cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
C3aR Signaling Inhibits NK-cell Infiltration into the Tumor Microenvironment in Mouse Models.

Many solid tumors have low levels of cytotoxic CD56dim NK cells, suggesting that CD56dim NK-cell exclusion from the tumor microenvironment (TME) contributes to the decreased response rate of immunotherapy. Complement component 3a (C3a) is known for its tumor-promoting and immunosuppressive roles in solid tumors. Previous reports have implicated the involvement of the C3a receptor (C3aR) in immune cell trafficking into the TME. C3aR is predominantly expressed on the surface of activated cytotoxic NK cells, but a specific role for C3aR in NK-cell biology has not been investigated. Because solid tumors generate elevated C3a and have decreased NK cell infiltration, we hypothesized that C3aR might play a role in cytotoxic NK-cell recruitment into the TME. Our results indicate that blocking C3aR signaling in NK cells increased NK-cell infiltration into the TME in mouse models and led to tumor regression. Because the critical lymphocyte trafficking integrin, LFA-1, orchestrates the migration of activated NK cells, we wanted to gain insight into the interaction between C3aR signaling and LFA-1. Our results demonstrated that direct interaction between C3aR and LFA-1, which led to a high affinity LFA-1 conformation, decreased NK-cell infiltration into the TME. We propose that approaches to enhance cytotoxic NK-cell infiltration into the TME, through either disrupting C3a and C3aR interaction or inhibiting the formation of high-affinity LFA-1, represents a new strategy to improve the efficiency of immunotherapy for cancer treatment.
Media Naturalness and Online Learning: Findings Supporting Both the Significant- and No-Significant-Difference Perspectives

Is the use of an online course delivery format, when compared with the more traditional face-to-face format, good or bad in the context of university education? Those who subscribe to the no-significant-difference perspective argue that online delivery is good, because it allows students with time and geographic distance constraints to obtain the education that they need, with no significant negative impact on the quality of the learning experience. Others argue that online delivery is bad, advocating a version of the competing significant-difference perspective, because the electronic communication media used for online delivery are not rich or natural enough to enable effective learning. This study contrasted students perceptions and grades in two different sections of the same course: one delivered entirely online and the other delivered face to face. Data were collected and analyzed at two points in time, namely, at the middle and end of a long semester. The study found support for both the no-significant- and significant-difference perspectives. At the middle of the semester, students in the online condition perceived communication ambiguity as significantly higher, and also obtained significantly lower grades, than students in the face-to-face condition. At the end of the semester, no significant differences were found.
SYMPOSIUM: Immobilized Enzymes in Food Systems

Immobilized multienzymic systems are responsible for the high efficiency of many physiological reaction sequences carried out in living cells. Chemical and physical means for artificially immobilizing enzymes presents the opportunity for duplicating this efficiency for use in processing operations. Such artificially immobilized enzymes also serve as useful model systems for studying the properties of physiological multi-enzymic sequences. Factors characteristic of the immobilized multi-enzymic state are described. Comparisons are made between immobilized multi- and single-enzyme systems and between immobilized and soluble multi-enzymic ones.
Murdock, George Peter

George Peter Murdock (called “Pete” by those who knew him) was born on May 11, 1897, on a farm in Meriden, Connecticut and he died on March 29, 1985, in Devon, Pennsylvania at the age of 87. He majored in American history at Yale University, where he received his A.B., later receiving the Ph.D. at Yale in the joint sociology-anthropology program. He spent most of his teaching career at Yale in the anthropology department until 1960 when he moved to the University of Pittsburgh, retiring in 1975. Keywords: anthropology; cross-cultural psychology; ethnography
Development and Implementation of a Thermal Signature Testing Protocol for a Fuel Cell Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) on a Diesel Tractor

Thermal signature is one of several factors that will determine the applicability of fuel cell auxiliary power unit (APU) technology to military vehicles. Thermal characterization is important for military applications in particular because it is a common mode of identification and detection. Fuel cell APU thermal characteristics are a unique case for which standardized testing procedures have yet to be established. The objective of our study was to develop and implement a protocol for quantifying the thermal characteristics of a fuel cell-equipped tractor operating under representative load conditions. Initial testing was conducted on a fuel cell APU-equipped Freightliner tractor using a high-performance radiometric infrared system. The testing protocol calls for a series of infrared images of the APU to be collected at three different viewing angles and two different elevations while the APU is under various loads. The diesel engine was studied under similar load conditions using seven different viewing angles and two different elevations. Simulation of various operating modes and power takeoff operations was performed because thermal profile of the fuel cell was expected to vary as a function of load. Thermal analysis of both the methanol-fueled fuel cell and the diesel tractor were conducted using box averaging and line analysis. We found that the APU had a unique, load-varying thermal profile; however, a metal cover significantly filtered radiation resulting in a measurable but not easily identifiable profile.
What price information

