cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Isolation of Mature Cereal Embryos and Embryonic Axes

Numerous areas of biological research (e.g., control of seed dormancy and protein synthesis, and development of cell-free translation systems) are greatly aided by the use of large quantities of viable cereal embryos. The utility of a method that employs a commercial food blender for embryo isolation was assessed for mature caryopses of various grain lots of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em Thell.), rye (Secale cereale L.), triticale (x Triticosecale Wittmack), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), oat (Avena sativa L.), rice (Oryza sativa L.), pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.], grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.], and maize (Zea mays L.) [...]
Multimodality evaluation of ventricular function: comparison of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, echocardiography, and planar and SPECT blood pool imaging

Fifteen patients underwent resting echocardiography (EC), ECG gated cardiac MR ventriculography (MRV) and blood pool planar and SPECT ventriculography (SPV) sequentially on the same day. In addition, 36 patients had sequential ECG gated blood pool and SPV and 20 normal volunteers, age > 18 years, had sequential ECG gated cardiac MRI performed on both Siemens closed, 1.5T, and open, 0.2T, magnets. Echocardiography was performed using a HP 5500 system equipped with an S4 transducer in 2D mode. MRV at 0.2T and 1.5T used a circular polarized body coil. Nuclear Medicine studies used 25 mCi Tc- 99m labeled red blood cells. Gated planar and SPV were acquired on a dual head Siemens E-Cam system. We have found that MRV affords the most accurate measurement of ventricular function. SPV and MRV provide similar estimations of left ventricular function (LVEF). Further, SPV consistently provides higher LVEF, as compared to the planar data simultaneously acquired. Observed significant differences in intermodality measurements indicate that follow up studies in patients, especially in patients whose management is critically dependent on functional measurement changes, should be monitored by one modality only.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A Composite Sample Method for Determination of Global TextureWithout Sample Symmetry

A new flexible composite sample method is described, which permits the global texture of a sheet material to be determined from one single composite sample. Its applicability is demonstrated by a practical example.
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura following coronary artery bypass graft surgery : Prospective observations of an emerging syndrome

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rapidly progressive syndrome of thrombocytopenia, microangiopathic hemolysis, and organ dysfunction. While most TTP is idiopathic, we have observed four cases following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery in a 2-year period. We have studied these cases prospectively to define the natural history, and potentially unique characteristics, of a post-CABG TTP syndrome. On average, the onset occurred 4.75 days postoperatively (post-op), but the diagnosis was made 8.5 days post-op. All four patients exhibited microangiopathic hemolysis, thrombocytopenia, mental status changes, and severe renal failure. Three also had unexplained fever. All patients received therapeutic plasma exchange for 5, 6, 8, and 11 days, respectively, and all achieved complete hematological remission. Three patients required dialysis for 7, 15, and 16 days, respectively, but were restored to baseline renal function if they survived. One patient with severe pre-existing peripheral vascular disease died of Candida sepsis. None of the surviving patients have relapsed at a median follow-up of 19 months. These cases appear distinguished by a delay in diagnosis despite intensive medical supervision, a florid presentation with most, or all, of the components of the classic TTP pentad, an excellent and rapid response to plasma exchange, and a tendency not to relapse. As such, they may represent a subgroup characterized by a more rapid and severe onset, but also a rapid response to therapy and earlier recovery than the typical idiopathic form of TTP. An aggressive approach to management is warranted.
Making a Business Case for the Human Factors Programs in Aviation Maintenance

A growing challenge to the developers of human factors training programs today is that of financial justification. Most aviation maintenance personnel in the airline industry are aware of human factors issues; however, supervisors and managers continue to be challenged to make a business case for their human factors programs. This paper presents a model for the development of an integrated human factors business plan with return-on-investment calculations. Organizations that have already conducted the training, will find the return-on-investment calculations useful to measure the financial success of their training efforts.
In vitro percutaneous absorption of monosodium methanearsonate and disodium methanearsonate in female B6C3F1 mice

Percutaneous absorption of monosodium [14C]methanearsonate (MSMA) and disodium [14C]methanearsonate (DSMA) was investigated in female B6C3F1 mice from a variety of exposure vehicles, including aqueous solution, solid compound, and soil. These chemicals are the sodium sate of methanearsonic acid, an in vivo metabolite of inorganic arsenic compounds, and are present in water and soil. Permeation experiments were carried out in vitro for 24 h using previously clipped dorsal skin (area = 0.64 cm2) in flow‐through cells with HEPES‐buffered Hanks balanced salt solution as receptor fluid. Applied doses of 10 (15.6), 100 (156), and 500 (781) μg (μg/cm2) were studied in selected vehicles, and dermal absorption was quantitated by determining the radioactivity in the receptor fluid and skin following a skin surface wash to remove unpenetrated compound. Both MSMA and DSMA exhibited similar dermal absorption from different vehicles, and the rank order was aqueous solution > solid compound > soil. The degree of ionizat...
Variability in Nanoscale Fabrics: Bottom-up Integrated Analysis and Mitigation

