cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stimulus features of chicks and other factors evoking parental protective behaviour in ring-billed gulls

Abstract We examined the role of certain stimuli in parental approach and protection of ‘straying’ chicks by noting the response of ring-billed gulls, Larus delawarensis , to different stimuli placed within their territories. Playback of chick calls and presentation of surgically devocallzed chickes each elicited and oriented parental approach and protective behaviour, although a combination of the two was more effective. Other factors affecting a parent's reaction included the parent's reproductive state whether other offspring were present, the chick's location, and the chick'ssize relative to the parent's own chicks. These response tendencies should increase a gull's probability of responding selectively toward its own chicks before it can individually recognize them, while rejecting foreign chicks.
The Two Key Principles Behind Effective TQM Programs

We analyse Total Quality Management (TQM) from an economic and organisational perspective. We find that TQM is a new organising technology that is science-based, non-hierarchical and non-market-oriented. It improves productivity by encouraging the use of science in decision-making and discouraging counter-productive defensive behaviour. It also encourages effective creation and use of specific knowledge throughout the organisation. Effective implementation of TQM generally requires major changes in all three components of the organisational rules of the game, namely systems for allocating decision rights, performance measurement systems, and reward and punishment systems.
Incidence and predictors of major complications from contemporary catheter ablation to treat cardiac arrhythmias

Background Updated understanding of the risks of catheter ablation is important because techniques have evolved for procedures treating non–life-threatening as well as potentially lethal arrhythmias. Objective This prospective study sought to assess the incidence and predictors of major complications from contemporary catheter ablation procedures at a high-volume center. Methods Over a 2-year period, 1,676 consecutive ablation procedures were prospectively evaluated for major complications throughout 30 days postprocedure. Predictors of major complications were determined in a multivariate analysis adjusted for demographics, clinical variables, ablation type, and procedural factors. Results Rates of major complications differed between procedure types, ranging from 0.8% for supraventricular tachycardia, 3.4% for idiopathic ventricular tachycardia (VT), 5.2% for atrial fibrillation (AF), and 6.0% for VT associated with structural heart disease (SHD). Ablation type (ablation for AF [odds ratio (OR) 5.53, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.81 to 16.83], for VT with SHD [OR 8.61, 95% CI 2.37 to 31.31], or for idiopathic VT [OR 5.93, 95% CI 1.40 to 25.05] all referenced to supraventricular tachycardia ablation), and serum creatinine level >1.5 mg/dl (OR 2.48, 95% CI 1.07 to 5.76) were associated with increased adjusted risk of major complications, whereas age, gender, body mass index, international normalized ratio level, hypertension, coronary artery disease, diabetes, and prior cerebrovascular accident were not associated with increased risk. Conclusion In a large cohort of contemporary catheter ablation, major complication rates ranged between 0.8% and 6.0% depending on the ablation procedure performed. Aside from ablation type, renal insufficiency was the only independent predictor of a major complication.
The Kelvin Temperature of the Ice Point

The data on the Joule-Thomson effect of the author and his colleagues are used to calculate the value of the ice point on the Kelvin thermodynamic scale from the data on the coefficients of volume and pressure expansion found in the literature. The gases involved are air, helium, argon and nitrogen. The results are, air 273.158, helium 273.168, nitrogen 273.125 and the most probable value 273.16\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.02. These are compared with accepted values. The use of a helium mixture to give the ice point precisely as the reciprocal of the coefficient of volume expansion is suggested.
Eolian-derived siltstone in the Upper Permian Phosphoria Formation: Implications for marine upwelling

Previously described organic-rich shale facies of the Meade Peak Member of the Phosphoria Formation at Soda Springs, Idaho, consist of well-sorted, laminated siltstone containing little or no clay. The planar-parallel fabric preserved in many of the siltstone beds suggests suspension settling onto the outer shelf or upper slope, most likely under low oxygen conditions. Evidence for transport of silt to the depositional site by sediment gravity flows is absent, as are sandstone beds. We propose that Meade Peak siltstone facies record subaqueous deposition of windborne silt that was transported southward from central Montana. As such, they provide the first direct geologic evidence of a wind regime favorable for marine upwelling, the process commonly postulated to have localized the deposition of Permian phosphatic sediments. They may also provide indirect evidence of upwind eolian sand transport at that time.
Secretion of Human Furin into Mouse Milk

Abstract We have previously described the expression of the human proprotein convertase furin or paired basic amino acid-cleaving enzyme, in mice transgenic for paired basic amino acid-cleaving enzyme and human Protein C (HPC). Here we show 100-fold or higher expression of furin in the mammary gland, compared with endogenous furin. Furin and recombinant HPC were detected in the same regions of the mammary gland and regulated similar to the endogenous whey acidic protein. In addition to the expected intracellular localization, furin was secreted into the milk as an 80-kDa form lacking the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains. Furin present at levels of up to 40,000 units/ml milk cleaved thet-butoxycarbonyl-RVRR-AMC substrate with aK m of 32 μm, and processed the recombinant HPC precursor at the appropriate sites. Surprisingly, the expression of an active protease was not toxic to the mammary gland. This is a rare example of an animal model secreting active truncated forms of a processing endoprotease into a bodily fluid.
Modeling of Micro-Cooling, Heating, and Power (Micro-CHP) for Residential or Small Commercial Building Applications

