cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Flexible Flowshop Design in Cellular Manufacturing Systems

Abstract This paper explores the flowshop cell design in the cellular manufacturing system to minimize the number of machines, considering shifting the bottleneck machine and the annual demand. In a flowshop cell, products are processed through a series of production stages. Based on the number of machines per stage, the cell can be classified as either a production line (flowshop) or flexible flowshop. Two steps are followed in this study to design flexible flowshop cell. First, the un-capacitated mathematical model distributes the products into families and their corresponding machines into cells (product family formulation). Second, two non-linear mathematical models are proposed to design flexible flowshop. The first non-linear mathematical model is developed to build a flexible flowshop cell based on production rates. In this context, the number of machines in the system is determined, considering the machine duplication possibilities per stage for all products simultaneously, based on minimizing the total mean capacity required. The minimum number of machines per system is determined using a second non-linear mathematical model, with the objective to minimize the number of machines in the cell. In the two proposed nonlinear mathematical models, there is a limitation for the number of machine types. The results show that, as machine duplication is allowed, the number of machines per cell increases. Therefore, flexible flowshop design contributes to minimize the total number of machines in the system. In this way, the number of cells is reduced while production rates increase, and the total number of machines and total mean capacity required decrease.
Initial Glycemic Control and Care Among Younger Adults Diagnosed With Type 2 Diabetes.

OBJECTIVE The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is increasing among adults under age 45. Onset of type 2 diabetes at a younger age increases an individual’s risk for diabetes-related complications. Given the lasting benefits conferred by early glycemic control, we compared glycemic control and initial care between adults with younger onset (21–44 years) and mid-age onset (45–64 years) of type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Using data from a large, integrated health care system, we identified 32,137 adults (aged 21–64 years) with incident diabetes (first HbA1c ≥6.5% [≥48 mmol/mol]). We excluded anyone with evidence of prior type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes mellitus, or type 1 diabetes. We used generalized linear mixed models, adjusting for demographic and clinical variables, to examine differences in glycemic control and care at 1 year. RESULTS Of identified individuals, 26.4% had younger-onset and 73.6% had mid-age–onset type 2 diabetes. Adults with younger onset had higher initial mean HbA1c values (8.9% [74 mmol/mol]) than adults with onset in mid-age (8.4% [68 mmol/mol]) (P CONCLUSIONS Adults with onset of type 2 diabetes at a younger age were less likely to achieve glycemic control at 1 year following diagnosis, suggesting the need for tailored care approaches to improve outcomes for this high-risk patient population.
Global and Individualized Community Detection in Inhomogeneous Multilayer Networks.

In network applications, it has become increasingly common to obtain datasets in the form of multiple networks observed on the same set of subjects, where each network is obtained in a related but different experiment condition or application scenario. Such datasets can be modeled by multilayer networks where each layer is a separate network itself while different layers are associated and share some common information. The present paper studies community detection in a stylized yet informative inhomogeneous multilayer network model. In our model, layers are generated by different stochastic block models, the community structures of which are (random) perturbations of a common global structure while the connecting probabilities in different layers are not related. Focusing on the symmetric two block case, we establish minimax rates for both \emph{global estimation} of the common structure and \emph{individualized estimation} of layer-wise community structures. Both minimax rates have sharp exponents. In addition, we provide an efficient algorithm that is simultaneously asymptotic minimax optimal for both estimation tasks under mild conditions. The optimal rates depend on the \emph{parity} of the number of most informative layers, a phenomenon that is caused by inhomogeneity across layers.
Task-specific movement training improves kinematics and pain during the Y-balance test and hip muscle strength in females with patellofemoral pain.

Objectives Task-specific movement training is a proposed intervention for patellofemoral pain aimed to optimise movement during daily tasks. Focused, progressive task practice emphasising optimal limb alignment may yield improvements in performance-based function and hip muscle strength, and transfer learnt movement patterns to untrained tasks. The purpose of this study was to determine if task-specific movement training improves performance-based function (composite score, movement, pain during movement) in an untrained task. Our secondary purpose was to test whether hip muscle strength improved following the movement training intervention. Methods This study was a secondary analysis of a prospective, non-randomised, within-group, double-baseline study. Twenty-three females with patellofemoral pain underwent task-specific movement training two times/week for 6 weeks. Outcomes were collected at three time points: enrolment (baseline), 6 weeks (preintervention) and 12 weeks (postintervention). A repeated measures analysis of variance tested whether the change during the intervention phase was greater than the change during the control phase. Y-balance composite score, hip and knee kinematics and pain during the Y-balance test were primary outcome measures; strength of the hip lateral rotator, abductor and extensor muscles was a secondary outcome measure. Results The change in composite score for the Y-balance test was not statistically significantly different between the intervention and control phases (p=0.16). The change during the intervention phase exceeded the change during the control phase for hip and knee kinematics and pain during the Y-balance test, with all variables improving (p Conclusion Although the Y-balance test composite score did not improve, performance-based function during an untrained task, measured by movement and pain during the test, improved following task-specific movement training. Hip muscle strength improved, despite no focused muscle strengthening. Level of evidence Level II.
Kinetics of polymerase chain reaction positivity in patients with Clostridioides difficile infection

