cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Retinoic acids inhibit inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in mesangial cells.

Retinoic acids inhibit inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in mesangial cells. Background Nitric oxide (NO) release as a result of cytokine-mediated activation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in mesangial cells can be sustained and lead to oxidative injury in various forms of glomerular inflammation. Inhibition of iNOS expression and/or activity could therefore be an effective anti-inflammatory strategy. The present study was undertaken to explore whether retinoids, which are known to have anti-inflammatory and immuno-modulatory actions, can attenuate cytokine-stimulated iNOS expression and enzyme activity in murine mesangial cells. Methods Expression of iNOS was evaluated by NO production (nitrite analysis), protein (Western blot analysis) and mRNA (RT-PCR analysis) levels in mesangial cells stimulated by a combination of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in the presence and absence of all- trans -retinoic acid (ATRA) or its active metabolite, 13- cis -retinoic acid (13- cis -RA). Changes in iNOS enzyme activity were assessed by calculating conversion of L-[ 14 C]arginine to L-[ 14 C]citrulline. The levels of transcription factors nuclear factor-βkgrB (NF-βkgrB) and activated protein-1 (AP-1) in nuclear extracts prepared from mesangial cells stimulated by a combination of LPS and IFN-γ in the presence and absence of ATRA was assessed by immunoblot analysis. The effect of both retinoids on transforming growth factor-βbgr;1 (TGF-βbgr;1) levels was also assessed by a quantitative enzyme immunoassay method. Results The combination of LPS/IFN-γ stimulated NO production, induced iNOS expression (mRNA and protein) and increased iNOS enzyme activity. ATRA and 13- cis -RA dose-dependently attenuated NO production. This effect was most pronounced at ATRA concentration of 10 μM. At this concentration, ATRA attenuated iNOS expression (mRNA and protein levels) and enzyme activity. ATRA also reduced nuclear levels of both subunits (p50 and p65) of NF-βkgrB. TGF-βbgr;1 levels in mesangial cells stimulated with LPS/IFN-γ in presence of ATRA or 13- cis -RA were also reduced indicating that TGF-βbgr;1 did not mediate the suppressive effect of retinoids on iNOS. Conclusions Our studies demonstrate that the retinoids ATRA and 13- cis -RA attenuate iNOS expression and activity in cytokine-stimulated murine mesangial cells. These retinoids may emerge as naturally occurring compounds for treatment of inflammatory glomerular diseases.
Polarographic Reduction of Phenyl Arsenoxide

Abstract The differential pulse polarography of phenyl arsenoxide (C6H5AsO) and its use in the indirect determination of chlorine and ozone is described.
Rapid ecosystem response to restoration in an urban stream

Stream restoration seeks to re-establish ecological structure and function of river systems, and understanding its ecological consequences is a current focus of stream ecology. To characterize the short-term ecosystem response to restoration in an urbanized Pacific Northwest stream, we measured whole-system ammonium and phosphorus uptake, benthic and drifting aquatic insects, and fish community composition before and after restoration. We predicted that (1) nutrient demand would temporarily decrease ammonium and phosphorus concentrations, (2) periphyton accrual would structure the insect consumer response, and (3) restoration would change the fish community. After restoration, nutrient demand for ammonium and phosphorus temporarily increased to levels that have rarely been reported, but demand for both recovered to background levels within 35 days. Aquatic insect density tracked rapid periphyton accrual after restoration, and benthic insect density stabilized in less than a month whereas composition continued changing for 10 weeks. Within 11 months, the fish community returned to its pre-restoration composition dominated by non-native eastern brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). Restoration did not alter the community and ecosystem metrics we studied, but this urban stream underwent rapid succession during restoration-induced disturbance, perhaps because urban streams have resilient communities well-suited to rapid recovery.
Memory, Synaptic Translation, and…Prions?

Two papers from Kausik Si, Eric Kandel, Susan Lindquist, and colleagues set forth a bold new idea for thinking about the mechanisms underlying the generation and maintenance of long-term memories (Si et al., 2003a, 2003b [this issue of Cell]).
The Christianisation of Latin Europe as Seen by Medieval Arab-Islamic Historiographers

The article aims at defining what Arab Muslims of the crusading period knew about the conversion of Latin Europe to Christianity through an analysis of Arabic-Islamic sources written up to the fourteenth century. Whereas Christianity seems to have interested the first generations of Muslims mainly as a theological phenomenon, the emergence of more comprehensive forms of Muslim historiography led to the creation of Arabic texts dealing with the formation of Christianity. The latter’s primary focus lay on the Christianisation of the Roman Empire. However, the premises that set the stage for the emergence of Latin–Christian Europe (Roman hegemony in the West, ‘period of migrations’, Romano-Germanic successor states) do not seem to have been fully understood until translated Latin sources were diffused in the Arabic-Islamic world. Hence, most references to the Christianisation of the post-Roman peoples of Western Europe are short and out of chronological context. Continuity is only fully acknowledged in the c...
Reduction pathways of organohalogen compounds: Part II. Polychlorinated biphenyls

