cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stereochemistry of aglycon obtained in enzymatic hydrolysis of panaxoside a from ginseng

1. It was established that 20S-dihydroprotopanaxatrione (Ia) and the dihydro ketone of aglycon Ae, obtained by the enzymatic splitting of panaxoside A from ginseng, are identical. 2. The dihydro-Ae ketone is stereochemically different from the ketones that are obtained from the acid hydrolysis products of dihydropanaxoside A. 3. The theory was expressed that aglycon Ae has a 17Β(H)-configuration.
Modified gold nanoparticle vectors: A biocompatible intracellular delivery system for pancreatic islet cell transplantation

Background Islet transplantation is an emerging therapy for type 1 diabetes mellitus with variable success. Molecular therapeutics is a promising approach to improve islet graft function and transplant outcomes. Traditional delivery vectors, however, have poor cell penetration and generally lead to compromised islet function. Modified gold nanoparticles represent a potential alternative in that they are taken up into cells efficiently and have unique binding properties. The objective of this study was to investigate whether gold nanoparticles can transfect islets uniformly without compromising cellular function. Methods Cy5-oligonucleotide-conjugated gold nanoparticle islet transfection was evaluated using confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. Isolated mice and human islets were transfected and evaluated for mitochondrial potential changes, calcium influx, and insulin secretion in response to glucose challenge and in vivo graft function. Results Highly efficient gold nanoparticle uptake was observed. Transfected islets demonstrated normal mitochondrial function, calcium influx, and insulin release when stimulated by glucose. These islets produced a 100% diabetes cure rate after transplantation. Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test demonstrated similar graft function as controls. Conclusion We describe the development of a modified gold nanoparticle approach that allows for the efficient and nontoxic transfection of not only single cells but also more complex tissue architectures, such as pancreatic islets, both in vitro and in vivo.
Strategic public diplomacy and local press: how a high-profile “head-of-state” visit was covered in America’s heartland

Abstract Drawing upon the lines of research on public diplomacy and media communication, this study aims to use Chinese President Jiang Zemin’s state visit to the US in 1997 as a case in point to examine the news values and judgment of the US local press in covering a major public diplomacy event and to discuss the effectiveness of the use of head-of-state visits as instruments of public diplomacy. The study focuses on two aspects of media image: visibility and valence. Its main findings indicate that, despite the PR efforts, the image of China, as reflected in the local press coverage, was not improved. This study highlights the critical role of the local press in managing the perception and reputation of a country in the eyes of a foreign public, and argues that the local aspect is not only significant in studying public diplomacy and the US media, but also relevant to US public diplomacy strategies and tactics overseas.
Hepatic transplantation: postoperative complications

Advances in surgical techniques and immunosuppression have made orthotopic liver transplantation a first-line treatment for many patients with end-stage liver disease. The early detection and treatment of postoperative complications has contributed significantly to improved graft and patient survival with imaging playing a critical role in detection. Complications that can lead to graft failure or patient mortality include vascular abnormalities, biliary abnormalities, allograft rejection, and recurrent or post-transplant malignancy. Vascular abnormalities include stenosis and thrombosis of the hepatic artery, portal vein, and inferior vena cava, as well as hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm, arteriovenous fistula, and celiac stenosis. Biliary abnormalities include strictures, bile leak, obstruction, recurrent disease, and infection. While imaging is not used to diagnose allograft rejection, it plays an important role in identifying complications that can mimic rejection. Ultrasound is routinely performed as the initial imaging modality for the detection and follow-up of both early and delayed complications. Cholangiography and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography are used to characterize biliary complications and computed tomography is used to confirm abnormal findings on ultrasound or for the evaluation of postoperative collections. The purpose of this article is to describe and illustrate the imaging appearances and management of complications associated with liver transplantation.
Flexible modeling of survival data with covariates subject to detection limits via multiple imputation

Models for survival data generally assume that covariates are fully observed. However, in medical studies it is not uncommon for biomarkers to be censored at known detection limits. A computationally-efficient multiple imputation procedure for modeling survival data with covariates subject to detection limits is proposed. This procedure is developed in the context of an accelerated failure time model with a flexible seminonparametric error distribution. The consistency and asymptotic normality of the multiple imputation estimator are established and a consistent variance estimator is provided. An iterative version of the proposed multiple imputation algorithm that approximates the EM algorithm for maximum likelihood is also suggested. Simulation studies demonstrate that the proposed multiple imputation methods work well while alternative methods lead to estimates that are either biased or more variable. The proposed methods are applied to analyze the dataset from a recently-conducted GenIMS study.
Heuristic scheduling for efficient underwater communications with limited feedback capabilities

In this work, we propose and analyze the performance of a scheduler that guarantees to deliver a prescribed number of packets by a given deadline, while minimizing the number of transmission attempts. Channel State Information (CSI) is sent intermittently when considered useful and therefore it can become outdated in some slots. The underwater channel is modeled as a time-varying correlated fading channel, represented by a Markov chain. The performance is evaluated through numerical simulations and results show that the scheduler derived here outperforms those presented in the literature.
Circadian variation in the natriuresis produced by potassium intake in the rat.

