cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Severity of RDS during the First Two Neonatal Days in Relationship to Fluid Intake

Hallman, M. (Departments of Paediatrics, University of Helsinki and University of California, Irvine). The severity of RDS during the first two neonatal days in relationship to fluid intake. Acta Paediatr Scand Suppl 360: 93, 1989. There are no generally accepted guidelines regarding the degree of hydration of small preterm infants with RDS. In the present prospective study, liquid intake (intravenous fluids, drugs, and enteral nutrition) during the first 48 h was correlated with the degree of respiratory failure at the age of two days in 120 consecutive, mechanically ventilated, small preterm infants with RDS (GA<30 w, BW< 1750 9). There was a positive linear relationship between the amount of liquids given and the degree of respiratory failure. Multiple regression analysis taking into consideration various perinatal factors revealed that the liquid intake explained the degree of respiratory failure (p < 0.0001). The regression analysis revealed a similar dependence of respiratory failure on the liquid intake in the following groups of infants: GA<27 w (p=0.023); GA 27–30 w (p=0.005); SGA (p=0.104); Non-SGA (p=0.001); severe preeclampsia (p=0.018); surfactant substitution (p=0.002); liquid intake 127–240 m1/48 h (p < 0.006); liquid intake 240430 mU48 h (p < 0.047). The present results demonstrate the need to re-evaluate the optimal needs of hydration among infants with RDS during the very early neonatal period.
Divergence-free velocity fields in nonperiodic geometries

The influence matrix method of enforcing incompressibility in pseudospectral simulations of fluid dynamics, as described by Kleiser and Schumann for channel flow, is generalized to other geometries, A formalism of projection and matrix operators is introduced, in which the influence matrix method is shown to be an application of the classic Sherman-Morrison-Woodbury formula of numerical linear algebra. Special attention is paid to the tau correction. Applications to Cartesian geometries illustrate the concepts and highlight the role of symmetry. A coded implementation in a cylindrical geometry, requiring special treatment of coordinate singularities, is used to investigate properties of the influence matrix and to provide estimates of timings.
Gas Exchange in the Airways

The primary function of the lungs is to exchange the respiratory gases, O2 and CO2, between the atmosphere and the blood. Our overall understanding of the lungs as a gas-exchanging organ has improved considerably over the past four decades. We now know that the dynamics of gas exchange depend on the blood solubility (beta b, ml gas ml blood-1 atm-1) of the gas. While the major focus of research has rightly been on the respiratory gases, the lungs exchange a wide spectrum of gases ranging from very low solubility gases such as SF6 or helium (beta b = 0.01) to water vapor (beta b = 20,000). O2 (beta b = 0.7) and CO2 (beta b = 3.0) exchange primarily in the alveolar region of the lung and their exchange is limited by the rate of ventilation and perfusion. In contrast, highly soluble gases (beta b > 100) are likely to exchange primarily in the airways of the lung. We have used exhaled ethanol (beta b = 1756) profiles for humans, steady-state exchange of six inert gases (0.01 < beta b < 300) in an in situ dog trachea, and a mathematical model to analyze the dynamics of airway gas exchange. We make the following conclusion: (1) ethanol exchanges entirely within the airways, and (2) the magnitude of perfusion- and diffusion-related resistance to airway gas exchange is the same.
Aggressive behavior as a reinforcer in mice: activation by allopregnanolone.

Abstract Rationale. The neurobiological mechanisms that underlie the motivation to engage in an aggressive confrontation remain to be investigated. Objective. The objective was to develop a method to differentiate pharmacologically the performance elements of aggressive behavior from behaviors that precede an aggressive encounter. Methods and results. Male CFW mice were housed as "residents" and trained to poke their nose in a hole in a panel placed into the home cage. After fulfilling a specific response requirement, an "intruder" male mouse was introduced for a brief aggressive encounter. In experiment I, the mice were maintained on a fixed ratio schedule of ten responses (FR10) and after stable responding, extinction and stimulus control were assessed by switching the active hole in an ABA design. In experiment II and III, the mice were maintained on a fixed interval schedule of 10 min (FI10 min) and responded with accelerating rates towards the end of the interval (mean index of curvature was 0.37). In experiment III, the mice were given the GABAA receptor positive modulator allopregnanolone (5.6–17 mg/kg or vehicle, IP), before responding on an FI10 min schedule reinforced by a 5-min aggressive encounter. Allopregnanolone had bitonic effects on FI responding and aggressive behavior. The low dose of allopregnanolone nearly doubled overall response rate without affecting the index of curvature, attack bites or sideways threats. The moderate dose increased attack behaviors by about 45% and had little effect on response rate and the index of curvature. In contrast, the higher dose decreased the index of curvature but had no effect on aggressive behavior or overall response rate. Conclusions. These data support previous demonstrations that certain GABAA positive modulators heighten aggressive behavior. Moreover, examining operant responding that is reinforced by the opportunity for aggression, it may be possible to dissociate pharmacological effects on the behaviors leading up to an aggressive encounter from their effects on specific aggressive acts.
Life Prediction for Bridged Fatigue Cracks

