cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Single center experience transplanting kidneys from deceased donors with terminal acute renal failure.

Background Transplantation of kidneys from deceased donors with terminal acute renal failure (ARF) is uncommon. Methods We reviewed retrospectively our single-center experience with transplantation of ARF donor kidneys. Results From January 2007 through September 2008, we transplanted 25 kidneys from 17 ARF donors; 22 kidneys were from standard criteria donors. Mean donor age was 34 years. Mean admission and terminal donor serum creatinine values were 1.3 mg/dL and 3.1 mg/dL. All but 2 kidneys were placed on pump preservation; mean cold ischemia time was 27 hours. The recipient group had a mean age of 49 years and a mean waiting time of 24 months. Patient and graft survival rates were 100% and 92%, respectively, with a mean follow-up of 12 months. Delayed graft function occurred in 8 patients (32%), mean initial duration of stay was 6 days, 3 patients (12%) required re-operation, 3 patients (12%) had acute rejection, and 8 patients (32%) developed infections. Mean 1- and 12-month recipient serum creatinine and glomerular filtration rate values were 1.9 mg/dl (45 mL/min) and 1.5 mg/dl (50 mL/min), respectively. Conclusion Kidneys from deceased donors with terminal ARF have excellent short-term outcomes and represent another potential method to safely expand the donor pool.
Quantitative characterization of hormone receptors

Most workers characterize steroid (and other hormone) receptors by graphical analysis of Scatchard plots or by simple linear regression. Unfortunately, these methods are suboptimal from a statistical point of view. The Scatchard plot, B/F vs. [Bound], does not satisfy the assumptions underlying simple linear regression: both variables are subject to error, and these errors are intimately interdependent. Accordingly, neither B/F nor [Bound] is an appropriate independent variable. Furthermore, both variables (B/F and [Bound]) show non-uniformity of variance. Thus, even when the Scatchard plot is linear, one should estimate the binding parameters (affinity, K, and binding capacity, R) by means of weighted nonlinear least-squares regression, using the Total ligand concentration as the independent variable, and either B/T or [Bound] as the dependent variable. In the case of a nonlinear Scatchard plot, one should also use weighted nonlinear least-squares curve fitting to estimate the K and R values for the high and low affinity classes of sites. Allowing the computer program to provide the best estimate of the nonspecific or nonsaturable binding is also desirable. The program should provide estimates of the standard errors and/or 95% confidence limits for the estimated parameters, and the joint 95% confidence limits for K and R. One should routinely attempt to fit several models of varying degrees of complexity (e.g., 1, 2, or 3 classes of sites), provide estimates of the goodness-of-fit for each, and then select the best model by statistical criteria. Sometimes, we encounter Scatchard plots that are obviously nonlinear but provide insufficient information within any one experiment to permit reliable characterization of two or more classes of sites. In this case, we may employ any of several alternative techniques, including 1) use of the “limiting slopes” technique to obtain approximate estimates of parameters; 2) use of a Continuous Affinity Distribution, with consideration of only the receptors with an affinity above an arbitrarily selected cutoff value of K; 3) use of a Discrete Affinity Distribution, by assigning values to the affinities (K1, K2) based on prior information, and then estimating the binding capacities; 4) pooling information over several specimens within an assay or over several assays by use of normalizing or scaling factors. The best estimates of these scaling factors can be obtained by the use of a general least-squares method for pooling data from different specimens or experiments. A series of computer programs to perform these analyses has been developed. They have been applied successfully to analysis of steroid receptors in specimens from breast carcinoma.
GLSMs for partial flag manifolds

In this paper we outline some aspects of nonabelian gauged linear sigma models. First, we review how partial flag manifolds (generalizing Grassmannians) are described physically by nonabelian gauged linear sigma models, paying attention to realizations of tangent bundles and other aspects pertinent to (0,2) models. Second, we review constructions of Calabi-Yau complete intersections within such flag manifolds, and properties of the gauged linear sigma !
Testing and validation of a multiple nonlinear regression model for predicting trihalomethane formation potential

Abstract This paper summarizes a testing and validation analysis of a previously developed model for predicting trihalomethane formation potential (THMFP) in chlorinated waters containing THM precursors. The original model, in the form of a nonlinear multiple regression equation, tended to overpredict THM formation potential at lower chlorine concentrations and underpredict at higher chlorine concentrations. The model proved to be more accurate in simulating THM formation potential in waters with moderate levels of organic carbon/THM precursors. While the model did not provide a high degree of predictive accuracy, the general format of the nonlinear model represents a rational framework for developing source specific models applicable to a given water source.
The Effects of Pressure on Water Transport in Polymers

Effect of pressure on the water absorption of general purpose unsaturated polyester and vinyl ester resins was studied. The water absorption curves of polymers were determined at 25.5°C, 100% relative humidity, and 1 atm. Polymers were immersed into 28.5°C water at 1 atm and 1500 psi, respectively. The weight percent changes were observed after 144 hours. The data of 1 atm and 1500 psi matched with the weight changes of the sorption curves. The experiment indicated that no effect of pressure on water ab sorption of polyester and vinyl ester resins was found in this pressure range.
Adapting Recommendations to Contextual Changes Using Hierarchical Hidden Markov Models

