cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Micelle stacking in micellar electrokinetic chromatography.

In order to understand the role of stacked micelles in sample preconcentration, it is necessary to understand the factors that contribute to the micelle stacking phenomenon. Various MEKC background electrolyte (BGE) solutions were prepared in the presence of Sudan III in order to monitor the micelle stacking phenomenon in the anionic sodium dodecyl sulfate and sodium cholate micelle systems. The data show that micelle stacking is a dynamic process that is strongly dependent upon the relative conductivities of the sample matrix and BGE, the relative column length of the sample plug, and the mobilities of the ions involved in the stacking process regardless of electric field conditions (i.e., field-amplified stacking, sweeping, or high-salt stacking). Conditions under which micelle stacking can be expected to occur are presented, and the extent of micelle stacking is quantified. The micelle stacking phenomenon is correlated to the separation performance of a series of neutral alkaloids. It is shown that neu...
An Alternative to Structurally Oriented Textbooks

Although most of today's foreign language textbooks and syllabuses are organized around structural form, a functional-notional approach may be a viable alternative. This concept, originating with the Council of Europe's reorganization of its foreign language program, basically involves the organization of a textbook or syllabus according to the notions or functions that a learner hopes to be able to express. This article explores the various aspects of the concept, includes examples of how a functional-notional unit of instruction might be organized, and points out the advantages of such an organization. The article suggests that the functional-notional approach may be significant in fulfilling the needs of both foreign language students and teachers.
Origin and evolution of the natural satellites

The natural satellites of planets in the solar system display a rich variety of orbital configurations and surface characteristics that have intrigued astronomers, physicists, and mathematicians for several centuries. As detailed information about satellite properties have become available from close spacecraft reconnaissance, geologists and geophysicists have also joined the study with considerable enthusiasm. This paper summarizes our ideas about the origin of the satellites in the context of the origin of the solar system itself, and it highlights the peculiarities of various satellites and the configurations in which we find them as a motivation for constraining the satellites’ evolutionary histories. Section 2 describes the processes involved in forming our planetary system and points out how many of these same processes allow us to understand the formation of the regular satellites (those in nearly circular, equatorial orbits) as miniature examples of planetary systems. The irregular satellites, the Moon, and Pluto’s satellite, Charon, require special circumstances as logical additions to the more universal method of origin. Section 3 gives a brief description of tidal theory and a discussion of various applications showing how dissipation of tidal energy effects secular changes in the orbital and spin configurations and how it deposits sufficient frictional heat into individual satellites to markedly change their interior and surface structures. These consequences of tidal dissipation are used in the discussions of the evolutions of satellite systems of each planet, starting with the Earth-Moon system in Section 4. Additional processes such as collisional breakup and reassembly of some of the smaller satellites associated with the ubiquitous equatorial rings of small particles are discussed, although ring properties and evolution are excluded (see Nicholson 1999). There is no attempt to include technical details of published explanations of the various phenomenologies. Rather, the explanations are described and the uncertainties in the assumptions and resulting conclusions are emphasized. The
Beyond the Square Wheel: Toward a More Comprehensive Understanding of Biodiversity Conservation as Social and Political Process

In this article we build on an accompanying critique of recent writings in international biodiversity conservation (this issue). Many scholars and observers are calling for stricter enforcement of protected area boundaries given the perceived failure of integrated conservation and development projects (ICDPs) and other people-oriented approaches to safeguard biodiversity. Pointing to many ongoing, field-based efforts, we argue that this resurgent focus on authoritarian protection practices largely overlooks key aspects of social and political process including clarification of moral standpoint, legitimacy, governance, accountability, learning, and nonlocal forces. Following a discussion of these six points, we offer a series of recommendations aimed at highlighting existing work and encouraging dialogue and constructive debate on the ways in which biodiversity protection interventions are carried out in developing countries.
Histochemical localization of oxidase activity in the mitochondria of the human heart.

A REVIEW of the literature has failed to reveal any definitive histochemical localization of oxidase activity in cardiac as well as skeletal muscle. Recently, several new oxidase techniques have been reported which are capable of precise localizations at the cytochemical level1,2.
The Self Beyond Itself: Hermeneutics and Transpersonal Experience

This essay examines, from the point of view of an existential hermeneutics, five accounts of transpersonal experience: Robert Monroe's Journeys Out of the Body, Paul's experience in the third heaven in II Corinthians 12, a description of rapture by Teresa of Avila, a disembodied vision of guardian spirits by John Lilly from The Center of the Cyclone, and the vision of the assault of the Lords of the Dead from the Tibetan Book of the Dead. Through a consideration of world, embodiment, death, care and other existential categories, the discussion in each case focuses on a central ambiguity about the personal identity of the narrator. The question of authenticity, in a Heideggerian sense, is posed to these materials, and the central ambiguity is shown to strike so deeply as to undercut the assumption of autonomy as the criterion of authenticity. Being-toward-death is relativized in such experiences, but relativized by an even more radical threat to individual existence. In conclusion, some generalized principles are offered as heuristic criteria for interpreting transpersonal experience in general.
Two randomized controlled trials comparing the Tubal Ring and Filshie Clip for tubal sterilization