Background Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a sensitive test for diagnosing Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) and could remain positive following resolution of CDI. The kinetics of PCR positivity following antibiotics for CDI is unknown. We studied this and whether it predicted CDI recurrence. Methods Adults with CDI from October 2009 to May 2017 were included. Serial stool samples within 60 days of treatment were collected. Recurrent CDI was defined as diarrhea after interim symptom resolution with positive stool PCR within 56 or 90 days of treatment completion. Contingency table analysis was used to assess the risk of recurrence. Results Fifty patients were included [median age: 51 (range = 20-86) years, 66% women]. Treatment given was metronidazole, 50% (25); vancomycin, 44% (22); both, 4% (2); and fidaxomicin, 2% (1). Median duration of treatment for all 50 patients was 14 (range = 8-60) days. The median duration of treatment in patients who got prolonged therapy (>14 days) (n = 10) was 47 (range = 18-60) days. Median time to negative PCR was 9 (95% CI, 7-14) days from treatment initiation, which did not differ by antibiotics given (p = 0.5). A positive PCR during or after treatment was associated with a higher risk of recurrence at 56 days (p = 0.02) and at 90 days (p = 0.009). Conclusion The median time to negative PCR in CDI was 9 days from treatment initiation. The PCR positivity during or after treatment may be useful for recurrence prediction; larger studies are needed to validate these results.
TU-F-CAMPUS-T-02: Vernier Picket Fence Test: A Non-Imaging Method to Localize the Radiation Isocenter with Submillimeter Accuracy

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to propose a new non-imaging method to localize the radiation isocenter with submillimeter accuracy. Methods: The Vernier picket fence (VPF) is a multileaf collimator (MLC) picket fence sequence in which the fence spacing is 1/N smaller than the detector spacing of the QA phantom, where N is the magnification factor, typically set to 10 or 20. Similar to reading a Vernier caliper, the user can easily achieve the resolution of 1/N of the detector spacing by visually inspecting the maximum signal. To achieve higher accuracy, a Gaussian model was used to interpolate the peak position, which can fall between adjacent detectors. In two separate tests, precise MLC offsets and imprecise couch offsets were applied to a 2D detector array (MapCheck, Sun Nuclear Corp., Melbourne, Florida) to introduce setup errors. Two vertical VPF fields were delivered with collimator angles at 0° and 90° to detect the lateral and longitudinal setup errors, respectively. For a rotational QA phantom, an additional lateral VPF field is needed to detect the vertical setup error for three-dimensional capabilities. Results: With N set to 20 and a detector spacing of 5 mm for MapCheck, the resolution of the VPF’s visual analysis is 0.25 mm. With the Gaussian interpretation, the VPF can achieve an accuracy of 0.02 mm, as shown by the MLC offset test. The couch offset test measured the couch hysteresis and demonstrated that the setup error detected by the VPF differed from the ExacTrac™ (Brainlab AG, Feldkirchen, Germany) optical tracking by 0.055 mm in the lateral direction and 0.041 mm in the longitudinal direction on average. The VPF was also shown to be feasible in the vertical direction as well. Conclusion: This study verified the VPF as a non-imaging method to localize the radiation isocenter with submillimeter accuracy. Funding is in part by the Portland Chapter of the Achievement Rewards for College Scientists. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors, and does not necessarily represent the official views of the sponsors. The authors declare no conflict of interest.
A method for Doppler acoustic measurement of black smoker flow fields

[1] A method is developed for using multibeam sonar to map the flow velocity field of black smoker plumes. The method is used to obtain two-dimensional cross-sectional maps of vertical velocity, but is capable of mapping velocity in three dimensions. This is in contrast to conventional current meters, which measure only at several points and acoustic Doppler current profilers, whose diverging beams cannot readily map the interior of a plume. Geometric corrections are used to estimate the vertical component of velocity, compensating for ambient current. The method is demonstrated using data from the main plume at the Grotto vent complex in the Main Endeavour Field, Juan de Fuca Ridge, and the errors due to noise, signal fluctuations, and fluctuations in plume structure are estimated.
Large-Scale Parallel Collaborative Filtering for the Netflix Prize

Many recommendation systems suggest items to users by utilizing the techniques of collaborative filtering(CF) based on historical records of items that the users have viewed, purchased, or rated. Two major problems that most CF approaches have to contend with are scalability and sparseness of the user profiles. To tackle these issues, in this paper, we describe a CF algorithm alternating-least-squares with weighted-?-regularization(ALS-WR), which is implemented on a parallel Matlab platform. We show empirically that the performance of ALS-WR (in terms of root mean squared error(RMSE)) monotonically improves with both the number of features and the number of ALS iterations. We applied the ALS-WR algorithm on a large-scale CF problem, the Netflix Challenge, with 1000 hidden features and obtained a RMSE score of 0.8985, which is one of the best results based on a pure method. In addition, combining with the parallel version of other known methods, we achieved a performance improvement of 5.91% over Netflix's own CineMatch recommendation system. Our method is simple and scales well to very large datasets.
Simulations of Gas-Liquid Two-Phase Jet Flows Using the Moment of Fluid Method

