cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Feasibility of pulmonary valve imaging using transesophageal echocardiography upper esophageal view.

BACKGROUND The present study designed to evaluate feasibility of transesophageal echocardiographic (TEE) imaging of the pulmonary valve (PV) at the transaortic upper esophageal (TAUE) window. We hypothesized that patients with larger aorta would be more likely to have visualization of the PV from this TAUE window. METHODS 2D TEE images of the PV were prospectively acquired by one operator at the TAUE window looking through the aortic arch. Patients were divided into four groups based on image quality of PV (group 1, not visualized; group 2, barely visualized; group 3, sufficient visualization; group 4, excellent visualization). Clinical, echocardiographic, and radiologic parameters were collected. RESULTS A total of 212 consecutive patients (54 ± 14 years, 63.7% male) were enrolled. Group distribution was as follows: group 1, n = 60 (28.3%); group 2 n = 39 (18.4%); group 3, n = 27 (12.7%); group 4, n = 86 (40.6%). There were no differences between groups' baseline clinical characteristics. There was a weak although statistically negative correlation between PV image quality and aortic arch dimension (r = -0.17 P = 0.01). There was a stronger positive correlation between PV thickness (r = 0.38 P < 0.001) and PV image quality. Retrospective subgroup analysis of 76 patients with recent chest CT showed similar, but not significant trends as by TEE. CONCLUSION The use of 2D TEE TAUE results in diagnostic image quality of the PV in the majority of patients and outstanding image quality in a subset of patients. PV image quality is negatively affected by increasing aorta diameter and positively affected by PV thickness.
Academic library as learning space and as collection: A learning commons' effects on collections and related resources and services

Abstract A tremendous amount has been written about the library as a learning space and about this model's two most popular outgrowths, the information commons and the learning commons. Little to nothing, however, has been written about how reshaping an academic/research library and repurposing library space affects the library as a collection, its resources, and its collections-related services. This study looks at the immediate impact of opening a learning commons in an academic/research library on circulation, document delivery and interlibrary loan requests for returnables, and on- and off-campus database accesses at one institution. Taxonomy Library Collection Management; Assessment
Geriatric brain tumor management part II: Glioblastoma multiforme.

Abstract The elderly (≥60 years) population increases rapidly, at a projected 2.9%/year increments by year 2050. The concept of Frailty can be outlined using one of two models, the phenotypic or deficit based models, serving as a clinical tool to measure the overall health and risk of adverse events. There is a linear correlation between frailty and poor survival in the elderly. Different pathological entities behave differently in the geriatric population and respond differently to standard treatment, which merits a specific focused discussion and research. We present a two parts review discussing the unique features of the elderly patient harboring an intracranial neoplasm. In this Part-II, we review the management of Glioblastoma-Multiforme (GBM) in the elderly population. GBM is the most common primary brain tumour in adults. The number of elderly patients with GBM is expected to double in the next 2 decades. Age serves as both a negative prognosticator and a risk factor for GBM. The reported OS for newly diagnosed GBM is 15 months, yet it is worse for elderly GBM patients, which seem to feature a relentless course with progressive and rapid loss of neurologic function and resistance to treatment. In spite of accumulating evidence, the optimal management of elderly patients with GBM is still controversial, driven by concern that any treatment may be less effective and more toxic in the elderly. Treatment decisions should be made in the context of a comprehensive geriatric assessment.
Is there a benefit to additional neuroaxial anesthesia in open nephrectomy? A prospective NSQIP propensity score analysis

Neuroaxial (i.e., spinal, regional, epidural) anesthesia has been shown to be associated with reduced readmission rate, decreased hospital stay, and decreased overall complication rate in orthopedic and gynecologic surgery. Our aim was to identify differences in intra- and postoperative complications, length of stay and readmission rates in open nephrectomy patients managed with neuroaxial anesthesia. Utilizing National Surgical Quality Inpatient Program (NSQIP) database, we identified patients who have undergone an open nephrectomy between 2014 and 2017. Patients were further subdivided based on anesthesia modality. We used the propensity score-matching (PSM) method to adjust for baseline differences among patients who received general anesthesia alone and those with additional neuroaxial anesthesia. Using step-wise multivariable logistic regression, we identified preoperative and intraoperative predictors associated with 30-day procedure-related readmission, complications, and postoperative length of stay. Out of 3,633 patients identified, 2346 patients met our inclusion and exclusion criteria. There was no difference in baseline characteristics after propensity score matching between general and additional neuroaxial anesthesia. Postoperative outcomes including: procedure-related readmission, rate of reoperation, operative time, all complications were similar between the groups. Adjuvant neuroaxial anesthesia group did experience a prolonged postoperative hospital stay that was statistically significant as compared to patients with general anesthesia alone [5.3 (3.5) days vs 4.8 (2.9) days, p = 0.007]. Compared to GA alone after multivariable logistic regression, neuroaxial anesthesia was not statistically significant for readmission (p = 0.909), any complication (p = 0.505), but did showed increased odds ratio of prolonged postoperative stay [aOR 1.107, 95% CI 1.042–1.176, p = 0.001] after adjusting for multiple factors. Using 2014–2017 NSQIP database, we were able to demonstrate no additional reduction in complication or readmission rate in patients with neuroaxial anesthesia as compared to general anesthesia alone. Furthermore, patients who did receive neuroaxial anesthesia experienced a longer postoperative course.
Origin and Evolution of Nervous Systems

