cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effect of plasma shaping on the damping of low n Alfvén eigenmodes in JET tokamak plasmas

The effect of plasma shaping on the damping of radially extended Alfv?n eigenmodes (AEs) is investigated experimentally during the limiter phase of JET plasma discharges. The AE damping rate is observed to increase with increasing elongation, triangularity and edge magnetic shear. These parameters could therefore be used to control the AE stability in real time.
Nondestructive testing of field bridges in Florida

Since 1985, Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has been conducting non-destructive testing (NDT) to evaluate the load carrying capacity of existing bridges. This paper describes the procedure of load rating existing bridges through non-destructive load testing. The application of field testing eliminates some unnecessary retrofitting/demolishing and identifies the unsafe bridges for public safety.
The Influence of Media Trust and Internet Trust on Privacy-Risking Uses of E-Health

People claim to be concerned about information privacy on the Internet, yet they frequently give out personal information to online vendors and correspondents with whom they have little, if any, prior experience. This behavior is known as the privacy paradox and is particularly relevant to the context of e-health, due to the special risks of health information exposure. Using data from the 2005 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS), this study addresses a key question regarding online health information privacy: Do individuals self-police risky e-health activities (i.e., uses where personal information is given out) or are they indifferent to risk based upon generalized trust in broadcast media and the Internet as sources for health information? Our results show that Internet trust mediates most effects of broadcast media trust on Internet use and that Internet trust plays a much smaller role in motivating Internet uses that are risky than is the case for low-risk uses. These results have important implications for researchers, policymakers, and healthcare administrators in determining the level of privacy protection individuals need in their use of e-health applications.
Contrasting evolutionary patterns of spore coat proteins in two Bacillus species groups are linked to a difference in cellular structure

Background The Bacillus subtilis-group and the Bacillus cereus-group are two well-studied groups of species in the genus Bacillus. Bacteria in this genus can produce a highly resistant cell type, the spore, which is encased in a complex protective protein shell called the coat. Spores in the B. cereus-group contain an additional outer layer, the exosporium, which encircles the coat. The coat in B. subtilis spores possesses inner and outer layers. The aim of this study is to investigate whether differences in the spore structures influenced the divergence of the coat protein genes during the evolution of these two Bacillus species groups.
The pericardium: an essay on some recent developments.

Abstract The published work on pericardial function is reviewed briefly, emphasizing experiments designed to show whether or not the normal pericardium restrains cardiac volume. Recent work from this laboratory has shown that nitroprusside infusion in hypervolemic dogs with an intact pericardium shifts the whole of the ventricular diastolic pressure-volume or dimension curve downward (less pressure for a given volume). After pericardiectomy, nitroprusside shifts the pressure-volume or dimension relation along a single curve. These studies indicate that the pericardium exerts a restraining influence on the left ventricle and that it greatly modifies the response of the left ventricle to altered preload. Recent studies from other laboratories have demonstrated that the pericardium plays a major role in the dynamic interaction between the ventricles. Recent hemodynamic studies have shown that cardiac tamponade in patients with intrinsically elevated left ventricular diastolic pressure causes equilibration between right (but not left) ventricular diastolic pressure and pericardial pressure. Pulsus paradoxus is not found in these patients because resistance to left ventricular filling is constant throughout the respiratory cycle. Other recent hemodynamic work includes the description of occult constrictive pericardial disease and a report that effusive-constrictive pericarditis is common in neoplastic involvement of the heart and pericardium. The spectrum of infectious pericarditis is changing; the entity still poses difficult therapeutic questions. The proper treatment of uremic pericarditis, especially with tamponade, remains highly controversial. The relative places of increased dialysis, intrapericardial poorly absorbed corticosteroids, pericardiocentesis, pericardial window and pericardiectomy are yet to be determined.
SOCIAL ISOLATION REARING INCREASES NUCLEUS ACCUMBENS DOPAMINE AND NOREPINEPHRINE RESPONSES TO ACUTE ETHANOL IN ADULTHOOD

Background Early-life stress is associated with increased vulnerability to alcohol addiction. However, the neural substrates linking chronic childhood/adolescent stress and increased risk of alcohol addiction are not well understood. In the nucleus accumbens (NAc), dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) signaling can be profoundly influenced by stress, anxiety, and drugs of abuse, including ethanol (EtOH). Here, we employed a rodent model of early-life stress that results in enduring increases in behavioral risk factors of alcoholism to gain a better understanding of how chronic adolescent stress may impact the EtOH sensitivity of DA and NE release in the NAc. Methods Male Long–Evans rats were either group housed (GH; 4 rats/cage) or socially isolated (SI; 1 rat/cage) for 6 weeks beginning on postnatal day 28. SI and GH rats were tested in adulthood for anxiety-like behaviors (elevated plus maze), and the effects of EtOH (1 and 2 g/kg; intraperitoneally.) on NAc DA and NE were assessed by microdialysis. Results SI animals showed increased anxiety-like behavior compared to GH animals. Although SI had no effect on baseline levels of DA or NE, baseline DA levels were positively correlated with anxiety measures. In addition, while no significant differences were observed with 1 g/kg EtOH, the 2 g/kg dose induced significantly greater DA release in SI animals. Moreover, EtOH (2 g/kg) only elevated NAc NE levels in SI rats. Conclusions These results suggest that chronic early-life stress sensitizes accumbal DA and NE release in response to an acute EtOH challenge. A greater EtOH sensitivity of DA and NE release dynamics in the NAc may contribute to increases in behavioral risk factors of alcoholism, like greater EtOH self-administration, that are observed in SI rats.
Aero-Optical and Hot-Wire Measurements of the Flow Around the Hemispherical Turret With a Flat Window.

