cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multiscale Modeling of Patient Movement to Determine Effects of Surveillance on Healthcare-Associated Infections

Background: The transmission of pathogenic organisms in healthcare settings is a major cause of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). In recent years, infections with carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) have become a significant public health threat, in part because many patients are arriving at the hospital already colonized, and colonization is a major risk factor for infection. Reducing transmission requires understanding how patient movement drives the spread of CRE; however, analysis of this issue has mostly been modeled at a hospital-level without much consideration for the population dynamics that occur outside of the hospital setting and how patients move between healthcare settings. Patients move between hospitals, other healthcare settings, such as long-term care facilities (LTCFs), and the community, all of which pose different colonization risks. Thus, studying each environment in isolation fails to realistically address the consequences of large-scale policy interventions. One such intervention is a statewide electronic registry to track patients who are known to be colonized or have had a CRE infection. Understanding the potential for reducing CRE morbidity and mortality requires consideration of small- and large-scale effects on patients’ movement and transmission. Methods: We developed a multiscale, metapopulation model for hospitals, communities, and LTCFs in the state of Maryland. In our computational simulation, we included a regional- as well as a local-scale model that were informed by the patient-mix data from the Maryland Health Service Cost Review Commission. We examined the impact of implementing a registry compared to less coordinated scenarios. Results: The most effective policy was the implementation of an electronic registry which resulted in 9.6% median reduction in CRE HAIs in Maryland for simulated outcomes (Fig. 1). Other interventions included colonization screening at various or all hospitals and using a predictive algorithm to determine at-risk patients that need to be screened. These interventions only resulted in ~1%–3% reductions in HAIs. We also observed that coupling other interventions with an electronic registry does not aid in reducing more HAIs. Funding: None Disclosures: None Boxplot of simulated outcomes of all scenarios compared to the baseline scenario. The scenarios include (1) complete screening with no electronic registry, (2) selective screening with no electronic registry, (3) predictive screening with no electronic registry, (4) baseline with an electronic registry, (5) complete screening with an electronic registry, (6) selective screening with an electronic registry, and (7) predictive screening with an electronic registry. Scenarios 5-7 include the same interventions as 1–3 coupled with an electronic registry.
Copper-Free Click Enabled Triazabutadiene for Bioorthogonal Protein Functionalization

Aryl diazonium ions have long been used in bioconjugation due to their reactivity toward electron-rich aryl residues, such as tyrosine. However, their utility in biological systems has been restric...
An examination between treatment type and treatment retention in persons with opioid and co-occurring alcohol use disorders.

Abstract Background and Aims Persons with opioid use disorder (OUD) and co-occurring alcohol use disorder (AUD) are understudied. We identified whether co-occurring AUD was associated with OUD treatment type, compared associations between treatment type and six-month treatment retention and determined whether co-occurring AUD moderated these relationships. Methods We used an observational cohort study design to analyze insurance claims data from 2011 to 2016 from persons aged 12–64 with an opioid abuse or opioid dependence diagnosis and OUD treatment claim. Our unit of analysis was the treatment episode; we used logistic regression for analyses. Results Of 211,047 treatment episodes analyzed, 14 % had co-occurring alcohol abuse or dependence diagnoses. Among persons with opioid dependence, persons with co-occurring alcohol dependence were 25 % less likely to receive medication treatment relative to those without AUD. Further, alcohol dependence was associated with decreased likelihood of treatment with buprenorphine (AOR 0.47, 95 % CI 0.44−0.49) or methadone (AOR 0.31, 95 % CI 0.28−0.35) and increased likelihood of treatment with extended-release (AOR 1.36, 95 % CI 1.21–1.54) or oral (AOR 1.73, 95 % CI 1.57–1.90) naltrexone relative to psychosocial treatment. Buprenorphine and methadone were associated with highest retention prevalence regardless of OUD or AUD severity. Co-occurring alcohol abuse or dependence did not meaningfully change retention prevalence associated with buprenorphine or methadone. Co-occurring AUD was not associated with improved retention among persons receiving either formulation of naltrexone. Conclusions Buprenorphine and methadone are associated with relatively high likelihood of treatment retention among persons opioid and alcohol dependence, but are disproportionately under-prescribed.
Using a Person-Centered Approach to Identify Patterns of Exposure to Intimate Partner Violence and Child Abuse in Women: Associations With Mental Health.

