cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ANOVR: Minitab macro routines for calculating analysis of variance with repeated measures

Currently, one major objective in the teaching of statistics is to minimize the level of confusion and anxiety in students, in order to maximize learning. Some confusion and anxiety may be reduced by requiring students to learn only one statistical computerpackagefor computationalassignments. Whereas most coursesin statisticsuse one or more of the typical software packages (SPSSx or SAS), some instructors have found Minitab (Ryan, Joiner, & Ryan, 1982) to be the most appropriate for novice users, due to its interactive capabilities and simple command syntax. Although Minitab is a good package, it is deficient in many areas. One statistical deficiency involves the calculation of analysis of variance using repeated measures. When a repeated measures design is needed, students are usually required to access a different package or an individual program outside the Minitab environment. This often causes a loss of computing continuity (i.e., the loss of possible benefits from existing knowledge of Minitab commands for use in preanalysis data management) and requires the learning of unnecessary, extra command language. The following is a brief description of a collection of Minitab macros linked to a VAX/VMS control file that allow users to calculate repeated measures analysis of variancewhileremainingwithin the Minitab environment. Description. The ANOVR Minitab macros allow the user to directly access all Minitab commands and facilities. The macros are linked to a VAX/VMS control file, operating on a VAX 111780 system. Although the macros were designed to operate in Minitab on the VAX 111780, they may be easily adapted to run in Minitab on other operating systems. ANOVR.MTB. This macro is a simple initializing routine written in Minitab to establish a workspace data matrix. This routine creates the workspace for the analysis of variance repeated measures calculations. IFACTOR.MTB/IFBATCH.MTB. These macros allow calculation of a single-factor design using re-
Acknowledging Levels of Racism in the Definition of “Difficult”

Bergman and Diamond (2013), referencing Fiester's article on the “difficult patient conundrum” (Feister 2012), have utilized sickle cell disease (SCD) as a case study to further refine and define t...
Evidence-Based Assessment of the Role of Ultrasonography in the Management of Benign Thyroid Nodules

Although ultrasonographic (US) evaluation is currently recommended for the workup of all palpable thyroid nodules, little guidance exists regarding the manner in which US data are to be used. Herein, we examine the available evidence and recommend how US can be used most effectively to predict malignancy. We discuss the role of US-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) and other special topics regarding US evaluation and management of benign nodules. We also present a systematic review of the literature using evidence-based criteria. US features alone cannot predict malignancy or benignity, but techniques that combine US features and FNA cytology are most effective and most accurate for predicting malignancy (Level III and IV evidence). US features suggesting malignancy include a blurred or ill-defined margin, irregular shape, solid echo structure, hypoechogenicity, absent halo, fine calcifications, and intranodular vascular pattern. Most patients with malignancies have more than two US features characteristic of malignancy. US-guided FNA has nonsignificantly higher sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy than the palpation-guided technique (Level III and IV evidence). US guidance is particularly beneficial in patients with nonpalpable, multiple, or heterogeneous nodules for preferentially aspirating a specific segment of the nodule (large or partially cystic nodule) or when nodule palpation is difficult (patients with diffuse glandular disease or obesity). US is an essential component of thyroid nodule evaluation and management. Techniques that combine US features and FNA cytology for thyroid nodule workup are more accurate than either technique alone. US-guided FNA can decrease the rate of nondiagnostic aspirates.
Magnetic susceptibility study of Te-rich Mnx Te1−x

The magnetic susceptibility of Te, MnTe 2 , and three dilute TeMn alloys was measured from room temperature to 800°C. The effective magnetic moment of dilute Mn in liquid Te is 5.0(2) μ B and appears to be slightly temperature dependent. The effective moment for Mn in MnTe 2 is 6.05 μ B , approximately equal to that of a free 5/2 spin. The Weiss temperature of MnTe 2 is 610(20) K. These data are used to determine an accurate phase diagram for Terich Mn x Te 1− x . The eutectic is found at 0.6(1) at. % Mn with a eutectic temperature within 2°C of the tellurium melting temperature. Because liquid tellurium remains in metastable equilibrium with solid MnTe 2 as much as 80°C below the eutectic, a metastable lowtemperature extension of the liquidus is also determined.
A Self-Assembled Organometallic Sphere: [{(t-BuC5H4)(t-BuC5H3)Zr(μ-H)Na}2]4

Sodium reduction of (t-BuC5H4)2ZrCl2 in diethyl ether gives [{(t-BuC5H4)(t-BuC5H3)Zr(μ-H)Na}2·OEt2]2, 1; toluene extraction of 1 produces the self-assembled tetramer [{(t-BuC5H4)(t-BuC5H3)Zr(μ-H)Na}2]4, 2 (the Na8Zr8 linkage of 2 resembles the seams of a “tennis ball”). Both 1 and 2 are diamagnetic, which may be attributed to the presence of direct Zr−Zr bonds (Zr−Zr: 3.2930(16) A (1), 3.3076(7) A (2)).
BREACH AND FULFILLMENT OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL CONTRACT: A COMPARISON OF TRADITIONAL AND EXPANDED VIEWS

