cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MassTag polymerase chain reaction investigation of neonatal sepsis

Background: In infants with suspected neonatal sepsis, standard culture methods may fail to detect bacteremia due to a lower concentration of pathogens in the bloodstream. We sought to determine if MassTag PCR could accurately and reliably detect pathogens in neonates with a high suspicion of sepsis. Methods: Infants in a level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) were identified by the primary medical team as having clinical signs consistent with a high likelihood of infection. Samples of sterile bodily fluid (i.e., blood and CSF) were obtained and evaluated both by standard culture methods and the study method. The study samples were analyzed by MassTag-PCR using primers that targeted twelve common neonatal bacterial pathogens. Results: Samples were collected from a total of 32 infants (gestational age 24-40 weeks) with clinical sepsis. There were eight infants with a positive result on MassTag PCR. One infant had Staphylococcus aureus identified in the blood by MassTag PCR, in whom the culture was also positive. In addition, there was one infant with a positive MassTag assay for S. aureus in the CSF. This infant had a positive blood culture for S. aureus and negative CSF culture, with normal cell counts and chemistry values. There were five infants with negative blood cultures, but a positive result on MassTag PCR for Pseudomonas three, Enterococcus one, and Propionibacterium acnes one. There was one PCR assay considered to be a contaminant with Staphylococcus species. Conclusions: MassTag PCR could potentially serve as an important method of pathogen detection in the NICU, in particular for gram-negative and anaerobic pathogens. Further studies should investigate whether infants with positive MassTag PCR and negative culture truly represent infections that could not be detected by routine blood culture.
Sentencing Guidelines in the United States

This essay surveys the history, features and future of sentencing guidelines in the United States.
The GitHub Effect

Although GitHub has become a great tool for studying the software development process, it poses afundamental problem to those who study work. The Web extra at http://youtu.be/z7aiYedJr8w is an audio recording of author David Alan Grier expanding on his Errant Hashtag column, in which he talks about how GitHub has become a great tool for studying the software development process but poses a fundamental problem to those who study work.
Neonatal Outcome in Pregnancies Associated With Renal Replacement Therapy

Pregnancy in women receiving renal replacement therapy is not without risk to the mother and fetus. This article reviews the information on fetal outcome in pregnancies associated with renal transplantation and dialysis. The incidence of neonatal mortality, prematurity, and small-for-gestational-age infants is increased in pregnancies associated with maternal renal replacement therapy. Conversely, there does not appear to be a significant increase in the rate of congenital malformations. Whereas the fetal risk for inheritable renal disease is clearly defined in most cases, the risk associated with a host of new immunosuppressive medications is poorly understood. In addition, the newborn may be at risk for abnormalities in water homeostasis caused by the large solute load transferred from the mother receiving dialysis and requires close observation. Continued accumulation of clinical data will permit women receiving dialysis or with a kidney transplant to make informed decisions about current or future pregnancies.
Effect on drug costs of implementing decentralized drug distribution

The drug costs associated with a centralized drug-distribution system were compared with those of a newly implemented decentralized unit dose and i.v. admixture system in a university teaching hospital. Three months before and three months after implementation and stabilization of the new drug-distribution system, the mean drug cost per patient day was determined for each of 22 nursing stations. Variations in drug use were monitored to eliminate the influence of patient mix or treatment protocol. Data from 2 of the 22 nursing stations were excluded from analysis because of large variations in drug use. Twelve nursing stations demonstrated lower drug costs per patient day with the new drug-distribution system. Overall, an 18% reduction in drug costs per patient day was achieved. In this hospital, a decentralized drug-distribution system was associated with lower drug costs than the traditional distribution system.
Vascular dementia: A review of recent evidence for prevention and treatment

Vascular dementia is a common cause of late-life cognitive decline. Vascular risk factors, transient is chemic attacks, silent and clinically evident strokes, and ischemic changes on brain imaging studies are all associated with the development of dementia. Prevention of vascular dementia involves treatment of risk factors and the same preventive measures used to avoid heart attacks and strokes. Other treatments for vascular dementia, although promising, remain unproved.
Adenoviral-mediated uteroglobin gene transfer inhibits neointimal hyperplasia after balloon injury in the rat carotid artery * ** *

