cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Efficacy and safety of torcetrapib, a novel cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitor, in individuals with below-average high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels on a background of atorvastatin.

Objectives This study sought to evaluate the efficacy and safety of torcetrapib in patients with low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels receiving background atorvastatin. Background Elevating HDL-C levels may reduce the residual cardiovascular risk that is observed in patients treated with statin therapy. Torcetrapib (a cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitor) increases HDL-C and decreases low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Methods This was a multicenter, double-blind, randomized trial. Patients with below-average HDL-C (men 130 mg/dl at screening entered an 8-week run-in period with atorvastatin 20 mg/day before randomization (n = 174) to torcetrapib 10, 30, 60, or 90 mg/day or placebo for 8 weeks. Atorvastatin was continued during treatment with torcetrapib. Results After 8 weeks, the percent change from baseline with torcetrapib (least-squares mean difference from placebo) ranged from 8.3% to 40.2% for HDL-C (p ≤ 0.0001 for 30-mg and higher doses) and from 0.6% to −18.9% for LDL-C (p Conclusions In statin-eligible patients, torcetrapib plus background atorvastatin resulted in substantial, dose-dependent increases in HDL-C, accompanied by additional decreases in LDL-C beyond those seen with atorvastatin alone. Torcetrapib plus atorvastatin was generally well tolerated.
Midterm clinical and radiographic results with the genesis I total knee prosthesis.

Abstract The midterm results of primary posterior cruciate ligament–retaining, minimally conforming, cemented modular total knee arthroplasties using the Genesis I prosthesis in 110 knees in 72 patients were reviewed. Patients were evaluated at a mean follow-up of 7.3 years by Knee Society pain and functional scores, radiographic and survivorship analysis, and Western Ontario and MacMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) health status questionnaire. Range of motion increased from an average of 96.3° to 112.5°. Knee Society pain and functional scores increased from preoperative averages of 55 and 44 to 92 and 88, respectively. There were 91 excellent, 16 good, 1 fair, and 2 poor results. WOMAC scores were increased significantly in each subcategory examined (pain, stiffness, and physical function). Kaplan-Meier survivorship was 97% at 10 years. An increase in loosening as a result of eccentric stress concentration secondary to the nonconforming design of this prosthesis, theoretically a matter of some clinical concern, was not shown in this investigation.
Electrochemical etching of patterned Al (1 0 0) foils in HCl

Electrochemical etching of photo-lithographically patterned Al (1 0 0) foils in HCl results in the formation of structures, which are composed of two regions. Crystallographic cubic pits, which are typically observed during the etching of blanket Al (1 0 0), are generated in the unmasked areas. The growth of pits proceeds in three orthogonal [1 0 0] directions. In the masked regions, Al is preserved under the etching mask. The FIB-SEM indicates that the interface between the masked and unmasked regions is vertical. However, masking is confined to the top Al surface and Al is etched under the mask if the etching time exceeds a threshold.
Identification and expression of voltage-gated calcium channel β subunits in Zebrafish

Voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCC) play important roles in electrically excitable cells and embryonic development. The VGCC β subunits are essential for membrane localization of the channel and exert modulatory effects on channel functions. In mammals, the VGCC β subunit gene family contains four members. In zebrafish, there appear to be seven VGCC β subunits including the previously identified β1 subunit. cDNAs for six additional VGCC β subunit homologs were identified in zebrafish, their chromosomal locations determined and their expression patterns characterized during embryonic development. These six genes are primarily expressed in the nervous system with cacnb4a also expressed in the developing heart. Sequence homology, genomic synteny and expression patterns suggest that there are three pairs of duplicate genes for β2, β3, and β4 in zebrafish with distinct expression patterns during embryonic development. Developmental Dynamics 237:3842–3852, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Building a Bayesian network model of heart disease

Bayesian networks [2] represent a promising technique for clinical decision support and provide powerful capabilities for representing uncertain knowledge, including a flexible representation of probability distributions that allows one to specify dependence and independence of variables in a natural way through the network topology. Because dependencies are expressed qualitatively as links between nodes, one can structure the domain knowledge qualitatively before any numeric probabilities need to be assigned.
Programmed electrical stimulation to determine the need for antiarrhythmic therapy in patients with complex ventricular ectopic activity

Abstract Patients with complex ventricular ectopy (≥ Lown grade III) and organic heart disease (OHD) are at increased risk for sudden cardiac death. Despite this fact, many such patients will remain free of symptomatic ventricular arrhythmia and thus are unnecessarily exposed to antiarrhythmic drug toxicity and arrhythmic potentiation. Programmed stimulation (PS) was used to direct therapy in 88 patients with asymptomatic ventricular ectopy complicating OHD. Thirty-three had inducible ventricular tachycardia (VT) and underwent treatment. The 55 patients without inducible VT (≤6 repetitive ventricular responses) are the focus of this study. Three patients required treatment for persistent cardiac awareness. The remaining 52 have been followed for 22 months off antiarrhythmic drugs and all have remained free of subsequent major arrhythmic events. Therefore, in patients with complex ventricular ectopy, OHD, and absence of prior symptomatic ventricular arrhythmia, (1) PS identifies patients at low risk for future disabling or life-threatening arrhythmic episodes and (2) patients with absence of inducible VT can usually be managed without antiarrhythmic drugs.
Advances in silicon carbide micro- and nano-electro-mechanical systems fabrication technology and applications

