cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Managing Effective Communication After a Crisis

Managing Effective Communication After a Crisis by Enid Alane Thompson MS, Walden University, 2014 BS, Walden University, 2012 Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Business Administration Walden University August 2016 Abstract Despite the effects of natural disasters on small business owners, the owners’ communication strategies to alleviate loss to their companies’ profitability remain problematic. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive multiunit case study was to explore what communication strategies some small business owners developed and implemented for facilitating resuming their business operations after a natural disaster.Despite the effects of natural disasters on small business owners, the owners’ communication strategies to alleviate loss to their companies’ profitability remain problematic. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive multiunit case study was to explore what communication strategies some small business owners developed and implemented for facilitating resuming their business operations after a natural disaster. The targeted population consisted of 2 small business owners located along the Belmar Boardwalk in Belmar, New Jersey. The conceptual framework for this study was Coombs’ situational crisis communication theory. The case data collected were from semistructured interviews and company documents. Employing member checking and methodological triangulation increased the assurance of the study’s credibility and trustworthiness. The data analysis consisted of separating the data into groupings, identifying major groupings, assessing the information within the major groups, and developing thematic interpretations. The 4 validated themes that emerged were communication, community, disaster recovery, and stakeholders (employees). The findings from this study may contribute to social change by providing communication strategies that small business owners can use to mitigate losses from disasters, and facilitate businesses’ and communities’ recovery for reducing further losses. Managing Effective Communication After a Crisis by Enid Alane Thompson MS, Walden University, 2014 BS, Walden University, 2012 Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Business Administration Walden University August 2016 Dedication This study is dedicated to my husband James, to the loving memory of my father Maceo Keeling Sr., my mother Doretha Keeling, my daughter Inessa, my son Christopher, Elijah, Matthias, family, and friends, thank you for all your love and encouragement throughout my doctoral process. I could not have completed the journey it without you.
Expectation and “fellow-feeling” in George Eliot’s Daniel Deronda

ABSTRACTCritics and readers alike have long regarded George Eliot as a novelist who was unconcerned with suspenseful plotting. In Daniel Deronda (1876), however, the author both celebrates and makes use of the expectation-generating apparatus of serial publication. Reading Deronda’s management of narrative expectation alongside discussions of serialisation and Victorian sympathy, this essay argues that the novel enacts a reflexive relationship between its moral interests and the feeling of sustained expectation produced by the serial form. In Deronda, expectation works to incite sympathetic identification with others, linking Eliot’s management of narrative form to her moral philosophy. By attending to how Deronda shapes both expectation and identification, we gain not only another reading of the novel, but also new insight into Victorian sympathy’s affective conditions.
Iteratively reweighted least-squares implementation for accurate extraction of prior knowledge for Bayesian image reconstruction

Extracting prior knowledge from previous high quality normal-dose computed tomography (NdCT) data for Bayesian reconstruction of current low-dose CT (LdCT) images has attracted great research interests recently. While most efforts focused on registering the previous NdCT data to the current LdCT reconstruction, this work investigated an alternative strategy by extracting the local structure-specific spectral information of the NdCT data to preserve the local image textures in the LdCT reconstruction, because many clinical studies have revealed the image textures are clinically desirable. In implementation, we adapted a Gaussian Markov random field (GMRF) model to incorporate the spectral information for knowledge-based penalized weighted least squares (PWLS) LdCT reconstruction. Specifically, we explored a novel idea of extracting the spectral information by statistically estimating the weighting coefficients of the GMRF prior model. We adopted an iteratively-reweighted least squares regression (IRLSR) method to statistically estimate the linear relationship between the central voxel intensity and adjacent neighboring voxel intensities, which overcomes the limitations of ordinary least square regression. This novel idea led to very encouraging results as demonstrated by outcomes of the Bayesian reconstruction of LdCT image data.
Comparative study of simulated annealing, tabu search, and the genetic algorithm for calibration of the microsimulation model

Microsimulation modeling is one of the contemporary techniques that has potential to perform complex transportation studies faster, safer, and in a less expensive manner. However, to get accurate and reliable results, the microsimulation models need to be well calibrated. Microsimulation model consists of various sub-models each having many parameters, most of which are user-adjustable and are attuned for calibrating the model. Manual calibration involves an iterative trial-and-error process of using the intuitive discrete values of each parameter and feasible combinations of multiple parameters each time until the desired results are obtained. With this approach, it is possible to easily get caught in a never-ending circular process of fixing one problem only to generate another. This can make manual calibration a time-consuming process and is suggested only when the number of parameters is small. However, when the calibration parameter subset is large, an automated process is suggested in the literature. Amongst the meta-heuristics used for calibrating microsimulation models, the genetic algorithm GA has been widely used and simulated annealing SA has been used only once in the past. Thus, the question of which meta-heuristics is more suitable for the problem of calibration of the microsimulation model still remains open. Thus, the objective of this paper is to evaluate and compare the manual and three the GA, SA, and tabu search TS meta-heuristics for calibration of microsimulation models. This paper therefore addresses the need to examine and identify the suitability of a meta-heuristics for calibrating microsimulation models. The results show that the meta-heuristics approach can be relied upon for calibrating simulation models very effectively, as it offers the benefit of automating the cumbersome calibrating process. All three meta-heuristics the GA, SA, and TS have the ability to find better calibrating parameters than the manually calibrated parameters. The number of better solutions, the best solution, and convergence to the best solution by TS is better than those by the GA and SA. Significant time can be saved by automating calibration of microsimulation models using meta-heuristics. The approach presented in this research can be used to help engineers and planners achieve better modeled results, as the calibration of microsimulation models is likely to become more complex in the future.
Effect of molecular genotyping to predict outcomes in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.

