cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
L’instrumentation biographique du risque : Homosexualité et adoption plénière en France

Peut-on qualifier de « politique du risque » un dispositif d’action publique qui s’inspire de cette notion, mais ne s’en reclame jamais explicitement ? Le present article soutient que la rhetorique du risque, issue des domaines environnementaux et bioethiques, impregne de facon croissante l’attitude des pouvoirs publics a l’egard des questions familiales. Tel est le cas de la procedure francaise d’agrement en vue d’adoption qui aborde l’homosexualite des candidats comme un danger potentiel pour l’enfant et pour la societe. Nous formulons l’hypothese que les travailleurs sociaux en charge de l’adoption dramatisent les enjeux de leur intervention pour mieux asseoir l’autorite de leurs decisions et, en consequence, leur position institutionnelle. Mais le risque doit toujours rester inavoue : sa force performative reside dans la production de figures imaginaires a l’aune desquelles les candidats sont implicitement enjoints a s’identifier. Le risque constitue ainsi un instrument de la production biographique du « public » des politiques adoptives.
Hepatic artery stenosis after liver transplant, managed with percutaneous angioplasty and stent placement.

Hepatic artery stenosis is a recognized vascular complication of orthotropic liver transplant that carries significant morbidity and mortality. The authors present a case of hepatic artery stenosis in a 50-year-old female successfully treated with balloon angioplasty and stent. This case report highlights the importance of percutaneous intervention as a preferred treatment option in patients with hepatic artery stenosis postorthotropic liver transplant. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Revision total hip arthroplasty for large medial (protrusio) defects with a rim-fit cementless acetabular component.

Seventeen patients (19 hips) with protrusio acetabuli resulting from a failed total hip arthroplasty, large medial bone defect, and an intact bony rim were treated with an oversized cementless acetabular component and medial morcelized allograft. An average of 55% of the revision component was not supported by host bone. At an average follow-up of 2.8 (range 2-6) years, none of the acetabular components required revision for loosening. The average cup position preoperatively was 10.5 mm medial to Kohler's line and postoperatively was 6.8 mm lateral to Kohler's line. Despite very large medial defects, reconstructions with this technique remained stable.
Brain and Language: Evidence for Neural Multifunctionality

This review paper presents converging evidence from studies of brain damage and longitudinal studies of language in aging which supports the following thesis: the neural basis of language can best be understood by the concept of neural multifunctionality. In this paper the term “neural multifunctionality” refers to incorporation of nonlinguistic functions into language models of the intact brain, reflecting a multifunctional perspective whereby a constant and dynamic interaction exists among neural networks subserving cognitive, affective, and praxic functions with neural networks specialized for lexical retrieval, sentence comprehension, and discourse processing, giving rise to language as we know it. By way of example, we consider effects of executive system functions on aspects of semantic processing among persons with and without aphasia, as well as the interaction of executive and language functions among older adults. We conclude by indicating how this multifunctional view of brain-language relations extends to the realm of language recovery from aphasia, where evidence of the influence of nonlinguistic factors on the reshaping of neural circuitry for aphasia rehabilitation is clearly emerging.
Hyperemesis gravidarum and patient satisfaction: A path model of patients' perceptions of the patient-physician relationship

Objective. To examine the relationship between patients' perceptions of the patient-physician relationship and patients' satisfaction with the overall medical care received from their physicians in the treatment of hyperemesis gravidarum (HG).Methods. This study investigated patients' beliefs and their views of their physicians' beliefs about the causal explanation of HG, the seriousness of the illness, and the impact of the illness upon patients' daily lives. Also examined were the extent to which patients' beliefs were congruent with their perception of their physicians' beliefs, and patients' ratings of the humanistic characteristics of physicians they deemed important. Ninety-six respondents who had experienced at least one hospitalization from January 1993 through April 1997 responded to interview questions focusing on their HG illness experience. Using both quantitative and qualitative methodological approaches, a path model of patient perception factors associated with patient satisfaction was test...
Density Centrifugation of Murine Fibrosarcoma Cells Following In Situ Labelling With Tritiated Thymidine

