cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vector pascal: a computer programming language for the fps-164 array processor

Support for vector operations in computer programming languages is analyzed to determine if programs employing such operations run faster. The programming language Vector Pascal is defined and compared to Fortran 8X and Actus. Vector Pascal contains definintions for matrix and vector operations and the Vector Pascal compiler translates vector expressions. The Vector Pascal compiler executes on an IBM Personal Computer AT and produces code for a Floating Point Systems FPS-164 Scientific Computer. The standard benchmark LINPACK, which solves systems of linear equations, is transcribed from Fortran to Standard Pascal and Vector Pascal. The Vector Pascal version of LINPACK exploits vector operations defined in the language. The speedup of the Vector Pascal version of LINPACK over the Standard Pascal version is presented.
AC Loss Measurements of Two Multifilamentary NbTi Composite Strands

As part of an interlaboratory comparative testing program conducted in support of the Versailles Agreement on Advanced Materials and Standards (VAMAS), transverse-field DC hysteresis loss measurements were made at liquid-helium temperatures at fields of up to 3 T (30 kG) on two samples of multifilamentary NbTi composite. The strands differed widely in filament number, were comparable in filament diameter, and one of them was provided with a Cu-Ni barrier between the filaments. The results have been analyzed, and magnetically deduced critical current density values obtained (for comparison with directly measured transport data) using various standard techniques. Based on these studies, a figure-of-merit for AC loss is recommended. The Cu-matrix strand, with its interfilamentary spacing of less than 1 μm, exhibited pronounced proximity-effect-induced coupling losses; this was not observed in the mixed-matrix strand which possessed not only a Cu-Ni barrier but also an interfilamentary spacing of typically 4 μm.
A Revised Model for AMP-activated Protein Kinase Structure

Abstract The 5′-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a master sensor for cellular metabolic energy state. It is activated by a high AMP/ATP ratio and leads to metabolic changes that conserve energy and utilize alternative cellular fuel sources. The kinase is composed of a heterotrimeric protein complex containing a catalytic α-subunit, an AMP-binding γ-subunit, and a scaffolding β-subunit thought to bind directly both the α- and γ-subunits. Here, we use coimmunoprecipitation of proteins in transiently transfected cells to show that the α2-subunit binds directly not only to the β-subunit, confirming previous work, but also to the γ1-subunit. Deletion analysis of the α2-subunit reveals that the C-terminal 386-552 residues are sufficient to bind to the β-subunit. The γ1-subunit binds directly to the α2-subunit at two interaction sites, one within the catalytic domain consisting of α2 amino acids 1-312 and a second within residues 386-552. Binding of the α2 and the γ1-subunits was not affected by 400 μm AMP or ATP. Furthermore, we show that the β-subunit C terminus is essential for binding to the α2-subunit but, in contrast to previous work, the β-subunit does not bind directly to the γ1-subunit. Taken together, this study presents a new model for AMPK heterotrimer structure where through its C terminus the β-subunit binds to the α-subunit that, in turn, binds to the γ-subunit. There is no direct interaction between the β- and γ-subunits.
Tryptophan Synthetase in Euglena gracilis Strain G

The five enzyme activities in the synthesis of l-tryptophan have been obtained in extracts of Euglena gracilis. One of these, tryptophan synthetase, has been studied in detail. The general catalytic properties of tryptophan synthetase, including the range of reactions catalyzed and its substrate and cofactor affinities, are similar to those reported for other organisms. The Euglena enzyme has two properties never previously observed for tryptophan synthetase. First, the rate of catalysis of the conversion of indole-glycerol phosphate to l-tryptophan remained at its maximal value and was unaffected by the ionic environment up to 0.3 m KCl. In contrast, the conversion of indole to tryptophan showed a sharp maximum at 0.08 m KCl. Second, the enzyme is a component of a complex that includes every enzyme in the pathway committed to tryptophan biosynthesis with the exception of anthranilate synthetase, the regulatory enzyme.
Fructose protects rat hepatocytes from anoxic injury. Effect on intracellular ATP, Ca2+i, Mg2+i, Na+i, and pHi.

