cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Patterns of Antibiotic Prophylaxis Use for Thyroidectomy and Parathyroidectomy: Results of an International Survey of Endocrine Surgeons

Background Although cervical endocrine operations are classified as clean cases, and prophylactic antibiotics (pABX) are generally not indicated, practice patterns vary. Study Design We distributed an Internet-based survey to all members of the American and International Associations for Endocrine Surgeons. As a second component of our study, University of California San Francisco hospital records were queried for all readmissions or reoperations within 30 days after thyroidectomy, parathyroidectomy, or neck dissections between January 1, 1999 and December 30, 2007. Results Of the 275 endocrine surgeons who responded, 62% "almost never" used pABX and 26.2% administered pABX "almost always." Surgeons' annual caseload (p = 0.21), their experience with past patients who had minor (p = 0.33) or severe (p = 0.83) surgical site infections (SSI) or adverse reactions to antibiotics (p = 0.78) were not associated with their likelihood to prescribe pABX. In the previous 3 years, most surgeons reported treating patients with minor SSIs, and 30% of surgeons treated more than 1 severe SSI. Surgeons who worked in community hospitals were more likely to give pABX than were surgeons in affiliated or university hospitals (49.6% vs 31.8% and 24.5%, respectively (p = 0.04). Unlike European (8.8%) or American surgeons (27.9%), surgeons in Asia were most likely to give pABX "almost always" (58.3%, p=0.0001). Two-thirds of surgeons would not want antibiotics if they, themselves, needed a cervical operation. Five of the 4,541 patients (0.11%) who underwent cervical operations were readmitted for infectious complications. Conclusions Infectious complications after endocrine cervical operations are rare and the use of preoperative antibiotics varies widely. Prescribing behavior appears dogmatic in that 90% of surgeons give preoperative antibiotics almost always or almost never.
Extremal problems for triple systems

In this article Turan-type problems for several triple systems arising from (k, k − 2)-configurations [i.e. (k − 2) triples on k vertices] are considered. It will be shown that every Steiner triple system contains a (k, k − 2)-configuration for some k < c log n/ log log n. Moreover, the Turan numbers of (k, k − 2)-trees are determined asymptotically to be ((k − 3)/3).(n2) (1−o(1)). Finally, anti-Pasch hypergraphs avoiding (5, 3) -and (6, 4)-Configurations are considered. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Viral infections in severely immunocompromised cancer patients

Immunocompromised cancer patients are susceptible to infection by many viral pathogens. The most serious morbidity results from active infection by members of the herpes virus family. Reactivation of latent virus occurs as a sequela of cytotoxic therapy and deficiency of cell-mediated immunity, especially cytotoxic responses, the major host protective defense. Herpes simplex virus and varicella zoster virus infections are problematic in patients with all types of cancer; cytomegalovirus infections cause life-threatening morbidity in bone marrow transplant patients. Several antiviral agents are highly active against these pathogens and different strategies of using them have resulted in reduced morbidity and mortality. Ultimately, the resolution of these infections is dependent on the control of the malignancy and the ability of the patient to mount an adequate immune response.
Atmospheric water vapor differential absorption measurements on vertical paths with a CO 2 lidar

Ground based vertical path differential absorption measurements were obtained up to a height of 1.5 km with a CO2 lidar transmitting alternatively on the R(20) (10.247-μm) and R(18) (10.260-μm) lines during daylight in conditions of both strong and weak temperature inversions. The differential absorption between these lines for typical middle latitude lower atmosphere water vapor concentrations appears to be well suited to this type of measurement as the power loss on the more absorbed backscattered line [R(20)] is not too great as to unduly restrict the operating range, while the power differential is still sufficiently large to be readily measureable. In one set of measurements a strong temperature inversion at a height of 1 km resulted in a rapid vertical lapse in aerosol concentration with a consequent loss of SNR on the returns and severe distortion to the differential absorption profiles at this level. Water vapor profiles were derived from all measurements except in the region of the strong temperature inversion where the atmospheric backscattering cross section decayed rapidly. Reasonable results were obtained through the weak inversion region. The measurement capability of the lidar was found to be restricted by the length of the laser pulse tail and an inadequate signal-to-noise performance in regions of strong temperature inversions due to the associated decreases in aerosol concentration.
Visual Function Responses of Patients Receiving X- or 60Co Gamma-radiation Therapy in the Region of Head and Neck

SummaryVisual function response of patients receiving fractionated therapeutic radiation treatments in the region of head and neck were measured before and after irradiation. The total cumulative exposures were divided into four categories: (a) low-dose group (100–1000 rads), (b) a low-medium-dose group (1000–2500 rads), (c) medium-dose group (2500–4500 rads), and (d) high-dose group (4500–7000 rads or more). Clinical examination of the eyes, followed by retinal function tests such as electroretinography (ERG), dark adaptation tests and retinal profiles, was done at various intervals before, during and after radiation therapy. In general, with the low-dose and low-medium-dose groups there were no significant changes in the amplitudes of the electroretinographic wave components, but the adaptation thresholds increased. In the medium-dose group, the amplitudes of a and b waves decreased to 50 per cent of the original value, and the light and dark adaptation thresholds increased. In the high-dose group the a...
Preparation of cationic cobaltocenium polymers and block copolymers by "living" ring-opening metathesis polymerization

We report a robust synthetic strategy to prepare high molecular weight side-chain cationic cobaltocenium-containing polymers and block copolymers via ring-opening metathesis polymerization. All polymerizations were extremely fast with high yields (∼100%) under open air conditions at room temperature and followed a living and controlled manner.
Neighborhood context and residential mobility.

