cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Open distal tibial shaft fractures: a retrospective comparison of medial plate versus nail fixation.

Studies comparing open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) vs. intramedullary nailing (IMN) for distal tibia shaft fractures focus upon closed injuries containing small patient series with open fractures. As such, complication rates for open fractures are unknown. To characterize complications associated with ORIF vs. IMN, we compared complications based on surgical approach in a large patient series of open distal tibia shaft fractures. Through retrospective analysis at an urban level I trauma center, 180 IMN and 36 ORIF patients with open distal tibia fractures from 2002 to 2012 were evaluated. Patient charts were reviewed to identify patient demographics, fracture grade (G), patient comorbidities, and postoperative complications including nonunion, malunion, infection, hardware-related pain, and wound dehiscence. Fisher’s exact tests compared complications between ORIF and IMN groups. Multivariate regression identified risk factors with statistical significance for the development of a postoperative complication. One hundred and eighty IMN (G1 22, G2 79, and G3 79) and 36 ORIF (G1 10, G2 16, and G3 10) patients were included for analysis. ORIF patients had a higher rate of nonunion (25.0 %, n = 9) compared with IMN patients (10.6 %, n = 20, p = 0.03). No additional complication had a significant statistical difference between groups. Multivariable analysis shows only surgical method influenced the development of complications: ORIF patients had 2.52 greater odds of developing complications compared with IMN patients (95 % CI 1.05–6.02; p = 0.04). ORIF leads to higher rates of nonunion and significantly increases the odds of developing a complication compared with IMN for open distal tibia fractures. This is the first study investigating complication rates based on surgical approach in a large cohort of patients with exclusively open distal tibia fractures.
Value versus user fees: perspectives of patients before and after using a web-based portal for management of diabetes.

A Web-based portal was evaluated through focus group discussions and survey responses. Two groups, a preportal group and a portal-users group, participated. The portal contained a number of useful ...
Gender differences in way-finding strategies: relationship to spatial ability and spatial anxiety

Differences between women and men in the self-reported use of two different way-finding strategies were examined in a sample of primarily white middle to lower middle class college undergraduates. Women were more likely to report using a route strategy (attending to instructions on how to get from place to place), whereas men were more likely to report using an orientation strategy (maintaining a sense of their own position in relation to environmental reference points). Women also reported higher levels of spatial anxiety, or anxiety about environmental navigation, than did men. The orientation strategy was found to be positively correlated with spatial perception ability and negatively correlated with spatial anxiety.
Calmodulin as a Direct Detector of Ca2+ Signals

Many forms of signal transduction occur when Ca(2+) enters the cytoplasm of a cell. It has been generally thought that there is a fast buffer that rapidly reduces the free Ca(2+) level and that it is this buffered level of Ca(2+) that triggers downstream biochemical processes, notably the activation of calmodulin (CaM) and the resulting activation of CaM-dependent enzymes. Given the importance of these transduction processes, it is crucial to understand exactly how Ca(2+) activates CaM. We have determined the rate at which Ca(2+) binds to CaM and found that Ca(2+) binds more rapidly to CaM than to other Ca(2+)-binding proteins. This property of CaM and its high concentration support a new view of signal transduction: CaM directly intercepts incoming Ca(2+) and sets the free Ca(2+) level (that is, it strongly contributes to fast Ca(2+) buffering) rather than responding to the lower Ca(2+) level set by other buffers. This property is crucial for making CaM an efficient transducer. Our results also suggest that other Ca(2+) binding proteins have a previously undescribed role in regulating the lifetime of Ca(2+) bound to CaM and thereby setting the gain of signal transduction.
Socioeconomic Disparities in the Utilization of Mechanical Thrombectomy for Acute Ischemic Stroke

Background Previous studies have demonstrated that socioeconomic disparities in access to treatment of cerebrovascular diseases exist. We studied the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) to determine if disparities exist in utilization of mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke. Methods Using the NIS for the years 2006-2010, we selected all discharges with a primary diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke. Patients who received mechanical thrombectomy for stroke were identified by using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, procedure code 39.74. We examined the utilization rates of mechanical thrombectomy by race/ethnicity (white, black, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander), income quartile (first, second to third, and fourth), and insurance status (Medicare, Medicaid, self-pay, and private). We also studied thrombectomy utilization rates at hospitals that performed thrombectomy. Results From 2006 to 2010, 2,087,017 patients were hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke; 8946 patients (.4%) received mechanical thrombectomy. Compared with white patients, black patients had significantly lower rates of overall mechanical thrombectomy utilization (odds ratio [OR] = .59, 95% confidence interval [CI] = .55-.64, P P P P P P Conclusions Significant socioeconomic disparities exist in the utilization of mechanical thrombectomy in the United States.
Micromachined structure reliability testing specificity. The Motorola MGS1100 gas sensor example