Murine fibrosarcoma (FSa) cells form at least five unique subpopulations after centrifugation in linear Renografin density gradients. Each of these subpopulations has been characterized with respect to selected kinetic parameters using pulse-labelling techniques and flow microfluorometry (FMF) analysis. Tumour-bearing mice were first injected intraperitoneally with a pulse label of tritiated thymidine ([3H]TdR, 50 microCi). Following 15, 30, 60 min or 24 hr these animals were injected with cold thymidine. Animals were killed, their tumours removed and made into suspension, and separated by density gradient centrifugation. Each gradient was fractionated and the density, cell number, tritium activity, and labelling index (LI) per fraction were determined. These data were then compared to FMF data for selected cell density, cell number, tritium activity, and labelling index (LI) per fraction were determined. These data were then compared to FMF data for selected cell density bands. The results indicated a relatively higher uptake of [3H]TdR in the cells recovered at the lighter (1.06-1.12 g/cm3) as compared to the heavier (greater than 1.12 g/cm3) densities. Following a 30-min pulse, the LI's of light cells (less than 1.12 g/cm3) ranged from 25 to 30%, while the heavier cells (greater than 1.12 g/cm3) had LI's between 10 and 15%. The unseparated control cells had an LI of 19%. comparable results were found at the other times tested. In contrast, the FMF profiles describing the DNA contents of the cells banding in the gradient showed no difference in proportion of S-phase cells among the separated subpopulations. This lack of correlation between the FMF determination of S-phase cells and labelling index for the denser cell populations implies that DNA content alone is not an effective measurement of the functional activity of cells in solid tumours. Finally, the relatively reduced uptake of [3H]TdR by these denser cells suggests that they may have resided at relatively large distances from the functional vasculature in the tumour.
IS THE TRADITIONAL EXECUTIVE PROGRAMME OBSOLETE? USC'S NEW STYLE EXECUTIVE PROGRAMME

The Changing Business Environment, Intense global competition, financial uncertainties, dumping, protectionism, political constraints, alliances and joint ventures are the reality of today's business world. Successful managers in this challenging transnational environment are increasingly called on to make decisions in situations of high risk and uncertainty, all too often under crisis conditions. How does one prepare management for this turbulent environment? To what extent do “traditional” executive programmes, including those leading to an MBA, provide the multidisciplinary skills and the analytic, communication and decision‐making capabilities needed to cope with these realities? Do they equip participants with the international perspective and outward orientation needed to confront and handle revolutionary change?
Vibrational relaxation and dissociation in the perfluoromethyl halides, CF3Cl, CF3Br, andCF3I

The processes of vibrational relaxation and unimolecular dissociation of the perfluoromethyl halides CF3Cl, CF3Br, and CF3I have been studied in the shock tube with the laser-schlieren technique. Vibrational relaxation was resolved in pure CF3Cl and CF3Br (400–484 K and 400–500 K, respectively), and in the mixtures; 2% CF3Cl/Kr (500–1000 K), 10% CF3Cl/Kr (440–670 K), 4% CF3Br/Kr (450–850 K), and 2% CF3I/Kr (620–860 K). Relaxation in the pure gases is extremely rapid, but shows a well-resolved, accurately exponential decay which provides very precise relaxation times in close agreement with ultrasonic results. Relaxation times as short as 0.1 μs-atm can be resolved, showing the method has a resolution within a factor 2–3 of the best ultrasonic methods. Relaxation dilute in rare gas shows a complex double exponential behavior consistent with a two-stage series process. Rates of CF3(SINGLEBOND)X fission in these mixtures were measured over 1800–3000 K, P<0.55 atm, for CF3Cl; 1600–2500 K, P<0.55 atm, in CF3Br; and 1260–2100 K, P<0.34 atm, in CF3I. Rates for dissociation were derived from a full profile modeling using a secondary mechanism of six CF3 reactions. RRKM analysis showed all dissociations to lie near the low pressure limit. Using literature barriers, these rates are best fit with (ΔE)all=−270 cm−1 for CF3Cl, 〈ΔE〉down=0.3 T for CF3Br, and 〈ΔE〉down=800 cm−1 for CF3F. All these transfers are on the large side, similar to those found in other halogenated methanes. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Improving the autopsy rate at a university hospital.

Abstract purpose: Although the autopsy is widely recognized as an invaluable tool for medical education, as well as the gold standard by which the accuracy of diagnoses are measured, there has been a steady decline in the autopsy rate over the last 20 years. At Westchester County Medical Center, a university hospital of New York Medical College, we observed an alarming drop in our autopsy rate. We realized that the methods used to obtain consent from the family of the deceased were haphazard and often left to the junior houseofficer available. We hypothesized that we could increase the autopsy rate by explicitly involving senior housestaff in the task of obtaining autopsy consent after giving them formal instruction in the technique of asking for consent and by having them record information regarding their encounters with families. patients and methods: Data concerning the frequency of autopsies at Westchester County Medical Center were collected for a 3-month period in 1990. A corresponding period in 1991 was designated the study period during which our intervention was initiated. All medical examiner's cases were excluded for both periods since autopsy consent for these patients is not at the discretion of the family. At the start of the study period and each month thereafter, formal instruction regarding obtaining permission for autopsy was given to all senior residents assigned to direct patient care duty. The senior resident was required to complete a data form regarding autopsy request on each patient who died. results: Nine autopsies among 89 deaths (10%) were obtained during the study period in 1990, compared with 31 autopsies among 116 deaths (27%) in 1991 (p conclusion: The institution of a formal program to educate and involve the senior resident staff in obtaining autopsy consent can significantly improve the autopsy rate at a university hospital.
Repeatability its role in evolutionary studies of mating behavior

