cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I stimulates IGF-I and type 1 IGF receptor expression in cultured rat granulosa cells: autocrine regulation of the intrafollicular IGF-I system.

A growing body of information documents the existence of a complete rat intrafollicular insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I system replete with a ligand (IGF-I), a receptor (type 1 IGF receptor) IGF binding proteins (4 and 5), and IGFBP-directed endopeptidases (4 and 5). Previous studies have established the ability of IGF-I to promote the elaboration of granulosa cell-derived IGFBP-5 and to suppress the activity of granulosa cell-derived IGFBP-5-directed endopeptidase. It was the purpose of this article to examine the effects of treatment with IGF-I on the other components of the intrafollicular IGF system, i.e., IGF-I itself and the type 1 IGF-receptor. Granulosa cells, obtained by follicular puncture from 25-d-old estrogen-primed rats were cultured in polystyrene tubes for 72 h under serum-free conditions, in the absence or presence of the indicated agents. At the conclusion of each experiment, media were discarded, and RNA was extracted and subjected to an RNase protection assay. Treatment of cultured rat granulosa cells with IGF-I resulted in a significant 1.8-fold increase in the steady-state levels of IGF-I mRNA. No effect was noted on the total cellular DNA content thereby arguing against the possibility that the relative increase in IGF-I transcripts can be ascribed to a possible treatment-induced increase in cell number in culture. The IGF-I effect was apparent (p<0.05) at IGF-I doses as low as 1 ng/mL, minimal additional increments being noted thereafter. Treatment with insulin and des (1–3) IGF-I proved equally effective, producing 2.0- and 2.6-fold increases, respectively, thereby suggesting that the IGF-I effect may be mediated via the type 1 IGF receptor. Treatment with IGF-I also resulted in a significant (p <0.005) increase in type 1 IGF receptor expression (2.3-fold increase), the first significant effect being noted at the 30 ng/mL dose level. Similar results obtained for insulin and des (1–3) IGF-I thereby suggest that the ability of IGF-I to upregulate the expression of its own receptor is probably type 1 IGF receptor-mediated. Taken together, these findings indicate that treatment of estrogen-primed granulosa cells with IGF-I will result in upregulation of the steady-state levels of transcripts corresponding to IGF-I itself and to its type 1 IGF receptor. These observations emphasize the importance of positive autoregulatory phenomena as determinants of the intrafollicular content of IGF-I and its receptor.
The Use of Signal Detection Theory in Research on Human-Computer Interaction

The use of signal detection theory (SDT) in evaluating attentional and decision-making performance in the context of human-computer interaction is reviewed. SDT provides a means for distinguishing ...
The Lizard, the Scientist, and the Lawmaker: An Analysis of the Trending Fight over the Use of Science Under the Endangered Species Act and How to Address It

Recently in Texas, the dunes sagebrush lizard - a tiny, little-known reptile living in the sparse brush and dunes of the oil and gas fields - sparked a heated discussion and criticism over the listing process under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This six-year battle ended with the withdrawal of a proposed rule to list the lizard and resulted in numerous criticisms about the role and use of scientific data throughout the process. Under the ESA, the United States Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) is required to consider the best available scientific data when deciding whether to list a species. However, there is no direct legislative history explaining this standard. Because existing scientific data on "stressors" in the environment is typically limited and inadequate, this data gap leads to uncertainty, which unquestionably leads to difficult decision making by the regulatory agencies. Although a review of past listing designations confirms that FWS is not only utilizing sound science, but more often than not, is making sound decisions based on that science, many policy makers are still criticizing the use of science in decision-making processes and are pitting science against economics. This Article advocates for a more systematic, transparent application of science in the decision-making process: a well-defined "weight of evidence" approach that will foster structured deliberations, hypothesis testing, and the necessary clarity and transparency that will benefit all parties involved.
Cell Curvature and Far-Field Superconvergence in Numerical Solutions of Electromagnetic Integral Equations

Two curved targets are used to explore far-field superconvergence effects arising in numerical solutions of the electric-field and magnetic-field integral equations. Three different orders of basis and testing functions are used to discretize these equations, and three different types of target models (flat facets, quadratic-curved facets, and cubic-curved facets) are employed. Ideal far-field convergence rates are only observed when the model curvature is one degree higher than the basis order.
Epidemiological characteristics and pathogenic analysis of bacillary dysentery in Hunan Province in 2009-2013