This paper provides a background on the features and benefits of silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductor platform for microsystems applications. It then focuses on our work at Case Western Reserve University to develop and disseminate this platform technology in order to harvest its benefits for advancing instrumentation and control in operating environments that are beyond the reach of the material capabilities of silicon. We focus on highlights from our interests and pursuits in the last five years.
Policy mechanisms for supply chain coordination

The problem is to determine a review period and stocking policy that are mutually beneficial to a producer and a retailer. In our model, the retailer uses a periodic review, base stock policy for ordering the item from the producer's Distribution Center (DC). Excess customer demand is assumed to be lost. A make-to-order production system supplies to the DC. We show that given a review period, unless the manufacturer agrees to share the cost of carrying a fraction of the safety stocks at the retailer, the two will not agree upon the level of stocks to be carried in the store. We prove that there is an equilibrium value for this fraction, such that the retailer and the manufacturer are always in agreement with regard to the stocking level. We then show that complete coordination on the stocking level as well as the review period can be achieved solely through carrying out negotiations on credit terms. These theoretical results are used to construct an algorithm for calculating the optimal policy parameters ...
The search for a schizotypal personality: historical origins and current status.

Abstract Recently a new diagnostic category, “schizotypal personality disorder” (SPD), has been introduced into the psychiatric literature as part of the development of the DSM-III classiffication of psychiatric disorders. 1 Its development represents an attempt to clarify diagnostic usage in a currently murky area of psychiatric nomenclature. This territory encompasses individuals who have, in the past, been thought to have a close phenemonologic or biologic relatedness to schizophrenia without its severity of psychopathology. Among the reasons for urgently seeking diagnostic clarity in this area are: 1. 1) Recognition of schizotypal traits indicating the presence of genetic factors related to schizophrenia may enhance the power of genetic analyses of schizophrenia. 2 2. 2) Studies of schizophrenia requiring control groups could exclude nonschizophrenic persons with a genetic diathesis to schizophrenia. 3 3. 3) A clearer characterization of schizophrenia-related phenotypes might allow more informed studies of environmental factors that may precipitate or forestall the development of overt psychoses in individuals who are genetically vulnerable to schizophrenia. 4. 4) Individuals with SPD and their families may have specific and heretofore unrecognized treatment needs. 5. 5) The relationship between presently overlapping formulations of personality disorders such as SPD and borderline personality disorder (BPD) could be further clarified and perhaps better discriminated. The purpose of this paper is to review the historical origins of the schizotypal category, the developments that led to its inclusion in DSM-III, and the issues that still need to be addressed. We expect to show that although the concept of a schizotypal personality is quite useful, the specific criteria that might best define it remain to be ascertained. However, we are increasingly able to do the more definitive studies that are needed to develop valid criteria for this disorder.
Hemoglobin function in a skin-breathing aquatic salamander, Desmognathus quadramaculatus

Abstract Adult black-bellied salamanders (Desmognathus quadramaculatus) were maintained in humidified gas at 12 °C. Hypoxic salamanders were exposed to 8.1–9.6% O2 for 10–11 days; normaoxic animals were maintained in air (20.9% O2). Hypoxia acclimation had no effect on blood O2 affinity, O2 equilibrium curve shape or CO2 Bohr effect. At pH 7.7, P50 values for hypoxic and normoxic salamanders were 28.2 ± 0.4 and 28.6 ± 0.8 Torr, respectively. Hill plots were curvilinear for both treatments; Hill's n increased from values of 2.1–2.2 below 40% saturation (S) to 2.6 above 50% S. CO2 Bohr slopes ( Δlog P 50 Δ pH ) were −0.19 ± 0.01 and −0.23 ± 0.02 for hypoxic and normoxic animals, respectively. Resting MO2 for a separate group of normoxic salamanders fell into two categories; low ṀO2 (1.46 ± 0.16 μmol·g−1·h−1) and high ṀO2 (3.51 ± 0.52) animals. Exposures to 5 and 25% CO had no effect on ṀO2 of low metabolism Desmognathus, but reduced ṀO2 of high metabolism animals to levels similar to the low ṀO2 group. Hb–O2 binding results suggest that D. quadramaculatus blood is ideally suited for respiratory O2 exchange during normoxic activity. While submerged and inactive, hypoxic boundary layers surround the skin-breather. Contributions of Hb during hypoxic inactivity may be to augment O2 content and increase blood buffering capacity.
New organic and organometallic salts for second-order nonlinear optics

A series of organometallic and organic salts, in which the cation has been designed to have a large molecular hyperpolarizability, has been prepared. Variation of the counterion (anion) in many cases leads to materials with large powder second harmonic generation (SHG) efficiencies, the highest of which is roughly 2000 times that of a urea reference.
A NEW PARTITION OF THE ATOMIC POLAR TENSOR : THE BENZENE MOLECULE

Abstract Gradient corrected exchange-correlation functional (BLYP) gives excellent predictions of the dipole moment derivatives and IR intensities of benzene. A new partition, generalized charge-charge flux overlap (GCCFO) analysis of the atomic polar tensor (APT) has been proposed based on Cioslowski's generalized APT and compared with CCFO, The GCCFO shows near independence on the choice of the basis sets. There is no qualitative difference between the APT for the in plane and the out of plane modes, as would be required by the rehybridization moment model. The purely quantum mechanical overlap term is too large to be neglected.
Single and joint segregation of marker loci in the shiitake mushroom, Lentinus edodes.

