cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intrathecal Pump Malfunction: Flipped, Expired, Stalled, and Malfunctioned Valves and Rotors Leading to Under- and Over-Infusion

Intrathecal (IT) pumps are sophisticated, implantable, mechanical devices designed to safely deliver pain medications to patients with chronic pain and spasticity over long periods of time. An IT drug delivery system consists of an intrathecal catheter and a “pump”—a device containing a drug reservoir, pumping mechanism, and often a battery for driving drug delivery. Each of these components can fail and lead to serious and potentially lethal complications due to either human error and/or device failure. Device stalls, pump flips, battery failures, and catheter fractures can present as acute underdosing, resulting in medication withdrawal symptoms. Over-infusion of medication due to malfunctioning of the pump delivery system can also occur, resulting in an acute medication overdose. Both under- and over-infusion states are dangerous complications and potentially lethal.
A CPU-FPGA heterogeneous platform-based monitoring system and redundant mechanisms

This paper presents a practical view of how to implement a Dual Modular Redundancy (DMR) scheme in a CPU-FPGA (Central Processing Unit — Field-Programmable Gate Array) heterogeneous platform-based monitoring system, which is also described. FPGAs in a monitoring system can be valuable resources when it is important to either have a reprogrammable system or fast response/acquisition rates when processing large volumes of data. On the other side, CPUs are affordable options for most other processing tasks. A heterogeneous platform is proposed and aims to achieve a reliable, however cost-effective solution. After this, the paper will focus on matters such as synchronization between units, data redundancy and self-monitoring schemes. The implemented design was thoroughly tested, showing effectiveness in terms of redundancy with improved reliability.
Cranial nerves and autonomic innervation in the orbit

The orbit contains an extremely large and complex set of nerves to provide both motor control and sensory monitoring of the various tissues within the orbit. Within each bony orbit, there are branches of five cranial nerves (CNs) as well as autonomic innervation. The five cranial nerves are: (1) The optic nerve, or CNII, is part of the central nervous system. It is a special sensory nerve and relays information about the visual world to the brain. (2) The oculomotor nerve, or CNIII, innervates five muscles in the orbit: the levator palpebrae superioris, superior rectus, medial rectus, inferior rectus, and inferior oblique. It also carries parasympathetic nerve fibers destined for the globe. (3) The trochlear nerve, or CNIV, innervates the superior oblique muscle. (4) The ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve, or CNV1, provides general sensory innervation for tissues within the orbit as well as the skin of the upper eyelid and scalp. The ophthalmic division forms several main branches: the frontal, lacrimal, and nasociliary nerves, all of which enter the orbit separately. In addition, a small branch from the maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve, or CNV2, runs in the orbital floor and provides general sensory innervation for the lower eyelid. (5) The abducens nerve, or CNVI, innervates the lateral rectus muscle. The classic description of the origins and nerve pathways taken by the parasympathetic and sympathetic innervation within the orbit is inaccurate. Current experimental data clarifying our current understanding of the anatomy of these pathways are reviewed in this article.
Visual Perceptual Learning and Sleep

A growing body of evidence suggests that sleep consolidates various types of learning and memory in human and animals, including visual perceptual learning. However, detailed neural mechanisms associated with this process are poorly understood. In this chapter, we will review major criticisms to the process and disputes to the criticisms. Next we will review proposed mechanisms for sleep to consolidate learning in general and our finding regarding the consolidation of visual perceptual learning during sleep. Finally, we suggest future directions in the research field of sleep consolidation of visual perceptual learning.
Nuclear DNA ploidy and prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is now the most common cancer in men in the United States [1]. Although 103,000 new cases were expected in 1989, less than one third were projected to die of their disease. The vast majority of prostate cancer remains clinically undetectable for the patient’s entire life. This discrepancy in the biologic behavior of prostate cancer remains a mystery. However, attempting to determine which tumors will remain indolent and which will follow an aggressive course is the work of much investigation.
Beyond Informed Consent: Talking to Patients About Therapeutic Action.

Psychodynamically oriented psychotherapists are faced with the question of what to say to new patients about the therapy they are beginning. This article reviews historical attitudes about early tr...
Scaling-up stackelberg security games applications using approximations

Stackelberg Security Games (SSGs) have been adopted widely for modeling adversarial interactions, wherein scalability of equilibrium computation is an important research problem. While prior research has made progress with regards to scalability, many real world problems cannot be solved satisfactorily yet as per current requirements; these include the deployed federal air marshals (FAMS) application and the threat screening (TSG) problem at airports. We initiate a principled study of approximations in zero-sum SSGs. Our contribution includes the following: (1) a unified model of SSGs called adversarial randomized allocation (ARA) games, (2) hardness of approximation for zero-sum ARA, as well as for the FAMS and TSG sub-problems, (3) an approximation framework for zero-sum ARA with instantiations for FAMS and TSG using intelligent heuristics, and (4) experiments demonstrating the significant 1000x improvement in runtime with an acceptable loss.
Genome‐wide markers reveal temporal instability of local population genetic structure in the cotton fleahopper, Pseudatomoscelis seriatus (Hemiptera: Miridae)

