cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Emerging mechanisms for exercise effects on muscle wasting and anabolic resistance.

At the 2018 Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine, presentations were given by Drs. Nicholas P. Greene, James A. Carson, and James D. Fluckey, at a symposium titled “Emerging Mechanisms for Exercise Effects on Muscle Wasting and Anabolic Resistance”. Inspired by the presentations at this symposium, the following reviews have been crafted to examine the current understanding of muscle diseases characterized by muscle wasting and anabolic resistance, particularly their identification, development, progression, and mitigation. Today, cancer accounts for roughly 1 in every 6 deaths worldwide,1 and cancer cachexia is directly attributable to up to 40% of cancer-related deaths.2–5 The review from Dr. Greene's group (Lim et al.) provides an overview of perspectives in cancer cachexia. While the work from Dr. Carson's group (Halle et al.) then expands on concepts in cancer cachexia to examine muscle more specifically and how exercise may serve as a countermeasure to cancer cachexia. Finally, the work from Dr. Fluckey's group (Deaver et al.) assesses the regulation of anabolism with a particular focus on mRNA translation, a critical aspect to the maintenance of skeletal muscle mass. While these reviews are united in their inspiration and in their overarching topic, each review offers a unique perspective, and together represent an exciting overview of the current literature pertaining to skeletal muscle wasting diseases. This editorial provides a brief introduction to each of these reviews.
Enhancement of transgene expression by the β-catenin inhibitor iCRT14

The innate immune response is an essential defense mechanism that allows cells to detect pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) like endotoxin or cytosolic DNA and then induce the expression of defensive genes that restrict the replication of viruses and other pathogens. However, the therapeutic DNA used in some gene therapy treatments can also trigger the innate immune response, which activates host cell genes that may inhibit transgene expression. The goal of this study was to enhance transgene expression by inhibiting key components of the innate immune response with small molecule inhibitors (iCRT14, curcumin, Amlexanox, H-151, SC-514, & VX-702). Most of the inhibitors significantly increased transgene (luciferase) expression at least 2-fold, but the β-catenin/TCF4 inhibitor iCRT14 showed the highest enhancement (16 to 35-fold) in multiple cell lines (PC-3, MCF7, & MB49) without significantly decreasing cellular proliferation. Alternatively, cloning a β-catenin/TCF4 binding motif (TCAAAG) into the EF1α promoter also enhanced transgene expression up to 8-fold. To further investigate the role of β-catenin/TCF4 in transgene expression, mRNA-sequencing experiments were conducted to identify host cell genes that were upregulated following transfection with PEI but down-regulated after the addition of iCRT14. As expected, transfection with plasmid DNA activated the innate immune response and upregulated hundreds (687) of defensive genes, but only 7 of those genes were down-regulated in the presence of iCRT14 (e.g., PTGS2 & PLA1A). Altogether, these results show that transgene expression can be enhanced by inhibiting the innate immune response with SMIs like iCRT14, which inhibits β-catenin/TCF4 to prevent the expression of specific host cell genes.
Multifaceted MRGPRX2: New insight into the role of mast cells in health and disease

Cutaneous mast cells (MCs) express Mas-related G protein-coupled receptor-X2 (MRGPRX2; mouse ortholog MrgprB2), which is activated by an ever-increasing number of cationic ligands. Antimicrobial host defense peptides (HDPs) generated by keratinocytes contribute to host defense likely by 2 mechanisms, one involving direct killing of microbes and the other via MC activation through MRGPRX2. However, its inappropriate activation may cause pseudoallergy and likely contribute to the pathogenesis of rosacea, atopic dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, urticaria, and mastocytosis. Gain- and loss-of-function missense single nucleotide polymorphisms in MRGPRX2 have been identified. The ability of certain ligands to serve as balanced or G protein-biased agonists has been defined. Small-molecule HDP mimetics that display both direct antimicrobial activity and activate MCs via MRGPRX2 have been developed. In addition, antibodies and reagents that modulate MRGPRX2 expression and signaling have been generated. In this article, we provide a comprehensive update on MrgprB2 and MRGPRX2 biology. We propose that harnessing MRGPRX2's host defense function by small-molecule HDP mimetics may provide a novel approach for the treatment of antibiotic-resistant cutaneous infections. In contrast, MRGPRX2-specific antibodies and inhibitors could be used for the modulation of allergic and inflammatory diseases that are mediated via this receptor.
Social and behaviour change communication to improve child feeding practices in Ethiopia.