Emerging nanodevice-based architectures will be impacted by parameter variation in conjunction with high defect rates. Variations in key physical parameters are caused by manufacturing imprecision as well as fundamental atomic scale randomness. In this article, the impact of parameter variation on nanoscale computing fabrics is extensively studied through a novel integrated methodology across device, circuit and architectural levels. This integrated approach enables to study in detail the impact of physical parameter variation across all fabric layers. A final contribution of the article includes novel techniques to address this impact. The variability framework, while generic, is explored extensively on the Nanoscale Application Specific Integrated Circuits (NASICs) nanowire fabric. For variation of σ = 10 in key physical parameters, the on current is found to vary by up to 3.5X. Circuit-level delay shows up to 118p deviation from nominal. Monte Carlo simulations using an architectural simulator found 67p nanoprocessor chips to operate below nominal frequencies due to variation. New built-in variation mitigation and fault-tolerance schemes, leveraging redundancy, asymmetric delay paths and biased voting schemes, were developed and evaluated to mitigate these effects. They are shown to improve performance by up to 7.5X on a nanoscale processor design with variation, and improve performance in designs relying on redundancy for defect tolerance, without variation assumed. Techniques show up to 3.8X improvement in effective-yield performance products even at a high 12p defect rate. The suite of techniques provides a design space across key system-level metrics such as performance, yield and area.
Neurocognitive and psychological profiles in pediatric arachnoid cyst.

Objective This study aims to investigate whether intracranial arachnoid cysts (AC) compromise neurocognitive function and psychological profiles in pediatric patients, depending on various clinical factors.
Clinical evaluation of kidney function--glomerular function.

COMPARED to the use of inulin clearance as a measure of glomerular function, no single test of renal tubular function can be as specific since the renal tubules carry out many different functions. ...
Differences between blacks and whites in plasma protein binding of drugs.

Objective: Disopyramide and salicylic acid were used as model compounds to characterize racial differences in binding of drugs by alpha1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) and albumin, respectively. Drug-free plasma was collected from 29 healthy volunteers (15 white, 14 black). Disopyramide and salicylic acid unbound fractions (fu) in plasma were determined by equilibrium dialysis using 14C-disopyramide and 14C-salicylic acid.
Application of λ Red recombination system to Vibrio cholerae genetics : Simple methods for inactivation and modification of chromosomal genes

The lambda Red-based recombination system is very useful for genetic manipulation of some Gram-negative bacteria. Here we report simple procedures for the inactivation and modification of genes of interest on Vibrio cholerae chromosome using this recombination technique. For this purpose, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) fragment carrying an antibiotic resistance cassette flanked by regions homologous to the target locus was electroporated into recipient V. cholerae strains expressing a highly proficient lambda Red recombination system. Two PCR procedures were tested to generate an amplification product carrying an antibiotic resistance cassette flanked by short (50 or 100 nt) or long (1000 nt) homologous extensions, which allowed successful disruption of four chromosomal loci (ctxB, toxT, lacZ, and recA). Our results suggest that 100-nt homology between the PCR product and the target gene is sufficient to stimulate the lambda Red-dependent recombination. To increase recombination efficiency, however, the PCR procedure should be used to generate a product with 1000-nt homologous extensions. Furthermore, we applied this gene replacement method to create lacZ reporter fusion to the target gene. Transcriptional fusion to the V. cholerae ctxA gene was constructed using a PCR product that contains the 100-nt homologous extension to ctxA on each side of the lacZ::cat cassette, and was shown to respond appropriately to a null mutation in the regulatory gene, toxT. Use of the techniques presented here should prompt rapid and efficient mutagenesis/modification of V. cholerae chromosomal genes.
Lateral lasing and ASE reduction in VECSELs

Vertical external cavity surface emitting lasers (VECSELs) are attractive for many applications due to their high-power, high-brightness outputs. In order to power scale the devices, the pump spot size should be increased. However, the large pump area greatly amplifies the guided spontaneous emission in the epitaxial plane. In order to efficiently power scale the devices, amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) and lateral lasing must be reduced. We begin by first reporting on the temperature dependence of the phenomena. Particularly, since the quantum well gain and bandgap are functions of temperature, ASE and lateral lasing are greatly dependent on the operating temperature as well as the pump power. The easiest method of quantifying the affect of ASE and lateral lasing is by removing the Fabry-Perot cavity formed by the chip edges. We have chosen two different methods: Reducing the Fresnel reflections by patterning the edges of the sample, and depositing a layer of Ge on the edges of the VECSEL chip as the high index of refraction for Ge should reduce the Fresnel reflections and the absorption properties in the NIR regime should also act to prevent feedback into the pump area. Our research shows both of these methods have increased the performance and visibly decreased the amount of lateral lasing seen in the devices.
Ligand–Protein Interactions of Selective Casein Kinase 1δ Inhibitors

