cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Maximum independent sets on transitive graphs and their applications in testing and CAD

We present a polynomial time algorithm that finds the maximum weighted independent set of a transitive graph. The studied problem finds applications in a variety of VLSI contexts, including path delay fault testing, scheduling in high level synthesis and channel routing in physical design automation. The algorithm has been implemented and incorporated in a CAD tool for path delay fault testing. We experimentally verify its impact in the latter context.
Nasal cavity dimensions in congenital pyriform aperture stenosis.

Abstract Objective To determine the dimensions of the nasal cavity in infants with congenital pyriform aperture stenosis (CPAS). Study design The nasal cavities of seven children with CPAS were identified and were compared to the nasal cavities of 13 neonates ( Methods The width of the nasal cavities was measured at the pyriform aperture, choana, and at two standardized points along the lateral nasal wall (LW-1 and LW-2) between the pyriform aperture and choana. Results Comparison between neonates with and without CPAS demonstrates significant narrowing of the nasal cavity (not just the pyriform aperture) in infants with CPAS. Significantly smaller nasal width was noted at pyriform aperture, LW-1, and LW-2 ( p p p = 0.02). No significant narrowing was seen at the choana. Conclusion These findings suggest that CPAS is associated with narrowing of the anterior 75% of the nasal cavity. This has implications for surgical management because simple pyriform aperture ostectomy may not be sufficient to relieve symptoms of obstruction.
Reduced oxidative and nitrosative damage in murine experimental colitis in the absence of inducible nitric oxide synthase

Background—Oxidative and nitrosative stress have been implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases. Aims—To study the role of nitric oxide (NO) derived from inducible NO synthase (iNOS) in an experimental model of murine enterocolitis. Methods—Trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS) was instilled per rectum to induce a lethal colitis in iNOS deficient mice and in wild type controls. The distal colon was evaluated for histological evidence of inflammation, iNOS expression and activity, tyrosine nitration and malondialdehyde formation (as indexes of nitrosative and oxidative stress), myeloperoxidase activity (as index of neutrophil infiltration), and tissue localisation of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1). Results—TNBS administration induced a high mortality and weight loss associated with a severe colonic mucosal erosion and ulceration, increased myeloperoxidase activity, increased concentrations of malondialdehyde, and an intense staining for nitrotyrosine and ICAM-1 in wild type mice. Genetic ablation of iNOS gene conferred to mice a significant resistance to TNBS induced lethality and colonic damage, and notably reduced nitrotyrosine formation and concentrations of malondialdehyde; it did not, however, aVect neutrophil infiltration and intestinal ICAM-1 expression in the injured tissue. Conclusion—Data show that activation of iNOS is required for nitrosative and oxidative damage in experimental colitis. (Gut 1999;45:199‐209)
Degradation of hepatic stearyl CoA delta 9-desaturase.

Δ9-Desaturase is a key enzyme in the synthesis of desaturated fatty acyl-CoAs. Desaturase is an integral membrane protein induced in the endoplasmic reticulum by dietary manipulations and then rapidly degraded. The proteolytic machinery that specifically degrades desaturase and other short-lived proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum has not been identified. As the first step in identifying cellular factors involved in the degradation of desaturase, liver subcellular fractions of rats that had undergone induction of this enzyme were examined. In livers from induced animals, desaturase was present in the microsomal, nuclear (P-1), and subcellular fractions (P-2). Incubation of desaturase containing fractions at physiological pH and temperature led to the complete disappearance of the enzyme. Washing microsomes with a buffer containing high salt decreased desaturase degradation activity. N-terminal sequence analysis of desaturase freshly isolated from the P-1 fraction without incubation indicated the absence of three residues from the N terminus, but the mobility of this desaturase preparation on SDS-PAGE was identical to the microsomal desaturase, which contains a masked N terminus under similar purification procedures. Addition of concentrated cytosol or the high-salt wash fraction did not enhance the desaturase degradation in the washed microsomes. Extensive degradation of desaturase in the high-salt washed microsomes could be restored by supplementation of the membranes with the lipid and protein components essential for the reconstituted desaturase catalytic activity. Lysosomotrophic agents leupeptin and pepstatin A were ineffective in inhibiting desaturase degradation. The calpain inhibitor, N-acetyl-leucyl-leucyl-methional, or the proteosome inhibitor, Streptomyces metabolite, lactacystin, did not inhibit the degradation of desaturase in the microsomal or the P-1 and P-2 fractions. These results show that the selective degradation of desaturase is likely to be independent of the lysosomal and the proteosome systems. The reconstitution of complete degradation of desaturase in the high-salt–washed microsomes by the components essential for its catalytic activity reflects that the degradation of this enzyme may depend on a specific orientation of desaturase and intramembranous interactions between desaturase and the responsible protease.
Natural History of Eryphanis greeneyi (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) and Its Enemies, with a Description of a New Species of Braconid Parasitoid and Notes on Its Tachinid Parasitoid

