cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Association of Blood Banks Per City with Mortality Due to Traumatic Hemorrhagic Shock in Colombia: A Population-Based Analysis

Background: Hemorrhagic shock is the second leading cause of death for injured patients and disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries facing blood product scarcity. The potential role of spatial allocation of blood banking systems and the unmet transfusion needs of injured patients are yet to be characterized. We estimated the association of number of blood banks with mortality due to traumatic hemorrhagic shock (THS) at city level in Colombia. Methods: Population-based cross-sectional study using secondary data from the Colombian Government: annual reports of Blood Network, mortality, and population estimates for 2015-2016. International Classification of Disease 10th code T79·4 identified THS as the primary cause of death. A city-clustered multivariate negative binomial regression, weighted by violent deaths rate, was used to obtain incidence rate ratios (IRR) of death due to THS with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). Findings: Of the 59,030 violent deaths in Colombia in 2015-2016, 36·76% were due to THS. Only 3·13% of Colombian municipalities had a blood bank. THS incidence decreased as the number of blood banks in a city increased, and the smallest incidence was observed at ten banks (IRR:0·18, 95%CI:0·15-0·22). Receiving medical care in a city with blood banks has a lesser incidence of THS (IRR:0·85; 95%CI:0·76-0·96). Interpretation: The number of blood banks per city were associated with reduction in incidence of THS deaths. These findings may highlight the inequitable distribution of blood systems and its association with preventable deaths. Further studies with granular clinical and geographical data might clarify the geographic determinants of blood products’ availability. Funding Statement: This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. Declaration of Interests: None to declare. Ethics Approval Statement: Ethical approval to conduct this study was granted by the Institutional Review Board of the University of Pittsburgh, code HRP-723.
Kinematic Differences Exist Between the Fastball, Changeup, Curveball, and Dropball Pitch Types in Collegiate Softball Pitchers.

Background:A majority of softball literature focuses on the mechanics associated with pain and injury within a single pitch type per study; however, the generalizability of these findings is unknow...
Child Neurology: Hypotonia and Delayed Teeth Eruption in a 2-Year-Old Girl

POLR3- related disorders are rare hypo-myelinating leukodystrophies associated with hypodontia. We present a female patient, who was referred to pediatric neurology at 2 years of age for tremor, low tone, and motor delays. Additionally, she was noted to have a delay in her teeth eruption and myopia. Neurological examination was significant for ataxic features and global developmental delay. Laboratory workup was unrevealing. MRI imaging was significant for hypomyelination. Genetic testing confirmed a pathogenic variant of POLR3B. POLR3- related leukodystrophies should be considered in patients who present with hypotonia, ataxia and hypodontia. There are many different subtypes of POLR-related leukodystrophies each with distinguishing phenotypic and radiographic features. Although, MRI can be helpful in initial evaluation genetic testing is needed for confirmatory diagnosis and to guide prognosis.
Toric Implantable Collamer Lens for the Treatment of Myopic Astigmatism.

Purpose To report visual outcomes following surgical correction of myopic astigmatism with Visian Toric implantable collamer lens (ICL) (STAAR Surgical, Monrovia, CA, USA) at a single tertiary refractive center in the United States. Patients and methods Toric ICL was implanted in 96 eyes (55 patients) with mean preoperative sphere of -8.98 ± 3.04 diopters (D) and cylinder of -2.67 ± 1.02 D from December 2018 to February 2021. Primary visual outcomes of efficacy, safety, stability, predictability of refractive correction, and astigmatic analysis were reported at three and twelve months postoperatively. Secondary subjective outcomes included patient-reported dry eye symptoms and glare/halos at postoperative visits. Other secondary outcomes were biometric data and postoperative vault over time. Results At three and twelve months, 75 and 46 eyes were evaluated, respectively. At twelve months, the mean manifest refraction spherical equivalent (MRSE) was -0.23 ± 0.47 D with 93% achieving within ±1.00 D of target refraction. The manifest refractive cylinder (MRC) at twelve months was -0.73 ± 0.51 D, with 86% within ±1.00 D of target. Uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) was 20/20 or better in 74% of eyes at twelve months. No patients lost ≥2 lines of corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) at twelve months. The mean angle of error was -0.9 ± 10.2° at three months and -1.6 ± 12.8° at twelve months. One patient required bilateral lens rotation, four patients underwent secondary enhancement with LASIK/PRK, and seven patients underwent postoperative limbal relaxing incisions. Conclusion This initial single-site experience finds Toric ICL implantation for myopic astigmatism to be safe and effective. Patients can achieve markedly improved UDVA in a single surgery with stable vision over time and minimal adverse subjective symptoms.
Kimura–Takemoto Classification: A Tool to Predict Gastric Intestinal Metaplasia Progression to Advanced Gastric Neoplasia