Extensive investigation of the flow over the semispherical turret with the flat window was performed in order to document optical distortions over the window using 2-dimensional wavefront sensor and the Malley probe, complemented with simultaneous Malley probe - single hot-wire measurements of streamwise component velocity’s profiles normal to the window at several points across the window’s aperture for different azimuthal angles and a range of Mach numbers. The results provide the levels of unsteady optical aberration across the window’s aperture, as well as the local thickness, intensity and a convective speed of the separated flow over the window. Results reveal that the optical distortions grow approximately as a square of the incoming Mach number multiplied by a freestream density, OPDrms ~ ρM 2 . I. Motivation. When an otherwise-collimated laser beam passes through a variable-index-of-refraction turbulent flow its wavefront becomes dynamically (unsteady) aberrated. These aberrations degrade the beam’s ability to be focused in the far field, thereby reducing the system utility of the beam that may be used for communication, interrogation and targeting or as a directed-energy weapon. When the laser platform is an aircraft, the two main causes of beam degradation are the thin-layer and immediate air flow around the aircraft, referred to as the aero-optic problem 1 ; and the intervening, orders-of-magnitude-longer propagation path through the atmosphere to the target, referred to as the atmospheric-propagation problem. Modern beam-control, adaptive-optic methods appear to now be able to mitigate the atmosphericpropagation effects on the beam; however, both the spatial and temporal bandwidths of the aero-optic problem place it well outside the capabilities of these traditional approaches 2 . It has only been a decade since the first time-resolved wavefront measurements for propagation through a relevant aero-optic flow field were made 3 ; prior to that time, aero-optic propagation environments were characterized by limited time-unresolved interferograms and indirectly inferred from hot-wire anemometry techniques 1,2 . In general, the paucity of such characterizations that are available treated the aero-optic problem as a stochastic problem and reduced the measurements to very-unspecific measures of optical degradation as root-meansquare optical path difference, OPDrms. Such measures, while providing an estimation of the degradation that might be expected, provided little in the way of higher-order information about the aberrating environment’s aberration coherence length (spatial bandwidth) and temporal bandwidth over relevant laserbeam apertures. The lack of such characterizations makes it impossible to either infer the far-field degradation in the point spread function or address the requirements for adaptive-optic mitigation schemes.
A reason not to support whaling – a tourism impact case study from the Dominican Republic

In 2007, 206 tourists in the Dominican Republic were surveyed to determine whether the stance of a country in support of whale conservation, or in support of whaling, would affect their decision about whether to visit that country on holiday. The majority (77.1%; n = 205) stated that if a Caribbean country supported the hunting or capture of whales or dolphins they would be less likely to visit it on holiday (more likely: 2.9%; no opinion 20.0%). Moreover, a larger majority (81.1%) stated that if a country has a strong commitment to whale and dolphin conservation they would be more likely to visit that country on vacation (less likely: 4.9%; no opinion: 14.1%). There was no significant relationship between respondent demographics and their response. During this study the Dominican Republic was not a member of the International Whaling Commission (the international competent authority for whale management) but government officials were debating membership of, and their policy in, this highly polarized trea...
Surviving dictatorship: A work of visual sociology

When an authoritarian government silences or exiles a large percentage of established artistic and activist communities, ‘informal’ artists and organisers often emerge as a mechanism of solidarity ...
Preliminary and novel estimates of CO2 gas transfer using a satellite scatterometer during the 2001GasEx experiment

The ocean takes up approximately 30% of the annual anthropogenic emissions of CO2. However, the air-sea exchange of carbon dioxide varies by a factor of 2 depending on the formulation of the exchange process. This considerable uncertainty is due in part to the difficulty in parameterizing the gas transfer velocity, k660, usually given as a function of wind speed. Recent field data showed that parametrization using the mean square slope of small scale surface waves provides a more robust strategy to estimate gas transfer (Frew et al. 2004). Here we present a preliminary estimation of the gas transfer velocity as a function of upwind Normalized Radar Cross-Section (NRCS) as measured by the scatterometer QuikSCAT. The gas transfer velocity calculated from upwind NRCS exhibits a quadratic-like dependence at low and intermediate wind speeds (≃6 ms-1 ). This approach represents a promising new tool to obtain global quasi-synoptic estimates of oceanic uptake of CO2.
Automotive HUDs: The Overlooked Safety Issues:

The transfer of tactical aviation technology into automobiles is creating information display requirements that are likely to be met by use of the head-up display (HUD). These developments are based largely on conclusions that the HUD-related safety issues raised in the aviation HUD literature can be dismissed and that the benefits of using HUDs are certain. Such conclusions either neglect relevant research or are supported by a very small amount of evidence, much of which is either irrelevant or generated within a flawed methodological paradigm. This critical review covers the issues of (a) HUD focal distance and its effect on the perception of outside objects and (b) the effects of HUD imagery on visual attention. The issues of focal distance, cognitive capture, and the inherent connection between the two may have a greater impact on safety in the automotive context than they do in aviation.
Mathematical Model Predictions of a Plugging Phenomenon in an Industrial Single-Vessel Pulp Digester

Strong interactions between the mass, energy, and momentum variables make operation of a continuous pulp digester a challenging task. Steady-state operation is difficult to attain owing to stochastic variations associated with the naturally occurring feedstock and frequent disturbances due to the integrated nature of modern pulping mills. Further, it is imperative to operate the digester safely while maximizing pulp quality and yield, as the digester represents one of the most capital-intensive pieces of equipment in the pulping mill. Among the various scenarios that can lead to loss of production, the plugging of the digester is the most serious. Digester plugging leads to a significant downtime with possible structural damage. In this work, we make use of a rigorous fundamental thermal−hydraulic model of the digester to investigate a digester plugging incident in a large, commercial digester. The model accurately predicts digester plugging as well as the location of plug formation. It is demonstrated th...
Multilayer Deposition of Stable Colloidal Particles during Flow within Cylindrical Pores

Multilayer deposition of stable colloidal particles during the low Reynolds number flow of aqueous suspensions of latex particles through cylindrical pores in track-etched membranes has been experimentally studied. Though multilayer deposition or the role of deposited particles as additional collectors has been recognized before this work, the reason multilayer deposition of particles occurs in the presence of strong interparticle repulsion and the interactions governing the transition from single layer to multilayer deposition have not been elucidated. Because sufficient repulsion exists between particles in a stable suspension to prevent their aggregation by Brownian flocculation, the deposition of particles on top of previously deposited particles to form multilayers is flow-induced. In this paper, we first show that only a single layer of particles will be deposited on the pore surface if strong repulsion exists between particles. We then demonstrate the transition from single layer to multilayer depo...
Low order effect of crand input in the Jovian atmosphere

Modeling of the Jovian atmosphere shows that cosmic ray induced albedo neutron decay is inadequate to account for Pioneer 10 and 11 projected electron levels on Jupiter. High energy solar protons must also be excluded as an important neutron decay source. Analysis of neutron flux data near the top of the Jovian atmosphere can lead to the determination of He/H2 and3He/4He ratios for the Jovian atmosphere.
Epigenetic Regulation of Myogenic Gene Expression by Heterochromatin Protein 1 Alpha

Heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) is an essential heterochromatin-associated protein typically involved in the epigenetic regulation of gene silencing. However, recent reports have demonstrated that HP1 can also activate gene expression in certain contexts including differentiation. To explore the role of each of the three mammalian HP1 family members (α, β and γ) in skeletal muscle, their expression was individually disrupted in differentiating skeletal myocytes. Among the three isoforms of HP1, HP1α was specifically required for myogenic gene expression in myoblasts only. Knockdown of HP1α led to a defect in transcription of skeletal muscle-specific genes including Lbx1, MyoD and myogenin. HP1α binds to the genomic region of myogenic genes and depletion of HP1α results in a paradoxical increase in histone H3 lysine 9 trimethylation (H3K9me3) at these sites. JHDM3A, a H3K9 demethylase also binds to myogenic gene’s genomic regions in myoblasts in a HP1α-dependent manner. JHDM3A interacts with HP1α and knockdown of JHDM3A in myoblasts recapitulates the decreased myogenic gene transcription seen with HP1α depletion. These results propose a novel mechanism for HP1α-dependent gene activation by interacting with the demethylase JHDM3A and that HP1α is required for maintenance of myogenic gene expression in myoblasts.
The environmental Kuznets curve: does one size fit all?

Abstract This paper uses a new panel data set on state-level sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions from 1929–1994 to test the appropriateness of the ‘one size fits all’ reduced-form regression approach commonly used in the environmental Kuznets curve literature. Empirical results provide initial evidence that an inverted-U shape characterizes the relationship between per capita emissions and per capita incomes at the state level. Parameter estimates suggest, however, that previous studies, which restrict cross-sections to undergo identical experiences over time, may be presenting statistically biased results.
Structure of solid phases in titania and zirconia gels

Abstract The goal of this study was to determine the chemistry and atomic structure of the solid component of titania and zirconia gels. These were made from both inorganic and organic sources. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) failed to show the presence of any crystalline Ti and Zr hydroxides, oxyhydroxides or oxides even with extensive hydroxyl bridging in the gels. Alcogels made from alkoxides were likewise determined to be truly amorphous to both XRD and SAED. Some of the non-dispersible gels made from TiCl 4 and ZrOCl 2 in NaOH contain very poorly crystalline oxides by SAED. The differences in morphology among the various gels are reported: alcogels of titania and zirconia showing porosity.
The Xen-Blanket: virtualize once, run everywhere