Patterns of exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) and child abuse (CA) were explored in 467 women seeking psychological assistance following IPV. Using latent class analysis, three classes we...
Intravenous administration of three multiwalled carbon nanotubes to female rats and their effect on urinary biochemical profile

This study was conducted to investigate the influence of outer diameter (OD) and length (L) of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on biodistribution and the perturbation of endogenous metabolite profiles. Three different-sized carboxylated MWCNTs (NIEHS-12-2: L 0.5-2 μm, OD 10-20 nm, NIEHS-13-2: L 0.5-2 μm, OD 30-50 nm, and NIEHS-14-2: L 10-30 μm, OD 10-20 nm) in water were administered to female Sprague-Dawley rats as a single intravenous dose of 1 mg/kg MWCNTs. Biodistribution in liver, lung, spleen, and lymph nodes was evaluated in tissue sections at 1 and 7 days' post-dosing using enhanced darkfield microscopy and hyperspectral imaging. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis was used for biochemical profiling and pathway mapping of endogenous metabolites in urine collected at 24-h intervals prior to dosing, at Day 1 and Day 7. At Day 1 and Day 7, all three MWCNTs were observed in liver. NIEHS-12-2 was observed in spleen, whereas NIEHS-13-2 and NIEHS-14-2 were not. All three MWCNTs were observed in lymph nodes and lung at Day 7. The urinary biochemical profile showed the highest positive fold change (FC) at Day 7 for the metabolites acetate, alanine, and lactate, whereas 1-methylnicotinamide, 2-oxoglutarate, and hippurate had some of the lowest FCs for all three MWCNTs. This study demonstrates that the observed tissue location of MWCNTs is size dependent. Overlaps in the perturbation of endogenous metabolite profiles were found regardless of their size, and the biochemical responses were more profound at Day 7 compared with Day 1, indicating a delayed biological response to MWCNTs.
Indian Brand of Crony Capitalism

One of the most serious issues that Indian businesses and economy confront today is that of ubiquitous corruption and cronyism. The cancer (or diabetes) of corruption/cronyism is debilitating the Indian society by unleashing a state of lawlessness. While corruption/cronyism has engrossed the entire society, scholarship on the topic remains conspicuous by its absence. Because of the lack of any systematic research and analysis, the understanding and discussion of the complex and dynamic phenomenon of cronyism/corruption has remained quite superficial, which is not helpful in devising effective remedies of the problem. In this paper, I attempt to fill this gap by discussing the “nuts and bolts” of the problem, which consist of Indian political culture based on sycophancy and loyalty, Indian economic philosophy that has relied upon a unique hybrid model of socialism and capitalism, deep-seated Indian social/cultural values that emphasize ascription over achievement and emotionality over rationality, elite and out of touch Indian civil services with unfettered power, and the dominance of Indian economy by few family oligarchs resulting in one of the most skewed income distributions in the world.
Chaotic Linear System Solvers in a Variable-Grain Data-Driven Multiprocessor System

Linear systems are important problems in many scientific applications. While asynchronous methods are effective solutions to linear systems, they are difficult to realize due to the chaotic behavior of the algorithms. In this paper, we investigate the implementation as well as the performance of an asynchronous method, namely chaotic relaxation, in our Variable-grain Tagged-Token Data-flow (VTD) System. We compare asynchronous methods with synchronous methods executed on both the fine-grain and the coarse-grain execution models. New high-level data-flow language constructs are introduced in order to express asynchronous operations. A new firing rule that deviates from the single assignment rule of functional languages is proposed to support the implementation of asynchronous computations in the VTD system. In addition to the conventional speedup measure, we then define new performance measurements, called Growth Factor, Scalability Factor, and Robustness to characterize the system performance from the machine and application viewpoints. Simulation results indicate that asynchronous methods are more efficient than synchronous methods and that the coarse-grain execution mode is more efficient that the fine-grain execution mode in our VTD system.
The Enlightened Economy: An Economic History of Britain, 1700–1850 – By Joel Mokyr

Between 1700 and 1850, Britain's economy underwent dramatic, sustained change, and the island nation emerged as Europe's most industrialized country. On this much all can agree, but beyond that bar...
Strategic Planning for the Factory of the Future

The era of merger and acquisitions that retarded the rate of growth in manufacturing should come to a close. Some slow growing producers with adequate capital or capability to organize a takeover have been able to acquire profitable manufacturing companies making their own growth hostage to the growth of the new entity. This trade-off weakened the parent company giving the edge to competition and leaving the domestic producers vulnerable.
Paraneoplastic manifestations of cancer in horses

Summary Paraneoplastic manifestations of cancer, probably under-recognised in equine clinical practice, are often observed before the underlying primary disease is identified. This review provides a summary of paraneoplastic phenomena that have been reported in horses. The inclusion of paraneoplastic explanations in the differential diagnosis of common and challenging clinical problems should lead to earlier diagnosis and greater chance for successful therapeutic outcomes. In some cases, alterations in the clinical severity of paraneoplastic signs can be used as indicators of disease progression or response to treatment.
Cloud-based realtime robotic Visual SLAM

Prior work has shown that Visual SLAM (VSLAM) algorithms can successfully be used for realtime processing on local robots. As the data processing requirements increase, due to image size or robot velocity constraints, local processing may no longer be practical. Offloading the VSLAM processing to systems running in a cloud deployment of Robot Operating System (ROS) is proposed as a method for managing increasing processing constraints. The traditional bottleneck with VSLAM performing feature identification and matching across a large database. In this paper, we present a system and algorithms to reduce computational time and storage requirements for feature identification and matching components of VSLAM by offloading the processing to a cloud comprised of a cluster of compute nodes. We compare this new approach to our prior approach where only the local resources of the robot were used, and examine the increase in throughput made possible with this new processing architecture.
Irritable bowel syndrome in office-based practice in the United States.

