cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nitrergic mechanisms mediating inhibitory control of longitudinal smooth muscle contraction in mouse small intestine

Studies using genetic manipulation to investigate mechanisms of control of physiologic function often necessitate mouse models. However, baseline functional analysis of murine small intestinal motility has not been well defined. Our aim was to define nitrergic mechanisms regulating mouse small intestinal longitudinal muscle. Endogenous nitric oxide (NO) is an important neuroregulatory substance mediating inhibition of contractile activity in murine small bowel. Full-thickness muscle strips of jejunum and ileum from C57BL/6 mice (n ≥6 mice) cut in the direction of longitudinal muscle were studied. Numerous conditions of electrical field stimulation (EFS) and effects of exogenous NO and NO donors were studied in the absence or presence of inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and 1H-[1,2,4]-oxadiazaolo-[4,3-a]-quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ), a downstream inhibitor of guanylyl cyclase. EFS induced a frequencydependent inhibition of contractile activity in both jejunum and ileum (P < 0.05). As the voltage of EFS was increased, inhibition turned to excitation in the jejunum; in contrast, the ileum demonstrated a voltage-dependent increasing inhibition (P < 0.05 each). EFS-induced inhibition was blocked by NOS inhibitors and ODQ. NO donors inhibited spontaneous contractile activity abolished by ODQ. NO appears to be an endogenous inhibitory neurotransmitter in murine longitudinal small bowel muscle. Nitrergic mechanisms mediate inhibitory control of murine longitudinal small intestinal muscle. Differences exist in neuroregulatory control between jejunum and ileum that may be related to their known difference in motor patterns.
Effects of Inert Rumen Bulk on Dry Matter Intake in Early and Midlactation Cows Fed Diets Differing in Forage Content

Abstract The effects of ratio of forage to concentrate and replacement of rumen contents with water-filled bladders on DMI and digesta kinetics were assessed in two trials. In trial 1, eight midlactation, rumen-cannulated cows were fed a 53:47 forage to concentrate diet. Treatment was replacement of 19.6L of rumen contents with water-filled bladders. Bladders had no effect on intake, milk yield, or composition. In trial 2, four early and four midlactation cows received a 74:26 (33.2% NDF) or 50:50 (27.3% NDF) forage to concentrate diet with or without 23-L rumen bladders in a 2 × 2 factorial. Cows fed the 50:50 ratio of forage to concentrate consumed more DM, yielded more milk, and retained a greater amount of energy than those fed a 74:26 forage to concentrate diet. Bladders had no effect on intake or milk yield regardless of stage of lactation or diet fed. Rumen fluid pH and acetate to propionate ratio were increased by bladders and the 74:26 forage to concentrate diet. Bladders had no effect on chewing time per kilogram of NDF intake or mean reticular motility in either trial. Cows compensated for inert rumen bulk by an expansion of rumen volume and a reduction in rumen retention time. Reduced intake of the high forage diet in trial 2 was because of factors other than distension of the reticulorumen.
Characterizing the Home Health Care Supply Chain

Many home health agencies report low direct supply costs, but the total cost of the home health care supply chain may be much higher when indirect costs associated with ordering, storing, handling, and delivering supplies are considered. Results of a 2010 survey of home health agencies aimed at characterizing the home health care supply chain are presented, and statistical analysis is used to identify patterns based on agency affiliation, for profit status, and patient volume. Findings of interest to home health executives indicate the supply chain is performing well with respect to supply lead time and availability in patient homes. However, frequent practices reported may be leading to inefficiencies and high levels of nurse involvement in nonclinical duties such as ordering, sorting, and picking supplies.
A comparison of microstrip models to low temperature co-fired ceramic–silver microstrip measurements

Abstract A number of analytical and numerical models for microstrip lines are used for analyzing the propagation loss of CaO–B 2 O 3 –SiO 2 -based low temperature co-fired ceramics (LTCC) subjected to different processing conditions. An optimal microstrip model is identified for the frequency range between 0.5 and 15 GHz and used for the extraction of dielectric loss for this material system. The measurements show that the dominant loss contribution changes from the conductor to dielectric loss as the processing temperature for the LTCC dielectrics is lowered. Comparison with microstructural analysis shows that the increase in dielectric loss is strongly correlated to an increase in the amorphous SiO 2 content in the ceramic matrix.
Investigating gender: developing a feminist sociological imagination

Investigating gender: developing a feminist sociological imagination, by Martha E. Thompson and Michael Armato, Cambridge, Polity Press, 2012, xvii + 350 pp., $99.95 (hardback), ISBN 978-0-745-6518...
Diurnal rhythm of sensitivity of cotton seedlings to herbicides.

