cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Warm Air Convection Heating Blankets May Increase the Absorption of Transdermal Nitroglycerin

WARM air convection heating blankets are commonly used to maintain normothermia in patients undergoing surgery and anesthesia. This communication reports a case where the application of a warm air convection heating blanket directly over transdermal nitroglycerin ointment may have caused accelerated absorption and an augmented effect.
Inhibition of memory cell-mediated cytotoxic response by systemic administration of Corynebacterium parvum.

Abstract Intravenous administration of Corynebacterium parvum to mice during a developing immune response to alloantigens resulted in the marked inhibition of the generation and expression of memory cell-mediated cytotoxic response in the spleen. The inhibition was observed following rechallenge in vivo or by in vitro culturing with the same alloantigen. The impairment in vitro was due, in part, to the generation of regulatory cells which were non-T phagocytic cells, probably macrophages activated by C. parvum administration. These suppressor macrophages appear to act by inhibiting proliferation and clonal expansion of memory cytotoxic cells.
NEARLY REVERSIBLE HEAT ENGINES FOR THERMAL STORAGE OF EXCESS ELECTRIC POWER

Efficient and affordable energy storage technologies would enable greater use of electricity generation with low operating but high capital cost. Such generating plants must maximize their utilization to spread capital cost over as much output as possible. Without affordable storage capacity their penetration into the market is limited to base load. Intermittent solar and wind power, which at times are simply not available, suffer even more than baseline power plants from the lack of affordable storage technologies. With the exception of pumped hydro-storage, energy storage is too expensive, suffering from low energy density in storage and low round-trip efficiency. Low grade thermal storage with temperature differences of up to about 100°C could achieve storage densities far in excess of that in most pumped storage facilities while avoiding the costs associated with high temperature operations. Roundtrip efficiency, defined as the ratio of the electric output from a heat engine driven by stored thermal energy to the electric input used to drive a heat pump to store the thermal energy, can approach 100% as the heat pump and the heat engine both approach Carnot efficiency. This theoretical limit is independent of the temperature difference between the heat reservoirs. Roundtrip efficiencies of at least 70 to 80% are necessary for energy storage to be economically competitive with higher priced electricity sources. This high round trip efficiency implies that both the heat engine and the heat pump would have to operate at 85 to 90% of the efficiency of a reversible engine. The most promising practical engines for such high efficiency are based on the Stirling cycle. This paper discusses a variation of the Stirling cycle aimed at large, slow units optimized for high efficiency far in excess of the Curzon-Ahlborn efficiency, which results from maximizing the power of the engine. This tradeoff in favor of efficiency over power output demands extreme simplicity in design, as the size of the engine is far larger than that of conventional engines optimized for power throughput. The goal of the paper is to show that low-grade thermal energy storage could provide a viable alternative to regionally limited pumped hydro-storage as long as the design challenges explained in the paper can be overcome. Given the current lack of cost-effective, scalable energy storage systems, thermal storage technology could have a profound impact on future energy infrastructures.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Incentive contrast following repeated shifts in magnitude of food reward in the Skinner box

Thirty-two rats were trained in the Skinner box and received either large or small food reward in Phase 1. In Phase 2, half of each group was shifted to the other reward condition while the other half continued to receive the same reward magnitude. In Phase 3, Phase 1 conditions were reinstated for the shifted groups. Neither a positive contrast effect (PCE) nor a negative contrast effect (NCE) was obtained in Phase 2. Following a repeated shift in Phase 3, a strong NCE was obtained, but only a graphical, albeit statistically nonsignificant, PCE was observed. The results were discussed in terms of the older relative theories of Crespi and Helson as well as the more recent relativistic accounts of Amsel and Capaldi. It has consistently been found in runway studies that subjects shifted from a large to a smaller food reward run Significantly slower than control subjects receiving small reward all the time, thus reflecting a negative contrast effect (NCE). The evidence for the opposite phenomenon, namely for a positive contrast effect (PCE) in the runway is virtually nonexistent (Dunham, 1968). However, with appropriate controls for the assumed ceiling effects inherent in the running response, numerous studies have recently reported Significant PCE based on shifts in magnitude of food reward (cf. Mellgren, 1972; Shanab, Birnbaum, & Cavallaro, 1974; Shanab, Sanders, & Premack, 1969). In the studies just cited, positive contrast was studied as a function of a single shift in reward magnitude. In other words, sub­ jects were shifted from a small to a larger reward only once. In a repeated-shift deSign, Capaldi and Lynch (1967) reported no PCE regardless of whether their subjects were shifted once or twice from a small to a larger reward magnitude. These results are inconsistent with either the earlier fmdings of PCE (Crespi, 1942) or the more recent findings of PCE based on repeated shifts (Benefield, Oscos, & Ehrenfreund, 1974; Shanab & Ferrell, 1975; Shanab, Young, & France, 1975). More recently, Shanab, France, and Young (1976), using sucrose reward, reported Significant PCE and NCE following a repeated-shift procedure similar to that used by Capaldi and Lynch (1967). However, no NCE in the runway has been obtained based on single downshifts in either magnitude or concentration of liquid sucrose, or both (Barnes & Tombaugh, 1973; Flaherty, Riley, & Spear, 1973; Goodrich, 1962; Homzie & Ross, 1962; Ison & Rosen, 1968; Rosen, 1966; Rosen & Ison, 1965; Shanab, Young, & France, 1975). But Significant NCE with sucrose was obtained in the licking response (Vogel, Mikulka, & Spear, 1968), and the
Information propagation applied to robot-assisted evacuation

