cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Influences of cationic bactericidal agents on membrane ATPase of bacillus subtilis

Abstract The cationic bactericidal agents (β-lysin, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), histone, and protamine sulfate) stimulated membrane ATPase (EC 3.6.1.3) of Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633, while spermine, cadaverine, and putrescine-inhibited enzyme activity. Sonication of membrane ghosts caused, along with an increase in Mg2+-dependent ATPase activity and a disintegration of ghost gross structure, a release of enzyme activity to the supernatant upon centrifugation at 30 900× g for 30 min. Membrane-bound enzyme activity was not released by β-lysin or CTAB, but was released by sodium deoxycholate and by phospholipase A. CTAB stimulated ATPase activity in the absence of Mg2+, whereas β-lysin, histone, and protamine sulfate did not. The CTAB-mediated stimulation and inhibition of this enzyme were reversed by phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidyl- l -serine when the total negative charge of added phospholipid was equal to the total positive charge of CTAB. Combinations of CTAB and phospholipid at concentrations in excess of that required to reverse the CTAB-mediated effect caused a secondary stimulation that was similarly reversed with additional phospholipid. Added phosphatidylethanolamine had very little influence on the enzyme in the absence of CTAB, while 200 μg/ml phosphatidyl- l -serine caused a modest stimulation. Sonicate ATPase was not susceptible to activation by β-lysin, histones, or CTAB. It is suggested that activation of membrane ATPase by these substances is a secondary phenomenon, dependent upon their interaction with acidic membrane compounds, e.g. phospholipids which alters the membranous environment of the enzyme.
Effects of dietary fatty acids and exercise on body-weight regulation and metabolism in rats

Objective: To assess the interaction of high-fat diets (HF) made with different dietary fatty acids and exercise on body-weight regulation, adiposity, and metabolism. Research Methods and Procedures: Male Wistar rats born to dams fed HF diets (40% w/w) made with either fish oil (FO), soybean oil (SO), or palm oil (PO) were fed diets similar to their dams and divided randomly into exercise (EX, swimming) or sedentary control (SD) groups when they were 9 weeks old. EX lasted for 6 weeks. Twenty-four hours after the last EX bout, fasted rats were killed by decapitation. Chemical analyses and body composition analysis were conducted. Results: The results demonstrated that different fatty acids had different effects on body weight, composition, and metabolism. SO-fed rats gained the most weight and fat. EX reduced body weight of FO- and PO-fed rats, but SO-fed rats were still heavier and fatter than other rats. Data from SO- and PO-fed rats suggested that they are insulin resistant and that EX normalized this abnormality. Of the three HF diets used, FO produced the least adverse effects compared with PO and SO. Discussion: Not only the quantity of dietary fat, but also the type of fat used, will produce different effects on body weight and metabolism. EX ameliorates the suggested insulin resistance induced in rats fed either highly saturated or n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, as found in fish oil, are more beneficial than n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids when fed in high amounts to rats.
Septic arthritis of the acromioclavicular joint

Septic arthritis of the acromioclavicular (AC) joint is a rare but rapidly destructive etiology of acute shoulder pain. We report a case of septic AC joint in the absence of trauma or intravenous drug use. A diabetic man presented with severe right shoulder pain and was later diagnosed with septic arthritis of the AC joint by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positive blood cultures. Chronic diabetic foot ulcers were the source of the patient's group B streptococcus bacteremia.
A 0.1- mu m gate Al/sub 0.5/In/sub 0.5/As/Ga/sub 0.5/In/sub 0.5/As MODFET fabricated on GaAs substrates

Al/sub 0.5/In/sub 0.5/As/Ga/sub 0.5/In/sub 0.5/As MODFET structures have been successfully grown on lattice-mismatched GaAs substrates with a 3.8% difference of lattice constants. MODFETs fabricated with a 0.12- mu m T-shaped gate demonstrate DC and microwave characteristics comparable to those of Al/sub 0.5/In/sub 0.5/As/Ga/sub 0.5/In/sub 0.5/As MODFETs on lattice-matched InP substrates. A peak extrinsic DC transconductance of 585 mS/mm and a full-channel current of 370 mA/mm are achieved at room temperature. Parasitic substrate conduction, which may be the result of the threading dislocations under the FET bonding pads and the active FET channel, affects the device performance. The MODFET shows a high current-gain cutoff frequency of 117 GHz and a maximum available gain cutoff frequency of 125 GHz. The effects of substrate conduction on microwave performance are also investigated. >
A Method for Improving Power Grid Resilience to Electromigration-Caused via Failures

Electromigration (EM) has become a major power grid reliability problem in VLSI. In this paper, we first demonstrate that EM reliability analysis of a power grid can be converted to analyzing EM reliability of the grid vias. We develop a model for calculating EM lifetime of via-arrays and observe that making power grid EM-immortal carries a huge metal area overhead and possibly makes routing of both power and signal networks too difficult to complete. We propose a method for trading off power grid integrity and reliability to minimize the total metal area overhead needed to achieve the desired grid life time under power integrity constraints. Experimental results show that using our method, both EM reliability and power integrity can be met, while the additional metal area used is significantly reduced.
Odor identification, eye tracking and deficit syndrome schizophrenia

