cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electrically Tunable Metasurfaces

While conventional graded-pattern metasurfaces are unable to provide real-time control over the wave-front of scattered light, careful selection of a state-of-art tunable component like an electro-optical material (EOM) hybridized with a unique physical paradigm can lead to enhancement of light-matter interaction and dynamical control over beam manipulation. Several advanced tunable designs for one- and two-dimensional beam control are proposed based on gate-tunable biasing and integration of EOMs into plasmonic nanostructures which offer large phase modulation with concurrence of Fabry-Perot type resonance and zero-crossing of the permittivity of indium tin oxide (ITO) active layer. The low reflection efficiency in plasmonic-based designs is improved by employing the all-dielectric nanostructured metasurfaces and electrically merging the excited electric and magnetic resonances (Mie-type dipolar modes). Finally, adding time modulation to the predesigned optical platforms hold the promise to overcome fundamental limits like narrow bandwidth of operation, lack of full phase pick-up, and fabrication sensitivity.
Bioactive cell-like hybrids from dendrimersomes with a human cell membrane and its components

Cell-like hybrids from natural and synthetic amphiphiles provide a platform to engineer functions of synthetic cells and protocells. Cell membranes and vesicles prepared from human cell membranes are relatively unstable in vitro and therefore are difficult to study. The thicknesses of biological membranes and vesicles self-assembled from amphiphilic Janus dendrimers, known as dendrimersomes, are comparable. This feature facilitated the coassembly of functional cell-like hybrid vesicles from giant dendrimersomes and bacterial membrane vesicles generated from the very stable bacterial Escherichia coli cell after enzymatic degradation of its outer membrane. Human cells are fragile and require only mild centrifugation to be dismantled and subsequently reconstituted into vesicles. Here we report the coassembly of human membrane vesicles with dendrimersomes. The resulting giant hybrid vesicles containing human cell membranes, their components, and Janus dendrimers are stable for at least 1 y. To demonstrate the utility of cell-like hybrid vesicles, hybrids from dendrimersomes and bacterial membrane vesicles containing YadA, a bacterial adhesin protein, were prepared. The latter cell-like hybrids were recognized by human cells, allowing for adhesion and entry of the hybrid bacterial vesicles into human cells in vitro.
Effect of hollow bit local exhaust ventilation on respirable quartz dust concentrations during concrete drilling.

Drilling large holes (e.g., 10–20 mm diameter) into concrete for structural upgrades to buildings, highways, bridges, and airport runways can produce concentrations of respirable silica dust well a...
Use of Clinical Algorithms for Evaluation and Management of Pediatric and Adult Sepsis Patients in Low-Resource Clinical Environments

Introduction:Acute infection in post-disaster settings is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Sepsis management in low resource settings is controversial with recent research suggesting that aggressive fluid resuscitation may cause greater harm than benefit. However, the vast majority of international sepsis guidelines still suggest large initial fluid boluses as part of sepsis algorithms.Aim:To create an adult and pediatric sepsis algorithm to be applied in low resource clinical settings. This is part of a larger project to create clinical algorithms to provide standardization of emergency case management for low-resource clinical environments.Methods:A literature search was performed through PubMed identifying and reviewing fluid resuscitation in adult and pediatric sepsis patients in high and low resource clinical environments. The pathways were created based on interpretation of the available evidence-based literature. Focus groups were conducted in Zambia in March 2018 for feedback from local practitioners regarding feasibility of pathways. The pathways were then modified, reviewed by experts peer-review and revised.Results:Final pediatric and adult sepsis clinical algorithms were created and posted to the free web-based application AgileMD™. They will be available via app access, an online platform, or printable pathways for use in the clinical environment.Discussion:The study is currently undergoing IRB approval with a plan for implementation of multiple clinical algorithms at a referral hospital site in Zambia in January 2019. Site direction at Ndola Hospital will be conducted under the leadership of an Emergency Medicine trained physician, who will assist in implementation of algorithms and collection of data. Initial data review will be conducted in May 2019. There will be incremental site visits by organizing researchers throughout the implementation and data collection period. Statistical analysis will examine sepsis associated processes and outcome indicators pre and post-intervention to further delineate sepsis management in low resource clinical environments.
Plasmonic Pixel Biosensor Based on Grazing Angle Illumination and Computational Imaging

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) has been adapted for analyzing biomolecular interactions in real time as a label-free technology. However, SPR instruments, which are usually bulky and expensive, require specialized optical components for exciting surface plasmons and detecting spectral signals, and the technique has yet to evolve into a more affordable and accessible analytic tool. In this paper, we demonstrate a plasmonic sensing device integrated with plasmonic pixels for exciting surface plasmons and displaying spectral information. The plasmonic pixels based on continuous nanostructured metallic thin films establish a direct relationship between nanostructure patterns and plasmon resonances in the visible and near-infrared spectrum range. Steep dispersion of Fano resonances induced by incident light from a grazing angle transduces plasmonic spectral responses into a unique two-dimensional image. Spectral information extracted from the plasmonic pixels exhibits an asymmetric Fano resonance behavior with sharp intensity peaks and the full width half maxima (FWHM) down to 10 nm. The relative brightness of the plasmonic pixels allows naked human eyes to detect the formation of a biomolecule monolayer. Most importantly, subnanometer spectral information can be extracted from the plasmonic pixel images and computed to analyze dynamics of chemical and biomolecular binding events in real time. We envision that these nanostructure plasmonic pixel biosensors can provide a compact and low-cost analytic platform to meet the emerging demands, particularly in portable, mobile, and wearable devices for label-free detection and point-of-care diagnostics.
Global transcriptomic analyses of Salmonella enterica in Iron-depleted and Iron-rich growth conditions