Abstract Objective: To compare the effectiveness and safety of the Filshie Clip and Tubal Ring systems when applied via minilaparotomy and laparoscopy. Design: Prospective, multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial, with postoperative evaluation by a physician who was masked to the operative technique. Setting: Healthy volunteers in a variety of hospital settings. Patient(s): 2746 women (915 in the minilaparotomy study and 1831 in the laparoscopy study) who had requested permanent surgical sterilization. Intervention(s): Surgical tubal ligation, using either Filshie Clips or Tubal Rings. A physician other than the surgeon evaluated the patients after the operation and again at 1, 6, and 12 months after surgery. Main Outcome Measure(s): Pregnancy rates and safety-related events. Result(s): During the 12 months after surgery, two women who received the Filshie Clip and two women who received the Tubal Ring became pregnant, giving a 12-month life-table pregnancy probability of 1.7 per 1000 women in both groups. The Tubal Ring was more difficult to apply and had higher rates of tubal or mesosalpingeal injuries at surgery. The Filshie Clip group had three cases of spontaneous clip expulsion during the follow-up period. Conclusion(s): Both the Filshie Clip and Tubal Ring are effective and safe for use in tubal occlusion.
Roles of RubisCO and the RubisCO-Like Protein in 5-Methylthioadenosine Metabolism in the Nonsulfur Purple Bacterium Rhodospirillum rubrum

Ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RubisCO) catalyzes the assimilation of atmospheric CO2 into organic matter and is thus central to the existence of life on earth. The beginning of the 2000s was marked by the discovery of a new family of proteins, the RubisCO-like proteins (RLPs), which are structural homologs of RubisCO. RLPs are unable to catalyze CO2 fixation. The RLPs from Chlorobaculum tepidum, Bacillus subtilis, Geobacillus kaustophilus, and Microcystis aeruginosa have been shown to participate in sulfur metabolism. Whereas the precise function of C. tepidum RLP is unknown, the B. subtilis, G. kaustophilus, and M. aeruginosa RLPs function as tautomerases/enolases in a methionine salvage pathway (MSP). Here, we show that the form II RubisCO enzyme from the nonsulfur purple bacterium Rhodospirillum rubrum is also able to function as an enolase in vivo as part of an MSP, but only under anaerobic conditions. However, unlike B. subtilis RLP, R. rubrum RLP does not catalyze the enolization of 2,3-diketo-5-methylthiopentyl-1-phosphate. Instead, under aerobic growth conditions, R. rubrum RLP employs another intermediate of the MSP, 5-methylthioribulose-1-phosphate, as a substrate, resulting in the formation of different products. To further determine the interrelationship between RubisCOs and RLPs (and the potential integration of cellular carbon and sulfur metabolism), the functional roles of both RubisCO and RLP have been examined in vivo via the use of specific knockout strains and complementation studies of R. rubrum. The presence of functional, yet separate, MSPs in R. rubrum under both aerobic (chemoheterotrophic) and anaerobic (photoheterotrophic) growth conditions has not been observed previously in any organism. Moreover, the aerobic and anaerobic sulfur salvage pathways appear to be differentially controlled, with novel and previously undescribed steps apparent for sulfur salvage in this organism.
Implications of the Secondary Role of Carbon Dioxide and Methane Forcing in Climate Change: Past, Present, and Future

A review of the recent refereed literature fails to confirm quantitatively that carbon dioxide (CO2) radiative forcing was the prime mover in the changes in temperature, ice-sheet volume, and related climatic variables in the glacial and interglacial episodes of the past 650,000 years, even under the "fast-response" framework where the convenient if artificial distinction between forcing and feedback is assumed. Atmospheric CO2 variations generally follow changes in temperature and other climatic variables rather than preceding them. Likewise, there is no confirmation of the often-posited significant supporting role of methane (CH4) forcing, which—despite its faster atmospheric response time—is simply too small, amounting to less than 0.2 W/m2 from a change of 400 ppb. We cannot quantitatively validate the numerous qualitative suggestions that the CO2 and CH4forcings that occurred in response to Milankovic orbital cycles accounted for more than half of the amplitude of the changes in the glacial/interglac...
Oxidation Resistance Evaluation of Silicon Carbide Ceramics with Various Additives

Five silicon carbide ceramics with various additives were evaluated for oxidation resistance at 1300°C in flowing dry and wet air. In the dry atmosphere, the oxidation of the five samples was diffusion-controlled, and in wet atmosphere they exhibited a linear relation beween weight gain by oxidation and water vapor content. Water vapor in the atmosphere strongly accelerated oxidation. The influence of oxidation on room-temperature strength was complex, but the samples were not as affected by oxidation.
Framework for waveband switching in multigranular optical networks: part II--wavelength/waveband conversion and survivability [Invited]