Numerical simulations are carried out to study the breakup phenomena of liquid jets issuing from nozzles into gas. Liquid gas interface is captured using the state of art moment-of-fluid (MOF) methods. Directional split method is used for the advection of the liquid-gas interface and a block structured adaptive mesh refinement method is used to locally increase the resolution in the regions of interest. The breakup of two-dimensional and three-dimensional liquid jets is investigated. The influence of jet exit velocity on the breakup is studied. Comparisons are made with theoretical solutions and good agreement is observed. The parallel efficiency test shows that the block structured framework can achieve high parallel efficiency.© 2013 ASME
FETAL DEVELOPMENT AS DETERMINED BY ULTRASONIC PULSE ECHO TECHNIQUES.

Abstract 1. 1. The biparietal diameter has been shown, by ultrasonic methods, to increase approximately 1.8 mm. per week during the last trimester of pregnancy. 2. 2. In 68 per cent of patients, by measurement of the biparietal diameter of the fetus by the A-scan, it is possible to estimate within ± 484 grams of the actual weight of the infant. In 91 per cent, when the fetal biparietal diameter measures 8.5 cm. or more, the fetus will weigh in excess of 2,500 grams. 3. 3. Use of the calculated circumference of the fetal thorax for estimation of fetal weight gave an error of as much as 500 grams in 20 per cent. Improved techniques may eliminate much of this error. 4. 4. By using the combined estimation of biparietal diameter and chest circumference, it is possible to estimate within 400 grams of the actual weight except in large babies where the tendency is to underestimate the weight.
Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Carbonylated Proteins from the Striatum and Cortex of Pesticide-Treated Mice

Epidemiological studies indicate exposures to the herbicide paraquat (PQ) and fungicide maneb (MB) are associated with increased risk of Parkinson's disease (PD). Oxidative stress appears to be a premier mechanism that underlies damage to the nigrostriatal dopamine system in PD and pesticide exposure. Enhanced oxidative stress leads to lipid peroxidation and production of reactive aldehydes; therefore, we conducted proteomic analyses to identify carbonylated proteins in the striatum and cortex of pesticide-treated mice in order to elucidate possible mechanisms of toxicity. Male C57BL/6J mice were treated biweekly for 6 weeks with saline, PQ (10 mg/kg), MB (30 mg/kg), or the combination of PQ and MB (PQMB). Treatments resulted in significant behavioral alterations in all treated mice and depleted striatal dopamine in PQMB mice. Distinct differences in 4-hydroxynonenal-modified proteins were observed in the striatum and cortex. Proteomic analyses identified carbonylated proteins and peptides from the cortex and striatum, and pathway analyses revealed significant enrichment in a variety of KEGG pathways. Further analysis showed enrichment in proteins of the actin cytoskeleton in treated samples, but not in saline controls. These data indicate that treatment-related effects on cytoskeletal proteins could alter proper synaptic function, thereby resulting in impaired neuronal function and even neurodegeneration.
Kinematical and dynamical temperature transformations

There are three different formulations in the literature for the relativistic transformation of temperature. An ideal gas model is used here to differentiate among their areas of applicability.
Influence of Static Strength and Intramuscular Occlusion on Submaximal Static Muscle Endurance

Abstract Males (N = 49), age 17 to 33 yr, served as subjects for the study which investigated the relationship between static strength and submaximal, static muscle endurance of the grip squeezing muscles. The percentages of maximal static strength used for the endurance tests were 30%, 45%, 60%, and 75% with local circulation to the muscles intact and artificially occluded by a pressure cuff. Two groups, a high strength group and a low strength group, were formed based on the mean maximal strength of the subjects. The differences between groups with respect to endurance performance under the two conditions at the 4 percentage levels were tested with univariate ANOVAS. Significant negative correlations were noted between static strength and endurance time for each treatment. The critical occluding tension level was found to be 60% maximal voluntary contractile strength (MVC) for low strength individuals as compared to 45% MVC for high strength individuals. The endurance time of the low strength group was ...
Tai Chi in Patients With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

Although exercise is an important component of heart failure management, optimal regimens, particularly in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF), are uncertain. Tai chi (TC) is a mind-body exercise that may have potential benefits but has not been studied in this population. The authors randomized 16 patients with HFPEF to either 12 weeks TC or aerobic exercise. Assessments included peak oxygen uptake, 6-minute walk, quality of life, echocardiography, mood, and self-efficacy at baseline and at 12 weeks. Cardiorespiratory measures during exercise were obtained to characterize training intensities. Baseline characteristics were as follows: age 66±12 years, E/A ratio 1.3±0.7, and E/e' ratio 15.9±4.8. Overall, adherence was excellent (89% attendance). Change in peak oxygen uptake was similar between groups after 12 weeks, but 6-minute walk distance increased more after TC (69±46 m vs 10±31 m, P=.02). While both groups had improved Minnesota Living With Heart Failure scores and self-efficacy, Profile of Mood States (POMS)-Depression scores improved more with TC (-1.7±2.8 vs 1.6±3, P=.05). Cardiorespiratory assessment during TC showed lower oxygen uptake (4.3 mL/kg/min vs 9.4 mL/kg/min, P<.01), respiratory rate, and heart rate. TC is feasible and safe in HFPEF. Therepeutic endpoints appear similar with TC relative to aerobic exercise despite a lower aerobic training workload.
Image fusion using steerable dyadic wavelet transform