Information today may be envisaged as passing through a chain of hands from its point of origin to its point of use: as information originators and users have become more separate in place or time, various types of intermediaries have grown up to fill the gap between them. Online services involve several of the links in the chain and I want to consider the theme of this meeting, "Concepts of marketing and pricing online services", from the point of view of one of them in particular, namely the search intermediary or library. This is the point at which many of the final recipients of the information, the end-users, currently meet the chain of information provision; it is where much of the marketing of information is done and where the users form their judgement of the utility of the various means of its provision, and it will probably remain so for some time to come in spite of the current interest in by-passing this link and selling to end-users direct. Although the paper's title mentions only the price of information, it is hardly possible to discuss price without considering also value and costs, since the perceived value of the information received will determine in large part what price the market will bear, while the costs of production and delivery will determine the minimum price which one must charge. I am particularly concerned with those fields which may be loosely lumped together as academic and public library information-science, medicine, the humanities and general. Here we have special problems with perceptions of the value of information and thus its marketing and pricing; in this paper I shall briefly consider these and the ways in which closer cooperation between libraries and the providers of the services we are selling may help to solve some of them.
Cutaneous Angiosarcoma Complicating Morbid Obesity

Herein, we report a case of cutaneous angiosarcoma in a 35-year-old, morbidly obese woman. The tumor arose in the most dependent portion of the lower abdominal panniculus and showed typical changes of chronic lymphedema. The patient underwent a radical resection of her lower abdominal wall panniculus, which showed a multicentric, high-grade angiosarcoma with bilateral superficial inguinal lymph node metastases. Histologically, conventional vasoformative areas were admixed with poorly differentiated sheets of spindle and epithelioid cells. Factor VIII was focally positive (membranous), whereas CD31 showed robust, diffuse positivity (membranous and cytoplasmic). The initial margins of resection were negative, and no follow-up radiation or chemotherapy was given. Following a recurrence at the previous excision site, the patient died 7 months after the surgery. Postmortem examination revealed a widely metastatic tumor that involved multiple organ systems. We believe this is the second report of cutaneous angiosarcoma occurring in a chronically lymphedematous abdominal panniculus due to morbid obesity.
MRI of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis in a rodent model

Neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a poorly understood life-threatening illness afflicting premature infants. Research is hampered by the absence of a suitable method to monitor disease progression noninvasively. The primary goal of this research was to test in vivo MRI methods for the noninvasive early detection and staging of inflammation in the ileum of an infant rat model of NEC. Neonatal rats were delivered by cesarean section at embryonic stage of day 20 after the beginning of pregnancy and stressed with formula feeding, hypoxia and bacterial colonization to induce NEC. Naturally born and dam-fed neonatal rats were used as healthy controls. In vivo MRI studies were performed using a Bruker 9.4-T scanner to obtain high-resolution anatomical MR images using both gradient echo and spin echo sequences, pixel-by-pixel T2 maps using a multi-slice–multi-echo sequence, and maps of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of water using a spin echo sequence, to assess the degree of ileal damage. Pups were sacrificed at the end of the MRI experiment on day 2 or 4 for histology. T2 measured by MRI was increased significantly in the ileal regions of pups with NEC by histology (106.3 ± 6.1 ms) compared with experimentally stressed pups without NEC (85.2 ± 6.8 ms) and nonstressed, control rat pups (64.9 ± 2.3 ms). ADC values measured by diffusion-weighted MRI were also increased in the ileal regions of pups with NEC by histology [(1.98 ± 0.15) × 10–3 mm2/s] compared with experimentally stressed pups without NEC [(1.43 ± 0.16) × 10–3 mm2/s] and nonstressed control pups [(1.10 ± 0.06) × 10–3 mm2/s]. Both T2 and ADC values between these groups were found to be significantly different (p < 0.03). The correlation of MRI results with histologic images of the excised ileal tissue samples strongly suggests that MRI can noninvasively identify NEC and assess intestinal injury prior to clinical symptoms in a physiologic rat pup model of NEC. © 2013 The Authors. NMR in Biomedicine published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
History of Reading: The long Eighteenth Century

Describes recent developments in this interdisciplinary field, showing how they alter our previous assumptions about eighteenth-century reading; indicates lacunae and opportunities for future work.
GuardDV: a proximity detection device for homeless survivors of domestic violence

Research in homelessness points to a recent increase in the population of homeless women. Survivors of domestic violence who become homeless as a result of their flight from an abusive situation seem to comprise an increasingly significant segment of this group. GuardDV is a system that seeks to address the safety concerns of domestic violence survivors who do not possess a stable residence. The system warns the potential victim and the corresponding law enforcement organizations about the physical proximity of the aggressor. For this project, an interdisciplinary team committed to improve the quality of life of DV homeless survivors employed qualitative accounts as part of a participatory design [10] effort.
Thermal Manipulation of Water Droplets - A Path to Droplet Microfluidics

Optical manipulation of water droplets in an oil matrix is important in the development of droplet microfluidics. In this report we demonstrate infrared laser based droplet manipulation using the thermal Marangoni effect and thermal convection
Identification of cytochrome P450 2C2 protein complexes in mouse liver

