cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Wet air oxidation of glucose with hydrogen peroxide and metal salts

Wet air oxidation (the patented Zimmermann process) destroys organic matter in sewage sludge by bringing a sludge-air mixture to elevated temperature (260 to 370 °C) and pressure (12.4 MPa) and holding it for a reaction time of 35 to 55 min. These conditions result in 70 to 80% COD removal with carbon dioxide, water, short chain aliphatic acids, and ash as products. Energy recovery provisions enable the process to be self-contained at sludge concentrations of 4.5 to 5% which are difficult to obtain. An additive to the process which would enable successful oxidation to proceed with less concentrated sludge, at lower pressures and shorter times would be useful. Hydrogen peroxide in combination with several metal salts was tested as an additive. Hydrogen peroxide plus dichromate was found to destroy 70% of the COD of a glucose solution (500 mg/1 COD) at 150 °C and 5.2 MPa in 15 min. The ratio of the equivalents of the substances glucose: hydrogen peroxide: dichromate stood as 13 : 6.5 : 1. The amount of COD destroyed exceeded the oxidative equivalents of peroxide and dichromate present; hence it was concluded that molecular oxygen was incorporated in the reaction.
Adolescents' Needs for Health Care Privacy

OBJECTIVE: To understand adolescents9 preferences for multidimensional aspects of privacy, including psychological, social, and physical, and confidentiality (informational privacy) in the health care setting. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-four adolescents with and without chronic illness participated in 12 focus groups composed of participants of the same age (11–14 or 15–19 years), gender, and health status. Health care preferences, including privacy and confidentiality, were discussed, and themes were determined. On the basis of a literature review, Burgoon9s framework best represented participant feedback. The data were categorized as representations of informational, psychological, social, or physical privacy. RESULTS: Maintaining informational privacy (ie, keeping information confidential) was most salient to the adolescents. Younger adolescents were concerned with information being disclosed to others (ie, health care providers), whereas older adolescents worried more about information being disclosed to parents. Other privacy aspects (psychological, social, and physical) also were important. To protect psychological privacy, adolescents were cautious about revealing sensitive information for fear of being judged by providers. To protect social privacy, they were reluctant to talk with unfamiliar or multiple providers, and they did not want to discuss issues they perceived as unrelated to their health care. Adolescents who commented about physical privacy said that they thought about their physical safety during physical examinations, as well as their visibility to others, and said that they were more comfortable when examinations were performed by female rather than male providers. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents value all aspects of privacy. Providers should address not only informational but also psychological, social, and physical privacy to improve the care of adolescent patients.
LQR Control of Thin Shell Dynamics: Formulation and Numerical Implementation

A PDE-based feedback control method for thin cylindrical shells with surface-mounted piezoceramic actuators is presented. Donnell-Mushtari equations modified to incorporate both passive and active piezoceramic patch contributions are used to model the system dynamics. The well-posedness of this model and the associated LQR problem with an unbounded input operator are established through analytic semigroup theory. The model is discretized using a Galerkin expansion with basis functions constructed from Fourier polynomials tensored with cubic splines, and convergence criteria for the associated approximate LQR problem are established. The effectiveness of the method for attenuating the coupled longitudinal, circumferential and transverse shell displacements is illustrated through a set of numerical examples.
The Mystery of PCSK9

Many of the most important breakthroughs in science do not come from hypothesis-driven experiments. Apart from serendipity, genetics is perhaps our best route to discoveries that elude our intuition. Genetics establishes a relationship between a gene and a phenotype, but does not necessarily provide mechanistic information. The emerging story of PCSK9 (originally called Narc-1) provides a case in point. See page 1454 Last year, Abifadel and coworkers mapped a region on human chromosome 1 that segregated with autosomal dominant hypercholesterolemia in French families.1 In a region containing 41 genes, they identified PCSK9 as a candidate gene. They found two missense mutations, S172R and F216L. Subsequently, a D374Ymutation was also detected in an unrelated Norwegian kindred2 and in Utah pedigrees.3 PCSK9 is a member of the proprotein convertase family of proteases, most closely related to proteinase K.4 Apart from its expression in liver and neuronal tissue, it is also expressed in kidney mesenchymal cells and intestinal epithelia.4 It is induced during liver regeneration and neuronal differentiation.4 Its substrate specificity is different from many other proprotein convertases because it can cleave at nonbasic amino acids, a feature it shares with subtilisin-kexin isozyme-1/site 1 protease, although the latter enzyme requires a basic residue at position −4. Presently, the only known substrate of PCSK9 is itself; it autocatalytically cleaves its own propeptide between Gln-151 and Ser-152 (rat sequence).5 The PCSK9 gene is regulated by sterols. Indeed, dietary cholesterol potently suppresses its expression.6 Transgenic mice …
Matrix Metalloproteinase Control of Capillary Morphogenesis