ABSTRACT This study encompasses three trophic levels, including description and observations of a butterfly caterpillar, its host plant, and two parasitoids, one of which is described here as a new species. We describe the immature stages and larval and adult behaviors of the butterfly Eryphanis greeneyi Penz & DeVries, 2008 (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) from the east Andean slopes of Ecuador. We identify Chusquea cf. scandens (Poaceae: Bambusoideae) as the larval food plant and review host associations in the genus Eryphanis and related taxa. We compare the morphology of E. greeneyi caterpillars to related taxa feeding on Chusquea and discuss the function of anal combs and associated frass throwing behavior. We describe a new species of braconid wasp Protapanteles eryphanidis sp. n. Whitfield and a tachinid fly, Winthemia sp. nr. analis, reared from field-collected larvae of E. greeneyi and evaluate their taxonomic position and association with E. greeneyi.
Esterified estrogen and conjugated equine estrogen and the risk of incident myocardial infarction and stroke.

Background: Clinical trials of conjugated equine estrogen (CEE) or estradiol vs placebo in postmenopausal women have found no effect or an elevated risk of myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke. The association of these end points with the use of esterified estrogen (EE) is unknown. Methods: We examined the risk of MI and stroke associated with current use of CEE, use of EE, or nonuse of hormones in a population-based case-control study in a health maintenance organization. Cases were all postmenopausal women with an incident MI (n = 1644) or stroke (n = 1080). Controls (n = 4205) consisted of a random sample of postmenopausal women without MI or stroke. Current use of postmenopausal hormones was assessed using a computerized pharmacy database. Results: There was no difference in risk of MI or stroke associated with current use of CEE or EE compared with nonuse or for current use of CEE compared with EE. In analyses restricted to hormone users, there was a suggestion of higher ischemic stroke risk associated with CEE alone (without progestin) compared with EE alone (odds ratio, 1.57; 95% confidence interval, 0.98-2.53). There was also a suggestion that when initiated in the previous 6 months, CEE was associated with a higher risk of MI than EE (odds ratio, 2.33; 95% confidence interval, 0.93-5.82). Conclusion: Further study may be warranted of the effects of EE on the risk of cardiovascular end points.
Development of Descending Projection Neurons to the Spinal Cord of the Goldfish, Carassius auratus

The descending supra-spinal projection neurons, especially certain reticulospinal neurons, have been implicated in the integration of spatial and temporal aspects of certain sensory modalities such as taste in teleost (Kanwal & Finger, ′88). In addition it has been postulated that reticulospinal neurons are involved in modulating the locomotion behavior in fish (Bando, ′75; McClellan & Grillner, ′84). Furthermore, sexual behavior in goldfish is controlled by preoptico-spinal pathway (Demski & Sloane, ′85). Mauthner cells (reticulospinal neurons) are involved in eliciting the startle response (Eaton & Bompardieri, ′78). These few examples attest to the varied influences of supra-spinal projection neurons onto the behavior of fish.
Etiquette modification for unlicensed spectrum: approach and impact

In the unlicensed spectrum, any device is free to transmit without a government license that implies exclusive access. Such spectrum has significant benefits, but serious challenges must first be overcome. Foremost is the risk of drastic performance degradation and inefficient spectrum utilization, due to a lack of incentive to conserve shared spectrum. Previous work has shown this problem to be a real possibility. This paper demonstrates that the solution lies in proper regulation of access to unlicensed spectrum and its usage. We present a choice of potential solutions that vary in the degree to which they solve the problem, and in their impact on performance.
Measuring meaning in life following cancer

Meaning in life is a multi-faceted construct that has been conceptualized in diverse ways. It refers broadly to the value and purpose of life, important life goals, and for some, spirituality. We developed a measure of meaning in life derived from this conceptualization and designed to be a synthesis of relevant theoretical and empirical traditions. Two samples, all cancer patients, provided data for scale development and psychometric study. From exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses the Meaning in Life Scale (MiLS) emerged, and includes four aspects: Harmony and Peace, Life Perspective, Purpose and Goals, Confusion and Lessened Meaning, and Benefits of Spirituality. Supporting data for reliability (internal consistency, test–retest) and construct validity (convergent, discriminant, individual differences) are provided. The MiLS offers a theoretically based and psychometrically sound assessment of meaning in life suitable for use with cancer patients.
Adaptive attitude control for long-life space vehicles.