Objective To investigate the epidemiological features and pathogen characteristics of bacillary dysentery in Hunan province in 2009-2013, and to provide scientific basis for disease control and prevention. Methods Data of bacillary dysentery cases reported by health agencies in Hunan province through the National Disease Surveillance System from 2009 to2013 was collected and analyzed descriptively. Results The 47 175 cases of bacillary dysentery were reported in Hunan province with the average annual incidence rate of 14.47/100 000. The incidence declined annually and obvious seasonality was found. The western and southern Hunan was the high prevalence areas. Most of the dysentery cases were children under 3years old, and there was higher incidence in male than female. The outbreak occurred mainly in rural primary and secondary schools, waterborne transmission was the main route. 109 Shigella sonnei strains and 67 Shigella flexneri strains were detected in the laboratory; drug-resistant shigella was serious, and different serotypes of shigella had different drug resistance spectrum.Conclusion The distribution of bacillary dysentery showed obviously characteristics of regional epidemic, seasonal peak and high infection groups. Prevention and control measures should be taken based on epidemiological and etiology genetic characteristics.
Aligned trace fossils from the Utica Shale: implications for mode of life and feeding in the trilobite Triarthrus beckii

The olenid trilobite Triarthrus commonly occurs in nearly monospecific assemblages within otherwise relatively barren black shales. As such, it has been proposed that these trilobites preferred dysoxic or even anoxic habitats and suggested feeding habits range from predation and particle feeding to chemoautotrophism. A unique bedding-plane assemblage of aligned traces that grade from Rusophycus to Cruziana, with associated Triarthrus beckii carcasses, are described from three localities in the Indian Castle Formation (upper Utica Shale) just below a K-bentonite bed. Although few body fossils are preserved, it is clear that the 15-cm-thick, laterally extensive Thruway K-bentonite created a unique taphonomic window that preserved the activities of numerous olenid trilobites. Rusophycus and Cruziana, consistently observed in densities above 100 trackways/m2, were excavated by the trilobites into the upper surface of a micro-graded bed, likely a distal turbidite deposit. Sedimentological and trace metal data (Mo, Mn, V and U) support dysoxic but not persistently anoxic conditions through this interval. Measurements from over 500 individual trackways have mean orientations of 259.1° (WSW) at the Myers Rd. locality and 224.59° (SW) at the Dolgeville Dam locality. These orientations are closely similar to independent sedimentological indicators of current transport direction at these sites, which indicates that the trilobites preferentially faced into the prevailing current. The trackways provide compelling evidence that Triarthrus beckii individuals were engaged in feeding, probably assisted by current transport of particles. These results do not support previous suggestions that Triarthrus may have relied upon a chemoautotrophic life habit, but are consistent with suggestions of predation or scavenging from the sediment.
Large-Signal RF and DC Performance of p-Type Diamond FETs

Large signal RF and DC simulation of diamond FETs using incomplete dopant ionization statistics is reported for the first time. The simulation was performed using a harmonic balance circuit simulator which uses the two-dimensional simulator, PISCES-IIB, to investigate the high temperature performance of FET devices. Simulations indicate the DC and RF performance of diamond MESFET is improved as temperature is increased in a temperature range of 573 K to 923 K. At 923 K the simulated diamond MESFET produces about 0.5 W/mm for an operating frequency of 3 GHz and 29% power-added efficiency (PAE) at 19 dBm input power. Due to the high activation energy of dopant in diamond the DC and RF performance of device is found out to be dominated by the carrier ionization process.
Die unterschiedliche Rolle des hinteren Längsbündels bei horizontalen und vertikalen willkürlich und vestibulär ausgelösten Augenbewegungen: Einzelfaserableitungen und Läsionsstudien beim Affen

The role of the medial longitudinal fasciculus (MLF) in voluntary and vestibular eye movements was investigated by both lesion and single fiber recording experiments in alert monkeys. Bilateral lesions of the MLF rostral to the abducens nucleus produce strikingly different deficits in vertical and horizontal eye movements. As already described by others, all adducting movements except for vergence were slowed. In addition, there was a shortterm reduction in the gain of the horizontal vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) with modest changes in the phase shift of eye movements due to sinusoidal head rotation. On the other hand, vertical fixation, smooth pursuit and the vertical VOR were severely impaired for as long as a month after the lesion. Both the vertical VOR and smooth pursuit were virtually abolished and a vertical gaze evoked nystagmus, composed of normal saccades followed by a drift to the midline, was present. The deficits in vertical and horizontal eye movement could be accounted for by destruction of the MLF fibers revealed by single unit recording. Based on their discharge properties, two fiber types, histologically verified to travel in the MLF at the level of the trochlear nucleus, could be distinguished. The first discharged only with horizontal eye movements and behaved like a medial rectus motoneuron; these fibers emitted a burst of spikes prior to and during adducting saccades, increased their tonic activity with adductive fixations, and exhibited a modulated firing rate during the VOR. The second discharged with vertical head velocity when the animal was oscillated about the interaural axis; in addition, these fibers exhibited constant firing rates which were a function of eye position and paused for all saccades. Loss of the first fibers would impair all adducting eye movements whereas loss of the second fibers would impair holding the eye in the upper and lower field of gaze and the slow phase of the WOR but not vertical saccades. These studies demonstrate a neural substrate for anterior internuclear ophthalmoplegia and further suggest that an examination of vertical eye movements might be a sensitive indicator of MLF lesions.
Augmented DC power flow method with real-time measurements