Gastric cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM) has been described as a key histologic step in the development of gastric adenocarcinoma. However, not all people with GIM develop malignancy. We studied the factors associated with progression to dysplasia and advanced gastric neoplasia (aGN) in patients with baseline GIM. Retrospective cohort analysis of patients with baseline GIM and subsequent endoscopic evaluation at Cleveland Clinic Florida and Ohio Main Campus between 2005 and 2017. Demographic and exposure risk factors, as well as Kimura–Takemoto classification (KTc), were used as variables for hazards ratio (HR) and Kaplan–Meier survival-free analysis for aGN and any form of dysplasia progression. There were 708 patients identified with GIM; 29 patients (4.1%) progressed to any degree of dysplasia. From these, LGD was present in 12 cases (1.7%), HGD in 4 cases (0.6%), and gastric cancer in 13 cases (1.8%), for a total of 17 aGN cases. KTc was associated with dysplasia and aGN progression (p < 0.001), and no cases progressed if KTc findings were absent. Open-type KTc was associated with aGN (HR 6.36, p < 0.001) and any dysplasia progression (HR 13.34, p < 0.001) compared to closed-type or absent KTc features. No other factors were associated with aGN or dysplasia progression. Open-type KTc was also associated with shorter cancer survival-free progression. Patients with baseline GIM present a higher progression risk to aGN, dysplasia, or cancer if concomitant KTc findings are present, particularly an open-type KTc pattern.
MASK UP! Supporting Mask Wearing of Children With Extensive Support Needs

Since the reopening of schools after COVID-19, students and staff have been required to wear face masks. Some students, including those with extensive support needs (ESN), may have difficulty in we...
Statistical Identification and Estimability

This article is reproduced from the previous edition, volume 22, pp. 15025–15031, © 2001, Elsevier Ltd.
Teams: A Competency Based Approach

1. Introduction: Building Relationships Competency - The Human Side 2. Inner Self Competency: What You Bring to a Team Environment 3. Diversity Competency: What You Need to Know About Today's Workforce 4. Team Competency: What You Need to Know About the Team Environment 5. Communication Competency: Communicating Effectively in the Team Environment 6. Organizational Environment Competency: Matching the Needs of the Organization 7. Business Ethics & Social Responsibility Competency: Being Sustainable in Today's Workplace 8. Decision Making Competency: Consistently Making Each Decision the Best Decision 9. Time Management Competency: The Tool-kit for Effectiveness and Efficiency 10: Life-long Learning Competency: The Key to Future Success. Appendix: Chapter discussion questions and answers
Selected metabolic alterations in the ischemic heart and their contributions to arrhythmogenesis

Myocardial ischemia in vivo is associated with dramatic electrophysiologic alterations which occur within minutes of cessation of coronary flow and are rapidly reversible with reperfusion. This suggests that subtle and reversible biochemical and/or ionic alterations within or near the sarcolemma may contribute to the electrophysiologic derangements. Our studies have concentrated on two amphipathic metabolites, long-chain acylcarnitines and lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) which have been shown to increase rapidly in ischemic tissue in vivo and to elicit electrophysiologic derangements in normoxic tissue in vitro. Incorporation of these amphiphiles into the sarcolemma at concentrations of 1–2 mol %, elicits profound electrophysiologic derangements analogous to those observed in ischemic myocardium in vivo. LPC is produced in endothelial cells and myocytes in response to thrombin. Thus, activation of the coagulation system during ischemia may result in extracellular production and accumulation of LPC. The pathophysiological effects of the accumulation of both amphiphiles are thought to be mediated by alterations in the biophysical properties of the sarcolemmal membrane, although there is a possibility of a direct effect on ion channels. Inhibition of carnitine acyltransferase I in the ischemic cat heart was found to prevent the increase in both long-chain acylcarnitines and LPC and to significantly reduce the incidence of malignant arrhythmias including ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation. This review focuses on the influence of these amphiphiles on cardiac ionic currents observed during early ischemia and presents data supporting the concept that accumulation of these amphiphiles within the sarcolemma contributes to changes in ionic conductances leading to electrophysiological derangements. The contribution and the accumulation of these amphiphiles to alterations in intracellular Ca2+ as related to changes in Na/K-ATPase activity and intracellular Na+ are examined. Other alterations occur during early myocardial ischemia in addition to the events reviewed here; however, the results of multiple studies over the past two decades indicate that accumulation of these amphiphiles contributes importantly to arrhythmogenesis and that development of specific inhibitors of carnitine acyltransferase I or phospholipase A2 may be a promising therapeutic strategy to attenuate the incidence of lethal arrhythmias associated with ischemic heart disease in man.
Task-oriented display design - Concept and example

The general topic was in the area of display design alternatives for improved man-machine performance. The intent was to define and assess a display design concept oriented toward providing this task-oriented information. The major focus of this concept deals with the processing of data into parameters that are more relevant to the task of the human operator. Closely coupled to this concept of relevant information is the form or manner in which this information is actually presented. Conventional forms of presentation are normally a direct representation of the underlying data. By providing information in a form that is more easily assimilated and understood, a reduction in human error and cognitive workload may be obtained. A description of this proposed concept with a design example is provided. The application for the example was an engine display for a generic, twin-engine civil transport aircraft. The product of this concept was evaluated against a functionally similar, traditional display. The results of this evaluation showed that a task-oriented approach to design is a viable concept with regard to reducing user error and cognitive workload. The goal of this design process, providing task-oriented information to the user, both in content and form, appears to be a feasible mechanism for increasing the overall performance of a man-machine system.
Hurricanes: Nature's dangerous beauties

