cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
LOCALIZATION OF ENZYMES IN THE MYCELIUM AND MICROCONIDIA OF FUSARIUM OXYSPORUM

Maruyama, Yoshiharu (Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.) and Martin Alexander. Localization of enzymes in the mycelium and microconidia of Fusarium oxysporum. J. Bacteriol. 84:307–312. 1962—Extracts prepared from mycelium and microconidia of Fusarium oxysporum f. cubense were fractionated into a soluble and four particulate fractions by differential centrifugation, and the distribution of several enzymes in the isolated cell constituents was examined. Succinic dehydrogenase, cytochrome oxidase, and a large amount of the reduced diphosphopyridine nucleotide (DPNH) cytochrome c reductase and reduced triphosphopyridine nucleotide cytochrome c reductase were associated with one of the particulate fractions prepared from the hyphae; fumarase and DPNH oxidase activities were largely found in the soluble and in a second particulate fraction. The highest recovery and concentration of diphosphopyridine nucleotidase was observed to be bound to a third type of hyphal granule. Aldolase, aconitase, glucose-6-phosphatase, and uricase were recovered entirely with the soluble mycelium constituents. Similar enzyme-distribution patterns were observed in microconidia. Several enzymatic activities of the mycelial extracts were compared with those in the extracts of microconidia.
Successful Percutaneous Cardiac Resynchronization Despite an Occlusive Thebesian Valve

We report the case of a patient with symptomatic heart failure referred after an unsuccessful attempt at cardiac resynchronization therapy. An occlusive Thebesian valve prevented entry into the coronary sinus ostium. Careful analysis of the patient’s cardiovascular physiology and anatomy revealed the “fortuitous” presence of a persistent left superior vena cava. Cannulation of this vessel permitted percutaneous retrograde placement of a left ventricular lead into a posterolateral cardiac venous branch resulting in successful cardiac resynchronization. This unique case provides strong evidence that thorough knowledge of cardiac embryology, anatomy, and physiology plays a pivotal role in percutaneous electromechanical intervention for drug-refractory heart failure.
Effect of variable thermophysical properties on laminar free convection of polyatomic gas

Abstract The present work deals with free convection of polyatomic gas, for which the thermal conductivity, viscosity and specific heat are assumed to vary with absolute temperature according to a simple power law, the density is taken as inversely proportional to absolute temperature at constant pressure, while the Prandtl number is assumed constant. The energy equation is so revised as to consider the variation of the specific heat with temperature, and the governing partial equations for laminar free convection of the polyatomic gases are treated as dimensionless ordinary equations by similarity transformation. The numerical results are given and are well discussed.
The End of the Mina

Why did al-Mutawakkil end the Mina? The usual answer to this question assumes that he was acknowledging the inevitable victory of the ulamā. He is seen to be ‘cutting his losses’ by restoring and enforcing orthodoxy as the traditionalist ulamā saw it. In this article I offer a different answer. Al-Mutawakkil ended the Mina as one part of his broader effort to establish his position as sovereign and independent of the individuals and structures that had carried over from al-Wāthiq’s reign. Eliminating the Mina was one strategy deployed in undermining and eliminating the “kingmakers” who had placed him on the throne. He correctly surmised that if left in place these would impede his position and ultimately control him.
Ultrastructural Analysis of Haemopoiesis in W/Wv Anaemic Mice

This study is an ultrastructural analysis of haemopoiesis in W/Wv anaemic mice in whom the anaemia is caused by a defect in the haemopoietic stem cell. Cellularity of marrow is normal but there is an increase in the proportion of less mature cells suggesting a delay in maturation. In addition, heterochromatin constitutes a higher proportion than normal of the nucleus in most stages of maturation suggesting a defect in DNA activation. The findings suggest that in this strain not only the differentiation of the haemopoietic stem cell but also the maturation of the committed cell is defective.
Ionic strength and curvature effects in flat and highly curved polyelectrolyte brushes

Adsorption of poly(tert-butylstyrene)/poly(styrenesulfonate) diblocks on polystyrene latices from water is reported and interpreted with scaling theories to demonstrate the effects of ionic strength and curvature on layer thickness. The adsorbed amount increases with ionic strength from no added salt to 0.1 M, forming a dense polyelectrolyte brush. The influence of particle radius on layer thickness is correlated quantitatively via the Daoud−Cotton model, but the effect on surface coverage is obscured by uncontrolled aspects of surface chemistry. Decreasing the ionic strength dramatically increases the dimensions of polyelectrolyte micelles and adsorbed layers; the sensitivity, while strongly coupled with curvature, is overestimated by all existing theories. A simple scaling theory that accounts for electrostatic excluded volume more appropriately captures the trends qualitatively.
Exploring how bedside nurses care for patients with chronic pain: a grounded theory study.