The increasing demand for electrical power as well as energy for heating and cooling of residences and small commercial buildings is a growing worldwide concern. Cooling, Heating, and Power (CHP) is a promising technology for increased energy efficiency through the use of distributed electric and thermal energy delivery systems at end-user sites. Micro-cooling, heating, and power (micro-CHP) is decentralized electricity generation coupled with thermally activated components for residential and small commercial applications. Micro-CHP systems, typically designated as less than thirty kilowatts electric, can simultaneously produce heat, cooling effects, and electrical power. The number of combinations of components and parameters in a micro-CHP system are too many to be designed through experimental work alone. Therefore, theoretical models for different micro-CHP components and complete micro-CHP systems are needed to facilitate the design of these systems and to study their performance. This paper presents a model for micro-CHP systems for residential and small commercial applications. Some of the results that can be obtained using the developed model include: the cost per month of operation of using micro-CHP versus conventional technologies, the amount of fuel per month required to run micro-CHP systems, the overall efficiency of micro-CHP systems, etc. Also, this model allows to evaluate micro-CHP systems using different type of fuels such as: natural gas, propane, biofuels, etc, to determine the fuel that provides the best performance.© 2006 ASME
Holography of erosion, corrosion, and mechanical wear: possible role of phase‐shifting interferometry

This PDF contains the communications section which includes "Holography of erosion, corrosion, and mechanical wear: possible role of phase-shifting interferometry"
Large-Airway Lymphocytic Bronchitis Predicts Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome

Purpose Lung transplantation offers great promise for otherwise terminal lung diseases, but the development of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) continues to limit survival. While acute rejection and lymphocytic bronchiolitis have been identified as risk factors for the development of BOS, it is unclear whether large airway lymphocytic inflammation conveys the same risk. We evaluated lymphocytic bronchitis on endobronchial biopsies as a risk factor for BOS and mortality. Methods and Materials Endobronchial biopsies were collected and graded during surveillance following lung transplantation. We assessed samples with negative cultures collected in the first 90 days from 298 subjects and compared large-airway lymphocytic bronchitis assessed by a 0 to 2 “E-score” and with standard A and BR pathology scores for acute rejection and small-airway lymphocytic bronchiolitis, respectively. Results We found surprisingly little association between large- and small-airway lymphocytic inflammation scores from a given bronchoscopy. Lymphocytic bronchitis was more prevalent in subjects who were in BOS stage 0p (26%, P=0.04) and BOS stages 1-3 (31%, P Conclusions These findings support the inclusion of endoscopic biopsies in lung transplant surveillance, as lung allograft recipients with significant large-airway lymphocytic inflammation are at increased risk for BOS and may be targets for more aggressive interventions to prevent rejection. Large-airway lymphocytic bronchitis may be a critical feature of BOS pathogenesis.
Brain Imaging and Electrophysiology Biomarkers: Is There a Role in Poverty and Education Outcome Research?

Abstract Background Prekindergarten educational interventions represent a popular approach to improving educational outcomes, especially in children from poor households. Children from lower socioeconomic groups are at increased risk for delays in cognitive development that are important for school success. These delays, which may stem from stress associated with poverty, often develop before kindergarten. Early interventions have been proposed, but there is a need for more information on effectiveness. By assessing socioeconomic differences in brain structure and function, we may better be able to track the neurobiologic basis underlying children's cognitive improvement. Methods We conducted a review of the neuroimaging and electrophysiology literature to evaluate what is known about differences in brain structure and function as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging and electrophysiology and evoked response potentials among children from poor and nonpoor households. Results Differences in lower socioeconomic groups were found in functional magnetic resonance imaging, diffusion tensor imaging, and volumetric magnetic resonance imaging as well as electroencephalography and evoked response potentials compared with higher socioeconomic groups. Conclusions The findings suggest a number of neurobiologic correlates for cognitive delays in children who are poor. Given this, we speculate that magnetic resonance imaging and electrophysiology parameters might be useful as biomarkers, after more research, for establishing the effectiveness of specific prekindergarten educational interventions. At the very least, we suggest that to level the playing field in educational outcomes, it may be helpful to foster communication and collaboration among all professionals involved in the care and education of children.
Venlafaxine hydrochloride (Effexor) relieves thermal hyperalgesia in rats with an experimental mononeuropathy

