cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The significance of positive blood culturesin newborn infants

I T IS not uncommon nursery experience to observe certain newborn infants who regularly lose weight beyond the usual expected time and who exhibit a lack of interest in nursing regardless of type of feeding. More often than not careful examination reveals no very convincing reason for the anorexia, listlessness, and accompanying weight loss. If allowed to go unchecked, loss of weight may be very considerable, and energetic and supportive t reatment becomes imperative. The writers observed a suggested relationship between this clinical picture and blood cultures which were quite regularly positive for hemolytic staphylococci. In August, 1946, a study was begun for the purpose of clarifying this clinical impression. This report is concerned with 323 blood culture samples taken from 240 infants, some of whom presented with surprising' regularity the above clinical picture. In others the nursery course was uneventful. The number of blood cultures and the number of infants included in this study would seem to be significant. In a partial review of the literature we find scant reference to bacteremia in the newborn infant. Older references to sepsis of the newborn infant are in most instances confusing and lacking in adequate blood studies. Usually these older reports described a severe type of illness, with death the usual rule, characterized by fever, severe gastrointestinal disturbance, jaundice, hemorrhage, and serious lesions noted at autopsy in the various body systems. The most informative study and the one most regularly referred to is that of Dunham. 1 She reported the findings in thirty-nine eases of septicemia of the newborn infant collected from the records of the New Haven Hospital and occurring over a period of five years. In thirty-four of her eases the diagnosis was made from blood cultures taken before death. She fur ther recorded the findings in 115 blood cultures taken at random from forty-nine apparently healthy newborn infants. Staphylococcus albus was recovered in thirty-five instances from these apparently well infants. Dunham concluded tha t Staph. albus, since it could regularly be cultured from the skin of newborn infants, should not be considered as a cause of illness but rather as a skin contaminant when present in blood cultures in the neonatM period. This conclusion has been generally accepted as a fact'. The data recorded in this study suggest that hemolytic Staph. albus is capable of invading, the blood stream of newborn infants with surprising regularity, and, if present in sufficient nmnbers, may cause regular and marked weight loss and at times serious signs of illness.
Analysis of survey information about airblast and ground vibration reporting units

Common units for reporting airblast measurements may be detrimental to quality public relations. Recent research has shown that the practice of reporting airblast in decibels (dBs) creates discomfort in residents living in proximity to blasting. The study discussed in this article utilised Likert Scaled Surveys to determine residents' comfort levels with different airblast reporting units including dBs, millibars and pounds per square inch (PSI). The surveys were distributed to residents in close proximity to several operations in the Midwest United States and were analysed based on location and demographics. The results were also compared to other groups of survey participants that did not reside near blasting operations. Analysis of the data shows that using similar surveys as a potential tool for proactive public relations shows promise. Using surveys to establish baseline communication levels with neighbours could advance public relations for mining operations by providing insight and direction for si...
Hydrocephalus and shunts in children with brain tumors

Children with brain tumors are at risk for developing hydrocephalus necessitating placement of a permanent shunt catheter. As comprehensive, interdisciplinary, multispecialty care is required for these patients, the pediatric oncology nurse must become knowledgeable about caring for children with a shunt. This article focuses on the care of the pediatric neuro-oncology patient requiring shunting for hydrocephalus, including a review of cerebrospinal fluid flow and hydrocephalus, determinants of shunt placement, complications of ventriculoperitoneal shunts, and nursing considerations.
Minireview: The adipocyte - At the crossroads of energy homeostasis, inflammation, and atherosclerosis

Adipose tissue evolved to efficiently store energy for times of caloric restriction. The large caloric excess common in many Western diets has negated the need for this thrifty function, leaving adipose tissue ill-equipped to handle this increased load. An excess of adipose tissue increases risk for a number of conditions including coronary artery disease, hypertension, dyslipidemias, type 2 diabetes, and even cancer. Indeed, the ability of the adipocyte to function properly when engorged with lipid can lead to lipid accumulation in other tissues, reducing their ability to function and respond normally. The role of adipose tissue as an endocrine organ capable of secreting a number of adipose tissue-specific or enriched hormones, known as adipokines, is gaining appreciation. The normal balance of these adipose tissue secretory proteins is perturbed in obesity. Paradoxically, the lack of normal adipose tissue, as seen in cases of lipodystrophy and lipoatrophy, is also associated with pathologic sequelae sim...
On the estimation of available bandwidth in broadband cellular networks