An image fusion algorithm based on multiscale analysis along arbitrary orientations is presented. After a steerable dyadic wavelet transform decomposition of multi-sensor images is carried out, the maximum local oriented energy is determined at each level of scale and spatial position. Maximum local oriented energy and local dominant orientation are used to combine transform coefficients obtained from the analysis of each input image. Reconstruction is accomplished from the modified coefficients, resulting in a fused image. Examples of multi-sensor fusion and fusion using different settings of a single sensor are demonstrated.
The Steady Horizontal Flow of a Wall Jet Into a Large-Width Cavity

This paper treats the steady flow of a wall jet into a large-width cavity for which the primary axis is normal to the direction of the jet inflow. Numerical solutions of the two-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations are computed for inlet Reynolds numbers of 10 to 50 and tank width to inlet height ratios of 16 to 128. The length and velocity scales of the wall jet boundary layer exhibit close agreement with the classic wall jet similarity solution and published experimental data but the width of the region for which the comparison proves to be favorable has a limited extent. This departure from a set-similar evolution of the wall jet is shown to result from the finite domain width and its influence on the large recirculation cell located immediately above the wall jet boundary layer.
Glutathione S-Transferase Expression in Pollution-Associated Hepatic Lesions of Brown Bullheads (Ameiurus nebulosus) from the Cuyahoga River, Cleveland, Ohio

In rodents, overexpression of glutathione S-transferase pi is a characteristic feature of foci of cellular alteration (FCA) and neoplastic liver lesions induced by genotoxic chemicals. Alterations of glutathione S-transferase (GST) expression in hepatic lesions have also been reported in fish exposed to environmental carcinogens, and cellular GST expression may be an important determinant of growth and progression of chemical-associated liver tumors in certain fish species. In the present study, GST expression was examined in hepatic lesions of brown bullheads (n = 44) from the Cuyahoga River, a highly industrialized site located in Cleveland, Ohio. GST proteins were detected by immunohistochemistry and polyclonal antibodies that recognize either two major bullhead GST proteins or a pi-like GST isoform. Hepatic lesions were present in 70% of the fish and included biliary hyperplasia and biliary fibrosis; eosinophilic, basophilic, clear cell, and vacuolated FCA; and biliary neoplasms. Eosinophilic FCA and biliary tumors were the most prevalent preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions. GST expression in hyperplastic biliary tissue, FCA and tumors did not markedly differ from that of surrounding normal hepatocytes or biliary epithelium. Some hepatocytes within eosinophilic FCA had decreased GST expression. A complete absence of GST immunoreactive protein was not observed in any lesion, and there were no marked differences when comparing GST pi to overall GST expression. Our results indicate that GST expression in hepatic lesions of brown bullhead exposed to environmental carcinogens does not significantly differ from that in surrounding normal cells and is therefore not a useful predictor of environmental carcinogenesis in this species. Furthermore, the regulation and expression of GST pi in bullhead hepatocarcinogenesis appears to differ markedly from that during hepatocarcinogenesis in rats and some other fish species.
Pretreatment of Human Epidermal Keratinocytes with D,L-Sulforaphane Protects Against Sulfur Mustard Cytotoxicity

ABSTRACTSulfur mustard (SM) is a powerful cytotoxic agent as well as a potent vesicant, mutagen, and carcinogen. This compound reacts with glutathione (GSH) and forms GSH-SM conjugates that appear to be excreted through the mercapturic acid pathway in mammals. The question of whether glutathione-S-transferases (GST) are involved in enzymatic formation of these conjugates remains unresolved. In previous studies, ethacrynic acid (EAA), a putative inhibitor of this transferase, and oltipraz, a known inducer,were ineffective in modulating this enzyme in cultured normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEK) so this hypothesis could not be tested. Higher levels of intracellular GSH appeared to be solely responsible for resistance of EAA-pretreated cells to SM. A better inducer of GST was needed to test whether this enzyme could be used to modify cytotoxicity following SM exposure. D,L-sulforaphane (DLS), a compound from broccoli extract known to be a potent inducer of this enzyme, was tested for GST induction in...
Climate change, patch choice, and intensification at Pont d'Ambon (Dordogne, France) during the Younger Dryas