Abstract Objective: Uteroglobin is a protein with potent anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. We hypothesize that induction of uteroglobin expression in the artery wall by local adenoviral gene transfer will decrease neointimal hyperplasia in the rat carotid artery after balloon injury. Methods: Seven male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent balloon injury of the common carotid artery. After the injury, with flow occluded, the artery was instilled with 50 μL of the adenoviral vector encoding uteroglobin gene (Ad.UG) at a concentration of 1.35 × 10 11 pfu/mL (n = 7) or 0.68 × 10 11 pfu/mL (n = 7) (n = 7). Control animals were similarly treated: either an adenovirus encoding for β-galactosidase gene (Ad.LacZ) at 1 × 10 11 pfu/mL (n = 7) or the phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) vehicle (n = 6) was used. The solution was allowed to dwell for 20 minutes. The rats were humanely killed after 14 days by perfusion fixation, and the carotid arteries were sectioned for analysis with computerized planimetry. The intima-media area ratios were calculated for each artery and compared with analysis of variance with Bonferroni/Dunn post hoc testing. One additional rat from the PBS, Ad.LacZ, and Ad.UG (1.35 × 10 11 pfu/mL) groups was humanely killed 4 days after treatment for carotid artery protein extraction and Western blotting. Results: Uteroglobin protein production was confirmed in the Ad.UG-treated arteries with Western blotting. Morphometric analysis showed that the Ad.UG group at 1.35 × 10 11 pfu/mL had a significantly lower intima-media area ratio than both the Ad.LacZ ( P =.002) and PBS ( P =.004) controls. The Ad.UG group at 0.68 × 10 11 pfu/mL was also significantly different from the Ad.LacZ ( P =.003) and PBS ( P =.006) controls. There was no statistical difference between the two control groups or between the two Ad.UG groups. Conclusion: Adenoviral gene transfer of uteroglobin, delivered intraluminally after arterial injury causes the production of uteroglobin protein and has an inhibitory effect on neointimal accumulation in the rat model. (J Vasc Surg 2000;32:1111-7.)
Myasthenia Gravis and Upper Airway Obstruction

Respiratory impairment in myasthenia gravis is usually attributed to weakness of the diaphragm and thoracic chest wall muscles, and is rarely attributed to upper airway obstruction. Myasthenia gravis is characterized by weakness of the striated muscles and usually affects those innervated by the bulbar cranial nerves. Weakness of these bulbar and upper airway muscles can lead to upper airway obstruction. To our knowledge, there are only five case reports in the literature associating upper airway obstruction with myasthenia gravis. Therefore, we attempted to further define its occurrence in myasthenia gravis patients by reviewing their flow volume loops. We present a case of upper airway obstruction causing respiratory symptoms in a myasthenia gravis patient. We then surveyed a total of 61 patients with myasthenia gravis who were tested in our pulmonary function laboratory between February 1990 and August 1993. Of these 61 patients, 12 had flow volume loops and 7 of these 12 disclosed a pattern of extrathoracic upper airway obstruction. The FVC was 80% or more in five of seven patients. Our data suggest that upper airway obstruction is much more common in patients with myasthenia gravis than previously recognized. In conclusion, we recommend the performance of flow volume loops in patients with myasthenia gravis to evaluate their respiratory impairment.
Characterization and Degradation of Masonry Mortar in Historic Brick Structures

This study characterized mortars from a masonry fortification in Charleston, South Carolina (USA), harbor where construction was during the period 1839–1860. This location for analysis was interesting because of the sea water impingement on the structure. The study was included as part of an overall structural assessment with restoration as an objective. The mortars were found to be cement, lime, and sand mixtures in proportions similar to ones expected from the historic literature, that is, one part binder to two parts of sand. The binder was found to be American natural cement, a substance analogous to the European Roman cement. The results suggest that the thermal history of the cement during manufacturing affected setting rate explaining why the cements were considered as variable during the mid-to-late 1800s. Fine pores were found in mortars exposed to sea water resulting from corrosion. Contemporary natural cement was shown to release calcium in aqueous solution. While this release of calcium is necessary for setting in natural and Portland cements, excessive calcium solution, as exacerbated by sea water contact and repointing with Portland cement mortars, was shown to result in brick scaling or decay through cryptoflorescence.
A Rapid Instrument Review (RIR) of Independent Living Program (ILP) Evaluation Tools

ABSTRACT The Independent Living Skills Program (ILP) is a federally mandated program to improve the life skills for older youth in foster care. There are few evaluation tools for measuring ILP effectiveness. The purpose of this project was to identify and review existing evaluation tools in order to promote evidence-based services for youth in foster care. This article summarizes eight evaluation tools found in electronic databases and systematically reviews the available psychometric properties. Most evaluation tools measure important life domains, but only four report psychometric properties. Of these tools, only one demonstrates fair to excellent reliability across multiple domains. To assess effectiveness, researchers must empirically test ILP evaluation tools.
Mediterranean fruit fly1/: Laboratory and field evaluations of synthetic sex pheromones2/

Abstract Fifteen acids present in the natural sex pheromones produced by male Mediterranean fruit flies, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), were separated by gas‐liquid chromatography and identified. Then combinations of the acids and of previously identified pheromones were bioassayed for attraction to virgin female Mediterranean fruit flies in an outdoor olfactometer. However, when 2 of the most promising combinations were tested in the field, they attracted large numbers of males, but no females. In the laboratory, females reared from fruit infested in the field responded to the synthetic pheromone. No explanation is available for these anomalous results.
The impact of AIDS on male-female relationships☆

