cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bacterial interference with immunospecific defences

There are many descriptions of bacterial agents that can suppress different phases of specific immunity. Bacterial agents are frequently employed as tools to modulate the immune system in experimental models or clinical therapy. Little attention has been given to the implications of such immunoregulating properties for infectious processes or for the natural role of the microbial flora in the normal regulation of the immune system. There are very few studies attempting to investigate directly the possible role of bacterial immunosuppressant factors in acute infection. Several examples of natural and experimental chronic infections have been described in which progressive uncontrolled infection is associated with a depressed cell mediated immunity, but a causal relation is unproven. This depression is usually not antigenically specific and there is some evidence that it may be initiated and maintained by persistent cell-wall components of the microorganisms. The bacteria implicated in suppression are all facultative or obligate intracellular parasites that can multiply and survive in the monocyte/macrophage. Bacterial immunosuppressants may have a crucial role in the pathogenesis of progressive chronic inflammation that occurs after infection.
122: Is fetal fibronectin (FFN) a marker of intra-amniotic inflammation in patients with midtrimester short cervix?

OBJECTIVE: Both fFN and amniotic fluid (AF) cytokines can predict interval to delivery in patients with midtrimester short cervix. However, no studies have shown if fFN is related to intra-amniotic inflammation. Therefore, we examined the relationship between fFN and AF cytokines in patients presenting with midtrimester short cervix. STUDY DESIGN: Singleton gestations with a transvaginal cervical length ≤25mm at 16 24 weeks underwent amniocentesis and fFN sampling. AF was assayed for 25 mediators using the Bio-PlexTM system. Cytokine levels were stratified by fFN status and compared using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Using the Bonferroni correction, a P value of <0.002 was required for significance. We also compared a previously described Inflammatory Score, which ranges from 0-20, and represents an overall summary of the inflammation status based on cytokine levels. RESULTS: 86 paired AF/fFN samples were available for comparison; 56 fFN negative, 30 fFN positive with no differences in baseline demographics. While there was a trend for some cytokines to be higher in fFN positive patients, none of the 25 cytokines evaluated reached significance (Table 2). There was also no difference in the inflammatory score between fFN groups. CONCLUSION: Although they are likely correlated, fFN does not appear to be a strong marker for intra-amniotic inflammation in patients with midtrimester short cervix. This finding may be a reflection of our limited sample size. Alternatively, it may reflect different pathways in the preterm partution syndrome, some of which are characterized by primary inflammation and others that initially lead to disruption of the chorio-decidual interface (and detection of fFN) and a secondary mild inflammation. Background Fetal fibronectin (fFN) has been proven clinically useful in identifying patients at risk for preterm delivery. The mechanism by which fFN is released from the chorio-decidual interface and found in vaginal secretions, yielding a positive fFN, is unclear. Inflammation has been shown to be present in a large proportion of patients with preterm labor and in some patients with mid-trimester short cervix. •
METHYL NITRITE ADSORPTION AS A NOVEL ROUTE TO THE SURFACE METHOXY INTERMEDIATE

Surface-bound methoxy species are intermediates in a variety of surface processes, ranging from heterogeneous catalysis to advanced fuel cells, yet their chemistry on many metals remains elusive because of the difficulty of cleanly preparing adsorbed layers of these species. We propose that thermal dissociation of an adsorbed precursor, methyl nitrite (CH3ONO), can be used to produce methoxy species on reactive metal surfaces at low temperatures. On two Pt−Sn alloys, the methoxy intermediate is strongly stabilized (to 300 K) against thermal decomposition compared to Pt(111), where dissociation occurs at below 140 K, and there is a high selectivity to produce formaldehyde. These Pt−Sn alloys do not form the CO and H2 dissociation products characteristic of methoxy chemistry on Pt(111).
PHENTOLAMINE BLOCKS THE SOMATOSTATIN-MEDIATED INHIBITION OF INSULIN SECRETION

This study was undertaken to determine the influence of alphaadrenergic blockade upon the somatostatin-mediated inhibition of insulin secretion. Somatostatin inhibited both the basal and glucose-stimulated pancreaticoduodenal vein insulin output of dogs. This effect was not observed during a simultaneous infusion of phentolamine, an alpha-adrenergic blocker. It is proposed that alpha-adrenergic mechanisms play a role in the inhibition of insulin secretion by somatostatin.
Silica-induced micronuclei and chromosomal aberrations in Chinese hamster lung (V79) and human lung (Hel 299) cells.

Abstract Silica is one of the most abundant and widely used mineral groups. A large number of workers are potentially exposed to one or more forms of silica. Therefore, the potential carcinogenic hazard of silica to the exposed workers is of great concern. This study examines the genotoxic potential of silica with the micronucleus and chromosomal aberration assays using cultured Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts (V79) and human embryonic lung (Hel 299) cells. One-day-old cultures were treated with two types of silica, Min-U-Sil 5 and Min-U-Sil 10, for 24h at concentrations of 40, 80, 160 and 320 μg/cm2. Both Min-U-Sils at 160 and 320 μg/cm2 induced micronucleus formation in V79 and Hel 299 cells. In V79 cells, a significant increase in the micronucleus frequency was also found with 40 and 80 μg/cm2. However, the chromosomal aberration frequency was unaffected by either Min-U-Sil 5 or 10 treatment of V79 or Hel 299 cells. Results indicated that silica, in different particle sizes, was capable of inducing micronuclei but not chromosomal aberrations in cultured animal and human lung cells and suggested that V79 cells were relatively more sensitive to silica than Hel 299 cells.
DEFINING THE ODOR PROBLEM IN A COMMUNITY.

