cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pancreatic pseudocysts following acute pancreatitis

Background Pancreatic pseudocysts (PP) following acute pancreatitis have traditionally been approached by observation to allow cyst maturation. However, recent evidence suggests a selective approach toward management is indicated. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the presentation, operative management, and outcome of patients developing PP following acute pancreatitis since 1988. PP related to chronic pancreatitis were excluded. Results Twenty-seven patients were identified, 17 with giant PP (>10 cm) and 10 with PP less than 10 cm. Groups were not different with respect to age and etiology of pancreatitis, predominantly biliary. Patients with giant PP had a significantly greater number of Ranson criteria at presentation and underwent drainage procedures earlier following their initial presentation. With respect to giant PP, 7 patients underwent internal drainage all via cystogastrostomy with 5 complications. Nine of 10 patients underwent urgent operation via external drainage. There were 3 pancreatic fistulas in this group. The morbidity and mortality rates for giant PP were 65% and 18% respectively. With respect to smaller PP, 8 underwent internal drainage with 1 death (mortality rate 10%). External drainage was performed in 2 patients with 1 pancreatic fistula (morbidity 10%). Conclusions Patients with PP and a high Ranson score following acute pancreatitis are at significant risk for giant PP formation. Expectant management of giant PP is associated with higher morbidity and mortality than small PP suggesting that earlier external drainage, before clinical deterioration, may be beneficial. To be accurate, comparisons of outcomes for various treatment modalities must take into consideration PP size.
Patient Safety Incidents in Hospice Care: Observations from Interdisciplinary Case Conferences

Background: In the home hospice environment, issues arise every day presenting challenges to the safety, care, and quality of the dying experience. The literature pertaining to the safety challenges in this environment is limited. Aim: The study explored two research questions; 1) What types of patient safety incidents occur in the home hospice setting? 2) How many of these incidents are recognized by the hospice staff and/or the patient or caregiver as a patient safety incident? Design and Methods: Video-recordings of hospice interdisciplinary team case conferences were reviewed and coded for patient safety incidents. Patient safety incidents were defined as any event or circumstance that could have resulted or did result in unnecessary harm to the patient or caregiver, or that could have resulted or did result in a negative impact on the quality of the dying experience for the patient. Codes for categories of patient safety incidents were based on the International Classification for Patient Safety. Set...
Rational synthesis of platinabenzenes

Treatment of Cp*Pt(CO)I (8) with two nucleophilic (Z)-3-(2-lithiovinyl)cyclopropenes provides a rational synthesis of platinabenzenes 6 and 7. The intermediate σ-vinyl complexes 9 and 10 are also isolated from the reaction mixtures and convert cleanly to the corresponding platinabenzenes in near-quantitative yield.
Responses of neuronal nitric oxide synthase expression in the brainstem to electroacupuncture Zusanli (ST 36) in rats.

Recent studies have reported that l-arginine-derived nitric oxide (NO) in the gracile nucleus modifies the hypotensive responses to electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation of Zusanli (ST 36). The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of EA stimulation of ST 36 on neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) expression in the brainstem nuclei in rats. EA stimulation of ST 36 and a non-acupoint was performed using 3 Hz of stimulation for 10 s every 2 min for a period of 120 min in rats anesthetized with ketamine. Rats in the sham-treated group received surgery and EA needles were placed into the acupoints without performing the stimulation. After 2-h stimulation and sham treatment, animals were perfused with 4% paraformaldehyde. Sections of rat medulla were examined by immunolabeling with a polyclonal antibody directed against nNOS. The brainstem nuclei were also visualized by NADPH-diaphorase histochemistry, a marker of nNOS activity. nNOS expression and NADPH-diaphorase reactivity were quantified by using a microscope with reticule grid to count the number of positive cells over a nucleus. Unilateral EA stimulation of ST 36 in rats caused increases in nNOS immunostained cells in the rostral region of the ipsilateral gracile nucleus, but was not altered in the contralateral gracile nucleus compared with sham-treated rats (P < 0.05, n = 6–7). NADPH-diaphorase-positive cells were also increased in the ipsilateral gracile nucleus of rats with EA stimulation. nNOS immunostaining and NADPH-diaphorase-positive neurons were significantly increased in both ipsilateral and contralateral sides of the medial nucleus tractus solitarius (mNTS) in rats receiving EA ST 36 compared with sham-treated animals (P < 0.05). nNOS immunostaining and NADPH-diaphorase reactivity was neither altered in the gracile nucleus and mNTS of non-acupoint stimulated rats nor other brainstem nuclei in rats with EA ST 36. These results show that nNOS immunoreactivity and NADPH-diaphorase reactivity are consistently increased in the gracile nucleus and the mNTS by EA ST 36. We conclude that EA ST 36 induces nNOS expression in the gracile nucleus and mNTS, and enhanced nNOS-NO in the nuclei may modify central cardiovascular regulation, which contribute to hypotensive effects of acupuncture.
Acoustic duration changes associated with two types of treatment for children who stutter.

