cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
α-Latrotoxin and Its Receptors: Neurexins and CIRL/Latrophilins

▪ Abstract α-Latrotoxin, a potent neurotoxin from black widow spider venom, triggers synaptic vesicle exocytosis from presynaptic nerve terminals. α-Latrotoxin is a large protein toxin (120 kDa) that contains 22 ankyrin repeats. In stimulating exocytosis, α-latrotoxin binds to two distinct families of neuronal cell-surface receptors, neurexins and CLs (Cirl/latrophilins), which probably have a physiological function in synaptic cell adhesion. Binding of α-latrotoxin to these receptors does not in itself trigger exocytosis but serves to recruit the toxin to the synapse. Receptor-bound α-latrotoxin then inserts into the presynaptic plasma membrane to stimulate exocytosis by two distinct transmitter-specific mechanisms. Exocytosis of classical neurotransmitters (glutamate, GABA, acetylcholine) is induced in a calcium-independent manner by a direct intracellular action of α-latrotoxin, while exocytosis of catecholamines requires extracellular calcium. Elucidation of precisely how α-latrotoxin works is likely ...
Multidisciplinary approach decreases length of stay and reduces cost for ventricular assist device therapy

High implantation costs and long postoperative length of stay (LOS) in debilitated patients complicate ventricular assist device (VAD) therapy. Between July 2000 and February 2005, 30 patients received a VAD at our institution. Of those, 20 patients were successfully discharged from the hospital with VADs. In August 2003, a multidisciplinary team was formed consisting of all services for VAD patients to replace a single-discipline (cardiac surgery) system. This team evaluated potential VAD candidates and identified optimal timing for implantation. These 20 VAD patients were divided into two groups according to the initiation of multidisciplinary team; the traditional group (n=7, July 2000-July 2003) and the multidisciplinary group (n=13, August 2003-February 2005). Patient demographics were not different. The LOS decreased from 61 to 15 days (P<0.01), especially LOS on the floor decreased from 35 to 7 days (P=0.03). The floor cost was significantly reduced ($47,111 vs. $8742, P<0.01), leading to a decrease in total postoperative cost ($202,238 vs. $161,744, P<0.01). The 30-day readmission rate decreased (5/7 patients vs. 1/13 patients, P<0.01). A multidisciplinary approach significantly decreased LOS and cost after VAD therapy, mostly by decreasing the cost of routine non-ICU care, without increasing the readmission rate.
Simple obstacle detection to prevent miscalculation of line location and orientation in line following using statistically calculated expected values

Visual line following in mobile robotics can be made more complex when objects are places on or around the line being followed. An algorithm is presented that suggests a manner in which a good line track can be discriminated from a bad line track using the expected size of the line. The mobile robot in this case can determine the size of the width of the line. It calculates a mean size for the line as it moves and maintains a set size of samples, which enable it to adapt to changing conditions. If a measurement is taken that falls outside of what is to be expected by the robot, then it treats the measurement as undependable and as such can take measures to deal with what it believes to be erroneous data. Techniques for dealing with erroneous data include attempting to look around the obstacle or making an educated guess as to where the line should be. The system discussed has the advantage of not needing to add any extra equipment to discover if an obstacle is corrupting its measurements. Instead, the robot is able to determine if data is good ro bad based upon what it expects to find.
Identification and characterization of an Arabidopsis homogentisate phytyltransferase paralog

Tocochromanols (tocopherols and tocotrienols) are micronutrients with antioxidant properties synthesized by photosynthetic bacteria and plants that play important roles in animal and human nutrition. There is considerable interest in identifying the genes involved in tocochromanol biosynthesis to allow transgenic modification of both tocochromanol levels and tocochromanol composition in agricultural crops. The first committed reaction in tocopherol biosynthesis is the condensation of homogentisic acid (HGA) with phytyldiphosphate or geranylgeranyldiphosphate, catalyzed by the homogentisate phytyltransferase (VTE2) or by the homogentisate geranylgeranyl transferase (HGGT). In this study, we describe the identification of conserved amino acid sequences within VTE2 and HGGT and the application of these conserved sequences for a motif analysis resulting in the discovery of a VTE2-paralog in the Arabidopsis genome. We designated this new gene VTE2-2 and renamed the old VTE2 to VTE2-1. Seed-specific expression of VTE2-2 in Arabidopsis resulted in increased seed-tocopherol levels, similar to the transgenic expression of VTE2-1. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that VTE2-2 is conserved in both monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants and is distinct from VTE2-1 and HGGT.
Pulsed laser optogalvanic spectroscopy of xenon in RF discharge