An augmented DC power flow (augDC-PF) method is proposed that achieves both speed and accuracy compared to existing linear algorithms. Many applications necessitate both but are limited by the trade-off that exists within traditional power flow methods. Speed focused algorithms such as DC power flow involve severe approximations that result in an imprecise solution. The augDC-PF method is derived similar to the improved DC power flow (impDC-PF) algorithm by Lu et al. but uses real-time measurements rather than historical data to remedy its drawbacks. By using these real-time measurements from devices such as PMUs, the augDC-PF method is more accurate, reflects the current operating point, can handle topology changes, and reduces computational overhead. The effects of using a reduced set of real-time measurements is also explored, with or without full system observability. The resultant method is versatile and can be useful in a variety of applications, as exemplified by a control input verification case study.
Sialodochoplasty Stents: Cost Analysis and Outcomes.

Purpose We reviewed a patient cohort receiving sialodochoplasty with or without salivary stent placement. We propose the Firlit-Kluge pediatric urinary catheter (Cook Medical, Bloomington, IN) as an advantageous alternative stent because of our duct patency results with stenting, considering the advantages and disadvantages of specific stents. We also provide a simple cost summary of commonly used stents. Materials and Methods A retrospective review of a case series of patients undergoing sialodochoplasty or salivary duct surgery from 2012 to 2015 was undertaken at a tertiary care center. The indications, duct reconstruction results, and complications were analyzed, and a comparative cost analysis was performed. Results Of 25 patients, 16 were stented with Firlit-Kluge catheters, 2 with CORFLO ULTRA feeding tubes (Corpak Medsystems, Buffalo, NY), 1 with an Introcan Safety intravenous (IV) catheter (B. Braun Medical Inc, Melsungen, Germany), and 6 were not stented. All 16 Firlit-Kluge–stented patients had successful duct reconstruction with a patent duct orifice draining saliva on the last follow-up visit, and only 1 stent dislodged early. All patients stented with feeding tubes or the IV catheter experienced discomfort or early dislodgement of the stent. Comparing the Firlit-Kluge stent to commercially available salivary stents, the cost savings in the Firlit-Kluge stent group was $2,480.16 compared with the cost of the Walvekar and Schaitkin stents (Hood Laboratories, Pembroke, MA) and $880.15 to $1,120.00 compared with Ad-Tech-Med stents (Lublin, Poland). However, the cost of the Firlit-Kluge stent exceeded the costs of the Braun IV catheter, Bard infant urinary catheter (Bard Medical Division, CR Bard, Louisville, CO), and CORFLO ULTRA stent by $60.48, $24.64, and $258.72, respectively. Conclusions The Firlit-Kluge urinary catheter incurs considerable cost savings compared with commercial stents, and its silicone makeup and ball flange enhances comfort and prevents dislodgment by aiding in suture placement.
Use of Oral Anticoagulation for Patients with ESRD on Hemodialysis with Atrial Fibrillation: Verdict 1

In this issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology , McCullough et al. ([1][1]) and Keskar et al. ([2][2]) present compelling perspectives for both the pros and cons of anticoagulation use in patients with ESRD and atrial fibrillation (AF). Patients with ESRD uniquely have
Just Say NO to Nitrous

A 65-year-old man is having an open prostatectomy. His ejection fraction is 30 % due to previous myocardial infarctions. He has multiple coronary artery stents for his extensive coronary artery disease. In addition he is in rate-controlled atrial fibrillation treated with metoprolol and flecainamide. The patient is advised to have a neuraxial anesthetic but he declines. The risks and benefits of a general anesthetic are explained to the patient, and it is decided to give a small dose of sevoflurane with the addition of nitrous oxide and fentanyl to pick up the “slack.” The case is discussed in morning conference, and the majority of providers do not agree with the use of nitrous oxide.
The Palliative Care Quality Network: Improving the Quality of Caring.

Abstract Objective: Describe the establishment of the palliative care quality network (PCQN) with guidance on how teams can develop similar collaborations. Background: In the current healthcare environment, palliative care (PC) teams must be able to demonstrate value and provide efficient care while supporting the clinicians who provide that care. Description: The PCQN is a national quality improvement (QI) collaborative comprised of specialty PC teams from a diverse range of hospitals across the United States Results: PCQN members identified five core activities to support PC teams. 1) Collection of standardized data: 23 core items and 22 optional data elements document patient demographics, consultation characteristics, processes of care, and clinical outcomes. 2) Data analyses with benchmarking including reports generated in real time providing summary, trend, member comparison, and cross-tab analyses. 3) QI collaborative; QI initiatives have addressed pain management, surrogate decision-making, spirit...
The Use of Embedded Mobile, RFID, Location Based Services, and Augmented Reality in Mobile Applications

The proliferation of mobile devices such as smart phones and other handheld appliances has stimulated the development of a broad range of functionality, including medical, retail, gaming, and perso...
Factors associated with postoperative renal dysfunction and the subsequent impact on survival after open juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm repair

