cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
1833 QUINACRINE INHIBITS ARACHIDONIC-ACID INDUCED PULMONAR VASOCONSTRICTION

Quinacrine (Q) has been described as an inhibitor of phospholipase A2 (PLA2). We have used quinacrine to inhibit arachidonic acid (AA)-induced pulmonary vasoconstriction in the isolated perfused rabbit lung. The lungs of five New Zealand White rabbits were isolated and pefused in a non-recirculating manner in situ with Krebs-Henseleit (KH) solution. AA was delivered into the inflow tubing at a dose of either 10 or 20 ug, depending on which dose produced a pulmonary vasopressor response (dPpa) of 10 torr or greater over baseline. The lungs were then perfused with Q-containing KH solution at a concentration of 0.1mM. (pH adjusted to 7.35-7.45) and rechallenged with arachidonic acid. Q was then washed out with plain KH solution for approximately 20 min and the lungs were bolused with a third dose of AA. Before Q perfusion dPpa=12.7±4.4 (mean±SD); after Q, dPpa=2.7±2; and after washout dPpa=10.2±6.5 torr. By 2-way ANOVA the effect of quinacrine was significant at P=0.002. By Least Significant Difference the pre-quinacrine and post-washout values for dPpa are not different. In our model, therefore, quinacrine is not a selective inhibitor of PLA2, and the inhibitory effect is reversible. These results suggest that quinacrine is an inhibitor of the smooth muscle contractile response, by acting as a calcium channel blocker or as a calmodulin inhibitor.
Fraction of trees with given root traits; the limit of large trees

An evolutionary tree is considered as a rooted binary tree, with leaves representing taxa assigned particular traits. Interior nodes of the tree are assigned traits in a parsimonious fashion, including the concept of an ambiguous state. The ambiguous state arises if two offspring nodes have different definite traits, and may be resolved by joining with other definite traits. For a single characteristic with two possible trait values, the fraction of trees that root in a particular trait is known for small values of n, the total number of taxa under consideration. This paper presents formulae for the fraction of trees with a given root trait asymptotically as n → ∞, for a specified fractionation of traits at the leaves, or terminal taxa. For example, if the terminal taxa are evenly split between the two traits, then the fraction of trees that parsimoniously root with definitively one of those traits is, in the limit of large trees, exactly 1/3.
Spontaneous CHO APRT heterozygotes reflect high-frequency, allele-specific deletion of the chromosome Z4 APRT gene.

In Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, heterozygotes for the adenine phosphoribo-syltransferase(APRT) locus arise spontaneously at high frequencies. Paradoxically, such heterozygotes yield APRT}-mutants only at much lower spontaneous rates, suggesting that the high-frequency event may occur at only one of the twoAPRT genes. In an attempt to understand the genetic basis for the apparent refractivity of one of theAPRT alleles to the high-frequency genetic event and to determine whether differences in the genomic environments of the two CHOAPRT alleles specifically render one gene more susceptible to high-frequency spontaneous deletion or inactivation, we have mapped the wild-typeAPRT allele in 16 independently derived spontaneousAPRT heterozygotes. In 15 of these 16 heterozygotes, the functional, wild-typeAPRT gene was found to reside on the Z7 chromosome, indicating that the high-frequency event is indeed highly specific for the Z4APRT allele. All but one of these heterozygotes were hemizygous for theAPRT locus, suggesting that the high-frequency event generally involves deletion rather than spontaneous inactivation or mutation of the Z4APRT allele.
Freezing-Out, a Safe Technique for Concentration of Dilute Solutions

The principle of freezing-out has been adapted for the quantitative concentration of small or large volumes of dilute solutions. Mechanical stirring is an essential part of the process. The method should prove of greatest value where volatile or heat-labile substances are to be concentrated and is applicable to solutions in certain organic solvents as well as to aqueous solutions.
Antidepressant Treatments in Children and Adolescents I. Affective Disorders

Part I of this review critically evaluates antidepressants' benefits for children and adolescents with affective disorders. The effectiveness of antidepressants is characterized with specific references regarding diagnostic methodology, measurement characteristics, response definitions, recovery rates, length of treatment, and plasma level monitoring. Antidepressants' efficacy for depressed youths is quite circumscribed, and their superiority to placebo remains unproved. Their intriguing lack of efficacy in affective disorders is discussed based on methodological issues and from a theoretical perspective. Clinical and research implications are presented.
Alarming Signs in the Manchester Triage System: A Tool to Identify Febrile Children at Risk of Hospitalization

