resonator measured in rare earth nickel borocarbide crystals with dc applied magnetic field along the crystallographic $c$ axis. We associate the anomaly in the dynamic magnetic susceptibility $\ensuremath{\chi}$ with a structural transition in the vortex lattice. $\ensuremath{\chi}$ is sensitive to the Campbell penetration depth ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{C}$ of the rf perturbation into the mixed state. ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{C}$ depends on the vortex lattice elastic moduli, which in turn depend on the vortex lattice structure. Using this technique, we map the high-field transition line for the square-to-rhombic transformation of the vortex lattice and provide a qualitative argument in favor of thermal vortex fluctuations as a major cause driving the transition.
Reading Nursing Research: Easy as ABCD

Professional practice is built on sound knowledge specific to each discipline. This knowledge is developed and validated through a process of scientific investigation or research. However, lack of knowledge about the research process acts as a barrier to applying evidence-based practice within the school setting. Understanding the components that make up a research study facilitates critical analysis and application in school nursing practice. This article describes a straightforward method for analyzing research studies, enabling school nurses to understand and apply current research in their daily practice.
Avian renal responses to oxidized and nonoxidized bPTH(1-34).

Abstract The hypotensive, hypercalcemic, and hyperphosphaturic responses to bovine synthetic 1–34 amino acid parathyroid hormone [bPTH(1–34)] were simultaneously evaluated in anesthetized laying hens, and compared to the same responses to oxidized (0.3% hydrogen peroxide) bPTH(1–34) prepared from the same commercial batch of hormone. The oxidized and nonoxidized hormones were administered intravenously into separate groups of animals, which were also receiving a constant intravenous infusion of inulin and p -aminohippuric acid (PAH) to serve as renal clearance test markers. bPTH(1–34) caused a 33.25 ± 7.05 mm Hg decrease in mean arterial blood pressure. The corresponding change in response to the oxidized hormone preparation was a 10.75 ± 1.49 mm Hg decrease, a significant reduction in hypotensive activity compared to the intact hormone. In contrast, oxidation had no influence on the hypercalcemic or hyperphosphaturic (relative clearance of phosphate, C PO 4 /C In ) responses to bPTH(1–34), both preparations causing significant and parallel increases in these variables. Both hormone preparations also caused increases in uring flow rate, GFR, C PAH , C Ca /C In , C K /C In , C Na /C In , and uring pH. However, on the basis of percentage change from the respective control periods, only C Na /C In and urine pH showed significant differences between the two hormone preparations, with the intact hormone causing greater natriuresis and urine alkalinization than the oxidized hormone. The failure of peroxide oxidation to significantly affect the renal hyperphosphaturic response to bPTH(1–34) in chickens contrasts with results reported on mammalian species, and may be related to differences in the mechanism of renal phosphate transport between these groups.
Basicity of aromatic amines from liquid chromatographic behavior

A liquid chromatographic investigation was conducted to determine whether the adsorption of weakly basic aromatic amines on slightly acidic silica gel adsorbents could be used to study their relative basicity. Under proper conditions, a linear correlation between pKb and log of capacity factor was observed. This finding may prove useful in helping to predict the relative basicity of closely related aromatic diamines, especially new amines being synthesized for polymer synthesis.
Boron carbide icosahedra and the 1280 cm -1 line in amorphous hydrogenated boron carbide

Abstract We report infrared absorption measurements that provide evidence for the presence of boron carbide icosahedra in amorphous hydrogenated boron carbide thin films. The infrared absorption spectra are dominated by an intense line at 1280 cm −1 with a FWHM of ⋍ 320 cm −1 . Similar lines have been previously reported in polycrystalline boron carbide, where boron carbide icosahedra make up the unit cell. In both systems, the linewidth narrows and the peak position shifts to higher energy with increasing carbon concentrations. From annealing studies of amorphous hydrogenated boron carbide, hydrogen plays a very small role in the 1280 cm −1 line. Finally, the integrated intensity of the 1280 cm −1 line is a sublinear function of the boron concentration, providing further evidence that the boron content of these icosahedra increases as the boron concentration of the film increases.
Sex hormone-induced alterations in the activities of antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation status in the prostate of Noble rats.

