cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Endogenous dilator prostaglandins in congenital heart disease

Maintaining patency of the ductus arteriosus pending surgical intervention can be critical to the survival of the neonate with ductal dependent congenital heart disease. Spontaneously delayed ductal closure has been observed clinically and experimentally in newborns with critical pulmonic stenosis. Infants with ductal dependent congenital heart lesions were therefore studied to ascertain whether there was an endogenous increase in dilator prostaglandins prolonging ductal patency.
Do Hookups Hurt? Exploring College Students’ Experiences and Perceptions

Introduction: Hookups refer to a range of sexual or physically intimate behaviors characterized by a lack of any expectation of a relationship or emotional intimacy. This study was designed to assess college students’ experiences and perceptions about hookups as related to mental/emotional and physical health issues. Methods: Students at a 2-year liberal arts college in the southeastern United States participated. A survey was created using current evidence on hookups and health issues. Random sampling invited 300 students to take the anonymous online survey. Responses to open-ended questions were analyzed quantitatively; content analysis was used to assess responses to 2 open-ended questions. Results: Participants (N = 210) reported their own or their friends’ experiences as a result of a hookup. Feelings included sexual regret (reported by 62%), relationship/interpersonal conflict (48%), negative emotional reactions (47%), negative social repercussions (41%), learning to “shut down” emotionally (33%), psychological distress (31%), loss of friend(s) or peer group (28%), anxiety (28%), depression (21%), and sexually transmitted infections (19%). Most students (60%) had at least one hookup experience; more than half (55%) had mixed feelings/ambivalence about these experiences. Qualitative analysis identified 6 themes regarding reasons for sexual regret: regret over choice of partner, negative social repercussions, hopes for relationship did not materialize, moral issues, too much/too fast/too drunk, and suboptimal sexual performance/experience. Discussion: The findings indicate that a significant level of negative health issues is experienced in conjunction with hookups, and health care providers should be aware and educate patients appropriately.
A random walk model based approach for quantifying technology emergence and impact for research articles

This article presents our proposal of using a random walk model based approach for quantifying technology emergence and impact for research articles based on a concept map extracted from related literature databases. The same approach should be easily adapted to citation networks and author networks.
Mono-allelic VSG expression by RNA polymerase I in Trypanosoma brucei: expression site control from both ends?

Abstract Trypanosoma brucei is a vector borne, lethal protistan parasite of humans and livestock in sub-Saharan Africa. Antigenic variation of its cell surface coat enables the parasite to evade adaptive immune responses and to live freely in the blood of its mammalian hosts. The coat consists of ten million copies of variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) that is expressed from a single VSG gene, drawn from a large repertoire and located near the telomere at one of fifteen so-called bloodstream expression sites (BESs). Thus, antigenic variation is achieved by switching to the expression of a different VSG gene. A BES is a tandem array of expression site-associated genes and a terminal VSG gene. It is polycistronically transcribed by a multifunctional RNA polymerase I (RNAPI) from a short promoter that is located 45–60 kb upstream of the VSG gene. The mechanism(s) restricting VSG expression to a single BES are not well understood. There is convincing evidence that epigenetic silencing and transcription attenuation play important roles. Furthermore, recent data indicated that there is regulation at the level of transcription initiation and that, surprisingly, the VSG mRNA appears to have a role in restricting VSG expression to a single gene. Here, we review BES expression regulation and propose a model in which telomere-directed, epigenetic BES silencing is opposed by BES promoter-directed, activated RNAPI transcription.
Are corticosteroids salvage therapy for refractory acute respiratory distress syndrome

Abstract Background : Late acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), characterized by progressive pulmonary interstitial fibroproliferation, is associated with mortality >80%. Although previous large prospective trials failed to show a benefit of steroids in early ARDS, recent small reports describe improved survival in patients with late ARDS. Recognizing the pathogenetic differences between early and late ARDS, we employed steroid therapy in patients with refractory late ARDS. Patients and methods : Over a 5-year period, we treated 6 patients who were dying of isolated refractory ARDS with methylprednisolone sodium succinate (1 to 2 mg/kg every 6 hours). Ventilatory parameters and lung injury scores were serially recorded, and steroids were weaned based on clinical response. Results : Steroids were instituted after 16 days of advanced mechanical ventilatory support. By day 7 of steroid therapy, there was clinically significant improvement in PaO 2 FiO 2 ratios (84 to 172) and lung injury scores (3.6 to 2.9); 5 patients (83%) survived. Conclusions : Steroid therapy appears to be effective in patients with refractory late ARDS. Prospective trials are needed to define the indications, timing of intervention, dose and duration, and precautions of steroid therapy.
Sulfate aerosol production in coal-fired power plant plumes