Venlafaxine hydrochloride (Effexor) is a structurally novel antidepressant that inhibits reuptake of 5-hydroxytryptamine and noradrenaline, but unlike the older antidepressants, has few side-effects. The objective of this study was to determine whether venlafaxine relieves thermal hyperalgesia in rats with neuropathic pain due to chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve. Paw withdrawal latency (PWL) to heat was tested for each hind paw. A painful neuropathy was induced in 24 male Sprague-Dawley rats (Group 1) as described by Bennett and Xie. Rats randomly received either oral venlafaxine (22 mg/kg) or placebo via gavage feeding beginning the day after surgery. Postoperative PWL testing began 3 days after CCI (Time 0). A second group of 12 rats (Group 2) was used to confirm that venlafaxine reverses hyperalgesia in rats with a fully developed neuropathic lesion. These animals began to receive oral venlafaxine (22 mg/kg) starting on the third postoperative day, after the presence of thermal hyperalgesia was verified through PWL testing. Testing was continued for 5 days, during venlafaxine administration. A third group of 12 rats (Group 3) had activity measured before and after treatment with venlafaxine (22 mg/kg). Rats in the placebo group developed thermal hyperalgesia while those that received venlafaxine did not. Venlafaxine also appeared to have a mild non-specific analgesic effect that increased PWL in the sham limb. In Group 2, thermal hyperalgesia was present on day 3, but following treatment with venlafaxine, thermal hyperalgesia resolved. Activity measurements confirmed that venlafaxine was not sedating in this rat model.
Spontaneous ferromagnetism at room temperature in oxygen-rich dicalcium cuprate Ca2CuO3+δ

Stoichiometric Ca 2 CuO 3 , having square-planar Cu-chains [C. L. Teske and H. Muller-Buschbaum, Z. Anorg. Allg. Chem. 379 , 234 (1970); M. Hjorth and J. Hyldtoft, Acta Chem. Scand. 44 , 516 (1990)], is expectedly antiferromagnetic due to 1D intrachain superexchange [K. Okuda, S. Noguchi, K. Konishi, H. Deguchi, and K. Takeda, J. Magn. Magn. Mater. 104–107, 817 (1992)]. Nonetheless, we report remarkable spontaneous ferromagnetism at 293 K after sintering, prominently in oxygen. This apparently introduced excess oxygen at vacant quasioctahedral sites, promoting spin-flip and ferromagnetic interchain coupling. Thermogravimetry (TGA) revealed excess oxygen, ≈0.17 O/Cu. X-ray diffraction (XRD) yielded a comparatively smaller unit cell. Ferromagnetism disappeared by oxygen depletion, mimicking reported nonmagnetism of Ca 2 CuO 3− δ [Okuda et al. (1992)]. Elemental analysis showed insignificant magnetic impurity traces. T c ranged between 680 K and 723 K, depending on freshness and purity. Saturation magnetization varied with processing, optimally 0.30 A · m 2 /kg at 1.0 T applied field. Coercivity and remanence varied with purity.
The advent of menopause.

Letters from: [ Ernst Knobil and Samuel S. C. Yen ][1] [ Phyllis M. Wise, et al. ][1] The article “Menopause: The aging of multiple pacemakers” by Phyllis M. Wise et al . (“Patterns of Aging,” [5 July, p. 67][2]) addresses a cardinal component of the ageing process, menopause, a normal
Red cell metabolism in hereditary pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase deficiency: effect of magnesium.

Summary Since pyrimidine nucleotides avidly bind magnesium, we tested the hypothesis that the haemolytic anaemia in hereditary pyrimidine 5′-nucleoti∼ dase (P5N) deficiency is due to a state of functional magnesium depletion in the red cell (RBC). In haemolysates from normal subjects, cytidine triphos-phate (CTP) inhibited the activity of pyruvate kinase in a competitive manner for magnesium. The CTP Ki was 0.4 mmol/1. CTP inhibited the activity of hexokinase in a competitive manner for ATP (Mg-ATP2-) with a Ki of 4 mmol/1. The inhibitory effect of CTP on both enzymes was overcome by increasing the magnesium content of the test system. Since CTP appeared to inhibit enzymes which required magnesium as a cofactor or Mg-ATP2- as a substrate, we tested the effect of exogenous magnesium on the metabolism of P5N deficient RBC. The autohaemolysis test, the incubated Heinz body assay and the rate of glucose oxidation by the pentose phosphate shunt were abnormal in the intact RBC from a patient with hereditary P5N deficiency. The addition of MgCl2 (6–10 mmol/1) did not improve these abnormal in vitro measures of metabolism in the P5N deficient RBC. This lack of effect of exogenous magnesium may be due to the slow uptake of magnesium by the human RBC.
Crystal Structure Of Chloride Transporter From A Cyanobaterium

The CLC family of chloride transporting proteins is constituted of chloride channels and chloride-proton antiporters. Of the transporter subclass CLC_ec1 from E.coli has been characterized extensively structurally and functionally, and is known to exchange two chloride ions for one proton with typical turnover of 2000 ions/s for the wildtype protein. The genome databases yield hundreds of putative chloride transporting proteins with a significant bias towards proteins with transporter like sequences. We have functionally reconstituted and determined the structure to 2.5 A resolution of a second microbial chloride-proton antiporter from Synechocystis sp. (ORF sll0855). CLC_ss1 bears 39% sequence similarity to CLC_ec1 with the key functional residues being almost identical. Despite this high degree of conservation the observed transport rates of CLC_ss1 are several fold slower (∼100 ions/s). The fold of the dimeric CLC_ss1 is almost like CLC_ec1 with an overall backbone rmsd of 1.7 A. The residues analogous to E148 , Y445 and S107 from CLC_ec1 are situated in analogous positions, with channel lining helices displaying slight movements. No conduit through the protein is observed resulting in a more “inward-open” conformation. When diffraction data from crystals grown in 200 mM Br- were analyzed no evidence for ion binding was detected which correlates with the slow chloride transport displayed by CLC_ss1.
Nonlinear model for capillary-tissue oxygen transport and metabolism