Abstract Background: Deficit syndrome (DS) schizophrenia patients have smooth pursuit eye movement (SPEM) dysfunction. We examined if they also had smell identification deficits, since social affiliation is related to olfaction in other mammals. Methods: Sixty-seven patients had DS assessments: 31 patients had SPEM and 50 had Smell Identification Test (SIT) assessments, and 14 patients had both measurements. Results: DS patients had worse SPEM and SIT performance than the non-DS patients. Areas under the receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curves for SIT and SPEM were both fairly accurate in identifying the DS. The odds ratio (OR) for the DS for impaired versus normal SPEM was 6.21 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.21, 32.25) and for microsmia versus normosmia was 10.4 (95% CI: 1.23, 88.18). Further analyses showed that the association of SIT with both SPEM and the DS could account for the SPEM-DS association. Conclusions: We found a strong association between the DS and SIT scores suggesting that the neural substrates of olfaction may be related to social affiliation in humans, as they are in other mammals. These data further support the notion that the DS defines a homogeneous subgroup of schizophrenia patients and further suggest that dysfunction in the neural circuitry of olfaction may contribute to its pathophysiology.
Effects of phosphorylation by protein kinase A on binding of catecholamines to the human tyrosine hydroxylase isoforms

Tyrosine hydroxylase (TyrH), the catalyst for the key regulatory step in catecholamine biosynthesis, is phosphorylated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) on a serine residue in a regulatory domain. In the case of the rat enzyme, phosphorylation of Ser40 by PKA is critical in regulating the enzyme activity; the effect of phosphorylation is to relieve the enzyme from inhibition by dopamine and dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA). There are four isoforms of human tyrosine hydroxylase (hTyrH), differing in the size of an insertion after Met30. The effects of phosphorylation by PKA on the binding of DOPA and dopamine have now been determined for all four human isoforms. There is an increase of about two-fold in the Kd value for DOPA for isoform 1 upon phosphorylation, from 4.4 to 7.4 μM; this effect decreases with the larger isoforms such that there is no effect of phosphorylation on the Kd value for isoform 4. Dopamine binds more much tightly, with Kd values less than 3 nM for all four unphosphorylated isoforms. Phosphorylation decreases the affinity for dopamine at least two orders of magnitude, resulting in Kd values of about 0.1 μM for the phosphorylated human enzymes, due primarily to increases in the rate constant for dissociation of dopamine. Dopamine binds about two-fold less tightly to the phosphorylated isoform 1 than to the other three isoforms. The results extend the regulatory model developed for the rat enzyme, in which the activity is regulated by the opposing effects of catecholamine binding and phosphorylation by PKA. The small effects on the relatively high Kd values for DOPA suggest that DOPA levels do not regulate the activity of hTyrH.
Potential energy constants, rotational distortion constants, and calculated thermodynamic properties for some planar XYZ2 molecules

Abstract A normal coordinate treatment has been carried out for each of the molecules CSCl 2 , COCl 2 , COF 2 , COH 2 , and COD 2 , using the most general quadratic potential energy function, the Wilson FG Matrix method, and the procedure of Gold et al. ‡ The potential energy constants obtained were then used to determine the rotational distortion constants on the basis of the first-order perturbation theory of Kivelson and Wilson. The molar thermodynamic properties—heat content, free energy, entropy, and heat capacity—also were calculated for 12 temperatures from 100 to 1000°K for the ideal gaseous state at one atmosphere presure and with the usual rigid-rotor harmonic-oscillator approximation.
Low-dose methotrexate to treat mycosis fungoides: a retrospective study in 69 patients.

Abstract Background Although low-dose methotrexate has been used to treat mycosis fungoides for many years, documentation is very limited. Objective Our purpose was to review our experience with methotrexate in the treatment of 69 patients with patch/plaque and tumor stage mycosis fungoides observed for up to 201 months. Methods This was a retrospective study. Data are presented in terms of response rates and time to treatment failure. Results The greatest number of patients (60) had patch/plaque stage T2 disease (≥10% skin involved). Of these, 7 (12%) achieved complete remission and 13 (22%) achieved partial remission for a total response rate of 20 of 60 (33%). The median time to treatment failure was 15 months. Only 1 of 7 patients with tumor stage disease responded. Side effects caused treatment failure in 6 (9%) of the total cohort of 69 patients. Conclusion Low-dose methotrexate may be of value in the treatment of a subset of patients with patch/plaque mycosis fungoides resistant to other therapies.
Evidenced-Based Decision Making: The Third Molar

The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) has been at the forefront of formal evidence-based dentistry with such projects as the Parameters of Care: Clinical Practice Guidelines for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, the AAOMS Outcomes Assessment Program, the AAOMS Third Molar Clinical Trial, and the AAOMS "White Paper on Third Molar Data." This article reviews these evidence-based resources to provide a consensus of opinion for the management of the third molar.
Single-Electron Oxidation of Monomeric Copper(I) Alkyl Complexes: Evidence for Reductive Elimination through Bimolecular Formation of Alkanes