Salmonella enterica possess several iron acquisition systems, encoded on the chromosome and plasmids. Recently, we demonstrated that incompatibility group (Inc) FIB plasmid-encoded iron acquisition systems (Sit and aerobactin) likely play an important role in persistence of Salmonella in human intestinal epithelial cells (Caco-2). In this study, we sought to determine global transcriptome analyses of S. enterica in iron-rich (IR) and iron-depleted (ID) growth conditions. The number of differentially-expressed genes were substantially higher for recipient (SE819) (n = 966) and transconjugant (TC) (n = 945) compared to the wild type (WT) (SE163A) (n = 110) strain in ID as compared to IR growth conditions. Several virulence-associated factors including T3SS, flagellin, cold-shock protein (cspE), and regulatory genes were upregulated in TC in ID compared to IR conditions. Whereas, IS1 and acrR/tetR transposases located on the IncFIB plasmid, ferritin and several regulatory genes were downregulated in TC in ID conditions. Enterobactin transporter (entS), iron ABC transporter (fepCD), colicin transporter, IncFIB-encoded enolase, cyclic di-GMP regulator (cdgR) and other regulatory genes of the WT strain were upregulated in ID compared to IR conditions. Conversely, ferritin, ferrous iron transport protein A (feoA), IncFIB-encoded IS1 and acrR/tetR transposases and ArtA toxin of WT were downregulated in ID conditions. SDS-PAGE coupled with LC-MS/MS analyses revealed that siderophore receptor proteins such as chromosomally-encoded IroN and, IncFIB-encoded IutA were upregulated in WT and TC in ID growth conditions. Both chromosome and IncFIB plasmid-encoded SitA was overexpressed in WT, but not in TC or recipient in ID conditions. Increased expression of flagellin was detected in recipient and TC, but not in WT in ID conditions. Iron concentrations in growth media influenced differential gene expressions both at transcriptional and translational levels, including genes encoded on the IncFIB plasmid. Limited iron availability within the host may promote pathogenic Salmonella to differentially express subsets of genes encoded by chromosome and/or plasmids, facilitating establishment of successful infection.
Fungal Placentitis Caused by Aspergillus terreus in a Mare: Case Report.

Placentitis has been reported as the most important cause of equine abortions, stillbirths, and perinatal deaths in horses. Most cases are caused by bacteria and less commonly by fungal elements. The aim of this report is to describe the clinical presentation of a fungal placentitis caused by Aspergillus terrerus. A 5-year-old thoroughbred maiden mare at the 217th day of gestation presented with some classic signs of placentitis (premature udder development and milk dripping). All ultrasonographic findings were consistent with a live fetus and a severe placentitis. On vaginal examination, purulent discharge was found coming from the external cervical os. Samples sent for culture yielded very small numbers of mixed growth including Enterococcus faecalis (by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer), Streptococcus viridans, and Aspergillus terreus, and polymerase chain reaction was positive for Aspergillus terreus and Pseudomonas. The mare was placed on broad-spectrum antimicrobials, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, and hormonal and antifungal treatment. The fetus kept on developing and growing despite the placentitis for 14 days until the demise of the fetus in utero occurred. Aspergillus terreus was isolated from the chorionic surface but not from the fetus. Fungal placentitis is not very commonly found in mares. The extent of the placental lesions and the severity of the placentitis contributed to the death of the fetus. This is one of the few case reports available describing fungal placentitis. Aspergillus terreus has not been previously reported as a cause of placentitis.
Sparsely populated regions as a specific geographical environment

Abstract The Amazon forests, the Northern artic regions, the Australian bush and Siberian plains all have very low demographic densities, but they are rarely studied as pertaining to the same global category. It appears, however, that when considering sparsely populated regions (SPR) globally they share not only demographical characteristics, but also a number of features in their economic, political, spatial and social configuration, and more importantly in visions of nature and the environment, which make them different from more densely populated areas. The point of this paper is to demonstrate that despite obvious ecological and climatic differences, SPR can be considered as a specific geographical category and in so doing we are able to reveal and explain aspects until now imperfectly framed under the ‘rural’ category which they are generally put into. This point is far from anecdotal, since contrary to common assumptions, SPR are still largely dominant today on Earth in terms of extension. Considering them as a unique category can therefore be an important step forward in cross-continental rural studies.
Women's Perceptions on the Use of Video Technology in Early Labor: Being Able to See.