One of the more promising classes of composites touted for high temperature applications, and certainly the most available, is that of relatively brittle matrices, either ceramic or intermetallic, reinforced by strong, aligned, continuous fibers. Under cyclic loading in the fiber direction, these materials develop matrix cracks that often run perpendicular to the fibers, while the fibers remain intact in the crack wake, supplying bridging tractions across the fracture surfaces. The bridging tractions shield the crack tip from the applied load, dramatically reducing the crack velocity from that expected in an unreinforced material subjected to the same value, {Delta}K{sub a}, of the cyclic applied stress intensity factor. An important issue in reliability is the prediction of the growth rates of the bridged cracks. The growth rates of matrix fatigue cracks bridged by sliding fibers are now commonly predicted by models based on the micromechanics of frictional interfaces. However, there exist many reasons, both theoretical and experimental, for suspecting that the most popular micromechanical models are probably wrong in detail in the context of fatigue cracks. Furthermore, a review of crack growth data reveals that the validity of the micromechanics-based predictive model has never been tested and may never be tested. Inmore » this paper, two alternative approaches are suggested to the engineering problem of predicting the growth rates of bridged cracks without explicit recourse to micromechanics. Instead, it is shown that the material properties required to analyze bridging effects can be deduced directly from crack growth data. Some experiments are proposed to test the validity of the proposals.« less
Reduced Physical Fitness in Patients With Heart Failure as a Possible Risk Factor for Impaired Driving Performance.

OBJECTIVE: Reduced physical fitness secondary to heart failure (HF) may contribute to poor driving; reduced physical fitness is a known correlate of cognitive impairment and has been associated with decreased independence in driving. No study has examined the associations among physical fitness, cognition, and driving performance in people with HF. METHOD: Eighteen people with HF completed a physical fitness assessment, a cognitive test battery, and a validated driving simulator scenario. RESULTS: Partial correlations showed that poorer physical fitness was correlated with more collisions and stop signs missed and lower scores on a composite score of attention, executive function, and psychomotor speed. Cognitive dysfunction predicted reduced driving simulation performance. CONCLUSION: Reduced physical fitness in participants with HF was associated with worse simulated driving, possibly because of cognitive dysfunction. Larger studies using on-road testing are needed to confirm our findings and identify clinical interventions to maximize safe driving. Language: en
Do bites of kissing bugs cause unexplained allergies? Results from a survey in triatomine-exposed and unexposed areas in southern california.

Background The bite of Triatominae can cause cutaneous allergic reactions and even anaphylaxis. Since the early 1980s, no population-based surveys have been done in Southern California, and none was ever carried out in inland Los Angeles or Riverside Counties. Objectives To measure the frequency of insect sightings, bites and allergic reactions in a suburban area of eastern Los Angeles County and along with rural and urban sites in Riverside County. Methods A door-to-door survey was done in triatomine exposed and unexposed areas. Logistic regression modeling was used for the analysis, and study participants were asked to collect insects. Results Out of the 221 study participants in the exposed areas, 46 (20%) knew about the presence of Triatominae in their neighborhood. Fifteen (7%) persons reported triatomine sightings in their house during the month preceding the interview. Also, 15 (7%) participants reported ever being bitten by a triatomine. Ten (5%) participants collected either a Triatoma protracta Uhler and/or Paratriatoma hirsuta Barber in and around their house. Twenty-nine (13%) persons in the rural Riverside County reported symptoms compatible with allergy to triatomine bites. This was 4 times higher than in the urban control area where only 4 (3%) of 115 persons reported these symptoms. The association between living in a triatomine-exposed area and self-reported symptoms suggestive of allergies increased slightly when adjusted for the participant’s sex and the age of their house (adjusted odds ratio: 5.1, 95% confidence interval: 1.2 to 22.0). Reporting these symptoms was associated with seeing Triatominae in the neighborhood and having been bitten. Conclusion Allergies to triatomine bites could be a significant problem in inland Southern California. Further investigations, a diagnostic test and better information of persons living in triatomine-exposed areas are needed.
Prisoners' rights to recreation: Quantity, quality, and other aspects

Abstract Courts in the United States have come to recognize the need for recreation and, as a result, have made numerous rulings that guarantee prisoners are afforded some minimal amount of time in recreational activities. Court decisions also have dealt with the quality of recreation and the extent to which prison officials may restrict what activities are conducted. Outdoor recreation, the social aspects of recreation, and the health status of prisoners as it relates to recreation are important matters on which courts have ruled. Prison officials often are constrained by limited resources in providing the facilities and staff necessary for recreational programs. Although courts have ruled in numerous instances on the rights of prisoners to have access to recreation, a coherent and comprehensive policy in this area has yet to emerge.
Cross-linguistic evidence for morphological representation in the mental lexicon.