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play crucial roles in a variety of normal (e.g. blood vessel formation, bone development) and pathophysiological (e.g. wound healing, cancer) processes. This is not only due to their ability to degrade the surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM), but also because MMPs function to reveal cryptic matrix binding sites, release matrix-bound growth factors inherent to these processes, and activate a variety of cell surface molecules. The process of blood vessel formation, in particular, is regulated by what is widely classified as the angiogenic switch: a mixture of both pro- and anti-angiogenic factors that function to counteract each other unless the stimuli from one side exceeds the other to disrupt the quiescent state. While it was initially thought that MMPs were strictly pro-angiogenic, new functions for this proteolytic family such as mediating vascular regression and generating matrix fragments with antiangiogenic capacities have been discovered in the last decade. These findings cast MMPs as multi-faceted pro- and anti-angiogenic effectors. The purpose of this review is to introduce the reader to the general structure and characterization of the MMP family and to discuss the temporal and spatial regulation of their gene expression and enzymatic activity in the following crucial steps associated with angiogenesis: degradation of the vascular basement membrane; proliferation and invasion of endothelial cells within the subjacent ECM, organization into immature tubules; maturation of these nascent vessels; and the pruning and regression of the vascular network.
On the Necessity of Structure in an Arbitrary World: Using Concurrent Schedules of Reinforcement to Describe Response Generalization

The term response generalization has been poorly defined and has, over many years, been a source of controversy for applied researchers who must grapple with results that show changes in behaviors outside of the response class targeted by their intervention. The present discussion seeks to differentiate response generalization from such terms as response covariation and induction. Instead, response generalization is redefined in the context of response classes and concurrent schedules of reinforcement.
Noise analysis under capacitive and inductive coupling for high speed circuits

In this paper we propose a dynamic noise model to verify functional failures due to crosstalk in high-speed circuits. Conventional DC noise analysis produces pessimistic results because it ignores the fact that a gate acts as a low-pass filter. In contrast, the dynamic noise model considers the temporal property of a noise waveform and analyzes its effect on functionality. In this model, both capacitive and inductive coupling are considered as the dominant source of noise in high-speed deep-submicron circuits. It is observed that in the case of the local interconnects (where wire lengths are short), the effect of inductive coupling is small; however, for long interconnects this effect may be considerable. Based on this noise model, we have developed an algorithm to verify high-speed circuits for functional failures due to crosstalk. Design of a 4-bit precharge-evaluate full adder circuit is verified, and many nodes which are susceptible to crosstalk noise are identified. It is observed and further verified by SPICE simulation that dynamic noise analysis is more realistic for verifying functional failures due to crosstalk than DC noise analysis.
Recurrent subluxation of the glenohumeral joint.

Recurrent subluxation of the shoulder is a common condition. In our hospital, 30% of operations for shoul der instability were performed on patients who never had a frank dislocation but presented with symptoms of instability or, occasionally, simply with pain on throwing. The most common physical finding in this group was apprehension on abduction-external rota tion. Thirty-four of the 50 shoulders with subluxation showed radiological changes consisting mainly of in fraglenoid new bone formation. Six showed fracture of the anterior glenoid margin. Examination under anaesthesia demonstrated the instability on all cases in which it was tested. Thirty-three of the 50 shoulders had Bankart lesions and six had anterior glenoid mar gin fractures. Thirty-nine shoulders were treated by Putti-Platt repair and 10 had stapling alone. There was a tendency for loss of external rotation in patients with Putti-Platt reinforcement. We conclude that re current subluxation of the shoulder is a common injury that can be co...
Factors Influencing Fitness in Chromosomal Strains in DROSOPHILA SUBOBSCURA

Chromosomal polymorphism can be maintained by means of genic dominance, genic overdominance, recombination effects and karyotype selection. Experiments were carried out which allow us to distinguish among these factors as they effect egg hatch and larva-to-adult survival in D. subobscura. A strong karotype selection was observed. A small but highly significant recombination effect was also observed despite the fact that the material used in the experiment consisted of inbred, related strains and was therefore less likely to show such an effect than strains randomly chosen from a population. On the other hand, these strains, being inbred, were more likely to show genic dominance or genic overdominance than randomly picked samples. However neither genic dominance nor genic overdominance was detected.
Selected personality data from the SAPA-Project: On the structure of phrased self-report items

These data were collected to evaluate the structure of personality constructs in the temperament domain. In the context of modern personality theory, these constructs are typically construed in terms of the Big Five (Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, Neuroticism, Openness, and Extraversion) though several additional constructs were included here. Approximately 24,000 individuals were administered random subsets of 696 items from 92 public-domain personality scales using the Synthetic Aperture Personality Assessment method between December 8, 2013 and July 26, 2014. The data are available in rdata format and are accompanied by documentation stored as a text file. Re-use potential include many types of structural and correlational analyses of personality.
Swine Models of Cystic Fibrosis Reveal Male Reproductive Tract Phenotype at Birth

