cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Differences among African Americans and Euro-Americans in reasons for sports participation.

Findings from 829 respondents from the southern United States (323 African American, 506 Euro-American adults) in 64 nonschool leisure locations participating in 19 different sports showed that the African American and Euro-American groups differed significantly on the importance given to 2 of 6 reasons offered for their sports participation, "socializing with others" and "improving skills.'' Both reasons were rated as of greater importance by African-American respondents. These findings have implications for desigiting, marketing, and evaluating adult sports opportunities.
TGFβ superfamily signaling: notes from the desert

The TGFβ pathways play crucial roles in many developmental events, as well as contributing to many disease states. To provide a venue for both signaling and developmental research on TGFβ, a FASEB-sponsored bi-annual meeting was initiated six years ago, the fourth of which was organized by Caroline Hill and Michael O'Connor and took place this July in Tucson, Arizona. The meeting highlighted major advances in our understanding of the structural and biochemical aspects of TGFβ superfamily signaling, its intersection with other pathways, and its contribution to disease.
Hybrid Tetramers Reveal Elements of Cooperativity in Escherichia coli d-3-Phosphoglycerate Dehydrogenase

Abstract d-3-Phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase from Escherichia coli is a tetramer of identical subunits that is inhibited when l-serine binds at allosteric sites between subunits. Co-expression of two genes, the native gene containing a charge difference mutation and a gene containing a mutation that eliminates serine binding, produces hybrid tetramers that can be separated by ion exchange chromatography. Activity in the hybrid tetramer with only a single intact serine binding site is inhibited by ∼58% with a Hill coefficient of 1. Thus, interaction at a single regulatory domain interface does not, in itself, lead to the positive cooperativity of inhibition manifest in the native enzyme. Tetramers with only two intact serine binding sites purify as a mixture that displays a maximum inhibition level that is less than that of native enzyme, suggesting the presence of a population of tetramers that are unable to be fully inhibited. Differential analysis of this mixture supports the conclusion that it contains two forms of the tetramer. One form contains two intact serine binding sites at the same interface and is not fully inhibitable. The second form is a fully inhibitable population that has one serine binding site at each interface. Overall, the hybrid tetramers show that the positive cooperativity observed for serine binding is mediated across the nucleotide binding domain interface, and the negative cooperativity is mediated across the regulatory domain interface. That is, they reveal a pattern in which the binding of serine at one interface leads to negative cooperativity of binding of a subsequent serine at the same interface and positive cooperativity of binding of a subsequent serine to the opposite interface. This trend is propagated to subsequent binding sites in the tetramer such that the negative cooperativity that is originally manifest at one interface is decreased by subsequent binding of ligand at the opposite interface.
Chemical Processing in High-Pressure Aqueous Environments. 8. Improved Catalysts for Hydrothermal Gasification

Improved catalyst formulations have been developed and tested for hydrothermal gasification of wet organics. A high-pressure (about 20 MPa) and high-temperature (about 350 °C) liquid water processing environment was used to treat organic chemical model compounds. The organic feedstocks were converted primarily to methane and carbon dioxide in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst. Test results with different catalyst formulations showed that catalyst composition could be tailored for the hydrothermal environment to effectively process wet wastes and wastewater and to recover useful fuel gas.
Observation of several different temporal patterns in the oxidation of formic acid at a rotating platinum-disk electrode in an acidic medium

Abstract Results of an experimental study on the oxidation of formic acid at a rotating platinum-disk electrode are presented. Experiments were conducted under galvanostatic conditions using solutions containing sulfuric acid. By increasing the applied current slowly, the system was moved through sequences of oscillatory states. Most states exhibited temporal patterns consisting of different combinations of large and small oscillations and without a substantial range of intermediate amplitudes. The sequence found closest to the point where stationary behavior became unstable was ordered in such a way that the ratio of the number of small oscillations to the number of large oscillations increased with respect to increases in current. Each state that was identified contained one large oscillation and a number of small oscillations. Peak values in measured waveforms are consistent with the idea that a strongly adsorbed intermediate reacts with hydroxyl radicals. The first sequence was followed by a family of large-amplitude oscillations that exhibited periods with durations of up to several hours. Following the family of large-amplitude oscillations, a sequence of oscillatory states was found with an ordering reversed to that of the first sequence. This latter sequence was followed by a set of oscillatory states whose members could be identified as elements from a Farey sequence. The oxidation process also exhibited bistability: high-potential states and low-potential states were found within the same range of values of the current. Models are constructed from previously formulated kinetic steps and rate laws, and these models predict that potential oscillations accompany the oxidation process.
Use of a State Space Model to Study the Effect of Outdoor Air Quality on Indoor Air in Fairbanks Alaska

A usual method for studying the effective penetration efficiency of pollutants into buildings consists in performing a linear regression of outdoor and indoor samples. But, because of the dynamic relationship between outdoor and indoor concentrations, this method requires either long-term averages or steady-state conditions. Other methods use dynamic models but these normally require the knowledge of model parameters, such as the ventilation rate. This paper presents a state-space model analysis method that can be used for transient samples and doesn’t require the knowledge of model parameters. It was used to study PM2.5 and CO in Fairbanks, Alaska. The effective penetration efficiency for PM2.5 ranged from 0.16 to 0.69, and was close to unity for CO. The outdoor generated PM2.5 was responsible in average for about 67% of the indoor PM2.5 in residences, and close to 100% in office environments.
Triisopropyltriazacyclononane Copper(II): An Efficient Phosphodiester Hydrolysis Catalyst and DNA Cleavage Agent