Three types of naturally occurring data address the question of morphological structure in the lexical entry: code-switching, novel forms, and speech errors. The data were collected from a wide variety of languages, including Austro-Polynesian, Semitic, and Altaic languages, and a heretofore untapped set of affixation types, including infixes, circumfixes, multiple affixes, reduplication, and nonconcatenative morphology. The data are used to argue for a dual-listing model of lexical representation (e.g., Pinker, 1991; Frauenfelder & Schreuder, 1992) over full-listing (e.g., Butterworth, 1983) and fully parsed (e.g., Taft & Forster, 1975) models. The paper posits three morphological parameters which are activated language-specifically.
Toward a theory of Iranian urban moieties: the Haydariyyah and Nicmatiyyah revisited

(1999). Toward a theory of Iranian urban moieties: the Haydariyyah and Nicmatiyyah revisited. Iranian Studies: Vol. 32, No. 1, pp. 51-70.
Basic Biological Sciences Dispersed Rat Parotid Cells: Role of Calcium and cAMP in the Regulation of Amylase Secretion

The inter-relationship between cellular calcium and cAMP in the regulation of amylase secretion in dispersed rat parotid cells was evaluated. α-adrenergic stimulation augmented β-adrenergic receptor-mediated amylase release. Cellular calcium depletion was unable to completely block amylase secretion.
A Model-Based Fault Accommodation System

Fault accommodation, the task of using the results from fault diagnosis to accommodate faults, is often performed by an operator through table-look-up strategies, which are often incomplete, time-consuming, and prone to errors. In this paper, we proposed an analytical model-based control redesign for fault accommodation. The whole fault accommodation system includes a dynamic process model, fault detection and isolation, fault identification and state estimation, and a dynamic optimization module for control redesign. One of the advantages of this method lies in its ability to simultaneously achieve economic optimality and operation safety because of its capability to handle both hard equipment constraints and operational constraints. Strategies for accommodating various types of abnormal situations are proposed. The details of each module are discussed, followed by a case study in which the methodology is applied to the Amoco model IV fluid catalytic cracking unit.
Efficient viewpoint assignment for urban texture documentation

We envision participatory texture documentation (PTD) as a process in which a group of users (dedicated individuals and/or general public) with camera-equipped mobile phones participate in collaborative collection of urban texture information. PTD enables inexpensive, scalable and high resolution urban texture documentation. We have proposed to implement PTD in two steps [10]. At the first step, termed viewpoint selection, a minimum number of points in the urban environment are selected from which the texture of the entire urban environment (the part visible to cameras) can be collected/captured. At the second step, called viewpoint assignment, the selected viewpoints are assigned to the participating users such that given a limited number of users with various constraints (e.g., restricted available time) users can collectively capture the maximum amount of texture information within a limited time interval. In this paper, we focus on the viewpoint assignment problem. We first prove that this problem is an NP-hard problem, and therefore, the optimal solution for viewpoint assignment fails to scale as the extent of the urban environment and the number of participating users grow. Subsequently, we propose a family of heuristics for efficient viewpoint assignment to reduce the assignment running time while ensuring an almost complete texture collection. We study, profile and verify our proposed solutions comparatively by both rigorous analysis and extensive experiments.
Noncommutative corrections to the Robertson-Walker metric

Upon applying Chamseddine's noncommutative deformation of gravity, we obtain the leading order noncommutative corrections to the Robertson-Walker metric tensor. We get an isotropic inhomogeneous metric tensor for a certain choice of the noncommutativity parameters. Moreover, the singularity of the commutative metric at t=0 is replaced by a more involved space-time structure in the noncommutative theory. In a toy model we construct a scenario where there is no singularity at t=0 at leading order in the noncommutativity parameter. Although singularities may still be present for nonzero t, they need not be the source of all timelike geodesics and the result resembles a bouncing cosmology.
Linking Mind and Brain in the Study of Mental Illnesses: A Project for a Scientific Psychopathology

Brain research on mental illnesses has made substantial advances in recent years, supported by conceptual and technological developments in cognitive neuroscience. Brain-based cognitive models of illnesses such as schizophrenia and depression have been tested with a variety of techniques, including the lesion method, tract tracing, neuroimaging, animal modeling, single-cell recording, electrophysiology, neuropsychology, and experimental cognitive psychology. A relatively sophisticated picture is emerging that conceptualizes mental illnesses as disorders of mind arising in the brain. Convergent data using multiple neuroscience techniques indicate that the neural mechanisms of mental illnesses can be understood as dysfunctions in specific neural circuits and that their functions and dysfunctions can be influenced or altered by a variety of cognitive and pharmacological factors.
A Comparison of Acutely Isolated Human Ventricular Myocytes with Stem Cell Derived Cardiocytes