Over-the-top estimation of available bandwidth (AB) in a network path has been well studied for wired networks. The AB of a path denotes its slack capacity, i.e., the bandwidth available for use in the path without impacting the existing traffic. This estimation problem has been receiving attention only recently in cellular networks, which are increasingly becoming one of the main modes of access for a large number of applications. In this paper, we discuss the challenges posed by the problem, and why existing techniques developed for wired networks cannot be applied. We show that, interestingly, it may not even be feasible to estimate AB using over-the-top approaches under certain conditions, even when the wireless channel and traffic conditions are non-varying. We then present a novel AB estimation technique for cellular networks, which typically use proportional fair scheduling at base stations. When the wireless channel and traffic conditions are non-varying, our technique can accurately determine AB when it exceeds the "fair share" due to a new flow. We also extend the basic technique for estimation under conditions that are time-varying. The proposed methods can as well be used when one or more bottleneck links in a network path are fair-scheduled using algorithms such as weighted-fair queueing. We evaluate our methods using simulations and over operational networks, and present the results. In simulations, our technique is capable of detecting AB close to 90% of the time under feasible conditions even with bursty traffic.
Simple and Versatile Methods To Integrate Directed Self-Assembly with Optical Lithography Using a Polarity-Switched Photoresist

We report novel strategies to integrate block copolymer self-assembly with 193 nm water immersion lithography. These strategies employ commercially available positive tone chemically amplified photoresists to spatially encode directing information into precise topographical or chemical prepatterns for the directed self-assembly of block copolymers. Each of these methods exploits the advantageous solubility and thermal properties of polarity-switched positive tone photoresist materials. Precisely registered, sublithographic self-assembled structures are fabricated using these versatile integration schemes which are fully compatible with current optical lithography patterning materials, processes, and tooling.
The influence of a retailer's corporate social responsibility program on re-conceptualizing store image

Abstract The construct of retail store image is typically built based on a variety of the store's functional attributes. This conceptualization fails to consider the role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) polices and practices in forming store image. Results from a study of 460 consumers indicate CSR influences consumer store image. CSR is particularly effective at influencing store image when the retailer experiences a positive performance perception among its customers. Consumers shopping at such stores are more receptive to CSR programs, and experience significant increases in their level of satisfaction and loyalty to the store through the addition of these programs.
Development of pancellular toxicity in guinea pig lung by ingestion of oleylanilide.

Toxic oil syndrome (TOS), characterized by widespread thromboembolism, vasculotoxicity, and ARDS, develops in humans ingesting denatured edible oils. The mechanism(s) involved in targeted vasculocentric damage in this multisystem disorder is not known. Oleylanilide (OA) was synthesized and fed to male, young adult guinea pigs by gavage for 30 days at doses of 35, 50, and 100 mg/kg/day in groups of six animals each respective to weight. Controls were fed olive oil. Oleylanilide fed animals gained less weight than controls. At the end of experiment, right lungs were inflation fixed in appropriate fixative for histology and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and left lungs were frozen at −70°C for biochemical analyses. The activity of glycerophosphate acyltransferase (GAT) and cholinephosphotransferase (CPT), two key enzymes involved in phospholipid biosynthesis, were decreased in lung due to OA ingestion. All doses of OA induced marked perivascular and peribronchoiolar monocytic infiltrates that often formed prominent nodules; segmental vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and derangement of myocytic polarity, subendothelial foamy infiltrates, and edema; nuclear pyknosis and dropout in vascular and bronchial targetoid myocytes; and denudation of bronchiolar epithelial cells. Alveoli contained large numbers of monocytes, macrophages, red cells, edema, and debris. Transmission electron microscopy showed type I cell cytoplasmic ballooning and disintegration of type I cell; contracted and blebbed endothelial cells, fibrin thrombi in capillaries, intracellular megalamellar bodies in type II cells, and surfactant lamellae; and liposomes and fine granular precipitates within alveoli, and contraction and lift off of bronchiolar epithelial cells. Monocytes, mast cells, and eosinophils infiltrated bronchial walls. Furthermore, there was deposition of electron dense particles on the surface of the alveolar wall. Cytotoxicity of various cells is considered to be either directly caused by the anilides or a result of monocytes and free radicals. This is the first experimental model for “intractable” dysplastic vascular diseases in humans.
Alternative Splicing of Human Inducible Nitric-Oxide Synthase mRNA TISSUE-SPECIFIC REGULATION AND INDUCTION BY CYTOKINES