Inspired by large fatality rates due to fires in crowded areas and the increasing presence of robots in dangerous emergency situations, we have implemented a model of information propagation among evacuees. Information about the locations of exits and the relative confidence of the individual in the location of the exit disseminated through a simulated crowd of people during an evacuation modeled after The Station Nightclub fire of 2003. True believers were added to this system as individuals who refused to accept exit information from others, instead preferring to head to their own exit. This system was then tested to find what percentage of true believers most likely existed in the actual fire. Using this true believer percentage, robots were added to the environment to guide evacuees to the nearest exit. The number of people who believed a robot's instructions was varied to find what percentage of people need to trust these robots in order to exploit information propagation and thus increase survivability. As a lower bound, we have found that 30% of the evacuees should believe a robot's instructions to significantly increase survival rates.
Integrating Concerns About Wood Production and Sustainable Forest Management in the United States

Summary The implementation of Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) in the United States is strongly influenced by U.S. forest products markets and the numerous management decisions made by individual landowners and managers. These decisions are influenced by a mix of market incentives and regulatory actions reducing predictability in assessing progress toward SFM and causing angst for some proponents of SFM because prices might provide insufficient incentive for what they believe are necessary forest practices. At the same time, conservation proponents are advocating forest management regimes that lead to reduced financial returns. These dual concerns are leading to new alliances and new approaches for forest-based conservation and management.
Transcripts for a lectin-like gene accumulate in the epidermis but not the protodermis of the pea shoot apex

We describe a novel pattern of tissue- and position-dependent accumulation for transcripts encoding a lectin-like protein (Blec) in pea (Pisum sativum L.). This pattern indicates a regulatory difference between the protodermis of the apical meristem and the derived epidermal cells of surrounding shoot apex: BlecRNA is absent or present at very low levels in protodermal cells of the apical meristem but is highly expressed in the derived epidermal cells of leaf primordia flanking the apical meristem. A similar pattern is seen during floral development: transcripts are undetectable in the protodermis of the floral dome and floral organ primordia, but are first detected during organ formation and expansion. This finding supports the hypothesis that the apical meristem functions as a unit distinct from the surrounding shoot apex.
Turning the soul: Nurturing the inner lives of student teachers

Abstract This article describes activities and experiences that encourage students to construct and reconstruct knowledge of self and teaching through community building and reflective practices. Following the assumption that teacher education should focus on the human and ethical dimensions of teaching, and the conscious development of a sense of self, specifically the inner self, the author makes the claim that teaching is an act of “soul turning,” or self‐transformation. When students of teaching are given opportunities to reflect on who they are in the context of their teaching and in relationships with others, possibilities exist for the development of greater self‐understanding and awareness. © 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Subsonic and intersonic mode II crack propagation with a rate-dependent cohesive zone

Abstract A recent experimental study has demonstrated the attainability of intersonic shear crack growth along weak planes in otherwise homogeneous, isotropic, linear elastic solids subjected to remote loading conditions (Rosakis et al., Science 284 (5418) (1999) 1337). The relevant experimental observations are summarized briefly here and the conditions governing the attainment of intersonic crack speeds are examined. Motivated by experimental observations, subsonic and intersonic mode II crack propagation with a rate-dependent cohesive zone is subsequently analyzed. A cohesive law is assumed, wherein the cohesive shear traction is either a constant or varies linearly with the local sliding rate. Complete decohesion is assumed to occur when the crack tip sliding displacement reaches a material-specific critical value. Closed form expressions are obtained for the near-tip fields. With a cohesive zone of finite size, it is found that the dynamic energy release rate is finite through out the intersonic regime. Crack tip stability issues are addressed and favorable speed regimes are identified. The influence of shear strength of the crack plane and of a rate parameter on crack propagation behavior is also investigated. The isochromatic fringe patterns predicted by the analytical solution are compared with the experimental observations of Rosakis et al. (1999) and comments are made on the validity of the proposed model.
The interaction of fluid mechanics and crystal growth in the formation of shish kebabs from solution

Several observations are made regarding the role of the fluid mechanics involved in the process of flow-induced, fibrillar crystallization from solution. Computational evaluation and discussion of various flow effects in the nucleation step, including combined shear and extensional flows, are presented in terms of the elastic dumbbell model. These results indicate the important role extensional kinematics in the growth process. A qualitative evaluation of concentration effects is also given. The evaluation of facts concerning the growth morphology is presented in terms of a model for the growth process along with data concerning rinsing and quench rate effects on the morphology and inciting behavior of shish kebab crystals.
Loop quantization of unwinding done right