To determine if there was an endogenous circadian regulation of the renal natriuretic response to acute potassium loading, unanesthetized rats, either fed or fasted, were given an intragastric infusion of KCl over 100 min at the times of maximum and minimum circadian sodium excretion, i.e. in the early dark and early light phase of a 12 hour dark/light cycle. During KCl infusion plasma potassium concentration as well as sodium and potassium excretion progressively increased. Cumulative sodium excretion was greater in dark than light phase, and was greater in fed than fasted rats. Sodium excretion was greater at any given elevated level of plasma potassium in the dark than light phase. The results suggest that reported variations in the effects of high potassium diets on sodium excretion, blood pressure, or circulatory pathology in hypertension, may in part be explained by variations in the time of oral potassium intake.
Romans, Barbarians, and the Transformation of the Roman World: Cultural Interaction and the Creation of Identity in Late Antiquity. Edited by Ralph W. Mathisen and Danuta Shanzer. (Farnham, England: Ashgate, 2011. Pp. xix, 378. $99.95.)

The infirmity and collapse of western Rome still excite interest after centuries of anxious investigation. During the twentieth century, E. F. Gautier concluded that a resource‐depleted Rome died o...
Photopolymerization of biocompatible films containing poly(lactic acid)

Abstract Telechelic acrylic poly(lactic acid) (PLA) oligomers were synthesized from the transesterification of PLA with ethylene glycol diacrylate. The oligoesters were characterized by 1 H NMR and GPC. The telechelic acrylic PLA oligomers were then formulated with four different reactive diluents and photopolymerized into films with photoinitiator Irgacure 2959. Films were formulated to contain either 1,4-butanediol dimethacrylate (BDDM) or triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) and for each set of formulations the concentration of PLA was varied from 0 to 70 wt.%. The kinetics of the photopolymerizable material was studied by photo-differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). Physical properties were evaluated using pencil hardness, reverse impact resistance, pull off adhesion, solvent resistance, and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) properties. The Photo-DSC results showed that the reaction rate decreased as the PLA concentration increased. Films containing lower concentrations of PLA were harder and less flexible.
A learning prescription permits feedback on feedback.

Abstract Background Students consistently identified inadequate feedback as a deficiency in our third-year clerkship. Methods We asked students to solicit one faculty and one resident every 2 weeks for written feedback on a “feedback prescription pad.” Each prescription requested four comments: two things the student did well and two things the student needs to improve. Students rated feedback using a five-point scale. A three-point categorization scheme was employed to assess the quality of feedback. Results Students’ rating of feedback improved significantly compared with a previous time period (3.5 ± 1.2 versus 2.6 ± 1.2, P P Conclusions Feedback prescription pads were a simple method to facilitate feedback. Although students appreciated feedback, most feedback was inadequate. Faculty development programs to enhance student feedback should be a priority of clinical medical education.
Electrostatically Targeted Intermembrane Lipid Exchange with Micropatterned Supported Membranes

Herein we introduce a technique for selectively delivering membrane components to membrane patterns on a solid support. Electrostatic charge on membrane surfaces is employed as a method of targeting intermembrane adhesion and lipid exchange between substrate-supported membranes and free vesicles or membrane-coated microbeads. Membranes of similar net charge density generally do not adhere or exchange components. In contrast, attractive electrostatic interactions between oppositely charged membranes can induce adhesion and ultimately lipid exchange between the membranes. This process enables the selective delivery of new materials to preformed supported membrane regions whose electrostatic charge densities complement that of the delivery membrane. Uniform exposure of an array of supported membrane corrals with different net charge densities to a pool of delivery membrane vesicles or membrane-coated microbeads results in selective deposition of the new membrane contents into corrals with complementary elect...
Fibrinolysis--a perspective.