Abstract Steps required to evaluate the total odor problem in a community are described. Techniques utilized are analyses of complaint records, public opinion poll, trained observer corps for identification and location tasks, determination of perception thresholds, quantitative analyses for odorants, and methods of locating sources of odors.
Purification of All Forms of HeLa Cell Mitochondrial DNA and Assessment of Damage to It Caused by Hydrogen Peroxide Treatment of Mitochondria or Cells

A purification scheme for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was designed which maximized the yield of all forms of the DNA while minimizing damage to the DNA during its isolation. Treatment of intact mitochondria with DNase I removed nuclear DNA and the avoidance of phenol and the isolation by CsCl density gradients in the absence of ethidium bromide and subsequent detection by Southern Hydridization dot-blots minimized DNA damage. Four different mtDNA forms free of apparent nuclear DNA were obtained: closed circular (I), open circular (II), linear (III), and a large multimer complex (C) which were characterized by agarose gel electrophoresis and electron microscopy. Using this procedure, mtDNA was obtained from both whole cells or intact mitochondria treated with H2O2. Significant fragmentation was observed after treatment at 37 degrees C, but not at 0 degrees C, and more damage was observed when treating whole cells than isolated mitochondria. Very low levels of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine were observed in all cases. However, at doses of H2O2 which were just lethal, neither increased DNA damage nor inactivation of cytochrome c oxidase was observed.
A MODIFIED DYNAMIC PROGRAMMING METHOD FOR MARKOVIAN DECISION PROBLEMS

Abstract : At the beginning of each period a system is in a certain state. Depending on the state, choice of an action determines the income for that period and the transition probabilities for moving to the next state. The problem is to choose the action at the beginning of each period which will maximize future total discounted income. A modified dynamic programming method for this problem is described. The method gives improved error control by showing how to compute upper and lower bonds on the optimal return which are, respectively, monotone decreasing and monotone increasing, and converge to the optimal return. The convergence appears to be quite rapid.
HIV/AIDS health policy: considering the influential climates.

Across practice settings and with little regard for educational level, nurses caring for HIV/AIDS patients are affected by health policy. Health policy can take many forms ranging from federal legislation to agency-specific mandates. Nurses caring for HIV/ AIDS patients are called upon to provide safe care and to act as patient advocates. To meet these professional obligations, nurses use the nursing process as a framework to continuously reevaluate their outcomes and modify their interventions accordingly. Nurses must apply this decision-making process in their approach to HIV/AIDS health policy—continuously reevaluating and considering whether the desired outcomes are being achieved and with what consequences. To ensure the integrity of the nursing profession, it is critical that nurses in HIV/AIDS practice settings continuously evaluate the impact of various health policies, both HIV/AIDS specific and general. The purpose of this article is to provide the reader with a number of areas of consideration, referred to as “climates,” to use when evaluating specific health policies. There are a number of policy models available that provide a variety of approaches to policy development and/or evaluation. A model is useful when it is comprehensive, accurate, clear, concise, andmeaningful to the reader. Although theremay be no singlemodel that accomplishes this for all readers, the following climates can be used within any model. It is important to recognize that HIV/AIDS health policies do not exist in a vacuum. Although any given HIV/AIDS health policy is fixed at the point in which it is formally articulated, the environment in which it is carried out is dynamic. There is a reciprocal relationship between health policy and the environment. When policy is being developed, it is influenced by a variety of climates. Once the formal policy is articulated, it influences these climates. HIV/AIDS health policy is contextual and both influences and is influenced by the climates within which it exists. Although there are a number of climates that will be discussed, not every climatewill influence every policy. Finally, discussion of the climates will be presented alphabetically, as there is no intrinsic hierarchy. A climate that may be very influential for one policy may have little, if any, impact on another one. The cultural climate is an ever-present influence on HIV/AIDS health policy. Health policy in general reflects the values of the dominant culture but often has disproportionate ramifications for minority cultures. This is especially true with regard to HIV/AIDS policy. Although the infected/affected culture is everevolving and becoming more reflective of the dominant culture, it has historically comprised primarily the disenfranchised and marginalized cultures of homosexuals, intravenous drug users, commercial sex workers, and partners of the same. What input have these cultures had into the development of the policy under consideration? How will/does the policy affect lower socioeconomic cultures? What about middleand upper-class cultures? Cultural climates are very Policy Column
A Telephone-Delivered Intervention to Improve Glycemic Control in Type 2 Diabetic Patients

