cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lack of Evidence for Physiological Causes in Food-Deprivation-Induced Polydipsia in the Gerbil

Summary.-Adulteration of water by quinine and saccharine disrupted fooddeprivation-induced polydipsia in the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguicultss), if no period was allowed for the animal to acclimate to the taste of the solution. If acclimation was allowed, mild polydipsia developed with saccharine adulteration but not with quinine. Since reverse solution changes had no effect on the appearance of food-deprivation polydipsia and both solutions were consumed when food was ad lib., it was hypothesized that motivation to consume water is decreased during food deprivation, despite the increased consumption. Also, the development of polydipsia was not beneficial to gerbils in terms of survival time following total food deprivation. Gerbils become polydipsic (increase drinking) when food deprived (VanderWeele & Tellish, 1971). The present experiment examined this polydipsia in an attempt to determine if it is of a physiological nature A common measure of physiological motivation is the effect of an alteration of the taste of the reinforcing or drive-reducing stimulus upon the behavior maintained by that stimulus. For example, palatabilicy-induced polydipsia (saccharine addition) has been reported in the rat (Gilbert & Sherman, 1970) while quinine adulteration has been shown to depress fluid intake in response to cellular dehydration (Burke, Mook, & Blass, 1972). Further, assessment of survival times with and without the development of polydipsia could indicate physiological value of the behavior.
Bioinformatics Methods for Learning Radiation-Induced Lung Inflammation from Heterogeneous Retrospective and Prospective Data

Radiotherapy outcomes are determined by complex interactions between physical and biological factors, reflecting both treatment conditions and underlying genetics. Recent advances in radiotherapy and biotechnology provide new opportunities and challenges for predicting radiation-induced toxicities, particularly radiation pneumonitis (RP), in lung cancer patients. In this work, we utilize datamining methods based on machine learning to build a predictive model of lung injury by retrospective analysis of treatment planning archives. In addition, biomarkers for this model are extracted from a prospective clinical trial that collects blood serum samples at multiple time points. We utilize a 3-way proteomics methodology to screen for differentially expressed proteins that are related to RP. Our preliminary results demonstrate that kernel methods can capture nonlinear dose-volume interactions, but fail to address missing biological factors. Our proteomics strategy yielded promising protein candidates, but their role in RP as well as their interactions with dose-volume metrics remain to be determined.
Production of a monoclonal antibody against C terminus of atrial natriuretic factor by invitro immunization

Abstract Spleen cells, sensitized in vitro with ANF-KLH conjugate, were fused with a non-producing mouse myeloma cell line, X63-Ag8.653. One of the isolated hybridomas secreted a monoclonal antibody which exhibited an association constant of 7.25 × 10−9M for ANF and recognized an epitope at the C-terminal of the synthetic rat ANF(101–126). Cross reactivity experiments with Auriculin B, Atriopeptin I and Atriopeptin II suggests Phe124-Arg125-Tyr126 in the epitope recognized by this antibody. The epitope appears to be similar to the portion of the hormone molecule essential for ANF binding to the B-receptor (high m.wt. receptor). This antibody may be useful for the generation of anti-idiotypic antibodies for the B-receptors.
Emission from a Rayleigh layer with irregular boundaries

Abstract A theory of microwave emission from an irregular layer of Rayleigh scatterers is developed by combining an existing matrix doubling method for volume scattering with the Kirchhoff method in surface scattering. Effects of the layer boundaries are illustrated by comparing layers with plane boundaries vs layers with rough top or bottom boundaries and irregular layers. It is found that the major effect of an irregular top layer boundary is to slow down the variation of the layer emission as a function of the nadir angle and the major effect of an irregular bottom boundary is to increase the level of the layer emission. Comparisons of the developed layer model with snow emission indicate the potential use of such models in data interpretation.
Praxeological research in early childhood: a contribution to a social science of the social

Let us begin with Gregory Bateson (1972b) and his concern with a world view that became conventional wisdom and perpetuated the epistemological errors of our time, the errors built in our ways of t...
Living-related donor nephrectomy by eleventh rib intraperitoneal extrapleural incision

Living-related kidney transplants continue to yield the best results. The two primary approaches for living-related donor nephrectomy are the intraperitoneal and extraperitoneal operations. We herein describe a series of 8 cases in which an eleventh rib intraperitoneal extrapleural incision was used for living-related donor nephrectomy. The advantages of the operation in terms of improved ability to manage vascular anomalies is described. No complication has been encountered.
Fracture risk among patients with urolithiasis: A population-based cohort study