4128 Background: The majority (85-90%) of patients (pts) with MPC have mutations in KRAS. Pts with wild type (WT) KRAS, as well as pts with codon-specific KRAS mutations (KRASm) may be associated w...
When Mastery Goals Meet Mastery Learning: Administrator, Teacher, and Student Perceptions

ABSTRACTFew studies have examined the impact of mastery learning on mastery goal structures or even on students’ motivation more generally. In this study, we examined one middle school that implemented a schoolwide mastery learning system, conducting interviews with a sample of administrators (n = 3), teachers (n = 4), and students (n = 9) to determine how the system was envisioned by the school leadership, implemented by the teaching staff, and perceived by the students. We used deductive qualitative analysis (DQA) to determine visions, practices, and perceptions aligned with achievement goal theory. Results indicated that evaluation practices have the greatest potential to undermine other positive motivational impacts of mastery learning–based instruction. Implications and transferability for research and practice are discussed.
Intrathoracic ganglioneuroma presenting as an endobronchial mass.

Peripheral nerve sheath tumors (PNST) are exceedingly rare, especially outside of the posterior mediastinum. These tumors represent less than 1% of pulmonary tumors. Very few pulmonary PNSTs are ganglioneuromas. We present a case of a ganglioneuroma presenting as an endobronchial mass.
SAFE OUTCOMES WITH NOVEL ORAL ANTICOAGULANTS IN OBESE PATIENTS UNDERGOING ELECTRICAL CARDIOVERSION FOR ATRIAL TACHYARRHYTHMIAS

Novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are used in patients undergoing direct-current cardioversion (DCCV) for atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter (AF/AFL). There are concerns about their efficacy and safety in severely obese patients as volume of distribution is related to weight and few such
Constitutive plasma membrane monoamine transporter (PMAT, Slc29a4) deficiency subtly affects anxiety‐like and coping behaviours

Originally, uptake-mediated termination of monoamine (e.g., serotonin and dopamine) signalling was believed to only occur via high-affinity, low-capacity transporters ("uptake1 ") such as the serotonin or dopamine transporters, respectively. Now, the important contribution of a second low-affinity, high-capacity class of biogenic amine transporters has been recognised, particularly in circumstances when uptake1 transporter function is reduced (e.g., antidepressant treatment). Pharmacologic or genetic reductions in uptake1 function can change locomotor, anxiety-like or stress-coping behaviours. Comparable behavioural investigations into reduced low-affinity, high-capacity transporter function are lacking, in part, due to a current dearth of drugs that selectively target particular low-affinity, high-capacity transporters, such as the plasma membrane monoamine transporter. Therefore, the most direct approach involves constitutive genetic knockout of these transporters. Other groups have reported that knockout of the low-affinity, high-capacity organic cation transporters 2 or 3 alters anxiety-like and stress-coping behaviours, but none have assessed behaviours in plasma membrane monoamine transporter knockout mice. Here, we evaluated adult male and female plasma membrane monoamine transporter wild-type, heterozygous and knockout mice in locomotor, anxiety-like and stress-coping behavioural tests. A mild enhancement of anxiety-related behaviour was noted in heterozygous mice. Active-coping behaviour was modestly and selectively increased in female knockout mice. These subtle behavioural changes support a supplemental role of plasma membrane monoamine transporter in serotonin and dopamine uptake, and suggest sex differences in transporter function should be examined more closely in future investigations.
Service Learning at Kansas State University: Educating Citizens for the Future

John Gardner’s words describe the fundamental principles of service learning at Kansas State University. Since its beginning on October 1, 1987, the K-State Community Service Program (CSP) has been based on the belief that citizens must be full participants in the communities in which they live and work and that higher education has an important role to play in preparing students for their citizenship responsibility in our democratic system and global society. The learning laboratories are the communities of rural Kansas and the world, communities that are often on the cusp of either continued survival or decline as they struggle to meet the economic, social, and educational needs of their citizens and to maintain a healthy environment. In Kansas, their struggle is reflected in the decline in population and the erosion of quality of life and services for citizens. In the international communities where we serve, meeting the practical needs of sufficient and healthy food and water, safe housing, and education for families and children is a daily challenge. The leadership and experience of community leaders combined with the talent and enthusiasm of K-State students participating in the Community Service Program has produced visible results both for students and for communities.
Epiphenomena in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Acquired von Willebrand Syndrome