In the United States it is estimated that over 30% of the population suffers from some form of chronic pain (Institute of Medicine of the National Academies Report, 2011). Therefore, it is likely that 30% of patients who are admitted to the hospital for acute care needs also have an underlying chronic pain issue. When patients are admitted for concerns that are not related to their chronic pain, the chronic pain may be overlooked in deference to acute medical issues. Nurses dealing with pain in the acute care setting may limit their assessment and management of pain to acute pain. Although there is a significant body of research related to the management of acute pain (Bell & Duffy, 2009; Brennen, Obs, Carr, & Cousins, 2007; Dihle, Bjolseth, & Helseth, 2006; McDonnell, Nicholl, & Read, 2003; Wang & Tsai, 2010) and the management of chronic pain (Bruckenthal, 2010; Clarke & Iphofen, 2005; Kaasalainen et al., 2011; Matthews & Malcom, 2007; Papaleontiou et al., 2010, Reid et al., 2008), few studies were found that explained how nurses care for patients with pre-existing chronic pain in the acute care setting. The purpose of this study was to develop a theoretical understanding of nurses' assessment and decision-making behaviors related to the care of patients with chronic pain in the acute care setting.
Robust Multi-Objective Impedance Control Design for Electric Power Steering Systems: Preliminary Results

This paper is concerned with robust impedance shaping control for electric power steering (EPS) systems. The analysis here presents robust stability conditions for both sector-bounded and passive uncertainties. A 2-DOF controller formed of static output feedback (SOF) gains and a sector-bounded nonlinearity is proposed for the EPS closed loop system. The controller employs torque-feedback inner loop and an outer impedance shaping controller. The controller gains are synthesized via a multi-objective optimization involving nonlinear matrix inequality constraints. An iterative algorithm combining both semi-definite programming (SDP) and genetic algorithms (GA) is implemented to find the (sub)optimal controller gains.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Effect of square-edged intraocular lenses on neodymium:YAG laser capsulotomy rates in the United States.

Purpose To model the effect of the introduction of square-edged intraocular lenses (IOLs) in the United States on neodymium:YAG (Nd:YAG) laser capsulotomy rates and to compare the model with actual capsulotomy rates. Setting Ophthalmology Department, St. Thomas' Hospital, London, United Kingdom, and Cullen Eye Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA. Methods The actual numbers of cataract surgeries and Nd:YAG laser capsulotomies performed in the U.S. were obtained from Medicare claims data for 1993 to 2003. The percentage market share of square-edged IOLs was obtained, and numbers of square-edged and round-edged IOLs implanted were calculated. Predicted laser capsulotomy rates were modeled on published postmortem and clinical data and compared with actual capsulotomy rates. Results Between 1993 and 2003, the number of cataract surgeries and Nd:YAG laser capsulotomies reimbursed by Medicare rose by 67.4% and 18.9%, respectively. After the introduction of square-edged IOLs in 1995, the market share grew to 48.5% in 2003. The total number of Nd:YAG capsulotomies reimbursed by Medicare in 2003 exceeded the number of capsulotomies predicted by the model by at least 23.9%. The estimated cost generated by the discrepancy between predicted and actual laser capsulotomies in 2003 was at least US $30 million. Conclusions After the introduction of square-edged IOLs, Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy rates decreased, but not by as much as predicted. The additional cost to the Medicare system was more than US $30 million higher than the model predicted.
Analysis of pseudo-continuum mass transfer in media with spatially periodic boundaries

Abstract The theories developed by Taylor, Aris, and Gill for convective dispersion of soluble matter in nonuniform flow are extended to systems with spatially periodic boundaries. More specifically the generalized theory explains solute retardation and dispersion in columns packed with a regular array of permeable particles, and is thus applicable to most chromatographic processes. The general theory is then specialized to the case of solute dispersion in creeping flow through a body-center-cubic array of impermeable, spherical particles. Preliminary calculations indicate that the present theory predicts correctly solute dispersion at the zero-flow limit. However numerical difficulties are encountered in the calculations for convective dispersion which seriously limit the utility of the theory.
The chemical energetics of muscle contraction. I. Activation heat, heat of shortening and ATP utilization for activation-relaxation processes.

Measurements have been made of the changes in adenosine triphosphate and inorganic phosphate associated with activation and shortening in isolated sartorius muscles of Rana pipiens at 0°C. The muscles were pretreated with 2, 4-dinitrofluorobenzene to inhibit adenosine triphosphate: creatine phosphotransferase. When unloaded muscles were stimu­lated electrically, allowed to shorten fully and stay shortened during further stimulation, it was found that the usage of adenosine triphosphate (and production of inorganic phosphate) per pulse became less and less at greater rates of stimulation. The adenosine triphosphate usage per second reached a plateau and continued for a short while after the last pulse. This adenosine triphosphate is presumably used almost entirely for pumping calcium. Very little adenosine triphosphate was used per pulse by muscles in hypertonic solutions. These muscles passed normal action potentials but did not shorten or develop tension. Muscles which were re-extended after each of a series of almost completely unloaded shortenings had been completed used only the small amount of extra adenosine triphosphate needed for the little extra work done. Even the total breakdown of adenosine triphosphate was much too small to account for the heat of shortening, if this heat is assumed to be degraded free energy from adenosine triphosphate. Experiments were carried out according to Professor A. V. Hill’s ‘Further challenge to biochemists’. They showed that less adenosine triphosphate was used in the first 200 ms by a lightly loaded isotonic muscle than by an isometric muscle. Thus the heat of shortening, which is observed only while the muscle is shortening but not in the whole contraction-relaxation cycle, cannot be degraded free energy from adenosine triphosphate.
173-ps wavelength switching of four WDM channels using an OTDM channel selector