Abstract Background Renal dysfunction is a well-described complication of open juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, but the associated risk factors and corresponding impact on survival are not well described. Methods We identified all patients not on hemodialysis undergoing open repair of nonruptured juxtarenal aneurysms in the Vascular Quality Initiative from 2003 to 2017. We used mixed-effects logistic regression to determine factors associated with in-hospital postoperative renal dysfunction, including acute kidney injury (AKI, defined as serum creatinine concentration increase >0.5 mg/dL) and new renal replacement therapy (RRT), as well as the association between postoperative renal function and perioperative mortality. Cox regression was used to determine the association between postoperative renal complications and long-term survival. Results We identified 2635 open juxtarenal repairs, of which 621 (24%) were complicated by AKI. The majority of these (20% of the overall cohort) were AKI alone, but 2.2% required temporary RRT and an additional 1.7% were permanently dialysis dependent. Factors independently associated with postoperative renal dysfunction included renal-visceral ischemia time (per minute: odds ratio [OR], 1.01 [1.01-1.02]; P 25 minutes, but risk increased stepwise thereafter (25-39 minutes: OR, 1.6 [1.2-2.1; P = .004]; 40+ minutes: OR, 2.6 [1.9-3.5; P Conclusions Postoperative renal dysfunction, even a mild elevation in creatinine concentration, is associated with higher perioperative and long-term mortality. Although the routine use of mannitol and cold renal perfusion was not associated with postoperative renal dysfunction after open juxtarenal repair, cold renal perfusion was associated with lower risk of AKI if clamp times exceeded 25 minutes.
A BEM Approach for Transient Conduction-Convection in Machining Processes

A boundary element method (BEM) formulation for the solution of transient conduction-convection problems is developed here. A time-dependent fundamental solution for moving heat source problems is utilized for this purpose. This reduces the governing parabolic partial differential equations to a boundary-only form and obviates the need for any internal discretization. Such a formulation is also expected to be stable at high Peclet numbers. Numerical examples are included to establish the validity of the approach and to demonstrate the salient features of the BEM algorithm. The proposed BEM algorithm is also used to investigate the transient thermal aspects of machining processes, and the numerical results are presented.
Interventional Radiology of the Prostate

Interventional techniques involving the prostate may be utilized for either diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. The most important of these techniques are pedal lymphangiography with needle aspiration biopsy of visualized nodes, embolization of postprostatectomy or postbiopsy prostatic bleeding, and balloon dilation of obstructing benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). There will be individually addressed. Needle biopsy of the prostate under sonographic guidance has been previously discussed.
Roundtable discussion Nathan Rosenberg Memorial Issue

Author(s): Teece, DJ | Abstract: During an Industrial and Corporate Change conference at the University of California, Berkeley in December 2016, a roundtable discussion on "The Legacy of Nathan Rosenberg and the Importance of Economic History" was held on December 12th, 2016. The discussion was chaired by Professor David J. Teece and included Professors David C. Mowery whose introductory comments form the basis of the present Introduction to this Nathan Rosenberg Memorial Issue. It also included roundtable interventions by Professors Kenneth Arrow, Giovanni Dosi, Uve Granstrand, Richard R. Nelson, and Gavin Wright. The following text constitutes a revised version of the contributions by each participant.
Abstract WP352: Clinical Outcomes of Patients Undergoing BrainPath-assisted Evacuation of Intracerebral Hematomas

Introduction: Multiple clinical trials have failed to show that surgical intervention leads to better outcomes than medical management for patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Newer and le...
Obstructive sleep apnea, positive airway pressure treatment, and postoperative delirium: protocol for a retrospective observational study

ABSTRACT Introduction Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is common among older surgical patients, and delirium is a frequent and serious postoperative complication. Emerging evidence suggests that OSA increases the risk for postoperative delirium. We hypothesize that OSA is an independent risk factor for postoperative delirium, and that in patients with OSA, perioperative adherence to positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy decreases the incidence of postoperative delirium and its sequelae. The proposed retrospective cohort analysis study will use existing datasets to: (i) describe and compare the incidence of postoperative delirium in surgical patients based on OSA diagnosis and treatment with PAP; (ii) assess whether preoperatively untreated OSA is independently associated with postoperative delirium; and (iii) explore whether preoperatively untreated OSA is independently associated with worse postoperative quality of life. The findings of this study will inform on the potential utility and approach of an interventional trial aimed at preventing postoperative delirium in patients with diagnosed and undiagnosed OSA. Methods and Analysis Observational data from existing electronic databases will be used, including over 100,000 surgical patients and ∼10,000 intensive care unit (ICU) admissions. We will obtain the incidence of postoperative delirium in adults admitted postoperatively to the ICU who underwent structured preoperative assessment, including OSA diagnosis and screening. We will use doubly robust propensity score methods to assess whether untreated OSA independently predicts postoperative delirium. Using similar methodology, we will assess if untreated OSA independently predicts worse postoperative quality of life. Ethics and dissemination This study has been approved by the Human Research Protection Office at Washington University School of Medicine. We will publish the results in a peer-reviewed venue. Because the data is secondary and high risk for re-identification, we will not publicly share the data. Data will be destroyed after 1 year of completion of active IRB approved projects. Article summary Strengths and limitations of this study, (containing 5 short bullet points, no longer than one sentence each, that relate specifically to the methods) Our granular database includes routine structured preoperative screening for OSA, processed laboratory results, and verified comorbid diagnoses. We have limited information on the severity of most comorbidities, creating the possibility for substantial residual confounding. Our database includes near-universal and standardized nurse-driven delirium evaluations at multiple time-points as well as clinician diagnoses. Compared to prior studies, the large sample size will allow for more aggressive confounder adjustment utilizing linked structured medical histories, intraoperative records, and administrative data. Selection bias and confounding by indication are important limitations, which we will address using advanced statistical methods.
Comparing automatically extracted topics from online suicidal ideation and the responses they invoke