Abstract The effects of fructose on the intracellular ionic changes evoked by anoxia were studied in freshly isolated rat hepatocytes maintained in agarose gel threads and perfused with Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate buffer (KHB). Cytosolic free calcium (Ca2+i) was measured with aequorin, intracellular sodium (Na+i) with sodium-binding benzofuran isophthalate, intracellular pH (pHi) with 2'-7'-bis(carboxyethyl)-5,6-carboxyfluorescein, lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) by the increase in NADH absorbance during lactate oxidation to pyruvate, and viability by trypan blue exclusion. ATP, Pi, phosphomonoesters, and the cell phosphorylation potential assessed by the reciprocal of the Pi/ATP ratio were measured by 31P NMR spectroscopy in real time. Intracellular free Mg2+ (Mg2+i) was calculated from the chemical shift of beta-ATP relative to alpha-ATP in the NMR spectra. Anoxia was induced by perfusing the cells with KHB saturated with 95% N2, 5% CO2. When the perfusate contained 5 mM glucose as substrate, anoxia caused a fall in ATP, a rise in Pi, and in the Pi/ATP ratio, a biphasic increase in Ca2+i that reached 1.45 +/- 0.42 microM and a 6-fold increase in LDH. When 15 mM fructose was used as substrate during the anoxic period, intracellular ATP decreased much faster than with glucose, Pi did not increase, and the concentration of phosphomonoesters increased 2.5-fold. During the first hour of anoxia, the Pi/ATP ratio was higher in the fructose than in the glucose group indicating that the hepatocyte phosphorylation potential and ATP decreased faster and to lower levels with fructose than with glucose. On the other hand, ATP and the phosphorylation potential of the fructose group increased during the second hour of anoxia, in contrast to their continuous decline in the glucose group. The major surge in Ca2+i was depressed 52% when glucose was replaced by fructose: Ca2+i reached only 0.7 +/- 0.2 microM instead of 1.45 +/- 0.42 microM (p less than 0.01). Anoxia also caused an increase in Na+i and an intracellular acidosis. The rise in Na+i was significantly greater with fructose than with glucose. Na+i rose from a control value of 15.9 +/- 2.4 to 32.2 +/- 0.4 mM with glucose and to 48.7 +/- 0.7 mM with fructose (p less than 0.001). The decrease in pHi from a control value of 7.43 +/- 0.03 was consistently greater and faster with fructose than with glucose: 6.59 +/- 0.03 and 7.04 +/- 0.01, respectively. At the same time, fructose completely suppressed LDH release and reduced the loss of viability produced by anoxia from 27.7 +/- 2.9 to 14 +/- 3.1% (p less than 0.05).
Serine Biosynthesis and Regulation in Haemophilus influenzae

Nutritional mutants of Haemophilus influenzae requiring l-serine for growth were shown to be deficient in their capacity to synthesize serine-phosphate from 3-phosphoglycerate. On the basis of the correlation between this block and the requirement for an exogenous supply of the amino acid, it was concluded that the "phosphorylated" pathway is the only pathway used by H. influenzae for serine biosynthesis. Serine inhibits serine-phosphate production, thereby regulating its own synthesis in a manner analagous to the Enterobacteriaceae. A mutant strain that required either serine or tryptophan for growth was normal in serine-phosphate synthesis and regulation. It was concluded that this strain probably has a tryptophan synthetase with an increased Michaelis constant for serine.
Myoblast cytonemes mediate Wg signaling from the wing imaginal disc and Delta-Notch signaling to the air sac primordium

The flight muscles, dorsal air sacs, wing blades, and thoracic cuticle of the Drosophila adult function in concert, and their progenitor cells develop together in the wing imaginal disc. The wing disc orchestrates dorsal air sac development by producing decapentaplegic and fibroblast growth factor that travel via specific cytonemes in order to signal to the air sac primordium (ASP). Here, we report that cytonemes also link flight muscle progenitors (myoblasts) to disc cells and to the ASP, enabling myoblasts to relay signaling between the disc and the ASP. Frizzled (Fz)-containing myoblast cytonemes take up Wingless (Wg) from the disc, and Delta (Dl)-containing myoblast cytonemes contribute to Notch activation in the ASP. Wg signaling negatively regulates Dl expression in the myoblasts. These results reveal an essential role for cytonemes in Wg and Notch signaling and for a signal relay system in the myoblasts.
A tick based methodology for rapid predictive circuit modeling

The trend toward device miniaturization makes it necessary to scan a wide range of supply and threshold voltages and different types of FETs, so that optimal performance is obtained. Such a scan is best done by physically based models, so that predictive circuit modeling can be done to project and optimize circuit performance well into the next decade. Circuit simulators like HSPICE cannot be used for predictive modeling and thus a methodology is needed to use existing FET physical models to predict circuit performance. Such a methodology is proposed in this paper and verified against HSPICE. The proposed method works for a wide range of supply voltages, for a variety of FETs and avoids any numerical integration.
LIMITS OF PERFORMANCE IN REFERENCE-TRACKING AND PATH-FOLLOWING FOR NONLINEAR SYSTEMS

Abstract We investigate limits of performance in reference-tracking and path-following and highlight an essential difference between them. For a class of nonlinear systems, we show that in reference-tracking, the smallest achievable L2 norm of the tracking error is equal to the least amount of control energy needed to stabilize the zero-dynamics of the error system. We then show that this fundamental performance limitation does not exist when the control objective is to force the output to follow a geometric path without a timing law assigned to it. This is true even when an additional desired speed assignment is required to be satisfied asymptotically or in finite time.
Radiometric characterization of spectral imaging for textual pigment identification