Objectives To assess whether the flowcharts and discriminators of the Manchester Triage System (MTS) can be used as indicators of alarming signs of serious febrile illness to predict the risk of hospitalization for febrile children who present at the emergency department (ED). Study design Observational study, which included 2455 children ( Results Thirty percent of children had at least 1 alarming sign positive at triage. Twenty-three percent were hospitalized. Positive likelihood ratios of hospitalization were 5.0 (95% CI: 3.9-6.5) for children with >20% of alarming signs positive at triage and 12.0 (95% CI: 5.2-27.6) for those with >40% of alarming signs positive. Negative likelihood ratios were 0.8 (95% CI: 0.8-0.8) and 1.0 (95% CI: 0.9-1.0), respectively. Conclusions By alternatively using the flowcharts and discriminators of the MTS as alarming signs, rather than urgency classifiers, the MTS can function as a simple, readily available tool to identify febrile children at risk of hospitalization early in the care process. This knowledge may help to improve ED throughput times as well as admission and discharge management at pediatric EDs.
Octopine dehydrogenase of a vinca rosea crown gall tumor

Abstract Octopine dehydrogenase (ODH) (EC 1.5.1.11) from crown gall tumor tissue induced by Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain W1 on Vinca rosea was purified 300-fold, yielding a single active enzyme with a MW of 38 000. The enzyme shows activity with four α-ketoacids and 16 amino acids. Both NADP(H) and NAD(H) serve as coenzymes; the enzyme has lower Kms with NADPH and NADP+, but higher Vmaxs with NADH and NAD+. Pyruvate, NADPH and NADH at higher concentrations show substrate inhibition. The kinetics of the enzyme suggest that it may act in vivo to synthesize lysopine, octopinic acid, octopine and the corresponding Nα-derivatives of glutamine. The apoenzyme is protected against inactivation by NADP+ and binds the coenzyme as the first substrate in the reaction; pyruvate potentiates binding of arginine to the holoenzyme and vice versa. The Vinca enzyme is similar to other crown gall ODHs in many respects, but differs in having relatively high affinities for ornithine and glutamine and a relatively low affinity for histidine. It also differs in showing inhibition by NADPH and NADH. These differences suggest that the primary structure of the Vinca W1 ODH differs from that of the crown gall ODHs previously described.
Structural studies of rigor bovine myofibrils using fluorescence microscopy. I. Procedures for purification and modification of bovine muscle proteins for use in fluorescence microscopy.

The myofibril is a fully competent fragment of the contractile apparatus of muscle, and its structure can be investigated with fluorescent-protein probes. Several purification and chemical modification techniques were developed for the synthesis of fluorescent myosin subfragment-1 (S1), actin and alphaactinin to be used as fluorescent probes of myofibril structure. Myosin was isolated from both rectus abdominis (RA) and cutaneus trunci (CT) and subjected to chymotryptic digestion to give S1 and myosin rod. Analysis of the time course of digestion by SDS-PAGE showed that S1 from RA myosin contained at least three heavy chain fragments while myosin from CT had essentially one. The S1 obtained from CT myosin was enzymatically characterized and used for fluorescent conjugation. Methods were adapted to conjugate thiol-specific fluorophores to actin, alpha-actinin and S1. These fluorescent probes may be useful for structural studies on the isolated myofibril and on muscle in relation to its properties as a food.
Things Are Seldom What They Seem: 25th Annual Charleston Conference

This report primarily covers the plenary sessions on Thursday and Friday, November 3–4, 2005, of the 25th Annual Charleston Conference in Charleston, South Carolina. This annual conference on issue...
The Evaluation of Transportation Model Random Error in Social and Environmental Indices

Transportation simulation models can be used to calculate social and environmental indices of transportation system performance. The outputs of the simulation models are subject to random error, and this error is transmitted to these indices. Random error is a consequence of inaccuracies in calibration and input data, and simplified model theory. The error in the indices can often be estimated prior to model execution, thus allowing the analyst to determine whether the complexity of the model is appropriate for his particular needs. Examples of how noise pollution, air pollution, vehicle-miles-travelled, and vehicle-hours-travelled indices are affected by changing the zone size of an assignment model illustrate how knowledge of index error may be used to design a transportation simulation. /Author/TRRL/
ATOMIC LAYER CONTROLLED GROWTH OF SIO2 FILMS USING BINARY REACTION SEQUENCE CHEMISTRY

SiO2 thin films were deposited with atomic layer control using binary reaction sequence chemistry. The SiO2 growth was accomplished by separating the binary reaction SiCl4+2H2O→SiO2+4HCl into two half-reactions. Successive application of the half-reactions in an ABAB… sequence produced SiO2 deposition at temperatures between 600 and 800 K and reactant pressures of 1–10 Torr. The SiO2 growth was monitored using ellipsometry versus substrate temperature and reactant exposure time. The maximum SiO2 deposition per AB cycle was 1.1 A/AB cycle at 600 K. The surface topography measured using atomic force microscopy was extremely flat with a roughness nearly identical to the initial substrate.
Benefits and risks of screening mammography in women with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations.