This paper considers the impact of the Younger Dryas on the prehistoric inhabitants of Pont d'Ambon, a site in the Dordogne region of southwestern France, through an examination of the zooarchaeological remains from this site. An investigation of patch choice indicates that patch choice evenness declines during the Younger Dryas due to increasing local dominance of the grassland patch. Analyses of demographic composition, cutmark frequency, and marrow processing in the wild European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) assemblage suggest intensified rabbit use during this period. This study thus supports the hypothesis that changing climate had significant impacts on the prehistoric inhabitants of Pont d'Ambon. However, the traditional climate hypothesis—that changing climate negatively impacted the availability of larger fauna, forcing a switch to smaller, lower-ranked prey items—is not supported here. The inhabitants of Pont d'Ambon seem to have adapted to changing climate by efficiently exploiting the new species available to them, and possibly, during the Younger Dryas, by intensifying their use of one of these new species, the European rabbit.
Unfolding the mysteries of heterochromatin

The function of heterochromatin has not been well understood. Recent studies, however, demonstrate that heterochromatin is essential for proper chromosome behavior. The silencing of euchromatic genes by heterochromatin has been exploited to understand the molecular nature of heterochromatin. Mutations that either suppress or enhance gene silencing exist within chromatin structural proteins and modifying enzymes. Interactions between some of these proteins have been demonstrated, suggesting a complicated picture of heterogeneous silencing complexes that are counteracted by protein-modifying machinery.
EFFECT OF TRITON INGESTION ON FAT ABSORPTION.

SummaryThe effect of oral ingestion of Triton on fat absorption in rats was investigated by feeding either fat or Triton alone, or a combination of fat and Triton. Serum esterified fatty acid levels were elevated after the fat feeding but not in either case after Triton ingestion. An attempt to account for this decreased fat absorption was made by determining the effect on the lipolytic activity of pancreatic lipase of Triton, alone and in the presence of a bile acid. A marked inhibition of lipolysis occurred in both cases when Triton was present. The absence of any inhibitory effect of blood serum on lipase activity after the ingestion of massive amounts of Triton indicated that the Triton was not absorbed.
Twenty-four-hour ghrelin is elevated after calorie restriction and exercise training in non-obese women

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether chronic energy deficiency achieved with caloric restriction combined with exercise is associated with changes in the 24-hour profile of ghrelin in non-obese, pre-menopausal women. Research Methods and Procedures: Twelve non-obese (BMI = 18 to 25 kg/m2), non-exercising women (age, 18 to 24 years) were randomly assigned to a non-exercising control group or a diet and exercise group. The 3-month diet and exercise intervention yielded a daily energy deficit of −45.7 ± 12.4%. Serial measurements were made of body composition, energy balance, and feelings of fullness. Repeated blood sampling over 24 hours to measure ghrelin occurred before and after the study. Results: Significant decreases in body weight, body fat, and feelings of fullness were observed in only the energy-deficit group (p < 0.05); significant changes in the following ghrelin features were found in only the deficit group (p < 0.05): elevations in baseline (+353 ± 118 pg/mL), lunch peak (+370 ± 102 pg/mL), dinner peak (+438 ± 149 pg/mL), nocturnal rise (+269 ± 77 pg/mL), and nocturnal peak (+510 ± 143 pg/mL). In addition, we found a larger dinner decline (−197 ± 52 pg/mL) and negative correlations between changes in the ghrelin dinner profile and changes in body weight (R = 0.784), 24-hour intake (R = 0.67), energy deficiency (R = 0.762), and feelings of fullness (R = 0.648; p < 0.05). Discussion: Changes in ghrelin concentrations across the day after weight loss are closely associated with other physiological adaptations to energy deficiency, further supporting the role of ghrelin as a countermeasure to restore energy balance.
Random Digit Dialing: A Sampling Technique for Telephone Surveys

This paper describes an investigation into the efficiency of a random-digit-dialed telephone survey for the collection of health attitude information. Data come from a survey of adults in Oakland County, Michigan, conducted during the 1976-77 swine influenza immunization campaign. Information is presented on the results of dialing to sample telephone numbers, the frequency of nonworking numbers within the sample, problems with numbers that were never answered, and precision of sample estimates. In addition, some rough estimates of cost are presented and compared to survey costs reported in other studies. Findings suggest that random digit dialing is an efficient survey method, both in terms of cost in implementation and sampling precision.
Effect of infarct location on myocardial salvage assessed by technetium-99m isonitrile.

To investigate the influence of infarct location on myocardial salvage, technetium-99m isonitrile was injected into 43 patients with a first myocardial infarction before early reperfusion therapy. Primary coronary angioplasty was performed in 22 patients and successful intravenous thrombolytic therapy was given to 15 patients, both within 6 h of the onset of chest pain. Patency of the infarct-related artery was confirmed by angiography in all 37 patients. In the remaining six patients (three with and three without early thrombolytic therapy) the infarct-related artery remained occluded. Single photon emission computed tomography was performed within 6 h of the administration of technetium-99m isonitrile and repeated at the time of hospital discharge. Radionuclide ejection fraction at discharge was significantly lower for patients with anterior infarction (0.41 ± 0.12) than for those with inferior infarction (0.56 ± 0.09, p
Perioperative outcomes of laparoscopic versus open splenectomy: a meta-analysis with an emphasis on complications.