BACKGROUND Oxidative stress has been implicated in prostate carcinogenesis. In the Noble rat model, treatment of rats with testosterone (T) plus 17β-estradiol (E2) induced dysplasia and adenocarcinoma. Previous reports from us and other have indicated a linkage between steroid hormones and oxidative status in prostate cells in vivo and in vitro. Here, we provide further evidence that androgens and estrogens could induce a lobe-specific shift of prooxidant–antioxidant balance and alterations in antioxidant enzyme activities, leading to oxidative stress in the rat prostate gland in vivo. METHODS Male Noble rats were subjected to single (T, E2, or diethylstilbestrol [DES] alone) or combined (T + E2 or T + DES) hormone treatments. Lipid peroxidation status and antioxidant enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) were assayed spectrophotometrically. RESULTS Treatment of rats with T did not alter lipid peroxidation in either the ventral prostate (VP) or the dorsolateral prostate (DLP). In contrast, exposure of rats to DES or E2 modestly elevated lipid peroxidation in rat VP or DLP, respectively. Of importance, T + DES and T + E2 treatments of rats induced marked increases in lipid peroxidation in the VP and the DLP, respectively. Antioxidant enzyme activities in the VP and DLP exhibited differential responses to sex hormone challenges. The activities of catalase, GPx, GR, and G6PD were mostly suppressed in either single or dual hormone-treated DLP, whereas there is a general increase of GR and G6PD activities in the VP after hormonal exposures. The changes in T + DES-treated VP were most dramatic with a marked activation of GPx (by one-fold), GR (by one-fold), and G6PD (by five-fold). CONCLUSION The lobe-specific differential responses of hormone-induced oxidative stress and modulations of antioxidant enzymatic defenses in the rat prostate suggest that reactive oxygen species may play a role in hormone-induced prostate carcinogenesis. Prostate 55:1–8, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Stages of adolescent tobacco-use acquisition.

Abstract The present study extended the results of previous research in applying the “stages of acquisition” model to the onset of smokeless tobacco as well as cigarette use. Three expert judges classified an initial pool of items as to whether they represented “precontemplation,” “contemplation,” “action,” or “maintenance” stages of smokeless tobacco acquisition. Fifty items with adequate inter-rater reliability were combined with 21 previously developed items pertaining to cigarette smoking acquisition in an overall tobacco acquisition questionnaire, which in turn was administered to 358 junior and senior high public school students. Three distinct components labeled precontemplation, action, and maintenance were delineated through principal component analyses. Coefficient alphas and discriminant analyses according to self-reported use demonstrated adequate reliability and validity for the new smokeless tobacco- and previously developed smoking-acquisition scale.
Personality traits as performance enhancers? A comparative analysis of workers in Russia, Armenia and Kazakhstan

Abstract What is the relative importance of cognitive and non-cognitive traits in accounting for differences in worker performance in former socialist economies? We use survey data collected in 2005 from over 4790 employees in Russia, Armenia and Kazakhstan to construct three different performance measures – self-reported quantity and quality of work in comparison to others doing similar work, earnings, and expected promotions – and two measures to capture two personality traits: locus of control (LOC) and preference for challenge versus affiliation (C–A). We begin our investigation with a descriptive analysis of the relationship between personality traits and work-related attitudes. We find LOC and C–A differences in work-related attitudes more often than not match results associated with studies conducted in developed market economies. To assess the influence of LOC and C–A personality traits on performance, in our regression analysis we control for worker characteristics (age, gender, experience, schooling, unemployment experience, and supervisory responsibilities) and firm characteristics (ownership, whether the workplace is a manufacturing plant). Our results indicate that personality has a positive effect on performance, but the magnitude of the effect varies by performance measure and by country. In some specifications, the effect of personality is similar in magnitude to the effect of education, and may in fact exceed the effect of education if the effects of the two personality traits are combined.
Crystalline state extrusion of high -density polyethylene as a function of die entrance angle

High-density polyethylene (HDPE) of two different average molecular weights, ¯Mw, has been solid-state extruded in an Instron capillary rheometer through brass capillary dies of several entrance angles from 10 to 180°. Extrusion rates increase substantially at smaller angles whereas the maximum achievable extrusion draw ratio, (RE), is realized at larger angles. At a constant RE, maxima are observed in plots of linear expansion coefficient, Young's modulus, tensile strength and elongation at break against die entrance angle. These maxima occur at angles of 20 to 30° for the lower molecular weight HDPE (¯Mw = 59 000). For the higher molecular weight HDPE (¯Mw = 92 000) maxima were at angles of 14 to 20°.
Using Tungsten Oxide Based Thin Films for Optical Memory and the Effects of Using IR Combined with Blue/Blue-Green Wavelengths

Utilizing a form of tungsten oxide as the physical medium for optical memory, we show that infrared irradiation provides heat to the lattice structure while blue or blue-green light provides electronic excitation to initiate a photochromic chemical change. We have constructed and tested a spin stand based demonstration system for this form of optical memory. Tungsten oxide offers potential advantages in storage density, storage capacity, write speed, signal to noise, processing flexibility, data robustness, and overall, cost.
On the BiF bond dissociation energy and an evaluation of the BiF red emission band systems