The inhibition of growth of cotton seedlings ( Gossypium hirsutum, var. Stardel) varied diurnally to applications of three herbicides [ 1,1-dimethyl-3 -( α,α,α-trifluoro -m- tolyl ) urea, 39,49-dichloro-2-methacrylamide, and ethyl -N,N- dipropylthiocarbamate ], but not to a fourth [ 3 -( 3,4-dichlorophenyl )- 1, 1-dimethylurea ]. Inhibition was strongest when the plants were treated at about daybreak. The rhythmic response was apparently not endogenously controlled, since most of the diurnal effect was lost under conditions of constant light and temperature.
Certificate of Need Programs, Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy Use and the Cost of Prostate Cancer Care

Purpose: Certificate of need programs are a primary mechanism to regulate the use and cost of health care services at the state level. The effect of certificate of need programs on the use of intensity modulated radiation therapy and the increasing costs of prostate cancer care is unknown. We compared the use of intensity modulated radiation therapy and change in prostate cancer health care costs in regions with vs without active certificate of need programs.Materials and Methods: This population based, observational study using SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results)-Medicare linked data from 2002 through 2009 was comprised of 13,814 men treated for prostate cancer in 3 regions with active certificate of need programs (CON Yes) vs 44,541 men treated for prostate cancer in 9 regions without active certificate of need programs (CON No). We assessed intensity modulated radiation therapy use relative to other prostate cancer definitive therapies and overall prostate cancer health care costs with r...
Reducing the uncertainty in laser beam size measurement with a scanning edge method

A modification in the analysis of a conventional laser beam spot size measurement method has been developed. The new analysis significantly decreases the uncertainty in the estimation of the beam-spot size. A conventional beam scanning approach was used in the measurement, but instead of differentiating the data and fitting the result to a Gaussian function, the data were fit to an analytical approximation to the complementary error function. As a result, fitted parameters were obtained that were consistent with the standard differentiation approach, but with considerably smaller uncertainty.
Nanoparticle Delivery of Pooled siRNA for Effective Treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Caner

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer-related death. To explore the potential of small interfering RNA (siRNA) therapy for NSCLC, we have developed anisamide-targeted LCP to efficiently deliver siRNA into the cytoplasm of sigma receptor-expressing NSCLC cells. Targeted LCP demonstrated a 9-fold higher siRNA delivery efficiency compared to nontargeted LCP in A549 cells in vitro. To simultaneously target multiple oncogenic mechanisms, we coformulated three siRNA sequences targeting HDM2, c-myc and VEGF oncogenes, and investigated their efficacy of cell-killing in A549 and H460 cells in vitro. The results indicated that the pooled siRNA codelivered by the targeted LCP could effectively and simultaneously knock down HDM2, c-myc and VEGF expressions and significantly inhibit tumor cell growth. After iv injection of mice bearing A549 xenografted tumor with Texas Red-labeled siRNA formulated in the targeted LCP, siRNA was successfully delivered to and concentrated in the tumor cells. ...
The effect of dietary supplementation with copper sulfate or tribasic copper chloride on broiler performance, relative copper bioavailability, and dietary prooxidant activity

Three experiments were conducted to study Cu sulfate and tribasic Cu chloride (TBCC) as sources of supplemental Cu for poultry. In Experiment 1, 252 chicks were fed the basal corn-soybean meal diet (26 ppm Cu) supplemented with either 0, 150, 300, or 450 ppm Cu from Cu sulfate or TBCC for 21 d. Chicks fed 450 ppm Cu from sulfate had lower (P 0.10). Linear regression over nonzero dietary levels of log10 transformed liver Cu concentration (parts per million of DM) on analyzed total Cu intake (micrograms) resulted in a slope ratio estimate of 106+/-19 for bioavailability of Cu from TBCC compared to 100 for that in Cu sulfate. In Experiment 2, a 42-d floor pen study was conducted with 1,260 broiler chicks given the basal corn-soybean meal diet supplemented with 0, 200, 400, or 600 ppm Cu from either feed-grade Cu sulfate or TBCC. Body weight and feed conversion did not differ in birds fed up to 400 ppm Cu from either source. Birds given 600 ppm Cu from either source had lower feed intake, poorer growth, and feed conversion (P < 0.0001). Liver Cu increased (P < 0.0001) linearly with increasing dietary Cu. Based on log10 liver Cu concentration, Cu in TBCC was 112% available compared to 100% for the standard Cu sulfate. In Experiment 3, Cu sources were added to broiler starter diets at concentrations of 25, 100, and 300 ppm Cu and diets were stored at an elevated temperature to examine the effect of particle size on oxidation. Diets were stored at 37 C for up to 20 d and samples were removed at 4-d intervals. At 300 ppm added Cu, oxidation in TBCC diets was lower (P < 0.0001) than oxidation in diets fortified with coarse Cu sulfate, even though TBCC modal diameter for particle size was almost seven times smaller. Oxidation promotion by Cu sulfate was much greater with fine than in coarse sized particles for all three fortification levels.
The association of suppressor cells with mononuclear cell aggregates in spleens of tumor-bearing mice.