To the Editor. —As a writer on the subject of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations, 1 I read the Consensus Statement "Recommendations for Follow-up Care of Individuals With an Inherited Predisposition to Cancer: II. BRCA1 and BRCA2"2 with particular interest and find the recommendations inconsistent and troublesome. The paragraph in the abstract headed "Conclusions" (page 997) states, "Based on expert opinion concerning presumptive benefit, early breast cancer and ovarian cancer screening are recommended for individuals with BRCA1 mutations and early breast cancer screening for those with BRCA2 mutations. " The paragraph headed "Mammography" (page 999) states, "There is a potential increased risk of breast cancer when mammography is started at an early age, and this risk may be greater in individuals with an inherited cancer predisposition than in women of average risk." Further, the authors state that for this population there is a "likelihood that mammography screening provides benefit, although there are
An Algorithm for Efficient Self-Reconfiguration of Chain-Type Unit-Modular Robots

The problem of self-reconfiguration of modular robots is discussed, and an algorithm for efficient parallel self-reconfiguration is presented. While much of the previous work has been focused on the lattice-type modular robots, this paper addresses the self-reconfiguration of chain-type robots. Relatively little attention has heretofore been given to this sub-problem, and of the existing work, none incorporates the kinematic limitations of real-life robots into the reconfiguration algorithm itself. The method presented here is based on understanding a robot’s physical “composition” using a graph-theoretic robot representation, and it sheds new light on self-reconfiguration of chain-type modular robots by incorporating elements of the robot kinematics as part of the criteria in choosing reconfiguration steps.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Electrophysiological Actions of Neuropeptide Y and Its Analogs: New Measures for Anxiolytic Therapy?

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) has neuromodulatory actions on multiple brain functions including endocrine, behavioral, and circadian processes. Behavioral studies suggest that NPY is a potent anxiolytic; however, little is known about how NPY affects general arousal and/or attention states. The present study evaluated the effects of NPY on spontaneous brain activity as well as auditory processing by using electrophysiological measures. Electroencephalographic (EEG) and event-related potentials (ERPs) were obtained in awake animals after intracerebroventricular administration of NPY (1.0, 3.0 nmol) and two of its analogs, active at Y1 (1.0, 3.0 nmol) and Y2 (1.0, 3.0 nmol) receptor sites. NPY was found to produce dose-related effects on electrophysiological measures. Spectral analyses of the EEG revealed that NPY produced slowing of delta activity (1–2 Hz) in the frontal cortex and high frequency theta activities (6–8 Hz) concomitant with a speeding up of low frequency theta (4–6 Hz) in cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala. At higher doses (3.0 nmols) in addition to shifts in frequency, EEG power was also significantly reduced in all frequencies (0.5–50 Hz) in cortex, and in the higher frequencies (8–32 Hz) in the amygdala. The Y1 and Y2 agonists had a somewhat different profile of EEG effects than the parent compound. At the 1 nmol dose both agonists were found to produce selective depressions in power in the hippocampus. The 3.0 nmols dose of the Y1 agonist produced decreases in EEG stability, an effect commonly produced by anxiolytic drugs, whereas the Y2 agonist produced increases in EEG stability in cortex and amygdala. Auditory processing, as assessed by ERPs, was affected most significantly in the frontal cortex where dose-dependent decreases in the N1 component of the ERP, a finding also commonly seen after anxiolytics, was found. Y1 and Y2 agonists were also found to significantly reduce the amplitude of the N1 component of the ERP but less so than the parent compound. The electrophysiological and behavioral profiles of NPY and the Y1 agonist resembles those of anxiolytics such as ethanol and benzodiazepines. Taken together these data suggest that electrophysiological measures of the actions of this peptide system may represent a new potentially useful assay for the development of anxiolytic drugs.
Analysis of Strike-through Contamination in Saturated Sterile Dressings:

The method of saturating gauze sponges directly in their wrapper was tested to determine strike-through contamination. Contamination occurred in 100% of the uncoated-wrapper sponges, regardless of exposure to Staphylococcus epidermidis or Escherichia coli. Among coated-wrapper sponges, 80% exposed to Staphylococcus epidermidis and 20% exposed to Escherichia coli demonstrated strike-through contamination. Coated-wrapper sponges had a significantly lower rate of contamination than uncoated-wrapper sponges when exposed to Escherichia coli. Occurrence of contamination of all sponges was significantly higher from Staphylococcus epidermidis. The findings render the popular practice of saturating gauze sponges in their wrapper unacceptable.
Sonographic Detection and Follow-up of a Persistent Ectopic Pregnancy

Ectopic pregnancy is a life-threatening condition if not detected early, prior to it rupturing. This case study presents a situation where an ectopic pregnancy is sonographically detected preruptur...
Material property prediction of thermoset polymers by molecular dynamics simulations