Recommender systems help users find items of interest by tailoring their recommendations to users' personal preferences. The utility of an item for a user, however, may vary greatly depending on that user's specific situation or the context in which the item is used. Without considering these changes in preferences, the recommendations may match the general preferences of a user, but they may have small value for the user in his/her current situation. In this paper, we introduce a hierarchical hidden Markov model for capturing changes in user's preferences. Using a user's feedback sequence on items, we model the user as a hierarchical hidden Markov process and the current context of the user as a hidden variable in this model. For a given user, our model is used to infer the maximum likelihood sequence of transitions between contextual states and to predict the probability distribution for the context of the next action. The predicted context is then used to generate recommendations. Our evaluation results using Last.fm music playlist data, indicate that this approach achieves significantly better performance in terms of accuracy and diversity compared to baseline methods.
What does the research tell us about couple and family therapies

This article overviews for the practicing clinician the research assessing couple and family therapies. Research on couple and family therapies has established the overall efficacy of these forms of intervention as a general grouping, their value both as treatments and parts of treatments in ameliorating a number of disorders and difficulties, and the efficacy of a number of specific therapies aimed at specific difficulties. However, there remain several prominent couple and family therapies that have yet to be assessed through research, and the research has only begun to be able to inform specific therapist decision making. Findings from research assessing family process are cited that can prove useful to therapists.
Surprise Signals in Anterior Cingulate Cortex: Neuronal Encoding of Unsigned Reward Prediction Errors Driving Adjustment in Behavior

In attentional models of learning, associations between actions and subsequent rewards are stronger when outcomes are surprising, regardless of their valence. Despite the behavioral evidence that surprising outcomes drive learning, neural correlates of unsigned reward prediction errors remain elusive. Here we show that in a probabilistic choice task, trial-to-trial variations in preference track outcome surprisingness. Concordant with this behavioral pattern, responses of neurons in macaque (Macaca mulatta) dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) to both large and small rewards were enhanced when the outcome was surprising. Moreover, when, on some trials, probabilities were hidden, neuronal responses to rewards were reduced, consistent with the idea that the absence of clear expectations diminishes surprise. These patterns are inconsistent with the idea that dACC neurons track signed errors in reward prediction, as dopamine neurons do. Our results also indicate that dACC neurons do not signal conflict. In the context of other studies of dACC function, these results suggest a link between reward-related modulations in dACC activity and attention and motor control processes involved in behavioral adjustment. More speculatively, these data point to a harmonious integration between reward and learning accounts of ACC function on one hand, and attention and cognitive control accounts on the other.
Change in the Manifestation of Overt Aggression During Early Adolescence: Gender and Ethnicity

This study examined how the manifestation of overt aggression changes during early adolescence using Hierarchical Linear Modeling. The distinct courses of physical and verbal aggression identified in this study provide support for developmental transformations in overt aggression, which would have been obscured unless aggression had been defined with greater specificity. The examination of gender effects revealed that while boys demonstrate higher initial levels of physical and verbal aggression, there were no gender differences in the growth of physical and verbal aggression. In addition, the testing of ethnicity effects demonstrated that Blacks and Hispanics show higher initial levels of physical and verbal aggression than Whites, however, adolescents from other ethnicities did not differ from Whites in terms of initial aggression levels. Despite the significant differences in initial status, ethnicity did not significantly predict the growth of aggression with the exception that Blacks exhibited a faster rate of decline in physical aggression. The limitations of this study and the implications for future research and practice are discussed.
A non-autonomous second order boundary value problem on the half-line

By variational arguments, the existence of a solution to a non-autonomous second-order boundary problem on the half-line is proven. The corresponding autonomous problem has no solution, revealing significant differences between the autonomous and the non-autonomous case.
Data Base Error Trapping and Prediction

Abstract We develop and analyze models for a class of problems involving inferences about uncertain numbers of errors in data bases. In particular, we study two error detection methods. In the duplicate performance method, all items in a data base are processed by two individuals (or machines), and the resulting records are compared to find disagreements, which are then resolved. In the known errors method, a data base is first extended to include additional items known to be in error, and then the extended data base is checked by a single individual. For both methods, we lay out the underlying structure of the model and generate inferences in terms of predictive distributions for the numbers of undetected errors. The role of prior information is important in these problems of data base quality management. In the first method of error checking, for example, observed data are always equally consistent with small error rates and few remaining errors and with high error rates and many remaining errors. Most ...
Polar group enhanced gas-phase acidities of carboxylic acids: an investigation of intramolecular electrostatic interaction.