Social and behaviour change communication (SBCC) interventions can positively affect optimal nutritional practices. This study evaluated the added value of a virtual facilitator tool to an enhanced community conversation (ECC) programme to improve infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practice among children under the Growth through Nutrition Activity programme in Ethiopia. The study used a quasi-experimental design with a control group. Pregnant and/or lactating women were the study population for both study groups. The intervention (ECC + VF) group received all the same components as the control group but had the addition of in-person ECC meetings supplemented with audio-recorded virtual facilitators (VF) sessions designed to complement the monthly meeting lesson or topic. A difference in difference analysis was employed using generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) in Stata version 15.0 (Stata Corporation, College Station, TX). A p-value of less than or equal to 0.05 was considered significant for all tests. Accordingly, a 13.6% change in iron folic acid (IFA) intake for 3 months and above was observed in the intervention group. Even though not statistically significant, large to moderate positive changes in child minimum diet diversity (20%), minimum acceptable diet (18%) and women diet diversity (7.9%) were observed in the intervention group. This study identified the use of virtual facilitators as a modality to transmit standard nutrition messages during ECC programmes for optimal IYCF practices. The findings strengthen the notion that using a combination of SBCC approaches has advantage over a single method in improving important nutritional practices.
Adaptive Routing in Multicomputer Networks

Multicomputer Networks Message-passing concurrent computers, more commonly known as multicomputers, such as the Caltech Cosmic Cube [1] and its commercial descendents, consist of many computing nodes that interact with each other by sending and receiving messages over communication channels between the nodes [2]. The existing communication networks of the second-generation machines such as the Ametek 2010 employ an oblivious wormhole routing technique [6,7] which guarantees deadlock freedom. The network performance of these highly evolved oblivious techniques have reached a limit of being as fast as physically possible while capable of delivering, under random traffic, a stable maximum sustained throughput of ≈ 45 to 50% of the limit set by the network bisection bandwidth. Any further improvements on these networks will require an adaptive utilization of available network bandwidth to diffuse local congestions.
777 Autopilot Flight Director System

This paper overviews the design architecture and operation of the 777 Autopilot Flight Director System (AFDS). The AFDS provides the functions necessary for automatic control and/or flight director guidance of the 777 airplane selected flight path. The system consists of a Mode Control Panel (MCP), which provides the primary interface between the flight crew and the AFDS; three Autopilot Flight Director Computers (AFDCs), which provide triplex computations for the flight director (F/D), autopilot (A/P), maintenance, and backdrive functions; and six backdrive control actuators (BCA), which provide visual and tactile feedback indications to the flight crew through dual redundant control of wheel, column, and pedal positions commanded by the autopilot function. >
Method for extraction of high-quantity and -quality cell-free DNA from amniotic fluid

Circulating cell-free fetal deoxyribonucleic acids (cffDNAs) are promising biomarkers with various potential clinical applications. Second and third trimester amniotic fluid (AF) is a rich source of cffDNAs. Further improvements to the original protocol for the extraction of cffDNAs from AF supernatant resulted in statistically significant higher yields of high-quality cffDNAs, allowing for a substantial majority of samples to be analyzed with subsequent molecular methods (e.g., comparative genomic hybridization microarrays) to further assess for genetic abnormalities. Several advantages have been realized with the optimized protocol. In addition to an improved yield from a greater proportion of samples compared with the original protocol, the current method, using large silico-membranes, allows for the extraction of cffDNAs from up to 10 samples in <3 h. The replacement of the original lysis buffer eliminates the need for a heating bath during the lysis step, and fewer overall steps are involved in the protocol (e.g., to reduce potential contamination). The improvements in the yield with the current protocol make it possible to augment current standard of care through the analysis of this previously unappreciated source of genetic material. Furthermore, the improvements allow for exploration of widely unknown genetic, pathophysiological, and kinetic issues of cell-free fetal DNA in AF.
Measurements of 2e/h via the AC Josephson Effect

The ac Josephson effect has become a well established method (1) for determining 2e/h (the ratio of twice the electron charge to Planck’s constant). Determinations of 2e/h with sub-ppm (parts per million) uncertainties have been reported by several groups throughout the world. A major limitation in achieving the most precise 2e/h measurements has been the standard cells used to (a) maintain the local (voltage) standard and (b) compare the local as-maintained unit with another laboratory’s unit (by the physical transfer of cells between laboratory sites). The latter source of uncertainty is particularly important if the final result of a 2e/h determination is to be critically compared with the results of other similar experiments, or combined with other accurately measured quantities to obtain values of physical constants (2). In particular, an accurate value of 2e/h can be combined with γp, the gyromagnetic ratio of the proton, and certain other constants to obtain a value of the fine structure constant α. In this case, both 2e/h and γp must be determined (either directly or indirectly) in the same electrical units.
The Cusp as a Source of Magnetospheric Energetic Particles, Currents, and Electric Fields: A New Paradigm

