cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The role of Bcr-Abl in chronic myeloid leukemia and stem cell biology

Hematopoietic stem cells, the critical target cells in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), are difficult to study owing to their rarity. An in vitro differentiation model was used to examine the role of the Bcr-Abl tyrosine kinase in the pathogenesis of CML. A tetracycline-regulated promoter was developed to drive Bcr-Abl expression in differentiating embryonal stem cells. Enforced Bcr-Abl expression was sufficient to increase the number of multilineage progenitors. Myeloid progenitors were expanded in particular and erythroid development was suppressed, consistent with the phenotype of CML. A complementary approach was used to investigate the effect of specifically blocking Bcr-Abl-deregulated tyrosine kinase activity in transformed cells. For this purpose a fusion "escort/phosphatase" was created that binds to Bcr-Abl and effectively inhibits kinase activity in vitro and in vivo. Loss of function was demonstrated by growth inhibition of bcr-abl-transformed fibroblasts, reacquisition of growth factor dependence by Bcr-Abl-expressing hematopoietic cells, and normalization of erythroid differentiation in a human CML line. These studies reaffirm the central role of stem cell biology in understanding the causes and possible treatments for CML, and suggest that direct targeting and inhibition of Bcr-Abl kinase activity is a valid therapeutic approach to treating this disease.
Effects of X-radiation on the subcellular distribution of cholinergic enzymes in the developing rat cerebellum.

Abstract The developmental pattern of ChAc and AChE activity studied in cerebellar homogenates and subcellular fractions of control and neonatally X-radiated rats. The activity of AChE in cerebellar homogenate increases with age, while that of ChAc decreases; yet the developmental pattern of total enzymatic activity in the cerebellar structure as a whole shows a progressive increase with age, common to both enzymes. The divergence in the developmental pattern of the two enzymes with respect to activity in the homogenate was also observed in all fractions except in the nuclear fraction, which contains the mossy fiber endings, where a progressive increase was observed in both enzymes. When results were expressed in terms of specific activity, we noted that ChAc progressively decreased with age in homogenates as well as in all subfractions, again with the exception of the nuclear fraction, in which it did not change significantly. The specific activity of AChE, however, showed no significant changes in the homogenate and soluble fraction, an increase in the nuclear fraction and progressive decrease, similar to that observed in ChAc, in the microsomal and mitochondrial compartments as well as in mitochondrial subcomponents (myelin, synaptosomes and free mitochondrial). We have concluded that despite the increase in total cholinergic activity with age, the increase in cerebellar mass is proportionately greater and, therefore, the specific activity of ChAc and AChE shows a decrease or no change in cerebellar homogenates and a decrease in most fractions and, particularly, the synaptosomal fraction. The divergent pattern of AChE and ChAc activity in cerebellar homogenates as well as the much higher activity of AChE relative to ChAc is thought to represent a more active synthesis of AChE, associated with a high breakdown of ACh at this time. Neonatal X-radiation induces an increase in the activity and specific activity of both enzymes, and this increase is manifested in all subfractions but most significantly in the microsomal and synaptosomal fractions. In spite of the increase in activity and specific activity observed in both enzymes, total cerebellar activity was depressed, indicating that although the number and/or activity of cholinergic neurons is depressed by X-radiation, the depression of noncholinergic neurons and overall cerebellar mass is greater, so that the net effect on enzymatic activity is an increase.
Aerobic fate and impact of canola oil in aquatic media

The fate of canola oil in water under aerobic conditions was studied in respirometry tests. First-order biodegradation rates were estimated for a refined oil (commercial canola oil, CCO), 0.0037 h−1, and for two synthetic oils, one prepared with mono-acid triacylglycerols (TAO) 0.0048 h−1, and the other with free fatty acids and glycerol (FAO) 0.0038 h−1. Two abiotic factors limited substrate bioavailability: the autoxidation of the oleoyl chains and the insolubility of fully saturated triacylglycerols. In addition, the ecotoxic impact of the oils was assessed by Microtox® toxicity. For the acylglycerol oils, luminescent bacteria inhibition was not detected in the water phase, whereas solid-phase EC50 values below 1.8% sample volume were measured. Toxicity was observed in the aqueous phase (EC50 < 16%) during the biodegradation of FAO. In this case, however, solid-phase toxicity was extremely high at the beginning of the test (0.02%) but the toxicity dissipated 480 h into the experiment.
Spheronization II: Drug Release from Drug-Diluent Mixtures

AbstractPellets were prepared from wet granulations using an extruder and spheronizer. Binary mixtures of active ingredient and different types of Avicel micro-crystalline cellulose products have been processed and evaluated to determine the effect of varying the drug, the diluent, and the drug-diluent ratio. Physical properties including in-vitro drug release profiles were evaluated for the uncoated pellets. Anhydrous Theophylline, USP and Quinidine Sulfate, USP were evaluated at drug-diluent ratios from 10:90 to 80:20. Chlorpheniramine Maleate, USP and Hydrochlorothiazide, USP were incorporated into one system to study the influence of more extreme values of aqueous solubility on drug release. Drug release was found to vary with the drug, diluent, and the drug-diluent ratio.
Hybrid total hip replacement