Loop unwinding is a known technique for reducing loop overhead, exposing parallelism and increasing the efficiency of pipelining. Traditional loop unwinding is limited to the innermost loop in a group of nested loops and the amount of unwinding is either fixed or has to be specified by the user, on a case by case basis. In this paper we present a general technique for automatically unwinding multiply nested loops, explain its advantages over other transformation techniques and illustrate its practical effectiveness. Loop Quantization could be beneficial by itself, or coupled with other loop transformations (e.g., Do-across).
Kinetics of glucocorticoid response to restraint stress and/or experimental influenza viral infection in two inbred strains of mice

The murine model of influenza viral infection was used to evaluate the effects of restraint stress on pathogenesis and survival in inbred strains of mice. We recently reported that restraint stress was associated with an enhanced probability of survival in one strain of inbred mouse, DBA/2, and not in another, C57BL/6. Those studies suggested that the protective mechanism(s) of stress on mortality in the DBA/2 mice might be attributable to elevated levels of circulating glucocorticoids. Therefore, daily levels of plasma glucocorticoids were measured during influenza viral infection in both these strains. The present studies demonstrated that influenza infection itself is perceived as a stressor in both C57BL/6 and DBA/2 mice as evidenced by elevated plasma glucocorticoid levels within 48 h of infection. However, augmentation of glucocorticoid levels was not seen in the DBA/2 mice that were also subjected to restraint stress during the course of infection. Thus, corticosterone levels alone did not account for the enhanced survival seen in this group of animals.
Hepatitis C virus hijacks host lipid metabolism

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) enhances its replication by modulating host cell lipid metabolism. HCV circulates in the blood in association with lipoproteins. HCV infection is associated with enhanced lipogenesis, reduced secretion, and β-oxidation of lipids. HCV-induced imbalance in lipid homeostasis leads to steatosis. Many lipids are crucial for the virus life cycle, and inhibitors of cholesterol/fatty acid biosynthetic pathways inhibit virus replication, maturation and secretion. HCV negatively modulates the synthesis and secretion of very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL). Components involved in VLDL assembly are also required for HCV morphogenesis/secretion, suggesting that HCV co-opts the VLDL secretory pathway for its own secretion. This review highlights HCV-altered lipid metabolic events that aid the virus life cycle and ultimately promote liver disease.
Comprehensive validation of the Boston Bowel Preparation Scale

Background The Boston Bowel Preparation Scale (BBPS) is a novel bowel cleanliness rating scale that has undergone partial validation previously. Objective To fully validate the BBPS and assess the ease of its dissemination. Design Observational study. Setting Various endoscopy units worldwide. Subjects Endoscopists. Methods Video recordings of colonoscopies with varying degrees of cleanliness were viewed twice by gastroenterologists at 1 medical center. For each video, participants assigned segment and total BBPS scores. Endoscopists worldwide were also surveyed about their experience with the BBPS after viewing an instructional video. Main Outcome Measurements Intraclass correlation coefficients and weighted κ values assessed inter- and intrarater reliability, respectively. The BBPS was used among 983 patients undergoing screening colonoscopy. Results The BBPS demonstrated near-perfect interrater reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient=0.91) and substantial intrarater reliability (weighted κ = 0.78; 95% CI, 0.73-0.84). Among 983 colonoscopies, right and left colon segment scores of 2 or 3 had a multivariate odds ratio of 1.60 (95% CI, 1.01-2.55) and 2.58 (95% CI, 1.34-4.98), respectively, for polyp detection compared with segment scores of 0 or 1. Endoscopists from a variety of settings worldwide found the BBPS easy to implement and applicable to their patient population. Limitations Single-center reliability testing. Conclusions The BBPS is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing bowel cleanliness during colonoscopy. Segment scores may represent a standardized way to determine bowel preparation adequacy. The BBPS can be easily disseminated through the use of a brief instructional video.
Characterizations of Warfield Groups

Abstract Warfield groups are defined to be direct summands of simply presented abelian groups. By introducing a global definition of quasi-sequentially nice subgroups we prove some characterizations of Warfield groups involving these groups, knice subgroups, and valuated coproducts. Furthermore, we exhibit a new proof of a characterization of Warfield groups in terms of nice subgroups and valuated coproducts.
Genetic algorithm optimization of some novel broadband and multiband microstrip antennas

The design of microstrip antennas usually involves specifying the values of several parameters that define its geometry and material characteristics. When there is a large number of parameters, it becomes necessary to use optimization techniques in the design of the antennas in order to maximize their performance. We discuss the design of some novel broadband and multiband microstrip antennas using genetic algorithm (GA) optimization techniques. Also, a robust yet efficient optimization strategy that combines model-based parameter estimation (MBPE) with GA is introduced.
The lack of relationship between estrogen receptor status and response to chemotherapy.