Energetic particle instrumentation on the Polar satellite has discovered that significant fluxes of energetic particles are continuously present in the region of the dayside magnetosphere where they cannot be stably trapped. This region is associated with either open magnetic field lines or a magnetic topology associated with pseudo-trapping. Two distinct features [Time-Energy Dispersion (TED) signatures and Cusp Energetic Particle (CEP) events] are observed in these energetic particle fluxes that strongly suggest a local acceleration of mostly shocked solar wind particles. As the solar wind particles ram themselves into the cusp geometry, they form diamagnetic cavities with strong turbulence that are capable of accelerating particles to energies of 100s and 1000s of kiloelectronvolts. This process forms a layer of energetic particles on the magnetopause as well as permits such particles to enter via drift the equatorial nightside magnetosphere to distances as close as six Earth radii under the influence of gradient and curvature effects in the local magnetic field. The fluxes of these particles have all of the properties associated with the ring current and can supply the magnitude of the cross tail current required. ISEE-1 energetic particle data and their pitch angle distributions [PAD] are examined at the magnetic equatorial plane on the night side to investigate and possibly validate the insights gains from the Polar data and energetic particle trajectory tracing in a realistic magnetic field. The existence and properties of butterfly-type PADs strongly supports the concept of a dayside high latitude source of energetic particle fluxes. Because the CEP process is impulsive and time variable the charge separation produced by the drifting electrons (eastward) and ions (westward) on the magnetospheric nightside may be responsible for the cross tail electric field that has been ascribed to the reconnection/convection process.
Phosphofructokinase activity in skeletal muscle extracts following administration of epinephrine.

Phosphofructokinase in rabbit skeletal muscle was assayed before and after intravenous epinephrine administration. Assays at optimal pH (8.2) and in the presence of optimal substrate concentrations showed no significant difference in enzyme activity. Muscle extracts prepared in the presence of caffeine were assayed under conditions optimal for allosteric kinetics (pH 6.9 and low substrate concentrations) and in the presence of cyclic 3′,5′-AMP. These assays showed that enzyme activity in epinephrine extracts was much higher than control activity. Under the following conditions control activity increased and activity in epinephrine extracts was not significantly changed: (a) if muscle extracts were prepared in the presence of fructose-1,6-P2; (b) when the substrate concentrations in the assay mixture were high; (c) when there was not enough coupling enzymes present to remove rapidly fructose-1,6-P2 formed; (d) when muscle extracts were prepared in the absence of caffeine. Studies on the kinetics of the enzyme at pH 6.9 showed that following epinephrine administration phosphofructokinase became less sensitive to ATP inhibition and had a higher affinity to its second substrate, fructose-6-P. Studies on purified phosphofructokinase revealed that enzyme incubated with fructose-6-P, fructose-1,6-P2, cyclic 3′,5′-AMP or 5′-AMP could be modified to a form that was active independent of the presence of cyclic 3′,5′-AMP, and less sensitive to inhibition by ATP and caffeine. We conclude that phosphofructokinase, following epinephrine administration, is converted to a form that is more active under assay conditions that favor enzyme inhibition. Such activation appears to be mediated through a combination of hexose phosphates and adenylate nucleotides that are known to be increased by epinephrine.
Tortilla Chronicles: Growing Up in Santa Fe

Reviewed Medium: book Authors: Marie Romero Cash Year: 2007 Pages: 224 Publisher: University of New Mexico Press ISBN: 978-0-8263-3912-6 (hard cover). Prices: $24.95 USD(hard cover).
Can NGOs Change the News

This article analyzes the newsmaking experiences of selected NGOs in Latin America. It argues that the newsmaking experiences of NGOs reflect the ascendancy of a pragmatic approach characterized by organizations engaging with the press and state actors to gain visibility and construct social problems as public issues. The wide-ranging interests and goals among NGOs, coupled with the heterogeneous interests of news organizations and state officials, make it impossible to produce generalizations about the impact of NGOs in strengthening linkages with the press. Not all civic demands have similar chances of finding sympathetic and receptive actors. The fact that NGOs pursue separate newsmaking strategies with different results evidences the fragmented and conflictive character of civil society. The analysis has implications for understanding both the effectiveness of NGOs in making the press permeable to citizens’ interests, and the articulation between civic society and the media.
The History of the Bankruptcy Laws in the United States

With the recent amendments Congress made to the Bankruptcy Code in 1994, this article examines the history of bankruptcy legislation prior to the Bankruptcy Code’s enactment in 1978, the history of the passage of the Bankruptcy Code in 1978, bankruptcy legislation subsequent to the Bankruptcy Code’s enactment, and concludes with a thematic study of constitutional issues that have arisen with regard to the bankruptcy laws.
Review of Stephen C. Meyer’s Book: Signature in the Cell: DNA and the Evidence for Intelligent Design

Meyer makes the case for intelligent design, in my view, but he stops short with the causation that underwrites intelligent design. For Meyer, the only known cause for specified information has been human consciousness and agency, and therefore, intelligent causation offers the best available explanation for the origin of many features of life. This is well enough, but Meyer shirts the issue about the manifestation of this consciousness throughout life and in human expressions of consciousness. You can find this book at Amazon: Signature in the Cell: DNA and the Evidence for Intelligent Design .
The association of body size in early to mid-life with adult urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin levels among night shift health care workers.