Abstract The voltammetric reduction behaviors of 19 chlorinated biphenyls with chlorines on one ring have been examined in dimethylsulfoxide. Interrupted-sweep voltammetry was used to obtain the reduction potentials which were employed in controlled-potential coulometry and electrolysis. Gas chromatographic product analysis of the electrolysis solutions was used to examine the reduction pathways for the polychlorinated biphenyls. The polychlorinated biphenyl reduction pathways were complex in comparison to the reduction pathways previously determined for the chlorinated benzenes.
Manipulation of Gene Expression by Oxygen: A Primer From Bedside to Bench

For nearly 100 y, pediatricians have regularly used oxygen to treat neonatal and childhood diseases. During this time, it has become clear that oxygen is toxic and that overzealous use can lead to significant morbidity. As we have learned more about the appropriate clinical indications for oxygen therapy, studies at the bench have begun to elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which cells respond to hyperoxia. In this review, we discuss transcription factors whose activity is regulated by oxygen, including nuclear factor, erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), activator protein 1 (AP-1), p53, nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB), signal transducers and activators of transcription protein (STAT), and ccat/enhancer binding protein (CEBP). Special attention is paid to the mechanisms by which hyperoxia affects these transcription factors in the lung. Finally, we identify downstream targets of these transcription factors, with a focus on heme oxygenase-1. A better understanding of how oxygen affects various signaling pathways could lead to interventions aimed at preventing hyperoxic injury.
Embolic risk based on aortic atherosclerotic morphologic features and aortic spontaneous echocardiographic contrast.

Abstract Background Different aortic atherosclerotic plaque morphologic features may have varying embolic potentials. Spontaneous echocardiographic contrast (SEC) in the aorta, as in the left atrium, has been associated with an increased risk of embolic events and often occurs with complex aortic atherosclerosis. Thus an evaluation of their isolated and combined association with embolic events was undertaken. Methods We retrospectively studied all patients who underwent biplane or multiplane transesophageal echocardiography meeting the following inclusion and exclusion criteria: age ≥55 years and no other cardiac pathologic condition known to be associated with embolic events other than aortic atherosclerosis or aortic SEC. The 105 patients meeting the criteria were divided into those with aortic atherosclerosis and/or aortic SEC (the study group) and those without these aortic pathologic conditions (the comparison group). Complex aortic atherosclerosis was defined as mobile, ulcerated, or protuberant (> 4 mm). SEC was defined as a pulsatile, swirling echo pattern within the aortic lumen. Embolic events included strokes, transient ischemic attacks, or peripheral emboli. Results The 61 study patients and 44 comparison patients did not significantly differ with respect to the reason for referral, age, or sex. Embolic events occurred in 35 patients. Those with ulcerated or mobile plaques had a greater prevalence of embolic events (odds ratio 4.50; 95% confidence interval, 1.30-15.5; P P Conclusions Embolic events were associated with the presence of ulcerated or mobile aortic plaques. In addition, the combination of aortic SEC and any complex atherosclerosis had the highest embolic association. (Am Heart J 1999;137:1088-93.)
Preschool children's comprehension of a Sesame Street video tape: The effects of repeated viewing and previewing instructions

Twenty male and 20 female 4-year-olds viewed a 19-minute Sesame Street video tape once a week for three weeks to determine whether comprehension of the plot of the video tape would improve if the children were given ample time to process the tape, and if they participated in one of two previewing instruction conditions. Findings indicated that repeated viewing of the tape was the most important factor in children's ability to comprehend the plot. Previewing instructions and gender did not influence plot comprehension. It is suggested that repeated viewing allowed the children to process the formal features of the tape and use them to construct a framework within which to interpret the plot of the show. Additional findings are discussed in terms of children's script representation and how such representation is acquired.
Improving Measurement of Death Anxiety

Two Likert versions of Templet's death anxiety scale were constructed. Three death-anxiety scales were administered to 320 college subjects along with the Marlowe-Crowne Scale and a self-perceived ...
The receptor-associated protein (RAP) interacts with several resident proteins of the endoplasmic reticulum including a glycoprotein related to actin.

The receptor-associated protein (RAP) is a chaperone found primarily in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) that plays a necessary role in the folding and exocytic trafficking of members of the LDL receptor gene family including megalin and the LDL receptor-related protein (LRP). Recently, RAP has been shown to interact with a growing number of proteins including several that are unrelated to the LDL receptor family as well as new members of this rapidly expanding family. Based on these observations, we have applied chemical crosslinking procedures to identify additional novel RAP-interacting proteins, and thereby better characterize the scope of RAP's ER-related function. In this study, we have identified eight proteins with molecular weights of 32, 35, 46, 55, 70, 95, 170, and 200 kDa that interact with endogenous RAP. These proteins were found to associate with RAP in multiple cell types from different species, suggesting that their expression and interactions with RAP are ubiquitous. Results of pulse-chase experiments show that most of the proteins remain sensitive to endoglycosidase-H digestion, and also remain stably associated with RAP over an extended period, suggesting that they are ER resident proteins. All of the RAP-associated proteins appear to be largely soluble as they partition into the aqueous phase following TX-114 detergent extraction. Sequence analysis and immunoblotting of the 46-kDa RAP-associated glycoprotein (gp46) shows that it is structurally and immunologically related to actin. If gp46 is also functionally related to actin as an intracellular structural protein, it may represent a novel component of the putative ER matrix.
DNA mismatch repair efficiency and fidelity are elevated during DNA synthesis in human cells