Breach and fulfillment in a psychological contract has traditionally been studied with approaches that are conceptually and methodologically limited. We compared predictions derived from the traditional view to predictions from an expanded view that maintains the distinction between promised and delivered inducements and examines their joint relationship with employee satisfaction. The traditional and expanded views were compared using longitudinal data and polynomial regression analysis. Results provided little support for the traditional view. In contrast, results supported the expanded view and revealed that relationships for breach and fulfillment are more complex than previously suggested. Specifically, satisfaction depended on whether breach represented deficient or excess inducements and the particular inducement under consideration. Moreover, satisfaction was more strongly related to delivered inducements than promised inducements. These results question basic tenets of psychological contract research and indicate new avenues for research that build on the expanded view developed in this article.
Constructing high-performance firewall load-balancing clusters: practical experience and novel ideas

Security and performance are probably the top two concerns of web hosting service providers. As available bandwidth of a hosting service is approaching Giga-bits-per-second, low throughput of a single firewall quickly becomes the bottleneck. Constructing a load-balancing cluster of multiple firewall devices seems to be an effective solution. In this paper, we first present a proof-of-concept firewall cluster using web load balancing switches. Our test cluster works; but has major limitations. First, the cluster set-up is too complex to be manageable in a large-scale deployment. Furthermore, the firewall cluster works only in a local area network. It does not work across the wide area network where asymmetric routing is possible. Based on these findings, we propose two novel approaches. The first approach introduces a Firewall Cluster Control Protocol (FCCP) for routers to direct network flows to the appropriate firewall device for processing. FCCP simplifies the implementation of firewall clusters by eliminating the load balancing switch requirement. The second approach, called Stateful Packet Forwarding (SPF), allows firewall devices in a cluster to discover the 'owner' of a network flow when asymmetric routing occurs. SPF can be potentially used in a geographically distributed firewall cluster.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Comments, with reply, on "AlGaAs/GaAs HBT for high-temperature application" by K. Fricke et al

The commenter discusses several aspects of the above-titled work by K. Fricke et al. (ibid., vol. 39, pp. 1977-1981, Sept. 1992). These concern the physics of the saturation in an HBT and the collector leakage current. In their reply, to demonstrate the second effect, Fricke et al. report that the collector leakage current at different ambient temperatures was measured in common base configuration. They discuss the influence of the hole leakage current on the base current. >
Association of kappa opioid receptor mRNA upregulation in dorsal root ganglia with mechanical allodynia in mice following nerve injury.

Abstract This study examined the contribution of nerve injury alone or nerve injury with signs of neuropathic pain to alteration of kappa opioid receptor (KOR) mRNA expression. Two groups of mice, both of them were subjected to unilateral transection of the inferior and superior caudal trunks at the S1 spinal nerve, were compared with respect to KOR mRNA expression by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. One group showed exclusive pain behavior (PB+) as mechanical allodynia, and the other group exhibited no enhanced sensitivity to innocuous mechanical stimulation to the tail (PB−). Expression of total KOR and variants B and C mRNA increased ipsilaterally in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of PB+ mice, whereas KOR variant A mRNA was not detected in DRG. These results show that KOR mRNA expression differs between PB+ and PB− groups of mice after nerve injury, and suggest an association of KOR expression with mechanical allodynia.
Traditional Chinese medicine in dermatology

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an alternative method of therapy that can be administered in oral, topical, or injectable forms. It emphasizes the importance of using many herbs that are combined in different formulations for each individual patient. Since it is not possible to discuss all applications of TCM in every skin disorder, psoriasis and atopic dermatitis are used as the prototypes in illustrating the use of TCM. A number of studies have shown the usefulness of TCM in the treatment of these skin conditions, and thus it is worthwhile for dermatologists throughout the West to gain some familiarity with this method. We attempt to provide a general overview of TCM through a discussion of efficacy, mechanisms of action, and side effects of various TCMs. A warning regarding the possible contamination of TCMs is also included. In the future, perhaps a better understanding of TCM will be gained through more systematic analysis and controlled studies with a placebo arm. It is our hope that this article will provide dermatologists with a more complete understanding of the role and ramifications of TCM therapy.
Photomat: A Mobile Tool for Aiding in Student Construction of Research Questions and Data Analysis.