Adult body mass index (BMI) has been associated with urinary melatonin levels in humans; however, whether earlier-life body size is associated with melatonin, particularly among night shift workers, remains unknown. We evaluated associations of birth weight, body shape (or somatotype) at ages 5 and 10, BMI at age 18 and adulthood, weight change since age 18, waist circumference, waist to hip ratio, and height with creatinine-adjusted morning urinary melatonin (6-sulfatoxymelatonin, aMT6s) levels among 1,343 healthy women (aged 32–53 at urine collection, 1996–1999) in the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) II cohort. Using multivariable linear regression, we computed least-square mean aMT6s levels across categories of body size, and evaluated whether these associations were modified by night shift work. Adult BMI was inversely associated with aMT6s levels (mean aMT6s levels = 34 vs. 50 ng/mg creatinine, comparing adult BMI ≥30 vs. <20 kg/m2; Ptrend <0.0001); however, other measures of body size were not related to aMT6s levels after accounting for adult BMI. Night shifts worked prior to urine collection, whether recent or cumulatively over time, did not modify the association between adult BMI and aMT6s levels (e.g., Pinteraction = 0.72 for night shifts worked within two weeks of urine collection). Our results suggest that adult BMI, but not earlier measures of body size, is associated with urinary aMT6s levels in adulthood. These observations did not vary by night shift work status, and suggest that adult BMI may be an important mechanism by which melatonin levels are altered and subsequently influence chronic disease risk.
Adaptation to American Culture: Voices of Asian Indian Immigrants

Abstract This naturalistic study explores the physical, social, emotional, and spiritual adaptation of Asian Indian elderly immigrants to American culture. The individuals interviewed suggested that while they physically adapted to American life, many of them encountered social, emotional, and spiritual obstacles that often impeded successful adaptation. Factors such as family proximity, reasons for immigration, and conflicting values helped predict the adaptation success of Asian Indian elderly immigrants. The study points to possible intervention strategies that social workers can use to promote more successful adaptation of Asian Indian elderly immigrants to American culture.
Inhibition of Aspergillus parasiticus by Thymol

Thymol concentrations ≥ 500 μg/ml completely inhibited the growth of Aspergillus parasiticus, while lower concentrations of the flavor compound produced either partial or transitory growth inhibition. Aflatoxin production was inhibited to a degree ≤ that of growth.
Managing persistent objects in a multi-level store

This paper presents an architecture for a persistent object store in which multi-level storage is explicitly included. Traditionally. DBMSs have assumed that all accessible data resides on magnetic disk, and recently several researchers have begun to consider the possibility that significant amounts of data will occupy space m a main memory cache. We feel that object bases in which time critical objects reside in main memory, other objects are disk resident, and the remainder occupy tertiary memory. Moreover, it is possible that more than three levels will be present, and that some of these levels will be on remote hardware. This paper contains an architectural proposal addressing these needs along with a sketch of the required query optimizer.
Use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in pediatric thoracic organ transplantation.

Abstract Objective: Mechanical cardiorespiratory support is occasionally required before or after pediatric thoracic organ transplantation. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is the most commonly used mechanical support technique in children. The goal of this study was to examine the indications for initiation and outcomes after peritransplant use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted of 65 patients who received peritransplant extracorporeal membrane oxygenation between November 1994 and June 2000. The pretransplant group included 45 patients (average age, 38 months) supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and listed for transplantation (31 heart, 8 lung, and 6 heart-lung), and the post-transplant group included 20 patients (average age, 83 months) who required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation after thoracic organ transplantation (12 heart, 6 lung, and 2 heart-lung transplants). Hospital course and outcomes were evaluated. Results: With regard to pretransplant extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, patients listed for heart transplants were more likely to survive to transplantation than were those listed for lung or heart-lung transplants (12/31 [39%] vs 1/14 [7%], P =.03). There was no difference in long-term survival between heart transplant patients after extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and those without extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (12-month actuarial survival, 83% vs 73%; P =.68). Patients who survived for prolonged periods on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (>250 hours) typically received heart transplants (7/8 [88%]). With regard to post-transplant extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, patients receiving lung or heart-lung transplants had better short-term outcomes than those receiving heart transplants (63% survived to discharge vs 33%). All 3 patients with early graft dysfunction receiving lung transplants survived to discharge. Conclusions: Long-term outcomes among those undergoing heart transplantation after support with an extracorporeal membrane oxygenator are comparable with those of patients not receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation can be a useful post-transplant support device, particularly in patients undergoing lung transplants.
Conditioning saliva for use in a microfluidic biosensor