Feature Issue on Waveband Switching, Routing, and Grooming We consider multigranular optical networks using waveband switching (WBS) technology. The use of advanced WDM has significantly increased the available bandwidth in backbone networks by increasing the number of wavelengths. As the number of wavelengths in a fiber is increased, the number of ports or the size of the optical cross connects increases rapidly. Using WBS, wavelengths are grouped into bands and switched as a single entity thus reducing the cost and control complexity of switching nodes by minimizing the port count. Part I of our study [J. Opt. Netw.5, 1043-1055 (2006)] compared the various cross-connect architectures for WBS including the three-layer and single-layer multigranular cross connects. It also discussed various issues relating to waveband switching networks that are different from traditional wavelength routing networks (WRNs), for example, traffic grooming, and it showed why techniques developed for WRNs cannot be simply applied to WBS networks. We study the effect of wavelength and waveband conversion on the performance of WBS networks with reconfigurable multigranular optical cross connects. We present an algorithm for waveband grouping in wavelength convertible networks and evaluate its performance with full, limited, and intraband wavelength conversion. We then focus on survivability in WBS networks and show how waveband and wavelength conversion can be used effectively to recover from failures in WBS networks.
Utilization of wavelet concepts in finite elements for efficient solution of Maxwell's equation

Abstract only given. The wavelet concept has been introduced in the applied mathematics literature as a new mathematical subject for performing localized "time-frequency" characterization. It is a versatile tool with "very rich mathematical content and great potential for applications". Because of this localized property both in the original and in the transform domain it is expected that its application particularly to solution of partial differential equations would be quite interesting. Utilization of a wavelet type basis has the advantage that the condition number of the system matrix does not increase rapidly with an increase in the number of unknowns unlike the original version of the finite element methods. In the paper the wavelet concepts have been developed and explained with application to 1D-differential equations. It is shown how this can be incorporated in a Galerkin's method (or equivalently, e.g. finite element method) for efficient solution of 2D problems. Numerical examples are presented for efficient solution of waveguide problems utilizing this approach. >
Multiple levels of cyclin specificity in cell-cycle control.

In budding yeast, multiple cyclins activate a single cyclin-dependent kinase to control progression through the cell cycle. Different mechanisms of cyclin specificity are thought to be important for the correct order and timing of cell-cycle events. Cyclins regulate the cell cycle by binding to and activating cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks). Phosphorylation of specific targets by cyclin–Cdk complexes sets in motion different processes that drive the cell cycle in a timely manner. In budding yeast, a single Cdk is activated by multiple cyclins. The ability of these cyclins to target specific proteins and to initiate different cell-cycle events might, in some cases, reflect the timing of the expression of the cyclins; in others, it might reflect intrinsic properties of the cyclins that render them better suited to target particular proteins.
KAFE: Kernel Analysis Front-End for Software Assurance

KAFE is a tool for kernel inspection, navigation, iterative drill down and analysis with an easy to use interface for searching and sorting on kernel files, functions, types, variables, macros, and symbols. Although debuggers are geared towards run-time program analysis, the information they rely on offers a powerful basis for the static analysis of programs. The KAFE relational database is automatically gen-erated by analyzing the "Debug With Arbitrary Records Format" information. While we gain a great deal of insight into the workings of the Linux kernel and could hopefully recognize potentially problematic violations of data isolation and encapsulation, the scope of the KAFE tool goes behind kernel inspection and could be applied to program understanding in general. This paper shows how this approach differs from static source code analysis, run-time analysis or debuggers. The database generation and architecture are described and the interface is illustrated.
The Orinoco Delta

The Orinoco delta occupies a large re-entrant of the coast of northeastern South America between the Peninsula of Paria and the Guayana highlands. Offshore, it is partially sheltered by the island of Trinidad, while the southern part is fronted by a wide continental shelf. The coastal plain has been built entirely by the Orinoco, whereas the northern part has been constructed mainly by small lateral rivers descending from higher ground in the west and was invaded only recently by Orinoco distributaries. River levee systems are developed only in the apex of the delta; a wide outer zone of swamps and marshes with local chenier systems has been formed over the entire width of the delta front, largely by rapid coastal accretion. The sediments forming the delta are supplied only in part by the Orinoco; a large volume of sediment is contributed by longshore transportation from the east, probably from the Amazon River. The shape and structure of the modern delta are the result of the interaction, on a shallow sheltered shelf, of a large, dominantly fine-grained sediment supply with strong currents producing lateral redistribution. Comparison of the Orinoco delta with the deltas of the Mississippi, Rhone, and Niger Rivers shows that the facies distributions of the four deltas are fundamentally different, but can be viewed as responses to relative variations in the texture and rate of sediment supply, and in the intensity and direction of marine sorting and dispersal.
Neural Bases of Intelligence and Training