A 6000-fold rate enhancement has been observed for the hydrolysis of bis(p-nitrophenyl)phosphate (BNPP) in the presence of 0.2 mM Cu(i-Pr(3)[9]aneN(3))(2+) at pH 9.2 and 50 degrees C. In a direct comparison, the rate of hydrolysis of BNPP is accelerated at least 60-fold over the previously reported catalyst Cu([9]aneN(3))(2+). As observed for Cu([9]aneN(3))(2+), hydrolysis is selective for diesters over monoesters. Hydrolysis of BNPP by Cu(i-Pr(3)[9]aneN(3))(2+) is catalytic, exhibiting both rate enhancement and turnover. The reaction is inhibited by both p-nitrophenyl phosphate and inorganic phosphate. The reaction is first-order in substrate and half-order in metal complex, with a k(1.5) of 0.060 +/- 0.004 M(-1/2) s(-1) at 50 degrees C. The temperature dependence of the rate constant results in a calculated activation enthalpy (Delta H(++) of 51 +/- 2 kJ mol(-1) and activation entropy (Delta S(++)) of -110 +/- 6 J mol(-1) K(-1). The kinetic pK(a) of 7.8 +/- 0.2 is close to the thermodynamic pK(a) of 7.9 +/- 0.2, consistent with deprotonation of a coordinated water molecule in the active form of the catalyst. The active catalyst [Cu(i-Pr(3)[9]aneN(3))(OH)(OH(2))](+) is in equilibrium with an inactive dimer, and the formation constant for this dimer is between 216 and 1394 M(-1) at pH 9.2 and 50 degrees C. Temperature dependence of the dimer formation constant K(f) indicates an endothermic enthalpy of formation for the dimer of 27 +/- 3 kJ mol(-1). The time course of anaerobic DNA cleavage by Cu(i-Pr(3)[9]aneN(3))(2+) is presented over a wide range of concentrations at pH 7.8 at 50 degrees C. The concentration dependence of DNA cleavage by Cu([9]aneN(3))(2+) and Cu(i-Pr(3)[9]aneN(3))(2+) reveals a maximum cleavage efficiency at sub-micromolar concentrations of cleavage agent. DNA cleavage by Cu(i-Pr(3)[9]aneN(3))(2+) is twice as efficient at pH 7.8 as at pH 7.2.
Mercaptoacetate and fatty acids exert direct and antagonistic effects on nodose neurons via GPR40 fatty acid receptors

β-mercaptoacetate (MA) is a drug known to block mitochondrial oxidation of medium- and long-chain fatty acids (FAs) and to stimulate feeding. Because MA-induced feeding is vagally dependent, it has been assumed that the feeding response is mediated by MA's antimetabolic action at a peripheral, vagally innervated site. However, MA's site of action has not yet been identified. Therefore, we used fluorescent calcium measurements in isolated neurons from rat nodose ganglia to determine whether MA has direct effects on vagal sensory neurons. We found that MA alone did not alter cytosolic calcium concentrations in nodose neurons. However, MA (60 μM to 6 mM) significantly decreased calcium responses to both linoleic acid (LA; 10 μM) and caprylic acid (C8; 10 μM) in all neurons responsive to LA and C8. GW9508 (40 μM), an agonist of the FA receptor, G protein-coupled receptor 40 (GPR40), also increased calcium levels almost exclusively in FA-responsive neurons. MA significantly inhibited this response to GW9508. MA did not inhibit calcium responses to serotonin, high K+, or capsaicin, which do not utilize GPRs, or to CCK, which acts on a different GPR. GPR40 was detected in nodose ganglia by RT-PCR. Results suggest that FAs directly activate vagal sensory neurons via GPR40 and that MA antagonizes this effect. Thus, we propose that MA's nonmetabolic actions on GPR40 membrane receptors, expressed by multiple peripheral tissues in addition to the vagus nerve, may contribute to or mediate MA-induced stimulation of feeding.
Much ado about bacteria-to-vertebrate lateral gene transfer

When the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium (IHGSC) published its draft of the human genome in February 2001, several genes were identified as possible bacteria-to-vertebrate transfers (BVTs). These genes were identified by their highly significant sequence similarity to bacterial genes in BLAST searches, and by their lack of matches among non-vertebrate eukaryote genes. Many were later rejected as BVTs by several methods, including recovery of probable orthologs from the genomes of incompletely sequenced eukaryotes. Whereas the BVT issue has received considerable attention, there has been no compilation of all potential BVTs considered to date, nor any proposal of a single comprehensive method for rigorously establishing the veracity of a putative BVT. In reviewing the work to date, we list all of the proteins examined and propose systematic tests to investigate whether a vertebrate gene proposed as a BVT is indeed of bacterial origin. We use the proposed strategy to test--and reject--one of the BVTs from the original IHGSC list.
Cortical granule distribution and cell surface characteristics in mouse eggs