The nf series of xenon resulting from pulsed laser excitation (−600 nm) of the 5p5d configurations that exist in a 32 MHz RF discharge have been studied by an original variant of the laser optogalvanic (LOG) method. Four new series originating from 5d(1/2)1, 5d(3/2)2, 5d(7/2)4 and 5d(7/2)3 intermediate states were observed. Higher members (n ≥ 20) of the series show broadening attributable to field ionization. A novel pulse treatment procedure, one based on simple analog circuits, has been used to normalize signals on a pulse-by-pulse basis and to force the effective duty cycle toward unity. This procedure yields smooth high-resolution spectra even at low pulse-repetition rates.
Challenges in shifting to an integrated curriculum in a Caribbean medical school

Xavier University School of Medicine (XUSOM) is an offshore Caribbean medical school in Aruba, Kingdom of the Netherlands admitting students from the United States, Canada and other countries to the undergraduate medical (MD) course. Like most other offshore Caribbean medical schools, XUSOM was initially following a discipline based curriculum but shifted to an integrated curriculum from January 2013. Initially the school was following a partially integrated curriculum with the normal human subjects of anatomy, physiology and biochemistry being covered during the first two semesters and the abnormal human subjects of pathology, microbiology, pharmacology and introduction to clinical medicine being covered during semesters 3 and 4. From January 2014 the school has shifted to a fully integrated curriculum with all the basic science subjects being covered in an integrated organ system based manner [1]. Table 1 shows the different systems being learned by students during different semesters. At XUSOM like in most other offshore Caribbean medical schools a semester of study is of 15 weeks duration and there are three student intakes a year in January, May and September [2]. In this article I will briefly discuss challenges faced in shifting to a fully integrated curriculum and how we have tried to address them.
Digit replantation: experience of two U.S. academic level-I trauma centers.

Background: Despite advances in microsurgery, digit replantation now is performed less frequently in the U.S. compared with fifteen years ago. There has been uncertainty regarding whether previously reported U.S. replantation success rates and results reported from other countries reflect the current experience in the U.S. We hypothesized that the success of digit replantation at two academic level-I referral hospitals in the U.S. would be similar to previously published results. Methods: In this retrospective case series, we examined all cases of digit replantation that were performed from 1997 through 2010 at two institutions. The cumulative rate of viable digit replantations was determined. Binary logistic regression modeling determined the relative impact of patient, injury, and operative factors on replantation survival. Results: During the study period, 135 digit replantations were performed in 106 patients. Fourteen cases did not meet our inclusion criteria, yielding a cohort of 121 replantations. The thumb (n = 40) was the most commonly replanted digit, followed by the long finger (n = 31). The mechanism of injury was classified as sharp in eighty-three digits, crush in nineteen digits, and avulsion in eighteen digits. The majority of replantations were performed following Tamai level-III (n = 49) or level-IV (n = 56) amputations. Sixty-nine (57%) of the digit replantation procedures were successful. Logistic regression analysis identified replantation of the radial three digits and no history of tobacco use as significant independent predictors of replantation success. Conclusions: The rate of success of digit replantation (57%) at two academic level-I trauma hospitals was lower than previously published rates. Radial-digit involvement and no prior tobacco use were associated with replantation success. This modest success rate reflects a need for additional evaluation of our current benchmarks and clinical settings for replantation surgery. These data help to better inform patients, families, and physicians who are considering digit replantation. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Changes in reflectin protein phosphorylation are associated with dynamic iridescence in squid.

Many cephalopods exhibit remarkable dermal iridescence, a component of their complex, dynamic camouflage and communication. In the species Euprymna scolopes, the lightorgan iridescence is static and is due to reflectin protein-based platelets assembled into lamellar thin-film reflectors called iridosomes, contained within iridescent cells called iridocytes. Squid in the family Loliginidae appear to be unique in which the dermis possesses a dynamic iridescent component with reflective, coloured structures that are assembled and disassembled under the control of the muscarinic cholinergic system and the associated neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh). Here we present the sequences and characterization of three new members of the reflectin family associated with the dynamically changeable iridescence in Loligo and not found in static Euprymna iridophores. In addition, we show that application of genistein, a protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor, suppresses ACh- and calciuminduced iridescence in Loligo. We further demonstrate that two of these novel reflectins are extensively phosphorylated in concert with the activation of iridescence by exogenous ACh. This phosphorylation and the correlated iridescence can be blocked with genistein. Our results suggest that tyrosine phosphorylation of reflectin proteins is involved in the regulation of dynamic iridescence in Loligo.
On adjoint and complementary systems

A single linear system can represent several different mappings involving states, inputs, and outputs. For each such map, there are associated adjoint and complementary systems that play an important role in inverting the map. The adjoint system determines minimum-norm solutions; it is herein precisely defined, apparently for the first time. The complementary system, a new concept, parametrizes the class of all possible solutions. Applications in system inversion, optimal control, and smoothing are indicated.
Thiol-ene photopolymerization of polymer-derived ceramic precursors