Nervous systems integrate environmental and internal inputs to coordinate appropriate sometimes systems-level responses. Complex central nervous systems containing a brain and nerve cord(s) gained cognition, effectively forever changing the way in which organisms interact and adapt to their environment. How did such an incredible organ evolve? Classical views argue nervous systems and later centralization each occurred once in animal evolution, but over the last 15–20 years, rapid advances in molecular and genetic approaches as well as studies in a broader number of species provide surprising insights that force us to revisit the origin and evolution of nervous systems. In addition to causing biologists to reassess previous dogma, modern approaches provide a path forward to better address the age-old question: where did our brain come from? This chapter reviews our understanding of nervous system evolution through the lens of developmental biology. We focus on the emerging ideas that nervous systems may have evolved multiple times in animal evolution and revisit the evidence that argues centralization of nervous systems evolved once. We conclude with a brief discussion about the insights that can be gained by applying modern approaches in developmental biology to understand nervous system evolution.
Time Is Brain: The Use of EEG Electrode Caps to Rapidly Diagnose Nonconvulsive Status Epilepticus.

Objective:To perform a feasibility pilot study comparing the usefulness of EEG electrode cap versus standard scalp EEG for acquiring emergent EEGs in emergency department, inpatient, and intensive care unit patients.Background:Nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) is a neurological emergency diagn
The effect of perceptual decision-making on the interpretation of twin fetal heart rate tracings.

Objective: Decision-making is an integrative process during which multiple sources of available evidence are combined into a singular response. Importantly, subconscious processes occur in perceptu...
Large sample size bias in empirical finance

Abstract The vast majority of empirical studies in finance employ large enough sample sizes and use the conventional thresholds for statistical significance. This routine practice can potentially lead to spurious statistically significant results. The primary aim of this paper is to present a rule of thumb that can be used to determine the appropriate thresholds for statistical significance for a given sample size. The paper argues that the list of statistically significant findings in the broader finance literature is likely to be much shorter after accounting for large sample size bias.
Metal-insulator transition in lead yttrium ruthenate

Abstract Lead yttrium ruthenate pyrochlore solid solutions (Pb2-xYxRu2O6.5+z) were investigated for a metal insulator transition (MIT) and the Seebeck effect. Introducing increasing moles x of Y instead of Pb into metallic Pauli paramagnetic Pb2Ru2O6.5 causes an MIT at x ≈ 0.2 and formation of semiconductor/insulator materials until the antiferromagnetic Mott insulator Y2Ru2O7 is reached. The Mott–Hubbard mechanism of electron localization was used to explain the MIT. A critical content of yttrium is needed to open the Mott–Hubbard gap and to fill the lower Hubbard band (LHB) with localized t 2 g 4 electrons. The Seebeck effect showed a maximum between 400 and 500 K, for at least all x ≤ 1.5. The effect can be explained in terms of S varying proportionally with the effective mass of the carriers and inversely with their concentration.
Real-World Efficacy of the Hybrid Closed-Loop System.

Background:Hybrid closed-loop (HCL) insulin pump therapy (Medtronic 670G) is an emerging technology that is growing in use worldwide. Initial clinical trials demonstrated the effectiveness of HCL i...
Prevention of Unwanted Sexual Contact Among Cadets at the United States Air Force Academy: A Brief Small-Group Intervention.

This study tested the effectiveness of a small-group preventive intervention designed to prevent unwanted sexual contact among cadets at the US Air Force Academy. Among cadets in the incoming class...
iDATA - Orchestrated WiseCIO for Anything as a Service

Integral digitalization aims to liaise with Universal interface for human-computer interaction, assemble Brewing aggregation via online analytical processing, and engage Centered user experience (UBC), which enables wiseCIO to orchestrate “Anything-as-a-Service” (XaaS). This paper presents three important concepts such as iDATA, iDEA and ACTiVE that together orchestrate XaaS on wiseCIO. iDATA stands for “integral digitalization via archival transformation and analytics” in support of content management, iDEA denotes “intelligence-driven efficient automation” for UBC processing with little coding required via machine learning automata, and ACTiVE represents “accessible, contextual and traceable information for vast engagement” with content delivery. Where iDATA is central to XaaS through computational thinking applied to multidimensional online analytical processing (mOLAP). Case studies are through discussed on the massive basis through iDATA over broad fields, such as manageable ARM (archival repository for manageable accessibility), animated BUS (biological understanding from STEM), sensible DASH (deliveries assembled for fast search & hits), smart DIGIA (digital intelligence governing instruction and administering), informative HARP (historical archives & religious preachings), vivid MATH (mathematical apps in teaching and hands-on exercise), and engaging SHARE (studies via hands-on assignment, review/revision and evaluation). As a result, iDATA-orchestrated wiseCIO is in favor of archival content management (ACM) and massive content delivery (MCD). Most recently, the comprehensive online teaching and learning (COTL) has been prepared and published as ACTiVE courseware with various multimedia and the student online profiles for paperless homework, labs and submissions. The ACTiVE courseware is integrated with a capacity equivalent to 10,000 + traditional web pages and broadly used for advanced remote learning (ARL) in both synchronous model and asynchronous model with great ease.
Laser Ablation Inductive Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (LA-ICP-MS) Analysis on Lead-Acid Battery System: Development of Evaluation Method of Sub-ppm Metal Impurity Elements