Current Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) clouds operate in isolation from each other. Slight variations in the virtual machine (VM) abstractions or underlying hypervisor services prevent unified access and control across clouds. While standardization efforts aim to address these issues, they will take years to be agreed upon and adopted, if ever. Instead of standardization, which is by definition provider-centric, we advocate a user-centric approach that gives users an unprecedented level of control over the virtualization layer. We introduce the Xen-Blanket, a thin, immediately deployable virtualization layer that can homogenize today's diverse cloud infrastructures. We have deployed the Xen-Blanket across Amazon's EC2, an enterprise cloud, and a private setup at Cornell University. We show that a user-centric approach to homogenize clouds can achieve similar performance to a paravirtualized environment while enabling previously impossible tasks like cross-provider live migration. The Xen-Blanket also allows users to exploit resource management opportunities like oversubscription, and ultimately can reduce costs for users.
Molecular engineering and photostability of laser dyes within sol-gel hosts

The use of solid-state dye laser for commercial applications has been limited largely by the poor photostability of the gain medium. Techniques are examined to improve the photostability of Coumarin and Pyrromethene-BF 2 567 (PM- 567) laser dyes within xerogel and Polyceram hosts synthesized by sol-gel processing. The photochemical mechanisms by which laser dyes degrade are discussed and determined specifically for PM-567. PM-567 was determined to degrade both by photo-oxidation and acid degradation. Techniques for improving photostability are described from a molecular engineering perspective. These techniques include: covalently attaching the laser dye to the host; controlling the chemical environment of the dye; increasing dye caging by increasing the SiO 2 content; removing porosity from the host; and incorporating additives such as hindered amine light stabilizers to minimize photodegradation.
95 EFFECT OF CRYOPROTECTANT ADDITION AND REMOVAL AT 4°C ON MOTILITY AND PLASMA MEMBRANE INTEGRITY OF BOVINE CAUDAL EPDIDYMAL SPERMATOZOA

Cryopreservation of spermatozoa harvested from the epididymides would be a means of salvaging germplasm from genetically valuable males that die unexpectedly from injury, disease, or poaching. It is well known that the addition of cryoprotective agents (CPAs) is essential for sperm survival following the freezing process. However, CPAs can cause loss in sperm viability due to osmotic damage or chemical toxicity. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of single-step addition and/or removal of glycerol (GLY) or ethylene glycol (EG) on motility and plasma membrane integrity of bovine epididymal spermatozoa. Paired testes were obtained from mature bulls (n = 10) at a local abattoir and transported to the laboratory at 25–28°C within 4–6 h post-mortem. Epididymal spermatozoa were harvested by multiple incisions from the caudae epididymides of each bull, pooled, and washed in Brackett-Oliphant medium by centrifugation for 5 min at 500g. Pellets were resuspended in egg yolk-Tris-glucose-citric acid monohydrate medium (EYT-GC) at a concentration of 120 × 106 cells/mL and cooled to 4°C at a rate of 0.1°C/min. Specimens were allocated to each of five treatment groups: control (no CPA), 7% GLY, and 14% GLY, 7% EG, 14% EG. Then, replicate samples were diluted 1:1 in EYT-GC medium containing twice the final desired concentration of CPA. After being exposed for 10 min, each sample was diluted directly into EYT-GC at 4°C. Motility was assessed by means of a computer assisted semen analysis system and plasma membrane integrity was determined by SYBR 14 and propidium iodide staining followed by fluorescence microscopy. Differences among treatments were analyzed using one way ANOVA (P < 0.05). The results (Table 1) show that maximum survival, as assessed by measurements of motility and membrane integrity, was achieved with spermatozoa exposed to 7% EG. Almost identical intermediate levels of survival were observed with spermatozoa exposed to 7% GLY or 14% EG. The lowest survival was observed for spermatozoa exposed to 14% GLY. The results indicate that the use of EG as a cryoprotectant may minimize toxicity and osmotic damage to fresh bovine epididymal spermatozoa. Its efficacy as a CPA is currently being determined. Table 1. Sperm motility and membrane integrity (mean ± SEM) after addition of CPA to epididymal sperm
Photometric Properties of Triton Hazes

Voyager imaging observations of Triton have been used to investigate the characteristics of the atmospheric hazes on Triton at three wavelengths: violet (0.41 micrometers), blue (0.48 micrometers), and green (0.56 micrometers). The globally averaged optical depth is wavelength dependent, varying from 0.034 in green to 0.063 in violet. These photometric results are dominated by the properties of localized discrete clouds rather than by those of the thinner, more widespread haze known to occur on Triton. The cloud particles are bright, with single-scattering albedos near unity at all three wavelengths, suggestive of a transparent icy condensate. The asymmetry parameter (+0.6) and the wavelength dependence of the optical depth both indicate cloud particles 0.2-0.4 micrometers in radius. The clouds are concentrated at 50-60 deg S latitude, where opacities up to three times the global average are observed. This is the same latitude region where most of the evidence for current surface activity is found, suggesting that the clouds may be related to the plumes or at least to some process connected with the sublimation of the south polar cap. The effects of possible temporal variations in the haze opacity are examined. Increases in the haze opacity tend to redden Triton. However, the degree of reddening is not sufficient to explain the full range of observed changed in Triton over the past decade; variations in the surface properties appear to be necessary.
Hypothermic protection in rat focal ischemia models: strain differences and relevance to "reperfusion injury".

