cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
O5 The prevalence of cow’s milk protein allergy in infants with gastroschisis and intestinal failure type 2 and 3

Introduction The prevalence of cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA) in infants with gastroschisis has been reported as high as 45%, which is significantly higher than in the general infant population (0.5–1% of breast-fed babies and 5–7% in formula-fed babies). We aimed to define the prevalence of CMPA in infants with gastroschisis and type 2 or 3 intestinal failure (IF) and compare this to other groups of infants with type 2 or 3 IF. Methods We obtained the pharmacy records of PN prescription lasting more than 28 days (i.e. IF type 2 and 3) for infants born between July 2015 and June 2020 in our tertiary intestinal rehabilitation centre. We only included infants presenting in the first year of life with type 2 or 3 IF related to a gastrointestinal disorder, other than enteropathies. We recorded the underlying cause of IF and the number of patients clinically diagnosed with CMPA. The diagnosis of CMPA was made by the clinical team on the basis of gastrointestinal symptoms, presence of macroscopic blood in the stools and lack of any other alternative diagnosis with symptom resolution after initiation of a hydrolysed or amino acid-based formula. We then obtained the feeding records of the patients and noted the number of infants on a hydrolysed and amino acid-based formula during their hospitalisation and at the latest dietetic follow up. Results Out of 112 infants, 23 were diagnosed with gastroschisis and 29 with necrotising enterocolitis (NEC); 25/29 surgically managed. CMPA was diagnosed in 3/23 (13%) infants with gastroschisis, 5/25 (20%) of infants with surgically managed NEC and 5/60 (8%) of infants with other causes of IF type 2 and 3. Out of 23 patients with gastroschisis, only one was discharge home on PN with no concerns of CMPA. Out of the total 112 infants, 98 presented with IF type 2 and only 7 (7%) were also diagnosed with CMPA, while 14 were discharged on home PN with 6 (43%) also diagnosed with CMPA – table 1. An amino acid-based formula was trialled in 30/112 (27%) infants at some point during their hospitalisation while a hydrolysed formula was used in 54/112 (48%) infants with type 2 and 3 IF, in order to treat fat and sugar malabsorption, with 57% of children continuing to take a hydrolysed formula at the last recorded dietetic follow up. Three out of the 13 children with CMPA (2 with gastroschisis) have tolerated a dairy containing diet later on. Conclusions The prevalence of CMPA in infants with gastroschisis and type 2 or 3 IF is much lower than that previously reported. CMPA is most prevalent in infants with surgically managed NEC and IF 2 or 3 while the prevalence of CMPA in IF type 3 in general is significantly higher. The use of hydrolysed formula for the management of malabsorption may be masking the diagnosis of CMPA in children with IF type 2.
A Personalized Spatial-Temporal Cold Pain Intensity Estimation Model Based on Facial Expression

Objective: Pain assessment is of great importance in both clinical research and patient care. Facial expression analysis is becoming a key part of pain detection because it is convenient, automatic, and real-time. The aim of this study is to present a cold pain intensity estimation experiment, investigate the importance of the spatial-temporal information on facial expression based cold pain, and study the performance of the personalized model as well as the generalized model. Methods: A cold pain experiment was carried out and facial expressions from 29 subjects were extracted. Three different architectures (Inception V3, VGG-LSTM, and Convolutional LSTM) were used to estimate three intensities of cold pain: No pain, Moderate pain, and Severe Pain. Architectures with Sequential information were compared with single-frame architecture, showing the importance of spatial-temporal information on pain estimation. The performances of the personalized model and the generalized model were also compared. Results: A mean F1 score of 79.48% was achieved using Convolutional LSTM based on the personalized model. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the potential for the estimation of cold pain intensity from facial expression analysis and shows that the personalized spatial-temporal framework has better performance in cold pain intensity estimation. Significance: This cold pain intensity estimator could allow convenient, automatic, and real-time use to provide continuous objective pain intensity estimations of subjects and patients.
SU-E-T-37: A GPU-Based Pencil Beam Algorithm for Dose Calculations in Proton Radiation Therapy

Purpose: Recent developments in radiation therapy have been focused on applications of charged particles, especially protons. Over the years several dose calculation methods have been proposed in proton therapy. A common characteristic of all these methods is their extensive computational burden. In the current study we present for the first time, to our best knowledge, a GPU-based PBA for proton dose calculations in Matlab. Methods: In the current study we employed an analytical expression for the protons depth dose distribution. The central-axis term is taken from the broad-beam central-axis depth dose in water modified by an inverse square correction while the distribution of the off-axis term was considered Gaussian. The serial code was implemented in MATLAB and was launched on a desktop with a quad core Intel Xeon X5550 at 2.67GHz with 8 GB of RAM. For the parallelization on the GPU, the parallel computing toolbox was employed and the code was launched on a GTX 770 with Kepler architecture. The performance comparison was established on the speedup factors. Results: The performance of the GPU code was evaluated for three different energies: low (50 MeV), medium (100 MeV) and high (150 MeV). Four square fields were selected for each energy, and the dose calculations were performed with both the serial and parallel codes for a homogeneous water phantom with size 300×300×300 mm3. The resolution of the PBs was set to 1.0 mm. The maximum speedup of ∼127 was achieved for the highest energy and the largest field size. Conclusion: A GPU-based PB algorithm for proton dose calculations in Matlab was presented. A maximum speedup of ∼127 was achieved. Future directions of the current work include extension of our method for dose calculation in heterogeneous phantoms.
Somatostatin Analogs and Interferon in the Treatment of Neuroendocrine Tumors