Casein kinase 1δ (CK1δ) and 1e (CK1e) are believed to be necessary enzymes for the regulation of circadian rhythms in all mammals. On the basis of our previously published work demonstrating a CK1e-preferring compound to be an ineffective circadian clock modulator, we have synthesized a series of pyrazole-substitued pyridine inhibitors, selective for the CK1δ isoform. Additionally, using structure-based drug design, we have been able to exploit differences in the hinge region between CK1δ and p38 to find selective inhibitors that have minimal p38 activity. The SAR, brain exposure, and the effect of these inhibitors on mouse circadian rhythms are described. The in vivo evaluation of these inhibitors demonstrates that selective inhibition of CK1δ at sufficient central exposure levels is capable of modulating circadian rhythms.
Teaching Sustainability through Service-Learning in Construction Education

In Spring 2011, under the umbrella of a departmental initiative called CM Cares, faculty from Colorado State University collaborated with a local design professional and high school to offer an experimental service-learning course to engage at-risk teens within the local community through completion of a hands-on construction project, and to empower construction management university students to be leaders, stewards and mentors by managing a small community-based construction project. In the course, university students worked with local, alternative high school students in their building trades shop class to construct two full-scale sustainable dog houses for the Rocky Mountain Great Dane Rescue Mission. In its pilot offering, the course met with significant success and several participants received university awards. The purpose of this research is to present this course as a case study to examine successful strategies and barriers to implementing service-learning in construction education to teach susta...
On the mechanism of wavelength regulation in visual pigments

— The contributions of different factors that might be responsible for the 500 nm absorption maximum of bovine rhodopsin are evaluated in detail. These include: (1) electrostatic interactions between the chromophore and a charged amino acid on the apoprotein; (2) exciton interactions with aromatic amino acids; (3) twisting about single bonds which have considerable double bond character; (4) weak interactions between the Schiff base and a putative counter-ion. Analysis of these mechanisms in terms of theoretical and experimental results suggests that(2–4) are all capable of contributing to the protein induced spectral shifts. However, the “external point charge” model proposed previously, i.e. mechanism (1), appears to provide the crucial interaction. In this paper, the theoretical basis for this model is discussed in detail. The model is briefly evaluated in light of the amino-acid sequence of bovine rhodopsin and possible implications for other visual pigments are considered.
Analysis and optimal design of membrane-based CO2 capture processes for coal and natural gas-derived flue gas☆

Abstract Membrane-based processes for carbon capture and storage have many compelling advantages that have encouraged development of membrane materials for the post-combustion separation of CO 2 from flue gases. We investigated the performance of two CO 2 capture processes when integrated with representative flow sheets of coal and natural gas-burning power plants. Using process simulations and optimization techniques, we analyzed how the membrane selectivity and process pressures affect the minimum achievable power requirement and the consequent quantity of membrane area required. In addition, we used a model of process equipment costs to study the dependence of total equipment cost for the CO 2 capture process on these same variables. Higher selectivity generally leads to lower power consumption by the CO 2 capture process, while increasing the pressure of the flue gas leads to lower required membrane areas. Estimated equipment costs tend to be insensitive to the selectivity of the membrane, but are strongly influenced by the flue gas pressure.
Lineage-restricted expression of bone morphogenetic protein genes in human hematopoietic cell lines.

To explore the possibility that bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are autocrine/paracrine regulators of hematopoietic differentiation and function, we screened a panel of human cell lines encompassing the hematopoietic lineages for expression of members of this family of genes. Expression of BMP-2, BMP-4, BMP-6, BMP-7, Growth and Differentiation Factor-1 (GDF-1), Placental Bone Morphogenetic Protein (PLAB), and Transforming Growth Factor-beta3 (TGF-beta3) was detected in one or more cell lines. BMP-2, BMP-4, BMP-7, and TGF-beta3 expression was also found in normal hematopoietic tissue. Expression of BMP-5 and BMP-8 was not seen. Lineage-restricted patterns of expression were found for BMP-4 (T-lymphoid), BMP-7 (lymphoid), PLAB (macrophage/monocyte), and GDF-1 (myeloid). Expression of BMP-2, GDF-1, and PLAB could be modulated by treatment with differentiating agents. Marked variations in the levels of BMP-4, BMP-7, and PLAB expression were encountered, indicating that disorders in BMP signaling pathways may play a role in the development of hematopoietic neoplasia.
Parity Violation in Forward Angle Elastic Electron Proton Scattering

HAPPEX is a new experiment to probe the strange structure of the nucleon with parity violating electron scattering. We describe the physics motivation, provide an experimental overview and report on the results from the first data run. The asymmetry for the elastic scattering of 3.3 GeV electrons off target protons at a scattering angle of 12.5 degrees was measured to a precision of 15% of itself. The contribution from strange quark form factors was found to be zero within the experimental and theoretical uncertainties.
Clark Hull and his role in the study of hypnosis

Clark L. Hull made many contributions to the field of hypnosis. The contributions discussed in this paper include his attempts to dispel misconceptions about hypnosis, comparisons of capacities in the hypnotic state with those in the awake state, a sampling of early findings that are still valid today, and examples of his contributions to methodology. Additionally, the roots of many modern-day models and concepts are to be found in his early works.
The lung as a metabolic factory for gene therapy.