Abstract As part of the Winter Study of Power Plant Effects (WISPE), air chemistry measurements were made in the plumes of the coal-burning Bowen Electric Generating Plant in northwest Georgia. Ten flights were made using the instrumented Pennsylvania State University research aircraft. Measurements included condensation nuclei concentration, aerosol size distribution and sulfur dioxide concentration. Quantitative chemical analysis of impactor-collected sulfate particles, together with these measurements, allowed for calculation of SO2-sulfate conversion rates. In addition, nuclei concentrations were analyzed as a function of plume age and position in the plume. SO2 conversion rates and nuclei production were examined for dependence on various meteorological parameters in order to better understand the mechanisms of sulfate aerosol production. A comparison was made with the findings of a similar study conducted at the Keystone Power Plant in southwestern Pennsylvania. The conversion rates of SO2 to SO42− were under 0.2 % h−1 with the exception of one flight for which a rate of 2.3% h−1 was calculated. Nuclei production was found to be dependent on both solar flux and plume dilution. Evidence of enhanced nuclei production at plume borders was also found. This implies that entrainment of photochemically produced species from the surrounding air mass is responsible for gas-phase oxidation which results in nuclei production.
C and tcc: a language and compiler for dynamic code generation

Dynamic code generation allows programmers to use run-time information in order to achieve performance and expressiveness superior to those of static code. The 'C(Tick C) language is a superset of ANSI C that supports efficient and high-level use of dynamic code generation. 'C provides dynamic code generation at the level of C expressions and statements and supports the composition of dynamic code at run time. These features enable programmers to add dynamic code generation to existing C code incrementally and to write important applications (such as “just-in-time” compilers) easily. The article presents many examples of how 'C can be used to solve practical problems. The tcc compiler is an efficient, portable, and freely available implementation of 'C. tcc allows programmers to trade dynamic compilation speed for dynamic code quality: in some aplications, it is most important to generate code quickly, while in others code quality matters more than compilation speed. The overhead of dynamic compilation is on the order of 100 to 600 cycles per generated instruction, depending on the level of dynamic optimizaton. Measurements show that the use of dynamic code generation can improve performance by almost an order of magnitude; two- to four-fold speedups are common. In most cases, the overhead of dynamic compilation is recovered in under 100 uses of the dynamic code; sometimes it can be recovered within one use.
The effects of organic nitrogen sources on growth of cell cultures of Douglas‐fir

In order to establish rapidly growing, friable cell cultures of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirb. (Franco)], the effects of organic sources of nitrogen on growth were investigated. Of the nitrogen sources studied, including allantoin, allantoic acid, glutamine and glutamic acid, all were capable of increasing growth. Glutamine (50 mM) produced the most marked increase in growth boosting dry weight production to a level of four times that of controls. Glutamine additions also eliminated the lag phase of growth and caused cells to become densely cytoplasmic. Results are discussed in relation to the pathway for assimilation of nitrogen.
Sites of inhibition of DNA synthesis by kethoxal bis(thiosemicarbazone).

THE growth of several neoplastic cell lines is inhibited by 2-keto-3-ethoxybutyraldehyde bis(thiosemicarbazone) [kethoxal bis(thiosemicarbazone); KTS]1–9, an agent which forms tetradentate chelates with metals of the first, second and third transition series. In the presence of either copper or zinc ions the antineoplastic potency of KTS is markedly increased, particularly with the cupric chelate [Cu(lI)KTS]8–12.
Mammography focal spot measurement with a star pattern: Techniques to avoid inaccuracies

The increased emphasis on mammography acceptance testing and quality control make the star pattern test an essential component of the procedure for diagnosing poor resolution due to large focal spots. In this paper procedures for calculating magnification and the correct angle of the star pattern to use are described. The preferred placement of the star pattern in the field and proper exposure technique is also discussed.
Floquet-Bloch states, quasienergy bands, and high-order harmonic generation for single-walled carbon nanotubes under intense laser fields

We study the electronic states and nonlinear motion of $\ensuremath{\pi}$ electrons in an armchair nanotube driven by monochromatic intense laser fields with polarization parallel to the nanotube axis. The intensity and frequency (photon energy) of the applied laser fields are varied so their effect on the electrons can be understood. In each case, Floquet-Bloch theory is used to calculate the Floquet-Bloch states, quasienergy band, mean energy band, and electron current density. By summing up the current density of all occupied Floquet-Bloch states, the harmonic generation spectrum can be determined. We demonstrate that the deformation of quasienergy band and mean energy band is related to high-order harmonic generation. Only the states deviating from field-free eigenstates may contribute to high-order harmonic generation.
COMPLETE AUTOMATIC TARGET CUER/RECOGNITION SYSTEM FOR TACTICAL FORWARD-LOOKING INFRARED IMAGES

A complete forward-looking IR (FLIR) automatic target cuer/ recognizer (ATC/R) is presented. The data used for development and testing of this ATC/R are first generation FLIR images collected using a F-15E. The database contains thousands of images with various mission profiles and target arrangements. The specific target of interest is a mobile missile launcher, the primary target. The goal is to locate all vehicles (secondary targets) within a scene and identify the primary targets. The system developed and tested includes an image segmenter, region cluster algorithm, feature extractor, and classifier. Conventional image processing algorithms in conjunction with neural network techniques are used to form a complete ATC/R system. The conventional techniques include hit/miss filtering, difference of Gaussian filtering, and region clustering. A neural network (multilayer perceptron) is used for classification. These algorithms are developed, tested and then combined into a functional ATC/R system. Overall primary target detection rate (cuer) is 84% with a 69% primary target identification (recognizer) rate at ranges relevant to munitions release. Furthermore, the false alarm rate (a nontarget cued as a target) is only 2.3 per scene. The research is being completed with a 10 flight test profile using third generation FLIR images.
Influence of bedsharing activity on breastfeeding duration among US mothers.

