cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Some observations on the actions of certain pharmacological agents on the fibrillation potentials and on the sensitivity of the skeletal muscle of rabbit in advanced local tetanus

Abstract Local tetanus induced by a single intramuscular injection of a minute quantity of tetanus toxin into the tibialis anticus muscle of the rabbit gives rise to spontaneous fibrillation potentials within 10–12 days after the injection of the toxin. These fibrillation potentials in the muscle in advanced local tetanus are analogous to those obtained in the chronically denervated muscles. In both types of muscles the fibrillation potentials are augmented and converted into a “shower” by acetylcholine, succinylcholine and decamethonium. Large doses of these agents produce electric silence. Further, anticholinesterase agents do not significantly affect muscle in local tetanus. D -Tubocurarine is relatively ineffective in blocking the fibrillation potentials of muscles in chronic tetanus, as well as of denervated muscles. It is concluded that tetanus toxin produces the phenomenon of “pharmacologic denervation”, and that besides a central action, it also exhibitsd a peripheral site of action. It is speculated that in this, as in other cases of “pharmacologic denervation“ as well as in surgical denervation, a functional abnormality of the neuromyal junction causes spread of the end-plate properties and of membrane instability over the entire muscle membrane.
Statistical Theory of Nuclei

The energy-density formalism is applied to finite nuclei. The total energy of the many-nucleon system is expressed as a functional $E(\ensuremath{\rho})$ of the local density $\ensuremath{\rho}(r)$, and the ground-state density distribution is found by minimization with respect to $\ensuremath{\rho}(r)$. The functional of the potential energy is directly derived from a nuclear-matter calculation with variable neutron excess by Brueckner et al. The density-gradient correction which takes care of the density variation at the nuclear surface contains an exchange- and a correlation-energy part. In a first attempt, proton and neutron densities are assumed proportional; therefore the present calculation is limited to light nuclei. The density distributions are found to be of the so-called modified Gaussian type with a cubic polynomial. Binding energy, radius, and surface thickness are in good agreement with experiment.
Band dispersions of the π-bonded-chain reconstruction of Si(111)3×1-Li: A critical evaluation of theory and experiment

The surface-state band-structure of the three-domain Si(111)3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1-Li reconstruction has been determined using angle-resolved photoemission. Experimental band dispersions are compared to theoretical calculations for the extended Pandey model and the Seiwatz model. Even though the extended Pandey model is favored on the basis of scanning tunneling microscopy and total-energy considerations, the calculated surface states are inconsistent with experiment. The calculated states for the Seiwatz model are consistent with the experimental dispersion along the main symmetry direction (\ensuremath{\Gamma}\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{} \ifmmode \bar{A}\else \={A}\fi{}) but serious discrepancies exist in other parts of the Brillouin zone. The disparity between the density-functional-theory calculations and experiment indicate that exchange and correlation in \ensuremath{\pi}-bonded Si chains may need to be analyzed beyond the mean-field band-structure approach. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
Photoemission studies of the valence bands in YBa2Cu3O7-δ

Abstract Studies of the valence band electronic structure of the high T c superconductor YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-δ (YBCO), obtained from photoelectron spectroscopy measurements, are reviewed. We include a brief discussion of angle integrated measurements acquired with X-ray photoemission and with ultraviolet photoemission. However, the major effort is devoted to a discussion of high resolution angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) studies on samples cleaved in high vacuum at cryogenic temperatures. These samples show a clear (metallic) Fermi edge cutoff, and band dispersion that is generally consistent with predictions of band theory. Mostly, electron states lying close to E F (within about 1 eV) are examined. The highly two-dimensional nature of the YBCO structure allows for reasonably straightforward measurement of the Fermi surface; consequently the Fermi surface has been measured in some detail. Evidence, from ARPES measurements, for the existence of a van Hove singularity near the Fermi level, that might play a role in high T c superconductivity, is considered. Systematic studies are presented that show changes in the band structure and Fermi surface as the oxygen stoichiometry is reduced; with oxygen depletion, YBCO changes from a high T c superconductor to a magnetically ordered insulator. ARPES studies of YBCO crystals with Co and Zn atoms substituted on Cu sites are also included. When ARPES measurements are performed at room temperature, the samples show rapid degradation; consequently, room temperature measurements are not extensively reviewed here. Despite extensive studies, some issues still remain largely unresolved or controversial. The ARPES technique is surface sensitive and the cleavage plane has not been clearly identified; consequently concerns associated with measurement of the cleaved surface are addressed. Efforts, generally unsuccessful, to observe a superconducting gap, are discussed.
Enhancement of critical current density in TlBaCaCuO type superconductors by the addition of SnO2