Summary form only given, as follows. From a fluid dynamics viewpoint, hurricanes are a fascinating and intricate system. But, as we have found out on several occasions over the past couple of years, they pack a wallop, especially for vulnerable communities that have neglected to take proper precautions. As a result, they are amongst the most studied of atmospheric phenomena, and a sophisticated array of technology is deployed to support their analysis and forecasting. the author will provide an overview of what gets them going, how they move, the damage that they can cause, whether they are undergoing climatic changes, and the approaches to observing and forecasting them.
A Review of: “Eric A. Miller, To Balance or Not To Balance: Alignment Theory and the Commonwealth of Independent States”

For too long, theories of international politics presumed that the strategic calculations of consolidated and cohesive regimes were generally representative of state behavior. States were said to b...
Academic Writing: Techniques and Tasks

of refugee education programs. Finally, in some instances, Tollefson does not distinguish clearly enough between policies and individuals, an oversight that may result in misunderstanding by some of the dedicated people who have given years of their lives working in the camps. Despite these drawbacks, Alien Winds is a powerful and eyeopening account of the role of the PRPCs in preparing refugees for life in the United States. It should be required reading for all ESL educators.
Changing epidemiology of methicillin-resistant (MRSA) and borderline methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (BRSA): asymptomatic colonization of children attending a pediatric emergency room(ER). † 771

Changing epidemiology of methicillin-resistant (MRSA) and borderline methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (BRSA): asymptomatic colonization of children attending a pediatric emergency room(ER). † 771
Investment Analysis and the Adjustment of Stock Prices to Common Information

In this article we are concerned with the effect of the number of investment analysts following a firm on the speed of adjustment of the firm's stock price to new information that has common effects across firms. It is found that returns on portfolios of firms that are followed by many analysts tend to lead those of firms that are followed by fewer analysts, even when the firms are of approximately the same size. Many analyst firms also tend to respond more rapidly to market returns than do few analyst firms, adjusting for firm size. This relation, however, is nonlinear, and the marginal effect of the number of analysts on the speed of price adjustment increases with the number of analysts. Article published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Financial Studies in its journal, The Review of Financial Studies.
Educating and treating school children impacts much more than the child

Abstract The Healthy Smiles Sealant Program dramatically impacts the dental school, university, schoolchildren and community. Expanding the program district-wide necessitated modifying the dental school curriculum to emphasize the importance of improving the oral health of society. At the university, the president points to the dental school as the symbol of engagement with the community in educating nearly 11,000 children, treating 4,500 children and referring 2,300 children during the 2003-2004 school year.
A sensitive method for the quantitative measurement of protein thiol modification in response to oxidative stress

The combination of proteomics with highly specific and sensitive affinity techniques is important for the identification of posttranslational modifications by reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS). One of the most pressing problems with this approach is to determine accurately the extent of modification of specific amino acids, such as cysteine residues, in a complex protein sample. A number of techniques relevant to free radical biology use biotin tagging as a method to follow protein modification with high sensitivity and specificity. To realize the potential of this approach to provide quantitative data, we have prepared a series of biotinylated proteins through the modification of lysine residues. These proteins were then used as quantitative standards in electrophoretic separation of protein samples labeled with biotin-conjugated iodoacetamide. The utility of the approach was assessed by measuring modification of thiols in response to exposure to thiol oxidants, as well as the amount of protein adduct formation with a biotin-tagged electrophilic lipid. Furthermore, using a combination of native and biotin-tagged cytochrome c, this method was used to quantitate the amount of thiol relative to the amount of protein in a given spot on a two-dimensional gel. Thus, we have developed a versatile, cost-effective standard that can be used in proteomic methods to quantitate biotin tags in response to oxidative stress.
Multiple Quantum Well Spatial Light Modulator Structures Using Surface Acoustic Wave Induced Stark Effect

Novel multiple quantum well (MQW) optical light modulator structures using the quantum-confined Stark effect induced by a propagating surface acoustic wave, are described. The proposed structures are shown to generate electric field strengths in the range required to produce significant shifts in electroabsorption and index of refraction for the AlGaAs-GaAs system. The operation of a Bragg modulator/switch, which utilizes the QCSE to enhance the diffraction effects and forms an acoustic phase grating produced by the SAW beam, is also discussed. The schematics of an integrated spatial light modulator based on enhanced Bragg modulation is presented. In addition , the application of spatial light modulators and the optical devices in the realization of an optical correlator is discussed.
Optically Powered Sensors: A Systems Approach To Fiber Optic Sensors