NVESTIGATIONS during the past 3 decades have firmly established that the fibrinolytic system is an integral part of the hemostatic mechanism and that its derangement may contribute to the pathogenesis of thrombosis’” (this has been extensively reviewed in this symposium and elsewhere). The recent availability of two plasminogen activators, urokinase (UK) and streptokinase (SK), as promising therapeutic agents has not only stimulated much interest among workers in the field of thrombosis, but has also attracted the attention of investigators in other disciplines. This symposium has focused on a multidisciplinary review of the recent advances on the subject of fibrinolysis ranging from knowledge gained at the molecular level to the results of recent therapeutic trials. At this juncture, one might ponder over the various problem areas requiring the most attention and what may be in store for us in the future. This article, the last in the series, is an attempt to provide the reader with a broader perspective. The ultimate goal of any study must include an increased understanding of the pathogenesis of occlusive vascular disease with their accompanying complications, as well as obtaining better therapeutic results. These may be accomplished through more work done in the following areas.
Thalamocortical Dynamics of the Mccollough Effect: Boundary-Surface Alignment through Perceptual Learning

This article further develops the FACADE neural model of 3-D vision and figure-ground perception to quantitatively explain properties of the McCollough effect (ME). The model proposes that many ME data result from visual system mechanisms whose primary function is to adaptively align, through learning, boundary and surface representations that are positionally shifted due to the process of binocular fusion. For example, binocular boundary representations are shifted by binocular fusion relative to monocular surface representations, yet the boundaries must become positionally aligned with the surfaces to control binocular surface capture and filling-in. The model also includes perceptual reset mechanisms that use habituative transmitters in opponent processing circuits. Thus the model shows how ME data may arise from a combination of mechanisms that have a clear functional role in biological vision. Simulation results with a single set of parameters quantitatively fit data from 13 experiments that probe the nature of achromatic/chromatic and monocular/binocular interactions during induction of the ME. The model proposes how perceptual learning, opponent processing, and habituation at both monocular and binocular surface representations are involved, including early thalamocortical sites. In particular, it explains the anomalous ME utilizing these multiple processing sites. Alternative models of the ME are also summarized and compared with the present model.
Fused single mode fibre access couplers

Single mode fibre access couplers have been fabricated by chemically etching most of the glass cladding material surrounding the fibre core, and thermally fusing the fibres together in the etched region. The resulting couplers have low loss and are both durable and insensitive to ambient temperature variations.
Enamel Mineral Composition of Normal and Cystic Fibrosis Transgenic Mice

The ability of ameloblasts and the enamel organ to control the influx of ions into the developing enamel is of considerable interest. The development of transgenic mice lacking a cAMP-regulated chloride channel, the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), provides a model that may prove valuable for the study of ion regulation in developing teeth. The purpose of this investigation was to characterize the mineral content of normal and CF mice. Five homozygous and five heterozygous adult mice having the CFTR knockout transgene were evaluated. The mice were killed with CO2 and their mandibular incisors removed, embedded in methacrylate, and sectioned, and enamel particles from the incisal region were then dissected for analysis. Each particle was analyzed for its calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium content. The normal mice had a mean mineral content of 80.5%, in contrast to the CF mice, that had markedly hypomineralized enamel (mean = 51.5%). The calcium/phosphorus ratios were similar for both groups of mice and were compatible with the enamel consisting primarily of hydroxyapatite mineral. The enamel magnesium content was significantly elevated in the CF mice (mean = 3560 ppm) compared with the normal mice (mean = 2280 ppm). Normal mouse enamel was highly mineralized, while the CF mouse enamel mineral content was significantly reduced and had an elevated level of magnesium. The altered mineral content of CF mouse enamel indicates that CFTR could play an important role in ion regulation and consequently mineralization of mouse enamel.
Effect of Intake on Chewing Activity of Steers

Abstract To determine the effect of intake on the roughage index of a diet, six mature steers averaging 503 kg were fed a diet containing 90% corn silage and 10% grain mix at 87% (diet 1), 122% (diet 2), and 165% (diet 3) of maintenance net energy milk in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square change-over experiment with 2-wk periods. The steers were accustomed to the diets for 4 wk prior to initiation of the experiment; the last 2 wk were used to determine maximum intake, approximately 2.4% of body weight. Steers were fed once daily at 0830 h, daily feed intake was measured, and chewing activity was monitored the last 48 h of each period. Intakes were 7.4, 10.4, and 12.2 kg for the three diets, with corresponding total chewing times of 476, 628, and 706 min. Roughage indexes in minutes of chewing time per kilogram of dry matter eaten in increasing intakes were 67.5, 62.8, and 57.1. Intake did influence roughage indexes with indexes decreasing linearly as intake increased. To adjust roughage indexes to intake, the following regression equation was used: Roughage index equals (130 plus 47.22 times kg intake) quantity divided by kg intake.
Some effects of chlordiazepoxide and d-amphetamine on response force during punished responding in rats

Rats were reinforced with water on a continuous reinforcement schedule and were also punished with electric shock for every fifth response applied to a silent, isometric, force-sensing manipulandum. Oral doses of chlordiazepoxide (3.0, 9.0, 27.0 mg/kg) increased both conventional rate and force of punished responding. In contrast, d-amphetamine (0.8, 1.6, 3.2 mg/kg, by gavage) further decreased conventional rate and force of response, but this latter drug increased the rate of recorded responses that were lower than the 15-g force criterion for response consequences. The results for chlordiazepoxide are viewed in terms of its anxiolytic properties, while the d-amphetamine data appear to support a theory of amphetamine effects based on the concept of stereotyped behaviors.
Acceleration of Axonal Outgrowth in Motor Axons from Mature and Old F344 Rats after a Conditioning Lesion