This report details an approach to saliva conditioning for compatibility of raw patient samples with microfluidic immunoassay components, principally biosensor surfaces susceptible to fouling. Stimulated whole human saliva spiked with a small molecule analyte (phenytoin, 252 Da) was first depleted of cells, debris and high molecular weight glycoproteins (mucins) using membrane filtration. This process significantly reduced but did not eliminate fouling of biosensor surfaces exposed to the sample. An H-filter, which separates solutes from mixed samples based on their diffusion in laminar flow, was used to extract the analyte from the remaining large molecular weight species in the filtered saliva sample. Patient samples treated in this way retained 23% of the analyte with 97% and 92% reduction in glycoproteins and proteins, respectively, and resulted in 3.6 times less surface fouling than either untreated or filtered saliva alone. These sample conditioning steps will enable the use of fouling-sensitive detection techniques in future studies using clinical saliva samples.
ASTM F2624—Evaluating Alternate Fixtures for Flexion/Extention, Lateral Bending, and Axial Rotation Testing of Extra Discal Motion Preserving Implants

ASTM F2624-07 prescribes applying flexion/extension (FE), lateral bending (LB), and axial rotation (AR) moments to test and evaluate extra discal motion preserving implants (EDMPI), but parameters such as fixture design and load parameters are left to the user to define. A set of fixtures to conduct FE, LB, and AR testing rotation of EDMPI devices about a fixed center of rotation were developed by Aesculap Implant Systems. Their design was shared, and a set of these fixtures were manufactured and evaluated independently at Empirical Testing Corp. Testing was conducted to quantify the loads applied to an EDMPI in the FE and LB fixtures, determine whether results are frequency dependent, and evaluate whether EDMPI of different stiffnesses can be differentiated when using the fixtures. Miniature load cells were mounted to FE and LB fixtures to quantify load applied to an EDMPI during testing at several different applied loads and at two testing frequencies (2 Hz and 5 Hz). The load cells were replaced with cylindrical test specimens made of stainless steel, titanium, polyether ether ketone (PEEK), or a polyethylene cable slipped inside a polyurethane tube and the testing repeated. Results indicated that loads measured during FE testing were similar in magnitude to those recorded during LB testing but 90 degrees out of phase. No frequency effects were observed. Differences in displacement amplitude when testing the stainless steel, titanium, and PEEK specimens in FE and LB testing at both 2 Hz and 5 Hz were not discernable. The displacement amplitude of the polyethylene (PE) cord specimen was different than the other specimens, but no frequency effect was noted. The fixtures developed by Aesculap are a reasonable attempt to conduct EDMPI testing in FE, LB, and AR motions. Potential users of these fixtures should conduct further studies to determine whether their use is appropriate to test their specific EDMPI device.
Convergence of sample eigenvalues, eigenvectors, and principal component scores for ultra-high dimensional data

The development of high-throughput biomedical technologies has led to increased interest in the analysis of high-dimensional data where the number of features is much larger than the sample size. In this paper, we investigate principal component analysis under the ultra-high dimensional regime, where both the number of features and the sample size increase as the ratio of the two quantities also increases. We bridge the existing results from the finite and the high-dimension low sample size regimes, embedding the two regimes in a more general framework. We also numerically demonstrate the universal application of the results from the finite regime.
The influence of photoperiod on processes associated with molting and reproduction in the crayfish Orconectes nais (Faxon)

Abstract 1. 1. Photoperiod did not affect the total number of molts, but programmed the seasonal distribution of molts of female crayfish maintained at 8·5 L: 15·5 D, 14 L: 10 D and normal photoperiods for one year. 2. 2. Oocyte size and percentage of animals molting were negatively correlated at all photoperiods. Dry weight of the hepatopancreas was not correlated with ovarian development or with molting. 3. 3. In short and normal daylengths, lipid reserves apparently are shifted from the hepatopancreas to the ovaries during ovarian development. Hepatopancreas metabolism was high during this apparent shift. 4. 4. Daylength had no direct effect on either ovarian or hepatopancreas metabolism, but short daylength may increase tail muscle metabolism. 5. 5. Daylength could time molting or reproduction by influencing the growth or resorption of the ovaries or hepatopancreas and the consequent partitioning of energy reserves between these organs.
Veronika fuses out: Rape and medium specificity in The Cranes are Flying

AbstractHow might Soviet cinema—as. medium, rather than as a true image of the real world—constitute. sexual desire? This speculative question encounters formidable foundational barriers; both the mimetic requirements of socialist realism as such and the fraught topic of sexual desire militate against constructing an answer. Taking Mikhail Kalatozov's The Cranes are Flying as the basis of its discussion, the research explores where we might look in Soviet cinema to find sexual desire not as image—governed. by conventional norms of representational accuracy—but. instead coded more cautiously as a practice of medium specificity—violating., as it were, one set of codes while preserving the decorum of another.
Signaling Networks and Mathematics

In order to fully appreciate and understand the complexity of cellular signaling, biologists are turning to mathematical models and computational approaches. Yaffe provides insight into his strategies for dividing and conquering papers that use complex math to make new predictions about biological systems.
Liquid jet impingement cooling with diamond substrates for extremely high heat flux applications