Recent studies have characterized cardiac ionic currents in cardiocytes derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells. However, direct comparison with human ventricular myocytes is hampered by differences in experimental conditions. Similarly, stem cell derived cardiocytes are different and potentially more variable than native myocytes. We examined commercially prepared cells (iCells) and scale production cells (hIPS-CMs) using electronic expression of IK1 to distinguish ventricular cells, compared with myocytes (VM) from biopsy samples.APs were recorded in VM, iCells and hiPSC-CMs. iCells and hiPSC-CMs had depolarized membrane potentials, slower upstroke velocities, and prolonged AP relative to VM. These differences were minimized by electronic expression of IK1. Capacitances were larger in VM (298.97 ± 27.5 pF (4 hearts, n=44)) than in iCells (73.21 ± 5.4 (n=32), p<0.05) and hIPS-CMs (64.25 ± 4.94 (n=75), p<0.05). At −120 mV, a large IK1 was observed in VM (−14.3 ± 1.36 pA/pF (4 hearts, n=44)); IK1 was much smaller in iCells (−1.73 ± 0.92 (n=19), p<0.01) and hIPS-CMs (−2.54 ± 0.49 (n=29), p<0.01). VM had larger peak outward (Ito) currents at +50 mV (6.2 ±- 0.7 pA/pF (n=44, four hearts)) than iCells (2.6 ± 0.2 (n=19, p<0.01)) and hIPS-CMs (2.9 ± 0.3 (n=29, p<0.01)) but all had similar variability relative to current density. Large sodium currents were recorded at 0 mV in VM (−23.7 +/− 3.4 pA/pF (4 hearts, 32 myocytes)) as well as in iCells (−26.1 +/− 3.2 (n=14)) and in hiPSC-CMs (−17.0 +/− 4.1 (n=16)) with high degrees of variability for all cell types. In conclusion, there are functional differences between VM and stem cell derived cell types, but minimal differences between stem cell derived cardiocytes based on source. Similarly, cell to cell variability was similar regardless of source.
Proton therapy for exudative age-related macular degeneration: a randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial.

Abstract Purpose To examine the effect of proton beam irradiation on subfoveal choroidal neovascular membranes (CNVM) associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Design Randomized, prospective, sham-controlled, double-masked treatment trial. Methods Thirty-seven subjects with subfoveal CNVM due to AMD were randomly assigned to 16-Gy proton irradiation delivered in two fractions 24 hours apart or to sham control treatment. Recruitment was halted at 37 subjects for ethical reasons regarding randomization to sham treatment when Food and Drug Administration approval of Visudyne was anticipated. Results Proton irradiation was associated with a trend toward stabilization of visual acuity, but this association did not reach statistical significance. No correlations were found within the fluorescein angiography data, including greatest linear dimension of CNVM total size, area of active leakage, area of associated subretinal hemorrhage, and intensity. Conclusions With the acceptance of photodynamic therapy, future studies will require more complex design and larger sample size to determine whether radiation can play either a primary or adjunctive role in treating these lesions.
Model Complexes of Cobalt-Substituted Matrix Metalloproteinases: Tools for Inhibitor Design

The tetrahedral cobalt(II) complex [(TpPh,Me)CoCl] (TpPh,Me = hydrotris(3,5-phenylmethylpyrazolyl)borate) was combined with several hydroxypyridinone, hydroxypyridinethione, pyrone, and thiopyrone ligands to form the corresponding [(TpPh,Me)Co(L)] complexes. X-ray crystal structures of these complexes were obtained to determine the mode of binding for each ligand L. The structures show that the [(TpPh,Me)Co(L)] complexes are pentacoordinate complexes, with a general tendency toward square pyramidal geometry. The electronic, EPR, and paramagnetic NMR spectroscopy of the [(TpPh,Me)Co(L)] complexes have been examined. The frozen-solution EPR spectra are indicative of pentacoordination in frozen solution, while the NMR indicates some dynamics in ligand binding. The findings presented here suggest that [(TpPh,Me)Co(L)] complexes can be used as spectroscopic references for investigating the mode of inhibitor binding in metalloproteinases of medicinal interest. Potential limitations when using cobalt(II) model c...
Local stationarity and time-frequency distributions

We use time-frequency distributions to define local stationarity of a random process. We argue that local stationarity is achieved when the Wigner spectrum is approximately factorable. We show that when that is the case the autocorrelation function is the one considered by Silverman in 1957. Other time-frequency representations are also considered.
Retrograde perfusion with a sodium channel antagonist provides ischemic spinal cord protection.

Abstract Background. Neuronal voltage-dependent sodium channel antagonists have been shown to provide neuroprotection in focal and global cerebral ischemic models. We hypothesized that retrograde spinal cord venous perfusion with phenytoin, a neuronal voltage-dependent sodium channel antagonist, would provide protection during prolonged spinal cord ischemia. Methods. In a rabbit model, spinal cord ischemia was induced for 45 minutes. Six groups of animals were studied. Controls (group I, n=8) received no intervention during aortic cross-clamping. Group II (n = 8) received systemic phenytoin (100 mg). Group III (n = 4) received systemic phenytoin (200 mg).Group IV (n = 8) received retrograde infusion of room temperature saline (22°C) only. Group V (n = 8) and group VI (n = 9) received retrograde infusion of 50 mg and 100 mg of phenytoin, respectively, (infusion rate: 0.8 mL · kg −1 · min −1 during the ischemic period). Mean arterial blood pressure was monitored continuously. Animals were allowed to recover for 24 hours before assessment of neurologic function using the Tarlov scale. Results. Tarlov scores (0 = complete paraplegia, 1=slight lower limb movement, 2=sits with assistance, 3=sits alone, 4=weak hop, 5=normal hop) were as follows (mean ± SEM): group I, 0.50 ± 0.50; group II, 0.25 ± 0.46; group IV, 1.63 ± 0.56; group V, 4.13 ± 0.23; and group VI, 4.22 ± 0.22 ( p Conclusions. Retrograde venous perfusion of the spinal cord with phenytoin, a voltage-sensitive sodium channel blocker, is safe and provides significant protection during prolonged spinal cord ischemia.
Lysine Trimethylation of Retinoic Acid Receptor-α A Novel Means To Regulate Receptor Function