Digital imaging of cultural heritage artifacts has become a standard practice. Typically, standard commercial cameras, often commodity rather than scientific grade cameras, are used for this purpose. Commercial cameras are optimized for plausible visual reproduction of a physical scene with respect to trichromatic human vision. However, visual reproduction is just one application of digital images in heritage. In this paper, we discuss the selection and characterization of an alternative imaging system that can be used for the physical analysis of artifacts as well as visually reproducing their appearance. The hardware and method we describe offers a middle ground between the low cost and ease of commodity cameras and the high cost and complexity of hyperspectral imaging systems. We describe the selection of a system, a protocol for characterizing the system and provide a case study using the system in the physical analysis of a medieval manuscript.
Outer Retina Ischemic Infarction—A Newly Recognized Complication of Cataract Extraction and Closed Vitrectomy: Part 2. An Animal Model

This report describes a peculiar syndrome occurring as a complication of cataract extraction. The syndrome is characterized initially by (1) acute loss of central and paracentral vision discovered usually on the first postoperative day; (2) diffuse and patchy whitening of the outer retinal layers in the posterior fundus; (3) normal angiographic retinal and choroidal appearance and circulation time; (4) a peculiar polygonal pattern of fluorescein staining of the pigment epithelium and outer retina in the area of retinal whitening, and followed later by (5) clearing of the retinal whitening and mottled changes in the pigment epithelium; (6) partial recovery of the central visual field; and (7) preservation of normal optic disc and retinal vessel caliber. Prolonged elevation of the intraocular pressure sufficient to obstruct choroidal blood flow occurring during the use of intraocular volume-reducing devices before surgery, during phakoemulsification or closed vitrectomy is postulated as the major cause of this complication.
Recovery from rape and prior life stress

This longitudinal study on rape victims looks at four life stress events and their association with recovery from rape. Data from 88% of the original sample of 92 adult victims 4 to 6 years after rape suggest that life stress before rape may act to hasten or to inhibit the recovery process. Stress is not uniform in its effect. Different types of stress have different effects. Earlier victimization and chronic life stressors such as economic hardship, lack of social support, and pre-existing biopsychosocial problems tend to delay recovery. In contrast, family grief stress may act as an energizing factor in that coping skills may have been developed through experiencing the grief process and are available to the victim for settlement of rape trauma. Recent life changes have a lack of association with recovery although they may be important in some individual cases.
Gefitinib, Fluorouracil, Oxaliplatin, and Leucovorin (IFOX) Regimen for Colorectal Cancer.

Regimen Name: Gefitinib, fluorouracil, oxaliplatin, and leucovorin (IFOX) Origin of Name: The regimen is named for 3 of the 4 drugs it contains: gefitinib (Iressa), fluorouracil (5-FU), oxaliplatin, and leucovorin. IFOX is also known as FOLFOX (fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin) with gefitinib.
An abbreviated food table using food groups for the calculation of energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate, total sugars, starch, and dietary fibre

Abstract The usefulness of a food grouping system based on 104 food groups in estimating energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate, total sugars, starch and dietary fibre intake by a UK population was examined. Nutrient data from 112 days of mixed diets were calculated using both the food groups and detailed food composition tables and these calculated intakes were compared with analyses of duplicate diets. For a group of 7 subjects the mean differences and correlation coefficients between calculated and analysed results were similar for both methods of calculation with the exception of total sugars which were underestimated by both calculation methods. However, the underestimation of total sugars was less when the food groups were used. It therefore appears that this method of coding is of use where rapid coding of dietary records is required.
Black Box Warning: Is Ketorolac Safe for Use After Cardiac Surgery?

Objective In 2005, after the identification of cardiovascular safety concerns with the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), the FDA issued a black box warning recommending against the use of NSAIDs following cardiac surgery. The goal of this study was to assess the postoperative safety of ketorolac, an intravenously administered NSAID, after cardiac surgery. Design Retrospective observational study. Setting Single center, regional hospital. Participants A total of 1,309 cardiac surgical patients (78.1% coronary bypass, 28.0% valve) treated between 2006 and 2012. Interventions A total of 488 of these patients received ketorolac for postoperative analgesia within 72 hours of surgery. Measurement and Main Results Ketorolac-treated patients were younger, had better preoperative renal function, and underwent less complex operations compared with non-ketorolac patients. Ketorolac was administered, on average, 8.7 hours after surgery (mean doses: 3.1). Postoperative outcomes for ketorolac-treated patients were similar to those expected using Society of Thoracic Surgery database risk-adjusted outcomes. In unadjusted analysis, patients who received ketorolac had similar or better postoperative outcomes compared with patients who did not receive ketorolac, including gastrointestinal bleeding (1.2% v 1.3%; p = 1.0), renal failure requiring dialysis (0.4% v 3.0%; p = 0.001), perioperative myocardial infarction (1.0% v 0.6%; p = 0.51), stroke or transient ischemic attack (1.0% v 1.7%; p = 0.47), and death (0.4% v 5.8%; p Conclusions Ketorolac appears to be well-tolerated for use when administered selectively after cardiac surgery. Although a black box warning exists, the data highlights the need for further research regarding its perioperative administration.
Eiszeitklima in Nordafrika