This article reviews the rationale and current knowledge regarding hybrid total hip arthroplasty. Patient selection, preoperative planning, and templating are covered in depth. The authors provide technical pearls regarding the surgical performance of hybrid total hip replacement using a posterolateral approach to the hip. Particular attention is given to acetabular component positioning, seating of the acetabular component, and formal repair of the posterior capsule and short external rotators.
Building Transition Capacity Through Personnel Development: Analysis of 35 State Improvement Grants

This article reviews the State Improvement Grants (SIGs) authorized under IDEA 1997 to provide funding to State Educational Agencies in achieving systemic reforms. A report of the first 35 SIG applications reviewed in early 1999 is summarized in this review. The emphasis was to analyze the status of transition service delivery and personnel development needs in states and personnel development strategies initiated under the SIGs to address transition needs. Implications for transition and systemic change are also discussed.
Turbulent velocity field in isothermal and heated liquid flow through a vertical annular channel

Abstract Time-mean axial and radial velocities, axial and radial turbulent intensities and the single-point cross-correlation between axial and radial turbulent velocity fluctuations (∼axial Reynolds shear stress) were measured in unheated and heated turbulent upflow of liquid Refrigerant-113 through a vertical concentric annular channel. Time-mean temperature and temperature fluctuation intensity were measured in the heated flows. A two-component laser Doppler velocimeter was used for the velocity measurements and microthermocouples for temperature measurement. Results are reported for Reynolds numbers of 18 000, 28 450 and 40 480 at inner wall heat fluxes of 0, 9000 and 16 000 W m−2. Buoyancy effects were found on the time-mean velocity and turbulence fields, even at very low values of Gr Re 2 . Mechanisms suggested by Petukhov and Polyakov explain these effects. The results should be useful in the development and validation of turbulence models for such flows.
Endothelin-1 synthesis and receptor-mediated activity in porcine lymph vessels

Abstract Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent vasoconstrictor of blood vessels and interacts with nitric oxide (NO) to regulate vascular tone. We hypothesized that ET-1 may modulate lymph vessel tone via local synthesis, receptor-mediated vasoconstriction, and interaction with NO. Serial sections obtained from formalin-fixed porcine mediastinal tissue, incubated with either ET-1 or von Willebrand factor antibody and stained with avidin-biotin complex and peroxidase, demonstrated ET-1 in lymphatic vascular endothelium. Isometric tension was recorded in vitro in fresh porcine tracheobronchial lymph vessel rings in response to the cumulative addition of ET-1 (10 −11 to 10 −6 M ). ET-1 induced a tonic contraction with peak tension at 3 × 10 −7 M (mean tension 3731 ± 306 mg; 259 ± 20 percent of response to 65 m M KCl). The addition of specific receptor antagonists (ET A (BQ-610), ET B (BQ-788), or both) blocked the contractile response seen in ET-1 stimulated controls (ET A + ET B > ET A >> ET B ). The response to ET-1 was increased by endothelial damage but was unaffected by the inhibition of NO synthesis by N G -monomethyl- L -arginine (L-NMMA). Endothelial damage altered the ET-1 response in the presence of ET B antagonist but not ET A antagonist. ET-1 is a potent endothelium-derived vasoconstrictor of lymph vessels. Its effects are mediated through specific receptors, are not importantly modulated by NO, but may be modified by release of other endothelium-derived relaxing factors. We conclude that lymph vessel tone may be regulated by ET-1.
HA‐tagging of putative flagellar proteins in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii identifies a novel protein of intraflagellar transport complex B

Proteomic analysis of flagella from the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii has identified over 600 putative flagellar proteins. The genes encoding nine of these not previously characterized plus the previously described PACRG protein were cloned, inserted into a vector adding a triple-HA tag to the C-terminus of the gene product, and transformed into C. reinhardtii. Expression was confirmed by western blotting. Indirect immunofluorescence located all 10 fusion proteins in the flagellum; PACRG was localized to a subset of outer doublet microtubules. For some proteins, additional signal was observed in the cell body. Among the latter was FAP232-HA, which showed a spotted distribution along the flagella and an accumulation at the basal bodies. This pattern is characteristic for intraflagellar transport (IFT) proteins. FAP232-HA co-localized with the IFT protein IFT46 and co-sedimented with IFT particles in sucrose gradients. Furthermore, it co-immunoprecipitated with IFT complex B protein IFT46, but not with IFT complex A protein IFT139. We conclude that FAP232 is a novel component of IFT complex B and rename it IFT25. Homologues of IFT25 are encoded in the genomes of a subset of organisms that assemble cilia or flagella; C. reinhardtii IFT25 is 37% identical to the corresponding human protein. Genes encoding IFT25 homologues are absent from the genomes of organisms that lack cilia and flagella and, interestingly, also from those of Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans, suggesting that IFT25 has a specialized role in IFT that is not required for the assembly of cilia or flagella in the worm and fly. Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Restraining patients and shoulder dislocations during seizures