Nonlinear adaptive reaction jet attitude control for long life space vehicles, providing optimal performance over bias acceleration disturbances
A Model of Selective Activation of the Femoral Nerve With a Flat Interface Nerve Electrode for a Lower Extremity Neuroprosthesis

Functional electrical stimulation (FES) can restore limb movements through electrically initiated, coordinated contractions of paralyzed muscles. The peripheral nerve is an attractive site for stimulation using cuff electrodes. Many applications will require the electrode to selectively activate many smaller populations of axons within a common nerve trunk. The purpose of this study is to computationally model the performance of a flat interface nerve electrode (FINE) on the proximal femoral nerve for standing and stepping applications. Simulations investigated multiple FINE configurations to determine the optimal number and locations of contacts for the maximum muscular selectivity. Realistic finite element method (FEM) models were developed from digitized cross sections from cadaver femoral nerve specimens. Electrical potentials were calculated and interpolated voltages were applied to a double-cable axon model. Model output was analyzed to determine selectivity and estimate joint moments with a musculoskeletal model. Simulations indicated that a 22-contact FINE will produce the greatest selectivity. Simulations predicted that an eight-contact FINE can be expected to selectively stimulate each of the six muscles innervated by the proximal femoral nerve, producing a sufficient knee extension moment for the sit-to-stand transition and contributing 60% of the hip flexion moment needed during gait. We conclude that, whereas more contacts produce greater selectivity, eight channels are sufficient for standing and stepping with an FES system using a FINE on the common femoral nerve.
Cluster space collision avoidance for mobile two-robot systems

The cluster space state representation for multi-robot systems provides a simple means of specifying and monitoring the geometry and motion characteristics of a cluster of mobile robots. In previous work, this approach has been experimentally verified and validated for controlling the motion of mobile multi-robot systems ranging from land rovers to autonomous boats. In this paper we introduce a compact collision avoidance algorithm that operates at the level of the cluster, leading to coordinated translational and rotational motions that allow obstacles to be avoided while maintaining the relative geometry of the cluster. This paper formulates the potential-field based obstacle avoidance algorithm, describes its integration within the cluster space control architecture, and presents successful experimental results of its application to two simple, diverse multi-robot testbeds.
Effects of security warnings and instant gratification cues on attitudes toward mobile websites

In order to address the increased privacy and security concerns raised by mobile communications, designers of mobile applications and websites have come up with a variety of warnings and appeals. While some interstitials warn about potential risk to personal information due to an untrusted security certificate, others attempt to take users' minds away from privacy concerns by making tempting, time-sensitive offers. How effective are they? We conducted an online experiment (N = 220) to find out. Our data show that both these strategies raise red flags for users - appeals to instant gratification make users more leery of the site and warnings make them perceive greater threat to personal data. Yet, users tend to reveal more information about their social media accounts when warned about an insecure site. This is probably because users process these interstitials based on cognitive heuristics triggered by them. These findings hold important implications for the design of cues in mobile interfaces.
The Fate of the Complete Female Epispadias and Exstrophy Bladder—Is There a Difference?

Purpose: Complete female epispadias, which occurs much more rarely than classic bladder exstrophy in females, is thought to have a more benign clinical course. We hypothesized that patients with complete female epispadias are more likely to have a larger bladder capacity and achieve voiding continence than females with classic bladder exstrophy.Materials and Methods: After obtaining institutional review board approval, females with complete female epispadias or classic bladder exstrophy were identified from an institutionally approved prospective database. We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 22 patients with complete female epispadias and 23 with female classic bladder exstrophy, including 3 with delayed primary closure.Results: Patients with complete female epispadias presented later and underwent the first reconstructive procedure at an older age than patients with classic bladder exstrophy. Patients with complete female epispadias had lower initial and final age adjusted bladder capacity than tho...
Actions of the pineal gland and melatonin in the central nervous system: A possible role in the regulation of seasonal reproduction

Abstract Subsequent to the identification of melatonin by Lerner and his colleagues in 1958, a number of studies dealing with the effects of this indolamine on mammalian reproduction have provided evidence that the pineal gland mediates photogonadal responses. These studies demonstrated that administration of melatonin can mimic the effects of photoperiod on reproduction, and evoked the hypothesis that melatonin is the substance produced by the pineal gland which mediates the responses induced by photoperiod. At present, the site of action of melatonin is not known; however, there is evidence which suggests that melatonin acts in one or a variety of tissues, such as the gonads, the anterior pituitary gland and the central nervous system. With the advent of new methodology permitting the assessment of uptake and binding of melatonin by the brain, and the delivery of minimal amounts of melatonin to circumscribed sites in the brain, it is becoming evident that the brain may be an important site of action of melatonin. Knowledge of the site and the nature of the action of melatonin is crucial for the formulation of future research concerned with (a) the receptor for melatonin, and (b) how the interaction of melatonin with its receptor facilitates the photoperiodic regulation of seasonal reproductive cycles. It is the purpose of this review to provide a synopsis of the growing body of literature concerned with a possible neuroendocrine role of the pineal gland in regulating seasonal reproduction.
Association of Azithromycin With Mortality and Cardiovascular Events Among Older Patients Hospitalized With Pneumonia