Fracture risk among patients with urolithiasis: A population-based cohort study. In a population-based retrospective cohort study, 624 Rochester, Minnesota residents with an initial symptomatic episode of urolithiasis in 1950 to 1974 were followed for 11,909 person-years for subsequent age-related fractures. During this period of observation, the number of patients with a first vertebral fracture was over four times the number expected on the basis of vertebral fracture incidence rates in the general population of Rochester [standardized morbidity ratio (SMR), 4.3; 95% confidence interval, 3.4 to 5.3]. The risk of vertebral fracture was elevated among men as well as women, and was associated with increasing age and with the use of corticosteroids for more than six months. However, vertebral fracture risk was increased nearly fourfold (SMR 3.9; 95% confidence interval, 3.0 to 4.9) among the urolithiasis patients without such exposure, which suggests that corticosteroids do not completely account for the association with vertebral fractures. There was no increase in the risk of hip, pelvis, proximal humerus or distal forearm fractures in this cohort of patients, and their survival was not impaired. Additional studies are needed to define the pathophysiology of vertebral fractures among patients with urolithiasis.
The economics of commercializing new industrial crops

New industrial crops are promoted as enterprises that will raise farm sector income, provide economic development activities for rural areas, and provide products that will substitute for imports from other nations. A conceptual model, based on the principles of strategic management, is developed for analyzing the economics of commercializing industrial crops. The model is applied to the oil derived from Lesquerella, a possible substitute for castor oil which is used in lubricants, cosmetics, and waxes. Botanical and chemical entrepreneurship are emphasized as key factors in the successful commercialization of new industrial crops. © 1995 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Spatial distribution of pingos in northern Asia

Abstract. Pingos are prominent periglacial landforms in vast regions of the Arctic and Subarctic. They are indicators of modern and past conditions of permafrost, surface geology, hydrology and climate. A first version of a detailed spatial geodatabase of 6059 pingo locations in a 3.5×106 km2 region of northern Asia was assembled from topographic maps. A first order analysis was carried out with respect to permafrost, landscape characteristics, surface geology, hydrology, climate, and elevation datasets using a Geographic Information System (GIS). Pingo heights in the dataset vary between 2 and 37 m, with a mean height of 4.8 m. About 64% of the pingos occur in continuous permafrost with high ice content and thick sediments; another 19% in continuous permafrost with moderate ice content and thick sediments. The majority of these pingos are likely hydrostatic pingos, which are typical of those located in drained thermokarst lake basins of northern lowlands with continuous permafrost. About 82% of the pingos are located in the tundra bioclimatic zone. Most pingos in the dataset are located in regions with mean annual ground temperatures between −3 and −11 °C and mean annual air temperatures between −7 and −18 °C. The dataset confirms that surface geology and hydrology are key factors for pingo formation and occurrence. Based on model predictions for near-future permafrost distribution, about 2073 pingos (34%) along the southern margins of permafrost will be located in regions with thawing permafrost by 2100, which ultimately may lead to increased occurrence of pingo collapse. Based on our dataset and previously published estimates of pingo numbers from other regions, we conclude that there are more than 11 000 pingos on Earth.
Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS): Recent Improvements to the Sensor and Data Facility

AVIRIS operations at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory consist primarily of a sensor task and a data facility task. These two activities are supported by an experiment coordination, a calibration and a management effort. The sensor task is responsible for AVIRIS sensor maintenance, laboratory calibration, and field operations. The AVIRIS data facility is responsible for data archiving, data calibration, quality monitoring and distribution. In this paper we describe recent improvements in these two primary AVIRIS tasks. The inflight performance of AVIRIS in 1992 and 1993 that resulted from these improvements is also presented.
Scaling theory of the paranematic nematic critical point

Abstract A thermodymanic scaling analysis of the paranematic-nematic critical point is presented. Although presumed to be in the Ising universality class, general arguments suggest that the order parameter approaches the critical point in an asymmetrical manner in contrast to mean-field predictions.
Comparing Methods of Displaying Language Feedback for Student Videos of American Sign Language

Deaf children benefit from early exposure to language, and higher levels of written language literacy have been measured in deaf adults who were raised in homes using American Sign Language (ASL). Prior work has established that new parents of deaf children benefit from technologies to support learning ASL. As part of a project to design a tool to automatically analyze a video of a students' signing and provide immediate feedback about fluent and non-fluent aspects of their movements, we conducted a study to compare multiple methods of conveying feedback to ASL students, using videos of their signing. Through a Wizard-of-Oz study, we compared three types of feedback in regard to users' subjective judgments of system quality and the degree students' signing improved (as judged by an ASL instructor who analyzed recordings of students' signing before and after they viewed each type of feedback). We found that displaying videos to students of their signing, augmented with feedback messages about their errors or correct ASL usage, yielded higher subjective scores and greater signing improvement. Students gave higher subjective scores to a version in which pop-up messages appeared overlaid on the student's video to indicate errors or correct ASL usage.
Double cos site vectors: simplified cosmid cloning