Biotherapy for neuroendocrine tumors (NET) emerged in the 1980s when somatostatin analogs (SSAs) and interferons (IFNs) were investigated in small series of patients with malignant carcinoid syndrome. While early clinical trials focused on palliation of hormonal symptoms, subsequent studies have been designed to assess the inhibitory effects of SSAs and IFNs on tumor progression. The recognition that biological therapies may be synergistic has led to several randomized studies investigating IFNα in combination with SSAs. This chapter will review the mechanism of action and key clinical trials investigating SSAs and IFNs in advanced, well-differentiated NETs.
Three-Way Catalyst Performance Characterization

A simplified method was developed to obtain three-way catalyst performance data to be used for predicting vehicle CVS-H emissions. This method involved engine dynamometer aging of catalysts and characterization of their performance as a function of; redox potential, temperature, space velocity, and a modulation parameter. In the process of reducing the number of variables, several simplifications were made. The simplifications, their limitations and the characteristic trends in the performance of a 11 Pt/Rh catalyst are discussed.
Passive safety in a helium-cooled tritium breeding blanket with steel structure

Helium is attractive for use as a fusion blanket coolant for a number of reasons. It is neutronically and chemically inert, nonmagnetic, and will not change phase during any off-normal or accident condition. A significant disadvantage of helium, however, is its low density and volumetric heat capacity. This disadvantage manifests itself most clearly during undercooling accidents such as a loss of coolant accident (LOCA) or a loss of flow accident (LOFA). This paper proposes a new helium-cooled, tritium breeding blanket concept which uses a metallic structure, and which performs significantly better during such accidents than related designs. The proposed blanket uses modified, reduced-activation HT-9 steel as a structural material and is designed for neutron wall loads exceeding 4 MW/m2. This concept uses novel features such as: (1) a “beryllium-joint” design which allows beryllium to be used to conduct heat away from the first wall, while accommodating swelling of the beryllium, and (2) a shield cooled by naturally circulating water. These features help the blanket passively withstand a worst-case undercooling accident scenario.
Maternal syphilis and vertical perinatal transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 infection

Abstract Objectives: To identify risk factors for vertical HIV transmission that may provide opportunities for the prevention of future pediatric HIV infection. Study Design: A prospective cohort of 44 pregnant HIV(+) women and their 53 offspring was followed between July 1989 and July 1996. Results: Secondary and latent maternal syphilis infection was diagnosed in four pregnancies with VDRL titers ≥ 1:128. Concurrent maternal syphilis infection was associated with 100% vertical HIV transmission ( 4 4 ), compared to 21% ( 3 14 ) deliveries that occurred in 13 women with only a history of treated sypillis (P = 0.01) and 14% ( 5 35 ) deliveries in women with no history of syphilis (P = 0.0015). Among non-Zidovudine exposed pregnancies, 100% ( 3 3 ) patients with concurrent syphilis transmitted HIV to their infants vs. 0% ( 0 8 ) patients with only a history of syphilis (P = 0.006). A history of treated syphilis did not increase subsequent transmission risk compared to women with no history of syphilis ( 3 14 vs . 5 35 , P = 0.41 ). One patient delivered twice during the study and received Zidovudine prophylaxis during both pregnancies. Her first pregnancy VDRL titer was ≥ 1:128, during which she delivered an HIV infected child. Following successful treatment for syphilis (VDRL titer, 1:1), she conceived again and delivered an uninfected infant 11 months later. Additional risk factors significantly associated with vertical HIV transmission were prematurity and low birth weight. Variables studied but not statistically-related to HIV transmission included: other sexually transmitted diseases, maternal age, race, intravenous drug of cocaine use, prenatal care, route or delivery, duration of HIV(+) status, and CD4 count. Conclusion: Among HIV(+) women, concurrent syphilis infection, but not a history of syphilis, is significantly associated with vertical perinatal HIV transmission. Frequent screening and prompt treatment of syphilis in non-pregnant HIV(+) women may help prevent subsequent HIV infected pregnancies.
Design considerations for the elimination of recirculation in horizontal epitaxial reactors