Abstract This article presents background information on AIDS, a growing health care and social problem in the United States and internationally. After reviewing the current data on AIDS and its spread, the article uses permutation theory to relate AIDS to male-female relationships and the development of intimate relalionships. Male-female relationships are conceptualized as consisting of four components—love, intimacy, sex and marriage—or some subset of those components. In addition, male-female relationships are divided into three eras: the pre-modern birth control era where morality dictated that marriage be sequenced before sexual intercourse; the posl-birth control pre-AIDS era where sequencing of the four components was unconstrained; and the post-AIDS era where love or intimacy increasingly occur before sexual intercourse. This article illustrates ways in which simple mathematical permutations can be applied to a complex interdisciplinary problem helping to clarify and discuss the societal implications of these types of problems.
A 3D motile rod-shaped monotrichous bacterial model.

We introduce a 3D model for a motile rod-shaped bacterial cell with a single polar flagellum which is based on the configuration of a monotrichous type of bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The structure of the model bacterial cell consists of a cylindrical body together with the flagellar forces produced by the rotation of a helical flagellum. The rod-shaped cell body is composed of a set of immersed boundary points and elastic links. The helical flagellum is assumed to be rigid and modeled as a set of discrete points along the helical flagellum and flagellar hook. A set of flagellar forces are applied along this helical curve as the flagellum rotates. An additional set of torque balance forces are applied on the cell body to induce counter-rotation of the body and provide torque balance. The three-dimensional Navier–Stokes equations for incompressible fluid are used to describe the fluid dynamics of the coupled fluid–microorganism system using Peskin’s immersed boundary method. A study of numerical convergence is presented along with simulations of a single swimming cell, the hydrodynamic interaction of two cells, and the interaction of a small cluster of cells.
Concurrent Concentrations of Human Salivary Buffer Components in Serum and Saliva.

SummaryThe present study is concerned with a comparison of the buffer components and buffer capacities (pH range 7 to 6) of paraffin stimulated whole saliva and blood serum in 34 patients from whom samples were collected simultaneously. 1) In every patient, the buffer capacity of serum exceeded that of saliva in the pH range tested; in each, saliva contained higher concentrations of potassium and phosphate than serum, and serum contained greater concentrations of sodium, bicarbonate and protein than saliva. 2) There was no statistically significant correlation between the buffer capacities and the main buffer constituents of serum and stimulated whole saliva. 3) Thus, the quantitative composition of the salivary buffers which act to protect against dental caries is determined primarily by glandular activity and not by simple ultrafiltration.
Wildland fire emissions, carbon, and climate: Wildfire-climate interactions

Increasing wildfire activity in recent decades, partially related to extended droughts, along with concern over potential impacts of future climate change on fire activity has resulted in increased attention on fire–climate interactions. Findings from studies published in recent years have remarkably increased our understanding of fire–climate interactions and improved our capacity to delineate probable future climate change and impacts. Fires are projected to increase in many regions of the globe under a changing climate due to the greenhouse effect. Burned areas in the western US could increase by more than 50% by the middle of this century. Increased fire activity is not simply an outcome of the changing climate, but also a participant in the change. Smoke particles reduce overall solar radiation absorbed by the Earth’s atmosphere during individual fire events and fire seasons, leading to regional climate effects including reduction in surface temperature, suppression of cloud and precipitation, and enhancement of climate anomalies such as droughts. Black carbon (BC) in smoke particles displays some different radiation and climate effects by warming the middle and lower atmosphere, leading to a more stable atmosphere. BC also plays a key role in the smoke-snow feedback mechanism. Fire emissions of CO2, on the other hand, are an important atmospheric CO2 source and contribute substantially to the global greenhouse effect. Future studies should generate a global picture of all aspects of radiative forcing by smoke particles. Better knowledge is needed in space and time variability of smoke particles, evolution of smoke optical properties, estimation of smoke plume height and vertical profiles and their impacts on locations of warming layers, stability structure, clouds and smoke transport, quantification of BC emission factors and optical properties from different forest fuels, and BC’s individual and combined roles with organic carbon. Finally, understanding the short- and long-term greenhouse effect of fire CO2 emissions, increased capacity to project future fire trends (especially mega-fires), with consideration of climate–fuel–human interactions, and improved fire weather and climate prediction skills (including exploring the SST-fire relations) remain central knowledge needs.
Measurement of Stray-Load Loss in Induction Motors

This paper is written to present test data confirming the accuracy of the reverse-rotation test for stray-load loss24 in polyphase induction motors. This method is the most convenient yet proposed for direct measurement of stray-load losses in squirrel-cage motors, and it is recommended that it be included in the AIEE Test Code for Polyphase Induction Machines.27 Proposals for this revision are made.
Hemopericardium following rupture of a bacterial aortic sinus aneurysm.

