cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Essential practice performance measurement

Abstract The objective of this paper is to provide an overview of how to develop and implement a performance measurement system in radiology departments. Although an extensive literature review (PubMed, MEDLINE, etc) was carried out to search for relevant published scientific papers, the number of publications regarding performance indicators in radiology departments was very limited. The present paper reflects the current approach to performance measurement in health care services based on the available literature, which may be applied to the field of radiology. Performance indicators are tools that evaluate an organizations progress toward its goals [1]. In radiology, in addition to finance, other aspects that affect the functioning of the organization, such as clinical productivity and patient satisfaction, also need to be assessed. The main categories of indicators adopted in radiology departments include: (1) productivity, (2) finance, (3) patient safety, (4) access, and (5) customer satisfaction. Once specific indicators in each of these categories are selected, the data collection methods should be incorporated into the routine departmental processes. Information obtained should be made available to all stakeholders via various media. In conclusion, performance indicators establish a common denominator in order to make comaparisons of the organization's performance over time. To improve the quality of services, these indicators should be benchmarked, i.e., the processes should be compared to the best in the field.
Surface plasmon enhanced rare earth fluorescence for increased imaging efficiency

Ions of rare earth metals are widely known for their versatile ultraviolet, visible, near infrared and middle infrared fluorescence; they can be excited by wavelengths ranging from the ultraviolet to near infrared. The preparation and optimization of infrared fluorescent ceramics will be discussed, as well as their thin film incorporation into plasmonic systems for fluorescent imaging with enhanced efficiency.
Plasmodium falciparum resistance to cytocidal versus cytostatic effects of chloroquine.

Abstract With one exception (Gligorijevic et al., Mol Biochem Parasitol 2008;159:7–23.) all previous quantification of chloroquine (CQ) potency vs. P. falciparum has been by growth inhibition assays, meaning potency is defined as cytostatic potential and quantified by IC 50 values. In this study we investigate the cytocidal potency of CQ and other common quinoline antimalarial drugs (quantified as LD 50 ). Similar to results from assays for cytostatic potency, we are able to readily distinguish drug resistant from drug sensitive P. falciparum parasites as well as different degrees of resistance. However, we find that fold-resistance to CQ and other quinoline drugs quantified via LD 50 ratios differs quite dramatically from fold resistance calculated via IC 50 ratios. Also, importantly, we find that verapamil chemoreversal of CQ resistance differs when quantified via cytocidal vs. cytostatic assays, as do patterns of “multidrug” resistance in well-known laboratory strains of P. falciparum . The results have important implications for development of new antimalarial drugs and for fully defining the genetic loci that confer clinically relevant antimalarial drug resistance phenomena.
The C7H6 Potential Energy Surface Revisited: Relative Energies and IR Assignment

The geometries and force fields of phenylcarbene (PC) and cycloheptatrienylidene (CHT) in their singlet and triplet electronic states as well as of cycloheptatetraene (CHTE) and bicyclo[4.1.0]heptatriene (BCT) and the transition states for the formation and decay of the latter were evaluated by various methods. Relative single point energies were calculated at the CCSD(T)/cc-pVDZ//BLYP/6-31G* level. Finally, the effects of extending the basis set to triple-ζ quality were estimated by (R)MP2 calculations and carried over proportionally to CCSD(T). These calculations show that CHTE which has a strongly distorted allenic structure is the most stable species on that part of the C(CH)6 surface which was examined in the present study, followed by planar 3PC. The strained BCT is found to be nearly degenerate in energy with 1PC, but the high activation energy for its formation from 1PC together with the low activation energy for ring-opening to CHTE suggests that this species cannot persist under the experimental...
Injun 5 observations of magnetospheric electric fields and plasma convection

Recent measurements of magnetospheric electric fields with the satellite INJUN 5 have provided a comprehensive global survey of plasma convection at low altitudes in the magnetosphere. A persistent feature of these electric field observations is the occurrence of an abrupt reversal in the convection electric field at auroral zone latitudes. The plasma convection velocities associated with these reversals are generally directed E-W, away from the sun on the poleward side of the reversal, and toward the sun on the equatorward side of the reversal. Convection velocities over the polar cap region are normally less than those observed near the reversal region. The electric field reversal is observed to be coincident with the ‘trapping boundary’ for electrons with energies e>45 keV. Near local noon the region of anti-sunward convection poleward of the electric field reversal/trapping boundary corresponds to the low altitude extension of the polar cusp plasma. Intense ‘inverted V’ electron precipitation events associated with auroral arcs are also observed near and poleward of the electric field reversal/trapping boundary. These observations are discussed in terms of a current model of magnetospheric convection.
Non‐market provision of food by low‐income households