The phenomenon of recirculation in horizontal epitaxial reactors has been studied using a computer model, which includes a rigorous calculation of the radiative heating of the reactor wall using the enclosure theory of radiation, in conjunction with a two-band absorption model for quartz. Alternative ways of eliminating recirculation are presented and evaluated. These include reducing the reactor pressure, increasing the gas flow rate, reducing the reactor height and changing the susceptor slope. Two Figures of Merit, based on high efficiency of growth and large area growth uniformity, have been defined and used to compare the relative advantages and disadvantages as well as tradeoffs between these alternatives. Reactor wall temperatures have also been considered while comparing these alternatives. Reducing the reactor height with an optimum susceptor slope is shown to be the best way of eliminating recirculation, based on these criteria.
Racial Disparities in the Proportion of Current, Unresolved Hepatitis C Virus Infections in the United States, 2003–2010

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody test alone does not distinguish current from resolved infections. The study aimed to describe the percentage of current HCV infection, defined by HCV RNA positivity, among those tested positive for anti-HCV, and to examine characteristics of those with current infection. Using nationally representative data from the 2003 to 2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, descriptive analyses and regressions were performed on data from anti-HCV-positive adults aged ≥40 years. Of 13,909 participants examined, 304 were anti-HCV-positive. Of these, 238 or 75.3 % [95 % confidence interval (CI) 67.5–81.8 %] had detectable viral RNA. The percentage of current, unresolved HCV infection was highest among non-Hispanic Blacks (91.1 %) and lowest among those with a college education (57.3 %). In multivariate analyses, non-Hispanic Blacks were more likely to have current HCV infection compared to non-Hispanic Whites (adjusted odds ratio 3.9, 95 % CI 1.6–9.2). Among persons with current HCV infection, most had elevated alanine aminotransferase (56.5 %) or aspartate aminotransferase (71.8 %) levels, but only 35.3 % reported having been diagnosed with any abnormal liver conditions. Excessive alcohol drinking was reported by 27.3 % of participants with current HCV infection. Among adults aged ≥40 years who had ever been infected with HCV, approximately three-quarters had current, unresolved HCV infection. Non-Hispanic Blacks were more likely to have current infection than non-Hispanic Whites. The majority of those with current infection had abnormal liver function tests but had not received appropriate diagnoses. Many currently infected persons would benefit from lifestyle modifications to avoid the multiplicative effect of alcohol on HCV infection.
Visualization of selected algorithms of graph theory

A visualization and creation of models along with their application to demonstrate and study various objects and phenomena of the real world play an important role in the demonstrative education. In this paper, the authors consider a possible utilization of computer programs for visualization in the teaching of graph theory. They present several publicly available applications as well as the programs created as a part of students' Bachelor and Master theses at the Faculty of education of Catholic University in Ružomberok.
The Jury Is Out: Pre-Dispute Binding Arbitration Agreements for Medical Malpractice Claims: Law, Ethics, and Prudence

An increasing number of physicians, hospitals, health plans, and their insurers are advocating the use of pre-dispute binding arbitration as an alternative to litigation in the resolution of medica...
The Measurement of 2-Thiothiazolidine-4-carboxylic Acid as an Index of the in Vivo Release of CS2 by Dithiocarbamates

Dithiocarbamates and their disulfides are used extensively as agricultural fungicides, as accelerators of the vulcanization process of rubber in industry, and as therapeutic agents in medicine. The widespread uses of these compounds in agriculture, industry, and medicine provide many avenues of exposure to the human population. Subchronic to chronic exposures to some dithiocarbamates have resulted in the development of neuropathy in humans and experimental animals. Decomposition to CS2 presents a potential mechanism through which the toxicity of dithiocarbamates may be mediated. The purpose of this study was to determine the potential of dithiocarbamates to release CS2 in vivo. The ability to release CS2 was assessed by measuring urinary 2-thiothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (TTCA), which is used in industry to measure the exposure of workers to CS2. In this study, rats were housed individually in metabolic cages and given daily equimolar ip or po doses (1.5 mmol/kg) of N,N-diethyldithiocarbamate (DEDC), d...
The Medium-Run Effects of Florida’s Test-Based Promotion Policy

We use a regression discontinuity strategy to produce causal estimates for the effect of remediation under Florida’s test-based promotion policy on multiple outcomes for up to five years after the intervention. Students subjected to the policy were retained in the third grade, were required to be assigned to a high-quality teacher during the retained year, and were required to attend summer school. Exposure to these interventions has a statistically significant and substantial positive effect on student achievement in math, reading, and science in the years immediately following the treatment. But the effect of the treatment dissipates over time. Nonetheless, we find that the effect of remediation under the policy on academic achievement is statistically significant and of a meaningful magnitude several years after the student is exposed to the intervention. Though we cannot completely separate the differential effects of the treatments attached to the policy, we provide some evidence that assignment to a higher-quality teacher in the retained year is not the primary driver of the policy’s effect.
Organ donation and neuroscience nursing: your role in the process.