Abstract A new vector for construction of cosmid libraries is described. Cosmid c2XB contains restriction sites for use in the insertion of foreign DNA and two λ cos sites separated by a blunt-end restriction site. The presence of two cos sites on a single plasmid eliminates the need to prepare two separate cosmid arms, and the internal blunt-end restriction site prevents cosmid concatemerization. Thus, a double restriction-enzyme digestion is sufficient to prepare the vector for subsequent ligation with DNA fragments which are dephosphorylated to prevent their self-ligation. The use of this vector system allows efficient cosmid cloning (1 × 105 colonies per μg insert DNA) and eliminates background due to vector self-ligation. Furthermore, the procedure is so rapid as to eliminate the need to amplify cosmid libraries for storage and reuse. Also described is a cosmid vector for use in construction of cosmid libraries which are to be introduced into cultured eukaryotic cells. This vector contains the Herpex simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV tk) gene as a selectable marker and a retroviral long terminal repeat (LTR) region as an enhancer sequence.
THERAPY AND PREVENTION OF AFFECTIVE-ILLNESS BY TOTAL SLEEP-DEPRIVATION

The therapeutic effect of total sleep deprivation (SD) given twice a week, for 4 weeks, was investigated in 16 drug-free patients with major affective disorders. The response was excellent in five patients, satisfactory in three and minimal in eight patients. Six of these patients were treated prophylactically once a week, and four had an excellent response. Additionally, out of five normothymic drug-free patients with affective illness treated prophylactically with SD, without prior therapeutic SD treatment, three had an excellent response. The majority of responders were rapid cycling patients. This method is worth applying to patients resistant to classical treatment.
Jejunal perforation possibly induced by slow-release potassium in a patient with Crohn's disease

A case of small bowel ulceration and perforation possibly due to therapy with Klotrix in a patient with Crohn's disease is presented. Following emergent surgery with creation of a diverting loop jejunostomy, subsequent reestablishment of intestinal continuity was carried out with excellent clinical results. Gastrointestinal mucosal lesions possibly due to wax-matrix potassium chloride preparations are reviewed.
Speech rate effects upon intelligibility and acceptability of dysarthric speech

Sentences recorded by four speakers with dysarthria and two control speakers were presented to listeners at three different rates: habitual, a 30% slower rate and a 30% higher rate. Rate changes were made by digitally manipulating the habitual sentences. Thirty young normal adult listeners rated the sentences for intelligibility (per cent correct words) and acceptability (via 9-point equal interval scale ranging from "terrible" through "excellent"). Intelligibility for each speaker remained unchanged across rate changes. Acceptability improved as rates increased for the two more intelligible impaired speakers. For the less intelligible impaired speakers, ratings were better and similar for the habitual and fast speaking rate conditions. Results are discussed in terms of the objective nature of intelligibility ratings vs. the subjective ratings of acceptability.
On the Uniqueness of Fully Informative Rational Expectations Equilibria

This paper analyzes two equivalent equilibrium motions under asymmetric information: risk neutral rational expectations equilibria (rn-REE), and common knowledge equilibria. We show that the set of fully informative rn-REE is a singleton, and we provide necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of partially informative rn-REE. In a companion paper (DeMarzo and Skiadas (1996) we show that equilibrium prices for the larger class of quasi-complete economies can be characterized as rn-REE. Examples of quasi-complete economies include the type of economies for which demand aggregation in the sense of Gorman is possible (with or without asymmetric information), the setting of the Milgrom and Stokey no-trade theorem, an economy giving rise to the CAPM with asymmetric information but no normality assumptions, the simple exponential-normal model of Grossman (1976), and a case of no aggregate endowment risk. In the common-knowledge context, we provide necessary and sufficient conditions for a common knowledge posterior estimate, given common priors, to coincide with the full communication posterior estimate.
Nasal and Lung Deposition of Fine and Coarse Particles in Rats

Deposition of particles in rat airways was measured using two methods. In method 1, a controlled flow of monodisperse particles was passed directly through the nasal airways of an anesthetized rat and nasal deposition efficiency was determined for particles with aerodynamic diameters between 0.5 and 4 μm. In method 2, upper respiratory tract (URT) and lung deposition fractions for unanesthetized rats exposed to radiolabeled particles in head-only units and anesthetized rats exposed in whole-body units were determined for particles with aerodynamic diameters between 0.9 and 3 μm. Animal breathing parameters were measured for method 2 exposures. Nasal deposition efficiency was greater for pulsatile flows than steady state (method 1). Nasal deposition was distinctly higher for method 1 exposures than those using method 2 because particles were 100% inhalable in method 1 and <100% inhalable in the head-only and whole body exposures of method 2. Similarly, deposition was greater in head-only than wholebody exposures because particle inhalability was greater in head-only exposures.
Faculty Evaluation Perspectives in Colleges of Business: How Marketing Department Heads' Evaluations Differ from those of Department Heads in other Business Disciplines:

Simulated evaluations of business professors for the purposes of merit pay increases are analyzed using conjoint analysis. Results from a national sample of department heads at AACSB accredited colleges show that significant interdisciplinary differences in evaluation perspectives exist within business colleges. A continuum exists between the academic perspective of marketing department heads and the professional perspective of accounting department heads.
Effects of vessel curvature on intracranial aneurysmal flow

The effects of parent vessel curvature on the hemodynamic forces for lateral saccular aneurysms are evaluated by using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). As the vessel curvature increases, flow impinges the distal neck and enters the aneurysm violently, causing both the pressure and shear stress at the distal neck to increase. High-pressure and high wall shear stress zones at the distal neck expand with the increasing of vessel curvature. The location of maximal wall shear stress implies that the growth or rupture of aneurysm may initiate in this region. Moreover, the effects of parent vessel curvature on aneurysm hemodynamics may eventually help to predict the risk of individual aneurysm rupture. Implantation of stents has the dual effect of disrupting the flow into the aneurysm and altering the radius of curvature. The study of the effects of vessel curvature effects on flow thus has new implications for stent design and implantation.
The influence of light environment on photosynthesis and basal methylbutenol emission from Pinus ponderosa

Methylbutenol is a 5-carbon alcohol that is produced and emitted by several species of pine in western North America, and may have important impacts on the tropospheric chemistry of this region. In the present study the response of methylbutenol basal emission rate (measured at a constant light intensity of 1500 m mol m - 2 s - 1 and temperature of 30 ∞ ∞ ∞ C) to the light and temperature conditions of the growth environment was examined, using field-grown plants shielded with shade cloth of various densities. Methylbutenol basal emission rates increased linearly with the temperature of the growth environment but did not respond to the shading of foliage during growth and development. Both photosynthesis and basal methylbutenol emission rate declined in older needles; however, these declines appear to result from parallel but independent processes and not from basal MBO emission rate directly tracking photosynthetic rates. Older needles did not occupy cooler microenvironments within the canopy; and thus differing thermal microenvironment could not explain the reduced MBO emission in older needles.
Deriving a protocol converter: a top-down method

A protocol converter mediates the communication between implementations of different protocols, enabling them to achieve some form of useful interaction. The problem of deriving a protocol converter from specifications of the protocols and a desired service can be viewed as the problem of finding the “quotient” of two specifications. We define a class of finite-state specifications and present an algorithm for solving “quotient” problems for the class. The algorithm is applied to an example conversion problem. We also discuss its application in the context of layered network architectures.
Profiling of differentially expressed genes induced by high linear energy transfer radiation in breast epithelial cells.

Methods to define patterns of gene expression have applications in a wide range of biological systems. Several molecular biological techniques are used to study expression patterns during the neoplastic progression of breast epithelial cells. In the present study, differential expression of human oncogenes/tumor suppressor genes in human breast epithelial cell lines irradiated with low doses of high linear energy transfer radiation and treated with estrogen was assessed with cDNA expression arrays. Transformed and tumorigenic cell lines were compared with the control cell line to identify differentially expressed genes during tumorigenic progression. Autoradiographic analysis showed that of the 190 genes analyzed, 49 genes showed a high level of altered expression, and 12 genes had minor differences in expression levels. Among these 49 genes, 17 genes were altered at all stages of transformation, 21 were altered only at the early stage, and the remaining 11 were at the late stage of transformation to the tumorigenic stage of progression. Among the 11 late stage‐associated genes, seven genes were altered exclusively in the tumorigenic cell lines and in Tumor-T. Of the 17 all-stage genes, six were randomly selected, and we confirmed their altered expression by gene-specific semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, followed by Northern blot analysis. The results showed that the mRNA expression patterns of all these genes were consistent with the expression pattern seen on the array. Among these six genes, five genes, including c-myc, puf, MNDA, c-yes, and Fra-1 showed upregulation, and the other gene, RBA/p48, showed downregulation in the transformed and tumorigenic cell lines compared with the control MCF-10F cell line. Investigation of these genes should help establish the molecular mechanisms of progression that are altered by radiation and estrogen treatment. A number of candidates reported here should be useful as biomarkers involved in breast carcinogenesis. fl 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Combination of Inhaled Corticosteroid and Bronchodilator-Induced Delirium in an Elderly Patient With Lung Disease

Steroid psychosis has been well described with oral glucocorticoids, however, our search of the literature did not identify an association between delirium and the combination of inhaled glucocorticoids and long-acting beta-agonists. We describe the occurrence of delirium with the combination of an inhaled glucocorticoid and bronchodilator. An elderly male described confusion and hallucinations within 1 week after initiation of budesonide/formoterol for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The combination inhaler was discontinued with resolution of symptoms. Several weeks later, the patient was hospitalized and restarted on the combination inhaler. The patient was alert and oriented on admission, however, confusion and hallucinations progressed throughout his hospital stay. The combination inhaler was discontinued and his confusion and hallucinations resolved by discharge. The temporal relationship of these events and a probable Naranjo association allows for reasonable assumption that the use of the bu...
An automatic supervisor for the IBM 702