2 situations were studied to determine possible correlation between estrogen receptor (ER) content of breast cancer tumors and patients response to chemotherapy. The results presented were obtained from patients in 2 clinical settings: 1) advanced disease patients treated with a variety of therapeutic modalities mainly multiple agent regimens; and 2) patients receiving postsurgical adjuvant therapy. In general the data indicated that ER status had no predictive value for response in either clinical setting. More specifically in 73 patients with disseminated disease no relationship between ER status and response to cytotoxic multiple-agent chemotherapy was observed. As of publication of this article 44 of these 73 cases have undergone extramural review with the same findings being reported. In a series of 52 patients receiving adjuvant therapy 27 were classified as failures (recurrence=failure). ER status therefore did not offer prognostic value for failure of patients treated with postsurgical adjuvant therapy. The conclusion that the prognostic value of ER data in nonhormonal therapy regimens is yet to be proven follows logically from this report confirmed by a review committee.
Measuring Lipid Bilayer Bending Energy in a Dual-Beam Optical Trap

While cell membrane bending is central to many physiological processes, techniques for measuring the bending energy of lipid bilayers have reported widely divergent results. Here, we show that a dual-beam optical trap (DBOT) can be used to apply finely controlled tensions to lipid bilayer membranes in a giant unilamellar vesicle (GUV) format. Optical force from the trap stretches the GUV; video microscopy is used to measure the change in membrane area during stretching. As laser power is increased, the surface area of the GUV also increases. Laser power is translated to membrane tension using a ray optics approach. The resulting tension-area relationship is fit to a model of membrane mechanics to yield a bending modulus.The entire DBOT system is integrated with a microfluidic flow channel in such a manner as to facilitate the high-throughput analysis of large populations of GUVs. Performing such an analysis, we have shown that the presence of cholesterol has no effect on the bending modulus of bilayers made from the unsaturated lipid 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC). Both pure POPC bilayers and bilayers consisting of 80% POPC, 20% cholesterol have a bending modulus around 8 kT.This technique is a promising route to detailed, accurate data relating lipid bilayer composition to membrane mechanical properties.
Nostalgia for Pre-Digital Media in Mad Men:

The article examines how old imaging technologies figure in AMC’s Mad Men, including the Kodak slide projector and the Super 8 home movie, and more broadly speaking, postwar advertising and ideals of home and family. It links the nostalgia for these old media to contemporary masculinity and the ephemeral nature of new media in order to question what significance the baby boom era holds today.
Pinyon pine (Pinus edulis) mortality and response to water addition across a three million year substrate age gradient in northern Arizona, USA

Pinyon pine (Pinus edulis Engelm.) is an important tree species in the western United States that has experienced large-scale mortality during recent severe drought. The influence of soil conditions on pinyon pine response to water availability is poorly understood. We investigated patterns of tree mortality and response of tree water relations and growth to experimental water addition at four sites across a three million year soil-substrate age gradient. We measured recent pinyon mortality at four sites, and tree predawn water potential, leaf carbon isotope signature, and branch, leaf, and stem radial growth on 12 watered and unwatered trees at each site. Watered trees recieved fifty percent more than growing season precipitation for 6 years. Substrate age generally had a greater effect on tree water stress and growth than water additions. Pinyon mortality was higher on intermediate-aged substrates (50–55%) than on young (15%) and old (17%) substrates, and mortality was positively correlated with pinyon abundance prior to drought. These results suggest high soil resource availability and consequent high stand densities at intermediate-age substrates predisposes trees to drought-induced mortality in semi-arid regions. The response of tree water relations to water addition was consistent with the inverse texture hypothesis; watering reduced tree water stress most in young, coarsely textured soil, likely because water rapidly penetrated deep in the soil profile where it was protected from evapotranspiration.
Symptoms of anxiety in inpatient alcoholics with and without DSM-III-R anxiety diagnoses

Self- and observer-rating scales were administered to alcohol-dependent inpatients during acute withdrawal and regularly for 3 weeks. Following a structured diagnostic interview (SCID) at the end of the 3rd week of hospitalization, subjects were divided into two groups: a dual-diagnosed group (alcohol dependence and anxiety disorder) and an alcohol-only group (no other current Axis I diagnosis). The results demonstrated that the dual-diagnosed subjects experienced higher anxiety levels during and after acute alcohol withdrawal. All rating scales (i.e., Sheehan Patient Rated Anxiety Scale, Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory, Zung Rating Scale for Anxiety, and Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety) were analyzed to obtain the best combination of sensitivity and specificity. Taken together, the results indicate that it may be possible to identify alcoholics who require additional psychiatric evaluation early in treatment. This would allow a treatment plan which could be used to address both psychiatric and substance abuse problems.
Update on St. John’s Wort

Herbal preparations for depression are often preferred over pharmaceutical drugs because they are available without prescription and because they are commonly assumed to be safe. St. John's wort (SJW) is one of the best-known and best-selling herbal therapies for depression. Meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials of SJW for major depression suggest that SJW is superior to placebo, is similarly effective compared with conventional antidepressant drugs, and tends to have fewer side effects compared with antidepressant agents, but there is a large degree of heterogeneity among the placebo-controlled studies, and trials from German-speaking countries tend to report more favorable findings. A small number of studies suggest SJW is safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Although SJW is relatively well tolerated, it is prone to many important drug-drug interactions.
Increased Surface Albedo in the Northern Hemisphere: Did satellites warn of the weather troubles of 1972 and 1973?