For more than 10 years fiber optic sensors have been projected as a dominant sensor technology for the future. This projection has yet to be realized. There continues to be a substantial level of research and development in various fiber sensors concepts yet only a few products are available commercially. The six major factors limiting the success of the fiber sensors in the marketplace are identified. An alternate approach to fiber sensors is described which take a systems approach to producing fiber sensors. It combines the advantages of optical fibers with the low power electronic sensor technology currently available. A single multimode fiber is connected between the readout and the transducer. Optical energy transmitted from the readout is converted to electricity at the transducer. Digital data from the transducer is synchronously transmitted over the fiber to the readout. Prototypes of magnetic (i.e., current), temperature, position, and proximity sensors have been built and will be described. A discussion comparing optical and electrical sensors is also included.
Sphingosine 1-Phosphate Stimulates Tyrosine Phosphorylation of Crk

The proto-oncogene molecule c-Crk plays a role in growth factor-induced activation of Ras. Sphingosine 1-phosphate (SPP), a metabolite of cellular sphingolipids, has previously been shown to play a role in growth factor receptor signaling (Olivera, A., and Spiegel, S. (1993) Nature 365, 557–560). SPP was found to strongly induce tyrosine phosphorylation of Crk, but not Shc, in NIH-3T3 parental, insulin-like growth factor-I receptor-overexpressing and Crk-overexpressing (3T3-Crk) fibroblasts. Sphingosine, a metabolic precursor of SPP, also produced a slight increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of Crk. In contrast, other sphingolipid metabolites including ceramide did not alter Crk tyrosine phosphorylation. Furthermore, Crk enhanced SPP-induced mitogenesis, as measured by SPP-stimulated [3H]thymidine incorporation in a manner proportional to the level of Crk expression in 3T3-Crk cells. This stimulation appears to be Ras-dependent, whereas SPP stimulation of MAP kinase activity is Ras-independent. These data indicate that SPP activates a tyrosine kinase that phosphorylates Crk and that Crk is a positive effector of SPP-induced mitogenesis.
Raman scattering in the ferroelectric system Pb1−xBaxTiO3

Abstract Most of the vibrational modes have been measured in the tetragonal ferroelectric phase of Pb 1− x Ba x TiO 3 for 0 3 ⪕ x ⪕1 using the powder Raman technique. For x =1 (BaTiO 3 ) the results are in excellent agreement with recent polariton results for the A 1 modes and infrared measurements of the E modes.
Computer resource accounting in a time sharing environment

The past several years have witnessed major stages in the evolution of time sharing service suppliers toward the (perhaps) ultimate establishment of a computer utility or utilities that will, presumably, resemble other public utilities in many ways. This paper is concerned with the development of managerial accounting techniques that will enable suppliers to broaden their range of services and allow some of them to evolve into vertically integrated information service organizations.
Factors Affecting Carcinogenic Potential of Mixtures

Historically, exposure to complex mixtures such as soot, coal tar, mineral oils, and cigarette smoke has been associated with increased cancer mortality. Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) has been used to predict the carcinogenic potency of mixtures. Two complete carcinogenicity C3H/HEJ mouse skin bioassays were undertaken to determine the effect of low doses of BaP on the carcinogenic potential of mixtures. A toluene solution containing 0.1% each of five noncarcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), anthracene, chrysene, pyrene, fluoranthene, and phenanthrene, produced tumors in 23% of the mice with a latent period of 73 weeks. With the addition of a 0.001% BaP to the above solution, 47% of the mice produced tumors with a latent period of 66 weeks. In the second study, coal tar in toluene, which was determined to contain 0.0006% BaP, produced tumors in 51% of mice with a latent period of 73 weeks. In both studies the BaP solutions by themselves did not produce tumors. In a third study, the 9-, 2-, and 3-methylbenz[a]-anthracene compounds were noncarcinogenic using toluene as the solvent. With the substitution of n-dodecane for toluene all three compounds produced significant numbers of tumors. The results indicate that (1) low dose levels of BaP can have an impact on the carcinogenic potential of mixtures, (2) the presence or absence of BaP is not always sufficient to account for the observed potency and the synergistic effects of other substances which might be present, and (3) that certain noncarcinogenic methylbenz[a]anthracenes can have their carcinogenic potential altered by a change in the solvent used.
Spirometry Reference Values for Healthy Elderly Blacks

Pulmonary function was assessed by spirometry in 497 black and 2,980 white ambulatory elderly male and female participants of the Cardiovascular Health Study. The quality assurance program prompted technicians to exceed American Thoracic Society recommendations for spirometry. A "healthy" subgroup of 235 black and 1,227 white participants age 65 years and older was identified by excluding current and former smokers, and those with self-reported asthma or emphysema, congestive heart failure, and poor-quality results of spirometry tests, since those factors were associated with a lower FEV 1 . Reference equations and normal ranges for elderly blacks for measurements of FEV 1 , FVC, and the FEV 1 /FVC ratio were then determined from the healthy group. These elderly blacks had an FVC about 6% lower than elderly whites, even after correcting for standing height, sitting height (trunk length), and age. The popular use of spirometry reference values from studies of middle-aged white subjects by applying a 12% race correction factor for black patients appears to overestimate predicted values.
Theory of rf magnetic permeability of isotropic type-II superconductors in a parallel field.