Abstract Spleen cell suspensions from mice with progressive B-16 melanoma consistently contained significant numbers of aggregates of mononuclear cells (MN-Agg), when compared to spleen cell suspensions from normal mice or mice in the early stages of tumor growth. Histological, histochemical and immunological characterization of the cells involved in MN-Agg from tumor-bearing mice indicated that aggregates were composed of macrophages and T and B lymphocytes. The formation of MN-Agg was dependent upon the macrophage content of the spleens of tumor-bearing mice since the appearance of MN-Agg correlated temporally with an increase in the number of splenic macrophages demonstrable in tumor-bearing animals. An antigen nonspecific suppressor cell was identified in the spleens of mice 15 days following the appearance of palpable B-16 tumor, and the appearance of the suppressor cell population closely correlated with the appearance of MN-Agg. Additionally, fractionation of MN-Agg-containing cell suspensions demonstrated that fractions highly enriched in MN-Agg were concomitantly enriched for suppressor cells. The suppressor cell associated with MN-Agg was a T lymphocyte since suppressor activity of MN-Agg could be abolished by treatment of MN-Agg with a rabbit anti-mouse brain serum and complement. It is proposed that the generation of suppressor cells in mice with B-16 melanoma may require specific interaction between macrophages and lymphocytes which is manifested in the spleens of tumor-bearing mice by the formation of MN-Agg.
Oxidative desulfurization of diesel with oxygen: Reaction pathways on supported metal and metal oxide catalysts

Abstract We examined oxidative desulfurization (ODS) of a model diesel under conditions where O2 is the oxidant. To help understand the overall reaction pathways, we focused on all oxidation reactions in the system, including those of the alkylaromatic and nitrogen heterocycle components of the diesel. Three catalyst classes were studied in particular: supported Pd (on activated carbons or alumina), supported metal carbides and mesoporous titanium silicates. It is shown that regardless of catalyst the reaction rate for ODS is heavily influenced by the other oxidizable components present, especially the alkylaromatics. These compounds are oxidized to a greater extent than the sulfur heterocycles (by almost an order of magnitude on a molar basis), and temperatures must be kept less than 100 °C in order to minimize co-oxidation. Attaining a measurable rate at these temperatures requires high O2 partial pressures and therefore higher pressure than typically used for peroxide-based oxidations. The products formed from the oxidation of some typical alkylaromatics and nitrogen heterocycles were determined. These products suggest the same reaction pathways are present regardless of oxidant, and over a wide range of catalysts. The results strongly suggest that a key step in the oxidation of sulfur heterocycles with O2 is the generation of hydroperoxides from alkylaromatics and similar oxidizable hydrocarbons; it is these hydroperoxides which in turn oxidize the heterocycles.
Seasonal influenza vaccinations: specialized products for different target groups.

Abstract Traditionally, inactivated influenza vaccines have all been treated as virtually identical, at least in terms of recommendations for use. This has mostly been the case since their development over 60 years ago. The concept, still often quoted, that they are 70–90% protective against laboratory-confirmed clinical influenza comes from multiple studies carried out with different preparations in the US military; studies which ended in 1969 [1]. During this period, there were only gradual advances in improved potency and purity of the vaccines, so that it was appropriate to consider them as being comparable. However, we are currently witnessing a change, which started slowly, but is now accelerating, in which very different types of vaccine are becoming available. This has already begun in some parts of the world, but will soon be universal. The process is being accelerated by questions concerning the actual effectiveness of the current vaccines in specific risk groups. In this paper, we will take a look at the developments in the formulation of the vaccine to address the needs that have been identified. We will also consider different strategies for vaccine use which might be applied to traditional or future vaccines to improve population protection.
Regulation of hypoxia inducible factor-1 by nitric oxide in contrast to hypoxia in microvascular endothelium

Hypoxia activates the transcription factor, hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1). Besides hypoxia, HIF-1 can be activated under normoxic conditions by nitric oxide. The signal transduction pathways involved in HIF-1α stabilization, HIF-1 DNA binding and transactivation by NO and hypoxia in microvascular endothelium remains unknown. We report that protein phosphorylation is involved in HIF-1 activation during hypoxia and NO. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI-3K)/Akt pathway has differential effects on HIF-1 activation by hypoxia and NO. Our data indicate that the PI-3K/Akt pathway is insufficient for HIF-1α induction by hypoxia. The lipid and protein phosphatase activities of PTEN also appear to be involved in regulation of HIF-1α by NO.
The effect of antidiuretic hormone on gastric secretion in man

Intravenous injections of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) in man resulted in a reduced volume of gastric secretion. There was a direct relationship between the percentage inhibition of the gastric secretory volume and the dose of the antidiuretic hormone administered.
Abnormal Parathyroid Hormone-Related Peptid Stimulation of Renal 25-Hydroxyvitamin D-l- Hydroxylase In Hyp Mice: Evidence for a Generalized Defect of Enzyme Activity in the Proximal Convoluted Tubule*