Routine mapping of snow and ice fields in the northern hemisphere was started by NOAA in 1967. Large year-to-year variations of the snow and pack-ice covers were observed. The annual mean coverage increased by 12 percent during 1971 and has remained high. The index R, which shows the approximate amount of energy reflected from the surface by snow and ice under the mean cloudiness, increased correspondingly. Thus, if the cloud cover over the snow fields did not increase substantially, the anomalous weather patterns of 1972 and 1973 could have been connected with the deficit in surface heat exchange which originated in the northern hemisphere the year before. During the past 7 years the largest changes occurred in the fall and in the continental interiors of Asia and America ( 8 ). Two synoptic parameters which could readily provide information on the development of snow and ice cover in the northern hemisphere are (i) the total area momentarily covered and (ii) the running annual mean of snow and ice coverage for the preceding 1-year period. By 20 September 1973 the annual mean coverage was 37.3 x 10 6 km 2 , 11 to 12 percent higher than at the same time during 1968 through 1970. Snow cover-fall, the season when 15 x 10 6 to 55 x 10 6 km 2 of the northern hemisphere is covered with snow and ice, started on 20 September 1973, compared to 17 September 1972 and 5 or 10 October during 1967 through 1970. The links between the atmosphere, the oceans, and the land surfaces must be better understood before the role of snow and ice can be thoroughly explained and exploited for long-range weather forecasting. But it is clear that snow, hitherto almost overlooked in synoptic meteorological reports, must be important in the mechanism of weather changes.
Electron precipitation models in global magnetosphere simulations

General methods for improving the specification of electron precipitation in global simulations are described and implemented in the Lyon-Fedder-Mobarry (LFM) global simulation model, and the quality of its predictions for precipitation is assessed. LFM's existing diffuse and monoenergetic electron precipitation models are improved, and new models are developed for lower energy, broadband, and direct-entry cusp precipitation. The LFM simulation results for combined diffuse plus monoenergetic electron precipitation exhibit a quadratic increase in the hemispheric precipitation power as the intensity of solar wind driving increases, in contrast with the prediction from the OVATION Prime (OP) 2010 empirical precipitation model which increases linearly with driving intensity. Broadband precipitation power increases approximately linearly with driving intensity in both models. Comparisons of LFM and OP predictions with estimates of precipitating power derived from inversions of Polar satellite UVI images during a double substorm event (28–29 March 1998) show that the LFM peak precipitating power is >4× larger when using the improved precipitation model and most closely tracks the larger of three different inversion estimates. The OP prediction most closely tracks the double peaks in the intermediate inversion estimate, but it overestimates the precipitating power between the two substorms by a factor >2 relative to all other estimates. LFMs polar pattern of precipitating energy flux tracks that of OP for broadband precipitation exhibits good correlation with duskside region 1 currents for monoenergetic energy flux that OP misses and fails to produce sufficient diffuse precipitation power in the prenoon quadrant that is present in OP. The prenoon deficiency is most likely due to the absence of drift kinetic physics in the LFM simulation.
SUMMARY OF THE WORKSHOP ON CLINICAL STUDIES AND PARTICULATE MATTER

(1998). SUMMARY OF THE WORKSHOP ON CLINICAL STUDIES AND PARTICULATE MATTER. Inhalation Toxicology: Vol. 10, No. 6, pp. 625-638.
Three dimensional shape analysis of JSC-1A simulated lunar regolith particles

Abstract The 3D shape of a fairly broad size range of the particles of the lunar regolith simulant JSC-1A was characterized. After wet screening with water, the size classes that were kept and investigated were: those retained on a 300 μm ASTM screen, those passing the 300 μm screen but retained on a 75 μm screen, those passing the 75 μm screen but retained on a 38 μm screen, and those passing the 38 μm screen but retained on a 20 μm screen. Samples of all four size fractions were embedded in epoxy and formed into cylindrical specimens. These specimens were scanned with X-ray computed tomography (X-ray CT). The resulting two dimensional (2D) slices were stacked into 3D microstructures. Particles were segmented and removed computationally. A total of 131 034 particles were found and used. Spherical harmonic coefficient expansions were then created for each particle, and the volume, surface area, dimensions (length L, width W and thickness T), integrated mean curvature, and principal moments of inertia were computed for each particle in 3D as well as a 3D VRML image of each particle analyzed. A projection algorithm was used to compute the apparent aspect ratio as would be seen by a 2D optical system. This report presents the 3D particle size and shape distributions for the various size classes using various 3D measures of particle size and shape and a comparison of 2D and 3D shape parameters. The data generated were also used to critique the shape of a model JSC-1A particle used in a discrete element modeling study.
Femoral Vein Pulmonary Artery Catheterization in the Intensive Care Unit