Importance Some professional associations advocate bedsharing to facilitate breastfeeding, while others recommend against it to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome and suffocation deaths. A better understanding of the quantitative influence of bedsharing on breastfeeding duration is needed to guide policy. Objective To quantify the influence of bedsharing on breastfeeding duration. Design, Setting, and Participants Longitudinal data were from the Infant Feeding Practices Study II, which enrolled mothers while pregnant and followed them through the first year of infant life. Questionnaires were sent at infant ages 1 to 7, 9, 10, and 12 months, and 1846 mothers answered at least 1 question regarding bedsharing and were breastfeeding at infant age 2 weeks. Exposures Bedsharing, defined as the mother lying down and sleeping with her infant on the same bed or other sleeping surfaces for nighttime sleep or during the major sleep period. Main Outcomes and Measures Survival analysis to investigate the effect of bedsharing on duration of any and exclusive breastfeeding. Results Longer duration of bedsharing, indicated by a larger cumulative bedsharing score, was associated with a longer duration of any breastfeeding but not exclusive breastfeeding, after adjusting for covariates. Breastfeeding duration was longer among women who were better educated, were white, had previously breastfed, had planned to breastfeed, and had not returned to work in the first year postpartum. Conclusions and Relevance Multiple factors were associated with breastfeeding, including bedsharing. Given the risk of sudden infant death syndrome related to bedsharing, multipronged strategies to promote breastfeeding should be developed and tested.
Electronic Bulletin Board in a University Library--The University of Minnesota Experience.

For almost a decade, some libraries have offered access to electronic bulletin boards (Bulletin Board System, or BBS) for a variety of community service purposes. Public libraries, in particular, have been at the forefront of this development. Patrick Dewey has documented the BBS development he pioneered at the North‐Pulaski public library and other activity in this field.
Relationships Between Black and White Students in Intergroup Cooperation and Competition

Abstract Intergroup cooperation and competition were compared to determine their impact on cross-ethnic relationships. We assigned 48 sixth-grade students to conditions stratifying for minority status, ability, and sex. They participated in a study for 55 min a day for 10 instructional days. The results indicated that more positive cross-ethnic relationships were promoted by intergroup cooperation than by intergroup competition.
Experimental therapeutics for refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder: translational approaches and new somatic developments.

Significant advances over the past 20 years in our understanding of the phenomenology and pathophysiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder, made in part from structural and functional neuroimaging and genetics research, can guide treatments that target brain regions, circuits, and neurotransmitter systems specific to obsessive-compulsive disorder, the disruption of which may alleviate obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms. We discuss here our current understanding of the underlying neurobiology and heritability of obsessive-compulsive disorder and integrate that understanding with a review of the current pharmacological, neurosurgical, and brain stimulation treatments of refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder. Expanding on these studies, we hope that new pharmacological and psychological treatment strategies and research-driven targets for lesioning, stimulation, or other types of focal neuromodulation can be identified that could lead to future research directions. Cross-species translational research and neuroimaging of the physiological and anatomical pathways implicated in the pathophysiology and treatment response in obsessive-compulsive disorder will advance our understanding of the neural basis of obsessive-compulsive disorder and lead to more targeted and effective treatment options. Mt Sinai J Med 75:174–202, 2008. © 2008 Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Applications of Social Support Theory to Health Education: Implications for Work with the Elderly

The large body of evidence linking social support and health provides an important supplement to earlier theory and research suggesting the more direct role social contacts may play in influencing health behavior. Three major hypotheses have been set forth concerning the precise mechanism of action through which social support may work to maintain health and decrease susceptibility to illness. Each of these theoretical positions is described and its empirical base examined. The particular relevance of social support theory for work with the elderly is discussed. The concept of social marginality, and such network properties as strength of ties, reciprocity and network size are examined in light of their implications for the design of programs aimed in part at fostering social support among the elderly. Several examples of innovative health education programs are used to illustrate the relevance of different theoretical principles in practice settings. Attention finally is focused on the need for looking beyond social networks to the social policy and environmental contexts within which they operate. Facilitating change in those social and institutional policies which mitigate against network development and maintenance among the elderly is suggested as an important task for health education theorists and practitioners.
Support and crystallite size effects in ethylene oxidation catalysis