Previous investigations have established that hypophosphatemic (Hyp) mice exhibit diminished PTH/cAMP stimulation of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D)-l-hydroxylase activity in the renal proximal convoluted tubule. Whether similar muted enzyme responsiveness occurs secondary to provocation by other hormones/metabolic factors that operate by a different mechanism in the same cell system, however, remains unknown. In order to investigate this possibility, we compared renal 25(OH)D-l-hydroxylase activity of normal and Hyp mice upon stimulation with PTH-related peptide (PTHrP), a factor which may affect enzyme function in the PCT by a PTHindependent mechanism. Administration of 1–34 PTHrP, 3.0 jig/day sc, increased enzyme activity in normal mice (4.9 + 0.63 vs. 50.3 ± 6.2 fmol/mg kidney-min) to a level significantly greater than that achieved in the Hyp mice (6.9 + 0.86 us. 14.5 ± 0.91 fmol/mg kidney-min). Moreover, similar to our observations after PTH stimulation, abnormal PTHrP effects did not result from an a...
Reflection and transmission of elastic waves by a periodic array of cracks: Oblique incidence

Abstract The interaction of elastic waves with a planar array of periodically spaced cracks of equal length is investigated. The angle of incidence is arbitrary. By the use of Fourier series techniques, the mixed-boundary value problem for a typical strip is reduced to a singular integral equation, which is solved numerically. It is shown that the reflected and transmitted displacement fields are the superposition of an infinite number of homogeneous and inhomogeneous plane body-wave modes. The reflection and transmission coefficients, which correspond to the modes of order zero, are plotted versus the frequency for three angles of incidence. Sharp resonance and antiresonance effects are observed. A check of the accuracy of the computations is provided by the balance of rates of energies.
Neuroimaging revolutionizes therapeutic approaches to chronic pain.

An understanding of how the brain changes in chronic pain or responds to pharmacological or other therapeutic interventions has been significantly changed as a result of developments in neuroimaging of the CNS. These developments have occurred in 3 domains : (1) Anatomical Imaging which has demonstrated changes in brain volume in chronic pain; (2) Functional Imaging (fMRI) that has demonstrated an altered state in the brain in chronic pain conditions including back pain, neuropathic pain, and complex regional pain syndromes. In addition the response of the brain to drugs has provided new insights into how these may modify normal and abnormal circuits (phMRI or pharmacological MRI); (3) Chemical Imaging (Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy or MRS) has helped our understanding of measures of chemical changes in chronic pain. Taken together these three domains have already changed the way in which we think of pain – it should now be considered an altered brain state in which there may be altered functional connections or systems and a state that has components of degenerative aspects of the CNS.
A new ratio-independent A/D conversion technique for high-resolution pipeline A/D converters

A new ratio-independent analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion technique is proposed to reduce significantly capacitor mismatch errors for high-resolution pipeline A/D converters. Reduction of power consumption is achieved by sharing amplifiers. The input offset voltage of the amplifier is eliminated by swapping the differential inputs and outputs of the amplifier. 15-bit accuracy is obtained with 8-bit capacitor matching as simulated.
Current issues in pediatric ambulatory anesthesia.

At The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the absolute number and percentage (55%) of ambulatory surgeries have remained the same over the past 3 years. However, the numbers of cases performed at our three freestanding outpatient surgery facilities has steadily increased (Fig. 1), thus greatly increasing our overall volume of outpatient cases. In this article we discuss current issues in pediatric outpatient anesthesia, including our department’s current guidelines for such patients. We discuss appropriate procedure and patient selection, preoperative assessment, intraoperative and postoperative considerations, and protocols for follow-up. Differences in management for the freestanding surgicenters will also be discussed.
A challenge for high spatial, spectral, and temporal resolution data fusion

The Remote Sensing Technologies Center (RSTC) at Mississippi State University (MSU) is investigating the application of high-resolution imagery in the areas of precision agriculture, forest resource management, and environmental assessments of transportation systems. For precision agriculture, the focus of the research is to develop the expertise to utilize this imagery to facilitate management decisions at the farm level. Decision making at the farm level requires high spatial resolution imagery (on the order of 1 meter or less) in order to develop prescriptions for nutrient supplements, integrated pest management (insects, weeds), irrigation, and to serve as a harvesting aid. This degree of analysis of the plant and soil also requires that higher spectral resolution be available to ascertain the nuances in the target vegetation's reflectance and to be able to relate this to specific agricultural problems. In addition, decisions at the farm level must be made within a few days of onset of a problem. Therefore, revisit frequencies for precision agriculture are on the order of 10-14 days. The requirement for high spatial, spectral, and temporal resolution imagery creates special image processing and analysis challenges. These include-data management, geometric and radiometric corrections, ground control points and georeferencing, and data analysis via such approaches as data fusion. The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, to illustrate the diversity of high spatial, spectral, and temporal resolution imagery required for precision agriculture applications. Second, to offer the opportunity to other data fusion researchers to join the author of this paper in developing new data fusion techniques for high-resolution imagery.
Sudden switching in qubits

Analytic solutions are developed for two-state systems (e.g. qubits) strongly perturbed by a series of rapidly changing pulses, called `kicks'. The evolution matrix may be expressed as a time ordered product of evolution matrices for single kicks. Single, double, and triple kicks are explicitly considered, and the onset of observability of time ordering is examined. The effects of different order of kicks on the dynamics of the system are studied and compared with effects of time ordering in general. To determine the range of validity of this approach, the effect of using pulses of finite widths for 2s-2p transitions in atomic hydrogen is examined numerically.
Structure of the Ctr1 copper trans‘PORE’ter reveals novel architecture