Molecular dynamics simulations are conducted to predict thermal and mechanical properties of a family of thermoset polymers. We focus on the effect of cross-linkers on density, glass transition temperature, elastic constants, and strength. The polymers are composed of the epoxy resin DGEBA (EPON825) and a series of cross-linkers with different number of active sites and rigidity 33DDS, 44DDS, APB133, TREN, and TAPA. Our simulations quantify effects of cross-linkers on thermal and mechanical properties.
Infrared Multispectral Imaging: Principles and Instrumentation

Abstract A multispectral imaging spectrometer is an instrument that can simultaneously record spectral and spatial information of a samples. Chemical and physical properties of the sample can be elucidated from such images. In a multispectral imaging instrument, a camera is used to record the spatial distribution of the sample, and the spectral information is gained by scanning a dispersive device to record spectra for each image. This overview article describes operational principles and recent development of various components used in infrared multispectral imaging instruments including the electronic dispersive devices (acousto-optic tunable filter and liquid crystal tunable filter) and IR cameras (InGaAs, InSb, HgCdTe and QWIP cameras).
Isolated fallopian tube torsion: sonographic and CT features.

Background Isolated fallopian tube torsion (IFTT) rarely occurs in pediatric patients and is difficult to diagnose preoperatively.
Frontotemporal dementia: Neuropil spheroids and presynaptic terminal degeneration

We compared the neuropathological changes of 6 patients with clinically diagnosed lobar dementia. In the 4 patients with histopathology consistent with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), moderate neuronal loss contrasted with marked cortical and subcortical gliosis. We found silver-positive, carbohydrate-rich, spheroidal enlargements of presynaptic terminals within the neuropil of specific central nervous system regions. The spheroids were immunopositive for the cytoskeletal proteins tau, the high molecular weight neurofilament subunit (NF-H), and beta-tubulin. No abnormal tau phosphorylation and only rare ubiquitin immunoreactivity were detected in these structures. Carbohydrate modifications, including advanced glycation end products within the spheroid matrix, were confirmed by lectin binding, and by anti-pentosidine immunoreactivity, an indicator of oxidative stress. Ultrastructurally, the spheroids consisted of unmyelinated, membrane-enclosed structures filled with randomly arrayed pairs of filaments, approximately 8 to 10 nm in diameter, that were sparsely labeled with antibodies to unmodified tau (T14) and NF-H. Despite clinical overlap, the central nervous systems of our FTD patients are distinguishable from those of other patients with other lobar dementias, including Pick's disease and corticobasal degeneration, by the absence of abnormally phosphorylated neuronal or glial tau inclusions. The neuropil spheroids are dystrophic changes of certain selectively vulnerable presynaptic terminals, suggesting a retrograde degenerative process in FTD.
First and repeat abortions: a study of decision-making and delay.

In a sample of 345 women aborting at a New York clinic, women having a repeat abortion had delayed significantly less in seeking abortion than had women aborting for the first time. Those having a repeat abortion were more likely to anticipate, suspect and acknowledge pregnancy, and to have located the abortion clinic more rapidly, once the decision to have an abortion was made. Psychological reactions to the decision did not differ between women having first and repeat abortions. The complex interactions of many of the factors involved in the decision-making process were examined by path analysis. Variables entering the path analysis explained 36·0 and 52·4% of the variance in delay for first and repeat abortions, respectively. The analyses suggest that women having repeat abortions come from at least three groups: (1) those whose contraceptive method failed because of technical failure; (2) those experiencing contraceptor failure due to social and personal interactions with the method not conducive to optimal contraceptive practice, and (3) those women who are not practising contraception and for whom repeated unwanted pregnancies may be a response to neurotic needs.
Development Of A Simulation Model For Health Care Delivery Systems

Sandia National Laboratories and Kaiser Permanente (Southern California Region) are teaming to develop a prototype computer-based model for analyzing health care delivery systems. The ultimate goal is produce a model and a methodology that can be extended to cover all the essential aspects of a large health care organization and to be able to predict the effect of medical and administrative policies on the performance of that organization. The initial two-year feasibility study will model a subset of Kaiser Permanente's operations to understand the critical technical and administrative issues. Health care has been identified as a major national concern for economic competitiveness. Although as an industry, health care is nearing revenues of one trillion dollars per year, the use of information management technologies to understand and control these costs is in its infancy. Sandia and Kaiser Permanente will combine the technologies of advanced information modeling, object oriented software design, distributed computing (both LAN and WAN), and expert database systems into an integrated health care management tool. The tool will provide top down simulation of processes and procedures along with their outcomes (both at the patient level and aggregated across all patients) and costs. For example, the effect of a change in the preferred practice for cholesterol screening will effect the distribution of outcomes for individual patients, the need for screening facilities of the health care provider, and the need for other facilities and resources for the provider based on results (or lack thereof) of the screening. Information modeling and object oriented software design will be used to capture and simulate the health care system. The distributed computer system will be the system already existing and planned by the health care provider that includes both same site and between site communications plus a heterogeneous mix of workstations. The expert database systems will be used to gather and check information residing across this system, both to look for similarities between individual patient cases, aggregate data for epidemiological studies, and identify and study data trends.
Polyimide-planarized vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers with 17.0-GHz bandwidth