Monomeric Cu(I) alkyl complexes (NHC)Cu(R) (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene; R = Me or Et) and (dtbpe)Cu(Me) (dtbpe = 1,2-bis(di-tert-butylphosphino)ethane) have been prepared, isolated, and characterized. Single-electron oxidation of the Cu(I) alkyl complexes upon reaction with AgOTf to form putative Cu(II) intermediates of the type [(L)Cu(R)]+ (L = NHC or dtbpe, R = Me or Et) results in the rapid production of (L)Cu(X) (X = OTf) and R2. Experimental studies suggest that the reductive elimination of R2 from Cu(II) occurs through a nonradical bimolecular mechanism. Computational studies of the Cu−Cmethyl yield bond dissociation enthalpies of [(SIPr)Cu−CH3]n+ (80 kcal/mol for n = 0 {Cu(I)} and 38 kcal/mol for n = 1 {Cu(II)}).
Effects of Headings on Text Processing Strategies.

Abstract This experiment addressed the question of how headings influence readers' memories for text content. College students read and recalled a 12-topic expository text. Half of the participants were trained to construct a mental outline of the text's topic structure as they read and then use their mental outlines to guide their recall attempts. The remaining participants did not receive such training. Half of the participants read a text containing headings before every subsection; the other half read the same text without headings. The results were that participants who received training and/or read the text with headings remembered text topics and their organization better than participants who received no training and read the text without headings. The results support the hypothesis that signals induce a change in readers' strategies for encoding and recalling text.
kth-Order Finite Automaton

A kth-order finite automaton is an automaton whose next state is a function of its most recent k states as well as its present input. A procedure to test whether a given ordinary automaton is equivalent to some kth-order automaton is suggested.
Uniform error estimates in the finite element method for a singularly perturbed reaction-diffusion problem

. Consider the problem -e 2 Δu+u = f with homogeneous Neumann boundary condition in a bounded smooth domain in R N . The whole range 0 < e ≤ 1 is treated. The Galerkin finite element method is used on a globally quasi-uniform mesh of size h; the mesh is fixed and independent of e. A precise analysis of how the error at each point depends on h and e is is presented. As an application, first order error estimates in h, which are uniform with respect to e, are given.
The use of radiation therapy after breast-conserving surgery in hormonally treated breast cancer patients is dependent on patient age, geographic region, and surgeon specialty

Abstract Background The use of radiation therapy (RT) after breast-conserving surgery (BCS) is inconsistent in patients treated with hormonal therapy (HT). We sought to identify factors influencing the decision to use RT in this setting. Methods Patients in the North American Fareston vs. Tamoxifen Adjuvant (NAFTA) trial who had BCS were evaluated for factors influencing the use of RT using univariate and multivariate analyses. Results Of the 1,811 patients enrolled in the NAFTA trial, 1,222 (67.4%) had BCS. Of these, 241 (19.7%) did not have RT. There were no significant differences in tumor grade, lymphovascular invasion, estrogen receptor status, or nodal status between those who received RT and those who did not. On univariate analyses, patients who did not receive RT were more likely to be older (median 72 versus 66 years, P P = .009), and be progesterone negative (18.3% versus 13.1%, P = .048). Surgeons in the West were most likely to omit RT, whereas those in the Midwest were least likely to omit it (26.7% versus 7.2%, P P P P = .017), and the percentage of breast practice ( P = .019) also correlated with whether or not RT was used. On multivariate analysis, patient age ( P P = .006), and surgeon specialty ( P = .027) remained significant. Conclusion Patient age, geographic region, and surgeon training influence the decision to use RT after BCS in patients receiving HT.
Space-based visible surveillance experiment

A small visible-band sensor, built by Lincoln Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, will be flown as part of a sensor ensemble on the Midcourse Space Experiment (MSX) satellite, an SDIO program. This sensor, as well as the other sensors on MSX, will perform above-the-horizon surveillance experiments and acquire data on targets of interest and background phenomenology. This paper discusses the Space-Based Visible (SBV) sensor, the incorporated technologies, and the surveillance experiments to be performed.
Cognitive-Behavioral Factors in Adjustment to Adult Bereavement.

Abstract The experience of bereavement is associated with emotional, physical, and spiritual distress. Much attention has been directed toward identifying demographic and social-support factors that affect response to loss. In contrast, little is known about the role of cognitive-behavioral coping strategies in bereavement adjustment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of differential use of five cognitive-behavioral strategies on adjustment to bereavement: (a) attribution of personal maning to loss, (b) differentiation of grief resolution from devaluing the deceased loved one, (c) modulation of response to loss with other life activities, (d) identafication of predominant themes of distress, and (e) engagement in health-prmotion practices. It was hypothesized that the use of these strategies would significantly predict postmorbid adjustment over and above that predicted by demographic factors and/or social support. Measures designed to assess each variable were administered to 164 wi...
Comparison of the effectiveness of a purported anti-static cape (the Storm Defender®) vs. a placebo cape in the treatment of canine thunderstorm phobia as assessed by owners’ reports