Abstract United States estimates of the frequency of visits to physicians and patterns of medical care for the diagnosis of the irritable bowel syndrome were derived from the 1975, 1980–1981, and 1985 National Ambulatory Medical Care Surveys. These surveys of office-based physicians allow national estimates of various aspects of ambulatory care. The overall rate of visits with the diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome in 1980–1981 and 1985 were 10.6 per thousand U.S. population. Women had 2.4 times the rate of visits by men and rates rose in both sexes until middle-age. Irritable bowel syndrome was the leading digestive disease diagnosis among gastroenterologists but only the seventh leading diagnosis among all physicians. Gastrointestinal symptoms, association with mental disorders, prescriptions, and disposition were also examined in patients with visits for irritable bowel syndrome. Among records with digestive tract symptoms and a first listed diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome, stomach or abdominal pain was listed on only about one half of records and disorders of bowel function were listed on fewer than 40%. In 1975 and 1985, irritable bowel syndrome was noted approximately twice as often as other digestive diseases at visits with mental disorder symptoms and diagnoses, although mental disorder symptoms and diagnoses were noted at fewer than 15% of visits with irritable bowel syndrome. Medications were prescribed at approximately 75% of visits for irritable bowel syndrome; the most common were gastrointestinal medications followed by combination gastrointestinal-psychoactive medications. Subsequent appointments were scheduled following at least 50% of the visits of patients with irritable bowel syndrome.
Structure and kinematics along a segment of the Mojave-Sonora megashear: A strike-slip fault that truncates the Jurassic continental magmatic arc of southwestern North America

[1] Similarities between crystalline crust and overlying pre-Jurassic cover in northwestern Sonora, Mexico, and in the Inyo Mountains-Death Valley region, California, are attributed to left-lateral displacement along the Mojave-Sonora megashear, a Late Jurassic transform fault related to the opening of the Gulf of Mexico. Three exposures of mylonitic rocks extending 25 km along the postulated fault occur within Sierra de Los Tanques, Sonora, Mexico. The exposures 13 km southwest of Sonoita reveal a tripartite assemblage of (1) Jurassic volcanic and volcaniclastic strata to the northeast, (2) an axial zone of mylonitic rocks, and (3) masses of granitic rocks and compositionally banded quartzo-feldspathic gneiss of Proterozoic (?) and Late Triassic age to the southwest. Mylonitic foliation in rocks within the axial zone strikes northwesterly, and lineations plunge shallowly. Microstructues record left-lateral shear. Shallow thrusts, folded mylonite, and steeply dipping mylonitic foliation with downdip mineral lineation record transpression. Triassic and Precambrian crystalline rocks are emplaced above shallow thrusts onto ductilly deformed Jurassic rocks northeast of the principal fault. In the central and northwestern exposures, pervasively foliated and lineated rocks are cut by weakly foliated Cretaceous granite that also may contain inclusions of mylonite. The northwesterly strike of steep foliation, left-lateral kinematics, and relationships with Cretaceous intrusive rocks preclude correlation with episodes of Cretaceous contraction and Tertiary extension that are recognized in the southwestern United States. The fault is interpreted to have formed in the Late Jurassic and records a change in tectonic setting from arc magmatism to rifting and basin development.
Prostate cancer survival: is there a dietary connection?

Berkow et al.1 recently reported on the relationship between diet and survival rates following prostate cancer diagnosis, and they recommended that prostate cancer patients shift their diets toward plant foods as an important component of tertiary treatment. Given the current state of the science, I am concerned that this recommendation is premature and could be misinterpreted to suggest that intake of animal foods should be limited. Modifying one's overall diet to limit specific food groups may result in nutrient deficiencies, the effects of which could be exacerbated in patients with prostate cancer, since they require optimal nourishment to endure their taxing treatment regimen, which may include radiation and hormone therapy. The data cited by the authors do not support the broad statement that patients who adopt a plant-based diet after disease onset or unsuccessful treatment may experience a lower rate of progression compared to those who do not. A thorough literature review reveals there are a limited number of studies investigating the effects of various diets on prostate cancer progression. Further, major limitations exist in the studies …
Lexical choice and social class

Two groups of subjects varying in social class background were presented with a questionnaire designed to examine their language usage. It was hypothesized that upper-class subjects would, when giv...
The Nature and Management of Foreign Exchange Risk

Since the 1970s, exchange rate volatility has increased markedly and, with it, the levels of foreign exchange risk. In fact, fluctuations in financial variables such as exchange rates and interest rates have produced capital gains and losses so large as to swamp many companies’ operating results. In response, many financial managers have turned to hedging as well as to more active risk management strategies in the foreign exchange markets. In this article, I review the theoretical and practical issues involved, while citing actual market experience in 1973-1984. With this as background, I then go on to discuss forecasting techniques and risk management strategies.
Undercounted and Underpaid Heroines: The Path to Equal Opportunity in Employment during the Twentieth Century.