Background The cotton fleahopper, Pseudatomoscelis seriatus (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Miridae), is a pest of upland cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L. (Malvales: Malvaceae), that attacks pre-floral buds (squares), leading to abscission and yield losses. In the Brazos Valley cotton production area of Texas (USA), P. seriatus exhibits a seasonal pattern of host use. In spring, eggs hatch from stems of the overwintering host, woolly croton, Croton capitatus Michx. (Malpighiales: Euphorbiaceae). During the growing season, individuals feed on a variety of host plants, including cotton. Adults return to woolly croton at season end to oviposit. We investigated if genetic differentiation exists between populations infesting cotton and those infesting alternative hosts, and whether woolly croton serves as a year-end site of admixture that could be suitable as a natural refuge for the purposes of insect resistance management. We combined high-throughput DNA sequencing with fine-scale spatio-temporal sampling to test (i) whether a population genomic approach would recover patterns of genetic variation consistent with earlier studies and (ii) if local genetic population structure was robust to seasonal changes in local habitat over time. Results We found high gene flow among populations of P. seriatus collected from different host plants in the Brazos Valley. We also identified temporal instability of the local population genetic structure, including the near complete loss of a genotypic group that had been previously abundant. Conclusion We support the status of woolly croton as a natural refuge that promotes year-end gene flow between genotypes infesting cotton and those infesting alternative hosts. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.
Single-Legged Hop and Single-Legged Squat Balance Performance in Recreational Athletes With a History of Concussion.

Context Researchers have suggested that balance deficiencies may linger during functional activities after concussion recovery. Objective To determine whether participants with a history of concuss...
Activity of PD1 inhibitor therapy in advanced sarcoma: a single-center retrospective analysis

Sarcomas constitute a heterogeneous group of tumors with different clinical behaviors and variable responses to systemic therapies. Recent immunotherapy studies with PD1 inhibitors (PD1i) show promising results with use in certain soft-tissue sarcomas; however, the clinical and molecular features that best predict response to PD1i remain unclear. Demographic, imaging, histologic, and genetic sequencing data was collected for sarcoma patients who received nivolumab or pembrolizumab (PD1i) treatment at our institution between January 1st 2015 and April 23rd 2018. The primary objective was to determine progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with advanced sarcomas receiving PD1i. Secondary objectives included determining overall survival (OS) and assessment of characteristics associated with response to PD1i. Fifty-six patients who were treated with PD1i therapy met inclusion criteria for this study. Partial response towards PD1i treatment was seen in 3 in 26 evaluable patients, but no complete responses were observed (overall response rate 11.5%). Within this group of patients, the 90 day PFS was found to be 48.8%. In patients in whom PD1 expression was known, there was a statistically significant positive correlation between expression of PD1 and longer PFS and OS rates. Patients that were treated with more than four cycles of PD1i therapy were also more likely to have a greater OS. This study suggests activity of PD1i in a pretreated cohort of advanced sarcoma patients, particularly for the subset of patients with PD1 positive tumors. Our results highlight the importance of further research to better target the optimal patient population and markers of response.
The variable paths to sustainable intensification in agriculture

Continuing environmental degradation amidst economic growth and population increase has underscored the desirability of pursuing sustainable intensification in agriculture. In theory, it would increase the volume of agricultural production without further degrading the natural environment or compromising the food security of the world’s poorest people. In practice, difficult choices involving trade-offs between agricultural development and environmental protection have characterized most efforts at sustainable intensification. Against this backdrop, a series of studies have tried to identify an optimal strategy for sustainable intensification. This article argues that there is no one optimal strategy. Rather, optimal strategies vary across socio-ecological contexts. Distinct strategies of sustainable intensification have emerged (1) in peri-urban agriculture, (2) on large farms situated on prime agricultural lands, and (3) in smallholder-dominated agricultural districts. Government interventions to promote sustainable intensification should recognize and build on these distinct, place-based economic, and agro-ecological dynamics.
Review of Ilioinguinal Nerve Blocks for Ilioinguinal Neuralgia Post Hernia Surgery

The purpose of this review is to evaluate the current evidence on ultrasound-guided ilioinguinal nerve blocks for ilioinguinal neuralgia post hernia surgery. A literature search was performed to find all relevant case reports, case series, prospective or retrospective cohort studies, and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) where ultrasound-guided or landmark-based ilioinguinal nerve blocks were used for ilioinguinal neuralgia post-inguinal hernia surgery. A total of six studies were identified with suitable data for inclusion. Three studies were retrospective, two studies were prospective, and one study was a randomized controlled trial. A total of 133 subjects were enrolled across these studies. Approximately 55–70% had a beneficial analgesic response to treatment. No major complications were reported in these studies. Ultrasound- and landmark-based ilioinguinal nerve blocks are safe and effective for pain relief post inguinal hernia surgery. Although there were two studies that did not show a statically significant difference in both techniques, the ultrasound-guided injection has the advantage of direct visualization of pathology, more accurate needle placement, and decreased risks of intravascular injections.
Electronic Cigarette Use Is Not Associated with COVID-19 Diagnosis.