Abstract Canine thunderstorm phobia is considered a noise phobia, however, it has been theorized that pain associated with discharge of accrued static electricity could contribute to this malady. This project aimed to determine if a purported anti-static cape (the Storm Defender ® ) and a non-anti-static cape (placebo cape) were therapeutic for canine thunderstorm phobia. Twenty-three owners used either the Storm Defender ® ( n =13) or the placebo cape ( n =10) on their dogs during four thunderstorms. A baseline pretreatment anxiety score (pre-cape use) and four treatment anxiety scores (with use of a cape) were generated by scoring owners' responses to 12 questions that concerned the severity of behaviors associated with thunderstorm phobia. Use of both cape types was associated with a statistically significant decrease in median anxiety scores from baseline. After a fourth cape use, the median anxiety score of the Storm Defender ® group decreased by 63% from baseline ( P =0.005) and the placebo cape group's median anxiety score decreased by 36% ( P =0.002). Owners in both groups indicated that their dogs displayed significantly less hiding behavior by the fourth use of the cape. Seventy percent of owners who used the Storm Defender ® on their dogs and 67% of the placebo cape owners reported some degree of improvement via a global assessment score, made after the fourth use of the cape. There was no statistically significant difference between the Storm Defender ® and placebo cape groups in their baseline pretreatment anxiety scores, median treatment anxiety scores or in their owner global assessment. The results indicate that use of a form-fitting cape may be moderately therapeutic in treating canine thunderstorm phobia. More research is needed to determine why owners reported effectiveness with both cape types.
Vibration of rings on a general elastic foundation

The free vibration eigensolutions of a thin ring on a general elastic foundation are obtained by perturbation and Galerkin analyses. Natural frequencies and vibration modes are determined as closed-form expressions for a ring having a circumferentially varying foundation of very general description. The elastic foundation consists of two orthogonal distributed springs oriented at an arbitrary inclination angle. The foundation stiffnesses vary circumferentially. The simple eigensolution expressions explicitly show the parameter dependencies, lead to natural frequency splitting rules for degenerate unperturbed eigenvalues at both first and second orders of perturbation, and identify which nodal diameter Fourier components contaminate a given n nodal diameter base mode of the free ring. Discrete spring supports are treated as a special case where the natural frequencies are determined by five parameters: nondimensional spring stiffness, stiffness angle, support angle, number of springs, and location of the springs. The predicted effects of these parameters on the natural frequencies are verified numerically. As an application and as the motivating problem for the study, the natural frequencies and vibration modes of a ring gear used in helicopter planetary gears with unequally spaced planets are investigated.
Long-term follow-up of serous ovarian tumors of low malignant potential

The biologic behavior of serous tumors of low malignant potential (LMP) is of significant interest, yet most large series lack extended follow-up. This study consists of 200 patients: 106 patients were diagnosed with serous tumors of LMP at our institution between 1979 and 1984 and an additional 94 patients were identified in the referred tumor registry. The patients ranged in age from 6 to 98 years (median, 34 years). The stage distribution was Stage I in 135 patients (67.5%), Stage II in 24 patients (12%), and Stage III in 41 patients (20.5%). Follow-up information from 4 to 27 years (median, 10 years; mean, 11.2 years) revealed 155 patients (77.5%) were alive without further evidence of disease and 11 patients (5.5%) died of unrelated conditions without recurrent tumor. Thirty-four patients (17%) developed recurrent neoplasms at 6 to 145 months (median, 26 months). Patients with Stage III disease developed recurrent neoplasms more commonly (54%) than did patients with Stage I or II disease (6 and 17%, respectively). Following treatment of recurrence, 15 patients are free of disease, 6 patients are alive with disease, and 13 (6.5% overall) patients have died of disease 1 to 15 years (median, 5 years) after their initial diagnosis. Mortality was also stage dependent: 0.7, 4.2, and 26.8% of patients with Stages I, II, and III disease, respectively, died secondary to tumors of LMP. Clinical life table analysis demonstrated 5-, 10-, and 15-, and 20-year survival rates for all stages of 97, 95, 92, and 89%, respectively. These findings confirm the excellent prognosis for patients with serous tumors of LMP, even when long-term follow-up is extended to 20 years. Additionally, these data suggest that those with more advanced or recurrent disease can enjoy extended survival.
Evaluating input device usability as a function of task difficulty in a tracking task

Game controllers are emerging as a preferred choice for the manual control of unmanned vehicles, but an understanding of their usability characteristics has yet to emerge. We compared the usability of an Xbox 360 game controller in a dual task situation using MATB II to the traditional joystick and keyboard interface in two experiments. In the first experiment, performance with the game controller was associated with fewer tracking errors. In a second experiment, we trained users on the devices, and found that even after training the game controller was still associated with fewer tracking errors as well as higher usability and lower workload ratings. These results are consistent with the idea that game controllers are highly usable input devices and do not require high mental workload to operate, thus making them suitable for complex control tasks.
Neural microtubular and lysosomal phenyl valerate esterases and proteases in relation to organophosphate-induced delayed neurotoxicity.