Human inducible nitric-oxide synthase (iNOS) is responsible for nitric oxide synthesis in response to inflammatory mediators. The human iNOS gene, containing 26 exons, encodes a protein of 131 kDa. This study was aimed at investigating the presence of alternative splicing of human iNOS mRNA. Total RNA from human alveolar macrophages, nasal and bronchial epithelial cells, and several human tissues was transcribed to cDNA and analyzed using polymerase chain reaction with specific primers for segmental analysis of the iNOS gene. Four sites of alternative splicing were identified by sequence analysis; these included deletion of: (i) exon 5; (ii) exons 8 and 9; (iii) exons 9, 10, and 11; and (iv) exons 15 and 16. The deduced amino acid sequences of the novel iNOS cDNAs predict one truncated protein (resulting from exon 5 deletion) and three iNOS proteins with in-frame deletions. Southern analyses of polymerase chain reaction products were consistent with tissue-specific regulation of alternative splicing. In cultured cells, iNOS induction by cytokines and lipopolysaccharide was associated with an increase in alternatively spliced mRNA transcripts. Because iNOS is active as a dimer, the novel forms of alternatively spliced iNOS may be involved in regulation of nitric oxide synthesis.
Barrett's esophagus: continuing questions and controversy.

was a proponent of the upward migration of the junctional epithelium of the esophagus and stomach. A major breakthrough in the understanding of the pathogenesis of Barrett’s esophagus occurred with the landmark publication by Bremner et al.4 in 1970. They reported on their ability to re-epithelialize a denuded segment of the squamous mucosa with columnar mucus-secreting cells in dogs with surgically created persistent gastroesophageal reflux and induced gastric hypersecretion.4 Bremner et al.4 used the term “creeping substitution” to suggest a migration of columnar epithelium upward to replace squamous epithelium destroyed by persistent gastroesophageal reflux. It is now accepted that Barrett’s esophagus is an acquired condition and is one of the complications of chronic gastroesophageal reflux. It is also much more likely to be present in patients with other complications of severe GERD (that is, esophageal ulcer or stricture). In fact the common association between Barrett’s epithelium and distal esophageal ulcers has led to the use of the term “Barrett’s ulcer” to describe this condition. Most authorities in this field now agree that a true Barrett’s epithelium consists of a “specialized columnar epithelium” that resembles intestinal mucosa with a villiform surface containing both columnar and goblet cells and with underlying crypts reminiscent of the lining of the small intestine (that is, intestinal metaplasia). This contrasts with the gastric type epithelium originally described by Barrett. Thus even in its primary definition, the question of what truly constitutes a Barrett’s esophagus has been controversial and often confusing. Although much has been learned about Barrett’s esophagus since 1950, many unanswered questions remain. General agreement exists about its pathogenesis and the association between this condition and adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. Some aspects of the continuing questions and controversy are summarized below.
Total synthesis of the unusual cyclosporine amino acid MeBMT

Abstract Sharpless epoxidation of the readily available dienol 2 , followed by regiospecific opening with Me2CuLi/BF3·Et2O yields, after protecting group manipulation, the monoprotected diol 10c . Swern oxidation gives the cyclic carbaminol 14a which is easily manipulated to α-cyano oxazolidinone 15 and thus, by literature methods, to the title compound. Using this procedure, good overall yield and high enantiomeric purity are obtained.
Synaptic transmission: exciting times for presynaptic receptors.

Abstract Presynaptic receptors play an important role — typically inhibitory — in modulating the strength of synaptic transmission in the brain. Recent studies now reveal that neurotransmitters can enhance synaptic strength by activating ligand-gated ion channels in presynaptic nerve endings.
Time preference, the environment and the interests of future generations

The behavior of individuals currently living will generally have long-term consequences that affect the well-being of those who will come to live in the future. Intergenerational interdependencies of this nature raise difficult moral issues because only the current generation is in a position to decide on actions that will determine the nature of the world in which future generations will live. Although most are willing to attach some weight to the interests of future generations, many would argue that it is not necessary to treat these interests as equivalent to those of the current generation. A common approach in this context is to use a system of discounting to evaluate future benefits and harms. This paper assesses the logic of discounting drawing on the writings of economists and philosophers. Much of the economic literature concerns the choice of an appropriate social discount rate. The social discount rate can be taken to reflect beliefs about the rights of future generations, a subject that has been extensively debated in the phioosophic literature. The writings of both economists and philosophers concerned with the weight to attach to the interests of future generations are reviewed and evaluated in this paper and the implications for environmental policy are discussed.
Modeling of failure mode of laser welds in lap-shear specimens of HSLA steel sheets