This paper presents a new mobile software tool, PhotoMAT (Photo Management and Analysis Tool), and students’ experiences with this tool within a scaffolded curricular unit—Neighborhood Safari. PhotoMAT was designed to support learners’ investigations of backyard animal behavior and works with image sets obtained using fixed-position field cameras (“camera traps”) that capture “bursts” of images in response to motion. PhotoMAT was designed to help learners emulate two ways wildlife researchers use camera traps: documenting wildlife diversity via the relative frequency of appearances of different species, and exploring species’ behavior.
Failure of Low-Dose Atovaquone Prophylaxis against Pneumocystis jiroveci Infection in Transplant Recipients

Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole is the preferred agent for prophylaxis against Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia. Alternative agents are used in treating patients who do not tolerate this medication. We report 2 cases of prophylaxis failure in patients receiving low-dose atovaquone. We discuss the use of atovaquone as an alternative agent for prophylaxis in transplant recipients.
Chemical mimicry in a parasitoid (Hymenoptera: Eucharitidae) of fire ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

A wasp (Orasema sp.) parasitic on the fire ant,Solenopsis invicta Buren, develops to the adult stage within the ant colony, where wasp larvae are ectoparasitic on ant pupae. This phase of the parasite's life cycle requires a mechanism of integration into the host colony. Gas Chromatographic profiles of hexane soaks of various stages of the parasite and host suggest that during development within the ant colony the parasite acquires the colony odor of the host through a passive mechanism, based on simple contact and other social interactions. No parasite-specific components were observed. After leaving the host nest as adults, the parasite biosynthesizes a parasite-specific cuticular compound, while retaining residual amounts of the host acquired components. This complicated scenario is consistent with current knowledge of nestmate recognition and the preferential treatment of ant workers to their brood.
Payroll taxes for social security in the United States: The future of fiscal and social policy illusions

Abstract This paper examines the validity of common assumptions about the basis of public support for the U.S. social security program. Various rationales for the social insurance approach are summarized and critically assessed. A review of public opinion surveys from 1935–1981 shows: (1) the distinction between social insurance and public assistance was not regarded as important by the public in the program's early years; (2) most Americans are now aware that the system operates on a pay-as-you-go basis; (3) there is widespread feeling that social security payroll taxes are too high, but at the same time a majority of the population thinks program benefits should be maintained or increased; and (4) serious doubt about the program's future is widespread, with many workers believing that there will not be sufficient money left for their own pensions when they retire. The paper concludes that the explanation of social security's enduring popular appeal and the phenomenon of mass toleration of rising payroll taxes is more closely tied to the perception that the program serves a deserving clientele, rather than a result of the social insurance approach.
A finite state machine-based characterization of building entities for monitoring and control

Cyber physical systems such as buildings contain entities (devices, appliances, etc.) that consume a multitude of resources (power, water, etc.). Efficient operation of these entities is important for reducing operating costs and environmental footprint of buildings. In this paper, we propose an entity characterization framework based on a finite state machine abstraction. Each state in the state machine is characterized in terms of distributions of sustainability or performance metrics of interest. This framework provides a basis for anomaly detection, assessment, prediction and usage pattern discovery. We demonstrate the usefulness of the framework using data from actual building entities. In particular, we apply our methodology to chillers and cooling towers, components of a building HVAC system.
Neural Correlates of the Left-Visual-Field Superiority in Face Perception Appear at Multiple Stages of Face Processing

Studies in healthy individuals and split-brain patients have shown that the representation of facial information from the left visual field (LVF) is better than the representation of facial information from the right visual field (RVF). To investigate the neurophysiological basis of this LVF superiority in face perception, we recorded event-related potentials (ERPs) to centrally presented face stimuli in which relevant facial information is present bilaterally (B faces) or only in the left (L faces) or the right (R faces) visual field. Behavioral findings showed best performance for B faces and, in line with the LVF superiority, better performance for L than R faces. Evoked potentials to B, L, and R faces at 100- to 150-msec poststimulus showed no evidence of asymmetric transfer of information between the hemispheres at early stages of visual processing, suggesting that this factor is not responsible for the LVF superiority. Neural correlates of the LVF superiority, however, were manifested in a shorter latency of the face-specific N170 component to L than R faces and in a larger amplitude to L than R faces at 220-280 and 400-600 msec over both hemispheres. These ERP amplitude differences between L and R faces covaried across subjects with the extent to which the face-specific N170 component was larger over the right than the left hemisphere. We conclude that the two hemispheres exchange information symmetrically at early stages of face processing and together generate a shared facial representation, which is better when facial information is directly presented to the right hemisphere (RH; L faces) than to the left hemisphere (LH; R faces) and best when both hemispheres receive facial information (B faces).
Optimization of interfacial layer for double and triple junction polymer solar cell

Solution processed tandem polymer solar cell has drawn a great deal of attention due its low cost, ease of production and capability of harvesting solar energy more efficiently. In solution processed tandem polymer solar cell, the most challenging part is the optimization of interfacial layer. In this work, we have investigated the robustness of PEDOT:PSS/AZO/PEIE interfacial layer to develop tandem polymer solar cell. While developing triple junction polymer solar cell, temperature of second interfacial layer has also a great impact on overall device performance. Here, the performance of tandem polymer solar cell was investigated on different temperature of interfacial layer.
"MULTI-MOD": a PC based software system for controlling an artificial brain containing 10,000 evolved neural net modules