Abstract 1. At least three forms of phenyl valerate esterases are present in hen brain cytoplasmic microtubules (MT). 2. Thermostability studies reveal two additional forms in brain homogenates of cow, mouse, pig, rabbit and rat. 3.The distribution of these brain esterases is not related to the age of the hens or the susceptibility of the species to organophosphate (OP)-induced delayed neurotoxicity. 4. MT phenyl valerate esterases are distinct enzymes from the MT-associated proteases degrading high-molecular weight MT-associated proteins (hmw MAPs). 5. Hen brain and spinal cord lysosomes on in vitro incubation release phenyl valerate esterases(s) and hmw MAPs-protease(s). 6. OP neurotoxicants act in vitro to stabilize rat but not hen brain lysosomes. 7. In vivo studies with hen brain and spinal cord lysosomes indicate that OP-induced delayed neurotoxicity is not initiated by disruption of lysosomal stability.
STATE FOREST PRACTICE REGULATORY PROGRAMS : AN APPROACH TO IMPLEMENTING ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT ON PRIVATE FOREST LANDS IN THE UNITED STATES

/ Implemented in the context of a long history ofintense public debate, forestry practices applied on private forest land areregulated in some form by 38 states. State regulatory activities can involvemany agencies implementing numerous regulatory laws, a single forestry agencyadministering a comprehensive regulatory program, or a combination of thetwo. Regulatory programs are designed to protect resources such as soils,water, wildlife, and scenic beauty. Program administration often involvesrule promulgation, harvest plan reviews, coordination of interagency reviews,and pre- and postharvest on-site inspections. Forest practice rules usuallyfocus on reforestation, forest roads, harvest procedures, and wildlifehabitat protection. Emerging regulatory trends include growth of multiagencyregulatory authority and associated jurisdictional conflicts, increasedtendencies to narrowly specify standards in statutes and rules, emergence ofcontingent regulations, growing sensitivity to processes enabling theadoption of new forest practice technologies and an ability to addresscumulative effects, interest in collaborative rule-making stemming fromheightened concern over legalization of administration processes, and growingconcern over the constitutional foundations for regulatory programs and thegovernment and private sector cost of implementing such programs.KEY WORDS: Ecosystem management; Forestry practices; Private landowners;Regulatory programs; State government
Computer science learning made interactive — A one-week alice summer computing workshop for K-12 teachers

In this paper, we present our experience, findings, and lessons learned from conducting a one-week Alice summer computing workshop for K-12 teachers. Our workshop focuses on using Alice, a 3D programming environment, to introduce computing concepts to K-12 teachers in all subjects so that these teachers can pass on their knowledge and inspiration to their students. During the workshop, the teachers developed curriculum materials for the subjects they will teach in the following semesters with the help of our workshop tutors. Workshop assessment results show a 52% increase in confidence level in teaching computer science and a 44% computing knowledge level increase.
Convenient syntheses of [20,20,20-2H3]-arachidonic acid and [20,20,-2H2]-20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid

Deuterated arachidonic acid and 20-HETE were prepared in good overall yields and high stereoselectivities. Key transformations include a trans-specific vinyl dibromide reduction and Suzuki cross-couplings to a lithium borate or a 9-BBN borane. These standards are three and two mass units higher, respectively, than their naturally occurring counterparts and are useful in mass spectrometry analysis.
Technology as a Tool for Leadership Development: Effectiveness of Automated Web-Based Systems in Facilitating Tacit Knowledge Acquisition

The effectiveness of emerging technology in helping to develop the tacit or experience-based knowledge needed for effective leadership performance was demonstrated in an on-line environment for dis...
A Simple Model of Fuel Spray Burning II. Linear Droplet Streams

Abstract A recently developed theory of fuel spray burning [1] is applied to the experiments of Nuruzzaman, Hedley and Beer [3] on linear arrays of burning fuel droplets. The calculated burning rates have the right order of magnitude but are too strongly dependent on the initial droplet diameter and on the interdroplet separation as compared to the above mentioned experiments.
Horizontal Aggregations in SQL to Prepare Data Sets for Data Mining Analysis

Preparing a data set for analysis is generally the most time consuming task in a data mining project, requiring many complex SQL queries, joining tables, and aggregating columns. Existing SQL aggregations have limitations to prepare data sets because they return one column per aggregated group. In general, a significant manual effort is required to build data sets, where a horizontal layout is required. We propose simple, yet powerful, methods to generate SQL code to return aggregated columns in a horizontal tabular layout, returning a set of numbers instead of one number per row. This new class of functions is called horizontal aggregations. Horizontal aggregations build data sets with a horizontal denormalized layout (e.g., point-dimension, observation-variable, instance-feature), which is the standard layout required by most data mining algorithms. We propose three fundamental methods to evaluate horizontal aggregations: CASE: Exploiting the programming CASE construct; SPJ: Based on standard relational algebra operators (SPJ queries); PIVOT: Using the PIVOT operator, which is offered by some DBMSs. Experiments with large tables compare the proposed query evaluation methods. Our CASE method has similar speed to the PIVOT operator and it is much faster than the SPJ method. In general, the CASE and PIVOT methods exhibit linear scalability, whereas the SPJ method does not.
Antibiotic-coated ePTFE decreases graft colonization and neointimal hyperplasia.