Abstract Failure mode of laser welds in lap-shear specimens of high strength low alloy (HSLA) steel sheets is investigated in this paper. The experiments for laser welds in lap-shear specimens under quasi-static loading conditions are briefly reviewed first. The experimental results showed that the laser welds failed in a ductile necking/shear failure mode and the ductile failure was initiated at a distance away from the crack tip near the boundary of the base metal and heat affected zone. In order to understand the failure mode of these welds, finite element analyses under plane strain conditions were conducted to identify the effects of the different plastic behaviors of the base metal, heat affected zone, and weld zone as well as the weld geometry on the ductile failure. The results of the reference finite element analysis based on the homogenous material model show that the failure mode is most likely to be a middle surface shear failure mode in the weld. The results of the finite element analysis based on the multi-zone non-homogeneous material models show that the higher effective stress–plastic strain curves of the weld and heat affected zones and the geometry of the weld protrusion result in the necking/shear failure mode in the load carrying sheet. The results of another finite element analysis based on the non-homogeneous material model and the Gurson yield function for porous materials indicate that the consideration of void nucleation and growth is necessary to identify the ductile failure initiation site that matches well with the experimental observations. Finally, the results of this investigation indicate that the failure mode of the welds should be examined carefully and the necking/shear failure mode needs to be considered for development of failure or separation criteria for welds under more complex loading conditions.
1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 evokes oscillations of intracellular calcium in a pancreatic beta-cell line

The steroid hormone 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25-(OH)2D3] can elicit biological responses via a nongenomic pathway that involves rapid opening of the plasma membrane Ca2+ channels. There is also evidence that 1,25-(OH)2D3 influences insulin secretion in the pancreatic beta-cell, which is primarily mediated by a rapid rise in the concentration of intracellular free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i). We employed fluorescent digital ratiometric video imaging at the single cell level to study the effects of 1,25-(OH)2D3 on [Ca2+]i in a pancreatic beta-cell line, RINr1046-38. In RIN cells equilibrated at a steady state glucose concentration (5.5 mM), 1,25-(OH)2D3 (2-20 nM) rapidly, within 5-10 sec, increased [Ca2+]i and evoked sinusoidal [Ca2+]i oscillations with a frequency of 1.87 +/- 0.13 min-1 and an amplitude of 236 +/- 3 nM (from the initial basal level of 110 +/- 2 nM). The [Ca2+]i oscillations were acutely dependent on extracellular Ca2+, but not on extracellular glucose. Further, we investigated the mechanisms o...
Simfrastructure: a flexible and adaptable middleware platform for modeling and analysis of socially coupled systems

Socially coupled systems are comprised of interdependent social, organizational, economic, infrastructure and physical networks. Today's urban regions serve as an excellent example of such systems. People and institutions confront the implications of the increasing scale of information becoming available due to a combination of advances in pervasive computing, data acquisition systems as well as high performance computing. Integrated modeling and decision making environments are necessary to support planning, analysis and counter factual experiments to study these complex systems. Here, we describe SIMFRASTRUCTURE - a flexible coordination middleware that supports high performance computing oriented decision and analytics environments to study socially coupled systems. Simfrastructure provides a multiplexing mechanism by which simple and intuitive user-interfaces can be plugged in as front-end systems, and high-end computing resources can be plugged in as back-end systems for execution. This makes the computational complexity of the simulations completely transparent to the users. The decoupling of user interfaces and data repository from simulation execution allows users to access simulation results asynchronously and enables them to add new datasets and simulation models dynamically. Simfrastructure enables implementation of a simple yet powerful modeling environment with built-in analytics-as-a service platform, which provides seamless access to high end computational resources, through an intuitive interface for studying socially coupled systems. We illustrate the applicability of Simfrastructure in the context of an integrated modeling environment to study public health epidemiology.
IMPAD: an inexpensive multi-touchpressure acquisition device

Recently, there has been great interest in multi-touch interfaces. These have taken the form of optical systems such as Microsoft Surface and Perceptive Pixel's FTIR display as well as hand-held devices using capacitive sensors such as the Apple iPhone. However, optical systems are inherently bulky while capacitive systems are only practical in small form factors and are limited in their application because they only respond to human touch. We have created a technology that enables the creation of Inexpensive Multi-Touch Pressure Acquisition Devices (IMPAD) which are paper-thin, flexible and can easily scale down to fit on a portable device or scale up to cover an entire table. These devices can sense varying levels of pressure at a resolution high enough to sense and distinguish multiple fingertips, the tip of a pen or pencil and other objects. Other potential applications include writing pads, floor mats and entry indicators, bio-pressure sensors, musical instruments, baby monitoring, drafting tables, reconfigurable control panels, inventory tracking, portable electronic devices, hospital beds, construction materials, wheelchairs, sports equipment, sports clothing and tire pressure sensing.
Binding of 5-hydroxytrypamine (serotonin) to serum proteins and haemocytes by the American cockroach