Abstract A case is described in which rheumatic calcific aortic stenosis was complicated by the development of endocarditis due to Staph. aureus. The infection led to the development of an aneurysm of the left aortic sinus of Valsalva with rupture into the pericardium and death.
Pc 4 and Pc 5 pulsations during storm recovery

A strong pulsation event was observed in the magnetosphere near L = 5 with the flux gate magnetometer on Explorer 45. The event occurred near 2300 UT on June 18, 1972, during the recovery phase of a large magnetic storm. Explorer 45 was in the afternoon quadrant, and the event was also observed at many day side, ground level observatories at high and low latitudes. The event had a complex spectrum with distinct pulsations near 2, 6, and 14 mHz (500-, 160-, and 70-s periods). The two lower-frequency pulsations were also observed on the ground. A comparison of the frequencies and polarizations of satellite and ground observations indicates that the event was similar to events observed recently along a latitudinal chain of ground stations in Canada.
Seismicity following the 1985 eruption of Nevado del Ruiz, Colombia

Abstract Over 200 of the best-recorded earthquakes occurring near Nevado del Ruiz, Colombia, between December 1985 and May 1986 are examined for spatial patterns, information on local stress orientations, and evidence for seismogenic structures that may be related to magma-transport processes. These earthquakes occurred following the devastating eruption of November 13, 1985. Earthquake activity that is probably related to the volcanic system occurs over a large area, of the order of 50 km 2 . A pattern of earthquakes beneath the southern half of Ruiz may be the expression of a conduit system, but evidence is inconclusive due to low spatial resolution of most hypocenters. Epicenter and first-motion plots suggest most earthquakes occur on small faults of varying orientation. Most seismicity during this time period was unrelated to mapped faults, including some with Holocene offsets, except for the Villamaria Fault near Ruiz's northeast sector. Composite focal mechanisms show a variation of nearly 90° in the strike of T -axes and indicate Ruiz is in a zone of local extension.
An Analytical Solution to an Archard-Type Fractal Rough Surface Contact Model

Due to the existence of multiple scales of features on surfaces, during the past two decades models have been developed that employ a fractal description of the rough surface profile. Most of these models use a truncation calculation to predict the contact area. The load corresponding to the truncated area of the fractal surface is then calculated using elastic and elastic–plastic asperity contact models. The current work instead uses a stacked asperity model that was first introduced by Archard to predict contact area as a function of load. From this the elastic contact of multiscale rough surfaces can be solved analytically, providing a closed-form solution for certain cases of surface profiles. The results of the model are then compared to a two-dimensional (2D) deterministic model of rough surface contact. Finally, the analytical relationships are used to create models for three-dimensional (3D) elastic and elastic–plastic contact of fractal/multiscale rough surfaces.
Pleural mesothelioma in 2002: Going somewhere very slowly

See related article on page 1183. N othing exasperates a thoracic surgeon more than to be confronted with a mesothelioma. Few such cases are diagnosed per year in the United States, and many of the internists, pulmonologists, and medical oncologists who see these cases refer them to a thoracic surgeon for one purpose: palliation. Thoracic surgeons themselves differ remarkably in their approach to this disease, but the good news is that there is a cadre of individuals, including Lee and associates,1 who actually advocate for novel approaches in the management of this beast. The most objective method to advocate for change in medical practice is to develop trials that, ideally, will set a new standard of care, and for this disease, the credibility of any trial is strengthened when a multidisciplinary approach is used. In this edition of the Journal, Lee and colleagues from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), report a multidisciplinary approach to the management of malignant pleural mesothelioma using radical pleurectomy/decortication and radiation in 32 patients. This report, although small, is an enlightening representation of all that is controversial in the care of the patient with the potentially resectable mesothelioma, and many of these issues involve (1) the goals of an operation, (2) patient selection, (3) follow-up methods, and (4) choice of adjuvant therapy. Undoubtedly, there are no standards for these issues that dictate “best practice” for mesothelioma; however, in dissecting the results and recommendations from the UCSF study, the informed reader should be presented with alternative explanations that could be thought provoking.
A psychophysical analysis of perceived satiety: its relation to consumatory behavior and degree of overweight.