Ultrafast wavelength switching is demonstrated using an optical time division multiplexing (OTDM) channel selector based on the parallel optical delay line. The OTDM channel selector, capable of rapidly placing 12.5-GHz pulses in any of four timeslot channels in an 80-ps bit period, injects optical pulses into the control port of a TOAD. Four pulses of different wavelengths generated from a 12.5-GHz supercontinuum source are time-interleaved and enter the input port of the terahertz optical asymmetric demultiplexer (TOAD). The resulting system is capable of switching the output wavelengths at the output of the TOAD with an average latency time of 173 ps, and a maximum latency time of 320 ps.
Factors influencing the hexobarbital sleeping time and zoxazolamine paralysis time in mice

Abstract The influence in mice of various endogenous and exogenous factors on hepatic microsomal enzyme function has been determined by alteration in duration of narcosis (HST) or paralysis (ZPT) following administration of standard doses of hexobarbital or zoxazolamine, respectively. Specifically, the effects of strain, sex, nutritional status, bedding conditions, phenobarbital, piperonyl butoxide, and SKF-525A were demonstrated. HST proved to be more sensitive than ZPT as a measure of drug detoxification.
Microglial/macrophage accumulation during cuprizone-induced demyelination in C57BL/6 mice

To study microglial/macrophage infiltration, a cuprizone-induced model for demyelination in C57BL/6 mice was established. Cuprizone is known to cause demyelination in Swiss mice, however, cuprizone-induced demyelination in C57BL/6 mice has not been previously described. Induction of demyelination in C57BL/6 mice enables examination of the function of microglia/macrophage through comparative analyses of syngeneic mice with various targeted genetic mutations. In this report, cuprizone-induced demyelination is easily inducible, localized, and predictable. Concurrent with the initiation of demyelination, we noted microglial/macrophage accumulation and changes in astrocyte morphology. Astrogliosis promptly followed microglia/macrophage recruitment. These observations suggested that microglia/macrophage actively contribute to the demyelination process.
Analyses of α/β-type gliadin genes from diploid and hexaploid wheats

The alpha/beta-gliadin genes isolated from both hexaploid wheat (cv. Yamhill) and the diploid A genome progenitor Triticum urartu had remarkably similar sequences and differ by only a few point mutations. Primer extension analysis indicated that the transcriptional start points for individual genes in the family cluster within a few nucleotides. Comparison of the promoter region of several alpha/beta-gliadin and B-hordein genes reveals two conserved regions at about -130 and -250 bp. DNA from the hexaploid cultivars, Cheyenne and Chinese Spring, and the diploid progenitors T. urartu and Aegilops squarrosa was analysed by Southern blotting. Restriction fragment lengths of the alpha/beta-gliadin genes varied only slightly between the various wheats, although the overall copy number varied significantly. A region between approx. -1700 and -700 bp upstream from the TATA box was highly repeated in all three wheat genomes. For the hexaploid-derived gene, over 1700 bp of sequence upstream from the TATA box was determined, revealing an additional open reading frame between approx. -1550 and -1250 bp relative to the gliadin TATA box. Northern blot analysis indicated that RNA homologous to this repeated sequence family was present only in developing seed and accumulated to a maximum at late stages of maturation.
Isolation and characterization of a virus infecting the blue-green alga Nostoc muscorum

Abstract A newly isolated blue-green algal virus, distinct in its morphology and host range, has been characterized physicochemically. The virus infects strains of the nitrogenfixing blue-green alga Nostoc muscorum. The virions have polyhedral heads, about 550 A in diameter, and contractile tails which are 1100 A in length. At least 19 proteins are found in mature virus particles. The nucleic acid is linear, double-stranded DNA, with a buoyant density of 1.696 g/cm3 and a sedimentation coefficient (s20,w) of 38.7 S. These values correspond to a G-C content of 37% and a molecular weight of 38 × 106, respectively.
Compiler-Supported Simulation of Highly Scalable Parallel Applications

In this paper, we propose and evaluate practical, automatic techniques that exploit compiler analysis to facilitate simulation of very large message-passing systems. We use a compiler-synthesized static task graph model to identify the control-flow and the subset of the computations that determine the parallelism, communication and synchronization of the code, and to generate symbolic estimates of sequential task execution times. This information allows us to avoid executing or simulating large portions of the computational code during the simulation. We have used these techniques to integrate the MPI-Sim parallel simulator at UCLA with the Rice dHPF compiler infrastructure. The integrated system can simulate unmodified High Performance Fortran (HPF) programs compiled to the Message-Passing Interface standard (MPI) by the dHPF compiler, and we expect to simulate MPI programs as well. We evaluate the accuracy and benefits of these techniques for three standard benchmarks on a wide range of problem and system sizes. Our results show that the optimized simulator has errors of less than 17% compared with direct program measurement in all the cases we studied, and typically much smaller errors. Furthermore, it requires factors of 5 to 2000 less memory and up to a factor of 10 less time to execute than the original simulator. These dramatic savings allow us to simulate systems and problem sizes 10 to 100 times larger than is possible with the original simulator.
(Ig)noble Lies: Personal Historicism and Richard Mulcaster’s Positions Concerning the Bringing Up of Children (1581)