A model of food provision through growing, hunting or raising food was developed. Food supply was less of a problem for those who grew, raised or hunted their food than for others. Non-market food provision was a viable alternative for consumers regardless of educational levels, income levels and employment status. Home food production varied by other characteristics. There was not a significant difference between urban and rural households in some types of food provided. Results of this study can be helpful to professionals assisting households with resource use and to policy makers concerning policies to assist low-income consumers.
The Forgotten Teachers in K-12 Online Learning: Examining the Perceptions of Teachers Who Develop K-12 Online Courses

Like many K-12 online learning programs, the Illinois Virtual High School (IVHS) began by utilizing vendor content to populate its online courses. In its fourth year, the IVHS began a concerted effort to design more of its own online course content internals. The aim of this study was to examine the nature of the support needed and application of tools used by IVHS course developers. The data consisted of a two-part, web-based survey and telephone interviews that were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inductive analysis. The results showed these developers had a strong desire to use interactive elements in their course as well as working in cooperative teams. Further, developers were opposed to using a forced template, but indicated a need for general structural guidance and additional professional development. Finally, developers recommended that subject matter teacher-developers and multimedia specialists be split into two separate roles, and these individuals work together as a part of a design team. Further research should be conducted on the intended use of technology tools requested.
Bone marrow transplantation using alternative donors. Mismatched related donors or closely matched unrelated donors.

PURPOSE Bone marrow transplantation has been used with increasing frequency for the treatment of children with leukemia that is resistant to conventional therapy or in cases that have initial features indicating a poor prognosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS For those children who are in need of a transplant but who do not have a matched sibling as bone marrow donor, transplantation can be performed with marrow from either a closely matched unrelated donor or from a partially matched family member. RESULTS Comparable results have been reported for transplants using either one of these alternative types of donor marrow, but these results are not as good as those using HLA-matched siblings as donors. CONCLUSIONS Delays in engraftment, increased infection rates, and complications related to graft-versus-host disease makes transplants using marrow from alternative donors more difficult and less successful. Improved methods to control graft-versus-host disease and greater ability to prevent infections, particularly opportunistic viral infections, will increase the success rate for marrow transplants using alternative donors. In addition, expansion of the National Marrow Donor Registry increases the likelihood of finding unrelated donors for children requiring such transplants.
Sodium thiosulfate or hydroxocobalamin for the empiric treatment of cyanide poisoning

Cyanide poisoning must be seriously considered in victims of smoke inhalation from enclosed space fires; it is also a credible terrorism threat agent. The treatment of cyanide poisoning is empiric because laboratory confirmation can take hours or days. Empiric treatment requires a safe and effective antidote that can be rapidly administered by either out-of-hospital or emergency department personnel. Among several cyanide antidotes available, sodium thiosulfate and hydroxocobalamin have been proposed for use in these circumstances. The evidence available to assess either sodium thiosulfate or hydroxocobalamin is incomplete. According to recent safety and efficacy studies in animals and human safety and uncontrolled efficacy studies, hydroxocobalamin seems to be an appropriate antidote for empiric treatment of smoke inhalation and other suspected cyanide poisoning victims in the out-of-hospital setting. Sodium thiosulfate can also be administered in the out-of-hospital setting. The efficacy of sodium thiosulfate is based on individual case studies, and there are contradictory conclusions about efficacy in animal models. The onset of antidotal action of sodium thiosulfate may be too slow for it to be the only cyanide antidote for emergency use. Hydroxocobalamin is being developed for potential introduction in the United States and may represent a new option for emergency personnel in cases of suspected or confirmed cyanide poisoning in the out-of-hospital setting.
Revisiting Serial Position Effects in Reading

Abstract Contrasting predictions of the dual-route and parallel distributed processing models of word recognition were tested in two experiments that investigated the relationship between position of irregularity and plosivity of initial phoneme. In a naming task (Experiment 1), words irregular at the first phoneme position yielded a larger phonological regularity effect than words irregular at the second phoneme position. In addition, the plosivity of the initial phoneme interacted with regularity. For words irregular at the second phoneme position, a regularity effect was observed for plosive-initial words but not for nonplosive-initial words. However, position interacted with regularity regardless of initial-phoneme plosivity. Regularity effects were eliminated in a lexical decision task (Experiment 2), suggesting that the naming results were due to the phonological characteristics of the stimuli. The results support the predictions made by the dual-route cascaded model of 982603 and challenge current parallel distributed processing accounts.
Saccadic intrusions in strabismus.