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to analyze the published perioperative results of laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) compared to open splenectomy (OS), and to determine the impact of LS on the incidence and type of splenectomy-related complications. Methods Perioperative results and complications were tabulated from all English-language reports of LS from 1991 through 2002, and complications were analyzed further by type. Data were taken from 26 series that compared OS to LS within an institution (paired analysis) and from an additional 25 series of only LS (unpaired analysis), and a meta-analysis was performed. Results A total of 2940 patients from 51 published series were included (LS, 2119 patients; OS, 821 patients). Age, gender, and American Society of Anesthesiologists class were similar. In the analysis of paired OS and LS studies, the mean operative time for LS was significantly longer (LS, 180 minutes; OS, 114 minutes; P Conclusions Although operative times are longer for LS than OS, LS is associated with a significant reduction in splenectomy-related morbidity, primarily as a function of fewer pulmonary, wound, and infectious complications.
Hume on the Self

In the Treatise Hume argues that a person is “nothing but a bundle of perceptions”. But what precisely is the meaning of this bundle thesis of a person? In my paper, an attempt is made to articulate two plausible interpretations of this controversial view and to identify and evaluate a number of problems for this thesis that is central to Hume’s account of the self.
HIGH FREQUENCY OSCILLATION (HFO) VS. CONVENTIONAL MECHANICAL VENTILATION BAROTRAUMA, SURFACTANT AND SURFACE TENSLOE IN PREMATURE LAMBS

Twelve premature twin lambs delivered by C-section at 133-136 days gestational age were supported for 3 hrs. on an F1 O2= 1.0 on either HFO at 900 breaths/min. or CMV at 20 - 30 breaths/min. Average ± SE blood gas values were similar at sacrifice, but the HFO group required a higher MAP (16 ± 0.78 vs. 13.3 ± 1.43 on CMV). Both groups had similar degrees of epithelial necrosis, hyaline membrane formation and equal disruption of alveolar permeability as evidenced by bidirectional leak of labelled albumin and alveolar wash proteins. The HFO animals had a smaller alveolar pool of endogenous phosphatydyleholine (PC) and larger tissue associated exogenous H3 natural surfactant tracer (H3 -NS) which may represent a decrease in initial secretion of surfactant and/or a stimulation of reuptake in this group. This study failed to prove the superiority of HFO over CMV suggested by our previous studies in a different animal model both in terms of decreasing barotrauma and improving gas exchange and raises important questions with regards to its effect on surfactant turnover.
A putative cytoprotective receptor in the kidney: relation to the neuronal strychnine-sensitive glycine receptor.

Abstract The neutral amino acid glycine has been demonstrated to prevent cell death in numerous cell types exposed to a variety of toxic insults. Recently, the central nervous system (CNS) glycine antagonist strychine was demonstrated to bind specifically to the plasma membrane of renal proximal tubules (RPT) and mimic glycine cytoprotection. Further, it has been demonstrated in RPT that glycine and strychnine block chloride influx in the late stages of cell injury. The aim of this study was to determine if the RPT cytoprotective site is related to neuronal glycine receptors. Only antagonists tot he CNS strychnine-sensitive glycine receptor (strychnine, brucine), and not antagonists to the glycine modulatory site of the NMDA receptor (DCQX, 7-CKA, HA-966) or the GABAA receptor (bicuculline methiodide, picrotoxin), prevented mitochondrial inhibitor (antimycin A)-induced RPT cell death. Using immunoblot analysis, proteins corresponding to the 58kDa β-subunit of the strychnine-sensitive glycine receptor and the associated protein gephyrin were identified in rabbit kidney cortical membrane fractions and RPT. No protein corresponding to the 48 kDa α-subunit was identified. Thus, glycine and strychnine may exert their cytoprotective effects via a putative plasma membrane receptor that is related to the strychnine-sensitive glycine receptor found in the CNS.
Measuring the infrared absorption in thin film coatings.

Traditionally, the optical absorption in thin dielectric films has been obtained by comparing the absorption in coated and uncoated substrates. A new technique has been developed in which the absorption of the film is obtained directly without resorting to comparison or difference methods. This method relies on the separation of surface and bulk heat that results from laser calorimetric measurements on long, bar-shaped samples. Single layer films of As2S3, CaF2, ThF4, and PbF2 were deposited on a KCl bar, and the absorption coefficient of each film was extracted from the slopes of the temperature–time curves.
High-pressure phase equilibria in the carbon dioxide + pyrrole system

Abstract Liquid–vapor (LV) and liquid–liquid (LL) phase equilibria in the carbon dioxide + pyrrole system were measured at temperatures between 313 K and 333 K, and pressures between 8.4 MPa and 15.1 MPa. The data were used to predict the overall phase behavior of the system using the Patel–Teja equation of state and the Mathias–Klotz–Prausnitz mixing rules with two temperature-independent parameters. The calculations suggest that the carbon dioxide + pyrrole system may exhibit type IV phase behavior according to the classification of Scott and van Konynenburg.
Triceps Brachii in Incomplete Tetraplegia: EMG and Dynamometer Evaluation of Residual Motor Resources and Capacity for Strengthening.