The psychophysical technique of cross-modal matching was used to scale perceived satiety. In three experiments, a total of 108 subjects matched the changing level of perceived satiety by adjusting the length of a metal tape at 2-min intervals while eating a fixed-amount meal and filling out a questionnaire afterwards. Perceived satiety rose linearly during the meal at a rate of 4% a minute, reaching 40% of maximum satiety in the 6-min meal time. Perceived satiety fell after the meal at a rate of 1% a minute for at least 10 min. Normal weight subjects did not differ from overweight subjects in initial satiety level or in the rate at which satiety changed either during or after the meal. The close tie between perceived satiety and the act of eating points to the importance of consummatory behavior in determining feelings of satiety; the slow fall of satiety after the meal indicates that it is also dependent on internal states that persist after eating. Thus satiety seems to depend both on oropharyngeal cues and on some quickly occurring but relatively long lasting internal changes caused by ingestion. Longer-term changes in satiety following ingestion remain to be assessed.
THE ROLE OF TOBACCO SMOKE INDUCED MITOCHONDRIAL DAMAGE IN VASCULAR DYSFUNCTION AND ATHEROSCLEROSIS

The majority of individuals chronically exposed to tobacco smoke will eventually succumb to cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, despite the major cardiovascular health implications of tobacco smoke exposure, concepts of how such exposure specifically results in cardiovascular cell dysfunction that leads to CVD development are still being explored. Moreover, surprisingly little is known about the effects of prenatal and childhood tobacco smoke exposure on adult CVD development. Herein, it is proposed that the mitochondrion is a central target for environmental oxidants, including tobacco smoke. By virtue of its multiple, essential roles in cell function including energy production, oxidant signaling, apoptosis, immune response, and thermogenesis, damage to the mitochondrion will likely play an important role in the development of multiple common forms of human disease, including CVD. Specifically, this review will discuss the potential role of tobacco smoke and environmental oxidant exposure in the induction of mitochondrial damage which is related to CVD development. Furthermore, mechanisms of how mitochondrial damage can initiate and/or contribute to CVD are discussed, as are experimental results that are consistent with the hypothesis that mitochondrial damage and dysfunction will increase CVD susceptibility. Aspects of both adult and developmental (fetal and childhood) exposure to tobacco smoke on mitochondrial damage, function and disease development are also discussed, including the future implications and direction of studies involving the role of the mitochondrion in influencing disease susceptibility mediated by environmental factors.
Accounting internships: The state of the art

Abstract This paper reports the results of an investigation into the “state of the art” in the use, administration and operation of accounting internship programs. Data was collected via a questionnaire from 153 institutions concerning their use of student internships. These responses were used to determine the extent to which student internships are currently incorporated into the accounting curriculum. Forty-seven institutions stated they did not sponsor student internships and identified the reasons underlying their decision. One hundred and six schools reported offering internships and provided information concerning the administration and operation of their programs.
Cell density-dependent transcriptional activation of endocrine-related genes in human adipose tissue-derived stem cells

Adipose tissue is recognized as an endocrine organ that plays an important role in human diseases such as type II diabetes and cancer. Human adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ASCs), a distinct cell population in adipose tissue, are capable of differentiating into multiple lineages including adipogenesis. When cultured in vitro under a confluent condition, ASCs reach a commitment stage for adipogenesis, which can be further induced into terminally differentiated adipocytes by a cocktail of adipogenic factors. Here we report that the confluent state of ASCs triggers transcriptional activation cascades for genes that are responsible for the endocrine function of adipose tissue. These include insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and aromatase (Cyp19), a key enzyme in estrogen biosynthesis. Despite similar adipogenic potentials, ASCs from different individuals display huge variations in activation of these endocrine-related genes. Bioinformatics and experimental data suggest that transcription factor Foxo1 controls a large number of "early" confluency-response genes, which subsequently induce "late" response genes. Furthermore, siRNA-mediated knockdown of Foxo1 substantially compromises the ability of committed ASCs to stimulate tumor cell migration in vitro. Thus, our work suggests that cell density is an important determinant of the endocrine potential of ASCs.
Disposition and kinetics of tetrabromobisphenol A in female Wistar Han rats

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) is the brominated flame retardant with the largest production volume worldwide. NTP 2-year bioassays found TBBPA dose-dependent increases in uterine tumors in female Wistar Han rats; evidence of reproductive tissues carcinogenicity was equivocal in male rats. To explain this apparent sex-dependence, the disposition and toxicokinetic profile of TBBPA were investigated using female Wistar Han rats, as no data were available for female rats. In these studies, the primary route of elimination following [14C]-TBBPA administration (25, 250 or 1,000 mg/kg) was in feces; recoveries in 72 h were 95.7±3.5%, 94.3±3.6% and 98.8±2.2%, respectively (urine: 0.2-2%; tissues: <0.1). TBBPA was conjugated to mono-glucuronide and -sulfate metabolites and eliminated in the bile. Plasma toxicokinetic parameters for a 250 mg/kg dose were estimated based on free TBBPA, as determined by UV/radiometric-HPLC analyses. Oral dosing by gavage (250 mg/kg) resulted in a rapid absorption of compound into the systemic circulation with an observed Cmax at 1.5 h post-dose followed by a prolonged terminal phase. TBBPA concentrations in plasma decreased rapidly after an IV dose (25 mg/kg) followed by a long elimination phase. These results indicate low systemic bioavailability (F<0.05), similar to previous reports using male rats. Elimination pathways appeared to become saturated leading to delayed excretion after a single oral administration of the highest dose (1,000 mg/kg); no such saturation or delay was detected at lower doses. Chronic high exposures to TBBPA may result in competition for metabolism with endogenous substrates in extrahepatic tissues (e.g., SULT1E1 estrogen sulfation) resulting in endocrine disruption.
Activity of Four Enzyme-Based Cleaners for Ultrafiltration Systems Against Proteins in Skim Milk and Whey