Abstract The addition of SnO 2 to a mixture of Tl 2 O 3 and Ba 2 Ca 3 Cu 3 O 7 was found to enhance the critical current density ( J c ) of the subsequently fabricated superconductor. Without SnO 2 , the J c of the silver-sheathed superconductor of optimal thallium content was 7.4 to 7.6×10 3 A/cm 2 at 77 K and zero external magnetic field. With the addition of 0.1 formula-weight of SnO 2 per formula-weight of the superconductor, its J c was raised to 1.1 to 1.2×10 4 A/cm 2 under the same conditions. XRD data show that the ratio of 2223-phase can be greatly increased by the addition of SnO 2 and rapid quenching of the hot pellet in liquid nitrogen. However, SEM and EDAX analyses show that the superconducting phase in the ceramic sample does not contain Sn and suggest that the role of SnO 2 is to stabilize the 2223-phase and improve intergranular or interfacial contact.
Opposing roles for DNA structure-specific proteins Rad1, Msh2, Msh3, and Sgs1 in yeast gene targeting

Targeted gene replacement (TGR) in yeast and mammalian cells is initiated by the two free ends of the linear targeting molecule, which invade their respective homologous sequences in the chromosome, leading to replacement of the targeted locus with a selectable gene from the targeting DNA. To study the postinvasion steps in recombination, we examined the effects of DNA structure-specific proteins on TGR frequency and heteroduplex DNA formation. In strains deleted of RAD1, MSH2, or MSH3, we find that the frequency of TGR is reduced and the mechanism of TGR is altered while the reverse is true for deletion of SGS1, suggesting that Rad1 and Msh2:Msh3 facilitate TGR while Sgs1 opposes it. The altered mechanism of TGR in the absence of Msh2:Msh3 and Rad1 reveals a separate role for these proteins in suppressing an alternate gene replacement pathway in which incorporation of both homology regions from a single strand of targeting DNA into heteroduplex with the targeted locus creates a mismatch between the selectable gene on the targeting DNA and the targeted gene in the chromosome.
The first example of linear peptides containing a N-trifluoroethylated backbone amide linkage and the surprising solution dynamics observed by 19F NMR

Abstract The α-amino group of ( l )phenylalanine methyl ester was trifluoroethylated using (2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)phenyliodonium N,N-bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide. A dipeptide Gly( l )Phe containing a trifluoroethylated peptide bond was synthesized by removing the α-amino proton of Nα-trifluoroethyl ( l )phenylalanine methyl ester followed by coupling with Nα-phthaloyl glycine acid fluoride. The dipeptide was further coupled with ( l )leucine methyl ester under conventional carboxyl activation conditions to provide two diastereomers of the tripeptide Gly( d , l )Phe( l )Leu. The solution dynamic behavior of the tripeptide was investigated as a function of solvents, by NOESY and variable temperature (VT) 19F NMR experiments.
Contralateral shoe-lift: Effect on oxygen cost of walking with an immobilized knee☆

Abstract Objective: Evaluate the effect of a contralateral shoe-lift on the oxygen cost of walking with an artificially immobilized knee. Design: A prospective quantitative evaluation of oxygen cost of walking under varying conditions. Subjects walked (1) normally (N), (2) with one knee immobilized (I), (3) with one knee immobilized and with a one-half-inch shoe-lift applied to the contralateral shoe (I12″L), and (4) with one knee immobilized and with a one-inch shoe-lift (I1″L). Setting: Exercise physiology laboratory. Subjects: Ten able-bodied subjects without known cardiopulmonary or musculoskeletal problems. Main Outcome Measure: Breath-by-breath oxygen consumption measurements in mL/kg/m. Results: Oxygen cost on average was 20% more with the knee immobilized (I) compared to normal (N) (mean difference=.0298 ± .0245mL/kg/m, p = .002). Oxygen cost was significantly less (11% versus 20% above that of normal walking) with the half-inch shoe-lift (mean difference between 12″ and I=.0167 ± .0138mL/kg/m, p = .002). Similarly, oxygen cost was significantly less (12% versus 20% above that of normal walking) with the one-inch shoe-lift (mean difference between I1″L and I=.0142 ± .0116, p = .002). Conclusion: This study demonstrates that a subject with an immobilized knee requires less energy to walk with a contralateral shoe-lift and provides scientific evidence for prescribing a shoe-lift in patients with an immobilized knee as a result of knee joint fusion, knee immobilization as a result of casting or orthotics, or spastic paretic stiff-legged gait associated with upper motor neuron disease.
Nanostructured ceramics processed from coarse powder

Abstract Ceramic powders based on aluminum oxide and zirconium oxide have been rapidly solidified from the liquid state, resulting in metastable nanostructures contained in particles of micrometer size. Thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, and thermodynamic calculations were used to investigate crystallization and phase transformations. Microstructural evolution was examined through scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Metastable phases crystallize from an amorphous phase at 850–950 °C during heating. Borosilicate glass increases deformation rates, while lanthanum oxide increases glass forming ability and allows for hot compaction in the amorphous state.
The Identification of Speech in Noise by Cochlear Implant Patients and Normal-Hearing Listeners Using 6-Channel Signal Processors