Very little experience has been accumulated in the operation of a large commercial data-processing center. However, reflection on the subject has led to the conclusion that, in the largescale operation of such a system, there will be a different emphasis from the one usually present in the operation of a largescale computing installation. The general administrative problem in both cases is, of course, to keep both staff and equipment operating efficiently. In the latter case, however, the emphasis is on new problem preparation, while in the case of the business application the emphasis must be on the efficient day-after-day operation of the same routines. The automatic supervisory routine described here is an attempt to solve those operating and programming problems peculiar to this "routine-dominated" situation.
Predicting Treatment Discontinuation Among Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: Application of the Transtheoretical Model of Change

ABSTRACT Objective To delineate factors associated with discontinued use of the multiple sclerosis (MS) medication Avonex (interferon beta-1a—Biogen) as part of an effort to develop an intervention to promote treatment persistency. Design In-depth telephone interviews followed by a 12-page written questionnaire delivered by mail. Setting United States. Participants Of 946 patients with MS who were contacted, 531 (56%) completed questionnaires; 79% of respondents were currently using Avonex for treatment of MS. Main Outcome Measure Discontinuation of Avonex treatment, with analysis based on the theoretical framework of the Transtheoretical Model of Change. Results Four key variables (pros of Avonex use, cons of Avonex use, highest level of education completed, and level of disability) accurately identified 82% of patients who discontinued Avonex use, while also correctly identifying 81% of patients who stayed on the drug. Conclusion Constructs from the Transtheoretical Model of Change were effective in differentiating patients who had discontinued their Avonex treatment versus patients who continued treatment. This behavioral model likely would be an effective framework for a medication persistency intervention.
Some Modeling Issues on the Finite Element Computation of Thermal Stresses in Metal Lines

Thermal stresses are a major concern in the reliability of metal lines. This paper addresses some modeling issues concerning the determination of thermal stresses in such structures. Specifically, a finite element technique that allows one to follow the evolution of the stress field as a function of the steps of the manufacturing process is discussed. In addition, comparisons between several modeling strategies, namely, plane stress versus plane strain, geometric nonlinearity versus geometric linearity, “frozen view” models versus “evolving” models, etc., are presented. A detailed example describing the manufacturing of a copper line is included to illustrate these points.
Magnesium deficiency during pregnancy in rats increases systolic blood pressure and plasma nitrite

Abstract We investigated the effect of moderate dietary magnesium (Mg) deficiency, pregnancy, and concurrent l -arginine ingestion on systolic blood pressure (BP), nitric oxide production, serum Mg, and intrauterine growth restriction. Female rats, fed Mg deficient or sufficient diets from weaning, were divided into three groups: (1) nonpregnant, (2) pregnant, and (3) pregnant + 1% l -arginine in the drinking water. The systolic BP, plasma nitrite, serum Mg, and pup weights were determined. Data were analyzed using general linear model analysis of variance. In the pregnant rats, the Mg-deficient group had a significantly higher systolic BP (P = .0275) and plasma nitrite (P = .0244) compared to the Mg-sufficient group. l -Arginine ingestion significantly lowered systolic BP (P l -arginine, but was similar to the nonpregnant state in pregnant Mg-deficient after ingesting l -arginine. Moderate Mg deficiency, during the stress of pregnancy, adversely affected BP, nitric oxide production, and serum Mg. Supplemental l -arginine prevented these negative effects, possibly through a feedback loop by increasing nitric oxide syntheses, which increases cyclic guanosine monophosphate, which then increases free Mg and decreases free calcium. These ionic changes can act to decrease BP and modulate nitric oxide synthesis.
Achieving interoperability of genome databases through intelligent Web mediators

Resolving the tension between the flexibilities offered by a database query language and the so-called "user friendliness" supported by a form-based or menu-driven database query interface is undoubtedly a daunting task. However, researchers believe that the flexibilities offered by a declarative query language should be fully exploited to harvest genetic solutions within the wealth of information offered by genomics and proteomics. Additionally, the need to query databases at different abstraction levels, in a set-based fashion, and to process the queries efficiently by resolving the structural and semantic disparities among the genomic databases in a user-transparent way has never been more evident than in recent years. Inspired by such needs, we have developed an SQL3-compliant database query language called the Genomic Query Language (GQL) for manipulating globally distributed genomic databases that are publicly accessible. GQL, an SQL-like language, is given a source-independent syntax and exploits a high-level global view of the underlying databases. The uniqueness of this language relies heavily on the supporting interface through which all communications take place and the interoperability of databases behind firewalls is realized. In this paper, we describe how the Web-based interface we have built for GQL makes it possible to understand the scheme of any participating database, assimilates the syntactic and semantic information into the global view, and responds to user queries. The interface is autonomous for many genomic databases and is also fully self-maintainable.
Mellin transforming the minimal model CFTs: AdS/CFT at strong curvature