Retinoic acid receptors (RARs) belong to the nuclear receptor superfamily. The mechanism of ligand-dependent activation of RARs is well known. The effect of protein phosphorylation on the activity of RARs has also been demonstrated. However, it is unclear whether other types of modifications exist and if so whether they can affect the activity of RARs. In a mass spectrometric analysis of mouse RARα expressed in insect cells, we identified a trimethylation site on Lys347 in the ligand binding domain. The modification site was verified in mammalian cells, and site-directed mutagenesis studies revealed the functionality of Lys347 methylation in vivo. Constitutive negative mutants, mimicking hypomethylated RARα, were prepared by replacing methylated Lys347 with either alanine or glutamine. A constitutive positive mutant partially mimicking the hypermethylated RARα was generated by replacing the methylated lysine residue with phenylalanine, a bulky hydrophobic amino acid, to introduce a site-specific hydrophobicity similar to that contributed by lysine methylation. Studies of these mutants revealed that trimethylation of Lys347 of RARα facilitated its interactions with cofactors p300/CREB-binding protein-associated factor and receptor-interacting protein 140 as well as its heterodimeric partner retinoid X receptor, suggesting that site-specific hydrophobicity at Lys347 enhanced molecular interaction of RARα with its modulators. This study uncovers the first example of lysine trimethylation on a mammalian non-histone protein that has an important biological consequence. Our finding also provides the evidence for lysine methylation for the family of nuclear receptors for the first time.
Changing perspectives on otitis media: Diagnosis, risk factors, management, and prevention

This review summarizes recent information on the diagnosis, epidemiology, management, and prevention of otitis media, focusing on practical implications for pediatric clinicians and researchers. New perspectives are offered on the following four clinically important aspects of otitis media: (1) use of tympanometry in diagnosis, (2) sociodemographic risk factors, (3) management, and (4) methods of prevention. The limited positive predictive value of tympanometry in infants and young children and the uncertain validity of research in which tympanometry alone is used for diagnosing middle-ear effusion are discussed. New evidence indicates that by far the most important sociodemographic risk factors for otitis media are low socioeconomic status and repeated exposure to large numbers of other children, whether at home or in a child care facility. The rising prevalence of multiplyresistant strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae , a phenomenon promoted by extensive antimicrobial usage, makes it advisable to curtail antimicrobial treatment to the extent possible without risking avoidable morbidity or avoidable tube placement. Concerning prevention, curtailing the use of antimicrobials for prophylaxis is recommended and alternative clinical approaches are reviewed.
The Environment of Poverty: Multiple Stressor Exposure, Psychophysiological Stress, and Socioemotional Adjustment

The one in five children growing up in poverty in America have elevated risk for socioemotional difficulties. One contributing factor to their elevated risk may be exposure to multiple physical and psychosocial stressors. This study demonstrated that 8- to 10-year-old, low-income, rural children (N = 287) confront a wider array of multiple physical (substandard housing, noise, crowding) and psychosocial (family turmoil, early childhood separation, community violence) stressors than do their middle-income counterparts. Prior research on self-reported distress among inner-city minority children is replicated and extended among low-income, rural White children with evidence of higher levels of self- and parent-reported psychological distress, greater difficulties in self-regulatory behavior (delayed gratification), and elevated psychophysiological stress (resting blood pressure, overnight neuroendocrine hormones). Preliminary mediational analyses with cross-sectional data suggest that cumulative stressor exposure may partially account for the well-documented, elevated risk of socioemotional difficulties accompanying poverty.
An evaluation of the effectiveness of azelaic acid as a depigmenting and chemotherapeutic agent.

In the past five years, it has been reported that certain dicarboxylic acids (C8-C13) and azelaic acid (C9) (AZA), in particular, have a remarkable effect in the management of lentigo maligna, human malignant melanoma, and certain disorders of hyperpigmentation. Preclinical trials, therefore, were undertaken in order to evaluate the effectiveness of AZA as a depigmenting agent and as a chemotherapeutic agent. Twenty-seven uniformly black pigmented guinea pigs were given topical applications of various concentrations (3, 5, 10, 15, and 20%) of AZA preparations for 8 weeks, and their effects on the melanocytes of epilated skin of the backs and the nonepilated ears of guinea pigs were compared to the effects of well-known depigmenting agents. Whereas 4- isopropylcatechol, monobenzylether of hydroquinone, monoethylether of hydroquinone, hydroquinone, and 4-hydroxyanisole were found to be selectively cytotoxic to melanocytes in black-skinned guinea pigs, AZA has little or no visually recognizable effect on melanocytes in these animals. The therapeutic effect of local s.c. injections of various concentrations of AZA preparations on the development of s.c. implanted B- 16 melanoma tumor was evaluated in 96 C57BL/6J mice. In addition, 31 BDF1 mice, implanted i.p. with B-16 melanoma tumor, were used to assess the effect of 100–1500 mg/kg concentrations of AZA administered i.p. In both studies, AZA revealed no significant tumoristatic or tumoricidal effect on the size, color, and growth of melanoma. The effect of AZA was also evaluated on S-91A (melanotic or pigmented) and S-91 B (amelanotic) human melanoma cells in culture. Low concentrations (10-5 and 10-3 M) of AZA had no inhibitory effect on the growth of these cells. Only at higher concentrations (> 10-3 M) was a cytotoxic effect on cell viability observed. These observations indicate AZA is not selectively cytotoxic to normal and proliferative melanocytes and has no apparent inhibitory effect on the formative process of melanin pigmentation.
Open charm and beauty at ultrarelativistic heavy ion colliders

