cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Frataxin-mediated Iron Delivery to Ferrochelatase in the Final Step of Heme Biosynthesis

Human ferrochelatase, a mitochondrial membrane-associated protein, catalyzes the terminal step of heme biosynthesis by insertion of ferrous iron into protoporphyrin IX. The recently solved x-ray structure of human ferrochelatase identifies a potential binding site for an iron donor protein on the matrix side of the homodimer. Herein we demonstrate Hs holofrataxin to be a high affinity iron binding partner for Hs ferrochelatase that is capable of both delivering iron to ferrochelatase and mediating the terminal step in mitochondrial heme biosynthesis. A general regulatory mechanism for mitochondrial iron metabolism is described that defines frataxin involvement in both heme and iron-sulfur cluster biosyntheses. In essence, the distinct binding affinities of holofrataxin to the target proteins, ferrochelatase (heme synthesis) and ISU (iron-sulfur cluster synthesis), allows discrimination between the two major iron-dependent pathways and facilitates targeted heme biosynthesis following down-regulation of frataxin.
Cognitive Assessment of Older Primary Care Patients with and Without Memory Complaints

Dementia screening is currently recommended only for symptomatic patients. To evaluate memory complaints, a mental status test, and several cognitive tests as dementia screens in primary care. Cross-sectional clinical epidemiologic study. Three hundred thirty-nine comprehensively assessed, primary care patients aged ≥65 years. Memory complaints were abstracted from chart review. Scores on Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and domain-specific cognitive testing were compared to a dementia diagnosis based on Clinical Dementia Rating score ≥ 1, and areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) were calculated. Classification and regression tree analyses were performed on memory complaints and tests with the highest AUCs. Of 33 patients with dementia, only 5 had documented memory complaints. In 25 patients with documented memory complaints, no cognitive tests further improved identification of the 5 with dementia. In 28 patients with dementia but without memory complaints, an MMSE score < 20 identified 8 cases; among those with MMSE scores 20–21, a visual memory test identified a further 11 cases. Further cognitive testing could not detect 9 dementia cases without memory complaints and with MMSE scores ≥ 22. In older primary care patients with memory complaints, cognitive screening does not help identify those who require further examination for dementia. Most patients with dementia do not report memory complaints. In these asymptomatic individuals, general mental status testing, supplemented by a memory test when the mental status score is equivocal, will identify lower-scoring patients who need dementia assessment. However, high-scoring asymptomatic dementia cases will remain undetected.
The ARG tyrosine kinase interacts with Siva-1 in the apoptotic response to oxidative stress.

The Abl family of mammalian nonreceptor tyrosine kinases consists of c-Abl and ARG (Abl-related gene). Certain insights are available regarding the involvement c-Abl in the response of cells to stress. ARG, however, has no known function in cell signaling. The present studies demonstrate that ARG associates with the proapoptotic Siva-1 protein. The functional significance of the ARG-Siva-1 interaction is supported by the finding that ARG is activated by oxidative stress and that this response involves ARG-mediated phosphorylation of Siva-1 on Tyr48. The proapoptotic effects of Siva-1 are accentuated in cells stably expressing ARG and are inhibited in ARG-deficient cells. Moreover, the proapoptotic effects of Siva-1 are abrogated by mutation of the Tyr48site. We also show that the apoptotic response to oxidative stress is attenuated in ARG-deficient cells and that this defect is corrected by reconstituting ARG expression. These findings support a model in which the activation of ARG by oxidative stress induces apoptosis by a Siva-1-dependent mechanism.
Near-Real–Time GPS-Based Orbit Determination and Sea Surface Height Observations from the Jason-1 Mission Special Issue: Jason-1 Calibration/Validation

The Jason-1 Operational Sensor Data Record (OSDR) is intended as a wind and wave product that is aimed towards near-real–time (NRT) meteorological applications. However, the OSDR provides most of the information that is required to determine altimetric sea surface heights in NRT. The exceptions include a sufficiently accurate orbit altitude, and pressure fields to determine the dry troposphere path delay correction. An orbit altitude field is provided on the OSDR but has accuracies that range between 8–25 cm (RMS). However, tracking data from the on-board BlackJack GPS receiver are available with sufficiently short latency for use in the computation of NRT GPS-based orbit solutions. The orbit altitudes from these NRT orbit solutions have typical accuracies of < 3.0 cm (RMS) with a latency of 1–3 h, and < 2.5 cm (RMS) with a latency of 3–5 h. Meanwhile, forecast global pressure fields from the National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) are available for the NRT computation of the dry troposphere c...
Immunizations in the United States: A Rite of Passage

Today, vaccination is a cornerstone of pediatric preventive health care and a rite of passage for nearly all of the approximately 11,000 infants born daily in the United States. This article reviews the US immunization program with an emphasis on its role in ensuring that vaccines are effective, safe, and available and highlights several new vaccines and recommendations that will affect the health of children and adolescents and the practice of pediatric medicine in future decades.
Linear Free Energy Relationship Correlations for Room Temperature Ionic Liquids: Revised Cation-Specific and Anion-Specific Equation Coefficients for Predictive Applications Covering a Much Larger Area of Chemical Space