Importance Although clinical practice guidelines recommend combination therapy with macrolides, including azithromycin, as first-line therapy for patients hospitalized with pneumonia, recent research suggests that azithromycin may be associated with increased cardiovascular events. Objective To examine the association of azithromycin use with all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events for patients hospitalized with pneumonia. Design Retrospective cohort study comparing older patients hospitalized with pneumonia from fiscal years 2002 through 2012 prescribed azithromycin therapy and patients receiving other guideline-concordant antibiotic therapy. Setting This study was conducted using national Department of Veterans Affairs administrative data of patients hospitalized at any Veterans Administration acute care hospital. Participants Patients were included if they were aged 65 years or older, were hospitalized with pneumonia, and received antibiotic therapy concordant with national clinical practice guidelines. Main Outcomes and Measures Outcomes included 30- and 90-day all-cause mortality and 90-day cardiac arrhythmias, heart failure, myocardial infarction, and any cardiac event. Propensity score matching was used to control for the possible effects of known confounders with conditional logistic regression. Results Of 73 690 patients from 118 hospitals identified, propensity-matched groups were composed of 31 863 patients exposed to azithromycin and 31 863 matched patients who were not exposed. There were no significant differences in potential confounders between groups after matching. Ninety-day mortality was significantly lower in those who received azithromycin (exposed, 17.4%, vs unexposed, 22.3%; odds ratio [OR], 0.73; 95% CI, 0.70-0.76). However, we found significantly increased odds of myocardial infarction (5.1% vs 4.4%; OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.08-1.25) but not any cardiac event (43.0% vs 42.7%; OR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.98-1.05), cardiac arrhythmias (25.8% vs 26.0%; OR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.95-1.02), or heart failure (26.3% vs 26.2%; OR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.97-1.04). Conclusions and Relevance Among older patients hospitalized with pneumonia, treatment that included azithromycin compared with other antibiotics was associated with a lower risk of 90-day mortality and a smaller increased risk of myocardial infarction. These findings are consistent with a net benefit associated with azithromycin use.
Magnetorheological Valve for Hybrid Electrohydrostatic Actuation

There is an increasing demand for compact actuators capable of producing large deflections, large forces, and broad frequency bandwidths. Due to their solid state nature, smart materials can enable novel actuator solutions that compete favorably with established technologies based on electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic motors. However, in all existing active materials, large force and broadband responses are obtained at small displacements and methods for transmitting very short transducer element motion to large deformations need to be developed. We present a new hybrid actuator which operates on the principle of rectification of magnetostrictive vibrations by means of magnetorheological (MR) flow control. Experiments and theoretical calculations are aimed at substantiating the feasibility of the hybrid actuator and establishing design criteria for the development of an effective MR valve. The experiments presented here demonstrate the ability of the valve to completely block the flow due to the combined action of a pressure differential and MR fluid activation. For characterization purposes, two variations of the main valve concept are considered, one with moving coils and the other with fixed coils. Actuation measurements conducted on the complete actuator show deflections of 6.5 in. in response to fluid inputs produced with a hydraulic piston in combination with an applied quasistatic voltage of amplitude 5 V. A system-level model is presented which is developed by treating the system as an RLC equivalent electrical circuit with operation across electrical, mechanical, and fluid domains. Attributes and shortcomings of the model are discussed through comparison of model results with experimental data.
Distribution, Density, and Biomass of Introduced Small Mammals in the Southern Mariana Islands

Although it is generally accepted that introduced small mammals have detrimental effects on island ecology, our understanding of these effects is frequently limited by incomplete knowledge of small mammal distribution, density, and biomass. Such information is especially critical in the Mariana Islands, where small mammal density is inversely related to effectiveness of Brown Tree Snake (Boiga irregularis) control tools, such as mouse-attractant traps. We used mark-recapture sampling to determine introduced small mammal distribution, density, and biomass in the major habitats of Guam, Rota, Saipan, and Tinian, including grassland, Leucaena forest, and native limestone forest. Of the five species captured, Rattus diardii (sensu Robins et al. 2007) was most common across habitats and islands. In contrast, Mus musculus was rarely captured at forested sites, Suncus murinus was not captured on Rota, and R. exulans and R. norvegicus captures were uncommon. Modeling indicated that neophobia, island, sex, reproductive status, and rain amount influenced R. diardii capture probability, whereas time, island, and capture heterogeneity influenced S. murinus and M. musculus capture probability. Density and biomass were much greater on Rota, Saipan, and Tinian than on Guam, most likely a result of Brown Tree Snake predation pressure on the latter island. Rattus diardii and M. musculus density and biomass were greatest in grassland, whereas S. murinus density and biomass were greatest in Leucaena forest. The high densities documented during this research suggest that introduced small mammals (especially R. diardii) are impacting abundance and diversity of the native fauna and flora of the Mariana Islands. Further, Brown Tree Snake control and management tools that rely on mouse attractants will be less effective on Rota, Saipan, and Tinian than on Guam. If the Brown Tree Snake becomes established on these islands, high-density introduced small mammal populations will likely facilitate and support a high-density Brown Tree Snake population, even as native species are reduced or extirpated.
Neutrophil elastase‐deficient mice form neutrophil extracellular traps in an experimental model of deep vein thrombosis