Abstract Ability to hydrolyze proteins in skim milk and whey was determined for four commercial neutral pH enzyme-based cleaners for ultrafiltration systems. The four enzyme-based cleaners (A, B, C, and D) had a use strength pH of 7.0 to 8.4. Pasteurized skim milk and pasteurized sweet whey (adjusted to pH 8.0) were heated to 43°C, and 1 L of each was placed in Erlenmeyer flasks (A, B, C, D, and control). Flasks were placed in a waterbath at 43°C. Enzyme-based cleaners were added to give use strength concentrations and distilled water used to adjust for differences in amounts of cleaner added. Samples were taken over 24 h. Percentage of NPN by Kjeldahl and percentage of protein by dye binding were determined. Samples were taken after 8 h for gel electrophoresis. Samples containing enzymes A and D had increased percentages of NPN and decreased percentages of protein as measured by dye binding both in skim milk and whey. Enzyme A hydrolyzed whey proteins more effectively than enzyme D. Enzyme D, however, hydrolyzed casein more effectively than enzyme A. No changes in NPN or protein concentration were observed in skim milk or whey using enzyme B or C when compared with controls. Using SDS-PAGE to quantify the activity of four enzyme cleaners in skim milk and whey confirmed the action of enzymes A and D on whey proteins and casein and indicated no activity by enzymes B and C. Some commercial enzyme-based cleaners were ineffective in hydrolyzing casein or whey proteins. Other enzyme-based cleaners required extended times to hydrolyze whey proteins or casein to NPN.
Lymphoproliferative responses to mitogens and HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein among volunteers vaccinated with recombinant gp160.

The protective immune response to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) induced by vaccination will likely include cellular immune responses. We measured lymphoproliferative responses in pers...
Assessing the rate, mechanisms, and consequences of the conversion of tallgrass prairie to Juniperus virginiana forest

We assessed the determinants and consequences of the expansion of Juniperus virginiana L. (red cedar) populations into central US grasslands using historical aerial photos and field measurements of forest extent, tree growth, fire-induced mortality, and responses in herbaceous species diversity and productivity. Photos from northeast Kansas dating back to 1956 indicate that native tallgrass prairie can be converted to closed-canopy red cedar forest in as little as 40 years (a 2.3% increase in forest cover per year). Mean tree density in 21 forested sites ranged from 130 to 3500 trees/ha, with most sites at more than 800 trees/ha. In younger stands, maximum growth rates of individual red cedar trees exceeded 20 cm/y in height. Land management practices were critical to the establishment and growth of red cedar forest. Grazing reduced the fuel loads by more than 30% in tallgrass prairie. Based on measurements of mortality for more than 1800 red cedar trees, fire-induced mortality in grazed areas averaged 31.6% versus more than 90% at ungrazed sites. When tallgrass prairie was converted to red cedar forest, herbaceous species diversity and productivity were drastically reduced, and most grassland species were virtually eliminated. Consequently, community structure shifted from dominance by herbaceous C4 species to evergreen woody C3 species; this shift is likely to be accompanied by alterations in carbon storage and other ecosystem processes in a relatively short time period. Here we present a conceptual model that integrates the ecological and socioeconomic factors that underlie the conversion of grassland to red cedar forest.
Evaluation of performance indices for tuning the switch timing of pulse-switched piezoelectric shunts for vibration control

Various techniques that involve switching a piezoelectric shunt have been studied for overcoming the shortcomings of purely passive piezoelectric shunts, including so-called "state-switching" (switching between short and open circuit conditions on the piezoelectric) and various forms of short-duration switching, called "pulse-switching" or "synchronized switching". Pulse-switching can be done with a simple resistor shunt, but is more effective with an RL shunt. Previous research has shown that not only can the pulse-switched RL shunt provide very effective vibration control performance, but it eliminates much of the shunt parameter tuning required by the passive shunt approach, and can be done with a simple control circuit using very little power. In addition, it has been shown that a single switched shunt can simultaneously control multiple vibration modes. This paper illustrates that switch timing is important in the performance of these systems. A numerical simulation study is presented in which the switch time and duration are varied in a multi-degree of freedom system, and the controller performance is quantified. In addition, a group of performance indices are analyzed for their potential to be used in a real-time tuning system for optimizing switch timing.
Videokeratography of the Fellow Eye in Unilateral Keratoconus