Objectives To evaluate the success and complications of pulmonary artery catheterization via the femoral vein without the use of fluoroscopy, in the medical ICU. Design We retrospectively reviewed the charts of all patients receiving pulmonary artery catheters through the femoral vein in the medical ICU between July 1, 1988 and June 30, 1992. Setting Medical ICU at Bronx Municipal Hospital Center. Patients Thirty-three patients were studied (20 male and 13 female). The patients ranged in age from 24 to 83 years, with the mean age of 56 years. The condition at the time of catheterization was classified as septic shock (n = 22), gastrointestinal bleed (n = 7), cardiogenic shock (n = 1), cardiac tamponade (n = 1), preoperative (n = 1), or drug overdose (n = 1). Measurements: In each case, pulmonary artery pressure tracings, electrocardiographic recordings, procedure, and nursing notes were reviewed from the time of catheter insertion. Charts were also analyzed for evidence of catheter-related septicemia, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, or problems developing at the insertion site. Results Femoral vein pulmonary artery catheterization was performed successfully in 37 of 39 attempts (95 percent success rate) without the use of fluoroscopy. Five of the 33 patients studied had more than one femoral vein pulmonary artery catheter during their hospital course. Four of them had two femoral vein pulmonary artery catheters and the fifth patient had three femoral vein pulmonary artery catheters. Overall, 39 attempts at femoral vein pulmonary artery catheterization were made in the 33 patients studied. Three patients had 10- to 19-beat ventricular tachycardia (7.7 percent incidence) precluding catheter insertion via this approach in two instances. There was no clinical evidence of major hematomas or hemorrhages, catheter-related septicemia, deep vein thrombosis, or pulmonary emboli in any of our patients. Conclusion Femoral vein pulmonary artery catheterization without the use of fluoroscopy is safe and effective.
Cosmological implications of axinos

Abstract Aximos are the supersymmetric partners of axions. They arise in models incorporating both low-energy supersymmetry and the axion solution of the strong CP problem. In the present state of knowledge several of the key properties of aximos, which control their cosmological consequences, are poorly determined. But generically there are very significant cosmological consequences, and we attempt to survey the possibilities here. In a wide variety of models the aximo is the lightest R-odd particle, and destabilizes the more conventional candidates for this title (photino, higgsino,...) on cosmological time scales. While this consideration perhaps casts some shadow over an important class of dark matter candidates, it turns out that in a large class of models the axino itself becomes a plausible dark matter candidate. In other models the axino is heavy, and unstable. Even then axinos are of cosmological interest, because their decay can be the dominant mechanism for production of the lightest R-odd particle.
A69: Lupus Nephritis and Autoantibody Characteristics of a Single Center Cohort of Male Pediatric SLE Patients

Background/Purpose: Males represent 4–22% of all SLE patients, but it is unclear if gender should influence management. A number of studies of mostly adult patients suggest genetic, hormonal and environmental aspects of gender differences contribute to differences in presentation, clinical course and outcome, including a positive association between male gender and nephritis and a negative association with disease activity and outcome. While differences may exist, these findings are supported by limited evidence, particularly for children and adolescents with SLE. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed records of the nearly 200 pediatric SLE patients actively followed in the TCH rheumatology and renal clinics between 2011 and 2013 to identify males with SLE. Characteristic autoantibody features and renal disease were defined. Results: We identified 25 males (48% Hispanic, 16% Black, 16% Asian). The mean age of onset of disease was 11.5 ± 0.6 yo. Comorbid autoimmune diseases were identified in 46% of patients and 31% had a positive family history of autoimmune disease. Hypocomplementemia was seen at least once in 54% of patients. The cumulative incidence of positive autoantibodies included 50% anti-dsDNA, 54% with antiphospholipid abs, 42% with anti-RNP, 38% with anti-Ro (SS-A), 19% with anti-Smith, 15% with anti-La (SS-B), and 8% with RF. Only 35% (9) of male SLE patients developed lupus nephritis (LN), the majority of whom had class IV lesions (77%). Class V lesions were seen in 3 patients, including one with mixed histopathology (IV/V). LN was a presenting symptom in all 9 patients. Of these, 33% had acute kidney injury and 22% had crescentic disease on biopsy. The proportion of boys with LN and anti-dsDNA antibodies was not significantly different from boys without LN (66% vs. 50%, p = 0.67); however, a significantly higher proportion of boys with LN had anti-RNP abs (77% vs. 29%, p = 0.04). Conclusion: Although SLE predominately affects females, males with SLE represent an important subset of patients about which little is known. In our male cohort, rates of autoantibody positivity were similar to those published for females, but rates of kidney invovlement seem lower than expected. In addition, autoantibody profiling may not be as useful in predicting kidney involvement in boys. Additional research is of upmost importance to improve the diagnosis, quality of care, and outcomes of male SLE patients.
The chloroethylnitrosoureas: sensitivity and resistance to cancer chemotherapy at the molecular level.