Important goals of BNL RHIC and CERN LHC experiments with ion beams include the creation and study of new forms of matter, such as the quark gluon plasma. Heavy quark production and attenuation provide unique tomographic probes of that matter. We predict the suppression pattern of open charm and beauty in Au+Au collisions at RHIC and LHC energies based on the DGLV formalism of radiative energy loss. A cancellation between effects due to the sqrt[s] energy dependence of the high p(T) slope and heavy quark energy loss is predicted to lead to surprising similarity of heavy quark suppression at RHIC and LHC.
Key performance indicators: Primary drivers of information systems design

As the demand for enterprise‐wide performance measurement of corporate real estate portfolios and service providers ever increases, the number of tools available to executives which claim to facilitate this has also grown. Starting by developing an understanding of key business drivers, this paper reviews the latest developments in performance metrics including key performance indicators, service level agreements, and how the emergence of web‐based data collection, access and presentation is transforming the role of information systems in supporting decision‐making processes.
Increasing Retention Without Increasing Study Time

Because people forget much of what they learn, students could benefit from learning strategies that yield long-lasting knowledge. Yet surprisingly little is known about how long-term retention is most efficiently achieved.Hereweexaminehowretentionisaffectedbytwo variables: the duration of a study session and the temporal distribution of study time across multiple sessions. Our results suggest that a single session devoted to the study of some material should continue long enough to ensure that masteryisachievedbutthatimmediatefurtherstudyofthe same material is an inefficient use of time. Our data also showthatthebenefitofdistributingafixedamountofstudy
William A. Rutala Research Award; Blue Ribbon Abstract Award: A Novel Method for Evaluating the Effectiveness of Environmental Cleaning/Disinfection in Healthcare Facilities

Abstract BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Although the use of environmental disinfectants in conjunction with appropriate housekeeping practices have become a cornerstone of patient care, assessment of actual compliance with such procedures has not been reported. Using a novel methodology, we developed a means to directly monitor such activities. METHODS: A nontoxic target solution which intensely fluoresces under a hand-held black light was formulated to be environmentally stable yet readily removed by housekeeping products. Small volumes of material were confidentially applied to target sites in patient care rooms following terminal cleaning. Marked rooms were subsequently evaluated following terminal cleaning after between one and three patients had occupied the room. A target site was considered “cleaned” if the target material was removed or substantially disturbed. RESULTS: Forty-four rooms and 339 targets were evaluated during two study periods, separated by 3 months. Although 40% of all targets were cleaned, a wide difference was observed between cleaning of toilet surfaces (92%), sinks (91%), toilet flush handles (85%), and tray tables (81%), compared to telephones (18%), bedpan cleaners (13%), call boxes (12%), doorknobs (4.7%), and toilet handholds (0%) (p CONCLUSIONS: The use of a novel target compound to evaluate housekeeping and environmental management practices revealed high rates of cleaning of traditional sites but poor cleaning of many sites that have significant potential for harboring and transmitting microbial pathogens. The methodology has the potential for being used to objectively evaluate cleaning /disinfecting activities in hospitals.
Elongation of surface plasmon polariton propagation length without gain.

We have demonstrated that an addition of highly concentrated rhodamine 6G chloride dye to the PMMA film adjacent to a silver film can cause 30% elongation of the propagation length of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs). The possibility to elongate the SPP propagation length without optical gain opens a new technological dimension to low-loss nanoplasmonic and metamaterials.
Microbial reduction of iron(III)-rich nontronite and uranium(VI)

Abstract To assess the dynamics of microbially mediated U-clay redox reactions, we examined the reduction of iron(III)-rich nontronite NAu-2 and uranium(VI) by Shewanella oneidensis MR-1. Bioreduction experiments were conducted with combinations and varied concentrations of MR-1, nontronite, U(VI) and the electron shuttle anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate (AQDS). Abiotic experiments were conducted to quantify U(VI) sorption to NAu-2, the reduction of U(VI) by chemically-reduced nontronite-Fe(II), and the oxidation of uraninite, U(IV)O2(s), by nontronite-Fe(III). When we incubated S. oneidensis MR-1 at lower concentration (0.5 × 108 cell mL−1) with nontronite (5.0 g L−1) and U(VI) (1.0 mM), little U(VI) reduction occurred compared to nontronite-free incubations, despite the production of abundant Fe(II). The addition of AQDS to U(VI)- and nontronite-containing incubations enhanced both U(VI) and nontronite-Fe(III) reduction. While U(VI) was completely reduced by S. oneidensis MR-1 at higher concentration (1.0 × 108 cell mL−1) in the presence of nontronite, increasing concentrations of nontronite led to progressively slower rates of U(VI) reduction. U(VI) enhanced nontronite-Fe(III) reduction and uraninite was oxidized by nontronite-Fe(III), demonstrating that U served as an effective electron shuttle from S. oneidensis MR-1 to nontronite-Fe(III). The electron-shuttling activity of U can explain the lack or delay of U(VI) reduction observed in the bulk solution. Little U(VI) reduction was observed in incubations that contained chemically-reduced nontronite-Fe(II), suggesting that biologic U(VI) reduction drove U valence cycling in these systems. Under the conditions used in these experiments, we demonstrate that iron-rich smectite may inhibit or delay U(VI) bioreduction.
Physical activity level and future risk of mild cognitive impairment or dementia a critically appraised topic