We studied the effects of polar groups on the gas-phase acidities of carboxylic acids experimentally and computationally. In this connection, the gas-phase acidities (ΔHacid, the enthalpy of deprotonation, and ΔGacid, the deprotonation free energy) of borane-complexed methylaminoacetic acid ((CH3)2N(BH3)CH2CO2H) and methylthioacetic acid (CH3S(BH3)CH2CO2H) were measured using the kinetic method in a flowing afterglow-triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. The values of ΔHacid and ΔGacid of (CH3)2N(BH3)CH2CO2H were determined to be 328.8 ± 1.9 and 322.1 ± 1.9 kcal/mol, and those of CH3S(BH3)CH2CO2H were determined to be 325.8 ± 1.9 and 319.2 ± 1.9 kcal/mol, respectively. The theoretical enthalpies of deprotonation of (CH3)2N(BH3)CH2CO2H (329.2 kcal/mol) and CH3S(BH3)CH2CO2H (325.5 kcal/mol) were calculated at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d) level of theory. The calculated enthalpies of deprotonation of N-oxide−acetic acid (CH3NOCH2CO2H, 329.4 kcal/mol) and S-oxide−acetic acid (CH3SOCH2CO2H, 328.6 kcal/mol) are comparabl...
Convergent Ethnicity and the Neo-platoon Show Recombining Difference in the Postnetwork Era

Corresponding to and partially driven by economic and technological convergence in the postnetwork era, American television programming in the past decade has produced a form of ethno-racial convergence in an array of prominent dramatic series such as Boston Public, Lost, Heroes, Grey's Anatomy, and Ugly Betty. Featuring multiracial and multigendered casts, prime-time soap narrative structures, and, most significant, interracial romance, these popular shows are clearly responding to global economic forces, sociocultural changes, and media monitoring pressures. They also have antecedents in the platoon films of World War II and the platoon sitcoms of the 1970s, extending their forebears' capitalist realist tendencies to the point of capitalist surrealism. Offering personal and industrial solutions to the postmodern dissolution of identity and the breakdown in network hegemony, the “neo-platoon” shows present a multicultural and transnational universe in which not only everything is interconnected but also ...
Compound specific D/H ratios and molecular distributions of higher plant leaf waxes as novel paleoenvironmental indicators in the Chinese Loess Plateau

Abstract We measured D/H ratios of individual long chain leaf wax n-alkanes isolated from a loess profile spanning the last 130 ka from Xifeng, China. The δD values show large variation (−140 to −200‰) for the past 130 ka and are highly correlated with changes in magnetic susceptibility (MS), an accepted proxy for past monsoon circulation in the Chinese Loess Plateau. Peaks in high δD values (−140 to −160‰) coincide with low MS values for loess sections formed under relatively dry conditions (marine isotope stages, MISs, 2 and 4), whereas peaks in low δD values (−190 to −200‰) coincide with high MS values for paleosol sections formed under relatively wet conditions (MISs 1, 3 and 5). We attribute the isotopic variations to the combined effects of varying aridity, which controls the soil and leaf water evaporation, and temperature and monsoon intensity, which alter the D/H ratios of precipitation. We also discovered a strong negative correlation between the molecular distributions (ratios of C31/C29 and C31/C27 n-alkanes) and the δD values of n-alkanes, based on studies of modern plants and the Xifeng loess sequence. The complex relationship between MS and monsoon circulation has been difficult to understand mechanistically. However, the climatic controls on the D/H ratios of individual long chain n-alkanes and C31/C29 n-alkane ratios can be readily demonstrated and calibrated from modern plants and surface soils. Therefore, these new molecular and isotopic proxies have potential as quantitative proxies for paleoenvironmental reconstruction in the Chinese Loess Plateau.
A Radar Terminal Descent Sensor for the Mars Science Laboratory mission

The soft-touchdown, “sky-crane” concept employed by the 2009 NASA Mars Science Laboratory mission requires an order-of-magnitude improvement from previous missions in the sensing of vehicle velocity and altitude. This paper describes the development of a new radar “Terminal Descent Sensor” that provides decimeterper-second velocity accuracy while also providing better than 2% range accuracy on six unique beams. This sensor design uses a millimeter-wave center frequency (Ka-band) and pencil beam antennas to achieve the required velocity precision and to overcome the problems that angle-of-arrival errors can cause in velocity reconstruction. Included are discussions of the design concept, driving requirements, hardware architecture, and results from a high fidelity performance simulation.
Effect of short-term glucose control on glycemic thresholds for epinephrine and hypoglycemic symptoms.

Hypoglycemia is the principal barrier to achieving target glucose goals in type 2 diabetes. The effect of short-term improvement in glycemic control on plasma glucose thresholds for symptomatic and hormonal responses to hypoglycemia in type 2 diabetes is not known. We hypothesized that the thresholds for these events would be increased by 1 wk of improved glycemic control in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes. Ten elderly patients with type 2 diabetes were admitted for an 8-d inpatient protocol. All subjects underwent insulin-induced hypoglycemia on days 2 (preglucose control) and 8 (postglucose control). Between days 2 and 8, subjects received intensive diabetes management to improve their glycemic control. Timed blood glucose profiles were obtained daily during the week before and during admission. Plasma glucose, counterregulatory hormones, and hypoglycemic symptoms were assessed at baseline and every 10 min during the hypoglycemic studies. Mean blood glucose concentrations were significantly reduce...
Semantic image clustering using object relation network