The purpose of this study was (a) to examine in young children the effects of Speech Motor Training (SMT) on selected temporal acoustic durations considered to be related to speech motor programmin...
On the Catholic Church and indigenous identities: Notes from Indonesian Borneo

This article draws from a range of sources by Catholic missionaries, past and present, to explore relationships among culture, religion and identity among native peoples in eastern Indonesian Borneo. Older materials, including parish journals, provide documentation of little-known local beliefs and practices. More recent ones, including missionaries' ethnographic and ethnohistorical publications, offer insight into how the Church affects and responds to identity-related activism. In addition to these underutilised sources, the paraliturgy affords a unique point of access concerning how world religion may affect the formation of native peoples' identities.
Cytochrome P450 2B Enzyme (CYP2B) Induction Defect Following Phenobarbital Treatment in the fa/fa Zucker Rat: Molecular Characterization

Abstract The present study describes the mechanism of the dampened induction of the CYP2B1 and CYP2B2 genes following phenobarbital treatment in the phenotypically obese fa/fa Zucker rat. The fa/fa Zucker rat demonstrated a threefold lower level of CYP2B1/2B2 enzyme induction, as indicated by reduced testosterone oxidation at the 16β position and resorufin formation from pentoxy- and benzyloxyresorufin, protein concentration (Western blot analysis), and steady-state mRNA levels (Northern and slot blot analyses) following in vivo treatment with phenobarbital than the Fa/? littermate controls. A primary hepatocyte cell culture system was used to determine if the dampened induction of the CYP2B1/2B2 enzyme is dependent on hormonal influences. Phenobarbital-treated (0.75 mM) hepatocytes from fa/fa Zucker rats showed approximately a three-fold lower induction response based on measurements of CYP2B1/2B2 (R-17 cDNA probe) and CYP2B1 (oligo probe) mRNAs. In order to evaluate whether this dampened response was at the level of transcriptional activation or initiation, as opposed to altered message stability, we measured the rate of transcription of CYP2B1/2B2 genes in nuclei from cultured hepatocytes during run-off experiments. Compared to Fa/? controls, the fa/fa Zucker rat had a greater than threefold lower nuclear transcription rate of CYP2B1/2B2 mRNA. These results suggest that the defective induction of the CYP2B1 and CYP2B2 genes exists at the transcriptional level in the mutant obese fa/fa Zucker rat. These data provide strong evidence that at least two genes are involved. Multiple gene involvement would suggest that the defect is not due to a mutation of the CYP2B gene cis -acting sequence. Instead, the lack of binding of a trans -acting factor, the presence of a repressor, or a defect in transcriptional activation is more likely the molecular mechanism(s) for this enzyme induction defect.
ADAM17-mediated CD44 cleavage promotes orasphere formation or stemness and tumorigenesis in HNSCC

CD44, an extracellular matrix (ECM) receptor, has been described as a cancer stem cell marker in multiple cancers, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). HNSCC orasphere formation or stemness was characterized by cleavage of CD44, and thus we hypothesized that this proteolytic processing may be critical to stemness and tumorigenesis. We tested this hypothesis by examining the mechanisms that regulate this process in vitro and in vivo, and by exploring its clinical relevance in human specimens. Sphere assays have been used to evaluate stemness in vitro. Spheres comprised of HNSCC cells or oraspheres and an oral cancer mouse model were used to examine the significance of CD44 cleavage using stable suppression and inhibition approaches. These mechanisms were also examined in HNSCC specimens. Oraspheres exhibited increased levels of CD44 cleavage compared to their adherent counterparts. Given that disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain-containing protein 17 (ADAM17) is a major matrix metalloproteinase known to cleave CD44, we chemically inhibited and stably suppressed ADAM17 expression in HNSCC cells and found that these treatments blocked CD44 cleavage and abrogated orasphere formation. Furthermore, stable suppression of ADAM17 in HNSCC cells also diminished tumorigenesis in an oral cancer mouse model. Consistently, stable suppression of CD44 in HNSCC cells abrogated orasphere formation and inhibited tumorigenesis in vivo. The clinical relevance of these findings was confirmed in matched primary and metastatic human HNSCC specimens, which exhibited increased levels of ADAM17 expression and concomitant CD44 cleavage compared to controls. CD44 cleavage by ADAM17 is critical to orasphere formation or stemness and HNSCC tumorigenesis.
Three tails of comet Hale‐Bopp

We report on the imaging detection of the sodium tail of comet Hale-Bopp using large field-of-view, multi-wavelength observations from the McDonald Observatory in March 1997. We subtract off-band images from sodium-filter images to obtain the atomic sodium tail, and we find it to be more extended in width than either the dust or ion tails. The cross-tail integrated brightness of the sodium tail increases with distance from the nucleus for at least 8 million km. The direction of the sodium tail in our data is different from the ion tail, the dust tail, and the sodium tails imaged at different times by other observers. To account for these characteristics, there must be an extended source of sodium atoms tailward of the comet nucleus. We propose that the sodium tail in March 1997 was produced by the release of sodium atoms from grains in the dust tail.
Performance Analysis of Disk Modulo Allocation Method for Cartesian Product Files