Abstract A cytological analysis of serially sectioned unpenetrated and penetrated mouse eggs revealed the existence of a marked polarity in the distribution of cortical granules and of microvilli in the egg cortex. Approximately 20% of the total cortex homolateral to the meiotic spindle was totally devoid of cortical granules and was covered by a smooth oolemma which appeared uncapable of binding capacitated epididymal spermatozoa. In the remaining 80% of the egg, the cortex contained a heterogeneous population of cortical granules and was covered by short microvilli; sperm penetration of the mouse vitellus was restricted to this area. Quantitative estimates of cortical granule complements in eggs before (0 and 30 min), during (60 min), and after (60 and 120 min) sperm-egg fusion indicated that approximately 25% of the granules were released by exocytosis within the initial 30 min of insemination. No functional significance could, however, be attributed to such a premature release, since the fertilizability of eggs with reduced cortical granule complements was not affected.
Resident experience increases diagnostic rate of thyroid fine-needle aspiration biopsies.

Rationale and Objectives The aim of this study was to determine whether the diagnostic yield of thyroid fine-needle aspirations (FNAs) changes over the course of residency training. Materials and Methods We identified 5418 ultrasound-guided thyroid nodule FNAs performed in our radiology department from 2004 through 2012. For each FNA, we recorded if the FNA was performed by a resident and if so the name of the resident and supervising attending radiologist. For each resident, we determined the level of training based on their graduation year from our residency program and the date of the FNA as well as prior surgical training and if they completed subsequent interventional radiology fellowship. Pathology reports were reviewed, and FNAs were classified as diagnostic or nondiagnostic (ND). Generalized mixed models were used to assess ND rate with postgraduate years, including residents with and without prior surgical training or if they subsequently completed an interventional radiology fellowship. Results Of the 5418 thyroid FNAs, 3164 (58.4%) were performed by a radiology resident under the direct supervision of an attending physician. There was a significant decrease in ND rate as postgraduate years increased ( P P = .0007) or subsequent training in interventional radiology ( P = .0014); however, no significant decrease was found for residents with surgical training ( P = .37) or completing an interventional radiology fellowship ( P = .08). In addition, no significant difference was found for ND rate between postgraduate year 4 (PGY4) and PGY5 ( P > .05). Conclusions ND thyroid FNA rates progressively decrease with training level, suggesting that early and continued participation in procedures throughout residency improves outcomes. This is particularly true for residents without prior surgical training or subsequent interventional radiology fellowship.
Incomplete suppression of thyrotropin secretion after single injection of large L-triiodothyronine doses into hypothyroid rats.

In order to examine the mechanism underlying incomplete suppression of TSH secretion by thyroid hormones, we measured serum TSH and T3 levels (radioimmunoassay) in 3,5,3′-triiodothyronine (T3)-injected groups of euthyroid and hypothyroid rats. In 2 experiments, euthyroid rats received a single injection of 10 μg T3 and 25 μg T3/100 g body weight (BVV). After T3 injection, the TSH levels fell rapidly to the undetectable range of the assay (1–5 ng/ml) within 3 h. TSH concentration returned to control levels following reduction of plasma T3 to pre-injection values as a result of hormone metabolism. Hypothyroid rats were used in the remaining experiments. They were injected with T3, 25 μg/100 g BW in 2 studies and 1000 μg/100 g BW in one. TSH levels in vehicle-injected groups were relatively constant for 9 days. In T3-injected groups, TSH decreased rapidly to about 10% of preinjection concentrations within 5 hours. In the 3 studies, TSH remained at 100 ng/ml, 40 ng/ml and 30 ng/ml for 3–6 days despite markedl...
Nondestructive Characterization of Nanostructure in Layered Materials Using Synchrotron Radiation

This paper presents a brief review of nondestructive methods useful for the general purpose of characterizing nanostructure in layered materials using x-rays from synchrotron radiation. By way of examples, some practical applications of these methods to the study of layered systems of recent technological interest are demonstrated.
Update on Dyslipidemia

Recently, considerable progress has been made in understanding the genetic basis of dyslipidemias and in studying the safety and efficacy of lipid-lowering drugs for coronary heart disease (CHD) prevention. Novel loci have been identified for monogenic hypercholesterolemia, such as low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor (LDLR)-associated protein, proprotein convertase subtilisin-like kexin type 9, and ATP-binding cassette transporters ABCG5 and ABCG8. LDLR-associated protein promotes clustering of LDLRs into clathrin-coated pits for LDL uptake; proprotein convertase subtilisin-like kexin type 9 is involved in LDLR degradation; and ABCG5 and 8 pump sterols out of the hepatic and intestinal cells into bile and intestinal lumen, respectively. A novel gene encoding apolipoprotein AV, an activator of lipoprotein lipase, has also been linked to familial hypertriglyceridemia. Linkage of familial combined hyperlipidemia to upstream stimulatory factor 1 remains controversial. Recent guidelines of the Adult Treatment Panel III emphasize intensive reduction of LDL or non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in patients at high risk of CHD. However, of the four recently concluded trials comparing high- vs. low-dose statin therapy, only two showed an unequivocal reduction in cardiovascular endpoints. Because intensive statin therapy can increase the risk of myopathy and hepatotoxicity, it is important to consider its risk-benefit ratio in individual patients. Restriction of dietary saturated and trans-fat and cholesterol, along with increased intake of soluble fiber, can also achieve substantial LDL cholesterol lowering. Fibrates may reduce the risk of acute pancreatitis in severely hypertriglyceridemic patients and may be beneficial for CHD prevention. However, the safety and efficacy of combined therapy of fibrates and statins needs to be established.
Design and performance of a multi-channel, multi-sampling, PSD-enabling integrated circuit