We describe 3 patients whose shoulders dislocated as the movements of the arm were restricted during a generalized tonic clonic seizure over an 18-month period. The first patient had both shoulders dislocated when observers sat on his arms during the convulsion. The second patient had a convulsion while in a forced lateral decubitus position and dislocated the shoulder on that side. The third patient dislocated the shoulder and fractured the acromion as she was held by her arms in a chair during a convulsion. Despite the large number of patients with refractory epilepsy under our care, no cases of spontaneous shoulder dislocation occurred during that period of time.
Teratogenic Potential of Valproic Acid

Valproic acid administration in pregnancy may be a potential teratogen to the developing fetus. Numerous animal studies have linked valproic acid to vertebral anomalies and renal agenesis. Recent European data have suggested valproic acid as a causal agent of neural tube defects in human offspring. Research relative to teratogenicity of valproic acid administration for petit mal epilepsy is reviewed. Conclusions indicate that the benefits of valproic acid administration outweigh the hazards of teratogenicity.
The haztimator knowledge‐based (expert) system: Providing Design and Time/Cost Estimates for Hazardous Waste Remediation

Development, implementation and tentative validation of a prototype of the Haztimator system, a knowledgebased (expert) system (KBS) intended to provide design and time/cost estimates for hazardous waste remediation projects, is presented. The prototype evaluates one potential remedial alternative, soil vapor extraction followed by vapor-phase granular activated carbon for air emissions control. Haztimator represents the first known expert system in the environmental field with a primary knowledge domain of system design. As shown by this work, the environmental field is a prime example of a problem domain where KBS development can be used as a tool for obtaining and exploiting “compiled” knowledge—knowledge which can be used to explain heuristics in terms of first principles.
Seeing Your Way to Health: The Visual Pedagogy of Bess Mensendieck's Physical Culture System

This essay examines the images and looking practices central to Bess M. Mensendieck's (c.1866–1959) ‘functional exercise’ system, as documented in physical culture treatises published in Germany and the United States between 1906 and 1937. Believing that muscular realignment could not occur without seeing how the body worked, Mensendieck taught adult non-athletes to see skeletal alignment and muscular movement in their own and others' bodies. Three levels of looking practices are examined: didactic sequences; penetrating inspection and appreciation of physiological structures; and ideokinetic visual metaphors for guiding movement. With these techniques, Mensendieck's work bridged the body cultures of German Nacktkultur (nudism), American labour efficiency and the emerging physical education profession. This case study demonstrates how sport historians could expand their analyses to include practices of looking as well as questions of visual representation.
Optimal selection probability in the two-stage nested partitions method for simulation-based optimization

We investigate a novel algorithm for simulation based optimization where the number of alternatives is finite but very large. This algorithm draws on recent work in adaptive random search and from ranking-and-selection. We show how the ranking-and-selection approach can significantly improve performance of the random search and demonstrate the importance of the probability of correct selection.
Improving Student Dentist Competencies and Perception of Difficulty in Delivering Care to Children with Developmental Disabilities Using a Virtual Patient Module

An interactive, multimedia, virtual patient module was designed and developed on compact disc (CD-ROM) to address the need for student dentists to increase their competence and decrease their perception of difficulty in caring for children with developmental disabilities. A development team consisting of pediatric dentistry faculty members, parents of children with developmental disabilities, an individual with a developmental disability, and educational specialists developed an interactive virtual patient case. The case involved a ten-year-old child with Down syndrome presenting with a painful tooth. Student dentists were required to make decisions regarding proper interactions with the child, as well as appropriate clinical procedures throughout the case. Differences in perceived difficulty level and knowledge change were measured, as well as the student dentists' overall satisfaction with the learning experience. Significant results were obtained in both perceived difficulty level and knowledge-based measures for student dentists. Participants reported overall satisfaction with the modules. Preparing student dentists to provide sensitive and competent care for children with developmental disabilities is a critical need within dentistry. This study demonstrated that an interactive, multimedia (CD-ROM), virtual patient learning module for student dentists is potentially an effective tool in meeting this need.
The Evolving Role of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Cancer Treatment