Abstract The death of a patient is seen by many nurses as the end of their interaction with the patient and family. However, the option of organ donation may extend that interaction and present another opportunity to serve as an advocate for the family, as well as for patients whom the nurse has never met. Patients who have been declared brain dead or from whom life support is going to be withdrawn following a neurological injury are potential organ donors. Although these patients and their families are frequently under the care of neuroscience nurses, all nurses need a thorough understanding of their responsibilities regarding identification and referral of potential organ donors to the designated Organ Procurement Organization (OPO). In addition, it is essential for nurses to understand the clinical presentation and determination of brain death in order to provide patient care and family education. Understanding how consent for organ donation should be obtained from families and how the organ recovery process works enables the nurse to collaborate with OPO staff and support the family in their decision regarding organ donation.
The Transient Response of Structures Using Asymptotic Modal Analysis

The transient response ofa structure is predicted using an asymptotic modal approximation of the classical modal solution. The method is aimed at estimating the impulse response problem for high frequency regimes where typical numerical methods (e.g., finite elements) are impractical. As an example, the response of a thin elastic panel is modeled in a frequency range that includes a sufficient number of modes. Both impulsive and arbitrary. forms of excitation are considered. It is shown that the asymptotic modal analysis yields an excellent estimate of both the local displacement near the excitation location and of the spatially averaged transient response of the panel for moderate time spans after the excitation is applied. Furthermore, as this approach does not require that the mode shapes or natural frequencies of the structure to be calculated, it is an extremely efficient technique.
A stochastic approach to survival problem with concomitant variables and application to acute leukemia patients

Abstract A stochastic approach to survival analysis through concomitant variables and its application to acute leukemia are considered. The medical variables differ from other concomitant variables in that they themselves are subject to stochastic processes. Their values at time t are assumed to determine not patient's survival, but the probability of dying between t and t + Δt . The survival probability and the probability distribution of the survival time of acute leukemia patients are derived to illustrate the stochastic method formulated.
Problems related to type-A and type- B matrices of chromatic joins

We outline problems that Rodica Simion was investigating that concern factorizations of determinants of matrices whose entries are defined by combinatorial statistics.
CHARACTERIZATION OF CONDUCTION MECHANISMS RELEVANT TO DEVICE PERFORMANCE IN NANOPERFORATED GRAPHENE

We have recently reported on the synthesis and characterization of a new form of nanostructured graphene that we call "nanoperforated graphene". Nanoperforated graphene is fabricated by etching a periodic array of nanoscale holes into atomic membranes of graphene to create an ultrathin superlattice-like structure. Nanoperforated graphene demonstrates semiconductor-like behavior and we have realized room-temperature field-induced conductance modulation as high as 450 (compared with < 10 for unpatterned graphene) with field-effect mobilities of ~ 1 cm2V-1s-1. Here, we discuss the conduction mechanisms in nanoperforated graphene and the relevance of this new material for field-effect transistor devices. In nanoperforated graphene with 15 nm nanoconstrictions, we observe that the low-bias mobility is independent of temperature, consistent with elastic scattering-limited conduction. At low temperatures, a transport gap limits conduction in the sub-threshold regime and affects the threshold voltage for band conduction. We show that the high-bias electrical characteristics of nanoperforated graphene are similar to "artificial solids," a class of materials made of 2D arrays of Coulomb islands, consistent with observed Coulomb Blockade features in the sub-threshold regime. Currently, the device characteristics of the nanopatterned graphene material are found to be suitable for large-area, thin-film transistor applications. Future higher-performance applications are expected.
Couples Counseing for Transgender-Lesbian Couple: Student Counselors' Comfort and Discomfort with Sexuality Counseling Topics

This article describes the supervision and training aspects of two student counselors in their service to a transgender and lesbian married couple. Through journal assignments, multiple themes emerged from these supervisees’ responses to serving this unique couple. Two critical areas of reflection included both counselors’ concerns of clinical preparedness and experiences of supervision. Beyond the descriptors of transgender and lesbian, the counselors were least comfortable with the mere discussion of sexual intimacy and its place in the presenting problem for this couple. The arenas of clinical supervision, self of the therapist, and counselor preparation as it may promote active exploration of sexual intimacy discussion in the arena of couples counseling are explored along with implications for counselor educators’ and supervisors’ own ability to promote this candid and needed discussion with supervisees.
Locations of auroral kilometric radiation bursts inferred from multispacecraft wideband Cluster VLBI observations. 1: Description of technique and initial results