Cartesian product files have been shown to exhibit attractive properties for partial match queries. The Disk Modulo (DM) allocation method is shown to have good performance on the distribution of Cartesian product files into an m-disk system. However, there was no explicit expression made before to represent the DM method's response time to a given partial match query. In this paper, based upon discrete Fourier transform, we derive one formula for such a computation. After obtaining this representation, the performance characteristics of the DM method can now be given an analytic interpretation. Some theoretical results are derived from this formula. We also use our formula to analyze the performance of several popular Disk Modulo algorithms.
Conserved Transcriptional Activators of the Xenopus Rhodopsin Gene

Vertebrate rhodopsin promoters exhibit striking sequence identities proximal to the initiation site, suggesting that conserved transcription factors regulate rhodopsin expression in these animals. We identify and characterize two transcriptional activators of the Xenopus rhodopsin gene: homologs of the mammalian Crx and Nrl transcription factors, XOtx5 and XL-Nrl (originally named XL-maf), respectively. XOtx5 stimulated transcription approximately 10-fold in human 293 cells co-transfected with a plasmid containing the rhodopsin promoter (-508 to +41) upstream of luciferase, similar to the approximately 6-fold stimulation with human Crx. XL-Nrl stimulated transcription approximately 27-fold in mammalian 293 cells co-transfected with the rhodopsin luciferase reporter, slightly more than the approximately 17-fold stimulation with Nrl. Together, the Xenopus transcription factors synergistically activated the rhodopsin promoter (approximately 140-fold), as well as in combination with mammalian homologs. Deletion of the Nrl-response element, TGCTGA, eliminated the synergistic activation by both mammalian and Xenopus transcription factors. Deletion of the conserved ATTA sequences (Ret-1 or BAT-1), binding sites for Crx, did not significantly decrease activation by Crx/XOtx5. However, there was increased activation by Nrl/XL-Nrl and an increased synergy when the Ret-1 site was disrupted. These results illustrate conservation of mechanisms of retinal gene expression among vertebrates. In transgenic tadpoles, XOtx5 and XL-Nrl directed premature and ectopic expression from the Xenopus rhodopsin promoter-GFP transgene. Furthermore, activation of the endogenous rhodopsin gene was also observed in some animals, showing that XOtx5 and XL-Nrl can activate the promoter in native chromatin environment.
'There's no way this kid's retarded': teachers' optimistic constructions of students' ability

Historical research in the field of autism has suggested that judgements regarding the ability of students with autism should be made carefully, taking into consideration the person with autism's difficulty with communication, movement and performance in general. Although the historical literature has urged professionals to proceed with caution regarding judgements about ability, a haphazard understanding of people with autism as retarded prevails. This qualitative study analyses the experiences of four teachers who, within the context of the inclusive classroom, resist interpreting non-verbal students with autism as mentally retarded and seek to form a new understanding of ability. The following themes will be discussed: (1) finding situations where students demonstrate competence, (2) rethinking performance and understanding, and (3) expecting struggles.
Efficacy of anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy in the treatment of spontaneous endometriosis in baboons.

Abstract Objective To determine the efficacy of anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy (etanercept) for treating endometriosis in baboons. Design A randomized, placebo-controlled, blinded study using the baboon endometriosis model. Setting Southwest National Primate Research Center. Animal(s) Twelve female baboons with spontaneous peritoneal endometriosis. Intervention(s) Etanercept (n = 8) or sterile water (n = 4) was administered subcutaneously three times per week. Main outcome measure(s) After 8 weeks, the number, color, and surface area of peritoneal lesions was evaluated. Revised American Society for Reproductive Medicine staging was used. Result(s) A statistically significant decrease in red lesion surface area in the treatment group was observed. A trend toward a decrease in the absolute number of red lesions was noted in the treatment group. White and black lesion number and total surface area slightly increased in both groups but failed to achieve statistical significance. Endometriosis was diagnosed in 60% of captive-born baboons with primary infertility. Conclusion(s) These results indicate that etanercept effectively reduces the amount of spontaneously occurring active endometriosis in the baboon.
Electrolyte gated single-crystal organic transistors to examine transport in the high carrier density regime

Recent advances in understanding electronic charge transport in organic semiconductors are motivated by the fast growth of organic electronics. In particular, organic single crystals provide an ideal test bed for systematic studies of charge transport, with rapid progress in single-crystal-based field-effect transistors in the past few years. Charge densities induced in crystals by the field-effect have been in the low limit regime (1010 cm–2 to 1013 cm–2) mainly due to the difficulties of boosting gate dielectric capacitance. Consequently, the transport physics of organic crystals in the high-charge-density regime has not been systematically explored. With the emergence of the electrolyte gating technique, ultrahigh charge densities (1013 cm–2 to 1015 cm–2) can be achieved. In this article, we first discuss the general methodologies of applying electrolyte gating to organic crystals. We then review several recent research highlights, including the maximization of charge density and improvement of carrier mobility, enhanced understanding of the mobility-charge density relationship, and observations of ambipolar transport and a novel conductivity peak that occurs only at high charge densities. These recent achievements are extremely important for ongoing efforts to realize novel transport behavior in organic crystals, such as superconductivity and the insulator-to-metal transition.
Respiratory physiology of the dinosaurs