Abstract The chemiluminescent emission from the Bi + F2 and Bi2 + F reactions has been characterized. A study of the chemiluminescent reaction of argon entrained bismuth vapor and molecular fluorine over a substantial pressure range (60–333 Pa) provides evidence for two distinct electronic transitions of BiF in the region 565–740 nm, at least one of which is thought to terminate in the BiF “1” (X21) state arising from the 3Σ− (σ2π4π*2) configuration of BiF. The observed transitions with ν00 ≈ 17631 cm−1 and ν00 ≈ 15244 or 15784 cm−1 exhibit pronounced upper state vibrational relaxation and are characterized, especially at the highest pressures, by a dominance of progressions eminating in ν′ = 0 and terminating in several ν″ lower state levels. The higher energy transition with ν00 ≈ 17631 cm−1 is believed to terminate in the recently observed BiF “1” state with ν00 ≈ 6768 cm−1 (X2 1-X1O+). The upper state, denoted A′, with T0 ≈ 24400 cm−1 is believed also to be a “1” state based on limited high resolution data for at least two bands of the system. The correlation made here is in close accord with recent quantum chemical calculations which suggest that the “1” state lies ≈ 7200 cm−1 above ν″ =0, XO+. The levels of the A′ upper state appear to correlate precisely with several BO+ perturber state levels. This perturber state, thought to lie less than 2000 cm−1 above the AO+ (II) state may play an important role with respect to energy disposal among the excited states of the BiF molecule. The second transition with ν00 ≈ 15244 or 15784 cm−1 also appears to terminate in the “1” state suggesting a second upper state, denoted A″, lying at 22552 ± 545 cm−1 virtually isoergic with AO+ (II). Alternatively, the second transition might eminate from the ν′ = O upper state level at T0 ≈ 24400 cm−1 terminating in a lower state with T0 ≈ 8615 cm−1. In order to establish the dissociation energy of the BiF molecule and to determine whether this controversial bond is closer to 3 or 5 eV, both the (Bi, Bi2) + F2 and (Bi, Bi2) + F2 reactive systems have been studied. Combined results based on the observation of the chemiluminescent Bi + F2 and Bi2 + F reactive encounters producing BiF AO+ (II)-XO+ and BO+-XO+ emission features suggest that the BiF bond energy is closer to 5 eV.
STUDIES IN RESUSCITATION: IV. THE RETURN OF FUNCTION IN THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM AFTER TEMPORARY CEREBRAL ANAEMIA.

The experiments on cerebral anaemia have enabled us to duplicate, by an entirely different method, many of the results obtained by anatomical division or removal of parts of the central nervous system. In some respects the method of anaemia permits of greater precision than the method of division or excision, and avoids, in great measure, the disturbances due to the wound and to the hemorrhage caused by the latter method. The method of general anaemia, as Couty pointed out long ago, leaves something to be desired in the matter of exact localization, but this objection may be met, in some degree at least, by appropriate methods of investigation. It is desirable that the results obtained by the method of section should be duplicated by some other method in order to eliminate as much as possible the effects due to the irritation produced by the anatomical lesion. Our results show, as we believe, that, of the bulbar mechanisms studied, the respiratory is the most automatic, the vasomotor in part automatic, and the cardiac like the swallowing mechanism, almost wholly dependent upon afferent impulses for the arousal and discharge of its normal activity. The eye reflexes return during the resuscitation period in the animals in which the cerebral anaemia has not been too prolonged. The motor cortex loses its excitability during anaemia, but may regain it after the reestablishment of the circulation. The pilomotor mechanism is disturbed during the spasms which occur at a certain stage in the resuscitation. The temperature falls during the occlusion period, but rises again, often to far above normal, in the days following the anaemia. So many disturbing factors, such as the violent muscular contractions during spasms, enter into the problem that it is impossible to say that there is an actual disturbance of the temperature regulating mechanism although we are inclined to believe that this is the case. All the senses return, following cerebral anaemia, but sight and hearing may afterwards fail without causing the death of the animal. The mental processes may return without any apparent deficiency, if the period of anaemia has been short. After longer occlusion, apparent insanity has been seen, and in one case, apparent total loss of mental processes occurred. The reflex excitability of the cord returns rather early in the resuscitation period. Reflexes from the anterior part of the cord first involve muscles on the same side as the stimulus, and later cross to involve muscles of the opposite side. The spinal cord sometimes falls into much the same condition as that following spinal transection, and the scratch reflex appears. Spinal transection, when these reflexes have appeared, does not produce shock. Practically all phenomena of spinal shock may be reproduced without section of the cord. We conclude, therefore, that spinal shock is due more to the cutting off of the reflex pathways through the higher centers of the nervous system than to the stimulation of inhibitory fibers by the anaemia.
Failure of oral glucose therapy in short-bowel syndrome.

Abstract Glucose was given along with meals to four patients with ileal resection in an attempt to reduce faecal or ileostomy output. Two patients did worse with glucose, both clinically and as measured by fluid balance. In two, there was no change. Glucose and saline solution given throughout the day also failed to reduce ileostomy output. It is concluded that glucose therapy is ineffective in the short-bowel syndrome.