Abstract The conditioning lesion paradigm has proven to be a very useful model in which to examine the mechanisms of axonal outgrowth after injury. In the present study, we have used the conditioning lesion model to examine the ability of motor axons from mature (6–8 months) and old (22–24 months) Fischer 344 rats to form new axonal sprouts. We show that after a single lesion (sham-conditioned axons followed by a testing lesion), axonal outgrowth rates are slower at earlier vs longer postlesion times in mature rats: between 4 and 8 days postlesion, outgrowth rates are 2.4 ± 0.4 mm/day, whereas between 8 and 11 days postlesion outgrowth rates are 4.6 ± 0.7 mm/day. After a single lesion in the old rat, at early postlesion times, the axonal outgrowth rate is 1.9 ± 0.4 mm/day but with increasing time after injury, outgrowth rates slow down to 1.1 ± 0.8 mm/day. In conditioned motor axons from mature rats, outgrowth rates increase from 3.1 ± 0.4 mm/day at early postlesion times to 5.2 ± 0.6 mm/day at longer postlesion times. An even more dramatic increase in outgrowth rate is seen in conditioned axons from old rats: 2.4 ± 0.4 mm/day at early postlesion times to 6.3 ± 1.0 mm/day at later times after lesion. There is no change in the initial delay before sprouting under any condition. These data support the hypothesis that axons from old animals can be stimulated to repair themselves at rates comparable to those seen in younger animals and suggest that there may be an absolute maximum outgrowth rate attainable by newly forming axon sprouts.
When the Sensors Hit the Roads (Invited Talk)

Summary form only given. Over the past few years, impressive advances in wireless networking and embedded computing have led to the "first generation" of wireless sensor networks. In general, these are used for monitoring or tracking applications characterized by low data rates and static deployments. In this talk, I will motivate what the "second generation" might look like, focusing on mobile sensor networks gathering heterogeneous "media-rich" data. These networks offer the opportunity to sense the world at much higher scale and finer fidelity than their static counterparts, especially over large areas. With hundreds of millions of automobiles and over a billion cell phone-equipped people in the world, cars and humans may turn out to be the vehicles of the world's largest and most dynamic sensor networks in the coming years. This talk will discuss several network architecture challenges in realizing this vision. Meeting these challenges will give us a network architecture that can support a wide range of vehicular network applications, far beyond the area of mobile sensor networks
Determination of vapor pressure in vapor‐induced puffing

Water vapor pressure for cornstarch and popcorn grits at a temperature of between 100 and 180° C was determined by measuring vapor pressures generated at various moisture contents in a heated, closed system. At a higher temperature, fugacity of water increased with increasing temperature probably because of melting or partial melting of starch. The apparent heat of sorption for cornstarch changed significantly with moisture content and temperature. Noncondensible gases were produced by heating popcorn grits to temperatures above 150°C. It is not accurate to estimate vapor pressure based on the heat of sorption or extrapolation of currently used empirical isotherm equations to a temperature above 100°C. Vapor pressure inside popcorn at the instant of popping are. roughly 758 to 827 kPa (110 to 120psia).
The Pyramid Scheme: Visual Metaphors and the USDA's Pyramid Food Guides

In 1991 the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the creation of the Eating Right Pyramid, an icon designed to illustrate the federal government’s recommendations for a healthy diet. Even before its release, the Pyramid was a source of controversy; nutritionists and public health officials criticized the project as an exercise in jurisdictional malfeasance, while beef and dairy farmers complained that the new diet deemphasized the nutritional benefits of their products. The greatest source of conflict, however, did not derive from the information the guide displayed, but from the way in which that information was presented. While criticism was hurled against both the specifics of the diet and the fact that the Agriculture Department was responsible for generating nutritional recommendations,1 the most contentious debate was borne of the perceived hierarchical implications of the design itself. Critics interpreted the Pyramid, the design selected because it best reflected the proportion of a healthy diet each food group represented, as a source of symbolic and value-laden meaning. To the agriculture lobbies, the Eating Right Pyramid inappropriately categorized foods as good and bad, while to doctors and nutritionists the Pyramid presented the least healthy foods in the most positive light. Consequently, the hierarchical implications of the pyramidal shape defined the public discourse, and the Eating Right Pyramid was reframed as a site of conflicting visual metaphors. This paper analyzes the public discourse around the perceived problems with the Pyramid’s design. While much research has addressed the efficacy of the USDA’s nutritional policies from a public health perspective, this paper considers the status of the food pyramid, by far the most recognizable American nutritional guide, as a cultural object that is subject to visual interpretation. To that end, it tracks the discussion of the design’s development through a discourse analysis of all articles about the Pyramid published in the Washington Post, The New York Times, and USA Today—the three newspapers that provided nearly all national coverage of the design’s journey from the drawing board to the back of nearly all packaged food products in the United States. This analysis is situated in Lakoff and Johnson’s framework for understanding metaphors and focuses on three stages in the food guide’s development: the unveiling of the
In situ measurements of thermospheric composition, temperature and winds by mass spectrometry