This analysis tested the hypothesis that current e-cigarette use was associated with an increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients seeking medical care. E-cigarette and conventional cigarette use were ascertained using a novel electronic health record tool, and COVID-19 diagnosis was ascertained by a validated institutional registry. Logistic regression models were fit to assess whether current e-cigarette use was associated with an increased risk of COVID-19 diagnosis. A total of 69,264 patients who were over the age of 12 years, smoked cigarettes or vaped, and were sought medical care at Mayo Clinic between September 15, 2019 and November 30, 2020 were included. The average age was 51.5 years, 62.1% were females and 86.3% were white; 11.1% were currently smoking cigarettes or using e-cigarettes and 5.1% tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Patients who used only e-cigarettes were not more likely to have a COVID-19 diagnosis (OR 0.93 [0.69-1.25], P = .628), whereas those who used only cigarettes had a decreased risk (OR 0.43 [0.35-0.53], P < .001). The OR for dual users fell between these 2 values (OR 0.67 [0.49-0.92], P = .013). Although e-cigarettes have the well-documented potential for harm, they do not appear to increase susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection. This result suggests the hypothesis that any beneficial effects of conventional cigarette smoking on susceptibility are not mediated by nicotine.
Social isolation, inflammation, and cancer mortality from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey - a study of 3,360 women.

BACKGROUND This study evaluates the role of social isolation on inflammation and cancer mortality among women. METHODS Data were abstracted from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1988 to 1994. The Social Network Index was used to assess participants' degree of social isolation. C-reactive protein and fibrinogen levels were included as markers of inflammation. We used the National Death Index to identify causes and dates of mortality. Chi-square and multivariable Cox regressions were employed for statistical analyses. RESULTS Of 3360 women (median age: 54 years), the most isolated, very isolated, somewhat isolated, and not isolated comprised 14.5, 30.2, 37.1, and 18.2% of the sample, respectively. The most isolated participants were more likely to have low income (56.8% vs 12.2%, p < 0.001), have fewer years of education (40.8% vs 12.3%; p < 0.001), have low physical activity (27.3% vs 14.7%; p < 0.003), be obese (32.5% vs 24.4%; p = 0.02), and be current smokers (34.2% vs 10.3%; p < 0.001) compared to the not isolated ones. Mean fibrinogen levels increased with degree of social isolation (p = 0.003), but C-reactive protein showed no association (p = 0.52). Kaplan-Meier estimates indicated higher cancer mortality rates among participants with elevated fibrinogen levels, though not with statistical significance (p = 0.08). Furthermore, there was no association between social isolation and cancer mortality (p = 0.54). On multivariate analysis, obesity (HR = 1.56; 95% CI: 1.11-2.18), higher education (HR = 1.36; 95% CI: 1.01-1.83), and smoking (HR = 4.42, 95% CI: 2.84-6.88) were independent predictors for cancer mortality, while high physical activity predicted for lower mortality from cancer (HR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.51-0.87). However, social isolation was not a predictor. CONCLUSION Social isolation among women was associated with an increased level of fibrinogen, but not associated with cancer mortality. The relationship between inflammation and cancer mortality warrants further investigation.
The effects of surface and particle properties on van der Waals (vdW) adhesion quantified by the enhanced centrifuge method

Abstract The topographical features on the individual particles in a powder and the surfaces with which they interact affect the powder adhesion. An experimental and modelling framework called the Enhanced Centrifuge Method (ECM) maps particle and surface properties onto 'effective' Hamaker constant distributions that describe the van der Waals (vdW) adhesion between a powder and a surface. The ECM was used to study the adhesion between polystyrene powder and silica surfaces to exemplify the 'effective' Hamaker constants quantify the effects of particle and surface properties on adhesion. Silica surfaces were polished to alter their surface roughness profiles to reveal levels of roughness in which the adhesion was controlled by either the powder or surface properties. This study revealed surface roughness height descriptions are inadequate descriptors of adhesion, and instead the frequency of roughness peaks to the particle size must be considered. This result was verified using an existing particle adhesion simulator.
Automation and Labor Market Outcomes: The Pivotal Role of High-Quality Education

Automation will be a boon or a catastrophe depending on whom you listen to. This paper proposes an overlapping-generations model with endogenous school choice in which the quality of a country's education system determines how well skill supply can respond to increased demand from automation and subsequently whether automation will be beneficial or detrimental. In this sense, education quality in the model offers a bridge between the optimistic and pessimistic perspectives on automation. In testing the model's assumptions, the paper finds evidence that educational attainment, cognitive skills, and select noncognitive skills are associated with avoiding automation-prone occupations. Consistent with the model's predictions, census data indicate that countries have historically relied most on these types of occupations at middle-income status. The model and empirical findings suggest that it is middle-income countries that are most vulnerable to automation if their education systems are unable to affect cognitive and noncognitive skills sufficiently. As a result, automation may herald a much different growth model for developing countries: one in which developing these skills is central.
The Food and Culture Around the World Handbook: By Helen C. Brittin

(2011). The Food and Culture Around the World Handbook: By Helen C. Brittin. Food, Culture & Society: Vol. 14, No. 4, pp. 607-610.
Segmental (ulcerative) colitis.