Abstract Mack has conjectured that all conformal field theories are equivalent to string theories. We explore the example of the two-dimensional minimal model CFTs and confirm that the Mellin transformed amplitudes have the desired properties of string theory in three-dimensional anti-de Sitter spacetime.
Enhanced electrocatalytic activities of three dimensional PtCu@Pt bimetallic alloy nanofoams for oxygen reduction reaction

Finding an approach to synthesize low cost catalysts with high activity and improved durability is the main challenge for the commercialization of proton exchange membrane fuel cells. The electrocatalytic performance of Pt-based catalysts could be improved significantly by accurately controlling the particle size, morphology and composition. In this work, PtCu bimetallic nanofoams, composed of fused nanoparticles with ∼3 nm in diameter, were synthesized using a one-step reduction method. After dealloying with nitric acid, the PtCu@Pt core–shell bimetallic nanofoams were 7-fold more active in terms of mass activity, 14 times more active on the basis of specific activity, and more durable for ORR than the commercial Pt/C catalyst, which hold great promise in fuel cell applications.
Clinical study on effect of broncho-vaxom combined with budesonide atomization inhalation on immune function of children with bronchial asthma

Objective To evaluate the effect of broncho- vaxom combined with budesonide atomization inhalation on immune function of children with bronchial asthma. Methods One hundred and twenty-one children with bronchial asthma were randomly divided into control group( n = 54) and treatment group( n = 67). Patients in control group were treated with budesonide atomization inhalation 1 mg,bid; treatment group was treated with broncho- vaxom 7 mg,qd,on the basis of control group. Seven days was a course of treatment,and the treatment period lasted for 3 courses. The data of serum cytokines levels,T lymphocyte subset percentage,peripheral inflammation index and clinical efficacy were compared between the two groups. Results After treatment,the level of serum inter leukin( IL)- 12 and inter feron( IFN)- γin treatment group were significantly increased,and the level of IL- 5 and IL- 4 were significantly reduced( P 0. 05). The levels of eosinophil cationic protein and eosinophil in treatment group were significantly reduced compared with those in control group( P 0. 05). The data of CD3+,CD4+,CD4+/ CD8+of treatment group were significantly increased,and CD8+were significantly reduced( P 0. 05). The clinical efficacy was91. 0% in treatment group and 72. 2% in control group( P 0. 05).Conclusion Broncho- vaxom combined with budesonide atomizationinhalation in the treatment of children with bronchial asthma can improve immune function and enhance curative effect.
SELF-CONTAINED POWER ROUTINES

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on self-contained power routines. It presents a Fortran version of a program to illustrate the principles involved in the self-contained approach to any computation. Fortran is a general-purpose, imperative programming language that is especially suited to numeric computation and scientific computing. The standard approach to the computation corresponding to the Fortran statement is to use existing library subroutines for the exponential and logarithm functions to compute. The Fortran code for the IBM System/360 cannot be implemented as a standard subroutine on any particular machine, for it cannot compete in speed or storage with a tight assembly language program. Fortran encompasses a lineage of versions, each of which evolved to add extensions to the language while usually retaining compatibility with previous versions. The major difference in the Fortran code presented in the chapter compared to other Fortran versions is the use of a truncated Taylor series to evaluate the logarithm.
De Novo modeling in cryo-EM density maps with Pathwalking.

Abstract As electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM) can now frequently achieve near atomic resolution, accurate interpretation of these density maps in terms of atomistic detail has become paramount in deciphering macromolecular structure and function. However, there are few software tools for modeling protein structure from cryo-EM density maps in this resolution range. Here, we present an extension of our original Pathwalking protocol, which can automatically trace a protein backbone directly from a near-atomic resolution (3–6 A) density map. The original Pathwalking approach utilized a Traveling Salesman Problem solver for backbone tracing, but manual adjustment was still required during modeling. In the new version, human intervention is minimized and we provide a more robust approach for backbone modeling. This includes iterative secondary structure identification, termini detection and the ability to model multiple subunits without prior segmentation. Overall, the new Pathwalking procedure provides a more complete and robust tool for annotating protein structure function in near-atomic resolution density maps.
Optimizing Vents Layout and Configuration of Complex Urban Tunnels for Air Quality Control

We propose a systems approach and an optimization model for determining the number, locations, and capacities of upper vents in complex urban tunnels that minimize the overall installation and operation cost considering various siting and air quality control constraints. Based on steady-state modeling, we show that this vents layout problem is not easy even for the simplest tunnel. We formulate it as a nonlinear integer programming problem solved via the genetic algorithm. For demonstration, the method is applied to a case study of a newly built urban tunnel in Hangzhou, China. Results show that the optimal solutions are highly nontrivial if constraints such as discharge intensity and discharge proportions of nitrogen oxides at different vents and tunnel exits are imposed. Depending on constraints that have to be considered, the optimal vents cost varies significantly for the studied case from $22 000 to $90 000. The cost can be easily doubled with an additional air quality constraint. The model proves a useful quantitative tool for tunnel systems control.
Effects of flow, Si inhibition, and concurrent corrosion of dissimilar metals on the corrosion of aluminium in the environment following a loss-of-coolant accident

