cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pre-existing Cardiovascular Disease in United States Population at High Risk for Severe COVID-19 Infection

Article abstract Background and Purpose There is increasing recognition of a relatively high burden of pre-existing cardiovascular disease in Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) infected patients. We determined the burden of pre-existing cardiovascular disease in persons residing in United States (US) who are at risk for severe COVID-19 infection. Methods Age (≥60 years), presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, mellitus, hypertension, and/or malignancy were used to identify persons at risk for admission to intensive care unit, or invasive ventilation, or death with COVID-19 infection. Persons were classified as low risk (no risk factors), moderate risk (1 risk factor), and high risk (two or more risk factors present) using nationally representative sample of US adults from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017-2018 survey. Results Among a total of 5856 participants, 2386 (40.7%) were considered low risk, 1325 (22.6%) moderate risk, and 2145 persons (36.6%) as high risk for severe COVID-19 infection. The proportion of patients who had pre-existing stroke increased from 0.6% to 10.5% in low risk patients to high risk patients (odds ratio [OR]19.9, 95% confidence interval [CI]11.6-34.3). The proportion of who had pre-existing myocardial infection (MI) increased from 0.4% to 10.4% in low risk patients to high risk patients (OR 30.6, 95% CI 15.7-59.8). Conclusions A large proportion of persons in US who are at risk for developing severe COVID-19 infection are expected to have pre-existing cardiovascular disease. Further studies need to identify whether targeted strategies towards cardiovascular diseases can reduce the mortality in COVID-19 infected patients.
Emergent conservation outcomes of shared risk perception in human-wildlife systems

Human perception of risks related to economic damages caused by nearby wildlife can be transmitted through social networks. Understanding how sharing risk information within a human community alters the spatial dynamics of human-wildlife interactions has important implications for the design and implementation of effective conservation actions. We developed an agent-based model that simulates farmer livelihood decisions and activities in an agricultural landscape shared with a population of a generic wildlife species (wildlife-human interactions in shared landscapes [WHISL]). In the model, based on risk perception and economic information, farmers decide how much labor to allocate to farming and whether and where to exclude wildlife from their farms (e.g., through fencing, trenches, or vegetation thinning). In scenarios where the risk perception of farmers was strongly influenced by other farmers, exclusion of wildlife was widespread, resulting in decreased quality of wildlife habitat and frequency of wildlife damages across the landscape. When economic losses from encounters with wildlife were high, perception of risk increased and led to highly synchronous behaviors by farmers in space and time. Interactions between wildlife and farmers sometimes led to a spillover effect of wildlife damage displaced from socially and spatially connected communities to less connected neighboring farms. The WHISL model is a useful conservation-planning tool because it provides a test bed for theories and predictions about human-wildlife dynamics across a range of different agricultural landscapes.
Enemy of the People: Negotiating News at the White House

How can the press serve as a check on executive power when the president calls it “fake” and the White House denies facts? As journalists debate the right response, this article offers advice from the perspective of a journalist who is now in the legal academy. Drawing on legal scholarship in the field of conflict resolution — as well as literature in journalism and political science — this article analyzes the White House press briefing as a negotiation over both the content of news and the relationship of the press and president. It aims to help the press fulfill the urgent public need for news: the verified, factual, shared reality that makes self-government possible. Ultimately, the article concludes that the press can improve its negotiating position in several ways. Among them, it should resist anger, formulate expansive goals, use teamwork, and respond to government falsehoods in measured and nimble ways. The press should increase its own transparency in order to build trust and to distinguish its work from the blur of rumors that fill social media. Finally, it should decide in advance what government moves would be unacceptable and what actions it would take in response.
Retrosigmoid Craniectomy with a Layered Soft Tissue Dissection and Hydroxyapatite Reconstruction: Technical Note, Surgical Video, Regional Anatomy, and Outcomes

Background There are many reported modifications to the retrosigmoid approach including variations in skin incisions, soft tissue dissection, bone removal/replacement, and closure. Objective The aim of this study was to report the technical nuances developed by two senior skull base surgeons for retrosigmoid craniectomy with reconstruction and provide anatomic dissections, surgical video, and outcomes. Methods The regional soft tissue and bony anatomy as well as the steps for our retrosigmoid craniectomy were recorded with photographs, anatomic dissections, and video. Records from 2017 to 2019 were reviewed to determine the incidence of complications after the authors began using the described approach. Results Dissections of the relevant soft tissue, vascular, and bony structures were performed. Key surgical steps are (1) a retroauricular C-shaped skin incision, (2) developing a skin and subgaleal tissue flap of equal thickness above the fascia over the temporalis and sub-occipital muscles, (3) creation of subperiosteal soft tissue planes over the top of the mastoid and along the superior nuchal line to expose the suboccipital region, (4) closure of the craniectomy defect with in-lay titanium mesh and overlay hydroxyapatite cranioplasty, and (5) reapproximation of the soft tissue edges during closure. Complications in 40 cases were pseudomeningocele requiring shunt (n = 3, 7.5%), wound infection (n = 1, 2.5%), and aseptic meningitis (n = 1, 2.5%). There were no incisional cerebrospinal fluid leaks. Conclusions The relevant regional anatomy and a revised technique for retrosigmoid craniectomy with reconstruction have been presented with acceptable results. Readers can consider this technique when using the retrosigmoid approach for pathology in the cerebellopontine angle.
Food Deserts: Myth or Reality?