Purpose: To identify a population of keratoconus patients with unilateral disease based on clinical findings and slit-lamp biomicroscopy and examination with a nine-ring photokeratoscope (Corneascope) and to study the topography of the clinically normal fellow eye with videokeratography. Methods: Clinical charts and Polaroid Corneascope photographs of both eyes of 200 patients with a diagnosis of keratoconus from three large cornea referral practices in the Los Angeles area were retrospectively reviewed. Patients whose clinical findings were within normal limits and whose Corneascope Polaroid photographs had concentric rings with no detectable abnormalities, consistent with a diagnosis of keratoconus in one eye, were considered unilateral: These patients were recalled to our clinic, and the topography of the apparently normal eye was studied using a Corneascope and a computer-assisted videokeratoscope, the Topographic Modeling System, on the same day. Results: Based on examination with a slit-lamp biomicroscope and the Corneascope, eight patients had unilateral disease. Videokeratography in seven of the eight fellow eyes displayed a pattern of inferior steepening suggesting "early keratoconus." All seven eyes had a positive "I — S value," a quantitative measure, indicating increased dioptric power below the corneal apex. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that keratoconus is almost always bilateral. These data support genetic influences in the pathogenesis of this disorder. Additionally, videokeratography data presented might prove useful in the detection of early keratoconus and refining patient selection for myopic keratorefractive procedures.
Modeling of magnetic vibrational energy harvesters using equivalent circuit representations

This paper develops and analyzes an equivalent circuit model of magnetic energy harvesters using reduced-order lumped element modeling (LEM) methods. This model is intended to enhance the design and analysis of a magnetic energy harvesting system by enabling direct physical insight into the system dynamics and simple circuit analysis techniques to extract all relevant performance parameters. Moreover, the model provides the ability to use circuit simulation software (e.g. PSPICE) to model the entire system in conjunction with nonlinear and/or active power electronic circuits. The circuit model is experimentally validated through electrical and mechanical measurements on a prototypical electromagnetic energy harvester.
Effect of Methadone Dose on Cocaine Abuse in a Methadone Program

The effect of methadone dose on cocaine abuse in methadone-maintained patients was examined in two protocol at separate treatment sites in the Yale Department of Psychiatry. in one protocol, methadone dose was lowered in response to each cocaine-positive urine and raised to a maximum of 70 mg in response to abstinence (negative urine toxicology screen for 2 weeks. of 22 patients treated under this protocol, 33% stopped cocaine use for a minimum of 2 weeks. in a second protocol, methadone dose was raised in response to each cocaine-positive urine to a maximum dose of 120 mg qd. Ten patients have entered this protocol to date, and 8 responded to this treatment by stopping cocaine abuse for a minimum of 2 weeks. Thus, the increasing methadone dose contingency treatment was more effective (80% us. 3396, P = 0.02, Fisher's Exact Test).
spitz, a Drosophila homolog of transforming growth factor-α, is required in the founding photoreceptor cells of the compound eye facets

Cell type specification and differentiation in the developing Drosophila compound eye begins in the morphogenetic furrow. In the furrow, cells are organized into evenly spaced preclusters and there is a synchronized arrest of the cells' mitotic cycle in G1. We report that recessive spitz loss-of-function mutations affect compound eye development. Spitz is homologous to the human transforming growth factor-alpha. In mosaic clones, spitz function is required in the first photoreceptor cells to differentiate for normal ommatidial development. spitz loss-of-function mutations are dominant suppressors of EgfrE gain-of-function mutations of the epidermal growth factor-receptor gene. These data suggest that the spitz product is a precluster promoting factor. spitz transcription increases abruptly in the morphogenetic furrow, the obverse of Egfr expression. We present a model for the expression of, and cellular requirement for, this growth factor homolog.
A Hierarchical and Contextual Model for Aerial Image Parsing

In this paper we present a hierarchical and contextual model for aerial image understanding. Our model organizes objects (cars, roofs, roads, trees, parking lots) in aerial scenes into hierarchical groups whose appearances and configurations are determined by statistical constraints (e.g. relative position, relative scale, etc.). Our hierarchy is a non-recursive grammar for objects in aerial images comprised of layers of nodes that can each decompose into a number of different configurations. This allows us to generate and recognize a vast number of scenes with relatively few rules. We present a minimax entropy framework for learning the statistical constraints between objects and show that this learned context allows us to rule out unlikely scene configurations and hallucinate undetected objects during inference. A similar algorithm was proposed for texture synthesis (Zhu et al. in Int. J. Comput. Vis. 2:107---126, 1998) but didn't incorporate hierarchical information. We use a range of different bottom-up detectors (AdaBoost, TextonBoost, Compositional Boosting (Freund and Schapire in J. Comput. Syst. Sci. 55, 1997; Shotton et al. in Proceedings of the European Conference on Computer Vision, pp. 1---15, 2006; Wu et al. in Proceedings of the IEEE Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition, pp. 1---8, 2007)) to propose locations of objects in new aerial images and employ a cluster sampling algorithm (C4 (Porway and Zhu, 2009)) to choose the subset of detections that best explains the image according to our learned prior model. The C4 algorithm can quickly and efficiently switch between alternate competing sub-solutions, for example whether an image patch is better explained by a parking lot with cars or by a building with vents. We also show that our model can predict the locations of objects our detectors missed. We conclude by presenting parsed aerial images and experimental results showing that our cluster sampling and top-down prediction algorithms use the learned contextual cues from our model to improve detection results over traditional bottom-up detectors alone.
High-Dose Dexamethasone Suppression Testing Versus Inferior Petrosal Sinus Sampling in the Differential Diagnosis of Adrenocorticotropin-Dependent Cushing’s Syndrome: A Decision Analysis