Objective To compare the recognition of vowels and sentences in noise by cochlear implant patients using a 6-channel, continuous interleaved sampling (CIS) processor and by normal-hearing subjects listening to speech processed in the manner of the implant processor and output as six amplitude-modulated sine waves. Design Subjects, 11 normal-hearing listeners and 7 cochlear implant patients, were presented natural vowels produced by men, women, and girls in /hVd/ context and sentences from the Hearing In Noise Test (HINT) lists at +15, +10, and +5 dB signal to noise ratio (SNR) for identification. Stimuli for the normal-hearing subjects were preprocessed through a simulation of a 6-channel implant processor and were output as the sum of sinusoids at the center frequencies of the analysis filters. Results For the multitalker vowels, four of the seven patients achieved scores within +/-1 standard deviation of the mean for normal-hearing listeners at +15 and +10 dB SNR. At the +5 dB SNR three patients achieved scores within +/-1 standard deviation of the mean for the normal-hearing listeners. For the HINT sentences, four of seven patients achieved scores within +/-1 standard deviation of the mean for the normal-hearing listeners at +15 dB and at +10 dB SNR and two achieved scores within that range at +5 dB SNR. Conclusion Our results extend the range of stimulus conditions, from quiet to modest amounts of noise, in which the CIS strategy allows the best performing patients to extract most, if not all, of the information available to normal-hearing subjects listening to speech processed into six channels.
Repetitive motion analysis: segmentation and event classification

Acquisition, analysis, and classification of repetitive human motion for the assessment of postural stress is of central importance to ergonomics practitioners. We present a two-threshold, multidimensional segmentation algorithm to automatically decompose a complex motion into a sequence of simple linear dynamic models. No a priori assumptions were made about the number of models that comprise the full motion or about the duration of the task cycle. A compact motion representation is obtained for each segment using parameters of a damped harmonic dynamic model. Event classification was performed using cluster analysis with the model parameters as input. Experiments demonstrate the technique on complex motion.
The structure of the wall of the rat intraacinar pulmonary artery: An electron microscopic study of microdissected preparations

Rat intraacinar arterial segments that by light microscopy lack a medial muscle layer are capable of constriction and, during pulmonary hypertension, acquire morphologically differentiated smooth muscle. These facts suggest that effector cells of smooth muscle type are present in the normal vessel wall. Studies in the literature, however, fail to agree on their location or even existence. By combining microdissection, step sectioning, and electron microscopy, we have now performed a serial study of six arterial pathways. At its proximal end, the artery has a circumferentially continuous single layer of smooth muscle cells, separated from the endothelium by a fenestrated internal elastic lamina. Myoendothelial junctions are frequent and incorporate basal laminae of both cell types. More distally, the internal elastic lamina is discontinuous and the smooth muscle cells lose myofilaments and dense bodies so as to resemble intermediate cells. They still form a continuous layer, however. At mid-alveolar-duct level, this layer is discontinuous, and in the most distal arteries investigated, the cells are often solitary. They lie close to the endothelial cell, but, except for localized regions of contact, are separated from it by a single basal lamina that is continuous with one covering their abluminal surface.
Association of Polymorphisms in Natural Killer Cell–Related Genes With Preterm Birth

Preterm birth, which affects approximately 12% of US births (1), has significant medical and societal implications, including increased risk of neonatal death and both acute and chronic medical and neurocognitive disease (2). Although the earliest preterm births have the most severe outcomes (3), late preterm births comprise the majority (74.1%) (4) of preterm births and also are associated with increased risk of death and respiratory difficulties (5). Having had a previous preterm birth is one of the strongest maternal risk factors for a subsequent preterm birth. In addition to environmental exposures that might persist between pregnancies, this risk could reflect innate susceptibility factors from maternal genes (6–8). Although several candidate pathways have been identified (9), inflammatory pathways have been a particular focus because pregnancy is a state of altered immune function (10–13). Pregnancy appears to involve a global shift toward defensive immunity (14–17). In particular, T cells and natural killer (NK) cells decrease in both number and function over the course of pregnancy (14), and both cell types have been linked to initiation of labor before term (18, 19). Candidate genes involved in inflammation have been examined in several diverse populations (20–38), although many of the studies have had small case groups, and few have addressed population stratification. Given differences in allelic frequencies in genes related to inflammatory cytokines (39), as well as differences in the risk of preterm birth (26–29, 40) among whites and African Americans, genetic ancestry is of particular importance. Existing studies with larger case groups (28–32, 41) have had few single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) per gene and often have not included regulatory regions that flank genes. Using the Pregnancy, Infection, and Nutrition Cohort, we expanded candidate genes to include lesser-studied genes in the critical T cell and NK cell pathways and deepened the per-gene SNP coverage while addressing issues of population stratification. We additionally improved on previous studies by incorporating novel statistical methodology to identify gene-based associations, and we used inverse probability of selection modeling to account for any differences between the genotyped and parent cohort. In this article, we describe our findings for polymorphisms in 30 candidate genes and the risk of preterm birth.
Das binäre System Magnesiumoxyd‐Silicium‐2‐oxyd