Current research on neural mechanisms of learning and memory is revealing neurochemical and neuroanatomical changes that may store memories. These changes occur at the synaptic junctions, which are the functional contacts between neurons. Various drugs can either improve or impair the formation of memory. In experimental animals, full development of the brain and of behavioral capacity require experience that is enriched beyond the level of the standard colony environment. Enriched experience also serves as therapy for brain damage. Advances in science and medicine, coupled with a lowered birthrate, should reduce the incidence of mental retardation markedly by the end of the century, but special educators do not seem to be aware of this impending change.
Does a health maintenance curriculum for pediatric residents improve performance

Objective. To assess the knowledge and skills of residents in health maintenance and to measure the effectiveness of a new curriculum. Design . Longitudinal cohort study of first- and second-year pediatric residents over 2 academic years (AY). Residents in AY 1995–1996 ( n = 32) comprised a control group. Residents in AY 1996–1997 ( n = 36) served as a study group who completed a structured 12-week program of reading materials, small group discussions, and case scenarios. Methods. A needs assessment identified 7 topic areas in health maintenance: health screening, immunizations, nutrition, development, behavior, injury prevention, and dental health. Control and study residents9 cognitive knowledge, chart documentation, and clinical performance were assessed using a 50-item multiple choice examination, medical records audit, and standardized patient evaluations. Results. Mean examination scores, chart documentation, and clinical performance did not differ significantly between first- and second-year control residents. In the study group, mean examination scores of first-year residents were not significantly better than controls. Second-year residents significantly improved their knowledge about health screening, nutrition, and dental health compared with controls but showed no improvement in other areas. Medical record documentation increased significantly among study residents compared with control residents. Clinically, first-year residents significantly improved in the task of health screening (relative risk [RR] 6.33) and markedly improved (36.8% vs 66.7%) their injury prevention counseling compared with controls. Second-year residents showed significant increases in health screening (RR 6.09) and taking a nutritional history (RR 1.44) compared with controls. Assessment of the curriculum by residents showed a high degree of satisfaction with the program. Conclusions. Pediatric residents who had clinical experience and completed the curriculum demonstrated significant improvements in their medical record documentation and selective gains in knowledge and clinical performance of health maintenance compared with residents with clinical experience only. A structured curriculum in health maintenance and a multifaceted assessment system can identify and enhance the skills of pediatric residents.
Mineralogic Nature and Origin of Phosphorite, Beaufort County, North Carolina

A large Miocene phosphorite deposit on the Atlantic Coastal Plain in Beaufort County, North Carolina, contains estimated reserves of 10 billion tons. The phosphorite zone, where examined, is 60 feet thick, and the P 2 O 5 content of the untreated ore is about 18 per cent. The sediment consists of phosphate pellets, sand-sized quartz grains, and clay, with thin beds of indurated coquina and phosphatic dolomite. The phosphate pellets contain quartz grains, glauconite, carbonaceous matter, and organic remains. Although most of the pellets are structureless, some show concentric layering around a nucleus. Chemical, X-ray-diffraction, infrared-spectral, and other data demonstrate that the phosphorite mineral is francolite, and that CO 2 is an integral part of the apatite structure. The clay fraction of the phosphorite includes montmorillonite, illite and clinoptilolite. The clay minerals and zeolite probably originated through alteration of volcanic detritus from an undetermined source. Studies indicate origin of the phosphorite to have been in a shallow marine basin characterized by a reducing environment, phosphate replacement of calcareous sediments, local reworking and alteration of certain of the pellets, and coincidence of phosphorite deposition with pyroclastic activity.
Enhanced-Dynamic-Range, Single-Shot Measurement of Nanosecond Pulses via Optical Replication

Measuring pulse shapes beyond the dynamic range of oscilloscopes is achieved by passive temporal-pulse stacking. Optical pulses are averaged with their time-delayed replicas without introducing additional noise, yielding 3 bits of additional dynamic range.
On the Implementation of Global Real-Time Schedulers

An empirical study of implementation tradeoffs (choice of ready queue implementation, quantum-driven vs. event driven scheduling, and interrupt handling strategy) affecting global real-time schedulers, and in particular global EDF, is presented. This study, conducted using UNC’s Linux-based LITMUSRT on Sun’s Niagara platform, suggests that implementation tradeoffs can impact schedulability as profoundly as scheduling-theoretic tradeoffs. For most of the considered workloads, implementation scalability proved to not be a key limitation of global EDF on the considered platform. Further, a combination of a parallel heap, event-driven scheduling, and dedicated interrupt handling performed best for most workloads.
Exploring facial expressions with compositional features