This paper extends the search for neighborhood contextual effects to residential mobility. We propose that neighborhood consists of subjective and objective domains, both of which are crosscut by substantive (social/physical) and temporal (current/change) dimensions. Measures of neighborhood characteristics consistent with our conceptualization are used to estimate the impact of context on mobility thoughts and on actual mobility in a sample of Nashville residents. Although individual statuses such as age and tenure remain important antecedents of mobility, subjective features of neighborhood context also play a role—albeit limited and indirect—in the decision to move or to stay.
A Psychiatric Study of 247 Liver Transplantation Candidates

This study prospectively evaluated 247 consecutive liver transplantation candidates for the presence of psychiatric disorders. While one-half did not meet DSM-III criteria for a psychiatric diagnosis, 18.6% had delirium, 19.8% had an adjustment disorder, 9% had alcohol abuse or dependence, 4.5% had major depression, and 2% had other drug abuse or dependence. Delirious subjects were significantly more likely to have a lower serum albumin, lower Mini-Mental State exam scores, higher Trailmaking Test scores (both A and B), and more dysrhythmia on electroencephalogram (EEG). In addition, while both delirious and nondelirious subjects were judged to have high levels of overall stress, those with delirium had significantly poorer adaptive functioning and lower occupational, family, and social scale ratings. Thus, while all liver transplant candidates are under substantial psychosocial stress and require psychosocial support, those identified as being delirious require particular attention because of their numerous cognitive, medical, and psychosocial problems.
Principles in Quality Assurance part 3: making an impact

This article builds on concepts described in two earlier articles on principles in Quality Assurance (QA) 1, 2. The first of these papers described a simple approach to rationalizing QA activities based on simplicity, efficiency and effectiveness 1. The second article described how the GLP regulations could be ‘deconstructed’ and incorporated into an organization's quality systems to help a company ‘live GLP’ rather than just ‘comply with GLP’ 2. This third part puts the first two papers in a wider perspective by setting out a model for effective QA, to help in the design and implementation of a QA program as well as the organization, management and leadership of the QA Unit. QA personnel should not be viewed as just data-checkers or ‘rubber stampers’; we must strive to make a positive impact on our company and the wider consumer community through partnership in the assurance of safe and effective products. This paper describes a simple scheme to help us make this impact. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
INSTANCE-BASED LEARNING FOR HIGHWAY ACCIDENT FREQUENCY PREDICTION

Accurate predictions of highway accident frequency may help traffic engineers design and test solutions for the improvement of highway safety. However, accident frequency prediction is by no means an easy task due to the large number of factors affecting accident occurrence and the complicated interactions among them. Many studies have been conducted to uncover the relationship between the roadway environment and corresponding accident frequencies. These studies used statistical approaches such as linear regression analysis. The actual relationship between the roadway environment and corresponding accident frequencies has not been approximated with an acceptable certainty because it usually coincided with the mathematical models assumed by the researchers. This paper describes an application of a machine learning method, instance-based learning (IBL), to highway accident frequency predictions. We developed an IBL system and applied this system to highway accident frequency predictions. The data set used contains accident data from the main Utah highways for a 5-year period (1988-1992). Experimental results show that the IBL method is applicable to highway accident predictions and compared favorably with linear regression analysis and neural networks.
Clergy Deliberation on Gay Rights and Homosexuality

In examining the increasingly popular concept of deliberative democracy, social scientists most often look to “cross-cutting” elements within discussion networks. Studies of deliberation in networks, however, preclude a number of other sources of deliberative discourse, and ignore the important role that some theorists claim for elites, like clergy, in fostering debate in group settings. To this effect we ask: Do clergy model the deliberative process on potentially divisive issues such as gay rights? We employ an original survey instrument administered to clergy in Columbus, Ohio, just after the 2004 election to understand the quantity and diversity of clergy discussion. We find that discussion diversity increases under conditions of congregational disunity, which, somewhat paradoxically, has no effect on the quantity of issue discussion.
Steering Growth Cones with a CaMKII/Calcineurin Switch

Calcium can regulate and induce both attractive and repulsive turnings by growth cones. In this issue of Neuron, Wen et al. report that differential activations of CaMKII and calcineurin (CaN) act as the read out for distinct patterns of intracellular calcium signals and a switch between attraction and repulsion.
Studies on the site of origin of the androgen binding protein present in epididymal cytosol from mature intact rabbits.