Abstract This paper presents the design and test results of an eight-channel prototype integrated circuit chip intended to greatly simplify the pulse-processing electronics needed for large arrays of scintillation detectors. Because the chip design employs (user-controlled) multi-region charge integration, particle identification is incorporated into the basic design. Each channel on the chip also contains a time-to-voltage converter which provides relative time information. The pulse-height integrals and the relative time are all stored on capacitors and are either reset, after a user controlled time, or sequentially read out if acquisition of the event is desired. Each of the three pulse-height sub-channels consists of a gated integrator with eight programmable charging rates and an externally programmable gate generator that defines the start (with four time ranges) and width (with four time ranges) of the gate relative to an external discriminator signal. The chip supports three triggering modes, two time ranges, two power modes, and produces four sparsified analog pulse trains (three for the integrators and another for the time) with synchronized addresses for off-chip digitization with a pipelined ADC. The eight-channel prototype chip occupies an area of 2.8 mm×5.7 mm, dissipates 60 mW (low-power mode), and was fabricated in the AMI 0.5-μm process (C5N).
Thin film/substrate systems featuring arbitrary film thickness and misfit strain distributions. Part II: Experimental validation of the non-local stress/curvature relations

The classical Stoney formula relating local equibiaxial film stress to local equibiaxial substrate curvature is not well equipped to handle realistic cases where the film misfit strain, the plate system curvature, and the film thickness and resulting film stress vary with in-plane position. In Part I of this work we have extended the Stoney formula to cover arbitrarily non-uniform film thickness for a thin film/substrate system subject to non-uniform, isotropic misfit strains. The film stresses are found to depend non-locally on system curvatures. In Part II we have designed a demanding experiment whose purpose is to validate the new analysis for the case of radially symmetric deformations. To achieve this, a circular film island with sharp edges and a radially variable, but known, thickness is deposited on the wafer center. The plate system’s curvatures and the film stress distribution are independently measured by using white beam and monochromatic X-ray microdiffraction (μXRD) measurements, respectively. The measured stress field (from monochromatic μXRD) is compared to the predictions of various stress/curvature analyses, all of which have the white beam μXRD measurements as input. The results reveal the shortcomings of the “local” Stoney approach and validate the accuracy of the new “non-local” relation, most notably near the film island edges where stress concentrations dominate.
Ammonia concentrations and modeling of inorganic particulate matter in the vicinity of an egg production facility in Southeastern USA

Ammonia (NH3) is an important base gas and can react with acidic species to form atmospheric aerosols. Due to the rapid growth of poultry and swine production in the North Carolina Coastal Plain, atmospheric NH3 concentrations across the region have subsequently increased. Ammonia concentrations and inorganic particulate matter (PM) at four ambient stations in the vicinity of an egg production facility were measured for 1 year using PM2.5 speciation samplers with honeycomb denuders and ion chromatography (IC). Meanwhile, concentrations of NH3 and inorganic PM in one of the egg production houses were also simultaneously measured using a gas analyzer for NH3 and the filter pack plus IC method for inorganic PM. An equilibrium model-ISORROPIA II was applied to predict the behavior of inorganic aerosols in response to precursor gas concentrations and environmental parameters. Average ambient NH3 concentrations varied from 10.0 to 27.0 μg/m3, and they were negatively correlated with the distances from the ambient location to the nearest egg production house exhausts. Ambient NH3 concentrations were higher in warm seasons than in cold seasons. Measured NH3 concentrations agreed well with ISORROPIA II model predictions at all sampling stations. For the ambient stations, there was a good agreement in particle phase NH4+ between the model simulation and observations. For the in-house station, the model simulation was applied to correct the overestimation of particle phase NH4+ due to gas phase NH3 breaking through the denuders. Changes in SO42−, NO3−, and Cl− yield proportional changes in inorganic PM mass. Due to the abundance of NH3 gas in the vicinity area of the monitored farm, changes in NH3 concentrations had a small effect on inorganic PM mass. Aerosol equilibrium modeling may be used to assess the influence of precursor gas concentrations on inorganic PM formation when the measurements for some species are unavailable.
Potentiation of smooth muscle contraction by adrenal steroids.