ABSTRACT Differentiation of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH)-dependent Cushing’s syndrome between Cushing’s disease and the occult ectopic ACTH syndrome is difficult. Simultaneous bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling (IPSS) for ACTH levels in response to corticotropin-releasing hormone has high diagnostic accuracy, but its cost-effectiveness has not been analyzed. In this study, decision analysis was used to compare two diagnostic strategies: IPSS versus high-dose dexamethasone suppression (HDD) followed by IPSS in those with a negative HDD test. Sensitivity analyses were performed for all variables. The authors found that at 100% accuracy, IPSS has an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $1,000,000 per life saved. Incremental cost, incremental effectiveness, and incremental cost-effectiveness are sensitive to the pretest probability of Cushing’s disease, test characteristics, and test costs. As the pretest probability of Cushing’s disease decreases, cost per life saved also decreases. As IPSS sensitivity and specificity rates decrease to less than 85%, the HDD strategy saves more lives and costs less. When the HDD test has a 83% sensitivity rate and a 100% specificity rate, the two strategies have equal effectiveness, and the HDD strategy remains less expensive. The IPSS strategy saves lives whenever HDD specificity is less than 100%. When HDD is performed in the hospital at a cost of $2,000, the IPSS strategy is less expensive. The appropriate use of IPSS is dependent on the probability of Cushing’s disease and the accuracy and costs of the diagnostic tests. Even at relatively high operative risks and disutilities for transsphenoidal surgery, the cost for saving a life using the IPSS strategy is still high. The selective use of IPSS after a negative HDD is an attractive alternative, especially when the specificity of HDD approaches 100%.
Simulated Moving Bed Chromatography under Linear Conditions

The authors review their recent contributions to the theory of Simulated Moving Bed (SMB) chromatography. SMB is an implementation of preparative chromatography which is attracting much interest in the pharmaceutical industry, especially (but not only) for the purification of enantiomers. This process is more complex than those conventionally used for preparative applications. Its operation under linear conditions is illustrated using the numerical solutions derived from different simple models (ideal, equilibrium-dispersive). The influence of nonideal effects (e.g., dispersion and mass transfer resistances), of section subdivision into several columns are discussed. The importance of the differences between the flow rates in the different sections of the SMB is also illustrated. Experimental results are well explained by theoretical considerations.
Parameterization of the Autoconversion Process. Part I: Analytical Formulation of the Kessler-Type Parameterizations

Abstract Various commonly used Kessler-type parameterizations of the autoconversion of cloud droplets to embryonic raindrops are theoretically derived from the same formalism by applying the generalized mean value theorem for integrals to the general collection equation. The new formalism clearly reveals the approximations and assumptions that are implicitly embedded in these different parameterizations. A new Kessler-type parameterization is further derived by eliminating the incorrect and/or unnecessary assumptions inherent in the existing Kessler-type parameterizations. The new parameterization exhibits a different dependence on liquid water content and droplet concentration, and provides theoretical explanations for the multitude of values assigned to the tunable coefficients associated with the commonly used parameterizations. Relative dispersion of the cloud droplet size distribution (defined as the ratio of the standard deviation to the mean radius of the cloud droplet size distribution) is explici...
Variational data assimilation in meteorology using the adjoint method

Abstract Variational data assimilation using the adjoint method is being pursued in the Norman, Oklahoma, meteorological community by a concerted effort between meteorologists, computer scientists and mathematicians. A series of experiments are under way that use some of the simplest atmospheric models still useful operationally (barotropic model) and more complex models (dry nonhydrostatic model). The effort is aimed at determining the strengths and weaknesses of the adjoint method and its potential for operational use. Of particular interest to us is the potential use of this method for the operational track prediction of hurricanes using a barotropic model with a sophisticated data assimilation scheme. We also want to know if this approach will prove useful in the determination of the three component wind field in the field of view of a single Doppler radar, i.e., a radar that measures only the radial component of the wind field. We report on progress with these models and use a simple example to give the reader some idea of both the mechanics and assumptions inherent with this method.