Abstract An examination of the site of origin of the 17β-hydroxy-5α-androstan-3-one (5αDHT) binding protein that exists in cytosol prepared from the caput epididymidis from sexually-mature intact rabbits was approached in the following way: Rabbits a) had the ductuli efferent es unilaterally ligated, b) were hemicastrated, c) were made unilaterally cryptorchid. These procedures were designed to decrease or eliminate the flow of testicular fluid into the epididymis. When this occurred, there was a marked decrease or total elimination of 5αDHT binding to cytosol prepared from the caput from the experimental epididymis, as compared to cytosol from the contralateral control side. These results suggest that the 5αDHT binding moiety in cytosol prepared from the caput epididymidis from intact sexually-mature rabbits is of testicular origin and is not the target tissue “receptor.”
Visual exploration of large data sets

DEVise is a data visualization and exploration system capable of handling large data sets using off-the-shelf hardware with minimal memory requirements. Data can be large in volume, complex in structure (multi-dimensional and/or hierarchical), and may be imported from different sources such as database servers, external programs, and World Wide Web resources. Commercial and scientific databases can also be linked to the DEVise to allow the user to visualize and analyze related information from heterogeneous sources. Associations between data sources are developed interactively as the user gains more knowledge of the data being explored. To assist in handling large data sets, DEVise allows a user to logically split the data into more manageable units at different levels. The user selects a data source, a data stream within a data source (e.g. a time series), attributes of a stream, and a mapping of attributes to graphical objects. At each step, the selections made by the user reduce the data volume. DEVise takes advantage of this form of 'data compression' to optimize its caching strategies and to minimize the accesses needed to fetch data from tertiary storage, for example. DEVise supports users with different expertise levels by automating most tasks performed by a novice user and by also providing a programming interface that allows new data sources to be defined, new graphical objects to be used, and custom storage policies to be employed.
Selective impairment of knowledge underlying un- prefixation: further evidence for the autonomy of grammatical semantics

This paper focuses on grammatical semantics, which is a level of linguistic representation that lies at the interface between syntactic categories and conceptual categories. We report a series of neuropsychological experiments that investigated the semantic constraints on the English verbal un- prefixation construction. In order for a verb to occur in this construction, it must designate an event which involves the creation of a constricted, reversible spatial configuration—e.g. wrap–unwrap, buckle–unbuckle, and clog–unclog, but not float–*unfloat, boil–*unboil, or fluff–*unfluff. Other features of verb meaning are completely invisible to the construction—e.g. the idiosyncratic features that distinguish between wrap, buckle, and clog. Of six brain-damaged patients who were studied, two exhibited the following dissociation. On the one hand, they performed well on a verb–picture matching test that required them to discriminate between subtle features of verb meaning that are not relevant to un- prefixation. On the other hand, they failed a grammaticality judgment test that required them to determine whether the very same verbs satisfy the narrow semantic criteria for the construction. A final control test demonstrated that their errors on the judgment test were not due to problems with certain task demands, but were instead most likely due to an impairment that selectively affected their knowledge or processing of grammatical semantics.
Investigating the structure and invariance of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scales, Fourth Edition in a sample of adults with intellectual disabilities §

Recent research has questioned whether the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scales (WAIS) measure the same constructs for adults with intellectual disabilities as they do for the general population (MacLean et al., 2011). Using the special validity sample of the WAIS-IV (Wechsler, 2008b), the structure of the WAIS-IV was investigated using confirmatory factor analysis and tested for measurement invariance across a sample with intellectual disabilities and a control group matched in demographic characteristics. The instrument demonstrated strong factorial invariance when the standard subtests were used. When the standard and supplemental subtests were included in the model, the WAIS-IV four-factor structure provided a model of measurement for the Subtest Scores in the intellectual disability group, but the Perceptual Reasoning factor demonstrated differentiation into Fluid Reasoning and Visual-Spatial factors in the matched control group. In general, the research findings suggest that the four-factor structure of the WAIS-IV is invariant across the intellectual disability and matched control groups.
Preparation and properties of the endotoxins of Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus

Endotoxins have been reported to occur inAspergillus fumigatus andA. flavus, but the data regarding them are incomplete. Optimal cultural conditions and methods of extraction are described here for the production of the toxins of both of these fungi. They are obtained from the well-washed mycelia; only minute amounts could be demonstrated in the concentrated culture fluids. Both are powerful nephrotoxins; a characteristic necrosis of the kidney cortex is evident grossly in mice, and histological study shows no difference between the effects on the kidney of the two toxins. However, the fumigatus extracts have strong hemolytic properties, especially for sheep erythrocytes, and marked dermonecrotic activity in rabbit skin. No hemolytic action has been demonstrated for the flavus extracts, which possess a powerful hemagglutinin for rabbit erythrocytes and only mild dermonecrotic properties. Immune sera have been prepared in rabbits for both toxins, and in each case these prevent all the observed effects of the toxin. Precipitin titers are closely correlated with neutralizing titers. Chemical differences are suggested by the different procedures applicable to concentration and purification of the toxins. The toxin fromA. fumigatus is precipitated by acetone and can be concentrated and purified to a considerable degree by acetone precipitation and dialysis. The flavus toxin has not been precipitated by any of the solvents tried but can be freed to some extent of inert substances by acid treatment and saturation with ammonium sulfate.
Regio-reactive resin: a platform for orthogonal loading using the polymer backbone and cross-linker.