Traditional treatment modalities for advanced cancer (radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or targeted agents) act directly on tumors to inhibit or destroy them. Along with surgery, these modalities are predominantly palliative, with toxicity and only modest improvements in survival in patients with advanced solid tumors. Accordingly, long-term survival rates for most patients with advanced cancer remain low, thus there is a need for cancer treatments with favorable benefit and toxicity profiles that can potentially result in long-term survival. The immune system plays a critical role in the recognition and eradication of tumor cells (“immune surveillance”), and immunotherapies based on this concept have been used for decades with some success against a few tumor types; however, most immunotherapies were limited by a lack of either substantial efficacy or specificity, resulting in toxicity. We now have a greater understanding of the complex interactions between the immune system and tumors and have identified key molecules that govern these interactions. This information has revitalized the interest in immunotherapy as an evolving treatment modality using immunotherapeutics designed to overcome the mechanisms exploited by tumors to evade immune destruction. Immunotherapies have potentially complementary mechanisms of action that may allow them to be combined with other immunotherapeutics, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or other traditional therapies. This review discusses the concepts and data behind immunotherapies, with a focus on the checkpoint inhibitors and their responses, toxicities, and potential for long-term survival, and explores promising single-agent and combination therapies in development.
Characterizing parameters of response to light intensity for six species of frogs.

A comparative study was made to characterize differences in intensity response by six anuran species: Hyla cinerea, Hyla gratiosa, Rana catesbeiana, Rana sylvatica, Kassina senegalensis, and Leptodactylus pentadactylus. Considering the sigmoid Intensity/Response curve to represent a cumulative Gaussian distribution gave a very good fit to the data, for both dark- and light-adapted animals. Characterizing parameters from the regression to transformed data gave good distinctions between the species for both adaptational states.
Market Entry Strategy Under Firm Heterogeneity and Asymmetric Payoffs

How should a firm decide whether or not to enter an untested market when a competing firm is vying for the same market? Should a firm always speed to the market in an effort to capitalize on pioneering advantages? We address those questions by developing a simple game-theoretical model that captures the most essential factors in a firm's market entry decision, such as market uncertainty, firm heterogeneity, competition, cannibalization, and order-of-entry effects. Our analysis shows that in a competitive context, both pioneering advantages and laggard's disadvantages can motivate a firm to speed to an untested market. Therefore, pioneering advantages alone are not an adequate guide for a firm to formulate its market entry strategy. The optimal decision may call for a firm to be a prudent laggard when pioneering advantages to the firm are substantial, or to become a market pioneer when facing pioneering disadvantages. We characterize different patterns of market entry as equilibrium outcomes for different configurations of the market reward structure and offer a conceptual framework for formulating market entry strategies that go beyond the conventional dichotomy: speed or wait. We show that the paradoxical phenomenon of "disadvantaged pioneers" can arise in a competitive context as the outcome of rational firms making rational choices. To show that pioneering advantages alone are not the right litmus test for market entry decisions, we apply our general framework to a concrete case where consumer preference or the premium that consumers are willing to pay for the pioneering brand gives rise to pioneering advantages and laggard's disadvantages. We conclude that the firm with a larger pioneering premium may choose to wait, while a firm with a smaller pioneering premium speeds to the market. Our analysis also sheds light on empirical research on pioneering advantages. Because firms may race into a market solely to avoid laggard's disadvantages rather than to capture pioneering advantages, pioneers are not necessarily the firms best positioned to establish, exploit, and maintain pioneering advantages. Therefore, it is not surprising that a significant percentage of pioneers fail, as documented by recent empirical research. Our normative investigation further suggests that this predicament in empirical research will not disappear even if we have complete data, use the right measurements, and employ perfect statistical techniques. Therefore, it is perhaps more fruitful to redirect our research effort in the search for pioneering advantages. Finally, we extend our analysis to incorporate the effect of cannibalization on an incumbent firm's market entry strategy. We conclude that cannibalization can motivate an incumbent firm to wait, as the conventional wisdom suggests, but it can also be an impetus for a firm to become a market pioneer. We offer supporting evidence for our analysis and discuss managerial implications of our conclusions.
Tracheostomy in the ICU

The placement of a tracheostomy has become a routine procedure for intensive care unit patients who are mechanical ventilator dependent for a period of time, usually exceeding 1 or 2 weeks. It is v...
Existing antilisterial immunity does not inhibit the development of a Listeria monocytogenes-specific primary cytotoxic T-lymphocyte response.

Infection of BALB/c mice with Listeria monocytogenes stimulates an antilisterial immune response evident by the appearance of H2-K d -restricted CD8 + cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) specific for the nanomer peptides amino acids (aa) 91 to 99 of listeriolysin O (LLO 91–99) and aa 217 to 225 of the p60 molecule (p60 217–225). We have introduced point mutations at anchor residues within LLO 91–99 (92F) or p60 217–225 (218F), and BALB/c mice infected with L. monocytogenes strains containing these point mutations do not develop CTLs specific for LLO 91–99 or p60 217–225, respectively. We have used these strains to test whether primary CTL responses against L. monocytogenes -derived determinants can be stimulated within an environment of existing antilisterial immunity. We found that the development of a primary L. monocytogenes -specific CTL response is not altered by existing immunity to L. monocytogenes . For example, primary immunization with the p60 218F strain of L. monocytogenes followed by a secondary immunization with wild-type L. monocytogenes results in stimulation of p60 217–225-specific CTLs at primary response levels and LLO 91–99-specific effectors at levels consistent with a memory CTL response. Similarly, primary immunization with the 92F strain of L. monocytogenes followed by a secondary immunization with wild-type L. monocytogenes results in stimulation of LLO 91–99-specific CTLs at primary response levels and p60 217–225-specific effectors at levels consistent with a memory CTL response. These results provide additional support for the use of L. monocytogenes as a recombinant vaccine vector and show that antivector immunity does not inhibit the development of a primary CTL response when the epitope is delivered by L. monocytogenes as the vaccine strain.
Faculty Do Matter: The Role of College Faculty in Student Learning and Engagement.