Previously reported ion-specific equation coefficients for both the Abraham general solvation model and Goss modified Abraham model are updated using recently measured activity coefficient, gas chromatographic retention factor, and solubility data for solutes dissolved in room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs). Reported for the first time are equation coefficients for 1-propyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium cation, and octylsulfate and thiocyanate anions. In total nine sets of cation-specific and eight sets of anion-specific equation coefficients have been determined for each model. The derived correlations describe the 976 experimental gas-to-RTIL partition coefficients to within a standard deviation of 0.12 log units and the 955 experimental water-to-RTIL partitions to within a standard deviation of 0.15 log units.
Estimation of Inter-Residue Distances in Spin Labeled Proteins at Physiological Temperatures: Experimental Strategies and Practical Limitations†

Magnetic dipolar interactions between pairs of solvent-exposed nitroxide side chains separated by approximately one to four turns along an α-helix in T4 lysozyme are investigated. The interactions are analyzed both in frozen solution (rigid lattice conditions) and at room temperature as a function of solvent viscosity. At room temperature, a novel side chain with hindered internal motion is used, along with a more commonly employed nitroxide side chain. The results suggest that methods developed for rigid lattice conditions can be used to analyze dipolar interactions between nitroxides even in the presence of motion of the individual spins, provided the rotational correlation time of the interspin vector is sufficiently long. The distribution of distances observed for the various spin pairs is consistent with rotameric equilibria in the nitroxide side chain, as observed in crystal structures. The existence of such distance distributions places important constraints on the interpretation of internitroxide ...
Wood Bonding by Surface Reaction

Abstract Chemical bonding is a technique which attempts to involve chemically the surface of wood in the joint formation process. In this research, an attempt has been made to improve overall board properties while at the same time make the whole process more practical from a large-scale application point of view. Accordingly, a 50 weight% solution of nitric acid was applied to green Douglas fir flakes which were dried in a laboratory flake dryer after various time periods. The variables considered included contact time between acid and flakes before drying, time between drying and application of a gap-filling mixture, and total assembly time. Board properties determined were internal bond (IB), modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE), and wet modulus of rupture (WMOR). Results showed a substantial improvement in board properties compared to boards made utilizing previously reported techniques. Boards which were dried after acid treatment showed a 55% improvement in IB, an 8% improvement in ...
Epidemiologic challenges in the study of the efficacy and safety of medicinal herbs.

Although clinical trials are needed to prove the efficacy of medicinal herbs and pharmacological studies are essential to the long-term goal of identifying the active ingredients in plants, these will not be forthcoming rapidly enough to meet the acute public health needs for knowledge on efficacy and safety since these substances are currently being widely consumed at various dosages. Resulting from the ongoing ‘natural experiment’ well-conducted observational epidemiology can bridge the gap and determine whether, as consumed its use is of benefit or detrimental, for whom and when in the course of disease prevention or minimization of disease severity. The classic study designs (cohort and case-control) and the more recent development of case-only studies can be put to service for these purposes. The challenges are in dose assessment, understanding mechanisms of effect, determining the relevant time period of exposure for a given disease or symptom, controlling for confounding factors such as disease status, and the special challenges presented by irregular use of medicinal herbs and concurrent use of multiple products and multiple sources.
Biometrics of reversal learning in mice: I. Effects of ITI and strain

Four strains of highly inbred mice, 12 Ss per strain, were run under relevant water deprivation on a T-maze position reversal problem in a factorial design with three levels of ITI. The reversal criterion was six of seven trials correct; each S completed 50 sessions. The ITI had no significant main or interaction effect, there was no significant interaction of strain and environment, and there was little correlation of parents’ age with number of offsprings’ reversals (r = −.10). Effect of strain was highly significant (p<.001) with “heritabilities” (Fuller & Thompson, 1960) of.53, 39, and.70 for the 13-, 24-, and 60-sec ITIs, respectively.
ELECTRON CAPTURE AND LOSS BY MOVING IONS IN DENSE MEDIA