Interactions of microsomal cytochromes P450 (CYPs) with other proteins in the microsomal membrane are important for their function. In addition to their redox partners, CYPs have been reported to interact with other proteins not directly involved in their enzymatic function. In this study, proteins were identified that interact with CYP2C2 in vivo in mouse liver. Flag-tagged CYP2C2 was expressed exogenously in mouse liver and was affinity purified, along with associated proteins which were identified by MS and confirmed by Western blotting. Over 20 proteins reproducibly copurified with CYP2C2. The heterogeneous sedimentation velocity of CYP2C2 and associated proteins by centrifugation in sucrose gradients and sequential immunoprecipitation analysis were consistent with multiple CYP2C2 complexes of differing composition. The abundance of CYPs and other drug metabolizing enzymes and NAD/NADP requiring enzymes associated with CYP2C2 suggest that complexes of these proteins may improve enzymatic efficiency or facilitate sequential metabolic steps. Chaperones, which may be important for maintaining CYP function, and reticulons, endoplasmic reticulum proteins that shape the morphology of the endoplasmic reticulum and are potential endoplasmic reticulum retention proteins for CYPs, were also associated with CYP2C2.
Crambe and rapeseed meal as soil amendments: nematicidal potential and phytotoxic effects

Abstract Rapeseed and crambe meals, when added to soil infested with eggs of Meloidogyne arenaria, reduced the number of galls on tomato (‘Rutgers’) roots. Both meals, however, were phytotoxic to tomato and reduced the height of celosia, dianthus, and rose periwinkle plants, and resulted in lower germination of periwinkle seed. When the planting of tomato was delayed for 3 weeks after addition of 1% meals the phytotoxicity and root injury were diminished, but not alleviated. The ED50 for rapeseed meal against peanut root-knot nematode was determined to be 0.64% v v when added to piedmont soil and planting occurred immediately, or 0.86% when planting was delayed 1 week.
The Impact of Sequence of Bimodality Approach on Low-Risk Prostate Cancer Outcomes

Purpose/Objective(s): To report early and late toxicity and biochemical outcome in a prospective series of 445 patients with intermediateor highrisk clinically localized prostate cancer treated with either HD-3D-CRT or with LD-3D-CRT+HDR-B. Materials/Methods: Between 12/1999 and 10/2005, 445 patients (pts) with PSA’10, Gleason score’6 and/or T2b-T3 N0 M0 prostate cancer entered the study. Pts were prospectively assigned to one of the two treatment groups: 76 Gy HD-3D-CRT to the prostate in 38 fractions (group 1; 223 patients) or 46 Gy LD-3D-CRT+ 16 Gy HDR-B given in 2 fractions of 8 Gy (group 2, 222 patients), limiting the maximum rectal dose to 85% of the prescribed dose. Both groups were well balanced taking into account patient’s as well as tumors’ characteristics. Toxicities were scored by the EORTC /RTOG morbidity grading scales. Special attention to local, regional or distant recurrence, survival, late effects, PSA and testosterone levels and quality of life was done. Results: All pts completed treatment. None pts included in the group 1 or 2 experienced grade 3 or more rectal toxicity. Twenty-eight pts of group 1 (12.5%) and 6 pts of group 2 (2.7%) developed grade 2 rectal toxicity (rectal bleeding or urgency). Fifteen pts in group 1 (6.7%) and 3 pts in group 2 (1.3%) developed grade 1 rectal bleeding (less than 2 times/week). With a mean follow-up of 84 months, the 8-year free-from-failure survival was 90.7% and 98.3% (p < 0.02) in group 1 and 2 respectively; free-frommetastases survival 96.9% and 97.9% (p < 0.08)for group 1 and 2 respectively; and cause-specific survival 97.4% and 98.3% (p < 0.09). Conclusions: High-dose 3D-EBRT + HDR brachytherapy was a safe and effective method of escalating the dose to the prostate without increasing the risk of late effects. Acute as well as late rectal complications were significantly reduced with the combined treatment, compared with what was observed with high-dose conventional, 3D-conformal radiation therapy. Control rates were better with in the HDR-boosted patients as expected by higher effective-dose. Author Disclosure: B. Guix: None. J. Bartrina: None. J. Tello: None. I. Henriquez: None. L. Quinzanos: None. T. Lacorte: None. I. Guix: None. G. Galdon: None. M. Espino: None. M. Espino: None.
Anaplastic thyroid cancer presenting with hyperthyroidism

Primary thyroid malignancies typically do not interfere with thyroid function. A patient is reported with anaplastic thyroid carcinoma presenting with hyperthyroidism; this is believed to be the first such case described. Prior to the onset of the thyroidal process, the patient was clinically euthyroid. It is concluded that the mechanism of thyrotoxicosis is analogous to that of subacute thyroiditis: rapid tissue necrosis with resultant release of thyroid hormone.
In search of a signaling effect: The wealth effects of corporate name changes