UNLABELLED ESSENTIALS: Neutrophil elastase (NE) plays a role in extracellular trap formation (NETosis) triggered by microbes. The contribution of NE was evaluated in mouse NETosis models of sterile inflammation and thrombosis. NE is not required for mouse neutrophil NET production in vitro with non-infectious stimuli. NE deficiency had no significant effect on thrombosis in the inferior vena cava stenosis model. SUMMARY BACKGROUND Neutrophil serine proteases have been implicated in coagulation and neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation. In human neutrophils, neutrophil elastase (NE) translocates to the nucleus during NETosis and cleaves histones, thus aiding in chromatin decondensation. NE(-/-) mice were shown not to release NETs in response to microbes. However, mouse studies evaluating the role of NE in NET formation in sterile inflammation and thrombosis are lacking. OBJECTIVE We wished to establish if neutrophils from NE(-/-) mice have a defect in NETosis, similar to peptidylarginine deiminase 4 (PAD4(-/-)) mice, and how this might have an impact on venous thrombosis, a model where NETs are produced and are crucial to thrombus development. METHODS We performed in vitro NET assays using neutrophils from wild-type (WT), NE(-/-), SerpinB1 (SB1)(-/-) and NE(-/-) SB1(-/-) mice. We compared WT and NE(-/-) animals using the inferior vena cava stenosis model of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). RESULTS Neutrophil elastase deficiency resulted in a small reduction in ionomycin-induced NET formation in vitro without affecting histone citrullination. However, NET production in response to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate or platelet activating factor was normal in neutrophils from two independent NE-deficient mouse lines, and in NE(-/-) SB1(-/-) as compared with SB1(-/-) neutrophils. NE deficiency or inhibition did not prevent NETosis in vivo or DVT outcome. CONCLUSIONS Neutrophil elastase is not required for NET formation in mice. NE(-/-) mice, which form pathological venous thrombi containing NETs, do not phenocopy PAD4(-/-) mice in in vitro NETosis assays or experimental venous thrombosis. Our study suggests that NET-targeted therapies need to be highly effective to have an impact on DVT.
Mesoscale Climatology and Variation of Surface Winds over the Chukchi–Beaufort Coastal Areas

AbstractThe detailed mesoscale climatology of surface winds in the Chukchi–Beaufort Seas and adjacent Arctic Slope region is analyzed using the recently developed Chukchi–Beaufort High-Resolution Atmospheric Reanalysis (CBHAR). Within the study area, surface winds are mainly driven by the prevailing synoptic weather patterns of the Beaufort high and Aleutian low and are further modulated by local geographic features through thermodynamic and dynamic processes. Sea breezes, up- or downslope winds, and the mountain barrier jets are all clearly captured by CBHAR. Sea breezes emerge in June–September and last most of the day, with a maximum spatial extent 100 km inland and 50 km offshore and maximum speed around 1–3 m s−1 in the late afternoon [~1500 Alaska standard time (AKST)]. Thermodynamic impacts of mountains on the surface winds vary from time to time. Drainage flows begin to build at the mountaintop in September and reach the strongest during November–February, occupying the entire slope. Upslope winds...
Therapy in Popular Religion

The great majority of the Chinese population depended on religious ritual, which often incorporated materia medica, for its health care. Of the therapeutic rituals available, those of popular religion—popular in the sense of participation by all social strata—were most accessible. Its priests were usually neighbors, farmers or craftsmen who performed their liturgical duties as they were needed, often qualified by their ability to be possessed by spirits. Here too the government shaped popular religion, partly by registering temples whose deities its functionaries judged morally orthodox and effective, and in part by periodically persecuting those it did not register. People at every level of society believed that the gods were a bureaucracy, which supervised the operations of sky and earth. Laymen measured the efficacy of individual deities by their ability to meet people’s needs, the curing of ailments prominent among them. The gods enforced conventional morality, rewarding what the community valued and preventing or punishing what it feared. This chapter studies popular ritual therapies, examines their role in curing medical disorders, and explains why and how many medical authors adapted them.
Terrestrial and Extraterrestrial H3

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses that the molecular ion H 3 + is the simplest stable polyatomic molecular system. It consists of two electrons and three protons. In the ground state, the protons occupy the vertices of an equilateral triangle. It is the major ion produced by high-pressure electric discharges in hydrogen gas. Because of the simplicity of its structure, it has been a testing ground for theoretical methods of calculating potential-energy surfaces and rotation-vibrational energy levels of polyatomic systems. The development of a quantitative picture of the structure of H 3 + has occurred through a dynamic interplay of experimental and theoretical studies. These basic studies were crucial to the identification of H 3 + infrared emission in the spectra of the Jovian planets and must lead eventually to the detection of H 3 + in absorption in the interstellar medium, where it occupies a central role in interstellar chemistry. In addition, they have led to a tentative identification of H 3 + in the envelope of supernova 1987a.
Inhibition of Human Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels by Cocaine