Nearly all male cystic fibrosis (CF) patients exhibit tissue abnormalities in the reproductive tract, a condition that renders them azoospermic and infertile. Two swine CF models have been reported recently that include respiratory and digestive manifestations that are comparable to human CF. The goal of this study was to determine the phenotypic changes that may be present in the vas deferens of these swine CF models. Tracts from CFTR−/− and CFTRΔF508/ΔF508 neonates revealed partial or total vas deferens and/or epididymis atresia at birth, while wild-type littermates were normal. Histopathological analysis revealed a range of tissue abnormalities and disruptions in tubular organization. Vas deferens epithelial cells were isolated and electrophysiological results support that CFTR−/− monolayers can exhibit Na+ reabsorption but reveal no anion secretion following exposure to cAMP-generating compounds, suggesting that CFTR-dependent Cl− and/or HCO3− transport is completely impaired. SLC26A3 and SLC26A6 immunoreactivities were detected in all experimental groups, indicating that these two chloride-bicarbonate exchangers were present, but were either unable to function or their activity is electroneutral. In addition, no signs of increased mucus synthesis and/or secretion were present in the male excurrent ducts of these CF models. Results demonstrate a causal link between CFTR mutations and duct abnormalities that are manifested at birth.
Reconstructing lake and drainage basin history using terrestrial sediment layers: analysis of cores from a post-glacial lake in New England, USA

Four sediment cores and twenty-five 14C ages from Ritterbush Pond in northern Vermont provide a detailed and continuous temporal record of Holocene lake and watershed dynamics. Using visual logs, carbon content, magnetic susceptibility, stable isotope signatures, and X-radiography, all measured at 1-cm scale, we identify and date discrete layers of terrestrially-derived sediment in the organic-rich, lacustrine gyttja. These inorganic layers range in thickness from 10 cm and range in grain size and sorting from homogeneous silt to graded sand. AMS radiocarbon ages both from macrofossils within the thickest layers, and gyttja bracketing these layers, provide the basis for correlation among the cores, the dating of 52 basin-wide sedimentation events, and the development of a detailed sedimentation chronology for the Holocene.
Prenatal IV Cocaine: Alterations in Auditory Information Processing

One clue regarding the basis of cocaine-induced deficits in attentional processing is provided by the clinical findings of changes in the infants’ startle response; observations buttressed by neurophysiological evidence of alterations in brainstem transmission time. Using the IV route of administration and doses that mimic the peak arterial levels of cocaine use in humans, the present study examined the effects of prenatal cocaine on auditory information processing via tests of the acoustic startle response (ASR), habituation, and prepulse inhibition (PPI) in the offspring. Nulliparous Long-Evans female rats, implanted with an IV access port prior to breeding, were administered saline, 0.5, 1.0, or 3.0 mg/kg/injection of cocaine HCL (COC) from gestation day (GD)8-20 (1x/day-GD8-14, 2x/day-GD15-20). COC had no significant effects on maternal/litter parameters or growth of the offspring. At 18-20 days of age, one male and one female, randomly selected from each litter displayed an increased ASR (>30% for males at 1.0 mg/kg and >30% for females at 3.0 mg/kg). When reassessed in adulthood (D90-100), a linear dose-response increase was noted on response amplitude. At both test ages, within-session habituation was retarded by prenatal cocaine treatment. Testing the females in diestrus vs. estrus did not alter the results. Prenatal cocaine altered the PPI response function across interstimulus interval (ISI) and induced significant sex-dependent changes in response latency. Idazoxan, an alpha2-adrenergic receptor antagonist, significantly enhanced the ASR, but less enhancement was noted with increasing doses of prenatal cocaine. Thus, in utero exposure to cocaine, when delivered via a protocol designed to capture prominent features of recreational usage, causes persistent, if not permanent, alterations in auditory information processing, and suggests dysfunction of the central noradrenergic circuitry modulating, if not mediating, these responses.
The Effect of Solvents on Some Properties of Cotton Cellulose 1

Samples of cotton duck were immersed in pyridine, aqueous methylamine solutions, and a variety of other solvents. Pyridine and methylamine caused swelling of the cellulose fibers and an increase in the moisture content of the fabric. Pyridine also increased the fabric breaking strength. This is explained in terms of enhanced plastici zation by pyridine and water molecules which are hydrogen-bonded to cellulose. Treatment by pyridine or aqueous methylamine reduced the rate of photochemical degradation of fabric samples exposed in a Weather-Ometer. An explanation for this is based on the changes these solvents cause in the fiber structure, e.g., less dense packing of cellulose chains in the swollen fibers. It is suggested that swollen fibers absorb less of the incident light from a carbon-arc and dissipate more of the absorbed energy without chain scission.
Modeling Fetal Adaptation to Nutrient Restriction: Testing the Fetal Origins Hypothesis with a Supply-Demand Model