In the present work, we show the specificity of reliability activities on devices like micromachined silicon gas sensors. As example, we present the approach taken by Motorola to adapt standard reliability tests to these emerging devices. Thermal, mechanical and environmental aspects are described.
CONSTRUCTING PLACE: CULTURAL HEGEMONIES AND MEDIA IMAGES OF AN INNER-CITY NEIGHBORHOOD

This paper examines place portrayals of an inner-city neighborhood by investigating the interrelationships among the representations of the neighborhood in major mainstream newspapers, the alternative neighborhood press, and local institutions. I argue that the everyday, lived experiences of neighborhood residents are represented through a series of discourses and counter-discourses between the mainstream and local newspapers. Using newspaper articles about vice in the Frogtown neighborhood of St. Paul, Minnesota, I demonstrate that the negative imagery of Frogtown in the mainstream press is contested and challenged in the local neighborhood newspaper, and by activists in the neighborhood. I conclude that while the major press has a dominant role in defining the neighborhood, locally based contestations over the place identity undermine and offer challenges to the hegemony of the popular media. Both local and dominant media discourses contribute to a neighborhood place identity. [Key words: media hegemony...
Exploratory study on association of single-nucleotide polymorphisms with hydromorphone analgesia in ED.

Abstract Objectives The objective of this study is to provide information on distribution of important single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and evaluate their associations with clinical response to intravenous hydromorphone in emergency department. Methods A prospective exploratory study was performed. A convenience sample of adult emergency department patients with acute pain deemed to require intravenous opioids received 1 mg of intravenous hydromorphone. Primary outcome was pain score (numeric rating scale, NRS) reduction between baseline and 30 minutes after medication administration. Secondary outcomes were pain relief, patient satisfaction with analgesia, desire for more analgesics, and side effects (nausea, vomiting, and pruritis). Single-nucleotide polymorphisms in OPRM1 gene (opioid receptor, A118G), ABCB1 gene (opioid transporter, C3435T), COMT gene (pain sensitivity, G1947A), and UGT2B7 gene (opioid metabolism, −G840A) were tested. We used Kruskal-Wallis test to compare the primary outcome and χ 2 test (or Fisher test) to compare the secondary outcomes among patients carrying different SNPs. Results One thousand four hundred thirty-eight patients were screened, and 163 patients were enrolled in the study. The mean age was 39 years. Sixty-three percent were female, 58% were Hispanic, and 67% had pain located in abdomen. The median pain NRS reduction at 30 minutes was 5 (interquartile range, 3-8). There was no difference in pain NRS reduction among patients carrying different SNPs. Secondary outcome analysis revealed statistically significant associations between patient satisfaction with treatment and OPRM1 and between nausea and UGT2B7 . Conclusions This exploratory study did not show a significant difference in pain NRS reduction among patients carrying different SNPs. Patient satisfaction with analgesia and nausea were statistically significantly associated with OPRM1 and UGT2B7 , respectively.
The mobile media actor-network in urban India

Building on a growing body of human-computer interaction (HCI) literature on information and communication technology (ICT) use in the developing world, this paper describes the vast, growing mobile media consumption culture in India, which relies on the ubiquity of informal socioeconomic practices for reproducing, sharing, and distributing pirated digital media. Using an Actor-Network Theory (ANT) based approach, we show how piracy not only fuels media consumption, but also drives further technology adoption and promotes digital literacy. To do this, we first uncover the role of piracy as a legitimate actor that brings ICT capability to underserved communities and reveal the heterogeneous character of the pirated mobile media distribution and consumption infrastructure in India. We then emphasize the benefits of an ANT-based theory-driven analysis to HCI's efforts in this arena. In particular, ANT enables us to one, draw attention to the ties in the pirate media network that facilitate the increased decentralization of piracy in India; two, highlight the progressive transition from the outsourcing to the self-sourcing of users' media needs as this network evolves; and three, recognize the agency of human and non-human entities in this inherently sociotechnical ecosystem.
Turnaround management in psychiatric hospitals

Recent changes in the psychiatric hospital industry are generating a substantial demand for turnaround management strategies. The authors describe a turnaround management plan implemented at a 60 bed psychiatric hospital. Key operating and financial indicators are reviewed, and the steps taken to address the turnaround are described. Results after one year are presented, and the implications for turnaround management in other mental health organizations are discussed.
Methods of measuring spin-lattice ( T 1 ) relaxation times: an annotated bibliography

This review of methods of measuring spin-lattice (T1) relaxation times comprises 283 references, including 90 references on magnetic resonance imaging. Annotations give brief descriptions of each reference. References are organized by major categories, with cross-references to other topics. Major categories include many methods, optimization, data analysis, elimination of errors, signal intensity formulas, chemical exchange, and spatially localized measurements. Key references are indicated in several categories. ©1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Concepts Magn Reson 11: 243–276, 1999
Activation of liver X receptor (LXR) enhances de novo fatty acid synthesis in bovine mammary epithelial cells