Das Gleichgewicht des binaren Systemes MgO—SiO2 wurde untersucht unter Anwendung des Abschreckungsverfahrens.
The Static and Dynamic Responses of Binary Mixture Perfluoropolyether Lubricant Films— Molecular Structural Effects

Static and dynamic properties of single-component perfluoropolyether (PFPE) lubricants have been studied for optimal lubricant selection by examining the molecular conformations that influence the thickness and the mobility for the self-healing capability in lubricant nanofilms. In this paper, we examine the physiochemical properties of the mixture of these two PFPEs using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to find an optimal blend ratio to meet the stringent requirements for disk lubricants of ultra-low head media spacing (HMS). A coarse-grained, bead-spring model was used to model the polymer nanoblends using functional and nonfunctional PFPEs. We examined the static and dynamic responses of binary PFPE films as a function of the molecular structures including end-group functionality. The effect of the functional end-group on the static structures was examined by simulating the parallel and perpendicular components of the radius of gyration. The dynamic responses of various PFPE nanoblends were also simulated by explicitly calculating the self-diffusion coefficient of a tagged molecule. Polydispersity effect on nanoblends was also examined.
Highly Prevalent Coxiella sp. Bacterium in the Tick Vector Amblyomma americanum

Laboratory-reared and field-collected Amblyomma americanum ticks were hosts of a Coxiella sp. and a Rickettsia sp. While the Coxiella sp. was detected in 50 of 50 field-collected ticks, the Rickettsia sp. was absent from 32% of ticks. The Coxiella sp. showed evidence of a reduced genome and may be an obligate endosymbiont.
Compliance With Long-Term Surveillance Recommendations Following Endovascular Aneurysm Repair or Type B Aortic Dissection

Objective Lifelong surveillance is recommended for both endovascular aneurysm repair and acute, uncomplicated type B thoracic aortic dissection, though compliance remains a significant challenge. We sought to determine factors associated with failure to obtain recommended surveillance. Methods Patients surviving to discharge who had endovascular repair of thoracic (thoracic endovascular aortic aneurysm repair [TEVAR]) or abdominal aortic aneurysms (endovascular aortic aneurysm repair [EVAR]) or medical management for type B dissections from 2004-2011 were reviewed. Primary end points were compliance with follow-up and need for reintervention. Comorbidities examined included coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. Socioeconomic factors examined were age, sex, distance from hospital, discharge destination (ie, home or skilled nursing facility), and insurance type. Endoleak and sac expansion were recorded, as were complications, including endograft migration, infection or thrombosis, and aneurysm degeneration. Results Two hundred four patients, median age 71.9 years, were identified; 171 had EVAR and 33 had type B dissection. EVAR patients included 45 thoracic, 100 abdominal, and 12 thoracoabdominal endografts, as well as 7 iliac artery aneurysm repairs and 7 proximal/distal graft extensions. Median follow-up was 28 ± 10.5 months. Overall, 56% were lost to follow-up, whereas 11% never returned for surveillance after initial hospitalization. Follow-up was compared for each of the comorbidities and socioeconomic factors; none were found to significantly affect follow-up. The known complication rate was 9.3% (n = 19), with reintervention performed in 14% of EVAR/TEVAR patients. Thirty-eight percent of medically managed patients with type B dissections eventually required surgical intervention. All-cause 5-year mortality was 27% as determined by the Social Security Death Index. Conclusions Despite a significant rate of reintervention following EVAR, TEVAR, and type B dissection, long-term compliance with surveillance is limited. In addition, predicting who is at risk of being lost to follow-up remains difficult. If current recommendations for lifelong surveillance are to be followed, coordinated protocols are required to capture EVAR, TEVAR, and type B dissection patients to ensure optimal follow-up for these patients. However, the lack of survival benefit in those with complete follow-up suggests that further study is needed with regard to ideal duration of long-term follow-up.
Deciphering the Electron Transport Pathway for Graphene Oxide Reduction by Shewanella oneidensis MR-1

We determined that graphene oxide reduction by Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 requires the Mtr respiratory pathway by analyzing a range of mutants lacking these proteins. Electron shuttling compounds increased the graphene oxide reduction rate 3- to 5-fold. These results may help facilitate the use of bacteria for large-scale graphene production.
Test of tau neutrino interactions with atmospheric neutrinos and K2K data