Oxygen consumption in small tissue regions cannot be measured directly, but assessment of oxygen transport and metabolism at the regional level is possible with imaging techniques using tracer15O-oxygen for positron emission tomography. On the premise that mathematical modeling of tracer kinetics is the key to the interpretation of regional concentration-time curves, an axially-distributed capillary-tissue model was developed that accounts for oxygen convection in red blood cells and plasma, nonlinear binding to hemoglobin and myoglobin transmembrane transport among red blood cells, plasma, interstitial fluid and parenchymal cells, axial dispersion, transformation to water in the tissue, and carriage of the reaction product into venous effluent. Computational speed was maximized to make the model useful for routine analysis of experimental data. The steady-state solution of a parent model for tracer oxygen and tracer water. The set of models provides estimates of oxygen consumption, extraction, and venouspO2 by fitting model solutions to experimental tracer curves of the regional tissue content or venous outflow. The estimate myocardial oxygen consumption for the whole heart was in good agreement with that measured directly by the Fick method and was relatively insensitive to noise. General features incorporated in the model make it widely applicable to estimating oxygen consumption in other organs from data obtained by external detection methods such as positron emission tomography.
Temperature effects in the formation of the initiation complex in protein synthesis: A note of caution

Abstract The formation of the initiation complex for protein synthesis (formylmethionyl-tRNA, initiation factors and the 30-S and 50-S ribosomal subunits) in an in vitro system derived from Escherichia coli is dependent on temperature. If the temperature is changed after an equilibrium has been established, the amount of complex adjusts to a new equilibrium with a half-time of about 4 min. The analysis of these complexes are often performed on sucrose gradients which require several hours of centrifugation. The effects described here may prevent possible misinterpretation of such sucrose gradient analyses.
A structured PBL tutorial involving small teams for teaching the human nervous system.

Background: The Human Nervous System and Behavior course at Harvard Medical School (HMS) incorporates a hybrid model of problem-based learning. Student preparation for and participation in the tutorial seemed to be insufficient.Aims: We sought to increase student engagement in tutorial by creating a structured approach, which included assigned roles for students, weekly testing, formal cornerstone presentations, and a weekly self-assessment exercise. We wished to determine the students’ and tutors’ satisfaction with this structured approach as compared with the more traditional tutorial experienced in other courses at HMS.Methods: For the first 4 years of the course, students (n = 160) were surveyed concerning their impressions of the quality of the structured approach in comparison with the traditional tutorial. In addition, they were surveyed concerning the cornerstone presentations and the self-assessment exercise. Tutors (n = 10) who had taught in both the traditional and structured tutorial formats w...
Effect of colcemid on fibroblast motility.

Summary Mouse 3T3 fibroblasts, treated with Colcemid, underwent profound morphological changes which included a loss of axial organization (the cells becoming more “rounded”), an increase in cell outline area, and a loss of the normal localization of “ruffling” to the “leading edge” (the “ruffling” becoming fairly uniformly distributed about the cell periphery). Changes in locomotion were also noted. Cell motility was reduced following Colcemid treatment, and cellular persistence of direction of motion was also reduced. These changes in cell locomotion were ascribed to the morphological alterations mentioned above.
A comparison of clearance and arteriovenous extraction techniques for measurements of renal hemodynamic functions.

No previous studies have directly compared timed urine collections (UV/P) vs. arteriovenous (A-V) extraction methods for determination of renal function in whole kidney preparations. We examined different markers and techniques for assessing renal plasma flow (RPF), filtration fraction (FF), and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in both steady-state and rapidly changing conditions following 2 ml/kg bolus intravenous injections of either Renografin 76% (meglumine/sodium diatrizoate-76%) or hypertonic mannitol 25%. During steady-state conditions, excellent correlations were obtained when comparing markers and techniques. Thus, timed urinary clearances of inulin vs. 99m-technetium DTPA (Tc) had a correlation coefficient (R) of .96 (P less than .01; n = 16), and the A-V extraction technique of inulin vs. Tc as determinants of GFR showed a correlation of R = .98 (P less than .01; n = 15). The timed urinary clearance of inulin vs. the A-V extraction of inulin for glomerular filtration gave a correlation of R = .93 (P less than .01; n = 15). The clearance of para-aminohippurate (PAH) divided by the extraction of PAH vs. flow determinations using the electromagnetic flowmeter gave a correlation of R = .92 (P less than .01; n = 16). The anticipated decrease in GFR following contrast medium andmore » hypertonic mannitol was observed using the A-V extraction technique, whereas an artifactual, exaggerated increase in GFR was observed using the timed urine collection technique. Similarly, we noted an exaggerated increase in RPF using CPAH/EPAH as the methodology. We conclude that rapid changes in renal hemodynamics may be measured accurately using the A-V extraction technique but not with clearance techniques requiring timed urine collections.« less
Influence of Cell Type, Initial Concentration, and Medium on the Inactivation Efficiency of Low-Temperature Plasma