Die gewohnlich angenommene Wechselbeziehung zwischen den europaischen Glazialen und den nordafrikanischen Regenperioden trifft nur zu im Hinblick auf die Kustenlander des Mittelmeeres. Das Studium der Nil-Ablagerungen (gemessen mit C14-Werten) zeigt, da\ die tropischen Regen nahezu zum Stillstand kamen wahrend des Spat-Wurms, und da\ Sahara-Dunen mindestens 1000 km sudlicher lagen, verglichen mit ihrer heutigen Lage, was auf einen allgemeinen Ruckgang der tropischen Monsune hindeutet. Vor etwa 7–11000 Jahren traten starke interglaziale Regenperioden auf. Vereinzelte Sommerregen, d. h. Monsunregenfalle, wanderten 2000–3000 km nach Norden, verglichen mit ihrer Grenze in der Eiszeit, bis zur nordafrikanischen Kuste (begleitet von Tieren savannenahnlicher Biotope). Der dauernde Ruckgang der Nil-Gewasser und die zunehmende Austrocknung Nordafrikas gaben dem spateren Holozan sein Geprage, was man als eine Abkuhlungsphase nach dem postglazialen Klimaoptimum bezeichnen kann.
Adverse events associated with procedural sedation in pediatric patients in the emergency department.

Painful and frightening procedures are frequently necessary during emergency care of children. To relieve the pain and alleviate anxiety associated with a painful procedure as well as to facilitate a controlled accomplishment of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, procedural sedation is often used in the emergency department (ED). Procedural sedation is accompanied by the administration of consciousness-altering medications, and these medications are not without risks. Historically, anesthesiologists trained in the administration of these potentially dangerous medications played a key role; however, as the number of children in the ED increases, emergency medicine (EM) physicians with different degrees of comfort and training are now providing pediatric procedural sedation and administering agents that were previously in the realm of the anesthesiologist.1-5 The administration of procedural sedation agents by EM physicians remains a cornerstone of national safety initiatives.6 Non-anesthesiology-trained practitioners must be well trained in the administration of these agents to maintain safety standards set forth for anesthesiologists. Other members of a multidisciplinary team must also be well versed in the administration of these agents. Pharmacy services in the ED are expanding, and pharmacists can play a key role in the safe provision of pediatric conscious sedation. Limited literature is available regarding the current practice and safety outcomes of procedural sedation by EM-trained physicians in university-based pediatric EDs.7 Questions remain as to what agents and doses are appropriate for successful and safe pediatric sedation. The literature that does exist examines single agents and does not include comparisons between 2 or more agents.8,9 Published peer-reviewed literature strongly supports the EM physician’s ability to safely and effectively administer procedural sedation in the ED; however; there is no clear guidance on how to best execute this practice. We undertook this study to determine the types of agents used by EM physicians in pediatric procedural sedation and their associated adverse events (AEs) and to provide recommendations for optimizing drug therapy in these patients.
The vegetative structure of a Lower Cretaceous conifer from Arkansas: further implications for morphospecies concepts in the Cheirolepidiaceae

A reconsideration of the vegetative structure of a cheirolepidiaceous conifer with Pseudofrenelopsis parceramosa foliage is presented based on new collections from the Lower Cretaceous Holly Creek Formation (Aptian/Albian) of Arkansas. Analysis of these fossils contributes new data to an emerging whole plant concept, and allows for comparison with a previous reconstruction of a P. parceramosa plant from the English Wealden. The Arkansas vegetative shoots differ in lacking any open-sheathed leaves, the presence of papillae on all subsidiary cells, and the absence of a hypodermis. Furthermore, the Arkansas conifer exhibited helically arranged branches throughout, in contrast to the whorled branching of the Wealden plant reconstruction. The woods from Arkansas and England have identical thickened bars between the tracheid pits, and a similar arrangement of crossfield pits. However, the Arkansas wood has much higher rays, and lacks mixed pitting. These findings, along with previous accounts of significant differences in pollen cone structure, indicate that the Arkansas and English Wealden conifers represent different biological species with generally similar leafy shoots. Therefore, concepts regarding the biogeography, paleoecology, and phylogeny of P. parceramosa, most of which assume that this morphotaxon is a proxy for a single species of reconstructed plant, must be reconsidered. ! 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Total non-visualization of the spleen on 99mTc-sulfur colloid and 113mIn-chloride blood pool images.