Abstract We find that evidence of a positive stock price reaction to the announcement of a name change is very weak and is sensitive to sample selection. We interpret the evidence as a caution against the popular opinion that corporate name changes have significant valuation effects. We also find little evidence that corporate name changes correspond to changes in a firm's stock return covariability with its industry index or changes in the firm's earnings growth rate. These results cast doubt on two purported motives for name changes: that they convey information to the market about changes in the firm's line of business or that they signal management's private information about the firm's future performance. Corporate name changes may serve useful purposes, but such purposes have small valuation effects or tend to be anticipated by investors.
Clinical utility of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

Abstract Background: ERCP is a frequently performed procedure, but its necessity for diagnosis and ability to change management plans are unclear in many cases. Methods: We prospectively evaluated diagnosis, certainty of diagnosis, and management recommendations, both before and after ERCP, as well as therapeutic maneuvers performed during ERCP, in unselected patients undergoing this procedure. Results: ERCP procedures (1341) were studied at a university hospital, an ERCP referral center, and two community hospitals. Among patients undergoing first-time ERCP, the preceding clinical diagnosis was correct for 64% of those predicted to have bile duct stones, 86% to 89% of those given other biliary diagnoses, and 88% predicted to be normal. In 35% of cases, diagnostic confidence improved substantially after ERCP. Endoscopic therapy was successfully completed in 51%. After ERCP, plans for other invasive procedures changed in 82%: percutaneous biliary studies and open surgical procedures were recommended less often and laparoscopic cholecystectomy more often. Endoscopic therapy and overall clinical utility were most common in patients with cholangitis, jaundice, or bile leaks. Conclusions: ERCP is particularly helpful for diagnosis of bile duct stones but is less likely to change other diagnoses. The endoscopic therapy commonly carried out during ERCP often changes the treatment plan, leading to fewer surgical and percutaneous interventions in general, but more laparoscopic cholecystectomies. (Gastrointest Endosc 1997;46:393-9.)
Quetiapine Cross-Reactivity Among Three Tricyclic Antidepressant Immunoassays

Quetiapine is an atypical antipsychotic agent with structural similarities to the tricyclic antidepressants (TCA). We report a case of quetiapine overdose that was initially clinically similar to t...
The Role of ExbD in Periplasmic pH Homeostasis in Helicobacter pylori

Background Helicobacter pylori, a neutralophile, colonizes the acidic environment of the human stomach by employing acid acclimation mechanisms that regulate periplasmic and cytoplasmic pH. The regulation of urease activity is central to acid acclimation. Inactive urease apoenzyme, UreA/B, requires nickel for activation. Accessory proteins UreE, F, G, and H are required for nickel insertion into apoenzyme. The ExbB/ExbD/TonB complex transfers energy from the inner to outer membrane, providing the driving force for nickel uptake. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the contribution of ExbD to pH homeostasis. Materials and Methods A nonpolar exbD knockout was constructed and survival, growth, urease activity, and membrane potential were determined in comparison with wildtype. Results Survival of the ΔexbD strain was significantly reduced at pH 3.0. Urease activity as a function of pH and UreI activation was similar to the wildtype strain, showing normal function of the proton-gated urea channel, UreI. The increase in total urease activity over time in acid seen in the wildtype strain was abolished in the ΔexbD strain, but recovered in the presence of supraphysiologic nickel concentrations, demonstrating that the effect of the ΔexbD mutant is due to loss of a necessary constant supply of nickel. In acid, ΔexbD also decreased its ability to maintain membrane potential and periplasmic buffering in the presence of urea. Conclusions ExbD is essential for maintenance of periplasmic buffering and membrane potential by transferring energy required for nickel uptake, making it a potential nonantibiotic target for H. pylori eradication.
Social Learning Theory and Adolescent Cigarette Smoking: A Longitudinal Study

We specify causal models of the learning process implied in Akers’ (1977) social learning theory for the initiation and maintenance of adolescent cigarette smoking. Path analyses of data from a three-year panel study of junior and senior high school students indicate that the theory is more effective in accounting for maintenance (or cessation) of cigarette smoking than in explaining initiation to cigarette smoking. Most important, our measures of social and nonsocial reinforcement mediate the effect of differential association on smoking as social learning theory predicts.
Using a multimode fiber as a compact, high-resolution spectrometer

We demonstrate that a multi-mode fiber can operate as a high-resolution spectrometer after calibrating wavelength-dependent speckle patterns. A 100m fiber provides 1pm resolution and a 4cm fiber enables broadband operation across the visible spectrum.
Singularly Perturbed Multidimensional Switching Diffusions with Fast and Slow Switchings

This work is concerned with singularly perturbed switching diffusions with fast and slow components. The diffusion component of the joint process is multidimensional and the diffusive motion evolves an order of magnitude slower than that of the jumps or the switchings. The jump component may be decomposed into several groups. There is one group consisting of transient states, and all other groups involve recurrent states. Within each group, there are rapid switchings. Among different groups, the switchings occur relatively infrequently. Under simple conditions, an asymptotic expansion of the probability density is developed; error bounds and justification of the expansion are provided.
Sedation and Chemical Relaxation in Critical Pulmonary Illness: Suggestions for Patient Assessment and Drug Monitoring