Single locus segregation was examined electrophoretically for six biochemical marker loci in single-spore-derived lines of Lentinus edodes. Only single banded electrophoretic patterns were observed, reflective of the hemizygous genetic constitution of these lines. Single locus segregation data for Aat-1 in one heterozygous line (131) was nonrandom by the chi-square test. Since only single spore recombinants for Aat-1 in this line were recovered and since another line (296) examined for Aat-1 segregated in Mendelian ratios, it is postulated that a locus carrying a lethal allele is tightly linked with Aat-1. One classical linkage was found (Gpi with Pgk, r=0.049) among 9 pairwise examinations for joint segregation.
The developmental self-valuing theory: A practical approach for business ethics

Ethics in business has been an increasingly controversial and important topic of discussion over the last decade. Debate continues about whether ethics should be a part of business, but also includes how business can implement ethical theory in day-to-day operations. Most discussions focus on either traditional moral philosophy, which offers little of practical value for the business community, or psychological theories of moral reasoning, which have been shown to be flawed and incomplete. The theory presented here is called the Developmental Self-Valuing Theory, and adapts the general psychological theory of Albert Bandura for ethics in business. In this theory, individuals first learn moral values from associations with others who are significant in their lives. Secondly, self-regulation is learned through a process of self-observation, self-judgment and self-reaction. Thirdly, the individual must believe that he can act ethically. Situational constraints and inducements, as well as positive and negative consequences for specific behaviors, will also affect the level of ethical performance. Each of these elements is examined and combined to achieve a practical method for increasing the level of ethics in corporate activity through selection, training and situational enhancement.
Information sovereignty and GIS: the evolution of “communities of interest” in political redistricting

Abstract Geographic information systems (GIS) first gained a prominent role in US political redistricting following the 1990 Census. Yet, this new technology—combined with a series of political and legal developments—raised a host of difficult questions about the nature of representation, identity, and community. In litigation, courts often referred to “communities of interest” (rather than racial groups) as appropriate political units to use in redistricting, but seldom defined these entities or described their characteristics explicitly. During the late 1990s, GIS practitioners responded to these qualitative judicial guidelines by attempting to identify, quantify and incorporate different measures of “communities of interest” in GIS redistricting databases. The evolution of this technology reflects such legal requirements and, more generally, the social and political systems in which GIS are embedded. Drawing on a set of in-depth interviews with legislative staff members in Texas, I argue that the state practices associated with the development of redistricting GIS created a system that reproduced a limited, conventional, geographically bounded conception of communities of interest. The case illustrates how “political representation” is both enabled and constrained by the kinds of graphical and conceptual representations that are possible with modern GIS. More broadly, the article uses Foucault’s principle of “governmentality” and James Scott’s idea of “legibility” to develop the concept of information sovereignty. The state filters out certain kinds of knowledge in order to maintain its legitimacy as a rational, unbiased observer, and thus helps create a GIS that offers only “thin” representations of community.
Guiding Crystallization around Bends and Sharp Corners

Control over the molecular orientation in organic thin films is demonstrated with precise in-plane spatial resolution over large areas. By exploiting the differential crystallization rates on substrates with different surface energies, the radial symmetry of spherulitic growth can be disrupted by preferentially selecting the molecular orientations that promote growth along the paths of the underlying patterns.
Reducing caregiver stress with internet-based interventions: a systematic review of open-label and randomized controlled trials.

Objective The high level of stress associated with caring for others with medical conditions has been recognized for some time. Reducing caregiver stress can improve caregiver quality of life as well as improve the care they provide to loved ones. This systematic review assesses the effectiveness of internet-based interventions to decrease caregiver stress. Materials and methods A comprehensive literature search of Ovid MEDLINE (1946–2013), Embase (1988–2013), PsycINFO (1987–2013), and CINAHL was conducted using terms related to caregiver and internet-based interventions. Internet-based interventions involving informal caregivers in an open-label or randomized controlled trial setting were included. A pair of raters independently reviewed all published abstracts. Data regarding participants, interventions, and outcomes were extracted and, for randomized trials, methodology quality was also reviewed. Results Eight open-label trials met the review criteria: three showed positive benefit in reducing caregiver stress, four were partially positive (some outcomes positive, others negative), and one was a negative study. Sixteen randomized trials met the review criteria: six showed positive benefit, five were partially positive, and five were negative. There were no clear patterns as to the variables (such as study duration and complexity of intervention) associated with better outcomes, although earlier studies typically had more negative outcomes. Discussion Internet-based interventions were mostly effective in reducing aspects of caregiver stress and improving their well-being. Further studies to assess outcomes for caregivers and their recipients’ health, different technology delivery methods, and the cost of such interventions are needed.
Increasing the Impact of Thought Leadership in Crisis Communication

I argue that the field of crisis communication must move from a positive to a normative science to improve the practice of crisis communication. Through a positive science approach, our field has d...
Co-existence of other copy number variations with 22q11.2 deletion or duplication: a modifier for variable phenotypes of the syndrome?