In Lead-acid batteries, there are significant efforts to enhance battery performance, mainly by reducing metal impurities that negatively affect battery performance. Currently implemented impurity analysis requires significant time and effort. Wet chemical preparation method is not only hazardous due to the extensive use of acids, but generates environmental pollutants and hazardous waste which require more costly and comprehensive disposal processes. In industry, it is desirable to reduce sample processing and analysis time to improve productivity and efficiency. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (LA-ICP-MS) is a technique that has the potential to overcome the above issues. In this work, we demonstrate an analysis of impurities (Cu, As, Cd, Co, Se, and Te) in lead-based samples at the ppm/sub-ppm level by the LA-ICP-MS method and verify with matrix matching an accurate quantification of the impurity concentrations of interest. The resulting data, which determines to reduce analysis time more than 50% due to simple preparation step while not as accurate concentration as traditional ICP-MS with at least two times increment of relative standard deviation, provides a reasonable level of accuracy and precision in a substantially quick, cost-effective method that is viable for a high throughput industrial setting.
Explaining the apocalypse: the end-Permian mass extinction and the dynamics of explanation in geohistory

Explanation is a perennially hot topic in philosophy of science. Yet philosophers have exhibited a curious blind spot to the questions of how explanatory projects develop over time, as well as what processes are involved in generating their developmental trajectories. This paper examines these questions using research into the end-Permian mass extinction as a case study. It takes as its jumping-off point the observation that explanations of historical events tend to grow more complex over time, but it goes beyond this observation by scrutinizing the processes responsible for generating this pattern. Surveying several decades of research into the end-Permian extinction, I suggest that the principal “driver” of explanation in geohistory is non-explanatory work: work that is undertaken to increase our descriptive understanding of a phenomenon, not to test a particular explanatory claim. Non-explanatory work drives explanation by imposing or eliminating demands on explanation, and by furnishing new resources for constructing explanatory models. Explanations grow more complex because (1) the demands on explanation tend to increase with ongoing characterization of the target phenomenon, and (2) characterization tends grows the roster of explanatory resources. However, the fact that non-explanatory work sometimes eliminates demands on explanation means that this trend is not irreversible. I suggest that to achieve a more rounded view of the dynamics of explanation, philosophers should ask how research into complex phenomena is organized, as well as how explanatory progress depends upon the coordination of different kinds of material and epistemic resources.
Metabolomics profiles of premenopausal women are different based on O-desmethylangolensin metabotype.

Urinary O-desmethylangolensin (ODMA) concentrations provide a functional gut microbiome marker of dietary isoflavone daidzein metabolism to ODMA. Individuals who do not have gut microbial environments that produce ODMA have less favorable cardiometabolic and cancer risk profiles. Urinary metabolomics profiles were evaluated in relation to ODMA metabotypes within and between individuals over time. Secondary analysis of data was conducted from the BEAN2 trial, which was a cross-over study of premenopausal women consuming six months on a high- and a low-soy diet, each separated by a 1-month washout period. In all of the 672 samples in the study, 66 of the 84 women had the same ODMA metabotype at seven or all eight time points. Two or four urine samples per woman were selected based on temporal metabotypes in order to compare within and across individuals. Metabolomics assays for primary metabolism and biogenic amines were conducted in 60 urine samples from 20 women. Partial least-squares discriminant analysis was used to compare metabolomics profiles. For the same ODMA metabotype across different time points, no profile differences were detected. For changes in metabotype within individuals and across individuals with different metabotypes, distinct metabolomes emerged. Influential metabolites (variables importance in projection score>2) included several phenolic compounds, carnitine and derivatives, fatty acid and amino acid metabolites, and some medications. Based on the distinct metabolomes of producers vs. non-producers, the ODMA metabotype may be a marker of gut microbiome functionality broadly involved in nutrient and bioactive metabolism, and should be evaluated for relevance to precision nutrition initiatives.
Abstract IA-007: The KPC model has helped advance pancreatic cancer therapy: Agree