In 2010, the White House announced the goal of eradicating food deserts—low-income neighborhoods without nearby supermarkets—in seven years. The efficacy of this initiative is premised on the presu...
A multiphasic model for determination of water and solute transport across the arterial wall: effects of elastic fiber defects

Transport of solute across the arterial wall is a process driven by both convection and diffusion. In disease, the elastic fibers in the arterial wall are disrupted and lead to altered fluid and mass transport kinetics. A computational mixture model was used to numerically match previously published data of fluid and solute permeation experiments in groups of mouse arteries with genetic (knockout of fibulin-5) or chemical (treatment with elastase) disruption of elastic fibers. A biphasic model of fluid permeation indicated the governing property to be the hydraulic permeability, which was estimated to be 1.52 × 10–9, 1.01 × 10–8, and 1.07 × 10–8 mm4/µN.s for control, knockout, and elastase groups, respectively. A multiphasic model incorporating solute transport was used to estimate effective diffusivities that were dependent on molecular weight, consistent with expected transport behaviors in multiphasic biological tissues. The effective diffusivity for the 4 kDA FITC-dextran solute, but not the 70 or 150 kDa FITC-dextran solutes, was dependent on elastic fiber structure, with increasing values from control to knockout to elastase groups, suggesting that elastic fiber disruption affects transport of lower molecular weight solutes. The model used here sets the groundwork for future work investigating transport through the arterial wall.
Surgically Managed Perforated Jejunal Diverticulitis

A 71-year-old male with a past medical history significant for chronic constipation presented to the emergency department for acute onset of severe abdominal pain. On presentation, the patient appeared to be in distress, exemplifying signs of peritonitis despite vital signs being grossly benign. CT scan established the diagnosis of a perforated jejunal diverticulitis. Initially, the patient was managed conservatively with IV fluids, antibiotics, and pain control medications. Diagnostic imaging in tandem with the patient's failure to improve incited surgical intervention with a jejunal resection and establishment of a primary anastomosis. This case illustrates additional differential diagnoses necessary for consideration in an elderly patient presenting with an acute abdomen.
The Neurochemistry of Vitamin Deficiencies

While enormous technological strides have been made in recent decades, nutritional depletion and vitamin deficiencies continue to plague large segments of the world’s population. In spite of a century of intensive research by prominent scientists, huge gaps exist in our knowledge of how the function and the structure of the nervous system are affected by alterations in vitamin metabolism. In this chapter an attempt will be made to review pertinent information concerning the role of vitamins in the metabolic activity of the nervous system and to give an overview of current thinking about the pathogenesis of neurologic disorders engendered by a lack of vitamins.
Analysis of the interaction of extracellular matrix and phenotype of bladder cancer cells

The extracellular matrix has a major effect upon the malignant properties of bladder cancer cells both in vitro in 3-dimensional culture and in vivo. Comparing gene expression of several bladder cancer cells lines grown under permissive and suppressive conditions in 3-dimensional growth on cancer-derived and normal-derived basement membrane gels respectively and on plastic in conventional tissue culture provides a model system for investigating the interaction of malignancy and extracellular matrix. Understanding how the extracellular matrix affects the phenotype of bladder cancer cells may provide important clues to identify new markers or targets for therapy. Five bladder cancer cell lines and one immortalized, but non-tumorigenic, urothelial line were grown on Matrigel, a cancer-derived ECM, on SISgel, a normal-derived ECM, and on plastic, where the only ECM is derived from the cells themselves. The transcriptomes were analyzed on an array of 1186 well-annotated cancer derived cDNAs containing most of the major pathways for malignancy. Hypervariable genes expressing more variability across cell lines than a set expressing technical variability were analyzed further. Expression values were clustered, and to identify genes most likely to represent biological factors, statistically over-represented ontologies and transcriptional regulatory elements were identified. Approximately 400 of the 1186 total genes were expressed 2 SD above background. Approximately 100 genes were hypervariable in cells grown on each ECM, but the pattern was different in each case. A core of 20 were identified as hypervariable under all 3 growth conditions, and 33 were hypervariable on both SISgel and Matrigel, but not on plastic. Clustering of the hypervariable genes showed very different patterns for the same 6 cell types on the different ECM. Even when loss of cell cycle regulation was identified, different genes were involved, depending on the ECM. Under the most permissive conditions of growth where the malignant phenotype was fully expressed, activation of AKT was noted. TGFβ1 signaling played a major role in the response of bladder cancer cells to ECM. Identification of TREs on genes that clustered together suggested some clustering was driven by specific transcription factors. The extracellular matrix on which cancer cells are grown has a major effect on gene expression. A core of 20 malignancy-related genes were not affected by matrix, and 33 were differentially expressed on 3-dimensional culture as opposed to plastic. Other than these genes, the patterns of expression were very different in cells grown on SISgel than on Matrigel or even plastic, supporting the hypothesis that growth of bladder cancer cells on normal matrix suppresses some malignant functions. Unique underlying regulatory networks were driving gene expression and could be identified by the approach outlined here.
Regulation of photosynthesis during Arabidopsis leaf development in continuous light