Mass spectrometry, in which a beam of electrons ionizes a sample of atmospheric gas and then analyses the ions thus produced to determine the concentration of each species in the sample, is presently evaluated as a basis for the study of earth atmosphere and other planetary atmospheres' properties. Recent applications of in situ mass spectrometry have measured thermospheric neutral gas composition, temperatures, and winds, with a spatial resolution sufficiently high to reveal previously unsuspected atmospheric variability. It is expected that analyses of these data will lead to a more detailed understanding of the deposition processes governing the thermosphere's highly variable structure.
Exploring family reading practices in non-Kuwaiti nannies

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore how home reading practices can impact what teachers assume to be the optimum practice in preparing students for school may not be supported by the local culture. In Kuwait, I have heard teachers repeatedly complain that students do not read at home or seem to value reading. Kuwaiti adults relate that they rarely engage in reading for pleasure. Students here are challenged with learning English, but also seem to take a greater amount of time to understand the use of reading in their lives and learning. These factors led me to consider that what teachers assume to be the optimum practice in preparing students for school may not be supported by the local culture. Design/methodology/approach – In this case study, five nannies were interviewed focusing on participants’ reading practices in their homes of origin and those practiced with Kuwaiti children. Observational notes were taken to record nonverbal communication. Data were analyzed to uncover references to...
The framework of a geospatial semantic web-based spatial decision support system for Digital Earth

Abstract While significant progress has been made to implement the Digital Earth vision, current implementation only makes it easy to integrate and share spatial data from distributed sources and has limited capabilities to integrate data and models for simulating social and physical processes. To achieve effectiveness of decision-making using Digital Earth for understanding the Earth and its systems, new infrastructures that provide capabilities of computational simulation are needed. This paper proposed a framework of geospatial semantic web-based interoperable spatial decision support systems (SDSSs) to expand capabilities of the currently implemented infrastructure of Digital Earth. Main technologies applied in the framework such as heterogeneous ontology integration, ontology-based catalog service, and web service composition were introduced. We proposed a partition-refinement algorithm for ontology matching and integration, and an algorithm for web service discovery and composition. The proposed int...
An assessment of the soil resources of Africa in relation to productivity

Abstract Africa, with a total land mass of about 30.7 million km 2 and a population exceeding 746 million persons, has generally lagged behind in agricultural development. Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding South Africa) is the poorest developing region, with 29 out of 34 countries being some of the poorest in the world. The purpose of this study is to develop a Soil Taxonomy map, based on the FAO Soil Map of the World, which together with other data, is used to make continent-level assessments of land productivity and sustainability. Prime land occupies about 9.6% of Africa and the lands with high potential occupy an area of about 6.7%. The medium- and low-potential lands, which together occupy 28.3% of the area have major constraints for low-input agriculture. Resource-poor farmers who live on these lands have high risks and, generally, the probability of agriculture failure is high to very high. The remaining about 55% of the land consists of deserts or other lands with major constraints even for low-input agriculture. The desert margins have nomadic grazing which with increasing animal population is stressing the environment. A soil quality analysis and an evaluation of sustainable production, based only on biophysical considerations, suggest the need for major investments to enhance the productivity of the soil resources of this continent.
A polymerase chain reaction-based method for detection and quantification of reporter gene expression in transient transfection assays.

Transcription in higher eukaryotes is often studied by the use of transient transfection assays. These experiments are performed by cloning putative cis-acting transcriptional elements (i.e., a promoter or enhancer) with a reporter gene that codes for a protein not expressed by the target cells. Although this approach is useful in many cases, the limited sensitivity of reporter assays can prevent studies in cases where few cells are obtainable or efficiency of transfection is low. We present an alternative approach. Cells are transfected with a plasmid containing a promoter with a human growth hormone (hGH) reporter gene. After an incubation period, RNA is isolated, and DNA complementary to the growth hormone mRNA is produced. The reporter cDNA concentration is measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We have designed PCR primers that span the mRNA splice sites of the human growth hormone gene; these ensure exclusive amplification of the hGH cDNA and not the reporter plasmid. The assay is sensitive and simple to perform, requires no special equipment, and can quantify reporter cDNA concentration over a broad range.
Potentially inappropriate medication utilization in the emergency department visits by older adults: analysis from a nationally representative sample.