This study was performed to investigate the effect of a telephone-delivered intervention on glycemic control and body mass index in Korean type 2 diabetic patients. 38 patients were randomly selected, with 20 assigned to a telephone group and 18 to a control group. The goal of the intervention was to keep blood glucose concentrations close to the normal range. The intervention was applied to the telephone group for 12 weeks. It consisted of continuous education and reinforcement of diet, exercise and medication adjustment, as well as frequent self-monitoring of blood glucose levels. Telephone intervention was performed twice per week for the first month, and then weekly for the second and third months. Subjects were requested to write self- management logs, including blood glucose, diet and an exercise diary. The diet diaries were analyzed by a dietitian, and subjects instructed about the results by telephone counseling or mail. All medication adjustments were communicated to the subjects' diabetes specialist. Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting blood glucose (FBG) and 2-hour postprandial glucose were measured before, and after, the intervention. Patients in the telephone group had a mean decrease of 1.2%, with those in the control group having a mean increase of 0.6%, in HbA1c. There were no significant differences in the body mass index (BMI) between the two groups. These findings indicated that a telephone-delivered intervention would improve HbA1c, but would not affect BMI.
Tight Distance-regular Graphs and the Subconstituent Algebra

We consider a distance-regular graph ? with diameter D? 3, intersection numbers ai, bi, ciand eigenvalues k=?0?1??D. Let X denote the vertex set of ? and fix x?X. Let T=T(x) denote the subalgebra of Mat X(C) generated by A, E0*, E1*,? , ED*, where A denotes the adjacency matrix of ? and Ei*denotes the projection onto the i th subconstituent of ? with respect to x. T is called the subconstituent algebra (or Terwilliger algebra) of ? with respect to x. An irreducible T -module W is said to be thin whenever dimEi*W? 1 for 0 ?i?D. By the endpoint of W we mean min{ i | Ei*W?= 0}. Let W denote a thin irreducible T -module with endpoint 1. Observe E1*W is a one-dimensional eigenspace for E1*AE1*; let ? denote the corresponding eigenvalue. We call ? the local eigenvalue of W. It is known yeujc5970x.gif ?1??? yeujc5971x.gif ?Dwhere yeujc5972x.gif ?1=?1 ?b1(1 +?1)?1and yeujc5973x.gif ?D=?1 ?b1(1 +?D)?1. Let n= 1 or n=D and assume ?= yeujc5974x.gif ?n. We show the dimension of W is D? 1. Let v denote a nonzero vector in E1*W. We show W has a basis Eiv(1 ?i?D, i?=n), where Eidenotes the primitive idempotent of A associated with ?i. We show this basis is orthogonal (with respect to the Hermitean dot product) and we compute the square norm of each basis vector. We show W has a basis Ei+1*Aiv(0 ?i?D? 2), where Aidenotes the i th distance matrix for ?. We find the matrix representing A with respect to this basis. We show this basis is orthogonal and we compute the square norm of each basis vector. We find the transition matrix relating our two bases for W. For notational convenience, we say ? is 1- thin with respect tox whenever every irreducible T -module with endpoint 1 is thin. Similarly, we say ? is tight with respect tox whenever every irreducible T -module with endpoint 1 is thin with local eigenvalue yeujc5975x.gif ?1or yeujc5976x.gif ?D. In J. Algebr. Comb., 12,(2000), 163?197 Juri?i?, Koolen and Terwilliger showed (?1+ka1+ 1) (?D+ka1+ 1) ??ka1b1(a1+ 1)2.They defined ? to be tight whenever ? is nonbipartite and equality holds above. We show the following are equivalent: (i) ? is tight; (ii) ? is tight with respect to each vertex; (iii) ? is tight with respect to at least one vertex. We show the following are equivalent: (i) ? is tight; (ii) ? is nonbipartite, aD= 0, and ? is 1-thin with respect to each vertex; (iii) ? is nonbipartite, aD= 0, and ? is 1-thin with respect to at least one vertex.
Designing PbSe Nanowires and Nanorings through Oriented Attachment of Nanoparticles

Single-crystal PbSe nanowires are synthesized in solution through oriented attachment of nanocrystal building blocks. Reaction temperatures of 190-250 degrees C and multicomponent surfactant mixtures result in a nearly defect-free crystal lattice and high uniformity of nanowire diameter along the entire length. The wires' dimensions are tuned by tailoring reaction conditions in a range from approximately 4 to approximately 20 nm in diameter with wire lengths up to approximately 30 microm. PbSe nanocrystals bind to each other on either {100}, {110}, or {111} faces, depending on the surfactant molecules present in the reaction solution. While PbSe nanocrystals have the centrosymmetric rocksalt lattice, they can lack central symmetry due to a noncentrosymmetric arrangement of Pb- and Se-terminated {111} facets and possess dipole driving one-dimensional oriented attachment of nanocrystals to form nanowires. In addition to straight nanowires, zigzag, helical, branched, and tapered nanowires as well as single-crystal nanorings can be controllably prepared in one-pot reactions by careful adjustment of the reaction conditions.
In Vitro Digestion/Caco‐2 Cell Culture Model to Determine Optimal Ascorbic Acid to Fe Ratio in Rice Cereal