Abstract A new support for solid-phase combinatorial organic synthesis has been developed, which we term a regio-reactive resin (R3-resin). The resin is based on a unique hydroxyl-functionalized cross-linker readily synthesized in two steps starting from 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde. The cross-linker's ease of synthesis and high purity enables the preparation of gel-type resins with regio-reactive orthogonal loading sites. The resin's swelling properties were investigated, and its potential utility was demonstrated via orthogonal reactivity of the pendant and cross-linker sites.
TOWARD A MORE STANDARDIZED CANDLE USING GAMMA-RAY BURST ENERGETICS AND SPECTRA

The use of gamma-ray burst (GRB) energetics for cosmography has long been advanced as a means to probe out to high redshifts, to the epoch of deceleration. However, although relatively immune to systematic biases from dust extinction, the prompt energy release in GRBs, even when corrected for jetting geometry, is far from being a standard candle. In this work we explore the cosmographic potential of a GRB standard candle based on the newly discovered relation by Ghirlanda and coworkers between the apparent geometry-corrected energies (Eγ) and the peak in the rest-frame prompt-burst spectrum (Ep). We present an explicit, self-consistent formalism for correcting GRB energies with a thorough accounting for observational uncertainties. In contrast to other work, we demonstrate that the current sample of 19 GRBs is not yet cosmographically competitive with results from Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia), large-scale structure, and the microwave background. Although the Ep-Eγ relation is a highly significant correlation across a range of cosmologies [0 ≤ ΩM, ΩΛ ≤ 2], the goodness of fit of the data to a power law (Ep ∝ E) depends strongly on input assumptions. The most important of these assumptions concern the unknown density (and density profile) of the circumburst medium, the efficiency of converting explosion energy to gamma rays, data selection choices for individual bursts (some of which were not included in similar work), and assumptions in the error analysis. Independent of assumptions, with very few low-z bursts, the current sample is most sensitive to ΩM but essentially insensitive to ΩΛ (let alone the dark energy equation of state w). The relation clearly represents a significant improvement in the search for an empirical GRB standard candle but is further hindered by an unknown physical basis for the relation, the lack of a low-z training set to calibrate the relation in a cosmology-independent way, and several major potential systematic uncertainties and selection effects. Until these concerns are addressed, a larger sample is acquired, and attempts are made to marginalize or perform Monte Carlo simulations over the unknown density distribution (which itself may evolve with redshift), we urge caution concerning claims of the utility of GRBs for cosmography and especially attempts to combine the results from GRBs with those of SNe Ia.
On the bending of cracked plates

Abstract An analysis is presented for the investigation of the effects of crack geometry in finite rectangular plates. Three cases are considered: (1) crack at opposite edges,(2) crack in center, and (3) crack on one side only. Each problem is formulated in terms of dual series equations and reduced by standard techniques to a Fredholm integral equation, which is solved numerically. Numerical results are included for the strain energy and the moment stress intensity factor. Comparison of the various cases demonstrates the possible effects of geometry on the propagation of cracks in finite plates.
Understanding energy dissipation and thermodynamics in biomotor-driven nanocomposite assemblies

We report a bimolecular motor-driven, dynamic self-assembly system in which the thermodynamic (biotin–streptavidin bond formation) and energy dissipative (ATP catalysis) components can systematically be varied to achieve several morphologically distinct nanocomposite structures consisting of microtubules and semiconductor nanocrystals.
Proposed satellite would improve study of cloud physics

Aerosols can have a profound impact on cloud formation and thus an impact on the global climate. Cloud droplets forming around aerosols tend to be smaller, increasing the cloud's ability to reflect radiation back into space, thus shading the Earth. However, how much light is scattered by different types of aerosols and how that relates to climate change still represent the largest uncertainty in climate change research.
The fate of surface roots of citrus seedlings in dry soil

The top portions of the root system of deeply rooted plants are frequently in dry soil while deeper roots still have access to water. We expected that many surface roots would be shed when subject to localized soil drying. We further hypothesized that the cost of fine root construction per unit root length would be negatively correlated with the rate at which root length is shed. Seedlings of four citrus rootstocks that varied widely in specific root length (cm g −1 root) were used to test these hypotheses. Plants were grown for 4 months in a split-pot system divided into a top and bottom pot. After roots were well established in the bottom pot, water was withheld from the top pots of half of the plants; plants were harvested every 2 weeks thereafter
PS1-48: A Patient-centered Electronic Education Tool for Establishing Weight Loss Expectations after Bariatric Surgery