Background: The phenotype in patients with a 22q11.2 deletion or duplication can be extremely variable, and the causes of such as variations are not well known. Results: We observed additional copy number variations (CNVs) in 2 of 15 cases with a 22q11.2 deletion or duplication. Both cases were newborn babies referred for severe congenital heart defects. The first case had a deletion with a size of approximately 1.56 Mb involving multiple genes including STS in the Xp22.31 region along with a 22q11.2 deletion. The second case had a duplication of 605 kb in the 15q13.3 region encompassing CHRNA7 and a deletion of 209 kb involving the RBFOX1 gene in the 16p13.2 region, in addition to 22q11.2 duplication. Discussion: Our observations have shown that additional CNVs are not rare (2/15, 13%) in patients with a 22q11.2 deletion or duplication. We speculate that these CNVs may contribute to phenotype variations of 22q11.2 microdeletion/duplication syndromes as genomic modifiers.
Quantification and prediction of skin pharmacokinetics of amoxicillin and cefuroxime

The purpose of this project was to develop and validate a pharmacokinetic model and to quantify the rate and extent of distribution between plasma and skin of two beta-lactam antibiotics, amoxicillin (AMX) and cefuroxime (CFX), which are frequently administered systemically to treat skin and skin structure infections. Dosing regimens are usually based on plasma concentration, however, concentrations at the target site are better correlated with the effect. For each antibiotic, three different i.v. bolus doses were administered to three female rabbits according to a randomized cross-over design and plasma samples were collected serially. Skin concentrations were obtained by continuous microdialysis. Skin and unbound plasma concentrations were fitted simultaneously using a semi-physiological model and the transfer constants plasma/skin (K(in)) and skin/plasma (K(out)) were estimated. K(in) and K(out) were then used to predict skin concentrations from the plasma levels obtained from an oral administration of AMX or from an i.v. bolus of CFX. The predicted skin profiles were similar to those measured by microdialysis during the actual experiments. In conclusion, this study shows that it is possible to generate a reasonable prediction of skin pharmacokinetics from any plasma level once a careful characterization of the transfer process between plasma and skin has been made.
Optimizing Neoadjuvant Therapy for Rectal Cancer With Oxaliplatin

Neoadjuvant chemoradiation (CRT) is standard treatment for stage II-III rectal cancer. Fluoropyrimidine-based CRT prolongs disease-free survival over adjuvant CRT and improves local control over both adjuvant CRT and neoadjuvant radiotherapy alone, but does not prolong overall survival. New approaches to neoadjuvant therapy may improve outcome in this disease. Oxaliplatin, a standard component of chemotherapy for the treatment of both resected and metastatic colon cancer, is a potent radiosensitizer with synergistic radiosensitizing activity in combination with 5-FU in preclinical studies. Early clinical trials showed promising activity with the addition oxaliplatin to 5-FU-based CRT in stage II-III rectal cancer; however, early data from phase III trials seem to be disappointing. This article reviews the existing literature and explores the potential role of oxaliplatin as part of neoadjuvant CRT for rectal cancer.
White Faces in Intimate Spaces: Jamaican Popular Music in Global Circulation

This study explores Jamaican popular music's changing engagement with globally networked media technologies. It combines ethnographic analysis of the street dance as a site of urban poor and Black resistance to colonial institutions with an analysis of song lyrics about video cameras at street dances. Newly networked technologies for circulating visual media in global networks affect how Jamaicans perform identity. These technologies also affect street dances' social function, evoking race- and gender-related pressures that reinforce existing and historic inequalities, reshaping and limiting street dances' traditional function as a site of autonomy and resistance to colonial inequality. A better understanding of local practices can offer an alternative conceptual framework to help practitioners, scholars, and policy and technology designers avoid reinforcing those inequalities.
Dietary fish oil decreases low-density-lipoprotein clearance in nonhuman primates.