Objectives: The objectives were to determine the frequency of administration of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) to older emergency department (ED) patients and to examine recent trends in the rates of PIM usage. Methods: The data examined during the study were obtained from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS). This study utilized the nationally representative ED data from 2000– 2006 NHAMCS surveys. Our sample included older adults (age 65 years and greater) who were treated in the ED and discharged home. Estimated frequencies of PIM-associated ED visits were calculated. A multivariable logistic regression model was created to assess demographic, clinical, and hospital factors associated with PIM administration and to assess temporal trends. Results: Approximately 19.5 million patients, or 16.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 16.1% to 17.4%) of eligible ED visits, were associated with one or more PIMs. The five most common PIMs were promethazine, ketorolac, propoxyphene, meperidine, and diphenhydramine. The total number of medications prescribed or administered during the ED visit was most strongly associated with PIM use. Other covariates associated with PIM use included rural location outside of the Northeast, being seen by a staff physician only (and not by a resident or intern), presenting with an injury, and the combination of female sex and age 65–74 years. There was a small but significant decrease in the proportion of visits associated with a PIM over the study period. Conclusions: Potentially inappropriate medication administration in the ED remains common. Given rising concerns about preventable complications of medical care, this area may be of high priority for intervention. Substantial regional and hospital type (teaching versus nonteaching) variability appears to exist. ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2010; 17:231–237 a 2010 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
β-Cell Differentiation from a Human Pancreatic Cell Line in Vitro and in Vivo

Cell transplantation therapy for diabetes is limited by an inadequate supply of cells exhibiting glucose-responsive insulin secretion. To generate an unlimited supply of human β-cells, inducibly transformed pancreatic β-cell lines have been created by expression of dominant oncogenes. The cell lines grow indefinitely but lose differentiated function. Induction of β-cell differentiation was achieved by stimulating the signaling pathways downstream of the transcription factor PDX-1, cell-cell contact, and the glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1) receptor. Synergistic activation of those pathways resulted in differentiation into functional β-cells exhibiting glucose-responsive insulin secretion in vitro. Both oncogene-expressing and oncogene-deleted cells were transplanted into nude mice and found to exhibit glucose-responsive insulin secretion in vivo. The ability to grow unlimited quantities of human β-cells is a major step toward developing a cell transplantation therapy for diabetes.
Differential acute effects of fluoxetine on frontal and auditory cortex networks in vitro.

Abstract Primary cultures of neuronal networks grown on microelectrode arrays were used to quantify acute effects of fluoxetine (Prozac) on spontaneous spike and burst activity. For frontal cortex cultures, fluoxetine showed consistent inhibitory effects and terminated activity at 10–16 μM. IC50 mean±S.E. for spike rates was 5.4±0.7 μM (n=15). For auditory cortex cultures, fluoxetine caused excitation at 1–10 μM, initial inhibition at 15 μM, and activity cessation at 20–25 μM. The spike rate IC50 was 15.9±1.0 μM (n=11). Fluoxetine did not change the action potential waveform shape. However, at high concentrations, it caused total cessation of spike activity on all channels. The inhibition caused by fluoxetine was reversible for both tissues. Based on the results, we conclude that cultures showed repeatable, concentration-dependent sensitivities to fluoxetine but demonstrated tissue-specific responses for frontal and auditory cortex networks. These responses may not be due to the interference with serotonin reuptake, but may be due to a secondary effect on ionic channels.
Coding of Natural Scenes in Primary Visual Cortex

Natural scene coding in ferret visual cortex was investigated using a new technique for multi-site recording of neuronal activity from the cortical surface. Surface recordings accurately reflected radially aligned layer 2/3 activity. At individual sites, evoked activity to natural scenes was weakly correlated with the local image contrast structure falling within the cells' classical receptive field. However, a population code, derived from activity integrated across cortical sites having retinotopically overlapping receptive fields, correlated strongly with the local image contrast structure. Cell responses demonstrated high lifetime sparseness, population sparseness, and high dispersal values, implying efficient neural coding in terms of information processing. These results indicate that while cells at an individual cortical site do not provide a reliable estimate of the local contrast structure in natural scenes, cell activity integrated across distributed cortical sites is closely related to this structure in the form of a sparse and dispersed code.
Qualitative Science Policy