Background/Aims Bariatric surgery candidates often struggle when deciding between intensive lifestyle therapy, pharmacological therapy, and/or bariatric surgery for achieving their long-term weight loss (WL) goals. Moreover, they often have unrealistic WL expectations prior to surgery. Despite huge individual variation in surgically induced WL, patient education is currently based on average WL results derived from program experience or published literature. Improved patient education tools are needed to provide realistic individual expectations for surgical WL. The purpose of this study was to develop an electronic application for patient education that can aid in surgical decisions, establishing realistic WL goals, and monitoring WL success.
Preschool speech intelligibility and vocabulary skills predict long-term speech and language outcomes following cochlear implantation in early childhood

Speech and language measures during grade school predict adolescent speech-language outcomes in children who receive cochlear implants (CIs), but no research has examined whether speech and language functioning at even younger ages is predictive of long-term outcomes in this population. The purpose of this study was to examine whether early preschool measures of speech and language performance predict speech-language functioning in long-term users of CIs. Early measures of speech intelligibility and receptive vocabulary (obtained during preschool ages of 3-6 years) in a sample of 35 prelingually deaf, early-implanted children predicted speech perception, language, and verbal working memory skills up to 18 years later. Age of onset of deafness and age at implantation added additional variance to preschool speech intelligibility in predicting some long-term outcome scores, but the relationship between preschool speech-language skills and later speech-language outcomes was not significantly attenuated by the addition of these hearing history variables. These findings suggest that speech and language development during the preschool years is predictive of long-term speech and language functioning in early-implanted, prelingually deaf children. As a result, measures of speech-language functioning at preschool ages can be used to identify and adjust interventions for very young CI users who may be at long-term risk for suboptimal speech and language outcomes.
Central antiemetic actions of pimozide and haloperidol in the dog

Abstract The effect of pimozide and haloperidol against emesis induced by nine agents, whose sites of action in producing vomiting have been clearly demonstrated, were studied in conscious dogs. Pimozide and haloperidol were extremely effective in preventing apomorphine-induced emesis. The 50% protective dose (PD50) of oral and intracerebroventricular (4th ventricle) pimozide against emesis, induced by 0.01mg/kg (threshold dose) of intravenous apomorphine, was 5 μg/kg and 0.3 ng/kg, respectively. The corresponding PD50 for haloperidol was 10 smg/kg orally and 0.3 ng/kg via the 4th ventricle. With an oral dose of 100 μg/kg, pimozide and haloperidol prevented emesis induced by a threshold dose of apomorphine for an average of 6.6 and 4.2 days, respectively. Oral administration of 1 mg/kg of pimozide and haloperidol completely inhibited emesis induced by levodopa or Hydergine. The same dose of either pimozide or haloperidol afforded moderate protection against emesis induced by copper sulfate, but had no effect on emesis induced by Veriloid or pilocarpine. These findings indicate that the primary site of antiemetic actions of pimozide and haloperidol is on the chemoceptive emetic trigger zone in the area postrema of the medulla oblongata. At higher doses, however, depression of the vomiting center in the reticular formation of the medulla may also contribute to their antiemetic activity. Furthermore, pimozide afforded only moderate protection against vomiting induced by morphine while haloperidol was ineffective. Both agents were ineffective against emesis induced by ouabain or acetylstrophanthiclin. Since these latter emetic agents act principally through the trigger zone, this may imply that either the affinity of these agents at the receptor site is different, or these agents act at different receptor sites within the trigger zone.
Hexose-ATP phosphotransferases: Comparative aspects

Abstract 1. 1. Glucokinase activity has been measured in livers of several amphibians, reptiles and mammals. 2. 2. The enzyme behaves adaptively in rats, mice, hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils and squirrel monkeys. 3. 3. An antibody to yeast hexokinase was prepared; it did not react with any animal hexokinases. 4. 4. An antibody to rat liver glucokinase reacted with the glucokinases from several species but did not inhibit the low-Km hexokinases of rat, other animals or yeast, suggesting fundamental structural differences between glucokinase and the hexokinases. 5. 5. A testis-specific hexokinase has been identified in the rat, gerbil and hamster.
Multicultural realities in the information age: questions of relevance for public library resource allocation and adequacy

Contends that today’s multicultural realities are inescapable and that together with the realities of the information age, they hold tremendous implications for public library development and mission. Proposes that public libraries build on their traditional role as agents of acculturation by moving beyond skills and language educators to prepare first‐ and second‐generation immigrants to participate actively in democratic societies. Proposes three new roles that public libraries can perform toward that end using information resources.
Immunocytochemical method to identify basic protein in myelin-forming oligodendrocytes of newborn rat C.N.S.