Over the past decade, the development of effective gene delivery vehicles to the lung has created numerous innovative strategies for treating inherited and acquired lung disorders. Currently, one of the most promising vectors for gene delivery to the lung is recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV). To date, gene therapy to the lung has focused on correcting genetic defects for diseases with intrinsic lung pathophysiology. One largely unexplored application of gene delivery to the lung is its use as a genetic metabolic factory for the production and systemic delivery of proteins into the blood for treatment of genetic diseases not directly associated with lung pathology. The study by Auricchio and coworkers described in this issue of the JCI focuses on this novel application (1). A conceptual extension of this work also includes the use of the lung as a catabolic factory for degradation of toxic, blood-borne molecules associated with genetic abnormalities in distant organs. Because the lung has one of the most expansive epithelial–blood capillary networks and is easily accessible for non-invasive gene delivery, it is uniquely suited for such applications.
Rapid development of portal fatty liver in rats consuming various plant materials.

SummaryA portal type of fatty liver has been rapidly and consistently produced in stock weanling rats by feeding diets in which the protein was exclusively of plant origin (corn, rice, wheat or cassava). This experimental lesion bears a similarity to the type of fatty liver seen in the human disease kwashiorkor. Within one week on a corn meal diet excess fat appeared in the portal region of the liver lobule and increased in amount over the 12-week period of study. Even with large concentrations of fat, the portal areas were clearly the most seriously involved.
Bounds on the Load Currents of Exposed One-and Two-Conductor Transmission Lines Electromagnetically Coupled to a Rocket

Three circuits are analyzed. One consists of an isolated two-wire transmission line with terminating impedances; another of a single conductor with terminating impedances grounded to an infinite perfectly conducting plane; and, finally, a terminated two-wire transmission line in the vicinity of an infinite perfectly conducting plane. In all cases a plane monochromatic electromagnetic wave is incident on the wires with the electric vector parallel to their axes. The wires are oriented with respect to the incident field and the ground plane, if present, for maximum response. The objective is to derive formulas for the currents in the load impedances of the three circuit configurations described in the preceding. The writer then presents a heuristic argument to the effect that solutions of these problems bracket the response of exposed unshielded one-and two-wire transmission lines arranged parallel to the axis of a rocket and close to its surface. The established upper and lower bounds for the load currents are sufficiently close together to be of considerable practical value in the study of the electromagnetic compatibility of rockets.
E2F transcriptional activation requires TRRAP and GCN5 cofactors.

The E2F family of transcription factors regulates the temporal transcription of genes involved in cell cycle progression and DNA synthesis. E2F transactivation is antagonized by retinoblastoma protein (pRb), which recruits chromatin-remodeling proteins such as histone deacetylases and SWI·SNF complexes to the promoter to repress transcription. We hypothesized that E2F proteins must reverse the pRb-imposed chromatin structure to stimulate transcription. If this is true, E2F proteins should recruit proteins capable of histone acetylation. Here we map the E2F-4 transactivation domain and show that E2F-1 and E2F-4 transactivation domains bind the acetyltransferase GCN5 and cofactor TRRAP in vivo. TRRAP and GCN5 co-expression stimulated E2F-mediated transactivation, and c-Myc repressed E2F transactivation dependent on an intact TRRAP/GCN5 binding motif. The transactivation domain of E2F-4 recruited proteins with significant histone acetyltransferase activity in vivo, and this activity required catalytically active GCN5. E2F-4 proteins with subtle mutations in the transactivation domain exhibited a positive correlation among transcriptional activation and GCN5 and TRRAP binding capacity and associated acetyltransferase activity. We conclude that E2F stimulates transcription by recruiting acetyltransferase activity and the essential cofactors GCN5 and TRRAP. These results provide a mechanism for E2F transcription factors to overcome pRb-mediated dominant repression of transcription.
Lobar lung transplantation as a treatment for congenital diaphragmatic hernia