Most previous work focuses on how to learn discriminating appearance features over all the face without considering the fact that each facial expression is physically composed of some relative action units (AU). However, the definition of AU is an ambiguous semantic description in Facial Action Coding System (FACS), so it makes accurate AU detection very difficult. In this paper, we adopt a scheme of compromise to avoid AU detection, and try to interpret facial expression by learning some compositional appearance features around AU areas. We first divided face image into local patches according to the locations of AUs, and then we extract local appearance features from each patch. A minimum error based optimization strategy is adopted to build compositional features based on local appearance features, and this process embedded into Boosting learning structure. Experiments on the Cohn-Kanada database show that the proposed method has a promising performance and the built compositional features are basically consistent to FACS.
Mortality Risk in Pediatric Motor Vehicle Crash Occupants: Accounting for Developmental Stage and Challenging Abbreviated Injury Scale Metrics

Objective: Survival risk ratios (SRRs) and their probabilistic counterpart, mortality risk ratios (MRRs), have been shown to be at odds with Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) severity scores for particular injuries in adults. SRRs have been validated for pediatrics but have not been studied within the context of pediatric age stratifications. We hypothesized that children with similar motor vehicle crash (MVC) injuries may have different mortality risks (MR) based upon developmental stage and that these MRs may not correlate with AIS severity.Methods: The NASS-CDS 2000–2011 was used to define the top 95% most common AIS 2+ injuries among MVC occupants in 4 age groups: 0–4, 5–9, 10–14, and 15–18 years. Next, the National Trauma Databank 2002–2011 was used to calculate the MR (proportion of those dying with an injury to those sustaining the injury) and the co-injury-adjusted MR (MRMAIS) for each injury within 6 age groups: 0–4, 5–9, 10–14, 15–18, 0–18, and 19+ years. MR differences were evaluated between age g...
THE TRANSNATIONAL FLOW OF TACTICAL DISPOSITIONS: THE CHINESE DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT AND FALUN GONG

This article examines the tactical repertoires of two diaspora-based Chinese protest movements; the Chinese democracy movement and the Falun Gong, a religious community that has been banned in China since 1999. Data, which were collected and coded using quantitative narrative analysis (QNA) software, take the form of inventories of tactics used by each movement. In spite of general contextual similarity in political opportunity and context faced by both movements, the inventory data reveal that each movement had its own overarching "tactical disposition," which is understood as a relational pattern between challengers, publics, and authorities. Findings also suggest that the tactical dispositions of the movements initially formed in China and then migrated to diaspora, where they influenced further tactical decision making. The durability of tactical dispositions across such disparate political settings (e.g., China/North America) points to the role of within-group culture in shaping how movements respond...
Diffraction Tomography Algorithms Using the Total Scattered Field

Diffraction tomography based on the back-scattered field and the concurrent use of the transmitted and back-scattered field have received little attention. Using the total scattered field may improve image resolution, which is due to an increased coverage of the wavenumber domain. Contour information (i.e. a bandpass filtered version of the image) is located in a ring of the spatial Fourier domain and can be extracted from the backscattered field only, while grey level information (i.e. a lowpass filtered version of the image) is located in a disk centered at the origin and is accessible from the forward scattered field. Therefore, using only the forward scattered field amounts to discarding some of the image data and results in images of inferior quality.
Enrichment, characterization, and responsiveness of single primitive CD34 human umbilical cord blood hematopoietic progenitors with high proliferative and replating potential

To characterize the growth of cord blood progenitor cells, single nonadherent, low-density, T-lymphocyte-depleted CD34 cells were sorted by flow cytometer with an autoclone device into single wells containing culture medium and cytokines. These cells were evaluated for proliferation and for replating ability of their progeny. This latter effect is used as a measure of self-renewal capacity. Colony formation was assessed in 1 degree wells containing various cytokines, alone and in combination, and single colonies deriving after 21 days in semisolid medium were replated into 2 degree wells in the presence of the combination of purified preparations of recombinant human steel factor (SF, a c-kit ligand), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), interleukin-3 (IL-3), and erythropoietin (Epo). Replating of single colonies was performed also for 3 degrees, 4 degrees, and 5 degrees cultures. In the presence of serum, colony formation was observed in > 66% of the wells stimulated with the combination of Epo, SF, GM-CSF, G-CSF, and IL-3, and more than 39% of the colonies formed in these 1 degree wells were very large in size (> 2.5 mm in diameter, dense in the center, and containing > 10(4) cells/colony). The replating efficiency of these large colonies was up to 93% with generation of subsequent colonies of very large size. Replating could be shown for up to five generations. The cells in these colonies were large, nonspecific esterase positive, and contained large amounts of cytoplasm with one or more nuclei containing several nucleoli per nucleus. Smaller colonies (1 to 2.5 mm in diameter and dense in the center) containing similar cells and making up an additional 14% of the colonies formed in 1 degree wells also showed extensive replating capacity, including generation of larger colonies. These colony-forming cells are likely similar to the murine macrophage high-proliferative potential colony-forming cells. The cells giving rise to these colonies are present in about eightfold higher frequency in cord blood than in adult bone marrow. These cells may at least in part be associated with the successful hematopoietic repopulating capacity of umbilical cord blood cells.
Newly implemented enhanced recovery pathway positively impacts hospital length of stay.