Abstract The injection of [ 14 C]serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine or 5-HT) into the haemocoel of the American cockroach results in the labelling of both the serum proteins and the haemocytes. Partial purification of the serum proteins by column chromatography on P-10 polyacrylamide gel indicates that the label becomes bound to protein or other high molecular weight fractions as well as the haemocytes. The ‘bound’ radioactive fraction in the blood reaches a peak concentration within an hour after injection and declines slowly thereafter. However, even after 24 hours appreciable label remains bound. Significant quantities of serotonin are metabolized as shown by the evolution of 14 CO 2 . Additionally, considerable label can be detected in the faeces, suggesting possible detoxification or metabolism of the indole. The significance of the probable serotonin binding to proteins is not yet completely understood, but it is tentatively suggested that the protein acts as a carrier for the amine to prevent deactivation.
Sweet-Liking Is Associated with Transformation of Heavy Drinking into Alcohol-Related Problems in Young Adults with High Novelty Seeking

Background We tested the hypothesis that high novelty seeking (NS) (a trait that promotes experimentation) and sweet-liking (SL) (a phenotype that may reflect processing of hedonic stimuli) act independently and synergistically to increase the risk of having alcohol-related problems in young adults. Methods A sample of 163 young adults, ages 18 to 26, was recruited and balanced for gender and evidence for presence of alcohol problems to yield 150 evaluable participants. NS was evaluated using the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire. Pleasurable response to sweet taste was tested to identify sweet-likers and sweet-dislikers. Alcohol use and problems were assessed by the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test and the Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index. Results NS, but not SL, was positively and significantly associated with alcohol consumption and alcohol problems; however, the effect of NS on alcohol problems was significantly enhanced in the presence of the SL phenotype, thus showing a strong synergistic interaction. The combination of SL and high NS was associated with increased odds of having alcohol problems −20.64 (95% CI: −89.98, 4.74) compared to those with low NS and sweet-disliking. Other combinations did not produce such odds ratios. SL and low NS showed OR = 1.88 (95% CI 0.44, 7.99), and sweet-dislikers and high novelty seekers had OR = 4.07 (95%, CI 1.01, 16.46). Conclusions These results support and extend our hypothesis that as clinically distinct phenotypes, high NS and the SL phenotype are associated with risk of alcohol-related problems. High NS is associated with the use of alcohol, and the presence of the SL phenotype appears to bias an individual to alcohol problems once alcohol use is initiated. Understanding the biology and phenomenology of these phenotypes will allow a more complete picture of the processes that lead to alcohol problems.
The Lima Indian Letrados: Remaking the República de Indios in the Bourbon Andes

In building its early modern empire across the Atlantic, Spain deployed an army of legal bureaucrats who were rooted in the Iberian culture of letters and inherited Roman law. To rule their possessions in the New World, the Habsburgs attempted a wholesale incorporation of indigenous peoples into a Hispanicized legal culture. They redistributed the native population, introduced new forms of communication, and implemented their notions of justice and social order to counter the authority of kurakas (ethnic lords) in the Andes. Over time, the establishment of Spanish legal and political institutions encouraged new supra-ayllu (community) loyalties among Andeans, while in the newly created reducciones or Indian towns, native literate officials became the immediate brokers between the colonial state and the Republica de Indios, a colonial reordering of indigenous worlds. Working closely with one another, indigenous escribanos, alcaldes ordinarios, procuradores de cabildo (legal advocates of the Indians’ council), along with interpreters and fiscales de iglesia (overseers of Indian conversion), performed their jobs in local office in both expected and unanticipated ways. They interwove alphabetic literacy with their experience as servants of the state and the church, creating alternative legal practices and interpretations.
Dynamic Asset Allocation with Event Risk

Major events often trigger abrupt changes in stock prices and volatility. We study the implications of jumps in prices and volatility on investment strategies. Using the event-risk framework of Duffie, Pan, and Singleton (2000), we provide analytical solutions to the optimal portfolio problem. Event risk dramatically affects the optimal strategy. An investor facing event risk is less willing to take leveraged or short positions. The investor acts as if some portion of his wealth may become illiquid and the optimal strategy blends both dynamic and buy-and-hold strategies. Jumps in prices and volatility both have important effects.
What Drives ICT Diffusion in Developing Countries? Evidence from Paraguay ϕ

The diffusion of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) has been identified by international policy-makers and schol ars as an important driver for economic development. In this perspective, research on the determinants of technology adoption appears particularly relevant. However, while the empirical literature on ICT adoption in workplace is relative ly abundant, few studies have been elaborated on their penetration in households. Addi tionally, academic work has focused on industrialized countries and it is still missing a comprehensive analysis on developing world. In this paper we contribute to fill this gap, evaluating the main socio-economic determinants of the presence of computer and Internet connection in Paraguayan households. Non-parametric statistics sh ow that Paraguay has relatively low levels of ICT penetration. Moreover, technology diffusion follows a heterogeneous pattern, reflecting pre-existing ineq ualities in other socio-economic dimensions. Econometrically, we model the probability that a ho usehold has or has not adopted computer technologies and Internet acce ss. The results confirm that conventional variables such as income and education are key determinants of ICT diffusion, but there is also evidence of the presen ce of geographical network effects and of complementarities between Internet use at di fferent locations.
Design of cell mounts for photovoltaic concentrator modules