[1] The Cluster Wideband Data instrument has been used to determine the locations of auroral kilometric radiation (AKR) using very long baseline interferometry. The technique involves cross-correlating individual AKR bursts from all six Cluster baselines using time and frequency filtered waveforms. The resulting differential delay peaks are used to determine source locations with an uncertainty as small as 500 km in a plane perpendicular to the source-spacecraft line of sight or about 200 km when the burst position is projected onto the auroral zone along the magnetic field lines passing through the source. The uncertainty along the line of sight is much larger, but this is mitigated by assuming that the emission arises from a height corresponding to the electron gyrofrequency. We report the locations of over 1700 individual AKR bursts during six observing epochs between 10 July 2002 and 22 January 2003 when the Cluster constellation was high above the Southern or Northern Hemisphere. In general we find that the AKR burst locations lie along magnetic field lines which map onto the nighttime auroral zone as expected from previous AKR studies. For the three observing epochs viewing the Northern Hemisphere, there is a strong tendency for AKR burst locations to be centered within the auroral oval and in the evening sector. The Southern Hemisphere burst locations favor magnetic local midnight to early morning and have somewhat higher invariant magnetic latitudes. The distribution of AKR auroral footprint locations at each epoch had a overall spatial scale between 1000 and 2000 km, much larger than the positional uncertainty of an individual AKR burst location magnetic footprint, but a small fraction of the auroral oval. This indicates that on a timescale of 1–3 hours conditions for suitable generation of AKR emission are found on only a fraction of all magnetic field lines crossing through the auroral oval. For two of the six epochs, there was a significant drift in the mean location of AKR activity over a period of 1–2 hours. The drift was predominantly in latitude at one epoch and in longitude at the other, with average drift speed V ∼ 80–90 m s−1 at the AKR emission location.
A Self‐Instructional Language Program on the High School Level

One of the more challenging aspects of language teaching at any level is providing rewarding and stimulating study to highly motivated and gifted students. This is even more acute at the high school level, where good students and their needs are often ignored in the administrative shuffle of scheduling, attendance registers, the needs of less-gifted students, and the general lack of classroom time. Many of the better students become bored with language learning and ‘drop out;’ others channel their energies into other areas. A self-instructional language program, although relatively uncommon at the high school level, can offer these students a challenging approach to language learning. Such a program can also provide the high school student the opportunity to study a language which might not be available in the curriculum.
Mass transfer in a three-phase reactor operating at elevated pressures and temperatures

Abstract The solubilities ( C *), mass transfer coefficients ( k L a ), and volumetric mixing power input ( P */ V L ) were measured for methane in n -hexane/coal slurries at various pressures (1–50 bar), temperatures (328–378 K), mixing speeds (16.7–20.0 Hz) and solid concentrations (0–15 wt%) in 41 gas-inducing mechanically agitated autoclave. Upper Freeport and Illinois # 6 coals at 200 mesh × 0 and 28 mesh × 0 were used. The C * values were calculated using the Peng—Robinson equation of state. The k L a data were determined using the transient physical gas absorption technique and P */ V L values were measured using a torquemeter. The calculated C * values for methane in n -hexane were found to increase with pressure and decrease with temperature. The k L a values increased with mixing speed and pressure but an unclear dependency on the temperature was noticed. The k L a values decreased with solid particle loading in n -hexane. No significant difference between k L a values, however, was obtained for both coals at 28 mesh × 0 and 200 mesh × 0 particle sizes. An empirical correlation was proposed to predict k L a values for methane in n -hexane/coal slurries.
A note on a correspondence principle in nonlinear viscoelastic materials

We show that models for the nonlinear viscoelastic response of solids generated on the basis of a correspondence principle developed by Schapery(1984) do not satisfy the balance of angular momentum for large deformations. This principle, which is valid if the displacement gradients are sufficiently small, has been used in several papers to develop models to describe the fracture of viscoelastic solids, and these studies need to be reexamined in the light of this note.
Student Perceptions of Instructor Communication Behaviors and Their Relationship to Student Evaluation.

This investigation summarizes the findings of an initial study designed to explore the relationship between instructor communication variables—i.e., communicator style, disclosiveness, and solidarity—and student learning and reports in detail a follow up study which assessed the relationship between the same set of instructor variables and student evaluations. A linear combination of perceived instructor communication behaviors was found to be significantly related to instructor evaluations; however, solidarity did not add significant predictive power to the model. The implications of these findings for the practicing teacher were considered.
Educators and the Internet: a case study of professional development

Abstract The purpose of this research was to document a teacher education program's initial effort to introduce telecommunications to inservice educators, to determine support and technological needs, and to inform policy for future practice. This was accomplished through a case study of one graduate seminar. The voices and stories of these individuals provide rich descriptions of practicing educators. These educators taught a variety of grades and subject areas, and began with varying levels of telecommunications experience. They wanted to be on the cutting edge of the information explosion, feel personally competent, provide new skills to their students, and create career opportunities. These learners were excited and enthusiastic about introducing telecommunications to their colleagues and students, however, once they returned to school, obstacles interfered with the use of their new found skills. The major obstacles were lack of time, access to equipment, and resources for implementation. Although they were frustrated by the obstacles, most have continued to challenge the status quo and find ways in which to continue using telecommunications. This research provides insights into the factors necessary for encouraging and supporting educators in their use of information technologies. Widespread efforts must include post-secondary institutions, school districts, and the larger communities. It is essential that administrators be involved at every level of implementation so that they recognize the benefits of providing support and resources. Undergraduate and graduate education coursework must incorporate telecommunications and promote its thoughtful integration into mainstream activities.
Leucine transport from mother to fetus in rat: Role of the visceral yolk sac