: The objectives were to determine if adding ascorbic acid (AA) to rice cereal enhanced iron availability, and if so, the best ratio of AA to Fe to maximize Fe availability. Also, we sought to determine whether mixing rice cereal with apple juice fortified with AA, compared to mixing it with water, would increase Fe availability. An in vitro digestion/cell culture model was used. Iron availability was increased at an AA:Fe molar ratio of 0.8:1 and maximal at 1.6:1. Mixing apple juice with rice cereal to approximate an AA:Fe ratio of 1.2:1 did not enhance Fe availability. Results indicate that factors in the apple juice offset any enhancement effects of AA on Fe availability.
Trends in the Surgical Treatment of Pathologic Proximal Femur Fractures Among Musculoskeletal Tumor Society Members

Several strategies for the treatment of pathologic proximal femur fractures are practiced but treatment outcomes have not been rigorously compared. Major variations in the use of intramedullary fixation, extramedullary/plate-screw fixation, and endoprosthetic reconstruction techniques for pathologic proximal femur fractures in patients with skeletal metastases are reported. The clinical and surgical variables that influence this choice differ among treating surgeons. To characterize the technique preferences and to identify areas of consensus regarding specific clinical presentations, we administered an online survey to the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) membership. We also tested whether responses correlated with the respondents’ years in practice and asked about the indications for wide tumor resection and the role of tumor debulking and adjuvant cementation. A 10-minute, web-based survey was sent via email to 244 MSTS members. The survey queried participants’ musculoskeletal oncology training and experience and presented case scenarios illustrating different combinations of four variables that influence decision-making: cancer type, estimated patient survival, fracture displacement, and anatomic region of involvement. Forty-one percent (n = 98) of MSTS members completed the survey. Intramedullary nail fixation (IMN; 45%) and proximal femur resection and reconstruction (34%) were the most commonly recommended techniques followed by long-stem cemented hemiarthroplasty/cemented hemiarthroplasty (15%) and open reduction and internal fixation (7%). Most respondents (56%) recommended use of cementation with IMN. Differences of opinion on recommended treatment were associated with variations in cancer type, fracture displacement, and anatomic region of involvement. Our online survey showed a trend among MSTS members for selecting IMN and arthroplasty-related techniques to treat pathologic fractures of the proximal femur, but major differences in preferred operative technique exist. Prospective studies are needed to develop consistent, evidence-based treatment recommendations.
Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair : transition from mini-open to all-arthroscopic

Rotator cuff repair is one of the most common surgical procedures done in the shoulder. Traditionally, repair has required an open incision with release of a portion of the deltoid from the acromion. In the past decade, an arthroscopically-assisted, mini-open approach has gained popularity. This has been facilitated by advances in the use of arthroscopy. This trend toward a more minimally invasive approach has continued as arthroscopic techniques continue to improve and advance. An all-arthroscopic approach recently has been used for rotator cuff repairs. The arthroscopic approach offers several advantages including smaller incisions, easy access to the glenohumeral joint for treatment of intraarticular diseases, less soft tissue dissection, and less potential harm to the deltoid. The purpose of the current study is to discuss recent advances in arthroscopic and mini-open rotator cuff repair techniques and to highlight the technical aspects of the mini-open procedures that are important in making the transition to an allarthroscopic rotator cuff repair.
Representations of Algebras Defined by a Multiplicative Relation and Corresponding to the Extended Dynkin Graphs $$ {{\tilde{D}}_4} $$ , $$ {{\tilde{E}}_6} $$ , $$ {{\tilde{E}}_7} $$ , and $$ {{\tilde{E}}_8} $$

We describe, up to unitary equivalence, all k-tuples (A 1, A 2, . . ., A k ) of unitary operators such that $$ A_i^{{{n_i}}}=I\;\mathrm{for}\;i=\overline{1,k} $$ and A 1 A 2 . . . A k = λI, where the parameters (n 1, . . . , n k ) correspond to one of the extended Dynkin diagrams $$ {{\tilde{D}}_4} $$ , $$ {{\tilde{E}}_6} $$ , $$ {{\tilde{E}}_7} $$ , and $$ {{\tilde{E}}_8} $$ , and $$ \lambda \in \mathbb{C} $$ is a fixed root of unity.
Strain Measurements and Laue Diffraction with Microbeams

The authors describe a system being developed to use x-rays for spatially resolved measurements of strain, microstructure and composition in thin films. These capabilities are particularly important for improved understanding of electromigration, stress relaxation, and associated reliability issues in microelectronics. the system uses white radiation collimated and focused with a tapered glass capillary, an area CCD detector for measuring Laue patterns, and an energy sensitive Si detector for measuring lattice spacings. Examples are shown of strain measurements for a 4{micro}m thick Al film on a Si substrate with 300 {micro}m and 30 {micro}m x-ray beams; of Laue diffraction from a single grain for a 40 {micro}m thick Al foil with a 0.3 {micro}m x-ray beam; and of x-ray fluorescence mapping for a patterned Cu film with a 30 {micro}m x-ray beam.
Characterization of low angle grain boundaries in yttrium orthovanadate

Single crystals of Nd:YVO4 grown with the Czochralski technique frequently exhibit light scattering defects that are detrimental to their lasing and optical properties. Defects in the form of low angle grain boundaries have been characterized in what are nominally ‘single crystals’. The misorientation angles of the boundaries were determined to be typically < 1°, which corresponds to formation energies of approximately 1 Jm−2. It was found that dislocations generated during crystal growth and cooling have enough mobility in certain growth directions to form low angle grain boundaries through polygonization. Despite the relatively high energies the boundaries were stable, being immobile at annealing temperatures up to 97% of the melting point (2083 K). Suggestions are made to reduce or eliminate polygonization, including the addition of atoms with a size either much larger or smaller than Y3+.
Effect of irradiation on electrophoretic properties of enzymes in haemopoietic cells of opossum.