Summary Dinosaurs were among the most distinctive and successful of all land vertebrates. Attempts at reconstructing their biology have become commonplace. However, given the absence of closely comparable living models, deciphering their physiology necessarily remains speculative and determination of their metabolic status has been particularly problematical. Nevertheless, many paleontologists have advocated the notion that they were probably ‘‘warm-blooded’’ (endothermic), thus providing a model supposedly essential to the interpretation of these animals as having led particularly active, interesting lives. Those suppositions notwithstanding, the apparent absence of respiratory turbinates in dinosaurs, as well as likely ectothermic patterns of thermoregulation in very early birds, argues strongly that these animals were unlikely to have achieved the metabolic status of modern terrestrial endotherms. These data are not necessarily inconsistent with current models of active lifestyles of dinosaurs. BioEssays 20:852‐859, 1998. r 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Study on the pressurized underfill encapsulation of flip chips

Flip-chip technology generally requires encapsulation of the solder joints to reduce the loads on such joints during thermal excursions. At present, the encapsulation process by dispensing constitutes the primary obstacle to widespread acceptance and implementation of flip-chip technology because of the long process times involved and the subsequent reliability and reparability problem. A new process to encapsulate flip-chips has been developed. This process uses a special mold to surround the chip to be encapsulated and injects the encapsulation material at elevated pressure. The experimental results show that the pressurized encapsulation process reduces the fill time (by as much as a factor of 1000), is able to perform the encapsulation at room temperature, fills the cavity completely without any voids and increases the capability of handling highly viscous encapsulants (1000 times more viscous than current commercial encapsulants) relative to the customary dispensing process for the particular case used in the current experiment.
A mine of talent caved in

The intense fatigue caused to counsellors and mentors by people who just will not help themselves is well known. This article shows another dimension. The tragedy of a gifted underachiever who, at the age of 17, ended her own life with conscious intent is described in detail. The implications are then highlighted. They show an underachiever who made continuous and constructive efforts to help herself, but whose very efforts left her with and all pervading sense of being blocked. A significant contributor to this sense of being blocked is the failure of parents, teachers, clergy, counsellors and doctors to grasp the intensity and legitimacy of a child's suffering.
Assessing the Scholarly Communication Attitudes and Practices of Faculty: Lessons from a "Failed" Survey

INTRODUCTION This paper reports on a survey administered to faculty at Chapman University to assess their knowledge, attitudes, and practices with regard to scholarly communications, in order to help the new scholarly communications librarian plan appropriate library programs and services to meet faculty needs. DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM The survey was adapted from the Institute on Scholarly Communications’ “Faculty Involvement in Scholarly Communications Opportunity Assessment Instrument” for a faculty audience in early fall 2013. It “failed” in that it faced long administrative delays and was met with a low response rate when finally published in December 2013. However, the responses received were enough to deduce general trends and gaps in faculty knowledge about scholarly communications, including a misunderstanding of the meaning of open access, misconceptions about its quality, concern with how publicly accessible research and data could be used by others, and a desire for information on how to manage, preserve, and share data. NEXT STEPS Both the survey results and the obstacles encountered in the survey’s administration provided important lessons in how to structure, market, and assess the impact of future scholarly communications discussions, such as those surrounding the university’s upcoming institutional repository. While the survey itself might have “failed,” these lessons can be applied to future endeavors in order to contribute to the long-term success of the faculty and the university as a whole.
Kinetics of Lactose Hydrolysis in Acide Whey by β-Galactosidase from Aspergillus niger

Abstract The maximum rate of hydrolysis (3.2 μmoles lactose/min per mg enzyme preparation) was obtained when lactose was 21% in whey concentrates. The enzyme had an apparent Michaelis-Menten constant of 6.2 mM. Hydrolysis of 75 to 90% was obtained in 4 to 5 h in a system at 55 C containing 4% lactose and 40 mg % of enzyme.
Polymorphism and evolution in the constant region of the T-cell receptor beta chain in an advanced teleost fish.