Abstract The mortality rate for infants severely affected with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) remains high despite significant advances in surgical and neonatal intensive care including delayed repair and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Because of the increasingly successful experience with single-lung transplantation in adults, this approach has been suggested as a potential treatment for CDH infants with unsalvageable pulmonary hypoplasia. The authors report on a newborn female infant who was the product of a pregnancy complicated by polyhydramnios. At birth, she was found to have a right-sided CDH and initially was treated with preoperative ECMO, followed by delayed surgical repair. Despite the CDH repair and apparent resolution of pulmonary hypertension, the infant's condition deteriorated gradually after decannulation, and escalating ventilator settings were required as well as neuromuscular paralysis and pressor support because of progressive hypoxemia and hypercarbia. A lung transplant was performed 8 days after decannulation, using the right lung obtained from a 6-week-old donor. The right middle lobe was excised because of the size discrepancy between the donor and recipient. After transplantation, the patient was found to have duodenal stenosis and gastroesophageal reflux, which required duodenoduodenostomy and fundoplication. The patient was discharged from the hospital 90 days posttransplantation, at 312 months of age. Currently she is 24 months old and doing well except for poor growth. This case shows the feasibility of single-lung transplantation for infants with CDH, and the potential use of ECMO as a temporary bridge to transplantation. Lobar lung transplantation allowed for less stringent size constraints for the donor lung.
Technology thrusts for future Earth science applications

This paper presents NASA's recent direction to invest in the critical science instrument and platform technologies in order to realize more reliable, frequent and versatile missions for future Earth Science measurements. Historically, NASA's Earth Science Enterprise has developed and flown science missions that have been large in size, mass and volume. These missions have taken much longer to implement due to technology development time, and have carried a large suite of instruments on a large spacecraft. NASA is now facing an era where the budget for the future years is more or less flat and the possibility for any major new start does not vividly appear on the horizon. Unfortunately, the scientific measurement needs for remote sensing have not shrunk to commensurate with the budget constraints. In fact, the challenges and scientific appetite in search of answers to a score of outstanding questions have been gradually expanding. With these factors in mind, for the last three years NASA has been changing its focus to concentrate on how to take advantage of smaller missions by relying on industry, and minimizing the overall mission life cycle by developing technologies that are independent of the mission implementation cycle. The major redirection of early investment in the critical technologies should eventually have its rewards and significantly reduce the mission development period. Needless to say, in the long run this approach should save money, minimize risk, promote or encourage partnering, allow for a rapid response to measurement needs, and enable frequent missions making a wider variety of earth science measurements. This paper gives an overview of some of the identified crucial technologies and their intended applications for meeting the future Earth Science challenges.
Air separation properties of flat sheet homogeneous pyrolytic carbon membranes

Abstract Carbon molecular sieve (CMS) membranes with attractive separation properties were formed by pyrolysis of a polymeric precursor. Defect-free membranes with oxygen/nitrogen permselectivities three times greater than the polymer precursor were obtained. Gas separation properties were also measured at intermediate stages during the pyrolysis protocol to study the evolution of entropic selectivity, which distinguishes molecular sieving materials from typical polymeric materials. Initially, permeabilities increase dramatically during the pyrolysis process due to an increase in overall sorption coefficients. In the finally pyrolyzed membrane, however, permeabilities are three times lower than in the polymer precursor due to significantly lower oxygen diffusion coefficients. Nevertheless, the separation properties of the pyrolyzed membranes are well above the so-called property ‘upper-bound trade-off curve’ often used to compare conventional polymeric materials. The increase in permselectivity is entirely due to an increase in mobility selectivity. Entropic selectivity increases are responsible for the higher mobility selectivity in the finally pyrolyzed membranes; however, energetic contributions were more significant for materials at the intermediate stage. Significant conclusions about the structure of the evolving molecular matrix can be drawn from the gas separation results.
The Tipping-Point Model: Prediction of Change in the Racial Composition of Cleveland, Ohio, Neighborhoods, 1940–1970:

The tipping-point model of neighborhood change is tested for the years 1940–1970. The model posits that once a white area reaches a certain percentage of Negro residents the area will become completely Negro. Recent work by Steinnes (1977), who used a regression analysis of a sample of Chicago census tracts, supports the tipping-point concept. The present replication with Cleveland, Ohio, data differs from the earlier work in three ways: (1) control for sectoral growth patterns; (2) use of the entire population of Cleveland's tracts, rather than a sample of tracts, to determine whether the model is generalizable to the entire city; and (3) an expansion of the time frame of the study. The tipping-point model does not appear to be generalizable to the entire city of Cleveland. The findings suggest that social, economic, and historical factors need to be included in the model.
Pulmonary Hypertensive Medical Therapy in Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension Before Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy

Background— The currently recommended treatment for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension is pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE). No convincing evidence for the use of pulmonary hypertensive medical therapy (PHT) exists in operable candidates. We sought to determine the prevalence of the use of PHT on referral for PTE and the effects on pre-PTE hemodynamics and post-PTE outcomes/hemodynamics. Methods and Results— We performed a retrospective analysis of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension patients referred for PTE during 2005–2007. The prevalence of PHT was determined for all patients referred to our institution. Hemodynamic and outcomes analysis involved only those undergoing PTE. Data included baseline demographics, PHT medication(s), dosage, duration of therapy, and time to referral. Hemodynamic data were acquired from the time of diagnosis, the time of referral visit, and after PTE. Outcomes included intensive care unit, hospital, and ventilator days; bleeding and infection rates; ...
The Administration of rt-PA (Activase®) for the Treatment of Empyema in an Adult Patient