This study uses two national data sets to explore the relationship between faculty practices and student engagement. Our findings suggest that students report higher levels of engagement and learning at institutions where faculty members use active and collaborative learning techniques, engage students in experiences, emphasize higher-order cognitive activities in the classroom, interact with students, challenge students academically, and value enriching educational experiences. The quality and value of an undergraduate education in the past decade received, and continues to receive, scrutiny by various stakeholders associated with the higher education community. Much of the energy surrounding the undergraduate experience and student learning was placed on the two major responsibilities of faculty, teaching and research (Fairweather, 1996, 2002; Marsh and Hattie, 2002). The regulation of time allocated to these two roles was quickly becoming one of the most salient issues in higher education. Unfortunately, much of the debate about the nature of faculty work was shrouded in myth, opinion, and conjecture (Fairweather, 2002). Some of these perceptions, such as a faculty member being highly involved in teaching, engages students in the undergraduate experience resulting in greater student learning gains, were important to debunk or substantiate. As a result, assessing the impact that faculty
ON THE INCIPIENT BREAKING OF SMALL SCALE WAVES

It is shown that the surface wind drift in the ocean substantially reduces the maximum wave height ξx and wave orbital velocity that can be attained before breaking. If q is the magnitude of the surface drift at the point where the wave profile crosses the mean water level and c is the wave speed, then \[ \zeta_{\max} = \frac{c^2}{2g}\bigg(1-\frac{q}{c}\bigg)^2. \] Incipient breaking in a steady wave train is characterized by the occurrence of stagnation points at wave crests, but not necessarily by discontinuities in slope. After breaking, there is in the mean flow a stagnation point relative to the wave profile near the crest of the broken wave, on one side of which the water tumbles forward and behind which it recedes more smoothly to the rear. Some simple flow visualization studies indicate the general extent of the wake behind the breaking region.
On Moments and Walsh Characteristic Functions

This correspondence treats the derivation of natural moments from their corresponding Walsh characteristic function via the dyadic derivative operator. The derivation of a result concerning Walsh transforms of dyadic derivatives of functions is also considered. However, some established ideas such as Walsh transform, dyadic stationarity, and dyadic correlation are introduced first.
Descriptive and prescriptive models for judgment and decision making: implications for knowledge engineering

Development of a knowledge base for an expert system often requires an analysis of the inference processes and decision making strategies of one or more experts. Knowledge engineers therefore share the psychologists and operations researcher’s interest in inference and decision making. Psychologists have been interested in understanding and describing how people make inferences under complexity and uncertainty. Operations researchers have developed methods that extend human ability to make decisions about complex problems.
An enhanced top-down cluster and cluster tree formation algorithm for Wireless Sensor Networks

Clustering is a key technique to simplify network management while enabling power conservation and reduced channel contention in large scale Wireless Sensor Networks. A hierarchy of clusters in the form of a cluster tree can further enhance upper layer functions such as routing, broadcasting and query delivery. We propose a generic top-down cluster and cluster tree formation algorithm that does not depends on neighborhood information, location awareness, time synchronization and network topology. It also scales well into large networks. By varying parameters in the algorithm, cluster tress with desirable properties such as controlled breadth and depth, uniform cluster size and improved circularity can be achieved. Different characteristics of clusters and cluster trees are evaluated using simulation based results.
Simple feedback notes enhance specificity of feedback to learners.

Background.— Learners reported that physician educators give insufficient and general feedback. Objective.— This study analyzed faculty's use of 3 × 5-inch feedback notes (preprinted with "well done" or "needs improvement") for quantity and specificity of feedback. Learners evaluated these notes compared with other feedback methods. Design/Methods.— Seven experienced clinician educators presented the feedback notes to learners during the 10-month trial. A carbonless duplicate was retained for qualitative analysis of content. The specificity of comments was categorized as general (no clarifiers) or detailed if it contained 1 or more clarifiers. Additionally, the learners were surveyed regarding utility of notes on the basis of characteristics of effective feedback. Results.— A total of 770 notes containing 1607 individual comments were presented to learners, with significantly more ( P P Conclusions.— Cued feedback notes provided learners with detailed feedback in a format that learners prefer. Over time, simple feedback notes lead to more specific feedback for trainees.
Automated QoS support for multimedia disk access