Previous investigations in our laboratory have shown that leaf developmental programming in tobacco is regulated by source strength. One hypothesis to explain how source strength is perceived is that hexokinase acts as a sensor of carbohydrate flux to regulate the expression of photosynthetic genes, possibly as a result of sucrose cycling through acid invertase and hexokinase. We have turned to Arabidopsis as a model system to study leaf development and have examined various photosynthetic parameters during the ontogeny of a single leaf on the Arabidopsis rosette grown in continuous light. We found that photosynthetic rates, photosynthetic gene expression, pigment contents and total protein amounts attain peak levels early in the expansion phase of development, then decline progressively as development proceeds. In contrast, the flux of 14CO2 into hexoses increases modestly until full expansion is attained, then falls in the fully expanded leaf. Partitioning of carbon into hexoses versus sucrose increases until full expansion is attained, then falls. The in vitro activities of hexokinase, vacuolar acid invertase, and cell wall acid invertase do not change until the late stages of senescence, when they increase markedly. At this time there are also dramatic increases in hexose pool sizes and in senescence-associated gene (SAG) expression. Taken together, our results suggest that invertase and hexokinase activities do not control the partitioning of label into hexoses during development. We conclude that our data are not readily compatible with a simple model of leaf development, whereby alterations in photosynthetic rates are mediated directly by hexose flux or by hexose pool sizes. Yet, these factors might contribute to the control of gene expression.
Solution of Differential Circuit Equations

This chapter contains sections titled: Differential Network Equations ODE Solution Techniques Accuracy of LMS Methods Stability of LMS Methods Trapezoidal Ringing Variable Time-Step Methods Application to Circuit Simulation Notes Problems ]]>
MaxBin 2.0: an automated binning algorithm to recover genomes from multiple metagenomic datasets

Summary: The recovery of genomes from metagenomic datasets is a critical step to defining the functional roles of the underlying uncultivated populations. We previously developed MaxBin, an automated binning approach for high-throughput recovery of microbial genomes from metagenomes. Here we present an expanded binning algorithm, MaxBin 2.0, which recovers genomes from co-assembly of a collection of metagenomic datasets. Tests on simulated datasets revealed that MaxBin 2.0 is highly accurate in recovering individual genomes, and the application of MaxBin 2.0 to several metagenomes from environmental samples demonstrated that it could achieve two complementary goals: recovering more bacterial genomes compared to binning a single sample as well as comparing the microbial community composition between different sampling environments. Availability and implementation: MaxBin 2.0 is freely available at http://sourceforge.net/projects/maxbin/ under BSD license. Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
O retrato do Brasil no jornal The New York Times

A forma como um pais e retratado pelos meios de comunicacao pode afetar a imagem do mesmo internacionalmente. Estereotipos podem ser formados e reforcados dependendo de como informacoes sobre o pais sao enquadradas pela midia. Uma analise de conteudo revelou que, em 2013, ao retratar o Brasil, o The New York Times cobriu temas como futebol e Copa do Mundo, politica e governo, instabilidade social, crime e violencia, economia e cultura. Os resultados deste estudo mostram que o Brasil foi retratado como o pais do futebol, apaixonado por seus jogadores, mas violento e com grandes contrastes sociais. Ao cobrir apenas um numero limitado de temas, ignorando outros, o The New York Times reforca antigos estereotipos e restringe as possibilidades do Brasil se apresentar ao mundo de forma diferente.
The effect of three rates of cyantraniliprole on the transmission of tomato spotted wilt virus by Frankliniella occidentalis and Frankliniella fusca (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) to Capsicum annuum

Abstract Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) is a thrips-transmitted virus that causes major losses in many crops worldwide. Management of TSWV is complex, requiring multiple preventive measures. Currently, there are few chemical options that control thrips populations before they feed upon and transmit TSWV to crop plants. Cyantraniliprole (Cyazypyr™) is an anthranilic diamide insecticide currently under development that exhibits anti-feedant properties. Transmission of TSWV by Frankliniella fusca (Hinds) to Capsicum annuum L. seedlings was reduced in plants treated with Cyazypyr™ applied to the soil at the rates of 1.45, 2.90 and 4.41 mg ai/plant. Mortality of F. fusca at 3 days post treatment did not differ significantly on excised foliage of Cyazypyr™ treated and control plants, but feeding injury was significantly less on treated foliage. Transmission of TSWV by Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) was not reduced in plants treated with 4.41 mg ai/plant.
Sulfuric acid in the phaeophyte alga Desmarestia munda deters feeding by the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis

The phaeophyte alga Desmarestia munda (Order Desmarestiales) concentrates sulfuric acid (H2SO4) in cell vacuoles. The primary function of the accumulated acid in the alga's life history is unknown. To investigate if sulfuric acid works as a chemical defense, grazing by the sea urchin herbivore Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis on D. munda was compared to grazing on four common non-acidic phaeophyte algae (Alaria marginata, Laminaria saccharina, Costaria costata, and Nereocystis luetkeana) in multiple-choice feeding preference experiments. Both fed and starved urchins discriminated among algae; N. luetkeana and L. saccharina were consumed preferentially to D. munda and A. marginata. Fed urchins consumed a smaller quantity of A. marginata and D. munda than the starved urchins (15–28% less). The lack of preference for D. munda was not correlated with the presence of polyphenolic compounds or with nitrogen concentration. A. marginata had a high polyphenolic concentration (0.8% DM, dry mass) compared to that of the other four algae (0.08–0.24% DM). The nutritional content (C:N ratio and percent nitrogen) of the five algae ranged from 10.8 to 16.2 and from 2.08 to 3.55, respectively, but was not correlated with food choice by the urchins. Sulfuric acid made up nearly 16% DM of D. munda tissue and the pH of homogenized tissues averaged 1.99 pH units. Sulfuric acid, added to prepared food to provide a range of pH values from 1.9 to 6.2 pH units, deterred feeding by urchins at pH values ≤3.5 pH units. This result provides direct evidence that sulfuric acid at concentrations found in algal tissues deters grazing by S. droebachiensis. Therefore, acid accumulation in D. munda provides an important ecological defense against grazing by this herbivore.
Pharmacodynamic profile of prolonged etoposide administration in patients with small cell lung cancer and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Study Objective. To determine whether therapeutic drug monitoring can enhance administration of etoposide in patients with drug-responsive neoplasms. Design. Prospective, open-label study. Setting. University-affiliated hospital and cancer center. Patients. Sixteen patients with small cell lung cancer or low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Interventions. Patients were treated with etoposide, 25 mg/m2/day over 24 hours by continuous infusion for 35 days. Peripheral blood samples were collected twice a week to measure etoposide levels. Plasma was separated, frozen and stored at −20°C until assayed. Measurements and Main Results. Steady-state plasma etoposide concentrations (ECpss) were determined and used to calculate total systemic clearance (Clsys). Despite differences in dosage and administration schedules, etoposide Clsys was similar to previous reports. In addition, a biexponential relationship between ECpss and absolute neutrophil count was demonstrated by nonlinear least squares estimation. Values generated from this equation indicated that ECpss above 1.5 μg/ml was strongly associated with grade III–IV leukocyte toxicity. Although less precise, there may also be a correlation between ECpss and antitumor activity. Conclusion. Based on these findings, we propose a pharmacodynamic construct that uses measurements of both pharmacokinetic (ECpss, Clsys) and pharmacodynamic (hematologic toxicity, tumor response) parameters for patients with etoposide-sensitive tumors. Therapeutic drug monitoring may be able to mitigate hematologic toxicity.
Symbolic computation of residues at poles and essential singularities

Although most books on the theory of complex variables include a classification of the types of isolated singularities, and the applications of residue theory, very few concern themselves with methods of computing residues. In this paper we derive some results on the calculation of residues at poles, and some special classes of essential singularities, with a view to implementing an algorithm in the VAXIMA computer algebra system.
Enhancement of adenovirus infection in WI-38 and AGMK cells by pretreatment of cells with 5-lododeoxyuridine

Abstract Adenovirus replicates inefficiently in WI-38 and AGMK cells. Treatment of these cells with 5-iododeoxyuridine (IdU) prior to infection enhances the yield of adenovirus by 10- to 1000-fold. IdU-pretreated cultures demonstrate an increased percentage of adenovirus T-antigen-positive cells in comparison to untreated controls. IdU treatment has no effect on virus adsorption, and in AGMK cells IdU enhancement is additive to SV40 enhancement of adenovirus yield. Thus, IdU treatment relieves a restriction to virus growth that occurs prior to T-antigen synthesis. IdU pretreatment has no effect on virus growth in HEK, a permissive cell type. Incorporation of IdU into cellular DNA is required for enhancement.
Practical guidance for charting ethics consultations