Cocaine is a potent cardiac stimulant and its use has been linked to life-threatening arrhythmias in humans. A prominent effect of cocaine in the heart is a suppression of the delayed-rectifier potassium current (IK) that is important for cardiac repolarization. In this study, cocaine was found to be an inhibitor of HERG channels that underlie the rapidly activating component of IK. HERG was expressed in tsA201 cells and the whole-cell currents were measured using the patch-clamp technique. HERG currents are inhibited in a dose-dependent fashion with an IC50value of 5.6 ± 0.4 μM. The cocaine inhibition increases over the range of voltages at which the channels activate, indicating that cocaine preferentially binds to open or inactivated channels. At more depolarized potentials, at which the channels are maximally activated, the cocaine inhibition is constant indicating that the binding of the drug is not directly influenced by voltage. Cocaine reduces both the peak tail currents and the instantaneous currents measured by applying voltage steps under conditions where channels are open. The data are consistent with the inhibition of open channels. Cocaine also accelerates the rapid decay of the current at depolarized voltages suggestive of an interaction with inactivated channels. The data indicates that cocaine inhibits the channels by preferentially binding to a combination of open and inactivated states.
Preliminary Data: An Adapted Hospital Elder Life Program to Prevent Delirium and Reduce Complications of Acute Illness in Long-Term Care Delivered by Certified Nursing Assistants

Nursing home (NH) residents have a high prevalence of delirium risk factors, experience two to four acute medical conditions (e.g., infections) each year, and have an incidence of delirium during these conditions similar to that of hospitalized older adults. Many NH residents with delirium do not return to their prior level of cognitive function. They are more likely to die, be hospitalized, and less likely to be discharged home than those without delirium. Research on the prevention or treatment of delirium in NHs is limited. This article describes the development and pilot testing of a multicomponent delirium prevention intervention in the NH setting adapted from the Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP-LTC). Activities to reduce the risk of delirium that were appropriate for functionally impaired NH residents were developed and delivered during treatment for and recovery from acute illness, a novel resident-targeting approach. Expertly trained certified nursing assistants (CNAs — a total of 1.4 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions—) visited residents throughout the facility and delivered the activities. The current study reports on incident delirium, delirium remission, cognitive and physical function change, hospitalization, and death associated with acute medical conditions as ascertained by a program coordinator. The integration and acceptance of the CNAs' activities by residents and staff are also reported on. Hospitalization and death were ascertained in a nonintervention comparison group. Findings support a test of the intervention in a controlled trial. The potential effect is great; there are approximately 1.4 million NH residents in the United States and an estimated 1 million with dementia or cognitive impairment, an important delirium risk factor. An intervention would be broadly adoptable if a reduction in healthcare costs through prevention of hospitalization offset the cost of the program's CNAs.
Awareness and Behavior on Household Product Safety of Preschool Children's Parents in Chengdu

Objective To provide advice for the reduction of children's accidental injury that occurred at home by understanding the current status of awareness and behaviors of pre-school children's parents on household product safety.Methods A total of 3 616 parents in 12 kindergartens were selected with stratified cluster sampling for a questionnaire survey on household product safety.Results Among the parents investigated,0.7% of them gave the right answers on all the 5 most important aspects of household product safety;only 7.2% of them did the right matching between medications and cold in different age and with different symptoms.Among their children,28.03% children could sit quietly while eating;25% children always ask for parents' opinion before eating.The accesses to relevant knowledge of parents in different regions were differed.Conclusion There is a serious lack of knowledge on household product security of the preschool children's parents in Chengdu,with low forming rate of healthy behaviors.The education and health sector should carry out various home safety education address to the different regions where parents come from,to reduce the risk of accidental injury of children.
N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors mediate post-traumatic increases of protein kinase C in rat brain.

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to traumatic brain injury (TBI) using a lateral fluid percussion-induced injury model. Effects of varying severities of TBI (model = 1.1 ± 0.1 atm; moderate = 2.2 ± 0.2 atm; severe = 2.9 ± 0.1 atm) on the levels of protein kinase C in rat cerebral cortex and hippocampus were investigated by quantitative autoradiography using [3H]phorboldibutyrate ester ([3H]PDBu) binding as a marker. Binding of [3H]PDBu in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus was increased bilaterally following TBI, with changes related to injury severity. Significant increases were observed in hippocampus of injured animals, as compared to sham-operated controls, at 1 h after trauma. Maximum levels of binding in both cerebral cortex and hippocampus were reached by 3 h, with a return to control levels at 6 h and 72 h, respectively. Treatment with MK-801 (1 mg/kg, i.v.) administered 15 min before trauma prevented the injury-induced increase of [3H]PDBu binding in hippocampus and cerebral cortex. These results demonstrate that TBI induces bilateral, time-dependent increases of protein kinase C in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex that are related to injury severity. Changes are mediated by actions at NMDA receptors, probably reflecting post-traumatic release of glutamate.
Dynamics of Dual Networks: Strain Rate and Temperature Effects in Hydrogels with Reversible H-Bonds