Background The relationships between physical activity, cognition, and development of neurodegenerative diseases represent an area of intense research interest. Meta-analyses and prospective cohort studies show that greater levels of physical activity are associated with lower dementia risk. Most studies, however, depend on self-report data that are subject to recall and other biases. Obtaining objective and quantitative physical activity data could strengthen observational study validity. Objective To examine the association between objectively measured daytime activity and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer disease (AD). Methods The objective was addressed through the development of a structured, critically appraised topic. We incorporated a clinical scenario, background information, a structured question, literature search strategy, critical appraisal, results, evidence summary, commentary, and bottom line conclusions. Participants included consultant and resident neurologists, clinical epidemiologists, a medical librarian, and behavioral neurology and neuropsychiatry content experts. Results We selected a prospective, single-center cohort study of 716 cognitively normal elderly participants followed for 3.5 years. Greater levels of physical activity, as measured using wrist actigraphy, were associated with a lower risk of incident MCI or AD (hazard ratio, 0.477; 95% confidence interval, 0.273-0.832). Conclusions Objective measurement confirms that greater levels of physical activity are associated with decreased risk of a future diagnosis of MCI or AD. Further studies are needed to confirm the temporal association of exercise and future cognitive health and understand the relevant underlying biological mechanisms.
Picosecond dynamics of degenerate orthoexcitons in Cu2O.

Previous time-resolved luminescence studies of orthoexcitons in ${\mathrm{Cu}}_{2}$O have shown a ``quantum saturation'' behavior. Basically, it was found that for 10-ns laser pulses, which are comparable to the exciton lifetime, the exciton-gas temperature rises along the phase boundary for Bose-Einstein condensation as the density is increased. The microscopic processes that lead to such an unusual effect remained unresolved. To isolate the various kinetic processes, we have now conducted a study using 100-ps pulses, which are short compared with the orthoexciton lifetime. Combined with an increased time resolution, this short-pulse excitation has allowed us to observe some of the intrinsic rates of thermalization and decay of the orthoexcitons. At low-to-intermediate excitation levels, the decay of the gas temperature is found to agree with a model of acoustic-phonon emission, and the deduced exciton-phonon coupling is in basic agreement with that obtained from diffusion experiments. Another principal result is that the decay time of the gas temperature is significantly increased with increasing degeneracy, i.e., at high excitation level. After the short excitation pulse the orthoexcitons follow the Bose-Einstein phase boundary in density and temperature in a way similar to their behavior during the ``steady-state'' conditions of the long-pulse excitation. We conclude that the temperature rise is not simply due to insufficient thermalization caused by a shortening of the exciton lifetime; at high density there must be a heating mechanism such as Auger recombination.
Examining Differences in Attitudes About Sexual Victimization Among a Sample of Jail Officers The Importance of Officer Gender and Perceived Inmate Characteristics

The current study examined attitudes about inmate-on-inmate sexual assault among a sample of correctional officers. The study uniquely surveyed a jail sample of correctional officers, a context tha...
Efficacy of Speech Therapy with Educable Mentally Retarded Children

A two-phase study was conducted to evaluate the articulatory abilities of 777 educable mentally retarded children between the ages of 6 to 16 years in a public school setting. In Phase I, an analys...
Laser Capture Microdissection-Microarray Analysis of Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis Glomeruli

Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a major cause of end-stage renal disease. In this report we used laser capture microdissection to purify diseased glomeruli, and microarrays to provide uni
Ab initio study of the photocurrent at the Au/Si metal–semiconductor nanointerface

Photo-induced charge transfer at the interface of two materials is a fundamental process in photovoltaic applications. In this study, we have considered a model of a simplified photovoltaic cell composed of a Si nanocrystal co-doped with Al and P, interfacing with Au electrodes. The photo-induced time-dependent electric currents were computed from a combination of ab initio electronic structure and time-dependent density matrix methodology, and using the continuity equation for electronic currents. A dissipative equation of motion for the reduced density matrix for electronic degrees of freedom is used to study the phonon-induced relaxation of hot electrons in the simulated system. Equations are solved in a basis set of orbitals generated ab initio from a density functional. Non-adiabatic couplings between electronic orbitals are computed on-the-fly along nuclear trajectories. Charge carrier dynamics induced by selected photoexcitations show that hole relaxation in energy and in space is much faster than ...
A simplification of the theory of simplicity