The administration of various fibrinolytic agents for the treatment of empyema has been reported in past studies. Most of the current literature has shown favorable outcomes in terms of increased t...
Patient Care Staffing Levels and Facility Characteristics in US Hemodialysis Facilities

Background Higher numbers of registered nurses (RNs) per patient have been associated with improved patient outcomes in acute-care facilities. Variation in and associations of patient care staffing levels and hemodialysis facility characteristics have not been examined previously. Study Design Cross-sectional study using Poisson regression to examine associations between patient care staffing levels and hemodialysis facility characteristics. Setting & Participants 4,800 US hemodialysis facilities in the 2009 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) End-Stage Renal Disease Annual Facility Survey (CMS-2744 form). Predictors Facility characteristics, including profit status, freestanding status, chain affiliation, and geographic region, adjusted for facility size, capacity, functional type, and urbanicity. Outcomes Patient care staffing levels, including ratios of RNs, licensed practical nurses (LPNs), patient care technicians (PCTs), composite staff (RN + LPN + PCT), social workers, and dietitians to in-center hemodialysis patients. Results After adjusting for background facility characteristics, ratios of RNs and LPNs to patients were 35% ( P P P P P P Limitations Nursing hours were not available. Two part-time staff were counted as one full-time equivalent, which may not always be accurate. Conclusions The significant variation in patient care staffing levels and its associations with facility characteristics warrants inclusion in future large-scale hemodialysis outcomes studies. End-stage renal disease networks and hemodialysis facilities should attend to quality assurance and performance improvement initiatives that maximize licensed nurse staffing levels in hemodialysis facilities.
Optimization of metal layers and substrate loss for the 3D solenoid structure inductors

This paper describes the optimization method on choice of the metal layers and the Si substrate structure about the 3-Dimantional(3D) vertical solenoid inductor on the CMOS process. The optimization of metal layers that constituted 3D structure inductors enable inductors, in which the two layers (Al, M6) stacked structure with area ratio of 0.3 and the three layers (Al, M6 and M5∼M3) stacked structure with area ratio of 0.17, in comparison with an octagonal planer inductor. In spite of the reduction of area, the peak Q-factor on the inductor is almost equal. As for the constitution under the 3D solenoid inductors, Q-factor of inductor with PGS was lower than that of inductor without PGS, in the case of inductance SR ) of inductor without PGS was higher than that of inductor with PGS. As a result the inductor without PGS is available in a higher frequency domain than the inductor of PGS type.
Glomerulotubular disconnection in neonatal mice after relief of partial ureteral obstruction

Ureteropelvic junction obstruction is a common cause of congenital obstructive nephropathy. To study the pathogenesis of nephropathy, a variable-partial, complete or a sham unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) was produced in mice within 2 days of birth. The obstruction was released in some animals at 7 days and kidneys harvested at 7-42 days of age for histologic and morphometric study. Renal parenchymal growth was stunted by partial UUO with the impairment proportional to the duration and severity of obstruction. Proximal tubule apoptosis and glomerulotubular disconnection led to nephron loss. Relief of partial UUO arrested glomerulotubular disconnection, resolved tubule atrophy, and interstitial fibrosis with remodeling of the renal architecture. Relief of severe UUO did not result in recovery. Compensatory growth of the contralateral kidney depended on the severity of obstruction. Our studies indicate that relief of moderate UUO will minimize nephron loss. Application of this technique to mutant mice will help develop future therapies to enhance nephron recovery.
Mechanical Regulation of Cartilage Biosynthetic Behavior: Physical Stimuli

The biosynthetic response of calf cartilage disk explants to small-amplitude dynamic compression was studied in radially unconfined compression over a wide range of frequencies. The relative importance of oscillatory fluid flow, hydrostatic pressure, streaming potential, and cell deformation in modulating chondrocyte metabolism was explored by quantifying the frequency dependence and the spatial (radial) distribution of the biosynthetic response within the 3-mm-diameter explant disks. At frequencies greater than 0.001 Hz (cycle/s), dynamic compression increased biosynthesis of proteoglycans and proteins. While compression at frequencies between 0.002 and 0.01 Hz caused a stimulation of biosynthesis that was distributed throughout the disk, compression at 0.1 Hz caused a stimulation that was confined mainly to the outer radial periphery. These distributions were compared to previous estimates of the radial distribution of physical forces and flows within the matrix. The results suggest that the stimulation of chondrocyte biosynthesis by dynamic mechanical compression at amplitudes up to 10% (stresses up to 0.5 MPa) is related to changes in fluid flow and/or cell shape rather than changes in hydrostatic pressure. Since static compression to the original cut thickness caused a slight decrease in biosynthesis in the center of the disks, we also studied the possible role of limited diffusive transport in the marked inhibition of synthesis seen during large displacement static compression. Experiments in which the surface area-to-volume ratio of disks or the concentration of labeling substrate or serum were varied provided no evidence that limited diffusive transport was responsible for the inhibition of biosynthesis by large displacement static compression. Recovery of biosynthesis from static compression and histological analyses of compressed tissue suggested that there was no significant cell damage even during 12 h of 50% static compression.
Beyond the Visual: Considering the Archaeology of Colonial Sounds