Background Synthetic vascular conduits used in traumatic or infected fields have a high failure rate leading to catastrophic consequences including amputation and death. Although efforts to coat vascular grafts with antibiotics have had varying results, we developed a novel coating technique for expanded-polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), which has proven to be effective in vitro. Thus, we hypothesized that the coated grafts would resist infection and have decreased neointimal hyperplasia when used in vivo in a large animal model. Methods Minocycline and rifampin suspended in a mixture of methacrylates were coated onto a 3 cm segment of 6 mm ePTFE (Bard, Tempe, AZ). An antibiotic-coated (ABX), adhesive-coated (AC), or control (C) ePTFE graft was then placed as an end-to-side graft into the left iliac artery of a male mongrel pig. Sterile saline or innoculum containing 3 × 10 8 Staphylococcus aureus (SA) or Staphylococcus epidermidis (SE) was then placed directly on the graft and the reflected peritoneum re-approximated to confine the bacteria. After 6 wk, the graft was harvested, cultured, and morphometric analyses of neointimal hyperplasia were performed. Results Twenty-seven pigs had grafts placed (9 ABX, 9 AC, 9 C) and harvested. Of the nine grafts exposed to SA, the uncoated and adhesive-coated grafts averaged greater than 50,000 colonies of SA while the antibiotic-coated grafts averaged less than 50 colonies. Although not statistically significant, neointimal hyperplasia was decreased by 15% to 20% when using an ABX graft in an infected field. Conclusions The coated grafts appeared to decrease NIH formation although not significantly in this small pilot study. The methacrylate antibiotic-coated ePTFE graft did provide resistance to infection when used in infected fields.
Emotionally and behaviorally disturbed children in the child welfare system: Points of preventive intervention

Abstract Research is demonstrating more clearly than ever before the association between abuse and neglect and serious emotional and behavioral problems in children. Studies suggest that from 30% to 60% of children currently entering the child welfare system demonstrate some form of psychiatric disorder. At the same time, there is evidence that the child welfare system is failing to address the needs of these children in their care. This article proposes three points of preventive intervention for a child welfare system response and describes elements of each.
Quality Control for Technologists in Digital Mammography

As of June 2006, there are 6 FDA-approved full-field digital mammography systems available for clinical use in the U.S. Each of these systems has a quality control program supplied by the manufacturer that sites must follow to satisfy FDA regulations. These tests are written to be similar to the quality control tests for screen-film mammography, but have differences due to the nature and physics of the digital detector, the soft-copy review workstation, and overall system design. These differences will be discussed in this paper as well as the requirements for performing quality control in digital mammography. Additionally, this document includes a section on tips and tricks that are not found in manufacturer’s quality control manuals.
On assessing “androgyny”

Research with personality instruments containing separate masculinity and femininity scales found them to be essentially orthogonal, leading to the search for methods to express their conjoint relationships with other variables. The theoretical and/or empirical assumptions underlying three methods were explored: Bem's difference model; the absolute score method; and the difference/median method, which combines features of both. The balance and difference/median methods presuppose a unique combinatory model, while the absolute method detects a number of alternative possibilities. Illustrative empirical data, using the Personal Attributes Questionnaire, were used to demonstrate that the joint contributions of M and F are not uniform and, consequently, the greater heuristic value of the absolute method.
Budgets of Reynolds stress, kinetic energy and streamwise enstrophy in viscoelastic turbulent channel flow

The budgets of the Reynolds stress, turbulent kinetic energy and streamwise enstrophy are evaluated through direct numerical simulations for the turbulent channel flow of a viscoelastic polymer solution modeled with the Finitely Extensible Nonlinear Elastic with the Peterlin approximation (FENE-P) constitutive equation. The influence of viscoelasticity on the budgets is examined through a comparison of the Newtonian and the viscoelastic budgets obtained for the same constant pressure drop across the channel. It is observed that as the extensional viscosity of the polymer solution increases there is a consistent decrease in the production of Reynolds stress in all components, as well as in the other terms in the budgets. In particular, the effect of the flow elasticity, which is associated with the reduction in the intensity of the velocity-pressure gradient correlations, potentially leads to a redistribution of the turbulent kinetic energy among the streamwise, the wall-normal and the spanwise directions....
Phenazine antibiotic production in Pseudomonas aureofaciens: role in rhizosphere ecology and pathogen suppression