High-speed oxide-confined polyimide-planarized 850-nm vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers exhibit -3-dB modulation bandwidths up to 17.0 GHz. The devices are fabricated using a reproducible, simple process incorporating polyimide with good adhesion that does not require implantation or semiinsulating substrates to achieve low capacitance.
No Church in the Wild: Hip Hop Theology and Mission

Despite its infamous profile of immorality and perceived secular attitudes, Hip Hop provides context, meaning, and a spiritual modus for young people. This article describes the socioeconomic conditions which gave rise to Hip Hop and provides two examples of its religious and spiritual discourse. These illustrate how Hip Hop produces a relevant, transparent, and contextual form of theology that it is imperative for mission to engage.
Medical and surgical options in the treatment of severe obesity.

Weight loss programs, diets, and drug therapy have not shown long-term effectiveness in treating morbid obesity. A 1992 statement from the National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference affirmed the superiority of surgical over nonsurgical approaches to this condition. Bariatric surgical procedures work in 1 of 2 ways: by restricting a patient’s ability to eat (restrictive procedures) or by interfering with ingested nutrient absorption ( malabsorptive procedures). Many of these procedures can be performed by a laparoscopic approach, which has been shown to reduce operative morbidity. In the United States, the primary operative choice for morbidly obese patients has recently shifted from vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) to the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP). VBG, a purely restrictive procedure, has fallen into disfavor because of inadequate long-term weight loss. RYGBP combines restriction and malabsorption principles, and has been shown to induce greater weight loss than VBG. Other procedures currently being offered include laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding; biliopancreatic diversion (BPD), including the duodenal switch (BPD-DS) variation; and distal gastric bypass (DGBP). Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding with the LAP-BAND system (INAMED Health, Santa Barbara, CA), a restrictive procedure involving placement of a silicone band around the upper stomach, was introduced in the early 1990s and approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for use in the United States in June 2001. Outside the United States, LAP-BAND surgery is the most commonly performed operation for severe obesity. The BPD, BPD-DS, and DGBP are all malabsorptive procedures offered primarily by laparotomy. They have been shown to induce good long-term weight loss but have a higher rate of adverse nutritional complications. Many safe and effective surgical options for severe obesity are available. More scientific appraisals comparing different procedures and open and laparoscopic approaches are needed. © 2002 Excerpta Medica Inc. All rights reserved. The problem of obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. More than 50% of adults are obese or overweight, and 5% are severely obese (body mass index [BMI] of 35) [1]. Numerous studies have demonstrated a strong relation between BMI and the development of lifeimpairing comorbidities, such as hypertension, diabetes (type 2), atherosclerosis, sleep apnea, and osteoarthritis. Obesity is associated with a higher risk of cancer (breast, colon, uterine) and premature death. Patients with severe or morbid obesity (BMI 35), the focus of this review, are consequently most severely affected by the disease, have a poor quality of life, and thus have the greatest need for weight loss therapy. Numerous medical and surgical treatments for severe obesity have come and gone over the years, underscoring the challenge and complexity of obesity management. The intent of this review is to summarize the current status of medical and surgical options for the treatment of severe obesity.
Nonlinear magnetics modeling for magamp power regulation

Nonlinear magnetics are integral components of most electronic systems, but representative models are often overlooked in the electronic circuit design/simulation environments. Using a first-principles, physics-based theory of operation, the Jiles-Atherton model covers the major magnetic phenomena important to magnetic components with a single, parameterized, first-order differential equation. The implementation described herein corrects popular misconceptions about the formulation of the model. This model has been integrated into a SPICE-type design environment and will be discussed with a focus on the implementation of the modelpsilas equations.
ON TEMPORAL VARIATION AND CONFLICTING SELECTION PRESSURES: A TEST OF THEORY USING NEWTS

Most studies that examine conflicting selection pressures hold resources and risks constant, despite their ubiquitous fluctuation. Since little is known about the conse- quences of neglecting this variation, we examined the temporal response of male red-spotted newts, Notophthalmus viridescens, to conflicting female pheromones and damage-release alarm chemicals signaling predation. After a single exposure in both the laboratory and field, males were attracted to female odor and avoided conspecific alarm chemicals. Re- sponse to these combined cues depended on time after exposure, with males initially avoid- ing, and then being attracted to, the cue combination. This response shift was due to the resource and risk declining at different rates, and female odor accelerating male recovery from antipredator behavior. In the laboratory, males suppressed activity when exposed to alarm chemicals alone but increased their activity when female odor was added. Iterative exposures through the breeding season revealed that, as male mate search activity declined, male avoidance of alarm chemicals increased, but alarm chemical production appeared unchanged. Thawing dates differed between ponds of the same and different populations, which offset levels of mate search activity and consequently alarm chemical avoidance. As a result, simultaneous pond surveys made it appear as though there was geographic variation in reproductive and predator-avoidance behaviors. However, when thawing dates were aligned, the time courses of reproductive and predator-avoidance behaviors for the ponds coincided, demonstrating that observed site differences were predominantly due to different behavioral onsets, which would have gone overlooked had the larger temporal scale not been considered. These results indicate that temporal variation can be easily mistaken for geographic variation in behavior, increasing the potential for data interpretation errors. These studies underscore the importance of considering temporal variation when examining conflicting selection pressures.
Examination of Potential Mechanisms To Explain the Association between Proton Pump Inhibitors and Clostridium difficile Infection