Combining high concentration of reversible hydrogen bonds with a loosely cross-linked chemical network in poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide-co-methacrylic acid) hydrogels produces dual-network materials with high modulus and toughness on par with those observed for connective tissues. The dynamic nature of the H-bonded cross-links manifests itself in a strong temperature and strain rate dependence of hydrogel mechanical properties. We have identified several relaxation regimes of a hydrogel by monitoring a time evolution of the time-average Young’s modulus ⟨E(t)⟩ = σ(t)/et as a function of the strain rate, e, and temperature. At low temperatures (e.g., 3 °C), ⟨E(t)⟩ first displays a Rouse-like relaxation regime (⟨E(t)⟩ ∼ t–0.5), which is followed by a temporary (physical) network regime (⟨E(t)⟩ ∼ t–0.14) at intermediate time scales and then by an associating liquid regime (⟨E(t)⟩ ∼ t–0.93) at the later times. With increasing temperature to 22 °C, the temporary network plateau displays lower modulus values, na...
Test Algebra for Concurrent Combinatorial Testing

This chapter proposes a new algebraic system, test algebra (TA) for identifying faults in combinatorial testing for Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications. In the context of cloud computing, SaaS is a new software delivery model, in which mission-critical applications are composed, deployed, and executed on cloud platforms. Testing SaaS applications is challenging because new applications need to be tested once they are composed, and prior to their deployment. A composition of components providing services yields a configuration providing a SaaS application. While individual components in the configuration may have been thoroughly tested, faults still arise due to interactions among the components composed, making the configuration faulty. When there are k components, combinatorial testing algorithms can be used to identify faulty interactions for t or fewer components, for some threshold \(2 \le t \le k\) on the size of interactions considered. In general, these methods do not identify specific faults, but rather indicate the presence or absence of some fault. To identify specific faults, an adaptive testing regime repeatedly constructs and tests configurations in order to determine, for each interaction of interest, whether it is faulty or not. In order to perform such testing in a loosely coupled distributed environment such as the cloud, it is imperative that testing results can be combined from many different servers. The TA defines rules to permit results to be combined and to identify the faulty interactions. Using the TA, configurations can be tested concurrently on different servers and in any order. The results, using the TA, remain the same.
Cost and Relative Value of Road Kill Surveys for Enhanced Rabies Surveillance in Raccoon Rabies Management.

Oral rabies vaccination (ORV) requires knowledge of the spatial-temporal distribution of rabies virus variants targeted for control. Rabies-exposure based public health surveillance alone may not provide a sound basis for ORV decisions. The value and cost of road kill surveys was evaluated for the late spring–early fall 2005–2007 as a part of enhanced rabies surveillance in northern New York, where raccoon rabies is enzootic and ORV has occurred since the late 1990s. Structured surveys were conducted to collect raccoons and other meso-carnivores for rabies testing at the New York State Rabies Laboratory. Of the 209 meso-carnivore heads collected and submitted for testing, 175 were testable by direct fluorescent antibody; none was rabid. Rabies was also not reported through public health surveillance in survey zones during 2005–2007. Overall, survey costs were $37,118 (2016 USD). Salaries and benefits accounted for 61% of costs, followed by fuel (22%), vehicle depreciation (14%), and sample shipping (3%). Mean daily distance driven was 303 ± 37 km and 381 ± 28 km for total road kills and raccoons, respectively. Costs/road kill collected and submitted was $176/all species and $224/raccoon. This study provides costs for planning road kill surveys and underscores the need to continually improve enhanced rabies surveillance approaches to support ORV decision making.
Women business owners: a source of stability during the great recession?

During the period of the Great Recession, previous research has found that women-owned firms were less likely to lay-off workers than were firms owned by men. Given that the individual firm behavio...
In pursuit of power: Competition for majority status and Senate partisanship:

During the 20th century, Congress experienced two main shifts in partisan conflict. Early decades were marked by a substantial decrease in party divisiveness, reaching a nadir by mid-century. Begin...
Vitiligoid variant of lichen sclerosus in young girls with darker skin types.