This paper proposes initial design specifications for a PC based software system that controls the inter-connectivity and neural signaling of an artificial brain consisting of large numbers (e.g. 10,000s) of evolved neural net modules.
Transient electromagnetic wave scattering by a dissipative dielectric sphere

The scattered field from a step-excited dielectric sphere is evaluated by the numerical Bromwich integration and a recently developed asymptotically compensated singularity expansion method. Both lossless and dissipative cases are considered. Excellent agreement is observed between the numerical results obtained using the two techniques. An interpretation of the various features in the return signal in terms of their physical origin is presented. It is concluded that spectral summation methods provide an effective means for the treatment of dissipation and dispersion phenomena which are encountered in realistic scatterers and wave supporting media. The use of proper asymptotics or its compensation allows not only a considerable reduction in the computation time required to achieve a given accuracy but also the determination of unknown entire functions, making the recovery of the early-time response possible. >
TLT2 Potentiates Neutrophil Antibacterial Activity and Chemotaxis in Response to G Protein-Coupled Receptor-Mediated Signaling

Receptors encoded within the Trem locus have been shown to play an important role in modulating the cellular response to pattern recognition receptor signaling. TREM-like transcript 2 (TLT2) is a member of the Trem locus that is conserved in mouse and human. TLT2 exhibits a unique expression pattern in that it is expressed on cells of the myeloid and lymphoid lineage, suggesting that it plays a role in both innate and adaptive immunity. In this work, studies reveal that TLT2 plays an important role in potentiating neutrophil antibacterial activity and chemotaxis. TLT2 ligation enhances the neutrophil response to the formylated peptide FMLF, leading to increased reactive oxygen species production, degranulation, and chemotaxis. Moreover, TLT2 has the ability to specifically potentiate neutrophil activation and chemotaxis in response to a range of agonists that bind to G protein-coupled receptors, as it does not potentiate the response of cells to growth factor receptor-, Fc receptor-, or TLR-mediated signaling. Finally, TLT2 ligation potentiates the recruitment of neutrophils to sites of inflammation in vivo. These findings reveal a novel functional role for TLT2 that involves potentiation of neutrophil responses to G protein-coupled receptor signaling. Thus, TLT2 appears to play an important role in enhancing the innate immune response via a novel molecular mechanism.
Modeling the incorporation of corn (Zea mays L.) carbon from roots and rhizodeposition into soil organic matter

Experimental data reported in the literature over the last decennium indicate that roots and rhizodeposition are important sources of carbon for the synthesis of soil organic carbon. Our objective was to verify the capability of the simulation model NCSWAP to reproduce the general conclusions from the experimental literature, and to gain some insight about the processes that control the incorporation of corn belowground production into the soil organic matter. The model was calibrated against the experimental data gathered from a long-term field experiment located near St. Paul, Minnesota. The simulation model updated daily the soil conditions to reproduce over a 13 year period the measured kinetics of seven variables: above-ground corn production, and the total soil organic matter, soil d value, and the soil organic matter derived from corn in the 0‐15 and 15‐30 cm depth. The simulation gave a root-plus-rhizodeposition 1.8 times larger than stalks plus leaves. The translocation efficiency of corn-C into soil organic C at the 0‐15 cm depth gradually decreased to 0.19 of the below-ground deposition. The sensitivity of below-ground photosynthate incorporation into the soil organic matter was analyzed relative to variations in the parameters that control the formation and decay of roots and rhizodeposition. Roots had a greater effect than rhizodeposition on the soil organic matter, though more photosynthates were translocated to rhizodeposition than to roots. q 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Three Down-Loaded Mainframe Business Games: A Review

The article presents an evaluation of three business management games, Henshaw and Jackson's The Executive Game; Jensen and Cherrington's The Business Management Laboratory: and Scott and Strickland's Micromatic: A Management Simulation.
Manufacturing grid: a next generation manufacturing model

We envision that manufacturing would be operated in a more integrated and collaborative fashion in the future. A manufacturing grid would be created for low-cost and high productivity productions through controlled resource sharing across enterprises just like a computational grid. All participants (i.e., factories) in the manufacturing grid would provide designated production services for making different products. This paper introduces such an innovative concept. A formal model defining how a manufacturing grid would operate in the future is proposed. A simplified application is prototyped.
Factors contributing to enrollment in a family treatment court

Background: The literature has shown that standard drug courts have had some success in reducing recidivism. As a result of drug court success, there has been an extension of therapeutic courts into other areas, including family courts. Characteristics that identify those who are likely to refuse entering a Family Treatment Court (FTC) can provide insight into how refusal rates may be decreased. Objectives: This study evaluated FTC enrollment to identify predictors that may aid in the development of interventions to decrease refusal rates. Methods: A total of 229 referrals to the FTC were included in this study. Comparisons were made across a number of factors between those who chose to enroll in the FTC and those who did not. Binary logistic regression modeled the effect of independent variables on the probability of enrollment. Results: There were high rates of mental health problems, with high rates of trauma exposure in the sample, consisting mostly of females. Race, government assistance, severity of...
Enhancing the rate of scaffold discovery with diversity-oriented prioritization