The presence of a tau component in the flux of atmospheric neutrinos inside the Earth, due to flavor oscillations, makes these neutrinos a valuable probe of interactions of the tau neutrino with matter. We study---analytically and numerically---the effects of nonstandard interactions in the ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{e}\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\nu}}_{\ensuremath{\tau}}$ sector on atmospheric neutrino oscillations, and calculate the bounds on the exotic couplings that follow from combining the atmospheric neutrino and K2K data. We find very good agreement between numerical results and analytical predictions derived from the underlying oscillation physics. While improving on existing accelerator bounds, our bounds still allow couplings of the size comparable to the standard weak interaction. The inclusion of new interactions expands the allowed region of the vacuum oscillation parameters towards smaller mixing angles, $0.2\ensuremath{\lesssim}{sin﻿}^{2}{\ensuremath{\theta}}_{23}\ensuremath{\lesssim}0.7$, and slightly larger mass squared splitting, $1.5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{e}{\mathrm{V}}^{2}\ensuremath{\lesssim}|\ensuremath{\Delta}{m}_{23}^{2}|\ensuremath{\lesssim}4.0\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{e}{\mathrm{V}}^{2}$, compared to the standard case. The impact of the K2K data on all these results is significant; further important tests of the ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{e}\ensuremath{-}{\ensuremath{\nu}}_{\ensuremath{\tau}}$ exotic couplings will come from neutrino beam experiments such as MINOS and long baseline projects.
LiteRace: effective sampling for lightweight data-race detection

Data races are one of the most common and subtle causes of pernicious concurrency bugs. Static techniques for preventing data races are overly conservative and do not scale well to large programs. Past research has produced several dynamic data race detectors that can be applied to large programs. They are precise in the sense that they only report actual data races. However, dynamic data race detectors incur a high performance overhead, slowing down a program's execution by an order of magnitude.In this paper we present LiteRace, a very lightweight data race detector that samples and analyzes only selected portions of a program's execution. We show that it is possible to sample a multithreaded program at a low frequency, and yet, find infrequently occurring data races. We implemented LiteRace using Microsoft's Phoenix compiler. Our experiments with several Microsoft programs, Apache, and Firefox show that LiteRace is able to find more than 70% of data races by sampling less than 2% of memory accesses in a given program execution.
Risk, Race, & Recidivism: Predictive Bias and Disparate Impact

One way to unwind mass incarceration without compromising public safety is to use risk assessment instruments in sentencing and corrections. Although these instruments figure prominently in current reforms, critics argue that benefits in crime control will be offset by an adverse effect on racial minorities. Based on a sample of 34,794 federal offenders, we examine the relationships among race, risk assessment (the Post Conviction Risk Assessment [PCRA]), and future arrest. First, application of well-established principles of psychological science revealed little evidence of test bias for the PCRA — the instrument strongly predicts arrest for both Black and White offenders and a given score has essentially the same meaning — i.e., same probability of recidivism — across groups. Second, Black offenders obtain higher average PCRA scores than White offenders (d= 0.34; 13.5% non-overlap in groups’ scores), so some applications could create disparate impact. Third, most (66%) of the racial difference in PCRA scores is attributable to criminal history — which is already embedded in sentencing guidelines. Finally, criminal history is not a proxy for race, but instead mediates the relationship between race and future arrest . Data are more helpful than rhetoric, if the goal is to improve practice at this opportune moment in history.
Association of left ventricular longitudinal strain with central venous oxygen saturation and serum lactate in patients with early severe sepsis and septic shock.

In septic shock, assessment of cardiac function often relies on invasive central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2). Ventricular strain is a non-invasive method of assessing ventricular wall deformation and may be a sensitive marker of heart function. We hypothesized that it may have a relationship with ScvO2 and lactate. We prospectively performed transthoracic echocardiography in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock and measured (1) left ventricular longitudinal strain from a four-chamber view and (2) ScvO2. We excluded patients for whom image quality was inadequate or for whom ScvO2 values were unobtainable. We determined the association between strain and ScvO2 with logistic and linear regression, using covariates of mean arterial pressure, central venous pressure, and vasopressor dose. We determined the association between strain and lactate. We considered strain greater than −17 % as abnormal and strain greater than −10 % as severely abnormal. We studied 89 patients, 68 of whom had interpretable images. Of these patients, 42 had measurable ScvO2. Sixty percent of patients had abnormal strain, and 16 % had severely abnormal strain. Strain is associated with low ScvO2 (linear coefficient −1.05, p =0.006; odds ratio 1.23 for ScvO2 <60 %, p =0.016). Patients with severely abnormal strain had significantly lower ScvO2 (56.1 % vs. 67.5 %, p <0.01) and higher lactate (2.7 vs. 1.9 mmol/dl, p =0.04) than those who did not. Strain was significantly different between patients, based on a threshold ScvO2 of 60 % (−13.7 % vs. -17.2 %, p =0.01) but not at 70 % (−15.0 % vs. −18.2 %, p =0.08). Left ventricular strain is associated with low ScvO2 and hyperlactatemia. It may be a non-invasive surrogate for adequacy of oxygen delivery during early severe sepsis or septic shock.
Is There an Increasing Regionalization of Surgical Repair of Craniosynostosis Procedures Into Teaching Hospitals? Implications of Regionalization