This article is a brief history of women's involvement in wage labor as they follow the rocky road toward equal opportunity throughout the twentieth century.
BIFUNCTIONAL CATALYSTS FOR THE SELECTIVE CATALYTIC REDUCTION OF NO BY HYDROCARBONS

Novel bifunctional catalysts combining two active phases, typically Cu-ZSM-5 and a modifier, were prepared and tested for the selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides using propylene in order to overcome the hindering effects of water typically seen for single-phase catalysts such as Cu-ZSM-5. The catalysts were made by typical preparation techniques, but parameters could be varied to influence the catalyst. The physical characterization of the materials showed that the modification phase was added strictly to the external surface of the zeolite without hindering any internal surface area. Chemical characterization by temperature programmed reactions, DRIFTS and x-ray absorption spectroscopy indicated strong interaction between the two phases, primarily producing materials that exhibited lower reduction temperatures. Two improvements in NOx reduction activity (1000 ppm NO, 1000 ppm C3H6, 2% O2, 30,000 hr-1 GHSV) were seen for these catalysts compared with Cu- ZSM-5: a lower temperature of maximum NOx conversion activity (as low at 250 C), and an enhancement of activity when water was present in the system. The use of a second phase provides a way to further tune the properties of the catalyst in order to achieve mechanistic conditions necessary to maximize NOx remediation.
An automated estimation of proline in hydrolyzates

Abstract An automated procedure (Technicon AutoAnalyzer) is described for the estimation of proline in the presence of other amino acids in protein hydrolyzates. The method is based on the well-known reaction of proline and ninhydrin at pH 1. The useful ranges of the method are 2 to 20 and 1 to 10 μg proline per milliliter. The method was used on hydrolyzates of several different plant proteins. Under the conditions of the method, other amino acids, hydrochloric acid, and citrate buffer did not interfere. The high sensitivity, speed, and accuracy make this a useful method.
Changes in Hearing-Aid Benefit Following 1 or 2 Years of Hearing-Aid Use by Older Adults

This study reports the results of a large number of hearing-aid benefit measures obtained from 134 elderly hearing-aid wearers during the first year of hearing-aid usage. Benefit measures were obta...
Resonant tunneling characteristics of a delta-doped strained-layer quantum-well switching device (δ-SQSD)

Abstract A new strained-layer quantum-well switching device has been fabricated. A p-type delta-doped (δ(p+))sheet located in the center of the InGaAs-GaAs quantum well induces two V-shaped wells in which a miniband is formed. By numerical simulation based on the transfer matrix method, the operation of the studied device is demonstrated. Owing to the resonant tunneling through the miniband, an N-shaped negative-differential-resistance (NDR) phenomenon is observed in the current-voltage (I–V) characteristics when a proper bias voltage is applied.
Thermal decomposition kinetics of strontium permanganate trihydrate, cadmium permanganate hexahydrate and calcium permanganate pentahydrate crystals

Abstract A thermogravimetric study of the kinetics of thermal nuclei formation and growth has been carried out for the dehydration and decomposition of single crystal strontium permanganate trihydrate, cadmium permanganate hexahydrate, and calcium permanganate pentahydrate. The isothermal dehydration of strontium permanganate trihydrate occurs in two stages between 50 and 100°C. The dehydration kinetics suggest that the two deydration stages are based on a single-step nucleation process followed by a growth process without nuclei overlap. The resulting activation energies are consistent with the proposed nucleation theory. For the dehydration kinetics of cadmium permanganate hexahydrate, on overlapping nucleation growth mechanisms appears to be operating between 30 and 60°C. The results are irreproducible for the dehydration of calcium permanganate pentahydrate at 100°C. The thermal decomposition studies indicate that the data of the sigmoidal, isothermal fractional decomposition vs. time curves are reproducible for whole and ground crystals of each dehydrated permanganate. All of the data plots contain an induction or slow rate period, an acceleratory and a decay period. The induction period can be shortened by irradiation with 60Co γ-rays prior to decomposition. Activation energies obtained for all three materials for the various thermal decomposition periods are found to be similar to those published previously on other alkali and alkaline-earth permanganates.
Calcitonin studies in the rhesus monkey