Introduction Delaying admission to the birth setting until active labor has commenced has known benefits. However, women and their partners often struggle to stay home in early labor. Research on telephone triage during early labor at home has illuminated significant disadvantages with this model of care, contributing to women feeling dissatisfied with the early birth experience. Research conducted with midwives on the potential benefits of using video technology suggests it might be a helpful strategy for early labor support. This study examined women's perspectives on the potential use of this technology. Methods Focus groups and individual interviews were conducted with 23 English-speaking women who experienced spontaneous labor within the last year. The recordings were transcribed verbatim. Content analysis was used to interpret women's perceptions. Results The women identified potential advantages of video technology in early labor connected to the major theme of being able to see, which could enable closer human connections between the intrapartum care provider, the woman, and her partner, as well as better assessments of labor. This human connection was integral to enhancing empathy and building confidence. Concerns about using video calls during early labor at home focused on privacy issues and the need to practice beforehand. Concerns about privacy depended upon having a prior relationship with the intrapartum care provider and women being able to decide if they wanted to use the technology. Discussion One way of optimizing the experience of staying home in early labor and overall satisfaction with the birth experience may be with video technology, which could offer enhancements over traditional telephone triage.
RAB in Commonplace but Complex Tasks

In Chapters 5 through 8, we examined people’s behavior in several specific resource-allocation situations. In Chapter 5, we examined resource-allocation behavior under conditions of Certainty, Risk, and Uncertainty, where fluctuations in resources were possible, finding that participants performed best under Certainty and worst under Uncertainty. We saw that people were capable of intuitively solving simple technical two-dimensional resource-allocation problems, initially finding solutions that were 80–90% of the optimal solution that could be obtained with LP. With practice many participants’ scores improved to 95% of the optimal LP solution. Chapter 5 also discussed the equal-scheduling tendency where participants would tend to schedule equal use of the two alternatives provided in the scenario of the problem, even when the optimal solution called for unequal scheduling. Participants also showed a tendency not to take precautions against losses but instead to react after a loss had occurred.
Acute Compartment Syndrome after an Olecranon Fracture in a Patient with Mild Hemophilia B.

Introduction Compartment syndrome is a serious condition characterized by compartmental pressures within 20 mmHg of diastolic blood pressure, or clinical signs of pain, paresthesia, pallor, and lack of pulses. Often a surgical intervention is necessary. Increased surveillance for compartment syndrome is important when a patient with a bleeding disorder sustains a traumatic injury. Case report We present a case of forearm compartment syndrome in a patient with mild hemophilia B who sustained an olecranon fracture. The patient received factor replacement and he underwent emergent forearm fasciotomies to avoid muscle necrosis. Over the subsequent week, the patient returned to the operating room 3 times for repeat irrigation and debridements, partial wound closure, open reduction internal fixation of his olecranon fracture and eventual skin grafting of the volar forearm wound. Conclusion Failure to recognize compartment syndrome in even mild forms of hemophilia may result in loss of function, neurologic deficits, and limb amputations. The management of acute compartment syndrome in patients with hemophilia requires timely recognition, replacement of clotting factors, and emergent fasciotomies.
Partisan search behavior and Google results in the 2018 U.S. midterm elections

This research shows that members of different ideological groups in the United States can use different search terms when looking for information about political candidates, but that difference is ...
Centrifuged-Concentrated Intravitreal Slurry Triamcinolone Acetonide: An Inexpensive, Easy, and Viable Alternative to Long-Term Steroid Delivery:

Purpose:This work reports the duration, safety, and viability of intravitreal slurry triamcinolone acetonide (TA; 1.0 mL of 40-mg/mL TA centrifuge concentrated into a 0.1-mL pellet) to treat cystoi...
Minimal free resolutions of 2 × n domino tilings

We introduce a squarefree monomial ideal associated to the set of domino tilings of a 2 × n rectangle and proceed to study the associated minimal free resolution. In this paper, we use results of D...
OPTIMAL RESOURCE ALLOCATION FOR A DIFFUSIVE POPULATION MODEL

The spatial distribution of resources for diffusive populations can have a strong effect on population abundance. We investigate the optimal allocation of resources for a diffusive population. Popu...
Monetary Operations and Islamic Banking in the GCC: Challenges and Options

The assessment provides evidence of market segmentation across Islamic and conventional banks in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), leading to excess liquidity, and an uneven playing field for Islamic banks that might affect their growth. Liquidiy management has been a long-standing concern in the global Islamic finance industry as there is a general lack of Shari'ah compliant instruments than can serve as high-quality short-term liquid assets. The degree of segmentation and bank behavior varies across countries depending on Shari'ah permissibility and the availability of Shari'ah-compliant instruments. A partial response would be to support efforts to build Islamic liquid interbank and money markets, which are crucial for monetary policy transmission through the Islamic financial system.This can be achieved, to a large extent, by deepening Islamic government securities and developing Shari'ah-compliant money market instruments.
Enough Is Enough: Quality Improvement to Deimplement High-Flow Nasal Cannula in Bronchiolitis.