Abstract Pseudomonas aureofaciens are soil-borne root-colonizing bacteria that produce phenazine antibiotics. Populations of P. aureofaciens strain 30–84 increase over time on wheat roots in response to the presence of a specific fungal pathogen. Phenazine production is the primary mechanism responsible for the competitive fitness of P. aureofaciens in the rhizosphere. Analysis of phenazine gene ( phz ) expression demonstrates that phenazine biosynthesis in P. aureofaciens is regulated analogously to other bacterial genes involved in host-microbe interactions. Two genes, phz R and phz I , the products of which belong to the LuxR/LuxI family of cell density-dependent regulatory proteins, are required for phz expression. PhzR encodes a transcriptional activator that induces phz expression in response to the accumulation of a diffusible signal produced by PhzI. The requirement for phzI can be bypassed by exogenous diffusible signals produced by several other rhizosphere bacteria. We discuss phz regulation in the context of the ecology of P. aureofaciens on the plant root. We integrate both molecular and field observations to propose a model to explain these interactions between the plant, the pathogen and the bacterium. In addition, we discuss signaling among different bacterial populations in the rhizosphere and hypothesize that this signaling may influence phz expression and thus biological control by P. aureofaciens .
Inhibition of in vitro RNA synthesis by hycanthone, oxamniquine and praziquantel

The schistosomicides, hycanthone, oxamniquine and praziquantel, were found to inhibit the in vitro RNA synthesis using isolated hamster liver nuclei. Preincubation of the nuclei with these drugs revealed that the inhibitory effect of oxamniquine was irreversible and progressed with time, whereas that of hycanthone and parziquantel was reversible. On the other hand, hycanthone and praziquantel have a high affinity for DNA but oxamniquine does not. The data indicate that the mechanism of inhibition by oxamniquine is different from that of hycanthone and praziquantel.
Pilot-Scale Gasification of Corn Stover, Switchgrass, Wheat Straw, and Wood: 1. Parametric Study and Comparison with Literature

A parametric study of the gasification of four feedstocks (corn stover, switchgrass, wheat straw, and wood) has been performed on an experimental, pilot-scale (0.5 ton/day) gasification facility. A comparison was made of the performance of the gasifier as a function of feedstock, in terms of the syngas production and composition. In these experiments, pelletized feedstock was used, so that the shapes and sizes of the materials did not influence the results. A total of 22 statistically designed experimental conditions were examined for each feedstock, including the effects of varying the temperature of the fluidized bed, the temperature of the secondary thermal cracker, and the steam-to-biomass ratio. For each experimental condition, the permanent-gas composition was measured continuously by gas chromatography (GC). Tars were measured continuously using a molecular-beam mass spectrometer (MBMS). Sulfur analysis by GC was also conducted for three of the feedstocks studied. The results from this study show t...
High temperature simulation of petroleum formation—I. The pyrolysis of Green River Shale

Abstract In an attempt to evaulate the hypothesis that petroleum formation can be simulated using high temperatures, Green River Shale from Colorado, U.S.A., was subjected to closed-system pyrolysis for 16 hr at temperatures ranging from 300 to 500°C. Variations in the pyrolysis products (gases, volatile liquids, and organics extracts) over this temperature range duplicate the variations observed in many in situ studies of petroleum maturation. The sequence of products formed over this temperature range was used to define five different zones of maturation reactions: (1) a heterobond cracking zone; (2) a labile carbon bond cracking zone; (3) a free radical synthesis zone; (4) a wet gas formation zone; and (5) a dry gas formation zone. This high temperature simulation of maturation can be used to test other factors in petroleum formation such as mineral catalysis.
Medication adherence program: Adherence challenges and interventions in type 2 diabetes

Abstract Objectives To describe medication adherence problems for adults with type 2 diabetes and to assess the nature and frequency of pharmacist activities in addressing them and proximate outcomes. Design Pre–post analysis. Setting Four community chain pharmacies located in Seattle, WA, from April 2008 to October 2009. Patients 120 patients (mean age >60 years) with type 2 diabetes taking oral diabetes medications and who were 6 or more days late for refills. Intervention Pharmacist telephone-initiated adherence support. Main outcomes measures Nature and frequency of adherence-related problems and intervention activities and impact on reduction in refill gaps. Results The primary adherence challenge was difficulty taking medications (27.1%). Failure to remember doses and forgetting refills were reported by 24.6% and 26.3% of patients at baseline, respectively. Pharmacists provided support through some form of patient education (35.6% of encounters) or other adherence support (40.7%). Pharmacist time averaged slightly greater than 5 minutes per intervention and 12.6± minutes (mean ± SD) over 12 months, with 3.4± interventions per patient. Patient-specific education and adherence support by pharmacists and total intervention time were positively correlated, with a modest but significant reduction in refill gaps during 12 months of follow-up. Conclusion Not remembering to refill medications was the most commonly reported problem. Patient encounters averaged 4 to 6 minutes for the first visit and 12 to 13 minutes over 12 months. Phone calls by pharmacists to adults who were late for oral diabetes medication refills were effective in identifying adherence-related problems and developing support strategies to promote medication self-management in busy urban community chain pharmacy settings.
Fibrochondrogenic potential of synoviocytes from osteoarthritic and normal joints cultured as tensioned bioscaffolds for meniscal tissue engineering in dogs