Twelve years ago the authors, in conjunction with Dr. John H. Garlock,1 presented a series of 77 cases of "right-sided regional colitis" with an attempt to describe the "life-cycle" of this disease as based upon a follow-up study covering 17 years. We were subsequently dissatisfied with this title for two reasons: first, this localized form of colitis is not always right-sided; second, it is not always regional, nor does it always remain regional. We wish now to report a series of 140 cases of segmental colitis, that is, the type of nonspecific ulcerative colitis in which the more distal segments of the colon and also the rectum are free ofthe disease. We are not entirely discarding the term "regional colitis" because we now recognize that some of the right-sided forms are granulomatous in nature and simulate regional enteritis or ileitis in their chronic granulomatous nature. On the other hand, we adopt the title "segmental colitis" for those other types which, although free of rectal involvement, are ulcerative in the same sense which we apply to the more familiar type of universal ulcerative colitis with predominantly rectal involvement. The 140 cases we are reporting are all private patients seen in the office and the hospital, and have been observed for up to 30 years. During this period our office records include 1415 cases of universal ulcerative colitis, so that the segmental group constitutes approximately 10 per cent of the total. This is a slight increase over the 8 per cent we reported in 1947, and in recent years it appears that the incidence of segmental colitis is increasing, or at least is being recognized more frequently. In 1930 Bargen and Weber2 reported 23 cases of regional migratory chronic ulcerative colitis; in 1938 Crohn and Berg3 re* Read at the 60th Annual Meeting of the American Gastroenterological Association, Atlantic City, N .. J., June 5 and G, 1959.
Detection of nitrosated proteins

Three methods are provided in this unit to detect nitrosated proteins. The Saville assay is the most commonly used and has the advantages that it is less sensitive to interference than the quinine sulfate-based fluorescent assay, uses simple chemical reagents, and requires a spectrophotometer. The diaminonaphthalene assay (a fluorescence assay) and chemiluminescence assay are used when the experiment requires high sensitivity. Mass spectrometry is employed for precise structural determinations.
Course 6 Single-molecule studies of DNA mechanics and DNA/Protein interactions

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses single-molecule studies of Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) mechanics and DNA/protein interactions. Physicists are interested in DNA for several reasons. First of all, it is a unique polymer characterized by incredible lengths (up to several centimeters per molecule in the case of human chromosomes) and a very high degree of monodispersity. If certain artificial polymers, such as polystyrene or polyethylene glycol are capable of achieving high degrees of polymerization, it is still very difficult to impose a specific length for the whole sample. Moreover, these artificial polymers are not very rigid at the scale of the monomer; it is shown in the chapter, DNA are more rigid, is (paradoxically) much easier to stretch out. Another important point is that DNA is, for now, the only polymer that may be easily modified and observed by scientists. An ever-growing number of tools in molecular biology-restriction enzymes, ligases, PCR, electrophoresis gels make it possible to cut, reglue, modify, and purify DNA fragments in a manner that is both simple and precise. One can readily obtain large numbers of DNA molecules, each one of them bearing the exact same modifications at the exact same position.
Theoretical corrections and world data for the superallowed f t values in the β decays of Ti 42 , Cr 46 , Fe 50 , and Ni 54

Prompted by recent measurements, we surveyed world data and calculated radiative and isospin-symmetry-breaking corrections for the superallowed ${0}^{+}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{0}^{+}$ Fermi transitions from $^{42}\mathrm{Ti},^{46}\mathrm{Cr},^{50}\mathrm{Fe}$, and $^{54}\mathrm{Ni}$. This increases the number of such transition with a complete set of calculated corrections from 20 to 23. The results are compared with their equivalents for the mirror superallowed transitions from $^{42}\mathrm{Sc},^{46}\mathrm{V},^{50}\mathrm{Mn}$, and $^{54}\mathrm{Co}$. The predicted $ft$-value asymmetries of these mirror pairs are sensitive to the correction terms and provide motivation for improving measurement precision so as to be able to test the corrections. To aid in that endeavor, we present a parametrization for calculating the $f$ values for the new transitions to $\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.01%$.
Na incorporation and diffusion in CuIn/sub 1-x/Ga/sub x/Se/sub 2/