The fetal origins hypothesis (FOH) posits that fetal adaptations to nutritional insufficiency elevate future risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although birth weight (BW) remains the most commonly used index of fetal nutritional sufficiency in FOH research, it is a poor index of fetal nutrition because it is also influenced by genes, epigenetic effects and other nonnutritional factors. This paper uses data from the Cebu Longitudinal Health and Nutrition Survey (CLHNS) to explore an alternate strategy--the supply-demand model--as a means to model fetal nutritional sufficiency, adaptation and cardiovascular programming. Specifically, it is hypothesized that small size should be associated with elevated CVD risk, but only when there is corroborating evidence that the individual had a higher growth potential, was born to a nutritionally stressed mother, or both. Using low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) as markers of CVD risk, the predictions of the model are only met for LDL-C and only in males. There is evidence for an association between maternal nutritional status and male offspring SBP, but this relationship is independent of fetal nutritional sufficiency as defined by the model. Thus, although both the LDL-C and SBP findings support the general hypothesis that the prenatal milieu has long-term implications for CVD risk in males, only the patterns observed for LDL-C are consistent with the prediction that fetal nutritional sufficiency is key to CVD programming.
The Bad Boy of Radio: The Continuity and Extension of African American Communication Dynamics Through Talk Elements of the Michael Baisden Radio Show

This study sought to examine the continuity and extension of African American communication characteristics in the talk elements (the host, guest, and callers) of the Michael Baisden Radio Show by exploring the specific oral practices that characterize talk elements of Black radio as well as the way(s) these practices related to the African American oral tradition. The African American communication characteristics of the vernacular use of language, humor, empathetic understanding, and community harmony are readily apparent in this research. The findings of this research also support the idea that when motivated by the power of the spoken word, listeners respond to the call of their radio griot.
Automated SQL tuning through trial and (sometimes) error

SQL tuning---the attempt to improve a poorly-performing execution plan produced by the database query optimizer---is a critical aspect of database performance tuning. Ironically, as commercial databases strive to improve on the manageability front, SQL tuning is becoming more of a black art. It requires a high level of expertise in areas like (i) query optimization, run-time execution of query plan operators, configuration parameter settings, and other database internals; (ii) identification of missing indexes and other access structures; (iii) statistics maintained about the data; and (iv) characteristics of the underlying storage system. Since database systems, their workloads, and the data that they manage are not getting any simpler, database users and administrators often rely on trial and error for SQL tuning.In this paper, we take the position that the trial-and-error (or, experiment-driven) process of SQL tuning can be automated by the database system in an efficient manner; freeing the user or administrator from this burden in most cases. A number of current approaches to SQL tuning indeed take an experiment-driven approach. We are prototyping a tool, called zTuned, that automates experiment-driven SQL tuning. This paper describes the design choices in zTuned to address three nontrivial issues: (i) how is the SQL tuning logic integrated with the regular query optimizer, (ii) how to plan the experiments to conduct so that a satisfactory (new) plan can be found quickly, and (iii) how to conduct experiments with minimal impact on the user-facing production workload. We conclude with a preliminary empirical evaluation and outline promising new directions in automated SQL tuning.
Prediction of error rates in dose-imprinted memories on board CRRES by two different methods

An analysis of the expected space radiation effects on the single event upset (SEU) properties of CMOS/bulk memories onboard the Combined Release and Radiation Effects Satellite (CRRES) is presented. Dose-imprint data from ground test irradiations of identical devices are applied to the predictions of cosmic-ray-induced space upset rates in the memories onboard the spacecraft. The calculations take into account the effect of total dose on the SEU sensitivity of the devices as the dose accumulates in orbit. Estimates of error rates, which involved an arbitrary selection of a single pair of threshold linear energy transfer (LET) and asymptotic cross-section values, were compared to the results of an integration over the cross-section curves versus LET. The integration gave lower upset rates than the use of the selected values of the SEU parameters. Since the integration approach is more accurate and eliminates the need for an arbitrary definition of threshold LET and asymptotic cross section, it is recommended for all error rate predictions where experimental sigma -versus-LET curves are available. >
Crystal structure of bovine low molecular weight phosphotyrosyl phosphatase complexed with the transition state analog vanadate.

The early transition metal oxoanions vanadate, molybdate, and tungstate are widely used inhibitors for phosphatase enzymes. These oxoanions could inhibit such enzymes by simply mimicking the tetrah...
Development of Non-Nickel Additives for Reducing Hydrogen Sulfide Emissions from Three-way Catalysts

Under certain operating conditions, automotive three-way catalysts can form hydrogen sulfide in concentrations sufficient to produce an offensive odor. Several additives from the ferrite group of compounds (M 2+ Fe 2 O 4 where M=Ni, Co, Zn, Cu) have been determined to effectively reduce hydrogen sulfide emissions from three-way catalyst washcoats in laboratory tests
Walking the Narrow Path--Managing the Patient with Chronic Medical Illnesses.