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) have been associated with Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in several recent studies. However, other studies have not shown this association, and the mechanism by which PPIs might promote CDI has not been elucidated. We hypothesized two possible mechanisms of causation: first, by raising pH, PPIs may prevent gastric contents from killing C. difficile spores; second, gastric contents of PPI-treated patients may promote germination and outgrowth of C. difficile spores. Survival rates of spores from six different strains of C. difficile in acidic gastric contents were assessed using quantitative cultures on selective media. Germination and outgrowth of spores were assessed by heat shock at 80°C, phase-contrast microscopy, and ethanol shock after incubation for 24 h in the gastric contents of patients and in the gastric, small intestinal, and cecal contents of mice. C. difficile spores survived and remained dormant in nonbilious gastric contents with acidic pH. Germination did not occur in unmodified gastric contents of patients but did occur with the addition of taurocholic acid and amino acids. In mice, germination did not occur in gastric contents but did occur in small intestinal and cecal contents. In summary, C. difficile spores survived in acidic gastric contents and did not undergo germination and outgrowth in gastric contents, probably due to lack of essential germinants, such as taurocholic acid. Our results suggest that the effects of PPIs in the stomach do not contribute to the pathogenesis of CDI.
Retro-directive noise correlation radar with extremely low acquisition time

A new retro-directive antenna based search radar system has been introduced. The suggested system uses a novel noise correlation technique. Simulation and analytical results show an order of magnitude improvement in the acquisition time of the radar when compared to a phased array antenna based radar system with the same specifications, except transmit power. To the best of knowledge of the authors, no radar of a comparable acquisition time has been designed to date. The power versus acquisition time tradeoff has been compared with the phased array radar for evaluating the performance of the system. The radar system is self-tracking due to retro-directivity of the antenna array, and is much easier to implement, as it does not require any phase shifters etc.
Seismic analysis, design, and review for tall buildings

Whereas current building codes legally apply to seismic design of tall buildings, their prescriptive provisions do not adequately address many critical aspects. Performance-based engineering provides a desirable alternative. Application of performance-based procedures requires: an understanding of the relation between performance and nonlinear modeling; selection and manipulation of ground motions appropriate to design hazard levels; selection of appropriate nonlinear models and analysis procedures; interpretation of results to determine design quantities based on nonlinear dynamic analysis procedures; careful attention to structural details; and peer review by independent qualified experts to help assure the building official that the proposed materials and system are acceptable. These topics are discussed with an emphasis on tall buildings. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Gastrointestinal tract labeling for MDCT of abdomen: Comparison of low density barium and low density barium in combination with water

The purpose of the study was to compare the quality of stomach and small bowel marking/labeling using 1,350 ml of low-density barium alone (VoLumen) with 900 ml of low-density barium and 450 ml of water for 16-MDCT scans of the abdomen and pelvis and assess cost benefits with the two protocols. In this IRB approved study, 80 consecutive patients scheduled for routine CECT (contrast-enhanced CT) of the abdomen-pelvis were studied. Patients were randomized into two groups and were administered either 1,350 ml of VoLumen (two bottles at 20-min intervals, one half bottle at 50 min and the last half on the table) or 900 ml of VoLumen (two bottles at 20-min intervals and 450 ml water on the table). Portal venous phase scanning (detector collimation = 0.625 mm, speed = 18.75 mm, thickness = 5 mm) was subsequently performed. Images were reconstructed in axial and coronal plane at the CT console. Two blinded readers used a pre-designed template to assess distension and wall characteristics of the stomach and small bowel on a 5-point scale. Median scores with the two protocols were compared using the Wilcoxon rank sum test. The stomach and small bowel labeling was rated fair to optimal in all patients and did not differ significantly in the two protocols. The mean scores for distension of the small bowel and stomach were comparable. Inter-observer agreement for bowel labeling was found to be excellent (k 0.81). With the use of coronal images there was increased reader confidence in tracing the small bowel with both protocols. Acceptance for two bottles of VoLumen and water was greater among patients as compared to three bottles of VoLumen. Use of two bottles of VoLumen and water combination cost less than three bottles of VoLumen. Stomach and small bowel labeling with administration of 900 ml of VoLumen followed by 450 ml of water is cost effective and compares well to 1,350 ml of VoLumen alone.
THE SAN ANDREAS FAULT IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY REGION, CALIFORNIA : STRUCTURE AND KINEMATICS OF A YOUNG PLATE BOUNDARY