Motivation: In high-throughput screens (HTS) of small molecules for activity in an in vitro assay, it is common to search for active scaffolds, with at least one example successfully confirmed as an active. The number of active scaffolds better reflects the success of the screen than the number of active molecules. Many existing algorithms for deciding which hits should be sent for confirmatory testing neglect this concern. Results: We derived a new extension of a recently proposed economic framework, diversity-oriented prioritization (DOP), that aims—by changing which hits are sent for confirmatory testing—to maximize the number of scaffolds with at least one confirmed active. In both retrospective and prospective experiments, DOP accurately predicted the number of scaffold discoveries in a batch of confirmatory experiments, improved the rate of scaffold discovery by 8–17%, and was surprisingly robust to the size of the confirmatory test batches. As an extension of our previously reported economic framework, DOP can be used to decide the optimal number of hits to send for confirmatory testing by iteratively computing the cost of discovering an additional scaffold, the marginal cost of discovery. Contact: swamidass@wustl.edu Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Sliding-Scale Contingency for Project Development Process

Initial cost estimates for construction projects can be prepared in the planning phase of project development and are revised through the programming and design phases of project development as more project information becomes available. These estimates are characterized by uncertainty, especially early in project development, because of the developing definition of the project's scope. If uncertainties are not estimated and managed appropriately, the result is most often a reduction in the accuracy of cost estimates. Potential project risks should be identified early in project development. The risks represent uncertain events or conditions that, if they occur, have a negative effect on a project's objectives. A total project cost estimate is composed of a base estimate of known costs and a contingency estimate of risk costs. A recent NCHRP study reviewed current practice and discovered that state highway agencies (SHAs) estimate contingency by using a range of methods from traditional top-down percentag...
Pulsed hydrogen–deuterium exchange mass spectrometry probes conformational changes in amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide aggregation

Probing the conformational changes of amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide aggregation is challenging owing to the vast heterogeneity of the resulting soluble aggregates. To investigate the formation of these aggregates in solution, we designed an MS-based biophysical approach and applied it to the formation of soluble aggregates of the Aβ42 peptide, the proposed causative agent in Alzheimer’s disease. The approach incorporates pulsed hydrogen–deuterium exchange coupled with MS analysis. The combined approach provides evidence for a self-catalyzed aggregation with a lag phase, as observed previously by fluorescence methods. Unlike those approaches, pulsed hydrogen–deuterium exchange does not require modified Aβ42 (e.g., labeling with a fluorophore). Furthermore, the approach reveals that the center region of Aβ42 is first to aggregate, followed by the C and N termini. We also found that the lag phase in the aggregation of soluble species is affected by temperature and Cu2+ ions. This MS approach has sufficient structural resolution to allow interrogation of Aβ aggregation in physiologically relevant environments. This platform should be generally useful for investigating the aggregation of other amyloid-forming proteins and neurotoxic soluble peptide aggregates.
Gender, Racial, and Geographic Differences in the Performance of Cardiac Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures for Hospitalized Acute Myocardial Infarction in Four States

Abstract This study compared rates of performance of cardiac procedures in relation to gender, race, and geographic location in patients hospitalized for myocardial infarction. The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study provides population data and standardized data collection methods. Hospital records of eligible people aged 35 to 74 years were abstracted in communities of 4 states in the United States: North Carolina, Mississippi, Maryland, and Minnesota. Between January 1987 and December 1991, 5,462 “definite” hospitalized patients with myocardial infarctions were identified. Women treated in nonteaching hospitals were less likely than men to have coronary angiography (odds ratio [OR] 0.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.5 to 1.0), coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) (OR 0.6, 95% CI 0.4 to 0.8), and thrombolytic therapy (OR 0.8, 95% CI 0.6 to 1.0), after controlling for age, race, severity of myocardial infarction, co-morbidity, and geographic area. Findings were similar in teaching hospitals. Blacks in the biracial communities were significantly less likely than whites to have coronary angiography, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, coronary artery bypass graft surgery, and thrombolytic therapy. After controlling for age, race, severity of myocardial infarction and co-morbidity, no consistent geographic differences were observed, except for Forsyth whites having the highest and Washington County the lowest odds for coronary angiography. Appropriate outcome measures would serve to evaluate the effect, if any, of the differences described on the ARIC population. This study compared rates of performance of cardiac procedures in relation to gender, race, and geographic location in patients hospitalized for myocardial infarction. Women were less likely than men to have coronary angiography, coronary bypass graft surgery, and thrombolytic therapy after controlling for age, race, disease severity, comorbidity, and geographic area.
Influence of the indonesian throughflow on the circulation of Pacific intermediate water