Abstract It is known that intracellular proteolysis of exogenous protein in the visceral yolk sac (VYS) is a significant source of leucine for the fetus from days 8.5 through 17.5 post-conception in the rat. In contrast, little attention has been paid to the potential of the VYS to transport maternal free amino acids to the fetus. We investigated this question using the exteriorized 17.5-day rat fetus, enclosed within its amnion and VYS, but with its placenta attached to the uterus and still functional. We first demonstrated that [ 3 H] leucine in medium bathing the exteriorized fetus is transported by the VYS to the fetus and then exchanged with the leucine pool in the maternal circulation. This result indicates that the preparation remains viable for the duration of the experiment. We next injected a trace amount of [ 3 H] leucine intravenously into the 17.5-day pregnant rat and found that the concentration of radioactivity in the plasma of the exteriorized fetus was not much lower than that in plasma of non-exteriorized fetuses in the same litter (8–15 fetuses per litter). We interpret these results to indicate that the VYS transports free leucine to the fetus but that this process makes a minor contribution to the total transfer of free leucine into the 17.5-day rat fetus.
Relative vs. absolute measures of benefit and risk: what's the difference?

Objective: When appraising evidence clinicians are confronted with two types of comparisons: ratios, such as relative risk, and absolute differences, such as number needed to treat (NNT) or number needed to harm (NNH). Method: A review of the definition, calculation and interpretation of relative measures such as relative risk, odds ratio and the hazard ratio, and how they are different from absolute measures such as NNT and NNH. Results: Relative and absolute measures provide different perspectives. Ratios can be misleading and exaggerate clinical differences, but NNT can appear to trivialize the risk of potentially important adverse events. Conclusion: There is a need to understand both relative and absolute differences in order to make informed decisions.
Reliability-Based Evaluation of Flexural Members Strengthened with Externally Bonded Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites

Structural applications of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites in civil infrastructure rehabilitation projects are receiving increasing interest due primarily to their high strength-weight ratio, resistance to aggressive environments, and other favorable properties that can be used to advantage in civil projects. Structural design and evaluation in civil engineering applications are distinguished by their reliance on codes of practice and on advanced analysis in lieu of component testing. The current lack of supporting codes, standards, and other regulatory guidance is a barrier to the implementation of high-performance FRP materials in civil construction. Experience over the past three decades in developing probability-based limit state design criteria for common construction materials points the way forward for making similar advances in guidelines for design and evaluation of structural components and systems that employ FRP composite materials. This paper summarizes some of the available tools and supporting databases that can be used to develop reliability-based guidelines for design and evaluation of FRP composites in civil construction and illustrates their application with several practical examples involving strengthening reinforced concrete flexural members.
An Exploratory Examination of Record Keeping Policies and Procedures in Preparation for Evidence-Based Practice

This article examines one agency's family support program's documentation pertaining to record keeping practices and staffs' understanding of that information. This review was conducted in preparation for an agency transition to an evidence-based practice model of documentation. In-person open-ended interviews were conducted with all program staff and analyzed inductively. The findings suggest that, although staff demonstrates an understanding of written expectations, the expectations are overly broad and would require significant modification for evidence-based practice documentation. Recommendations and guidance are offered for other agencies considering a transition to documentation that can support evidence about effectiveness of treatment.
Reduction in rabbit serum and pulmonary angiotensin converting enzyme activity after subacute bleomycin treatment

Abstract We studied morphological and biochemical alterations in the lungs of rabbits treated subcutaneously with bleomycin (5 mg/kg) three times weekly for 28 days. This treatment produced morphologically evident pulmonary damage characterized by the appearance of ciliated alveolar epithelial cells and endothelial blebs. No change in pulmonary collagen content was evident. Rabbits treated with bleomycin had significantly less pulmonary angiotensin converting enzyme activity than control animals, although no alterations in lung DNA, protein, glycosaminoglycans or hydroxyproline (an index of collagen) were observed. Serum angiotensin converting enzyme activity decreased with repeated bleomycin administration and was reduced by 42, 48 and 65 per cent from control animals 2, 3 and 4 weeks, respectively, after the initiation of drug treatment. These data provide biochemical evidence that subacute bleomycin administration damages the pulmonary endothelium in the absence of fibrosis and can reduce the serum activity of angiotensin converting enzyme in rabbits.
Ammonia Tolerance by Sunshine Bass Fry: Implication for Use of Ammonium Sulfate to Control Prymnesium parvum