This paper presents a novel method to organize a collection of images into a hierarchy of clusters based on image semantics. Given a group of raw images with no metadata as input, our method describes the semantics of each image with a bag-of-semantics model (i.e., a set of meaningful descriptors), which is derived from the image's Object Relation Network [5] - an expressive graph model representing rich semantics for image objects and their relations. We adopt the class hierarchies in a guide ontology as different levels of lenses to view the bag-of-semantics models. Image clusters are automatically extracted by grouping images with the same bag-of-semantics viewed through a certain lens. With a series of coarse-to-fine lenses, images are clustered in a top-down hierarchical manner. In addition, given that users can have different perspectives regarding how images should be clustered, our method allows each user to control the clustering process while browsing, and thus dynamically adjusts the clustering result according to the user's preferences.
Analysis and improvement of fitness exploitation in XCS: bounding models, tournament selection, and bilateral accuracy

The evolutionary learning mechanism in XCS strongly depends on its accuracy-based fitness approach. The approach is meant to result in an evolutionary drive from classifiers of low accuracy to those of high accuracy. Since, given inaccuracy, lower specificity often corresponds to lower accuracy, fitness pressure most often also results in a pressure towards higher specificity. Moreover, fitness pressure should cause the evolutionary process to be innovative in that it combines low-order building blocks of lower accurate classifiers, to higher-order building blocks with higher accuracy. This paper investigates how, when, and where accuracy-based fitness results in successful rule evolution in XCS. Along the way, a weakness in the current proportionate selection method in XCS is identified. Several problem bounds are derived that need to be obeyed to enable proper evolutionary pressure. Moreover, a fitness dilemma is identified that causes accuracy-based fitness to be misleading. Improvements are introduced to XCS to make fitness pressure more robust and overcome the fitness dilemma. Specifically, (1) tournament selection results in a much better fitness-bias exploitation, and (2) bilateral accuracy prevents the fitness dilemma. While the improvements stand for themselves, we believe they also contribute to the ultimate goal of an evolutionary learning system that is able to solve decomposable machine-learning problems quickly, accurately, and reliably. The paper also contributes to the further understanding of XCS in general and the fitness approach in XCS in particular.
Tay-Sachs disease is probably not increasing.

RECENTLY, Shaw and Smith1 have discussed the question of heterozygote advantage for the Tay-Sachs gene in Jewish populations with reference to our published computations2 and more generally. Their estimate of 5.3 per cent advantage over normal homozygote, based on trial values in a discrete model, is better than our value of 4.6 per cent from a very rough continuous approximation. But they seem to imply that we also accepted another estimate of 1.3 per cent advantage; this value was mentioned only to indicate how little heterosis would be required simply to cancel deaths of the recessive homozygotes.
Semiempirical models for image electrostatics. I. Bare external charge

We develop a simple semiempirical Pariser–Parr–Pople-type model of a metal. It can be used for studies of adsorption and of the interactions between the metal surface and external charges, and is compatible with ab initio description of the molecules outside the metal. We investigate the dependence of the image-type field on the few parameters that control the model behavior, and develop a simple direct minimization self-consistent field technique that is useful for convergence in nearly degenerate cases.
Historical perspective on seismic hazard to Hispaniola and the northeast Caribbean region

[1] We evaluate the long-term seismic activity of the North-American/Caribbean plate boundary from 500 years of historical earthquake damage reports. The 2010 Haiti earthquakes and other earthquakes were used to derive regional attenuation relationships between earthquake intensity, magnitude, and distance from the reported damage to the epicenter, for Hispaniola and for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The attenuation relationship for Hispaniola earthquakes and northern Lesser Antilles earthquakes is similar to that for California earthquakes, indicating a relatively rapid attenuation of damage intensity with distance. Intensities in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands decrease less rapidly with distance. We use the intensity-magnitude relationships to systematically search for the location and intensity magnitude MI which best fit all the reported damage for historical earthquakes. Many events occurred in the 20th-century along the plate-boundary segment from central Hispaniola to the NW tip of Puerto Rico, but earlier events from this segment were not identified. The remaining plate boundary to the east to Guadeloupe is probably not associated with M > 8 historical subduction-zone earthquakes. The May 2, 1787 earthquake, previously assigned an M 8–8.25, is probably only MI 6.9 and could be located north, west or SW of Puerto Rico. An MI 6.9 earthquake on July 11, 1785 was probably located north or east of the Virgin Islands. We located MI < 8 historical earthquakes on April 5, 1690, February 8, 1843, and October 8, 1974 in the northern Lesser Antilles within the arc. We speculate that the December 2, 1562 (MI 7.7) and May 7, 1842 (MI 7.6) earthquakes ruptured the Septentrional Fault in northern Hispaniola. If so, the recurrence interval on the central Septentrional Fault is ∼300 years, and only 170 years has elapsed since the last event. The recurrence interval of large earthquakes along the Hispaniola subduction segment is likely longer than the historical record. Intra-arc M ≥ 7.0 earthquakes may occur every 75–100 years in the 410-km-long segment between the Virgin Islands and Guadeloupe.
Torsional springs for two-dimensional dynamic unstructured fluid meshes