The liquid, ceramic precursor monomer VL20 was copolymerized with a thiol monomer in a traditional radical thiol-ene photopolymerization. Polymerization occurred via addition of the thiol functional group to the vinyl silazane functional group in a 1:1 ratio consistent with a step-growth polymerization. Gelation occurred at a high conversion of functional groups (70%) consistent with an average molecular weight and functionality of 560 and 1.7, respectively, for VL20 monomers. Initiatorless photopolymerization of the thiol-VL20 system also occurred upon irradiation at either 365 or 254 nm.
The implementation of a 2-core, multi-threaded itanium family processor

The design of the high end server processor code named Montecito incorporated several ambitious goals requiring innovation. The most obvious being the incorporation of two legacy cores on-die and at the same time reducing power by 23%. This is an effective 325% increase in MIPS per watt which necessitated a holistic focus on power reduction and management. The next challenge in the implementation was to ensure robust and high frequency circuit operation in the 90-nm process generation which brings with it higher leakage and greater variability. Achieving this goal required new methodologies for design, a greatly improved and tunable clock system and a better understanding of our power grid behavior all of which required new circuits and capabilities. The final aspect of circuit design improvement involved the I/O design for our legacy multi-drop system bus. To properly feed the two high frequency cores with memory bandwidth we needed to ensure frequency headroom in the operation of the bus. This was achieved through several innovations in controllability and tuning of the I/O buffers which are discussed as well.
Experimental validation of LMSS fading models for GPS measurements in fading/shadowing environment

In this paper existing Land mobile satellite system (LMSS) fading models are validated for received Global Positioning System (GPS) signal. The results of GPS measurement1 made in shadowing/fading environment are used for this analysis. The existing LMSS models considered in this paper are Bi-state fading model [1], Lutz et al. model [2], Karsawa et al. model [3], and Bart and Stutzman model [4]. These models are used to fit the empirical data for probability density function and fade distribution. Furthermore, the relationships between the values of the fitted probability of shadowing parameter for the aforementioned channels and the corresponding satellite elevation angles are established.
Discrete (Legendre) orthogonal polynomials—a survey

The discrete (Legendre) orthogonal polynomials, (DLOP's) are useful for approximation purposes. This set of mth degree polynomials {Pm(K, N)} are orthogonal with unity weight over a uniform discrete interval and are completely determined by the normalization Pm(O, N) = 1. The authors are employing these polynomials as assumed modes in engineering applications of weighted residual methods. Since extensive material on these discrete orthogonal polynomials, and their properties, is not readily available, this paper is designed to unify and summarize the presently available information on the DLOP's and related polynomials. In so doing, many new properties have been derived. These properties, along with sketches of their derivation, are included. Also presented are a representation of the DLOP's as a product of vectors and matrices, and an efficient computational scheme for generating these polynomials.
Role of Abciximab in the Management of Acute Ischemic Stroke

This is a systematic review abstract, a regular feature of the Annals’ Evidence-Based Emergency Medicine (EBEM) series. Each features an abstract of a systematic review from the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and a commentary by an emergency physician knowledgeable in the subject area. The source for this systematic review abstract is: Ciccone A, Abraha I, Santilli I. Glycoprotein IIb-IIIa inhibitors for acute ischaemic stroke. Cochrane Review 2006; Issue 4. Chichester, UK: John Wiley and Sons. DOI:10.1002/14651858.CD005208.pub2. The Annals’ EBEM editors helped prepare the abstract of this Cochrane systematic review, as well as the Evidence-Based Medicine Teaching Points.
Tuning Bragg wavelength by writing gratings on prestrained fibers

Bragg gratings at a specific wavelength are made using an excimer KrF laser and a phase mask. The wavelength can be varied for fine tuning and multiplexing applications by straining the optical fiber during UV illumination. When the strain is removed, the grating formed is at a smaller wavelength than that dictated by the phase mask for the unstrained fiber. This technique was demonstrated by writing two gratings located at the same point in the optical fiber. The transmission from the first grating was used as a means for in situ absolute wavelength tuning. The second grating made with approximately 0.2% axial strain was at 1534.54 nm. Once the grating was made, the strain was removed from the fiber leaving the second grating tuned to 1532.04 nm, a wavelength shift of 2.5 nm. >
Particle Swarm Optimization of Antenna Elements for Foliage Penetrating Radar

Foliage penetrating radar systems typically operate in the VHF or UHF segment of the RF spectrum, and often require the use of ultra-wideband antennas. Often time, the design of such antennas requires an extensive 'trial and error' effort to meet the design requirements. In this study Particle Swarm Optimization was used to automate the design process.
Granger Causality and Dynamic Structural Systems