Anxiety, fear, and pain are common occurrences for patients with acute respiratory failure. These symptoms may influence patients' ability to tolerate mechanical ventilation because of the development of asynchronous breathing patterns. The administration of sedatives and neuromuscular blocking agents may be necessary to facilitate ventilation and enhance oxygenation. Few published protocols exist to guide clinicians in initiating and effectively monitoring patients receiving these agents. In this article, the author focuses on the identification of patients for whom these drugs may be indicated, describes protocols currently available, and offers suggestions for improving patient monitoring to avoid the development of adverse events.
The design and implementation of a general WSN gateway for data collection

In this study, we present our novel development of a general gateway system for data collection in wireless sensor networks (WSNs). The unique characteristic of our developed WSN gateway is that it has been designed easily configurable for nearly any WSN data collection applications, with diverse data managements and WSN protocols. In particular, it supports WSN transport layer at the gateway. Our implementation leverages Java and widely adopted TinyOS platform for various WSNs. We have conducted thorough tests for the validation of our developed gateway system, including the use of three realworld WSN field test-beds. The evaluation and validation results demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of our gateway system.
A diagnostic expert system prototype for CIM

Abstract This paper describes the Diagnostic System Prototype (DSP), consisting of a deep knowledge base and several shallow knowledge bases, and shows how it works. Based on the theory of hierarchical systems and hybrid diagnostic reasoning, the DSP tries to find a cause(s) for an observed symptom in CIM (Computer-Integrated Manufacturing), using the concept of entropy. The entropy is calculated using test costs and degrees of belief for each rule in the shallow knowledge bases. The DSP is expected to be applicable to different domains other than just the manufacturing environment.
Dendrimer enhanced immunosensors for biological detection

Dendrimers are highly branched, tree-like polymers that possess precise size and shape, as well as surface groups. Among them, polyamidoamine dendrimers are the most widely studied, water-soluble/biocompatable dendritic macromolecules. Such dendrimers have exploited for interesting applications in immunodiagnostics, magnetic resonance imaging, gene therapy, and drug delivery. In this paper, a new signal amplification strategy using dendrimers will be introduced. While only one fluorescein group can be linked onto an antibody molecule, a large number of fluorophores can be attached to an antibody through a dendrimer linker molecule, thus forming a water-soluble fluorescein-dendrimer-antibody bioconjugate. Upon addition of the antigen, enhanced fluorescence signals are obtained when compared with the corresponding fluorescein-antibody analogs.
The Impacts of Recently Established Fish Populations on Zooplankton Communities in a Desert Spring, and Potential Conflicts in Setting Conservation Goals

Desert springs, which harbor diverse and endemic invertebrate assemblages, are often used as refuge habitats for protected fish species. Additionally, many of these springs have been colonized by invasive fish species. However, the potential impacts of recently established fish populations on invertebrate communities in desert springs have been relatively unexplored. We conducted a mesocosm experiment to assess the impact of both protected and invasive fish on community structure of spring-dwelling invertebrates focusing on zooplankton. Experimental populations of spring zooplankton communities were established and randomly assigned to one of three treatments, (1) invasive western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis); (2) endangered Mohave tui chub (Siphateles bicolor mohavensis); and (3) fishless control. Final populations of zooplankton and fish were sampled, sorted, identified and counted. The treatment differences of zooplankton communities were analyzed by comparing the densities of six major zooplankton taxa. Further, we performed nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) to visualize the patterns of
Separation of proliferating CFU from Go cells of murine bone marrow.

The technique of velocity sedimentation was employed to fractionate mouse bone marrow CFU-s relative to two different phases of the cell cycle. CFU-s in DNA synthesis which are destroyed by hydroxyurea were separated from other smaller CFU-s which were shown to be insensitive to the drug and are presumably those CFU-s in the G2 phase of cell cycle.
Inferior vena cava filters for the cerebrovascular patient

Acute cerebrovascular disease is often complicated by deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Many of these patients are at high risk of intracranial hemorrhage with therapeutic anticoagulation. These patients may benefit from insertion of inferior vena cava filters. Studies specifically dealing with stroke patients are lacking, but it is the authors' opinion that filters reduce the incidence of pulmonary embolism. There is little evidence to support the use of these devices prophylactically in patients who do not have venous thromboembolism. Retrievable filters are an attractive option but there are concerns about their safety; and if regularly used, a system for successful filter retrieval in all patients should be instituted. The role of concurrent anticoagulation with filters is not clear. However, we believe anticoagulation, in the absence of a contraindication, is beneficial in patients with active venous thromboembolism.
Automatic deductive systems—I. Chemical reaction models