The rabbit aortic strip preparation of Furchgott was used to test the effect of adrenal steroids upon the muscle contraction produced by 0.1 to 0.2 µg. of levarterenol. The steroids tested were corticosterone, hydrocortisone, aldosterone acetate, androsterone, and dehydroisoandrosterone. Amounts of 1 to 300 µg. were added to the 20-ml. muscle bath. Potentiation was produced by each steroid; the percentage increase of amplitude of contraction was from 36.1 to 74.2 percent. Corticosterone produced consistent potentiation in amounts as small as 5 µg.; 200 µg. of aldosterone acetate was required to produce potentiation. Maximum potentiation was produced by hydrocortisone. The observed potentiation may be due to an effect of adrenal steroids upon transcellular sodium and potassium gradients.
PROCESSING APPROACHES FOR LIMITED FREEZE DRYING

Methods are presented whereby “limited” freeze drying can be carried out to leave behind a predetermined and uniform moisture content (e.g., in the range 8–14%), so as to make the product suitable for compression. Experiments with mist-rewetting of fully freeze-dried products show a relatively uneven moisture content and, for beef, a tendency for browning. Desorption equilibrium data are presented for beef and turkey, including moisture contents and temperatures of interest for limited freeze drying. Two approaches for implementing limited freeze drying commercially were tested and evaluated. One involves modification and control of operating conditions of ordinary freeze dryers, while the other involves use of a hydrating salt as a humidity-regulating water-uptake medium in a circulating-gas apparatus. Both methods give a quite satisfactory product in small-scale tests. The hydrating-salt process should provide a simpler and more self-regulating situation for quality control of final moisture content, as well as giving more rapid drying rates.
A goal orientation model of feedback-seeking behavior

Why do individuals differ in their feedback-seeking behavior, and how do these differences impact their task performance? The current article addresses these questions by developing a theoretical model using the individual difference of goal orientation (an orientation toward developing or demonstrating one’s ability) as a central influence in the feedback-seeking process. Goal orientation is proposed to influence how individuals cognitively process the cost and value of feedback-seeking opportunities. These cognitions are then proposed to influence the choices made for six dimensions of feedbackseeking behavior—the frequency, type, source, method, timing, and sign preference. The argument is then made that assessment of multiple dimensions of feedback seeking, compared to the customary frequency assessment, should enhance our ability to explain the relationship of feedback-seeking behavior with outcomes such as task performance. Finally, the theoretical model is discussed as a platform for future research and as a source of guidance for the management of feedback-seeking behavior.
Theories Supporting Transfer of Training.

This article reviews theories and conceptual frameworks necessary to describe three factors affecting transfer of training. This information helps HRD [human resource development] professionals understand why people wish to change their performance after attending a training program, what training design contributes to people’s ability to transfer skills successfully, and what kind of organisational environment supports the transfer. This article also provides HRD implementation strategies to help organisations achieve a high level of transfer.
Impact of intentionally injected carbon dioxide hydrate on deep‐sea benthic foraminiferal survival

Abstract Sequestration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the ocean is being considered as a feasible mechanism to mitigate the alarming rate in its atmospheric rise. Little is known, however, about how the resulting hypercapnia and ocean acidification may affect marine fauna. In an effort to understand better the protistan reaction to such an environmental perturbation, the survivorship of benthic foraminifera, which is a prevalent group of protists, was studied in response to deep-sea CO2 release. The survival response of calcareous, agglutinated, and thecate foraminifera was determined in two experiments at ~3.1 and 3.3 km water depth in Monterey Bay (California, USA). Approximately five weeks after initial seafloor CO2 release, in situ incubations of the live-dead indicator CellTracker Green were executed within seafloor-emplaced pushcores. Experimental treatments included direct exposure to CO2 hydrate, two levels of lesser exposure adjacent to CO2 hydrate, and controls, which were far removed from the CO2 hydrate release. Results indicate that survivorship rates of agglutinated and thecate foraminifera were not significantly impacted by direct exposure but the survivorship of calcareous foraminifera was significantly lower in direct exposure treatments compared to controls. Observations suggest that, if large scale CO2 sequestration is enacted on the deep-sea floor, survival ofmore » two major groups of this prevalent protistan taxon will likely not be severely impacted, while calcareous foraminifera will face considerable challenges to maintain their benthic populations in areas directly exposed to CO2 hydrate.« less
Bilateral War in a Multilateral World Carrots and Sticks for Conflict Resolution

This paper constructs a three-country, many-good and many-factor trade-theoretic model in which two of the countries are in conflict and where war eort is determined endogenously
The Architectonics of Léon Walras

In that fascinating area of surmise designated ‘the sociology of knowledge’ must lie answers to more than one seeming conundrum in the dynamics of economic doctrine. One day, perhaps, we shall know how a perspicacious Ricardo could have framed a theory whose pessimism derived from the neglect of a revolution in technology so thorough-going as to be unique in the history of man. And perhaps it will explain that perverse principle of insularity which so often militates against the spread of economic ideas between the Continent, Great Britain and the United States.
Effect of single intravenous doses of histamine2-receptor antagonists on volume and pH of gastric acid secretions in critically ill patients