Using a generally applicable dynamic structural system of equations, we give natural definitions of direct and total structural causality applicable to both structural vector autoregressions (VARs) and recursive structures representing time-series natural experiments. These concepts enable us to forge a previously missing link between Granger (G-)causality and structural causality by showing that, given a corresponding conditional form of exogeneity, G-causality holds if and only if a corresponding form of structural causality holds. We introduce a variety of structurally informative extensions of G-causality and provide their structural characterizations. Of importance for applications is the structural characterization of finite-order G-causality, which forms the basis for most empirical work. We show that conditional exogeneity is necessary for valid structural inference and prove that, in the absence of structural causality, conditional exogeneity is equivalent to G noncausality. These characterizations hold for both structural VARs and natural experiments. We propose practical new G-causality and conditional exogeneity tests and describe their use in testing for structural causality. We illustrate with studies of oil and gasoline prices, monetary policy and industrial production, and stock returns and macroeconomic announcements.
Women and Microcredit in Rural Bangladesh: An Anthropological Study of Grameen Bank Lending

Women and Microcredit in Rural Bangladesh: An Anthropological Study of Grameen Bank Lending. Aminur Rahman. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1999. 188 pp.
New faculty issues: Fitting in and figuring it out

This chapter provides a portrait of faculty development in community colleges, highlighting different issues facing faculty based on location and including a review of the impact of socialization on how faculty approach their roles. Findings indicate that changing classrooms require a different type of faculty preparation and that links with regional universities are critical.
DERMAL EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT TECHNIQUES

Exposure of the skin to chemical substances can contribute significantly to total dose in many workplace situations, and its relative importance will increase when airborne occupational exposure limits are reduced, unless steps to reduce skin exposure are undertaken simultaneously. Its assessment employs personal sampling techniques to measure skin loading rates, and combines these measurements with models of percutaneous absorption to estimate absorbed dose. Knowledge of dermal exposure pathways is in many cases fundamental to hazard evaluation and control. When the skin is the primary contributor to absorbed dose, dermal exposure measurements and biological monitoring play complementary roles in defining occupational exposures. Exposure normally occurs by one of three pathways: (i) immersion (direct contact with a liquid or solid chemical substance); (ii) deposition of aerosol or uptake of vapour through the skin; or (iii) surface contact (residue transfer from contaminated surfaces). Sampling methods fall into three categories: surrogate skin; chemical removal; and fluorescent tracers. Surface sampling represents a supplementary approach, providing an estimate of dermal exposure potential. Surrogate skin techniques involve placing a chemical collection medium on the skin. Whole-body garment samplers do not require assumptions relating to distribution, an inherent limitation of patch sampling. The validity of these techniques rests on the ability of the sampling medium to capture and retain chemicals in a manner similar to skin. Removal techniques include skin washing and wiping, but these measure only what can be removed from the skin, not exposure: laboratory removal efficiency studies are required for proper interpretation of data. Fluorescent tracer techniques exploit the visual properties of fluorescent compounds, and combined with video imaging make quantification of dermal exposure patterns possible, but the need to introduce a chemical substance (tracer) into production processes represents an important limitation of this approach. Surface sampling techniques provide a measure of workplace chemical contamination. Wipe sampling has been used extensively, but is susceptible to high variability. Surface sampling requires definition of dermal transfer coefficients for specific work activities. A preliminary dermal exposure sampling strategy which addresses such issues as sampling method, representativeness and sample duration is proposed. Despite the limitations of current assessment techniques, it appears feasible to consider developing dermal occupational exposure limits (DOELs) for selected workplaces and chemical agents. Initial development of DOELs would be most practical where dermal exposure is from surface contact primarily, and where the work closely follows a routine. Improvement in the techniques of dermal exposure assessment is an important goal for occupational hygiene research, and is likely to lead to better health for worker populations.
H2 gas clearance technique for separating rat uterine blood flow into endometrial and myometrial components

The H2 gas clearance technique was employed to measure uterine blood flow (UBF) in ovariectomized rats. A needle-type platinum electrode (125 microns diam) was inserted into the rat uterine wall to measure the tissue blood flow surrounding the electrode. The electrode can be placed in individual layers of the uterus to measure the endometrial blood flow (EBF) or the myometrial blood flow (MBF). By use of this technique, baseline EBF and MBF were 37.8 +/- 3.53 (n = 21) and 47.2 +/- 4.56 (n = 5) ml.min-1.100 g-1, respectively, with an EBF/MBF ratio of 0.8. Intravenous bolus injection of 17 beta-estradiol (1 microgram/kg) induced a significant increase in UBF. Phenylephrine, an alpha-adrenergic receptor agonist, reduced UBF. In some animals, a second platinum electrode was used to measure gastric mucosal blood flow simultaneously with UBF. While 17 beta-estradiol selectively increased UBF, pentagastrin selectively increased gastric mucosal blood flow. To further validate the baseline UBF distribution between endometrial and myometrial layers, iodo[14C]antipyrine autoradiography was employed. With the iodo[14C]antipyrine technique, the EBF/MBF ratio was 0.91 +/- 0.07 (n = 5), which is similar to that obtained with the H2 gas clearance technique.
Is There Something Unique About Marriage? The Relative Impact of Marital Status on Alcohol Consumption Among Military Personnel