There was no visualization of the spleen in a patient with reticulum cell sarcoma of the spleen using 99mTc-sulfur colloid and 113mIn-chloride blood pool imaging. The cause of this nonvisualization was due to tumor tissue replacing normal spleen tissue.
Near Absence of Support Effects in Toluene Hydrogenation Catalyzed by MgO-Supported Iridium Clusters

Abstract Iridium cluster catalysts were prepared by reaction of [Ir4(CO)12] with MgO that had been calcined at 300, 500, or 700°C to vary to degree of hydroxylation, followed by removal of the CO ligands from the iridium by treatment in He. The catalysts were tested for toluene hydrogenation at 60, 80, and 100°C and 1 atm. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectra of each catalyst after 120 h of continuous operation in the absence of deactivation showed that they had changed little, if any, nearly retaining the Ir4tetrahedra of the precursor [Ir4(CO)12]. The catalyst with the most highly hydroxylated support (calcined at 300°C) evidently underwent slight aggregation, giving iridium clusters with nuclearities of about 6 ± 2. Thus the data allow a determination of the influence of the degree of hydroxylation of the support on the catalytic activity in the near absence of metal cluster size effects. The turnover frequency at 60°C decreased from 7.5×10−4to 6.2×10−4s−1as the MgO calcination temperature increased from 300 to 700°C. The change is negligible in view of the experimental errors.These results, combined with similar values of the turnover frequency for toluene hydrogenation catalyzed by γ-Al2O3-supported clusters that were also nearly Ir4, indicate that the effects of changes in nonreducible metal oxide supports are very small. The Ir4clusters are regarded as quasi-molecular in character, with the metal oxide supports being multidentate ligands; the ligand effects are inferred to be similar for the γ-Al2O3and MgO with various densities of surface O and OH groups.
State of the Art of Laryngeal Electromyography

Laryngeal electromyography (LEMG) has been utilized for nearly 70 years in the evaluation of voice and swallowing disorders, but many controversies still exist regarding the utility and interpretation of the data it provides. Applications have been developed for using LEMG in the evaluation of vocal fold paralysis, dysphagia, laryngeal sensation, and even voice production research. LEMG data interpretation and standardization of results between different investigators are ongoing challenges. Current research is expanding the role for needle and surface LEMG techniques to study the larynx in states of health and disease. This review summarizes recent advances in LEMG and discusses the current controversies in the use of LEMG in modern otolaryngology.
Developing Technical Writing Skills in the Physical Chemistry Laboratory:: A Progressive Approach Employing Peer Review

Writing formal “journal-style” lab reports is often one of the requirements chemistry and biochemistry students encounter in the physical chemistry laboratory. Helping students improve their technical writing skills is the primary reason this type of writing is a requirement in the physical chemistry laboratory. Developing these skills is an important goal, yet sometimes students are not given enough time to review and revise their writing. Further, they seldom are taught how to review, and thus critical steps in the writing process are omitted. We have developed an approach with the goal of helping students improve their technical writing skills that employs the peer-review process and includes detailed guidance for writing reports in a progressive manner. We present these assignments, how student progress is assessed, and how the components fit to improve the technical writing abilities of the students.
Minimizing energy under performance constraints on embedded platforms: resource allocation heuristics for homogeneous and single-ISA heterogeneous multi-cores

This paper explores the problem of energy optimization in embedded platforms. Specifically, it studies resource allocation strategies for meeting performance constraints with minimal energy consumption. We present a comparison of solutions for both homogeneous and single-ISA heterogeneous multi-core embedded systems. We demonstrate that different hardware platforms have fundamentally different performance/energy tradeoff spaces. As a result, minimizing energy on these platforms requires substantially different resource allocation strategies. Our investigations reveal that one class of systems requires a race-to-idle heuristic to achieve optimal energy consumption, while another requires a never-idle heuristic to achieve the same. The differences are dramatic: choosing the wrong strategy can increase energy consumption by over 2× compared to optimal.
Subatmospheric Extinction of Opposed Jet Diffusion Flames of Jet Fuel and its Surrogates

In this experimental study, the pressure dependence of the extinction strain rate of flames of jet fuel and other hydrocarbons was measured and quantified. Laminar nonpremixed opposed jet flames of fuel/nitrogen mixtures versus oxygen-enriched air were progressively strained to extinction by lowering pressure over the pressure range 0.1 to 0.68 atm. The fuels investigated were methane, ethylene, jet-A, n-decane, 1,2,4-trimethyl benzene, and blends of n-decane and 1,2,4-trimethyl benzene. All liquid fuels were vaporized and diluted to a mass fraction of 21.5% in nitrogen gas; the gaseous fuels were not diluted. The oxidizer was a 50-50% molar mixture of oxygen and nitrogen. The global strain rate at extinction was seen to monotonically increase with pressure in the sub-atmospheric pressure range explored. Overall reaction orders calculated from density-weighted extinction strain rates were between 1.3 and 2.0. Jet-A flames were extinguished at conditions similar to those for the decane/trimethyl benzene blends, indicating that these blends can serve as a surrogate for Jet-A.
FPGA-based adaptive noise cancellation for ultrasonic NDE application

Adaptive filter has been widely used in different applications for interference cancellation, predication, inverse modeling and identifications. In this paper, Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA)-based adaptive noise cancellation is studied for adaptive filtering in ultrasonic non-destructive evaluation. Simulation and experimental results showed that backscattered noise from microstructures inside material can be efficiently reduced by adaptive filter. Additionally, four different architectures of filter realization on FPGA are discussed and compared. This type of study could have a broad range of applications such as target detection, object localization and pattern recognition.
Responding to Hypoxia: Lessons From a Model Cell Line