This issue of Medical Clinics of North America covers comprehensive care of patients with chronic medical illness. Primary care physicians frequently take care of patients who have long-term, ongoing chronic medical conditions that impact the way we interpret practice guidelines, dose drugs, manage symptoms, and set goals. There are nuances in the everyday management of patients with chronic organ system dysfunction. A good example of this is in our patients with chronic renal disease, where many commonly used drugs become ineffective (ie, thiazide diuretics) or more toxic and contraindicated (bisphosphonates). The issue covers several themes that impact the approach to primary care delivery. Articles covering the primary care of patients with major organ system dysfunction (renal, pulmonary, and liver) are included. Two articles are dedicated to covering underlying diseases (HIV and sarcoid) that can present in many ways and be perplexing to physicians responsible for ongoing care. The remainder of the issue includes articles on patient populations that carry increased risk and complexity (solid organ transplant patients, childhood cancer survivors, homeless patients, refugees, and patients with chronic alcohol misuse). I hope that this issue will bring together expert information from multiple sources that will help in the ongoing management of these complex patients. As primary care providers, we are expected to know the obvious as well as the hidden perils our patients face. Understanding and recognizing what makes up this complexity and how we need
'Divergent Equilibrium' in a Labour-Managed Economy

This note demonstratres a potential theoretical problem in achieving general equilibrium in an economy composed of competitive firms maximizing income per worker, under conditions of fixed capital; a problem which might suggest that disequilibria in some markets might be a rule rather than exception. The result reinforces the view that a number of behavioral peculiarities in labour-managed firms may have serious repercussions on the behaviour of the labour-managed economy in general equilibrium.
Epigenetic Modulators of Monocytic Function: Implication for Steady State and Disease in the CNS

Epigenetic alterations are necessary for the establishment of functional and phenotypic diversity in the populations of immune cells of the monocytic lineage. The epigenetic status of individual genes at different time points defines their transcriptional responses throughout development and in response to environmental stimuli. Epigenetic states are defined at the level of DNA modifications, chromatin modifications, as well as at the level of RNA base changes through RNA editing. Drawing from lessons regarding the epigenome and epitranscriptome of cells of the monocytic lineage in the periphery, and from recently published RNAseq data deriving from brain-resident monocytes, we discuss the impact of modulation of these epigenetic states and how they affect processes important for the development of a healthy brain, as well as mechanisms of neurodegenerative disease and aging. An understanding of the varied brain responses and pathologies in light of these novel gene regulatory systems in monocytes will lead to important new insights in the understanding of the aging process and the treatment and diagnosis of neurodegenerative disease.
Etiology of hypertension in toxemia of pregnancy

Summary 1. A pressor substance (hysterotonin) has been demonstrated in the decidua obtained from patients with hydatid mole with superimposed toxemia. No hysterotonin has been observed in decidua from normotensive patients with hydatid mole. 2. Vasopressor substances have been demonstrated in the maternal plasma of patients with toxemia. In eclampsia there seem to be two pressor substances, one is heat-stabile and has many of the same pharmacologic properties of hysterotonin, and the other is heat-labile and has many characteristics of the renin-like pressor system. To date, only one pressor substance (heat-stabile) has been demonstrated in pre-eclampsia. 3. The reduction of an elevated intrauterine pressure by withdrawal of amniotic fluid in toxemic individuals results in a marked fall in the maternal blood pressure. 4. Hypoxia is the underlying common denominator responsible for the release of hysterotonin in the uterus in toxemia. The hypertension of toxemia of pregnancy is due to these pressor substances in the maternal circulation.
Terms of engagement

We examine a social-media user perspective of engagement using interviews and focus groups.Engagement is an informative, personal, present and social experience.Millennials engage organizations via social media to facilitate social interactions.Engagement may be as much a spontaneous activity as a premeditated one. Despite the growth of research on social media engagement over the last five years, studies have failed to define exactly what engagement is. While many studies equate engagement with the broad array of social media activities, this study argues that engagement is conceptually distinct, and involves cognitive and emotional immersion that may not characterize all social media usage. This study addresses the need to clarify the concept of social media engagement in both communication research by exploring drivers of this immersive state of social media engagement from the perspective of those who are among the most active in social media: Millennials. The study also explores Millennial consideration of engagement with organizations online. In-depth interviews and focus groups suggest that engagement is driven by information consumption, interest immersion, sense of presence, and social interaction. Furthermore, findings point toward the need to consider the spontaneous nature of online sociability, the relationship between online engagement and the organization-public relationship, and the concept of engagement itself.
Topologically close-packed phases: Deposition and formation mechanism of metastable β-W in thin films