The KPC genetically engineered mouse has been widely utilized within the pancreatic cancer field as a preclinical model system that recapitulates many aspects of human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. The model has proven particularly accurate in replicating many of the etiological, histopathological, and physiological features of the human disease. KPC mouse pancreatic tumors also exhibit the broad chemoresistance phenotype that characterizes human pancreatic cancer, proving to be uniquely resistant to a wide range of cytotoxic, targeted, and immuno-oncology drugs. Nevertheless, the lack of efficacy in several clinical trials that derived from studies initially performed in the KPC model has provoked questions about the clinical predictiveness of the model, and by extension, its preclinical utility. This presentation will summarize the history and lessons learned from using the KPC mouse model and highlight impacts the model has had on pancreatic cancer therapy. We will focus in particular on the appropriate interpretation of preclinical results and understanding the similarities and differences between corresponding trials performed in KPC mice and humans. To date, the model has proven successful both in advancing promising biology-based regimens to the clinic and of dissuading the further clinical development of ineffective regimens. Moreover, by providing a vehicle for the conduct of “post-clinical” trials, the KPC model has enabled the study and understanding of why pancreatic cancer trials can fail, leading to critical lessons that are informing the design of future clinical trials (and the prioritization of candidate therapeutic agents). Innovative and promising therapeutics approaches developed from studies in the KPC model continue to advance through clinical trials and are bolstered by ongoing co-clinical efforts that iteratively pass from human to mouse and back again. Citation Format: Kenneth P. Olive. The KPC model has helped advance pancreatic cancer therapy: Agree [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer; 2021 Sep 29-30. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(22 Suppl):Abstract nr IA-007.
Chapter 22 Proteases and Cell Invasion

Publisher Summary In this chapter, a number of mechanisms have been suggested to explain the process of tumor cell invasion in terms of observed properties of neoplastic cells. One of these, that tumor invasion is the result of cellular multiplication and mechanical expansion, visualizes tumor infiltration as resembling the growth of a plant root. A second hypothesis to explain the invasion proposes invasive potential of tumor cells derivatives from their increased mobility and/or decreased adhesiveness. The destruction of surrounding tissues and/or extracellular matrix by lytic enzymes produced by tumor cells has also been proposed to account for the invasive potential of tumor cells. The significance of protease activity during the invasive events of metastasis is further supported by the results from studies of the role of proteases in certain non-malignant biological processes. Joint tissue destruction in rheumatoid arthritis, a non-malignant biological process involving major tissue degradation and remodeling, involves plasmin-activated collagenase as well as PA-generated plasmin. A particularly interesting example of the potential involvement of proteases in tumor invasion is the documented resistance of cartilage to tumor infiltration. It has been speculated that the resistance of cartilage to invasion derives from the presence of high levels of inhibitors of plasmin, collagenase, and thiol proteases found in this tissue. The experiments discussed in this chapter throughout this review give strong support to the hypothesis that proteases and, in particular, plasminogen activator are involved in tissue remodeling and invasion. It is worth noting that the nature of the invasive process, as it is presented, is such that invasion could be interfered with by the administration of protease inhibitors of appropriate design. Such molecules with the appropriate tissue and enzyme specificities could potentially provide therapies for a number of normal and pathological conditions.
Computerized analysis of pupillograms in studies of alertness.

When alert subjects sit in a quiet, darkened room for 10-15 min, their pupils remain dilated. If thesubjects become sleepy or fatigued, their pupils become miotic and oscillate. Pupillometry, the record-ing of pupil diameter, has been used to study alertness. Pupillograms are typically graded by subjectiveassessment on the basis of oscillations of pupil diameter (hippus) and miosis. In this study, numericparameters were calculated from pupillograms and were compared to subjective ratings by clinicians.Pupil diameters were recorded for 15 min at five samples per second with a custom built video pupil-lometer. Subjects sat in the dark and fixated a small red light. Digital filtering techniques and Fourieranalysis were used to calculate several parameters designed to report hippus and miosis. The same setof pupillograms was graded by three physicians familiar with pupillometry. Grades were assigned on ascale of 1 to 4, 1 being most alert and 4 least alert. A linear combination of three of the numericparameters had the highest correlation with the average subjective grade (r = 0.92). These techniquesprovide a quantitative way to evaluate pupillograms that will be used in the assessment of alertness.Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 33:671-676,1992
The alleviation of pain by cell transplantation.