Mammalian cells require a constant supply of oxygen to maintain adequate energy production, which is essential for maintaining normal function and for ensuring cell survival. Sustained hypoxia can result in cell death. It is, therefore, not surprising that sophisticated mechanisms have evolved that allow cells to adapt to hypoxia. "Oxygen-sensing" is a special phenotype that functions to detect changes in oxygen tension and to transduce this signal into organ system functions that enhance the delivery of oxygen to tissue in various organisms. Oxygen-sensing cells can be segregated into two distinct cell types: those that functionally depolarize (excitable) and those that do not functionally depolarize (nonexcitable) in response to reduced oxygen. Theoretically, excitable cells have all the same signaling capabilities as the nonexcitable cells, but the nonexcitable cells cannot have all the signaling capabilities as excitable cells. A number of signaling pathways have been identified that regulate gene expression during hypoxia. These include the Ca2+-calmodulin pathway, the 3'-5' adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-protein kinase A (PKA) pathway, the p42 and p44 mitogen-activated protein kinase [(MAPK); also known as the extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) for ERK1 and ERK2] pathway, the stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK; also known as p38 kinase) pathway, and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt pathway. In this review, we describe hypoxia-induced signaling in the model O2-sensing rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cell line, the current level of understanding of the major signaling events that are activated by reduced O2, and how these signaling events lead to altered gene expression in both excitable and nonexcitable oxygen-sensing cells.
Asian supplementary schools : A case study of Coventry

(1981). Asian supplementary schools : A case study of Coventry. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies: Vol. 9, No. 3, pp. 431-436.
Assessing poor quality service: perceptions of customer service representatives

– The purpose of this study is to explore the variables most often associated with customer dissatisfaction and to discern which variables result in customer defection. Identification of these variables can aid managers as they develop strategies to prevent their occurrence., – This exploratory study examined customer service dissatisfaction from a respondent group of customer service representatives employed by a call center. These employees deal with customers as their exclusive job function and are trained to correct customer concerns. The customer service respondents were surveyed and asked to list their top service complaints. From this list they were also asked to indicate the top ranked poor service issue that would cause them, as customers, to defect and select a competitor to provide a substitute product or service., – Results of the study parallel those in other customer dissatisfaction research and indicate interesting characteristics of customer dissatisfaction arising from service failure. Interestingly, the top four categories (rude employees/poor attitudes; overall poor service; employees socializing and not paying attention to customers; and slow service) were noted most often as service problems by respondents and also ranked as the top reasons for defection. Areas for future research are also considered., – By understanding and anticipating poor service delivery, managers can regard these complaint categories as critical market research information. In addition, such information may help managers anticipate customer needs. They can re‐structure service experiences and train employees to avoid problem behaviors and actions., – While past research has focused on end‐user customers and their dissatisfaction, this research considers the opinions of consumers who are trained in, and work in, customer service.
Association Between Preoperative 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Level and Hospital-Acquired Infections Following Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery

Importance Postoperative hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) may result from disruption of natural barrier sites. Recent studies have linked vitamin D status and barrier site integrity. Objective To investigate the association between preoperative vitamin D status and the risk for HAIs. Design, Setting, and Participants A retrospective analysis was performed using propensity score methods to construct a matched-pairs cohort to reduce baseline differences between patients with 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels less than 30 ng/mL vs 30 ng/mL or greater. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was then performed to examine the association between 25(OH)D levels and HAIs while adjusting for additional perioperative factors. Locally weighted scatterplot smoothing was used to depict the relationship between increasing 25(OH)D levels and the risk for HAIs. This study was conducted in a single, teaching hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, and involved 770 gastric bypass surgery patients between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2011. Exposures Preoperative 25(OH)D levels. Main Outcomes and Measures Association between preoperative 25(OH)D levels and the risk for postoperative HAIs. Results The risk for HAIs was 3-fold greater (adjusted odds ratio, 3.05; 95% CI, 1.34-6.94) in patients with 25(OH)D levels less than 30 ng/mL vs 30 ng/mL or greater. Further adjustment for additional perioperative factors did not materially change this association. Locally weighted scatterplot smoothing analysis depicted a near inverse linear relationship between vitamin D status and the risk for HAIs for 25(OH)D levels around 30 ng/mL. Conclusions and Relevance In our patient cohort, a significant inverse association was observed between preoperative 25(OH)D levels and the risk for HAIs. These results suggest that preoperative 25(OH)D levels may be a modifiable risk factor for postoperative nosocomial infections. Prospective studies must determine whether there is a potential benefit to preoperative optimization of vitamin D status.
Strategy of stochastic real-time control of wastewater treatment plants