This paper describes the AutoQoS mechanism, which improves the timeliness of disk accesses for multimedia applications without requiring any explicit information about their constraints. Multimedia applications typically have periodic time constraints, meaning that they must complete data processing at periodic intervals in order to function correctly. This requirement extends to the disk system, because the application must access data on time in order to meet deadlines. By using Quality of Service algorithms for disk services, an application may receive enough bandwidth and isolation from other disk accesses to read data on time. Nevertheless, past approaches are restrictive because they require that disk bandwidth or deadlines be known and specified in advance. Our system infers from I/O behavior the bandwidth requirement of multimedia streams, and automatically adjusts allocations in order to provide Quality of Service without knowing the constraints or requiring intervention from the application.
The impact of price labeling of muscle relaxants on cost consciousness among anesthesiologists

Abstract Study Objective: To determine whether placing price labels on the vial caps of muscle relaxants increases cost consciousness among anesthesiologists. Design: Retrospective study. Setting: University hospital departments of anesthesia and pharmacy. Measurements and Main Results: We placed price labels on the vial caps of all muscle relaxants for a study period of 1 year. At the beginning of the investigation, we informed the anesthesiologists of the study, discussed the prices for different muscle relaxants, and encouraged utilizing less expensive muscle relaxants whenever possible without compromising patient care. The price labels on the vial caps served as visual reminders of the various costs of muscle relaxants during daily practice. We compared the total amount spent on each muscle relaxant during the period from October 1993 to September 1994 with the period from October 1994 to September 1995. The total number of surgical cases from October 1993 to September 1994 and from October 1994 to September 1995 was unchanged and equaled 20,389 and 20,358 cases, respectively. Expenditures for pancuronium increased 104.1%. Total expenditure decreased by 12.5%, with a net savings of $47,111. Conclusion: Expenditures for the less costly pancuronium increased while expenditures for vecuronium and atracurium decreased. Price labeling of muscle relaxants in conjunction with education reduces total pharmacy expenditure on muscle relaxants.
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SOLUBLE SUGAR CONCENTRATIONS IN ROOTS AND ECOSYSTEM STRESS FOR FIRST-YEAR SUGAR MAPLE SEEDLINGS

Accumulation of reducing sugars (i.e., glucose and fructose) in plant roots has been consistently correlated with forest dieback and decline and, therefore, has potential as a biological indicator of ecosystem stress. In this study, the relationships between acidic deposition and “natural” (temperature, mycorrhizae, and nutrition) factors with first-year sugar maple seedling root sugar concentrations and growth were assessed in two sugar maple dominated forests in Michigan. Seedlings at the southern site (Wellston) had greater root growth, phosphorus, total sugar, and sucrose concentrations in roots, but lower reducing sugar concentration in roots. In addition, percent root length colonized by vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi was less than that found for seedlings growing at the northern site (Alberta). Throughfall deposition of nitrate, sulfate, and hydrogen ions was not significantly correlated with seedling total or reducing sugar concentration. Total sugar concentration in seedling roots was positively correlated with air and soil temperatures at the southern site, but not at the northern site. Seedling tissue phosphorus concentration was correlated with total sugars at both sites, with sucrose at the southern site, and reducing sugars at the northern site. Mycorrhizal colonization rates at the Alberta site were positively correlated with reducing sugar concentration in seedling roots and negatively correlated with sucrose concentration. The results suggest that differences in seedling root sugar concentrations in these two forests are related to seedling root growth and are most likely due to ecological variables, such as available soil phosphorus, temperature, and growing season length through some complex interaction with mycorrhizae rather than acidic deposition stress.
Secrecy, Privacy, Identity

Phishing attacks are so profitable because they enable cascading failures. Online identity systems that are built upon concepts of papers and identification enable these cascading failures in part because such systems do not protect privacy.
Hazard surveillance for industrial magnetic fields: II. Field characteristics from waveform measurements