Abstract Ammonium sulfate, (NH4)2SO4, is recommended for controlling the toxic alga Prymnesium parvum in fish production ponds. Because the un-ionized ammonia from ammonium sulfate that kills P. parvum is also toxic to fish, we determined the maximum concentration of un-ionized ammonia nitrogen that 4–5-d-old sunshine bass (female white bass Morone chrysops × male striped bass M. saxatilis) can tolerate for 48 h; this was part of a study to assess the feasibility of using ammonium sulfate in sunshine bass fingerling production ponds. We compared sunshine bass treated with six ammonium sulfate treatments— 3, 5, 8, 10, 15, and 20 mg (NH4)2SO4/L at pH 8.5 and 20°C—with untreated fish (control). Fish mortality and total ammonia nitrogen were monitored for 48 h, and un-ionized ammonia nitrogen concentrations were calculated from the total ammonia nitrogen values. Mean mortalities for all treatments were 0.0–3.3% during the first 24 h and 8.0– 37.1% after 48 h. The mean 48-h cumulative mortality was 8.0% for th...
Genotoxic potency of three quinoline compounds evaluated in vivo in mouse marrow cells

In vitro assays of the genotoxicity of quinoline compounds have yielded varying indications of their potency, and only limited determinations have been reported following in vivo administrations. We have quantified chromosome aberrations (CA) and sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) in the marrow cells of mice that had been injected with quinoline, 8-hydroxyquinoline, or 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide up to levels approaching lethal. Treatments with quinoline produced no consistent increase in the number of aberrations at either 17 or 36 hr after treatment and no significant increase in SCE numbers at either 23 or 42 hr. Similarly, 8-hydroxyquinoline had no measurable effect on either CA or SCE but did tend to prolong the cell cycle. 4-Nitroquinoline-1-oxide was a very potent inducer of both CA and SCE as well as an inhibitor of cell division.
Response of nucleus raphe magnus neurons to electrical stimulation of nucleus cuneiformis: Role of acetylcholine

Abstract There is considerable evidence that cells in the ventral medulla which includes nucleus raphe magnus (NRM) and nucleus magnocellularis are involved in a descending pain inhibitory system. Anatomical studies indicate a strong projection from nucleus cuneiformis (NCF) to the ventral medulla and histochemical studies suggest that many NCF neurons are cholinergic. Therefore, we investigated the effect of NCF stimulation on NRM unit activity and explored the possible role of acetylcholine (ACh) in this interaction. Of 180 NRM neurons examined, 43% were excited and 14% were inhibited by NCF stimulation. The average latency to the peak excitatory response was about 14 ms with a range of 5–32 ms. There was a tendency for the response latencies to cluster around 5 and 14 ms. Inhibitory responses were between 10 and 65 ms in duration. The anatomical specificity of the effective stimulation site was assessed by determining the response of a given NRM neuron to stimulation of areas dorsal and ventral as well as within NCF. The most reliable and intense responses of NRM neurons was observed with electrode placements within NCF. The most effective NCF region for activating NRM neurons corresponded to that region of NCF that contains a large population of neurons that project directly to NRM as seen in the present histochemical studies. The involvement of ACh in the interaction between NCF and NRM was examined with iontophoretic application of ACh and its antagonists. Of NRM neurons that responded to ACh, 79% were excited, an effect which was blocked by scopolamine. Comparison of the effect of both NCF stimulation and ACh iontophoresis on the same NRM neuron revealed a highly significant relationship between the two responses suggesting that the effect of NCF stimulation on NRM unit activity may be mediated by a cholinergic synapse. Furthermore, the response of 60% of NRM neurons driven by NCF stimulation could be partially or completely blocked by scopolamine iontophoresis. These data suggest that a cholinergic projection plays a role in mediating the effect of NCF on NRM unit activity; however, other excitatory transmitters may also be important.
The Kidney In Acute Respiratory Failure

A CUTE RESPIRATORY FAILURE is frequently accompanied by changes in renal function. For example, both impaired renal water excretion with hyponatremia and acute renal failure often occur in patients with acute respiratory failure.‘,’ Recent evidence clearly indicates mortality rates in excess of 80% in patients with combined acute respiratory and renal failure.2 This review will focus on the causes, outcome, and prevention of renal insufficiency in patients with acute respiratory failure.
Responses to Conflicting Field Imperatives: Institutions and Agency Among Evangelical Christian Colleges

This multi-site qualitative study focuses on evangelical Christian colleges, which sit at the juncture of the institutionalized fields of religion and higher education. Because widely held norms and reward structures characterize institutionalized fields, these two social spheres stand ripe for conflict with one another. I conceptualize field-level conflicts by drawing on “classic” institutional theory. I illuminate campus officials’ responses to field-level conflicts using recent innovations in the neo-institutional tradition that emphasize agency, strategic action, and field-level hierarchy. Findings therefore both describe these colleges as organizations and refine emerging concepts in neo-institutional theory.
Costs of egg caring in the skink, Mabuya longicaudata