This study evaluates the utility of the rhesus monkey ( Macaca mulatta ) as a model for calcitonin (iCT) dynamics in humans. Two different anticalcitonin antisera were used, each having different region specificities for the hormone. Basal levels of iCT in both serum and urine were lower than those encountered in humans, whether measured with midportion (Ab-IIIb) or carboxyl terminal (Ab-IV) antisera. The totally thyroidectomized monkey continues to have detectable serum iCT while, in contrast to humans, urine iCT is undetectable by direct assay but measurable after concentration. Immunoperoxidase studies revealed a relatively larger concentration of C cells in the thyroid of the monkey, with, as in humans, a distribution in the central region along the median axis of the lateral lobes. Extraction of iCT from the thyroid gland demonstrated a higher concentration in the monkey than in humans. Many extrathyroidal tissues of the monkey contained iCT, which did not differ immunochemically from that in thyroid; this finding is also true of comparable human tissue. The very high concentration of iCT in liver decreased markedly after thyroidectomy, suggesting that hepatic iCT may be receptor-bound hormone of thyroid origin. Other extrathyroidal sources of iCT persisted after thyroidectomy in the monkey, with the highest concentrations being found in thymus and in lung. The demonstration of the presence of extrathyroidal iCT may have important implications for its function as a tumor marker and for its presumed role in calcium metabolism. These studies demonstrate that the rhesus monkey, regardless of some differences from man, is nonetheless a useful animal model for the investigation of the pathophysiology of calcitonin.
The relationship between price regulation and pharmaceutical profit margins

In the USA, prescription drug prices are largely unregulated. In most other countries, however, drug prices are regulated. This is typically accomplished directly through price controls (e.g. France and Italy), indirectly through limits on reimbursement under social insurance schemes (e.g. Germany and Japan), or indirectly through profit controls (e.g. the United Kingdom). Using current data on firm pre-tax pharmaceutical profit margins and the proportion of firm pharmaceutical sales subjected to price regulation (i.e., non-US pharmaceutical sales), it is demonstrated that price regulation may be exerting a substantially negative influence on pharmaceutical price-cost margins. The analysis finds that pharmaceutical price-cost margins in the USA are, on average, approximately four times higher than non-US pharmaceutical price-cost margins. While price regulation may not be the only factor responsible for this striking difference in price-cost margins, it is likely to be a prominent factor.
Anionic polymerization of optically active oxiranes. Analysis of carbon NMR spectra

The optically active epoxides (2S,3S)- and (2R,3S))-3,4-epoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-1,2-diols 1 and 2 were synthesized and anionically polymerized with potassium tert-butoxide as initiator. Soluble poly1's with low polydispersities (M w /M n = 1.2 - 1.3) and medium molecular weights (M n = 2000 - 5000) were obtained. Poly-2 was insoluble in common organic solvents but soluble in hot 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol. Mainchain peaks in the 13 C NMR spectrum of poly-1 were fully assigned using a combination of NMR pulse techniques. End-group peak assignments were made by controlling the type of initiation and by consideration of 13 C NMR spin-lattice relaxation times.
A NOVEL VALIDITY INDEX FOR THE SUBTRACTIVE CLUSTERING ALGORITHM

This paper proposes a new validity index for the subtractive clustering (SC) algorithm. The subtractive clustering algorithm proposed by Chiu is an effective and simple method for identifying the cluster centers of sampling data based on the concept of a density function. The SC algorithm continually produces the cluster centers until the final potential compared with the original is less than a predefined threshold. The procedure is terminated when there are only a few data points around the most recent cluster. The choice of the threshold is an important factor affecting the clustering results: if it is too large, then too few data points will be accepted as cluster centers; if it is too small, then too many cluster centers will be generated. In this paper, a modified SC algorithm for data clustering based on a cluster validity index is proposed to obtain the optimal number of clusters. Six examples show that the proposed index achieves better performance results than other cluster validities do.
Lower bounds of the eigenvalues of compact manifolds with positive Ricci curvature

We give new estimates on the lower bounds for the first closed and Neumann eigenvalues for compact manifolds with positive Ricci curvature in terms of the diameter and the lower bound of Ricci curvature. The results sharpen the previous estimates.
Evolution of desert pavements and the vesicular layer in soils of the Transantarctic Mountains

Abstract Compared to mid-latitude deserts, the properties, formation and evolution of desert pavements and the underlying vesicular layer in Antarctica are poorly understood. This study examines the desert pavements and the vesicular layer from seven soil chronosequences in the Transantarctic Mountains that have developed on two contrasting parent materials: sandstone–dolerite and granite–gneiss. The pavement density commonly ranges from 63 to 92% with a median value of 80% and does not vary significantly with time of exposure or parent material composition. The dominant size range of clasts decreases with time of exposure, ranging from 16–64 mm on Holocene and late Quaternary surfaces to 8–16 mm on surfaces of middle Quaternary and older age. The proportion of clasts with ventifaction increases progressively through time from 20% on drifts of Holocene and late Quaternary age to 35% on Miocene-aged drifts. Desert varnish forms rapidly, especially on dolerite clasts, with nearly 100% cover on surfaces of early Quaternary and older age. Macropitting occurs only on clasts that have been exposed since the Miocene. A pavement development index, based on predominant clast-size class, pavement density, and the proportion of clasts with ventifaction, varnish, and pits, readily differentiated pavements according to relative age. From these findings we judge that desert pavements initially form from a surficial concentration of boulders during till deposition followed by a short period of deflation and a longer period of progressive chemical and physical weathering of surface clasts. The vesicular layer that underlies the desert pavement averages 4 cm in thickness and is enriched in silt, which is contributed primarily by weathering rather than eolian deposition. A comparison is made between desert pavement properties in mid-latitude deserts and Antarctic deserts.
ANALYSIS OF THIOL-CONTAINING COMPOUNDS IN BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES BY CAPILLARY ZONE ELECTROPHORESIS