Several experiments have shown an anomaly in the stopping power which appears to be greater for incident heavy particles in condensed media than in gases. It is suggested that this anomaly is characteristic of incident ions, i.e., of particles that are not completely stripped of orbital electrons, and it seems to be due to the reaction of the perturbed medium upon the moving ion having charge $\mathrm{Ze}$, which reaction results in a field $F=(\frac{1}{\mathrm{Ze}})(\frac{\mathrm{dW}}{\mathrm{dz}})$ acting against the motion of the ion ($\frac{\mathrm{dW}}{\mathrm{dz}}$ is the energy loss per cm). Although $F$ is relatively weak in gases, it is substantial in condensed media and may cause the spontaneous emission of electrons carried by the ion (autoionization), thus increasing the ions' effective charge. The higher effective charge accounts for the higher stopping power in condensed media. It has been determined that when an incident helium atom passing through a liquid undergoes a collision, thus emerging in a singly ionized and excited state, it cannot exist in such a state since it becomes instantly doubly ionized. However, the same type of collision occurring in a gas leaves the atom singly ionized. The effective charge of the incident particle depends upon the values ${\ensuremath{\varphi}}_{0}$, ${\ensuremath{\varphi}}_{1}$, and ${\ensuremath{\varphi}}_{2}$, representing the probability of the particle's being neutral, singly ionized, and doubly ionized, respectively, where ${\ensuremath{\varphi}}_{0}:{\ensuremath{\varphi}}_{1}:{\ensuremath{\varphi}}_{2}={\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{10}{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{21}:{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{01}{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{21}:{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{01}{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{12}$ (${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\mathrm{if}}$ represents the cross section for electron loss or capture; $i$ and $f$ represent the charge before and after the event, respectively). It is shown that ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\mathrm{if}}$ is higher for a condensed medium than for a gas when $ilf$ and lower when $igf$. ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\mathrm{if}}$ has been calculated for He passing through argon gas at 400 kev, and gives roughly ${\ensuremath{\varphi}}_{0}:{\ensuremath{\varphi}}_{1}:{\ensuremath{\varphi}}_{2}=0.05:0.75:0.20$; thus, an average square charge is ${〈{\ensuremath{\epsilon}}^{2}〉}_{\mathrm{Av}}=1.55{e}^{2}$. If autoionization is taken into account, ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\mathrm{if}}$ for He in liquid argon gives roughly ${\ensuremath{\varphi}}_{0}:{\ensuremath{\varphi}}_{1}:{\ensuremath{\varphi}}_{2}=0.04:0.70:0.26$, and thus ${〈{\ensuremath{\epsilon}}^{2}〉}_{\mathrm{Av}}=1.74{e}^{2}$.
An eddy-correlation measurement of NO2 flux to vegetation and comparison to O3 flux

Eddy-correlation measurements with a newly developed fast-response NOx sensor indicate that the deposition velocity at a height of about 6m above a soybean field has a maximum value near 0.6cms-1 for NOx and is usually about 2/3 ofthat found for ozone. In these studies, over 90% of the NOx is NO2. The corresponding minimum surface resistance for NOx calculated as the quantity remaining after atmospheric resistances are subtracted is about 1.3 s cm−1, which is larger than expected on the basis of leaf stomatal resistance alone. Emission of NO from sites in the plant canopy and soil where NO2 is deposited and reduced to NO or release of NOx as a result of biological activity may have lessened the downward fluxes of NOx as measured. During windy conditions at night, surface resistances are found to have values of about 15scm−1 for NOx (again, greater than 90% NO2) and 1.8scm−1 for O3, corresponding to deposition velocities of 0.05cms−1 and 0.3cms−1, respectively.
Aerospace plane guidance using time-scale decomposition and feedback linearization

Single-stage vehicles using air-breathing propulsion hold promise for more economical delivery of payloads to orbit. Feedback guidance logic is developed for steering and accelerating such a vehicle along the superand hypersonic segments of a near-minimum-fuel ascent trajectory. Accurate solutions of the minimum-fuel ascent problem show the effects of dynamic pressure, acceleration, and heating constraints and establish a basis for the development and assessment of guidance logic. The two-time-scale behavior in the optimal solution allows the state space to be decomposed into a control-dependent slow manifold and a family of fast manifolds. Near-optimal guidance is obtained by constructing a composite control law from the control for flying the minimum-fuel reduced-order trajectory on the slow manifold and a control for tracking the optimal reduced-order trajectory. The tracking problem is solved as a family of regulation problems corresponding to the family of fast manifolds, using the feedback linearization methodology from nonlinear geometric control theory. A complete characterization is given of all state transformation-static feedback pairs that lead to exact linearization of the fast dynamics. Simulation shows that the composite control law produces a near-minimum-fuel ascent.
Genotype to phenotype-discovery and characterization of novel genomic disorders in a "genotype-first" era.

Abstract: Recent advances in technology for detecting copy number changes have enabled genome-wide detection of submicroscopic deletions and duplications. As these technologies are applied to large cohorts of patients with diverse phenotypes, novel genomic disorders are defined by a common genotype (deletion or duplication) rather than a common phenotype. The discovery of new genomic disorders using this “genotype-first” approach has increased dramatically, and several recently described recurrent rearrangements are associated with a surprisingly wide range of phenotypes. This review will discuss the importance of genomic architecture for generating recurrent rearrangements, implications of the genotype-first approach for medical genetics, and features of several new genomic disorders with highly variable phenotypes.
Efficient fax transmission of halftone images