DNA mismatch repair (MMR) within human cells is hypothesized to occur primarily at the replication fork. However, experimental models measuring MMR activity at specific phases of the cell cycle and during genomic DNA synthesis are lacking. We have investigated MMR activity within the nuclear environment of HeLa cells after enriching for G1, S and G2/M phase of the cell cycle by centrifugal elutriation. This approach preserves physiologically normal MMR activity in cell populations subdivided into different phases of the cell cycle. Here we have shown that nuclear protein concentration of hMutSα and hMutLα increases as cells progress into S phase during routine cell culture. MMR activity, as measured by both in vitro and in vivo approaches, increases during S phase to the highest extent within normally growing cells. Both fidelity and activity of MMR are highest on actively replicating templates within intact cells during S phase. The MMR pathway however, is also active at lower levels at other phases of the cell cycle, and on nonreplicating templates.
On Construction of Two Classes of Efficient Quantum Error-Correction Codes

Stabilizer codes are an important branch of quantum codes, but the existing stabilizer codes constructed from the classical binary codes almost exclusively belong to the special subclass of CSS codes. This paper develops simple and systematic constructions for two rich classes of non-CSS quantum stabilizer codes: quantum low density parity check (LDPC) codes based on classical quasi-cyclic LDPC codes and quantum convolutional codes based on classical LDPC-convolutional codes. Both classes enjoy a wide range of lengths and rates, and offer stronger error correction capability than the existing codes.
Activity classification with empirical RF propagation modeling in body area networks

Mobile sensor-based systems are emerging as promising platforms for remote healthcare monitoring. One popular application of these systems is to track the real-time body movements of a patient by analyzing and classifying the physiological signals collected by the video sensors or the body-mounted mechanical sensors. However, the existing motion monitoring infrastructures are inconvenient to be carried with the patient. In this paper, we explore the potential of using the inexpensive off-the-shelf inertial sensors that embedded in the smart phones to identify the body movements. In our proposed system, variance, energy, and frequency domain entropy of linear acceleration and rotating orientation are extracted from the inertial sensors to form the feature vector. To enhance the performance of the system, quantitative metrics of RF propagation characteristics: level crossing rate, Doppler Spread, coherence time, Root Mean Square (RMS) Doppler bandwidth and variation of Path Loss are also investigated to provide new descriptors to the feature space. These features are imported and tested by four most commonly used machine learning algorithms: Backpropagation network (BP), Probabilistic Neural Network (PNN), k-Nearest Neighbor algorithm (k-NN) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithm. Results show that using features from both RF sensor and inertial sensor would greatly improve the classification accuracy.
Thermal Conductivity of Anisotropic Solids at High Temperatures—The Thermal Conductivity of Molded and Pyrolytic Graphites

A method has been developed for the determination of the thermal conductivities of anisotropic solids under conditions of two–dimensional, steady–state heat conduction in a cylinder of finite length heated in vacuum by high–frequency induction and radiating heat to the surroundings. The method has been used to determine the radial thermal conductivity, Kr, and the axial thermal conductivity, Kz, of molded ZT-type and pyrolytic graphite in the temperature range 1260° to 2200°K. For ZT-type graphite, Kz/Kr=–0.101 + 2.002 × 10−4±T (1260°K < T < 2200°K); for pyrolytic graphite, Kz/Kr= 0.0376 at 1817°K.
Reproducibility of Oxygen Saturation Monitoring During Six-Minute Walk Test and Exercise Stress Test in Patients with Pulmonary Arteriovenous Malformations Associated With Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia

Patients with pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) are at risk for multiple complications and require close follow-up. We investigated the reproducibility of the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and exercise stress test (EST) for the evaluation of low oxygen saturation in patients with PAVMs. Twenty-two patients with PAVMs, most of whom had hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), participated in a Human Investigations Committee-approved protocol. Patients ranged from 9 to 74 years of age (mean 28) and had a broad spectrum of anatomic subtypes of PAVMs, including focal and diffuse. Standard 6MWT and cycle ergometry EST were both performed twice with adequate rest between tests. Heart rate (HR) and oxygen saturation were measured at the beginning and end of each test. Distance walked and maximum resistance was also recorded. The intraclass correlation coefficients (r(i)) at the end of 6MWT were as follows: HR (r(i) = 0.940; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.863-0.975), oxygen saturation (r(i) = 0.973; 95% CI 0.933-0.989), and distance (r(i) = 0.942; 95% CI 0.867-0.975). The r(i)s at the end of EST were as follows: HR (r(i) = 0.941; 95% CI 0.865-0.975), oxygen saturation (r(i) = 0.993; 95% CI 0.982-0.997), and maximum resistance (r(i) = 0.941; 95% CI 0.864-0.975). 6MWT and EST were reproducible measures of exercise capacity and oxygen saturation and are potential adjunct tests in the follow-up assessment for patients with PAVMs.
Hydroxyl Tagging Velocimetry and Methods of Dynamic Image Analysis