The chloroethylnitrosoureas were developed in a synthetic program that began with the observation that N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine was an effective agent against L1210 cells. The antitumor activity of the chloroethylnitrosoureas is based on their reactions with DNA, especially the formation of a cytosine-guanine crosslink in DNA. Resistance occurs when the enzyme, O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase, repairs an intermediate in crosslink formation. Inhibition of O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase often restores sensitivity to the chloroethlylnitrosoureas although evidence is accumulating that other repair mechanisms may also contribute to the resistance phenomenon. Continuing investigations in this field center on finding agents whose reactions with DNA are more specific, on elucidating other resistance mechanisms, and on overcoming resistance by developing new inhibitors of repair enzymes.
Selective fasciculation as a mechanism for the formation of specific chemical connections between Aplysia neurons in vitro

Selective fasciculation of growth cones along preestablished axon pathways expressing matching or complementary adhesion molecules is thought to be an important strategy in axon guidance. Growth cone inhibiting factors also appear to influence pathfinding decisions. We have used identified Aplysia neurons in vitro to explore the hypothesis that similar mechanisms could be involved in target selection. Co-cultures of L10 neurons with RB neuron targets or R2 neurons with RUQ neuron targets reliably formed chemical connections. In contrast, co-cultures of L10 with RUQ targets usually failed to form detectable chemical connections unless cell–cell contact was forced during plating by intertwining the major axons. These data suggested that differences in the ability to form cell–cell contacts might underlie the observed synaptic specificity. This notion was supported when fluorescent dye fills of L10 and R2 revealed a positive correlation between the amount of target contact and the frequency of synapse formation: L10–RUQ cultures showed much less target contact than L10–RB or R2–RUQ cultures. To examine the cellular mechanisms of these differences in target contact, presynaptic growth cones were observed as they interacted with target processes. L10–RUQ cultures showed much less fasciculation and more avoidance behavior compared to L10–RB and R2–RUQ cultures. This initial specificity suggested that the differences in amount of target contact arose through selective fasciculation and avoidance rather than through selective elimination after indiscriminate fasciculation. Selective fasciculation and avoidance might, therefore, aid in target selection by regulating the amount of contact between presynaptic processes and potential target cells. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
ACM SIGSPATIAL GIS Cup 2013: geo-fencing

The 21st ACM SIGSPATIAL Conference on Advances in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) was held in November of 2013 in Orlando, Florida. Following the success of last year's event, we organized the second programming contest associated with the conference, called the SIGSPATIAL GIS Cup 2013. The subject of the competition was Geo-fencing, which identifies the qualified point and area pairs using a virtual perimeter for a real-world geographic area. We describe the contest details, and the results, as well as the lessons learned during the process.
Membrane pores: a computer simulation of interacting pores analyzed by g1(τ) and g2(τ) correlation functions

Ion channels in a cell membrane were modeled by a computer simulation of fluctuating pores distributed in a spatial array, a cellular automata. The sum of the currents through such a set of pores models a noise analysis experiment. These currents were analyzed by using the optical correlation functions gn(τ) = / n, where f(t) are the current deviations around the mean current and denotes the time average. These functions can be easily used to determine if the noise is Gaussian. If the noise is not Gaussian, they provide additional information not already contained in the power spectrum. When the pores do not interact with each other, the noise is Gaussian and the power spectrum a Lorentzian. When the pores interact in a strongly cooperative way the noise was still Gaussian and the power spectrum still a Lorentzian, but the usual analysis applied to such a case would over-estimate the single channel conductance. If the kinetics of the pore opening and closing vary on the time scale of the experiment then the relationship g2(τ) = 1 + 2 [g1(τ)]2 is no longer satisfied.
Investigating the Link Between Validation Seeking and Lay Dispositionism

In this study, the authors investigated the relationship between validation seeking (VS; Dykman, 1998) and lay dispositionism, the use of personality traits as the basis for social inference (Chiu, Hong, & Dweck, 1997). Specifically, the authors sought to empirically address three questions: (a) Does VS predict the tendency to make dispositional inferences and, if so, do social comparison tendencies mediate this relationship? (b) Does VS mediate the association between implicit person theories and lay dispositionism? and (c) Does contingent parental regard indirectly predict lay dispositionism via its effects on VS and/or implicit person theories? Results suggest that both VS and entity person theories facilitate lay dispositionism, yet do so via distinct processes. Both processes are driven at least partly by contingent parental regard; however, their effects on lay dispositionism differ in scope and in the extent to which they entail social comparison.
Order Effects in Preference Judgments: Evidence for Context Dependence in the Generation of Preferences.