Many historians and archaeologists have focused on trade goods in the French colonies, yet few have examined how these items were animated in colonial contexts. Here, the issue of colonial performance as it related to trade goods (such as hawk bells, brass tinklers, glass beads) is examined and it is argued that the power of these objects was more than purely visual. Case studies from French Louisiana are presented to discuss the intersection of bodies and objects, of the exotic and the erotic towards understanding the sounds that emanated from colonial communities and households.
Effect of composition and pore structure on binding energy and effective diffusivity of moisture in porous food

Abstract Food samples of different compositions were formulated by extruding mixtures of starch and gluten of different compositions, whereas samples of varying pore structure were obtained through extrusion of durum semolina at 57 and 137°C. Experimental measurement of desorption isotherm of these samples at different temperatures in the range 25–40°C indicated that the water binding ability was fairly insensitive to the pore structure of food samples and was found to be lower for extruded and pregelatinized samples as well as for samples of higher gluten content. Experimental desorption isotherm data were represented by the Oswin equation in order to evaluate moisture binding energy as a function of moisture content and temperature by employing the Clausius-Clapeyron equation. Binding energy was found to be negligible at high moistures (above 0·2 d.b.), increasing at lower moisture contents, lower temperatures and higher starch contents. Effective diffusivity of moisture through the porous food at different moisture contents and temperatures was inferred from drying curves in the temperature range 60–105°C. Effective diffusivity (D eff ) was higher in pregelatinized samples and was found to be much higher through porous puffed pasta than regular pasta. The effect of composition on D eff was confounded by the effect of pore structure as a result of variations in pore size distribution in the extruded samples of different compositions. The decrease in D eff at lower moisture contents was postulated to be due to the decrease in the available free water for diffusion and was explained through a simple model which related the available free moisture to the binding energy.
San1-mediated quality control: substrate recognition "sans" chaperones.

In this issue of Molecular Cell, Rosenbaum et al. describe a mechanism that allows San1 to selectively detect misfolded proteins for nuclear protein quality control.
SCAT AND SPAT: LARGE‐SCALE COMPUTER‐BASED OPTIMIZATION SYSTEMS FOR THE PERSONNEL ASSIGNMENT PROBLEM

The personnel assignment problem involves the assignment of people to tasks, projects, etc., in a manner that maximizes a measure of aggregate utility for the assignees subject to several assignment constraints. In addition to computationally efficient solution algorithms, the effective implementation of mathematical models to solve the personnel assignment problem must include data processing systems with comprehensive error checking/resolution procedures, end user reports, documentation, and training. This paper summarizes two successful computer-based systems for solving large-scale personnel assignment problems that frequently occur in university settings. SCAT, the Student-Company Assignment Technique, assigns students to job interview slots. SPAT, the Student-Project Assignment Technique, assigns students to project teams in an MBA field project course. The SCAT and SPAT approaches can be generalized to a wide variety of personnel assignment problems in university, industry, government, and military settings.
Temperature controlled surface chemistry of nitrogen-doped mesoporous carbon and its influence on Pt ORR activity

Abstract In this work, the influence of surface nitrogen on the dispersion and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity of Pt nanoparticles (NPs) supported on nitrogen-doped mesoporous carbon (NMC) was investigated. The NMCs were synthesized from a modified SBA-15 template to impart a disordered pore structure. The nitrogen content was thermally controlled by heating the NMCs to 800, 1000, 1200, or 1400 °C. X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy showed that the nitrogen content and the graphiticity of NMC were inversely coupled. Pt NPs dispersion worsened with a decrease in nitrogen content or increase in the graphiticity. The highest ORR mass activity was obtained for Pt supported on NMC treated at 1000 °C. However, the highest ORR specific activity was obtained for Pt supported on NMC treated at 1400 °C. The results of this work show that both the nitrogen content and the carbon graphiticity can be tailored to yield Pt ORR catalysts with excellent dispersion and high ORR activity.
Crystal Growth, Electrical, and Magnetic Properties of Niobium Phosphate Bronze: Na2+xP4Nb6O26