Abstract Dynamic fluid grids are commonly used for the solution of flow problems with moving boundaries. They are often represented by a network of fictitious lineal springs that can become unreliable when the fluid mesh undergoes large displacements and/or deformations. In this paper, we propose to control the arbitrary motion of two-dimensional dynamic unstructured fluid grids with additional torsional springs. We show that such springs can be designed to prohibit the interpenetration of neighboring triangles, and therefore to provide the method of spring analogy with the robustness needed for enlarging its range of applications. We illustrate our new dynamic mesh motion algorithm with several examples that highlight its advantages in terms of robustness, quality, and performance.
Need for Exchange Transfusion (Ex) in Infants with Severe BO Disease Treated with Intensive PhotoRx Alone (1991-95) or with BOX Plus Intensive PhotoRx(1996). 924

Elevated serum bilirubin (SB) 10.9 mg/dl was noted in a six hr old, 3969g term infant with severe BO disease (Hct 29%, Hct 40%). Intensive photoRx resulted in only a modest fall in rate of SB rise; Ex appeared inevitable. Hourly BOX feedings (60 Units/kg/d), begun at 22 hrs were associated with decrease stool bile pigments and more rapid than expected fall in SB. No Ex needed. Findings in this infant are presented in comparison to those in the seven other term infants with BO disease Rx at PA H from 1991 to 1995. All needed Ex. Their SB and age at Ex (mean ± SD), were 20.2 mg/dl ± 2.4; 28.6 hs ± 7.3 resp.(See Table).
Locus of Control and Cooperative Behavior in 10-Year-Old Children

Abstract A game-like task was used to evaluate the cooperative behavior of 10-year-old same-sex dyads that were paired homogeneously or heterogeneously on a premeasure of locus of control. Pairs of girls were relatively more cooperative than were boys, and dyads of internal locus of control boys who displayed relatively little cooperation on initial trials became more cooperative as the game progressed. In addition, male dyads heterogeneous in terms of locus of control (an internal and an external), who also displayed little cooperation initially, became even less cooperative over trials.
Responses to palatability shifts: Effects of varying the retention level

Nondeprived rats were given a 1-h exposure to a sodium-saccharin solution for 28 consecutive days. A temporary shift to tap water then occurred for all Ss. The brief timeout (tap water) led to a positive contrast effect. Lengthy exposure to tap water (30 days) resulted in the possible forgetting of the comparison solution (sacc) or perhaps the response to that solution.
Fracture control for composite structures

Abstract A fracture control technique for composite structures is presented which takes advantage of the unique capability of composite materials to be tailored in stiffness and fracture toughness. Crack arrestment is achieved through the use of integral ‘buffer’ strips in the primary load-carrying laminate. Experimental uniaxial tension data obtained from damaged laminates containing such buffer strips indicate residual strength capacity in excess of the limit design stress for the selected laminate.
Carl Purington Rollins and the design of scholarly books

Carl Purington Rollins became manager of the manufacturing department of Yale University Press in 1918, and over the next thirty years he designed and supervised the production of more than two thousand books for the Press. In so doing he set design standards for university press books throughout the nation. This article examines Rollin's philosophy and methodology, which developed through the creation of a partnership between handcrafts-manship and emerging technologies of mechanical book production.
Transformer Cooling Equipment Has Optimum Operating Conditions [includes discussion]

Transformer cooling equipment should be operated for maximum utilization of both the transformer and its cooling equipment. The term "transformer cooling equipment" refers in particular to the auxiliary fans that are applied to transformer radiators for cooling the radiator tubes. Many power transformers use auxiliary cooling fans to obtain increased ratings. It is desirable to operate these fans only when load and temperature conditions require the additional cooling. This is accomplished by automatic control of the fans from the transformer oil or winding temperature. This paper discusses the methods for obtaining satisfactory control of the cooling fans on oil-immersed air-cooled/forced-air-cooled (OA/FA) and oil-immersed air-cooled/forced-air-cooled/forced-air-cooled (OA/FA/FA) transformers only. The fans are considered to be actuated by a thermal image device simulating winding hot-spot temperature. The resulting conclusions apply only to the use of fans as auxiliary cooling equipment.
The Development and Evaluation of a Measure Assessing School Nurses' Perceived Barriers to Addressing Pediatric Obesity:

School nurses represent an important resource for addressing pediatric obesity and weight-related health. However, school nurses perceive numerous barriers that prevent them from addressing the weight-related health of students. The current study developed and tested a new, comprehensive measure of nurses' perceptions of 10 types of barriers to addressing pediatric weight in a nationally representative sample of 214 school nurses. The measure was developed in the context of Bronfenbrenner's (1979) ecological systems theory and includes subscales assessing nurses' perceptions of skills-based, job-related, and societal barriers. Confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) provided evidence for the validity of the measure, including the three barrier subscales. In addition, the subscales demonstrated adequate internal consistencies. Results indicate that school nurses perceive barriers to addressing weight-related health on multiple ecological levels, which may inform intervention or continuing education efforts. Future pediatric weight programs that involve school nurses might consider using the measure to assess nurses' perceptions of barriers.
NASA high performance computing, communications, image processing, and data visualization-potential applications to medicine