High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC): nobody seems to like it, but everyone seems to be using it as the newest treatment of bronchiolitis. Although supportive care is the mainstay of treatment,1 we as a medical community continue to seek interventions for this self-limited viral disease process, with the good intentions to minimize suffering and limit time families spend in the hospital. As hospitalists, we strive to provide efficient care and were quick to partner with our critical care colleagues to make HFNC therapy available on the acute care wards, in an attempt to avoid costly ICU stays. In the last several years, in 2 randomized controlled trials, researchers found that early initiation of HFNC reduces the need for later rescue therapy2,3 (notably, most often to HFNC), but that HFNC does little to mitigate the disease process and does not reduce the length of time oxygen therapy is needed nor the frequency of ICU transfers.4 Despite this, the use of HFNC nationally has risen.5 In this issue of Hospital Pediatrics , Charvat et al6 and Noelck et al7 share 2 quality improvement (QI) studies to implement standardized weaning protocols as a first step toward establishing appropriate HFNC therapy use. Both Charvat et al6 and Noelck et al7 used QI methodology to address the discontinuation of HFNC, one …
The Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and Apnea/Obstruction During Neonatal Sleep and Feeding

Respiratory observations made during nutritive feeding and a complete daytime nap within the first week of life on ten newborns who subsequently were victims of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) were compared with normative data based on 1,301 infants of comparable ages. Measurements were obtained of all apneic pauses and/or transient respiratory obstructive events at least two seconds in duration. A statistically significant increased number of future SIDS victims were found to have an unusual amount of apnea/obstruction episodes during nutritive feeding when compared with the normative group. Future SIDS victims, as a group, also had an increased frequency of apneic pauses during sleep. Furthermore, all SIDS victims demonstrated either an unusual amount of apnea/obstruction during nutritive feeding or apneic pauses during sleep. None of the airway obstruction measures during sleep differentiated the SIDS infants from the normative group. These results are consistent with the general hypothesis that prolonged apnea or airway obstruction is part of the pathophysiologic process resulting in SIDS and those hypotheses implicating unstable respiratory activity during sleep as well as apnea and pharyngeal/laryngeal dysfunction induced by liquid stimulation of the upper airway. They are also compatible with the growing body of evidence indicating that factors that predispose an infant to SIDS originate in the perinatal period.
Genome space and structure genome invariants

The traditional approach examines and collects data on a single gene, a single protein or a single reaction at a time. Given the state space of the cell, any gene can be represented by a point (vector) in this space and its components are the protein expressions of the same gene for any state. When the same process is repeated for all the genes, we obtain a set of points (vectors) which is a new space or genome space. Inside the genome space we can define invariants that give us the structure of the genome space. With the genome space and state space we can give a model for any cell and in particular for the neurons in the brain.
Towards evidence-based management: creating an informative database of nursing-sensitive indicators.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to describe the creation, evolution, and implementation of a database of nursing-sensitive and potentially nursing-sensitive indicators, the Military Nursing Outcomes Database (MilNOD). It discusses data quality, utility, and lessons learned. Design/Methods: Prospective data collected each shift include direct staff hours by levels (i.e., registered nurse, other licensed and unlicensed providers), staff categories (i.e., military, civilian, contract, and reservist), patient census, acuity, and admissions, discharges, and transfers. Retrospective adverse event data (falls, medication errors, and needle-stick injuries) were collected from existing records. Annual patient satisfaction, nurse work environment, and pressure ulcer and restraint prevalence surveys were conducted. Findings and Conclusions: The MilNOD contains shift level data from 56 units in 13 military hospitals and is used to target areas for managerial and clinical performance improvement. This methodology can be modified for use in other healthcare systems. Clinical Relevance: As standard tools for evidence-based management, databases such as MilNOD allow nurse leaders to track the status of nursing and adverse events in their facilities.
[29] On the interpretation of data from isothermal processes

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the interpretation of data from isothermal processes and presents specific sources of uncertainty in the use of thermodynamic data. In general for most macromolecular processes only the free energy changes in isothermal processes have unambiguous significance. It is a required condition for thermodynamic considerations of isothermal processes that exchanges of heat between system and reservoir be truly infinitesimal relative to the total heat in the reservoir. There emerges more clearly a hierarchy of thermodynamic quantities associated with isothermal processes. Thermodynamic data are the major source of quantitative understanding of biological processes, often the only source, but such data are frequently incorrectly interpreted or inadequately utilized or both. Thermodynamic data reflect molecular details only indirectly. Nevertheless their most frequent use in chemistry and biochemistry is to suggest or support molecular models. The usual procedure is to make comparisons of thermodynamic data from systems under study with corresponding data from systems thought to be reasonably well understood. Although this use may be a practical necessity, it is well known to be nonrigorous and thus of uncertain reliability.
The Effect of Wheat Bran on the Bioavailability of Vitamin B-6 in Young Men