Abstract A 4½ layer model is used to study intermediate-water circulation in the Pacific Ocean. Solutions are forced by annual-mean winds. They are also driven by a prescribed inflow of water through the southwestern corner of the basin [12 Sv (Sv ≡ 106 m3 s−1)] and a compensating outflow in layers 1, 2, and 3 through the western boundary just north of the equator; this mass exchange simulates the Pacific interocean circulation (IOC), in which intermediate water enters the South Pacific, and the same amount of upper water exits via the Indonesian passages. The water in each subsurface layer is formed by specific processes, and hence can be interpreted as corresponding to a distinct water-mass type. The types are thermocline water generated by subtropical subduction (layer 2), upper-intermediate and lower-thermocline water generated by midlatitude subduction in the North and South Pacific (NPIW and SPLTW, respectively; layer 3), and lower-intermediate water that corresponds to Antarctic Intermediate Water ...
Bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist increases chloride and water absorption in rat medullary collecting duct

This study tested the hypothesis that intrarenal kinins play a regulatory role in electrolyte excretion by altering Cl- absorption in the collecting duct. We measured Cl- and insulin concentrations in tubular fluid samples obtained from medullary collecting ducts (MCD) of Dahl/Rapp salt-resistant (SR/ Jr) rats by microcatheterization of ducts of Bellini before and after treatment with the bradykinin receptor antagonist HOE-140. Tubular fluid was obtained from paired terminal inner medullary (t-IMCD) and outer medullary (OMCD) collecting duct sites of the left kidney. HOE-140 (n = 7) or vehicle (n = 5) was infused intravenously, and the collections were repeated. HOE-140 did not alter glomerular filtration rate but decreased urine flow rate (P < 0.05) and absolute and fractional Cl- excretion (P < 0.01). HOE-140 did not alter the fraction of filtered Cl- delivered (FDCl) to the OMCD but decreased FDCl to the t-IMCD from 2.3 +/- 0.3 to 1.3 +/- 0.3% (P < 0.05). The fraction of filtered Cl- absorbed per millimeter between the collection sites was increased from 0.2 +/- 0.1 to 0.6 +/- 0.1% (P < 0.05). Fractional absorption of water along the MCD was also increased (P < 0.05). No changes in excretory function or tubular Cl- or water absorption were observed in vehicle-treated rats. These studies show that kinin B2 receptor blockade enhances Cl- and water absorption in the MCD, a finding that supports a role of renal kinins in the regulation of NaCl and water excretion.
El caso para la ejecución forzada

El proposito de los remedios contractuales es colocar al promisario lesionado(i) en una posicion similar a la que habria tenido si el promitente hubiese cumplido su promesa(1). El Derecho Contractual tiene dos metodos para lograr esta “meta compensatoria”: (i) requerir a la parte que incumplio el resarcimiento de los danos ocasionados, de modo que el promisario lesionado pueda adquirir una prestacion sustituta o pueda obtener las ganancias netas que la prestacion prometida hubiera generado; o, (ii) requerir a la parte que incumplio la ejecucion de la prestacion pactada. Bajo el Derecho vigente(ii), el remedio indemnizatorio esta siempre disponible para la parte lesionada, mientras que el remedio de la ejecucion forzada esta disponible solo cuando las cortes discrecionalmente consideran que debe aplicarse a un caso concreto. De hecho, muy rara vez las cortes hacen cumplir clausulas contractuales que explicitamente establecen el remedio de la ejecucion forzada en caso de incumplimiento contractual. El presente articulo sostiene que el remedio de la ejecucion forzada debe estar a disposicion de las partes de la misma manera como lo esta el remedio El caso para la ejecucion forzada
Sudden Death: Examining the Duty of Care in Football Training Camp Fatalities

According to figures from a study performed by the University of North Carolina National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research, 18 high school and college players died of heat stroke or related conditions since 1995. Northwestern senior safety, Rashidi Wheeler, succumbed to bronchial asthma-related complications during a “voluntary” August 3, 2001 pre-season practice, while his teammates continued to run appropriately named “suicide” windsprint drills as he collapsed. Wheeler had suffered at least 30 asthma attacks during his career with Northwestern and was inexplicably encouraged by trainers to breath into a bag after his last episode, presumably hastening his demise.Unlike scholastic football, there had only been two deaths on the field in the NFL until recently. J.V. Cain, a tight end for the St. Louis Cardinals died of a heart attack in a 1979 practice, and Chuck Hughes, a wide receiver for the Detroit Lions, also from heart heart failure, in 1972 during a game against the Chicago Bears.The National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research, based at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, reports that 14 high school football players, two college football players, and one semi-pro player died from heatstroke from 1995 to 2000. On August 1, 2001, Minnesota Vikings All-Pro offensive tackle, Korey Stringer, suffered the first heat-related death in the NFL’s 82 year history. Stringer had weakened noticeably from the rigor of preseason conditioning in the previous practice, and with an ambient “heat index” of 103 degrees at the Mankato Minnesota training facility, his body temperature eclipsed 108.8 degrees and he ultimately experienced massive heat stroke induced multiple organ system failure.Both Stringer and Wheeler are suspected of using performance enhancers containing “ephedra,” a generally unregulated herbal supplement that has been attributed to at least 17 deaths and 800 illnesses. Wheeler’s autopsy indicated trace amounts of the controversial substance and while Stringer’s did not, the Vikings have stated that players saw him ingest performance enhancers prior to that fateful session and that numerous supplements were located in his locker. Not suprisingly, the NFL banned ephedrine in the aftermath of Stringer’s demise as had the NCAA and IOC prior to these tragedies.
Organ-Selective Homing Defines Engraftment Kinetics of Murine Hematopoietic Stem Cells and Is Compromised by Ex Vivo Expansion