Repeatability, a concept derived from quantitative genetics theory, is a statistic that describes the degree to which variation within individuals contributes to total variation in a population. Its usual application has been to set an upper limit on heritability but it may also be useful for studies of stereotypy of behavior. The repeatability of the production of male mating signals gives information both about whether males differ sufficiently for selection to act and whether the differences could be appreciably heritable. Measures of the repeatability of female mating preferences will provide data that can describe the preference functions used in mathematical models of the evolution of sexually selected traits, as well as putting an upper bound on the heritability of preferences. A survey of the few measures in the literature shows that the repeatability of male signal production varies substantially (range 0.21–0.85) and does not necessarily reflect heritability. The repeatabilities of female preferences have not been published previously: for the response to conspecific pheromones by female flour beetles (Tribolium castaneum), my best estimate is zero. Measuring the repeatability of other traits such as parental care and foraging behavior may also lead to insights about selection on and the evolution of these traits.
Statistical analysis of one-beam subjective laser-speckle interferometry

The use of laser speckle for displacement and deformation measurement has found wide applications in mechanics and metrology. Traditionally, a deterministic approach has been adopted to analyze the process. In this paper a statistical approach is utilized, resulting in a better understanding of the limitations and potentials of one-beam subjective laser-speckle interferometry (or speckle photography). We find that the amplitude modulation of the information-carrying cosine fringes is controlled by three factors: a decorrelation factor γ, a displacement factor Ω, and a displacement-gradient factor ψ. We introduce the concept of an ambiguity factor that sets a critical value for the product γΩψ. We then propose a criterion for fringe discernibility from which the upper limit of measurement is established.
Interpretation of recent Antarctic sea ice variability

[1] Trends in the satellite-derived Antarctic sea ice concentrations (1979–2002) show pronounced increase (decrease) in the central Pacific sector (Bellingshausen/western Weddell sector) by ∼4–10% per decade. Confidence levels for these regional trends exceed 95%. Positive polarities of the Antarctic Oscillation (AAO) lead to more (less) ice in the eastern Ross/Amundsen sector (Bellingshausen/northern Weddell sector), which are qualitatively opposite to the impacts of positive polarities of the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). The mechanisms responsible for the covariability between the ice and the (a) AAO and (b) ENSO are demonstrated. Over the last 24 years, a positive AAO trend and a slightly negative ENSO trend produce a spatial pattern of ice changes similar to the regional ice trends. However, the magnitude of the ice changes associated with the AAO and ENSO is much smaller than the regional ice trends. More local (or less understood large) scale processes should be investigated for the explanations.
Clinical exemplars describing expert staff nursing practices.

Aim This study was undertaken to identify and describe expert staff nursing practices in a large teaching hospital in south-western USA. Background Differentiation of the skill level of staff nurses is important for assuring safe, quality care. In the current atmosphere of corporate downsizing, shortened hospital stays, cross training and continued high staff nurse turnover rates, it is of critical importance to identify and describe the essential contributions of expert nursing practice and to recognize and reward nurses according to their skill level. Method Clinical situation interviews and participant observations were conducted using the interpretative phenomenological research approach. Narrative data were obtained and analysed systematically in multiple stages to identify and describe recurring meanings, themes, exemplars and constitutive patterns. Findings The final stage of data analysis involved interpretation of the narrative text using Benner's (1984) ‘domains and competencies of nursing practice’ as a framework. These competencies were validated in this study and 16 new competencies were identified. Conclusions Expert staff nursing practices described in this project are not behaviours commonly defined as organizational expectations in performance appraisals for staff nurses. These practices need to be incorporated into position descriptions, performance appraisals and clinical ladders to recognize, foster and acknowledge the significance of expert nursing practice.
Nonlinear detection algorithm for periodic signals in gravitational wave detectors

We present an algorithm for the detection of periodic sources of gravitational waves with interferometric detectors that is based on a special symmetry of the problem: the contributions to the phase modulation of the signal from the earth rotation are exactly equal and opposite at any two instants of time separated by half a sidereal day; the corresponding is true for the contributions from the earth orbital motion for half a sidereal year, assuming a circular orbit. The addition of phases through multiplications of the shifted time series gives a demodulated signal; specific attention is given to the reduction of noise mixing resulting from these multiplications. We discuss the statistics of this algorithm for all-sky searches (which include a parameterization of the source spin-down), in particular its optimal sensitivity as a function of required computational power. Two specific examples of all-sky searches (broad-band and narrow-band) are explored numerically, and their performances are compared with the stack-slide technique (P. R. Brady, T. Creighton, Phys. Rev. D, 61, 082001).
Inverse truncated normal distribution as a failure model

This paper puts forward the inverse truncated normal distribution as a failure model for systems that suffer an initial high rate of wear and failure. This type of failure may be due to sudden stress, change in environment, weak spots, technological defects or improper usage. The paper fits the model to failure data of high speed cutting tools. Hypothesizing the inverse truncated normal distribution for these failure data, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test shows that the model is accepted.
Borderline personality disorder and multiple aspects of emotional intelligence