Liver X receptor (LXR) is a nuclear receptor and a known regulator of lipid synthesis in rodents; however, the role of LXR in the regulation of fatty acid synthesis in bovine mammary epithelial cells has not yet been defined. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of LXR activation on the de novo synthesis of fatty acids in bovine mammary epithelial cells (BME-UV). Bovine mammary epithelial cells were treated with T0901317 (T09), an LXR agonist. Treatment of BME-UV with T09 increased the transcription of ATP-binding cassette transporter-G1, an LXR target gene, without modifying LXRα mRNA abundance. Acute and chronic treatment of BME-UV with T09 dramatically increased de novo fatty acid synthesis. Activation of LXR resulted in the upregulation of transcription, translation, and proteolytic cleavage of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 (SREBP1), a lipogenic transcription factor expressed in the bovine mammary gland. Additionally, the mRNA abundance of fatty acid synthase, an LXR and SREBP1 target gene, increased in response to LXR activation. Our data indicate that SREBP1 is regulated by LXR activation in BME-UV. Controlling LXR activation may prove useful in regulating milk fat production in lactating dairy cows.
Arab-American Muslims' Home Interiors in the US: Meanings, Uses and Communication

The role of tradition and the attachment to homeland culture remain prerequisites that guide the development of the interior home environment of Arab-American Muslims in the United States. Space appropriation and the use of artifacts illustrate the rooted sensory need to reaffirm the attachment to the homeland's social and cultural values; additionally, these trends symbolize the enduring values of the group and render the home interior a place apart. This paper explores the role of tradition and its influence in shaping the home interior's physical environment, identifies the meanings associated with the resulting composition, and examines the consequences of adaptation to the host environment. This qualitative investigation used a grounded theory of two Arab-American Muslim immigrant settlements in Chicago, Illinois and Dearborn, Michigan. The sample consisted of 20 household heads living in two-parent families. The heterogeneity of the Arab-Muslim immigrants necessitated the use of purposeful sampling. Focus groups, interviews, and participant observation constituted the different forms of data collection. Data were analyzed using open coding (Strauss & Corbin, 1990). Findings indicated and confirmed that cultural forces remain a pivotal role in influencing the design of the home interior. More importantly, it was found that despite the attachment to traditional values, a growing indifference to homeland ideals can be sensed as the household undergoes generational, social, and cultural metamorphosis.
Responsive Changes in Mental Health Practice in Wisconsin

SUMMARY Delivery of mental health care is changing dramatically at the state and county levels in Wisconsin. These new trends are affecting psychiatric institutions and rehabilitation personnel in reference to staffing patterns, the roles of occupational therapists, certified occupational therapy assistants, patient population and level of acute care and the type and site of intervention. Therapists are moving to more community-based and innovative programming and are leading state and local advocacy initiatives. Many occupational therapists in Wisconsin have become pioneers pursuing nontraditional occupational therapy roles in response to changes in philosophy, funding, population demographics and evolving needs.
Public sector price increases, credibility and welfare

Abstract This paper examines the dynamics of inflation and unemployment when the government increases public sector prices and wage indexation prevents the labor market from clearing in the short run. Credible reforms are virtually certain to be immediately deflationary and welfare improving even when the labor market clears very slowly. Temporary price increases, however, usually produce higher inflation after a short period of time and often reduce welfare. When higher inflation provokes the government to reverse the reform, there exist multiple self-fulfilling equilibria.
Structural studies of hydrated germanium X-type zeolite via Rietveld analysis of synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction data

Abstract An aluminogermanate analog of zeolite X has been synthesized by solution reaction, and characterized by Rietveld analysis of synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction data. The hydrated sample has a chemical formula Na 96 Al 96 Ge 96 O 384 · w H 2 O, and the material possesses an ordered arrangement of Al and Ge in the framework. A cell parameter of 25.589(1) A confirms the expected cell expansion over Low Silica X (LSX), although a smaller average framework T–O–T bond angle indicates greater relative cell collapse than for LSX. The distribution of sodium cations in the non-framework sites in NaGeX is significantly different from that in LSX, and appears to deviate from the proposed relationship between Al content and cation siting for hydrated aluminosilicate faujasite-type zeolites.
Collagenases and cracks in the plaque

The core of an atheromatous plaque contains lipids, macrophages, and cellular debris, typically covered by a fibrous cap that separates the thrombogenic core from the blood. Rupture of the fibrous cap causes most fatal myocardial infarctions. Interstitial collagen confers tensile strength on the cap, as it does in skin and tendons. In 1994, Peter Libby and colleagues demonstrated overexpression of collagenolytic enzymes in atheromatous plaques and implicated MMPs in the destabilization of these lesions.
Code-controlled 3D frequency hopping for jamming mitigation

This paper considers spectrally efficient anti-jamming system design based on coded three-dimensional (3D) frequency hopping. Unlike conventional frequency hopping systems where the hopping pattern is determined by a preselected pseudo-random sequence, in the proposed scheme, part of the information is passed through a block encoder, and used to determine the selected frequency bands for signal transmission. The receiver is designed to retrieve the hopping pattern without a priori knowledge. The proposed system can effectively mitigate random jamming interference while maintaining high spectral efficiency. Simulation results are provided to illustrate the system's jamming mitigation performance.
Characterizing and quantifying earthquake-induced site nonlinearity