Recently acquired high-resolution aeromagnetic data delineate offset and/or truncated magnetic rock bodies of the Franciscan Complex that define the location and structure of, and total offset across, the San Andreas fault in the San Francisco Bay region. Two distinctive magnetic anomalies caused by ultramafic rocks and metabasalts east of, and truncated at, the San Andreas fault have clear counterparts west of the fault that indicate a total right-lateral offset of only 22 km on the Peninsula segment, the active strand that ruptured in 1906. The location of the Peninsula segment is well defined magnetically on the northern peninsula where it goes offshore, and can be traced along strike an additional ~6 km to the northwest. Just offshore from Lake Merced, the inferred fault trace steps right (northeast) 3 km onto a nearly parallel strand that can be traced magnetically northwest more than 20 km as the linear northeast edge of a magnetic block bounded by the San Andreas fault, the Pilarcitos fault, and th...
Zinc requirements, the recommended dietary allowance and the reference dose.

1. The 1989 zinc RDA is not congruent with many of the estimates of requirements determined by factorial or metabolic methods. 2. The proposed zinc RfD was based on the finding of lower activity of E-SOD after the administration of zinc in a form that might be consumed in an unprescribed medication. This lower activity was taken as a marker of toxicity. 3. The proposed zinc RfD is incompatible with the 1989 RDA and the 1973 WHO FER or requirements published by King & Turnland (23). 4. A calculation of the RfD that accounts for bioavailability gives RfD values for OTC medications, and high and low bioavailability diets of 0.25, 0.83 and 1.66 mg.kg-1.d-1, respectively.
Identification of functional domains in the plasma apolipoproteins by analysis of inter-species sequence variability

Molecular evolution theory posits that sequence motifs essential for protein function are constrained by selective pressure from changing over long stretches of evolutionary time. Thus, analysis of inter-species amino acid sequence variability, by identifying highly conserved intervals, should predict the location of domains critical for protein function. We have analyzed the amino acid sequences of the mammalian apolipoproteins A-I, A-IV, C-I, C-II, C-III, D, and E with a computer algorithm that calculates numerical residue variability scores. The application of a median sieve filter to the data facilitated identification of the exact boundaries of highly conserved domains, which coincided with the location of known structural features and functional domains in this family of proteins. The analysis also identified highly conserved intervals in every apolipoprotein whose function is unknown at present, but which are candidates for regions with specific functional roles.
Teaching the communication aspects of KCIDE (knowledge capturing integrated design environment)

In an increasingly complex world, engineers must cope with an ever increasing number of software tools as well as much more elaborate collections of data from the laboratory. Additionally, they are faced with a significantly more difficult challenge, being able to effectively communicate with each other and the greater engineering and non-engineering communities. They must also be able to effectively communicate with themselves. The knowledge capturing integrated design environment (KCIDE) was created to specifically address these problems. Even though KCIDE addresses the complete engineering work environment, this paper concentrates on the communications aspects of KCIDE. Specifically, it focuses on how to teach these communication aspects to undergraduate and graduate students. KCIDE is becoming a formal part of the undergraduate and graduate level instruction at Cleveland State University (CSU). Elements of KCIDE have been identified and built into instructional modules that are being integrated into the undergraduate and graduate level curricula using ProSkills, a proven program for effectively integrating these instructional modules into engineering courses both core and elective.
Applied methodology for harmonic suppression of microstrip edge coupled bandpass filters using composite circuit materials

A simple composite material structure is proposed which allows suppression of harmonic modes for microstrip edge-coupled bandpass filters. The structure can be employed easily in the printed circuit board (PCB) fabrication process and gives a simple method for equalizing the phase velocity of even- and odd-mode propagation within a given range of frequencies. It is known that equalizing the even- and odd-mode phase velocities supports minimizing harmonic responses of microstrip coupled circuits. An overview of auxiliary concepts will be given, followed by the examination of models using a commercial field solving software to demonstrate the phase velocity equalization as well as filter performance with suppressed harmonics. Finally, measured S parameters from circuit evaluations will be shown and compared to the data from software models.
Mankind’s Greenhouse Effect: Is It Already Here?