This paper considers the potential of jet/diamond systems for removing localized high heat fluxes. Diamond substrates are compared to other candidate materials. Limits on usable thermal resistances and heat transfer rates are estimated.
Local analysis of time series from the oscillatory electrocatalytic reduction of hydrogen peroxide

Abstract Experimental time series from an electrochemical reaction are analyzed using a local method which was developed by Broomhead and King. We discuss the use of the method on experimental data which exhibit both noise and drift. The experiments were done on the reduction of hydrogen peroxide on a platinum rotating disk electrode in acidic solution. The potential was measured as a function of time under galvanostatic conditions and state space attractors were constructed from the time series. The local analysis was used to estimate the eigenvalues of a fixed point of the attractor. We show how the system characteristics change as a slow temporal variation of the oscillations occurs.
Ultraviolet excimer laser ablation: the effect of wavelength and repetition rate on in vivo guinea pig skin.

Abstract Multiple dermatologic conditions that are currently treated with traditional cold-knife surgery are amenable to laser therapy. The ideal surgical treatment would be precise and total removal of abnormal tissue with maximal sparing of remaining structures. The ultraviolet (UV) excimer laser is capable of such precise tissue removal due to the penetration depth of 193 nm and 248 nm irradiation of 1 μm per pulse. This type of ablative tissue removal requires a high repetition rate for efficient lesional destruction. Excimer laser radiation at 193 nm is capable of high repetition rates, which are necessary while 248 nm radiation causes increasing nonspecific thermal injury as the laser repetition rate is increased.
Further comments on replication in $$\left( {\mathfrak{M},\Re } \right)$$ -systems-systems

A number of inaccuracies in previous papers are pointed out and amended, and some implications of the correct situation are outlined.
Hypnosis, Memory, and Incidental Memory

Abstract Sixty undergraduate volunteers (45 women and 15 men) divided into four groups of 15 subjects each observed a complex visual display made up of photographs of a number of common objects and eight nonsense syllables. Ss observed the display for two minutes and were instructed to memorize the nonsense syllables in the time available. Following a forty minute delay the groups were questioned about the nonsense syllables and the other objects in the display. In a design in which each S served as his own control, two of the groups were questioned under hypnosis, one was relaxed, and one was questioned while awake and alert. A week later one of the hypnotized groups was requestioned about the material observed while awake and the other while relaxed. The remaining two — the originally relaxed and alert groups — were requestioned under hypnosis. Results showed no significant differences between the four groups in the amount of either the original or the incidental material learned and recalled. Implicati...
Echocardiographic estimation of critical left ventricular size in infants with isolated aortic valve stenosis.

With the current trend to performing surgical valvotomy for infantile aortic stenosis without cardiac catheterization, there is a need to develop echocardiographic criteria for adequacy of left ventricular size. The echocardiograms and catheterization data of all 25 infants <3 months of age undergoing aortic valvotomy for isolated aortic valve stenosis from September 1980 through July 1990 were reviewed. Significant differences (p < 0.05) between the survivors and nonsurvivors were noted for age at operation (30 ± 28 vs. 3 ± 1.5 days), mitral valve diameter (10.1 ± 1.7 vs. 7.7 ± 1.5 mm), left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (18.4 ± 0.4 vs. 11.4 ± 3 mm), left atrial dimensions (15.3 ± 3.8 vs. 10 ± 2.4 mm). left ventricular cross-sectional area on the parasternal long-axis echocardiogram (4 ± 1.9 vs. 2 ± 1.9 cm2) and angiographically determined left ventricular end-diastolic volume (43 ± 23 vs. 11 ± 5 ml/m2). There was no difference with respect to patient weight, body surface area, aortic root dimension or left ventricular ejection fraction. Left ventricular cross-sectional area <2 cm2as measured on the parasternal long-axis echocardiogram was found in 5 of 7 nonsurvivors and 0 of 12 survivors, making this a risk factor for perioperative death (p < 0.05). Left ventricular end-diastolic dimension <13 mm was found in 5 of 6 nonsurvivors and 2 of 17 survivors, making this another risk factor for early mortality (p < 0.05). There was good correlation between angiographic left ventricular end-diastolic volume and both left ventricular cross-sectional area and end-diastolic dimension. It is concluded that a left ventricular cross-sectional area <2 cm2in infants with critical aortic stenosis is useful as an adjunct in assessing the critical left ventricular size that is not adequate for survival after valvotomy.
Racial influence on diagnosis in psychotic mania

In a sample of 100 patients with psychotic mania, we examined whether African-Americans were more likely than Caucasians to present with Schneiderian first-rank symptoms, potentially contributing to a misdiagnosis of schizophrenia. In this sample, African-American patients were significantly more likely than Caucasian patients to have received a clinical diagnosis other than bipolar or schizoaffective disorder. There were no racial differences in affective symptoms, but there were differences in psychotic symptom profiles, primarily due to increased hallucinations in African-Americans and increased persecutory delusions in Caucasians. Racial differences in the clinical diagnosis of patients with mania were not due to differences in symptomatic expression, however.
Risk of late perforation in intestinal contusions caused by explosive blast