Abstract The effects of single doses of cimetidine, famotidine, and ranitidine on gastric acid and fluid secretions in 12 critically ill, mechanically ventilated patients were evaluated in a prospective, randomized, crossover, single-blind trial. Each patient received an intravenous dose of cimetidine 300 mg, famotidine 20 mg, or ranitidine 50 mg diluted in 50 mL of normal saline and infused over 30 minutes. Each agent was administered in crossover fashion on consecutive days after the pH returned to baseline. Analysis of gastric fluids and pH measurements were determined from gastric samples collected every 15 minutes. Cimetidine, famotidine, and ranitidine treatment resulted in significant increases in gastric pH and decreased fluid production and total aspirated fluid volume. Famotidine maintained a gastric pH ⩾4.0 for a mean duration of 16.5 ± 4.1 hours, significantly longer ( P P
Attitudes Toward Women and Tolerance for Sexual Harassment Among Reservists

Women are more likely to experience sexual harassment in some work settings than others; specifically, work settings that have a large proportion of male workers, include a predominance of male supervisors, and represent traditional male occupations may be places in which there is greater tolerance for sexual harassment. The focus of the study was to document attitudes toward women among military personnel, to identify demographic and military characteristics associated with more positive attitudes toward women, and to examine associations between attitudes toward women and tolerance for sexual harassment. The study was based on data from 2,037 male and female former Reservists who reported minimal or no experiences of sexual harassment and no sexual assault in the military. Results suggest that attitudes toward women vary across content domains, are associated with several key demographic and military characteristics, and predict tolerance for sexual harassment. Implications of the findings and future di...
MS 2008: second international workshop on the many faces of multimedia semantics

The Second International Workshop on the Many Faces of Multimedia Semantics (MS'08) is the second such workshop held in conjunction with the ACM International Multimedia Conference. This workshop provides a forum for practitioners, artists, and scientists to exchange ideas on how to develop adaptive media retrieval techniques which satisfy individual user needs.
A novel technique for fluorapatite synthesis and the thermodynamic mixing behavior of F-OH apatite crystalline solutions

Successful synthesis of fluorapatite has been achieved through ion-exchange between NIST hydroxlyapatite SRM 2910a and optical-grade fluorite. Additional intermediate F-OH apatite compositions were made through ion-exchange between the newly synthesized fluorapatite and the original hydroxylapatite. Based on solution calorimetric data collected on seven fluorapatite–hydroxlyapatite crystalline solutions at 50 °C in 20.0 wt% HCl under isoperibilic conditions, fluorine-rich series members display ideal thermodynamic behavior, whereas hydroxyl-rich compositions show negative enthalpies of F-OH mixing. Unit-cell volumes for the series are linear with composition. Relative to enthalpy and volume, therefore, there are no energy barriers to complete solid solution between the F and OH end-members.
Web caching with consistent hashing

Ak ey performance measure for the World Wide Web is the speed with which content is served to users. As traff ic on the Web increases, users are faced with increasing delays and failures in data delivery. Web caching is one of the key strategies that has been explored to improve performance. An important issue in many caching systems is how to decide what is cached where at any given time. Solutions have included multicast queries and directory schemes. In this paper, we offer a new Web caching strategy based on consistent hashing .C onsistent hashing provides an alternative to multicast and directory schemes, and has several other advantages in load balancing and fault tolerance. Its performance was analyzed theoretically in previous work; in this paper we describe the implementation of a consistent-hashing-based system and experiments that support our thesis that it can provide performance improvements.  1999 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
On-Chip Characterization of Single-Event Transient Pulsewidths

A new on-chip single-event transient (SET) test structure has been developed to autonomously characterize the widths of random SET pulses. Simulation results show measurement granularity of 900 ps for a 1.5 mum technology and also indicate that the measurement granularity rapidly scales down with technology. Laser tests were used to demonstrate circuit operation on test chips fabricated using a 1.5 mum process. The experimental results indicate pulsewidths varying from about 900 ps to over 3 ns as the laser energy was increased
Computer simulations of the effects of different synaptic input systems on motor unit recruitment

1. The effects of four different synaptic input systems on the recruitment order within a mammalian motoneuron pool were investigated using computer simulations. The synaptic inputs and motor unit ...
Effects of building orientation and heat treatment on fatigue behavior of selective laser melted 17-4 PH stainless steel

Abstract The effects of building orientation and post-fabrication heat treatment (solution annealing plus peak-aging) on fully-reversed strain-controlled fatigue behavior of 17-4 precipitation hardening (PH) stainless steel (SS) fabricated via Selective Laser Melting (SLM) is investigated. For this particular alloy, post-SLM heat treatment was found to be necessary in order to improve its tensile strength and fatigue behavior in low cycle fatigue (LCF), where the effects of microstructural impurities are less pronounced. However, the selected heat treatment was found to have detrimental influence on the SLM 17-4 PH SS high cycle fatigue (HCF) performance. The heat treatment resulted in precipitation hardening, allowing the SLM parts to become more sensitive to impurities in HCF, where the crack initiation stage dominates the total fatigue lifetime. Building orientation played a significant role on fatigue behavior in both LCF and HCF, owing to the relative orientation of deposited layers with respect to applied load. Un-melted regions (i.e. inter-layer cavities/voids), resulting from insufficient fusion or low laser penetration depth, were found to be the most detrimental type of defects on fatigue strength of SLM 17-4 PH SS due to their relatively large size and irregular shape. These specific regions that formed during fabrication of vertically-orientated samples were more detrimental than those of horizontally-built ones as they provided more stress concentration under loading, leading to lower fatigue strength. Although the process parameters were optimized based on maximizing density, the results of this study imply that this criterion is not sufficient for improving fatigue behavior, as the split-shaped un-melted regions, containing a large area with small volume, cannot be taken into account through conventional density measurements.
Acute B-cell Leukemia Occurring with Hodgkin’s Disease