Abstract β-W is a metastable, topologically close-packed phase with the A15 structure. The deposition of β-W, using N2 as the impurity gas introduced into the sputtering chamber, is reported and a mechanism for β-W formation is proposed. Molecules of the impurity gas in the chamber are adsorbed onto the surface during the deposition process and act as nucleation sites for the formation of β-W. The proposed mechanism is supported by the dependence of β-W phase fraction in sputter deposited films on pressure of N2 and on substrate temperature.
Pial non-galenic arteriovenous fistulas

Pial nongalenic arteriovenous fistulas are rare vascular lesions of the brain. The recent decades have brought a new understanding of the origins and associations of these fistulas as well as improvements in diagnosis and treatment. Pediatric patients with nongalenic arteriovenous fistulas are increasingly likely to have good clinical outcomes except in the most complex cases. Recent advances and areas for further investigation will be reviewed.
Endometrial effects of long-term low-dose administration of RU486

Objective To examine endometrial response to long-term low-dose RU486 administration. Design Retrospective controlled study of women with endometriosis treated for 6 months with 50 mg RU486 daily for 6 months. Controls consisted of women in the follicular phase of a spontaneous cycle undergoing endometrial biopsy. Setting Patients from the clinical practice of the authors at the University of California, San Diego Medical Center. Patients And Interventions Nine patients treated with long-term low-dose RU486 and nine normal cycling controls undergoing hysterectomy or endometrial biopsy for benign disease. Main Outcome Measures Changes in endometrial morphology and immunohistochemical analysis for estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) protein. Results All patients treated with RU486 exhibited abnormal endometrial morphology. The endometrial glands were irregular in size and shape. The stroma was varied but consisted predominantly of dense cellular stroma with frequent mitotic figures. The glands were lined by a combination of epithelial types some of which were secretory. No cytologic atypia was seen. Levels of ER immunoreactivity, as determined by image analysis, were greater in the stroma with no difference in PR immunoreactivity compared with controls. No differences in ER and PR immunoreactivity were seen in the glands compared with normal controls. Conclusion The generalized cystic changes demonstrated are consistent with a chronic unopposed estrogen effect and are concordant with hormonal data showing early to midfollicular phase levels of estrogens. They also are consistent with our findings of increased ER immunoreactivity in the stroma. Evidence of minimal P agonist effect was noted.
Does the attentional demands of walking differ for older men and women living independently in the community

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Walking has been shown to be an attentionally demanding task. For older adults, gender-specific differences in gait and falling reported in the literature could arise as a result of the attentional demands of walking. However, differences in how older men and women allocate attention to walking have not been investigated. The purpose of this study was to use a dual-task voice reaction time paradigm to examine gender-specific differences in the attentional demands of walking in older adults who are independent in community ambulation. METHODS A dual-task paradigm was used to measure voice reaction time (VRT) in older community-dwelling men (n = 29; mean age = 78.40, SD = 6.17 years) and women (n = 33; mean age = 77.01, SD = 6.07 years) under 3 task conditions: sitting in a chair, standing, and walking on a level surface. Between- and within-group differences in dual-task VRT were examined using a 2 (men vs women) by 3 (task condition) repeated-measures analysis of variance. The level of statistical significance was set at 0.05, and a Bonferroni procedure was used for post hoc analyses. RESULTS Sitting VRT was similar for men (mean = 454.90, SD = 140.05 milliseconds) and women (mean = 454.49, SD = 94.27 milliseconds). While standing, men had a slightly faster VRT (mean = 444.90, SD = 125.31 milliseconds vs mean = 452.09, SD = 92.82 milliseconds). When walking, VRT increased for both groups in comparison to sitting and standing and older men (mean = 509.11, SD = 142.19 milliseconds) responded faster than older women (mean = 537.55, SD = 122.43). However, the main effect of gender (P = .665) and interaction of gender with task (P = .433) were both not statistically significant. A statistically significant main effect for task (P < .001) indicated that walking VRT (mean = 524.25, SD = 131.71 milliseconds) was significantly longer than both sitting (P < .001, mean = 454.68, SD = 116.89 milliseconds) and standing (P < .001, mean = 448.36, SD = 108.37 milliseconds) VRT. DISCUSSION The results demonstrate that the attentional demands of walking are not different for older adult men and women who are independent in community mobility. However, support was provided for the idea that walking is an attentionally demanding activity. In comparison with sitting and standing, walking was more attentionally demanding for both men and women. CONCLUSIONS.: A dual-task voice reaction time paradigm revealed that walking is not more attentionally demanding on the basis of gender when comparing community-dwelling older adult men with women.
Quantitative Analysis of Generations for Inheritance of Fruit Yield in Watermelon