The efficient encoding and transmission of information for facsimile communication relies on redundancy in the scanned pixels. Halftone images, especiaily those rendered by high-quality dispersed dot techniques, are "busy" with alternative black and white pixels and shorter run lengths as compared to text information. Because of this, it is desirable to increase the redundancy and decrease the entropy of those images for efficient encoding and transmission. We propose a novel technique whereby both transmiffing and receiving fax devices have in memory a halftone screen such as the "blue noise mask" (BNM). The BNM is a halftone screen that produces a visuaily appealing dispersed dot pattern with an unstructured, isotropic pattern. When both the transmitting and receiving fax devices have the same halftone screen in ROM, the problem of halftone image encoding can be reduced to that of transmitting the mean gray value of blocks, or subimages, followed by a sparse halftone error image with increased redundancy and run-lengths compared to the original halftone. Examples show that by using the proposed technique, image entropy can be reduced to 0.2 bits/pixel, and typical run-lengths can increase by a factor of 5. The increase in image quality, combined with increased transmission speed, could add considerably to the utilization and acceptance of halftone fax images.
Alternative technique for open reduction and fixation of displaced pediatric medial epicondyle fractures: author response to letter to the editor

We would like to thank Drs. Raj and Kothari for their comments. We are in agreement that the true position of the arm in this technique is “mid prone,” rather than full pronation. Our experience is that, in this position, even if not fully prone, very little, if any, tension is required to reduce the fragment, and, certainly, the amount of tension is less than that required when trying to reduce the fracture in the supine position. In this position, we postulate that the valgus movement assists in reduction; however, we agree that this is theoretical. We also agree that there is no objective evidence that this is superior, as stated in the final sentence of the discussion: “Finally, there is no difference in objective outcomes regarding this technique and its advantage is in the feel/ease of fracture reduction.” Ultimately, the goal of the manuscript is to offer an alternate surgical option for medial epicondyle fractures, and we believe that, in this case, whether a surgeon chooses to use this technique should be by feel or preference. For the co-authors, we have all found that prone positioning has made the procedure easier for us.
A dynamic simulation model for forecasting and policy making in the regulated electric utility

Abstract A dynamic simulation model is built to assist in making policy decisions related to the regulated electric utility industry. The model built takes into account the interactions between regulation, price, demand, peak load, construction costs, debt, equity and profits. Through the use of the model various scenarious can be constructed, enabling the study of the behavior of the electrical energy supply and demand under different policies and parameter assumptions, such as peak load pricing and stringent regulation. Thus with the use of the model effective policies can be implemented early enough to prevent probable future crisis situations.
Outcomes of carotid artery stenting versus historical surgical controls for radiation-induced carotid stenosis

Purpose To evaluate the outcomes of carotid artery stenting (CAS) and open surgical repair (OR) for treatment of radiation-induced carotid stenosis (RICS). Methods We retrospectively reviewed 60 patients treated for 73 RICSs from a group of 5,824 patients who had carotid interventions between 1992 and 2009. Thirty-three patients (37 arteries) were treated with CAS and 27 patients (36 arteries) with OR. CAS was performed using embolic protection as part of a prospective institutional registry since 2003. End-points included mortality, stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), cranial nerve injury (CNI), wound complication, restenosis, and reintervention. Results Demographics and cardiovascular risk factors were similar in both groups, with the exception of higher rates (P Conclusion Carotid artery stenting for radiation-induced stenosis has the advantages of no CNI or wound complications with similar early stroke rate compared with open carotid repair. However, the lower freedom from neurological events may offset the early benefits of carotid stenting in patients who are considered good candidates for open surgery.
Skin non-linear viscoelastic properties cannot be predicted using quasi-linear viscoelasticity

The low load nonlinear viscoelastic properties of porcine skin cannot be simplified using the quasi-linear viscoelastic (QLV) model developed by Fung [1].
String tension, gluebal masses and finite size effects in lattice SU(3)

Abstract We estimate the string tension by looking at Wilson loops and measuring the correlation between Wilson lines at g 2 = 1.0 for lattice SU(3). The bound Λ L σ ⩾0.0087 ± 0.0011 is larger than the previous results. The mass of the 0 ++ glueball is also estimated. The finite size effects on these quantities are shown to be large by comparing results on a 6 3 × 10 lattice with those on 9 4 lattice.
N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor binding in brains of rats at different ages

Abstract Potential age differences in N-methyl- D -aspartate (NMDA) receptor binding were evaluated in rat brain using [3H]dizocilpine and [3H] D , L -(E)-2-amino-4-propyl-5-phosphono-3-pentanoic acid (CGP 39653) as the radioligands. Neither [3H]dizocilpine nor [3H]CGP 39653 binding in hippocampus revealed any age difference (7 vs. 23–25 months) in Bmax or Kd. High-affinity [3H]dizocilpine binding showed a developmental increase (8 vs. 2 months) in hippocampus but not in frontal cortex. No senescence-related change (25 vs. 8 months) was observed in either region. The lack of senescence-related differences in these biochemical markers does not preclude the possibility of functional changes in the NMDA receptor with aging.
First Report of Campyloneura virgula (Hemiptera: Miridae: Bryocorinae) in Connecticut