High-speed information processing technologies being developed and applied by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory for NASA and Department of Defense mission needs have potential dual-uses in telemedicine and other medical applications. Fiber optic ground networks connected with microwave satellite links allow NASA to communicate with its astronauts in Earth orbit or on the moon, and with its deep space probes billions of miles away. These networks monitor the health of astronauts and or robotic spacecraft. Similar communications technology will also allow patients to communicate with doctors anywhere on Earth. NASA space missions have science as a major objective. Science sensors have become so sophisticated that they can take more data than our scientists can analyze by hand. High performance computers-workstations, supercomputer and massively parallel computers are being used to transform this data into knowledge. This is done using image processing, data visualization and other techniques to present the data-one's and zero's in forms that a human analyst can readily relate to and understand. Medical sensors have also exploded in the in data output-witness CT scans, MRI, and ultrasound. This data must be presented in visual form and computers will allow routine combination of many two dimensional MRI images into three dimensional reconstructions of organs that then can be fully examined by physicians. Emerging technologies such as neural networks that are being “trained” to detect craters on planets or incoming missiles amongst decoys can be used to identify microcalcification in mammograms.
Computer simulation of metabolism in palmitate-perfused rat heart. III: Sensitivity analysis

The behavior of a computer model of metabolism in glucose- and palmitate-perfused rat hearts was interpreted by sensitivity analysis to explain why the heart preferentially utilizes fatty acids as fuel even in the presence of substantial exogenous glucose. The sensitivity functions identified those metabolites and enzymes which were most important in regulating the metabolic rate and determined which enzymes set the levels of the critical metabolites. Control of the mitochondrial redox potential and the distribution of coenzyme A thioesters regulated the rate of fatty acid utilization while strong inhibition of citrate synthetase resulted in accumulation of acetyl CoA and supprersion of pyruvate oxidation. Glycolysis was limited by the cytosolic ATP/ADP ratio set largely by the creatine shuttle. Metabolic control appears to be widely distributed rather than localized at “key” enzymes. Metabolite levels are usually set by enzymes controlled by modifiers whereas metabolic flux is regulated by the enzymes that produce ligands for the modifier-controlled enzymes.
2-Amino-4-methylbenzothiazole

The title compound, C8H8N2S, was crystallized from heptane with a minimal amount of toluene. The crystal structure is stabilized by inter­molecular N—H⋯N and N—H⋯S hydrogen bonds. The crystal structure viewed down the b axis shows the mol­ecules packed in a bilayer fashion, with alternating hydro­philic and hydro­phobic regions.
Direct Interaction of Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen with the Small Subunit of DNA Polymerase δ

The interaction between proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and DNA polymerase δ is essential for processive DNA synthesis during DNA replication/repair; however, the identity of the subunit of DNA polymerase δ that directly interacts with PCNA has not been resolved until now. In the present study we have used reciprocal co-immunoprecipitation experiments to determine which of the two subunits of core DNA polymerase δ, the 125-kDa catalytic subunit or the 50-kDa small subunit, directly interacts with PCNA. We found that PCNA co-immunoprecipitated with human p50, as well as calf thymus DNA polymerase δ heterodimer, but not with p125 alone, suggesting that PCNA directly interacts with p50 but not with p125. A PCNA-binding motif, similar to the sliding clamp-binding motif of bacteriophage RB69 DNA polymerase, was identified in the N terminus of p50. A 22-amino acid oligopeptide containing this sequence (MRPFL) was shown to bind PCNA by far Western analysis and to compete with p50 for binding to PCNA in co-immunoprecipitation experiments. The binding of p50 to PCNA was inhibited by p21, suggesting that the two proteins compete for the same binding site on PCNA. These results establish that the interaction of PCNA with DNA polymerase δ is mediated through the small subunit of the enzyme.
Ectopic expression of Kruppel like factor 4 (Klf4) accelerates formation of the epidermal permeability barrier