T here is al arge genetic diversity fo rf ruit size and yield in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai var. lanatus). Current cultivars have high fruit quality but may not be the highest yielders. This study was designed to estimate variance components an dh eritability of fruit yield (Mg·ha L1 ), fruit count (th·ha L1 ), and fruit size (kg/fruit) in a cross involving high-yielding 'Mountain Hoosier' with low-yielding 'Minilee'. Six generations (PaS1 ,P bS1 ,F 1 ,F 2 ,B C1Pa ,a nd BC1Pb )w ere developed and tested in Summer 2008 at two locations in North Carolina. Discrete classes were not observed within the F2 segregating population. The actual distribution of the F2 population for fruit yield, fruit count, and fruit size deviated from the normal distribution. 'Mountain Hoosier' had higher parental and backcross variance than 'Minilee'. High F2 variance for fruit yield indicated large phenotypic variance. There was a larger environmental variance than genetic variance associated with the yield traits. Estimates of broad- and narrow-sense heritability were low to medium. A large number of effective factors indicated polygenic inheritance for fruit yield and fruit size. Gain from selection for yield is amendable by selection. As a result of this complex inheritance, selection based on individual plant selection in pedigree method may not be useful for yield improvement in this population. Hence, a selection scheme based on progeny testing using replicated plots, perhaps at multiple locations, is recommended.
Incidence Trend Forecast on HFMD in Daxing District of Beijing City during 2006-2010

[Objective]To understand the regularity of incidence of Hand Foot and Mouth Disease(HFMD),and figure out the focus of prevention based on incidence trend forecast for the year 2011. [Methods]SPSS and Excel was used to descriptively analyze the data from the National Disease Surveillance Information Management System. [Results]The higher level of floating population gathering was correlated to the higher incidence rate of HFMD(χ2=1740.82,P0.01);the proportion of non-local registered permanent residents in total cases gradually increased year by year,with the higher amount of increase than local registered permanent residents;the length of time span of incidence increased with the earlier incident peak and longer-lasted period;EVT1 became the major virus. [Conclusion]The main tasks for dealing with the HFMD' s epidemic should be to strengthen management of floating population,to carry out health education and environmental remediation,to continually monitor pathogen,and to improve the capability of HFMD diagnosis and treatment.
Phospholipid hydroperoxide peroxidase activities in erythrocytes.

Erythrocytes have a high oxygen content which is in repeated flux, and possess membranes rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids that are highly susceptiile to oxidative damage during their life span in ckdation [13]. In addition, haemoglobii (Hb) can react with preexisting lipid hydroperoxides to yield radical-mediated reactions that produce extensive lipid peroxidation [4]. Protection against oxidative damage of erythrocyte membranes and h o l y s i s are aEorded by vitamin E, selenium, glutathione and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) [57. However, the protection against oxidative damage to cell membrane lipids mediated by the reduction of endogenously formed lipid hydroperoxides to hydroxy derivatives through intradular GPx has been unconvincing [8], since GPX is not directly active on hydroperoxy-phospholipids which are the primary products in peroxidized biomembranes [9]. We have showed previously that hydroperoxy-phospholipids are mainly metabolised by a seleniumdependent phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPX) in cultured cells [lo]. Although there are no reports about the presence of PHGPx in erythrocytes, it has been suggested that PHGPx in red blood cells may be inadequate [6]. In this paper, a PHGPx-like activity in erythrocyte membranes has been detected which was Wer investigated using immuno blotting.
Computerized tomography with routine arthrography in early evaluation of congenital hip dysplasia

The earliest accurate assessment of the pathologic anatomy in congenital hip dysplasia allows for the most effective treatment and ultimate joint development. Computerized tomography has been suggested to better delineate bony orientation, size, and congruity; however, the inability of the routine CT scan to clearly depict cartilaginous structures has further confirmed the adequacy of the arthrogram alone in most patients. We present a technique employing computerized tomography following routine arthrography to more thoroughly assess the cartilaginous and soft tissue structures in the younger patient. Although certainly not indicated in all patients, this technique provides an effective diagnostic adjunct in select patients with complicated hip dysplasia early in the hip development.
HISTORY UNDER MODERN DICTATORSHIPS: Pokrovsky, Frank, and Von Müller

[Both the Soviet and the German totalitarian regimes destroyed the freedom of historical inquiry by imposing political restrictions upon research and prescribing in minute detail a politically acceptable version of the past. History became a political weapon, the historian a warrior at “the historical front.” In the Soviet Union this inherent feature of totalitarianism became entangled with the Marxian legacy and its claims to have discovered the objective laws of historical development.
Phytoplankton Dynamics and the Vertical Flux of Organic Carbon in the Mississippi River Plume and Inner Gulf of Mexico Shelf Region