Copper is essential for biological processes such as free radical detoxification, mitochondrial respiration and iron metabolism. A central player in copper homeostasis is the high-affinity integral plasma membrane copper transporter Ctr1. However, the precise mechanisms by which Ctr1 functions are not known. Here, we highlight an important breakthrough in our understanding of how Ctr1 facilitates Cu(I) movement across membranes: the publication of structural details for human Ctr1 obtained from 2D crystallography and electron microscopy.
Applying WinWin to quality requirements: a case study

This paper describes the application of the WinWin paradigm to identify and resolve conflicts in a series of real-client, student-developer digital library projects. The paper is based on a case study of the statistical analysis of 15 projects and an in-depth analysis of one representative project. These analyses focus on the conflict resolution process, stakeholders' roles and their relationships to quality artifacts, and tool effectiveness. We show that stakeholders tend to accept satisfactory rather than optimal resolutions. Users and customers are more proactive in stating win conditions, whereas developers are more active in working toward resolutions. Further, we suggest that knowledge-based automated aids have potential to significantly enhance process effectiveness and efficiency. Finally, we conclude that such processes and tools have theoretical and practical implications in the quest for better software requirements elicitation.
Automatic and interactive modeling of buildings in urban environments from aerial images

Automatically extracting object models from images is a complex task. We describe research in extracting 3D models of buildings from aerial images. This work has resulted in several related systems including assisted extraction (minimal manual interaction to guide automatic processing), automatic extraction with limited imagery and limited building models, and automatic extraction with very good imagery and digital elevation models and more complex building models. Some results are provided for the assisted system and one of the automatic systems.
Thermodynamics of RNA hairpins containing single internal mismatches

Thermodynamic parameters and circular dichroism spectra are presented for RNA hairpins containing single internal mismatches in the stem regions. Three different sequence contexts for the G*U mismatch and two contexts for C*A, G*A, U*U, A*C and U*G mismatches were examined and compared with Watson-Crick base-pair stabilities. The RNA hairpins employed were a microhelix and tetraloop representing the Escherichia coli tRNAAlaacceptor stem and sequence variants that have been altered at the naturally occurring G*U mismatch site. UV melting studies were carried out under different conditions to evaluate the effects of sodium ion concentration and pH on the stability of mismatch-containing hairpins. Our main findings are that single internal mismatches exhibit a range of effects on hairpin stability. In these studies, the size and sequence of the loop and stem are shown to influence the overall stability of the RNA, and have a minor effect on the relative mismatch stabilities. The relationship of these results to RNA-ligand interactions involving mismatch base-pairs is discussed.
Coping with errors: the importance of process data in robust sociotechnical systems

This paper presents an analysis of written and electronic records that document the collaborative process of packing museum artifacts in preparation for a move. The majority of data recorded detailed the process of packing, while only a small amount of the data concerned which artifacts were packed in which boxes. Museum staff members were able to use these process data to solve the numerous errors that occurred during packing. We explore the design implications for collaborative systems which focus on supporting error recovery rather than error prevention.
Studies on silhouette quality and gait recognition

Recognition of a person from gait has been a focus in computer vision. It is one biometric source that can be acquired at a distance. At this nascent stage of gait recognition research, the pertinent research questions are those related to understanding the limits of gait recognition and the quantitative study of the various factors effecting gait. However, performances of contemporary algorithms have been confounded by errors in the extracted silhouettes, which has been the low-level representation of choice. In this work, (i) we present to the research community a segmentation "ground truth" research resource consisting of a set of manually specified part-level silhouettes for 70 subjects from the formulated gait challenge database, under different conditions involving change in surface, shoe-type, and time; a total of about 8000 manual silhouettes. (ii) We expound an HMM eigen stance model-based silhouette reconstruction method to correct for common errors in silhouette detection arising from shadows and background subtraction. And (iii) using these "cleaned" silhouettes and the manual silhouettes we show that the effects of various factors such as surface, time, and shoe on gait recognition are not due to poor silhouette quality. In fact, the recognition performance actually drops with the use of "clean " silhouettes because of removal of correlation in the error pixel patterns.
Impact of biofilm on the in vitro activity of vancomycin alone and in combination with tigecycline and rifampicin against Staphylococcus aureus