5-month-old male opossums were exposed to 5000 rads whole body60Co radiation and sacrificed at 16, 40 and 90 h following irradiation. Starch gel electrophoretic studies of dehydrogenases of lactate, malate, 6-phosphogluconate and glucose-6-phosphate and α-esterases and acid phosphatase were conducted on the homogenates of spleen and bone marrow cells. Expressions of LDH and G6PD were affected by irradiation in bone marrow and spleen cells.
Effects of ethanol exposure on neuropeptide-stimulated calcium mobilization in N1E-115 neuroblastoma

Abstract The effects of acute and chronic (100 mM for 7 days) ethanol exposures on resting intracellular free calcium, [Ca 2+ ] i , as well as bradykinin and neurotensin mediated [Ca 2+ ] i mobilization were determined in intact N1E-115 neuroblastoma. [Ca 2+ ] i was monitored fluorometrically with the calcium indicator, fluo-3/AM. Acute exposure to ethanol resulted in an inhibition of bradykinin mediated [Ca 2+ ] i mobilization with significant effects observed only at 400 mM ethanol. Neurotensin mediated [Ca 2+ ] i mobilization was not significantly affected by any of the ethanol concentrations tested. Similarly, resting [Ca 2+ ] i (64 ± 2 nM) was unaffected by either chronic or acute ethanol as high as 400 mM. However, chronic exposure to ethanol significantly reduced the magnitude of bradykinin mediated [Ca 2+ ] i mobilization both in the absence and presence of extracellular [Ca 2+ ]. In contrast, [Ca 2+ ] i mobilization in the presence of various concentrations of neurotensin was not significantly affected by chronic ethanol exposure. The results suggest that neuropeptide mediated [Ca 2+ ] i mobilization is relatively insensitive to the acute presence of ethanol. In addition, chronic ethanol exposure appears to have selective effects on receptor mediated [Ca 2+ ] i mobilization because this response to bradykinin, but not neurotensin, was significantly reduced in cells exposed to ethanol. The results also suggest that the reduction in bradykinin stimulated [Ca 2+ ] i mobilization in chronically exposed cells is due in part to an inhibition of the release of intracellularly bound [Ca 2+ ].
Portrait of an Ephemeral Adult Stage: Egg Maturation, Oviposition, and Longevity of the Gall Midge Rhopalomyia californica (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae)

Insect reproduction is typically spread out in time and space, making estimates of lifetime reproductive success quite difÞcult under natural Þeld conditions. Such estimates are, however, critical to providing rigorous tests of theory for reproductive behavior. One approach to circumventing this problem is to study insects whose lifetime reproduction is compressed in space and time, and whose ovarian dynamics (oogenesis, oosorption, and oviposition) are simpliÞed. We investigated the gall midge Rhopalomyia californica Felt (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) as a possible candidate for an herbivore with such a simpliÞed pattern of lifetime reproduction. We demonstrate here that R. californica matures all of its eggs before adult eclosion (it is strictly proovigenic), and it does not resorb eggs, even when deprived of oviposition sites. Observational and experimental studies in the Þeld demonstrate that this midge typically completes its entire lifetime reproduction in a single day: females usually emerge at dawn, mate, and after a posteclosion period of resting, they initiate a sustained period of active oviposition during which most eggs are laid over a 4 Ð5-h period. Mean longevity of adult females is very short, consistently 1 d and only 5Ð 6 h on clear and warm days. Two key aspects of senescence are experimentally demonstrated: an increase in mortality rates and a decrease in oviposition rates with age. The life history traits associated with the ephemeral adult stage of R. californica are consistent with a syndrome that has been characterized recently for many proovigenic herbivorous and parasitic insects. Proovigenic species, including R. californica, may be particularly valuable as model systems for studies of lifetime reproductive success in nature.
Temporal variability of observed and simulated hyperspectral reflectance

Multivariate analysis techniques were used to quantify and compare the spectral and temporal variability of observed and simulated shortwave hyperspectral Earth reflectance. The observed reflectances were measured by the Scanning Imaging Absorption Spectrometer for Atmospheric Chartography (SCIAMACHY) instrument between 2002 and 2010. The simulated reflectances were calculated using climate Observing System Simulation Experiments (OSSEs), which used two Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change AR4 scenarios (constant CO2 and A2 emission) to drive Moderate Resolution Atmospheric Transmission simulations. Principal component (PC) spectral shapes and time series exhibited evidence of physical variables including cloud reflectance, vegetation and desert albedo, and water vapor absorption. Comparing the temporal variability of the OSSE-simulated and SCIAMACHY-measured hyperspectral reflectance showed that their Intertropical Convergence Zone-like Southern Hemisphere (SH) tropical PC1 ocean time series had a 90° phase difference. The observed and simulated PC intersection quantified their similarity and directly compared their temporal variability. The intersection showed that despite the similar spectral variability, the temporal variability of the dominant PCs differed as in, for example, the 90° phase difference between the SH tropical intersection PC1s. Principal component analysis of OSSE reflectance demonstrated that the spectral and centennial variability of the two cases differed. The A2 PC time series, unlike the constant CO2 time series, exhibited centennial secular trends. Singular spectrum analysis isolated the A2 secular trends. The A2 OSSE PC1 and PC4 secular trends matched those in aerosol optical depth and total column precipitable water, respectively. This illustrates that time series of hyperspectral reflectance may be used to identify and attribute secular climate trends with a sufficiently long measurement record and high instrument accuracy.
Early diagnosis of superior vena cava obstruction facilitated by the use of cerebral oximetry.