To assess whether fish oil-induced alterations in low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) composition have distinct and important effects on LDL metabolism, we evaluated LDL kinetic behavior in cynomolgus macaques fed an atherogenic diet supple- mented with either fish oil ( 1.6 g n-3 fatty acids; n = 10) or olive oil (n = 9) for � 6 mo. LDL from monkeys supplemented with fish oil or olive oil was isolated, labeled with either 1251 or and simultaneously reinjected so that each monkey received its own (autologous injection) and donor (homologous injection) LDL. For LDL injected autologously (monkeys that received their own LDL), the LDL fractional clearance rate (FCR) was reduced in fish oil-supplemented monkeys compared with the olive oil- supplemented controls (0.42 ± 0.03 compared with 0.56 ± 0.05 pools/d, P = 0.04). The cholesteryl ester content of fish oil LDL increased compared with olive oil LDL (43 ± 2% and 36 ± 3%, respectively, P = 0.03), and the LDL cholesteryl ester content was strongly correlated with autologous LDL clearance (r = -0.76, P = 0.0001). Compared with olive oil LDL, fish oil LDL had a reduced dissociation constant (KD) for binding to the LDL receptor in vitro (KD for fish oil LDL compared with olive oil LDL: 13.9 ± 1.8 and 7.4 ± 1.0 mg LDL proteinlL, P = 0.03). When both fish oil LDL and olive oil LDL were simultaneously injected into fish oil-supplemented monkeys, the FCR of fish oil LDL was de- creased compared with olive oil LDL (0.42 ± 0.03 and 0.52 ± 0.04 pools/d, P = 0.006). These data suggest that dietary supple- mentation with fish oil decreases LDL clearance, and that this effect is mediated, at least in part, by altering LDL structure and reducing the affinity of LDL for its receptor. Am J C/in Nutr 1996;64:2l5-2l.
Characterizing the anomalous cognition-emotion interactions in externalizing.

a b s t r a c t Externalizing traits are characterized by exaggerated emotional (e.g., frustration, anger) and behavioral (e.g., drug seeking, reactive aggression) reactions to motivationally significant stimuli. Explanations for this exaggerated reactivity emphasize attention, executive function, and affective processes, but the associations among these processes are rarely investigated. To examine these interactions, we measure fear potentiated startle (FPS; Experiment 1) and neural activation (Experiment 2) in an instructed fear paradigm that manipulates attentional focus, demands on executive functioning, and emotion. In both studies, exaggerated emotional reactivity associated with externalizing was specific to conditions that focused attention on threat information and placed minimal demands on executive functioning. Results suggest that a crucial cognition-emotion interaction affecting externalizing is the over-prioritization and over-allocation of attention to motivationally significant information, which in turn, may impair executive functions and affective regulation.
The Invasion of a Mustard Seed: A Reading of Mark 5.1-20

This article reads Mark’s tale of the Gerasene demoniac as a narrative explication of the parables in the preceding chapter—particularly the mustard seed—in which the kingdom of God is described in...
Mapping of RNA polymerase on mammalian genes in cells and nuclei.

Abstract The assembly of an RNA polymerase II initiation complex at a promoter is associated with the melting of the DNA template to allow the polymerase to read the DNA sequence and synthesize the corresponding RNA. Using the specific single-stranded modifying reagent KMnO4 and a new genomic sequencing technique, we have explored the melted regions of specific genes in genomic DNA of whole cells or of isolated nuclei. We have demonstrated for the first time in vivo the melting in the promoter proximal transcribed region that is associated with the presence of RNA polymerase II complexes. An interferon-inducible gene, ISG-54, exhibited KMnO4 sensitivity over approximately 300 nucleotides downstream of the RNA initiation site in interferon-treated cells when the gene was actively transcribed but not in untreated cells where the gene was not transcribed. The extent of KMnO4 modification was proportional to transcription levels. The KMnO4 sensitivity was retained when nuclei were isolated from induced cells but was lost if the engaged polymerases were further allowed to elongate the nascent RNA chains ("run-on"). The sensitivity to KMnO4 in isolated nuclei was retained if the run-on incubation was performed in the presence of alpha-amanitin, which blocks progress of engaged polymerases. A similar analysis identified an open sequence of only approximately 30 bases just downstream of the start site of the transthyretin (TTR) gene in nuclei isolated from mouse liver, a tissue where TTR is actively transcribed. This abrupt boundary of KMnO4 sensitivity, which was removed completely by allowing engaged polymerases to elongate RNA chains, suggests that most polymerases transcribing this gene paused at about position +20. The possibility of mapping at the nucleotide level the position of actively transcribing RNA polymerases in whole cells or isolated nuclei opens new prospects in the study of transcription initiation and elongation.
Brauer Groups on K3 Surfaces and Arithmetic Applications

For a prime p, we study subgroups of order p of the Brauer group Br(S) of a general complex polarized K3 surface of degree 2d, generalizing earlier work of van Geemen. These groups correspond to sublattices of index p of the transcendental lattice T S of S; we classify these lattices up to isomorphism using Nikulin’s discriminant form technique. We then study geometric realizations of p-torsion Brauer elements as Brauer-Severi varieties in a few cases via projective duality. We use one of these constructions for an arithmetic application, giving new kinds of counter-examples to weak approximation on K3 surfaces of degree two, accounted for by transcendental Brauer-Manin obstructions.
Insights in to the pathogenesis of axial spondyloarthropathy based on gene expression profiles