Objectives: This study evaluated vancomycin susceptibility and activity alone and in combination with rifampicin and tigecycline against low-biofilm- and high-biofilm-producing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) clinical isolates. Methods: Forty MRSA isolates recovered from bloodstream infections were analysed. Susceptibilities were performed in planktonic and biofilm cultures by microbroth dilution. Biofilm production was determined using an adherent plate assay. Time-kill analysis was performed on six low- and six high-biofilm-producing isolates with 15 mg/L vancomycin alone and in combination with rifampicin or tige-cycline at 4x MIC. Results: Vancomycin susceptibility displayed a 4-fold and an 8-fold increase in the MIC 50 and MIC 90 , respectively, in the presence of biofilm. Rifampicin and tigecycline susceptibilities also increased in biofilms, but still remained within the susceptibility breakpoints except for a tigecycline MIC 90 of 1 mg/L. High biofilm production was detected in 60% of the isolates. In time-kill analysis, 15 mg/L vancomycin achieved bactericidal activity against only low-biofilm-producing strains with a 1.8 log 10 cfu/mL difference in bacterial kill compared with high-biofilm-producing strains (P< 0.001). Rifampicin alone had minimal activity, resulting in resistance. Tigecycline was minimally effective and was not bactericidal, but no difference was observed in the comparison of biofilm-producing strains. Vancomycin in combination with rifampicin or tigecycline was bactericidal against all strains (mean kill 4.5 ± 0.5 log 10 cfu/mL), regardless of biofilm production. Conclusions: Vancomycin exposures at 15 mg/L may not be adequate in eradicating biofilm-producing S. aureus. Alternative treatments or combination therapy should be explored to optimize outcomes in biofilm-associated infections.
Contrast enema for pediatric intussusception: is reflux into the terminal ileum necessary for complete reduction?

Abstract Purpose Complete contrast enema reduction of intussusception is traditionally considered confirmed when contrast is seen refluxing into the terminal ileum. Operative intervention is typically indicated when the intussusception is not completely reduced. This study reviews the outcomes after symptomatic reduction of intussusception without requiring reflux of contrast into the terminal ileum. Methods A retrospective review of all pediatric patients treated for intussusception between 1996 and 2006 was performed. Diagnostic modality, operative reports, and hospital records were reviewed. Results One hundred sixty-eight patients were treated for intussusception during the study period. Median age was 9.9 months (59 days to 16.7 years). One hundred thirty-seven (81.5%) patients underwent contrast enema as the initial diagnostic/therapeutic modality. On contrast enema, 15 (10.9%) patients demonstrated reduction of the intussusception but without contrast refluxing into the terminal ileum. All 15 patients had improvement of symptoms. Six (40%) patients underwent operative intervention and were found to have a completely reduced intussusception. Two (13.3%) patients had repeat contrast enema the next day confirming complete reduction. The remaining 7 (46.7%) patients were observed without further radiographic studies, and all 7 patients were discharged the following day tolerating full feedings. There were no recurrent intussusceptions. Conclusion Nonoperative management may be used in patients with reduced intussusception despite lack of contrast refluxing into the terminal ileum if symptoms resolve.
Dynamic hedge fund asset allocation under multiple regimes

Portfolio Selection as introduced by Harry Markowitz laid the foundation for Modern Portfolio Theory. However, the assumption that underlying asset returns follow a normal distribution and that investors are indifferent to skew and kurtosis is not practically suited for the hedge fund environment. Additionally, the lockup and notice provisions built into hedge fund contracts make portfolio rebalancing difficult and justify the need for dynamic allocation strategies. Market conditions are dynamic, therefore, rebalancing constraints in the face of changing market environments can have a severe impact on return generation. There is a need for sophisticated yet tractable solutions to the multi-period problem of hedge fund portfolio construction and rebalancing. In this paper, we generalize the hedge fund asset return distribution to a multivariate K-mean Gaussian mixture distribution; model the multi-period hedge fund allocation problem as a Partially Observable Markov Decision Process (POMDP); and propose practical rebalancing strategies that represent a convergence of literature on hedge fund investing, regime switching, and dynamic portfolio optimization.
Goos–Hänchen shifts at the interfaces between left- and right-handed media

The Goos-Hanchen shift caused by total internal reflection at the interface between two media is analyzed. For two media of the same handedness the Goos-Hanchen phase shift opposes the phase variation associated with propagation through the incident medium. The Goos-Hanchen lateral shift is in the same direction as the horizontal component of the incident energy flux. Conversely, for two media of opposite handedness the Goos-Hanchen phase shift reinforces the phase variation associated with propagation through the incident medium. The lateral shift is in the opposite direction of the horizontal component of the incident energy flux.
Interpretation of tropical thermocline cooling in the Indian and Pacific oceans during recent decades

[1] A warming trend has been detected in the world’s oceans in recent decades. The basin-averaged warming, however, shows a complex vertical structure in the Indian and Pacific oceans. Warming in the upper ocean-with maxima near the surface- accompanies a strong cooling in the upper thermocline. Analysis of observed data and model solutions from this study reveals that the complex structure is confined mainly to the tropics. While increased greenhouse gases act to warm up the upper ocean by increasing downward surface heat fluxes, anomalous winds in the tropics cause upward Ekman pumping velocity and shoal the thermocline, resulting in an upper-thermocline cooling. This cooling process is well demonstrated by a simple model based on the ventilated thermocline theory. The study has important implications for climate change and fisheries. Citation: Han, W., G. A. Meehl, and A. Hu (2006), Interpretation of tropical thermocline cooling in the Indian and Pacific oceans during recent decades, Geophys. Res. Lett., 33, L23615, doi:10.1029/2006GL027982.
Clouded Visions: UltraViolet and the Future of Digital Distribution