The addition to the atmosphere of infrared-absorbing (greenhouse) gases by the activities of mankind is changing the composition of the atmosphere, and theory tells us that this must cause a global warming. The worldwide burning of fossil fuels and the production of carbon dioxide is currently the single largest influence on our global temperature and climate, and other manmade trace gases are also contributing to the greenhouse effect. As a result of the increase of these greenhouse gases Planet Earth has warmed as a whole by 0. 5 to 0.6 K in this century, and will continue to warm. Other environmental changes are also beginning to take place gradually, such as changes in distribution of rainfall and snowfall. All of these will have an impact on mankind. The community of nations is now debating what action, if any, it is prepared to take to slow the inevitable climate change.
Multiple Gestations: Management of Pregnancy and Delivery

The antenatal management and outcome of 31 higher-order multiple gestations, 24 triplets, six quadruplets, and one set of quintuplets were analyzed. Bedrest was advised as soon as the diagnosis was made; hospitalization along with the administration of betamethasone and phenobarbital was begun during the second trimester. Caesarian section was performed on 13 women (42%). The overall mortality rate was 14.8%; excluding neonates less than 28 weeks of age, however, it became 7.5%. The primary cause of death was respiratory distress syndrome.
Data-driven decision-making in the library

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe the current environment for libraries to consider the value of using data to support decision-making. Design/methodology/approach – This paper contains literature review and commentary on this topic that has been addressed by professionals, researchers and practitioners. Findings – In developing a library’s strategic direction, it is essential that evidentiary data be referenced to supplement the organization’s rationale for decision-making. There is an expectation by stakeholders that libraries are able to generate reports and decisions based on aggregated data for in-demand reporting. Therefore, capturing, analyzing and reporting decisions based on data are indispensable in today’s libraries. Originality/value – The value in addressing this topic is to examine the option by libraries to use data to support data-driven decision-making.
Unified cooperative location system

Dissertacao apresentada na Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa para a obtencao do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia Informatica.
Trends in Metabolic Syndrome Severity and Lifestyle Factors Among Adolescents

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Childhood metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a risk factor for adverse outcomes later in life. Our goal was to identify temporal trends among US adolescents in the severity of MetS, its individual components, and factors related to diet and physical activity. METHODS: We analyzed 5117 participants aged 12 to 19 from NHANES. We used regression analysis of individual waves of data, 1999 to 2012. MetS severity was calculated using a gender- and race/ethnicity-specific MetS severity z score. RESULTS: There was a linear trend of decreasing MetS severity in US adolescents from 1999 to 2012 ( P = .030). This occurred despite a trend of increasing BMI z score ( P = .005); instead, the decrease in MetS severity appeared to be due to trends in increasing high-density lipoprotein (HDL; P P = .0001) levels. In considering lifestyle factors, there was no change in physical activity over the time period. Regarding dietary patterns, total calorie consumption and carbohydrate consumption were positively associated with triglyceride levels and negatively associated with HDL levels, whereas unsaturated fat consumption exhibited the opposite associations. Consistent with these associations, there was a trend of decreasing total calorie consumption ( P P P = .002). CONCLUSIONS: The healthier trend of declining MetS severity in adolescents appeared to be due to favorable increases in HDL and decreases in fasting triglyceride measurements. These were in turn associated with favorable changes in dietary patterns among US adolescents. Future studies should investigate the causality of dietary differences on changes in MetS severity in adolescents.
Abnormal serum protein and bone destruction in transmissible mouse plasma cell neoplasm (multiple myeloma).

SummaryA plasma cell neoplasm X5563 of the C3H mouse has been described, which resembles human multiple myeloma, by similar histologic appearance of the neoplastic plasma cell; by similar development of osteolytic bone lesions after considerable residence in the host mouse, and by similar production of an abnormal serum globulin.
Historic Preservation in an Economic Void: Reviving Buffalo’s Concrete Atlantis

This article explores experimental historic preservation practices at Silo City, a cultural campus “built” around three vacant grain elevators in Buffalo, New York. Amid the not-fully-deindustrialized landscape that Reyner Banham famously called a “Concrete Atlantis,” these practices operate outside traditional adaptive reuse markets, without significant public funding, and exploit historic industrial sites in their “as is” condition. This article argues that these practices have the potential to redefine preservation as an accessible and enjoyable practice rather than a means to a historically rigorous restoration or expansive local development stimulus; and are well suited for hard-to-preserve industrial sites in declining cities.
Analysis of Cabin’s Vibro-acoustic Characteristics and Control of Bulkhead Vibration

In order to depress the effect of bulkhead vibration on cabin's vibro-acoustic characteristics, structural-acoustic design of bulkhead is done. According to the theory of damping vibration attenuation, the bulkhead is coated with a viscoelastic layer for reducing the vibration response. As to increase transmission loss, a back annular plate is attached between the bulkhead and the shell according to the principle of impedance mismatch. The vibro-acoustic characteristics of the cabin are calculated by FEM/BEM and the bulkhead's vibration control effect is analyzed. The results show that bulkhead coated with the viscoelastic layer and added with the attached back annular plate can not only reduce cabin's vibration and sound radiation effectively, but also isolate the structure-borne sound from the adjacent cabin significantly. So, this is a better measure for bulkhead's vibration damping and noise reduction.