• Fixational eye movements were studied to determine the presence of and to quantify saccadic intrusions under monocular and binocular viewing conditions in subjects with intermittent strabismus, amblyopia without strabismus, or constant strabismus amblyopia. Saccadic intrusions were present under most test conditions in intermittent strabismus, were rarely observed in amblyopia without strabismus, and were prominent during monocular fixation with the amblyopic eye in constant strabismus amblyopia. This suggests that the presence of saccadic intrusions was related to strabismus and not amblyopia. There was no relationship between saccadic intrusion amplitude and visual acuity. Two possible mechanisms for producing intrusions are abnormally rapid regional visual adaptation and strabismus-induced fixation degradation.
A 20-basepair duplication in the human thyroid peroxidase gene results in a total iodide organification defect and congenital hypothyroidism

In this study we present the molecular basis of a total iodide organification defect causing severe congenital hypothyroidism. In the thyroid gland of the patient, thyroid peroxidase (TPO) activity and the iodination degree of thyroglobulin were below detection limits, and no TPO messenger ribonucleic acid was detectable by Northern blot analysis. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoretic analysis of the TPO gene of the patient revealed a homozygous mutation in exon 2. Sequence analysis showed the presence of a 20-basepair duplication, 47 basepairs down-stream of the ATG start codon. This duplication generates a frame shift, resulting in a termination signal in exon 3, compatible with the complete absence of TPO. Both parents of the patient are heterozygous for the same duplication, confirming the recessive mode of inheritance of the mutation.
Efficient sparse coding algorithms

Sparse coding provides a class of algorithms for finding succinct representations of stimuli; given only unlabeled input data, it discovers basis functions that capture higher-level features in the data. However, finding sparse codes remains a very difficult computational problem. In this paper, we present efficient sparse coding algorithms that are based on iteratively solving two convex optimization problems: an L1-regularized least squares problem and an L2-constrained least squares problem. We propose novel algorithms to solve both of these optimization problems. Our algorithms result in a significant speedup for sparse coding, allowing us to learn larger sparse codes than possible with previously described algorithms. We apply these algorithms to natural images and demonstrate that the inferred sparse codes exhibit end-stopping and non-classical receptive field surround suppression and, therefore, may provide a partial explanation for these two phenomena in V1 neurons.
Multiscale Simulation of Dynamic Fracture in Polycrystalline SiC-Si 3N4 Using a Molecularly Motivated Cohesive Finite Element Method

An advanced nanocomposite microstructure such as that of polycrystalline Silicon Carbide (SiC)-Silicon Nitride (Si3N4) nanocomposites contains multiple lengthscales with grain boundary (GB) thickness of the order of 50 nm, SiC particle sizes of the order of 200300 nm and Si3N4 grain sizes of the order of 0.8 to 1.5 μm. Recent developments in failure analyses of such materials focus on continuum calculations with an account of the corresponding atomistic deformation mechanisms. In the presented research one such analysis approach is applied to analyze continuum level deformation in polycrystalline SiCSi3N4 nanocomposites. The continuum bilinear cohesive law is motivated from the atomistic SiC-Si3N4 interfacial separation analyses. The cohesive finite element method (CFEM) based analyses of dynamic fracture at a loading rate of 2 m/sec in bi-modal SiC-Si3N4 nanocomposites with an explicit account of the multiple length scales associated with GBs, second phase (SiC particles), and the primary phase (Si3N4 matrix) are performed. For CFEM analyses bimodal polycrystalline SiC-Si3N4 nanocomposite structures are generated with grain sizes of Si3N4 in the range of 0.8 to 1.5 μm and SiC particle size varying between 200 nm and 300 nm. The volume fraction of the SiC phase is fixed at 30%. In order to analyze the effect of GBs each sample of SiC-Si3N4 nanocomposite has two corresponding meshes: one with finite element (FE) mesh resolving GBs and the other with FE mesh neglecting GBs. Since, a given unique set of phase morphology defining parameters (such as location of SiC particles, SiC or GB distribution etc.) corresponds to a multiple sets of morphologies, three different random sets of morphologies are used to characterize the material behavior corresponding to one unique set of phase morphology parameters. Analyses clearly show that the GBs have a strong effect on dynamic fracture in the nanocomposites.
Antimicrobial Use at the End of Life Among Hospitalized Patients With Advanced Cancer

Background:We sought to evaluate antimicrobial use among patients with advanced cancer.Methods:Retrospective review of patients experiencing cancer-related death while hospitalized.Results:Among 14...
Complex frequency response FIR filter design

This paper provides an algorithm for designing FIR filters that approximate both the magnitude and phase of the frequency response. The new algorithm produces a filter optimized under the weighted Chebyshev norm. The algorithm starts from a first stage unoptimized filter designed by a Remez-like algorithm and then uses shifted Dirichlet kernel functions to reduce large error peaks and converge to an equiripple set of peaks. The error function is modified at each iteration by subtracting a best-fit linear combination of kernel functions due to the large error peak(s). For one length-100 example, the computation of this algorithm was less than that of the complex Remez by two orders of magnitude.
Recurrent esophagopericardial fistula in a patient with human immunodeficiency virus.