Attempting to push early modern presentism to the radical, logical conclusion of a more personal historicism, this essay draws on a number of interpretive practices and theoretical insights – Stephen Greenblatt’s self-reflectivity, Toni Morrison’s ‘rememory’, Marianne Hirsch’s ‘postmemory’, bell hooks’s ‘passion of experience’, and Linda Charnes’s alternative historicism – to establish the ethical and interpretive significance of my own painful situatedness as an African American man in Renaissance/Early Modern studies. Specifically, I illustrate that significance in a reading of Richard Mulcaster’s Positions Concerning the Bringing Up of Children, a sixteenth-century educational treatise that responds, as I argue, to early modern educational access and social mobility with an insidiously complex, exclusionary admissions policy.
A fully implicit time accurate method for hypersonic combustion: application to shock-induced combustion instability

A new fully implicit, time accurate algorithm suitable for chemically reacting, viscous flows in the transonic-to-hypersonic regime is described. The method is based on a class of Total Variation Diminishing (TVD) schemes and uses successive Gauss-Siedel relaxation sweeps. The inversion of large matrices is avoided by partitioning the system into reacting and nonreacting parts, but still maintaining a fully coupled interaction. As a result, the matrices that have to be inverted are of the same size as those obtained with the commonly used point implicit methods. In this paper we illustrate the applicability of the new algorithm to hypervelocity unsteady combustion applications. We present a series of numerical simulations of the periodic combustion instabilities observed in ballistic-range experiments of blunt projectiles flying at subdetonative speeds through hydrogen-air mixtures. The computed frequencies of oscillation are in excellent agreement with experimental data.
Microstress distribution in graphite fibre/epoxy composites containing an elastomeric interphase: response to uniaxial and biaxial loading conditions

Abstract A micromechanical model based upon the method of cells is introduced to characterize three-phase composites that contain a distinct and homogeneous interphase region. Initially, the performance characteristics of the model are shown to be quite consistent with those of a concentric cylinder model formulation. Subsequently, a parametric study is performed that examines the mechanical response of model graphite/epoxy composites as a function of selected interphase properties. The micromechanical model is utilized to establish an interdependence among the interphase Young's modulus, the interphase thickness and the average stresses within the fibre, interphase and matrix resulting from two external loading conditions: uniaxial longitudinal tension and biaxial transverse shear. Material combinations are considered wherein the interphase Young's modulus is systematically varied above and below the matrix Young's modulus. The simulation indicates that the selected interphase properties significantly influence the stress state within each of the three composite constituents. The manner in which the stress states are modified proves to be non-intuitive in many of the cases considered. In particular, there are material domains encountered where the model predicts that certain stress components in a constituent will exhibit (1) a maximum with respect to variations in the interphase Young's modulus and/or (2) a minimum with respect to variations in the interphase thickness.
Systematic dissection and optimization of inducible enhancers in human cells using a massively parallel reporter assay

An improved understanding of enhancers in mammalian genomes could facilitate the design of new regulatory elements. Melnikov et al. synthesize thousands of ~90 nt enhancer variants, assay their activity in human cells and use the data to rationally optimize synthetic enhancers.
Performance of Nano Structured Thin Film (NSTF) Electrodes under Partially-Humidified Conditions

3M’s Nano Structured Thin Film (NSTF) electrode, being a core-shell catalyst, offers a novel mean to enhance the performance and lower Pt cost in a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC). In the present work, fuel cell performance of NSTF is reported and the underlying physics dictating NSTF behavior is probed. It was found that NSTF with 0.15 mgPt/cm 2 Pt loading shows comparable performance to that of a conventional Pt/C electrode with 0.4 mgPt/cm 2 loading in a highly humidified condition at 80 C. However, the NSTF performs poorly under dry conditions. A single-phase model was developed to elucidate the underlying phenomenon governing NSTF performance under partially-humidified conditions. NSTF proton conductivity as a function of relative humidity (RH) was determined and the model predictions were compared against a range of experimental data. Detailed results suggest that poor NSTF performance under dry operation is due to low proton conductivity over Pt surface, which reduces catalyst utilization. The importance of water management is highlighted to improve NSTF performance. VC 2011 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/1.3590748] All rights reserved.
Corticosteroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and naloxone in the sepsis syndrome.