Abstract Here an overview is given for the Chemical Reaction Analysis and Modeling System, CRAMS. This computer software system is designed to answer any question and process data for reaction models with any combination of rate and equilibrium reactions. Its essential characteristics are: 1. The interface supports a chemistry-like language that is similar to the conventional “shorthand” that is used by chemists. 2. Within the available memory there are no restrictions on either the complexity or size of the reaction model. 3. It has a PREDICTIVE facility that can be used to determine which parameters must be specified. 4. There are no prior assumptions about the chemistry or mathematics of the systems studied. Data collected on disparate time scales can be used; and there is an automatic Error Detection and Corrective Action, EDCA, system that ensures the accuracy of all computed numeric results. 5. There are pre- and post-processing facilities that permit entry of raw data and displays of selected information in a variety of ways.
Subarachnoid sufentanil for extracorporeal shock lithotripsy

Background and Objectives . Many different anesthetic techniques have been used for extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, each with its own benefits and disadvantages. A study was made to determine the efficacy and safety of subarachnoid sufentanil as an analgesic technique for lithotripsy. Methods . Eight consecutive patients from the University of Michigan Medical Center and twelve consecutive patients from the University of Vermont College of Medicine were retrospectively studied. The need for additional anesthesia, incidence of adverse effects, and discharge times were assessed. Results . Of the 20 patients, 18 were treated successfully with subarachnoid sufentanil. One patient had inadequate anesthesia. One procedure was postponed owing to intractable pruritus. Adverse effects occurred in four patients and were successfully treated. The mean discharge time was 132 minutes, which is comparable with those of other anesthetic methods. Conclusions . Subarachnoid sufentanil is a safe and effective technique for lithotripsy. A prospective study to compare it with other methods is justified.
E-Learning Student Perceptions on Scholarly Persistence in the 21st Century with Social Media in Higher Education

The purpose of this quantitative analytic study is to evaluate and test the theoretical underpinnings of the Kember (1995) student progress model that examines the direct or indirect effects of student persistence in e-learning by identifying the relationships between variables such as student perceptions, performance, cost-benefit analysis, and student persistence. Thomson (1999), Houle (2004), Harlow (2006), and PortaMerida (2009) verified the reliability and validity of the theory, yet their results are slightly dissimilar in the magnitude of influence on student persistence. Former studies indicate that it could be meaningful to reexamine the variables in more current studies. The online survey in this study explored the relationships among variables. The population of the sample of this study was 169 students at a public community college in Maryland that is offering online and hybrid degree programs. The logistic regression and multiple regression analysis were utilized to analyze the survey data. The findings of this study consistently indicated that negative external attribution was a significant factor for student persistence, degrading the student’s work. Simultaneously, individual student grade point average (GPA) and academic integration were highly correlated to student persistence. The findings of this study convey the current phenomena and knowledge of e-learning regarding student persistence. Social media has been seen as a potential problem, but it could also be a solution if it increases social interaction on focused scholarly topics. Decreasing external attribution and encouraging higher GPA by increasing the academic integration help students continue to pursue their educational goals.
Haliangicin, a novel antifungal metabolite produced by a marine myxobacterium. 2. Isolation and structural elucidation.

A novel antifimgal antibiotic, haliangicin, was isolated from a culture broth of marine myxobacterium, Haliangium luteum. The planar structure of haliangicin was elucidated by spectroscopic analyses and was shown to be a new polyunsaturated compound containing β-methoxyacrylate moiety.
An accurate electromagnetic theory study of surface enhancement factors for silver, gold, copper, lithium, sodium, aluminum, gallium, indium, zinc, and cadmium

Utilisation d'une methode simple de determination du champ electromagnetique au-voisinage des surfaces des petites particules metalliques spheroidales, pour determiner les augmentations de la diffusion Raman et du champ dans le cas des 10 metaux du titre
Private Eyes Are Watching You: Reactions to Location Sensing Technologies

Purpose This study explored reactions to location sensing technologies (LSTs) which enable organizations to track the location and movements of employees, even off-site. In particular, we examined the relationships among two monitoring characteristics (i.e., purpose and control), perceptions of privacy invasion, and monitoring fairness.
Maturational changes in neonatal rat motor system with early postnatal administration of nicotine

Abstract Experiments were designed to assess the effects of chronic maximum ‘smoking dose’ nicotine administration on neonatal motor behavior and neuromuscular structural maturation. Thus, Sprague-Dawley rat neonates received daily subcutaneous injections of nicotine (0.05 mg/kg/day) from postnatal days 1 to 14. Motor behavior (ambulations, stop and go movements) was not affected, but a marked increase in grasping duration resulted, indicating increased neuromuscular maturation. Concomitantly, neuromuscular morphological and dynamic contractile changes were observed in the in situ extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle. The EDL muscle showed accelerated morphological dimensions of the endplate at postnatal day 7 and a more rapid twitch at 2 weeks of age. The results suggest that this maximum ‘smoking dose’ of nicotine induces time-dependent maturational changes in the neuromuscular model.
Ultrafast dynamics of the solvent-solute interaction measured by femtosecond four-wave mixing: LD690 in n-alcohols

Abstract The fast dynamics of the oxazine dye LD690 in a series of n-alcohols are investigated using several techniques, including linear absorption, resonance Raman, and the femtosecond three-pulse photon echo. The systematic variation in the dynamics as one goes from methanol to 1-pentanol can be explained in terms of processes stationary on the femtosecond timescale (inhomogeneous broadening) and a fast process with a solvation correlation function M(t) = sech2 (t/τC) where τC = 20 fs. The relative contribution of the fast and slow processes to the spectral broadening change as we increase the alcohol chain length.
Carotenoid triplet states in reaction centers from Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides and Rhodospirillum rubrum.