The development of solar cell assemblies with high efficiency, improved reliability, and low cost is described. Specific topics discussed include optimization of cell assemblies, selection and evaluation of adhesives and insulators, fabrication methods, and assembly procedures. Important advances in soldering and reliability are reported, and the cell assembly for the Sandia Baseline Module III is described. It is concluded that soft soldering with Sn62 solder is a practical, reliable, simple, and inexpensive way to bond solar cells to copper heat spreaders. >
Detection of a Molybdenum Acceptor Level in N-Type Silicon

The detection of Mo in n-type Si has been reported in only a few references. An unidentified peak was detected in an n-type epitaxial layer by DLTS with an activation energy and capture cross-section of 0.255 eV and 3.5 × 10 −16 cm 2 , respectively. These results were consistent with measurements of n-type silicon implanted with Mo. A p-type epitaxial wafer was exposed to the same epitaxial growth environment resulting in the detection of the Mo-d level, thus confirming the Mo contamination. The change in the enthalpy of the capture of electrons into the unidentified level was 14 meV resulting in the majority carrier capture cross-section being determined to be 1.2× 10−16 cm2 assuming a multi-phonon process. Using the activation energy and enthalpy change of capture cross-section data, the change in Gibbs free energy as a function of temperature was calculated to be Ec-0.269 eV. Poole-Frenkel effect measurements determined the deep level to be an acceptor-like state. The total change in entropy was determined to be 1k ,t he first reported total entropy change for an acceptor level of a 4d transition metal. The measured enthalpy energy was in reasonable agreement with the reported theoretical calculation of a substitution Mo-a deep level. © 2014 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/2.0081412jss] All rights reserved.
Intensive Versus Modified Conventional Control of Blood Glucose Level in Medical Intensive Care Patients: A Pilot Study

BACKGROUND: Critically ill postsurgical patients fare better with intensive control of blood glucose level. The link between glucose control and outcome is less well studied for medical intensive care patients. Whether intensive glucose control requires additional staffing is unclear. OBJECTIVES: To compare intensive glucose control with modified conventional control in the medical intensive care unit and to assess compliance with glucose targets, incidence of hypoglycemia, and staffing adequacy. METHODS: Medical intensive care patients who had been receiving mechanical ventilation for less than 24 hours were randomized to intensive or modified conventional protocols for glucose control. Nurses were trained before participating in the study and were interviewed after its completion. RESULTS: Five subjects were randomized to each protocol. Mean blood glucose levels were 5.8 (SD 1.5) mmol/L (105.3 [SD 26.3] mg/dL) for the intensive group and 9.8 (SD 2.5) mmol/L (177.4 [SD 45.5] mg/dL) for the modified conventional group (P < .001). Fifty percent of glucose levels met target values in the intensive group, and 72% of glucose levels met target values in the modified conventional group (P < .001). Severe hypoglycemia (glucose <2.2 mmol/L [<40 mg/dL]) occurred rarely and without complication. Nurses suggested protocols might be improved by using smaller steps in adjusting insulin dosage and reported that simultaneously caring for more than 1 study subject was taxing. CONCLUSIONS: Target levels for blood glucose were achieved with both protocols. Severe hypoglycemia was rare and uncomplicated regardless of type of glucose control. Additional staffing may be needed for intensive glucose control.
Parental weight status as a moderator of the relationship between television viewing and childhood overweight.

Objective To examine whether and to what extent the relationship between television viewing and children's weight status differs according to parental weight status. Design Population-level survey including in-home and telephone interview components. Setting United States. Participants Representative sample of children aged 6 to 19 years in 2002 (n = 1483). Main Exposure Hours of television viewing. Main Outcome Measures Child weight status (normal weight, at risk for overweight, overweight) as defined by current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention standards. Results Parental obesity increased the risk of child overweight for all of the children except boys aged 6 to 9 years. There were significant interactions between television viewing hours and parental obesity among boys aged 14 to 19 years and girls aged 10 to 13 years. For these 2 groups, the odds of overweight status increased with viewing hours for children with at least 1 obese parent but not at all for children of normal-weight parents. Conclusions Results indicate that when parental obesity is taken into account, television viewing hours do not significantly relate to increased odds of childhood overweight, and parental body mass index may serve to moderate the relationship between television viewing and child weight status among adolescents (but not among younger children). Further examination of the moderating effect of parental body mass index on the relationship between television viewing and child weight status is warranted.
Sex differences in repeatability of food-hoarding behaviour of kangaroo rats