It is now well known that low-temperature plasmas can inactivate bacteria effectively. At low doses, these plasmas can also help in the proliferation of healthy fibroblasts and detach damaged cells without causing necrosis. The combination of these characteristics leads to the possibility of using plasmas in biomedical applications such as wound healing. Although only limited understanding is available as to the mechanisms whereby plasmas interact with cells (prokaryotic or eukaryotic), it is now well established that the effects of plasmas on biological cells depend on the cell type, the cell concentration, and the medium supporting them. In this paper, we present clear visual evidence of these dependencies in the case of bacteria. Through simple imaging, we show that the size and shape of the inactivation zone depend on the type of bacteria, their initial concentrations, and the medium supporting the cells.
Laminar forced convection in the entrance region of helical pipes

Abstract In the present study, three-dimensional laminar forced flow and heat transfer in the entrance region of helical pipes have been investigated using a fully elliptic numerical method. Laminar flow and heat transfer were assumed to develop from the inlet to the outlet simultaneously. The governing equations were solved by means of a control-volume finite element method. The results presented in this paper cover a Reynolds number range of 250–2000, a pitch range of 0.0–0.6, and a curvature ratio range of 0.025–0.20. The present elliptic numerical results are compared with previous experimental data and parabolic numerical data. The developments of temperature field, main and secondary velocity fields, local and average friction factors, and local and average Nusselt numbers are given and discussed. It has been found that both the friction factor and Nusselt number are oscillatory in the entrance region of helical pipes. The pitch and Reynolds number exert different effects on the developments of the friction factor and Nusselt number than the curvature ratio.
Neural plate morphogenesis and axial stretching in “notochord-defective” Xenopus laevis embryos

Abstract The morphogenetic movements of neural ectoderm cells associated with neural plate development and neural fold fusion were examined in notochord-defective embryos. Those movements were apparently normal in embryos which displayed a notochord reduced in size or which completely lacked a notochord. Likewise, axial stretching in the anterior-posterior direction was also normal in “notochord-defective” embryos. A role for the anuran notochord in directing neural fold fusion and axial stretching can, therefore, be ruled out.
High-Density Regular Arrays of Nanometer-Scale Rods Formed on Silicon Surfaces via Femtosecond Laser Irradiation in Water

We report on the formation of high-density regular arrays of nanometer-scale rods using femtosecond laser irradiation of a silicon surface immersed in water. The resulting surface exhibits both micrometer-scale and nanometer-scale structures. The micrometer-scale structure consists of spikes of 5-10 µm width, which are entirely covered by nanometer-scale rods that are roughly 50 nm wide and normal to the surface of the micrometer-scale spikes. The formation of the nanometer-scale rods involves several processes: refraction of laser light in highly excited silicon, interference of scattered and refracted light, rapid cooling in water, roughness-enhanced optical absorptance, and capillary instabilities. As semiconductor processing reaches smaller and smaller feature sizes, much research is dedicated to the development of new methods for producing regular, nanometer-scale structures on solid surfaces. Lithography and chemical etching are powerful methods that offer control over the shape and size of structures, but they are often complex and costly. 1–3 In contrast, pulsed laser-assisted etching 4,5 is a simple but effective method for fabricating small structures directly onto a substrate. However, most of the cross sections of such structures are typically larger than the laser wavelength. 4–14
Hepatic spiral CT in children: Scan delay time-enhancement analysis

Purpose. To compare the effect of different time delays between contrast administration and the start of spiral CT scanning on hepatic enhancement in children.Materials and methods. Forty-five children (2–9 years old, mean 6 years) with no evidence of hepatic disease were examined with spiral CT. Sequential spiral scans through the entire liver were performed following a uniphasic injection of non-ionic contrast medium. In group 1 scanning started at 80% of the contrast injection time, in group 2 scanning started at 100% of injection time, and in group 3 scanning started at 150% of injection time. Mean hepatic, aortic, and inferior vena caval enhancement were determined using regions-of-interest measurements.Results. Mean hepatic enhancement was 41.4, 47.0, and 40.6 HU for the 80 %, 100 %, and 150 % injection times, respectively. Enhancement was significantly greater in the 100 % injection time group (p < 0.05). A mean aortocaval difference of greater than 10 HU was present in all examinations.Conclusion. Our results suggest that delaying the initiation of spiral CT scanning until the completion of the contrast injection increases hepatic enhancement in children. These data should help to improve the quality of hepatic spiral CT in pediatric patients.
Novel use of the glidescope for rigid bronchoscopic placement of a dynamic (Y) stent

Airway stenting for complex airway disease is a common procedure performed by interventional pulmonologists and thoracic surgeons. Malignant central airway obstruction with carinal involvement and tracheobronchomalacia are 2 of the more common indications for the placement of a specially designed stent known as a Y stent. We describe the first report in the literature, to our knowledge, of a novel use of the GlideScope (Verathon Inc, Bothell, WA) to facilitate safe and rapid placement of the Dynamic (Y) Stent (Boston Scientific, Natick, MA) and greatly improve on the teaching aspects of the placement of this stent.
Effect of peroxisome proliferator carcinogens on unscheduled DNA synthesis in rat hepatocytes determined by autoradiography