An immunocytochemical method for detecting myelin basic protein in oligodendrocytes and myelin of newborn rat C.N.S. is described. C.N.S. tissue is perfused and fixed in HgCl2-formaldehyde and 20 μm Vibratome sections are treated with antibodies to myelin basic protein using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method. Oligodendrocytes in the newborn rat are intensely stained by antiserum to basic protein and multiple stained processes extend from the perikaryon to myelin sheaths. With this procedure it is possible to demonstrate the geometric relationships between a single oligodendrocyte and multiple myelin sheaths. Stained oligodendrocytes and myelin are present in newborn cervical spinal cord, medulla oblongata, pons and midbrain. By 25 days of age, staining in oligodendrocytes is less intense than in newborn rats and differences in amount of staining can be detected in areas that are myelinating at different rates. With anticerebroside serum, cerebroside, of newborn and developing rat C.N.S. tissue is localized only in myelin. In the developing P.N.S., myelin basic protein is localized in Schwann cell cytoplasm and myelin sheaths of the trigeminal ganglion. Cerebroside is found only in myelin.
An assessment of nanosponges for intravenous and oral drug delivery of BCS class IV drugs: Drug delivery kinetics and solubilization

Polyester nanosponges were prepared with varied degrees of crosslinking densities of ∼4%, ∼7% and ∼10% and an average nanoscopic size of 100 nm. The crosslinking density and the influence towards the release kinetics of paclitaxel, a BCS class IV drug, for individual particles and a mixture of particles with two different crosslinking densities are investigated in buffer and gastrointestinal fluid to show fully adjustable release rates suitable for intravenous and oral delivery.
Direct Measurement of the Fermi Energy in Graphene Using a Double-Layer Heterostructure

We describe a technique which allows a direct measurement of the relative Fermi energy in an electron system by employing a double-layer heterostructure. We illustrate this method by using a graphene double layer to probe the Fermi energy as a function of carrier density in monolayer graphene, at zero and in high magnetic fields. This technique allows us to determine the Fermi velocity, Landau level spacing, and Landau level broadening. We find that the $N=0$ Landau level broadening is larger by comparison to the broadening of upper and lower Landau levels.
A Building Block Approach to Security at Shipping Ports

ABSTRACT With over 360 ports of entry and 20 million sea, truck, and rail containers entering the United States every year, port facilities pose a large risk to security. Securing these ports and monitoring the variety of traffic that enter and leave is a major task. To accomplish this, the authors propose a fully distributed building block approach to port security. Based on prior work accomplished in the design and fielding of an intelligent transportation system in the United States, building blocks can be assembled, mixed and matched, and scaled to provide a comprehensive security system. Network blocks, surveillance blocks, sensor blocks, and display blocks will be developed and demonstrated in the lab, and at an inland port. The following functions will be demonstrated and scaled through analysis and demonstration: Barge tracking, credential checking, container inventory, vehicle tracking, and situational awareness. The concept behind this research is “any operator on any console can control any device at any time.” Keywords: Port Security, Security Control Centers, Sensor Fusion, Video Surveillance, and Distributed Architecture
Kinetic model identification in mixed populations using continuous culture data

The kinetic behavior of heterogeneous microbial populations of sewage origin was studied in a single-stage, isothermal, continuous flow, completely mixed aeration tank. A series of experiments were carried out at various dilutions rates using glucose as the limiting substrate. The cell dry weight and substrate concentration in terms of chemical oxygen demand (COD) were continuously monitored. The results indicate that reproducible steady-state conditions can generally be obtained; however, multiple steady states were observed at dilution rates near washout. At low dilution rates (below about 0.1 hr−1) the contribution of microorganism decay became appreciable. Using the multiresponse data of cell dry weight and COD, the parameter values in various existing growth models were estimated. The analyses of variance and residuals revealed that models proposed by Moser, Monod, and Contois, each with a decay term added, were significantly better than the other models which were tested.
Co-metabolism as a factor in microbial degradation of cycloparaffinic hydrocarbons.

All attempts to isolate microoganisms from soil that utilize unsubstituted cycloparaffinic hydrocarbons, e.g. cyclohexane, as sole source of carbon and energy have been unsuccessful. However, cyclohexane was degraded in fertile soil as measured by release of 14C-carbon dioxide on addition of UL-14C-cyclohexane. Hydrocarbon utilizing organisms isolated from the soil grew rapidly on cycloalkanones. Several cultures, after growth on propane, could oxidize cycloparaffins to the homologous cycloalkanone. These results suggest that degradation of cycloalkanes in nature may be via co-metabolism.
Feeling good, feeling bad, and feeling at‐risk: a review of incidental affect's influence on likelihood estimates of health hazards and life events