Abstract This paper explores the cognitive processes at work in preference generation. It tests the hypothesis that the evaluation process relies on a comparative context of alternatives. Participants in two experiments reviewed pairs of options that included one superficially attractive option and another that was normatively superior in some way but superficially unattractive. Experiment 1 (N= 116) found that when the superficially attractive option was rated first, reported preferences for both options were higher than when the less attractive alternative was rated first. Experiment 2 (N= 177) replicated this order effect on preferences using six pairs of options. I obtained process measures that suggest the effect is attributable to the process by which people generate judgments of preference. Options are rated more positively to the extent that they compare favorably to other real or imagined alternatives; options are rated more negatively to the extent that they compare poorly to their alternatives. These two experiments contribute to the literature on preference generation by specifying a process by which people generate preferences.
X-ray line-broadening analysis of deformation mechanisms during rolling of commercial-purity titanium

X-ray line-broadening techniques were used to establish deformation mechanisms in textured commercial purity (CP) titanium specimens that were rolled at various temperatures. The results indicated that conventional line-broadening techniques developed specifically for polycrystalline powders could be used on textured materials to deduce the slip-system activity and dislocation density that develop during thermomechanical processing if appropriate averaging procedures are followed. The deduced slip-system activity and densities revealed a transition in deformation behavior from a heavily-twinned to an untwinned mode with an increase in deformation temperature for CP titanium.
ON THE STRUCTURE OF THE LIKELIHOOD FUNCTION OF AUTOREGRESSIVE AND MOVING AVERAGE MODELS

. In finite order normal moving average models the maximum likelihood estimates always exist. For finite order normal autoregressive models sufficient conditions for the existence of maximum likelihood estimates is given. Some cases not satisfying the conditions are studied.
The Mojave Compiler: Providing Language Primitives for Whole-Process Migration and Speculation for Distributed Applications

We present an approach for implementing language-level primitives for whole-process migration and speculative execution in a compiler and associated runtime environment. These primitives are exposed to the user through simple language constructs that do not require the user to manage process state explicitly. With migration and speculation we show how the user can quickly add persistent checkpoints to any large-scale distributed application that requires longevity in a faulty environment. We demonstrate the use of migration and speculation primitives for checkpointing in a canonical grid computation application, and analyze the results of this implementation.
Serotonin in aging, late-life depression, and alzheimer's disease : The emerging role of functional imaging

Serotonin (5-HT) neuron and neurotransmitter loss in normal aging and neuropsychiatric diseases of late life may contribute to behavioral changes commonly observed in the elderly population. Extensive evidence implicates a deficit in serotonergic neurotransmission in the development of major depression. It has been further suggested that the age-related changes in 5-HT neurons may predispose the elderly to develop depression. There is also increasing evidence that a combination of disturbances in cholinergic and serotonergic function may play a role in cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease (AD), with serotonergic dysfunction potentially responsible for a significant portion of the behavioral aspects of the disease. This implication of the 5-HT system in aging and age-related cognitive and mood disorders rests in large part on post mortem studies and animal models, which are limited in their capacity to predict dynamic human biochemical-behavior relationships or to accurately model the living human brain. Initial applications of functional brain imaging with positron emission tomography (PET) in the in vivo study of the brain in aging depression, and dementia focused on characterizing alterations in physiological measurements of cerebral metabolism and perfusion. However, recent advances in PET radiochemistry, instrumentation, and image processing have paved the way for noninvasive means to test specific hypotheses regarding the direct involvement of 5-HT neurons in the behavioral features of aging and to define and monitor therapeutic regimens for neuropsychiatric conditions of late life. Coupling of clinical trials in well-characterized subject populations with PET imaging using ligands specific for 5-HT receptor subtypes and transporter proteins promises to increase our understanding of the role of the 5-HT system in affective and cognitive aspects of treatment response. Longitudinal studies in aging, late-life depression, and AD are also needed to evaluate the complex interplay between neurodegenerative processes and serotonergic neurotransmission.
Comparison Between Southern Blots and qPCR Analysis of Leukocyte Telomere Length in the Health ABC Study

Only a few studies, primarily limited to small samples, have examined the relationship between leukocyte telomere length (LTL) data generated by Southern blots, expressed in kilobases, versus quantitative PCR data, expressed in the telomere product/a single gene product (T/S). In the present study, we compared LTL data generated by the two methods in 681 elderly participants (50% African Americans, 50% of European origin, 49.2% women, mean age 73.7±2.9 years) in the Health Aging and Body Composition Study. The correlation between the data generated by the two methods was modest (R (2) = .27). Both methods captured the age effect on LTL and the longer LTL in women than in men. However, only the Southern blot method showed a significantly longer LTL in African Americans than in European decent individuals, which might be attributed to the larger measurement error of the quantitative PCR-based method than the Southern blots.