The potent peroxisome proliferator hepatocarcinogens WY-14,643, BR-931, and nafenopin, as well as mono(ethylhexyl)phthalate (MEHP), the principle metabolite of the weaker hepatocarcinogen di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate) (DEHP), were evaluated in the in vitro rat hepatocyte DNA repair assay by quantitative autoradiography. None of these carcinogens induced unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS). These results failed to confirm the previously reported induction of UDS by WY-14,643 and BR-931 as determined by nuclear liquid scintillation counting. Hydroxyurea (HU, 10 mM) is commonly employed to inhibit replicative DNA synthesis (RDS) when using scintillation counting techniques for UDS. Autoradiographs revealed incomplete inhibition of RDS by HU.
Distinguishing between positive and negative social bonding in problem drinking among college students

Abstract Background: To reduce problem drinking, interventions must be directed toward those factors associated with problem drinking. Purpose: This study examined how perceptions of the role of alcohol related to problem drinking among a convenience sample of 301 college students. Methods: Fifteen items concerned with drinking behavior or perceptions regarding the effects of alcohol and were subjected to factor and multiple regression analyses. Results: Three factors emerged: problem drinking, social bonding and sexual attractiveness. Adjusted multiple regression analysis by gender, using problem drinking as the dependent variable, indicated that for both males and females the perception that alcohol facilitates social bonding and the perception that alcohol enhances sexual attractiveness together accounted for a Significant (P<0.0001) amount of the variation in problem drinking (R2 = .312 for females and R2=.204 for males) with social bonding as the more important factor (R2 = .283 for females and R2 = ...
Therapy of Hypertension in African Americans

Hypertension in African Americans is a major clinical and public health problem because of the high prevalence and premature onset of elevated blood pressure (BP) as well as the high burden of co-morbid factors that lead to pharmacological treatment resistance (obesity, diabetes mellitus, depressed glomerular filtration rate, and albuminuria). BP control rates are lower in African Americans, especially men, than in other major race/ethnicity-sex groups; overall control rates are 29.9% for non-Hispanic Black men. Optimal antihypertensive treatment requires a comprehensive approach that encompasses multifactorial lifestyle modifications (weight loss, salt and alcohol restriction, and increased physical activity) plus drug therapy. The most important initial step in the evaluation of patients with elevated BP is to appropriately risk stratify them to allow determination of whether they are truly hypertensive and also to determine their goal BP levels. The overwhelming majority of African American hypertensive patients will require combination antihypertensive drug therapy to maintain BP consistently below target levels. The emphasis is now appropriately on utilizing the most effective drug combinations for the control of BP and protection of target-organs in this high-risk population. When BP is >15/10 mmHg above goal levels, combination drug therapy is recommended. The preferred combination is a calcium antagonist/angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or, alternatively, in edematous and/or volume overload states, a thiazide diuretic/angiotensin-converting inhibitor.
Perceptual fidelity versus engineering compromises in virtual acoustic displays

Immersive, three-dimensional displays are increasingly becoming a goal of advanced human-machine interfaces. While the technology for achieving truly useful multisensory environments is still being developed, techniques for generating three-dimensional sound are now both sophisticated and practical enough to be applied to acoustic displays. The ultimate goal of virtual acoustics is to simulate the complex acoustic field experienced by a listener freely moving around within an environment. Of course, such complexity, freedom of movement and interactivity is not always possible in a 'true' virtual environment, much less in lower-fidelity multimedia systems. However, many of the perceptual and engineering constraints (and frustrations) that researchers, engineers and listeners have experienced in virtual audio are relevant to multimedia. In fact, some of the problems that have been studied will be even more of an issue for lower fidelity systems that are attempting to address the requirements of a huge, diverse and ultimately unknown audience. Examples include individual differences in head-related transfer functions, A lack of real interactively (head-tracking) in many multimedia displays, and perceptual degradation due to low sampling rates and/or low-bit compression. This paper discusses some of the engineering constraints faced during implementation of virtual acoustic environments and the perceptual consequences of these constraints. Specific examples are given for NASA applications such as telerobotic control, aeronautical displays, and shuttle launch communications. An attempt will also be made to relate these issues to low-fidelity implementations such as the internet.
Laparoscopic cholecystostomy for acute acalculous cholecystitis

Acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) can occur in up to 18% of severely injured patients. Diagnosis is made by positive ultrasound findings of gallbladder sludge, hydrox, and wall thickening. There may also be recent-onset jaundice, positive ultrasound induced Murphy's sign, and unexplained sepsis. Mortality can be as high as 50%. Laparoscopic confirmation was obtained in six ICU trauma patients when omentum was drawn up over a distended gallbladder. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) was done by first directly decompressing the gallbladder through the fundus. This trocar was replaced by a 16 French Foley catheter passed through an Endoloop into the gallbladder and secured by tightening the loop around a cuff of gallbladder. Sepsis resolved in all cases. Only one required subsequent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. LC has a low morbidity and may be life saving during the early stages of AAC. It is not indicated in gangrene or perforation of the gallbladder.
Administration of clozapine to a mother rat potentiates pup ultrasonic vocalization in response to separation and re-separation: Contrast with haloperidol