CuIn/sub 1-x/Ga/sub x/Se/sub 2/ based solar cells deposited by vapor phase techniques show significant improvement in performance when Na is present at the growth surface. Evidence is just becoming available concerning how the Na participates in the change in device performance. This work reports on the distribution of Na in CIGS in as grown device-type films, in Na-free films implanted with Na and the effects of annealing of these layers. CIGS thin films were deposited by four-source evaporation and analyzed by secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Samples were ion implanted and analyzed before and after annealing at 420/spl deg/C. Na segregates rapidly out of CIGS at normal physical vapor deposition temperatures. No Na diffusion at room temperature was observed in samples after six months. The segregation drives Na both to the surface of polycrystalline layers and into the Mo substrate. The segregation ratio for the CIGS/Mo interface is /spl sim/10 at 400/spl deg/C and /spl sim/100 at 600/spl deg/C. Small Na-rich regions can also occur inside CIGS layers. In spite of these observations, Na leads to a strong (112) preferred orientation of CIGS and apparently improves the performance of devices.
Experimental Estimate of the Oscillator Strength of the P2 32,12 ←S2 12 Transition of the Hydrogen Atom

The oscillator strength of the Lyman-α transition in the hydrogen atom has been determined by the line-absorption method. Hydrogen atoms were produced in a fast-flow system by a microwave discharge in a H2–He mixture. The hydrogen atoms absorbed the Lyman-α radiation at 1216 A emitted by a hydrogen-neon lamp, and absolute atom concentration was determined by titration with NO2. On the basis of the photometric calibration curve determined in this way, oscillator strengths were calculated as a function of assumed emission-line profiles. The best fit to the experimental data yielded an oscillator strength of 1.09±0.27.
THE INHERITANCE-BASED CLAIM TO REPARATIONS

I. INTRODUCTIONThe notion that the current descendants of slaves are owed compensation for slavery is one that receives widespread discussion and support. For example, in 1989, Representative John Conyers of Michigan proposed legislation that would create a commission to explore the effects of slavery on both African-Americans and the United States. More recently, Randall Robinson, in The Debt: What America Owes to Blacks, argued that an important step toward healing racial division and helping poor African-Americans is to compensate blacks for slavery.Randall Robinson, THE DEBT: WHAT AMERICA OWES TO BLACKS (2001). Also, a well-known group of civil-rights and class-action attorneys, including Harvard law professor Charles Ogletree and Johnnie Cochran, is putting together a lawsuit seeking reparations for the descendants of slaves.Reparations for Slavery, 1 (CBS News television broadcast, 2000), available from www.cbsnews. com/stories/2000/11/04/national/main246998.shtml. The debt on some estimates involves trillions of dollars.Larry Neal and James Marketti estimate that the value of unpaid income to slaves amounts to $1.4 trillion and $3.4 trillion respectively. Dinesh D’Souza, THE END OF RACISM 69 n.18 (1995) citing Richard F. America, ed., THE WEALTH OF RACES: THE PRESENT VALUE OF BENEFITS FROM PAST INJUSTICES (1990). In this paper, I argue that the descendants of slaves were not harmed by slavery since they owe their existence to slavery. I then recognize that they may have a claim to compensation based on their having inherited their ancestors’ (i.e., the slaves’) claim to compensation. I argue that the inheritance-based claim is defeated by a number of concerns, particularly doubt surrounding the existence and amount of this inheritance-based claim, concerns about offsets (sums that must be subtracted from compensation), and problems concerning the identity of any contemporary public or private entity that owes compensation. Note that in this essay I will not discuss harms that were not the result of enslavement and hence I set aside some of the claims put forth on behalf of current African-Americans.
Pegylated Cholesterol and Methyl-Beta-Cyclodextrin are Modulators of L-Type Calcium Channel Current and Decrease Membrane Capacitance in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Loading of pegylated cholesterol (PEG-cholesterol) by pretreatment of several hours decreases current density and augments voltage-dependent inactivation of L-type Ca channel current (ICa,L) and depletion of cholesterol by similar long pretreatment with methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (MbCD) increases the ICa,L density in A7r5 aortic smooth muscle cells. On the other hand, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a cholesterol-derived steroid hormone, rapidly induces voltage-dependent inhibition of ICa,L. If endocytosis and exocytosis of CaV1.2-containing membrane vesicles are involved in these modulations, they should induce a change in membrane capacitance (Cm). Cm could be affected also by a change of thickness and dielectric constant of lipid bilayer. Here we studied acute effects of PEG-cholesterol, MbCD and DHEA on Cm of isolated bovine coronary artery smooth muscle cells by whole-cell patch clamp technique. Ramp steps of 5 or 10 ms were applied repetitively before, during and after application of the modulators. Control Cm was 18.3±4.5 pF (mean±SD.). PEG-cholesterol and MbCD induced gradual and small decrease of Cm and their washout decelerated the rate of the decrease. Cm after 10 min of wash-in normalized by the initial value was: control without modulator, 1.01±0.02 (mean±SD.); 1 mM PEG-cholesterol, 0.96±0.02 (p<0.01, compared with control); 10 mM MbCD, 0.90±0.05 (p<0.0001); 0.1 mM DHEA, 1.00±0.03. Since the change of Cm is small, it little affects qualitative conclusion of the modulation of ICa,L density obtained by the pretreatment experiments with PEG-cholesterol and MbCD. The small but significant decrease of Cm reflects structural changes of the lipid bilayer which may be involved in the modulation of ICa,L by PEG-cholesterol and MbCD.
Influences of macronutrients and water temperatures on summertime survival of Macrocystis canopies