Acquired von Willebrand syndrome due to cardiac disorders was initially described in aortic stenosis and congenital heart defects. However, case series over several years have reported gastrointestinal bleeding due to angiodysplasia in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The association of gradient to severity of von Willebrand factor dysfunction in aortic stenosis was first defined in 2003 and in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in 2008. Subsequent studies have further confirmed that platelet function analyzer 100 (PFA) and quantitative VWF multimers are strongly associated with gradients, that they function as biomarkers in demonstrating treatment responses, that bleeding is as prevalent as in aortic stenosis, and that septal reduction therapy can be curative of transfusion-dependent gastrointestinal hemorrhage from angiodysplasia.
Factors Associated With Acquiring a Medical Marijuana Card: A Longitudinal Examination of Young Adults in California

Objective:Studies have documented greater risk for heavy marijuana use and consequences among adolescents and young adults who have acquired medical marijuana cards. With the cards, they are enroll...
Hybrid technique (thoratic aotic replacement combined with endoluminal stent grafting) for aortic dissection

Objective To summary the experience of concomitant thoratic aotic replacement and endoluminal stent grafting (socalled'Hybrid technique') for aortic dissection. Methods Four patients with acute Standford type A dissection (dissection located inascending aortic in 2 cases, descending aortic in 1, both ascending and descending aortic in 1 ) received ascending aortic and total aor-tic arch replacement and endoluminal stent grafting. Two cases with chronic Standford type B dissection, located in descending aortic,received descending aortic replaoernent and endoluminal stent grafting. Enhanced electric beam computed tomography (EBCT) wasperformed in each patient at two weeks and three months after surgery to check up the postoperative course. Results All patients suc-cessfully recovered from surgery procedure, time of cardiopulmonary bypass was 38-228 min (mean 92 min), arrest time of ascendingaortic was 118-186 min (mean 136 min) in Standford type A dissection, which time of selective cerebral perfusion was 33-68 min(mean 49 min). Tune of circulation arrest in Standford type B was 22 - 28 min. All patients were discharged from hospital. EBCT in-dicated smooth bloodstream in prosthesis, expansion of residual true lumen and reduction of false lumen, no inner-leak and no endo-stent dislocation at 2 weeks and 3 months after operation. Conclusion "Hybrid technique" (thoratic aotic replacement combined withendoluminal stent grafting) is a safe, effective and economic surgical treatment for complex aortic dissection. Key words: Aorta Aneurysm, dissecting Blood vessel prosthesis Cardiac surgical procedures Stent
MmpL3 Inhibition: A New Approach to Treat Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Infections

Outside of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium leprae, nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are environmental mycobacteria (>190 species) and are classified as slow- or rapid-growing mycobacteria. Infections caused by NTM show an increased incidence in immunocompromised patients and patients with underlying structural lung disease. The true global prevalence of NTM infections remains unknown because many countries do not require mandatory reporting of the infection. This is coupled with a challenging diagnosis and identification of the species. Current therapies for treatment of NTM infections require multidrug regimens for a minimum of 18 months and are associated with serious adverse reactions, infection relapse, and high reinfection rates, necessitating discovery of novel antimycobacterial agents. Robust drug discovery processes have discovered inhibitors targeting mycobacterial membrane protein large 3 (MmpL3), a protein responsible for translocating mycolic acids from the inner membrane to periplasm in the biosynthesis of the mycobacterial cell membrane. This review focuses on promising new chemical scaffolds that inhibit MmpL3 function and represent interesting and promising putative drug candidates for the treatment of NTM infections. Additionally, agents (FS-1, SMARt-420, C10) that promote reversion of drug resistance are also reviewed.
Occult Pneumothorax Identification on Extended Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma Examination in Children.

Objective Occult pneumothoraces (OPTXs) are defined by air within the pleural space that is not visible on conventional chest radiographs (CXR). The aim of this study was to understand how frequently the Extended Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (eFAST) examination identifies occult PTX in a pediatric blunt trauma population as compared with a criterion standard of chest computed tomography (CCT). Methods This study is a secondary analysis of blunt trauma patients younger than 18 years who underwent CCT at Los Angeles County +USC Medical Center Emergency Department from October 2015 to April 2017. The eFAST examination was performed and documented by an emergency medicine resident with attending oversight or by an emergency medicine attending for each trauma. The eFAST results were reviewed for patients diagnosed with small or trace pneumothoraces identified on CCT. Results Of 168 pediatric trauma patients undergoing CCT, 16 had OPTXs not seen on CXR and 4 patients had a small/trace PTX without a corresponding CXR performed. None were identified on eFAST. Conclusions Although the sample size in this data set was small, our eFAST examinations identified none of 16 proven and 4 presumed OPTXs. The standard eFAST examination performed poorly in the detection of OPTXs in this single-center study of pediatric blunt trauma victims.
Printing zwitterionic self-assembled thin film composite membranes: Tuning thickness leads to remarkable permeability for nanofiltration