Abstract This study proposes a recording-based approach to characterize and quantify earthquake-induced site nonlinearity, exemplified as soil nonlinearity and/or liquefaction. Alternative to Fourier spectral analysis (FSA), the paper introduces time–frequency analysis of earthquake ground motion recordings with the aid of so-called Hilbert-Huang transform (HHT), and offers justification for the HHT in addressing the nonlinear features shown in the recordings. With the use of the 2001 Nisqually earthquake recordings, this study shows that the proposed approach is effective in characterizing site nonlinearity and quantifying the influences in seismic ground responses. Major results from this study are listed below. 1. HHT-based site amplification is defined as the ratio of marginal Hilbert amplitude spectra, similar to the Fourier-based one that is the ratio of Fourier amplitude spectra. The HHT-based site amplification can be used in effectively quantifying site nonlinearity in terms of frequency downshift in the low-frequency range and amplification-reduction factor in intermediate-frequency range in comparison with the Fourier-based one. 2. Instantaneous damping, and Hilbert and marginal Hilbert damping spectra are defined in ways similar to instantaneous frequency, and Hilbert and marginal Hilbert amplitude spectra, respectively. Consequently, the HHT-based site damping is found as the difference of marginal Hilbert damping spectra, which can be used as an alternative, complementary index to measure the influences of site nonlinearity in seismic ground responses.
Optothermal NDE of thermal-barrier coatings

An optothermal technique is described for the nondestructive evaluation of thermal barriers, such as ceramic plasma-sprayed coatings. This method is noncontact and requires access from one side only of the sample, thereby making it easier to inspect awkwardly shaped or difficult-to-reach pieces. A laser beam irradiates the coated material, raising its surface temperature to some degrees above ambient. The surface temperature is monitored during or after irradiation by an infrared detector to obtain a characteristic temperature-time curve (thermogram). After appropriate processing, the thermogram provides information on the thermal properties of the coating if its thickness is known. Alternatively, the thickness of the coating can be estimated if its thermal properties are known. In either case, the optothermal analysis allows one to evaluate the degree of thermal insulation provided by the coating. Each measurement is performed nondestructively and within a time period of less than 0.5 sec per point using the single-shot method.
Structures of Minimal Catalytic Fragments of Topoisomerase V Reveals Conformational Changes Relevant for DNA Binding

Topoisomerase V is an archaeal type I topoisomerase that is unique among topoisomerases due to presence of both topoisomerase and DNA repair activities in the same protein. It is organized as an N-terminal topoisomerase domain followed by 24 tandem helix-hairpin-helix (HhH) motifs. Structural studies have shown that the active site is buried by the (HhH) motifs. Here we show that the N-terminal domain can relax DNA in the absence of any HhH motifs and that the HhH motifs are required for stable protein-DNA complex formation. Crystal structures of various topoisomerase V fragments show changes in the relative orientation of the domains mediated by a long bent linker helix, and these movements are essential for the DNA to enter the active site. Phosphate ions bound to the protein near the active site helped model DNA in the topoisomerase domain and show how topoisomerase V may interact with DNA.
ACCURATE MEASUREMENT OF THE COUNTING EFFICIENCY OF A NE-213 NEUTRON DETECTOR BETWEEN 2 AND 26 MeV.

Abstract The neutron detection efficiency of a liquid scintillator (NE-213, 12 cm diam. × 5.7 cm) was measured with various bias settings corresponding to proton energies from 1 MeV to 6 MeV. For neutron energies below about 12 MeV a simplified calculation fits the data very well and the uncertainty in the shape is less than 2%. The importance of contributions from the reaction 12 C(n, n′)3 α above the energy is shown. An extensive survey of publications dealing with the efficiency of organic scintillators is also presented.
Quantum Chemistry Based Statistical Mechanical Model of Hydrogen Desorption from Si(100)-2 × 1, Ge(100)-2 × 1, and SiGe Alloy Surfaces

A model for temperature programmed desorption (TPD) of hydrogen from the Si(100)-2 × 1, Ge(100)-2 × 1, and SiGe alloy surfaces is presented. In the model, density functional theory is used to calculate the activation barriers of hydrogen desorption, and statistical mechanics is applied to determine the distribution of hydride species on the Si(100)-2 × 1, Ge(100)-2 × 1, and SiGe alloy surfaces using the DFT results. Hydrogen desorption via both the prepairing mechanism and the interdimer mechanisms is considered. The overall rates of hydrogen desorption from the surfaces are determined by the statistical model, and TPD spectra are simulated from the overall desorption rates. We find that, although the TPD spectra simulated according to the prepairing mechanism are consistent with the near-first-order kinetics observed experimentally on the Si(100)-2 × 1 and Ge(100)-2 × 1 surfaces, hydrogen desorption via interdimer mechanisms results in peak temperatures more consistent with experiments. We also consider ...
Non-Heisenberg couplings and ferromagnetic instability in a random antiferromagnetic spin-1 chain