Meniscal tears are a common cause of stifle lameness in dogs. Use of autologous synoviocytes from the affected stifle is an attractive cell source for tissue engineering replacement fibrocartilage. However, the diseased state of these cells may impede in vitro fibrocartilage formation. Synoviocytes from 12 osteoarthritic ("oaTSB") and 6 normal joints ("nTSB") were cultured as tensioned bioscaffolds and compared for their ability to synthesize fibrocartilage sheets. Gene expression of collagens type I and II were higher and expression of interleukin-6 was lower in oaTSB versus nTSB. Compared with nTSB, oaTSB had more glycosaminoglycan and alpha smooth muscle staining and less collagen I and II staining on histologic analysis, whereas collagen and glycosaminoglycan quantities were similar. In conclusion, osteoarthritic joint-origin synoviocytes can produce extracellular matrix components of meniscal fibrocartilage at similar levels to normal joint-origin synoviocytes, which makes them a potential cell source for canine meniscal tissue engineering.
Relation Between Coronary “Steal” and Contractile Function at Rest in Collateral-Dependent Myocardium of Humans With Ischemic Heart Disease

Background—We tested the hypothesis that rest asynergy in collateral-dependent myocardium correlates with coronary steal. Methods and Results—PET with [13N]ammonia measured myocardial blood flow and flow reserve in 15 patients with symptomatic chronic ischemic heart disease. Coronary angiography assessed stenosis severity and collateral blood supply. Echocardiography or contrast ventriculography evaluated regional wall motion. Collateral-dependent segments with normal flow at rest and supplied by coronary vessels having ≤50% diameter stenosis were studied. Steal was defined as a decline in myocardial blood flow with adenosine ≥0.15 mL · min−1 · g−1 versus rest. Blood flow at rest in asynergic, collateral-dependent segments with steal (1.15±0.35 mL · min−1 · g−1) exceeded (P<0.0001) that of asynergic segments without steal (0.81±0.24) and those with normal contraction (0.77±0.18). Although the flow reserve ratio of segments with normal contraction (1.8±0.8) exceeded that of asynergic ones with (0.6±0.1) or...
A comparison of two MR hepatobiliary gadolinium chelates: Gd-BOPTA and Gd-EOB-DTPA.

Purpose: Two gadolinium chelates with partial hepatobiliary excretion, Gd-BOPTA and Gd-EOB-DTPA, and one gadolinium chelate with exclusively renal excretion, Gd-HP-DO3A, were compared on MRI at 1.5 T. The time course of enhancement for normal liver, gallbladder, spleen, kidney, and muscle was specifically examined in the rhesus monkey. Method: Four animals were evaluated with each agent for a total of 12 MR studies. Breath-hold and non-breath-hold T1-weighted scans were acquired prior to and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, and 90 min after intravenous contrast medium injection. The same contrast dose, 0.1 mmol/kg, was used for all studies. Images were analyzed by region-of-interest measurements. Results: Both hepatobiliary gadolinium chelates achieved sustained enhancement of normal liver parenchyma, superior in magnitude to that following Gd-HP-DO3A injection. On scans 45-90 min following injection, liver enhancement with Gd-BOPTA was superior to that with Gd-EOB-DTPA. This difference was, however, not statistically significant. Liver enhancement decreased more rapidly on delayed scans with Gd-EOB-DTPA than with Gd-BOPTA, a result that was statistically significant. Excretion of contrast agent into the gallbladder was noted with both hepatobiliary agents but not with Gd-HP-DO3A. Conclusion: Enhancement of normal liver parenchyma peaks at a later time after injection with Gd-BOPTA than with Gd-EOB-DTPA. However, the maximum percent enhancement is comparable when (as in the current evaluation) the two agents are compared at the same dose (0.1 mmol/kg). This finding supports the choice of optimal imaging time post contrast agent administration (for delayed scans) in clinical trials of 20-45 min post injection with Gd-EOB-DTPA and 60-120 min post injection with Gd-BOPTA.
Ultrasound Time-Reversal MUSIC Imaging of Extended Targets

Ultrasound time-reversal imaging with multiple signal classification (TR-MUSIC) can produce images with subwavelength spatial resolution when the targets are point scatterers. In this experimental study, we evaluate the performance of the TR-MUSIC algorithm when the interrogated medium contains extended targets that cannot be considered as point scatterers, i.e., the size of the targets is on the order of the ultrasound wavelength or larger. We construct four tissue-mimicking phantoms, each of which contains glass spheres of a given size. We show that the quality of the phantom images obtained using the TR-MUSIC algorithm decreases with increasing sphere size. However, significant improvement is achieved when the image plane is divided into subregions, where each subregion is imaged separately. In this method, the TR-MUSIC calculations are performed on the windowed backscattered signals originating from each subregion. Our study demonstrates that the TR-MUSIC algorithm with time windowing can accurately locate extended targets but cannot provide the shape and reflectivity of the targets. We scan an inhomogeneous commercial tissue-mimicking phantom using an investigational synthetic-aperture ultrasound system, and show that the TR-MUSIC algorithm is capable of detecting small targets with high spatial resolution in inhomogeneous media.