Objective The objective of the present study is to examine whether surgical repairs for craniosynostosis have been regionalized to teaching hospitals over the 8-year period from 2003 to 2010. Design Retrospective analysis of hospital discharge database. Setting Nationwide Inpatient Sample for years 2003 to 2010. All patients aged up to 3 years who had a surgical repair for craniosynostosis were selected. Interventions Surgical repair for craniosynostosis. Main Outcome Measures Performance of surgery in a teaching hospital. Results During the study period (years 2003 to 2010), a total of 19,417 patients aged up to 3 years underwent a surgical repair for craniosynostosis. The number of surgical procedures increased during the study period. It ranged from 1628 procedures in year 2003 to 3001 procedures during 2010. Data show that 83.3% of all procedures in 2003 were performed in teaching hospitals; whereas, 97.5% of procedures in 2010 were performed in teaching hospitals. Following adjustment for patient-lev...
A scheme for privacy-preserving data dissemination

An adequate level of trust must be established between prospective partners before an interaction can begin. In asymmetric trust relationships, one of the interacting partners is stronger. The weaker partner can gain a higher level of trust by disclosing private information. Dissemination of sensitive data owned by the weaker partner starts at this moment. The stronger partner can propagate data to others, who may then choose to spread data further. The proposed scheme for privacy-preserving data dissemination enables control of data by their owner (such as a weaker partner). It relies on the ideas of bundling sensitive data with metadata, an apoptosis of endangered bundles, and an adaptive evaporation of bundles in suspect environments. Possible applications include interactions among patients and healthcare providers, customers and businesses, researchers, and suppliers of their raw data. They will contribute to providing privacy guarantees, which are indispensable for the realization of the promise of pervasive computing
Growth in a Biofilm Induces a Hyperinfectious Phenotype in Vibrio cholerae

Biofilm formation plays a multifaceted role in the life cycles of a wide variety of microorganisms. In the case of pathogenic Vibrio cholerae, biofilm formation in its native aquatic habitats is thought to aid in persistence during interepidemic seasons and to enhance infectivity upon oral ingestion. The structure of V. cholerae biofilms has been hypothesized to protect the bacteria during passage through the stomach. Here, we directly test the role of biofilm architecture in the infectivity of V. cholerae by comparing the abilities of intact biofilms, dispersed biofilms, and planktonic cells to colonize the mouse small intestine. Not only were V. cholerae biofilms better able to colonize than planktonic cells, but the structure of the biofilm was also found to be dispensable: intact and dispersed biofilms colonized equally, and both vastly out-colonized planktonic cells. The infectious dose for biofilm-derived V. cholerae was orders of magnitude lower than that of planktonic cells. This biofilm-induced hyperinfectivity may be due in part to a higher growth rate of biofilm-derived cells during infection. These results suggest that the infectious dose of naturally occurring biofilms of V. cholerae may be much lower than previously estimated using cells grown planktonically in vitro. Furthermore, this work implies the existence of factors specifically induced during growth in a biofilm that augment infection by V. cholerae.
For BJ at 60: A Student's Random Recollection in Lieu of a Tribute

Sometime in 1987, not longafter Dr Festus Iyayi, together with three other colleagues, had been dismissed from the University of Benin (Uniben) as punishment by the Babangida military regime for his social commitment and vibrant leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), I joined him and two other comrades on a solidarity-building visit to Obafemi Awolowo University in Ife. It still bore its old name of University of Ife then. Chief Awolowo, for whom the university would soon be renamed, had recently joined the ancestors and a poem I wrote to commemorate my feelings, indistinct to me now, had made it to print in The African Guardian, due mostly to the benevolent view Okey Ndibe, the magazine’s editor, had of it. It was my second year at Uniben, where I was a law student with all his heart and half his head in literature. Before setting out, I had shown the poem to Iyayi who after very encouraging words said, “You have to meet BJ.” I already knew the famous nickname from the circle in which I had begun to mingle ever since I was introduced to Odia Ofeimun two years earlier. Besides, BJ’s was one of the most recognisable names in the lively discourse on Nigerian literatures that had then found a bridge from the universities to the public arena through the justly celebrated but short-lived Guardian Literary Series of The Guardian of Lagos; a weekly feast for the Nigerian literati, especially for us aspiring writers.
Marine Oil Biodegradation

Crude oil has been part of the marine environment for millions of years, and microbes that use its rich source of energy and carbon are found in seawater, sediments, and shorelines from the tropics to the polar regions. Catastrophic oil spills stimulate these organisms to "bloom" in a reproducible fashion, and although oil does not provide bioavailable nitrogen, phosphorus or iron, there are enough of these nutrients in the sea that when dispersed oil droplets dilute to low concentrations these low levels are adequate for microbial growth. Most of the hydrocarbons in dispersed oil are degraded in aerobic marine waters with a half-life of days to months. In contrast, oil that reaches shorelines is likely to be too concentrated, have lower levels of nutrients, and have a far longer residence time in the environment. Oil that becomes entrained in anaerobic sediments is also likely to have a long residence time, although it too will eventually be biodegraded. Thus, data that encompass everything from the ecosystem to the molecular level are needed for understanding the complicated process of petroleum biodegradation in marine environments.
Appraising the Papers of State Legislators