This article uses the neoclassical economic principles of substitutable goods and switching costs to examine how the Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem (DECE) intended its digital media ecosystem, UltraViolet, to intervene in the U.S. market for long-form digital video. The article provides a detailed blueprint of the ecosystem’s industrial arrangement, an account of its bungled rollout, and an analysis of the DECE’s long-term strategy. The piece also contributes to a dialogue on the use of economics within the field of digital distribution scholarship by arguing for the value of neoclassical principles within this field.
Early Childhood Development as Economic Development: Considerations for State-Level Policy Innovation and Experimentation

Research from numerous disciplines provides support for the critical importance of early childhood development in economic development. The long-term individual and societal benefits of investing resources during early childhood make it an unrivaled opportunity for policy. Over the past 30 years, states have gained increasing control over the major policies for families with young children through the devolution of federal programs to states. States have also expanded their innovation and adoption of early childhood education programs during this time, such as prekindergarten. Policy makers need to understand how the differences in these policies across states affect policy effectiveness and child well-being, yet there is limited research, especially during early childhood. This article outlines the federally-devolved and state-developed policies for families with young children and the dimensions and characteristics that vary between states, and concludes with implications for research in the experimenta...
Potholes in the information highway: the Internet and plagiarism

The Internet is an appealing medium for its potential to improve the educational experience for both traditional and distance learning students. A wealth of information on a wide variety of topics offers assistance, and apparently, temptation. Although the student handbook at every institution contains some language defining plagiarism, I am unaware of any definitions that include mention of the Internet and digital media. This has blurred the line for many students and created additional burdens for the academic community. This paper reviews my experience with Internet plagiarism and discusses two possible solutions.
Levorotation of the fetal cardiac axis: a clue for the presence of congenital heart disease

Objective To evaluate the use of the cardiac axis within the chest for the prenatal detection of congenital heart defects. Methods We reviewed retrospectively the sonographic findings of all fetuses scanned between 17 and 40 weeks' gestation and diagnosed prenatally as having heart defects. The cardiac diagnoses were confirmed postnatally. The control group consisted of 75 consecutive fetuses with normal fetal surveys and newborn follow-up examinations. The cardiac axes were measured retrospectively using an image of the four-chamber view of the heart and measuring the angle between the interventricular septum and a line bisecting the chest. Mean and standard deviations (SDs) of the axis measurements in normal and abnormal fetuses were compared by Student t test. Results The 75 fetuses with heart defects diagnosed by prenatal sonogram had a mean cardiac axis of 56 ± 13 °, compared with 43 ± 7 ° in normal fetuses (P Conclusion The presence of a cardiac axis exceeding 57 ° in the fetal chest is associated with a substantial risk of congenital heart defects. The finding of an abnormal axis should prompt further evaluation of the fetal heart.
HLA Mutants of Lymphoblastoid Cell Lines: Generation of New Mutants and Analysis by Southern Blotting

The study of the MHC of the mouse was greatly facilitated by the use of congenic and coisogenic strains; unfortunately, such tools are of course not available in man. The development of γ-ray-induced mutant cell lines deleted for HLA specificities by Kavathas et al. [1] created a human analog of coisogenic mouse strains. These mutants are extremely valuable for a number of immunologic and biochemical experiments, such as selection of specific cytotoxic T cell clones and definition of new genes in the HLA region.
Constrained data-driven parallelism

In data-driven parallelism, changes to data spawn new tasks, which may change more data, spawning yet more tasks. Computation propagates until no further changes occur. Benefits include increasing opportunities for fine-grained parallelism, avoiding redundant work, and supporting incremental computations on large data sets. Nonetheless, data-driven parallelism can be problematic. For example, convergence times of data-driven singlesource shortest paths algorithms can vary by two orders of magnitude depending on task execution order. We propose constrained data-driven parallelism, in which programmers can impose ordering constraints on tasks. In particular, we propose new abstractions for defining groups of tasks and constraining the execution order of tasks within each group. We sketch an initial implementation and present experimental results demonstrating that our approach enables new efficient data-driven implementations of a variety of graph algorithms.
Clinostats and bioreactors.

The environment created on Earth within a clinostat or Rotating Wall Vessel (RWV) bioreactor is often referred to as “simulated microgravity”. Both devices utilize constant reorientation to effectively nullify cumulative sedimentation of particles. Neither, however, can fully reproduce the concurrent lack of structural deformation, displacement of intercellular components and/or reduced mass transfer in the extracellular fluid that occur in actual weightlessness. Parameters including density, viscosity, and even container geometry must each be considered to determine the overall gravity-dependent effects produced by either a clinostat or the RWV bioreactor; in addition, the intended application of these two devices differs considerably. A state of particle “motionlessness” relative to the surrounding bulk fluid, which is nearly analogous to the extracellular environment encountered under weightless conditions, can theoretically be achieved through clinorotation. The RWV bioreactor, on the other hand, while similarly maintaining cells in suspension as they continually “fall” through the medium under 1 g conditions, can also purposefully induce a perfusion of nutrients to and waste from the culture. A clinostat, therefore, is typically used in an attempt to reproduce the quiescent, unstirred fluid conditions achievable on orbit; while the RWV bioreactor ideally creates a low shear, but necessarily mixed, fluid environment that is optimized for suspension culture and tissue growth. Other techniques for exploring altered inertial environments, such as free-fall, neutral buoyancy and electromagnetic levitation, can also provide unique insight into how gravity affects biological systems. Ultimately, all underlying biophysical principles thought to give rise to gravity-dependent physiological responses must be identified and thoroughly examined in order to accurately interpret data from flight experiments or ground-based microgravity analogs.
The Story of Shaw V. Reno: Representation and Raceblindness