Abstract Zwitterionic copolymer self-assembled membranes have been shown to have impressive selectivity for nanofiltration applications. Conventional approaches used to fabricate these asymmetric membranes, such as casting followed by phase inversion, typically result in thick selective layers being formed that can limit permeance. In this work, we evaluate the use of electrospray to print thin layers of amphiphilic zwitterionic selective layers onto UF membrane substrates. Dyes are used to probe the rejection of these membranes while their thickness is reduced by orders of magnitude compared to casting methods. As thickness is decreased, water permeance was found to proportionally increase while dye rejection was maintained for some dyes. It was found that a threshold minimum thickness was required to maintain rejection for some dye molecules while the intrinsic permeability of the polymer films changed as a function of thickness. Annealing the membranes was found to increase permeance as well without a significant loss of rejection. Notably, one of our annealed ultra-thin TFC membranes was found to exhibit a water permeance value of 180 LMH/bar and a chlorophyllin rejection at 99.67%. Interestingly, this permeance is indistinguishable from the supporting UF membrane permeance, suggesting that even higher permeance without rejection loss is possible with more permeable support layers.
“I don't have much of a choice”: Low‐income single mothers' COVID‐19 school and care decisions

Objective Background Method Results Conclusion Implications This study used a preferences and constraints framework to understand mothers' decision‐making processes around childcare and schooling during the COVID‐19 pandemic and how socioeconomic context contribute to these decisions.Despite potential long‐standing consequences of school decision making during the COVID‐19 pandemic, we know little about how parents consider childcare and education options during these times. And, these decisions are particularly important for single mothers in resource‐scarce environments whose children benefit disproportionately from appropriate care and education.This study used qualitative data gathered from semistructured interviews with low‐income, single mothers (N = 34).Approximately half of mothers selected home‐based care while the other half selected site‐based care. Findings suggest that mothers made decisions largely on the basis of constraints—safety or financial need. Given high levels of fear and system mistrust, Black mothers more commonly selected home‐based care than White mothers.The COVID‐19 pandemic seems to exacerbate the restricted childcare calculus of low‐income mothers.Partnering with communities and disseminating accurate information, particularly in Black communities, is critical for establishing trust and positioning low‐income single mothers to make current care and education decisions, as well as future decisions, such as vaccination decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Family Relations is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Multi-ancestry gene-trait connection landscape using electronic health record (EHR) linked biobank data

Abstract Understanding genetic factors of complex traits across ancestry groups holds a key to improve the overall health care quality for diverse populations in the United States. In recent years, multiple electronic health record-linked (EHR-linked) biobanks have recruited participants of diverse ancestry backgrounds; these biobanks make it possible to obtain phenome-wide association study (PheWAS) summary statistics on a genome-wide scale for different ancestry groups. Moreover, advancement in bioinformatics methods provide novel means to accelerate the translation of basic discoveries to clinical utility by integrating GWAS summary statistics and expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) data to identify complex trait-related genes, such as transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) and colocalization analyses. Here, we combined the advantages of multi-ancestry biobanks and data integrative approaches to investigate the multi-ancestry, gene-disease connection landscape. We first performed a phenome-wide TWAS on Electronic Medical Records and Genomics (eMERGE) III network participants of European ancestry (N = 68,813) and participants of African ancestry (N = 12,658) populations, separately. For each ancestry group, the phenome-wide TWAS tested gene-disease associations between 22,535 genes and 309 curated disease phenotypes in 49 primary human tissues, as well as cross-tissue associations. Next, we identified gene-disease associations that were shared across the two ancestry groups by combining the ancestry-specific results via meta-analyses. We further applied a Bayesian colocalization method, fastENLOC, to prioritize likely functional gene-disease associations with supportive colocalized eQTL and GWAS signals. We replicated the phenome-wide gene-disease analysis in the analogous Penn Medicine BioBank (PMBB) cohorts and sought additional validations in the PhenomeXcan UK Biobank (UKBB) database, PheWAS catalog, and systematic literature review. Phenome-wide TWAS identified many proof-of-concept gene-disease associations, e.g. FTO-obesity association (p = 7.29e-15), and numerous novel disease-associated genes, e.g. association between GATA6-AS1 with pulmonary heart disease (p = 4.60e-10). In short, the multi-ancestry, gene-disease connection landscape provides rich resources for future multi-ancestry complex disease research. We also highlight the importance of expanding the size of non-European ancestry datasets and the potential of exploring ancestry-specific genetic analyses as these will be critical to improve our understanding of the genetic architecture of complex disease.
Advances in Microfluidic Platforms for Analyzing and Regulating Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

Microfluidic devices employ submillimeter length scale control of flow to achieve high-resolution spatial and temporal control over the microenvironment, providing powerful tools to elucidate mechanisms of human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) regulation and to elicit desired hPSC fates. In addition, microfluidics allow control of paracrine and juxtracrine signaling, thereby enabling fabrication of microphysiological systems comprised of multiple cell types organized into organs-on-a-chip. Microfluidic cell culture systems can also be integrated with actuators and sensors, permitting construction of high-density arrays of cell-based biosensors for screening applications. This review describes recent advances in using microfluidics to understand mechanisms by which the microenvironment regulates hPSC fates and applications of microfluidics to realize the potential of hPSCs for in vitro modeling and screening applications.
Gender Differences in Social Networking Presence Effects on Web Based Impression Formation