A theoretical description of the complex rf magnetic permeability \ensuremath{\mu}\ifmmode \tilde{}\else \~{}\fi{}=\ensuremath{\mu}'+i\ensuremath{\mu}'' of isotropic type-II superconductors in a parallel applied static magnetic field is presented. The results are based upon a self-consistent treatment of vortex dynamics which simultaneously includes the effects of pinning, flux flow, and flux creep, together with nonlocal vortex interactions. The results are expected to be valid over a wide range of frequencies, magnetic inductions, and temperatures. We show how a \ensuremath{\mu}''-peak line, closely related to the irreversibility line, arises from the theoretical result for the permeability as a function of temperature, magnetic field, and frequency. This theory opens the possibility of investigating flux creep and depinning at frequencies into the GHz range.
Asymmetric Redundancy in CD4 Silencer Function

We and others have defined a transcriptional silencer critical for the proper expression of the CD4 gene at all stages of T cell development. In this report, we use biochemical techniques to identify three different factor-binding sites within the CD4 silencer, denoted sites I, II, and III. Using transgenic analyses, we determine that although all three factor-binding sites are important for silencer activity, there is significant redundancy in that the presence of either site II alone, or the combination of sites I and III permits silencer function. Thus, our data indicate that the mechanism of function of the CD4 silencer is extremely complex. Further biochemical analyses indicate that the factor binding to site II has the same sequence specificity as a factor binding to an E box site in the CD4 enhancer; thus, a member of the bHLH factor family may be important in mediating silencer function.
Sensory systems: The yin and yang of cortical oxytocin.

Female mice can learn to respond to distress calls from young mice — an ability that has now been found to be improved through signalling by the hormone oxytocin in the left auditory cortex of the brain. See Article p.499 The role of oxytocin in modulating social interactions and maternal behaviour is well documented, but how this hormone influences neural circuits to drive these behavioral changes is not well understood. Here, Robert Froemke and colleagues study pup retrieval behaviour in mice and find that oxytocin modulates cortical responses to pup calls specifically in the left auditory cortex. In virgin females, call-evoked responses were enhanced, thus increasing their salience, by pairing oxytocin delivery in left auditory cortex with the calls. This enhancement came about through a specific balancing of the magnitude and timing of inhibition with excitation.
Sugars as source indicators of biogenic organic carbon in aerosols collected above the Howland Experimental Forest, Maine

Abstract Bulk aerosols (>1 μm) were collected continuously above the canopy at the Howland Experimental Forest, Maine, USA from May to October 2002. Each sample integrated over an approximately 2-week period. Mono- and disaccharide sugars were extracted using a microscale technique and were analyzed as their TMS derivatives by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Concentrations of total aerosol sugars ranged from 10 to 180 ng m −3 . Glucose was the most abundant sugar (40–75% of the total sugars). The monosaccharides arabinose, fructose, galactose, mannose, arabitol and mannitol, and the disaccharides sucrose, maltose and mycose (aka trehalose) were also present in lower concentrations. The sugar composition in the aerosols varied seasonally. Fructose and sucrose were prevalent in early spring and decreased in relative abundance as the growing season progressed. Sugar polyols (arabitol and mannitol) and the disaccharide mycose (a fungal metabolite) were more prevalent in autumn during the period of leaf senescence. The changes in the sugar composition in the aerosol samples appear to reflect the seasonality of sugar production and utilization by the ecosystem. Plant waxes were present as significant components also indicating an input from biogenic background. Smoke plumes from Quebec forest fires passed over the Howland site in early July 2002. Levoglucosan, a biomarker of biomass burning, increased by an order of magnitude in the aerosol samples collected during this time. Glucose, mannose, arabinose, galactose, and also, plant waxes increased in concentration by factors of 2–5 in the smoke-impacted samples, indicating that wildfires enhance atmospheric emissions of uncombusted organic compounds. In contrast, concentrations of fructose, sugar polyols and disaccharides were not significantly higher in the smoke-impacted samples and indicated that biomass burning was not a significant source of these compounds in the aerosols.
Can the wound healing response of human skin be modulated after laser treatment and the effects of exposure extended? Implications on the combined use of the pulsed dye laser and a topical angiogenesis inhibitor for treatment of port wine stain birthmarks.