The Old World dicyphine plant bug Campyloneura virgula (Herrich-Schaef fer) is known from most European countries, Algeria, Asia Minor and Turk estan (Kerzhner and Josifov, 1999). It was first reported as occurring in west ern North America (British Columbia) in 1949 (Downes, 1957). Collection records from Brit ish Columbia (1946, 1950), Oregon (1957-1979, 1982), Cali fornia (1964, 1969), and western Washington (1975-1979, 2008) were published by Lattin and Stonedahl (1984) and Henry (2012). Recently, the species has been documented in the eastern United States in Maryland (from 2007-2011), and Virginia (2011); in addition, a specimen was identified from Yonkers, New York, from a collection made in 1995. These recent records suggest that C. virgula is well-estab lished in the eastern United States (Henry, 2012). Campyloneura virgula is a predator of aphids, mites, psocids, psyllids, and other small arthropods, and is known to bite humans. It has been found on a large variety of plants (Aceraceae, Anacardiaceae, Betulaceae, Ericaceae, Fab aceae, Fagaceae, Lauraceae, Oleaceae, Rhamnaceae, Rosaceae, Salicaceae, Tiliaceae, Ul maceae and Urticaceae). The species is known to overwinter as eggs in Eng land and as adults in Europe (Henry, 2012). In June 2012, Campyloneura virgula was collected for the first time in Con nec ticut (New Haven Co., North Haven). Six specimens were found on the leaves of a 70-year-old copper beech tree (Fagus sylvatica purpurea), a species upon which the mirid had not been reported previously in North America, although it had been collected on F. sylvatica in Europe (Downes, 1957). One speci men was observed feeding on honeydew, a behavior previously noted (Wheel er, 2001). Previous collections of this species in North America were made from June to August. All specimens collected in Connecticut were female. This is consistent with most past collections, and the species is known to be parth enogenetic (Carayon, 1989; Henry, 2012). The specimens were all collected by the author: 25 June 2012 – 1 female; 27 June 2012 – 1 female; 29 June 2012 – 4 females (one feeding on honeydew). The specimens from 27 June (1) and 29 June (3) have been deposited in the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, Division of Entomology. Given its small size (length 3.80-4.20 mm) (Henry, 2012), this insect is not readily collected by hand (as was done for the current report), and recognition of species presence generally requires purposeful collection by beating or sweeping 76 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS
Magnons in a square bar

Abstract We present a theoretical investigation of magnon excitations within a simple cubic, ferromagnetic crystal bar of square cross section formed by the intersection of [100] surfaces. The eigenfrequency spectrum for spin waves in the bulk, and localized at the surfaces and edges of the bar is obtained and examined in the presence of dipolar, and nearest and next nearest neighbor exchange spin-spin interactions, for values of the one-dimensional wavevector extending form the origin to the boundary of the one-dimensional Brillouin zone for the bar. The modes obtained are wavelike in the direction parallel to the bar axis. The localization of the modes is determined from an examination of their eigenvectors.
Ethnography in a Virtual World.

This article situates the discussion of virtual ethnography within the larger political/economic changes of twenty-first century consumer capitalism and suggests that increasingly our entire social world is a virtual world and that there were very particular utopian and dystopian framings of virtual community growing out of that history. The article also situates the discussion of virtual ethnography within the anthropological ‘crisis of representation’ discussion to suggest there are many parallels between the two discussions. These discussions suggest that while ethnographers have recognised that all societies are virtual except, maybe the smallest, new information technologies, and particularly, the Internet create a persistent virtual space that transforms earlier notions of the imagined society. Finally, the article suggests that educational ethnographers are in a position to discuss the new pedagogical issues that arise when attempting to do ethnography in our contemporary virtual world.
Understanding and Interpreting the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: Key Questions and Answers

SEE EDITORIAL, P. 722. Editor’s Note: The National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS) is widely used for medical research. Nearly 500 articles have been published based on this database, including 28 in Annals of Emergency Medicine. NHAMCS is a national probability sample survey of visits to emergency and outpatient departments in nonfederal, general, and short-stay hospitals, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics (http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/ahcd.htm). Strengths of the NHAMCS survey are its rigorous methodology, nationally representative nature, large size, wide array of variables, and capacity to examine long-term trends. Investigators can freely download the database and test locally developed hypotheses. Challenges with NHAMCS are that, given its logistic and statistical complexity, resulting research can be difficult for readers to interpret and for editors and reviewers to critique. There are important limitations and caveats to this survey that, if overlooked, could lead to misleading or inaccurate conclusions. In this article, we have a posed a series of questions to 2 NHAMCS statisticians, and we believe that their answers will be invaluable to both NHAMCS investigators and readers of its research.
Patient whiteboards to improve patient-centred care in the hospital