Qualitative research struggles against a tide of quantitative methods. To assist in this struggle, it is useful to consider the historical and philosophical origins of quantitative methods as well as criticisms that have been raised against them. Although these criticisms have often been restricted to discussions in the philosophy of science, they have become increasingly prominent in debates regarding science policy. This article thus reviews current science policy debates concerning scientific autonomy and the linear model of science—society relationships. Then, having considered the multiple meanings of quality, it argues for a science policy reassessment of quantitative research, for deeper engagements between science policy and the social sciences, and finally, for a more explicit alliance between science policy and qualitative methods.
Experiments with interdisciplinary projects and scientific visualization applications at the undergraduate level

The author describes the interaction between computer graphics students from the computer science department at Rochester Institute of technology and faculty from various disciplines, in their attempts to utilize state-of-the-art computer graphics techniques for the visualization of physical systems. The structure of a computer graphics course designed to act as the vehicle for this interaction is also described. >
Post–Acute Care Data for Predicting Readmission After Ischemic Stroke: A Nationwide Cohort Analysis Using the Minimum Data Set

Background Reducing hospital readmissions is a key component of reforms for stroke care. Current readmission prediction models lack accuracy and are limited by data being from only acute hospitalizations. We hypothesized that patient‐level factors from a nationwide post–acute care database would improve prediction modeling. Methods and Results Medicare inpatient claims for the year 2008 that used International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes were used to identify ischemic stroke patients older than age 65. Unique individuals were linked to comprehensive post–acute care assessments through use of the Minimum Data Set (MDS). Logistic regression was used to construct risk‐adjusted readmission models. Covariates were derived from MDS variables. Among 39 178 patients directly admitted to nursing homes after hospitalization due to acute stroke, there were 29 338 (75%) with complete MDS assessments. Crude rates of readmission and death at 30 days were 8448 (21%) and 2791 (7%), respectively. Risk‐adjusted models identified multiple independent predictors of all‐cause 30‐day readmission. Model performance of the readmission model using MDS data had a c‐statistic of 0.65 (95% CI 0.64 to 0.66). Higher levels of social engagement, a marker of nursing home quality, were associated with progressively lower odds of readmission (odds ratio 0.71, 95% CI 0.55 to 0.92). Conclusions Individual clinical characteristics from the post–acute care setting resulted in only modest improvement in the c‐statistic relative to previous models that used only Medicare Part A data. Individual‐level characteristics do not sufficiently account for the risk of acute hospital readmission.
Integrating photovoltaic and power converter characteristics for energy extraction study of solar PV systems

Solar photovoltaic (PV) energy is becoming an increasingly important part of the world’s renewable energy. A grid-connected solar PV system consists of solar cells for energy extraction from the sun and power converters for grid interface. In order for effective integration of the solar PV systems with the electric power grid, this paper presents solar PV energy extraction and conversion study by combining the two characteristics together to examine various factors that may affect the design of solar PV systems. The energy extraction characteristics of solar PV cells are examined by considering several practical issues such as series and parallel connections, change of temperatures and irradiance levels, shading of sunlight, and bypassing and blocking diodes. The electrical characteristics of power converters are studied by considering physical system constraints such as rated current and converter linear modulation limits. Then, the two characteristics are analyzed in a joint environment. An open-loop transient simulation using SimPowerSystem is developed to validate the effectiveness of the characteristic study and to further inspect the solar PV system behavior in a transient environment. Extensive simulation study is conducted to investigate performance of solar PV arrays under different conditions.
Sources and effects of electrode impedance during deep brain stimulation

Objective Clinical impedance measurements for deep brain stimulation (DBS) electrodes in human patients are normally in the range 500–1500 Ω. DBS devices utilize voltage-controlled stimulation; therefore, the current delivered to the tissue is inversely proportional to the impedance. The goals of this study were to evaluate the effects of various electrical properties of the tissue medium and electrode-tissue interface on the impedance and to determine the impact of clinically relevant impedance variability on the volume of tissue activated (VTA) during DBS.
Frontiers of effort : Librarians and professional development blogs

ABSTRACT This article defines blogs and distinguishes them from other websites. A brief history of the blog format is included along with an exploration of the growth and acceptance of blogs as a professional information reference source for librarians. The authors review the literature on blogs and recommend a set of criteria for determining the value of blogs as a professional development tool. They also review examples of web logs meeting the screening criteria.
Compact ATPG for concurrent SOC testing

An automatic test pattern generation (ATPG) tool is presented that generates compact test sets that test concurrently the digital embedded cores in a system on chip. The approach is driven by novel graph theoretic problem formulation to generate patterns for two or more cores in parallel. Pairs of input lines from different cores as well as pairs of output lines are systematically allocated on the same test access mechanism (TAM) lines to improve the efficiency of the ATPG. The approach enables core integrators to determine which pairs of cores can be tested concurrently with the same test bus. Low application time for 100% single stuck-at fault coverage is sought subject to a given TAM bandwidth. The experimental results show drastic reductions in the test application time over the conventional ATPG method that generates tests for each core separately.
Hannibal's Elephants and the Crossing of the Rhône