Enhanced recovery pathways (ERPs) are thought to improve surgical outcomes by standardizing perioperative patient care established in evidence-based literature. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of a colorectal surgery ERP on hospital length of stay (LOS) and other patient outcomes. This is a comparative effectiveness study of patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery 2 years prior (pre-ERP group) and 2 years after (ERP group) implementation of an ERP program. The primary outcome was hospital LOS. Secondary outcomes included postoperative complications, 30-day readmissions, and 30-day reoperations. Multivariable regression analyses were utilized to control for patient factors, general health factors, diagnosis, surgeon, colon versus rectal operations, and open versus minimally invasive operations—laparoscopic and robotic. An ERP checklist was developed to track adherence to components of the pathway. The study population included 1036 patients: 523 in the pre-ERP group and 513 in the ERP group. Unadjusted LOS was significantly shorter in the ERP group than the control pre-ERP group [3 (IQR 3.5) vs 5 days (IQR 4.6); p < 0.0001]. Multivariable regression analysis confirmed the reduction in LOS, controlling for age, colon/rectum procedure, open/laparoscopic/robotic approach, primary diagnosis, and alvimopan use. Postoperative outcomes were not significantly different between groups except for 30-day readmissions, which were unexpectedly higher in the ERP group (14.6 vs 8.7 %, p = 0.04). A newly implemented ERP on a dedicated colorectal surgery service in an academic non-university hospital setting resulted in shorter hospital LOS, but increased readmissions, for patients undergoing elective open and minimally invasive colon and rectal surgery. Future multi-institutional studies are needed to understand the impact of ERP on postoperative complications and readmissions.
Overview of Arterial Stiffness

Arterial stiffness is a novel risk factor for cardiovascular disease resulting from functional and structural changes within arteries. Greater arterial stiffening places negative consequences on the heart, because greater effort is required for the myocardium to overcome the resultant increase in afterload. While the etiology of arterial stiffness is not entirely clear, aging appears to be the principal accelerator of the functional and structural remodeling that occurs in the arteries after the third decade of life. Importantly, arterial stiffness can be easily assessed with potential for routine clinical measurement.
Photolysis (193 nm) of SO2: Nascent Product Energy Distribution Examined through IR Emission

Infrared emission following the photolysis of SO(2) by a 193 nm laser pulse (20 ns duration) was recorded with 500 ns time and 10 cm(-1) spectral resolution. Spectral analyses of the time-resolved spectra revealed the vibrationally excited nascent SO population distribution as (v = 1)/(v = 2)/(v = 3)/(v = 4)/(v = 5) = 0.54 ± 0.04, 1.00 ± 0.03, 0.00 ± 0.03, 0.01 ± 0.03, and 0.10 ± 0.03. The nascent SO was found to be rotationally excited with an average rotational temperature around 1000 K for v = 1 and v = 2 levels and 300 K for the v = 5 level. The vibrationally excited SO likely originates from two distinct dissociation mechanisms; the v = 1 and 2 populations are generated through intersystem crossing between the C state and a repulsive state (2(3)A'), and the v = 5 population is generated through internal conversion from the C to the X state. Efficient V-V energy transfer from nascent vibrationally excited SO to SO(2)(ν(1)) is also observed. The appearance of the SO(2)(ν(1)) ν(1) = 2 emission, before that from the ν(1) = 1 population is consistent with the previous report that the Δν = -2 channel is more efficient than the Δν = -1 channel.
Phase Modulation of Ultrashort Laser Pulses

Supercontinuum generation, i. e., the production of intense ultrashort broadband pulses by passing picosecond laser pulses through condensed media is reviewed. The generation mechanism includes self-phase modulation, four-photon parametric generation, cross-phase modulation, and induced-phase modulation.
Multifunctional nanoplatforms for targeted multidrug-resistant-bacteria theranostic applications.

The emergence of multidrug-resistant-bacteria (MDRB) infection poses a major burden to modern healthcare. Early detection in the bloodstream and a new strategy development for MDRB infection treatment without antibiotics are clinically significant to save millions of lives every year. To tackle the MDRB challenge, the current manuscript reports the design of “multifunctional nanoplatforms” consisting of a magnetic core–plasmonic shell nanoparticle, a methylene blue-bound aptamer, and an MDRB Salmonella DT104 specific antibody. The reported “multifunctional nanoplatform” is capable of targeted separation from a blood sample and sensing and multimodal therapeutic killing of MDRB. Experimental data using an MDRB-infected whole-blood sample show that nanoplatforms can be used for selective magnetic separation and fluorescence imaging. In vitro light-triggered photodestruction of MDRB, using combined photodynamic and photothermal treatment, shows that the multimodal treatment regime can enhance MDRB killing si...
Autonomous Predictive Target Tracking of UAS with a Two-Axis Gimbal System