Abstract The paper describes fundamentals of stochastic real-time control (RTC) of wastewater treatment and disposal facilities operating under dynamic wet weather/dry weather conditions. Similar models are also applicable to the control of combined sewer overflows (CSO's). Objectives and goals, components, strategy, and operation of RTC systems are delineated. RTC systems can be incorporated into an expert system to assist the operator of wastewater treatment and disposal facilities, and/or into semior fully automated systems. The stochastic transfer functions used for prediction of the inputs and response of the system belong to the class of ARMA stochastic models. Neural network models are also applicable. Such models can be shown to be consistent with traditional deterministic transfer functions. A review of existing RTC systems concludes the paper.
Simulation of plasma disruption induced melting and vaporization by ion or electron beam

Abstract The exact amount of vaporization losses and melt layer thickness resulting from a plasma disruption are very important to fusion reactor design and lifetime. Experiments using ion or electron beams to simulate the disruption effects have different environments than the actual disruption conditions in fusion reactors. A model has been developed to accurately simulate the beam-target interactions so that the results from such experiments can be meaningful and useful to reactor design. This model includes a two dimensional solution of the heat conduction equation with moving boundaries. It is found that the vaporization and melting of the sample strongly depends on the characteristics of the beam spatial distribution, beam diameter, and on the power-time variation of the beam.
Molecular signaling pathways that regulate prostate gland development

Prostate gland development is a complex process that involves coordination of multiple signaling pathways including endocrine, paracrine, autocrine, juxtacrine and transcription factors. To put this into proper context, the present manuscript will begin with a brief overview of the stages of prostate development and a summary of androgenic signaling in the developing prostate, which is essential for prostate formation. This will be followed by a detailed description of other transcription factors and secreted morphogens directly involved in prostate formation and branching morphogenesis. Except where otherwise indicated, results from rodent models will be presented since studies that examine molecular signaling in the developing human prostate gland are sparse at the present time.
Distal radius fracture in adults: self-reported physical functioning, role functioning, and meaning of injury.

Purpose To identify physical function, role function, and meaning of injury in adults with a distal radius fracture. Sample Convenience sample of 60 adults with an isolated distal radius fracture. Method Repeated measures of analysis of variance were used to test the relationship of gender, age, education, hand dominance, preinjury physical health, and treatment modality to physical function, role function, and meaning of illness/injury. The independent variable is time and the dependent variables are physical function, role function, and meaning of illness/injury. Findings Although improvement occurred with time, older adults had significantly lower physical functioning than younger adults while their wrist was immobilized, and middle-age adults had significantly lower role functioning compared to younger and older adults. Physical function was influenced by age, and role function was influenced by both age and education. Conclusion The identified need for additional guidance and physical and emotional support with the standard treatment of distal radius fractures highlights the need for nursing care during the early recovery period.
Sulfogalactosyl diacylglycerol: occurrence and biosynthesis of a novel lipid in rat brain.

Summary Intracerebral injection of 35 SO 4 = into rats produced a 35 S-labeled lipid which was characterized by mild alkaline deacylation, acid hydrolysis, dioxane solvolysis, periodate oxidation, chromatography and infrared spectrophotometry to be 3′-sulfogalactosyl diacylglycerol. A detergent-solubilized enzyme from brain microsomes catalyzed the synthesis of this lipid from ( 35 S)-3′-phosphoadenosine-5′-phosphosulfate and monogalactosyl diacylglycerol.
In vitro genetics.

Understanding the basis of specificity in an intermolecular interaction is a common if difficult task; designing a specific intermolecular interaction is much more challenging. A new technique is described that has applications to both problems, at least with regard to nucleic acids. The power of this method lies in its ability to isolate extremely rare sequences with precisely specified properties from very large pools of random sequences.
A High-Power-Density Integrated Electronic Ballast for Low Wattage HID Lamps

A high power density integrated electronic ballast for low wattage high intensity discharge (HID) lamp is proposed in this paper. Packaging and integration technologies are explored to fully utilize the three-dimensional space, therefore improve the power density of the system. This paper focuses on the power passive integration, including the integrated EMI filter, and the integrated LC series resonators serving as output filter or ignitor. A prototype with integrated passive components is developed, which achieves almost the same efficiency but doubles the power density of discrete ballast.
Chlorogenic Acid Improves High Fat Diet-Induced Hepatic Steatosis and Insulin Resistance in Mice

Purpose Chlorogenic acid (CGA), the most abundant component in coffee, has exhibited many biological activities. The objective of this study is to assess preventive and therapeutic effects of CGA on obesity and obesity-related liver steatosis and insulin resistance.
Visual backward masking of a single line by a single line

Visual backward masking experiment for studying overlapping and nonoverlapping contours of target and masking stimuli straight line
Surviving Layoffs: The Effects on Organizational Commitment and Job Performance