h i f w t d OCCLUSION OR SIGNIFICANT narrowing of the superior vena cava (SVC) leading to SVC syndrome is an ncommon event after cardiac surgery. Unrecognized SVC yndrome may progress to catastrophic airway swelling and erebral injury. This case describes the occurrence of cerebral enous hypertension and congestion as a consequence of SVC arrowing after an aortic valve replacement (AVR), mitral alve repair, and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, hich was rapidly recognized and subsequently repaired beause of an acute bilateral significant decrease in cerebral xygen saturation detected by cerebral oximetry (Invos 5100; omanetics Corp, Troy, MI).
Summary of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development-best pharmaceuticals for Children Act Pediatric Formulation Initiatives Workshop-Pediatric Biopharmaceutics Classification System Working Group.

Abstract Background The Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) allows compounds to be classified based on their in vitro solubility and intestinal permeability. The BCS has found widespread use in the pharmaceutical community to be an enabling guide for the rational selection of compounds, formulation for clinical advancement, and generic biowaivers. The Pediatric Biopharmaceutics Classification System (PBCS) Working Group was convened to consider the possibility of developing an analogous pediatric-based classification system. Because there are distinct developmental differences that can alter intestinal contents, volumes, permeability, and potentially biorelevant solubilities at different ages, the PBCS Working Group focused on identifying age-specific issues that need to be considered in establishing a flexible, yet rigorous PBCS. Objective We summarized the findings of the PBCS Working Group and provided insights into considerations required for the development of a PBCS. Methods Through several meetings conducted both at The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health, Human Development–US Pediatric Formulation Initiative Workshop (November 2011) and via teleconferences, the PBCS Working Group considered several high-level questions that were raised to frame the classification system. In addition, the PBCS Working Group identified a number of knowledge gaps that need to be addressed to develop a rigorous PBCS. Results It was determined that for a PBCS to be truly meaningful, it needs to be broken down into several different age groups that account for developmental changes in intestinal permeability, luminal contents, and gastrointestinal (GI) transit. Several critical knowledge gaps were identified, including (1) a lack of fully understanding the ontogeny of drug metabolizing enzymes and transporters along the GI tract, in the liver, and in the kidney; (2) an incomplete understanding of age-based changes in the GI, liver, and kidney physiology; (3) a clear need to better understand age-based intestinal permeability and fraction absorbed required to develop the PBCS; (4) a clear need for the development and organization of pediatric tissue biobanks to serve as a source for ontogenic research; and (5) a lack of literature published in age-based pediatric pharmacokinetics to build physiologically- and population-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) databases. Conclusions To begin the process of establishing a PBPK model, 10 pediatric therapeutic agents were selected (based on their adult BCS classifications). These agents should be targeted for additional research in the future. The PBCS Working Group also identified several areas where greater emphasis on research was needed to enable the development of a PBCS.
On the Properties of Polarization Elements as Used in Optical Instruments. III. Angular Aperture Functions of a Positive Dichroic Film Polarizer

This paper discusses the important properties that affect the use of a polarizer in applications involving large angular aperture or oblique incidence. Experimentally determined values of these properties are reported for Polaroid HN22 polarizer, one of the best known types of high extinction, commercially available polarizers. It is shown that these properties may be rather simply described. Equations are given from which polarization direction and transmittance of positive dichroic polarizers can be calculated for oblique rays. The calculated values agree well with the experimentally obtained values given here as well as with those for very differently constructed positive dichroic polarizers studied by previous investigators.
Integration of a self-contained Compact Seed Source and trigger set for flux compression generators

Two integral components that accompany an FCG in an explosively driven system is the prime power source and the trigger set. The objective of the prime power source or seed source is to provide the initial seed current/energy into the primary stage of an FCG. Another integral component in an FCG based pulsed power system is the trigger set. The trigger set is used to detonate an exploding bridge wire (EBW) which triggers the high explosives (HE's) in an FCG. This paper will discuss a recent design of a stand-alone apparatus that implements a self-contained (battery powered with full charge time less than 40 sec) [1], single-use Compact Seed Source (CSS) using solid state components for the switching scheme along with a single-use Compact Trigger Set (CTS) that also implements a similar switching technique. The CSS and CTS stand-alone apparatus developed is a system (0.005-m3 volume and weighing 3.9 kg) capable of delivering over 360-J (∼12 kA) into a 5.20-µH FCG load and approximately 2-mJ (∼600 A) into the EBW. Both the CSS and CTS have trigger energies of micro-Joules at the TTL triggering level.
Teaching struggling readers who are native Spanish speakers: what do we know?