The effect of cooked wheat bran on the bioavailability of vitamin B-6 (B-6) was determined in 10 men, aged 20 to 35 years. The subjects consumed a constant diet with and without the addition of 15 g wheat bran during three successive 18-day periods in a switch-back design. Half of the subjects received the additional bran during periods 1 and 3; the other half consumed the bran during period 2. The bran and nonbran diets supplied, respectively, 1.69 and 1.66 mg of B-6 daily. Plasma total B-6 and pyridoxal phosphate (PLP), urinary 4-pyridoxic acid (4-PA), and urinary and fecal B-6 were determined at regular intervals during each period. Bran significantly increased fecal B-6 (P less than 0.05) and decreased urinary 4-PA (P less than 0.01). Bran also significantly depressed plasma B-6 (P less than 0.01) and PLP (P less than 0.05). These results indicate that the addition of 15 g of wheat bran to the diet decreased the bioavailability of B-6. Since this decrease was modest, never exceeding 17% (based on urinary 4PA and B-6), this amount of bran will not adversely affect B-6 status when intake of the vitamin is adequate.
Ultraviolet Irradiation of the Vegetative Cells of Dictyostelium discoideum

Experiments on the effect of ultraviolet (UV) light on the survival of vegetative Dictyostelium discoideum cells indicate that this is a relatively UV-resistant organism. Several factors suggest the presence of some type of repair process. Experiments to test for liquid-holding recovery and simple photoreactivation yielded negative results. Acriflavine and caffeine were utilized to possibly interfere with dark repair. Acriflavine produced no UV sensitization, but caffeine did cause a concentration-dependent decrease in survival of irradiated cells. When UV-irradiated cells were illuminated with photoreactivating light while suspended in caffeine, the survival increased above that for cells treated with caffeine alone, suggesting an overlap between lesions repaired by photorepair and dark repair. Growth experiments showed that UV light induced a dose-dependent division delay, followed by a period of retarded growth characterized by the presence of a constant fraction of nonviable cells in the irradiated population. The delayed exposure of cells to caffeine after irradiation showed that the magnitude of the caffeine sensitization diminished throughout the division-delay period. An action spectrum indicated probable nucleoprotein involvement in the induction of division delay. UV light retarded ribonucleic acid and protein synthesis and temporarily blocked deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis. However, synthesis of all three accelerated prior to the end of the division-delay period and then closely paralleled the increase in cell number.
A time and a place for sugar in your ears.

Targeting trehalose metabolism improves maize yield under a range of water-deficit conditions.
Newest pathogenetic considerations in inclusion-body myositis: possible role of amyloid-beta, cholesterol, relation to aging and to Alzheimer's disease.

This report summarizes clinical features and diagnostic criteria, and the newest advances related to seeking the pathogenic mechanism(s) of sporadic inclusion-body myositis. On the basis of the authors’ research, several processes seem to be important in relation to the still-speculative pathogenesis: increased transcription and accumulation of amyloid-â precursor protein and accumulation of its proteolytic fragment amyloid-â; abnormal accumulation of components related to lipid metabolism (eg, low-density lipoprotein receptors and cholesterol; accumulation of cholestorol is possibly caused by its abnormal trafficking); oxidative stress; accumulations of other Alzheimer-related proteins including phosphorylated tau; a milieu of muscle cellular aging in which these changes occur. The authors’ basic hypothesis is that overexpression of amyloid-â precursor protein within the aging muscle fibers is an early upstream event causing the subsequent pathogenic cascade. The remarkable pathologic similarities between inclusion-body myositis muscle and Alzheimer’s disease brain are discussed.
Disturbed sleep among COPD patients is longitudinally associated with mortality and adverse COPD outcomes

Objective: To investigate the cross-sectional association between COPD severity and disturbed sleep and the longitudinal association between disturbed sleep and poor health outcomes. Methods: Ninety eight adults with spirometrically-confirmed COPD were recruited through populationbased, random-digit telephone dialing. Sleep disturbance was evaluated using a 4-item scale assessing insomnia symptoms as: difficulty falling asleep, nocturnal awakening, morning tiredness, and sleep duration adequacy. COPD severity was quantified by: FEV1 and COPD Severity Score, which incorporates COPD symptoms, requirement for COPD medications and oxygen, and hospital-based utilization. Subjects were assessed one year after baseline to determine longitudinal COPD exacerbations and emergency utilization and were followed for a median 2.4 years to assess all-cause mortality. Results: Sleep disturbance was cross-sectionally associated with cough, dyspnea, and COPD Severity Score, but not FEV1. In multivariable logistic regression, controlling for sociodemographics and bodymass index, sleep disturbance longitudinally predicted both incident COPD exacerbations (OR = 4.7; p = 0.018) and respiratory-related emergency utilization (OR = 11.5; p = 0.004). In Cox proportional hazards analysis, controlling for the same covariates, sleep disturbance predicted poorer survival (HR = 5.0; p = 0.013). For all outcomes, these relationships persisted after also controlling for baseline FEV1 and COPD Severity Score. Conclusions: Disturbed sleep is cross-sectionally associated with worse COPD and is longitudinally predictive of COPD exacerbations, emergency health care utilization, and mortality.
AGING OF THE LUNG: PULMONARY DISEASE IN THE ELDERLY