Introduction Axial spondyloarthropathy (SpA) is a group of inflammatory diseases, with ankylosing spondylitis as the prototype. SpA affects the axial skeleton, entheses, joints and, at times, the eyes. This study tested the hypothesis that SpA is characterized by a distinct pattern of gene expression in peripheral blood of affected individuals compared with healthy controls.
The zebrafish colourless gene regulates development of non-ectomesenchymal neural crest derivatives

Neural crest forms four major categories of derivatives: pigment cells, peripheral neurons, peripheral glia, and ectomesenchymal cells. Some early neural crest cells generate progeny of several fates. How specific cell fates become specified is still poorly understood. Here we show that zebrafish embryos with mutations in the colourless gene have severe defects in most crest-derived cell types, including pigment cells, neurons and specific glia. In contrast, craniofacial skeleton and medial fin mesenchyme are normal. These observations suggest that colourless has a key role in development of non-ectomesenchymal neural crest fates, but not in development of ectomesenchymal fates. Thus, the cls mutant phenotype reveals a segregation of ectomesenchymal and non-ectomesenchymal fates during zebrafish neural crest development. The combination of pigmentation and enteric nervous system defects makes colourless mutations a model for two human neurocristopathies, Waardenburg-Shah syndrome and Hirschsprung's disease.
Guidelines for evaluation of new fever in critically ill adult patients: 2008 update from the American College of Critical Care Medicine and the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

Objective: To update the practice parameters for the evaluation of adult patients who develop a new fever in the intensive care unit, for the purpose of guiding clinical practice. Participants: A task force of 11 experts in the disciplines related to critical care medicine and infectious diseases was convened from the membership of the Society of Critical Care Medicine and the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Specialties represented included critical care medicine, surgery, internal medicine, infectious diseases, neurology, and laboratory medicine/microbiology. Evidence: The task force members provided personal experience and determined the published literature (MEDLINE articles, textbooks, etc.) from which consensus was obtained. Published literature was reviewed and classified into one of four categories, according to study design and scientific value. Consensus Process: The task force met twice in person, several times by teleconference, and held multiple e-mail discussions during a 2-yr period to identify the pertinent literature and arrive at consensus recommendations. Consideration was given to the relationship between the weight of scientific evidence and the strength of the recommendation. Draft documents were composed and debated by the task force until consensus was reached by nominal group process. Conclusions: The panel concluded that, because fever can have many infectious and noninfectious etiologies, a new fever in a patient in the intensive care unit should trigger a careful clinical assessment rather than automatic orders for laboratory and radiologic tests. A cost-conscious approach to obtaining cultures and imaging studies should be undertaken if indicated after a clinical evaluation. The goal of such an approach is to determine, in a directed manner, whether infection is present so that additional testing can be avoided and therapeutic decisions can be made. (Crit Care Med 2008; 36:1330‐1349)
Sparse and low-rank tensor decomposition

Motivated by the problem of robust factorization of a low-rank tensor, we study the question of sparse and low-rank tensor decomposition. We present an efficient computational algorithm that modifies Leurgans' algorithm for tensor factorization. Our method relies on a reduction of the problem to sparse and low-rank matrix decomposition via the notion of tensor contraction. We use well-understood convex techniques for solving the reduced matrix sub-problem which then allows us to perform the full decomposition of the tensor. We delineate situations where the problem is recoverable and provide theoretical guarantees for our algorithm. We validate our algorithm with numerical experiments.
Emergency Departments, Acute Heart Failure, and Admissions: One Size Does Not Fit All∗

Nearly 130 million visits to emergency departments (EDs) occur every year in the United States [(1)][1]. Whether patients should have gone to the ED in the first place is frequently debated, because the ED is often viewed as an overcrowded, overused, misused, and costly resource. Yet patients rarely
Notes from the Library in Volume 12:1

"New Jersey's First Magazine" By Richard E. Amacher. Concerning "The New Jersey Magazine" "Request Denied" by Donald A. Sinclair.
Hypertension, Diabetes, and the Eye

Hypertension or high blood pressure remains a serious problem not only here in the USA but worldwide as well. In the USA, almost one in three adults are afflicted with high blood pressure (National Center for Health Statistics. Health, United States, 2008) while in Europe, it is the leading cause of long-term medical care (Special Eurobarometer, Health in the European Union, September 2007). There are varied incidences of hypertension in country with some areas having up to 50 % of the chronically treated population being treated for this condition. The sequelae of hypertension include stroke, cardiac disease, renal disease, and loss of vision to name but a few. Hypertension affecting the eye is known as hypertensive retinopathy and can cause vision loss in a number of ways. The various ways hypertension can affect the eye will be described herein.
A Comparison of three Methods for Determining the Age of Black-Tailed Jackrabbits

As part of a 5½-year ecological study, 47 jackrabbits of known ages were reared in the laboratory and killed at different intervals to establish a growth curve based on the dried weights of the lenses. The base point of the curve was established from weights of lenses taken from hares removed from females during caesarian sections and designated as zero days old. Lenses increased in weight with the age of the animal, and the ages of hares could be accurately determined up to 650 days, the age of the oldest animal killed. The epiphyseal-closure technique for determining ages was used on 2,605 humeri from hares taken in monthly kill samples. The hares were separated into 3 age-classes on the basis of the degree of closure. Weekly measurements on the hind feet and ears were taken, and the age of young hares to 12 and 14 weeks could be accurately determined on the bases of the lengths of hind feet and ears.
Advaneed Condition and Development Tendency of Contemporary Medical Equipment Management

According to the actuality of domestic medical equipment management and its main problems, development tendency of current equipment management are analyzed in four aspects of the norms of medical equipment management standards and details, the expansion of medical equipment information management in whole course, attention to medical engineering disciplines, and strengthening the quality control of medical equipment and application of security technology.
Learning styles and outcomes in clinical laboratory science.