Many state archival agencies have done little to appraise and preserve office files created by state legislators, and few private repositories have collected these papers on a systematic or comprehensive basis. Professional literature that could provide guidance, either by example or by prescription, for the disposition of these files, is virtually nonexistent. This article attempts to take a first step to remedy that situation by identifying the kinds of papers most likely to appear in legislators' files, discussing the conditions of their creation and official use, and suggesting their possible usefulness to a variety of potential researchers. Rather than finding a model or a list of ready-made appraisal decisions, however, readers are asked to consider various alternatives and to draw their own conclusions based on the needs of individual repositories with their own collecting policies and obligations to parent agencies or user constituencies.
Few Papers Use Online Techniques to Improve Public Communication

A content analysis of 47 online newspaper sites finds that few newspapers are using the Internet's interactive technologies to improve the coverage of public affairs.
Accelerated Degradation of Methyl Isothiocyanate in Soil

Methyl isothiocyanate (MITC, CH3NCS) is the primary breakdown product of metam-sodium, and a potential replacement fumigant pesticide for methyl bromide. Methyl isothiocyanate is toxic and has a high potential for volatilization, therefore, minimizing its atmospheric emission is of the utmost importance. One method to reduce fumigant emissions is to enhance their degradation by incorporating organic amendments into the soil surface. In this study we determined the combined effect of temperature and chicken manure application rate on the degradation of MITC. The degradation of MITC was significantly accelerated by both increasing temperature and amendment rate. Differences between sterile and nonsterile degradation kinetics in unamended and organically amended soil indicate that MITC degradation is equally controlled by chemical and biological processes. The amelioration of soil with organic amendments should be further considered when designing fumigation practices that allow for reduced emissions.
Diabetes in the elderly: studies dispel common misconceptions.

Diabetes in the elderly is common but often not diagnosed and treated well. A rational approach to treatment can improve patients' quality of life and reduce long-term complications.
Abstract 3676: A selective small molecule inhibitor of c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1

The c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) are members of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase family. The jnk1 and jnk2 genes are expressed ubiquitously, whereas jnk3 has a limited pattern of expression and is largely restricted to brain, heart, and testis. The JNKs signal transduction pathway was shown to play an important role in coordinating various cellular responses including apoptosis, proliferation, and neoplastic transformation. Indiscriminately suppressing the activity of all three c-Jun N-terminal kinase isoforms, JNK1, JNK2, and JNK3, is probably not an appropriate strategy because each JNK appears to have a distinct function in cancer, asthma, diabetes, and Parkinson9s disease. However, until now, isoform selective inhibitors for JNK1 over JNK2 or JNK3 activities have not been developed. Therefore, using structure-based design, we developed (in-house) a selective isoform inhibitor that showed a selective inhibitory effect against JNK1, but not JNK2 or JNK3. We found that 7-(6-N-Phenylaminohexyl)amino-2H-anthra[1,9-cd]pyrazol-6-one (AV-7) suppressed JNK1 activity, with no effect on either JNK2 or JNK3, in vitro. In cell culture systems, we also found that AV-7 inhibited JNK1 activity dose-dependently. In contrast to SP600125, a non-selective JNKs inhibitor, that binds to the ATP active site, AV-7 was designed to target the protein-protein interaction between JNK1 and its binding partner(s) rather than the ATP binding site. At 10 μM, AV-7 specifically inhibited JNK1 by about 50%. The phosphorylation of c-Jun by JNKs induces c-Jun transactivation and transcriptional activity through the formation of a protein complex with c-Fos or ATF1 (i.e., AP-1 complex). c-Jun/AP-1 enhances transcription by binding to the promoter region of many genes. We found that AV-7 inhibits UVB-induced c-Jun phosphorylation and sub-G1 accumulation in JNK2 −/− MEFs, which express only JNK1, but had no effect on c-Jun in JNK1 −/− MEFs, which only express JNK2. These results demonstrate that AV-7 is an isoform selective JNK1 inhibitor. In humans, JNKs play a key role in obesity-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus and the absence of JNK1 results in decreased adiposity, significantly improved insulin sensitivity and an enhanced insulin receptor signaling capacity in mouse obesity models. Therefore, we suggest that because of JNK19s critical role in diabetes, AV-7 might have therapeutic potential against this devastating disease. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3676.
How Can Anti-Imperialism Not Be Anti-Racist?The North American Anti-Globalization Movement

The anti-globalization movement is resolutely anti-imperialist, and increasingly says so. It works on issues of economic, political, and cultural justice and autonomy of indigenous people and the Global South, as well as workers and oppressed people in the Global North. Despite this good work, the North American segment of the movement has been harshly criticized by anti-racists within and outside the movement. This paper examines the anti-racist discourse about the movement. It begins with a comprehensive survey of the data available on these issues. The following analysis pursues a number of dimensions, ?nding that movement framing by activists as well as outsiders has played a powerful role in alienating anti-racists from the anti-globalization movement, thatanti-racists are not satis?ed by the way in which the anti-globalization movement connects the global and the local, that it is organizing strategy (neither goals nor tactics) that is often a source of con?ict, that this strategic di?erence re?ects assumptions of how empowerment happens and of subjectivities of proto-activists, that the anti-globalization movements assumptions are rooted in a white cultural individualism, and that this individualism also explains why countercultural politics are often experienced as exclusionary by activists of colour. The paper concludes by suggesting the use of Massimo deAngelis re-articulation of the meanings and practices of responsibility and solidarity in the anti-globalization movement.
Embedded system development kit for testing and controlling based on ARM and DSP