Although considerable attention has begun to be focused on personality disorders in recent years, relatively little is known about the relationship between personality disorders and emotional intelligence. In response to the need to better understand this relationship, the present research was designed to determine whether personality disorder symptomatology would be associated with six aspects of emotional intelligence: emotional clarity, emotional attention, emotional regulation, private emotional awareness, private emotional preoccupation, and public emotional monitoring. The results indicated that several personality disorders were systematically associated with these aspects of emotional intelligence.
Coherent, Single-Mode Fiber Optic For Multifunction 10.6 µm Helicopter Avionics System

The expansion of electro optic systems and sensors in military helicopter avionics systems has resulted in severe competition for existing space. In particular the forward looking hemispherical quadrant is the essential location of choice for all such optical systems. Outboard mounting is severly limited by shadowing effects and the aircraft undercarriage is similarly limited by the nose low aspect in normal helicopter flight. Development of a fiber optic capable of transmitting 10.6u in a coherent single mode with an acceptable transmission loss promises to minimize the physical space required in the nose of aircraft and thereby provide extended functional use of the clear field of view. The requirements for such a fiber optic system are presented and a projected application is described.
Association of statin use and risk for severe headache or migraine by serum vitamin D status: A cross-sectional population-based study

ObjectiveThe objective of this article is to evaluate whether statin use and vitamin D status is associated with severe headache or migraine in a nationally representative sample.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study of US individuals aged ≥40 years for whom information on statin use, serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D), and self-reported severe headache or migraine had been collected. We calculated prevalence estimates of headache according to statin and 25(OH)D, and conducted adjusted logistic regression analyses stratified by the median 25(OH)D (≤57 and >57 nmol/l).ResultsAmong 5938 participants, multivariable-adjusted logistic regression showed that statin use was significantly associated with a lower prevalence of severe headache or migraine (OR 0.67; 95% CI 0.46, 0.98, p = 0.04). We found a significant interaction between statin use and 25(OH)D with the prevalence of severe headache or migraine (p for interaction = 0.005). Among participants who had serum 25(OH)D > 57 nmol/l, statin use was a...
Oregano, thyme and clove-derived flavors and skin sensitizers activate specific TRP channels

Carvacrol, eugenol and thymol are major components of plants such as oregano, savory, clove and thyme. When applied to the tongue, these flavors elicit a warm sensation. They are also known to be skin sensitizers and allergens. The transient receptor potential channel (TRPV3) is a warm-sensitive Ca2+-permeable cation channel highly expressed in the skin, tongue and nose. Here we show that TRPV3 is strongly activated and sensitized by carvacrol, thymol and eugenol. Tongue and skin epithelial cells respond to carvacrol and eugenol with an increase in intracellular Ca2+ levels. We also show that this TRPV3 activity is strongly potentiated by phospholipase C-linked, G protein-coupled receptor stimulation. In addition, carvacrol activates and rapidly desensitizes TRPA1, which may explain the pungency of oregano. Our results support a role for temperature-sensitive TRP channels in chemesthesis in oral and nasal epithelium and suggest that TRPV3 may be a molecular target of plant-derived skin sensitizers.
Ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolases 1 and 2 affect shoot architecture in Arabidopsis

*† ‡ Summary Ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolases (UCHs) are a subset of de-ubiquitinating proteases that release covalently linked ubiquitin (Ub), and as such play essential roles in recycling Ub and reversing the action of Ub conjugation. We show here that two related Arabidopsis UCHs, UCH1, and UCH2, are important for shoot development. The UCH1 and 2 genes are ubiquitously expressed, with the corresponding proteins present in both the cytoplasm and nucleus. Unlike their animal and fungal counterparts, we found no evidence that the Arabidopsis UCH1 and 2 proteins stably associate with the 26S proteasome. Altering the levels of UCH1 and 2 has substantial effects on Arabidopsis shoot development, especially with respect to inflorescence architecture, with over-expression and double mutants enhancing and suppressing the outgrowth of cauline branches, respectively. Neither UCH1-over-expressing nor uch1-1 uch2-1 plants have detectably altered sensitivity to cytokinins or auxins individually, but exhibit an altered sensitivity to the ratio of the two hormones. UCH1over-expressing plants show dramatically enhanced phenotypes when combined with auxin-insensitive mutants axr1-3 and axr2-1, suggesting that one or more aspects of auxin signaling are affected by this enzyme pair. Previous studies revealed that the ubiquitination and degradation of the AUX/IAA family of repressors is a key step in auxin signaling. Here, we show that turnover of a reporter fused to a representative AUX/IAA protein AXR3 is faster in the uch1-1 uch2-1 double mutant but slower in the UCH1 over-expression backgrounds. Taken together, our results indicate that de-ubiquitination helps to modify plant shoot architecture, possibly via its ability to directly or indirectly protect upstream target proteins involved in auxin/ cytokinin signaling from Ub-mediated degradation.
Innateness, autonomy, universality, and the neurobiology of regular and irregular inflectional morphology