Abstract Purified photochemical reaction centers from three strains of Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides and two of Rhodospirillum rubrum were reduced with Na2S2O4 so as to block their photochemical electron transfer reactions. They then were excited with flashes lasting 5–30 ns. In all cases, absorbance measurements showed that the flash caused the immediate formation of a transient state (PF) which had been detected previously in reaction centers from Rps. sphaeroides strain R26. Previous work has shown that state PF is an intermediate in the photochemical electron transfer reaction in the reaction centers of that particular strain, and the present work generalizes that conclusion. In the reaction centers from two strains that lack carotenoids (Rps. sphaeroides R26 and R. rubrum G9), the decay of PF yields a longer-lived state (PR) which is probably a triplet state of the bacteriochlorophyll of the reaction center. In the R26 preparation, the decay of PF was found to have a half-time of 10±2 ns. The decay kinetics rule out the identification of PF as the fluorescent excited singlet state of the reaction center. In the reaction centers from three strains that contain carotenoids (Rps sphaeroides 2.4.1 and Ga, and R. rubrum S1), state PR was not detected, and the decay of PF generated triplet states of carotenoids. The efficiency of the coupling between the decay of PF and the formation of the carotenoid triplet appeared to be close to 100% at room temperature, but somewhat lower at 77 °K. Taken with previous results, this suggests that the coupling is direct and does not require the intermediate formation of state PR. This conclusion would be consistent with the view that PF is a biradical which can be triplet in character.
Implementation of the CLEAN algorithm on microwave images for nondestructive testing

An intuitive deconvolution algorithm known s CLEAN is considered as a means of improving images associated with microwave nondestructive evaluation (NDE). Flawed metallic surfaces are scanned using a continuous wave (cw), X-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR), and images are produced using a synthetic-aperture focusing algorithm. The results are compared with those obtained by further processing the data using the CLEAN algorithm. The utility of adopting such a scheme to improve flaw detection is discussed.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Understanding Health Outcomes: Physical Secondary Conditions in People With Spinal Cord Injury

Objective: To examine the association of predisposing characteristics and enabling characteristics with physical secondary conditions through health practices and health care use in people with spinal cord injury (SCI). Design: Cross-sectional survey mailed to adults in portions of the northeastern and northwestern United States. Participants: Two hundred seventy adults with SCI recruited through durable medical equipment supply companies. Main Outcome Measures: Self-reported health practices, health care use, and physical secondary conditions. Results: In the Andersen behavioral model, F increment tests supported findings that predisposing characteristics accounted for 12% of variance in secondary conditions, enabling characteristics accounted for 16%, and health practices and health care use accounted for another 13%. Path analysis revealed that health care use mediated self-efficacy and interpersonal support. Conclusions: Predisposing characteristics including self-efficacy, enabling characteristics, and health care use are associated with physical secondary conditions in complex ways. More research is needed on measures of health practices and their relation to secondary conditions.
Mechanical bases of frequency tuning and neural excitation at the base of the cochlea: Comparison of basilar-membrane vibrations and auditory-nerve-fiber responses in chinchilla

We review the mechanical origin of auditory-nerve excitation, focusing on comparisons of the magnitudes and phases of basilar-membrane (BM) vibrations and auditory-nerve fiber responses to tones at a basal site of the chinchilla cochlea with characteristic frequency approximately 9 kHz located 3.5 mm from the oval window. At this location, characteristic frequency thresholds of fibers with high spontaneous activity correspond to magnitudes of BM displacement or velocity in the order of 1 nm or 50 microm/s. Over a wide range of stimulus frequencies, neural thresholds are not determined solely by BM displacement but rather by a function of both displacement and velocity. Near-threshold, auditory-nerve responses to low-frequency tones are synchronous with peak BM velocity toward scala tympani but at 80-90 dB sound pressure level (in decibels relative to 20 microPascals) and at 100-110 dB sound pressure level responses undergo two large phase shifts approaching 180 degrees. These drastic phase changes have no counterparts in BM vibrations. Thus, although at threshold levels the encoding of BM vibrations into spike trains appears to involve only relatively minor signal transformations, the polarity of auditory-nerve responses does not conform with traditional views of how BM vibrations are transmitted to the inner hair cells. The response polarity at threshold levels, as well as the intensity-dependent phase changes, apparently reflect micromechanical interactions between the organ of Corti, the tectorial membrane and the subtectorial fluid, and/or electrical and synaptic processes at the inner hair cells.
Robust Inference in Communication Games with Partial Provability