The recent increased interest among researchers in the ways in which emotion, mood, and affect influence risk perceptions is an important step in better understanding how people understand and perceive health risk information. However, the literature involving incidental affect (ambient mood) is not as well known. The 23 years of research examining incidental affect's influence on likelihood estimates of health hazards and life events has not previously been integrated and examined critically. This comprehensive review found that incidental affect influenced likelihood estimates in a predictable way. Individuals experiencing positive affect made more optimistic likelihood estimates than did individuals experiencing negative affect. Individuals experiencing negative affect made more pessimistic likelihood estimates than did individuals experiencing positive affect. Anger was unique among negatively valenced emotions by influencing judgments in the same way as positive affect (i.e., relatively optimistic li...
Correlation Transform Spectroscopy

As a spectroscopist, one rapidly learns that obtaining a spectrum of a sample is only part of the work. Many times the real challenge comes in interpreting the spectrum. In correlation transform spectroscopy, commonly referred to as near-infrared analysis, a large emphasis is placed on the data interpretation phase. To make the spectral results intelligible to the analyst, near-infrared analysis correlates a series of spectra with the known analyte concentration. This correlation transforms the spectra so that the relationship between the analyte and the spectra is displayed. This process can be extended to deduce the spectrum of a pure component from those of mixtures, or to deduce the analyte concentration in an unknown sample. Interestingly, near-infrared analysis has shown that surprisingly little spectral resolution is required to quantitate many analytes. Thus, instrumentation designs are being developed which make use of very broad filters made of polymers or other materials. These instruments provide spectral information in much the same way that the eye does.
Clinical pharmacokinetics of the norepinephrine precursor L-threo-DOPS in primary chronic autonomic failure.

Oral L-threo-3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine (L-DOPS), a synthetic catechol amino acid, increases standing blood pressure and improves standing ability in patients with neurogenic orthostatic hypotension, by conversion of L-DOPS to norepinephrine (NE) outside the brain. This study assessed the pharmacokinetics of L-DOPS, NE, and dihydroxyphenylglycol (DHPG), the main neuronal metabolite of NE, in patients with primary chronic autonomic failure from pure autonomic failure (PAF) or multiple system atrophy (MSA). In 5 MSA and 4 PAF patients, antecubital venous blood was drawn during supine rest and plasma levels of catechols measured at various times for 48 hours after a single oral dose of 400 mg of L-DOPS. Plasma L-DOPS peaked at 1.9 µg/ml (9 µmol/L) about 3 hours after drug administration, followed by a monoexponential decline with a half-time of 2–3 hours in both patient groups. Plasma NE and DHPG also peaked at about 3 hours, but at much lower concentrations (4 and 42 nmol/L). Compared to the MSA group, the PAF group had a smaller calculated volume of distribution of L-DOPS and up to 10-fold lower plasma NE levels at all time points. Plasma NE was above baseline in MSA even at 48 hours after L-DOPS. The relatively long half-time for disappearance of L-DOPS compared to that of NE explains their very different attained plasma concentrations. The similar NE and DHPG responses in PAF and MSA suggests production of NE from LDOPS mainly in non-neuronal cells. Persistent elevation of plasma NE in MSA suggests residual release of NE from sympathetic nerves.
Breakup of hadron masses and the energy-momentum tensor of QCD.

Hadron masses are shown to be separable in QCD into contributions of quark and gluon kinetic and potential energies, quark masses, and the trace anomaly. The separation is based on a study of the structure of the QCD energy-momentum tensor and its matrix elements in hadron states. The paper contains two parts. In the first part, a detailed discussion of the renormalization properties of the energy-momentum tensor is given. In the second part, a mass separation formula is derived and then applied to the nucleon, pion, and the QCD vacuum. Implications of the results on hadron structure and nonperturbative QCD dynamics are discussed.
The Point of Recognition

Will the next computing innovation arrive in spring 2017 on the tail of a recession? The Web extra at http://youtu.be/TYae_47GYIM is an audio recording in which author David Alan Grier discusses how the next computing innovation could very well arrive in the spring 2017 on the tail of a recession.
The Quadrics network: high-performance clustering technology

The Quadrics network extends the native operating system in processing nodes with a network operating system and specialized hardware support in the network interface. Doing so integrates an individual node's address spaces into a single, global, virtual address space and provides network fault tolerance.
From Surgeries to Startups: How Institutions Shape Entrepreneurial Activity in the Field of Health Care