Macrocystis does not occur in tropical waters (Womersley 1954) and kelp canopies in southern and Baja California frequently deteriorate or disappear during warm summers (Brandt 1923; Clendenning & Sargent 1971). Many workers have assumed· that kelp tissues do not tolerate water temperatures of 20°C or higher. Clendenning & Sargent (1971), however, found highest photosynthetic rates for Macrocystis occurred between 20° and 25°C for southern California Macrocystis (25° to 30° was optimal for Baja California kelp). Concentrations of macro nutrient are almost nil in the mixed layers within the Southern California Bight after strong summer thermoclines develop, leading Jackson (1975) to suggest that improper nutrition might be a factor in summertime canopy deterioration.
Ethics and Professionalism in Government (USDA)

The general arena in which the professional entomologist works, and the specific approaches and tools he or she uses have changed over the past 20 years. Energy needs and consumption have become paramount issues that have impact on all of society, public and private. including agriculture. The high cost of labor has become a limiting factor in agricultural production. Human health issues, now given high priority, have very direct implication for entomology.
Histograms revisited: when are histograms the best approximation method for aggregates over joins?

The traditional statistical assumption for interpreting histograms and justifying approximate query processing methods based on them is that all elements in a bucket have the same frequency -- the so called uniform distribution assumption. In this paper we show that a significantly less restrictive statistical assumption - the elements within a bucket are randomly arranged even though they might have different frequencies -- leads to identical formulae for approximating aggregate queries using histograms. This observation allows us to identify scenarios in which histograms are well suited as approximation methods -- in fact we show that in these situations sampling and sketching are significantly worse -- and provide tight error guarantees for the quality of approximations. At the same time we show that, on average, histograms are rather poor approximators outside these scenarios.
Prenatal glucocorticoids improve lung morphology and partially restores surfactant mRNA expression in lambs with diaphragmatic hernia undergoing fetal tracheal occlusion

In fetal sheep with surgically created diaphragmatic hernia (DH), tracheal occlusion (TO) can restore lung growth but does not ameliorate the increase in inter-alveolar wall thickness (T(W)). We determined whether prenatal exposure to glucocorticoids (GC) could reduce T(w) in fetuses with DH undergoing TO. At 65 days of gestation, DH was created in 12 fetal sheep, and TO subsequently performed at 110 days (DH/TO). Six of these fetuses were exposed to betamethasone (DH/TO + GC; 0.5 mg/kg; maternal, IM) 48 hr before delivery; Sham operated fetuses (n = 7) served as controls. At 139 days, we measured alveolar surface density (S(V)), parenchymal tissue fraction, T(W), alveolar type 2 (AE2) cell density and lung surfactant protein (SP) mRNA expression. Prenatal GC decreased T(W) and S(V) by 33% and 27% respectively, and increased fixed lung volume (by 55%), AE2 cell density and partially restored SPmRNA expression. Our data indicate that prenatal exposure to GC can reverse some of the negative effects of prolonged fetal TO. We hypothesize that a GC-induced reduction in lung liquid volume during TO contributes, in part, to the observed increase in AE2 cell density and SPmRNA expression.
Bearing Witness — Sontag and the Body

It is the rare book in social medicine that does not cite Susan Sontag's opening sentence in Illness as Metaphor: “Illness is the night-side of life, a more onerous citizenship.”1 The recent death of this literary scholar, novelist, and cultural critic from myelodysplastic syndrome is a profound loss for the intellectual and clinical study of medicine. Sontag's enduring interest in the capacity of language to shape experience led her, in such works as Illness as Metaphor (1978) and AIDS and Its Metaphors (1989), to recognize that illness and the representation of it are always colored by culture or tainted . . .
Suppression of chronic drooling in mentally retarded children and adolescents: Effectiveness of a behavioral treatment package

A treatment package consisting of positive reinforcement for dryness and overcorrection for wetness was used to reduce drooling in two populations. Experiment I assessed the effectiveness of the procedure with three profoundly retarded and physically handicapped subjects. Experiment II examined the effectiveness of the procedure with two nonhandicapped moderately and mildly retarded subjects. In both experiments, the treatment package was effective in reducing or eliminating long-term chronic drooling. Maintenance of gains over a 6-month period was found for four of the five subjects.
A spectrophotometric method for quantitative determination of xylose in fermentation medium