The present study examined how haloperidol (typical) and clozapine (atypical) treatment to mother rats affected their pups’ ultrasonic vocalization (USV) response to maternal separation and re-separation (termed “maternal potentiation”). Clozapine (10 mg/kg, sc) but not haloperidol (0.2 mg/kg, sc) significantly enhanced the maternal potentiation of 40 kHz USVs in pups that were briefly reunited with their dams. This novel paradigm provides an indirect way of assessing the impact of antipsychotic treatment on the quality of maternal care. It may also be useful in examining the impact of antipsychotic treatment on social bonding between infants and mothers.
EFFECT OF STORAGE CONDITIONS ON CHIP QUALITY OF POTATOES

Potatoes of Shurchip, Norchip and Kennebec cultivars were stored for 4–17 wk at 40–55°F, reconditioned, chipped, and fried. For all cultivars, storage time, storage temperature, and period of reconditioning had a significant influence on finished chip quality as measured by Agtron color reflectance instruments and PCII Coughlin Ratings. These data were used to calculate a linear regression equation for predicting either value when the other is known. Color reflectance evaluation using only the green mode had merit over use of the total of all color modes. Mini-chip color data poorly correlated with that for commercial-type fryer chips.
Linear prediction Cholesky decomposition vs Fourier transform spectral analysis for ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

The fast Fourier transform (FFT) method of spectral analysis converts a time domain signal to a more easily visualized frequency domain spectrum but does not distinguish between signal and noise and produces spectral artifacts (e.g., “Gibb's oscillations”) for a truncated and/or improperly sampled time domain signal. For example, FFT cannot resolve two signals if the sampling duration is less than one cycle of the frequency difference between the two signals. Here, linear prediction Cholesky decomposition spectral analysis is applied to ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. The algorithm is robust and capable of extracting spectral parameters (frequency, time domain exponential damping constant, magnitude, and phase) from a signal consisting of multiple exponentially damped noisy sinusoids. Compared to FFT data reduction, linear prediction can offer significantly increased sensitivity (for signals at or below the rms noise level), elimination of Gibb's oscillations, and increased spectral resolving p...
Multi-Objective Parameters Optimization Design of Single-Pipe Ring-Type Mixing Water Oil-Gathering Pipe Network

Single-pipe ring-type mixing water oil-gathering process is often used in the oil-gas gathering and transportation system of low permeability oilfield. In order to improve the economic benefits of exploitation and construction of low permeability oilfield, multi-objective parameters optimization mathematical model of single-pipe ring-type mixing water oil-gathering process is built with the targets of minimization of pipeline construction investment, thermal energy and power energy consumption. The model belongs to the mixed-discrete variable nonlinear optimization problem. According to the structure characteristics of the model, multi-objective parameters optimization mathematical model is changed into the single-objective optimization by using linear weighting method. Then the single-objective optimization is solved by hybrid genetic algorithm. Network optimized design of a block of oil-gas gathering and transportation system is conducted by the model mentioned in this paper, and the result is that pipeline construction investment reduces 12.4 percent, thermal energy consumption reduces 14.4 percent and power energy consumption reduces 12.4 percent.
Modification of electroshock and pentylenetetrazol seizure patterns in rats affer precollicular transections

Rats with precollicular transections leaving the brain stem intact were subjected to electroshock or pentylenetetrazol-induced convulsions. Animals with transections failed to display the face and forelimb clonus (with or without rearing) typically seen in sham-operated rats subjected to pentylenetetrazol- or minimal electroshock-induced convulsions elicited with corneal electrodes. Moreover, rats with transections exhibited all other components of pentylenetetrazol- and electroshock-induced seizures. These findings support the hypothesis that tonic and some types of clonic convulsions can occur independently of seizure discharge in forebrain structures, whereas clonus restricted to the face and forelimbs depends on seizure discharge emanating from structures within the forebrain for expression.
Trends in Private Insurance, Medicaid/State Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the Health-Care Safety Net: Implications for Asthma Disparities

Disparities in asthma prevalence, severity, quality of care, and outcomes have been widely documented across racial/ethnic communities, among privately insured vs publicly insured patients, and according to patients' socioeconomic status, among other patient characteristics. In order to effectively address asthma disparities, changes will need to be made across all systems of care in which these subpopulations receive health-care services. The majority of current trends in private insurance, Medicaid/State Children's Health Insurance Program, and the safety net are likely to further exacerbate asthma disparities rather than help to reduce these disparities. Asthma cannot be effectively managed unless individuals have affordable access to a full range of services and receive coordinated, quality health care. Multiple policy levers will need to be simultaneously employed to ensure access to the full range of services needed for effective asthma management, especially among low-income and minority persons with asthma in order to reduce the gap in disparities. The needs of these patients must be thoughtfully addressed and strategically advocated for within all systems of care in which these subpopulations receive health services. This overall strategy must necessarily include consideration of the capacity of safety-net providers to meet the needs of uninsured and underinsured persons with asthma. This article reviews trends in health-care financing, in clinical management, and the health-care safety net, and assesses their likely impact on asthma disparities. It concludes with a discussion of key policy arenas that will have significant influence on the eventual success of efforts to reduce asthma disparities.
Four-dimensional N=1 F[R] supergravity