The Unmanned Aircraft Systems Engineering (UASE) team at the University of North Dakota has been conducting research on autonomous target tracking for UAS operations for the last few years. A predictive algorithm was developed to improve and assist in the pointing knowledge and tracking accuracy of a ground based two-axis gimbal system. By utilizing the global positioning system (GPS) data provided by the aircrafts autopilot system, a closed form analytical expression of the gimbal position angles was developed. Before predictive pointing, a method that used the aircrafts last updated location to develop a pointing vector was utilized. This methodology proved to lack in pointing accuracy due to the lack of knowledge of the aircrafts real-time location. The process flow involves multiple subsystems that are used to develop the required rotational angles and velocities of the gimbal system. Therefore, by the time this data is calculated the aircraft will have moved to a different location resulting in the gimbal pointing to an incorrect location lagging the actual target. To accurately track the target the predictive algorithm uses a combination of position and velocity control algorithms to calculate the current and future locations of the aircraft. The position control is used for the initial tracking of the aircraft, while the velocity control allows the gimbal to continually move to each new location without starting and stopping between inputs. In this manner the gimbal is able to “keep up” with the target since the gimbal is in continual motion, as is the aircraft. By storing the aircrafts past known locations in an array, a predicted location of the aircraft is able to be calculated using a various number of past locations to best fit the trajectory. This algorithm has been tested in simulation, mobile ground testing, and flight testing. Initial flight tests were conducted in North Dakota in early July 2010. For the flight tests a camera was attached to the gimbal as it tracked the aircraft. The system showed that the tracking of the aircraft was more accurate than the original non-predictive tracking algorithm.
Abstract 4092: Alteration of caspase-mediated events following DNA damage due to the absence of poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase

The synthesis of poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR) is an immediate cellular response to DNA damaging stresses. We reported previously that the absence of PAR glycohydrolase (PARG) led to increased cell death following DNA-damaging treatments. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the possible mechanism underlying the ability of PARG inhibition to produce cell hypersensitivity of DNA-damaging stresses. METHODS: Utilizing PARG null trophoblast stem (TS) cells, DNA damage following treatment with N-methyl-N’-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) or UV radiation were examined by immunocytochemistry. Cell viability was measured by DAPI staining and caspase 3/7 activity was measured by activity assay and the immunoblotting detection of procaspase-3 and PARP-1 cleavage. RESULTS: Increased amounts of DNA alkylation and UV-induced DNA damage were observed in PARG null TS cells. In addition, elevated amounts of cell death were detected following those treatments. However, both procaspase-3 and PARP-1 cleavage were detected at decreased levels and in a delayed fashion after UV treatment in PARG null TS cells. Caspase-3/7 activity assay confirmed the decreased activation of caspase-3/7 in PARG null-TS cells. Furthermore, PARG null-TS cells exhibited less caspase-3/7 activity after UV radiation than wild type TS cells. CONCLUSION: The results show that the functionality of caspase-3 following DNA damage is decreased and delayed due to the absence of PARG. This suggests that PAR or PARG itself may play a role in modulating caspase-mediated apoptosis after UV-induced DNA damage and cell death. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4092. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-4092
Influence of asymmetric donor–receiver ion concentration upon transscleral iontophoretic transport. J. Pharm. Sci. 94, 847–860, 2005.

The original article to which this Erratum refers was published in Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 94, 2005, 847–860: DOI 10.1002/jps.20293.
INVESTIGATION OF THE ENVIROMENT SANITATION FACILITIES AND THE AWARENESS RATE OF VAP IN ICU

Objective To enhance the prevention and control measures by investigating the environmental sanitation facilities and the awareness rate of the VAP in ICUs in Chengdu area.Methods Surveys were made by means of on-the-spot investigation and questionnaires in nine ICUs in Chengdu.Results More than 75% ICUs were well ventilated and were equipped with disinfectors.In half of ICUs the clinic path,hand hygiene facilities,respirator rinsing and drying site were unqualified for the criteria.The average awareness rate of VAP and disinfection methods among 79 nurses were 50.3% and 48.3% respectively.Conclusion The layout and hand hygiene facilities are irrational and the awareness rate of VAP among healthcare works is low in most ICUs in this research.
p-Nitrosophenetole: a reactive intermediate of phenacetin that binds to protein.