This article presents the method of analyzing a mach 2 flow of air through a scramjet and over a cavity using hydroxyl tagging velocimetry (HTV). This method is of particular use in supersonic engines, where, fuel is ignited by a flame protected from airflow by a cavity. Emphasis of the experiment discussed is placed on the image analysis portion of the HTV experiments. The current software used to analyze laser intersections, created by Michigan State University, is user-intensive and inefficient because of the large number of inputs needed to produce a result. The conceptual method behind this imaging software is explained along with the mathematical algorithms related to the spatial correlation technique. The spatial correlation technique offers a way to determine the distance that an object has moved from one photograph to another. This work focuses on improvements to the dynamic analysis of images to expand the applicability of current software tools. The failures and successes of each method are explained.
A study of the effects of snubber on switching loss and EMI in an MCT converter

The paper presents a nonlinear analysis of the standard snubber used to protect an MCT in a DC chopper circuit. Expressions for the voltage and current during switching as well as the base values for the snubber capacitor and inductor, are derived. These results are used to determine the optimum values for the snubber elements that result in minimum switching loss. The effect of the snubber in reducing the peak power loss in the MCT is illustrated by recording the voltage, current, and power during switching. The paper also studies the effect of the standard snubber in reducing the electromagnetic interference (EMI). The study is supported by obtaining the plots of the radiated electric and magnetic emissions from the MCT chopper. >
A comparison of ASTROMAG coils made with aluminum and copper based superconductor

The use of an aluminum matrix superconductor in the coils for the ASTROMAG magnet will increase the integrated field for conducting particle astrophysics experiments in space as compared to equal mass coils made with a copper matrix superconductor. The increased ability to detect charged particles can be achieved without decreasing the current margin of the superconductor in the coils. The use of a low-resistivity aluminum matrix conductor increases the energy needed to initiate a quench by two orders of magnitude. The current decay time constant during a quench is substantially increased. As a result, the quench energy dumped into the helium tank is reduced (the ASTROMAG coils are thermally decoupled from the helium tank), and the forces on the shield and shells due to eddy currents will be lower. A description is also given of the problems associated with the use of an aluminum matrix superconductor in the coils.
Supplementing Non-Simple p-Cycles with Preconfigured Lines

This paper considers link based protection where backup capacity is preconfigured into various patterns. When the amount of backup capacity available on a link is constrained, the choice of patterns under consideration can determine if a given network is protectable. This paper gives an ILP that can be used in calculating preconfigurations, even when p-Cycles with p-lines or non-simple p-Cycles alone may not be able to. This ILP includes constraints that will cause backup capacity to be distributed in a somewhat even fashion when possible. When considering networks with dynamic traffic, this may offer the advantage of lower blocking probability over schemes that concentrate backup capacity on a few links. The advantage is demonstrated by a simulation of NSFnet comparing blocking probability of a distribution computed by this ILP vs. a Hamiltonian p-Cycle which is a capacity optimal way to protect the network.
Redirection of center-of-mass velocity during the step-to-step transition of human walking

Simple dynamic walking models based on the inverted pendulum predict that the human body's center of mass (COM) moves along an arc during each step, with substantial work performed to redirect the COM velocity in the step-to-step transition between arcs. But humans do not keep the stance leg perfectly straight and need not redirect their COM velocity precisely as predicted. We therefore tested a pendulum-based model against a wide range of human walking data. We examined COM velocity and work data from normal human subjects (N=10) walking at 24 combinations of speed (0.75 to 2.0 m s(-1)) and step length. These were compared against model predictions for the angular redirection of COM velocity and the work performed on the COM during redirection. We found that the COM is redirected through angular changes increasing approximately linearly with step length (R(2)=0.68), with COM work increasing with the squared product of walking speed and step length (R(2)=0.82), roughly in accordance with a simple dynamic walking model. This model cannot, however, predict the duration of COM redirection, which we quantified with two empirical measures, one based on angular COM redirection and the other on work. Both indicate that the step-to-step transition begins before and ends after double support and lasts about twice as long - approximately 20-27% of a stride. Although a rigid leg model can predict trends in COM velocity and work, the non-rigid human leg performs the step-to-step transition over a duration considerably exceeding that of double support.
The relationship between the clinical features of pharyngitis and the sensitivity of a rapid antigen test: evidence of spectrum bias.