Abstract The influence of the support and metal crystallite size of silver catalysts under ethylene oxidation conditions is investigated. It is shown that the specific activity of silver can vary by as much as a factor of 50 depending on the carrier employed. Among the supports investigated, only α-Al 2 O 3 , ZrO 2 , SiC, and TiO 2 of the rutile structure, were found to offer non-zero apparent selectivities towards epoxide formation. The influence of metal crystallite size on the kinetic parameters was also found to depend on the carrier employed. Thus, the specific activity of Ag/α-Al 2 O 3 was found to exhibit a maximum at an average crystallite size of approximately 400A˚while that of Ag/SiO 2 increases with crystallite size and appears to level off at an average crystallite size of approximately 500A˚.
Cryogenic CMOS without an isolation well

Abstract A cryogenic CMOS inverter is described, which is fabricated on a moderately doped p-type Si substrate without an n-type isolation well for a cryogenic PMOSFET. Operation of the cryogenic PMOSFET is based on the freeze-out of charge carriers in the quasi-neutral region of the moderately doped Si substrate.
Prospective Study of Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Autoantibody Tests in the Diagnosis of Idiopathic Necrotizing-Crescentic Glomerulonephritis and Renal Vasculitis

We prospectively assessed the value of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (ANCA) and nuclear or perinuclear anti-neutrophil autoantibodies measured by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy and antimyeloperoxidase autoantibodies measured by a solid-phase assay in the diagnosis of idiopathic (pauci-immune) necrotizing-crescentic glomerulonephritis (NCGN) and renal vasculitis at our institution. A diagnosis was established on the basis of clinical and renal biopsy findings, and follow-up continued for at least 6 months. ANCA were measured at the conclusion of the study. Of the 111 study patients, 28 had NCGN and renal vasculitis. The immunofluorescence assay had 50% sensitivity and 79% specificity. The combination of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for antimyeloperoxidase autoantibodies and the immunofluorescence assay for cytoplasmic ANCA had 78% sensitivity and 84% specificity. A firm diagnosis was established before the determination of ANCA in 26 of the 28 patients with NCGN and renal vasculitis. The antimyeloperoxidase autoantibody values would have suggested the diagnosis in the other two patients. Of these 28 patients, 5 had negative ANCA results. High antimyeloperoxidase autoantibody values were detected in patients with NCGN and renal vasculitis, whereas lower values were less specific and were detected mainly in patients with anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody disease and lupus glomerulonephritis.
PROPOSED RECOIL MASS SPECTROGRAPH FOR DETECTING SUPERHEAVY NUCLEI.

Abstract A new type of mass spectrograph is being proposed for separating and identifying nuclei recoiling from a thin target bombarded with heavy ions. The scheme is aimed principally at superheavy nuclei produced in fusion reactions, e.g., 62154Sm + 52130Te, but it can also be used for lighter elements, e.g., for detecting proton-rich nuclei, such as products of the reaction 2040Ca + 2040Ca. The apparatus planned consists of a crossed-field velocity selector, deflecting horizontally, followed by a broad-range magnetic spectrograph deflecting vertically. The combination produces two-dimensional focusing and velocity focusing so that particles with constant M/q fall on sharp slanted lines on the detector with a relatively good mass resolution, independent of target thickness and beam homogeneity. The advantage of this scheme over a conventional Nier-type mass spectrograph for this purpose is that it can handle a large range of charge states of the recoiling nuclei. Preliminary plans for also determining Z of the recoiling nuclei include stopping-power or range measurements and detection of chatacteristic X-rays emitted either in the stopping process or following decay.
Adaptive-grid simulation of groundwater flow in heterogeneous aquifers

Abstract The prediction of contaminant transport in porous media requires the computation of the flow velocity. This work presents a methodology for high-accuracy computation of flow in a heterogeneous isotropic formation, employing a dual-flow formulation and adaptive gridding. The dual equations, describing the hydraulic head and the streamfunction, are numerically solved through finite element approximations. The application of classic finite-element methods requires a rather large number of nodes to represent suitably the flow in high-contrast formations. We present a mesh-adaptive approach that enhances the accuracy of the numerical flow solution for a given computational effort. We rely on an a posteriori error estimator to identify areas where refinements of the finite element mesh are needed or unrefinements are acceptable. We also demonstrate through numerical experiments that the developed methodology efficiently enhances accuracy through successive mesh adaptation.
The predictability of near-coastal currents using a baroclinic unstructured grid model