Background: Candidates for activity-based therapy after spinal cord injury (SCI) are often selected on the basis of manual muscle test scores and the classification of the injury as complete or incomplete. However, these scores may not adequately predict which individuals have sufficient residual motor resources for the therapy to be beneficial. Objective: We performed a preliminary study to see whether dynamometry and quantitative electromyography (EMG) can provide a more detailed assessment of residual motor resources. Methods: We measured elbow extension strength using a hand-held dynamometer and recorded fine-wire EMG from the triceps brachii muscles of 4 individuals with C5, C6, or C7 level SCI and 2 able-bodied controls. We used EMG decomposition to measure motor unit action potential (MUAP) amplitudes and motor unit (MU) recruitment and firing-rate profiles during constant and ramp contractions. Results: All 4 subjects with cervical SCI (cSCI) had increased MUAP amplitudes indicative of denervation...
Metastatic carcinoma with an unknown primary

The patient is a 54-year-old white female who was well until 3 weeks prior to admission when she noted vague right upper quadrant pain exacerbated by meals. She lost 12 lbs over that period of time. She complained as well of posterior scalp, left hip, and back pain on initial presentation. Physical examination at the time of admission to hospital showed a middle-aged female in no acute distress. Her vital signs were normal. There was a 1.5 X 1.5-cm firm, tender nodule over the occiput. There was no peripheral adenopathy. The breasts, lungs, and heart were normal. The liver was 14 cm in span. The remainder of the physical examination including a pelvic examination was unremarkable. On admission, the only abnormal laboratory studies were SGOT 106, SGPT 139, and alkaline phosphatase 190. Her chest X ray, flat plate of the abdomen, and mammograms were all normal.
CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES OF DISTAL AXONOPATHY—A FREQUENT FORM OF BRAIN AND NERVE DAMAGE PRODUCED BY ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL HAZARDS*

Clinical and pathological studies of the peripheral and central nervous system degeneration (distal dying-back axonopathy) in humans and experimental animals produced by acrylamide monomer and certain hydrocarbon compounds are summarized. The human distal axonopathies include: many of the naturally occurring, genetically determined system disorders/ certain nutritional disorders/ uremic neuropathy/ the neuropathies associated with some malignancies/ and the toxic neuropathies induced by industrial chemicals. The irreversible, subclinical, and clinical effects of distal axonopathies on the human central nervous system are examined. A morphological rationale for previously enigmatic clinical phenomena in the human toxic neuropathies is presented. Neuropathology is potentially useful in the screening of chemicals for neurotoxicity. (7 photos, 24 references)
Protein degradation in 3T3 cells and tumorigenic transformed 3T3 cells

To study the relation of overall rates of protein degradation in the control of cell growth, we determined if transformation of fibroblasts to tumorigenicity affected their rates of degradation of short- and long-lived proteins. Rates of protein degradation were measured in nontumorigenic mouse Balb/c 3T3 fibroblasts, and in tumorigenic 3T3 cells transformed by different agents. Growing 3T3 cells, and cells transformed with Moloney sarcoma virus (MA-3T3) or Rous sarcoma virus (RS-3T3), degraded short- and long-lived proteins at similar rates. Simian virus 40 (SV-3T3)- and benzo(a)pyrene (BP-3T3)-transformed cells had slightly lower rates of degradation of both short- and long-lived proteins. Reducing the serum concentration in the culture medium from 10% to 0.5%, immediately caused about a twofold increase in the rate of degradation of long-lived proteins in 3T3 cells. Transformed lines increased their rates of degradation of long-lived proteins only by different amounts upon serum deprivation, but none of them to the same extent as did 3T3. Greater differences in the degradation rates of proteins were seen among the transformed cells than between 3T3 cells and some transformed cells. Thus, there was no consistent change in any rate of protein degradation in 3T3 cells due to transformation to tumorigenicity.
An Examination of Aneurysm Rerupture Rates with Epsilon Aminocaproic Acid

Background Epsilon aminocaproic acid (EACA) has been used in the past to prevent cerebral aneurysm rerupture. Recent studies have indicated that short-term treatment with EACA can lower rebleeding rates without significantly increasing ischemic or thrombotic complications or permanent shunt rates. The goal of this study is to determine the efficacy of EACA in the prevention of aneurysm rerupture at a high volume subarachnoid hemorrhage center.
Language and social ontology

Tondokument des Vortrags von Prof. Dr. John Searle, gehalten am 2012-05-30. John Searl war auf Einladung des germanistischen Sprachwissenschaftlers Prof. Dr. Andreas Gardt an der Universitat Kassel.
Effect of actinomycin-D on gill Na+-K+ ATPase of juvenile chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Walbaum)