Hypothermic protection was compared in Long-Evans and spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) strains using transient focal ischemia, and in Wistar and SHR strains using permanent focal ischemia. Foca...
Sp1 dependence of natriuretic peptide receptor A gene transcription in rat aortic smooth muscle cells.

The atrial natriuretic peptide receptor (NPR-A) Is expressed in smooth muscle cells of the vasculature, where it is thought to signal the vasodilatory properties of the peptide. Despite its important role as a regulator of cardiovascular homeostasis, relatively little is known of the genomic factors governing expression of this gene. We show here that NPR-A promoter activity is reduced by 50-75% when any of three GC-rich sites are mutated. Simultaneous mutation of all three leads to a >90% reduction in NPR-A promoter activity. Transfection of wild-type, but not mutant, decoy oliogonucleotides encoding any one of the sites reduces NPR-A activity, presumably reflecting competition for a common transcription factor. Gel shift analyses show that each of the wild-type, but not the mutant, sites interferes with the formation of selected DNA-protein complexes on the other sites. These complexes share similar electrophoretic mobility. Immunoperturbation studies show that one of these shared complexes contains Sp1, whereas two others contain Sp3. Overexpression of either Sp1 or Sp3 in a cell type containing very low levels of these transcription factors (i.e. Drosophila Schneider cells) leads to induction of the wild-type, but not the mutant, NPR-A promoter. The data suggest that the Sp1 family of transcription factors plays a central role in NPR-A gene transcription. The association of Sp1 family members with transcriptional regulation of a number of genes involved in hemodynamic control will be discussed.
The Little Things: Perceptions of Breastfeeding Support

Objective To describe how maternal-child staff nurses support breastfeeding mothers during the postpartum hospital stay and how these mothers perceive the support received from the nurses. Design Ethnographic. Setting Data were collected at a community hospital in southeastern Florida. Participants Unstructured interviews were conducted with seven maternal-child nurses caring for breastfeeding mothers. The investigator observed 12 nurses' interactions with breastfeeding mothers and newborns. Eight breastfeeding mothers were interviewed, using a semi structured guide, in the hospital before discharge and at 2 and 6 weeks postpartum. Results Nurses supported breastfeeding mothers by providing information and interpersonal support. Breastfeeding mothers expected the nurses to support their feeding efforts by providing information, encouragement, and interpersonal support. Conclusion Health care providers can help breastfeeding mothers, but the support offered must be the kind that mothers want.
Red-tree vole habitat suitability modeling: Implications for conservation and management

In the Pacific Northwest, USA, red-tree voles (Arborimus longicaudus) are of conservation and management interest owing to their apparent association with late-seral forests and the relatively small extent of such forests, largely a function of timber harvest, fire, and conversion of forests to non-forest uses during the past century. We created and evaluated a series of red-tree vole habitat association models, and applied the best model to evaluate tree vole habitat quality within and outside of reserves throughout most of their range in Oregon and northern California. We modeled presence and absence of tree vole nests across a gradient of biotic, abiotic, and spatial features; and within and outside of reserves. The best model included spatial coordinates, percent slope, basal area of trees with diameter at breast height (dbh) between 45 and 90 cm, maximum tree dbh, and standard deviation of conifer dbh. Plots with tree vole nests contained many late-seral/old-growth forest attributes such as large diameter, older, and variably sized trees. Evaluation of the best model, including rigorous cross-validation, showed the model to be statistically robust and to have very good/excellent predictive ability. Reserves had significantly higher mean habitat quality than non-reserved lands, and reserves had much more high quality habitat than non-reserves.
Etiquette equality: exhibitions and expectations of computer politeness