As the Web continues to expand its role in gathering information, making decisions and social interaction, a host of issues arise around the phenomena of how people form impressions of others in this new medium. We argue that the Web fundamentally changes the way we find and use information and that those changes give rise to tangible and significant effects in impression formation. We have proposed a model of impression formation that reflects existing schools of thought but also accounts for Web impacts and in this paper, we explore the impact of social networking presence, as revealed by search engine results, on subjects’ favorability ratings of potential team partners otherwise unknown to them. Experiments revealed differences between genders in that females tend to be more favorably impressed than males by target personas that had a presence on online social networks.
Tunable wavelength multiplexer/demultiplexer using a MEMS Gires-Tournois interferometer

In this paper, we have demonstrated a 1/spl times/3 wavelength multiplexer/demultiplexer using optical MEMS technology based on a Gires-Tournois interferometer (GTI) with a tunable center wavelength. The center wavelength of each output port was continuously tunable across the free spectral range, and, the output port assignment can therefore be cyclically interchanged. These types of wavelength tunability and port reallocation offer useful functionality in various WDM systems.
Synergistic apoptosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells by co-inhibition of insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor signaling and compensatory signaling pathways

Background. In head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), resistance to single-agent targeted therapy may be overcome by co-targeting of compensatory signaling pathways. Methods. A targeted drug screen with 120 combinations was used on 9 HNSCC cell lines. Results. Multiple novel drug combinations demonstrated synergistic growth inhibition. Combining the insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) inhibitor, BMS754807, with either the human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER)-family inhibitor, BMS599626, or the Src-family kinase inhibitor, dasatinib, resulted in substantial synergy and growth inhibition. Depending on the cell line, these combinations induced syner- gistic or additive apoptosis; when synergistic apoptosis was observed, AKT phosphorylation was inhibited to a greater extent than either drug alone. Conversely, when additive apoptosis occurred, AKT phosphoryla- tion was not reduced by the drug combination. Conclusion. Combined IGF-1R/HER family and IGF-1R/Src family inhibi- tion may have therapeutic potential in HNSCC. AKT may be a node of convergence between IGF-1R signaling and pathways that compensate for IGF-1R inhibition. V C 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 00: 000- 000, 2014
Evidence that platelet glycoprotein IIIa has a large disulfide-bonded loop that is susceptible to proteolytic cleavage.

The proteolytic digestion of GPIIIa on intact platelets by chymotrypsin, thrombin, plasmin, trypsin, and staphylococcal V8 protease was monitored in immunoblot studies employing three different antibodies to GPIIIa, one of which was made against a 13-residue synthetic peptide containing the amino terminus of GPIIIa. Chymotrypsin, plasmin, and trypsin gave similar patterns, from which it could be inferred that the major products after extensive digestion were two-chain molecules composed of amino-terminal fragments of Mr ∼ 17,000–18,000 disulfide bonded to carboxyl-terminal remnants of Mr ∼ 58,000–70,000. These patterns suggest that GPIIIa contains a large disulfide-bonded loop of at least 325 amino acids that is susceptible to proteolytic cleavage, and that the 4 cysteine residues between residues 177 and 273 bond with each other. Such a structure can also account for the presence of the P1A1 epitope, which has recently been localized to a polymorphism at position 33 on these late digestion products. Thrombin did not proteolyze GPIIIa even at 2.5 units/ml. Still to be resolved is whether the minor immunoreactive GPIIIa bands found on normal platelets are related to in vivo or in vitro proteolysis and whether GPIIIa proteolysis plays a role in chymotrypsin-induced exposure of the GPIIb/IIIa receptor.
Rate Responsive Pacemakers : A Rapid Assessment Protocol

BACKGROUND Rate responsive (RR) pacemakers are commonly implanted with nominal conservative factory-set responsiveness, which is usually accepted because established exercise protocols are time-consuming. We aimed for efficient assessment of RR pacemaker settings. METHODS We tested exercise heart rates in controls and paced patients using a brief exercise test that approximates real-life levels of exertion. The test used a nonmotorized treadmill: 30 seconds walking at patient-determined speed followed by 15 seconds brisk exertion. Subjects totaled 110: 26 with RR pacemakers; 22 with non-RR pacers; 27 "sick" nonpaced control patients; and 35 healthy controls. Heart rate (HR) was measured prior to exercise, after 30 seconds of casual walk, after 15 seconds of brisk walk, and 1 minute into recovery. Testing required <5 minutes from set-up to recovery. RESULTS The 26 RR pacer patients had a mean HR at rest = 74 +/- 10 beats per minute (bpm), walk = 87 +/- 14, and brisk = 94 +/- 18 (increase 27%). Non-RR pacer patients (n = 22): rest = 73 +/- 12 bpm, walk = 88 +/- 14, and brisk = 94 +/- 17 (increase 24.3%, P = 0.60 vs RR patients). "Sick" controls (n = 27): rest = 78 +/- 14 bpm, walk = 102 +/- 17, and brisk = 117 +/- 18 (increase 51.9%, P< 0.001 vs RR pts). For the healthy controls, HRs were at rest 83+/11 bpm, walk = 104 +/- 12, and brisk = 117 +/- 13 (P< 0.001 compared to both paced groups; P = NS vs sick controls). CONCLUSIONS Nominal RR settings may be suboptimal for many patients. The nonmotorized treadmill test allows quick and inexpensive assessment of RR programming, with the potential for efficient RR optimization.
Simple methods and devices for handling echinoderm eggs.