Actinomycin-D reduced gill Na+-K+ ATPase activity of chinook salmon Oncorhynchus ishawytswha (Walbaum), smolts and saltwater-adapted juveniles but had no significant effect on the enzyme activity of parr in fresh water. The similarity in response suggests that even though smolts are found in fresh water, their enzyme system is more characteristic of saltwater-adapted juveniles than freshwater-dwelling parr. A greater reduction in enzyme activity was found when fish were treated with actinomycin-D in salt water than in fresh water, suggesting that the enzyme degradation rate wasgreater in salt water than in fresh water.
Planetary contingency [Education]

Acompetition is a unique way for groups in one research community to test theories and hardware in an objective manner. Although robot competitions have played a growing part in K-12 and undergraduate education, they have involved graduate students to a lesser degree. For focused topics with publishable research, a competition can be an effective way of engaging dozens of graduate students to form a community and culture and provide a base for the future of that research.
Systematic Assessment of Culturally Competent Chemical Dependence Treatment Services for African Americans

This project aimed to develop a tool for assessing and planning culturally competent and relevant chemical dependence treatment services for African American clients and their families. Focus groups were conducted with experts in African American culture and chemical dependence in eight substance abuse programs serving adult and adolescent African Americans and their families. Seventy-five statements were developed describing characteristics of culturally competent and relevant organizations. Concept mapping was used to produce a conceptual map displaying dimensions of culturally competent and relevant organizations and Cronbach's alpha was calculated to assess the internal consistency of each dimension. Analysis resulted in six reliable dimensions: Family Involvement (alpha = .81), Staff and Program Cultural Diversity (alpha = .98), Counselor Traits (alpha = .99), Linkage (alpha = .94), Community/Faith Services (alpha = .96), and Agency Culture (alpha = .97). The resulting instrument enables agencies to evaluate culturally competent and relevant services, set goals, and identify resources needed to implement desired services for both individual organizations and within networks of regional service providers.
Involvement of ventrolateral striatal dopamine in movement initiation and execution: A microdialysis and behavioral investigation

Previous studies have demonstrated that the ventrolateral region of the rat neostriatum is the site at which dopamine depletions produce profound motor deficits that interfere with food handling and lever pressing. In the present work, two experiments were undertaken to investigate the role of ventrolateral striatal dopamine in lever pressing. The first experiment was a detailed characterization of the motor impairments induced by injections of the neurotoxic agent 6-hydroxydopamine into the ventrolateral striatum. Behavioral output during lever pressing on a fixed ratio 5 schedule was recorded by a computerized system that measured the duration and response initiation time for each lever press. Response initiation time was defined as the time from offset of one lever press to the onset of the next one. Dopamine depletions resulting from 6-hydroxydopamine injections profoundly depressed lever pressing response rate. This deficit was largely due to a dramatic increase in the average response initiation time. Analysis of the distribution of response initiation times indicated that dopamine-depleted rats made relatively few responses with fast initiation times (e.g. 0-125 ms), and also that dopamine depletions led to a dramatic increase in the number of pauses in responding (i.e. response initiation times greater than 2.5 s). This slowing of the initiation of movement was very sensitive to the effects of dopamine depletions, and even animals with mild dopamine depletions (29.1% of control levels) showed increased initiation times. Analysis of response durations indicated that dopamine depletions resulted in a shift in the distribution of durations such that depleted rats had a modal response duration of 375-500 ms, in contrast to the control mode of 125-250 ms. There was an overall increase in average response duration among animals with more severe dopamine depletions, although rats with moderate depletions showed no change in average response duration. In the second experiment, in vivo dialysis methods were used to study the dynamic activity of ventrolateral striatal dopamine during lever pressing. During the performance of a 30-min fixed ratio 5 lever pressing session, there was a small but significant increase (20.9% above baseline) in dopamine release. There was not a linear or curvilinear correlation between lever pressing rate and increases in dopamine release. The relatively modest increase in ventrolateral striatal dopamine release during lever pressing and the lack of relation between dopamine release and behavioral output may indicate that dopamine in the ventrolateral striatum plays mainly a permissive role in lever pressing. These results suggest that ventrolateral striatal dopamine depletions in rats produce deficits in skilled motor control that are similar to the motor deficits observed in patients with Parkinson's disease.
Two-component semileptonic form factors.

In the semileptonic decays of a heavy quark to a light quark, present models disagree in an essential fashion concerning the shape of the form factors. Both the heavy quark limit of QCD and dispersion relations suggest that the correct form factors contain two distinct contributions. We discuss these as applied to B\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\pi}e\ensuremath{\nu} and B\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\rho}e\ensuremath{\nu} decays. We also describe the inconsistencies of available phenomenological models and discuss how they must be modified.
Effects of prostaglandin E1 and isoproterenol on cyclic AMP content of human fibroblasts modified by time and cell density in subculture.

Abstract In confluent cultures of “young” ( 60 generations in culture) human fibroblasts although the changes associated with duration of subculture and cell density tended to be less marked with “old” cells. In the “young” fibroblasts responsiveness to isoproterenol and prostaglandin E1 appears to correlate with cell morphology and with the fractional rate of growth in subcultures. It is suggested that the capacities of the fibroblasts to respond to these two agents may be altered independently during growth of human fibroblasts.