Many animals store food in small, widely dispersed scatter hoards or in large larder hoards in burrows or other centralized locations. Kangaroo rats (Dipodomys spp.) show an unusual amount of variation in food-hoarding behaviour both between and within species. I used laboratory trials to characterize individual variation in food hoarding by two species of kangaroo rats, Merriam’s kangaroo rats, Dipodomys merriami, and Ord’s kangaroo rats, Dipodomys ordii. Trials were done in arenas with sites for scatter hoarding and larder hoarding, and individuals were tested twice to assess the repeatability of their behaviour. I also removed larder hoards or scatter hoards from some subjects to test their response to simulated cache theft. Males of both species were much more repeatable than females in larder-hoarding propensity, and this was due to greater variation in mean values between males as well as greater variation between trials for individual females. For Merriam’s kangaroo rats, males were less likely to replace lost larder hoards than were females, but the reverse was true for Ord’s kangaroo rats. Sex differences in repeatability of food-hoarding behaviour were consistent with the possibility of alternative mating strategies in male kangaroo rats, while differences in response to cache pilferage between males of the two species were consistent with differences in aggressive behaviour associated with body size. This study of kangaroo rats illustrates the importance of behavioural plasticity as a dimension of personality that may differ in males and females.
The Rat Genome Database 2015: genomic, phenotypic and environmental variations and disease

The Rat Genome Database (RGD, http://rgd.mcw.edu) provides the most comprehensive data repository and informatics platform related to the laboratory rat, one of the most important model organisms for disease studies. RGD maintains and updates datasets for genomic elements such as genes, transcripts and increasingly in recent years, sequence variations, as well as map positions for multiple assemblies and sequence information. Functional annotations for genomic elements are curated from published literature, submitted by researchers and integrated from other public resources. Complementing the genomic data catalogs are those associated with phenotypes and disease, including strains, QTL and experimental phenotype measurements across hundreds of strains. Data are submitted by researchers, acquired through bulk data pipelines or curated from published literature. Innovative software tools provide users with an integrated platform to query, mine, display and analyze valuable genomic and phenomic datasets for discovery and enhancement of their own research. This update highlights recent developments that reflect an increasing focus on: (i) genomic variation, (ii) phenotypes and diseases, (iii) data related to the environment and experimental conditions and (iv) datasets and software tools that allow the user to explore and analyze the interactions among these and their impact on disease.
No-power vacuum actuated bi-stable MEMS SPDT switch

A “No-power” MEMS based vacuum/pressure actuated single pole double throw (SPDT) switch is presented. Compressive stresses in thermal oxide and TiW layer provide pre-stress in the polyimide mechanical films that initiates diaphragm buckling upon release. The diaphragms are bi-stable in nature with a buckling height greater than 28 µm. These bi-stable diaphragms were incorporated into a MEMS based no-power SPDT switch which comprises of 2 series single pole single throw (SPST) switches. Pressure/vacuum was used to actuate the diaphragms and OPEN/CLOSE the series SPST switches. The actuation or switching pressure/vacuum of the SPST switches was determined to be greater than 40 KPa which compares favorably with the analytical model predictions. The contact resistance of the MEMS SPST switches was determined to be less than 200 Ω. The proposed no-power switches are passive, programmable, monolithic, and small and can find several applications in the field of MEMS. Also, the polyimide diaphragms can be used as the fundamental building blocks in micro-pumps, micro-valves, optical devices and energy harvesting devices which require large cyclic displacement. Because of their bi-stable nature, the diaphragms can also be used for applications in mechanical memory storage.
8: Organization and Administration in Higher Education: Sociological and Social-Psychological Perspectives

Approximately a decade ago, in contemporaneous but independent articles, T. R. McConnell (1963) and Algo Henderson (1963), directors of the Centers for the Study of Higher Education at the University of California and the University of Michigan, respectively, decried the paucity of research or conceptual knowledge about the organization and administration of higher education. The lack of research-based knowledge about these critical societal organizations was certainly not a tribute to their being paragons of organizational effectiveness, as those familiar with educational life can attest. More likely, it was due to the complex nature of these organizations and their supposed internal resistance to being studied, as well as to the lack of interest on the part of researchers and funding agencies in undertaking research on them. The intervening years have witnessed campus disruptions and violence, growing student and faculty militancy, increasing public distrust of higher education, an end to continuously expanding enrollments and increasing financial support, and more pressure for open access. As higher education has become an explosive and controversial issue, it has been concomitantly the focus of a tremendous volume of published material: research-based and opinion articles, conceptual analyses, and polemics. The purpose of this review is to sift the deluge of research, quasi research, and proclaimed research from students, faculty, and administrators and from scholars in varied disciplines in order to delineate the present state of research on the organization and administration of higher education with a broadly defined sociological or social-psychological perspective. Specifically, this chapter seeks (1) to highlight some of the theoretical or conceptual bases upon
Trisomy 18 and 21 in two siblings.