A new method for the determination of reduced and oxidized glutathione by using capillary zone electrophoresis was developed and compared with the N-(1-pyrenyl)maleimide high-performance liquid chromotography method. The tissue samples were obtained from C57BL/6 mice and homogenized in deionized water. The detection wavelength was set at 214 nm. A 50-cm effective length x 75 microns i.d. uncoated fused silica capillary with a 10 mM phosphate buffer at pH 7.5 was used for the experiment. Samples were introduced by pressure injection for 5s. The voltage for separation was at 20 kV. Between runs, the capillary was regularly washed with 0.1 N NaOH and deionized water, followed by reconditioning with running buffer. The present method was shown to be reproducible and is convenient in that a derivatization step is not required. The method has been used to measure glutathione levels in biological samples and the results show good agreement with those obtained by high-performance liquid chromotography.
Congenital aortic stenosis; clinical aspects and surgical treatment.

Thirty-seven patients with congenital aortic stenosis have been studied. Only a few were without symptoms referable to the defect. Characteristically, the patients had a loud, harsh systolic murmur, accompanied by a thrill, to the right of the sternum. On x-ray examination the most frequent manifestation was dilatation of the ascending aorta. Electrocardiographic evidence of left ventricular hypertrophy was found in 60 per cent. Nineteen patients have been operated upon with 2 deaths. The procedure has been tolerated amazingly well. Although it is too early to judge the results, all but 2 of the surviving patients appear to have been helped.
MICROSCOPIC CONDITIONS FAVORING ITINERANT FERROMAGNETISM

A systematic investigation of the microscopic conditions stabilizing itinerant ferromagnetism of correlated electrons in a single-band model is presented. Quantitative results are obtained by quantum Monte Carlo simulations for a model with Hubbard interaction U and direct Heisenberg exchange interaction F within the dynamical mean-field theory. Special emphasis is placed on the investigation of (i) the distribution of spectral weight in the density of states, (ii) the importance of genuine correlations, and (iii) the significance of the direct exchange, for the stability of itinerant ferromagnetism at finite temperatures. We find that already a moderately strong peak in the density of states near the band edge suffices to stabilize ferromagnetism at intermediate U values in a broad range of electron densities n. Correlation effects prove to be essential: Slater--Hartree-Fock results for the transition temperature are both qualitatively and quantitatively incorrect. The nearest-neighbor Heisenberg exchange does not, in general, play a decisive role. Detailed results for the magnetic phase diagram as a function of U, F, n, temperature T, and the asymmetry of the density of states are presented and discussed.
Reward revision for partially observed Markov decision processes

We present an algorithm for accelerating a successive approximation solution procedure for the infinite horizon, expected discounted total reward partially observed Markov decision process (POMDP). This algorithm proceeds by simultaneously constructing and solving a sequence of dynamic programs, each of which is more computationally attractive than the dynamic program associated with the original POMDP. The form of each of these dynamic programs is determined by the solution of the preceding dynamic program. A numerical study is presented that indicates the potentially significant computational value of this algorithm.
Martin on the meaninglessness of religious language

In Language, Truth and Logic, A.J. Ayer defended a version of the weak verifiability principle which stated that a proposition's cognitive meaningfulness is verifiable iffit is either analytic or else experience may render it probable, in practice or in principle.1 One much discussed aspect of Ayer's argument is his claim that statements about God fail to satisfy the verificationist test for meaningfulness and so are exposed as cognitively meaningless.2 Ayer's once popular thesis, and its many spinoffs, are now nearly universally rejected in the philosophical community for reasons which are well known.3 But even though the verificationist analysis of religious discourse is out of fashion, it is not yet dead. Michael Martin, building on the work of Kai Nielsen, presents a verificationist account of factual meaning in Part I, Chapter 2 of his book, Atheism: A Philosophical Justification.4 He argues that the statements of sophisticated theism can be neither confirmed nor disconfirmed by observation statements thus indicating that there is a prima facie case for classifying theological assertions as factually meaningless. To his credit, Martin refuses to place his full confidence in this argument against theistic beliefs and, throughout most of the rest of his book, embarks on the difficult task of analyzing and rejecting some traditional and some contemporary arguments for theism as well as developing a case for atheism.
Distributed control for optimal economic dispatch of power generators: The heterogenous case