Publisher Summary The mushrooming of the field of cellular transplantation in recent years has given rise to a new way of supplying analgesic molecules. In animal models, cell-transplant analgesia has proven successful both with cells from primary tissue (mostly in studies with adrenal medullary chromaffin cells) and with immortalized, bioengineered cell lines that secrete pain-reducing neuroactive substances. The choice of donor material for cell-transplant analgesia presents some interesting contrasts with other neural transplant therapies. Homotypic tissue is a realistic choice as replacement material for repair of deficits, such as those seen in Parkinson's disease or spinal trauma. However, heterotypic tissue shows an apparently coincidental but useful concordance with the function of the local host tissue. This is most remarkable in the case of the adrenal medulla for spinal analgesia. Preclinical pain models of several types have by now confirmed that adrenal medullaty chromaffin cells can be analgesic when transplanted into the rat's spinal subarachnoid space.
The Effect of Nonlinear Diffusive Heat Transport in a Simple Climate Model

The effects of nonlinear diffusive heat transport in North's (1975) model is reexamined. By inserting the nonlinearity into the original energy balance equation rather than the spectrally transformed linear algebraic equations, and including one more mode in the spectral expansion, it is found that nonlinear diffusion does give a significantly different sensitivity for states near the current climate. For linear diffusion, an increase of 0.1% of the solar constant from the present value is sufficient to melt all the ice on the earth, whereas an increase of about five times as large is required for nonlinear diffusion. This difference in sensitivity shows the importance of dynamical modeling in simple climate models.
Intestinal Calcium Transport: Effect of Cimetidine

Recently cimetidine (Tagamet), a widely used drug for peptic ulcer disease, was found to decrease serum levels of calcium and immunoreactive parathyroid hormone in patients with hyperparathyroidism. Since parathyroid hormone action is closely related to calcium homeostasis, we studied the effect of cimetidine on intestinal calcium transport. An in vivo perfusion technique was used for the study of net transport and lumen to mucosa flux of 45calcium. Our results indicate a significant decrease in net calcium transport and lumen to mucosa flux of 45calcium in the rats injected with cimetidine, compared to control rats. Direct addition of cimetidine to the perfusion solution did not alter transport rates significantly. The mechanism by which cimetidine affects calcium transport may be secondary to its effect on the release of parathyroid hormone from the parathyroid gland or an effect on vitamin D metabolism.
Multistep tumorigenesis and the microenvironment

Early-stage cancers have long been considered to be less aggressive than late-stage cancers because it is assumed that they have accumulated fewer of the mutations that are required for full metastatic potential. For breast cancer, recent gene expression profiling data have challenged this paradigm by identifying early-stage cancers with similar gene expression profiles to fully metastatic cancers. In this review, multistep carcinogenesis is reconsidered in light of these new data. The concept that the tumor stroma plays a key role in determining whether a metastatic tumor cell will remain dormant or become invasive is discussed. Recent studies demonstrating the feasibility of targeting tumor stroma for cancer prevention and treatment are presented.
Trial of zinc supplements in relation to pregnancy outcomes, hematologic indicators, and T cell counts among HIV-1–infected women in Tanzania

Background: In observational studies the zinc status of HIV-infected persons has been associated with both positive and adverse clinical outcomes. Such endpoints may affect the risk of adverse birth outcomes among HIV-infected women. Objective: We examined the effects of zinc supplements on birth outcomes hematologic indicators and counts of T lymphocyte subsets among 400 HIV- infected pregnant women. Design: Eligible women between 12 and 27 wk of gestation were randomly assigned to daily oral supplementation with either 25 mg Zn or placebo between recruitment and 6 wk after delivery. All women received iron folic acid and multivitamin supplements irrespective of the experimental assignment. Results: We observed no significant differences in birth weight duration of gestation or fetal and neonatal mortality between women in the zinc and placebo groups. Hemoglobin concentrations increased between baseline and 6 wk postpartum in both groups. However the rise in hemoglobin over this period was significantly lower (P = 0.03) in the zinc group (X ± SD; 11.5 ± 17.9 g/L) than in the placebo group (15.2 ± 18.6 g/L). Similarly the changes in red blood cell count and in packed cell volume over the same period were significantly lower in the zinc group (P < 0.01 and P = 0.01 respectively). Zinc had no effect on CD4(+) CD8(+) or CD3(+) cell counts during the follow-up period. Conclusion: Because of the lack of beneficial effects of zinc on adverse pregnancy outcomes and the likelihood of negative effects on hemoglobin concentration no compelling evidence exists to support the addition of zinc to prenatal supplements intended for pregnant HIV-infected women. (authors)
Towards Universal Fiduciary Principles

This Article focuses on unifying fiduciary law in Civil Law and the Common Law systems. The problems that fiduciary law addresses are similar throughout history and in all societies. However, the legal systems which address these problems differ. While in the Common Law fiduciary law is founded on property law, in the Civil Law similar fiduciary principles are found in the category of contract. However, the reach and basis of contract law in each system differ. Common Law judges tend to strictly enforce the parties’ contract terms while Civil Law allows for far more judicial discretion to impose fairness principles on the parties’ contract terms. This Article offers a number of ways in which the two systems of law can coincide and concludes and suggests by-passing the differences between the two systems by focusing on the results reached in each and at the same time following the models of dual systems.
Deep Mutational Scanning: A Highly Parallel Method to Measure the Effects of Mutation on Protein Function

Deep mutational scanning is a method that makes use of next-generation sequencing technology to measure in a single experiment the activity of 10(5) or more unique variants of a protein. Because of this depth of mutational coverage, this strategy provides data that can be analyzed to reveal many protein properties. Deep mutational scanning approaches are particularly amenable to being performed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, given the extensive toolkit of reagents and technologies available for this organism.
Extended switching criterion for second-order saturated servomechanisms

A PRIMARY requirement in many positioning systems is that errors resulting from large input disturbances be reduced to tolerable values as quickly as possible. For a linear system, this requirement could be satisfied by making the ratio of torque to inertia sufficiently large. However, even with the best servomotor design this ratio is limited; therefore, to sufficiently reduce the response time, the designer must frequently contend with saturation in the system components and resulting saturated values of available torque. This paper deals with this saturated type of operation.
Oral opioid therapy for chronic peripheral and central neuropathic pain.