Anatomical and physiologic evidence for pulmonary problems most prevalent in the aged is reviewed. The lungs begin to age in utero. True aging must be distinguished from chronic environmental damage. The lung is essentially an “outdoor organ” vulnerable to the environment. Biochemically, aging is caused by both endogenous and exogenous free radical injury, inflicted by an over-balance of oxidants with respect to anti-oxidants. Glucose may also play a role in the aging process, by binding non-enzymatically with proteins in lung to form irreversible advanced glycosylation end-products. Physiological age-related lung changes result in: decreasing lung volumes and maximal rates of airflow; decreasing forced vital capacity (accelerated in smokers); hyperinflation (confirmed by the increased RV/TLC ratio); increased closing volume or capacity; decreased diffusing capacity; and hyporesponsive respiratory center and peripheral chemoreceptors. The clinical consequence of these age-related changes in the lung is disease in the elderly. Lung cancer and emphysema also occur as a result of chronic exposure to cigarette smoke and other environmental pollutants. Age-dependent pulmonary changes combine with non-pulmonary age-prevalent changes to cause additional diseases. Bacterial pneumonias, aspiration pneumonia, tuberculosis, and pulmonary thromboembolism are examples of these.
Biogeochemistry of Fluoride in a Plant–Solution System

Fluoride (F-) pollutants can harm plants and the animals feeding on them. However, it is largely unknown how complexing and chelating agents affect F bioavailability. Two studies were conducted that measured F- bioavailability and uptake by rice (Oryza sativa L.). In the first study, rice was grown in solution culture (pH 5.0) with 0, 2, or 4 mM F- as KF to compare the interaction of F- with humic acid (HA) and with a conventional chelating agent, N-hydroxyethylenthylenediaminetriacetic acid (HEDTA). In the second study, F was supplied at 0, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mM KF with an additional 2 mM F- treatment containing solution Ca at 2x (2 mM Ca) the level used in the first study, to test the effect added Ca had on F- availability and uptake. Total biomass was greatest with HEDTA and F- < 1 mM. Leaf and stem F concentrations increased exponentially as solution F- increased linearly, with nearly no F partitioning into the seed. Results suggest that F was taken up as HF0 while F- uptake was likely restricted. Additionally, F- competed with HA for Ca, thus preventing the formation of Ca-HA flocculents. The addition of soluble Ca resulted in the precipitation of CaF2 solids on the root surface, as determined by tissue analysis and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy.
Cyclosporine inhibits testosterone biosynthesis in the rat testis.

To determine whether the immunosuppressive agent cyclosporine (CsA) has an effect on testicular androgen function in the male rat, four groups of adult animals were treated daily for 28 days with either orange juice or three doses of CsA (7.5, 15, or 30 mg/kgday). Twenty-four hours after the last dose of CsA, the animals were killed and the following parameters were measured: testis, seminal vesicle, and ventral prostate weights; serum levels of CsA, creatinine, testosterone (T), and LH; and intratesticular levels of pregnenolone, progesterone, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione, and T. There were no differences between the control (orange juice) and the three CsA-treated groups with respect to serum creatinines and testis, seminal vesicle, and ventral prostate weights. Serum T decreased significantly in the 15 and 30 mg/kg CsAtreated groups. The intratesticular T level decreased significantly only in the 15 and 30 mg/kg CsA-treated groups. In the 15 and 30 mg/kg CsA-treated groups, the intratesticu...
Radio EVLA search for UHE neutrinos: Project RESUN

Abstract The RESUN experiment used the very large array to search for cm-wavelength Cherenkov bursts from UHE neutrinos impacting the Moon. No pulses of lunar origin were detected during an observing campaign totaling 200 h. The RESUN null-detection implies an upper limit to the differential isotropic neutrino flux EdN / dE 1 km − 2 yr − 1 sr − 1 at 90% confidence level for sources with energy ( E ) exceeding 10 21.2 eV and EdN / dE 0.1 km − 2 yr − 1 sr − 1 for E > 10 22.5 eV . The isotropic flux upper limit is the lowest published for lunar searches and is inconsistent with extragalactic and halo Z burst models for neutrino generation.
Energy Politics in Canada, 1980–1981: Threat Power in a Sequential Game*

Over a decade ago, the federal Liberal government announced one of the most controversial policy initiatives in Canadian history, the National Energy Program (NEP). The bargaining that followed the NEP's announcement on October 28, 1980 is easily recalled; intense disagreements focussed on economic, partisan and, ultimately, constitutional issues. While these events have stimulated a wide range of investigations, a prominent gap exists in the scholarship: very few studies adopt a game-theoretic perspective. In seeking to explain strategic interaction over energy policy, such an approach might increase understanding of the difficult political processes surrounding the NEP in a wider context.These are five stages to the game-theoretic investigation that follows. First, a brief history of the phase of confrontation is provided. Second, the game-theoretic interpretation is presented in general terms, including participants, strategies and potential outcomes. Relevant measurements are derived in the third phase. In the fourth stage, the process of a sequential game is analyzed, in both abstract and operational terms. Fifth, and finally, policy-related implications of the analysis are discussed, along with possible directions for further research.
GALACTORRHEA ASSOCIATED WITH LYMPHOCYTIC ADENOHYPOPHYSITIS CASE REPORT