In Shaw v. Reno, the United States Supreme Court imported the qualified colorblindness principle from its affirmative action cases, allowing white North Carolinians to challenge majority-black districts created under pressure from the U.S. Department of Justice. This chapter in the forthcoming Race Law Stories volume tells the story behind the Shaw case. The chapter starts by reviewing the history of racial politics in North Carolina and other southern states, a critical part of Shaw's story, though one almost entirely omitted from the Supreme Court's opinion. Before enactment of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, blacks were largely prevented from voting or even registering throughout the South. Even after formal barriers to participation were eliminated in the 1960s and 1970s, relatively few African Americans were elected to Congress from southern states. That changed in the 1990s, partly due to the Justice Department's exercise of its preclearance power under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. The Justice Department's efforts to increase safe minority seats led to the litigation in North Carolina and, eventually, to the Shaw v. Reno opinion. Drawing on the papers of the late Justice Harry Blackmun, the chapter examines the Supreme Court's internal deliberations over the case, as well as the still-unresolved tension between race-blind and race-conscious redistricting evident in its final opinion. That opinion led some commentators and advocates to fear a reversal of the gains in minority representation that had been made through enforcement of the Voting Rights Act. But the story does not end there. North Carolina's 1990s redistricting plans resulted in three more trips to the Supreme Court and a voting rights jurisprudence that can best be described as muddled. The uncertain status of Shaw's legacy is compounded the changing composition of the Court, marked by the death of Chief Justice Rehnquist and the retirement of Justice O'Connor, the swing vote in the Shaw and key voting rights cases that followed. Thus, like so many stories in the area of race law, the story of Shaw v. Reno does not have an ending. If the Roberts Court is as ambivalent in its conception of meaningful representation as the Rehnquist Court, this story will remain incomplete - and Shaw's legacy will remain vigorously contested.
Thymoma, Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, and AIDS.

Since the initial descriptions of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), it has become evident that the disorder predisposes patients not only to opportunistic infections, but also to malignancies. Large series have reported a 33–40% incidence of neoplastic disease in patients with AIDS;1,2 the overwhelming majority of these malignancies are Kaposi sarcoma.3 An additional 4–10% of patients have nonHodgkin lymphomas, usually of the aggressive B cell type. Case reports of related solid tumors have recently appeared, and although cause and effect have not been proven, the incidence of solid tumors in patients with AIDS may be as high as 5%.4,5
Resonance IR: a coherent multidimensional analogue of resonance Raman.

This work demonstrates the use of triply resonant sum frequency (TRSF) spectroscopy as a “resonance IR” analogue to resonance Raman spectroscopy. TRSF is a four-wave-mixing process where three lasers with independent frequencies interact coherently with a sample to generate an output at their triple summation frequency. The first two lasers are in the infrared and result in two vibrational excitations, while the third laser is visible and induces a two-quantum anti-Stokes resonance Raman transition. The signal intensity grows when the laser frequencies are all in resonance with coupled vibrational and electronic states. The method therefore provides electronic enhancement of IR-active vibrational modes. These modes may be buried beneath solvent in the IR spectrum and also be Raman-inactive and therefore inaccessible by other techniques. The method is presented on the centrosymmetric complex copper phthalocyanine tetrasulfonate. In this study, the two vibrational frequencies were scanned across ring-breath...
The Taxonomy and Morphology of Poria Vincta

Poria vincta (Berk.) Cke. is divided into two varieties based on differences in basidiocarp coloration. Fungi synonymous with P. vincta var. vincta are P. carneopallens (Berk.) Cke. and P. hyposclera (Berk.) Cke. Synonymous with P. vincta var. cinerea (Bres.) Setliff are P. carneopallens f. cinerea Bres., P. porphyrophaea Bres., and P. hypobrunnea Petch. Basidiocarps named P. hypolateritia Berk. by T. Petch are the same as P. vincta var. vincta. The type specimen of P. hypolateritia is microscopically distinct from P. vincta var. vincta. Red-root disease of rubber and tea in Ceylon attributed to P. hypolateritia and P. hypobrunnea, red strand-rot of rubber in the Amazon Valley and Poria root disease in East Africa are caused by the two varieties of P. vincta. Poria vincta var. vincta also is associated with a dry rot of Cavendish banana in Australia. Gloeoplerous hyphae which terminate in the hymenium as mammillate cystidia provide a diagnostic character for P. vincta.
The Angle-Sum According to Playair

(1896). The Angle-Sum According to Playair. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 3, No. 3, pp. 77-79.