Hematopoietic reconstitution of ablated recipients requires that intravenously (IV) transplanted stem and progenitor cells “home” to organs that support their proliferation and differentiation. To examine the possible relationship between homing properties and subsequent engraftment potential, murine bone marrow (BM) cells were labeled with fluorescent PKH26 dye and injected into lethally irradiated hosts. PKH26+ cells homing to marrow or spleen were then isolated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting and assayed for in vitro colony-forming cells (CFCs). Progenitors accumulated rapidly in the spleen, but declined to only 6% of input numbers after 24 hours. Although egress from this organ was accompanied by a simultaneous accumulation of CFCs in the BM (plateauing at 6% to 8% of input after 3 hours), spleen cells remained enriched in donor CFCs compared with marrow during this time. To determine whether this differential homing of clonogenic cells to the marrow and spleen influenced their contribution to short-term or long-term hematopoiesis in vivo, PKH26+ cells were sorted from each organ 3 hours after transplantation and injected into lethally irradiated Ly-5 congenic mice. Cells that had homed initially to the spleen regenerated circulating leukocytes (20% of normal counts) approximately 2 weeks faster than cells that had homed to the marrow, or PKH26-labeled cells that had not been selected by a prior homing step. Both primary (17 weeks) and secondary (10 weeks) recipients of “spleen-homed” cells also contained approximately 50% higher numbers of CFCs per femur than recipients of “BM-homed” cells. To examine whether progenitor homing was altered upon ex vivo expansion, highly enriched Sca-1+c- kit +Lin−cells were cultured for 9 days in serum-free medium containing interleukin (IL)-6, IL-11, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, stem cell factor, flk-2/flt3 ligand, and thrombopoietin. Expanded cells were then stained with PKH26 and assayed as above. Strikingly, CFCs generated in vitro exhibited a 10-fold reduction in homing capacity compared with fresh progenitors. These studies demonstrate that clonogenic cells with differential homing properties contribute variably to early and late hematopoiesis in vivo. The dramatic decline in the homing capacity of progenitors generated in vitro underscores critical qualitative changes that may compromise their biologic function and potential clinical utility, despite their efficient numerical expansion.
Abstract 3658: Structure-guidedde novodesign of selective Mcl-1 Inhibitors: Synthesis, structural and biochemical characterization

Proceedings: AACR 106th Annual Meeting 2015; April 18-22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA Myeloid cell leukemia-1 (Mcl-1) is a potent anti-apoptotic protein, member of the prosurvival Bcl-2 family. Amplification of the gene encoding the Mcl-1 protein is a common genetic aberration in human cancer. Overexpression of Mcl-1 is associated with high tumor grade, resistance to chemotherapy and poor prognosis in many types of cancers. Thus Mcl-1 is emerging as a critical survival factor in a broad range of human cancers and represents an attractive molecular target for development of a new class of cancer therapy. There is still need for developing BH3 mimetics that can efficiently and selectively target Mcl-1 protein. Employing de-novo structure-based drug-design, we have designed a new class of potent small-molecule Mcl-1 inhibitors based on the initial lead compound discovered by high-throughput screening. Analyzing the binding model of this compound with Mcl-1 through computational docking supported by HSQC NMR studies, and using the structural information, we have designed and optimized a class of small-molecule inhibitors of Mcl-1 using a 2-(phenylsulfonamido) benzoic acid as a scaffold to reproduce the key interactions with Mcl-1 such as the conserved hydrogen bond between the aspartate in pro-apoptotic proteins and Arg263 in Mcl-1. Several co-crystal structures of this class inhibitors in complex with Mcl-1 have provided a basis for their further optimization which ultimately led to the discovery of ligands with low-nanomolar potency (Ki = 8 nM) and selectivity for Mcl-1. These compounds bind in the canonical BH3 binding groove. Interestingly, depending on the particular substitution pattern in the core scaffold, a “flip’ binding mode was observed where the substituents bind in a reverse orientation. These findings were confirmed by X-ray crystallography. The most potent compounds were further biologically characterized with a series of complementary biochemical and functional assays. Citation Format: Ahmed Mady, Lei Miao, Andrej Perdih, Chenzhong Liao, Naval Bajwa, Jeanne Stuckey, Zaneta Nikolovska-Coleska. Structure-guided de novo design of selective Mcl-1 Inhibitors: Synthesis, structural and biochemical characterization. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 3658. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-3658
Assessment of the Utility of PAX8 Immunohistochemical Stain in Diagnosing Endocervical Glandular Lesions