A young woman, 14 months post partum, committed suicide when she noticed milk discharging from her nipples and thought she was pregnant. At autopsy the uterus was found to be non-gravid and the pituitary gland enlarged. Histological examination revealed lymphocytic adenohypophysitis, a rarely identified condition usually associated with hypopituitarism. Immunoperoxidase studies of the pituitary demonstrated prolactin cell hyperplasia. None of the other known causes of galactorrhea was present suggesting that this may be a new addition to the differential diagnosis of galactorrhea. To this date lymphocytic adenohypophysitis has been reported only in women, the majority within 14 months postpartum, and is usually identified only at autopsy.
Beyond the Audience of One: Producing a Student Journal of Politics

W riting assignments are common in most political science courses. If nothing else, they serve the purpose of allowing instructors to exercise their evaluative power in assigning grades. All too often, however, they fail to transcend this purpose. As a result, both students and instructors often view each student paper as a private communication be tween the two parties-a work with no future and an audience of one (Zeiser 1999; Fulwiler 1982). In contrast, professors typically pre pare their own writing in hopes of reach ing a wider, professional audience. Academics understand that writing is not just a means of displaying what one has learned; it is itself a learning process. If students' writing and publishing experi ences could be brought to resemble more closely those of their teachers and aca demic mentors, they would likely enjoy some of the same benefits. It was this line of thought that prompted us, in the fall of 1999, to begin a student journal to showcase exemplary student writing on politics. Now entering its seventh year of production, and with a staff of a dozen student editors, our annual issue averages 150 pages, contains approximately seven to 10 peer-reviewed articles (the accep tance rate is around 30%), and also in cludes a wide variety of other types of political pieces ranging from article, book, and film reviews to political poetry and photography. The resulting journal, Studium: The Student Journal of Politics, has proved to be a highly effective means of using multi-draft writing assignments to in crease the level of professionalism with which students approach their work. Ulti mately, this article provides the tools necessary to structure, design, and imple ment a student-run joumal, and we hope it will encourage other political science instructors to make use of this very ef fective, but at present, insufficiently uti lized pedagogical tool.
Comparison of Scores on the Workplace Literacy Test and the Tests of Adult Basic Education

31rmmary.-This study examined the associations between scores obtained on the Workplace Literacy Test and the Tests of Adult Basic Education for 30 unemployed single mothers mandated to attend an adulr education class. These students complered the tests to facilitate educational planning by the course instructor. Test scores were examined using Pearson correlations and a principal components hctor analysis. Intercorrelations of scores on the two tests ranged from .25 to .83, \kith a median of 33. Factor analysis yielded two factors, a general literacy factor and a spelling factor. Early estimates of the magnitude of the literacy problem in America suggested that some 20 to 30 mrllion adults had basic slulls deficits and 50 to 60 mdhon adults suffered serious literacy problems (Brezius & Foster, 1987; Hunter & Harman, 1979; Kozol, 1985; Sticht, 1988-1989). More recently, the National Adult Literacy Survey (Irsch, Jungeblut, Jenluns, & Kolstad, 1993) indicated that approximately 90 mdhon Americans were "at risk" relative to literacy slulls. Further, literacy was "an individual's abt however, when examined in light of a more comprehensive, functional definition, the Tests of Adult Basic Education do not measure the "functional" basis of literacy. The items do not measure skds of readmg, writing, computing, solving problems, etc. as applied to one's job or society in a functional, contextual manner. W~chm the last decade the construct of adult literacy has undergone a significant reformulation. The Departments of Education and Labor and the Educational Testing Service have collaboratively developed a framework which gives a profile of literacy along the three dimensions, assessed by prose, quantitative, and document scales. These dimensions were operationalized and a new, more functional measure of adult literacy was developed 'l'le~se send requests fot reprints to Maxie P. Kohler, Ph.D., School of Education, Universiry ot Alab~ma at Birmingham, 901 Sourh 13th Streer, Birmingham, AL 35294-1250.
Determinants of decreased fecal consistency in patients with diarrhea

Abstract Background/Aims: Loose stools are a common and troublesome feature in diarrhea. The purpose of this study was to investigate factors that determine different degrees of stool looseness in diarrhea. Methods: Fecal consistency was measured visually. Stools were analyzed for content of water and solids. Water-holding capacity of insoluble solids was measured in vitro. Results: Formed stools from normal subjects had a near constant ratio of water to solids despite a sevenfold variation in daily stool weight. In diarrhea, loose consistency was correlated directly with percent fecal water. For any level of percent water, steatorrhea stools were looser than nonsteatorrhea stools. Ingestion of psyllium reduced stool looseness without changing the percent water. Both the effect of fat and psyllium could be explained by consideration of the ratio of fecal water to water-holding capacity of insoluble solids. Conclusions: (1) The normal intestine delivers stools that differ widely in quantity but maintains percent fecal water within a narrow range. (2) Stool looseness in diarrhea is determined by the ratio of fecal water to water-holding capacity of insoluble solids. (3) In patients with diarrhea with normal stool weight, loose stools are due to low output of insoluble solids without the concomitant reduction in water output that occurs in normal subjects when insoluble solids are low.
Control of Vascular Permeability by Atrial Natriuretic Peptide via a GEF-H1-dependent Mechanism