While a child with trisomy 21 is a generally accepted indication for amniocentesis in succeeding pregnancies, the need for this prenatal test following a child with trisomy 18 is less certain. Although the likelihood of two successive pregnancies resulting in trisomies (18 and 21) appears to be small, it may be more common than is generally realized due to the high mortality of trisomy 18 prior to diagnostic studies.
A TDM Solution for All-Photonic Overlaid-Star Networks

This paper addresses various implementation issues in an all-photonic overlaid-star network, where there can be multiple fibers between an edge and a core node and multiple wavelength channels in each fiber. By revisiting the fundamental star topology, an asymmetric multiconnection network is developed to model the node connections. A network flow model and a parallel time- wavelength assignment algorithm are then presented to solve the routing, wavelength assignment and time slot assignment problems simultaneously for the Time-Division- Multiplexing (TDM) operation. This topology can reduce the computing complexity and the cost of switching and routing. We demonstrate the feasibility of such implementations by evaluating different link resources, traffic patterns and other typical factors.
The effects of prematurity on incidence of aspiration following supraglottoplasty for laryngomalacia

Objectives To determine if patients who were born premature have a higher incidence of aspiration following supraglottoplasty compared to patients born full term. Study Design Retrospective study. Methods Two thousand three hundred sixty (2360) patient charts from Riley Hospital for Children were reviewed retrospectively. Patients had already been treated for laryngomalacia with supraglottoplasty by Dr. Bruce Matt. Estimated weeks gestational age at birth was recorded for each patient. Prematurity was stratified as mild (32–36 weeks gestational age [WGA]), very (28–31 WGA), or extremely (<28 WGA). Patients were excluded from the study if they had suspected aspiration with chronic cough, pneumonia, chronic lung disease, or documented aspiration prior to supraglottoplasty. Results As previously shown, 75 patients (3.2%) had aspiration following supraglottoplasty. Twenty of these patients were preterm infants at birth. The rate for aspiration following supraglottoplasty for former premature infants was statistically significant (5.9%, odds ratio = 2.3, P = .0032). Conclusions Children who were born premature have a higher rate of postoperative aspiration following supraglottoplasty; however, supraglottoplasty should still be considered as treatment for laryngomalacia as the rate is still relatively low (5.9%). Level of Evidence 2b. Laryngoscope, 124:777–780, 2014
Electronics system for the GammaTracker handheld CdZnTe detector

We are currently developing a handheld radioisotope identifier containing eighteen position-sensitive CdZnTe crystals. In addition to isotope identification, the device performs basic Compton imaging to determine the location of suspected sources. This paper gives an overview of the electronics system we have designed for this instrument. We use specialized application-specific integrated circuits to preprocess the outputs of each CdZnTe crystal. A low-power microprocessor running Windows CE drives the user interface and implements the isotope identification and directionality computations. Finally, we use a field-programmable gate array to perform the computationally intensive imaging tasks in real time.
Immunoassay of DNA damage.

— The direct photomodification of DNA by ultraviolet light or the photo-induced addition of exogenous compounds to DNA components results in alterations of DNA structure ranging from subtle to profound. There are two consequences of these conformational changes. First, cells in which the DNA has been damaged are capable of executing repair steps. Second, the DNA which is usually of very low immunogenicity now becomes highly antigenic. This latter property has allowed the production of a series of monoclonal antibodies that recognize photo-induced DNA damage. Monoclonal antibodies have been generated that recognize the 4′,5′-monoadduct and the crosslink of 8-methoxypsoralen in DNA. In addition, another antibody has been prepared which recognizes the furan-side monoadduct of 6,4,4′-trimethylangelicin in DNA. These monoclonal antibodies have been characterized as to sensitivity and specificity using non-competitive and competitive enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assays (ELISA).
The Use of Trend Tests to Determine a No-Observable-Effect Level in Animal Safety Studies

Proper statistical analysis of data from subchronic and chronic studies is a key aspect of their data analysis and interpretation. We discuss the motivation and illustrate the use of trend tests for continuous quantitative data from such studies. Because responses are often more severe (increase or decrease) with increasing dose, trend tests are the most appropriate statistical procedures to apply. Several parametric and nonparametric trend tests are defined and applied to a small set of male liver weight data from a 14-day rat study. Shortcomings of more standard statistical procedures applied to data from such studies are discussed as well. We recommend the use of trend tests as the customary method for analyzing data from these studies