Abstract Monitoring the consumption of sugars during fermentation is a key to optimizing product formation and maintaining a healthy environment for microorganisms. Difficulty arises in the availability of a rapid, inexpensive and sensitive method for the detection of sugars because fermentation media are a complex mix of nutrients, cell debris, waste and target products. A method involving reaction-based UV–Vis spectrophotometry for the quantitative determination of xylose as the target sugar was developed. Factors affecting xylose concentration measurements such as hydrochloric acid concentration, heating time and the amount of Fe 3+ catalyst were investigated. A continuous scan revealed the working wavelength to be 671 nm. The effect of other components in the fermentation broth was found to be negligible. Absorbance shows a linear relationship with xylose concentration within a range of 0.1–0.5 g/L. Xylose concentrations from fermentation samples obtained at specific time intervals (0–168 h) were determined with the method and compared with YSI 2700, an enzyme electrode, HPLC-ELSD method, currently a common technique for measuring xylose and GC aldononitrile sugar derivatization method. Dilution is necessary for comparable xylose concentrations with YSI 2700 and HPLC-ELSD. Xylose concentration measurements obtained with the UV–Vis spectrophotometric method although quantitatively comparable to HPLC-ELSD xylose measurements were easily and conveniently obtained compared to YSI 2700, HPLC-ELSD and GC derivatization methods.
Kikuchi's disease: Case report and systematic review of cutaneous and histopathologic presentations

Kikuchi's disease, also known as histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis, is a systemic illness with classic clinical findings of cervical lymphadenopathy and fever. Diagnosis is confirmed by lymph node histology, which reveals paracortical foci of necrosis and a histiocytic infiltrate. Kikuchi's disease has been associated with a number of infections, but no single source has been identified. Diverse, often nonspecific, cutaneous findings have been described in up to 40% of cases. Description of the histopathologic findings of skin lesions is limited to single case reports and one case series. We describe a 24-year-old woman with fevers, lymphadenopathy, hepatic and hematologic abnormalities, and a skin eruption involving the face, neck, trunk, and extremities with characteristic lymph node and cutaneous histopathologic findings. We completed a systematic review of the clinical presentations and histopathology of Kikuchi's disease.
Clinical update on teriparatide.

Teriparatide (recombinant human parathyroid hormone ) is an anabolic agent approved for the treatment of patients at high risk for fracture. The Fracture Prevention Trial administered teriparatide to treatment-naive patients, leading to its US Food and Drug Administration approval in 2002. Clinical trial data using antiresorptive agents administered before, during, and after any parathyroid hormone (PTH) therapy, as well as alternative PTH dosing, have provided additional insight yet raise fundamental questions about the most appropriate use of teriparatide. This article provides an update on teriparatide, focusing on its mechanism of action compared with other antiresorptive agents, indications, adverse effects, therapy duration, combination therapy, contraindications, and cost effectiveness.
Potential impacts of historical disturbance on green turtle health in the unique & protected marine ecosystem of Palmyra Atoll (Central Pacific)

Abstract Palmyra Atoll, in the Central Pacific, is a unique marine ecosystem because of its remarkably intact food web and limited anthropogenic stressors. However during World War II the atoll was structurally reconfigured into a military installation and questions remain whether this may have impacted the health of the atoll’s ecosystems and species. To address the issue we assessed green sea turtle ( n = 157) health and exposure to contaminants at this foraging ground from 2008 to 2012. Physical exams were performed and blood was sampled for testosterone analysis, plasma biochemistry analysis, hematology and heavy metal exposure. Hematological and plasma chemistries were consistent with concentrations reported for healthy green turtles. Heavy metal screenings revealed low concentrations of most metals, except for high concentrations of iron and aluminum. Body condition indices showed that
RESISTANCE IN THE COLLEGE CLASSROOM: VARIATIONS IN STUDENTS' PERCEIVED STRATEGIES FOR RESISTANCE AND TEACHERS' STRESSORS AS A FUNCTION OF STUDENTS' ETHNICITY

Current research on college students' resistance to teachers' compliance-gaining efforts in the college classroom has focused on the relation of teachers' antecedent behaviors and students' noncompliance or students' strategies for resistance. The present study explored the relationship between students' ethnicity (42 African-American, 72 Hispanic, 33 Native American, 101 white), strategies for resistance, and teachers' stressors (Type-A behavior, burnout, role ambiguity, role conflict). The results of multiple discriminant analyses indicated differences in the strategies of resistance and in perceived stressors of teachers among the four ethnic groups of students.
Chk2 Suppresses the Oncogenic Potential of DNA Replication-Associated DNA Damage

Summary The Mre11 complex (Mre11, Rad50, and Nbs1) and Chk2 have been implicated in the DNA-damage response, an inducible process required for the suppression of malignancy. The Mre11 complex is predominantly required for repair and checkpoint activation in S phase, whereas Chk2 governs apoptosis. We examined the relationship between the Mre11 complex and Chk2 in the DNA-damage response via the establishment of Nbs1 ΔB/ΔB Chk2 −/− and Mre11 ATLD1/ATLD1 Chk2 −/− mice. Chk2 deficiency did not modify the checkpoint defects or chromosomal instability of Mre11 complex mutants; however, the double-mutant mice exhibited synergistic defects in DNA-damage-induced p53 regulation and apoptosis. Nbs1 ΔB/ΔB Chk2 −/− and Mre11 ATLD1/ATLD1 Chk2 −/− mice were also predisposed to tumors. In contrast, DNA-PKcs-deficient mice, in which G1-specific chromosome breaks are present, did not exhibit synergy with Chk2 −/− mutants. These data suggest that Chk2 suppresses the oncogenic potential of DNA damage arising during S and G2 phases of the cell cycle.
Variant of a human immunoglobulin: “Alpha chain disease” protein AIT

Summary Protein AIT is a human alpha chain disease protein belonging to the IgAl subclass. It has a molecular weight of 34,200 instead of 55,000 for intact a chain. It contains an internal deletion which comprises about the entire Fd fragment. Normal synthesis resumes at a valine residue in the middle of the heavy chain where a series of short, unusual duplicated fragments containing carbohydrate are present. From there on the molecule appears to have an intact Fc fragment. Although the origin of these immunoglobulin chain variants is not understood, it is remarkable to observe that an homologous position is involved in defective α and γ genes (1).
Gene targeting in the mouse: advances in introduction of transgenes into the genome by homologous recombination.