Dysfunction of the epidermal permeability barrier can result in dehydration, electrolyte imbalance and poor thermoregulation. Immature skin is a portal of entry for infectious agents and potential toxins in topically applied substances. As the skin is one of the last organs to mature in utero, premature infants born before 34 weeks gestation are at great risk for complications. The transcription factor kruppel-like factor 4 (Klf4), has been shown by a targeted ablation, to have an essential function in barrier acquisition. We investigated whether Klf4 expression in utero is sufficient to establish the epidermal barrier. Specifically, we generated lines of mice that express Klf4 from a tetracycline inducible promoter when crossed with transgenic mice expressing the tetracycline transactivator tTA from the epidermal keratin 5 promoter. These mice exhibit acceleration in barrier acquisition as manifest by the exclusion of a dye solution one day earlier in development than controls. Underlying this dye impermeability are morphological changes, including an increased number of stratified layers, expression of terminal differentiation markers and assembly of cornified envelopes. By all criteria, Klf4 ectopic expression accelerates the normal process of terminal differentiation. Premature barrier acquisition in these mice follows the normal pattern rather than the pattern of the transgene promoter, indicating that there are fields of competence in which KLF4 acts. Although other transgenic mice have perturbed barrier acquisition, these mice are the first to accelerate the process of barrier establishment. These studies show that KLF4 regulates barrier acquisition and provides an animal model for studying how to accelerate the process of barrier acquisition for the premature infant.
Trace organic pollutants in the southeast estuarine environments of China

Abstract Trace organic pollutants (PAHs, DDTs, HCHs, PCBs) in sediments, suspended particulate matter and bivalves were studied during 1994 and 1997 in three estuaries of China: the Jiulong River, the Minjiang River and the Pearl River estuaries. Results indicated that there were some differences between the composition characteristics of the trace organic pollutants in the suspended particulate matter and the sediments. Concentrations of trace organic pollutants in the bivalves were 2–300 times higher than those in the sediments. In the three estuaries, the concentrations of PAHs and PCBs were relatively higher in Pearl River estuary, but the concentrations of DDTs were higher in Jiulong River and Minjiang River estuaries. Relatively high values of PAHs appeared at the outlet of river, waterway and harbor. It is suspected that these PAHs mainly came from sewage, shipping discharge and local pollutant sources. Relatively high concentrations of PCBs appeared at the Pearl River estuary that may be related t...
The association of bone density and calcified atherosclerosis is stronger in women without dyslipidemia: the multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis.

We tested whether the association between bone mineral density (BMD) and coronary artery calcification (CAC) varies according to dyslipidemia in community-living individuals. Between 2002 and 2005, 305 women and 631 men (mean age of 64 years), who were not taking lipid-lowering medications or estrogen were assessed for spine BMD, CAC, and total (TC), HDL- and LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides. Participants were a random sample from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) without clinical cardiovascular disease. Spine BMD at the L3 vertebrate was performed by computer tomography (CT). CAC prevalence was measured by CT. The total cholesterol to HDL ratio (TC:HDL) ≥ 5.0 was used as the primary marker of hyperlipidemia. The association of BMD with CAC differed in women with TC:HDL < 5.0 versus higher (p-interaction = 0.01). In age- and race-adjusted models, among women with TC:HDL < 5.0, each SD (43.4 mg/cc) greater BMD was associated with a 25% lower prevalence of CAC (prevalence ratio [PR] 0.75, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.63-0.89), whereas among women with higher TC:HDL, higher BMD was not significantly associated with CAC (PR 1.22, 95% CI 0.82-1.82). Results were similar using other definitions of hyperlipidemia. In contrast, no consistent association was observed between BMD and CAC in men, irrespective of the TC:HDL ratio (p interaction 0.54). The inverse association of BMD with CAC is stronger in women without dyslipidemia. These data argue against the hypothesis that dyslipidemia is the key factor responsible for the inverse association of BMD with atherosclerosis.
A first look at integrated GPUs for green high-performance computing

The graphics processing unit (GPU) has evolved from a single-purpose graphics accelerator to a tool that can greatly accelerate the performance of high-performance computing (HPC) applications. Previous studies have shown that discrete GPUs, while energy efficient for compute-intensive scientific applications, consume very high power. In fact, a compute-capable discrete GPU can draw more than 200 watts by itself, which can be as much as an entire compute node (without a GPU). This massive power draw presents a serious roadblock to the adoption of GPUs in low-power environments, such as embedded systems. Even when being considered for data centers, the power draw of a GPU presents a problem as it increases the demand placed on support infrastructure such as cooling and available supplies of power, driving up cost. With the advent of compute-capable integrated GPUs with power consumption in the tens of watts, we believe it is time to re-evaluate the notion of GPUs being power-hungry. In this paper, we present the first evaluation of the energy efficiency of integrated GPUs for green HPC. We make use of four specific workloads, each representative of a different computational dwarf, and evaluate them across three different platforms: a multicore system, a high-performance discrete GPU, and a low-power integrated GPU. We find that the integrated GPU delivers superior energy savings and a comparable energy-delay product (EDP) when compared to its discrete counterpart, and it can still outperform the CPUs of a multicore system at a fraction of the power.
Methods for resolving the origin of large igneous provinces from crustal seismology