Port wine stain (PWS), also called nevus flammeus, is a congenital, cutaneous vascular malformation involving post-capillary venules which produce a light pink to dark-red-violet discoloration of the skin. The most likely hypothesis for the development of PWS is the deficiency or absence of surrounding neurons regulating blood flow through the ectatic post-capillary venules. As a result, the blood vessels are unable to constrict normally and remain permanently dilated.
Catalytic Performance of Fe–ZSM-5 Catalysts for Selective Catalytic Reduction of Nitric Oxide by Ammonia

A series of Fe-exchanged molecular sieves were studied as catalysts for the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO with ammonia. It was found that Fe–ZSM-5 and Fe–mordenite catalysts were highly active for the SCR reaction. Nearly 100% NO conversions were obtained at 400–500°C under conditions with a high space velocity (GHSV=4.6×105 l/h). However, Fe–Y and Fe–MCM-41 with larger pore sizes showed lower activities for this reaction. For Fe–ZSM-5 catalysts, the SCR activity decreased with increasing Si/Al ratio in the zeolites. As the Fe-exchange level in the Fe–ZSM-5 catalysts was increased from 58 to 252%, NO conversion increased at lower temperatures (e.g., 300°C), but decreased at high temperatures (e.g., 600°C). Compared with the commercial vanadia catalyst, based on the first-order rate constants, the Fe–ZSM-5 catalyst was five times more active at 400°C and seven times more active at 450°C. It also functioned in a broader temperature window, produced only N2 (rather than N2O) and H2O, and showed a substantially lower activity for oxidation of SO2 to SO3.
The use of statistical methods in the analysis of clinical studies

Abstract It is “standard” to analyze data from a clinical trial using a narrowly defined probabilistic mathematical model. This paper examines the ways in which mathematical models, in general, can be used in clinical research, the meaning of probability in the examination of clinical trials, and the philosophical flaws in the current “standard” method. An alternative formulation is proposed which is more flexible and which comes closer to meeting the needs of medical science. In this alternative formulation, significance tests are applied to the data from a study only as a first step to determine whether the data are worth further examination. After that, clinically relevant questions are answered with 50 and 95% confidence bounds. The initial significance test is tailored to be directed at a narrow class of hypotheses that, in turn, are dictated by clinical expectations.
Teaching Evidence-Based Management in MBA Programs: What Evidence Is There?

We examine the degree to which required management courses in U.S.-based MBA programs make reference to the emerging evidence-based management (EBM) movement. More than 800 required management course syllabi from 333 programs were reviewed for either explicit reference to the concept of EBM, or verbiage within course descriptions that was consistent with teaching evidence-based management principles. In addition, instructor, course, and institution-level characteristics were examined as potential correlates of references to EBM. Using a liberal operationalization of EBM (i.e., keywords or phrases that are consistent with evidence-based management principles), results suggest that approximately 25% of core MBA management courses utilize EBM in some form. However, there are substantial differences across categories of course content and depending on whether the instructor has a PhD. Evidence-based management-consistent syllabi are most prevalent at the MBA level in organizational behavior and least in international management and entrepreneurship. Suggestions for future research, as well as an exemplary course description from an EBM syllabus, are offered.
Silhouette profiles in the assessment of facial esthetics: A comparison of cases treated with various orthodontic appliances

Abstract This study uses comparisons of silhouette profiles to determine the effects of orthodontic treatment on facial esthetics. Forty-eight white patients with Class II, Division 1 malocclusions and mandibular retrognathism were treated, without tooth extraction, with the Frankel appliance and by the Begg light-wire, the straight-wire edgewise, and the Tweed edgewise methods. One hundred first-year dental students selected the profile which they estimated had the best facial esthetics and then evaluated this preferred profile as “satisfactory” or “unsatisfactory.” As more posttreatment than pretreatment profiles were preferred for each of the four treatment groups, there was no clear trend in preference among the treatment modalities assessed. Percentages of the preferred posttreatment silhouettes selected as “satisfactory” ranged from 46 to 55. The results support the use of the silhouette in the evaluation of profiles. Also, they show the advantage of determining, in surveys of facial esthetics, whether or not preferred profiles or faces are “satisfactory” to the viewers. However, since it is a simplified representation of a profile, the silhouette is a complement to other methods of profile evaluation, not a substitute.
Ric-8a Catalyzed G Protein Activation Proceeds Through a Disordered State

Members of the Ras superfamily of regulatory GTP binding proteins, Heterotrimeric G protein alpha subunits (Ga) undergo cycles of activation and deactivation driven by binding and hydrolysis of GTP. Activation occurs by replacement of GDP by GTP at the nucleotide binding site of Ga, which requires catalytic assistance from guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs). Transmembrane G protein-coupled Receptors (GPCRs) are the best known G protein GEFs, but recently, a novel family of cytosolic, non-receptor GEFs, typified by mammalian Ric-8A, were discovered. Unlike GPCRs, which act on G protein heterotrimers, Ric-8A catalyzes the release of GDP directly upon Gi-class Ga subunits (Gai), and has negligible affinity for Gai-GTP. Upon binding to Gai-GDP, Ric-8A catalyzes GDP release and forms a stable Gai:Ric-8A complex that dissociates only in the presence of GTP, resulting in the release of Gai-GTP. The TROSY-HSQC spectrum of [1H,15N]Gai bound to Ric-8A is considerably broadened relative to Gai-GDP. Hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectroscopy shows that the rate of HD exchange at Gai:Ric-8A is more than 2X faster than from Gai-GDP. Differential scanning calorimetry shows that both Ric-8A and Gai-GDP undergo cooperative, irreversible unfolding transitions at 47 deg and 52 deg, respectively, while nucleotide-free Gai shows a broad, weak transition near 35 deg. The unfolding transition for Gai:Ric-8A is complex, with a broad transition peaking at 49i. Ric-8A therefore stabilizes nucleotide-free Gai in a dynamic state, which, we propose, facilitates GTP binding. We show that the C-terminus of Gai is a critical binding element for Ric-8A, as is known to be the case for GPCRs, suggesting that these two GEFs act by similar mechanisms as chaperones for the unstable and dynamic nucleotide-free state of Ga.
An 8MHz 75µA/MHz zero-leakage non-volatile logic-based Cortex-M0 MCU SoC exhibiting 100% digital state retention at V DD =0V with <400ns wakeup and sleep transitions