ABSTRACTThis study seeks to empirically derive the patterns of alcohol consumption among military personnel by forming clusters of military personnel with similar alcohol use and sociodemographic characteristics. The empirical work of this study is based on the 2011 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Findings suggest that alcohol consumption varies according to marital status, education level, and other demographic characteristics (age, sex, and race). Frequent heavy drinking is concentrated among military personnel who are unmarried, between the ages of 18 and 25, non-Hispanic Whites, and men. Tailoring and customizing delivery approaches to focus on the patterns of alcohol consumption as well as the socioeconomic characteristics of the different segments of military personnel in United States could also be a promising alternative.
Complex-formation between cytochrome c and cytochrome c peroxidase. Equilibrium and titration studies.

1. Physical studies of complex-formation between cytochrome c and yeast peroxidase are consistent with kinetic predictions that these complexes participate in the catalytic activity of yeast peroxidase towards ferrocytochrome c. Enzyme–ferricytochrome c complexes have been detected both by the analytical ultracentrifuge and by column chromatography, whereas an enzyme–ferrocytochrome c complex was demonstrated by column chromatography. Estimated binding constants obtained from chromatographic experiments were similar to the measured kinetic values. 2. The physicochemical study of the enzyme–ferricytochrome c complex, and an analysis of its spectrum and reactivity, suggest that the conformation and reactivity of neither cytochrome c nor yeast peroxidase are grossly modified in the complex. 3. The peroxide compound of yeast cytochrome c peroxidase was found to have two oxidizing equivalents accessible to cytochrome c but only one readily accessible to ferrocyanide. Several types of peroxide compound, differing in available oxidizing equivalents and in reactivity with cytochrome c, seem to be formed by stoicheiometric amounts of hydrogen peroxide. 4. Fluoride combines not only with free yeast peroxidase but also with peroxidase–peroxide and accelerates the decomposition of the latter compound. The ligand-catalysed decomposition provides evidence for one-electron reduction pathways in yeast peroxidase, and the reversible binding of fluoride casts doubt upon the concept that the peroxidase–peroxide intermediate is any form of peroxide complex. 5. A mechanism for cytochrome c oxidation is proposed involving the successive reaction of two reversibly bound molecules of cytochrome c with oxidizing equivalents associated with the enzyme protein.
General ability and opinions about mental illness among psychiatric aides.

Preemployment general ability tests have been found to be significant predictors of post-training mental health knowledg: of psychiatric aides (2). No attempt has been made to determine if performance on general ability tests is related to post-training mental health attitudes. Since research with the Opinions About Mental Illness Scale (1) has indicated more favorable attitudes to be associated with higher mental health knowledge scores (4), a significant correlation between general ability and attitudes would be expected. We studied the relationship between scores on three general ability tests and attitudes 01 71 newly employed psychiatric aides in a state mental hospital. The aides (42 males, 29 fema!es) had a mean age of 26.5 yr. (range 18-58) and a mean education of 11.8 y c. (range 9-15 ). Form 1A of the Otis Employment Test (3). a state Civil Service Test for attendants, and the Personnel Tests for Industry-Verbal Test (5) were administered to the aides prior to employment and the attitude scale was given after completion of a 5-wk. basic training program. On the Authoritarianism factor of the attirude scale the Otis test correlated -.24 (p < .05), the Civil Service Test correlated -.31 (p < .01), and the Personnel Test for Industry-Verbal Test correlated -.28 (p < .05). Two of the ability rests correlated significantly with the Social Restrictiveness factor, i.e., the Otis test correlated -.23 (P < .05) and the Civil Service Test correlated -.25 (p < .05). Significant correlations were found also between the Otis test and the Mental Hygiene Ideology factor (r = .25, p < .05) and between the Verbal Test and Interpersonal Etiology factor (r = .32, p < .01). None of the ability tests were correlated with the Benevolence attitude factor. No significant relationship was found between the attitude factors and age, education, or sex. Although the results indicated that higher general ability scores were associated with more favorable attitudes on several attitude test factors, the correlations were lower than those found between general ability tests and post-training mental health knowledge (2). In the present sample general ability scores accounted for a relatively small amount of the variance in the attitude scores.
UNDERTOW PROFILES IN THE BOTTOM BOUNDARY LAYER UNDER BREAKING WAVES