Abstract Magnetic field characteristics have been surveyed systematically in six factories with the Multiwave® II waveform capture instrument. These six facilities manufactured plastics, pharmaceuticals, cement, liquid air products, aluminum parts, and aluminum-framed filters. The study goals were to survey the physical characteristics of magnetic fields that may be related to biological effects under various interaction mechanisms and to relate those characteristics to the field's sources. From 59 waveform measurements at worker locations near sources, we calculated the extremely low frequency (ELF) and static field magnitudes, their frequency characteristics, and spatial characteristics of the 60 Hz component. The RMS vector magnitude of the ELF magnetic field (the usual exposure metric in most studies) had medians ranging from 0.53 to 12.83 μT in the six factories. The static magnetic field magnitudes had medians of 24.2–46.2 μT, which is well below the geomagnetic reference field of 55.0 μT because of shielding from steel structures. The maximum static field was 128.6 μT near a DC motor. The frequency spectra of the most common fields is dominated by 60 Hz, and has a median total harmonic distortion equal to 14.8%. The most common higher frequencies are the third, fifth, and second harmonics of 60 Hz. However, magnetic fields in these workplaces had many other 60 Hz harmonics and non-harmonic frequencies due particularly to electric motors and computer monitors. The 60 Hz component magnetic fields have elliptical polarization with median axial ratio of 25.4%. The average proportion of the 60 Hz component parallel to the static field vector was 51.5±3.0%, which indicates a significant trend towards perpendicular orientation between these two field components. In this survey of only six factories, the Multiwave® II measurements documented a wide diversity of complex magnetic field characteristics and non-sinusoidal waveforms. Although these characteristics are important to the various mechanisms postulated to explain biological effects, they are overlooked by the popular exposure assessment methods which only measure the ELF magnitude. Therefore, spot measurements with the Multiwave® II or similar waveform capture instruments are necessary for a complete magnetic field exposure assessment.
Caldera size modulated by the yield stress within a crystal-rich magma reservoir

The size of the caldera formed when the surface collapses after a large volcanic eruption is thought to reflect the size of the evacuated magma chamber. Numerical modelling shows that magma stored in different parts of the chamber can be mobile or locked, so caldera size may only correspond to the volume of evacuated mobile magma.
Generalized Semantics-Based Service Composition

Service-oriented computing (SOC) has emerged as the eminent market environment for sharing and reusing service-centric capabilities. The underpinning for an organization's use of SOC techniques is the ability to discover and compose Web services. Although industry approaches to composition have a strong notion of business processes, these approaches largely use syntactic descriptions. As such composition is limited since the true functionality of ambiguous service operations cannot be inferred. Alternatively, academia uses semantic approaches to disambiguate services, but, at the same time, most of these approaches neglect the process rigor needed for complex compositions. In this paper we present a generalized semantics-based technique for automatic service composition that combines the rigor of process-oriented composition with the descriptiveness of semantics. Our generalized approach extends the common practice of linearly linked services by introducing the use of a conditional directed acyclic graph (DAG) where complex interactions, containing control flow, information flow and pre/post conditions, are effectively represented. Furthermore, the composition can be represented semantically as OWL-S documents. Our contributions are applied for automatic workflow generation in context of the currently important bioinformatics domain.
Multi-level texture caching for 3D graphics hardware

Traditional graphics hardware architectures implement what we call the push architecture for texture mapping. Local memory is dedicated to the accelerator for fast local retrieval of texture during rasterization, and the application is responsible for managing this memory. The push architecture has a bandwidth advantage, but disadvantages of limited texture capacity, escalation of accelerator memory requirements (and therefore cost), and poor memory utilization. The push architecture also requires the programmer to solve the bin- packing problem of managing accelerator memory each frame. More recently graphics hardware on PC-class machines has moved to an implementation of what we call the pull architecture. Texture is stored in system memory and downloaded by the accelerator as needed. The pull architecture has advantages of texture capacity, stems the escalation of accelerator memory requirements, and has good memory utilization. It also frees the programmer from accelerator texture memory management. However, the pull architecture suffers escalating requirements for bandwidth from main memory to the accelerator. In this paper we propose multi-level texture caching to provide the accelerator with the bandwidth advantages of the push architecture combined with the capacity advantages of the pull architecture. We have studied the feasibility of 2-level caching and found the following: (1) significant re-use of texture between frames; (2) L2 caching requires significantly less memory than the push architecture; (3) L2 caching requires significantly less bandwidth from host memory than the pull architecture; (4) L2 caching enables implementation of smaller L1 caches that would otherwise bandwidth-limit accelerators on the workloads in this paper. Results suggest that an L2 cache achieves the original advantage of the pull architecture --- stemming the growth of local texture memory --- while at the same time stemming the current explosion in demand for texture bandwidth between host memory and the accelerator.
What is the risk for exposure to vector-borne pathogens in United States national parks?

United States national parks attract >275 million visitors annually and collectively present risk of exposure for staff and visitors to a wide range of arthropod vector species (most notably fleas, mosquitoes, and ticks) and their associated bacterial, protozoan, or viral pathogens. We assessed the current state of knowledge for risk of exposure to vector-borne pathogens in national parks through a review of relevant literature, including internal National Park Service documents and organismal databases. We conclude that, because of lack of systematic surveillance for vector-borne pathogens in national parks, the risk of pathogen exposure for staff and visitors is unclear. Existing data for vectors within national parks were not based on systematic collections and rarely include evaluation for pathogen infection. Extrapolation of human-based surveillance data from neighboring communities likely provides inaccurate estimates for national parks because landscape differences impact transmission of vector-borne pathogens and human-vector contact rates likely differ inside versus outside the parks because of differences in activities or behaviors. Vector-based pathogen surveillance holds promise to define when and where within national parks the risk of exposure to infected vectors is elevated. A pilot effort, including 5–10 strategic national parks, would greatly improve our understanding of the scope and magnitude of vector-borne pathogen transmission in these high-use public settings. Such efforts also will support messaging to promote personal protection measures and inform park visitors and staff of their responsibility for personal protection, which the National Park Service preservation mission dictates as the core strategy to reduce exposure to vector-borne pathogens in national parks.
Long-term functional outcomes of laparoscopic resection for gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