Context.— PAX8, a member of the paired-box family of genes, is expressed in many tumors of Mullerian origin. However, it is unclear whether PAX8 is a useful marker in diagnosing endocervical glandular lesions because of limited data. Objective.— To study the expression of PAX8 in endocervical glandular lesions. Design.— We first studied a cohort of 29 cervical cone biopsies, followed by a second cohort of 17 cases of endocervical adenocarcinoma and 20 cases of uterine endometrioid adenocarcinoma. Results.— In the first cohort, we found that PAX8 was expressed in 23 of 23 (100%) benign endocervical glandular epithelium, 15 of 16 (94%) adenocarcinoma in situ, and 21 of 26 (81%) invasive endocervical adenocarcinoma specimens. In the second cohort, endocervical adenocarcinomas were positive for PAX8 in 14 of 17 (82%), strongly and diffusely positive for p16 in 14 of 17 (82%), positive for carcinoembryonic antigen in 12 of 17 (71%), positive for vimentin in 2 of 17 (12%), and positive for estrogen receptor in ...
Differences in the Protective Effect of Exclusive Breastfeeding on Child Overweight and Obesity by Mother's Race.

Objectives To examine the relationship between infant feeding and risk of child overweight and obesity across race and ethnicity in a diverse community-based cohort. Methods 2172 mother baby dyads were drawn from a prospective cohort constructed using data from electronic medical records linked to birth records. The primary exposure was exclusive breastfeeding at 2 months of age; outcome was BMI Z-score and BMI ≥ 85th percentile (overweight and obese) at 4 years of age. Regression models were adjusted for confounding using covariance balanced propensity score and inverse probability weighting. Results At age 4, exclusively breast fed children had lower BMI Z-score (-0.109, SE = 0.048) and a decreased odds of a BMI ≥ 85th percentile (0.832; 95 % CI 0.792, 0.994), when compared to those exclusively formula-fed or had mixed feeding. Race and ethnicity significantly moderated these associations. Sub-population analysis showed the effect was significant for BMI Z-score (p = 0.0002) and BMI ≥ 85th percentile (p < 0.0001) only for children of NH white mothers. For children of NH black mothers exclusive breastfeeding was not associated with a significant difference in BMI Z-score, however there was an increased odds of overweight or obesity (p = 0.0145). Conclusions The protective effect of breastfeeding against early childhood overweight and obesity may differ by race and ethnicity. This suggests that programs aiming to reduce obesity by increasing rates of breastfeeding may have limited impact for some groups and should be coupled with other racially and ethnically focused efforts to encourage healthy feeding practices in infancy and early childhood.
Understanding the size and spread of Chinese NGO networks: capacity and board affiliations

In recent years, the amount of research on digital inter-organizational networks among Chinese non-governmental organizations (NGOs) has increased greatly. However, few studies have examined the offline networks of Chinese NGOs. To fill this gap, the present study investigates the size and spread of offline Chinese NGO networks. In particular, we examine two competing hypotheses: the influence of organizational capacity and the influence of board affiliations as guanxi on the size and spread of the ego-centric networks of NGOs. To test our hypotheses, we conducted surveys among 119 Chinese NGOs. The results of the ordinary least squares regression supported our guanxi hypothesis: the number of organizational affiliations that the members of a board of directors have was positively related to the size of Chinese NGO networks, controlling for geographic region, social issue area, age, and revenue of the NGOs. In addition, as guanxi, board affiliations influenced the spread of NGO networks via the size of NG...
On-Line Digital Computer Applications for Kinetic Analysis

The experiment described here is one in which both kinetic methods of analysis and a computer employed in an on-line configuration are used to solve an analytical problem (see ref. E-6). In this experiment you will determine the concentration of glucose in the 10–100 ppm range by measuring its oxidation rate in the presence of the enzyme glucose oxidase.
Airborne GMTI clutter suppression performance utilizing a wideband sparse array

Airborne multichannel SAR-GMTI radar is capable of detecting very slow moving targets on the ground. Such radar may employ a large sparse antenna array, a wideband waveform, and long CPI to simultaneously achieve strong clutter cancellation and fine spatial resolution in the cross-track range and the along-track cross range dimensions. In this paper, analytic solutions of the target signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) loss will be presented to characterize the clutter cancellation performance of adaptive array processing. The closed-form expression of the SNR loss may be conveniently used to trade off SAR-GMTI radar design parameters such as the SAR integration angle, the waveform spectrum, and the sparse array structure without the need of executing numerical simulations with excessive computational load.