The vertical distribution of the mean shear stress inside the surf zone is compared to the terms in the time-averaged horizontal momentum equation using one set of laboratory measurements of the free surface elevations and fluid velocities u and w induced by regular waves spilling on a plane slope. The vertical distribution of the eddy viscosity is estimated directly from the measured mean shear stress and velocity. The shear stress distribution in the surf zone is shown to vary linearly with depth until the bottom boundary layer where it reached a nearly constant, negative value. The shear stress variation in the transition region differs distinctly from the inner surf zone. The vertical variation of uw is shown to be small outside the surf zone except near the bottom. Inside the surf zone, it is shown that the uw term of the horizontal momentum equation is likely to be important in the transition region and that its importance diminishes in the inner surf zone. The vertical distribution of the eddy viscosity has a form which is small near trough level, increases to a maximum value about one-third of the depth below trough level, and then decreases toward the bottom. The eddy viscosity in the middle of the bottom boundary layer is two orders of magnitude less than the eddy viscosity in the interior.
Neutrophil releasing activity in plasma of normal human subjects injected with endotoxin.

SummaryNormal human subjects were injected with endotoxin and their plasma was harvested at various times thereafter. This plasma was later infused into the same subject, to determine if neutrophil...
Groundwater vulnerability assessment with DRASTIC method and its application in Chiangmai Basin in Thailand

Based on the characteristics of Chiangmai Basin in Thailand,the assessment for groundwater vulnerability is made by DRASTIC method quantitatively and the groundwater vulnerability map is developed in this paper.The results are particularly useful for the local government to make planning of groundwater management,land use,environmental protection,and city development.This method is also suitable for vulnerability assessment of groundwater in most places in China.
The Consideration on Construction of Ning Bo Higher Education Quality Conception in the New period

The paper analyses the situation of the Ningbo higher education and suggests structuring the Ningbo higher education quality, being outstanding person educational quality level and popularization the coexistence educating quality level; The educational diversified quality; Characterize higher education quality; the developing educational quality. According to problem appeared in the change from outstanding person to masses higher education, it offers countermeasure and suggestion to look forward to being structured Ningbo higher education quality to provide lessons.
Survey and analysis of AIDS knowledge among the 5,6-grade students of the migrant workers' children school in a district of Nanjing

Objective: To understand the state of acquired immune deficiency syndrome(AIDS) knowledge of the students in the migrant workers' children school in a district of Nanjing,in order to provide foundation for the further health education.Methods: The questionnaire about AIDS knowledge was designed according to literature.Investigation was done on all the 5,6-grade students in the migrant workers' children school in Jianye District of Nanjing,at the same time,an ordinary city primary school in Nanjing was selected for comparison.Results: 93.8% of the migrant workers' children have heard about AIDS,93.4% of them would like to know the AIDS knowledge,89.8% of them thank that the AIDS education was very important.Their awareness rates of non-AIDS routes of transmission and preventive ways were mostly lower than 70%,and they didn't grasp AIDS knowledge as good as the ordinary primary school students.Conclusion: The AIDS knowledge known among the children of migrant workers is poorer,it is important to reinforce the health education in the students.
Shock Lung: A Disorder of the Central Nervous System?

Animal studies are described that have demonstrated a centroneurogenic rather than hemodynamic etiology for this syndrome. In the presence of profound cerebral hypoxemia, an inappropriate signal from the brain heightens resistance in the pulmonary venule, producing a tourniquet action that leads to congestion, hemorrhage, and atelectasis. Denervating the lung is protective, a finding that suggests new avenues to treatment.
Mathematics Make Microbes Beautiful, Beneficial, and Bountiful

Microbiology is a rich area for visualizing the importance of mathematics in terms of designing experiments, data mining, testing hypotheses, and visualizing relationships. Historically, Nobel Prizes have acknowledged the close interplay between mathematics and microbiology in such examples as the fluctuation test and mutation rates using Poisson statistics by Luria and Delbruck and the use of graph theory of polyhedra by Caspar and Klug. More and more contemporary microbiology journals feature mathematical models, computational algorithms and heuristics, and multidimensional visualizations. While revolutions in research have driven these initiatives, a commensurate effort needs to be made to incorporate much more mathematics into the professional preparation of microbiologists. In order not to be daunting to many educators, a Bloom-like "Taxonomy of Quantitative Reasoning" is shared with explicit examples of microbiological activities for engaging students in (a) counting, measuring, calculating using image analysis of bacterial colonies and viral infections on variegated leaves, measurement of fractal dimensions of beautiful colony morphologies, and counting vertices, edges, and faces on viral capsids and using graph theory to understand self assembly; (b) graphing, mapping, ordering by applying linear, exponential, and logistic growth models of public health and sanitation problems, revisiting Snow's epidemiological map of cholera with computational geometry, and using interval graphs to do complementation mapping, deletion mapping, food webs, and microarray heatmaps; (c) problem solving by doing gene mapping and experimental design, and applying Boolean algebra to gene regulation of operons; (d) analysis of the "Bacterial Bonanza" of microbial sequence and genomic data using bioinformatics and phylogenetics; (e) hypothesis testing-again with phylogenetic trees and use of Poisson statistics and the Luria-Delbruck fluctuation test; and (f) modeling of biodiversity by using game theory, of epidemics with algebraic models, bacterial motion by using motion picture analysis and fluid mechanics of motility in multiple dimensions through the physics of "Life at Low Reynolds Numbers," and pattern formation of quorum sensing bacterial populations. Through a developmental model for preprofessional education that emphasizes the beauty, utility, and diversity of microbiological systems, we hope to foster creativity as well as mathematically rigorous reasoning.
Trends and Differentials in California Fertility Rates 1970-2000