Laparoscopic resection is rapidly becoming the treatment of choice for small- to medium-sized gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). While long-term oncologic data are available, quality of life outcomes are less known. Our IRB-approved prospectively maintained database was retrospectively queried (2003–2013) for patients who underwent laparoscopic gastric GIST resection. Demographics along with perioperative and oncologic outcomes were collected and analyzed. Patients were contacted and asked to complete a quality of life survey consisting of Likert scales scored from 1 to 5. Patients also completed the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI). A total of 69 patients were identified and 36 patients (59.0 % of eligible patients) responded to the survey. Median follow-up was 39 months. Patients most commonly reported no change in weight, appetite, early satiety, heartburn, persistent cough, dysphagia, and reflux medication dosing postoperatively. The median scores for chest pain and regurgitation were 4, falling in the “worsened” range. 8.33 % of patients reported worsened chest pain and 11.11 % of patients reported worsened regurgitation postoperatively. The GIQLI scores had a mean of 126.9 (range 77–141). While some patients reported a worsening in early satiety, most patients reported no change in symptoms postoperatively, and the GIQLI scores remained within the normal range. Laparoscopic resection of gastric GIST provides durable results with minimal effect on longer-term quality of life.
Spatial specificity in spatiotemporal encoding and Fourier imaging.

Abstract Purpose Ultrafast imaging techniques based on spatiotemporal encoding (SPEN), such as RASER (rapid acquisition with sequential excitation and refocusing), is a promising new class of sequences since they are largely insensitive to magnetic field variations which cause signal loss and geometric distortion in EPI. So far, attempts to theoretically describe the point-spread-function (PSF) for the original SPEN-imaging techniques have yielded limited success. To fill this gap a novel definition for an apparent PSF is proposed. Theory Spatial resolution in SPEN-imaging is determined by the spatial phase dispersion imprinted on the acquired signal by a frequency-swept excitation or refocusing pulse. The resulting signal attenuation increases with larger distance from the vertex of the quadratic phase profile. Methods Bloch simulations and experiments were performed to validate theoretical derivations. Results The apparent PSF quantifies the fractional contribution of magnetization to a voxel's signal as a function of distance to the voxel. In contrast, the conventional PSF represents the signal intensity at various locations. Conclusion The definition of the conventional PSF fails for SPEN-imaging since only the phase of isochromats, but not the amplitude of the signal varies. The concept of the apparent PSF is shown to be generalizable to conventional Fourier-imaging techniques.
Evidence-based approach to unexplained infertility: a systematic review.

Objective To summarize the available evidence for the efficacy of various treatments for unexplained infertility. Design Systematic review. Setting Not applicable. Patient(s) Patients aged 18–40 years with unexplained infertility. Intervention(s) Clomiphene citrate, letrozole, timed intercourse, IUI, gonadotropins, IVF, and IVF–intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Main Outcome Measure(s) Clinical pregnancy rate, ongoing pregnancy rate, and live birth rate. Result(s) Thirteen studies with a total of 3,081 patients were identified by systematic search and met inclusion criteria. The available literature demonstrates that expectant management may be comparable to treatment with clomiphene and timed intercourse or IUI. Clomiphene may be more effective than letrozole, and treatment with gonadotropins seems more effective, albeit with significantly higher risk of multiple gestations than either oral agent. On the basis of current data, IVF, with or without intracytoplasmic sperm injection, is no more effective than gonadotropins with IUI for unexplained infertility. Conclusion(s) Adequately powered, randomized controlled trials that compare all of the available treatments for unexplained infertility are needed. Until such data are available, clinicians should individualize the management of unexplained infertility with appropriate counseling regarding the empiric nature of current treatment options including IVF.
Environmental Aspects of River Basin Planning

Current methods, substance, and administration of river basin planning in the United States must be changed substantially to accommodate the increasing national concern for problems of environmental quality. Modifications will be required in planning theory; improvement or environmental quality should be adopted as a major national objective, along with currently accepted objectives of economic efficiency and income distribution. Significant changes are also needed in methods of computing benefits, cost and production functions, and in the planning process and techniques. Systems analysis methods must incorporate many environmental quality parameters and alternative development and management measures. Planning for river basins and for metropolitan areas must be integrated. Important changes required in water-resources policy, organization and administration are discussed. Extensive research and experimentation on new methods and approaches are required by research centers and public agencies concerned with water resources and environmental quality problems.