Background Despite the predominance of superficial injuries after explosive blast exposure, major morbidity or mortality among immediate survivors is caused by delayed perforation of intestinal mural contusions. Previous studies have suggested that small bowel and colonic contusions larger than 10 mm in diameter are at high risk. This experimental study aimed to identify contusions at high risk of late perforation. Methods Histological features of injury were classified in 188 blast-induced intestinal contusions in 16 anaesthetized Large White pigs. Results Some 16 per cent of small bowel and 12 per cent of colonic contusions were at high risk of late perforation. Small bowel contusions larger than 15 mm in diameter had a worse histological grading than those smaller than 15 mm (X 2 = 0.09, 2 d.f., P = 0.01). Contusions that extended over more than half the bowel circumference (X 2 =14.79, 2 d.f., P = 0.0006) and those affecting the mesenteric border (X 2 = 7.5, 2 d.f., P= 0.024) were more severe injuries. Colonic contusions larger than 20 mm in diameter had a worse histological grading than smaller ones (X 2 =14.95, 2 d.f., P = 0.0006). Confluent, rather than diffuse, colonic contusions were more severe injuries (X 2 = 6.37, 2 d.f., P = 0.04). Conclusion Once identified at laparotomy, the number of small bowel contusions requiring excision may he reduced from 86 to 60 per cent; similarly, excision of colonic contusions can be reduced from 73 to 27 per cent if small bowel contusions smaller than 15 mm in diameter and colonic contusions of less than 20 mm are managed conservatively.
The View from the Trenches: A Steering Committee's Retrospective on Implementing the New AACSB Accreditation Standards

Abstract The accreditation standards adopted by the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) are based on the concept of continuous improvement and have many implications for business schools and their faculties. This article comprises one steering committee's look back at its experience in implementing the new standards. It discusses reasons why faculty members resist the change to the new standards, identifies pitfalls that may be encountered in organizing for the self-evaluation, and makes recommendations that may help other schools in their preparations for accreditation or reaffirmation.
The controlling effect of viscous dissipation on magma flow in silicic conduits

Nearly all volcanic conduit models assume that flow is Newtonian and isothermal. Such models predict that, during high-flux silicic eruptions, gradients in pressure with depth increase upward as magma accelerates and becomes more viscous, leading to extremely low pressure and fragmentation at a depth of kilometers below the surface. In this paper I show that shear heating, also known as viscous dissipation, dramatically reduces the pressure gradient required for flow and concentrates shear in narrow zones along the conduit margin. The reduction in friction may eliminate the zone of low pressure predicted by isothermal models and move the fragmentation level up to the surface.
Wave function factorization of shell-model ground states

The wave function factorization method determines an optimal basis of correlated proton and neutron states, and accurately approximates low-lying shell-model states by a rather small number of suitable product states. The optimal basis states result from a variational principle and are the solution of relatively low-dimensional eigenvalue problems. The error involved in this truncation decreases exponentially fast as more basis states are included.
Comparison of baseline brachial artery measurements and effect on peak flow-mediated dilation.

University of Minnesota M.S. thesis. August 2013. Major: Kinesiology. Advisor: Donald R. Dengel, Ph.D. 1 computer file (PDF); v, 38 pages.
US EPA’s Experiences Implementing Environmental Safety Standards at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) developed environmental standards for the disposal of defense-related transuranic wastes for the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE or the Department) Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). EPA implements these standards for WIPP, which has been in operation for over ten years. The general environmental standards are set forth in the Agency’s 40 CFR Part 191 Environmental Radiation Protection Standards for the Management and Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel, High-Level and Transuranic Radioactive Wastes [1]. These standards are implemented by site-specific compliance criteria [2]. The WIPP Land Withdrawal Act requires DOE to submit a re-certification application every five years after the initial receipt of waste. DOE submitted the latest WIPP re-certification application in March 2009. For re-certification, DOE must identify changes that have occurred over the previous five years and analyze their impact on the potential long-term performance of the repository. Once EPA determines that the re-certification application is complete, the Agency has six months to review the application and make a final decision. During this review, EPA solicits and incorporates public comment where appropriate. During the first re-certification in 2004, several stakeholder groups brought up issues (e.g., karst) that were addressed in the original certification. EPA has received comments again raising some of these same issues for the 2009 re-certification. In addition, DOE must submit proposed changes to the WIPP repository to EPA for review and approval. This paper describes selected issues of concern to WIPP and highlights interactions between EPA as the regulatory authority and DOE as the implementing organization. In general EPA’s experience points out the importance of communication, documentation and the regulator’s responsibility in determining “how much is enough.”© 2009 ASME
Comparison of Staples vs Suturing for Securing Central Venous Catheters