Received 22 August 2001; revised 5 February 2002; accepted 10 February 2002; published 10 September 2002. [1] We present a new quantitative framework to understand the process of mantle melting based on the velocity structure of igneous crust. Our approach focuses on the lower crustal section, which is expected to be least affected by porosity and seawater alteration, especially for thick igneous crust. Our methodology is thus best for constraining the origin of large igneous provinces. First, a quantitative relation between bulk crustal velocity and mantle melting parameters is established on the basis of data from mantle melting experiments. Second, we show how lower crustal velocity can be used to place bounds on the expected range of bulk crustal velocity, despite ambiguity in crustal emplacement processes. By modeling fractional crystallization processes at a range of crustal pressures, these bounds are derived as a function of the proportion of lower versus upper crust. Finally, a simple mantle melting model is constructed to illustrate the effects of potential temperature, active upwelling, and a preexisting lithospheric lid on predicted crustal thickness and velocity. As an example, this new interpretation is applied to a seismic transect across the southeast Greenland margin to constrain mantle dynamics during the opening of the North Atlantic. Some complicating factors in seismological inference on mantle melting process, such as the possibilities of subcrustal igneous fractionation and mantle source heterogeneity, are also discussed with this example. INDEX TERMS: 7220 Seismology: Oceanic crust; 3640 Mineralogy and Petrology: Igneous petrology; 3035 Marine Geology and Geophysics: Midocean ridge processes; 8121 Tectonophysics: Dynamics, convection currents and mantle plumes; KEYWORDS: lower crust, mantle melting, mantle plumes, igneous fractionation, mantle source heterogeneity, North Atlantic igneous province
Beneficial Effects of Vasodilator Agents in Severe Mitral Regurgitation Due to Dysfunction of Subvalvar Apparatus

To assess the potential beneficial effects of vasodilator agents in patients with severe mitral regurgitation, sodium nitroprusside was administered intravenously at a rate of 16 to 100 µg/min in eight patients with clinically significant mitral regurgitation presumably due to dysfunction of the subvalvar apparatus. In all patients there was a decrease in the magnitude of the peak `V' wave (from 50 ± 4.5 to 19 ± 2.9 mm Hg) and in left ventricular filling pressure (33 ± 1.8 to 16 ± 1.4 mm Hg), together with a decreased intensity of the apical pansystolic murmur. There was a significant increase in forward cardiac index (2.2 ± 3.5 to 3.3 ± .47 liter/min/M2) and forward stroke volume index (23 ± 4.4 to 36 ± 6.6 ml/M2) along with a reduction in systemic vascular resistance (1802 ± 331 to 1102 ± 241 dynes/sec/cm-5). In the five patients in whom the therapy was continued, relief of symptoms of pulmonary venous congestion occurred. In the four patients in whom left ventricular volumes were determined angiographi...
Design patterns for scientific applications in DryadLINQ CTP

The design and implementation of higher level data flow programming language interfaces are becoming increasingly important for data intensive computation. DryadLINQ is a declarative, data-centric language that enables programmers to address the Big Data issue in the Windows Platform. DryadLINQ has been successfully used in a wide range of applications for the last five years. The latest release of DryadLINQ was published as a Community Technology Preview (CTP) in December 2010 and contains new features and interfaces that can be customized in order to achieve better performances within applications and in regard to usability for developers. This paper presents three design patterns in DryadLINQ CTP that are applicable to a large class of scientific applications, exemplified by SW-G, Matrix-Matrix Multiplication and PageRank with real data.
A synthesis of L-vancosamine derivatives from non-carbohydrate precursors by a short sequence based on the Marshall, McDonald, and Du Bois reactions.

The carbamate-protected l-vancosamine glycal, viewed as a universal precursor for vancosamine derivatives, was prepared by a short scheme based on diastereoselective addition of an allenyl stannane to a lactaldehyde ether, the tungsten-catalyzed alkynol cycloisomerization, and the rhodium-catalyzed C−H insertion of a carbamate nitrogen. This sequence is a prototype for a new and efficient strategy for the synthesis of 3-amino sugar derivatives. The key intermediate was elaborated to the silyl ether of N,N-dimethyl vancosamine glycal.
Evaluation of lixivaptan in euvolemic and hypervolemic hyponatremia and heart failure treatment

Introduction: Lixivaptan is a selective vasopressin type 2 (V2) receptor antagonist that induces aquaresis, the electrolytes sparing excretion of water. Its ability to correct hyponatremia has been demonstrated in experimental animal studies as well as in clinical trials in humans. Recently, three Phase III, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled studies have been completed. In two studies, patients with euvolemic hyponatremia were enrolled, one in the inpatient and the other in the outpatient setting and the third study involved patients with hypervolemic hyponatremia hospitalized for decompensated heart failure (HF). The trials confirmed the efficacy of lixivaptan in raising serum sodium but raised concern about its safety in patients hospitalized with decompensated HF. Areas covered: The authors review original publications on lixivaptan and summarize their findings. Specifically, the authors present information regarding its structure, pharmacodynamics and kinetics, metabolism as well as its eff...
Tyrosinase-like polypeptides in the uterus and in the central nervous system of rats.

Nuclear and cytosolic fractions of rat uteri and tissues from the central nervous system contain proteins that are recognized by a polyclonal tyrosinase antibody. This antibody eliminates the cresolase activity of uterine nuclear extract when estradiol is used as substrate. Thus, it appears that tyrosinase-like proteins might be present in tissues not generally considered to contain such an enzyme.