FIGURE 1. The diagnostic esophagogram showed contrast extravasation fro From the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC. Disclosures: Authors have nothing to disclose with regard to commercial support. Received for publication Oct 23, 2013; revisions received Dec 8, 2013; accepted for publication Dec 13, 2013; available ahead of print Feb 7, 2014. Address for reprints: Chadrick E. Denlinger, MD, 25 Courtenay Dr ART Suite 7018, Charleston, SC 29425 (E-mail: denlinge@musc.edu). J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2014;147:e48-9 0022-5223/$36.00 Copyright 2014 by The American Association for Thoracic Surgery http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcvs.2013.12.057
A Gene Expression Screen Identifies EARLI1 as a Novel Vernalization-Responsive Gene in Arabidopsis Thaliana

Vernalization promotes early flowering in late ecotypes of Arabidopsis thaliana. The mechanisms of vernalization are poorly understood. A subtractive hybridization approach was used to isolate vernalization-responsive genes from a late-flowering ecotype of Arabidopsis thaliana based on the premise that transcript levels of such genes would increase with cold treatment and remain high even after removal of the vernalization stimulus. EARLI1 is the first Arabidopsis gene shown to be stably activated by vernalization. The abundance of its RNA is progressively elevated by vernalization and remains high for at least 20 days at room temperature. The basal level of EARLI1 RNA is higher in early-flowering ecotypes, but is increased also after vernalization. Vernalization and subsequent growth in long-day photoperiods have an additive or synergistic effect on EARLI1 activation. EARLI1 RNA levels are also transiently induced by brief exposures to cold, but not to abscisic acid. EARLI1 is thus a novel vernalization-responsive gene in Arabidopsis thaliana that can be used to investigate vernalization-specific transcriptional regulation.
Defeating Welfare Retrenchment: Privatization and Conflict in the Argentine Nuclear Energy Sector∗

This article explores the conflicts triggered by President Carlos Menem's proposed reforms for the nuclear energy program between 1989 and 1999. Throughout this period, numerous state-owned energy enterprises (oil, hydroelectric and natural gas) were privatized. While the three Argentine atomic power plants were set to be sold to foreign investors, the Menem administration failed to carry out nuclear privatization. Nuclear professionals and unionized workers successfully carried out a wide-ranging campaign against the de-nationalization of nuclear development, linking the role of the state as guarantor of job security to its responsibility in ensuring nuclear safety. This article argues that neo-liberal reforms, while reducing state autonomy and bureaucratic capacity, also created new opportunities for policy networks to claim new areas of qualified autonomy. Uncertainty, originating from the dismantlement of welfare-developmental state structures, turned technical knowledge and expertise into powerful po...
Diffuse reflectance of the ocean: some effects of vertical structure.

Monte Carlo computations of the diffuse reflectance of an ocean consisting of two homogeneous layers with differing optical properties are presented, along with a simplified method of computation that uses results of previous Monte Carlo simulations. It is demonstrated that it is impossible to distinguish between thin layers of strong scattering and thick layers of weak scattering through measurement of the diffuse reflectance. Analyzing the two-layer reflectance under the assumption of a homogeneous ocean yields an optical property that is shown to be nearly the average of the associated property over the penetration depth of the medium, i.e., the depth over which the downwelling irradiance falls to l/e of its value at the surface.
Theoretical gas phase mass transfer coefficients for endogenous gases in the lungs.

Gas phase mass transfer coefficients for nitric oxide (NO), ethanol (EtOH), and water vapor (H2O) were determined for typical conducting airway geometry and tracheal flows (5 × 10−5 and 5 × 10−4 m−3 s-1), by solving the steady-state two-dimensional diffusion equation. A constant absolute production rate with first order consumption reactions in pulmonary tissue was assumed for NO. For EtOH and H2O, constant concentrations were assumed in the blood and tissue, respectively. Results, expressed in terms of the average Sherwood number ( $$\overline {Sh}$$ ), were correlated with the Peclet (Pe r ) number, and the length-to-diameter (L/D) ratio for each airway branch in terms of a lumped variable, Pe r (L/D) n . ( $$\overline {Sh}$$ ) increases as the solubility of the gas in tissue and blood increases. In addition, $$\overline {Sh}$$ passes through a minimum value at Per(D/L)n equal to approximately one when axial convection and diffusion have equal but opposite magnitudes. We conclude that $$\overline {Sh}$$ is not a monotonic function of Pe r (D/L) n within the entire airway tree and that it depends on the physical properties of the gas in the tissue. This conclusion contrasts with previous experimental and theoretical correlations. © 1999 Biomedical Engineering Society. PAC99: 8719Uv, 8710+e
Ultrasonic Songs of Male Mice

Previously it was shown that male mice, when they encounter female mice or their pheromones, emit ultrasonic vocalizations with frequencies ranging over 30–110 kHz. Here, we show that these vocalizations have the characteristics of song, consisting of several different syllable types, whose temporal sequencing includes the utterance of repeated phrases. Individual males produce songs with characteristic syllabic and temporal structure. This study provides a quantitative initial description of male mouse songs, and opens the possibility of studying song production and perception in an established genetic model organism.
Relative Distribution and Abundance of Wintering Raptors in Agricultural and Wetland Landscapes of South Florida