Sequence, PCR and Southern data are presented as evidence that, as in mammals, two gene loci encode C regions of the TCR β chain in the bicolor damselfish, Stegastes partitus. The loci are distinguished by an insertion of ten amino acids in the c–d loop at one locus and by a high interlocus divergence of the third intron and fourth exon sequences. Unlike their mammalian counterparts, the damselfish TCRBC genes encode highly polymorphic regions. None of the eight complete cDNA or four partial genomic DNA sequences presented from a single animal are identical; and three of the four animals examined are heterozygous at both loci, suggesting high heterozygosity in the damselfish population. Coding regions of the eight cDNA clones differ by up to 12% at the DNA level and 23% at the amino acid level. Polymorphism is concentrated primarily in the less evolutionarily conserved regions, suggesting that this variation may be selectively neutral. However, a comparison of the variation between synonymous and non-synonymous sites suggests that at least a portion of the observed variation results from selection. As in mammals, a gradient of sequence homogenization between the two loci is observed. Data presented here suggest that both interlocus homogenization and the sharing of polymorphic segments are likely achieved by partial gene conversion.
Cortical γ-Aminobutyric Acid Concentrations in Depressed Patients Receiving Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Background Reduced γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) concentrations have been reported in plasma, cerebrospinal fluid, and cortex of depressed subjects. Treatment with both electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) increased occipital cortex GABA concentrations in prior studies. The purpose of this study was to determine whether treatment of major depression with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) produces similar changes in cortical GABA concentrations. Methods Occipital cortex GABA concentrations were measured in eight subjects with Major Depressive Disorder prior to and after a course of CBT using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Results The effect of CBT on occipital cortex GABA content was different than that seen for ECT and SSRI medication treatment of depressed patients. Conclusions This preliminary finding suggests CBT has a less robust effect on cortical GABA content than ECT and SSRI treatments and might indicate a difference between the mechanisms of antidepressant action.
Prevalence of Adoptees Among Special Education Populations

A statewide survey of public and private schools was conducted to determine the prevalence of adoptees among children classified for educational purposes as neurologically impaired (NI), perceptually impaired (PI), or emotionally disturbed (ED). Results indicated that adopted children were overrepresented in these special education populations, accounting for 6.7% of NI students, 5.4% of PI students, and 7.2% of ED students. Implications of the findings for educational and clinical intervention are discussed.
Plane wave excitation of the parallel plate-loaded slot antenna

Two numerical solutions are given for an integrodifferential equation governing the electric field in the aperture of a parallel-plate, waveguide-loaded, slot antenna excited by an obliquely incident plane wave. Resultant aperture field distributions obtained via Galerkin's method with a basis of edge-condition weighted Chebyshev polynomials are compared with the results from pulse expansion with point matching. Efficient algorithms are obtained for the elements of the reduced matrix equations for both moment methods. >
Frying Chickens Purchased in Retail Markets in One Area 2. Factors Related to Flavor

Abstract INTRODUCTION ONE of the most important factors in the homemaker’s satisfaction with frying chickens that she has purchased is the flavor of the cooked product. The factors within the bird itself that are related to desirable or undesirable flavors and odors have proven elusive. Experimental approaches have included the effects of breeds and feeds (Hanson et al., 1959), biochemical changes (Baker et al., 1956; van den Berg et al., 1963), methods of preparation (Hanson et al., 1959) and role of microorganisms. The relation of microorganisms to flavor has been found to be small (Baker et al., 1956; Carlin et al., 1957; McVicker et al., 1959) or pronounced (Perry et al., 1964), depending upon the conditions of the experiment. Baker et al. (1956) did not find either off-odor or off-flavor of broiled birds to be associated with bacterial counts. Carlin et al. (1957) observed that, up to the point of spoilage …
Bursting the Cloud Data Bubble: Towards Transparent Storage Elasticity in IaaS Clouds

Storage elasticity on IaaS clouds is an important feature for data-intensive workloads: storage requirements can vary greatly during application runtime, making worst-case over-provisioning a poor choice that leads to unnecessarily tied-up storage and extra costs for the user. While the ability to adapt dynamically to storage requirements is thus attractive, how to implement it is not well understood. Current approaches simply rely on users to attach and detach virtual disks to the virtual machine (VM) instances and then manage them manually, thus greatly increasing application complexity while reducing cost efficiency. Unlike such approaches, this paper aims to provide a transparent solution that presents a unified storage space to the VM in the form of a regular POSIX file system that hides the details of attaching and detaching virtual disks by handling those actions transparently based on dynamic application requirements. The main difficulty in this context is to understand the intent of the application and regulate the available storage in order to avoid running out of space while minimizing the performance overhead of doing so. To this end, we propose a storage space prediction scheme that analyzes multiple system parameters and dynamically adapts monitoring based on the intensity of the I/O in order to get as close as possible to the real usage. We show the value of our proposal over static worst-case over-provisioning and simpler elastic schemes that rely on a reactive model to attach and detach virtual disks, using both synthetic benchmarks and real-life data-intensive applications. Our experiments demonstrate that we can reduce storage waste/cost by 30-40% with only 2-5% performance overhead.
Numerical Modeling Of GMAW ARC

A comprehensive model has been developed to simulate the transient, coupled transport phenomena occurring during a gas metal arc welding process. This includes the arc plasma; melting of the electrode; droplet formation, detachment, transfer, and impingement onto the workpiece; and weld pool fluid flow and dynamics. The fluid flow and heat transfer in both the arc and the metal were simulated and coupled through the boundary conditions at the arc-metal interface at each time step. The detached droplet in the arc and the deformed weld pool surface were found to cause significant changes in the distributions of arc temperature and arc pressure, which are usually assumed to have Gaussian distributions at the workpiece surface. The comprehensive model could provide more realistic boundary conditions to calculate the heat transfer and fluid flow both in the plasma and the metal. The predicted arc plasma distribution, droplet flight trajectory, droplet acceleration and final weld bead shape compared favorably with the published experimental results. This paper was to present the heat transfer and fluid flow in the arc plasma.
The Search for Life on Europa: Limiting Environmental Factors, Potential Habitats, and Earth Analogues