It is generally accepted that appropriate documentation of activities and recommendations of ethics consultants in patients’ medical records is critical. Despite this acceptance, the bioethics literature is largely devoid of guidance on key elements of an ethics chart note, the degree of specificity that it should contain, and its stylistic tenor. We aim to provide guidance for a variety of persons engaged in clinical ethics consultation: new and seasoned ethics committee members who are new to ethics consultation, students and trainees in clinical ethics, and those who have significant experience with ethics consultation so that they can reflect on their practice. Toward the goal of promoting quality charting practices in ethics consultations, we propose recommendations on a broad array of questions concerning clinical ethics consultation chart notes, including whether and when to write a chart note, and practical considerations for the tenor, purpose, and content of a chart note. Our broader aim is to promote discussion about good charting practices in clinical ethics, with the hope of contributing to clear standards of excellence in clinical ethics consultation.
The Fourier transform microwave spectrum of YC2 (X˜2A1) and its 13C isotopologues: Chemical insight into metal dicarbides

Abstract The Fourier transform microwave spectrum of YC2 ( X ˜ 2 A 1 ) and its 13C isotopologues has been measured in the 10–57 GHz range, the first FTMW study of a metal dicarbide species. The molecule was created from yttrium vapor and CH4 in argon in a supersonic jet with a discharge-assisted laser ablation source (DALAS). Rotational, fine structure, and Y and 13C hyperfine constants were determined for each isotopologue. The calculated r m ( 1 ) structure is r(Y–C) = 2.187(4) A, r(C–C) = 1.270(4) A, and θ(C–Y–C) = 33.74(7)°. The hyperfine parameters indicate that the unpaired electron resides principally in an sd hybridized orbital on the yttrium nucleus.
Radiation dose factors for alpha-emitters in osteons and some considerations on dose non-uniformity ratios and relative distribution factors.

Dose factors for locations within a tissue-filled cylindrical cavity bounded by an infinite medium of bone labelled with an alpha -emitter are calculated by means of a Monte Carlo procedure. The calculational approach is general and allows one to determine dose factors for specific distances or target volumes defined by concentric cylinders, as well as various source geometries including surface sources, buried surface sources, infinite and bounded volume sources, and also comprises plane (trabecular) surfaces as a limiting case. Values for the dose factors and the contribution of cross-fire traversals are calculated mainly for 239Pu and 226Ra and a typical Haversian canal diameter of 30 mu m in beagles and 70 mu m in humans. Also tables are given that allow dose factors to be derived for the relevant range of alpha -particle energies, diameters and target distances. General expressions for calculating non-uniformity factors and relative distribution factors are derived and implications are discussed in the light of some experimental findings.
Defective fast inactivation recovery and deactivation account for sodium channel myotonia in the I1160V mutant

The skeletal muscle sodium channel mutant I1160V cosegregates with a disease phenotype producing myotonic discharges (observed as muscle stiffness) that are worsened by elevated K+ levels but unaffected by cooling. The I1160V alpha-subunit was co-expressed with the beta1-subunit in Xenopus oocytes. An electrophysiological characterization was undertaken to examine the underlying biophysical characteristics imposed by this mutation. Two abnormalities were found. 1) The voltage dependence of steady-state fast inactivation was reduced in I1160V, which resulted in faster rates of closed-state fast inactivation onset and recovery in I1160V compared with wild-type channels. 2) The rates of deactivation were slower in I1160V than in wild-type channels. Using a computer-simulated model, the combination of both defects elicited myotonic runs under conditions of elevated K+, consistent with the observed phenotype of the mutant.
Nicotine aversion: Neurobiological mechanisms and relevance to tobacco dependence vulnerability

Nicotine stimulates brain reward circuitries, most prominently the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system, and this action plays a critical in establishing and maintaining the tobacco smoking habit. Compounds that attenuate nicotine reward are considered promising therapeutic candidates for tobacco dependence, but many of these agents have other actions that limit their potential utility. Nicotine is also highly noxious, particularly at higher doses, and aversive reactions to nicotine after initial exposure can decrease the likelihood of developing a tobacco habit in many first time smokers. Nevertheless, relatively little is known about the mechanisms of nicotine aversion. The purpose of this review is to present recent new insights into the neurobiological mechanisms that regulate avoidance of nicotine. First, the role of the mesocorticolimbic system, so often associated with nicotine reward, in regulating nicotine aversion is highlighted. Second, genetic variation that modifies noxious responses to nicotine and thereby influences vulnerability to tobacco dependence, in particular variation in the CHRNA5-CHRNA3-CHRNB4 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunit gene cluster, will be discussed. Third, the role of the habenular complex in nicotine aversion, primarily medial habenular projections to the interpeduncular nucleus (IPN) but also lateral habenular projections to rostromedial tegmental nucleus (RMTg) and ventral tegmental area (VTA) are reviewed. Forth, brain circuits that are enriched in nAChRs, but whose role in nicotine avoidance has not yet been assessed, will be identified. Finally, the feasibility of developing novel therapeutic agents for tobacco dependence that act not by blocking nicotine reward but by enhancing nicotine avoidance will be considered. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'NIDA 40th Anniversary Issue'.
Estimation of the reliability of computer components from field renewal data