Abstract We study sequential message-sending games with an uninformed decision maker and multiple self-interested informed agents in which the ability to prove claims is limited. We give necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of robust inference rules-that is, rules which lead to full, correct inferences even if the decision maker has very little information about speakers′ preferences or strategies. Surprisingly little provability is needed when the decision maker only knows that the speakers have conflicting preferences over his actions. Conflicting preferences guarantees that someone will have an incentive to "correct" any mistaken inference. Journal of Economic Literature Classification Numbers: C72, D82.
Coagulation Status During Aortic Aneurysm Surgery: Comparison of Thrombelastography with Standard Tests

A prospective comparison of thrombelastography to standard coagulation tests was undertaken in ten patients undergoing routine, uncomplicated abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery in order to explore potential clinical utility and establish normal patterns of change. Thrombelastograph k values increased (7.1 vs 5.4 min baseline, P ≤. 01), and α angle (43 vs 52° baseline, P ≤. 007) and ma (39 vs 52 mm baseline, P ≤. 01) values decreased following graft placement, while r values remained unaffected (6.4 vs 7.5 min baseline, P > .05). Weak correlations were observed between a angle and fibrinogen, prothrombin time, and partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), as well as between k and aPTT (0.70 < r ≤ 0.79 for all). Systemic fibrinolysis was suggested by thrombelastography in 25% of samples, although euglobulin lysis times were abnormal in only 5% (χ2= 4.80, P < .05). Fibrin degradation product detection increased through the fifth postoperative day in all patients. Variations in thrombelastographic parameters and the...
Comment on “Highly relativistic magnetospheric electrons: A role in coupling to the middle atmosphere?”

It is argued that Baker et al. (1987) may have underestimated the electron precipitation rate in the southern hemisphere in the region extending west to about 90 deg in longitude from the southern extension of the center of the South Atlantic geomagnetic anomaly (SAGA). In a reply, it is noted that Baker et al. restricted their study to the case of uniform precipitation in latitude and longitude throughout the outer-zone area, thus entailing a great simplification of the real-world situation. Comments are made on the effects of the SAGA on electron precipitation.
And now, “big, big” gastrin

Summary Plasmas from patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and extracts from the jejunum obtained post-mortem contain a minor component of immunoreactive gastrin of considerably greater size than heptadecapeptide gastrin and the previously described “big” gastrin. This component maintains its integrity on refractionation but releases an immunoreactive heptadecapeptide-like gastrin following tryptic digestion.
TU‐A‐201B‐06: Automatic Tube Potential Selection for Radiation Dose Reduction in Abdominal CT: Techniques and Experimental Study

Purpose: The appropriateness of using lower tube potential (kV) is highly dependent on patient size and diagnostic task. We proposed a general strategy that allows automatic adaptation of kV as a function of patient size and diagnostic task. The purpose of this work is to implement this general strategy in adult abdominal CT.Method and Materials: The automatic tool was developed based on a novel image quality index, noise constrained iodine contrast to noise ratio. The noise constraint parameter can be adjusted for each exam type. Seven abdominal phantoms were constructed to represent adult abdomens with lateral dimensions of 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, and 55 cm. Three iodine samples were placed in the central region of the phantoms and scanned on a dual‐source CT scanner at all available kVs (80, 100, 120, 140). A database including the measured imagenoise and sample contrast, phantom size, and CTDIvol was created. The relative dose at each kV was calculated as a function of phantom size and a noise constraint parameter that was adjustable for different exam types. Results: The proposed strategy provided a quantitative way to select the most dose‐efficient kV for different patient sizes and exam types. For angiographic exams, the most dose‐efficient kVs were 80, 80, 100, 100, 100, 120, and 140 for phantoms from 25 to 55 cm, respectively. For routine contrast‐enhanced abdomen exams, the optimal kVs were 100, 100, 100, 100, 120, 120, and 140. For the 55cm phantom size, 140 kV was always the optimal kV. Conclusion: We implemented an automatic kV selection strategy in adult abdominal CT. Dependent on the patient size and exam type, the use of the optimal kV resulted in various dose reduction levels. These results can be directly translated into clinical practice for guiding the kV selection and dose reduction.
New Type 2 Copper-Cysteinate Proteins. Copper Site Histidine-to-Cysteine Mutants of Yeast Copper-Zinc Superoxide Dismutase.

Preparation and characterization of two new site-directed mutant copper−zinc superoxide dismutase proteins from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, i.e., His46Cys (H46C) and His120Cys (H120C), in which indiv...
Building an OptIPlanet collaboratory to support microbial metagenomics

We describe early experiments in the adoption of the OptIPuter architecture to provide data-intensive capabilities to several remote users of a large-scale, multi-year effort to organize and make publicly available data describing a wide variety of marine microbial ecologies, their genomic content, and the local environments in which they live-marine microbial metagenomics. Microbial genomes are millions of base pairs in length, requiring both a global view of the genome and the ability to zoom into detail interactively, enabled by the OptIPortal. We describe the design of a scientific data and compute server, enhanced by OptIPuter technologies, and early examples of its use in support of high performance science applications in this emerging scientific field.