Hannibal's trek through western Europe has fascinated ancient and modern historians alike. Although most attention has been focused on determining his route through the Alps, a less popular question, the site of his Rhone crossing, has been by no means neglected. Many scholars have offered differing solutions to this problem, but all agree on one point: that Hannibal transported his elephants across the Rhone by raft. No doubt this consensus stems from the fact that both Polybius and Livy, who give almost identical versions of the crossing, agree on this mode of transport. But an analysis of their accounts will show that the use of rafts was neither necessary nor desirable and that a more likely method is contained in an alternative version that Livy records, then rejects in favour of Polybius' account.
CO gas detection utilizing Pd-SnO/sub x/ MIS heterostructure

The triangular voltage sweep method was used to study the device characteristics of Pd-SnO/sub x/ MIS heterostructure for detection of CO gas. An increase in area under the current peak in the J/sub p/-V plot and a shift of current peak toward more positive gate bias voltages were found with increasing CO gas concentration in an O/sub 2/ or Ar environment. Results indicate that CO gas reacts with preadsorbed oxygen ions, which interact with positive ions in the SnO/sub 2/ oxide layer, thus increasing the number of positive ions in the oxide of the MIS capacitor. It is concluded that preadsorbed oxygen ions in the SnO/sub 2/ play a more important role than the lattice oxygen for CO gas detection in the Pd-SnO/sub x/ MIS heterostructure. >
MobSched: Customizable scheduler for mobile cloud computing

In this paper, we explore how cloud computing techniques can be used on mobile devices. We analyze the reason why Hadoop's performance is poor in MANET, most notably, relying too much on distributed filesystem, and not aware of mobility and multi-hop nature of MANET. Two ways are proposed to deploy mobile cloud computing in an efficient manner: MobSched, a customizable job scheduler; and a mobile friendly MapReduce framework. These two methods enable developers to use MapReduce programming model in the context of MANET. Theoretical analysis suggests that the proposed framework can improve the performance of MapReduce jobs running on top of MANET, and reduce the energy consumption. Simulation results show that the proposed scheduler, MobSched, which is based on a linear programming formulation, can efficiently optimize multiple objectives such as power and (or) throughput, while being constrained with requirements such as minimum quality of service, and (or) maximum bandwidth usage that has to be met by the system. Comparison with other schedulers such as uniform load balancing, FIFO, and clustering types show that the proposed scheduler performs best when it comes to optimizing for a specific criteria such as total power consumption within reasonable latency.
The Cancer Stem Cell Conundrum in Multiple Myeloma

Copyright: © 2012 Hawley RG . This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. The cancer stem cell (CSC) hypothesis in its original form postulates that a small subpopulation of cancer cells is responsible for propagation of the tumor [1]. By comparison to normal stem cells, CSCs are predicted to be drug-resistant due to increased expression of proteins such as anti-alkylating enzymes like aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) that neutralize the therapeutic agents [2] or members of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) family of transporters that efflux them out of the cells [3].
Martius Flap Harvest Site: Patient Self-Perception

Purpose: We elucidated patient perception of the external genitalia after Martius flap harvesting.Materials and Methods: We identified 8 women in whom a Martius interposition flap was used in association with transvaginal urethrolysis. Patients were contacted by an independent nurse and asked to evaluate the cosmetic appearance of the labium majus harvest site. They were also queried on any associated pain, numbness or altered sensation, or perceived interference with vaginal sexual relations.Results: Of the 8 patients 2 (25%) believed that the harvest site appeared to be identical to its preoperative appearance, 2 (25%) believed that there were only minimal changes from the preoperative appearance, 1 (12%) believed that it appeared markedly different from the contralateral side and 3 (38%) stated that they had never performed self-examination. Of the 8 patients 1 (13%) complained of dyspareunia, 3 (38%) had intermittent discomfort in the harvest area 1 year after the operation and 5 (62%) perceived perma...
Effects of preferential delta and kappa opioid receptor agonists on the intake of hypotonic saline.

Abstract A previous study has implicated central mu opioid receptors in the preference for salt solutions. Because mu, kappa and delta receptors are all thought to play a role in food intake and/or the mediation of palatability, we performed a series of experiments to determine whether preferential agonists at kappa and delta receptors might also stimulate the intake of salt solutions. When injected centrally into nondeprived rats, two selective agonists at delta receptors caused increases in the intake of 0.6% saline; the intake of concurrently available water was either unchanged or slightly increased. The selective kappa agonist U-50, 488H had no effect on water or saline intake, whereas the preferential kappa agonist DAFPHEDYN caused a delayed increase in saline intake. These results indicate a role for central delta receptors in the preference for salt solutions, and are consistent with the suggestion that opioids play a role in the mediation of palatability.