Corticosteroids have proven to be effective as adjunctive treatment in sepsis and severe typhoid fever when used early and in high doses. If corticosteroids are given in high doses (30 mg/kg), they should be administered in 1–2 doses, and not to exceed 4 total doses within 24 hours. The efficacy of the drug may be diminished in more severe sepsis, but use of corticosteroids in severe sepsis may delay death. If the benefit of corticosteroid use in late sepsis is only to prolong impending death, then steroid administration is probably futile; however, the alternative view is that corticosteroid use may constitute one step in a series leading to shock reversal and recovery. Risks and benefits of corticosteroid use should be tailored to the individual patient with consideration given to the nature and extent of the underlying disease. Although the pathophysiology of the sepsis syndrome remains elusive, new therapeutic regimens may evolve using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and neuropeptide antagonists. As with corticosteroids, their application before or early after the onset of shock appears more beneficial; however, the patient population that will benefit most from treatment with these drugs remains, for the most part, unidentified, and more clinical trials are needed.
Hypocalcemia in critically ill patients.

Hypocalcemia is an important metabolic problem in critical care medicine. To determine the frequency of this problem and the patient subsets at risk, a retrospective study of a large series of ICU patients was performed. During the study period, 259 patients were admitted to the ICU, of whom 210 (81
Chorioretinopathy and microcephaly with normal development.

Purpose: To report a pediatric patient with bilateral chorioretinopathy and microcephaly who from birth to 2 years of age is reaching appropriate developmental milestones.Design: Retrospective case report with clinical findings and literature review. Main Outcome Measures: Clinical findings and visual acuity estimated by sweep visual evoked potentials (VEP), electroretinogram (ERG) and fundoscopic exam. Results: A microcephalic child with normal motor and cognitive development had improving sweep VEP despite atypical fundoscopic findings of bilateral chorioretinopathy, attenuated retinal vessels, and anomalous optic nerves. The etiology for these collective findings despite extensive workup, including prenatal TORCH titers and neuro-imaging, has remained unidentified. Conclusions: Most published cases of microcephaly with chorioretinopathy have described patients with mild to severe mental retardation. Patients with chorioretinopathy and microcephaly may, however, reach all developmental milestones with i...
A dynamical string-parton model for relativistic heavy-ion collisions

Abstract We introduce a new model for simulating the hadronic phenomena at relativistic heavy-ion colliders. The model is based on dynamical Nambu strings with extensions to include the essential features of the Parton model. The 3+1 dimensional calculations are performed for various systems, including the leading quark attenuation in μ-A, and A-A results from NA35 and WA80.
The precipitation of nickelII sulphide from acid solutions by thioacetamide

Abstract Rate measurements have shown that the precipitation of nickelII as sulphide by thioacetamide from solutions having hydrogen ion concentrations ranging from 0.3 to 1 × 10−7 molal conforms to the expression where k is equal to 2.2 × 10−4 litre 1 2 mole− 1 2 min−1 at 90°. No hydrolysis controlled precipitation was observed. The energy of activation for the reaction, in the range 70°–90°, was calculated to be 20.8 kcal per mole. Precipitation conforming to this rate expression occurred at hydrogen ion concentrations at which precipitation by hydrogen sulphide was not obtained. The effectiveness of the separation of leadII and cadmiumII from nickelII by the use of thioacetamide in solutions of pH 1 and 2 and maintained at 90° was studied. The rate of formation of nickel sulphide conformed to the above rate expression and was independent of the quantity of metal sulphide present, and of the concentrations of leadII, cadmiumII, and of hydrogen sulphide in the reaction solution. The amount of nickel sulphide precipitated with cadmium and lead sulphide by means of the direct reaction between nickel ion and thioacetamide exceeded that co-precipitated when cadmium and lead were precipitated by hydrogen sulphide. However, under properly controlled conditions effective separations can be made.
Healthcare provider–child–parent communication in the preoperative surgical setting

Summary Objectives: Although preoperative preparation programs were once common, most children currently undergoing outpatient surgery are first exposed to the hospital on the day of the procedure. It is advocated that these outpatient children undergo the preparation just prior to surgery. Aim: To assess the amount of time that healthcare providers spend with children and families on the day of surgery in the preoperative area. Materials and Methods: The study used video infrastructure in the preoperative holding area of Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital to record all interactions between children, families, and healthcare providers. Videotapes were coded to characterize and quantify behaviors of healthcare professionals. Results: On the day of surgery, healthcare providers spent medians of 2.75–4.81 min interacting with children and parents in the preoperative area. Families spent a median of 46.5 min in the preoperative area. Healthcare professionals spent the most time in medical talk (averages of 42.5–48.2% of time spent with family) and little time was spent in nonmedical talk (range of 6.2–6.9% of time spent with family). Anesthesiologists and surgeons spent 28% and 18% of the interview in talk to children; admitting nurses spent more of the interview talking to children (43%). Conclusions: Families interact with healthcare providers for only a small proportion of the time they spent in the preoperative area. This is likely to be a result of increased production pressure in the perioperative settings and has implications for providing preparation for surgery on the morning of the procedure.
Does triage categorization influence time to initial electrocardiogram