In this paper, we present a simple, distributed algorithm for frequency control and optimal economic dispatch of power generators. In this algorithm each generator independently adjusts its power-frequency set-points of generators to correct for generation and load fluctuations using only the aggregate power imbalance in the network, which can be observed by each generator through local measurements of the frequency deviation on the grid. In the absence of power losses, we prove that the distributed algorithm eventually achieves optimality i.e. minimum cost power allocations, under mild assumptions (strict convexity and positivity of cost functions); we also present numerical results from simulations to compare its performance with traditional (centralized) dispatch algorithms. Furthermore, we show that the performance of the algorithm is robust in the sense that even with power losses it corrects for frequency deviations, and for low levels of losses, it still achieves near-optimal allocations; we present an approximate analysis to quantify the resulting suboptimality.
Coherent exciton transport in substitutionally disordered crystals

Abstract We discuss two models for quantum mechanical exciton transport. For the site quantum percolation model on a 3-d simple cubic lattice we find that the quantum percolation threshold is Pq = 0.48 ± 0.01, which is substantially larger than Pc = 0.3117 ± 0.0003 for classical percolation. For a topologically disordered model with exponential interactions, we find that the cube root of the dimensionless critical density is P c 1 3 = 0.257 ± 0.014 . The latter model is appropriate for the transport of triplet Frenkel exciton in mixed crystals, and electrical conductivity in doped semiconductors, where agreement between theory and experiment is excellent.
Polarimetric passive millimeter-wave sensing

The US Army Research Laboratory has developed a 93-Ghz Stokes radiometer that is currently being used to quantify the polarimetric signature of various objects and materials. Preliminary measurement using the radiometer have been made of various terrain types and objects, which have included an asphalt aircraft runway, a gravel road, water, grass a tank, and a truck. A description of the development of the radiometer, its performance, and some initial results are presented. These results are the first step in assessing the utility of polarimetric radiometry and specifically how missions can be enhanced using this information. The results show that polarimetric radiometry may be useful for eliminating water as a false target in the imagery. It is also shown that asphalt aircraft runways do have a polarimetric signature that is different than short dormant grass at a 3-deg glide slope angle.
Evidence for proton magnetic resonance deshielding over the whole amide plane

Abstract From the proton magnetic resonance (PMR) spectra of appropriate anilides evidence was obtained that protons in the amide plane are deshielded. In the endo isomer (ring cis to oxygen) the ortho position closer to the carbonyl oxygen is deshielded by as much as 1.0 ppm with respect to all other possible positions for protons in both isomers. This confirms results obtained by Paulsen and Todt from the heterocyclic compound
Decreased gluconeogenesis and increased glucose disposal without hyperinsulinemia in 10-day-old rats with endotoxic shock

Abstract Glucose dyshomeostasis is a common and life-threatening sign of endotoxic shock in the newborn. In this study, liver gluconeogenesis was evaluated in 10-day-old rats with endotoxic shock using the isolated perfused liver. Phosphoenolpyruvate car☐ykinase (PEPCK) activity and PEPCK mRNA abundance were measured to confirm altered gluconeogenesis. Glucose disposal was also evaluated by a glucose tolerance test. Twenty-four-hour-fasted rats were studied to enhance gluconeogenesis and decrease glucose disposal. Rats received an intraperitoneal (IP) injection as follows: group 1 (fed-saline), 0.2 mL saline in fed rats; group 2 (fed-LPS), 0.1 mg/kg Salmonella enteritidis lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in fed rats; group 3 (fasted-saline), 0.2 mL saline in fasted rats; and group 4 (fasted-LPS), 0.1 mg/kg LPS in fasted rats. Isolated liver perfusion, determination of liver PEPCK activity and liver PEPCK mRNA abundance, and a glucose tolerance test were performed at 4 hours in fed rats and at 6 hours in fasted rats. LPS induced hypoglycemia (1.62 ± 0.33 mmol/L, P
MRT letter: Auto-fluorescence by human alveolar macrophages after in vitro exposure to air pollution particles.

Macrophages from smokers demonstrate an increased auto-fluorescence. Similarly, auto-fluorescence follows in vitro exposure of macrophages to cigarette smoke condensate (i.e., the particulate fraction of cigarette smoke). The composition of particles in cigarette smoke can be comparable to air pollution particles. We tested the postulate that macrophages exposed to air pollution particles could demonstrate auto-fluorescence. Healthy nonsmoking and healthy smoking volunteers (both 18–40 years of age) underwent fiberoptic bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage and alveolar macrophages isolated. Macrophages were incubated at 37°C in 5% CO2 with either PBS or 100 μg/mL particle for both 1 and 24 h. Particles included a residual oil fly ash, Mt. St. Helens volcanic ash, and ambient air particles collected from St. Louis, Missouri and Salt Lake City, Utah. At the end of incubation, 50 μL of the cell suspension was cytocentrifuged and examined at modes for viewing fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) and rhodamine fluorescence. Both emission source air pollution particles demonstrated FITC and rhodamine auto-fluorescence at 1 and 24 h, but the signal following incubation of the macrophages with oil fly ash appeared greater. Similarly, the ambient particles were associated with auto-fluorescence by the alveolar macrophages and this appeared to be dose-dependent. We conclude that exposure of macrophages to air pollution particles can be associated with auto-fluorescence in the FITC and rhodamine modes. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Intraluminal graft for acute dissection of the ascending aorta.