The putative ocean of Europa has focused considerable attention on the potential habitats for life on Europa. By generally clement Earth standards, these Europan habitats are likely to be extreme environments. The objectives of this paper were to examine: (1) the limits for biological activity on Earth with respect to temperature, salinity, acidity, desiccation, radiation, pressure, and time; (2) potential habitats for life on Europa; and (3) Earth analogues and their limitations for Europa. Based on empirical evidence, the limits for biological activity on Earth are: (1) the temperature range is from 253 to 394 K; (2) the salinity range is aH2O = 0.6-1.0; (3) the desiccation range is from 60% to 100% relative humidity; (4) the acidity range is from pH 0 to 13; (5) microbes such as Deinococcus are roughly 4,000 times more resistant to ionizing radiation than humans; (6) the range for hydrostatic pressure is from 0 to 1,100 bars; and (7) the maximum time for organisms to survive in the dormant state may be...
Phylogenetic Classification of Subtribe Castillejinae (Orobanchaceae)

Abstract Recent molecular systematic research has indicated the need for a revised circumscription of generic boundaries in subtribe Castillejinae (tribe Pedicularideae, Orobanchaceae). Based on a well-resolved and well-supported phylogenetic hypothesis, we present a formal reclassification of the major lineages comprising the Castillejinae. Prior to this treatment, subtribe Castillejinae included Castilleja (ca. 190 spp.), Cordylanthus (18 spp.), Orthocarpus (9 spp.), Triphysaria (5 spp.), and the monotypic genera Clevelandia and Ophiocephalus. In the classification presented here, Orthocarpus and Triphysaria retain their current circumscriptions, Castilleja is expanded to include Clevelandia and Ophiocephalus, and Cordylanthus is split into three genera; a key to the genera as they are recognized here is provided. Two new combinations, Castilleja beldingii and Castilleja ophiocephala, are proposed within the expanded Castilleja. The concept of Coriylanthus is restricted to the 13 species formerly recogn...
Staffing And EEO Laws: A Human Resource Management Case Study

An HRM case dealing with problems and issues encountered as a company seeks to follow Equal Employment Opportunity laws during the staffing process.
Peaks of Promise and Peril: Screening for Antibiotic Resistance by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization–Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry

An article in this issue of the Journal of Clinical Microbiology (J.-H. Youn, S. K. Drake, R. A. Weingarten, K. M. Frank, J. P. Dekker, and A. F. Lau, J Clin Microbiol 53:35-42, 2015, http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/JCM.01643-15) describes the use of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry for the detection of organisms carrying a blaKPC-containing plasmid. This powerful and promising application highlights the challenges of using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry for purposes other than organism identification.
Psychosocial Factors Are Associated With Blood Pressure Progression Among African Americans in the Jackson Heart Study.

BACKGROUND Research that examines the associations of psychosocial factors with incident hypertension among African Americans (AA) is limited. Using Jackson Heart Study (JHS) data, we examined associations of negative affect and stress with incident hypertension and blood pressure (BP) progression among AA. METHODS Our sample consisted of 1,656 normotensive participants at baseline (2000-2004) (mean age 47±12; 61% women). We investigated associations of negative affect (cynical distrust, anger-in, anger-out, and depressive symptoms) and stress (perceived stress, weekly stress inventory (WSI)-event, WSI-impact, and major life events) with BP progression (an increase by one BP stage as defined by JNC VII) and incident hypertension by examination 2 (2005-2008). Poisson regression analysis was utilized to examine the prevalence ratios (PRs; 95% confidence interval (CI)) of BP tracking and incident hypertension with psychosocial factors, adjusting for baseline age, sex, socioeconomic status (SES), and hypertension risk factors. RESULTS Fifty-six percentage of the sample (922 cases) had BP progression from 2005 to 2008. After adjustment for age, sex, and SES, a high anger-out score was associated with a 20% increased risk of BP progression compared to a low anger-out score (PR 1.20; 95% CI 1.05-1.36). High depressive symptoms score was associated with BP progression in the age, sex, and SES-adjusted model (PR 1.14; 95% CI 1.00-1.30). High WSI-event scores were associated with BP progression in the fully adjusted model (PR 1.21; 95% CI 1.04-1.40). We did not observe significant associations with any of the psychosocial measures and incident hypertension. CONCLUSIONS Psychosocial factors were associated with BP progression, with the strongest evidence for number of stressful events that occurred.
Management of hyperglycemia in the non-intensive care patient: featuring subcutaneous insulin protocols.