A random antiferromagnetic spin-1 chain with both Heisenberg and biquadratic nearest neighbor couplings is found to exhibit a novel ferromagnetic-like instability at low energies, if there is competition between the Heisenberg and biquadratic couplings, even though each individual nearest neighbor coupling is such as to produce a singlet ground state for the isolated pair. This instability leads to the generation of ferromagnetic couplings, and thus to the formation of weakly coupled large moments at low temperatures. A perturbative calculation (up to 4th order) is performed to investigate whether such a situation is physically realizable in spin-1 systems.
Characterization of membrane potential-dependent uptake of the novel PET tracer 18F-fluorobenzyl triphenylphosphonium cation.

Mitochondrial dysfunction has been attributed a critical role in the etiology and pathogenesis of numerous diseases, and is manifested by alterations of the organelle’s membrane potential (Δψm). This suggests that Δψm measurement can be highly useful for diagnostic purposes. In the current study, we characterized the capability of the novel PET agent 18F-fluorobenzyl triphenylphosphonium (18F-FBnTP) to assess Δψm, compared with the well-established voltage sensor 3H-tetraphenylphosphonium (3H-TPP). 18F-FBnTP and 3H-TPP uptake under conditions known to alter Δψm and plasma membrane potential (Δψp) was assayed in the H345 lung carcinoma cell line. 18F-FBnTP biodistribution was assessed in CD1 mice using dynamic PET and ex vivo gamma well counting. 18F-FBnTP and 3H-TPP demonstrated similar uptake kinetics and plateau concentrations in H345 cells. Stepwise membrane depolarization resulted in a linear decrease in 18F-FBnTP cellular uptake, with a slope (−0.58±0.06) and correlation coefficient (0.94±0.07) similar (p>0.17) to those measured for 3H-TPP (−0.63±0.06 and 0.96±0.05, respectively). Selective collapse of Δψm caused a substantial decrease in cellular uptake for 18F-FBnTP (81.6±8.1%) and 3H-TPP (85.4±6.7%), compared with control. Exposure to the proapoptotic staurosporine, known to collapse Δψm, resulted in a decrease of 68.7±10.1% and 71.5±8.4% in 18F-FBnTP and 3H-TPP cellular uptake, respectively. 18F-FBnTP accumulated mainly in kidney, heart and liver. 18F-FBnTP is a mitochondria-targeting PET radiopharmaceutical responsive to alterations in membrane potential with voltage-dependent performance similar to that of 3H-TPP. 18F-FBnTP is a promising new voltage sensor for detection of physiological and pathological processes associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, such as apoptosis, using PET.
Calculation of resonance broadening.

The line-shape function is expressed in terms of three boundary functions related to the two-particle Green's function. The transverse as well as the longitudinal interaction among atoms is considered, using the photon propagator approach. The broadening of one of the radiative states through the resonance interaction with the ground state is considered in detail. The contributions of multiple transfer of excitation and of two-body scattering are calculated separately. Several validity conditions are also obtained which clarify the approximations in the existing results. The velocity dependence of the width parameter is investigated in some detail; our results differ considerably from the existing results because we have included higher-order contributions. The extreme low-density region [where (collision width) \ensuremath{\sim} (natural width)] is also considered; the linewidth is found to be nonlinear in the number density. The additional contribution of the coupling between the radiative states is also calculated in a special case.
Comparative Analysis of Protein-Protein Interactions in Cancer-Associated Genes

Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) have been widely studied to understand the biological processes or molecular functions associated with different disease systems like cancer. While focused studies on individual cancers have generated valuable information, global and comparative analysis of datasets from different cancer types has not been done. In this work, we carried out bioinformatic analysis of PPIs corresponding to differentially expressed genes from microarrays of various tumor tissues (belonging to bladder, colon, kidney and thyroid cancers) and compared their associated biological processes and molecular functions (based on Gene Ontology terms). We identified a set of processes or functions that are common to all these cancers, as well as those that are specific to only one or partial cancer types. Similarly, protein interaction networks in nucleic acid metabolism were compared to identify the common/specific clusters of proteins across different cancer types. Our results provide a basis for further experimental investigations to study protein interaction networks associated with cancer. The methodology developed in this work can also be applied to study similar disease systems.
N-acyl derivatives of arginine and tryptophan isolated from environmental DNA expressed in Escherichia coli.