Abstract Study Objective: We evaluate the test characteristics and test for spectrum bias of a rapid antigen test for group A β-hemolytic streptococcal (GABHS) pharyngitis among adults. Methods: Medical record and laboratory results of consecutive adult patients receiving a rapid antigen test for GABHS in the emergency department or urgent care clinic of an urban teaching hospital between August 1999 and December 1999 were analyzed. Patients were stratified according to the number of clinical features present using the following modified Centor criteria: history of fever, absence of cough, presence of pharyngeal exudate, and cervical lymphadenopathy. The sensitivity of the rapid antigen test was defined as the number of patients with positive rapid antigen test results divided by the number of patients with either positive rapid antigen test results or negative rapid antigen test results and positive throat culture results. Results: In the study sample of 498 patient visits, the prevalence of GABHS pharyngitis was 28% (95% confidence interval [CI] 24% to 32%). The prevalence of GABHS pharyngitis increased as modified Centor scores increased: 0 or 1=14%, 2=20%, 3=43%, and 4=52%. An increased number of modified Centor criteria (0 or 1, 2, 3, 4) was associated with increased rapid antigen test sensitivity (61%, 76%, 90%, and 97%, respectively) (Mantel-Haenszel trend test; P =.001). Conclusion: The sensitivity of the rapid antigen test for GABHS is not a fixed value but varies with the spectrum of disease. Among adults with 3 or 4 clinical criteria for GABHS pharyngitis, further study may reveal that culture confirmation of negative rapid antigen test results are not necessary. [DiMatteo LA, Lowenstein SR, Brimhall B, Reiquam W, Gonzales R. The relationship between the clinical features of pharyngitis and the sensitivity of a rapid antigen test: evidence of spectrum bias. Ann Emerg Med. December 2001;38:648-652.]
Ultraviolet Radiation Effects on the Human Eye

Many papers and reviews in the past have focused their attention on the question of ultraviolet (UV) radiation damage to ocular tissues. Unfortunately, all of these works have dealt with damage to specific tissues, and to get a comprehensive view of the field, the reader has been required to consult many references. In this chapter, we will comprehensively cover what is known about UV radiation damage to all ocular tissues. For clarity and for completeness, some repetition of older work is necessary, but the study of UV radiation effects on the eye has only begun to unfold in recent years, and therefore the emphasis here is on recent work. While UV radiation effects on the cornea have been established for many years, the question of UV damage to the retina has only recently been seriously entertained and established. The literature on the effects on the retina, therefore, is still scant. The question of UV radiation-induced aging or damage to the lens is a topic of much controversy and speculation. As the latest example of possible solar radiation-induced aging of a human tissue, this is perhaps one of the most exciting new directions in ophthalmology and human biology research. We will therefore study this question in depth.
Genome histories clarify evolution of the expansin superfamily: new insights from the poplar genome and pine ESTs

Expansins comprise a superfamily of plant cell wall-loosening proteins that has been divided into four distinct families, EXPA, EXPB, EXLA and EXLB. In a recent analysis of Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa expansins, we proposed a further subdivision of the families into 17 clades, representing independent lineages in the last common ancestor of monocots and eudicots. This division was based on both traditional sequence-based phylogenetic trees and on position-based trees, in which genomic locations and dated segmental duplications were used to reconstruct gene phylogeny. In this article we review recent work concerning the patterns of expansin evolution in angiosperms and include additional insights gained from the genome of a second eudicot species, Populus trichocarpa, which includes at least 36 expansin genes. All of the previously proposed monocot-eudicot orthologous groups, but no additional ones, are represented in this species. The results also confirm that all of these clades are truly independent lineages. Furthermore, we have used position-based phylogeny to clarify the history of clades EXPA-II and EXPA-IV. Most of the growth of the expansin superfamily in the poplar lineage is likely due to a recent polyploidy event. Finally, some monocot-eudicot clades are shown to have diverged before the separation of the angiosperm and gymnosperm lineages.
1/f noise and interface trap density in high field stressed pMOS transistors

Experimental results for pMOS transistors subjected to high field stressing are reported. 1/f noise and interface trap density increase with stress time. A direct relationship between the increase in 1/f noise and interface trap density during the high field stressing is observed.
Pyoderma Gangrenosum Following Breast Reduction: Treatment With Topical Tacrolimus and Steroids

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare, noninfectious, inflammatory dermatosis usually associated with autoimmune disorders. Wounds may mimic a necrotizing infection, and the diagnosis is usually made after antibiotic therapy fails. Debridement may cause even larger wounds because of pathergy, so PG treatment consists of corticosteroids and local wound care. Pyoderma gangrenosum can be a devastating complication of breast and aesthetic surgery. We describe a case of PG following unilateral breast reduction that resulted in systemic inflammatory response; after treatment with prednisone and topical tacrolimus, the PG was resolved. The application of topical tacrolimus may reduce the need for prolonged corticosteroids. Level of Evidence: 5 ![Graphic][1] [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif
Benchmarking the use of a rapid response team by surgical services at a tertiary care hospital.