Objective: To determine whether skin staples can be used to secure central venous catheters as effectively as does suturing. Methods: A prospective, randomized trial of techniques to secure a central venous catheter was performed in a medical school human anatomy laboratory using human cadavers. Central lines were secured to the upper left thorax using either standard suture material (000 silk) or skin staples (5.7 mm ± 3.8 mm). Once secured, an upward force was applied to the hub of the catheter perpendicular to the skin. The amount of force needed to break the catheter hub free of the skin was measured in kg. A total of 10 measurements were made for each of 3 methods for securing the catheters (2 sutures, 2 staples, 4 staples). In addition, the site of catheter breakage was recorded. Results: Those catheter hubs secured by 2 sutures required a mean force of 3.1 ± 0.5 kg to cause breakage, and the break always occurred at the suture. Those hubs secured by 2 staples gave way at 3.0 ± 0.3 kg (p = NS), while those secured with 4 staples gave way at 4.5 2 ±.4 kg (p < 0.05). Although 1 hub did break, in all other stapled cases, the break occurred at the staple. Conclusions: Based on this cadaver model, use of staples appears to be as effective as suturing for securing central venous catheters. Further studies of safety and time for placement are needed.
Medial septal lesions in rats enhance locomotor sensitization to amphetamine.

Rationale: The mesolimbic dopamine (DA) system appears to play a major role in the locomotor activating and sensitizing effects of several addictive drugs. However, less is known about the neural structures that may modulate this system. Objective: We examined the effects of medial septal lesions on the locomotor activating and sensitizing effects of amphetamine in between-subjects (experiment 1) and within-subjects (experiment 2) experiments. Results: Repeated injections of 0.6 mg/kg (experiment 1) or 1.0 mg/kg (experiment 2) amphetamine over six sessions produced more locomotion in the lesioned rats than in the sham-operated controls. This repeated exposure to amphetamine subsequently increased the locomotor response to 0.2 mg/kg (experiment 2) and 0.4 mg/kg (both experiments) amphetamine in the lesioned rats, such that these sensitized, lesioned rats moved more in response to these doses than unsensitized, lesioned rats and sensitized controls did. Both experiments also indicated that this prior sensitization enhanced the locomotor response to 0.4 mg/kg amphetamine more in the lesioned rats than in the control rats when compared with the response produced by saline following sensitization or by the same dose of amphetamine prior to sensitization. In contrast, prior exposure to amphetamine decreased the locomotor response to 4.0 mg/kg amphetamine in the lesioned rats (experiment 1). Conclusions: Although medial septal lesions occasionally enhance locomotor responses to moderate doses of amphetamine prior to sensitization, a main effect of these lesions is to further enhance the effects of locomotor sensitization to amphetamine. Implications for drug addiction are discussed.
Resistance to Take-all is Not Expressed in Wheat-Alien Chromosome Addition and Substitution Lines

Take-all is regarded as the most damaging root disease wheat and is widely distributed worldwide. In spite of its importance, little progress has been made in breeding for resistance. In this study, a greenhouse bioassay was used to establish that transfer of take-all resistance from H. vulgare, H. chilense, or H. villosa to wheat may not be easily accomplished.
Federal regulation and the American economy

This article begins by assessing the cost of Federal regulation in the United States and how it has changed over time. It shows that there have been periods when these costs have fallen but that the trend is upwards. Some regulations result in net benefits but many produce more costs than benefits and the costs bear most heavily on smaller firms. Various measures taken to control regulatory activities are reviewed. The article ends with a plea for Congress to take responsibility for the quality of regulation instead of leaving it to the regulatory agencies and the President.
On the possibility of deeply-bound dibaryon resonances

Abstract The question of the existence of deeply-bound positive-parity non-strange dibaryon resonances is addressed in the context of a QCD-like potential model. Hyperfine effects are found to produce strong binding in certain non-NN channels, notably the I = 0, S = 3 channel which is predicted to lie well below the NΔπ threshold.
Experimental displacement energies of isobaric analog states in the 1f72 shell

Abstract Q-values for the (p, t), (p, 3He) and (p, d) reactions for twenty-five isobaric analog states in the 1 f 7 2 shell have been accurately measured. The corresponding experimental displacement energies are compared with recent model predictions.
Resolutions and identification of the core deoxynucleoproteins of the simian virus 40.

Abstract Low molecular weight basic core proteins of SV 40 are resolved by Tris-Acetate-SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis into a minimum of four polypeptides. These are the electrophoretic counterparts of the evolutionarily conserved histones F3, F2b, F2a2, and F2a1. Host African green monkey kidney cells contain an active protease activity which readily cleaves histone F3 during nuclear isolation in hypotonic buffers.
Nuclear Level Sequence of Single-Particle Energies in a Momentum-Dependent Potential

Single-particle energy calculations have been made for nuclei from boron through beyond lead, using a form of momentum-dependent nucleon-nucleus potential. The results are in good agreement with the observed data for energies of single-particle levels.