Publisher Summary This chapter explores that all experience with echinoderm eggs is related to investigations on cleavage mechanisms. Techniques used in handling eggs and in micromanipulation acquired by personal trial and error. All investigations have involved the use of inverted microscopes that provide easy access to the operation chamber and permit simple solutions to the problems of adequate working distance and evaporation of the medium. The chapter describes several simple methods and easily made devices that have proved useful in experimentation on echinoderm eggs. Equipment for making instruments includes alcohol burner and microforge. The chapter discusses fabrication and care of instruments, which includes cutting glass, cements, and ultrasonic cleaning. The devices discussed include braking pipet, operating chamber, silicone rubber capillary and micromanipulator. Beyond providing detailed instructions for a few methods, it is just as important to stress that simple, direct methods can still yield valuable data in important areas of experimentation.
Eternally present and eternally absent: the cultural politics of a thanatophobic internet and its visual representations of artificial existences

AbstractHave contemporary digital technologies as well as aesthetic and cultural approaches reinforced the simulacral representations of a thanatophobic society? This essay analyses the processes of data preservation and self-eternalisation that construct personal and social narratives that offer to the individual the illusion of memorialisation and eternalisation. It is in this context that postmodern and aesthetic cultural constructions provide an opportunity for self-musealisation avoiding a sociopolitical questioning of the regime of truth, and allowing, through a constant replay of the image, the construction of the illusion of humanity’s eternal presence.
Bacterial mutagenicity of aceanthrylene: A novel cyclopenta-fused polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon of low molecular weight

Abstract Aceanthrylene, a non-alternant cyclopenta-fused hydrocarbon, was shown to be weakly mutagenic without S9 and strongly mutagenic with S9 in the Ames Salmonella plate incorporation assay. The compound was most active in strain TA100 (35 revertants/nmole in the presence of 0.3 mg of S9 protein), and less active in strains TA98, TA1537 and TA1538 (20, 10 and 3.1 rev/nmole respectively, +S9). Strain TA1535 was unresponsive, suggesting that this compound induces frameshift mutations rather than base-pair substitutions. The mutagenic potency of aceanthrylene is consistent with predictions of its activity based on the relatively large delocalization energy ( Δ deloc β = 0.931 ) of the carbonium ion which would result from oxirane ring opening of the 1,2-epoxide, a potential active metabolite.
In-Stent Restenosis in the Superficial Femoral Artery

As the number of endovascular peripheral arterial interventions is increasing nationwide, so is the rate of observed in-stent restenosis, specifically in the superficial femoral artery. A paucity of literature is available regarding the pathophysiology, risk factors, and therapies associated with in-stent restenosis of the superficial femoral artery. This article summarizes the accumulated knowledge on these topics and sheds some light on the prospects for future therapies.
Suicidality and montelukast

Background: Suicide is a serious public health problem. Prevention of suicide depends to a great degree on identification and mitigation of its risk factors. Allergy has been associated with mood and anxiety disorders, risk factors for suicidality. Antiallergic medication could modulate or mediate these predictive associations. Recently, the FDA issued a warning raising concerns about the suicidality potential of montelukast and other leukotriene (LT) antagonists. Objective: The purpose of this review is to integrate the emerging interpretations of the link between suicidality, suicide risk factors, allergy and treatment of allergy in particular, with LT antagonists. Methods: We reviewed the available reports on the possible relationships between montelukast, allergy, suicide, suicidality and suicide risk factors. We also present the positions of the FDA, manufacturer, and national organizations of allergists and immunologists on the possible role of montelukast in suicidality. Conclusion: At present, the...
Methane in sulfate-rich and sulfate-poor wetland sediments