Suicide is a national public health concern, claiming over one million lives each year worldwide. The ability to understand, identify, and respond to suicidal behavior remains a key priority in preventing suicide. As online social networks have grown in accessibility and popularity, it is increasingly common for users to both discuss mental health and receive support from others online. These online conversations have previously been evaluated by analyzing the language features of social media posts and detecting risk factors and levels of distress among users. In this work, we use natural language processing tools to automatically extract informal topics within posts discussing suicidal ideation and the responses to these posts. Our evaluation demonstrates that frequent topics within the posts represent psychiatrically defined risk factors for suicide, and frequent topics within the responses represent CDC recommended responses to suicidal ideation based on identified protective factors.
A 20-year tertiary cancer center’s experience utilizing the pedicled gracilis myocutaneous flap

The gracilis myocutaneous flap is a versatile reconstructive option. Despite wide applicability, concerns are often raised regarding the unreliable vascular perfusion of the distal third of the flap’s skin paddle. This study presents our experience utilizing the pedicled gracilis myocutaneous flap for various oncologic defects to highlight the versatility, safety, and utility of this flap. A retrospective analysis was performed for patients who underwent reconstruction utilizing a gracilis myocutaneous flap over the course of 20 years (January 1998–June 2018). Postoperative outcomes were reviewed to determine the incidence of infection, dehiscence, seroma, or hematoma for both donor and recipient sites. Incidence of flap skin or muscle loss was also recorded. A total of 37 patients met our inclusion criteria, and data from 41 vertically oriented gracilis myocutaneous flaps was analyzed. A majority of our patients had a previously irradiated wound bed (73%). The overall donor site complication rate was 19.5%. The recipient site complication rate was 41.5% and included partial flap loss (14.6%). Partial flap loss included distal flap skin necrosis incidence (9.7%). When taking into account the size of the primary defect prompting reconstruction and prior recipient bed irradiation history, our cohort shows reasonable complication rates. Distal tip skin necrosis rate was also low, which suggests that the distal third’s vascular supply should not be a limiting factor. Level of evidence Level IV, therapeutic study.
Design of a Microstrip Patch Antenna as a Moisture Sensor

Determining moisture content correctly in different materials or grains is the need of various industries today. Various techniques are suggested in the literature for sensing moisture contents of different materials. Horn antenna and microstrip antenna are the most commonly used antennas for finding moisture content, because of the noncontact type of measurement of moisture present in the sample. The microwave measuring technique offers a very exact and reliable measurement of the concentration of moisture. In the proposed system microstrip patch antenna at 900 MHz resonant frequency is designed and different materials like sodium carbonate, borax, potassium chloride, and lactose are tested for moisture content. For the fixed quantity of the sample, water content is gradually increased and return loss is measured. It is observed that with the increase in moisture content, return loss decreases.
Effect of circadian rhythm on the pain associated with preventive onabotulinumtoxinA injections for migraines.

The aim of our research was to assess if the pain and discomfort following each quarterly onabotulinumtoxinA (BTA) injection given to prevent daily headaches/migraines is circadian time-dependent s...
How Realistic Are Estimates of Health Benefits from Air Pollution Control