As much as people crave more human-like computers, experimental evidence shows that people do display polite behavior toward computers, perceiving human qualities they don't actually have.
Staple versus fibrin glue fixation in laparoscopic total extraperitoneal repair of inguinal hernia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Fixation of mesh is typically performed to minimize risk of recurrence in laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. Mesh fixation with staples has been implicated as a cause of chronic inguinal pain. Our study aim is to compare mesh fixation using a fibrin sealant versus staple fixation in laparoscopic inguinal hernia and compare outcomes for hernia recurrence and chronic inguinal pain. PubMed was searched through December 2010 by use of specific search terms. Inclusion criteria were laparoscopic total extraperitoneal repair inguinal hernia repair, and comparison of both mesh fibrin glue fixation and mesh staple fixation. Primary outcomes were inguinal hernia recurrence and chronic inguinal pain. Secondary outcomes were operative time, seroma formation, hospital stay, and time to return to normal activity. Pooled odds ratios (OR) were calculated assuming random-effects models. Four studies were included in the review. A total of 662 repairs were included, of which 394 were mesh fixed by staples or tacks, versus 268 with mesh fixed by fibrin glue. There was no difference in inguinal hernia recurrence with fixation of mesh by staples/tacks versus fibrin glue [OR 2.13; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.60–7.63]. Chronic inguinal pain (at 3 months) incidence was significantly higher with staple/tack fixation (OR 3.25; 95% CI 1.62–6.49). There was no significant difference in operative time, seroma formation, hospital stay, or time to return to normal activities. The meta-analysis does not show an advantage of staple fixation of mesh over fibrin glue fixation in laparoscopic total extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair. Because fibrin glue mesh fixation with laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair achieves similar hernia recurrence rates compared with staple/tack fixation, but decreased incidence of chronic inguinal pain, it may be the preferred technique.
Expression of metalloproteases by cardiac myocytes and fibroblasts in vitro.

Regulation of the turnover of extracellular matrix (ECM) components has been attributed in part to matrix metalloproteases (MMP). Isolated cardiac myocytes and fibroblasts from different developmental stages express different patterns of MMPs in vitro. Zymography of media and cell extracts of fibroblasts and myocytes indicated several apparent molecular weights (Mr) with gelatinolytic activity with prominent bands at 92 and 72 kDa. No caseinolytic activity was detected. These MMPs were characteristic of known MMP-2 and MMP-9. Fibroblasts predominantly expressed the latent 72-kDa MMP, whereas myocytes expressed a latent 92-kDa MMP. Expression of these MMPs was not affected by density of culture or the type of ECM substrate on which the cells were grown. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-activated MMP-2 showed specific cleavage patterns on collagen types I and III but not on fibronectin, collagen type IV, or laminin. The reaction of SDS-activated MMP-2 produced a 140-kDa fragment from collagen types I and III. No specific substrate patterns were observed with activated MMP-9. MMP-2 from fibroblasts could also be activated by mechanical tension developed by fibroblasts within collagen gels or by cyclically stretching Silastic membranes on which the fibroblasts were grown. When mechanical tension was inhibited in collagen gels by antibodies against the β1 integrin, the 72-kDa MMP, or cytochalasin D, the activated band at 62 kDa was not detected. Immunocytochemical localization with antibodies against MMP-2 showed a weak reaction on cardiac myocytes, but intense staining around the focal adhesions of migrating fibroblasts. In collagen gels, staining was localized to the leading pseudopodia of the fibroblasts. Together, these data indicate that the rat MMP-2 is a collagenase primarily associated with cardiac fibroblasts, activated by mechanical tension, and may be important in cellular ECM interactions.
Multicenter, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Amitriptyline in Children With Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders

Background & Aims There are no prospective, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized pharmacologic trials for the treatment of pain-predominant functional gastrointestinal disorders in children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of amitriptyline in children with pain-predominant functional gastrointestinal disorders. Methods In this multicenter placebo-controlled trial, children with irritable bowel syndrome, functional abdominal pain, or functional dyspepsia were randomized to 4 weeks of placebo or amitriptyline (10 mg/d, weight 35 kg). Assessment of gastrointestinal symptoms, psychological traits, and daily activities occurred before and after intervention. Pain was assessed daily with self-report diaries. The primary outcome was overall response to treatment (child's assessment of pain relief and sense of improvement). Secondary outcomes were effect on psychosocial traits and daily functioning. Results Ninety children were enrolled, and 83 completed the study (placebo, 40 children [30 girls]; drug, 43 children [35 girls]). A total of 63% of patients reported feeling better and 5% feeling worse in the amitriptyline arm compared with 57.5% feeling better and 2.5% feeling worse in the placebo arm ( P = .63). Pain relief was excellent in 7% and good in 38% of children receiving placebo compared with excellent in 15% and good in 35% of children treated with amitriptyline ( P = .85). Logistic regression analysis of those reporting excellent or good response versus fair, poor, or failed response showed no difference between amitriptyline and placebo ( P = .83). Children who had more severe pain at baseline in both groups ( P = .0065) had worse outcome. Amitriptyline reduced anxiety scores ( P Conclusions Both amitriptyline and placebo were associated with excellent therapeutic response. There was no significant difference between amitriptyline and placebo after 4 weeks of treatment. Patients with mild to moderate intensity of pain responded better to treatment.
Structure of botulinum neurotoxin type D light chain at 1.65 A resolution: repercussions for VAMP-2 substrate specificity.