Background Rapid response teams (RRT) are used to prevent adverse events in patients with acute clinical deterioration, and to save costs of unnecessary transfer in patients with lower-acuity problems. However, determining the optimal use of RRT services is challenging. One method of benchmarking performance is to determine whether a department's event rate is commensurate with its volume and acuity. Study Design Using admissions between 2009 and 2011 to 18 distinct surgical services at a tertiary care center, we developed logistic regression models to predict RRT activation, accounting for days at-risk for RRT and patient acuity, using claims modifiers for risk of mortality (ROM) and severity of illness (SOI). The model was used to compute observed-to-expected (O/E) RRT use by service. Results Of 45,651 admissions, 728 (1.6%, or 3.2 per 1,000 inpatient days) resulted in 1 or more RRT activations. Use varied widely across services (0.4% to 6.2% of admissions; 1.39 to 8.73 per 1,000 inpatient days, unadjusted). In the multivariable model, the greatest contributors to the likelihood of RRT were days at risk, SOI, and ROM. The O/E RRT use ranged from 0.32 to 2.82 across services, with 8 services having an observed value that was significantly higher or lower than predicted by the model. Conclusions We developed a tool for identifying outlying use of an important institutional medical resource. The O/E computation provides a starting point for further investigation into the reasons for variability among services, and a benchmark for quality and process improvement efforts in patient safety.
Genetic assimilation can occur in the absence of selection for the assimilating phenotype, suggesting a role for the canalization heuristic

Genetic assimilation occurs when an acquired trait loses dependency on its environmental trigger and becomes an inherited trait. According to the standard quantitative genetic model for genetic assimilation, the trait is determined by the contributions of multiple genes. Trait expression occurs at a lower threshold with the trigger. Selection for the trait in the presence of the trigger increases the frequency of the trait-determining alleles. Eventually these alleles become frequent enough to breach the higher threshold for expression in the absence of the trigger. This loss of dependence on the trigger signifies genetic assimilation. Here I show that genetic assimilation can occur in the absence of selection for the trait in an evolutionary simulation of a gene network model. This contradicts the prediction of the standard quantitative genetic model, but is consistent with an explanation in terms of the canalization heuristic.
Spatially composition-graded alloy semiconductor nanowires and wavelength specific lateral-multijunction full-spectrum solar cells

We demonstrate chemical vapor deposition of single crystal Zn x Cd 1−x SySe 1−y alloy nanowires with continuous spatial composition-grading (x and y from 0 to1) across a single wafer, resulting in a controlled spatial bandgap variation from ∼ 3.6 eV (ZnS) to ∼ 1.7eV (CdSe). To take advantage of this unprecedented material capability for photovoltaic applications, we analyzed several designs of lateral multijunction solar cells, where incoming solar light is spectrally dispersed, such that each wavelength band is incident onto a region of the wafer with the corresponding bandgap. Such designs have potential of realizing large numbers of junctions to allow the full potential of many junctions to be explored for high-efficiency dispersive concentration photovoltaics.
Stroke Mortality in Blacks: Disturbing Trends

Background—Despite long-term declines in US stroke mortality rates, declines have slowed in the past decade and targets for blacks for the years 2000 and 2010 seem attainable only by extraordinary measures, if at all. This review focuses attention on key aspects of this problem. Data from the US National Center for Health Statistics and reports of population-based studies of stroke mortality published since 1987 retrieved by computerized literature searches were reviewed. Summary of Review—The third leading cause of death in black women and the sixth in black men in the United States in 1996, stroke accounted for 10 509 deaths in women and 7972 in men among blacks: 7.92% and 5.33%, respectively, of the total deaths. Age-adjusted death rates per 100 000 were black women, 39.2; white women, 22.9; black men, 50.9; and white men, 26.3. Available data indicate that compared with US whites, US blacks have greater mortality rates for every stroke subtype, with the likely exception of cerebral infarction due to e...
Potential Impacts of Very Light Jets on the National Airspace System

Very light jets constitute a class of three to eight passenger turbofan-powered aircraft that will enter service in 2006 and will need to be integrated into the National Airspace System. An aircraft performance analysis showed similarities between the predicted performance and capabilities of very light jets and the performance of existing light jets. Based on this, an analysis of operating patterns of existing light jets was used to predict how very light jets will be operated. Using 396 days of traffic data from the FAA enhanced traffic management system, the operating patterns of existing light jets were analyzed. It was found that 64% of all the flights flown by lightjets had their origin, destination, or both within the top 23 regional airport systems in the continental United States. This concentration of light jet traffic was found in areas of the air transportation system that are currently exhibiting dense traffic and capacity constraints. The structure of the network of routes flown by existing light jets was also studied and a model of network growth was developed. It is anticipated that this concentration will persist with emerging very light jet traffic. This concentration of traffic at key areas in the system will have implications for air traffic control management and airport activity. For regional airport systems, core airports are expected to saturate and, reliever airports will become critical for accommodating traffic demand. The entry of very light jets will increase the traffic load at the terminal airspace: terminal radar approach control. These impacts need to be taken into account to allow a successful integration of these aircraft in the National Airspace System.
Pediatric Ziprasidone Ingestions