The health care system in the United States is sick. Despite leading the world in health care expenditures, the U.S. lags behind most industrialized nations on many dimensions of health care outcomes. With the growing cost of and increasing demand for health care services, entrepreneurs are needed to develop and implement innovative solutions. However, entrepreneurship is a complex process, particularly in highly institutionalized fields such as health care where entrepreneurs must navigate a complex array of social obstacles. In this dissertation, I investigate entrepreneurship in the field of health care through the lens of institutional theory. I pay special attention to the role of culture embedded in the local region as well as the professional field and investigate how these social forces shape entrepreneurial activity. In this way, this dissertation returns to the foundational (yet rarely studied) premise of institutions as the building blocks needed to create new organizations (Meyer & Rowan, 1977).The first chapter presents a systematic review of the literature that links culture to entrepreneurship. Reviewing all articles published in the top management, entrepreneurship, and sociology journals over the past 20 years, I find that extant literature in this area is sparse and has overwhelmingly focused on national cultural differences based on the dimensions of culture developed by Hofstede (1984).The second chapter sets the stage for the empirical analysis conducted in the final chapter. This section traces the emergence of ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) in the United States and dives into the contextual details surrounding the technical and social factors enabling the emergence of this new kind of health care facility.The final chapter develops and tests theory related to how institutions shape entrepreneurial activity. Here I explore how pressures that constrain entrepreneurship in one social sphere may be overcome by institutional pressures that facilitate entrepreneurship in other social spheres. Using panel data on all physician-founded ambulatory surgery centers in the United States from 1990 to 2008, I find that institutional forces associated with the regional culture, organizational field, and profession influence the propensity for doctors to become entrepreneurs and shape the strategies they adopt.
Evaporation from and stabilization of Salton Sea water surface

Salton Sea was formed as the result of a break of the Colorado River in 1905 when practically the entire flow of the river discharged into the Salton Basin for nearly two years. At that time this body of water covered about 350,000 acres and reached a maximum elevation of 195 ft below sea level. For many years the excess of evaporation over inflow caused the elevation of the water surface to drop some 55ft to minus 250 ft by 1923. Since 1935, the water level in Salton Sea has been rising. In recent years this has resulted in encroachment and damage on adjoining lands, causing concern to Federal, State, and local agencies and land owners. Therefore, three evaporation stations bordering the sea were established to study the problem. An analysis of pan evaporation, gage heights, and inflow measurements indicates that the annual evaporation from Salton Sea ranges from about 70 to 76 inches. The Federal Government has withdrawn from entry all public land in the area below the elevation minus 220 ft. Salton Sea, in January, 1954, had risen to an elevation of minus 235.8 ft and thus has leeway of 15.8 ft before reaching the minus 220-ft contour. A review of this study and other reports indicates that the water surface will continue to rise for a number of years but will eventually stabilize below an elevation of minus 220 ft prior to the year 1980.
Collision-Based Spiral Acceleration in Cardiac Media: Roles of Wavefront Curvature and Excitable Gap

We have previously shown in experimental cardiac cell monolayers that rapid point pacing can convert basic functional reentry (single spiral) into a stable multiwave spiral that activates the tissue at an accelerated rate. Here, our goal is to further elucidate the biophysical mechanisms of this rate acceleration without the potential confounding effects of microscopic tissue heterogeneities inherent to experimental preparations. We use computer simulations to show that, similar to experimental observations, single spirals can be converted by point stimuli into stable multiwave spirals. In multiwave spirals, individual waves collide, yielding regions with negative wavefront curvature. When a sufficient excitable gap is present and the negative-curvature regions are close to spiral tips, an electrotonic spread of excitatory currents from these regions propels each colliding spiral to rotate faster than the single spiral, causing an overall rate acceleration. As observed experimentally, the degree of rate acceleration increases with the number of colliding spiral waves. Conversely, if collision sites are far from spiral tips, excitatory currents have no effect on spiral rotation and multiple spirals rotate independently, without rate acceleration. Understanding the mechanisms of spiral rate acceleration may yield new strategies for preventing the transition from monomorphic tachycardia to polymorphic tachycardia and fibrillation.
Upper and lower covariance bounds for perturbed linear systems

Both upper and lower bounds are established for state covariance matrices under parameter perturbations of the plant. The motivation for this study lies in the fact that many robustness properties of linear systems are given explicitly in terms of the state covariance matrix. Moreover, there exists a theory for control by covariance assignment. The results provide robustness properties of these covariance controllers. >
BspRI restriction endonuclease: cloning, expression in Escherichia coli and sequential cleavage mechanism

The GGCC-specific restriction endonuclease BspRI is one of the few Type IIP restriction endonucleases, which were suggested to be a monomer. Amino acid sequence information obtained by Edman sequencing and mass spectrometry analysis was used to clone the gene encoding BspRI. The bspRIR gene is located adjacently to the gene of the cognate modification methyltransferase and encodes a 304 aa protein. Expression of the bspRIR gene in Escherichia coli was dependent on the replacement of the native TTG initiation codon with an ATG codon, explaining previous failures in cloning the gene using functional selection. A plasmid containing a single BspRI recognition site was used to analyze kinetically nicking and second-strand cleavage under steady-state conditions. Cleavage of the supercoiled plasmid went through a relaxed intermediate indicating sequential hydrolysis of the two strands. Results of the kinetic analysis of the first- and second-strand cleavage are consistent with cutting the double-stranded substrate site in two independent binding events. A database search identified eight putative restriction-modification systems in which the predicted endonucleases as well as the methyltransferases share high sequence similarity with the corresponding protein of the BspRI system. BspRI and the related putative restriction endonucleases belong to the PD-(D/E)XK nuclease superfamily.