Chapter 13 established that income is an important confounder of some air pollution-associated health effects: low income increases health risks and is also associated with living in areas having higher air pollution levels. This raises the public health question: would reducing air pollution levels without addressing the other correlates of low income that might contribute to increased health risks, be effective in reducing health risks? Decades of regulatory science and political opinion have answered this question loudly and repeatedly in the affirmative. As discussed in subsequent chapters, practical experience has been much less encouraging, with substantial reductions in air pollution often making no clear contribution to causing improved public health. However, notwithstanding this experience, media, regulatory, and advocacy reports and recommendations continue to overwhelmingly assert that fine particulate matter (PM2.5, i.e., particulate matter smaller than 2.5 μm in diameter) in outdoor air kills people and causes serious health problems. Regulatory proposals to further decrease currently permitted levels of pollutants are supported by reference to large estimated or predicted health benefits from doing so. For example, in early 2011, the EPA released the results of its cost-benefit analysis of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments (CAAA). The assessment made two striking claims (EPA 2011a): (1) As of 2020, the CAAA would produce estimated health benefits valued at approximately two trillion (i.e., two thousand billion) dollars per year, compared to estimated compliance costs of only about $65 billion/year; and (2) The uncertainties in the cost-benefit analysis are small enough so that, “The extent to which estimated benefits exceed estimated costs and an in-depth analysis of uncertainties indicate that it is extremely unlikely the costs of 1990 Clean Air Act Amendment programs would exceed their benefits under any reasonable combination of alternative assumptions or methods identified during this study” (emphasis in original).
Child Care Provider Awareness and Prevention of Cytomegalovirus and Other Infectious Diseases

Child care facilities are prime locations for the transmission of infectious and communicable diseases. Children and child care providers are at high risk for cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection which causes severe birth defects and developmental delays. The goals of study were: (1) to determine the level of cytomegalovirus awareness and other infectious diseases among child care providers, and (2) to determine what measures providers are taking to prevent the spread of infectious disease. This is a descriptive study. We used the Dillman total design method to survey a random sample of licensed family and residential child care providers. We used a 29-item questionnaire to ask about awareness of cytomegalovirus and other infectious diseases, knowledge of how to control spread of these diseases, sources of information, personal hand hygiene behaviors, and demographics. The response rate was 68.6 %. Awareness of infectious diseases ranged from 12.8 to 99.4 %; 18.5 % ‘had’ heard of CMV. Respondent’s primary sources of information were health care providers and the Internet. Self-report of hand hygiene behavior was high. Providers do not know how to appropriately sanitize surfaces to reduce spread of disease. Awareness of CMV and how to prevent transmission of infectious disease is low. Intervening with child care providers and parents through child care facilities are key opportunities to reduce prevalence of CMV infection and other diseases.
The Clinical Features of Diabetes

The symptoms of diabetes mellitus are highly variable, extending over a wide spectrum of presentations. On one end, the disease may remain asymptomatic and be detected during routine screening; at the other end of the spectrum, the disease can cause diverse symptoms involving several organ systems with acute or chronic decompensation.
Ureteroscopy Without Fluoroscopy: A Feasibility Study and Comparison with Conventional Ureteroscopy.

Abstract Introduction and Objectives: Patients with urolithiasis are exposed to significant amounts of radiation during their initial work-up, surgical treatment, and follow-up. The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of performing ureteroscopy without fluoroscopy. In addition, we compared patients treated using a completely fluoroless ureteroscopic technique with a cohort of conventional ureteroscopies performed using fluoroscopy. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of 50 consecutive patients undergoing fluoroless ureteroscopy was performed. These procedures were performed by inserting guidewires and instruments using tactile feedback, direct visualization, and external visual cues to substitute for fluoroscopy. In addition, this cohort was compared with 50 conventional, fluoroscopy-guided ureteroscopies performed in the same time period. Results: Fifty ureteroscopies were performed without image guidance. For this cohort, the mean operative time was 59.2 minutes, overall sto...
Comparative nucleotide sequence analysis of growth-rate-regulated gnd alleles from natural isolates of Escherichia coli and from Salmonella typhimurium LT-2.

Abstract A comparative study of gnd genes from Escherichia coli strains isolated from natural populations and laboratory strains and from Salmonella typhimurium was undertaken. In the accompanying paper (G. J. Barcak and R. E. Wolf, Jr., J. Bacteriol. 170:365-371, 1988), we showed that the growth-rate-dependent regulation of gnd expression was conserved among four natural E. coli isolates and E. coli B/r in a manner qualitatively similar to that of the gene from E. coli K-12. Here, we report the DNA sequence of the 5' regulatory region and the first 125 codons of the structural gene for the five E. coli gnd genes and the gnd gene from S. typhimurium LT-2. The sequences differed from one another by 5% on the average. All sequences defined putative secondary structures of the mRNA leader, which were previously proposed to be important in the regulation of the K-12 gene. In addition, a sequence between codons 69 and 74, which is highly complementary to the ribosome-binding site of the mRNA, was conserved in all the genes. The sequence data are discussed with respect to potential regulatory consequences.
Lambda phage cro repressor: Non-specific DNA binding