Study objectives: We determine whether triage level is associated with differences in time to initial ECG. Methods: We prospectively enrolled a convenience sample of low-risk chest pain patients to our emergency department (ED) observation unit. Low risk was defined as having atypical clinical symptomatology with no significant ECG changes and troponin level less than 0.1 ng/mL. Triage acuity levels were recorded by the triage nurse using the Emergency Severity Index (ESI) 5-level triage system (1=highest acuity, 5=lowest acuity). Generally, patients with chest pain should be triaged as ESI level 2. ECG time was abstracted from the original ECG. Analysis of variance was calculated to determine the association between triage levels and time to initial ECG. Results: Two hundred seventy-four patients were enrolled (139 men, 135 women). Patients were triaged accordingly: ESI level 1 (n=0), ESI level 2 (n=209), ESI level 3 (n= 62), and ESI level 4 (n=1). Initial time to ECG per ESI triage category is reported in minutes (mean, SD): ESI level 2 (mean=36, SD=53), ESI level 3 (mean=132, SD=91), and ESI level 4 (mean=137, SD=4). A significant association was found between triage levels and time to ECG (F=55.2, P P Conclusion: Initial triage level assigned by the triage nurse has a significant impact on time to ECG. Patients who receive a lower triage acuity level sustained a significantly longer delay to initial ECG.
Support for the Veterinary Benevolent Fund.

AS president of the Veterinary Benevolent Fund (VBF), may I thank all those members of the Veterinary Defence Society (VDS) who gave a donation to the VBF when paying their VDS subscription this …
Hyperoxia during reperfusion is a factor in reperfusion injury.

Imposition of ischemia should result in accumulation of lactic acid with an attendant drop in pH. Subsequent reperfusion would result in hyperoxia, in the affected tissue, due to the Bohr Effect. O2− should therefore be produced in greater than normal amounts, due to this transient hyperoxia, and may contribute to reperfusion injury. Tissue acidification, during extreme exercise or in diabetes mellitus, may similarly lead to hyperoxia and to tissue damage by O2−.
A new network reduction methodology for congestion study

System planning on a large-scale electric power system is computationally challenging. Network reduction into a small system can significantly reduce the computational expense. The Ward equivalent technique is widely used for the reduction; however, it may not yield the same flow pattern as the original network. In this paper, a new methodology for network reduction is proposed and the results are compared with those from other methodologies.
Motivated Independence? Implicit Party Identity Predicts Political Judgments Among Self-Proclaimed Independents

Reporting an Independent political identity does not guarantee the absence of partisanship. Independents demonstrated considerable variability in relative identification with Republicans versus Democrats as measured by an Implicit Association Test (IAT; M = 0.10, SD = 0.47). To test whether this variation predicted political judgment, participants read a newspaper article describing two competing welfare (Study 1) or special education (Study 2) policies. The authors manipulated which policy was proposed by which party. Among self-proclaimed Independents, those who were implicitly Democratic preferred the liberal welfare plan, and those who were implicitly Republican preferred the conservative welfare plan. Regardless of the policy details, these implicit partisans preferred the policy proposed by "their" party, and this effect occurred more strongly for implicit than explicit plan preference. The authors suggest that implicitly partisan Independents may consciously override some partisan influence when making explicit political judgments, and Independents may identify as such to appear objective even when they are not.
Historiography from a Global Perspective

Geschichtswissenschaft Jenseits des Nationalstaats: Studien zu Bezie-hungsgeschichte und Zivilisationsvergleich. By Jurgen Osterhammel
Abstract 712: Antitumor activity of SPINK1 monoclonal antibody in a subset ofSPINK1positiveETS-negative prostate cancer

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC We have identified SPINK1 outlier expression in an aggressive subset of TMPRSS2:ETS-negative prostate cancers (10% of all prostate cancers) by outlier meta-analysis (meta-COPA). We have further validated the mutual exclusivity of SPINK1 expression and ETS fusion status, demonstrated that SPINK1 outlier expression can be detected non-invasively in urine, and is a useful prognostic marker in prostate cancer (Tomlins et al., 2008 and Laxman et al., 2008). Here we examined the in vitro and in vivo effects of SPINK1 outlier expression. We demonstrate that exogenous SPINK1 recombinant protein stimulate cell proliferation in benign and cancerous prostate cells. Benign prostate epithelial cells RWPE treated with SPINK1 recombinant protein or conditioned medium (CM) from 22RV1 cells (SPINK1+) showed dramatic increase in cell invasion in Boyden chamber Matrigel invasion assay, which was attenuated in the presence of an anti-SPINK1 monoclonal antibody (mAb). We also showed that invasion of 22RV1 cells is attenuated with SPINK1 mAb, while SPINK1 mAb has no effect on the invasion of PC3 cells (SPINK1−) invasion. SiRNA knockdown of SPINK1 in 22RV1 cells attenuated invasion, which could be rescued by recombinant SPINK1 protein or 22RV1 CM. Stable knockdown of SPINK1 in 22RV1 cells using shRNA resulted in decreased cell proliferation, cell invasion and motility. Moreover, stable knockdown of SPINK1 in 22RV1-Luc cells showed reduced tumor burden in an in vivo xenograft model. The preclinical in vivo efficacy of SPINK1 mAb was evaluated in SPINK1 positive 22RV1-Luc xenograft model established in BalbC nu. nu mice. Antitumor activities were determined from the analyses of tumor growth inhibition, defined as the decrease in the mean tumor volume for SPINK1 mAb treated mice versus IgG mAb treated mice. Twice a week intra-peritoneal administration of SPINK1 mAb (10mg/kg) resulted in a 65% reduction of tumor burden. This study provides the rationale for the development of humanized anti-SPINK1 monoclonal antibodies for clinical targeting of the subset of patients with SPINK1 positive and ETS-negative prostate cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 712.
Lipids and the permeability of epidermis from snakes