Muller's goal of bringing neuroscience to bear on controversies in linguistics is laudable. However, some of his specific proposals about innateness and autonomy are misguided. Recent studies on the neurobiology of regular and irregular inflectional morphology indicate that these two linguistic processes are subserved by anatomically and physiologically distinct neural subsystems, whose functional organization is likely to be under direct genetic control rather than assembled by strictly epigenetic factors.
Computation of configuration-space obstacles using the fast Fourier transform

This paper presents a new method for computing the configuration-space map of obstacles that is used in motion-planning algorithms. The method derives from the observation that, when the robot is a rigid object that can only translate, the configuration space is a convolution of the workspace and the robot. This convolution is computed with the use of the fast Fourier transform (FFT) algorithm. The method is particularly promising for workspaces with many and/or complicated obstacles, or when the shape of the robot is not simple. It is an inherently parallel method that can significantly benefit from existing experience and hardware on the FFT. >
Network game traffic: A broadband access perspective

Playing network games is fast becoming a significant application on the Internet. Most research related to traffic behavior due to users playing network games has relied on data acquired either by collecting traces at the game server, by polling the game server through queries, or by collecting traces in a LAN environment. In this paper, we study traces collected over a period of one week on the access networks of four different markets serviced by a large ISP that provides Broadband Fixed Wireless (BFW) access service to users. Based on the amount of traffic generated, its popularity among the subscribers in all the markets, and its sensitivity to Quality of Service (QoS) requirements due to its interactive nature, we identify Counter-Strike, a fast-action game as the application for our study. We discuss player behavior and game traffic behavior in various markets to identify any effects of the migration to broadband services for the last-mile access. We also investigate some of the factors that would influence the provisioning of QoS, namely latency and bandwidth usage. We observe that the distribution of the game playing duration of users' is heavy-tailed. On the data sets we studied, we found that the latency between the users and the game servers falls below the upper bound suggested by researchers.
Oscillating fluid flow regulates gap junction communication in osteocytic MLO-Y4 cells by an ERK1/2 MAP kinase-dependent mechanism☆

The present work was designed to investigate the effects of oscillating fluid flow on gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) and the gap junction protein connexin (Cx) 43 in osteocyte-like MLOY-4 cells. Cells were exposed for 1 h to oscillating fluid flow at a shear stress of +/-10 dyn/cm(2) and a frequency of 1 Hz in a parallel plate flow chamber. Control cells were incubated in the chamber but were not exposed to oscillating fluid flow. Functional analysis of GJIC indicated that MLOY-4 cells exposed to oscillating fluid flow established more gap junctions with an independent population of dye-labeled cells than did control cells. Phosphorylation of Cx43 was quantified by immunoprecipitation with an anti-Cx43 antibody followed by immunoblot analysis using an anti-phosphoserine antibody. Phosphoserine was normalized to Cx43 in each sample. Compared to control cells, phosphoserine content of Cx43 increased approximately twofold in cells exposed to oscillating fluid flow. The possible role of the extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK1/2) in the flow-induced upregulation of GJIC was also investigated. The ERK1/2 inhibitor PD-98059 significantly attenuated the effects of oscillating fluid flow on MLOY-4 cells GJIC. These results indicate that oscillating fluid flow regulates GJIC in MLOY-4 cells via the ERK1/2 MAP kinase. In addition, increased serine phosphorylation of Cx43 correlates with the flow-induced increase in GJIC.
Doxycycline suppresses Chlamydia pneumoniae-mediated increases in ongoing immunoglobulin E and interleukin-4 responses by peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with allergic asthma

Objectives:Chlamydiapneumoniae, an obligate intracellular bacterium, has been associated with asthma and the induction of immunoglobulin E (IgE) responses. Whereas tetracyclines have anti-chlamydial activity, their effect on human IgE responses to C. pneumoniae has not been studied. Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from serum IgE+ allergic asthmatic subjects (n¼11) and healthy controls (n¼12) were infected with C. pneumoniae and cultured for 12 days with or without doxycycline (0.01–1.0 mg/L). IgE, interferon (IFN)-g and interleukin (IL)-4 levels in supernatants were determined on days 1– 12 post-infection, andC.pneumoniae DNA copy numbers in PBMC culture were measured on day 2 (quantitative PCR). Results: C. pneumoniae-infected PBMCs from allergic asthmatic individuals had increased levels of IgE in supernatants compared with uninfected PBMCs (520% on day 10 post-infection, P¼0.008). IgE levels in PBMC cultures from controls were undetectable (,0.3 ng/mL). Increases in C. pneumoniae-induced IgE in asthmatics correlated with those of C. pneumoniae-induced IL-4 (r¼0.98; P,0.001), but not with IFN-g. The addition of doxycycline (1.0 mg/L) to the culture strongly suppressed the production of IgE (.70%, P¼0.04) and IL-4 (75%, P¼0.018), but not IFN-g. The suppressive effect on IL-4 production remained significant even at concentrations of doxycycline that were subinhibitory (0.01 mg/L) for C. pneumoniae. In both asthmatic participants and controls, no significant effect of doxycycline on DNA copy numbers of C. pneumoniae was observed. Conclusions: Doxycycline suppressed theC.pneumoniae-induced production of IgE and IL-4, but not IFN-g ,i n PBMCs from IgE+ allergic asthmatic subjects. These findings resulted from the immunomodulatoryanti-allergic properties of tetracyclines.
Smaller, Quicker, Cheaper: Alternative Strategies for Literacy Assessment in the UN Literacy Decade.