Heterologous expression of microbial DNA extracted directly from environmental samples (environmental DNA, eDNA) in easily cultured hosts can provide access to natural products produced by previously uncultured bacteria. This report describes the characterization of antibacterially active long-chain N-acyl derivatives of tryptophan and arginine that are produced by eDNA clones hosted in Escherichia coli. The sequencing and subcloning of the proposed N-acyl amino acid synthases (NASs) for each family of natural products are also described.
Three-dimensional postbuckling and vibration of vertical half-loop under self-weight

The stability and vibration characteristics of a flexible and inextensible half-loop are investigated. The loop is fixed at two base points, which are separated by a specified distance, and is only subjected to gravity loading. If the length of the loop is sufficiently small, the loop stands upright in a vertical plane. If the length is increased past a critical value, the planar equilibrium shape becomes unstable and the loop droops to one side (i.e., laterally). This out-of-plane displacement may occur smoothly (supercritical bifurcation), or the loop may suddenly jump to a severely-drooped configuration (subcritical bifurcation), depending on the constitutive law. Linearly-elastic and softening materials are considered. Prebuckled and postbuckled equilibrium states are determined numerically with the use of a shooting method. Droop caused by an applied torsional moment is also analyzed. Then small vibrations about the prebuckled (planar) states are studied. Three basic types of vibration modes occur: in-plane, out-of-plane (symmetric), and twist about a vertical axis through the center of the loop. Experiments on a fiber-optic rod and a curtain wire are carried out to qualitatively verify the numerical results for both types of constitutive laws.
SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE LYMPH AND BLOOD VESSELS OF THE RABBIT TRACHEA : WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THEIR RÔLE IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF EXPERIMENTAL LOBAR PNEUMONIA.

1. Winternitz, Smith, and Robinson have offered as experimental evidence in support of the lymphatic path of infection in lobar pneumonia, a series of injection experiments of the rabbit's tracheal submucosa. What these investigators supposed to be lymphatics are shown by us to be an unusual type of venous supply consisting of short, wide, and richly anastomosing vascular channels. 2. There is little homology between the structure and distribution of the lymph and blood vessels in the human and rabbit trachea. 3. Injections of pneumococci by the tracheal route to produce lobar pneumonia in the rabbit include an intravenous administration of these organisms when the mucosa is pierced or injured.
Differences in Site Fidelity Among Territorial Males of the Carpenter Bee Xylocopa Varipuncta (Hymenoptera: Anthophoridae)

Lekking males of the carpenter bee Xylocopa (Neoxylocopa) varipuncta compete for landmark territories, where they are occasionally visited by receptive females. In a study conducted over three flight seasons, less than 10% of marked males qualified as long-term residents (i.e. bees that held the same hovering station for 90 min or more on at least two afternoons). However, among the small minority of long-term residents were some bees that returned to the same landmark for up to 3 hr every afternoon for several weeks. These males defeated many intruders in aerial combat during each afternoon. The hypothesis that site-faithful males were individuals of unusual resource-holding power is not supported. Long-term residents were not larger on average than short-term territory holders. Moreover, the frequency of mating by long-term residents was very similar to that of males in the general population, suggesting that long-term residents did not hold territories that were exceptionally attractive to females. Thus, the basis for site fidelity in this species remains elusive. The rarity of site-faithful males in this species may be related to great daily fluctuations in the numbers of potentially receptive females visiting the landmark territories, which may make the timing of male mate-attracting behavior far more important than regularly returning to defend any one site.
The Cost-Effectiveness of Immediate Treatment, Percutaneous Biopsy and Active Surveillance for the Diagnosis of the Small Solid Renal Mass: Evidence From a Markov Model

Purpose: The most effective diagnostic strategy for the very small, incidentally detected solid renal mass is uncertain. We assessed the cost-effectiveness of adding percutaneous biopsy or active surveillance to the diagnosis of a 2 cm or less solid renal mass.Materials and Methods: A Markov state transition model was developed to observe a hypothetical cohort of healthy 60-year-old men with an incidentally detected, 2 or less cm solid renal mass, comparing percutaneous biopsy, immediate treatment and active surveillance. The primary outcomes assessed were the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio measured by cost per life-year gained at a willingness to pay threshold of $50,000. Model results were assessed by sensitivity analysis.Results: Immediate treatment was the highest cost, most effective diagnostic strategy, providing the longest overall survival of 18.53 life-years. Active surveillance was the lowest cost, least effective diagnostic strategy. On cost-effectiveness analysis using a societal willing...
Exercise Testing Three Weeks after Myocardial Infarction

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and utility of treadmill exercise testing prior to the discharge of patients admitted with acute myocardial infarction. Sixty-two of 109 consecutive patients were exercised without complications to 60 percent of their maximal heart rate at a mean of 18 days after admission. Exercise testing influenced management in 13 (21 percent) of the 62 patients; therapy with antiarrhytfamic drugs was started in four patients, dosages of antianginal agents were increased in three patients, and hoepitatizstion was prolonged in four patients. Fourteen patients died after discharge; six had undergone exercise testing. Follow-up information was obtained for a mean of 21 months in all 109 patients. Six (30 percent) of the 20 patients who developed ST-segment depression during exercise either died or had another myocardial infarction after discharge from the hospital. This is in contrast to an occurrence of death or reinfarction in only two (5 percent) of the 42 patients who did not have ST-segment depression during exercise. These data suggest that the exercise test is safe and useful in management and may be valuable in predicting coronary events after hospitalization following myocardial infarction.
D2-Like Dopamine Receptors Modulate SKCa Channel Function in Subthalamic Nucleus Neurons Through Inhibition of Cav2.2 Channels