Background Patient whiteboards facilitate communication between patients and hospital providers, but little is known about their impact on patient satisfaction and awareness. Our objectives were to: measure the impact in improving patients’ understanding of and satisfaction with care; understand barriers for their use by physicians and how these could be overcome; and explore their impact on staff and patients’ families. Methods In 2012, we conducted a 3-week pilot of multidisciplinary whiteboard use with 104 inpatients on the general medicine service at Stanford University Medical Center. A brief, inperson survey was conducted with two groups: (1) 56 patients on two inpatient units with whiteboards and (2) 48 patients on two inpatient units without whiteboards. Questions included understanding of: physician name, goals of care, discharge date and satisfaction with care. We surveyed 25 internal medicine residents regarding challenges of whiteboard use, along with physical therapists, occupational therapists, case managers, consulting physicians and patients’ family members (n=40). Results The use of whiteboards significantly increased the proportion of patients who knew: their physician (p≤=0.0001), goals for admission (p≤=0.0016), their estimated discharge date (p≤=0.049) and improved satisfaction with the hospital stay overall (p≤=0.0242). Physicians, ancillary staff and patient families all found the whiteboards to be helpful. In response, residents were also more likely to integrate whiteboard use into their daily work flow. Conclusions Inpatient whiteboards help physicians and ancillary staff with communication, improve patients’ awareness of their care team, admission plans and duration of admission, and significantly improve patient overall satisfaction.
Technology in Culture: The Meaning of Cultural Fit

The thesis of this paper is that there are three basic processes by which a technological innovation is fitted into an existing culture: (1) Rejection, in situations where all interested groups are satisfied with a traditional technology and reject apparently superior innovations because they would force unwanted changes in technology and ideology; (2) Acceptance, in situations where a new technology is embraced by all because it appears to serve the same social and ideological functions as an inferior, or inoperative, traditional technology; and (3) — most commonly in complex societies — conflict over acceptance or rejection, in situations where a new technology introduced or proposed by one group, who perceive it as advancing their interests, is resisted by another group, who perceive it as threatening their welfare. A traditional tripartite concept of culture is employed, distinguishing technology, social organization, and ideology. Four case studies are introduced to illuminate the issue: the Thonga tribesmen of Mozambique, whose occupation as gold and diamond miners at first suited perfectly the requirements of the Thonga lineage and marriage system; the Yir Yoront of Australia, an aboriginal group who found that the steel axe introduced by whites disrupted the patriarchal status system and confounded their mythology; the Senecas, an American Indian tribe that for generations rejected male plow agriculture because their way of life was organized around female horticulture, but who took up male agriculture at the urging of a prophet when traditional male roles disintegrated on the reservation; and the anthracite miners and mine operators of nineteenth-century Pennsylvania, who discovered that fundamental changes in both social organization and ideology were needed in order to cope with catastrophically high rates of industrial accidents attendant on the new system of deep-shaft mining.
Do classroom ventilation rates in California elementary schools influence standardized test scores? Results from a prospective study

Limited evidence has associated lower ventilation rates (VRs) in schools with reduced student learning or achievement. We analyzed longitudinal data collected over two school years from 150 classrooms in 28 schools within three California school districts. We estimated daily classroom VRs from real-time indoor carbon dioxide measured by web-connected sensors. School districts provided individual-level scores on standard tests in Math and English, and classroom-level demographic data. Analyses assessing learning effects used two VR metrics: average VRs for 30 days prior to tests, and proportion of prior daily VRs above specified thresholds during the year. We estimated relationships between scores and VR metrics in multivariate models with generalized estimating equations. All school districts had median school-year VRs below the California VR standard. Most models showed some positive associations of VRs with test scores; however, estimates varied in magnitude and few 95% confidence intervals excluded the null. Combined-district models estimated statistically significant increases of 0.6 points (P = 0.01) on English tests for each 10% increase in prior 30-day VRs. Estimated increases in Math were of similar magnitude but not statistically significant. Findings suggest potential small positive associations between classroom VRs and learning.
Pain Management in Elderly Patients

In elderly patients, persistent pain negatively impacts quality of life. An interdisciplinary approach to pain management and emphasis on quality improvement will help to achieve better therapeutic outcomes. Managing pain in the geriatric population is challenging because of age-related changes in pain perception, cognition, pharmacokinetics, and drug effects. Improvement and maintenance of physical and emotional function is the goal. Pharmacotherapy should be initiated conservatively and titrated to effective doses with minimal adverse effects. Milder pain should be treated with non-opioid analgesics with a progression toward opioids and/or adjuvant medications as the pain intensifies. Acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), opioids, and adjuvant medications represent most of the analgesic agents used in pain management. Knowing the underlying mechanism of pain will help guide pharmacologic therapy. The patient should be monitored initially, with every dose change, and periodically ...
Theoretical and numerical difficulties in 3-D vector potential methods in finite element magnetostatic computations

The results of the application of three well-known 3-D magnetic vector potential (MVP)-based finite-element formulations for computation of magnetostatic fields in electrical devices are discussed. The three methods were identically applied to three practical examples, the first of which contained only one medium (free space), while the second and third examples contained a mix of free space and iron. The first of these methods is based on the unconstrained curl-curl of the MVP, while the second and third methods are predicated upon constraining the divergence of the MVP to zero (Coulomb's gauge). It was found that the two latter methods cease to give useful and meaningful results when the global solution region contains a mix of media of high and low permeabilities. Furthermore, it was found that their results do not achieve the intended zero constraint on the divergence of the MVP. >
The impact of lactic acid bacteria on cheese flavor