Abstract In the context of the UN Literacy Decade (declared in February 2003), the present paper suggests three parameters that should be considered when new tools for assessment are considered in less developed countries (LDCs), each of which poses a special challenge to international comparative literacy assessment, such as in the International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS): • Smaller : Assessment methods do not need to be major entrepreneurial enterprises, but rather just robust enough to answer key policy questions at the national and local levels. International comparative studies often run counter to this perspective. • Quicker : Literacy assessments need to be completed in ‘real time’ so that results can affect policy and spending in the ‘lifetime’ of current ministerial appointments. Studies that take 3–5 years to generate results, even if robust, nonetheless fail to meet the test of timeliness. • Cheaper : LDCs cannot afford either the fiscal or human resources costs of deep involvement in highly technical assessment exercises. The higher the cost, the more difficult to get to an initial ‘yes’ to participate in such an exercise, and the more difficult to gather time-series data to follow policy decisions. In sum, this paper finds that there is a very important need for improving literacy assessment methodologies and the empirical database in developing countries, especially in light of the new UN Literacy Decade. While the IALS presents interesting and important options for methodological consideration, it also has a number of inherent limitations as discussed herein. Other options exist which should also be considered, especially for poor countries, such as the smaller/quicker/cheaper (SQC) approach.
Analysis and Visualization of Gene Expressions and Protein Structures

This paper describes a web-based interactive framework for the analysis and visualization of gene expressions and protein structures. The formulation of the proposed framework was encountered by many challenges due to the wide range of relevant analysis and visualization techniques, in addition to the existence of a diversity of biological data types, on which these techniques operate. The main challenges that guided the formulation of the present framework are: (a) the integration of data from heterogeneous resources, such as expert-driven data from text, public domain databases and diverse large scale experimental data sets, and (b) difficulty in integrating the most recent analysis and visualization tools due to the lack of standard I/O. Therefore, the fundamental innovation in the proposed framework is the integration of the state-of-the-art techniques of both analysis and visualization for gene expressions and protein structures through a unified workflow. In addition, it supports a wide range of input data types and exports three dimensional interactive outputs using Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) to be ready for exploration via off-the-shelf monitors as well as immersive, 3D, stereo display environments.
Fertility and the Standard of Living in Early Modern England: in Consideration of Wrigley and Schofield

E. A. Wrigley and R. S. Schofields recent volume on the results of extensive research by the Cambridge Group into the population history of early modern England permits renewed examination of the relationship between fertility and economic conditions. On the basis of the records of Anglican baptisms burials and marriages taken from a sample of English parish registers Wrigley and Schofield reconstructed national total of births deaths marriages and population for the 1538-1873 period. From these totals several measures of fertility were calculated at 5-year intervals for the 1541-1871 period. Wrigley and Schofield offered 2 reasons for expecting that changes in fertility would lag behind changes in the standard of living as it did: marriage practices and eventually fertility of 1 generation might have been affected by the economic circumstances of the previous generation; and since short-term fluctuations cannot be immediately discerned from longterm movements it could easily have taken some years for an individual to conclude that the trend of economic conditions had in fact changed. As a proxy for the standard of living Wrigley and Schofield constructed an annual real wage index using the Phelps Brown and Hopkins wage data and price data as a base. To approximate the length of the lag between changes in real wages and in fertility they compared the turning points of an 11 year centered moving average of their real wage index and the turning points of their series on the gross reproduction rate. Identifying the turning points of the real wage index as 1610 (trough) 1750 (peak) and 1805 (trough) they concluded that changes in real wages were followed by changes in fertility with a lag averaging 50 years. The Wrigley Schofield method of estimating the length of the lag between real wages and fertility examines only the 3 turning points of the 2 series. Interest here is with the relationship between economic and demographic variables not merely with their turning points. The method fails to utilize all the data. It is demonstrated that their method seriously exaggerates the length of the lag.
Compiler transformation of nested loops for general purpose GPUs

Manycore accelerators have the potential to significantly improve performance of scientific applications when offloading computationally intensive program portions to accelerators. Directive-based high-level programming models, such as OpenACC and OpenMP, are used to create applications for accelerators through annotating regions of code meant for offloading. OpenACC is an emerging directive-based programming model for programming accelerators that typically enable inexperienced programmers to achieve portable and productive performance within applications. In this paper, we present our research in developing challenges and solutions when creating an open-source OpenACC compiler in an industrial framework OpenUH as a branch of Open64. We then discuss in detail techniques we developed for loop scheduling reduction operations on general purpose GPUs. The compiler is evaluated with benchmarks from the NAS Parallel Benchmarks suite and self-written micro-benchmarks for reduction operations. This implementation has been designed to serve as a compiler infrastructure for researchers to explore advanced compiler techniques, extend OpenACC to other programming models, and build performance tools used in conjunction with OpenACC programs. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
High volume improves outcomes: The argument for centralization of rectal cancer surgery.