Nelson Goodman has constructed two theories of simplicity: one of predicates; one of hypotheses. I offer a simpler theory by generalization and abstraction from his. Generalization comes by dropping special conditions Goodman imposes on which unexcluded extensions count as complicating and which excluded extensions count as simplifying. Abstraction is achieved by counting only nonisomorphic models and subinterpretations. The new theory takes into account all the hypotheses of a theory in assessing its complexity, whether they were projected prior to, or result from, projection of a given hypothesis. It assigns simplicity post-projection priority over simplicity pre-projection. It better orders compound conditionals than does the theory of simplicity of hypotheses, and it does not inherit an anomaly of the theory of simplicity of predicates — its failure to order the ordering relations. Drop Goodman's special conditions, and the problems fall away with them.
Elastic Waves In Complex Radially Symmetric Media

The generalized reflection and transmission coefficient method with modal expansion is developed to calculate the elastic wave field for the acoustic logging simulation and the crosswell seismic simulation in complex radially symmetric media. Our model consists of an arbitrary number of cylindrical layers and each cylindrical layer has arbitrary layers in the z-direction. This model can be used to simulate a variety of borehole geophysics problems: borehole casing with perforations, faults, source array, open and cased boreholes embedded in layered media, The simulation based on this method gives direct waves, reflections, transmissions, tube waves, tube wave conversions generated at casing perforations and horizontal interfaces, and the radiation pattern for a complicated borehole-formation structure. A general configuration of the problem considered in this study is shown in Figure 1, where the formation consists of several vertically heterogeneous cylinders, the source is located inside the borehole, while receivers are located either inside or outside the borehole. Although this model looks complicated, it still exhibits nice axial symmetric property. Taking the advantage of this symmetry we can derive a set of formulas to simulate the elastic wave propagation in this complex boreholeformation model. Since the model is radially symmetric, i.e., independent of in cylindrical coordinates, we can write the displacement for the jth cylindrical layer as
Semiporous Reinforcing Fillers for Composite, Resins: II. Heat Treatments and Etching Characteristics

Candidate experimental semiporous reinforcing filler particles were prepared by heat treatment of certain glass compositions, followed by crushing and etching. Optical microscopic techniques were aided by the use of certain dyes and staining procedures to manifest submicroscopic interconnected porosity in the surface of the particles. The goal of this endeavor was to develop semiporous glass reinforcing fillers for the improvement of dental composite materials.
A comparison of indigenous soil factors influencing the Fe‐deficiency chlorosis of sorghum and soybean in calcareous soils

Abstract The factors influencing Fe‐deficiency chlorosis in plants may be subdivided into the following general categories: indigenous soil, environmental, nutritional and microbial. Indigenous soil factors include those soil properties over which we have little or no control such as clay mineralogy, CaCO3 reactivity, Fe‐oxide content and reactivity, organic matter content, and exchange ion composition. The objective of this paper is to compare results of previous studies of sorghum (Loeppert and Hallmark, 1985) and soybean (Morris et al., 1987) with regard to the indigenous soil properties that play the dominant roles in influencing Fe chlorosis. Fe‐inefficient cultivars of sorghum and soybean were each grown in sand/soil mixtures of 24 calcareous soils which were selected to obtain ranges of CaCO3, Fe oxide, clay and organic matter contents. The soil Fe oxide played a dominant role in influencing the availability of Fe, with both sorghum and soybean, and the amorphous Fe‐oxide content was negatively cor...
Direct experimental determination of onset of electron–electron interactions in gap opening of zigzag graphene nanoribbons

It has been predicted that nanoribbon width can be used as a parameter for changing bandgap in zig-zag edged graphene nanoribbons. The authors provide an experimental demonstration of this here, observing that nanoribbons with a width less than 3 nm display larger band gaps than in wider nanoribbons.
OBSERVATIONAL CONSTRAINTS ON THE ROLE OF CYCLOTRON DAMPING AND KINETIC ALFVÉN WAVES IN THE SOLAR WIND

Certain few intervals with high-β plasma (ratio of gas pressure to magnetic pressure) have been interpreted as containing turbulent fluctuations with wave vectors that are confined to very oblique angles with respect to the mean magnetic field. The fluctuations are theorized to be Kinetic Alfven Waves (KAWs) engaged in an energy cascade that dissipates primarily at electron scales. Dissipation by ions, and by cyclotron damping in particular, is argued to be minimal to non-existent. This interpretation is not supported, generally, by the analysis of larger data sets using other data analysis methods. These prior studies, however, were not conducted for specific β ranges. In this study, we reconsider the analysis for a moderately large set of high-β intervals. The analysis includes magnetic variance, the Bieber ratio test, the cross-helicity versus magnetic helicity correlation, and the implied break frequency versus angle relationship. In our analysis, the results do not support the exclusive KAW interpretation as applied generally to solar wind intervals of high-β while the results do support the presence of cyclotron damping at a significant level.
Inverses of nonnegative matrices

Let λ be any subset of {1,2, 3, 4} containing 1 and consider the matrix equations (1) and AXA=A, (2) XAX=X, (3) AX=(AX) T (4) XA=(XA) T where A is an m×n real matrix. By a λ-inverse of A is meant a solution of the equations (i)ieλ. A result on binary relations is given and is used to obtain a characterization of all nonnegative matrices A having a nonnegative λ-inverse, for all possible λ.