In this article we examined fertility trends in the State of California from 1970 to 2000. During this period, the population of California increased 69.0 percent, while the percentage of females in the prime reproductive years (15-44) increased 76.5 percent. The number of live births increased from 362,652 in 1970 to a high of 611,666 in 1990 and stood at 531,285 in 2000. There were significant shifts in agespecific fertility rates during the 30-year period. Live births per 1,000 females declined in age categories 15-19, 20-24 and 25-29 and increased in age categories 30-34, 35-39 and 40-44, suggesting the postponement of child bearing until the later portion of the reproductive cycle. With the exception of 1970 and 1971, total fertility rates were below replacement level fertility through 1986. From 1987 to 2000, they exceeded replacement level fertility, suggesting fertility has returned as a prime factor in the growth of California’s population. With shifting fertility patterns and a diverse racial/ethnic population, the need for education and prenatal care remain as significant policy issues.
Computational study of no-slip and rarefied slip flows in infinite structured porous media

Abstract No-slip and rarefied slip flows in infinite structured porous media are numerically investigated in this study using hybrid FE/FV methods. The hybrid FE/FV flow solver methodology is based on the pressure correction method which involves a fractional step approach to first obtain an intermediate velocity by solving the momentum equations with the matrix-free, implicit, cell-centered finite volume method. The poisson equation resulting from the fractional step approach is then solved by node based Galerkin finite element method for an auxiliary variable which is closely related to pressure and is used to update the velocity and pressure fields. Three dimensional numerical simulations are conducted using our hybrid FE/FV flow solver for analyzing fluid flow in infinite structured porous media. In this study, structured porous media is represented by packed beds of spherical particles in different packing configurations including Simple (SC), Body Centered Cubic (BCC), and FCC (Face Centered Cubic) arrangements. Finite contact spacing's (2% of particle diameter) are maintained between the spherical particles to avoid highly skewed elements during the grid generation process. Our results are compared with available experimental and numerical data for both continuum no-slip and also rarefied slip flows. For continuum no-slip flows, packing form of structured beds had a considerable influence on the pressure drop, particularly at higher Reynolds numbers. However, for rarefied flows, the influence of packing form seemed to be negligible. It was also observed that infinite random porous media correlations are unsuitable for predicting the friction factors and/or pressure drop in structured porous media for continuum no-slip flows. Additionally rarefaction reduces the pressure drop and impacts the friction factor correlations. Due to lack of consistent generalized correlations in structured porous media and also since continuum correlations are not applicable for rarefied flows, new improved correlations for predicting friction factors in infinite structured microporous media are proposed.
History of Polyester Resin Development for Synthetic Fibers and Its Forefront

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) was invented about 50 years ago, and now it is widely used for synthetic fibers, films, bottles, and so on. In a half century, the polymerization process has been improved, for example, from DMT method to direct polymerization method and from batch process to continuous one. Various new polymerization catalysts also have been developed. For production of fibers, a variety of copolymerization composition has been developed to control and improve the properties, such as flame retardancy, dyeability, solubility, and shrinkage. In addition to PET, polyethylene naphthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, and polytrimethylene terephthalate are now used for various usages. Nowadays, bio-based polyesters polymerized from bio-based ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, terephthalic acid, and so on are also developed and some are already commercialized.
Should We Let Sleeping Dogs Lie? Controversies of Treating Central Sleep Apnoea in HFrEF Following the SERVE-HF Study

Central sleep apnoea (CSA) is common in patients with heart failure (HF), with a prevalence of 20-45 %. It is a marker of severity of HF and is independently associated with increased morbidity and mortality rates in patients with HF. Targeting CSA with adaptive servoventilation (ASV) was postulated to improve outcomes; however, the results of the recent SERVE-HF (Treatment of Sleep-disordered Breathing by Adaptive Servo-ventilation in Heart Failure Patients) trial showed that in patients with CSA and HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), ASV, despite successfully treating CSA, was associated with increased risk of cardiovascular death compared with medical therapy. In this expert opinion we discuss the controversies of treating CSA in HFrEF following the SERVE-HF study.
Ovenized and thermally tunable aluminum nitride microresonators