Abstract Experiments were conducted to investigate the aluminium corrosion in the simulated containment pool environment following a loss-of-coolant accident at a nuclear power plant. The results show an identical power law correlation between the corrosion rate and mass transfer coefficient for different flow systems. Aluminium corrosion is inhibited by the silicon leached from the insulation materials, and the inhibition efficiency increases with the silicon concentration due to the increase of Al 2 SiO 5 or SiO 2 content in the passivation layer. The concurrent corrosion of copper and iron has little influence on aluminium corrosion while the presence of zinc significantly retards the aluminium corrosion.
Longest-queue-first scheduling with intermittent sampling

A prototypical scheduling problem in communication networks is that a server needs to select, from a set of parallel queues, a job for processing to achieve a pre-determined objective. Classical scheduling schemes that yield performance guarantees typically assume that the server has instant access to the realtime information of the entire system state. However, this is costly and hence rarely achievable in practice. A much more relaxed and realistic assumption is that the server only operates under intermittent sampling, where the server samples and thereby obtains the system information at random times. In this paper, we formalize this relaxed and more realistic model and using the well-known longest-queue-first policy as a particular scheduling scheme, study the resulting impacts on system stability and performance due to intermittent system updates. Through extensive simulations, we identify the key message that has practical value: Longest-queue-first scheduling scheme performs well under intermittent sampling.
Reoperative Conditions Following Distal Radius Fractures

Distal radius fractures are a very routine case for both the orthopedic and hand surgeon. However, these injuries can be difficult to treat when severe comminution, poor bone quality, and marked displacement occur. Sometimes in these circumstances, the initial fixation may fail. This then requires reoperative intervention to try and restore articular congruity and bony alignment as best as possible within the given constraints of the tissue and bone quality, as well as the configuration of the fracture. There are a variety of options that can be utilized from external fixators to bridge plating. There are dorsal and volar plates to help try and reconstruct the articular surface. Also, autologous bone graft is the gold standard, but there are numerous other bone graft substitutes that can be utilized to reduce the morbidity from autologous grafting. Finally, soft tissues must be taken into account and these include the tendons which may be gliding over the plate as well as the carpal canal which can sometimes become tight after significant displacement and/or swelling. Even with optimum treatment, many of these patients with severe injuries will have outcomes that result in a stiff wrist but, hopefully, functional hand and extremity.
Precision neoadjuvant therapy (P-NAT): A planned interim analysis of a randomized, TNBC enrolling trial to confirm molecular profiling improves survival (ARTEMIS).

518Background: ARTEMIS is a double blind, randomized trial to determine if P-NAT impacts rates of excellent pathologic response [Residual Cancer Burden (RCB) 0-I]. P-NAT used a CLIA-certified chemo...
Looking away: An analysis of early childhood teaching and learning experiences framed through a quality metric:

In this article, the author examines the ways in which a classroom quality metric framed the teaching and learning experiences of teachers and children in three Head Start classrooms. Using comic s...
Incidence and Risk of Aspiration in Mechanically Ventilated Patients

Mechanical ventilation is essential for many patients with critical illness and respiratory failure, but places patients at risk of life-threatening complications termed ventilator-associated events (VAEs). VAEs occur in approximately 25% of mechanically ventilated patients. These increase duration of mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital length of stay, healthcare costs, and risk of disability and death. Many VAEs are aspiration-associated events such as pneumonia and Acute Lung Injury (ALI); aspiration pneumonia in particular is the second most common diagnosis among hospitalized adult patients. However, the lack of standardized diagnostic methods to confirm suspicion of aspiration poses a barrier to diagnosis of aspiration-related events in mechanically ventilated patients. Therefore, development of biomarkers to detect the early occurrence of aspiration in mechanically ventilated patients is a national priority in the United States. These biomarkers would enable development of novel therapies and allow clinicians to institute such therapies early to attenuate the incidence of adverse events. Ongoing research aims to assess the sensitivity and specificity of specific biomarkers to detect occurrence of early aspiration events in adult and pediatric patients receiving mechanical ventilation. To this end, our research group is actively measuring pepsin and salivary amylase in tracheal aspirates from mechanically ventilated individuals as markers of gastric and oropharyngeal aspiration respectively. We hypothesize that aspiration events, identified by these markers, will correlate with incidence/time to VAEs and ICU outcomes including mortality, ventilator days, ICU days and hospital days. Accurate estimation of the incidence of aspiration and its impact on outcomes in mechanically ventilated patients will enable future trials of interventions to decrease morbidity/mortality from aspiration-associated pulmonary complications.
THE SITE OF ACTION OF FLUOROURACIL IN RELATION TO THE AMINO ACID SEQUENCE OF THYMIDYLATE SYNTHETASE