The association of lymphoid neoplasms with Hodgkin's disease is being recognized with increasing frequency. These tumors often occur concurrently with Hodgkin's disease and are not as clearly related to therapy as are other secondary tumors. Presumably, the immune deficiency state found in Hodgkin's disease plays an important role. A patient with Hodgkin's disease and simultaneous acute lymphocytic leukemia is reported. The leukemia was B cell in type, a rare form that most likely is identical to acute lymphosarcoma cell leukemia of immature cell type. This case expands the spectrum of lymphoid neoplasms known to occur with Hodgkin's disease. The fact that the leukemia responded to therapy for Hogkin's disease suggests that some lymphoproliferative disorders discovered subsequent to therapy are not the result of therapy but recurrences of previously undetected and therapeutically suppressed disease.
Bioassy, Histology, and Morphology of the Pheromone-producing Glands of Rhyacionia frustrana R. rigidana, and R. subtropica

The pheromone-producing glands in Rhyacionia jrustrana, R. riyidana, and R. subtropica are located beneath the 8th abdominal tergite and have external openings in the intersegmental membrane between the eighth and ninth abdominal tergites. The gland is sac-like and is lined with simple columnar cells. Hydrostatic pressure pressure and retractor muscles appear to perform the antagonistic functions of abdominal extension and retraction to expose the gland aperture. Numerous setae on tergite IX apparently facilitate dispersion of the pheromone. The glands of all three Rhyacionia species are similar.
Abstract 1130: ING4 tumor suppressor binds to a transcription co-activator, CCAR1, and modulates estrogen-dependent cell growth and gene expression

The tumor suppressor ING4 (Inhibitor of Growth family member 4) has been shown to play a role in diverse cancer-related cellular processes including gene regulation, apoptosis, cell migration, contact inhibition, and angiogenesis. Deletion or reduced expression of ING4 has been shown in various human malignancies including breast cancer, suggesting the tumor suppressive role of ING4. ING4 has been shown to interact with a number of proteins in different cell types, that include p53, NFkB, p300, HBO1-HAT complex, and HPH1. However, the binding partner(s) relevant to the ING4 tumor suppressor function in breast cancer have not been identified. We employed a bacterial two-hybrid screening system using the N-terminal half of the ING4 protein as bait and identified a number of candidate ING4 binding proteins (IBPs). One of the candidate IBPs was CCAR1 (Cell-Cycle and Apoptosis Regulator Protein 1). CCAR1 has recently been characterized as a transcriptional coactivator that is required for estrogen-induced gene expression and cell growth in human breast cancer cells (Kim JH, Yang CK, Heo K, Roeder RG, An W, and Stallcup MR, Mol Cell, 2008). We show the full length ING4 co-immunoprecipitated with endogenous CCAR1 in MCF7 breast cancer cells. In addition, we show that overexpression of ING4 blocked estrogen-dependent cell proliferation of MCF7 cells. These results indicated that ING4 directly binds to CCAR1 and may antagonize the CCAR1 activity required for estrogen-dependent cell growth. We conclude that ING4 may function as a tumor suppressor in breast cancer by modulating estrogen/CCAR1-dependent cell proliferation and gene transcription. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1130.
Chemotaxonomy and flavonoids ofGaillardia sectionHollandia (Asteraceae-Helenieae)

Eleven flavonoids, eight glycoflavones, two 6-methoxyethers, and one dihydroflavonol, were isolated from three “species” ofGaillardia sect.Hollandia. The similarity of the flavonoid profiles suggests that only one species is involved.
Magnetic circular dichroism studies—XLVI2: Structure and the magnetic circular dichroism of trans-2-decalones and bicyclo[2.2.2]octan-2-ones

Abstract The magnetic CD spectra of a number of Me substituted trans-2-decalones and bicyelo[2.2.2]octan-2-ones were measured. The results showed a large, and sometimes dominant, contribution to the MCD intensity which could be correlated with the presence of α-substituents lying outside of the plane of the carbonyl chromophore.
Telling Schools What to Do, Not How to Do It: Reimaginingthe Federal Government’s Role in Public Education

II. HISTORY OF FEDERAL INVOLVEMENT IN EDUCATION 608 A. States’ Rights and a Tradition of Federalism 608 B. 20th Century Developments 609 C. The Elementary and Secondary Education Act 609 D. The Reagan Revolution 610 E. No Child Left Behind 611 F. Contemporary Trends 612
Microstructures and microtextures in Cu-bonds of microelectronics packaging