Frequency tuning of aluminum nitride (AlN) microre-sonators has been demonstrated via localized heating (ovenization) of the resonator. Specifically, piezoelectically driven 625 MHz microresonators were heated by embedded joule heaters in vacuum. A temperature increase of 135°C was achieved with only 2.8 mW of power consumption. This increase corresponds to ∼4500ppm of frequency shift. To minimize heat loss, the devices were suspended from the substrate by high thermal isolation beam type supports. The beams exhibit very high thermal resistance, not only due to their high length to cross-sectional area ratio, but also because they are made of thin-film deposited polycrystalline aluminum nitride. Thin AlN films have been shown to have thermal conductivities that are much lower than that measured in bulk materials. The availability of a power efficient frequency tuning method in aluminum nitride microresonators enables low power ovenization of AlN MEMS-based timing devices and tunable filtering for communication systems.
The hospital role of family physicians.

Abstract This paper examines the hospital role of a random sample of all general and family physicians in the state of Washington. Of the 287 physicians in our sample, 81% admitted at least one patient to hospital during the two-week study period, and the average physician admitted six patients. The majority of the admitting diagnoses fell within the realm of internal medicine. Residency-trained and board-certified respondents were more likely to admit patients to hospital, and residency-trained and rural practitioners were much less likely to refer patients to other physicians for hospital care than their urban counterparts. Residency-trained physicians, in particular, were much more likely to practice hospital obstetrics than those without formal residency training. These data demonstrate the broad and significant hospital role of the family physician. Given the increased scope and intensity of hospital practice of residency-trained family physicians, and barring major changes in admitting privileges or new regulatory constraints, we predict that this group of physicians will continue to have a significant inpatient role in the United States.
A national collaborative approach to reduce catheter-associated urinary tract infections in nursing homes: A qualitative assessment

Background Reducing health care-associated infections (HAIs), such as catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI), is a critical performance improvement target in nursing homes. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Safety Program for Long-term Care: Health Care-Associated Infections/Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection, a national performance improvement program, was designed to promote implementation of a CAUTI prevention program through state-based or regional collaboratives in more than 500 nursing homes across the United States. Methods Qualitative interviews were conducted with 8 purposefully selected organizational leads (who led implementation activities for a group of facilities) and 8 facility leads (who led implementation activities at a given facility) to understand implementation successes and challenges and experiences of participants involved in the program. Key themes were identified using a rapid analysis approach. Results Key themes related to general perceptions, changes due to program participation, and factors influencing program implementation were identified. In general, the program was viewed positively by organizational and facility leads with changes in catheter care practices, staff empowerment, and improvements in knowledge identified as benefits. Implementation challenges included the time required for program start-up as well as issues with staff and physician support, logistic barriers, and staffing turnover. Conclusions Despite some challenges, the observed program success and positive views of those participating suggest that collaboratives are an important strategy for providing nursing homes with enhanced expertise and support to prevent HAIs and ensure resident safety.
Outcomes and Mortality Prediction Model of Critically Ill Adults With Acute Respiratory Failure and Interstitial Lung Disease

Background We aimed to examine short- and long-term mortality in a mixed population of patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) with acute respiratory failure, and to identify those at lower vs higher risk of in-hospital death. Methods We conducted a single-center retrospective cohort study of 126 consecutive adults with ILD admitted to an ICU for respiratory failure at a tertiary care hospital between 2010 and 2014 and who did not undergo lung transplantation during their hospitalization. We examined associations of ICU-day 1 characteristics with in-hospital and 1-year mortality, using Poisson regression, and examined survival using Kaplan-Meier curves. We created a risk score for in-hospital mortality, using a model developed with penalized regression. Results In-hospital mortality was 66%, and 1-year mortality was 80%. Those with connective tissue disease-related ILD had better short-term and long-term mortality compared with unclassifiable ILD (adjusted relative risk, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.3-0.9; and relative risk, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.4-0.9, respectively). Our prediction model includes male sex, interstitial pulmonary fibrosis diagnosis, use of invasive mechanical ventilation and/or extracorporeal life support, no ambulation within 24 h of ICU admission, BMI, and Simplified Acute Physiology Score-II. The optimism-corrected C -statistic was 0.73, and model calibration was excellent ( P = .99). In-hospital mortality rates for the low-, moderate-, and high-risk groups were 33%, 65%, and 96%, respectively. Conclusions We created a risk score that classifies patients with ILD with acute respiratory failure from low to high risk for in-hospital mortality. The score could aid providers in counseling these patients and their families.