We demonstrate a non-volatile logic (NVL)-based SoC that backs up its working state (all flip-flops) upon receiving a power interrupt, has zero leakage in sleep mode, and needs less than 400ns to restore the system state upon power-up. Without NVL, a chip would either have to keep all flip-flops powered resulting in high standby power, or waste energy and time rebooting after power-up. For energy harvesting applications, NVL is a “must have” because there is no constant power source available to keep flip-flops (FFs) alive, and even when the intermittent power source is available, boot-up code alone may consume all of the harvested energy. For handheld devices with limited cooling and battery capacity, zero-leakage IC's with “instant-on” capability are ideal.
Blogging and political information: truth or truthiness?

Does the blogosphere generate truth, or what Stephen Colbert calls ‘truthiness,’ facts or concepts one only wishes or believes were true? Bloggers and the mainstream media face the same difficulties if they wish to rely on the blogosphere as a generator of truth. First, both bloggers and media converge on a small number of key blogs as sources of information. But the proprietors of these elite blogs are likely to resist information that doesn’t conform to their existing attitudes and beliefs, precisely because they are already highly aware of politics. Second, blogs and blog readers are likely to separate themselves into smaller networks according to their particular tastes. However, under some circumstances the blogosphere may still approximate a parallel processing statistical estimator of the truth with ‘nice’ properties. The key to this outcome is that judgments are independent, and that problems of polarization are mitigated.
The national cancer data base

BACKGROUND The National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) examining current time trends (1993) in stage of disease, treatment patterns, and survival of patients with kidney cancer are reported. METHODS Five calls for data have yielded a total of 3,700,000 cancer cases for the years 1985 through 1993, including 8140 kidney cancer cases in 1988 and 10,617 in 1993 from hospital cancer registries across the U.S. These data represent 36% and 39% of all cases of kidney cancers diagnosed in the U.S. in 1988 and 1993, respectively. RESULTS Three trends were observed. 1) Stage II disease is being diagnosed with increasing frequency. 2) There has been an overall increase in the frequency with which surgery alone is utilized as the primary treatment for patients with Stage I, II, and III disease; however, surgical treatment of patients with Stage IV kidney cancer has declined. 3) Partial nephrectomy rather than total nephrectomy is performed with increasing frequency as surgical treatment of patients with Stage I renal carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS The NCDB data have important implications for analyzing cancer treatments and outcomes in the U.S. These data suggest that kidney cancers are being diagnosed at an earlier stage and with greater precision. As a result, changes in surgical practice are apparent in the treatment of patients with lower stage disease (Stage I and II). Stage for stage, surgery remains the most effective form of treatment for patients with kidney cancer. Cancer 1997; 80:2167-74. © 1997 American Cancer Society.
Quasistatic effective medium theory of plasmonic nanostructures

In this paper, we introduce an analytic effective medium theory of plasmonic metamaterials founded on electrostatic eigenfunctions of plasmon states. The emphasis is on the sub-wavelength particles and metamaterials with unit cell much smaller than the optical wavelength. The theory covers plasmonic structures with arbitrary degree of symmetry: from completely asymmetric (including chiral) structures to fully isotropic ones. We also review several previously reported theoretical techniques used for calculating the effective parameters of plasmonic metamaterials in connection with our new theory. Several examples of negative permittivity and negative permeability plasmonic metamaterials are used to illustrate the theory.
Quantization techniques for the compression of chest images by JPEG-type algorithms

The Joint Photographic Expert Group (JPEG) compression standard specifies a quantization procedure but does not specify a particular quantization table. In addition, there are quantization procedures which are effectively compatible with the standard but do not adhere to the simple quantization scheme described therein. These are important considerations, since it is the quantization procedure that primarily determines the compression ratio as well as the kind of information lost or artifacts introduced. A study has been conducted of issues related to the design of quantization techniques tailored for the compression of 12-bit chest images in radiology. Psycho-physical based quantization alone may not be optimal for images that are to be compressed and then used for primary diagnosis. Two specific examples of auxiliary techniques which can be used in conjunction with JPEG compression are presented here. In particular, preprocessing of the source image is shown to be advantageous under certain circumstances. In contrast, a proposed quantization technique in which isolated nonzero coefficients are removed has been shown to be generally detrimental. Image quality here is primarily measured by mean square error (MSE), although this study is in anticipation of more relevant reader performance studies of compression.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
An experimental model of tardive dyskinesia