At present,most embedded products for testing and controlling applied in the industry are not advanced and universal enough.The embedded system development kit for testing and controlling based on ARM and DSP was presented in this paper.This development kit combined the high-speed computational capability of DSP with the strong controlling capability of ARM,which could fulfill most application requirements of middle or low speed embedded system for testing and controlling.With its good capability,this development kit has been applied in several projects successfully.
Urinary Prostate Specific Antigen Levels: Role in Monitoring the Response of Prostate Cancer to Therapy

We have shown that prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels can be as readily obtained from voided urine as from serum samples. This procedure was found to give stable and reproducible results. PSA analyses were performed on voided urine collected from 42 patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), 27 with stage D2 prostate cancer and 57 after radical prostatectomy. The 42 BPH samples had a mean urinary PSA level of 216 ng./ml., which did not correlate with estimated prostate size. For 4 of 5 patients with stage D2 disease who presented before hormonal therapy urinary PSA levels were greater than 50 ng./ml. For 22 stage D2 patients seen after initiation of hormonal therapy the majority had low urinary PSA levels. After initiation of hormonal therapy in most cases low urinary PSA levels were found in conjunction with high serum PSA values. However, in other cases we found high urinary PSA with low serum PSA levels. Of 43 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy for stages A to C disease it was noteworthy that 77% had elevated urinary PSA levels, while only 33% had elevated serum levels. Therefore, close to 80% of these patients have prostate tissue remaining locally after this operation.
Laryngeal and diaphragmatic muscle activities and airflow patterns after birth in premature lambs

The nature and control of early neonatal respiratory patterns were determined in 10 premature, asphyxiated lambs. Severe retardation of early expiratory airflow (braking) characterized an initial pattern (A), but was absent in a final one (B). During a transition pattern (pattern T), pattern A and B airflow types occurred. Close temporal relationships between the airflow patterns and posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA), thyroarytenoid (TA), and diaphragm (D) integrated muscle activities were demonstrated quantitatively. Specifically, in pattern A, the duration of braked expiratory airflow was related to the durations of TA burst activity and the absence of PCA burst activity (r2 = 0.99). In pattern A, pH, but not arterial PCO2 or arterial PO2, differed from that in patterns T and B [7.01 +/- 0.14 (A), 7.11 +/- 0.12 (T), 7.19 +/- 0.08 (B) (P < 0.03)]. Within-breath airflow and respiratory muscle activity relationships and differences in neural and mechanical respiratory timing intervals between patterns suggested that neural feedback was important in the control of central pattern generation. Thus activities of PCA, TA, and D shape the early neonatal airflow patterns and are influenced mainly by neuromechanical, and not chemical, feedback.
An Introduction to Access 2013

ABSTRACT This project introduces students to database design and implementation using Access 2013. It is appropriate for use in accounting or management information systems undergraduate or graduate courses to satisfy learning objectives associated with developing database design and implementation skills, and understanding and implementing application controls. To complete the project, students should have an understanding of business models, entity integrity and referential integrity rules, and the concept of cardinalities. The project can be completed in or out of class and takes about 1–2 hours. This resource includes a tutorial and sample final assessment, with solutions. Upon completion, students will be able to create tables, forms, queries, and reports and understand and enable data input validation controls within Access 2013.
What I Learned About Politics on Campus

In the fall of 1986, I agreed to meet with a handful of students and a Policy Studies professor to discuss undergraduate education at Syracuse University. I had no idea that four years later I would be referred to as “founding member and president of Undergraduates for a Better Education.” I'm still trying to sort out what exactly happened and how it affected me. It's true that, in the beginning, I was idealistic and had hopes for great improvement at the university. It's also true that the more I learned about how the university works, the less confident I felt that anything could be accomplished by an energetic, but somewhat naive group of students. At this point, I'm wavering between “Wow. I was president of a national student organization” and “Higher education is a mess and it will always be a mess and what good did any of it do?” In spite of this indecision about what I actually accomplished, I have little doubt about what I learned. Structural problems do largely account for a university's shortcomings. Many of our proposals for change were met with an administrator's explanation of logistical problems. At first, we were convinced that our ideas were being brushed away with excuses. I finally began to realize that there are serious structural problems in university communities which prevent even small changes from being made. One dean told us early on, “You fix one problem, you get twenty more.” I didn't really believe him at the time. Now I do. Also, there are structural problems in motivating students to take steps toward improvement. It's not easy to find a student who will complain about an incompetent professor who teaches a ridiculously easy course.