Abstract A technique of intraluminal graft placement for the management of acute dissecting aneurysm of the ascending aorta is described. Acute dissecting aortic aneurysm is associated with early death due to intrapericardial rupture or acute aortic insufficiency, and it requires prompt operative intervention. A simple technical approach excludes the intimal tear, obliterates the false lumen proximally and distally, and achieves resuspension of prolapsed aortic cusps which others have shown to be of long-term durability.
Analysis and interpretation of a test for characterizing the response of sandwich panels to water blast

Metallic sandwich panels are more effective at resisting underwater blast than monolithic plates at equivalent mass/area. The present assessment of this benefit is based on a recent experimental study of the water blast loading of a sandwich panel with a multilayered core, using a Dyno-crusher test. The tests affirm that the transmitted pressure and impulse are significantly reduced when a solid cylinder is replaced by the sandwich panel. In order to fully understand the observations and measurements, a dynamic finite element analysis of the experiment has been conducted. The simulations reveal that the apparatus has strong influence on the measurements. Analytic representations of the test have been developed, based on a modified-Taylor fluid/structure interaction model. Good agreement with the finite element results and the measurements indicates that the analytic model has acceptable fidelity, enabling it to be used to understand trends in the response of multilayer cores to water blast.
Practical MR Imaging of Female Pelvic Floor Weakness

Pelvic floor weakness is common in middle-aged and elderly parous women and is often associated with stress incontinence, uterine prolapse, constipation, and incomplete defecation. Most patients with incontinence and minimal pelvic floor weakness can be treated based on physical examination and basic urodynamic findings. However, in women with symptoms of multicompartment involvement for whom a complex repair is planned or who have undergone previous repairs, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging can be a useful preoperative planning tool. The MR imaging evaluation is performed with the patient in the supine position, without contrast agents, and within 15 minutes. A multicoil array and a rapid half-Fourier T2-weighted imaging sequence are used to obtain sagittal images while the patient is at rest and during pelvic strain, followed by axial images. On these images, the radiologist identifies the pubococcygeal line (which represents the level of the pelvic floor), the H and M lines (which are helpful for confirming pelvic floor laxity), and the angle of the levator plate with the pubococcygeal line (which is helpful for identifying small bowel prolapse). In the appropriate patient, MR images provide relatively easy three-dimensional conceptualization of the pelvic floor and can significantly influence treatment planning.
Handling Small Arbovirus Vectors Safely During Biosafety Level 3 Containment: Culicoides variipennis sonorensis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) and Exotic Bluetongue Viruses

Equipment and procedures are described for biosafety level 3 (BL-3) containment work with small, zoophilic arthropods. BL-3 classified pathogens always must be manipulated in biological safety cabinets. Procedures, including physical barriers and handling methods, that prevent the escape of potentially virus-infected insects are discussed, and the use of a monitoring system for insect security is explained. The inability to recover escaped minute, flying insects poses a major difference from similar work with larger insects, such as mosquitoes. Methods were developed for the safe and secure handling of Culicoides variipennis sonorensis Wirth & Jones infected with exotic bluetongue viruses during BL-3 containment.
Voice-Activated Lightweight Reacher to Assist with Upper Extremity Movement Limitations: A Case Study

The focus of this research was to design a functional and user-friendly reacher for people with spinal cord injuries (SCIs). Engineering advancements have taken assistive robotics to new dimensions. Technologies such as wheelchair robotics and myo-electronically controlled systems have opened up a wide range of new applications to assist people with physical disabilities. Similarly, exo-skeletal limbs and body suits have provided new foundations from which technologies can aid function. Unfortunately, these devices have issues of usability, weight, and discomfort with donning. The Smart Assistive Reacher Arm (SARA) system, developed in this research, is a voice-activated, lightweight, mobile device that can be used when needed. SARA was built to help overcome daily reach challenges faced by individuals with limited arm and hand movement capability, such as people with cervical level 5-6 (C5-6) SCI. This article shows that a functional reacher arm with voice control can be beneficial for this population. Comparison study with healthy participants and an SCI participant shows that, when using SARA, a person with SCI can perform simple reach and grasp tasks independently, without someone else's help. This suggests that the interface is intuitive and can be easily used to a high level of proficiency by a SCI individual.
Aonidiella aurantii sex pheromone isolation

Abstract The sex pheromone produced by the virgin female California red scale, Aonidiella aurantii , was isolated by three methods from a cold trap condensate and insect homogenate. Extensive silicic acid, silica gel-silver nitrate, Sephadex, thin-layer, and gas-liquid chromatography were used to effect the pheromone isolation. Comparisons were made between known unsaturated acetates and the pheromone. A number of synthetic model unsaturated acetates were also bioassayed in the laboratory for attractancy to the males.