OBJECTIVE: To compare two learning styles--reflective observation versus active experimentation--in terms of learning outcomes. DESIGN: The independent variable, student learning styles, was generally defined as styles determined by use of the Kolb's Learning Style Inventory. The styles were identified as either active experimentation or reflective observation. The dependent variables were learning outcomes that were determined by two methods: the average score on eight posttests scheduled at periodic intervals and a national certification examination score. SETTING: Clinical laboratory science education program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha and at six clinical sites in other cities across Nebraska. PARTICIPANTS: Forty senior clinical laboratory science students enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Data analysis consisted of descriptive statistics, two-way analysis of variance, two-way analysis of covariance, and repeated measures analysis of variance. RESULTS: Results showed no significant difference between the students' examination scores based on learning styles. There was no significant difference in the pattern of the examination scores over the semester of learners who were active experimenters versus reflective observers. CONCLUSION: Results of the study generally did not support the conclusions of the earlier research; students' learning styles did not affect their examination scores. No pattern in the examination scored exists in the learning style groups.
Thermal Inactivation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Ground Beef Supplemented with Sodium Lactate

A study was conducted to investigate the antimicrobial effect of sodium lactate (NaL) (0, 1.5, 3.0, and 4.5%) on the survival of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in 93% lean ground beef. Samples inoculated with a mixture of four strains of E. coli O157:H7 (10(7) to 10(8) CFU/g) were subjected to immersion heating in a water bath stabilized at 55, 57.5, 60, 62.5, or 65 degrees C. Results of statistical analysis indicated that the heating temperature was the only factor affecting the decimal reduction times (D-values) of E. coli O157:H7 in 93% lean ground beef. The change in temperature required to change the D-value (the z-value) was determined as 7.6 degrees C. The thermal resistance of this organism was neither affected by the addition of NaL nor by the interactions between NaL and temperature. Adding NaL to ground beef to reduce the thermal resistance of E. coli O157:H7 is therefore not recommended.
A Detailed Historical Review of Propellant Management Devices for Low Gravity Propellant Acquisition

This paper presents a comprehensive background and historical review of Propellant Management Devices (PMDs) used throughout spaceflight history. The purpose of a PMD is to separate liquid and gas phases within a propellant tank and to transfer vapor-free propellant from a storage tank to a transfer line en route to either an engine or receiver depot tank, in any gravitational or thermal environment. The design concept, basic flow physics, and principle of operation are presented for each type of PMD. The three primary capillary driven PMD types of vanes, sponges, and screen channel liquid acquisition devices are compared and contrasted. For each PMD type, a detailed review of previous applications using storable propellants is given, which include space experiments as well as space missions and vehicles. Examples of previous cryogenic propellant management are also presented.
Heart Failure With Improved Ejection Fraction: Clinical Characteristics, Correlates of Recovery, and Survival: Results From the Valsartan Heart Failure Trial.

Background— Heart failure with recovered or improved ejection fraction (HFiEF) has been proposed as a new category of HF. Whether HFiEF is clinically distinct from HF with persistently reduced ejection fraction remains to be validated. Methods and Results— Of the 5010 subjects enrolled in the Valsartan Heart Failure Trial (Val-HeFT), 3519 had a baseline left ventricular EF of 40% constituted the subgroup with HFiEF. EF improved from 28.7±5.6% to 46.5±5.6% in the subgroup with HFiEF and remained reduced (25.2±6.2% and 27.5±7.1%) in the subgroup with HF with reduced ejection fraction. The group with HFiEF had a less severe hemodynamic, biomarker, and neurohormonal profile, and it was treated with a more intense HF medication regimen. Subjects who had higher blood pressure and those treated with a β-blocker or randomized to valsartan had greater odds of being in the HFiEF group, whereas those with an ischemic pathogenesis, a more dilated left ventricle, and a detectable hs-troponin had lower odds of an improvement in EF. Recovery of the EF to >40% was associated with a better survival compared with persistently reduced EF. Conclusions— Our data support HFiEF as a stratum of HF with reduced ejection fraction with a more favorable outcome, which occurs in a minority of patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction who have a lower prevalence of ischemic heart disease, a less severe hemodynamic, biomarker, and neurohormonal profile, and who are treated with a more intense HF medication regimen. Clinical Trial Registration— URL: . Unique identifier: [NCT00336336][1]. [1]: /lookup/external-ref?link_type=CLINTRIALGOV&access_num=NCT00336336&atom=%2Fcirchf%2F9%2F7%2Fe003123.atom
Long term effects of carbaryl exposure on antiviral immune responses in Xenopus laevis.