Evaporative water loss was measured in vitro from shed epidermis of 11 species of snakes from widely ranging habitats. Permeability of epidermis was inversely related to habitat aridity and increased 1.9- to 31.3- fold when lipids were extracted prior to measurements. The quantity of lipids extracted from epidermis varied severalfold among species, and was significantly greater in xeric-adapted, terrestrial species than in aquatic species. However, there was no significant correlation between lipid quantity and the increase of permeability produced by extraction of lipids. Both quantity and composition of lipids are likely involved in evolutionary or physiological adjustments to habitat. Lipids were demonstrated histochemically to be located primarily in the mesos layer of the epidermis, with some lipids also present in the alpha and beta keratin. Alteration of keratin without lipid extraction increased permeability only 20% if that produced by lipid extraction in the same species. The data corroborate other recent findings indicating that epidermal lipids play a major role in regulating the permeability of reptilian integument.
Antimicrobial Activity of Yerba Mate (Ilex paraguariensis) Aqueous Extracts against Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Staphylococcus aureus

: Bioactive compounds from natural plant sources are becoming increasingly important to the food industry. Ilex paraguariensis is used in the preparation of a widely popular tea beverage (Yerba Mate) in the countries of Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina, and Brazil. In this study, extracts of 4 brands of commercial tea, derived from the holly plant species, Ilex paraguariensis, were evaluated for their ability to inhibit or inactivate bacterial foodborne pathogens. The ultimate goal was to evaluate potential use of the extracts in commercial applications. Dialyzed aqueous extracts were screened for antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Staphylococcus aureus. S. aureus was found to be the more sensitive to extracts than E. coli O157:H7. Minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) were determined to be approximately 150 to 800 μg/mL and 25 to 50 μg/mL against E. coli O157:H7 and S. aureus, respectively. A Uruguayan brand had reduced activity against E. coli O157:H7 compared to the Argentinean brands tested. It was concluded that Yerba Mate could be used as a potential antimicrobial in foods and beverages against these pathogenic bacteria. Practical Application: Soluble extracts from Yerba Mate are natural antimicrobials that can be incorporated into food products to achieve longer shelf life.
Hyponatremia with low urinary aldosterone occurring in an old woman.

An elderly woman with ureteral carcinoma had a persistently low serum sodium which was partially restored by oral and iv sodium chloride. For nineteen years she had received annual DOC pellet implants for treatment of presumed Addison's disease. Plasma cortisol and urinary 17-OHCS levels were normal and rose normally after ACTH. Urinary aldosterone was very low, and did not increase with ACTH or salt restriction. Plasma renin was normal to high and increased with a low salt diet. Gas-liquid chromatigraphic analysis of C-21 steroid metabolites disclosed normal values for THE, THF, THB, THDOC pregnanediol and pregnanetriol. The patient was maintained with fludrocortisone but expired in four months. Adrenal histology was normal.
Safe Travels! After Cancer Treatment

An estimated 1 billion people will travel internationally in 2012,1 some of whom are immunocompromised hosts and who are more vulnerable to infection and subsequent complications, including those with cancer, human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome, organ transplant recipients, or those on immunosuppressive drugs for autoimmune disorders. Little is known about the risks of travel in immunocompromised hosts. There are a handful of descriptive studies on travel medicine in organ transplant2,3,4 and splenectomized5 patients, although larger studies are yet to be done. Mikati and colleagues6 describe the first retrospective cohort study of cancer patients who presented for pre‐travel health advice at a single center over an 8‐year span. They describe and compare the international travel patterns, infectious diseases exposure risks, pre‐travel interventions, and travel‐related illnesses in 149 subjects with solid tumors, hematological malignancies, and stem cell transplantation. Those with impaired immunity had similar infectious diseases exposure risks and travel patterns compared with the control group of travelers whose cancer was cured or in remission. Furthermore, most of the reported travel‐related illnesses were of minor nature. … Corresponding Author: Camille Nelson Kotton, MD, FIDSA, Clinical Director, Transplant and Immunocompromised Host Infectious Diseases, Infectious Diseases Division, Massachusetts General Hospital; Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit Street, Cox 5, Boston, MA 02114, USA. E‐mail: ckotton{at}partners.org
Phase-space diagrams for a migma fusion device

Abstract Results are presented from a systematic study of three-dimensional orbits in a Migma fusion device. As the vertical oscillation amplitude increases, the frequency of the oscillations decreases rapidly, so that a sequence of nonlinear coupling resonances is encountered. The periodic orbits and vortex boundaries associated with these resonances have been calculated, and the results are displayed in a series of phase-space diagrams, together with an explanation of their significance. The vertical confinement limit and its effect on these diagrams are also described. The problems of beam injection via self-ensnaring are examined, and a special injection orbit is proposed which should provide an exceptionally long confinement time together with a high central density. Finally, the effect of multiple scattering on the ion distribution in phase space is discussed, and arguments are presented in favor of a rather broad distribution under steady-state conditions.
Emergency physician ultrasonography for evaluating patients at risk for ectopic pregnancy: a meta-analysis.