The mechanism of action of the chemotherapeutic agent 5-fluorouracil is reviewed in the context of its inhibition of thymidylate synthetase. As a model to study this reaction, homogeneous synthetase from Lactobacillus casei was used. The enzyme is composed of two identical subunits, each containing 316 amino acid residues with a molecular weight of 36,588. Through the use of this enzyme, several groups have identified an almost irreversible ternary complex consisting of FdUMP*, enzyme, and 5, 10-CH2H4PteGlu as responsible for the inhibition. Folate analogs unable to complex with the pyrimidine ring of FdUMP, bind to the enzyme in a dissociable manner, but only in the presence of dUMP, FdUMP, or 4 N-HO-dCMP. The natural folylpolyglutamates, however, bind to the enzyme in the absence of the above nucleotides. The amino acid residue associated with the ternary inhibitory complex was implicated through the use of such sulfhydryl reagents as iodoacetate, N-ethylmaleimide, and 5-Hg-dUMP, which revealed that complete inhibition could be affected by the binding of these reagents to one of the enzyme's four sulfhydryl groups. To locate this site more definitively, the enzyme was completely sequenced and the reactive sulfhydryl shown to reside at cysteine-198 within a peptide
Robot-Assisted Surgery for Benign Disease of the Bladder

In this chapter, reconstructive techniques for benign bladder disease will be discussed. The fortunate thing about robot-assisted surgery is that almost any open surgery can be reimagined with this technique provided a pneumoperitoneum can be established and port placement it possible. This chapter will cover the more common scenarios in benign bladder disease: simple cystectomy, bladder augmentation, bladder diverticulectomy, ureteral reimplantation, and vesicovaginal fistula repair. The limits of what can actually be done likely extend beyond the scope of this chapter and go as far as the surgeon’s imagination can go.
Factors Influencing the Retention of Secondary Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers

Staffing classrooms with quality teachers has always been a high priority for schools and is no less important today. In addressing the No Child Left Behind mandate for highly qualified teachers for every child,Berry (2002)commented that the definition of highly qualified was unclear and posed a problem in building the profession of teaching. Research is needed to identify the strengths and weaknesses of teachers remaining in the profession to assist in defining the attributes of highly qualified in relation to CTE teachers with the purpose of determining possible retention factors.
Pharmacists opinions of the value of specific applicant attributes in hiring decisions for entry-level pharmacists.

Abstract Objective The Hiring Intent Reasoning Examination (HIRE) was designed to (1) explore the relative value of applicant-specific attributes evaluated during the hiring of entry-level pharmacists; (2) examine how each of these attributes influences hiring decisions; and (3) identify which attributes practicing pharmacists perceive as most and least valuable. Methods An electronic questionnaire was developed and sent to 36,817 pharmacists; 3723 (11%) responded representing a broad cross-section of practice settings and job roles. Forty-eight attributes were analyzed, 24 character traits and 24 markers of academic success. Respondents identified: 1) the relative importance the possession of each attribute would play in the decision to hire an applicant; 2) the relative importance the lack of possession of the attribute would play on the decision to hire an applicant; 3) the 10 most important attributes used when considering an applicant, and; 4) the 10 least important attributes used when considering an applicant. After investigating the relative importance of the 48 traits, a factor analysis to further group the traits was undertaken. Results Character traits were consistently ranked higher than academic traits, both in importance and as more likely to effect the hiring decision. Additionally, “the top ten most important attributes” were dominated by character traits and “the top ten least important attributes” used in the hiring of an entry-level pharmacist were dominated by the academic traits. A factor analysis provided further evidence of the distinction of the character traits from the academic success markers. Conclusion When selecting employees from a pool of qualified applicants, the most important attributes used in hiring decision relate to the character of the pharmacist. The results are similar across all practice settings and types of respondents completing the survey.
Loss of MPC1 reprograms retinal metabolism to impair visual function.

Glucose metabolism in vertebrate retinas is dominated by aerobic glycolysis (the “Warburg Effect”), which allows only a small fraction of glucose-derived pyruvate to enter mitochondria. Here, we report evidence that the small fraction of pyruvate in photoreceptors that does get oxidized by their mitochondria is required for visual function, photoreceptor structure and viability, normal neuron–glial interaction, and homeostasis of retinal metabolism. The mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) links glycolysis and mitochondrial metabolism. Retina-specific deletion of MPC1 results in progressive retinal degeneration and decline of visual function in both rod and cone photoreceptors. Using targeted-metabolomics and 13C tracers, we found that MPC1 is required for cytosolic reducing power maintenance, glutamine/glutamate metabolism, and flexibility in fuel utilization.