Abstract Water pollutants associated with agriculture may contribute to the increased prevalence of infectious diseases caused by ranaviruses. We have established the amphibian Xenopus laevis and the ranavirus Frog Virus 3 (FV3) as a reliable experimental platform for evaluating the effects of common waterborne pollutants, such as the insecticide carbaryl. Following 3 weeks of exposure to 10 ppb carbaryl, X. laevis tadpoles exhibited a marked increase in mortality and accelerated development. Exposure at lower concentrations (0.1 and 1.0 ppb) was not toxic, but it impaired tadpole innate antiviral immune responses, as evidenced by significantly decreased TNF-α, IL-1β, IFN-I, and IFN-III gene expression. The defect in IFN-I and IL-1β gene expression levels persisted after metamorphosis in froglets, whereas only IFN-I gene expression in response to FV3 was attenuated when carbaryl exposure was performed at the adult stage. These findings suggest that the agriculture-associated carbaryl exposure at low but ecologically–relevant concentrations has the potential to induce long term alterations in host-pathogen interactions and antiviral immunity.
A Nonlinear Vibration Absorber for Flexible Structures

An approach for implementing an active nonlinear vibration absorber for flexible structures is presented. The technique exploits the saturation phenomenon exhibited by multidegree-of-freedom systems with quadratic nonlinearities possessing two-to-one autoparametric resonances. The strategy consists of introducing second-order controllers and coupling each of them with the plant through a sensor and an actuator, where both the feedback and control signals are quadratic. Once the structure is forced near its resonances, the oscillatory response is suppressed through the saturation phenomenon. We present theoretical and experimental results of the application of the proposed vibration absorber. The structure consists of a cantilever beam, the feedback signal is generated by a strain gage, and the actuation is achieved through piezoceramic patches. The equations of motion are developed and analyzed through perturbation techniques and numerical simulation. Then, the strategy is tested by assembling the controllers in electronic components and suppressing the vibrations of the first and second modes of two beams.
Comparison of multivariate curve resolution strategies in quantitative LCxLC: Application to the quantification of furanocoumarins in apiaceous vegetables

Comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography (LC × LC) has been gaining popularity for the analysis of complex samples in a wide range of fields including metabolomics, environmental analysis, and food analysis. While LC × LC can provide greater chromatographic resolution than one-dimensional LC (1D-LC), overlapping peaks are often still present in separations of complex samples, a problem that can be alleviated by chemometric curve resolution techniques such as multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares (MCR-ALS). MCR-ALS has also been previously shown to assist in the quantitative analysis of LC x LC data by isolating pure analyte signals from background signals which are often present at higher levels in LC x LC compared to 1D-LC. In this work we present the analysis of a dataset from the LC × LC analyses of parsley, parsnip and celery samples for the presence and concentrations of 14 furanocoumarins. Several MCR-ALS implementations are compared for the analysis of LC × LC data. These implementations include analyzing the LC x LC chromatogram alone, analyzing the one-dimensional chromatogram alone, as well as two hybrid approaches that make use of both the first and second dimension chromatograms. Furthermore, we compared manual integration of resolved chromatograms versus a simple summation approach, using the resolved chromatographic peaks in both cases. It is found that manual integration of the resolved LC × LC chromatograms provides the best quantification as measured by the consistency between replicate injections. If the summation approach is desired for automation, the choice of MCR-ALS implementation has a large effect on the precision of the analysis. Based on these results, the concentrations of the 14 furanocoumarins are determined in the three apiaceous vegetable types by analyzing the LC × LC chromatograms with MCR-ALS and manual integration for peak area determination. The concentrations of the analytes are found to vary greatly between samples, even within a single vegetable type.
Is Less More or Is More Less

Although aortic hemiarch replacement without the use of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest may be feasible in experienced centers, manipulation of the aortic arch and great vessels is of concern. Additional research is necessary before widespread adoption of this technique.
Resolving synthetic challenges faced in the syntheses of asymmetric N,N′-ethylene-bridged energetic compounds

Synthetic challenges faced during the syntheses of asymmetric N,N′-ethylene-bridged energetic compounds due to the differences in the reactivity and stability of various types of energetic rings are addressed. The elusive asymmetric compounds, 12 (in which nitramino-pyrazole is bonded to nitroimino-tetrazole via an N,N′-ethylene-bridge), and 15 and 17 (in which azido-pyrazole is bonded to nitroimino-tetrazole via an N,N′-ethylene-bridge), were obtained in good yields. All the compounds were thoroughly characterized using IR, NMR [1H, 13C{1H}, 15N], elemental analysis and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The structures of 13 and 14 were further confirmed via X-ray crystal analysis. Heats of formation and the detonation properties of all the energetic compounds were calculated using Gaussian 03 and EXPLO5 v6.01 programs, respectively. Impact and friction sensitivities were determined using the standard BAM technology.