We would like to applaud the authors of Respiratory Failure Following Isolated Ziprasidone Ingestion in a Toddler [1]. As the authors' case demonstrates, the unintentional ingestion of ziprasidone and other atypical antipsychotics is a growing public health concern and, as this case illustrates, sometimes leads to serious adverse events in children. There were over 40,000 exposures to atypical antipsychotics reported to the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) in 2008. Many of these are mixed ingestions, but over 3,000 of these exposures were single-substance ingestions in children less than 6 years old [2]. We would like to point out that our paper published in April of 2009 reports a similar case involving a toddler unintentionally exposed to ziprasidone who required intubation and had confirmatory levels [3]. Likewise, our patient recovered quickly and was discharged without long-term consequences. Unfortunately, we share the authors' belief that emergency physicians, toxicologists, and poison control centers will likely see an increase in unintentional pediatric ingestions of antipsychotics with serious adverse events.
Design of Total Runoff Integrating Pathways (TRIP)—A Global River Channel Network

As a first step toward designing a comprehensive model for validating land surface hydrology and river flow in Earth system models, a global river channel network has been prepared at 18 latitude 3 18 longitude resolution. The end product is the Total Runoff Integrating Pathways (TRIP) network. The aim of TRIP is to provide information of lateral water movement over land following the paths of river channels. Flow directions were deter- mined from vector data of river channels and river pathways available in two recent atlases; however, an automatic procedure using a digital elevation map of the corresponding horizontal resolution was used as a first guess. In this way, a template to convert the river discharge data into mean runoff per unit area of the basin has been obtained. One hundred eighty major rivers are identified and adequately resolved; they cover 63% of land, excluding Ant- arctica and Greenland. Most of the river basin sizes are well within a 20% difference of published values, with a root-mean-square error of approximately 10%. Furthermore, drainage areas for more than 400 gauging stations were delineated. Obviously, the stream lengths in TRIP are shorter than the natural lengths published as data. This is caused by the meandering of rivers in the
The Geography of Environmental Injustice in the Bronx, New York City

Although the mainstream environmental movement of the 1950s and 1960s alerted the public to the dangers posed by pollution and environmental degradation, these impacts on people’s health and the environment were not generally acknowledged (or thought) to be spatially or socially differentiated: everyone was presumed to be affected just about equally. The understanding that environmental problems may impact certain locations and people more than others (and in a predictable pattern based on race and income) is a relatively new concept called environmental injustice.
Nocturnal Noninvasive Ventilation in Neuromuscular Ventilatory Disorders

Normal respiratory function depends on a complex interaction of the central and peripheral nervous musculoskeletal systems that is regulated by multiple feedback mechanisms. Respiratory function in sleep is prone to destabilization due to: (1) the loss of voluntary respiratory drive located in the cortex and the subsequent reliance on regulation via automatic breathing centers and (2) rapid eye movement (REM) sleep atonia that results in reliance on the diaphragm for generation of the breath volume. Sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBDs) encompass a group of disorders characterized by abnormalities of respiratory pattern and/or ventilation during sleep. Specific types of SRBDs include hypoventilation , obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and central sleep apnea (CSA).
Intimate Partner Violence Associated with Postpartum Depression, Regardless of Socioeconomic Status.

Objective This study examined whether socioeconomic status moderated the association between intimate partner violence (IPV) and postpartum depression among a community-based sample of women. Defining the role of poverty in the risk of postpartum depression for IPV victims enables prioritization of health promotion efforts to maximize the effectiveness of existing maternal-infant resources. Methods This cross-sectional telephone-survey study interviewed 301 postpartum women 2 months after delivery, screening them for IPV and depression [using Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)]. Socioeconomic status was defined by insurance (Medicaid-paid-delivery or not). This analysis controlled for the following covariates, collected through interview and medical-record review: demographics, obstetric history, prenatal health and additional psychosocial risk factors. After adjusting for significant covariates, multiple linear regression was conducted to test whether socioeconomic status confounded or moderated IPV's relationship with EPDS-score. Results Ten percent of participants screened positive for postpartum depression, 21.3 % screened positive for current or previous adult emotional or physical abuse by a partner, and 32.2 % met poverty criteria. IPV and poverty were positively associated with each other (χ(2) (1) = 11.76, p < .001) and with EPDS score (IPV: beta 3.2 (CI 2.0, 4.5) p < .001, poverty: beta 1.3 (CI 0.2, 2.4) p = .017). In the multiple linear regression, IPV remained significantly associated, but poverty did not (IPV: adjusted beta 3.1 (CI 1.8, 4.3) p < .001, poverty: adjusted beta 0.8 (CI -0.3, 1.9) p = .141), and no statistically significant interaction between IPV and poverty was found. Conclusions Study findings illustrated that IPV was strongly associated with postpartum depression, outweighing the influence of socioeconomic status upon depression for postpartum women.
Partial Purification and Characterization of Vitamin B6-P Phosphatases from Human Erythrocytes