Abstract The assessment of the performance of electronic components in actual use is important to the manufacturers of these parts for many reasons. In this paper, we discuss the complexities involved in statistically estimating the reliability of computer components from field data on systems having different operating times. We also describe the operations of a specific department of the IBM Corporation involved with measuring the field performance of locally manufacturered product. The renewal method for estimating component reliability and the corresponding assumptions are explained, and the procedure is illustrated with an application to some actual field data. In particular, the estimated cumulative distribution function, hazard rate, and lognormal and Weilbull probability plots for this field example are shown.
Improving lot sizing decisions based on heuristic methods

Abstract A systematic approach is presented for improving ordering policies obtained by applying a heuristic method for determining replenishment intervals for an item, the demand for which varies over time. An example is given to illustrate the use of the suggested approach.
Mutations in 3′-untranslated region of avian sarcoma virus mutant LA46 genome confer the cis-acting temperature-sensitive replication defect

Abstract Avian sarcoma virus (ASV) PRCII mutant LA46 carried a unique cis-acting temperature sensitive (ts) defect affecting virus replication. The 3′-untranslated region of the LA46 genome contained multiple base substitutions in the direct repeat region and a long insertion. Although these sequences were not present in PRCII, most of these changes were found in various other ASVs and the long insertion shared extensive homology with the so called E region in certain ASV strains. By constructing chimeric retroviruses, the is defect was mapped to the altered 3′-noncoding region. However, site-specific mutagenization targeted towards a four-nucleotide substitution unique to LA46 failed to implicate these mutations in the is phenotype
The action of phosphatases on casein fractions

Abstract Data have been presented to support the hypothesis that the phosphate linkages in α-, β-, and unfractionated casein are identical.
Photoelectrochemical behavior of composite metal oxide semiconductor films with a WO3 matrix and occluded Degussa P 25 TiO2 particles

Abstract This paper describes the photoelectrochemical (PEC) behavior of composite semiconductor films containing Degussa P 25 TiO2 particles dispersed in a WO3 matrix. These films (hereafter designated as “WO3–TiO2”) were electrosynthesized using occlusion electrodeposition from a bath contained suspended TiO2 particles and peroxytungstate precursor species. One focus of this study was the effect of pre-calcination of the TiO2 particles (prior to their incorporation into the WO3 film matrix) on the PEC behavior of the resultant composite film. The PEC activity and selectivity of the composite films and their dependence on the pre-calcination temperature were studied in aqueous media containing formate ions as additives in some cases. Another focus of this study was the role of the WO3 matrix itself and how the oxide matrix compares with a metallic (e.g., Ni) counterpart. Finally, the photoaction spectra of the WO3–TiO2 composite films were simulated by a modified diffusion model, previously developed by Sodergren et al. [J. Phys. Chem. 98 (1994) 5552] for microporous semiconductor films. Good agreement was found between the model simulations and experimental photoaction spectra. These simulations confirmed the ability of the WO3 component to accept the photogenerated electrons from the TiO2 component in the composite films and thereby improve the quantum yield.
Theory of isomer ratios of shape isomers in heavy ion induced reactions

Abstract A method for the calculation of excitation functions and isomer ratios, for shape isomers, in heavy ion induced reactions is proposed. The calculated values of excitation functions and isomer ratios agrees very well with the experimental values for the reaction 238 U ( 11 B, α3n) 242 Am.
Laser Doppler velocimetry: A status report

Since the first experimental work in 1964, the measurement of velocity by means of the Doppler shift in scattered laser light has developed into an important tool in fluid mechanics research which often provides data unobtainable with other instruments. This paper reviews the fundamentals of laser Doppler velocimeter system design including optical requirements and signal processing considerations. Numerous applications are described to illustrate the present state of the art.
Induction of an Inflammatory Loop by Interleukin-1β and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Involves NF-kB and STAT-1 in Differentiated Human Neuroprogenitor Cells

Proinflammatory cytokines secreted from microglia are known to induce a secondary immune response in astrocytes leading to an inflammatory loop. Cytokines also interfere with neurogenesis during aging and in neurodegenerative diseases. The present study examined the mechanism of induction of inflammatory mediators at the transcriptional level in human differentiated neuroprogenitor cells (NPCs). Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) induced the expression of cytokines and chemokines in differentiated human NPCs as shown by an immune pathway-specific array. Network motif (NM) analysis of these genes revealed 118 three-node NMs, suggesting complex interactions between inflammatory mediators and transcription factors. Immunofluorescent staining showed increases in the levels of IL-8 and CXCL10 proteins in neurons and glial cells. Findings from Taqman low density array suggested the synergistic actions of IL-1β and TNF-α in the induction of a majority of inflammatory genes by a mechanism involving NF-kB and STAT-1. Nuclear localization of these transcription factors in differentiated NPCs was observed following exposure to IL-1α and TNF-α. Further studies on CXCL10, a chemokine known to be elevated in the Alzheimer's brain, showed that TNF-α is a stronger inducer of CXCL10 promoter when compared to IL-1β. The synergy between these cytokines was lost when ISRE or kB elements in CXCL10 promoter were mutated. Our findings suggest that the activation of inflammatory pathways in neurons and astrocytes through transcription factors including NF-kB and STAT-1 play important roles in neuroglial interactions and in sustaining the vicious cycle of inflammatory response.
Evaluation of two real-time PCR chemistries for the detection of Chlamydophila pneumoniae in clinical specimens