The ability to stably introduce genes into the germline of animals provides a powerful means to address the genetic basis of physiology. Introduction of genes to generate transgenic animals has facilitated the development of complex genetic models of disease, as well as the in vivo study of gene function. However, one drawback of traditional transgenic technologies in which genes are microinjected into early-stage embryos is that there is little control over where and in how many copies genes are introduced into the genome. The development of animal transgenic technologies, which take advantage of homologous recombination mechanisms and the manipulation of embryonic stem (ES) cells, allows investigators to target and alter specific loci. In mouse transgenic systems, a plethora of sophisticated gene-targeting strategies now permit investigators to manipulate the genome in ways that essentially allow one to introduce virtually any desired change into the genome. Fur-thermore, when coupled with systems that allow for conditional gene expression, these gene-targeting strategies allow both temporal and tissue specific control of alterations to the genome. In the present review we briefly discuss some of the more recent gene-targeting strategies that have been developed to address the limitations of traditional animal transgenesis.
Mixing in a Moderately Sheared Salt-Fingering Layer

AbstractMixing due to sheared salt fingers is studied by means of direct numerical simulations (DNS) of a double-diffusively unstable shear layer. The focus is on the “moderate shear” case, where shear is strong enough to produce Kelvin–Helmholtz (KH) instability but not strong enough to produce the subharmonic pairing instability. This flow supports both KH and salt-sheet instabilities, and the objective is to see how the two mechanisms work together to flux heat, salt, and momentum across the layer.For observed values of the bulk Richardson number Ri and the density ratio Rρ, the linear growth rates of KH and salt-sheet instabilities are similar. These mechanisms, as well as their associated secondary instabilities, lead the flow to a fully turbulent state. Depending on the values of Ri and Rρ, the resulting turbulence may be driven mainly by shear or mainly by salt fingering. Turbulent mixing causes the profiles of temperature, salinity, and velocity to spread; however, in salt-sheet-dominated cases, t...
Reliability for tactical cryocoolers

For the past 18 years Carleton Life Support Systems has produced over 15,000 tactical cryogenic coolers that are primarily used in military infrared systems with excellent demonstrated reliability. As system reliability has improved, the cooler performance has emerged as a dominant component for reliability predictions. This has driven cooler reliability requirements to increase from a 1500-hour rotary cooler in chiefly ground applications to current requirements of 20,000 hours for linear coolers in advanced airborne applications. At the same time there is a push for improved cooldown time, lower power, lighter weight and smaller package. This paper reviews our progress on extending cooler life. It reviews recent product returns and contends that the majority of issues are not primarily related to reliability. It also reviews how system performance specifications are restrictive to the cooler designer in achieving higher reliability in tactical coolers.
Task management for irregular-parallel workloads on the GPU

We explore software mechanisms for managing irregular tasks on graphics processing units (GPUs). We demonstrate that dynamic scheduling and efficient memory management are critical problems in achieving high efficiency on irregular workloads. We experiment with several task-management techniques, ranging from the use of a single monolithic task queue to distributed queuing with task stealing and donation. On irregular workloads, we show that both centralized and distributed queues have more than 100 times as much idle times as our task-stealing and -donation queues. Our preferred choice is task-donation because of comparable performance to task-stealing while using less memory overhead. To help in this analysis, we use an artificial task-management system that monitors performance and memory usage to quantify the impact of these different techniques. We validate our results by implementing a Reyes renderer with its irregular split-and-dice workload that is able to achieve real-time framerates on a single GPU.
Lexical Recognition in Sign Language: Effects of Phonetic Structure and Morphology

Two experiments are reported which investigate lexical recognition in American Sign Language (ASL). Exp. 1 examined identification of monomorphemic signs and investigated how the manipulation of phonological parameters affected sign identification. Over-all sign identification was much faster than what has been found for spoken language The phonetic structure of sign (the simultaneous availability of Handshape and Location information) and the phonotactics of the ASL lexicon are argued to account for this difference. Exp. 2 compared the time course of recognition for monomorphemic and morphologically complex signs. ASL morphology is largelv nonconcatenative which raises particularly interesting questions for word recognition We found that morphologically complex signs had longer identification times than matched monomorphemic signs. Also, although roots and affixes are often articulated simultaneously in ASL, they were not identified simultaneously. Base forms of morphologically complex signs were identif...