The activity patterns of subthalamic nucleus (STN) neurons are intimately related to motor function/dysfunction and modulated directly by dopaminergic neurons that degenerate in Parkinson's disease...
Targeted detection of murine colonic dysplasia in vivo with flexible multispectral scanning fiber endoscopy

Gastrointestinal cancers are heterogeneous and can overexpress several protein targets that can be imaged simultaneously on endoscopy using multiple molecular probes. We aim to demonstrate a multispectral scanning fiber endoscope for wide-field fluorescence detection of colonic dysplasia. Excitation at 440, 532, and 635 nm is delivered into a single spiral scanning fiber, and fluorescence is collected by a ring of light-collecting optical fibers placed around the instrument periphery. Specific-binding peptides are selected with phage display technology using the CPC;Apc mouse model of spontaneous colonic dysplasia. Validation of peptide specificity is performed on flow cytometry and in vivo endoscopy. The peptides KCCFPAQ, AKPGYLS, and LTTHYKL are selected and labeled with 7-diethylaminocoumarin-3-carboxylic acid (DEAC), 5-carboxytetramethylrhodamine (TAMRA), and CF633, respectively. Separate droplets of KCCFPAQ-DEAC, AKPGYLS-TAMRA, and LTTHYKL-CF633 are distinguished at concentrations of 100 and 1 μM. Separate application of the fluorescent-labeled peptides demonstrate specific binding to colonic adenomas. The average target/background ratios are 1.71 ± 0.19 and 1.67 ± 0.12 for KCCFPAQ-DEAC and AKPGYLS-TAMRA, respectively. Administration of these two peptides together results in distinct binding patterns in the blue and green channels. Specific binding of two or more peptides can be distinguished in vivo using a novel multispectral endoscope to localize colonic dysplasia on real-time wide-field imaging.
Report of a Case of Phenobarbital-Induced Dystonia

We report a case of acute dystonia in a child hours after an initial oral loading dose ofphenobarbital was given.
Role of Hsp70 ATPase Domain Intrinsic Dynamics and Sequence Evolution in Enabling its Functional Interactions with NEFs

Catalysis of ADP-ATP exchange by nucleotide exchange factors (NEFs) is central to the activity of Hsp70 molecular chaperones. Yet, the mechanism of interaction of this family of chaperones with NEFs is not well understood in the context of the sequence evolution and structural dynamics of Hsp70 ATPase domains. We studied the interactions of Hsp70 ATPase domains with four different NEFs on the basis of the evolutionary trace and co-evolution of the ATPase domain sequence, combined with elastic network modeling of the collective dynamics of the complexes. Our study reveals a subtle balance between the intrinsic (to the ATPase domain) and specific (to interactions with NEFs) mechanisms shared by the four complexes. Two classes of key residues are distinguished in the Hsp70 ATPase domain: (i) highly conserved residues, involved in nucleotide binding, which mediate, via a global hinge-bending, the ATPase domain opening irrespective of NEF binding, and (ii) not-conserved but co-evolved and highly mobile residues, engaged in specific interactions with NEFs (e.g., N57, R258, R262, E283, D285). The observed interplay between these respective intrinsic (pre-existing, structure-encoded) and specific (co-evolved, sequence-dependent) interactions provides us with insights into the allosteric dynamics and functional evolution of the modular Hsp70 ATPase domain.
Thermal stress effects on certain blood characteristics of adult male turkeys.

Abstract THERMAL effects upon certain blood characteristics of fowl have not been dealt with to any great extent. Griminger et at. (1965) noted that a hot environment (32°C.) caused a slower clotting of blood in chickens and was possibly due to a decreased vitamin K intake brought about by decreased feed consumption. Huston (1965) and Gee and Huston (1965) found that the hematocrits of chickens at an ambient temperature of 30°C. were significantly lower than those of birds grown in cooler environments, and that birds held in cooler environments had higher erythrocyte concentrations. They also observed that deprivation of water raised the hematocrit of birds. Wels (1966) noticed that in cockerels, the red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit values rose 13 to 15% when the birds were deprived of water. Subaschandran and Balloun (1967) reported that hemoglobin and hematocrit levels were significantly lower and hemodilution occurred in heat-stressed chickens as…
CHARACTERIZATION OF URINARY ISOFLAVONE METABOLITES EXCRETED AFTER THE CONSUMPTION OF SOY FLOUR OR SOYBEAN PASTE USING LC-(ESI)MS/MS