Chlamydophila pneumoniae is an atypical bacterial respiratory pathogen that is responsible for approximately 3-10% of community-acquired pneumonia cases. We report the evaluation of two distinct real-time PCR assays for rapid and specific detection of C. pneumoniae. We tested 401 clinical specimens, finding 5.7% positive, and confirmed a localized outbreak.
Cold Stage for X‐ray diffractometer studies of lower‐melting polymorphs of triglycerides

Fabrication of an inexpensive cold stage attachment for an X-ray diffraction unit that gives satisfactory results to −21 C is described. X-ray diffraction data for several lower-melting polymorphs of cocoa butter are included.
Personalized medicine and its ethical challenges.

Personalized medicine is an emerging term for a medical philosophy that uses a person's individual clinical, genetic, genomic, and environmental information to tailor a treatment plan that will maximize efficacy and safety for that individual. While the technology offers much promise, it also is also challenged by some ethical and social questions in both its clinical application and in its research enterprise. Questions about privacy, safety, phenotypical expression, drug interactions, and genetic vs. social group identities will challenge clinical pharmacogenetics. Research studies raise some similar issues, as well as fairness in subject selection. Finally, personalized medicine will change the economics of drug production and distribution. Issues such as these and other complications of the coming focus on personalized medicine are discussed.
How Helical Can a Closed, Twisted Space Curve Be?

Ix'(s)| = 1, for all s. For this parametrization we call x' the (unit) tangent vector field along the curve. Using our observation about helices as motivation, one calls a regular space curve x: -R > *R a generalized helix if its tangent vector field x' makes a constant angle 0 with a fixed unit vector u, where 0 < 0 < 7-/2. Such curves can never be closed; this means that x cannot be a periodic function of its arc length parameter. This is so since the tangent vector field always has a positive component in the direction of u. The question we ask is how "close" to a generalized helix can a closed space curve be. To make this question more precise we need to consider the differential geometry of space curves. In particular, we first introduce the curvature and torsion of a space curve and then use them to describe what it means for a space curve to be a generalized helix.
Developmental Comparisons of Implicit and Explicit Language Learning

Conventional wisdom holds that children learn languages implicitly whereas older learners learn languages explicitly, and some have claimed that after puberty only explicit language learning is possible. However, older learners often receive more explicit instruction than child L2 learners, which may affect their learning strategies. This study teases apart the effects of age from the effects of instruction by comparing child and adolescent classroom learners of Spanish on tasks tapping implicit and explicit knowledge separately. Results show that implicitly instructed children favor implicit knowledge. Postpuberty learners receiving the same type of implicit instruction as the children pattern like the children, performing better on tasks tapping implicit knowledge, and unlike postpuberty learners who receive explicit grammar instruction and perform better on tasks tapping explicit knowledge—in other words, instruction trumps age. This suggests that the bias toward explicit learning in adulthood may be a...
The genetics of skin cancer

Recent advances in molecular genetics have led to a better understanding of the biological underpinnings of skin cancer formation. As with most cancers, the RB, p53, and RAS pathways appear to play prominent roles in the pathogenesis of several skin cancer types. Although various components of these pathways may be differentially altered in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), basal cell carcinoma (BCC), and cutaneous melanoma, the final biochemical expression of these defects may be the same. With the unraveling of these genetic mechanisms, a more targeted approach to diagnosis and treatment may be possible in the near future.
Percutaneous Access Device With Stress Relief Features

A polymer based percutaneous access device (PAD) has been developed to allow for a physical interconnection between an implant and the outer world during chronic animal experiments. The PAD consists of a skin-piercing conduit connected to a flat base that is typically implanted. The skin-piercing conduit has one or more circumferential notches in its walls. The stress resulting from external forces acting on the PAD conduit is concentrated at the root of the notch. This permits the conduit to bend more easily at the notch rather than at the PAD-skin interface, thereby reducing the deleterious effect of forces on the PAD-skin interface and extending the useful life of the PAD.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Interactions Between Graft Placement, Gait Mechanics, and Premature Osteoarthritis Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