Purpose: Thepurpose of this article is tosharewhatwe have learned from a series of 4 scientific studies about preventing reading failure through early intervention with native Spanish- speaking students who are struggling readers. The goal is to provide guidance to practitioners about effective practices for working with native Spanish-speaking children who are struggling to become readers using evidence rather than conjecture and opinion. Method:First,themethodandfindingsaresummarizedfromeachof
Theoretical maximum throughput of IEEE 802.11 and its applications

The goal of this paper is to present exact formulae for the throughput of IEEE 802.11 networks in the absence of transmission errors and for various physical layers, data rates and packet sizes. Calculation of the throughput is more than a simple exercise. It is a mandatory part of provisioning any system based on 802.11 technology (whether in ad-hoc or infrastructure mode). We will discuss the practical importance of theoretical maximum throughput and present several applications.
Hits on question answer portals: exploration of link analysis for author ranking

Question-Answer portals such as Naver and Yahoo! Answers are growing in popularity. However, despite the increased popularity, the quality of answers is uneven, and while some users usually provide good answers, many others often provide bad answers. Hence, estimating the authority, or the expected quality of users, is a crucial task for this emerging domain, with potential applications to answer ranking and to incentive mechanism design. We adapt a powerful link analysis methodology from the web domain as a first step towards estimating authority in Question Answer portals. Our experimental results over more than 3 million answers from Yahoo! Answers are promising, and warrant further exploration along the lines outlined in this poster.
Tempest in a TC Changing Treatment Providers for In-Prison Therapeutic Communities

Corrections officials frequently use private contractors to operate in-prison, therapeutic community (TC) treatment programs. However, the recurrent competitive bidding process inherent in state agencies contracting for services sometimes results in a treatment-provider change. Few studies have focused on whether this change leads to better or worse treatment motivation and engagement for clients and how it might be evaluated. Using data collected during the larger Criminal Justice Drug Abuse Treatment Studies Performance Indicators for Corrections study, quantitative assessments of client functioning were made at two points in time. Changing to new treatment providers in three in-prison TC treatment facilities caused significant disruptions, leading to decreased client—counselor rapport and peer support as well as lower levels of treatment readiness, participation, and satisfaction of clients. Qualitative client and staff interviews provided further insight relevant for correctional administrators and tr...
Bacillus cereus, a Volatile Human Pathogen

Summary: Bacillus cereus is a Gram-positive aerobic or facultatively anaerobic, motile, spore-forming, rod-shaped bacterium that is widely distributed environmentally. While B. cereus is associated mainly with food poisoning, it is being increasingly reported to be a cause of serious and potentially fatal non-gastrointestinal-tract infections. The pathogenicity of B. cereus, whether intestinal or nonintestinal, is intimately associated with the production of tissue-destructive exoenzymes. Among these secreted toxins are four hemolysins, three distinct phospholipases, an emesis-inducing toxin, and proteases. The major hurdle in evaluating B. cereus when isolated from a clinical specimen is overcoming its stigma as an insignificant contaminant. Outside its notoriety in association with food poisoning and severe eye infections, this bacterium has been incriminated in a multitude of other clinical conditions such as anthrax-like progressive pneumonia, fulminant sepsis, and devastating central nervous system infections, particularly in immunosuppressed individuals, intravenous drug abusers, and neonates. Its role in nosocomial acquired bacteremia and wound infections in postsurgical patients has also been well defined, especially when intravascular devices such as catheters are inserted. Primary cutaneous infections mimicking clostridial gas gangrene induced subsequent to trauma have also been well documented. B. cereus produces a potent β-lactamase conferring marked resistance to β-lactam antibiotics. Antimicrobials noted to be effective in the empirical management of a B. cereus infection while awaiting antimicrobial susceptibility results for the isolate include ciprofloxacin and vancomycin.
Exact large amplitude capillary waves on sheets of fluid

We generalize Crapper's exact solution for capillary waves on fluid of infinite depth. We find two finite-depth solutions involving elliptic functions. We show they can also be interpreted as large amplitude symmetrical and antisymmetrical waves on a fluid sheet. Particularly interesting are the waves obtained from our solution in the limit when the fluid sheet is extremely thin.
Comparison of CPR outcome predictors between rhythmic abdominal compression and continuous chest compression CPR techniques