Abstract The interaction of lambda phage cro repressor with double-stranded non-specific DNA has been investigated by monitoring the quenching of its intrinsic tyrosyl fluorescence. The McGhee & von Hippel (1974) analysis of the binding of cro repressor to DNA showed that cro repressor undergoes structural variations in the ionic strength range from 0.04 to 0.18 m -KCl. Under these salt conditions, the excluded binding site size of cro repressor on the DNA lattice changes from three to four base-pairs (6 to 8 nucleotides) at the lower ionic strengths, to seven to eight base-pairs (14 to 16 nucleotides) at the higher ionic strength. Quaternary structure variation, which does not cause the excluded site size variation, was also noted at low ionic strengths. Evidence is presented to indicate that cro repressor binds only one side of the DNA helix, such that cro repressor covers a stretch of 14 to 16 nucleotides along one side of the helix in the presence of 0.2 m -salt. Under conditions where the cro repressor structure is constant, approximately nine ion-pairs are formed in the cro repressor-non-specific DNA complex. These results are in agreement with the model proposed by Anderson et al. (1981) .
Exact, closed-form field expressions for traveling-wave current filaments in homogeneous space

Exact, closed-form field expressions are derived for the canonical problem of electromagnetic radiation by a semi-infinite traveling-wave current filament in free space. In order to avoid time consuming numerical integration, the fields are represented in terms of complementary incomplete Lipschitz-Hankel integrals, whose series expansions allow for accurate and efficient computation of the field components everywhere in space. The field expressions are also shown to reduce to elementary functions in many special cases, e.g., in the far-zone, in the vicinity of the current filament, and when the propagation constant along the wire is that of free space. Representative plots for the electric field components are presented for values of the propagation constant corresponding to both fast and slow-wave propagation. Since a superposition of two semi-infinite current filaments yields a finite-length current filament, the method and the results obtained in this paper can be readily applied to a number of proble...
Spatial Representations of Taxi Drivers

The issue that guides the present research programme concerns the representation of large-scale environments, environments that are too large to be perceived from a single vantage point. In particular, this paper is concerned with the effects of experience on the representation of a large urban environment, and how experience is manipulated by the use of expert and novice taxi drivers.
400-nm Photoluminescence of a Color Center in Undoped YAG Grown Under Reducing Atmosphere

Color centers in yttrium aluminum garnet have not been as heavily studied as in halides and some other oxides. The studies which have been done were usually undertaken from the perspective of minimizing defects and photo-induced absorption which can degrade the laser performance of Nd:YAG.(1-7) In the hope of developing broadly tunable visible and near-ultraviolet color center lasers in oxide crystal hosts including YAG, we have undertaken efforts to maximize rather than minimize certain defects and to explore their photoluminescence properties. In this paper we address a defect which absorbs at 370 nm and emits in a broad band at 400 nm in undoped (as well as Nd doped) YAG grown under a partial CO reducing atmosphere at the Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics. The photo luminescence was first observed in 1974 by one of the authors (G. Wu)(8) in crystals grown by the method to be described below.
Dispersability and vulnerability analysis of certificate systems

A certificate is a way to distribute public keys of users in a distributed system. For example, in the current Internet, certificates are heavily used in SSL/TLS for securing e-commerce. In this thesis, we describe the three phases of a certificate, how a certificate is issued, used, and revoked/expired. In particular, we propose a new way of distributing certificates, called certificate dispersal. Certificate dispersal assigns certificates to users such that when a user u wants to securely communicate with another user v in a system, users u and v may find out the public key of user v based on the certificates stored in u or v. In other words, users u and v have no need to contact any other user in the system. We define dispersal in two environments, a certificate graph and a certificate chain set and the costs of dispersal. In the environment of certificate chain set, computing an optimal dispersal is NP-complete. However, we identify several classes of chain sets and certificate graphs for which optimal dispersal can be computed in polynomial-time. For each class we present an algorithm that computes an optimal dispersal. We also analyze the vulnerability of certificate systems. Any certificate system suffer from impersonation attacks when a private key of a user is revealed to an adversary. We define the metric called vulnerability that measures the scope of damage when some private keys are revealed, and show how different certificate systems have different vulnerabilities. These results can be used to design a good certificate system that satisfies system requirements of dispersal cost and vulnerability.
HEREDITARY OROTIC ACIDURIA I. A NEW CASE WITH FAMILY STUDIES

A new case of hereditary orotic aciduria is reported. Clinical manifestations included growth retardation, orotic acid crystalluria, and a megaloblastic anemia. Uridine therapy produced a prompt hematologic response and a rapid acceleration of growth. Orotic acid excretion on treatment ranged from 0.96 gm to 3.89 gm orotic acid per gram creatinine, and no decrease in excretion was observed when the uridine dosage was increased from 0.75 to 2.0 gm per day. Studies of the patient9s erythrocytes revealed a virtual absence of the activity of orotidylic pyrophosphorylase and orotidylic decarboxylase. Previously undescribed studies of liver revealed the enzymatic deficiency in this tissue as well. Four generations of the patient9s family were evaluated with erythrocyte enzyme assays and with a urinary screening test developed during the course of these studies. A subject apparently unrelated to the propositus was unexpectedly found to be a carrier of the disorder. Investigation of his family revealed other heterozygous individuals. With the pedigrees of these families, an autosomal, recessive mode of inheritance was demonstrated.
Evaluation of the pulmonary vasculature with three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging techniques