This article tests the hypotheses that the effects of layoffs on surviving employees' level of organizational commitment and job performance will vary according to (a) how close employees are to the layoffs, (b) their perceptions of the fairness of the layoffs, and (c) their position in the organizational hierarchy. Analyses were conducted on 1,900 respondents employed by a large U.S. company. Results indicated that although perceptions of layoff unfairness were associated with lower commitment regardless of employee position, close contact with layoffs was associated with the greater use of sick hours by surviving managers and professionals, but with lower use of sick hours and higher work effort by employees in lower positions.
Use of Opioids in the Treatment of Severe Pain in Terminally Ill Patients—Dying Should Not Be Painful

Pain is a common symptom at the end of life. The vast majority of pain can be readily managed if simple principles of practice are followed. Chronic pain requires continuous analgesia, and severe pain requires use of strong analgesics, most commonly the opioids. In addition to drugs administered continually, short-acting medications must be available for "breakthrough" pain. This article reviews the principles of pain management in terminally ill patients, using a case-based demonstration.
Distinct subunits of the ribonucleoprotein of influenza virus.

Abstract Influenza virus A was disrupted by deoxycholate, Triton X100 or ether extraction into ribonucleoprotein and envelope proteins. The ribonucleoprotein was resolved into a 70 s, a 60 s and a 50 s component by sucrose gradient sedimentation. Three components of viral ribonucleoprotein were also obtained by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The buoyant density of the viral nucleoprotein was 1.265 g/ml. in a sucrose density-gradient. The ribonucleoprotein was relatively resistant to pronase. But the RNA of the ribonucleoproteins of influenza virus was degraded by RNase. Probably the same three ribonucleoprotein components were also detected in virus-infected cells about three hours after infection. Distinct components of the influenza virus nucleoprotein were found to contain distinct viral RNA's, suggesting that their heterogeneity is original and not an artifact of the isolation procedures used.
Where Do Youth in Foster Care Receive Information About Preventing Unplanned Pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Infections

Adolescents in foster care are at risk for unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV infection. A study using a qualitative method was conducted to describe how and where foster youth receive reproductive health and risk reduction information to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Participants also were asked to describe their relationship with their primary health care provider while they were in foster care. Nineteen young adults, recently emancipated from foster care, participated in individual interviews. Using grounded theory as the method of analysis, three thematic categories were generated: discomfort visiting and disclosing, receiving and not receiving the bare essentials, and learning prevention from community others. Recommendations include primary health care providers providing a confidential space for foster youth to disclose sexual activity and more opportunities for foster youth to receive reproductive and risk prevention information in the school setting.
Superconducting tunnel junction bolometers

Two new types of superconducting infrared bolometer are described. In one, the temperature dependent Josephson current in an SNS junction is measured with a SQUID galvanometer. In the other, the temperature-dependent quasiparticle tunneling current in an SIN junction is measured with a conventional fet amplifier. Either type of junction is deposited on a low heat capacity sapphire substrate covered on the reverse side with a thin Bi film to absorb infrared radiation. The best performance achieved thus far is for the SNS bolometer which has an electrical NEP ~ 5 x 10 -15 W/√Hz and D* ~ 1014 cm. W-1. Hz1/2. Some improvement in these values is anticipated.
Mercury content of whole cigarettes, cigars and chewing tobacco packets using pyrolysis atomic absorption spectrometry with gold amalgamation

Abstract A commercially available mercury (Hg) analyzer (AMA-254), based on sample pyrolysis, gold amalgamation, and atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), was evaluated and optimized for the direct determination of total-Hg in three common tobacco products: cigarettes ( n = 30; five lights, five regulars for three brands), cigars ( n = 4; one brand) and chewing tobacco packets ( n = 5; one brand). Advantages of the method are ease of use (automated analysis without sample preparation), rapid analysis ( −1 ), followed by cigarettes (11.7 ± 1.2 ng/cigarette; 13.0 ± 1.3 ng g −1 ) and chewing tobacco (4.4 ± 0.5 ng/packet; 6.3 ± 0.6 ng g −1 ); moisture content was 6.2%, 12.1% and 54.8%, respectively. The cigarette's tobacco and filler accounted for >97% of the Hg found in the whole cigarette. Differences in mean concentrations of Hg between the individual brands of cigarettes and between the “light” and “regular” designations were not significant, and chewing tobacco did not differ significantly from most cigarette brands; however, cigars had significantly higher concentrations than both cigarettes and chewing tobacco. There were also no differences for the Hg content of saliva obtained before and during use of chewing tobacco. This study demonstrates that analyzers based on pyrolysis–amalgamation–AAS are suitable for monitoring total-Hg levels in these tobacco products, but the data should not be interpreted for real human exposure from inhaled smoke or absorbed via saliva.
The steadily propagating crack in an elastic/power-law material: Second order solutions

Abstract We present second-order asymptotic solutions to the near-tip field for a crack propagating under steady-state, antiplane strain conditions in an elastic/power-law material. First-order solutions to this problem were originally given by Hui and Riedel. For values of the power-law exponent n n > 3, however, an eigenproblem results. In contrast to the first-order solution for n > 3, the second order solution contains an undetermined parameter whose value must be found from the remote boundary conditions.