Background Centralization of care to “centers of excellence” in Europe has led to improved oncologic outcomes; however, little is known regarding the impact of nonmandated regionalization of rectal cancer care in the United States. Methods The Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS) was queried for elective abdominoperineal and low anterior resections for rectal cancer from 2000 to 2011 in New York with the use of International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes. Surgeon volume and hospital volume were grouped into quartiles, and high-volume surgeons (≥10 resections/year) and hospitals (≥25 resections/year) were defined as the top quartile of annual caseload of rectal cancer resection and compared with the bottom 3 quartiles during analyses. Bivariate and multilevel regression analyses were performed to assess factors associated with restorative procedures, 30-day mortality, and temporal trends in these endpoints. Results Among 7,798 rectal cancer resections, the overall rate of no-restorative proctectomy and 30-day mortality decreased by 7.7% and 1.2%, respectively, from 2000 to 2011. In addition, there was a linear increase in the proportion of cases performed by both high-volume surgeons and high-volume hospitals and a decrease in the number of surgeons and hospitals performing rectal cancer surgery. High-volume surgeons at high-volume hospitals were associated independently with both less nonrestorative proctectomies (odds ratio 0.65, 95% confidence interval 0.48–0.89) and mortality (odds ratio 0.43, 95% confidence interval 0.21–0.87) rates. No patterns of significant improvement within the volume strata of the surgeon and hospitals were observed over time. Conclusion This study suggests that the current trend toward regionalization of rectal cancer care to high-volume surgeons and high-volume centers has led to improved outcomes. These findings have implications regarding the policy of health care delivery in the United States, supporting referral to high-volume centers of excellence.
Total daily energy expenditure is increased following a single bout of sprint interval training

REGULAR ENDURANCE EXERCISE IS AN EFFECTIVE STRATEGY FOR HEALTHY WEIGHT MAINTENANCE, MEDIATED VIA INCREASED TOTAL DAILY ENERGY EXPENDITURE (TDEE), AND POSSIBLY AN INCREASE IN RESTING METABOLIC RATE (RMR: the single largest component of TDEE). Sprint interval training (SIT) is a low-volume alternative to endurance exercise; however, the utility of SIT for healthy weight maintenance is less clear. In this regard, it is feasible that SIT may evoke a thermogenic response above and beyond the estimates required for prevention of weight gain (i.e., >200-600 kJ). The purpose of these studies was to investigate the hypotheses that a single bout of SIT would increase RMR and/or TDEE. Study 1: RMR (ventilated hood) was determined on four separate occasions in 15 healthy men. Measurements were performed over two pairs of consecutive mornings; each pair was separated by 7 days. Immediately following either the first or third RMR measurement (randomly assigned) subjects completed a single bout of SIT (cycle ergometer exercise). RMR was unaffected by a single bout of SIT (7195 ± 285 kJ/day vs. 7147 ± 222, 7149 ± 246 and 6987 ± 245 kJ/day (mean ± SE); P = 0.12). Study 2: TDEE (whole-room calorimeter) was measured in 12 healthy men, on two consecutive days, one of which began with a single bout of SIT (random order). Sprint exercise increased TDEE in every research participant (9169 ± 243 vs. 10,111 ± 260 kJ/day; P < 0.0001); the magnitude of increase was 946 ± 62 kJ/day (∼10%). These data provide support for SIT as a strategy for increasing TDEE, and may have implications for healthy body weight maintenance.
Immunohistochemical localization of citrullinated proteins in adult rat brain

By using hybridoma technology, an IgM monoclonal antibody (F95) against multiple citrullinated synthetic and natural peptides was recently developed and used to stain immunohistochemically subsets of astrocytes and myelin basic protein (MBP) from selected regions of human brain (Nicholas and Whitaker [2002] Glia 37:328-336). With this antibody, the present study provides a more detailed localization of citrullinated epitopes in the central nervous system (CNS) by examining immunohistochemical staining patterns for F95 in the normal adult rat brain. Thus, immunohistochemical labeling for citrullinated epitopes was seen in white matter areas consistent with myelin staining; however, in general, it was more prominent and uniform in the caudal CNS (spinal cord, medulla oblongata, pons, and cerebellum) than in more rostral areas. F95 staining was also seen in cells and fibers often intimately associated with blood vessels and/or ventricular surfaces. By using dual-color immunofluorescence, the vast majority of this latter staining was colocalized within a subset of astrocytes also immunoreactive for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). By using Western blot analysis of rat brain proteins, multiple GFAP- and MBP-immunoreactive proteins and peptide fragments were seen, and many of them were also reactive with the F95 antibody. Thus, the present study not only demonstrates that citrullinated epitopes in normal rat brain are most concentrated in subsets of myelin and astrocytes but also provides evidence that GFAP, like MBP, may be present as multiple citrullinated isoforms.
A Direct Comparison of Scan and Focal Sampling Methods for Measuring Wild Chimpanzee Feeding Behaviour