A limited domain, coastal ocean forecast system consisting of an unstructured grid model, a meteorological model, a regional ocean model, and a global tidal database is designed to be globally relocatable. For such a system to be viable, the predictability of coastal currents must be well understood with error sources clearly identified. To this end, the coastal forecast system is applied at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay in response to a Navy exercise. Two-day forecasts are produced for a 10-day period from 4 to 14 June 2010 and compared to real-time observations. Interplay between the temporal frequency of the regional model boundary forcing and the application of external tides to the coastal model impacts the tidal characteristics of the coastal current, even contributing a small phase error. Frequencies of at least 3 h are needed to resolve the tidal signal within the regional model; otherwise, externally applied tides from a database are needed to capture the tidal variability. Spatial resolution of the regional model (3 vs 1 km) does not impact skill of the current prediction. Tidal response of the system indicates excellent representation of the dominant M 2 tide for water level and currents. Diurnal tides, especially K 1, are amplified unrealistically with the application of coarse 27-km winds. Higher-resolution winds reduce current forecast error with the exception of wind originating from the SSW, SSE, and E. These winds run shore parallel and are subject to strong interaction with the shoreline that is poorly represented even by the 3-km wind fields. The vertical distribution of currents is also well predicted by the coastal model. Spatial and temporal resolution of the wind forcing including areas close to the shoreline is the most critical component for accurate current forecasts. Additionally, it is demonstrated that wind resolution plays a large role in establishing realistic thermal and density structures in upwelling prone regions.
Efficiency, resolution and speed of open tubular columns as compared to packed columns

Abstract Three ways are proposed for the comparison of true column performance: calculating the retention time needed for a given resolution, or the resolution obtained in a given time, or plotting resolution vs. retention time for various column types. The uti. ization of these methods is shown for three columns of different types (packed, wall-coated open tubular and support-coated open tubular) containing diethylene glycol succinate as the stationary phase and a fatty acid methyl ester mixture as the test substance, and the influence of various parameters on resolution and the time of analysis is discussed. Finally, the way this concept can be utilized to express true column performance is illustrated with a hypothetical case.
Purification and Partial Characterization of Deoxyribonuclease I from Bovine Parotid Gland

Deoxyribonuclease I has been purified from bovine parotid gland. The purification procedure utilizes an acid extraction of minced parotid gland, salt fractionation, gel filtration, and ion-exchange chromatography. The last step, chromatography on Sulfopropyl-Sephadex, resolves the enzymatic activity into several fractions. The major fraction, designated DNase A, was subjected to further investigation. This enzyme has, as expected, an alkaline pH optimum and an obligate requirement for divalent cations. The presence of calcium chloride protects DNase A from inactivation by proteolytic enzymes. Despite the previously described immunologic dissimilarity, there appears to be a large amount of homology between the parotid and pancreatic DNase's.
Summer phytoplankton blooms in Auke Bay, Alaska, driven by wind mixing of the water column1

Winds blowing from the southeast along the only significant fetch into Auke Bay mixed nitrate into the photic zone from deeper in the water column; major summer phytoplankton blooms in the bay resulted. The wind-mixing effect could bc monitored by measuring salinity changes in the water column caused by mixing of freshwater from the glacially originating Mender-mall River down into the water column. Phytoplankton productivity in an estuary depends on the interaction of physiological characteristics of endemic phytoplankton populations, the particular hydrographic characteristics of the esturay, local meteorological conditions, and nutrient input from the land. Smayda (1957) found that in the relatively shallow Narragansett Bay, where tidal mixing prevented development of a stable water column, stability was not important in controlling phytoplankton blooms, but stability of waters outside the bay acted to contain phytoplankton populations within the bay and allowed blooms to develop. Gilmartin ( 1964)) on the other hand, observed that seasonal variability in stability of the water column was the primary factor controlling phytoplankton production in a British Columbia fjord. Much of the annual variation in primary production in St. Margaret’s Bay, Nova Scotia, could be attributed to the influence of weather on the hydrographic regime of the bay (Platt 1971). Bruce (1969 ) described a succession of phytoplankton blooms in Auke Bay, Alaska, throughout the summer in a water column ‘This work was supported in part by National Marine Fisheries Service Coastal Oceanographic Laboratory, Auke Bay, Alaska, Contract 14-l70005-297 and by National Oceanic and Atmosshperic Administration Institutional Sea Grant 2-35187, and is part of a Ph.D. thesis presented to Oregon State University by R.L.I. which was always positively stable. Auke Bay ( Fig. 11) is a small embayment in a large fjord-estuarine system in Southeast Alaska near Juneau. It is 110 km from the ocean and relatively isolated from oceanic effects and from major currents within the large estuarine system, with an area of about 11 km2 and deep enough that tidal effects (spring tide range 6 m) do not destroy water column stability. Bruce (1969) showed that availability of nitrate-nitrogen limited phytoplankton growth in the bay during summer. A mechanism for producing major summer phyoplankton blooms in Auke Bay, based on wind mixing of nitrate-rich water from deeper layers into the photic zone, is
Why skewing works: learning difficult Boolean functions with greedy tree learners

We analyze skewing, an approach that has been empirically observed to enable greedy decision tree learners to learn "difficult" Boolean functions, such as parity, in the presence of irrelevant variables. We prove tha, in an idealized setting, for any function and choice of skew parameters, skewing finds relevant variables with probability 1. We present experiments exploring how different parameter choices affect the success of skewing in empirical settings. Finally, we analyze a variant of skewing called Sequential Skewing.
Medical evaluation for patients with symptomatic esophageal disease