DISTRIBUCION Y ABUNDANCIA RELATIVA DE AVES RAPACES DURANTE EL INVIERNO EN PAISAJES AGRICOLAS Y DE HUMEDALES EN EL SUR DE FLORIDA Investigamos la distribucion y abundancia relativa de las aves rapaces entre ambientes agricolas y naturales con base en censos realizados a lo largo de una autopista de cuatro carriles en el sur de Florida durante los inviernos de 1998–2003, sin incluir el de 2001–02. Registramos la presencia de acuerdo al tipo de cobertura, el uso de tipos de percha y la densidad de rapaces a lo largo de la carretera, ademas de la riqueza y diversidad de especies en cada tipo de cobertura. Cathartes aura, Circus cyaneus, Buteo jamaicensis y Falco sparverius fueron mas abundantes en los paisajes agricolas que en los ambientes naturales, mientras que Coragyps atratus, Pandion haliaetus y Buteo lineatus fueron registrados con mayor frecuencia en los ambientes naturales. Encontramos un sesgo significativo en el tipo de percha: las lineas electricas y los postes fueron empleados mas frecuentemente ...
Unsticking the Broken Diabetic Heart: O-GlcNAcylation and Calcium Sensitivity

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in patients with diabetes. However, identifying mechanisms of disease progression has proven difficult as diabetes involves dysfunction of numerous pathways including cellular signaling and mitochondrial capacity. This results in the alteration of circulating hormones and nutrients that can lead to inflammation, oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, lipotoxicity, and glucotoxicity (1). One hallmark of diabetes is the development of hyperglycemia and one goal of patient care is to control glycemia through the modification of lifestyle and drug therapy. However, the effectiveness of antihyperglycemia drugs on the development of heart failure in individuals with diabetes is not fully understood (2). Part of this challenge results from an incomplete understanding of how glucose regulates molecular function. Over 30 years ago, Torres and Hart (3) identified a unique posttranslational modification (PTM) by glycosylation of intracellular proteins via addition of an O -linked β- N -acetyl-d-glucosamine ( O- GlcNAc), termed O -GlcNAcylation. Owing to the input of multiple metabolic pathways to generate uridine diphosphate (UDP)-GlcNAc, the substrate of O- GlcNAcylation, this PTM gained attention as the link between metabolism and chronic disease (4). Increases in glucose associated with diabetes lead to excess O- GlcNAcylation and represent a crucial link between glucose and molecular regulation. Similar to protein phosphorylation, O- GlcNAcylation occurs at serine and threonine residues in proteins. It has been identified on ∼4,000 targets across most cellular pathways, as reviewed by Bond and Hanover (5). Unlike other PTMs that may have dozens if not …
Commentary: Craving Diagnostic Validity in DSM-5 Substance Use Disorders

Drs. Norko and Fitch examine questions raised by DSM-5 in the forensic context of criminal defendant diversion to treatment, where eligibility has commonly relied on the view that addiction to alcohol or drugs is distinct from alcohol or drug use, misuse, and abuse. The creation in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), of the new unidimensional spectrum diagnosis of Substance Use Disorder (SUD), which includes three Abuse criteria from DSM-IV, has resulted in a need to re-examine policies that evolved with the DSM-III-R/DSM-IV biaxial abuse-dependence conceptual paradigm. DSM-5 acknowledges the common usage of the term addiction to describe severe problems, and that some clinicians choose to use the word to describe more extreme presentations. Limiting the concept of addiction to the severe form of DSM-5 SUD would maximize validity and support for an expert opinion that an individual has an addiction, as well as facilitate research inquiry into the underlying psychobiological nature of addiction. However, in some contexts, such as criminal diversion, achieving such specificity at the expense of sensitivity may be undesirably restrictive if it excludes appropriate candidates. Future research and experience in both clinical and forensic settings are needed for a fuller understanding of the DSM-5 SUD diagnoses and associated real-world implications.
Involvement of Rb family proteins, focal adhesion proteins and protein synthesis in senescent morphogenesis induced by hydrogen peroxide

Early passage human diploid fibroblasts develop senescent morphology prematurely within a week after a 2-hour pulse treatment with low or mild dose H(2)O(2). We test here the role of cell cycle checkpoints, cytoskeletal proteins and de novo protein synthesis in senescent morphogenesis following H(2)O(2) treatment. H(2)O(2) treatment causes transient elevation of p53 protein and prolonged inhibition of Rb hyperphosphorylation. Expression of human papillomaviral E6 gene prevented elevation of p53 but did not affect senescent morphogenesis. Expression of human papillomaviral E7 gene reduced the level of Rb protein and prevented induction of senescent morphology by H(2)O(2). The mutants of the E7 gene, in which the Rb family protein binding site was destroyed, could not reduce Rb protein or prevent H(2)O(2) from inducing senescent morphology. Senescent-like cells showed enhanced actin stress fibers. In untreated cells, vinculin and paxillin preferentially distributed along the edge of the cells. In contrast, vinculin and paxillin distributed randomly and sporadically throughout senescent-like cells. E7 expression prevented enhancement of actin filament formation and redistribution of vinculin or paxillin. Neither wild-type nor E7 cells showed changes in the protein level of actin, vinculin or paxillin measured by western blot after H(2)O(2) treatment. Finally, depletion of methionine in the culture medium after H(2)O(2) treatment prevented senescent morphogenesis without affecting dephosphorylation of Rb protein. Our results suggest that senescent morphology likely develops by a program involving activated Rb family proteins, enhancement of actin stress fibers, redistribution of focal adhesion proteins and de novo protein synthesis.
THE REGULATION OF PINEAL SEROTONIN BY A BETA ADRENERGIC RECEPTOR