The seven serotypes (A−G) of botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) function through their proteolytic cleavage of one of three proteins (SNAP-25, Syntaxin, and VAMP) that form the SNARE complex required for synaptic vesicle fusion. The different BoNTs have very specific protease recognition requirements, between 15 and 50 amino acids in length depending on the serotype. However, the structural details involved in substrate recognition remain largely unknown. Here is reported the 1.65 A resolution crystal structure of the catalytic domain of BoNT serotype D (BoNT/D-LC), providing insight into the protein−protein binding interaction and final proteolysis of VAMP-2. Structural analysis has identified a hydrophobic pocket potentially involved in substrate recognition of the P1‘ VAMP residue (Leu 60) and a second remote site for recognition of the V1 SNARE motif that is critical for activity. A structural comparison of BoNT/D-LC with BoNT/F-LC that also recognizes VAMP-2 one residue away from the BoNT/D-LC site provid...
The effects of delayed access to feed and water on the physical and functional development of the digestive system of young turkeys

Three experiments were conducted with turkeys to determine the influence of delayed access to feed and water on the development of the digestive system. In all experiments, poults were randomly assigned to three placement times, 6, 30, and 54 h posthatch. Experiments 1, 2, and 3 were terminated when poults were 10, 28, and 14 d old, respectively. In Experiment 1, six poults per treatment were sampled on Days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 10. In Experiment 2, 12 poults per treatment were sampled on Days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, and 28. The objective of Experiment 3 was to determine the effect of delayed placement on dietary MEn. Delaying access to feed and water for 54 h adversely affected BW through 10, 28, and 14 d of age in Experiments 1, 2, and 3, respectively (P < or = 0.01). Delayed access to feed and water for 54 h decreased the absolute weights of the small intestine and pancreas and reduced lengths of the small intestine through 5 d posthatch (P < or = 0.05). The relative weights of the small intestine and proventriculus were reduced by delayed access to nourishment through 4 d posthatch. Poults placed on feed at 54 h posthatch had decreased pancreatic amylase activity (P < or = 0.05) at 3 and 4 d, and trypsin activities were depressed at 3 d posthatch (P < or = 0.05). In Experiment 3, dietary MEn value determined at 4 d of age with poults placed 54 h posthatch was less (P < or = 0.07) than the MEn value obtained with poults placed at 6 h posthatch. A 54-h delay in access to feed and water generally delayed development of the digestive system, impaired nutrient utilization, and reduced BW.
Acceptance of Walker 256 carcinosarcoma by neonatally thymectomized C57 BL-6 mice.

Comment and conclusionsAlthough palpable nodules, shown in some cases to contain tumor cells, developed in some but not all control C57 BL/6 mice injected with the Walker 256 tumor of rats, these nodules regressed and finally disappeared within 2 to 4 weeks. Thus, the Walker tumor grows briefly in C57 BL/6 mice, but under the conditions of these experiments it was soon rejected by the host.It would not have been surprising had the tumor been rejected more slowly when given to normal mice less than 1 day old or even 4 to 6 days old than when given to older animals, because such young mice are relatively incompetent immunologically at this age. Indeed, if circumstances were right, development of acquired immunologic tolerance might be possible(13). In the present experiments, palpable nodules developed in a higher percentage of mice less than a week old than was the case in older control animals, and the nodules usually became larger in the young mice before regression occurred. In our experiments, the abse...
Mechanical properties and microstructural characterization of Al-0.5%Cu thin films

Using a wafer curvature technique we have studied the variation of stress with tem-perature in Al-0.5%Cu thin films deposited on oxidized silicon wafers. Concurrently, the microstructural changes in the films induced by the thermal cycling inherent to this technique were studied with in-situ transmission electron microscopy heating experi-ments. On heating an as-sputtered film a stress drop occurs, corresponding to the onset of grain growth. The in-situ TEM experiments indicate that the extent of grain growth is significantly altered by the presence of compressive stresses in the film. During cool-ing, dislocation loops nucleate on {111} planes inclined to the film surface, although the grain size plays an important role in determining the extent to which this mechanism can account for the deformation. A native oxide can influence the stress levels in the film by pinning one end of the dislocation loops. Upon cooling below 200° C a rapid increase in stress occurs. Although this increase has been attributed to hardening due to the precipitation of excess copper, no evidence of precipitate-dislocation interactions were observed.
The relation between quantitative right ventricular ejection fraction and indices of tricuspid annular motion and myocardial performance

Abstract Background Assessment of right ventricular (RV) function remains challenging because of complex RV chamber geometry and a paucity of easily derived and objective functional methods. Methods Visual 2-dimensional echocardiographic estimates of RV ejection fraction (EF), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, Doppler tissue imaging, and myocardial performance index (MPI) were compared with biplanar Simpson's rule RV EF in 101 consecutive patients. Data were analyzed using simple linear regression and receiver operating characteristic curves. Results RV EF was significantly correlated with tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion ( r = 0.48, P r = 0.45, P r = −0.38, P = .006). Using a Simpson's RV EF Conclusions Measurements of tricuspid annular motion are easy to obtain, correlate with Simpson's RV EF, and have a high specificity and negative predictive value for detecting abnormal RV systolic function; and the MPI, although not specific, has high sensitivity and negative predictive value for detecting abnormal RV systolic function.
The role of familism in the relation between parent-child discord and psychological distress among emerging adults of Mexican descent.