Background Although opioids are commonly used to treat chronic neuropathic pain, there are limited data to guide their use. Few controlled trials have been performed, and many types of neuropathic pain remain unstudied. Methods Adults with neuropathic pain that was refractory to treatment were randomly assigned to receive either high-strength (0.75-mg) or low-strength (0.15-mg) capsules of the potent μ-opioid agonist levorphanol for eight weeks under double-blind conditions. Intake was titrated by the patient to a maximum of 21 capsules of either strength per day. Outcome measures included the intensity of pain as recorded in a diary, the degree of pain relief, quality of life, psychological and cognitive function, the number of capsules taken daily, and blood levorphanol levels. Results Among the 81 patients exposed to the study drug, high-strength levorphanol capsules reduced pain by 36 percent, as compared with a 21 percent reduction in pain in the low-strength group (P=0.02). On average, patients in t...
Skeletal changes after tibial fracture in the rat.

Abstract Closed fracture of the tibia in the rat is followed by increased bone formation throughout the peripheral skeleton. On the other hand, new bone formation is less active in the femur of the injured limb and presumably in the fractured bone. Increased bone formation after tibial fracture in the rat is not the result of normal growth processes but rather, is postulated to be the result of a traumatically induced increase in hormone activity.
Analysis and Interpretation of Deep Equatorial Currents in the Central Pacific

Abstract Analysis of vertical profiles of absolute horizontal velocity collected in January 1981, February and April 1982 in the equatorial central Pacific revealed two significant narrowband spectral peaks in zonal velocity, centered approximately at vertical wavelengths of 560 and 350 stretched meters (sm). Energy in the 560 sm band roughly doubled between the first and last cruises. Tim-lagged coherence results suggested upward phase propagation at periods of about 4 years. East–west phase fines computed from coherence over zonal separations tilted downward towards the west, implying westward phase propagation and zonal wavelengths on the order of 10 000 km. The peak that was centered at 350 sm occured at the vertical scales of the conspicuous alternating flows in the records, generically called the equatorial deep jets in the past (the same terminology is used here). It showed a more steady character in amplitude and a higher signal-to-noise ratio in comparison with the 560 sm peak. The deep jets were...
Deoxygenation of Cresol on Houdry and Modified Houdry Catalysts

Physico chemical characterization of the Houdry catalyst supplied by the Houdry corporation, New Jersey shows that it is an amorphous form of silica alumina containing traces of calcium and potassium. It is modified by heat treatment and by loading strong metal oxides such as MoO3 and NiO. The catalytic activity for the deoxygenation of o− cresol on these systems were studied at 623 K. Very high percentage conversion (90%) was obtained on Houdry catalyst. However the conversion is not significantly altered by heat treatment of the catalyst in the temperature range 623 K to 723 K. The incorporation of the MoO3 in the catalyst enhances the activity. The MoO3-NiO impregnation further increases the percentage conversion of cresol. The increase in percentage conversion on these strong metal supported catalysts may be due to the addition of the multivalent metallic active sites for the cresol to be adsorbed on the surface through oxygen coordination.
Olfactory Neuroscience: Normalization Is the Norm

A recent study shows that neural circuits from vertebrates and invertebrates use common strategies to stabilize odor representations across a wide range of concentrations.
Suppression of Meloidogyne hapla populations by Hirsutella minnesotensis

Abstract The effects of the endoparasitic fungus Hirsutella minnesotensis on populations of Meloidogyne hapla from Michigan (MI), Rhode Island (RI), Connecticut (CT), Lyndonville, New York (NYL), Geneva, New York (NYG), and Wisconsin (WI) were studied in the greenhouse. Twenty-day-old tomato (cv. Rutgers) seedlings were inoculated with either 0 or 600 eggs of each nematode population mixed with either 0, 0.02, or 0.1 g of fresh H. minnesotensis mycelium 0.1 L−1 of soil in pots containing 0.5 L of soil, and maintained at 25±2°C for 2 months. No effect of the fungal treatments and nematode treatments on tomato plant heights and shoot dry weights was observed. While all M. hapla populations were suppressed by H. minnesotensis, the degree to which each population was affected varied slightly. Across fungal treatments and nematode populations, the fungus reduced total number of nematodes in roots by 61–98%, with the highest for NYG and RI, intermediate for NYL and CT, and lowest for MI and WI populations. The ...
High-Performance Liquid Chromatographic Assay of D-Glucose in Erythrocytes