Abstract Large single crystals of the bronze Na 2+ x P 4 Nb 6 O 26 were grown by chemical vapor transport technique with either NH 4 Cl or NaCl as the transporting agent. The directional electrical transport properties along the three orthorhombic crystallographic axes show anisotropic semiconducting behavior with the activation energies of 0.13, 0.15, and 0.12 eV for E a , E b , and E c , respectively. Magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate Curie–Weiss behavior with μ eff = 1.14 μ B /Nb 4+ .
Comparing simple role based access control models and access control lists

The RBAC metaphor is powerful in its ability to express access control policy in terms of the way in which administrators view organizations. The functionality of simple Role Based Access Control (RBAC) models are compared to access control lists (ACL). A very simple RBAC model is shown to be no different from a group ACL mechanism from the point of view of its ability to express access control policy. RBAC is often distinguished from ACLs by the inclusion of a feature which allows a session to be associated with a proper subset of the roles (i.e., groups in ACL terms) authorized for a user. Two possible semantics for this feature are described: one which requires a similar amount of processing as that required by ACLs, and another which requires significantly more processing than that required by ACLs. In addition, the capability to define role hierarchies is compared to an equivalent feature in ACLs.
An Early Developmental Transcription Factor Complex that Is More Stable on Nucleosome Core Particles Than on Free DNA

In vivo footprinting studies have shown that transcription factor binding sites for HNF3 and GATA-4 are occupied on the albumin gene enhancer in embryonic endoderm, prior to the developmental activation of liver gene transcription. We have investigated how these factors can stably occupy silent chromatin. Remarkably, we find that HNF3, but not GATA-4 or a GAL4 control protein, binds far more stably to nucleosome core particles than to free DNA. In the presence of HNF3, GATA-4 binds stably to an HNF3-positioned nucleosome. Histone acetylation does not affect HNF3 binding. This is evidence for stable nucleosome binding by a transcription factor and shows that a winged helix protein is sufficient to initiate the assembly of an enhancer complex on nonacetylated nucleosomes.
Natural killer cell activity in reticulum cell sarcomas (RCS) of SJL/J mice

Abstract Two transplantable reticulum cell sarcomas (RCS) of SJL mice expressed marked levels of natural killer (NK) activity when tested against susceptible 51 Cr-labeled tumor targets. In contrast, normal SJL lymph node and spleen cells demonstrated low levels of NK activity. Neither depletion of macrophages nor pretreatment with anti-Thy-1.2 sera and complement reduced the capacity of RCS cells to express NK activity. Systemic injection of irradiated RCS cells into SJL mice induced a transient increase in NK activity at 3 and 7 days after injection. However, the NK activity observed in recipients of irradiated RCS cells never reached levels comparable to those of control mice injected with viable tumor cells. These data suggest that the transplantable reticulum cell sarcomas of SJL mice may represent a tumor of natural killer cells and thus provide an enriched source of these effectors that may be useful for further characterization of natural cytotoxicity.
The isomerization and tautomerization of azomethane on Mo(110)

Abstract The surface chemistry of azomethane on Mo(110) was investigated because of its potential use as a source of adsorbed methyl. Temperature programmed reaction, high resolution electron energy loss and Fourier transform infrared reflection absorption spectroscopies were used to probe the reactivity and structure of azomethane and related surface intermediates. At exposures less than or equal to saturation, azomethane isomerizes on the surface to the cis form at 100 K and binds to the surface through the lone pairs. Subsequently, azomethane undergoes molecular desorption and decomposition near 300 K. The decomposition is shown to proceed, in part, via tautomerization of the cis -isomer to form formaldehyde methyl hydrazone, CH 2 NNHCH 3 , Surface methyl is not formed, demonstrating that the Mo(110) surface dramatically alters the decomposition of azomethane.
Samoan Moral Discourse and the Loto

An old adage in anthropology holds that societies perpetuate their moral codes by the manner in which people raise their children, but socialization is far more than the straightforward passing on of culture. Rather, culture acquisition is a highly conflictual process, rich in contested meanings. What other theorists have shown on the level of cultural systems, this analysis intends to show at the level of micro-interactive processes. The article examines Samoan child-rearing routines, subjective reactions to these routines, the manner in which these reactions are in conformity and in resistance to cultural norms, and the discourse through which Samoan society finally strives to temper the resisting subject. By taking the conflictual dimensions of the socialization process into account, the article describes and analyzes indigenous perspectives on Samoan temperament. These perspectives have the potential to reconcile certain vehement disagreements that characterize the ethnography of the self in Samoa.
Why are so many antidumping petitions withdrawn

Abstract The number of antidumping petitions initiated has increased dramatically in recent years. However, only one-third of antidumping cases actually result in dumping duties being levied. Surprisingly, nearly as many antidumping cases are withdrawn or are voluntarily terminated. We present data that show that these withdrawn cases have at least as great an effect on trade as cases which resulted in duties. We discuss legal reasons why such settlements are possible and present a model of the bargaining process. We find that petitions with low probability of success (‘nuisance’ suits) actually confer large gains to both domestic and foreign firms.