PLP and PNP were hydrolyzed by soluble and membrane-bound phosphatase activities in human erythrocytes. The two enzymes were partially purified and shown to differ from each other as to molecular size, pH optima, Km values, metal ion activation and inhibition.
Evaluation of Blinded Independent Central Review of Tumor Progression in Oncology Clinical Trials A Meta-analysis

Use of blinded independent central review (BICR) has become more common in oncology phase 3 trials as progression-free survival (PFS) has been increasingly used as an endpoint for regulatory approval. Since PFS is primarily a radiographic endpoint, BICR has been implemented to assess and reduce potential bias in the local evaluation (LE) of PFS. Recent publications note an agreement between LE and BICR of the ultimate reported PFS treatment effect, which questions the need for costly and time-consuming complete-case BICR of PFS. A meta-analysis was conducted to systematically evaluate the relationship between BICR- and LE-assessed PFS based on FDA’s regulatory experience from 2005 to present. Our results support the claim that a complete review of all radiographs by BICR may not be necessary for oncology trials, and alternative methods should be explored to evaluate bias. One potential alternative is to use BICR as an audit tool to detect evaluation bias in LE assessments.
Numerical Simulations of Sonic Booms in Non-uniform Flows

Sonic booms can be simulated based on a small disturbance potential formulation which leads to a nonlinear mixed type equation similar to that of transonic flows [1]. Numerical results using Murman’s scheme are given in [2] for 2-D and 3-D problems. In the present work, the governing equations are written as a system of first-order equations in terms of the velocity components. The resulting system is a generalized form of Cauchy/Riemann equations with the vorticity as a forcing function. Using Crocco’s relation, the vorticity can be related to the gradients of entropy and total enthalpy in general. For some applications, the entropy variation can be neglected and the isentropic flow model is adequate even with variable total enthalpy.
6:Metal Ions Affecting the Kidney

This chapter provides a succinct summary of the nephrotoxic effects of a number of metals/metalloids on an individual or mixture basis. There is a discussion of routes of exposure, mechanisms of uptake by renal cells and the potential impact of nanomaterials on these processes. An emphasis is placed on the toxicity of these metals/metalloids to individual cell types in the kidney and the application of biomarkers for the early detection of kidney cell injury prior to the onset of an overt clinical state such as end-stage renal disease. The issue of interactions between nephrotoxic metals in mixture exposures is discussed in relation to the application of molecular biomarkers for early detection of renal cell injury.
Marked in Vivo Donor Regulatory T Cell Expansion via Interleukin-2 and TL1A-Ig Stimulation Ameliorates Graft-versus-Host Disease but Preserves Graft-versus-Leukemia in Recipients after Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Abstract Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are critical for self-tolerance. Although adoptive transfer of expanded Tregs limits graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), ex vivo generation of large numbers of functional Tregs remains difficult. Here, we demonstrate that in vivo targeting of the TNF superfamily receptor TNFRSF25 using the TL1A-Ig fusion protein, along with IL-2, resulted in transient but massive Treg expansion in donor mice, which peaked within days and was nontoxic. Tregs increased in multiple compartments, including blood, lymph nodes, spleen, and colon (GVHD target tissue). Tregs did not expand in bone marrow, a critical site for graft-versus-malignancy responses. Adoptive transfer of in vivo–expanded Tregs in the setting of MHC-mismatched or MHC-matched allogeneic HSCT significantly ameliorated GVHD. Critically, transplantation of Treg-expanded donor cells facilitated transplant tolerance without GVHD, with complete sparing of graft-versus-malignancy. This approach may prove valuable as a therapeutic strategy promoting transplantation tolerance.
Optimization of Soybean Oil Based Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives Using a Full Factorial Design

Plant oils are attractive renewable feedstocks for biobased pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs). In this study, we investigated how the PSA adhesion properties were influenced by the compositions comprised of epoxidized soybean oil (ESO), 3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl 3,4-epoxycyclohexanecarboxylate (ECHM), dihydroxyl soybean oil (DSO), rosin ester, and cationic photo initiator. When the amounts of ESO and photo-initiator were constant, the variables of ECHM, DSO, and rosin amounts and their interactions were significant in influencing PSA peel adhesion strength, with p values smaller than 0.05 under a 95% significance level. Rosin amounts with the largest coefficient of 0.94 compared to the other variables are the most determinant factors. The peel adhesion strength was higher when using relatively a lower level of ECHM and a higher level of ESO and rosin. A model with the coefficient of determination (R2) of 95.06% was obtained to describe the relationship between the amount of resin constituents (ECHM, DSO, and rosin) and PSA peel adhesion strength in the experimental variable ranges. The optimal PSA formulation without cohesive failure was (ECHM = 0.04, DSO = 0.7, rosin = 0.7), resulting in a peel adhesion strength of 4.45 N/in. Structure–property relationships of the PSAs were established via thermal and rheological studies.