Abstract A procedure is presented after several attempts with different modes of chromatography for measuring high concentrations of d-glucose in erythrocytes. The procedure utilizes rapid deproteinization of hemolysate by mixing with acetonitrile. The supernatant is analyzed by strong cation exchange chromatography, using an Organic Analysis Column. Separation conditions are: eluent = 0.01 N H2SO4, flow rate = 0.6 ml/min, detection = 195nm at 0.05 AUFS, sample size = 20 μl and temperature = ambient. The coefficients of variation for 5 mg/ml samples were (within-run) 6.7%, and (day-to-day) 7.1%. This study shows the presence of a high concentration (1900 mg/dl) of d-glucose within the erythrocytes as a result of a high external d-glucose concentration (2000 mg/dl) in plasma, and suggests that d-glucose is rapidly transported into the cell.
Buckling capacities of axially loaded, cold-formed, built-up C-channels

Cold-formed, built-up members are common compression elements in cold-formed steel joists, and these built-up members are susceptible to unique buckling behaviors. Built-up member design is addressed in Section C4.5 of the American Iron and Steel Institute 2001 Specification. Over 150 experimental compression tests on closed-section, built-up members formed of intermediately welded c-channels were conducted, and these experimental values were compared to theoretical buckling capacities based on the Section C4.5 modified slenderness ratio. Use of the modified slenderness ratio was exceedingly conservative. Capacities based on the unmodified slenderness ratio and C4.5 fastener and spacing provisions were consistently conservative.
HIV/AIDS Knowledge and Risk Perception of Adult Women in an Urban Area Jail:

HIV/AIDS knowledge and HIV-related risk behavior perform a critical role in the planning and implementation of jail-based risk reduction programs. Building on Becker's (1974) health belief model, which indicates that decreased risk behavior accompanies increased risk education, we measured risk orientation of 264 incarcerated women by examining knowledge of HIV transmission, pre-arrest risk behavior, self perceptions of risk, and risk management. Findings did not lend support to Becker's model, which purports that decreased risk behavior follows increased risk education. Consequently, it appears that increased risk education would not decrease risk behavior in this population. Theoretical, methodological, and programmatic implications of the findings are discussed.
The timing of brain events: reply to the "Special Section" in this journal of September 2004, edited by Susan Pockett.

Abstract In this “Reply” paper, the arguments and experimental findings by Pockett, Pollen, and Haggard et al. are analyzed. It had been shown ( Libet et al., 1964 ) that a 0.5 s duration of repetitive activations of sensory cortex is required to produce a threshold of sensation. The view that this is due to a facilitatory buildup in excitatory state to finally elicit neuronal firing is shown to be incompatible with several lines of evidence. Objections to the phenomenon of subjective referral backwards in time (for the delayed sensation) are also untenable. Haggard, Cartledge, Dafydd, and Oakley (2004) report that a self-initiated act can, under hypnotic suggestion, appear to the subject to be “involuntary.” The act under hypnosis is better viewed as one initiated unconsciously, not as an act of conscious will.
Inhibitory Effects of Nisin Against Clostridium perfringens Food Poisoning and Nonfood-Borne Isolates

Abstract: The enterotoxigenic Clostridium perfringens type A is the causative agent of C. perfringens type A food poisoning (FP) and nonfood-borne (NFB) human gastrointestinal diseases. Due to its ability to form highly resistant endospores, it has become a great concern to the meat industry to produce meat free of C. perfringens. In this study, we evaluated the antimicrobial effect of nisin against C. perfringens FP and NFB isolates. No inhibitory effect of nisin was observed against germination of spores of both FP and NFB isolates in laboratory medium. However, nisin effectively arrested outgrowth of germinated spores of C. perfringens in rich medium. Interestingly, germinated spores of NFB isolates possessed higher resistance to nisin than that of FP isolates. Furthermore, nisin exhibited inhibitory effect against vegetative growth of both FP and NFB isolates in laboratory medium, with vegetative cells of NFB isolates showing higher resistance than that of FP isolates. However, the antimicrobial activity of nisin against C. perfringens was significantly decreased in a meat model system. In conclusion, although nisin showed inhibitory effect against spore outgrowth and vegetative cells of C. perfringens FP and NFB isolates in laboratory conditions, no such effect was observed against C. perfringens spores inoculated into a meat model system.
Three-dimensional forced convection flow adjacent to backward-facing step