ABSTRACT Objective To provide insulin protocols and adjustment guidance for management of hyperglycemia in common inpatient clinical scenarios. Methods We performed a PubMed search of pertinent existing literature published between 1980 and 2010. Results Hyperglycemia is frequently encountered in general medical and surgical wards and has been linked to adverse clinical outcomes, prolonged hospital length of stay, and increased institutional care needs after discharge. No randomized controlled trial has been conducted to define optimal glycemic goals or to investigate the effects of intensive glycemic control in the non-intensive care unit (ICU) setting. Nonetheless, it is advocated by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and the American Diabetes Association, in their 2009 Consensus Statement on Inpatient Glycemic Control, that optimization of glycemia in hospitalized patients with diabetes and hyperglycemia be judiciously offered. This approach is clinically sound, in light of the known deleterious consequences of hyperglycemia in critically and noncritically ill patients and the benefits observed with improved glycemic control in intensive care settings. The approach to hyperglycemia in non-ICU inpatients should follow the principles of provision of basal-nutritional-supplemental insulin. Herein we provide insulin protocols and adjustment guidance for management of hyperglycemia in common clinical scenarios. Recommendations reflect the opinion of national experts in the field and our departmental consensus at Penn State Institute for Diabetes and Obesity. Conclusion Glycemic control in the non-ICU setting is a relevant clinical situation that should be addressed and managed effectively and prudently. We present a practical guide for management of hyperglycemia individualized to various clinical scenarios encountered in the general hospital wards. (Endocr Pract. 2011;17:249-260)
Use of a Matrix in Designing Training Experiences

Rural child and adolescent psychiatry residency programs offer unique training opportunities with a distinct and underserved population. These programs also face the challenge of organizing teaching resources with maximum efficiency to compensate for low population density, geographical isolation, and a scarcity of available faculty. Using a case example, the authors describe the advantages of combining the use of a resource matrix with a set of program-specific priorities to design training opportunities for residents that simultaneously meet multiple program objectives. Potential results of this application may include expanded clinical services, new research opportunities, and easier recruitment of faculty.
Effects of Diphtheria Toxin on The Myocardium of Guinea-Pigs

The myocardial changes and the clinical signs of disturbance of the cardiovascular system associated with diphtheria have been the source of much investigation and speculation during the last fifty years. The clinical signs are described with considerable uniformity in most textbooks. The interpretation of the cause of the cardiovascular disturbances, however, has passed through epochs in which paralysis of the vasomotor system, endocarditis, retrogressive changes of the suprarenal glands and myocarditis each has been suggested as the dominant process. Myocardial changes are now accepted by most investigators as the principal cause for the cardiovascular signs and symptoms. Two recent exhaustive reviews1 completely outline the development of knowledge regarding the cardiac disease in diphtheria, and reference is made to them for the literature on the subject. Certain fundamental principles are now generally accepted. Some patients with diphtheria die with symptoms of cardiovascular disturbance represented by the signs of myocardial insufficiency and changes in the conduction system. After death from diphtheria, the myocardium in approximately 33%,0 of the cases shows changes that are severe in comparison with those usually found in the myocardium after death from other infectious diseases. The changes in the myocardium are of two types, namely, degenerative (cloudy swelling, fatty changes and necrosis) and inflammatory (infiltration of leukocytes in the interstitial tissue, proliferation of connective tissue and muscle cells and degenerative changes). Jaffe1 examined the hearts of 113 guinea-pigs, 75 of which had received injections of diphtheria toxin and 38 inoculated with the diphtheria bacillus. He believes that the changes of the myocardium in experimental diphtheria in guinea-pigs do not differ essentially from those in human diphtheria. Retrogressive changes occur early. Cloudy swelling was found in practically every instance. Fatty degeneration
Anchistrotos kojimensis sp. nov. (Copepoda: Taeniacanthidae) Parasitic on Acanthogobius flavimanus (Pisces: Teleostei) in Kojima Bay, Japan

Anchistrotos kojimensis sp. nov. is described based on the adult females recovered in the branchial cavities of Acanthogobius flavimanus (TEMMINCK & SCHLEGEL) from Kojima Bay, Japan. It is the fourth species of parasitic copepods known from this host fish in Japan.
SHORTER TELOMERE LENGTH IS ASSOCIATED WITH LOWER LEVELS OF CIRCULATING PROGENITOR CELLS

Leucocyte telomere length (LTL) is a biological marker of aging which has been associated with decreased survival. Bone marrow-derived circulating progenitor cells (CPC) are involved in vascular repair and regeneration, and reduced CPC counts are associated with poor outcomes. We sought to determine
Cost-Effective Siting of Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure With Agent-Based Modeling

Plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) represent a significant opportunity for governments to reduce emissions of both air pollutants and greenhouse gases, in addition to reduce their dependency on foreign sources of energy. Comprehensive planning analysis prior to the rollout of electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS) can ensure that charging stations are effectively sited, providing the best returns on investment while also meeting critical service requirements. We present a detailed description of the PEV infrastructure (PEVI) model, a spatially explicit agent-based microsimulation model that represents charging infrastructure, charging behavior, competition for scarce EVCS, and driver adaptation. A differential evolution and a heuristic optimization scheme are compared in their ability to find a cost-effective distribution of EVCS. In addition, several key assumptions of the model are tested for their impact on critical outcomes. Results are presented from a case study in Delhi, India, that highlight the spatial distribution of chargers of different levels, the impact of several technical and policy trends on the need for EVCS, the spatiotemporal distribution of charging demand, and the technical potential for load shifting PEV demand.
Patterns of Refaunation of Reclaimed Strip Mine Spoils by Nonterricolous Arthropods