Isoflavones are thought to have an important role in the prevention of hormone-related diseases. This study was undertaken to identify the profile of urinary isoflavone metabolites collected within 24 h after the consumption of unfermented or fermented soy foods. The proportions of β-glycosides and aglycones to total isoflavone intake were much higher in soybean paste than soy flour. Twenty urinary isoflavone metabolites were identified using LC(ESI)-MS/MS. After enzymatic hydrolysis, glucuronide forms of daidzein and genistein accounted for 76 and 86% of total isoflavones, demonstrating that the majority of urinary isoflavone metabolites are glucuronide conjugates. When comparing the areas under curves of two foods, total urinary isoflavones excretion was higher in subjects consuming soybean paste than in subjects consuming soy flour. Genistein glucuronides are cleared more slowly than daidzein glucuronides after soy consumption. These findings indicate that the bioavailability of isoflavones may be influenced depending on the chemical composition of soy isoflavones. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Sensitive LC(ESI)-MS/MS methods characterizing the broad range of flavonoid metabolites formed in response to a “realistic” dietary exposure are critical for understanding what metabolites are circulating in plasma and have biological activity. Once identified these metabolites can be used to probe mechanisms of biological action, explore synergy between metabolites and better define their role in human health.
Software in the year 2010

In 2010, it is safer because software technologies provide protections. However, the world has also become more dangerous because the atmosphere of mutual trust that was the basis of the early Internet has been largely obliterated. In the peer sets of 2010, each member of a peer set has its own internal model of what its environment is supposed to look like. The infamous Spyware Debacle of 2005 is long past. As a discipline, software engineering in 2010 has changed in some rather striking ways, although some might argue that it has simply returned to its roots. Outsourcing of both the private and the open-source varieties has removed most of the more mundane programming tasks from the main job market. Sophisticated automation of simpler programming tasks has led to a further reduction in the need for traditional programmers. A particularly popular approach has been to use interactive wizards in household appliances and entertainment devices. The fact that vendors sell many such software packages as integral parts of small, dedicated hardware appliances (rather than bits) further enhances software development's growing resemblance to traditional forms of engineering, such as civil and electrical. Such packaging dramatically increases the provable levels of many desirable system properties by resolving the physical-access bypass problem that has plagued software security since its origins. The creativity programming market uses many of the same languages as the late 1990s and early 2000s, of course, but with several surprises. Ada, once given up for dead by the US Department of Defense community that created it, has become the darling of the commercial-properties-composition industry. XML has continued to expand. Open source software has ceased to be controversial after businesses began to interpret it as an effective way to control the long-term support costs of the shared software infrastructure. The result is a much more stratified use of open source and proprietary software, with the widely shared infrastructure typically being open source. Finally, one of the more-interesting ongoing news items of 2010 has been the partial collapse of the international patent system, centering around claims of "patent feudalism" in software and biotechnology industries.
On Optimizing the Longest Common Subsequence Problem by Loop Unrolling Along Wavefronts

Loop unrolling is a loop transformation where a few loop iterations are grouped as a super iteration for exploring more independent instructions and to decrease the total loop overhead. This paper characterizes loop unrolling by the unrolling factor, the number of iterations in a super iteration and the unrolling direction, the choice of iterations to be grouped to form the super iteration. We use loop unrolling for maximizing instruction-level parallelism in the longest common subsequence problem. To increase the number of independent instructions in the super iteration, we use a linear schedule to group iterations on the same wave front, a hyper plane in the loop iteration space. Then, the loop is unrolled along the wave front which guarantees all iterations in the same super iteration are independent. The selection of the optimal unrolling factor is based on the assumption that if all the pipelines are saturated, the performance should not be bad. Two necessary conditions and a sufficient condition for optimality are presented and used to find the optimal unrolling factor. The total execution time is expressed as a function of algorithm parameters, architecture parameters and the unrolling factor. A benchmark of the technique scores a 1.475 speed-up over traditional methods.
Impacting education using FPGAs

Summary form only given. An overview of how FPGAs are impacting education is given with an emphasis on how laboratory experiences are used to enhance learning. Courses employing these devices include: introductory logic, advanced logic (ASIC Prototyping), system-on-chip and platform design, HW/SW codesign of real-time embedded systems, network routing, and multidisciplinary capstone design. Project examples are presented along with specific ways that instructors can collaborate more to enhance the students' experiences and their own productivity.
Weight Status, Gender, and Race/Ethnicity Are There Differences in Meeting Recommended Health Behavior Guidelines for Adolescents?

Healthy behaviors including limited screen time (ST), high physical activity (PA), and adequate fruits and vegetables consumption (FV) are recommended for adolescents, but it is unclear how gender, race/ethnicity, and weight status relate to these public health guidelines in diverse urban adolescents. Participants (N = 384) were recruited from three public high schools in or near New Haven, Connecticut. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were conducted. Most adolescents exceeded recommended levels of ST (70.5%) and did not meet guidelines for PA (87.2%) and FV (72.6%). Only 3.5% of the sample met all three guidelines. Boys were more likely to meet guidelines for PA (p < .01), while girls were engaged in less ST (p < .001). Black, non-Latinos were less likely to meet PA guidelines (p < .05). There were no significant differences in meeting ST, PA, or FV guidelines by weight status for the overall sample or when stratified by gender or race/ethnicity. We found alarmingly low levels of healthy behaviors in normal weight and overweight/obese adolescents.