Chesse flavor is a manifestation of complex interactions of volatile and non-volatile flavor-active compounds plus tactual perception. Numerous agents, including lactic acid bacteria, procece the flavou sensations. The effect of lactic acid bacteria is more dominant in cheese varieties with limited growth of secondary flora. This review describes the indirect and direct impacts of lactic acid bacteria in cheese with emphasis on carbohydrate fermentation, changes in oxidation-reduction potential, interactions with non-starter bacteria, autolysis, proteolytic and peptidolytic activities, transport of metabolites and flavor production.
Global formation-shape stabilization of relative sensing networks

This paper proposes a simple, distributed algorithm that achieves global stabilization of formations for relative sensing networks in arbitrary dimensions. Assuming the network runs an initialization procedure to equally orient all the agent reference frames, convergence to the desired formation shape is guaranteed even in partially asynchronous settings. We also characterize the algorithm robustness to errors in the initialization procedure. The technical approach merges ideas from graph drawing, algebraic graph theory, multidimensional scaling, and distributed linear iterations.
In situ Transmission Electron Microscopy Observations of Toughening Mechanisms in Ultra-fine Grained Columnar Aluminum Thin Films

A unique straining device, fabricated using microlithographic techniques, has been developed to permit real-time investigation in the transmission electron microscope (TEM) of the deformation and failure mechanisms in ultrafine-grained aluminum. The tensile specimen is a freestanding thin film with a columnar microstructure that has a uniform cross-section (100 × 0.125 µm) and a gauge length of 300 µm. In situ TEM straining experiments show the fracture mode is intergranular with no accompanying general plasticity. Propagating cracks were halted at large grains, and crack blunting occurred through grain-boundary-mediated processes. The blunting process was accompanied by dislocation emission and deformation twinning in the grain responsible for arresting the crack. Voids or microcracks nucleated and grew on grain boundaries ahead of the arrested crack, and crack advance occurred through linkage of the microcracks and the primary crack.
New Catalytic Materials for the Direct Epoxidation of Propylene by Molecular Oxygen

The direct vapor-phase production of propylene oxide (PO) from propylene and molecular oxygen without the use of a co-reactant remains a challenging problem in industrial catalysis, in spite of several decades of research. Herein, the discovery of a new class of silica-supported multimetallic RuO2–CuOx–NaCl catalysts for the direct synthesis of PO from propylene and molecular oxygen is reported. This trimetallic catalyst exhibits durability and delivers PO selectivities of 40–50 % at propylene conversions of 10–20 % within 240-270 °C and at atmospheric pressure. The best performing catalysts are characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and are determined to be composed of nanocrystalline domains of the three phases of RuO2, CuOx, and NaCl.
The mechanistic basis of the metabolic theory of ecology

We welcome the opportunity to respond to O’Connoret al. (2007). We hope that this exchange will help toclarify some of the strengths and weaknesses of theMetabolic theory of ecology (MTE), and will pointtowards fruitful areas for future research.The MTE has been formulated based on the premisethat the structure and dynamics of ecological commu-nities are inextricably linked to individual metabolism.The individual metabolic rate is the rate at which anorganism takes up energetic and material resources fromthe environment, transforms them into useable forms,and allocates them to the fitness-enhancing processes ofsurvival, growth, and reproduction. Interactions be-tween organisms and their environment (includingother organisms) are therefore constrained by metabolicrate. Physiologists have long known that there are threeprimary factors that control metabolic rate: body size,body temperature, and resource availability. MTEbuilds on this earlier work by providing a quantitativeframework to better understand how these threevariables combine to affect metabolic rate, and howmetabolic rate, in turn, influences the ecology andevolution of populations, communities, and ecosystems(Brown et al. 2004).Gillooly et al. (2001) developed a model for thescaling of metabolic rate that combines the effects ofbody size and temperature (West et al. 1997, Gilloolyet al. 2002, Charnov and Gillooly 2003, Brown et al.2004). The model leads to a single equation forindividual metabolic rate:B b
Modulation of the Activity of a Polycomb-Group Response Element in Drosophila by a Mutation in the Transcriptional Activator Woc

Polycomb group response elements (PRE) are cis-regulatory elements that bind Polycomb group proteins. We are studying a 181-bp PRE from the Drosophilaengrailed gene. This PRE causes pairing-sensitive silencing of mini-white in transgenes. Here we show that the 181-bp PRE also represses mini-white expression in flies with only one copy of the transgene. To isolate mutations that alter the activity of the 181-bp PRE, we screened for dominant suppressors of PRE-mediated mini-white repression. Dominant suppressors of mini-white repression were rare; we recovered only nine mutations out of 68,274 progeny screened. Two of the nine mutations isolated are due to the same single amino acid change in the transcriptional activator Woc (without children). Reversion experiments show that these are dominant gain-of-function mutations in woc. We suggest that Woc can interfere with the activity of the PRE. Our data have implications for how Polycomb group proteins act to either partially repress or completely silence their target genes.
DYNAMIC RESPONSE ANALYSIS. II.EVALUATION OF DYNAMIC RESPONSE ANALYSIS IN A SIMULATED NO-HARVEST CASE