Wetlands of northern Belize provide a unique opportunity to study methane production and emissions from marshes dominated by identical species (Typha domingensis, Cladium jamaicense) and genus (Eleocharis spp.), but differing substantially in the amount of sulfates present in the sediments. Some marshes occur on limestone marls rich in gypsum (CaSO4) while others are underlain by alluvial sands poor in sulfates. Concentrations of methane and sulfates in the sediment interstitial water are one or more orders of magnitude different for these two geological substrata averaging 139.2 and 14.9 μM of CH4, and 0.08 and 11.53 mM of SO4−2 2 on alluvial sands and limestone respectively. The amount of methane found in the internal atmosphere of plants from alluvial sands is significantly higher (6.3 μM) than in plants from limestone (0.19 μM). The average methane emissions measured in wetlands located on alluvial sands were 25.2 mg m−2 h−1 while emissions from marshes on limestone were only 2.4 mg m−2 h−1. These values extrapolated for the entire year and the respective wetland areas resulted in the estimate of total CH4 emissions from northern Belize of 0.066 Tg per year.
Statistical characterization of macroscale multiphase flow textures in trickle beds

Abstract Experimental studies (Lutran et al., Ind. Engng Chem. Res. 30 (1991) 1270; Ravindra et al., Ind. Engng Chem. Res. 36 (1997) 5133) and numerical simulation (Jiang et al., Chem. Engng Sci. 54 (1999) 2409–2419) lead to the conclusion that fluid flow distribution in trickle beds is a function of bed structure (i.e. porosity distribution), particle external wetting and inlet superficial velocities of the two fluids. In this study, quantitative relationships among the above parameters are developed in a statistical manner through a series of computational fluid dynamics simulations. The contribution of capillary forces to liquid maldistribution is significant in the case of partial particle external wetting; however, it is shown that the effect of porosity non-uniformity in packed beds can be reduced if the particles are prewetted well.
Capillary Effects on the Phonon Transmission between Liquid and Solid Helium

The phonon transmission from solid to liquid helium has been measured at temperatures in the range 0.1 to 0.5 K. The results support the theory of Marchenko and Parshin in which the phonon transmission occurs because of capillary effects at the interface.
High-resolution imaging by wave-front conjugation.

Conjugate-wave-front generation by degenerate four-wave mixing is used to produce images with a resolution better than 500 lines/mm with 514.5-nm light.
Contribution of Professional School Counselors’ Values and Leadership Practices to Their Programmatic Service Delivery:

School counselors are called to be leaders to support the development of all students. The study in this article investigated the contributions of the values (Schwartz, 1992) and leadership practices (Posner & Kouzes, 1988) of 163 school counselors to their programmatic service delivery (Scarborough, 2005). Leadership practices made significant contributions (40 % of variance) to the school counselors' service delivery, whereas values made small nonsignificant (less than 1 % of variance) contributions. Implications for school counselors and counselor educators are discussed.
Perturbation of Moist CO Oxidation by Trace Quantities of CH3Cl

Abstract The final destruction of toxic waste in incinerators occurs in the post flame region. The controlling chemistry in this region may be described as that of fuel-lean oxidation of CO in the presence of H2O and HCl perturbed by trace quantities of chlorinated hydrocarbons. In the present study, a reaction bath with initially about 1% of CO, O2, and H2O in nitrogen was perturbed by CH3Cl in a turbulent flow reactor operating at atmospheric pressure, with temperatures between 1000 and 1150 K. The equivalence ratio ranged from 0.25 to 1.0 and the initial CH3Cl ranged from 0 to 250ppm. As little as 100 ppm of the CH3Cl were found to completely inhibit the oxidation of CO. The destruction of CO and CH3Cl was found to be most effectively enhanced first, by increasing temperature, second, by O2 addition, and last by water addition. Species concentration and temperature profiles were obtained as a function of reactor residence time, and were compared to predictions from a detailed kinetic model. The observe...
Differences in the capacity of gamma-interferons from different species to induce class I and II major histocompatibility complex antigens on neonatal rat Schwann cells in vitro.

We compared the capacity of unfractionated cytokines and recombinant γ-interferons (γ-IFN) to induce major histocompatibility (MHC) antigens on neonatal rat Schwann cells and endoneurial fibroblasts i
Insulin-like Growth Factor-I Signaling Mechanisms, Type I Collagen and Alpha Smooth Muscle Actin in Human Fetal Lung Fibroblasts

Bronchial wall remodeling is a major morbidity component in oxidant injury in bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and asthma. Hypothesis: IGF-1 enhances alpha smooth muscle expression and collagen synthesis in developing lung fibroblasts leading to fibrosis through nuclear NF-kB -dependent transcription. We studied NF-kB dependent transcription by transfecting HFLF with a NF-kB responsive promoter driving the luciferase gene and treating with IGF-1 (100 ng/mL) and measuring luciferase activity. We exposed cells to the PI-3 kinase inhibitor or the Erk1/2 inhibitor one hr before stimulating with IGF-1. We also used IGF-1 receptor antibody to inhibit the action of IGF-1 and studied its effect on alpha-sma and type I collagen. IGF-1 treatment significantly increased luciferase activity. This was attenuated by PI-3 kinase and MAP-Kinase inhibitors. Western blot analysis showed PI-3 kinase mediates IGF-1 activation of NF-kB independent of IKB phosphorylation. We found an up-regulation of phospho NF-kB in the nuclear extract compared with total NFKB showing that IGF-1 regulates NF-kB transcriptional activity downstream of NF-kB nuclear translocation. IGF-1-induced increase in alpha-sma expression and type-I collagen was significantly inhibited by pretreatment with LY294002 and IGF-1 receptor antibody. IGF-1 cell signaling leading to collagen synthesis in fetal lung fibroblasts is mediated by PI3 Kinase acting through NF-kB in HFLF.
A hybrid method for hydrogen storage and generation from water