Why do most animal species not provide parental care to their eggs or progeny? The “cost” hypothesis suggests that parental care can reduce food intake, probable survivorship, and/or subsequent fecundity of the reproductive female, and parental care is not adaptive unless it is balanced by considerable fitness trade-offs. Therefore, parental care would be expected to evolve most often in species in which such costs are minor or insignificant. Although parental care has been reported in more than 140 species of reptiles, few records unambiguously demonstrate the cost of parental care. In the current study, I report the “costs” of maternal activities and survivorship, as well as egg attendance times, and within- and between-seasonal body size variations, of females of Mabuya longicaudata after engaging in parental care. I used those data to test whether parental care necessarily entailed large costs to mother lizards. The proportion of nests guarded decreased with time after eggs were laid, with most females remaining at the nest for at least 1 week, but then some beginning to leave. The loss of mass by females over the first week of egg guarding was on average balanced by a gain in mass during subsequent foraging bouts. The snout–vent length (SVL), body mass (BM), recapture (survival) rates, fecundity, timing of a second clutch, and clutch frequencies of females that exhibited long-term parental care (more than 28 days; mean, 31.6 ± 2.2 days) did not significantly differ from that of females that showed short-term parental care (9∼16 days; mean, 12.5 ± 2.3 days). Thus, my data indicate that intense parental care over a long period does not necessarily entail major energy costs for the mother in terms of SVL, BM, recapture (survival) rates, or fecundity.
Combinations of reverse transcriptase, protease, and integrase inhibitors can be synergistic in vitro against drug-sensitive and RT inhibitor-resistant molecular clones of HIV-1

Abstract Combinations of anti-HIV agents including one or two reverse transcriptase inhibitors with a protease inhibitor are potent and effective. However, toxicities, costs and the emergence of drug-resistant organisms have compromised their long-term efficacy in people. A next, likely, target for anti-HIV therapy is HIV-1 integrase. Viral integration, catalyzed by integrase, is absolutely required for HIV replication. l -chicoric acid is a potent and selective inhibitor of HIV-1 integrase that also inhibits HIV-1 replication in cell culture. As a first step in understanding the potential role for integrase inhibitors in clinical medicine, the activities of l -chicoric acid alone and in combination with 2′,3′-dideoxycytidine, zidovudine, and a protease inhibitor, nelfinavir, were tested in vitro against molecular clones of HIV-1 resistant to reverse transcriptase inhibitors. l -chicoric acid was equally effective against a wild-type clone of HIV-1, HIV NL4-3 , or against HIV-1 resistant to either zidovudine or dideoxycytidine. l -chicoric acid was largely synergistic with zidovudine and synergistic with both dideoxycytidine and nelfinavir.
Computational complexity of diagram satisfaction in Euclidean geometry

In this paper, it is shown that the problem of deciding whether or not a geometric diagram in Euclidean Geometry is satisfiable is NP-hard and in PSPACE, and in fact has the same complexity as the satisfaction problem for a fragment of the existential theory of the real numbers. The related problem of finding all of the possible (satisfiable) diagrams that can result when a segment of a diagram is extended is also shown to be NP-hard.
Finite-Amplitude Wave Activity and Mean Flow Adjustments in the Atmospheric General Circulation. Part II: Analysis in the Isentropic Coordinate

AbstractThe finite-amplitude wave activity diagnostic developed for quasigeostrophic (QG) flows in Part I is extended to the global primitive equation system in the isentropic coordinate. The Rossby wave activity density A is proportional to Kelvin’s circulation around the wavy potential vorticity (PV) contour minus that around the zonal circle that encloses the same isentropic mass. A quasi-conservative, eddy-free reference state flow uREF is constructed from the observed Kelvin’s circulation by zonalizing the PV contours conservatively while enforcing gradient balance. The departure of the observed zonal-mean flow of the atmosphere from the reference state is defined as the net adjustment by the eddies. Then Δu is further partitioned into the direct eddy drag −A and the residual impulse ΔuR consistent with the time-integrated transformed Eulerian mean (TEM) zonal-wind equation.The analyzed climatological-mean wave activity in the 40-yr European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts Re-Analysis (ERA-...
Conceptual mis(understandings) of fractions: From area models to multiple embodiments

Area-model representations seem to have been dominant in the teaching and learning of fractions, especially in primary school mathematics curricula. In this study, we investigated 40 fifth grade children’s understandings of the unit fractions, $$ \frac{1}{2} $$ , $$ \frac{1}{3} $$ and $$ \frac{1}{4} $$ , represented through a variety of different models. Analyses of pre-teaching test and interview data revealed that although the participants were adept at partitioning regional models, they did not cope well with questions for which unit fractions were embodied in non-area-model scenarios. Analyses of post-teaching test and interview data indicated that after their participation in an instructional intervention designed according to Dienes’ (1960) dynamic principle, the students’ performances on tests improved significantly, and their conceptual understandings of unit fractions developed to the point where they could provide reasonable explanations of how they arrived at solutions. Analysis of retention data, gathered more than 3 months after the teaching intervention, showed that the students’ newly found understandings had, in most cases, been retained.