A new method of stock assessment, dynamic response analysis, allows a qualitative assessment of stock status relative to its level of maximum net productivity to be carried out with minimal data. This paper evaluates the performance of dynamic response analysis on a simulated population under variable conditions with uncertain data. In the no-harvest case the data consist simply of a temporal sequence of relative population sizes. Dynamic response analysis is most sensitive to the number and precision of the population estimates and least sensitive to environmental variability and the intrinsic population growth rate. Significance levels must be chosen carefully, since some combinations of parameters and error levels result in an unacceptably low proportion of correct assessments. Dynamic response analysis can be a useful stock assessment technique for the management of marine mammals, but attention must be paid to the quantity and quality of the data.
Transperitoneal versus retroperitoneal suprarenal cross-clamping for repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm with a hostile infrarenal aortic neck.

Infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) with a hostile infrarenal aortic neck unfit for endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) are more likely to require open repair with suprarenal aortic cross-clamping. We compared the results of the transperitoneal versus retroperitoneal approaches for repair of infrarenal AAA requiring suprarenal cross-clamping and the relative frequency of such techniques after incorporating EVAR into our clinical practice. From January 1998 through September 2005, 478 elective infrarenal aortic aneurysms were repaired. There were 160 (33%) open repairs (71% transperitoneal and 29% retroperitoneal) and 318 (67%) endovascular repairs. In 38 cases (24%) suprarenal cross-clamping was performed (47% transperitoneal and 53% retroperitoneal incisions) for a hostile infrarenal neck. A hostile aortic neck was defined as severe angulation (>60°), short neck (
Early Dysregulation of Cell Adhesion and Extracellular Matrix Pathways in Breast Cancer Progression

Proliferative breast lesions, such as simple ductal hyperplasia (SH) and atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH), are candidate precursors to ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and invasive cancer. To better understand the relationship of breast lesions to more advanced disease, we used microdissection and DNA microarrays to profile the gene expression of patient-matched histologically normal (HN), ADH, and DCIS from 12 patients with estrogen receptor positive sporadic breast cancer. SH were profiled from a subset of cases. We found 837 differentially expressed genes between DCIS-HN and 447 between ADH-HN, with >90% of the ADH-HN genes also present among the DCIS-HN genes. Only 61 genes were identified between ADH-DCIS. Expression differences were reproduced in an independent cohort of patient-matched lesions by quantitative real-time PCR. Many breast cancer-related genes and pathways were dysregulated in ADH and maintained in DCIS. Particularly, cell adhesion and extracellular matrix interactions were overrepresented. Focal adhesion was the top pathway in each gene set. We conclude that ADH and DCIS share highly similar gene expression and are distinct from HN. In contrast, SH appear more similar to HN. These data provide genetic evidence that ADH (but not SH) are often precursors to cancer and suggest cancer-related genetic changes, particularly adhesion and extracellular matrix pathways, are dysregulated before invasion and even before malignancy is apparent. These findings could lead to novel risk stratification, prevention, and treatment approaches.
Comparing the speed of programs for sparse polynomial multiplication

How should one design and implement a program for the multiplication of sparse polynomials? This is a simple question, necessarily addressed by the builders of any computer algebra system (CAS). To examine a few options we start with a single easily-stated computation which we believe represents a useful benchmark of "medium difficulty" for CAS designs. We describe a number of design options and their effects on performance. We also examine the performance of a variety of commercial and freely-distributed systems. Important considerations include the cost of high-precision (exact) integer arithmetic and the effective use of cache memory.
Trends in State Regulation of Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants, 2001 to 2010

Nurse practitioners and physician assistants can alleviate some of the primary care shortage facing the United States, but their scope-of-practice is limited by state regulation. This study reports both cross-sectional and longitudinal trends in state scope-of-practice regulations for nurse practitioners and physician assistants over a 10-year period. Regulations from 2001 to 2010 were compiled and described with respect to entry-to-practice standards, physician involvement in treatment/diagnosis, prescriptive authority, and controlled substances. Findings indicate that most states loosened regulations, granting greater autonomy to nurse practitioners and physician assistants, particularly with respect to prescriptive authority and physician involvement in treatment and diagnosis. Many states also increased barriers to entry, requiring high levels of education before entering practice. Knowledge of state trends in nurse practitioner and physician assistant regulation should inform current efforts to standardize scope-of-practice nationally.
The Effect of Exercise on the Toxicity of Aflatoxin B1 in Chickens

Abstract Three trials were conducted to study the effects of exercise on aflatoxicosis in young broiler and layer chicks. Aflatoxin B1 was fed at levels of 0 or 5 ppm in a corn-based diet. Exercise was conducted on a motorized treadmill. In one trial, the growth rate of aflatoxin-fed birds was found to be increased significantly (P