Background/objectives Vitiligo and lichen sclerosus are autoimmune disorders characterized by white discoloration, and both frequently affect the anogenital region. Vitiligoid lichen sclerosus refers to a superficial variant of lichen sclerosus in which the lesion appears clinically to be vitiligo based on the predominant presentation of depigmentation and minimal inflammation and sclerosis but histologically is consistent with lichen sclerosus. A limited number of reports have described vitiligoid lichen sclerosus, and from these reports, it appears to primarily affect darker-skinned people. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the records of 7 girls with darker skin types seen in our pediatric dermatology clinic who presented with a clinical overlap of vitiligo and lichen sclerosus. All had primarily well-demarcated, depigmented patches characteristic of vitiligo, but the lesions were symptomatic (pruritus, pain, bleeding, constipation), a presentation more consistent with lichen sclerosus. Results The girls were all treated with high-potency topical steroids, calcineurin inhibitors, or both. The associated symptoms improved or resolved, but most had minimal improvement of the depigmentation. Conclusions The girls presented in this series appear to have had vitiligoid lichen sclerosus, given the clinical overlap of lichen sclerosus and vitiligo affecting the anogenital region, particularly given that they did not have depigmented patches elsewhere on their body. Previous cases of vitiligoid lichen sclerosus have been reported in darker skin types, and our findings support this possible predisposition. It is important for clinicians to assess patients presenting with genital depigmentation for overlapping features of vitiligo and lichen sclerosus and determine appropriate management.
Epigenetic Targeting Therapies to Overcome Chemotherapy Resistance

It is now well established that epigenetic aberrations occur early in malignant transformation, raising the possibility of identifying chemopreventive compounds or reliable diagnostic screening using epigenetic biomarkers. Combinatorial therapies effective for the reexpression of tumor suppressors, facilitating resensitization to conventional chemotherapies, hold great promise for the future therapy of cancer. This approach may also perturb cancer stem cells and thus represent an effective means for managing a number of solid tumors. We believe that in the near future, anticancer drug regimens will routinely include epigenetic therapies, possibly in conjunction with inhibitors of “stemness” signal pathways, to effectively reduce the devastating occurrence of cancer chemotherapy resistance.
Postsecondary pathways of Latinas/os: A review of student experiences in the community college

This paper examines previous literature to provide an overview of Latina/o students in higher education, with an emphasis on the community college and Latina/o student-athletes. While the majority ...
True-lumen collapse in aortic dissection. Part I. Evaluation of causative factors in phantoms with pulsatile flow

Purpose To investigate the causative factors in true-lumen collapse in a model of aortic dissection. Materials and methods Phantoms with an aortic arch, true and false lumina with abdominal branch vessels, and a distal bifurcation were used to model a Stanford type B aortic dissection. The effects of anatomic factors (entry-tear size, branch-vessel flow distribution, fenestrations, distal reentry communication) and physiologic factors (peripheral resistance in the branch vessels, pump output and rate, vascular compliance) on true-lumen collapse were investigated. The morphology of the true lumen was observed. Branch pressures and flow rates were measured. Results True-lumen collapse was induced and was exacerbated by an increase in the size of the entry tear, a decrease in the false-lumen outflow caused by occluding the false-lumen branch vessels, and an increase in the true-lumen outflow caused by lowering the peripheral resistance in true-lumen branch vessels. Two kinds of true-lumen collapse depended on pump output. With low pump output and low outflow resistance from the true lumen, the true lumen collapsed. With high pump output and low inflow resistance in the false lumen, the true lumen was compressed. Distal reentry communication between the true and false limbs was more effective than aortic fenestrations in preventing true-lumen collapse. Conclusion True-lumen collapse in this dissection model strongly depends on the difference in the ratios of inflow capacity to outflow capacity in the true and false lumina. Both anatomic and physiologic factors can affect true-lumen collapse.
Did Numerical Methods for Hyperbolic Problems Take a Wrong Turning

Methods for the numerical solution of hyperbolic conservation laws have been dominated for several decades by discontinuous data representations and one-dimensional physical arguments. Although these ideas bestow useful properties, it will be argued that they are unrealistic and ultimately restrictive. A strategy is described that avoids one-dimensional concepts in favour of discriminating between advective (one-dimensional) and acoustic-type (multidimensional) behaviour. It is successfully applied to the Euler equations.
Performance of an Ultrasound Camera Tube Utilizing Pyroelectric Conversion Layers

The Sokoloff type ultrasound camera tube uses a piezoelectric target as the basic ultrasound-to-charge pattern converting layer. The scanning beam interaction with the conversion surface is such that only the energy in the piezoelectric element during the time interval the scanning beam is touching that element is effective in forming the visual signal. This characteristic operation has precluded for all practical purposes the use of pulsed ultrasound radiation in systems utilizing the Sokoloff Tube.1 The work reported here involves the use of an ultrasound sensitive pyroelectric target which provides image storage in the form of a spatial temperature differential related to the absorbed ultrasound energy. The signal output produced by the scanning beam is directly related to the stored temperature differential existing on the extended layer pyroelectric material which is produced by absorption of the ultrasound in the target material. It is only recently that highly sensitive pyroelectric materials in a readily managed form have become available.2 The ability to store the incident ultrasound energy for subsequent scanning permits utilization of the advantageous duty cycle relationship with regard to the interaction of ultrasound with biological organisms.3 It should be emphasized that in this type of ultrasound camera tube the signal at each picture point is, under proper conditions, integrated continuously which serves to increase the efficiency of detection. The practical limitation on obtaining this idealized operation is set by the thermal loss associated with the supporting structure for the pyroelectric conversion layer.