There are numerous clinical and experimental similarities between amine induced stereotyped behavior and tardive dyskinesia. The results presented here show that chronic pretreatment of guinea pigs with chlorpromazine produces a persistent reduction in the amounts of amphetamine or apomorphine needed to induce stereotyped behavior. It is suggested that chlorpromazine pretreatment may alter the sensitivity of the striatal dopaminergic receptors to dopamine. The alteration in receptor site responsiveness produced by prolonged chlorpromazine pretreatment may be analogous to the neuroleptic induced tardive dyskinesias. The same dopaminergic mechanism may underlie both the amine stereotyped behavior seen in animals and tardive dyskinesias in man, while lingual-facial-buccal dyskinesias may be the human equivalent of the stereotypies seen in animals when the dopaminergic response in the striatum is increased.
Radioiodide Space in Human Subjects Without Edema

The radioiodide space has been measured in groups of subjects, including infants, children and adults. Regression analyses have been performed to relate the volume of the iodide space, at different times after injection of the test dose of radioiodine, with the weight of the patient. The authors' observations have been combined with results published by others to give a general empirical formula relating the above variables. The formula fits the results well over the whole range of weights from 2 to 200 kg.
Two new species of Solenostelopteris from the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation in Wyoming and Utah

Abstract Permineralized rhizomes of two new species of Solenostelopteris Kershaw, S. leithii , and S. medlynii , are described from the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation from the Steiner and Scott's localities north of Greybull, Wyoming, and from Fremont Junction, east of Mt. Ellen, and Mussentuchit Wash sites in Utah. The species are characterized by having a heterogeneous ( S. leithii ) to homogeneous ( S. medlynii ) pith, rhizomes with branches ( S. leithii ), a sclerenchymatous ( S. leithii ) or parenchymatous ( S. medlynii ) inner cortex, and both with a parenchymatous middle cortex. The outer cortex of S. leithii is parenchymatous, whereas in S. medlynii , it is composed of round to irregularly shaped, thick-walled cells. The C-shaped leaf traces in S. leithii usually arise single ranked, sometimes two ranked, with short leaf gaps and short internodes. Although the rhizomes of S. medlynii are incomplete and lack leaf traces, they still suggest very long internodes. Because fronds and epidermal trichomes are lacking in both, the affinity of these species to modern taxa, such as members of the Loxsomaceae, remains uncertain.
Luteinizing hormone-induced intracellular calcium mobilization in granulosa cells: comparison with forskolin and 8-bromo-adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate.

Digitonin-permeabilized avian granulosa cells were used as a model to study the effects of LH, 8-bromo-cAMP (8-Br-cAMP), and forskolin on intracellular calcium mobilization. LH caused a biphasic calcium efflux. There was a small but significant (P < 0.05) calcium release within 1–2 min (rapid phase) with an ED50 of 35 μg/ml, followed by a larger one after 5 min (slow phase) with an ED50 of 10 ng/ml. The intracellular calcium antagonist TMB-8 inhibited the action of LH in both phases. Forskolin had no effect on calcium efflux during the rapid phase. However, it stimulated intracellular calcium efflux in a dose-dependent manner in the slow phase with an ED60 of 30 fiM. Low doses of 8-Br-cAMP caused a small but significant increase in calcium uptake corresponding to the rapid phase, although high concentrations of 8-Br-cAMP caused efflux in the slow phase (ED50) 0.7 mM). Both LH and 8-Br-cAMP mobilized calcium from a nonmitochondrial pool, whereas forskolin induced calcium efflux from a nonendoplasmic reticu...
Inappetence in Ruminants as a Measure of Fluoride Solubility in Various Phosphates

Experiments with soft phosphate and fertilizer grade concentrated superphosphate and diammonium phosphate were to measure effects on voluntary intake of their fluoride in relation to that from calcium fluoride and sodium fluoride given once daily by capsule. Mature wethers were offered 1200 or 1400 g daily of mixed grain-roughage diet, and responses to fluoride were measured by inappetence, consumption of less than 10% of offered diet. When 40 ppm fluoride as sodium fluoride was given for 2 days, inappetence resulted, whereas 2,400 ppm fluoride as calcium fluoride did not decrease feed intake. Time required for recovery of appetite increased with more fluoride. When soft phosphate, concentrated superphosphate, and diammonium phosphate were tested at 100, 200, and 400 ppm fluoride, inappetence occurred always but severity of reduction of intake was related to parts per million fluoride. Solubility of fluoride in soft phosphate, concentrated superphosphate, and diammonium phosphate is more similar to sodium fluoride than to calcium fluoride, and their use should be in keeping with fluoride tolerances established for ruminants fed sodium fluoride.
Immature red cells have ferritin receptors.

Abstract Ferritin binds to immature red cells. The binding appears to be specific: (1) It is abolished by a large competing dose of nonradioactive ferritin. (2) There is little binding of ferritin to mature red cells. (3) Other high molecular weight proteins (gamma globulin and thyroglobulin) are not bound.