Abstract We describe the evaluation and initial management of key symptoms prevalent in esophageal disease. Heartburn and regurgitation are 2 symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), the most common outpatient gastrointestinal tract disease. The initial diagnostic and therapeutic step in management of these hallmark GERD symptoms is an empirical trial of acid suppression therapy, as a response to this is sufficient to diagnose GERD. Patients with symptoms refractory to empirical therapy and those who endorse accompanying alarm symptoms such as dysphagia, melena, anemia, or weight loss need an upper endoscopy to rule out more serious etiologies such as esophageal or gastric carcinoma. Dysphagia can be categorized as oropharyngeal or esophageal in nature, based on patient localization of symptoms. Oropharyngeal dysphagia can be caused by dental, neuromuscular, and structural etiologies. Although it is important to clarify whether esophageal dysphagia is solid or mixed and intermittent or progressive, more cases warrant further investigation with upper endoscopy, especially if alarm symptoms are present. Odynophagia, the etiology of which can be elicited by a thorough clinical history, can be caused by caustic ingestion, pill esophagitis, and infectious esophagitis. Although verifying the etiology of globus and hiccups can be challenging, diagnostic tools such nasal endoscopy, upper endoscopy, and computerized tomography scans of the thorax can rule out the most serious causes. If initial medical therapy of symptomatic esophageal disease fails, a multidisciplinary team of dieticians, surgeons, and gastroenterologists can guide further evaluation and treatment.
BLOOD DESTRUCTION DURING EXERCISE : I. BLOOD CHANGES OCCURRING IN THE COURSE OF A SINGLE DAY OF EXERCISE.

The following changes have been demonstrated to take place in the blood of dogs during exercise. 1. An increase in the per cent of cells and hemoglobin in the blood of the jugular vein occurs early in the course of exercise. It probably results from a redistribution of red corpuscles, with an increase in their proportion in the peripheral blood. 2. As exercise is continued, there is a definite increase in plasma volume. 3. A coincident decrease both in the total cell volume and the pigment volume during prolonged exercise suggests that blood destruction then occurs.
On-line business applications

On-line computing systems are a relatively recent development in commercial computer technology. Most of the experience to date with the use of such systems has been gained at universities, large governmental organizations and a few pioneering businesses like American Airlines, Westinghouse and Keydata Corporation. Today, from the literature and recent announcements of computer plans, it appears that online systems are ready to be implemented in many organizations to perform a large variety of tasks. There are experts predicting that by 1970 the majority of computer systems sold will be performing some online functions. Huge growth is expected to occur in computers capable of operating on an on-line or time-shared basis.
An overview of hemostasis

Hemostasis is a remarkable and a remarkably complex mechanism. It can maintain blood in a fluid state intravascularly but very quickly changes blood to a jellylike mass upon disruption of the vasculature. This review will give a synopsis of the 3 phases of hemostasis: platelet, vascular, and coagulation. Fibrinolysis and control mechanisms of hemostasis will also be covered. In addition, brief descriptions of the clinical and laboratory evaluation of patients and the diagnosis of bleeding disorders will be presented.
Chromosome replication and segregation govern the biogenesis and inheritance of inorganic polyphosphate granules

Prokaryotes and eukaryotes synthesize long chains of orthophosphate, known as polyphosphate (polyP), which form dense granules within the cell. PolyP regulates myriad cellular functions and is often localized to specific subcellular addresses through mechanisms that remain undefined. In this study, we present a molecular-level analysis of polyP subcellular localization in the model bacterium Caulobacter crescentus. We demonstrate that biogenesis and localization of polyP is controlled as a function of the cell cycle, which ensures regular partitioning of granules between mother and daughter. The enzyme polyphosphate kinase 1 (Ppk1) is required for granule production, colocalizes with granules, and dynamically localizes to the sites of new granule synthesis in nascent daughter cells. Localization of Ppk1 within the cell requires an intact catalytic active site and a short, positively charged tail at the C-terminus of the protein. The processes of chromosome replication and segregation govern both the number and position of Ppk1/polyP complexes within the cell. We propose a multistep mod- el in which the chromosome establishes sites of polyP coalescence, which recruit Ppk1 to promote the in situ synthesis of large granules. These findings underscore the importance of both chromosome dynamics and discrete protein localization as organizing factors in bacte- rial cell biology.
Mice Lacking Endothelial Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Have a Normal Blood Pressure

To test the hypothesis that local vascular production of angiotensin II is necessary for the normal regulation of blood pressure, we engineered a new line of genetically altered mice that lack endothelial angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). This was accomplished using a novel strategy of targeted homologous recombination to separate the transcriptional control of somatic ACE from its endogenous promoter and to substitute control to the albumin promoter. These new mice, termed ACE.3, do not produce ACE within the lung, the aorta, or any vascular structure. ACE activity within the kidney is only about 14% that of wild-type mice and is limited to tubular epithelium. In contrast, hepatic ACE expression in ACE.3 mice is about 87-fold that of wild-type. The blood pressure, plasma angiotensin II levels, response to ACE inhibitors, and renal function of ACE.3(-/-) mice are indistinguishable from littermate wild-type mice. These data show that, under basal conditions, the normal regulation of blood pressure and renal function is possible in a mouse devoid of endothelial ACE.
Erythropoietin molecules to treat acute ischemic stroke: a translational dilemma!