Abstract This communication describes a new hybrid method for storing hydrogen in solid inorganic hydride materials as well as producing it from water based on the reaction between LiOH/LiOH·H 2 O and LiH. As a hydrogen storage method, the release and uptake of hydrogen in this method are accomplished via a series of simple reactions with good kinetics within a practically reasonable temperature range. The reversible hydrogen storage capacity of the material system is 6–8.8 wt.% at
Potential of the rat as a model for predicting iron bioavailability for humans

The absorption of iron by iron deficient and normal rats and humans was compared. Qualitatively, rats and humans respond similarly to many dietary and physiological factors known to affect iron utilization. It was found that iron absorption by rats was highly correlated (r=0.94) with that of humans. The average human response was 68 percent that by the rats.
Arsenic Incorporation in Gallium Nitride grown by Metalorganic Chemical Vapor Deposition using Dimethylhydrazine and Tertiarybutylarsenic

MOCVD growth of As-doped GaN using dimethylhydrazine, triethylgallium and tertiarybutylarsenic has been investigated. A maximum doping concentration of 4.0 × 10 19 cm −3 at growth temperatures between 600°C and 800°C was obtained. At 1000°C the As doping level dropped below the SIMS detection limit of ∼1.0 × 10 17 cm −3 . The As incorporation depended only weakly on variations of the V/III molar flow ratio between 11 and 61. Raising the As/V molar flow ratio from 0.01 to 0.06 increased the As concentration which then decreased by further increase to 0.11. Different morphologies of the layers were found depending on the growth conditions. A surfactant-like behavior of As was observed leading to smooth GaN films grown on top of the As-doped GaN layer. Two characteristic luminescence peaks at 3.31 eV and 3.425 eV were found for samples doped with As below 900°C. These spectral features are believed to originate at extended lateral defects - presumably stacking faults.
Myoadenylate deaminase deficiency caused by alternative splicing due to a novel intronic mutation in the AMPD1 gene.

Abstract We have examined two Caucasian brothers with myoadenylate deaminase (AMPD) deficiency who presented with exercise intolerance and muscle cramps. Allele-specific PCR amplification assays demonstrated that the common Q12X (C34T) and P48L (C143T) mutations were not found within their AMPD1 genes. Further analysis revealed that both brothers were compound heterozygotes for a previously reported K287I (A860T) mutation in exon 7 and a novel deletion within intron 2 (IVS2-(4-7)delCTTT). The intronic deletion appears to affect the splicing machinery since characterization of AMPD1 mRNA from skeletal muscle of one brother identified multiple alternatively spliced transcripts resulting in multiple deletions in exon 3, the complete deletion of either exon 3 or exons 3 and 4, and the activation of a cryptic splice site that resulted in an insertion at the 5′ end of exon 4. The predominant transcript contains a 51 base deletion at the 5′ end of exon 3 that is predicted to produce a functional form of AMPD containing a 17-amino acid residue deletion within its N-terminal region. Analysis of 137 Caucasian normal control patients determined that the K287I mutation is relatively frequent (5.1% carrier frequency), whereas the IVS2-(4-7)delCTTT mutation is rare and not present in 274 chromosomes.
The outer limits of the welfare state: discrimination, racism and their effect on human services

The European social democracies have been more generous than the United States in social provision, including services to aged. The momentum of provision has slowed down in recent years. We suggest that prosperity which has led to use of foreign laborers in menial jobs has caused this slow down. The dynamics are similar to the historical U.S. use of "non-100% Americans" as our menial workers. Changes in social policy strategies are needed: 1) universal provision, rather than programs aimed at minorities, is needed to enlist support of stable working and middle classes; 2) tax reforms, which lower progressive income-tax structures for middle incomes, and value-added tax, may be necessary to overcome anti-tax ideologies; 3) clear priorities as to most necessary services must be established by the gerontological community.
A simple theory of temperature-dependent energy levels: Application to He II☆

Abstract The statistical mechanics of interacting Bose quasi particles is considered for the case where energy levels are temperature-dependent and known from experiment. The results are applied to the thermodynamic properties of He II using neutron scattering data.
Preserved gauges, broken gauges and fictitious goldstone fields in gauge supersymmetry

Abstract A classification of the full field content of the metric supertensor gAB(z) is given for spontaneously broken gauge supersymmetry. The analysis holds in the presence of all quantum-loop corrections to the vacuum solutions which are assumed to possess global supersymmetry. All the fields in gAB(z) can be decomposed into four categories which are the preserved gauge fields, broken gauge fields, fictitious Goldstone fields and Higgs fields. The analysis is general and holds to all orders in θα and for arbitrary N, where 4N is the number of Majorana spinor coordinates.