The interaction between anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) graft placement and changes in walking mechanics is examined in the context of the maintenance of cartilage health and conditions leading to premature osteoarthritis in the ACL-reconstructed knee. Based on reports that healthy cartilage is regionally conditioned over time to the repetitive patterns of loading specific to walking, this paper explores the potential that cartilage degeneration can be initiated when a condition such as ACL injury changes the ambulatory joint mechanics in a manner that shifts loads to unconditioned regions of cartilage. Thus, restoring the anatomical placement and function of the ACL is an important consideration in re-establishing the balance between ambulatory loading and biological maintenance of articular cartilage to prevent the premature initiation of osteoarthritis. The current findings indicate that standard ACL reconstruction techniques often fail to replicate the anatomical placement of the native ACL, restore normal ambulatory mechanics, or prevent early onset osteoarthritis. The combination of information from three-dimensional models of ACL graft orientation derived from magnetic resonance imaging and the analysis of knee mechanics during walking has demonstrated that alterations in knee rotation are related to nonanatomic graft orientation. This material suggests that placement of the graft in a nonanatomic orientation is one of the critical factors responsible for the negative long-term outcomes of the ACL-reconstructed knee. In conclusion, the proposed sensitivity of cartilage health to changes in ambulatory mechanics demonstrates the importance of restoring normal ACL anatomy and function to avoid premature osteoarthritis after ACL injury and motivates the need to evaluate walking mechanics when developing new treatment modalities for the ACL-injured knee.
Three-Dimensional Motion Parameter Estimation By Holographic Acoustical Systems

Motion parameter estimation has been one of the most important objectives for target tracking. And holographic systems have significant advantage over conventional motion detection devices because of the capability of detecting the range information. Motion estimation is usually performed in the image domain after the image reconstruction process. Typically, motion estimation operates in the discrete mode given a finite number of selected point features with correspondence. These constraints and requirements reduce the feasibility of motion estimation for real-time target tracking. Recently, a statistical motion estimation method has been developed for holographic acoustical systems. This methods utilizes the mean and covariance matrix to identify the translation vector and rotation matrix operation associated with the target motion. This method is capable of performing motion estimation in both space and spatial-frequency domains and it does not require point feature selection and correspondence identification, and therefore, it signi-ficantly enhances the potential for real-time tracking. In this paper, we first introduce the development and formulation of this statistical motion estimation method. To separate the translation component of the motion from the rotation operator, we perform the motion estimation in the spatial-frequency domain using the power spectra of the received wave-field sequences for the identification of the rotation operator and the phase variation for the estimation of the translation vector. This method can be also directly applied to navigation and position identification for radar systems, and displacement estimation in tomographic reconstruction.© (1987) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Intelligent indexing: a semi-automated, trainable system for field labeling

We present Intelligent Indexing: a general, scalable, collaborative approach to indexing and transcription of non-machinereadable documents that exploits visual consensus and group labeling while harnessing human recognition and domain expertise. In our system, indexers work directly on the page, and with minimal context switching can navigate the page, enter labels, and interact with the recognition engine. Interaction with the recognition engine occurs through preview windows that allow the indexer to quickly verify and correct recommendations. This interaction is far superior to conventional, tedious, inefficient post-correction and editing. Intelligent Indexing is a trainable system that improves over time and can provide benefit even without prior knowledge. A user study was performed to compare Intelligent Indexing to a basic, manual indexing system. Volunteers report that using Intelligent Indexing is less mentally fatiguing and more enjoyable than the manual indexing system. Their results also show that it reduces significantly (30.2%) the time required to index census records, while maintaining comparable accuracy. (a video demonstration is available at http://youtube.com/gqdVzEPnBEw)
Quality improvement in the door-to-balloon times for ST-elevation myocardial infarction patients presenting without chest pain.

Objective: To assess a quality improvement initiative aimed at minimizing door-to-balloon (DTB) times for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients presenting without chest pain. Background: Timely percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the cornerstone of STEMI care. The absence of chest pain delays PCI. Improvements in DTB times may need to focus on atypical presentation patients. Methods: We compared DTB times on all STEMI patients admitted through the emergency department who underwent PCI before (Phase I; October 2004–June 2007) and after (Phase II; July 2007–October 2009) the quality improvement effort, which mandated rapid electrocardiogram (ECG) triage for an expanded list of presenting symptoms. Results: In Phase I (69 patient, 60 with chest pain), patients with chest pain had a shorter mean time to first ECG (ECG Interval) by 32.0 min (P < 0.01) and nonsignificantly faster mean DTB time by 42.0 min (P = 0.07) compared to patients who presented without chest pain. In Phase II (62 patients, 56 with chest pain) compared to Phase I, mean ECG interval decreased by 44 min (P = 0.02) and mean DTB time by 99 min (P = 0.01) in patients without chest pain, eliminating the differences in ECG intervals between typical and atypical presentations (12 min vs. 11 min, P = 0.91). Multivariable analysis controlling for on/off hours and patient characteristics confirmed these findings. Conclusions: A simple modification of emergency room ECG triage protocol, which expands indications for rapid ECG performance, was successful in improving rapid reperfusion for patients with STEMI presenting without chest pain. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.