During the day, serotonin levels in the pineal gland fall in vivo after administration of l -isoproterenol, l -Proprannolol, a beta adrenergic blocking agent, reverses the fall in serotonin caused by isoproterenol. Phentolamine, an alpha adrenergic blocking agent, is without effect under similar circumstances. Inhibition of monoamine oxidase does not cause an increase in the level of serotonin over the course of one hour. l -Propranolol causes a rapid increase the amount of serotonin in the pineal at night. We confirm the finding that serotonin N-acetyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.5) increases in response to beta adrenergic stimulation and that this rise can be prevented by beta adrenrgic blockers. These results suggest that the level of serotonin in the pineal is regulated by a beta adrenergic receptor via control of serotonin N-acetyltransferase activity.
Input modeling

Most discrete-event simulation models have stochastic elements that mimic the probabilistic nature of the system under consideration. A close match between the input model and the true underlying probabilistic mechanism associated with the system is required for successful input modeling. The general question considered here is how to model an element (e.g., arrival process, service times) in a discrete-event simulation given a data set collected on the element of interest. For brevity, it is assumed that data is available on the aspect of the simulation of interest. It is also assumed that raw data is available, as opposed to censored data, grouped data, or summary statistics. This example-driven tutorial examines introductory techniques for input modeling. Most simulation texts (e.g., Law and Kelton 2000) have a broader treatment of input modeling than presented here. Nelson and Yamnitsky (1998) survey advanced techniques.
Stereo-PIV Data Obtained Behind an F-15 Model Compared to CFD Results *

A stereoscopic Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) system has recently been implemented in the Aerodynamic Wind Tunnel 4T at Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC). Sequences of instantaneous three-component velocities were obtained in the wake of a 1/20 scale F-15 model in a 40by 40-cm planar region situated perpendicular to the tunnel’s freestream flow. Data sets were obtained in Mach number 0.4 flow at eight different model attitudes. A preliminary comparison between PIV results and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solutions shows similar counter-rotating wake structures. This paper compares and contrasts experimental PIV data with CFD predictions.
High Quality, Low Bandgap a-Si Films and Devices Produced Using Chemical Annealing

We report on the growth and properties of novel amorphous Silicon (a-Si:H) p-i-n devices prepared using chemical annealing with argon gas. The i layer in the p-i-n devices was grown using a layer by layer approach, where the growth of a very thin a-Si:H layer (7-30 angstroms) grown using a silane:argon mixture was followed by chemical anneal by argon ions. Repeated cycling of such growth/anneal cycles was used to produce the desired total thickness of the i layer. The thickness of the a-Si layer, and duration of the anneal time, were varied systematically. Pressure and power of the plasma discharge were also systematically varied. It was found that a thin a-Si layer, <10 angstroms, and low pressures which led to relatively high ion flux on the surface, gave rise to a significantly smaller bandgap in the device, as indicated by a significant lateral shift in the quantum efficiency vs. photon energy curve to lower energies. The smallest Tauc gap observed was in the range of 1.62 eV. Corresponding to this smaller bandgap, the current in the solar cell increased, and the voltage decreased. The Urbach energies of the valence band tail were also measured in the device, using the quantum efficiency vs. energy curve, and found to be in the range of45 meV, indicating high quality devices. Too much ion bombardment led to an increase in Urbach energy, and an increase in defect density in the material. Raman spectra of the device i layer indicated an amorphous structure. When hydrogen was added to argon during the annealing cycle, some materials turned microcrystalline, as indicated by the Raman spectrum, and confirmed using x-ray diffraction.
Variation in tertiary prevention and health service utilization among the elderly: the role of urban-rural residence and supplemental insurance