Although parent-child discord is a predictor of distress among emerging adults, little is known about this important link among Mexican-descent populations. This is an important gap, given Mexican Americans' high risk for psychological distress and their expected high value placed on close family ties. This topic was studied in a sample of 392 college students from El Paso, TX (n = 193) and from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico (n = 199). The authors tested a stress-appraisal model with self-report measures of familism, parent-child discord, threat appraisals of parent-child discord, and psychological distress. As predicted, threat appraisals partially mediated the relation between parent-child discord and psychological distress. Moreover, the relation between parent-child discord and threat appraisals was stronger at higher than at lower levels of familism. Study findings highlight the need to consider that, under certain conditions, familism may increase risk of distress among emerging adults.
Extent of Citizen Contact With Police

At the core of community policing approaches is expanded citizen interac tion. Yet, little data exists regarding the extent and nature of citizen con tact with the police. This research examines the experiences of a random sample of Texas citizens and the effect the nature of their contact has on satisfaction with police response.
Thermal Shifts in the Energy Levels of LaF 3 :Nd 3+ *

We have measured the temperature dependence of the linewidths and positions for a number of transitions in the spectrum of LaF3:Nd3+. As the temperature increases, all lines broaden because of relaxation and Raman scattering of phonons. Relative to the ground state, all observed levels shift to lower energies as the temperature increases. Most lines show the usual shifts to the red. All these effects are qualitatively attributable to lattice vibrations. In general, the level shifts increase for the higher levels so that, ordinarily, line shifts are to the red with increasing temperatures. However, because of irregularities of the magnitudes of the level shifts, a few lines show shifts to the blue with increasing temperature, over some temperature ranges.
Complete lives, incomplete theories.

Samuel Kerstein and Greg Bognar (2010) argue that Persad, Wertheimer, and Emanuel's (2009) complete lives system should be rejected. They do so for two reasons: (1)The framework lacks “adequate mor...
Ontology Learning Through Focused Crawling and Information Extraction

Ontology learning aims to facilitate the construction of ontologies by decreasing the amount of effort required to produce an ontology for a new domain. However, there are few studies that attempt to automate the entire ontology learning process from the collection of domain-specific literature, to text mining to build new ontologies or enrich existing ones. In this paper, we present a complete framework for ontology learning that enables us to retrieve documents from the Web using focused crawling, and then use a SVM (Support Vector Machine) classifier to identify domain-specific documents and perform text mining in order to extract useful information for the ontology enrichment process. We have carried out several experiments on components of this framework in a biological domain, amphibian morphology. This paper reports on the overall system architecture and our initial experiments on information extraction using text mining techniques to enrich the domain ontology.
Management of Symptoms in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

In 1957, Brock1 made the distinction between congenital subaortic stenosis characterized by a fibrous ridge and “functional subvalvar stenosis” resulting from “muscular hypertrophy,” describing 3 patients with the latter. Brock initially attributed the hypertrophy and resultant outflow obstruction to systemic hypertension, a conclusion he withdrew in a 1959 publication.2 Between these 2 publications, Teare3 described asymmetrical septal hypertrophy in 8 autopsies (from a series of 16 000!). Remarkably, he identified myocyte disarray, proclivity for sudden death during exertion, and occurrence of stroke in association with atrial fibrillation as features of the disease. Quantitative definition of asymmetrical septal hypertrophy as septal to posterior wall thickness ratio ≥1.3 was introduced in 1961.4 The discovery that the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) gradient was created by systolic anterior motion (SAM) of the mitral valve was made from analysis of cineangiograms a year later.5 Soon thereafter, it was recognized that diverse patterns of hypertrophy existed. In the early 1970s, investigators came to realize that, even among patients with asymmetrical septal hypertrophy, obstruction to left ventricular (LV) outflow at rest was present in only a minority.6 The recognition that an impediment to LV inflow (eg, diastolic dysfunction) might be at least as important as any obstruction to outflow came with the observation that LV end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) was elevated while LV end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) was normal or low in many patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).7 The genetic basis of the disease was demonstrated in 1990.8 Half a century after the descriptions of Brock and Teare, HCM is now understood to be a disease characterized by idiopathic hypertrophy of the left (and occasionally right) ventricle. Although the disease is often inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, there are many patients without any relatives who are known to have …
Educating nurses about correct application of cricoid pressure.

ABSTRACT •ALTHOUGH THE APPLICATION of cricoid pressure is a technique that is performed almost daily in the OR, perioperative nurses may not be applying cricoid pressure correctly. •THE PURPOSE of this quality improvement project was to develop an education program to assess perioperative nurses' skills and educate and train them regarding correct application of cricoid pressure. •OF 51 PERIOPERATIVE NURSES who participated in a pretest, an education program, and a posttest, the number of participants who could apply the appropriate amount of pressure to the correct location increased from two (3.9%) on the pretest to 35 (68.6%) on the posttest. AORN J 84 (September 2006) 449-461. © AORN, Inc, 2006.