In this ongoing study, we are examining the degree to which elevated levels of nutrients carried to the coastal Gulf of Mexico waters in the Mississippi River Plume affect carbon cycling, phytoplankton growth and production, and photosynthesis-irradiance (P-I) properties. The river outflow enters the coastal Gulf of Mexico through several channels in the delta and gives rise to strong environmental gradients in salinity, nutrients, and light in the study region.
Explicit formulas for the distribution of complex zeros of a family of random sums

Abstract The present paper provides an explicit formula for the average intensity of the distribution of complex zeros of a family of random sums of the form S n ( z ) = ∑ j = 0 n η j f j ( z ) , where z is the complex variable x + i y , η j = α j + i β j and { α j } j = 0 n and { β j } j = 0 n are sequences of standard normal independent random variables, and { f j } j = 0 n is a sequence of given analytic functions that are real-valued on the real number line. In addition, the numerical computations of the intensity functions and the empirical distributions for the special cases of random Weyl polynomials, random Taylor polynomials and random truncated Fourier cosine series are included as examples.
Residency Program Director’s Perspective on Patient Safety and Quality Improvement

Physicians play a critical role in ensuring patient safety and improving the quality of care. Therefore, residency program directors have a profound responsibility in training future physicians in these crucial skills. Recognizing this, the Accreditation Committee for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) has increased its oversight of residency programs and teaching hospitals in this regard through a process called the Clinical Learning Environment Review (CLER). Programs must establish a culture of safety awareness. They must emphasize the importance of inter-professional teamwork and patient-centered communication. Residents should engage in quality improvement projects. Traditional morbidity and mortality conferences should be replaced by teaching sessions which emphasize system-based practice and evidence-based medicine and end the exercise of shame and blame finger-pointing.
Faktoren, die den Unterschied ausmachen

Im letzten Kapitel wurde der Rahmen zum Verstandnis des Lern- und Aktionsprozesses wahrend einer Positionsubernahme beschrieben. In diesem Kapitel mochte ich verschiedene Faktoren untersuchen, die Einflus darauf haben, wie der neue Manager seinen Aufgabenbereich ubernimmt, welche Masnahmen er durchfuhrt, welchen Problemstellungen er sich wahrscheinlich gegenubersieht und wie erfolgreich er wahrscheinlich ist. Dazu gehoren verschiedene erfahrungs- und situationsbezogene Faktoren, wie fruhere funktionale Erfahrungen (Fertigung, Marketing, Finanzwesen etc.), Branchenkenntnisse (innerhalb der gleichen Branche oder in einer anderen) und situationsbedingte Hindernisse (Positionen in Krisensituationen oder normale Positionsubernahmen).
Periodontal disease and the metabolic syndrome

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a spectrum of conditions that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus. The components of MetS include dysglycemia, visceral obesity, atherogenic dyslipidemia (elevated triglycerides and low levels of high-density lipoprotein) and hypertension. An association of periodontal disease and MetS has been suggested. This association is believed to be the result of systemic oxidative stress and an exuberant inflammatory response. When examined individually, the components of the MetS that are most closely related to the risk of periodontitis are dysglycemia and obesity, with lesser contributions by atherogenic dyslipidemia and hypertension. Data suggest that the odds of periodontitis increase with the number of MetS components present in an individual. The direction of the relationship between MetS and periodontal disease cannot currently be determined because the majority of studies are cross-sectional. The association between MetS and periodontitis, however, suggests that improved understanding of this association could promote interprofessional practice. Evidence suggests that periodontal therapy can reduce the levels of inflammatory mediators in serum. If this finding is confirmed, periodontal treatment could become part of therapy for MetS. Oral health providers who identify patients at risk for MetS could refer them to a medical provider, and physicians could refer patients to dentists to ensure that patients with MetS receive a dental evaluation and any necessary treatment. These clinical activities would improve both oral and general health outcomes.
A non-travel related rash in a traveler

A 45-year-old man was admitted for investigation of a symmetric lower limb rash associated with recurrent fever for two weeks following a hiking trip in Italy and Greece. He was treated for sepsis secondary to lower limb cellulitis with no clinical improvement and subsequently diagnosed with Streptococcus gallolyticus endocarditis mediating an infectious vasculitis.
Opioid system in L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia.

L-3, 4-Dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA)-induced dyskinesia (LID) is a major clinical complication in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD). This debilitating side effect likely reflects aberrant compensatory responses for a combination of dopaminergic neuron denervation and repeated L-DOPA administration. Abnormal endogenous opioid signal transduction pathways in basal ganglia have been well documented in LID. Opioid receptors have been targeted to alleviate the dyskinesia. However, the exact role of this altered opioid activity is remains under active investigation. In the present review, we discuss the current understanding of opioid signal transduction in the basal ganglia and how the malfunction of opioid signaling contributes to the pathophysiology of LID. Further study of the opioid system in LID may lead to new therapeutic targets and improved treatment of PD patients.