EBSD technique was used to reveal the local microstructure and microtextures of Cu-wires/bonds at different processing stages including initial drawn wires,free air balls,ball bonds and wedge bonds.Their influences on properties were discussed.
Changes in geographical distribution of Chinese manufacturing sectors and its driving forces

Geographical changes of manufacturing sectors are emerging in China.Since the period 2004-2005,some manufacturing sectors have shifted from the coastal to the inland areas.The shares of manufacturing sectors in Beijing,Tianjin,Shanghai,Zhejiang,Guangdong and Fujian have decreased obviously.In contrast,the shares of manufacturing sectors in some inland provinces such as Anhui,Jiangxi,Hunan,Henan and Sichuan have increased.At a prefecture level,the shares of manufacturing sectors have shifted from the developed coastal cities to the developing coastal cities and the inland cities with relatively large local markets and existing industrial foundation.In particular,the shares of manufacturing sectors have increased significantly in the key development zones of central China.Rising labor and land costs in the coastal areas have widened the regional gap between the coastal and inland areas.On the other hand,market access and supply access in the inland areas have been improved due to economic development and income growth.Growing regional gap of production cost and reducing gap of trade cost between the coastal and inland areas resulted in a reversing change in balance between production cost and trade cost,which has led to the geographical changes of manufacturing sectors in China.
Comparative Study on the Environmental Enforcement and Financial Penalty between China and U.S.

A comparison of environmental enforcement practice between China and U.S.is made in the areas of environmental management system,enforcement practice, and financial penalty.The comparison reveals some valuable U.S.experiences for China to borrow when reforming its own system,including continuous efforts to strengthen environmental legislations,to make environmental laws more practical,to enhance SEPA's capability in monitoring,coordination and enforcement,to build up environmental enforcement institutions,and raise financial penalty for non-compliance activities.
Using Adaptive filtering for three phase distorted grid connected system

A proper and efficient system for clean and harmonic free power transfer between a generating plant and non-ideal distribution system has diverted the attention of power engineers. Nowadays the challenge being faced while designing grid connected inverter is to efficiently handle the unknown distortions and disturbances caused by non-ideal utility grid. Different filter topologies can be adopted in case of inverter design but to tackle the unknown noise and disturbance parameters, in case of distorted grid, needs significantly more than basic synchronization procedures. This paper introduces a new method for grid synchronization with three phase Voltage source inverter (VSI), in which synchronous reference frame Phase Lock Loop (SRF-PLL) followed by an adaptive technique Recursive Least Square (RLS) is presented. The main objective of using adaptive filters is to adapt the output signal of the inverter by noise cancellation with respect to the corresponding grid. Comprehensive study on Harmonic mitigation and efficient synchronization with Adaptive RLS filter design is presented in this paper. The whole system is designed and implemented in Matlab/Simulink.
SU-F-T-559: High-Resolution Scintillating Fiber Array for In-Vivo Real-Time SRS and SBRT Patient QA

Purpose: A high-resolution scintillating fiber detector was built for in-vivo real-time patient specific quality assurance (QA). The detector is designed for stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) to monitor treatment delivery and detect real-time deviations from planned dose to increase patient safety and treatment accuracy. Methods: The detector consists of two high-density scintillating fiber arrays layered to form an X-Y grid which can be attached to the accessory tray of a medical linac for SBRT and cone SRS treatment QA. Fiber arrays consist of 128 scintillating fibers embedded within a precision-machined, high-transmission polymer substrate with 0.8mm pitch. The fibers are coupled on both ends to high-sensitivity photodetectors and the output is recorded through a high-speed analog-to-digital converter to capture the linac pulse sequence as treatment delivery progresses. The detector has a software controlled 360 degree rotational system to capture angular beam projections for high-resolution beam profile reconstruction. Results: The detector was validated using SRS cone sizes from 6mm to 34mm and MLC defined field sizes from 5×5mm2 to 100×100mm2. The detector output response is linear with dose and is dose rate independent. Each field can be reconstructed accurately with a spatial resolution of 0.8mm and the current beam output is displayed every 50msec. Dosimetric errors of 1% with respect to the treatment plan can be identified and clinically significant deviations from the expected treatment can be displayed in real-time to alert the therapists. Conclusion: The high resolution detector is capable of reconstructing beam profiles in real-time with submillimeter resolution and 1% dose resolution. This system has the ability to project in-vivo both spatial and dosimetric errors during SBRT and SRS treatments when only a non-clinically significant fraction of the intended dose was delivered. The device has the potential to establish new standards for in-vivo patient specific QA.
Cytokine production by lymphoreticular cells from mammary tumor bearing mice: the role of tumor-derived factors.

Mammary tumor development has multiple effects on the T cell, B cell, and macrophage compartments of the hosts as evidenced by the alterations in their phenotype and functions. Cytokines are known to modulate the immune system, thus a study of the production of these factors has great relevance to tumor immunity. Here we present evidence that tumor progression causes a profound dysregulation of the cytokine production by various lymphoreticular cells. Furthermore, the tumors themselves are capable of secreting factors that can directly or indirectly affect the cells of the immune system, thereby, resulting in the immunosuppressive and other deleterious effects that favor the progress of the neoplastic disease.