Objectives Tertiary prevention seeks to reduce chronic disease progression and illness-related dysfunction. Using the Aday-Andersen model, we evaluated the impact of predisposing, need, and enabling factors on tertiary prevention, hypothesizing that urban-rural geographic differences in delivery would be detected. Methods A population-based telephone survey was conducted evaluating six common chronic indicator conditions: arthritis (n = 488), hypertension (n = 414), cardiac disease (n = 185), diabetes mellitus (n = 125), peptic ulcer disease (n = 125), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (n = 103). Subjects were 787 (70% women) home-dwelling elderly (age > 65 years) who had one or more of the indicator conditions and who resided in Iowa's 12 most rural and 10 most urban counties. Tertiary prevention measures included counseling for and/or treatment with: influenza and pneumococcal vaccination, smoking cessation, dietary modifications, exercise, drug side effects, chronic disease rehabilitation, aspirin/estrogen for cardiac disease, and foot/eye care for diabetes. Tertiary prevention scores were calculated to compare preventive services across disease categories and to examine relations, in particular, with enabling factors. Results Education beyond high school, alcohol use, cigarette smoking, and medical specialist use were all significantly greater among urban residents, whereas home services use was greater among rural residents. Respondents with either health maintenance organization or fee-for-service supplemental coverage had higher tertiary prevention scores than respondents without supplemental coverage. After adjustment for the significant effects of the number of diseases, higher income, and place of residence, rural respondents having health maintenance organization supplemental coverage had higher (better) tertiary prevention scores than other respondents. Conclusions In this community-based study of elderly, enrollment in an health maintenance organization plan, as opposed to a fee-for-service supplement to Medicare, increased tertiary prevention quality for rural but not for urban residents. This study emphasizes that additional research is needed to evaluate the importance of specific types of insurance coverage for preventive services among the elderly.
Infection of bone by Mycobacterium fortuitum masquerading as Nocardia asteroides.

A case of traumatic osteomyelitis of the leg yielded on culture a branching partially acid-fast organism that failed to respond to therapy directed at Nocardia asteroides . Subsequent laboratory investigation revealed the organism to be Mycobacterium fortuitum. N. asteroides and M. fortuitum can demonstrate similar staining and morphologic patterns microscopically, as well as common colonial and cultural characteristics. Separation can be aided by careful examination of the branching pattern, and can be established by thin-layer chromatography of lipid extracts of the organism. Correct identification of these species in the laboratory is important because of some overlap in their clinical syndromes and because of differences in their susceptibilities to antibiotics.
Synthesis and Performance of High Branch Polyether Demulsifiers

The phenol-amine resin was synthesized through dehydration condensation reaction of bisphenol A, diethylenetriamine and formaldehyde at reaction temperature 70 ℃, reaction time 60 min and the post treatment was 120 ℃, 1.33 kPa. PAE polyether demulsifiers with different EO mass fraction and mass ratio of initiator to PO were synthesized through reactions with different proportions of propylene oxide and ethylene oxide using phenol-amine resin as initiator. The characterization of PAE demulsifiers was studied by surface tension measurement and UV-vis spectra method. The results show that within low concentrations the ability of decreasing surface tension increased with decreasing EO mass fraction and increasing mass ratio of initiator to PO; the efficiency of decreasing surface tension increases with increasing mass ratio of initiator to PO and decreasing EO mass fraction. From the demulsification experiments a conclusion has been drawn that the final dehydration rate of demulsifiers increased with increasing mass fraction of EO; the speed of reaching dehydration platform is faster for the demulsifier with high mass ratio of initiator to PO. Dehydration rate of 80% is observed at 40 ℃,15 min and dosage 20 mg/L for PAE84, and there is no demulsification effect for SP169 at the same condition.
Simulation of the Effect of Confinement in Actin Ring Formation

Actin filaments are vital for different network structures in living cells. During cytokinesis, they form a contractile ring containing myosin motor proteins and actin filament cross-linkers to separate one cell into two cells. Recent experimental studies have quantified the bundle, ring, and network structures that form when actin filaments polymerize in confined environments in vitro, in the presence of varying concentrations of cross-linkers and motor proteins. In this study, we performed numerical simulations to investigate the effect of actin spherical confinement and cross-linking in ring formation. We used a spring-bead model and Brownian dynamics to simulate semiflexible actin filaments that polymerize in a confining sphere with a rate proportional to the monomer concentration. We simulate cross-linking implicitly as an attractive short-range potential between filament beads. Applying the model for different size of the confining spheres shows that the probability of ring formation decreases by increasing the radius (at fixed initial monomer concentration), in agreement with prior experimental data. We observed and quantified other forms of networks for larger radii. We describe the effect of persistence length, orientation-dependent cross-linking, and initial actin monomer concentration. Simulations show that equilibrium configurations can be reached through zipping and unzipping of actin filaments in bundles and transient ring formation.
SAMT - AN/GSC-52 A New Generation Satellite Communications Ground Terminal with Self-Diagnostic Capability and Low Life Cycle Costs

The State-of-the-Art Medium Terminal (SAMT) is a high capacity, SHF satellite communications ground terminal, in fixed and vanized (transportable) configurations, designed to operate in DSCS and NATO satellite networks with the capability of simultaneous transmission and reception of CW, FM, PM, FDMA, or spread spectrum signals. The design of the SAMT, which employs a medium-sized (38-foot) autotracking antenna, is based on the extensive use of field-proven equipment in the realization of a high performance satellite communications terminal that includes three key features not concurrently available in existing systems: a control, monitor and alarm subsystem that provides centralized control and self-diagnostic capability with automatic fault isolation to the module level, as well as capability to operate in an unattended mode; high altitude electromagnetic pulse (HEMP) protection; and low life cycle costs. The SAMT includes other desirable features, namely, enhanced communications performance, improved reliability, simplicity of operation and maintenance, expansion capability, and communications equipment commonality. The advantages of SAMT over existing systems are described in terms of the three key features: automatic fault isolation process, the multizone approach for HEMP protection, and identification of cost categories that provide life cycle benefits. This paper concludes with a discussion on the applicability of SAMT technology to a family of state-of-the-art terminals.
Justice Issues Facing Family-scale Farmers and their Laborers in the Northeastern United States