Numerical simulations of three-dimensional laminar forced convection e ow adjacent to a backward-facing step in a ductare presented forthecase wheretheduct’ s aspect ratio iseight (AR= 8), itsexpansion ratio is two (ER=2), and the step height S is 1.00 cm. This relatively small aspect ratio duct was selected to increase the signie cance of the three-dimensional e ow on the heat transfer downstream from the step. The e ow upstream of the step is treated as fully developed and isothermal. The duct walls are treated as adiabatic surfaces with the exception of the stepped wall that is downstream from the step that is treated as being heated with uniform heat e ux. Complex three-dimensional e ow develops downstream from the step with a primary recirculation e ow region and a reattachment length that has a minimum in its spanwise distribution near the sidewall. A spanwise swirling e ow (vortex) develops inside the primary recirculation e ow region and a reverse e ow region develops nearthe sidewall. These three-dimensional features increase in size with increasing Reynolds number. The jetlike e ow that develops near the sidewall within the separating shear layer impinges on the stepped wall causing a minimum to develop in the reattachment length and a maximum to develop in the Nusselt number near the sidewall. The distributions of the three velocity components, reattachment length, friction coefe cient, and Nusselt number are presented and discussed.
Selective inhibition of collagen synthesis in sea urchin embryos by a low concentration of actinomycin D

Abstract The rate of collagen synthesis is significantly inhibited in Strongylocentrotus purpuratus embryos continuously exposed to a low act. D concentration (0.75 μg/ml). Collagen synthesis was determined at the mid-gastrula, diamond-shaped larva and pluteus larval stages by two independent assays. One assay determined the amount of hydroxyproline accumulation, and the other measured the rate of [2, 3-3H]proline incorporation into collagenase-sensitive peptides. The rate of collagen synthesis was reduced in the three developmental stages, with a 75% reduction in the pluteus stage (96 h). Total protein synthesis as determined by [3H]proline incorporation was not inhibited. The results suggest that low act. D concentrations selectively inhibit collagen synthesis. A possible mechanism is discussed.
Person–situation interaction: Competing models of fit.

This paper identifies three models of person-situation interaction in an effort to conceptually clarify and integrate previous research. Statistical criteria for each model are then developed and tested within one organizational setting. Results indicate partial support for each of the three interaction models, and suggest various improvements for person-situation interaction research.
Intrinsic hot-carrier degradation of nMOSFETs by decoupling PBTI component in 28nm high-k/metal gate stacks

For the first time, a new decoupling method of PBTI component from hot-carrier (HC) stress is proposed. It is found that the HC degradation is contributed from both PBTI and intrinsic HC component. Using the power-law time exponent of Vt shift in PBTI and HC, the intrinsic HC degradation can be extracted. In addition, a physical model for HC degradation in high-k/metal gate (HK/MG) device has been suggested.
Gas-Crossover and Membrane-Pinhole Effects in Polymer-Electrolyte Fuel Cells

Gas-crossover and Membrane-pinhole Effects in Polymer-electrolyte Fuel Cells Adam Z. Weber* ,z Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720 This paper investigates the effects of gas crossover. Specifically, mathematical simulations are conducted to elucidate the fundamental changes in fuel-cell operation as permeation of the various gases through the membrane increases. Two cases are explored, with the first one examining uniform increases in the set of gas-permeation coefficients, and the second one the existence of regions of high gas crossover (i.e., membrane pinholes). For the first case, operation at 120°C is studied and a maximum limit for the hydrogen permeation coefficient of 1×10 −10 mol/bar-cm-s for a 25 μm membrane is determined. For the second case, it is shown that negative current densities and temperature spikes can arise due to mixed-potential and direct- combustion effects where there are large enough pinholes, thereby impacting performance and water and thermal management. * Electrochemical Society Member z E-mail: azweber@lbl.gov
Simon Patten's Contributions to the Institutionalist View of Abundance

This article highlights Simon Patten's contributions to the institutionalist method and view of abundance. It illustrates Patten's role in the cross-fertilization between early institutionalists and the German Historicists. Patten's views on the societal transition to abundance, the method of social inquiry, and the role of social scientists are re-examined in light of the current exigencies of a climate-constrained, post-industrial economy. The policy implications that emerge from Patten's rejection of the presumption of scarcity are examined in a contemporary context. The article suggests that the historical and evolutionary approach that Patten fostered among institutionalists is essential to the identification and implementation of the socio-economic reform requisite of an age of abundance.
Gebrehiwot Baykedagn, Eurocentrism, and the Decentering of Ethiopia

The article critically evaluates the analysis that Gebrehiwot Baykedagn, a prominent intellectual among the early Ethiopians who were exposed to Western education, gives of Ethiopia's social and te...
Phosphoinositides: Key modulators of energy metabolism.

Phosphoinositides are key players in many trafficking and signaling pathways. Recent advances regarding the synthesis, location and functions of these lipids have dramatically improved our understanding of how and when these lipids are generated and what their roles are in animal physiology. In particular, phosphoinositides play a central role in insulin signaling, and manipulation of PtdIns(3,4,5)P3 levels in particular, may be an important potential therapeutic target for the alleviation of insulin resistance associated with obesity and the metabolic syndrome. In this article we review the metabolism, regulation and functional roles of phosphoinositides in insulin signaling and the regulation of energy metabolism. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Phosphoinositides.