Microtubule (MT) dynamics is involved in a variety of cell functions, including control of the endothelial cell (EC) barrier. Release of Rho-specific nucleotide exchange factor GEF-H1 from microtubules activates the Rho pathway of EC permeability. In turn, pathologic vascular leak can be prevented by treatment with atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP). This study investigated a novel mechanism of vascular barrier protection by ANP via modulation of GEF-H1 function. In pulmonary ECs, ANP suppressed thrombin-induced disassembly of peripheral MT and attenuated Rho signaling and cell retraction. ANP effects were mediated by the Rac1 GTPase effector PAK1. Activation of Rac1-PAK1 promoted PAK1 interaction with the Rho activator GEF-H1, inducing phosphorylation of total and MT-bound GEF-H1 and leading to attenuation of Rho-dependent actin remodeling. In vivo, ANP attenuated lung injury caused by excessive mechanical ventilation and TRAP peptide (TRAP/HTV), which was further exacerbated in ANP−/− mice. The protective effects of ANP against TRAP/HTV-induced lung injury were linked to the increased pool of stabilized MT and inactivation of Rho signaling via ANP-induced, PAK1-dependent inhibitory phosphorylation of GEF-H1. This study demonstrates a novel protective mechanism of ANP against pathologic hyperpermeability and suggests a novel pharmacological intervention for the prevention of increased vascular leak via PAK1-dependent modulation of GEF-H1 activity.
Localization and activity of phenolase in the potato tuber

Phenolase was found in all subcellular fractions of the potato tuber roughly in proportion to the protein content of each fraction. Approximately 75% of the total phenolase activity was found in the supernatant after high speed (90,000 x g) centrifugation. Less than 5% of the total activity was associated with the particulate fraction sedimented at either 12,000 x g or 90,000 x g. The phenolase enzyme associated with the particulates sedimented at either 12,000 x g or 90,000 x g was progressively removed by successive washings indicating that the enzyme was only loosely associated with and not a fixed part of the particulates. The phenolase associated with the cell-wall residue and cell debris (sedimented at 600 x g) showed only a small fraction of the total activity. This residue-bound enzyme was very resistant to successive washings. Little or no phenolase was located on the surface of potato cells. The catecholase/cresolase ratios, substrate specificities, and Michaelis constants of the phenolase enzyme associated with each of the different fractions were of the same order of magnitude. The differences found were insufficient to conclude that the phenolase enzymes associated with the different fractions were dissimilar.
Optimal scale-free compact routing schemes in networks of low doubling dimension

We present optimal-stretch scale-free compact routing schemes for networks of low doubling dimension, in both the name-independent and name-dependent models. Our name-independent algorithm is the first scale-free name-independent compact routing scheme to achieve asymptotically optimal stretch, closing the gaps left by the work of Abraham et al. (ICDCS'06) and Konjevod et al. (PODC'06). Our name-dependent algorithm is the first scale-free optimal-stretch name-dependent compact routing scheme that uses optimal [log n]-bit routing labels, in spite of the limited routing label information. We define a simple hierarchical decomposition technique based on ball-packings. Our algorithms rely on a novel combination of ball-packings and hierarchical r-nets, which we see as a contribution in its own right.
Nature of the valence states in silicon transition metal interfaces

Abstract Photoemission spectroscopy using synchrotron radiation and excitation energies around the Cooper minimum have been applied to studies of the nature of the bonding in SiPd and SiPt interfaces. Evidence is presented that breaking of the tetrahedral coordination in Si and the Si-metal interaction introduces new valence states in the interface region. The energy positron and the orbital character of these Si-metal mixed valence states are determined. A suggestion is made how these results can be generalized to other Si-transition metal interfaces.
Studies of fluorescence and Auger decay following inner-shell photoionization

Abstract Near inner-shell absorption edges, Auger and fluorescence spectra which characterize the first step of a complex cascade process exhibit properties which are well described by radiationless and radiative resonant Raman scattering theory. We present comparisons of our recent data and theory for Auger decay of argon K vacancies, xenon L vacancies, and of fluorescence decay of xenon L vacancies. A theoretical unification of Auger decay and fluorescence decay is presented which clarifies the similarities and differences between the two processes.
Nitrosation by nitro-nitroso derivatives of olefins: A potential mechanism for N-nitrosamine formation in fried bacon

Etude, sur systeme modele, (morpholine) de la N-nitrosation par le dimethyl-2,3 nitro-2 nitroso-3 butane. Proposition d'un mecanisme en plusieurs etapes conduisant a la formation de nitrosamines dans des produits carnes sales a l'aide de sel nitrite