Objective Bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) provides treatment for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest since perfusion of vital organs is critical to resuscitation. Alternatives to standard CPR are evaluated for effectiveness based upon outcome predictive metrics and survival studies. This study focuses on evaluating the performance of rhythmic-only abdominal compression CPR (OAC-CPR) relative to chest compression (CC-CPR) using a complementary suite of mechanistically based CPR outcome predictors. Combined, these predictors provide insight on the transduction of compression-induced pressures into flow perfusing vital organs. Methods Intrasubject comparisons between the CPR techniques were made during multiple 2-min intervals of induced fibrillation in 17 porcine subjects. Arterial pO 2 , cardiac output, carotid blood flow, coronary perfusion pressure (CPP), minute alveolar ventilation (MAV), end-tidal CO 2 , and time from defibrillation to the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) were recorded. Organ damage was assessed by necropsy. Results Compared with CC-CPR, OAC-CPR had higher pressure and ventilation metrics with increased relative CPP (+16 mm Hg), MAV (+75/ml/min/kg) and a lower reduction in arterial pO 2 (−22% baseline), but suffered from lower carotid flows (−9.3 ml/min). No significant difference was found comparing cardiac outputs. Furthermore, resuscitation was qualitatively more difficult after OAC-CPR, with a longer time to ROSC (+70 s). No abdominal damage was observed over short periods of OAC-CPR. Conclusions Although OAC-CPR appeared superior to CC-CPR by pressure and ventilation metrics, lower carotid flow and longer delay until ROSC raise concerns about overall performance. These paradoxical observations suggest that the evaluation of efficacious alternative CPR techniques may require more direct measurements of vital organ perfusion.
The Financial And Cost Accounting Implications Of Medical Tourism

It is estimated that the current annual U.S. investment in health care is $2 trillion, roughly 16 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP). Of great concern is the fact that health care costs are rising at two-and-one-half times the rate of inflation in the economy. As a result, the model of health care outsourcing to less developed countries has become increasingly more attractive to individuals who pay out of pocket expenses for health care or who do not want to wait long periods for health care. Medical tourism, introduced in several countries outside the U.S. over a decade ago, is a term coined to represent those underinsured individuals who are willing to pay to travel overseas to save significant amounts of money on the same procedures offered at much greater expense through the U.S. health care system. Because quality of health care around the world varies, concern over substandard care with regard to surgery and other medical procedures is a factor to take into consideration when evaluating medical tourism. This article analyzes the cost implications of medical outsourcing abroad and discusses the financial implications of medical tourism as it relates to the cost of direct care, follow up care, and complications.
Mechanisms of HCO(-)(3) Secretion in the Rabbit Connecting Segment

The connecting tubule (CNT) contains α-(H+-secreting) and β-( HCO 3 − -secreting) intercalated cells and is therefore likely to contribute to acid-base homeostasis. To characterize the mechanisms of HCO 3 − transport in the rabbit CNT, in which there is little definitive data presently available, we microdissected the segments from the superficial cortical labyrinth, perfused them in vitro, measured net HCO 3 − transport (J HCO 3 − ) by microcalorimetry, and examined the effects of several experimental maneuvers. Mean ± SE basalJ HCO 3 − was −3.4 ± 0.1 pmol ⋅ min−1 ⋅ mm−1(net HCO 3 − secretion), and transepithelial voltage was −13 ± 1 mV (n = 47). Net HCO 3 − secretion was markedly inhibited by removal of luminal Cl− or application of basolateral H+-ATPase inhibitors (bafilomycin or concanamycin), maneuvers that inhibit β-intercalated cell function. Net HCO 3 − secretion was not affected by inhibitors of α-intercalated cell function (basolateral Cl− removal, basolateral DIDS, or luminal H+-ATPase inhibito...
Feature Noising for Log-Linear Structured Prediction

NLP models have many and sparse features, and regularization is key for balancing model overfitting versus underfitting. A recently repopularized form of regularization is to generate fake training data by repeatedly adding noise to real data. We reinterpret this noising as an explicit regularizer, and approximate it with a second-order formula that can be used during training without actually generating fake data. We show how to apply this method to structured prediction using multinomial logistic regression and linear-chain CRFs. We tackle the key challenge of developing a dynamic program to compute the gradient of the regularizer efficiently. The regularizer is a sum over inputs, so we can estimate it more accurately via a semi-supervised or transductive extension. Applied to text classification and NER, our method provides a >1% absolute performance gain over use of standardL2 regularization.
Dealing with Hate in the Feminist Classroom

This article addresses the conflict between free speech and educational rights through the lens of the author's experience dealing with intentionally disruptive hate speech in a seminar entitled Law and Feminism. The paper begins by describing the hate speech that occurred in Law and Feminism and its impact upon the students in the class. The description is meant to show concretely and specifically the harms of student hate speech in the classroom, especially in a seminar class devoted to feminist theory. The paper then critiques the refusal of many legal educators to interfere with student hate speech in the classroom. Although interference with student speech is a well-settled part of legal education, and it is a widely accepted principle that free speech can be regulated in an academic environment when it interferes with the educational purpose of the class or equality principles, the legal academy generally responds to hate speech by ignoring it. With hate speech, biases in the legal academy tilt the balance unfairly toward a policy of non-interference - the academic equivalent of sticking one's head in the sand. This paper takes issue with that approach. The paper argues that, despite its claims to neutrality, the non-interference approach to student hate speech is neither neutral nor absolute. Instead, the political context of law school inflates the free speech harm of professorial regulation of student hate speech while simultaneously deflating the importance of more widely accepted law school practices that control the content of student classroom dialogue. The non-interference approach also misunderstands and de-values the educational goals of seminars devoted to critical legal thought. The paper challenges law schools to renounce the superficially neutral "non-interference" approach and devise a more thoughtful, nuanced approach to the balance of free speech and education rights in the legal academy.