Importance of the field: Since the realization that erythropoietin (EPO) molecules have ‘neuroprotective’ properties, they have been investigated as treatments for acute ischemic stroke (AIS), but not systematically. The results of the 2009 clinical trial showed that EPO was ineffective as a stroke treatment, and moreover, increased mortality when combined with tissue plasminogen activator. Currently, CEPO, an EPO analog, is entering into a safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetic clinical trial for the treatment of AIS.Areas covered in this review: This review covers translational and clinical studies carried out over the period 1998 – 2010.What the reader will gain: The primary aim of this article is to review the information available regarding the pharmacological and biological characteristics of EPO molecules. Second, based upon the translational research with EPO molecules in preclinical stroke models, a recommendation is made regarding the continued development of EPO molecules as an option to trea...
Oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production and lactic acid during normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass

The objective of this study was to measure oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production and lactic acid levels during normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass. A prospective study was undertaken in a tertiary care community hospital, involving 20 adults undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass with prolonged (>65 min) crossclamping of the aorta. O2 consumption, CO2 production, hemoglobin and lactic acid levels were measured 5, 35 and 65 min after crossclamping of the aorta. O2 consumption was 79.7 +/- 14.5, 78.8 +/- 15.4 and 81.5 +/- 14.1 ml/min/m2 at 5, 35 and 65 min after crossclamping the aorta. CO2 production was 61.8 +/- 42.9, 60.6 +/- 26.3 and 62.2 +/- 35.9 ml/min/m2 at the same times. Lactic acid levels were 1.6 +/- 0.5 mM/dl at all three times and did not correlate with O2 consumption or CO2 production. In conclusion, although oxygen consumption was low, there was no evidence of abnormal lactate or anaerobic metabolism to suggest tissue ischemia.
Thallium and cadmium in recent snow and firn layers in the Canadian Arctic by atomic fluorescence and absorption spectrometries.

Compared to the Antarctic and Greenland, the Canadian Arctic has seen extremely few trace metal studies on snow and ice. Surface, subsurface and depth samples of snow and firns were collected from the Agassiz Ice Cap, Ellesmere Island, Canada using clean room practices. Results for Tl (directly determined by LEAFS) and Cd (determined by GFAAS) are reported. To our knowledge, the thallium depth profile presented here is the first one so far reported for both polar systems, Greenland or other places. Tl concentrations peak in the winter-spring periods, when the Arctic atmosphere is loaded with foreign pollutants and sus- pended particulates which sometime severely reduce the visibility, creating a phenomenon commonly known as the Arctic haze. These results are in general accordance with the historical Arctic air pollution and acidity/conductivity data on ice cores. Surface concen- trations of Tl range from 0.3 to 0.9 pg/g, which is a few times higher than those found in Antarctica. Cadmium shows seasonal characteristics similar to Tl although there is not a definite correlation between the two. However, there could be two predominant origins of metals which were deposited in the snow: Eurasian origin in January—April corresponding to high level metals (main deposition), and a less definite origin in May—December corresponding to low level metals.
A modular 32-site wireless neural stimulation microsystem

This paper presents Interestim-2B, a modular 32-site wireless microstimulating ASIC for neural prosthesis applications, to alleviate disorders such as blindness, deafness, and severe epilepsy. Implanted just below the skull along with a high-density intracortical microelectrode array, the chip enables leadless operation of the resulting microsystem, accepting power and data through an inductive link from the outside world and inserting information into the nervous system in the form of stimulating currents. Each module contains eight current drivers, generating stimulus currents up to /spl plusmn/270 /spl mu/A with 5-b resolution, /spl sim/100M/spl Omega/ output impedance, and a dynamic range (headroom voltage) that extends within 150 mV of the 5 V supply rail, and 250 mV of the ground level. As many as 64 modules can be used in parallel, to drive multiprobe arrays of up to 2048 sites, with only a pair of connections to a common inductive-capacitive (LC) tank circuit, while receiving power (8.25 mW/module) and data (2.5 Mb/s) from a 5/10-MHz frequency shift keyed carrier. Every 4.6 mm /spl times/ 4.6 mm chip fabricated in a 1.5-/spl mu/m, 2M/2P standard CMOS process through MOSIS, houses two modules and generates up to 65 800 stimulus pulses/s.
Trajectory Planning For A Reentry Vehicle Under Failure Conditions

In this paper, we discuss the trajectory planning problem for the unpowered approach and landing phase for a reusable launch vehicle. A method for modifying the aerodynamic database so that trim effects are taken into account is presented. This results in a method to take into account 6 degree-of-freedom effects in a reduced order model, that can then be used in trajectory planning problems. We set up the trajectory planning problem as a state-input constrained, fixed end-point, optimal control problem, and apply Pontryagin's minimum principle to obtain first-order necessary conditions. We then present a variation of the modified simple shooting method to solve the resulting two-point boundary value problem. We present results from two numerical examples: (1) a nominal case with no effector failures, and (2) a case where the right ruddervator is failed upward at 3.5deg.
Analysis of various physiological salines for heart rate, CNS function, and synaptic transmission at neuromuscular junctions in Drosophila melanogaster larvae