Abstract We propose a supersymmetric generalization of f [ R ] gravity, calling it F [ R ] supergravity. We adopt the so-called unimodular supergravity (UMSG). We first give an explicitly invariant Lagrangian L inv ≡ L SG + L H in dimensions 2 ⩽ D ∀ ⩽ 11 , where L H is linear in the D -form field strength H = d C , while L SG is the ordinary supergravity Lagrangian. We then establish the total Lagrangian L tot ≡ e F [ e − 1 L inv ] + L C , with the constraint term L C for the UMSG formulation. As an explicit example, we study N = 1 supergravity in four dimensions (4D). We show that the solutions to the field equations for conventional L SG satisfy the field equation of the new system with L tot . Since the function F [ e − 1 L inv ] is an arbitrary (non)polynomial function of e − 1 L inv , there can be many other solutions, including those for non-supersymmetric f [ R ] gravity.
Nonabsoluteness of Elementary Embeddings

If κ is a measurable cardinal, let us say that a measure on κ is a κ -complete nonprincipal ultrafilter on κ . If U is a measure on κ , let j U be the canonical elementary embedding of V into its Ultrapower Ult U ( V ). If x is a set, say that U moves x when j U (x) ≠ x ; say that κ moves x when some measure on κ moves x . Recall Kunen's lemma (see [K]): “Every ordinal is moved only by finitely many measurable cardinals.” Kunen's proof (see [K]) and Fleissner's proof (see [KM, III, §10]) are essentially nonconstructive. The following proposition can be proved by using elementary facts about iterated ultrapowers. Proposition. Let ‹U n : n ∈ ω› be a sequence of measures on a strictly increasing sequence ‹κ n : n ∈ ω› of measurable cardinals. Let U = ‹ W α : α 2 ›, where W ωm + n = U m (m, n ∈ ω). Then, for each θ in Ult U ( V ), if E is the (minimal) support of θ in Ult U ( V ), then, for all m ∈ ω, U m moves θ iff E ∩ [ωm, ω(m + 1)) ≠ ∅.
Same-Sex Marriage and Privacy Management: Examining Couples' Communication with Family Members

Communication Privacy Management theory (CPM) is used as a theoretical framework to describe married or engaged same-sex couples' (N = 48) regulation of their private information during interactions with family members about legally recognized same-sex marriage (SSM). Couples' described how SSM triggered privacy rule change among family members. Couples and family members experienced privacy boundary rule coordination and privacy turbulence surrounding sharing news about the couples' SSM and about the couples' relationship details. The study suggests CPM is a useful way to conceptualize the communication that couples and families have about SSM.
The standardization of the thiobarbituric acid assay for nonenzymatic glucosylation of human serum albumin.

Abstract The optimal conditions for the thiobarbituric acid assay of ketoamine adducts on human serum albumin have been established. Maximum absorbances are obtained following hydrolysis of albumin at pH 1 for 8 h in a 115°C oil bath and incubation of the hydrolysate with thiobarbituric acid in 13% (final concentration) trichloroacetic acid for 50 min at 37°C. The colored product has an absorption maximum at 443 nm and is stable for at least 1.5 h at room temperature. Glucose and sodium thiocyanate are interfering agents resulting in spuriously high and low absorbances, respectively. Glucosylated albumin standard was assayed under the described conditions and results were reproducible to within 6% over seven separate studies. Color yield was a linear function of amount of protein assayed up to 5 mg per assay (correlation of 0.97). When nonenzymatic glucosylation of human serum albumin is determined by incorporation of 3 H-labeled glucose of purity greater than 99.9%, the color yield is 80% of the expected value and is a linear function of radioactivity incorporated with a correlation of 0.98.
Cholinergic blockade and lesions in the ventro-medial septum of the rat

Abstract Small lesions of the ventro-medial septum of rats increased spontaneous locomotor activity and reactivity to light and facilitated the acquisition as well as the reversal of shuttle-box avoidance responses. Food and water intake were not significantly modified. There was no evidence of perseverative responding during CAR reversal acquisition. The application of small doses (2–5 μg) of atropine methyl nitrate to the same region did not produce significant changes in reactivity to photic stimuli but facilitated CAR acquisition. Repeated injections of high doses (4–7 μg) of atropine facilitated CAR acquisition when rats were required to respond to light (CS) onset but not when they were required to respond to its offset. Neither dose of atropine caused a significant change in spontaneous activity or produced evidence of perseverative responding during CAR reversal acquisition. Both doses of atropine resulted in an initial depression of food and water intake. These results indicate that dysfunctions underlying changes in locomotor activity and reactivity to light do not mediate two-way CAR facilitation and suggest further that there is a cholinergic system within the septum whose disruption has a direct facilitatory effect on the acquisition of a two-way CAR.