Although phenacetin is an effective analgesic, in a small number of chronic abusers it has been proven to be toxic causing interstitial nephritis and progressive reduction in kidney size and function (1). Moreover, a signficant number of tumors of the urinary tract have been reported in the same population (2). Phenacetin also produces methemoglobinemia and hemolysis in genetically susceptible individuals (3). Because of its toxicities, and in particular its known tumorigenicity in animals and suspected carcinogenicity in human, it has been removed from the U.S. market.
Differential regulation of the mannose and SP-A receptors on macrophages

Two carbohydrate-dependent mechanisms exist on alveolar macrophages to clear mannose-containing pathogens: receptor-mediated entry of non-opsonized microorganisms via the mannose receptor and receptor recognition of pathogens opsonized with surfactant-associated protein A (SP-A). A number of studies have demonstrated that mannose receptor expression is tightly linked to the functional state of the macrophage. In the present study, we investigated regulation of binding of SP-A to its receptor on macrophages by the same agents that regulate mannose-receptor expression. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and interferon-gamma treatment of rat marrow-derived macrophages increased SP-A binding by 163, 296, and 337%, respectively, over untreated controls. Mannose-receptor activity was reduced to 75, 60, and 25% of control levels by these agents. Dexamethasone increased mannose receptor activity to 225%, while decreasing SP-A binding to 44% of controls. Addition of granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) to human monocytes on day 0 dramatically increased mannose-receptor activity on day 5 over the non-serum control. SP-A binding was highest to freshly isolated monocytes and decreased to < 10% after differentiation in the presence of GM-CSF. After intraperitoneal injection of dexamethasone, rat alveolar macrophages isolated at 24 h expressed increased mannose-receptor activity and decreased SP-A binding. LPS injection resulted in increased SP-A binding and decreased mannose-receptor activity. In every instance, SP-A binding was inversely regulated with respect to mannose-receptor expression. We therefore speculate that the mannose receptor is a first-line host-defense receptor that is turned off during inflammation. SP-A in the alveolar space can then act as a lung-specific opsonin and mediate clearance of pathogens via the upregulated SP-A receptor.
Keynote Address Delivered for the Journal of Contemporary Legal Issues Conference on the Future of Intersectionality and Critical Race Feminism

Although black men and women do not always share the same problems or aspirations, intersectionality must always be tempered by the realization that we are one people with a common purpose who can only make headway when we understand that the divisions between us are not of our own making.
Stereotypic Movement Disorder

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the epidemiology of stereotypy, considering the prevalence, demographics, and forms associated with these behaviors. Stereotypic movements are repetitive behaviors varying little in topography; that do not appear to serve a meaningful purpose. Stereotypy has been presumed to serve self-stimulatory or perceptual consequence functions. They occur for a variety of reasons, but all are a function of some type of reinforcement produced directly by the response (nonsocial reinforcement) or by changing the behavior of others. The chapter discusses how stereotypy is conceptualized and the emerging functional perspective that is being used. A review of functional assessment approaches is used to identify the causes of stereotypy. The chapter describes various approaches used in a functional behavioral assessment (FBA) to identify specific functions that a person's stereotypy may serve and also focuses on the function-based interventions derived from functional assessments of stereotype.
What’s Epistemology Got to Do With It?:

Feminist standpoint epistemology is neither a necessary nor a sufficient starting point for social work intervention research. Contemporary social scientists readily grapple with cultural, political, and/or structural aspects of social problems either in the absence of or in conjunction with an explicitly formulated feminist standpoint epistemology. The article also argues against privileging any group’s voice for purposes of social work intervention research, including the voices of marginalized and oppressed groups whose judgments, perceptions, and statement of facts are as prone to error or likely to be as mistaken as anyone else’s.
Advances in understanding the surface chemistry of lignocellulosic biomass via time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry

Overcoming the natural recalcitrance of lignocellulosic biomass is necessary in order to efficiently convert biomass into biofuels or biomaterials and many times this requires some type of chemical pretreatment and/or biological treatment. While bulk chemical analysis is the traditional method of determining the impact a treatment has on biomass, the chemistry on the surface of the sample can differ from the bulk chemistry. Specifically, enzymes and microorganisms bind to the surface of the biomass and their efficiency could be greatly impacted by the chemistry of the surface. Therefore, it is important to study and understand the chemistry of the biomass at the surface. Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) is a powerful tool that can spectrally and spatially analyze the surface chemistry of a sample. This review discusses the advances in understanding lignocellulosic biomass surface chemistry using the ToF-SIMS by addressing the instrument parameters, biomass sample preparation, and characteristic lignocellulosic ion fragmentation peaks along with their typical location in the plant cell wall. The use of the ToF-SIMS in detecting chemical changes due to chemical pretreatments, microbial treatments, and physical or genetic modifications is discussed along with possible future applications of the instrument in lignocellulosic biomass studies.
Thermochemical Modeling: I. Application to Decomposition of Energetic Materials

The reaction mechanisms by which energetic materials decompose depend strongly on the thermochemical properties (e.g., heats of formation, entropies, free energies) of the energetic molecule of interest as well as on the thermochemistry of the intermediate species formed during the decomposition process. In this paper, we discuss the quantum chemical BAC-MP4 method for calculating thermochemical properties of molecular species involved in the decomposition of energetic materials. The resulting BAC-MP4 thermochemistry is used to determine bond dissociation energies for various classes of energetic molecules. This data is then used to determine decomposition pathways. Simple bond fissioning, multicentered elimination, as well as auto-catalytic decomposition mechanisms are presented and discussed. As a particular example, the decomposition mechanisms of nitramine compounds are presented in detail.