This study investigates how justice-related issues affect farmers and workers on organic farms in the northeastern United States. At the study's core is an examination of the current context of laborers in organic agriculture in the U.S. Northeast. The study analyzes the results of an online survey of Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) farmer members to gather information about who labors on organic farms in the NOFA network and what unique justice issues they face. The survey results indicate that most of the farms within the network are small-scale and rely heavily on family members and volunteers for labor. Many of the justice issues related to labor arise from the difficulties these farmers experience achieving financial viability. This study increases understanding of the broader systemic context within which small-scale organic farmers make their commitments and decisions, and it illustrates how the justice-related experiences of both farmers and workers are affected by participation as small-scale organic farms in the larger agricultural system.
Quantifying knee mechanics during balance training exercises

Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is common among runners and those recovering from anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Training programs designed to prevent or treat injuries often include balance training, although balance interventions have been reported to coincide with more knee injuries. Knowledge of the effect of balance exercises on knee mechanics may be useful when designing training programs. High knee abduction moment has been implicated in the development of PFP, and imbalance between vastus lateralis (VL) and vastus medialis oblique (VMO) may contribute to patellofemoral stress. The purpose was to quantify knee abduction moment and vasti muscle activity during balance exercises. Muscle activity of VMO and VL, three-dimensional lower-extremity kinematics, and ground reaction forces of healthy recreational athletes (12M, 13F) were recorded during five exercises. Peak knee abduction moment, ratio of VMO:VL activity, and delay in onset of VMO relative to VL were quantified for each exercise. The influence of sex and exercise on each variable was determined using a mixed-model ANOVA. All analyses indicated a significant main effect of exercise, p<0.05. Follow-up comparisons showed low peak knee abduction moment and high VMO:VL ratio for the task with anterior-posterior motion. Delay of VMO relative to VL was similar among balance board tasks.
Signal phase timing impact on traffic delay and queue length-a intersection case study

Traditional intersection traffic signal control strategy is pre-determined signal with certain phase timing length for each circle. Studies focusing on adaptive traffic signal strategy have somewhat achieved the goal of reducing traffic system delay to some extent. However, few of them capture the benefit of using the queue length as the criteria under the connected vehicle environment, and this paper focuses on firstly identifying the potential saving of average system delay with agent-based simulation modeling, and secondly finding out the relationship between average system delay and average queue length for traffic approaching the signalized intersections. Through applying the agent-based simulation modeling approach in AnyLogic, findings show that average system delay could be reduced using optimized parameters (e.g. arrival rate, signal phase length, etc.), specifically, 5.29% saving of total average system time, 4%--28% traffic queue reduction for different traffic lanes, and a positive relationship between average system delay and the average traffic queue length is detected.
Lung eosinophil recruitment in response to Aspergillus fumigatus is correlated with fungal cell wall composition and requires γδ T cells

The differential recognition of fungal cell wall polysaccharides that program innate and adaptive immunity to the human opportunistic fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus has been a focus of considerable interest. In a mouse model of fungal conidia aspiration, decreased relative levels of cell wall core carbohydrates β-1,3-glucan to chitin in A. fumigatus isolates and mutant strains were correlated with increased airway eosinophil recruitment. In addition, an increase in fungal surface chitin exposure induced by the β-1,3-glucan synthesis-targeting drug caspofungin was associated with increased murine airway eosinophil recruitment after a single challenge of conidia. The response to increased A. fumigatus chitin was associated with increased transcription of IL-17A after a single aspiration, although this cytokine was not required for eosinophil recruitment. Rather, both RAG1 and γδ T cells were required, suggesting that this subset of innate-like lymphocytes may be an important regulator of potentially detrimental type 2 immune responses to fungal inhalation and infection.
Systemic Design for Second-Order Effects

Second-order effects refer to changes within a system that are the result of changes made somewhere else in the system (the first-order effects). Second-order effects can occur at different spatial, temporal, or organizational scales from the original interventions, and are difficult to control. Some organizational theorists suggest that careful management of feedback processes can facilitate controlled change from one organizational configuration to another. Recognizing that skill in managing feedback processes is a core competency of design suggests that design skills are potentially useful tools in achieving organizational change. This paper describes a case study in which a co-design methodology was used to control the second-order effects resulting from a classroom intervention to create organizational change. This approach is then theorized as the Instigator Systems approach.