Study objective Ectopic pregnancy is a common concern in emergency departments (EDs) and remains the leading cause of first-trimester mortality. Pelvic ultrasonography by emergency physicians has been investigated as a diagnostic test for ectopic pregnancy. We present a meta-analysis of the use of emergency physician ultrasonography in the evaluation of patients at risk of ectopic pregnancy. Methods A structured search was performed of both MEDLINE and EMBASE. Inclusion criteria were that (1) the study reported original research on ED patients at risk for ectopic pregnancy; (2) an emergency physician performed and interpreted the initial pelvic ultrasonography; and (3) follow-up was conducted on all patients. Sensitivity was defined as the proportion of patients with ectopic pregnancy for which ED ultrasonography demonstrated no intrauterine pregnancy. A random-effects model was used to obtain summary test characteristics. Results The initial search showed 576 publications, abstract review yielded 60 with potential relevance, and 10 studies were included. There was a total of 2,057 patients, of whom 152 (7.5%) had ectopic pregnancy. The pooled sensitivity estimate was 99.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] 96.6% to 100%), negative predictive value was 99.96% (95% CI 99.6% to 100%), and negative likelihood ratio was 0.08 (95% CI 0.025 to 0.25), all without significant heterogeneity. Conclusion The results of this meta-analysis suggest that in a wide variety of clinical settings, the use of bedside ultrasonography performed by emergency physicians as a diagnostic test for ectopic pregnancy provides excellent sensitivity and negative predictive value. Visualization of an intrauterine pregnancy by an emergency physician is generally sufficient to rule out ectopic pregnancy.
The effects of multi‐age grouping on young children and teacher preparation

A literature review on the effects of multi‐age groupings in the primary grades tends to support the use of multi‐age groupings. Research indicates that in social situations, children tend to participate in multi‐age groups rather than those of a single‐age nature. Research also indicates there is no significant difference in the academic performance of children in multi‐age and single‐age groupings. A significant difference in the self‐concept and school attitude, favors those in a multi‐age grouping. Multi‐age grouping provides the opportunity for success rather than retention, allowing children to proceed through the continuum of the multi‐age group. Concerns are expressed over lack of training and support #optime and resources#cp for the teacher in the multi‐age setting. Multi‐age grouping is a viable alternative to the single‐age classroom, one which is gaining support legislatively and professionally throughout school settings.
Macrophage inflammatory proteins in cytomegalovirus-related inner ear injury.

Objective Inner ear inflammation triggered by CMV infection may play a role in CMV-related auditory pathogenesis. The purpose of the study was to determine if a virally encoded macrophage inflammatory protein played a role in CMV-related hearing loss. Design Mutagenesis was performed with deletion of a guinea pig CMV macrophage inflammatory protein. Intracochlear inoculations were performed on three groups of animals (n = 18). Group 1 received sterile viral media, Group 2 received wild-type CMV virus, and Group 3 received “knockout” (KO) virus with a deleted immunomodulation gene. Baseline and postinoculation ABRs were obtained. ELISA and PCR were performed and temporal bones examined. Subjects Eighteen guinea pigs. Results The KO group had significantly better hearing than the WT group. There were no significant differences between the KO and sham groups. The WT group had significant hearing loss at all frequencies. Inflammation and fibrosis were noted in the WT temporal bones only. Conclusions Virally encoded macrophage inflammatory proteins appear to play a significant role in CMV-related hearing loss.
Are mental disorders more common in urban than rural areas of the United States

Urban vs. rural residence is commonly cited as a risk factor for depression and other mental disorders, but epidemiological evidence for this relationship in the US is inconclusive. We examined three consecutive annual samples (2009-2011) of adolescents (age 12-17, N = 55,583) and adults (age 18 and over, N = 116,459) from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) to compare the prevalence of major depression and other serious mental illness across four categories of urbanicity: (1) large metropolitan areas, (2) small metropolitan areas, (3) semi-rural areas, and (4) rural areas, with and without adjustment for other demographic risk factors. For adolescents, no association was observed between urbanicity and the prevalence of major depression, with or without statistical adjustments. For adults, no differences were found in the prevalence of major depression or serious mental illness between large metropolitan areas and rural areas, but the prevalence of both was slightly higher in the two intermediate urbanicity categories than in large metropolitan areas, with statistically significant odds ratios after adjustment ranging from 1.12 to 1.19. Contrary to expectations, the prevalence of mental disorders was not higher in the most urban compared with the most rural areas, suggesting that the move to identify mechanistic explanations for risk associated with the urban environment is premature. Evidence of slightly higher prevalence in small urban and semi-rural areas relative to large urban areas, reported for the first time, requires additional investigation.