Vegetative and arthropod succession was studied in 1976 and 1977 on reclaimed, mixed soilshale, 0 to 5-year-old coal mine spoils in Alabama. A corn field abandoned in 1976 was sampled for comparison (in 1977). Plant density increased with spoil age but was susceptible to slope and growing-season influence. Plant cover, diversity, and species richness were not related to spoil age. Comparison plot plant diversity and cover were slightly higher than that of any mine plot. We collected 1,059 arthropod species in 17 orders and 177 identified families. North-facing spoils usually supported more species than south-facing spoils, and species richness and diversity tended to decline with spoil age. The comparison plot was no more diverse than the mine. On a seasonal basis, density patterns on the comparison and mine plots were similar until October. No correlation of insect density with spoil age was found, but insects were denser on north aspects than on south aspects. Plant and arthropod community parameters were not correlated, but insect herbivore densities were correlated with densities of five common, native plant species. Total insect densities were also negatively correlated with south aspect temperatures but uncorrelated with north aspect temperatures. The seasonal course of this relation was dependent on vegetation type. Trophic structure may stabilize very quickly on newly exposed mine spoils, but species composition and density will probably be unpredictable and dependent on climatic variability, composition of spoil, vagility of surrounding flora, and chance.
Total Synthesis of (−)-Secu’amamine A Exploiting Type II Anion Relay Chemistry

A total synthesis of (−)-secu’amamine A has been achieved exploiting Type II Anion Relay Chemistry (ARC) to provide the full linear carbon and nitrogen skeleton in a single flask with the requisite stereochemistry and functionality. A mechanistic rationale is also proposed to account for the stereochemical outcome of the key aldol reaction leading to the advanced aza tricyclic core.
Global Tn-seq analysis of carbohydrate utilization and vertebrate infectivity of Borrelia burgdorferi

Borrelia burgdorferi maintains a complex life cycle between tick and vertebrate hosts. Although some genes have been identified as contributing to bacterial adaptation in the different hosts, the list is incomplete. In this manuscript, we report the first use of transposon mutagenesis combined with high-throughput sequencing (Tn-seq) in B. burgdorferi. We utilize the technique to investigate mechanisms of carbohydrate utilization in B. burgdorferi and the role of carbohydrate metabolism during mouse infection. We performed genetic fitness analyses to identify genes encoding factors contributing to growth on glucose, maltose, mannose, trehalose and N-acetyl-glucosamine. We obtained insight into the potential functions of proteins predicted to be involved in carbohydrate utilization and identified additional factors previously unrecognized as contributing to the metabolism of the tested carbohydrates. Strong phenotypes were observed for the putative carbohydrate phosphotransferase transporters BB0408 and BBB29 as well as the response regulator Rrp1. We further validated Tn-seq for use in mouse studies and were able to correctly identify known infectivity factors as well as additional transporters and genes on lp54 that may contribute to optimal mouse infection. As such, this study establishes Tn-seq as a powerful method for both in vitro and in vivo studies of B. burgdorferi.
Theory and inference in plains archaeology

Plains archaeology tends to lack overtly theoretical discussion, and examples from the Plains rarely enter into theoretical discussions of American archaeology. This lack of overt theorizing in our field masks the fact that archaeological and anthropological theory permeates every step of all archaeological research ever conducted on the Plains. This paper explains why this is so and considers its implications for the ways in which archaeologists work.
Feasibility of photoacoustic image guidance for telerobotic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery

Injury to the internal carotid arteries during the minimally invasive procedure to remove pituitary tumors (i.e., endonasal transsphenoidal surgery) could have many severe complications, including patient death. While preoperative CT or MR images are available to assist with navigation, the location of these arteries may be uncertain during surgery due to registration errors and intraoperative changes. Ideally, the surgeon should be able to visualize these arteries in real-time, even though they are behind the bone being drilled. We are therefore exploring the feasibility of a novel photoacoustic image-guided telerobotic system to measure the location of the artery with respect to the drill tip and to accurately visualize the spatial relationship between the artery and drill tip with respect to the imaging system components (i.e., the optical fiber attached to the drill and the ultrasound transducer). The potential system accuracy was evaluated in a two-stage approach that includes gross localization of the vessel center, followed by refinement with an image-based algorithm. This method was tested with a research-based da Vinci Surgical System, simulated photoacoustic data, and experimental data, revealing mean absolute errors of 1.89±0.93 mm and 0.3±0.2 mm for gross and fine positioning, respectively. Results are promising for surgeons to visualize the internal carotid arteries and thereby avoid injury with a teleoperative robotic approach.