Focal sampling is the most accurate method for measuring primate activity budgets but is sometimes impractical. An alternative is scan sampling, in which the behaviour of the group is recorded at regular intervals. The simplest technique is to record whether at least 1 animal is engaged in the behaviour of interest. By direct comparison with focal data collected simultaneously on the same population, we assess the validity of this simple group level sampling method for studying chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) feeding behaviour. In a 13-month study at Kanyawara, Kibale National Park, Uganda, group level scan sampling provided statistically similar measures of broad diet composition to those produced by focal data, despite considerable seasonal variation. Monthly means of the percentage of time spent consuming non-fig fruit calculated from group level scan sampling were highly correlated with those from focal sampling. This validates previous methodology used to identify periods of high energy availability. However, group level scans tended to overestimate the percentage of observation time spent feeding, particularly for adult males. We conclude that this method of group level scan sampling provides valuable data for characterizing broad diet choice in chimpanzees and other species, but may be of limited use for estimating individual feeding time.
Dragon2000: standard-cell placement tool for large industry circuits

In this paper, we develop a new standard cell placement tool, Dragon2000, to solve large scale placement problem effectively. A top-down hierarchical approach is used in Dragon2000. State-of-the-art partitioning tools are tightly integrated with wirelength minimization techniques to achieve superior performance. We argue that net-cut minimization is a good and important shortcut to solve the large scale placement problem. Experimental results show that minimizing net-cut is more important than greedily obtain a wirelength optimal placement at intermediate hierarchical levels. We run Dragon2000 on recently released large benchmark suite ISPD98 as well as MCNC circuits. For circuits which have more than 100 k cells, comparing to iToolsl.4.0, Dragon2000 can produce slightly better placement results (1.4%) while spending much less amount of time (2/spl times/ speedup). This is also the first published placement result on the publicly available large industrial circuits.
Strength guided motion

A methodology and algorithm are presented that generate motions imitating the way humans complete a lifting task under various loading conditions. The path taken depends on "natural" parameters: the figure geometry, the given load, the final destination, and, especially, the strength model of the agent. Additional user controllable parameters of the motion are the comfort of the action and the perceived exertion of the agent. The algorithm uses this information to incrementally compute a motion path of the end-effector moving the load. It is therefore instantaneously adaptable to changing force, loading, and strength conditions. Various strategies are used to model human behavior (such as reducing moment, pull back, add additional joints, and jerk) that compute the driving torques as the situation changes. The strength model dictates acceptable kinematic postures. The resulting algorithm offers torque control without the tedious user expression of driving forces under a dynamics model. The algorithm runs in near-realtime and offers an agent-dependent toolkit for fast path prediction. Examples are presented for various lifting tasks, including one-and two-handed lifts, and raising the body from a seated posture.
Removal of Nematodes by Rapid Sand Filtration

The results of a study on rapid sand filtration indicated that, with a low percent nematode motility, the removal of nematodes increased with decrease in sand size. As the percent motility increased, the removal of nematodes decreased. Also, as the percent motility increased, the percent removal of nematodes by all sand sizes studied approached one another. An evaluation of motile nematodes in the influent and effluent showed that most motile nematodes could eventually pass through the sand bed even though some of them could be temporarily retained in the sand during the early stages of the filtration process. From a balance of nematodes entering and leaving the system, it also appeared that motile nematodes could dislodge the nematodes which were initially retained in the sand bed. Thus, these two phenomena resulted in an over-all decrease in removal of nematodes. The effect of increased motility, which tended to decrease nematode removal, was more significant then the expected benefits of using chemical pretreatment.
The Implementation and Impact of a Quality Improvement Program in Emergency Radiology

DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM Given the rapidly changing landscape of health care, radiologymust adapt to satisfy the many demands of the medical system.Quantity is no longer the only factor for reimbursement. Quality and value are becoming increasingly more important, especially considering that one-third to one-half of health care dollars are spent on “waste” [1]. However, focusing on quality is somewhat difficult because study volumes continue to increase [2]. At the same time, clinicians continue to demand progressively shorter turnaround times. This is particularly true for emergency radiology departments, where final reports are expected in less than an hour [3,4]. High study volumes and pressure for rapid turnaround times increase errors in emergency radiology [5]. Errors can occur at multiple levels. Clinicians may order the wrong type of study or may incorrectly order or fail to order a study with contrast. A radiologist may protocol a study incorrectly. A technologist may incorrectly scan the wrong body part or the wrong field of view or may incorrectly administer contrast. Finally, with respect to image interpretation, a radiologist