Drosophila serves as a playground for examining the effects of genetic mutations on development, physiological function and behavior. Many physiological measures that address the effects of mutations require semi-intact or cultured preparations. To obtain consistent physiological recordings, cellular function needs to remain viable. Numerous physiological salines have been developed for fly preparations, with emphasis on nervous system viability. The commonly used saline drifts in pH and will cause an alteration in the heart rate. We identify a saline that maintains a stable pH and physiological function in the larval heart, skeletal neuromuscular junction, and ventral nerve cord preparations. Using these common assays, we screened various pH buffers of differing concentrations to identify optimum conditions. Buffers at 25 mM produce a stable heart rate with minimal variation in pH. Excitatory junction potentials evoked directly on larval muscles or through sensory-CNS-motor circuits were unaffected by at buffers at 25 mM. The salines examined did not impede the modulatory effect of serotonin on heart rate or neural activity. Together, our results indicate that the higher buffer concentrations needed to stabilize pH in HL3 hemolymph-like saline do not interfere with the acute function of neurons or cardiac myocytes.
Equatorial Wave Vertical Modes Observed in a Western Pacific Island Array

Abstract A two-year array of sea-level and deep current and temperature measurements made in the Gilbert Group, Republic of Kiribati, is used to verify the hypothesis that equatorial gravity waves in baroclinic modes are responsible for sea-level spectral peaks at 2–7 day periods corresponding to vanishing zonal wavenumber or zonal energy flux. Sea level and deep temperature are significantly coherent at these special periods, both in the same and at differing geographical location, with phases which can be rationalized from linear theory. Zonal wavenumber-frequency spectral estimates indicate that, at least in the lowest baroclinic, second meridional mode, energy is concentrated at the wavenumber of vanishing zonal energy flux. At longer periods (7–40 days), observed wavenumbers are eastward and increase monotonically with frequency. These fluctuations are interpreted as lowest-baroclinic-mode Kelvin waves travelling 20–30% faster than linear theory predicts because of nonlinearities.
A tutorial on Swift: tutorial presentation

Swift is a modern multi-paradigm programming language designed by Apple to replace Objective-C in iOS and OS X app development. Swift is built with the LLVM compiler included in XCode 6 and shares the same run-time environment with Objective-C. In another word, Swift and Objective-C can interface with each other in the same program.
A Longitudinal Study of Cytomegalovirus Infection in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type I-Seropositive Homosexual Men: Molecular Epidemiology and Association with Disease Progression

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) isolates from 234 asymptomatic human immunodeficiency type 1 (HIV-1)-positive men were analyzed for molecular relatedness using junctional hybridization. Of isolates shed simultaneously at two or more body sites, 36% from 22 men were different. Of 180 isolates collected from 67 men over 15 months, different strains were isolated serially from 27 men (40%), most from semen. After follow-up of 58 months (mean), the relative hazard of HIV infection progressing to AIDS was 1.8 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.9-3.7) for men shedding the same strain of CMV and 3.0 (95% CI, 1.4-6.1) for men shedding different strains compared with men not shedding CMV in semen. The prevalence of CMV-specific IgM was higher in men shedding different versus same CMV strains (32% vs. 18%; P = .244). Thus, presence of multiple CMV strains in HIV-1-positive homosexual men is associated with progression to AIDS, possibly via activation of HIV-1-infected CD4 cells.
Updated Protocol for the Examination of Specimens From Patients With Carcinomas of the Colon and Rectum, Excluding Carcinoid Tumors, Lymphomas, Sarcomas, and Tumors of the Vermiform Appendix

T protocol is intended to assist pathologists in providing clinically useful and relevant information as a result of the examination of surgical specimens. Use of this protocol is intended to be entirely voluntary. If equally valid protocols or similar documents are applicable, the pathologist is, of course, free to follow those authorities. Indeed, the ultimate judgment regarding the propriety of any specific procedure must be made by the physician in light of the individual circumstances presented by a specific patient or specimen. It should be understood that adherence to this protocol will not guarantee a successful result. Nevertheless, pathologists are urged to familiarize themselves with the document. Should a physician choose to deviate from the protocol based on the circumstances of a particular patient or specimen, the physician is advised to make a contemporaneous written notation of the reason for the procedure followed. The College recognizes that this document may be used by hospitals, attorneys, managed care organizations, insurance carriers, and other payers. However, the document was developed solely as a tool to assist pathologists in the diagnostic process by providing information that reflects the state of relevant medical knowledge at the time the protocol was first published. It was not developed for credentialing, litigation, or reimbursement purposes. The College cautions that any uses of the protocol for these purposes involve considerations that are beyond the scope of this document.