Cardiac and respiratory motion during the long acquisition times required in 3d magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can lead to excessive image degradation and consequently poor diagnosis and interpretation in the thoracic region. This paper addresses the issue of obtaining good image quality with 3d gradient echo (GE) imaging in the study of the pulmonary vascular system and its diseases. To study the pulmonary vascular system two approaches have been considered. First, a proton density/inflow weighted scan consisting of a syncopated 3d FLASH acquisition is used to provide a 3d pulmonary angiogram. Secondly, aT 1 weighted scan using 3d IR-FLASH (inversion recovery FLASH) helps in determining the presence of pulmonary emboli. Multiple acquisitions and rectangular field of view are utilized to pseudogate to the respiratory period in order to reduce motion artifacts while keeping reasonable imaging times. Technical aspects on data collection during the approach to equilibrium and acquisition strategies in the presence of thoracic motion and its impact on vessel resolution are addressed. The method has proven successful for imaging volunteers and, more recently, in obtaining useful clinical information.
Spatial frequency and light-spread descriptions of visual acuity and hyperacuity

Resolution (visual acuity) and differential spatial localization (hyperacuity) targets were selected to allow rigorous psychophysical measurements as well as ready expression of both their spatial frequency spectrum and their retinal image light distribution. Thresholds were about 1 arcmin for acuity and 4–6 arcsec for hyperacuity. As is consistent with the reciprocal relationship between the space and spatial frequency domains, the small locally restricted spatial differences between just distinguishable patterns are represented in the frequency domain by equally small differences, which are distributed over the entire spatial frequency spectrum. While they occur in many test situations, phase variations of spatial frequency components are not necessary for achieving optimum acuity and hyperacuity.
Fracture behavior of hybrid composites containing both short and continuous fibers

A method for improving the fracture resistance of brittle polymer composites was explored. This method involved the incorporation of short fibers in a thermosetting resin before being used for impregnating the continuous fibers or fabrics. The impact fracture energy and the maximum load experienced by the hybrid can be associated with the parameters of short fibers (e.g., volume fraction and mechanical properties). Electron micrographs of the fracture surfaces of the specimen loaded under mode I and mode II conditions indicate that the short fiber modified composites have a significantly greater fracture surface area and higher level of plastic deformation than the unmodified composites. The data from all the tests demonstrate that adding a small amount of short fibers can significantly improve the interlaminar fracture toughness and impact resistance of graphite/epoxy composites. However, a high volume fraction of added short fibers could make it difficult to out-gas during compression-molding, leading to a high void content and reduced mechanical properties of composites.
Associations between microtubules and intracellular organelles.

Every membranous organelle can interact with the cytoskeleton. Plasma membrane has its associated actin cortex, actin and intermediate filament bundles. Transport vesicles form by using clathrin or non-clathrin coats to bud off from donor membranes. The nucleus is held in place by the intermediate filament system. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER), Golgi complex, mitochondria, lysosomes and secretory granules interact with microtubules. In this review the main focus is membrane-microtubule interactions.
Understanding brands, branding and brand equity

Branding has become a top management priority which has necessitated that all members of an organisation have an understanding and appreciation of some branding basics. Towards that goal, this paper outlines some important principles of brands, branding and brand equity. The paper also highlights some key concepts in building, measuring and managing brand equity.
Application of Amine Elimination for the Efficient Preparation of Electrophilic ansa-Monocyclopentadienyl Group 4 Complexes Containing an Appended Amido Functionality. Structural Characterization of [(C5H4)SiMe2(N-t-Bu)]ZrCl2(NMe2H)

The homologous series of ansa-monocyclopentadienyl amido complexes [(C5H4)SiMe2(N-t-Bu)]M(NMe2)2 (M = Ti (2), Zr (3), Hf (4)) and [(C5Me4)SiMe2(N-t-Bu)]Zr(NMe2)2 (8) are prepared in 70−85% isolated yields by heating the neat 1:1 reaction mixture of (C5R4H)SiMe2(N(H)-t-Bu), where R = H, Me, and M(NMe2)4, at 110−120 °C for 24−48 h under a N2 purge. Whereas the reactions of 2 with 2 equiv of [NEt3H]Cl or HCl produce a mixture of [(C5H4)SiMe2(N-t-Bu)]TiCl2 (5) and [(C5H4)SiMe2Cl]TiCl2(NMe2)(NMe2H) (6), the reaction of 2 with SiMe3Cl in toluene provides a suitable route for the quantitative conversion of 2 to 5. Alternatively, the reactions of 3 and 8 with 2 equiv of [NEt3H]Cl or HCl afford solely the dimethylamine adduct [(C5H4)SiMe2(N-t-Bu)]ZrCl2(NMe2H) (7) and the dichloride derivative [(C5Me4)SiMe2(N-t-Bu)]ZrCl2 (1), respectively. Compounds 1−8 have been characterized in solution by NMR measurements, and the molecular structures of 2, 7, and 8 have been determined by X-ray crystallography. The M−N(appended...