cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Poor Recovery of Activities-of-Daily-Living Function Is Associated With Higher Rates of Postsurgical Hospitalization After Total Joint Arthroplasty.

Objective Medicare beneficiaries are increasingly using home health as the first postacute care setting after hospital discharge following total joint arthroplasty (TJA). Yet, prior research has shown that changes in payment models for TJA may negatively influence functional outcomes for Medicare beneficiaries. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of poor functional outcomes during a home health episode of care on hospitalization risk for older recipients of TJA. Methods For this study, 5822 Medicare beneficiaries who underwent elective TJA and subsequently participated in home health care following hospital discharge were identified using Medicare hospitalizations records and home health claims. Recovery of activities-of-daily-living (ADL) function was evaluated using patient assessment data completed at home health admission and discharge from the Medicare Outcomes and Assessment Information Set (OASIS). Hospitalization outcomes were captured from Medicare hospital claims. Cox-Proportional hazards regression was used to evaluate the hazard ratio for hospitalization after home health discharge. Results The 5822 Medicare beneficiaries who received a TJA and subsequently were discharged to home health were evaluated (n = 3989 [68.6%] following total knee replacement, n = 1883 [31.4%]) following total hip replacement). Nearly 9% (n = 534) of patients did not improve their ability to perform ADLs during the home health episode; this lack of improvement was associated with a more than 2-fold increase in hospital readmission rate following home health discharge (2.3% vs 4.9%). In adjusted models, there was a significant 77% increase (HR = 1.77; 95% CI = 1.14-2.74) in hospitalization risk during the 90-day postsurgical period. Conclusion Poor recovery of ADL function in home health settings following TJA is strongly associated with elevated risk of future hospitalizations. Impact Medicare beneficiaries who fail to make substantive improvements in basic ADL function during home health care episodes following TJA may need intensive monitoring from interdisciplinary team members across the continuum of care, especially during transitions from home care to outpatient care. Lay summary An increasing number of patients receive home health care after joint replacement surgery, but outcomes after home health are unclear. These findings suggest that improvements in basic tasks such as walking or bathing are associated with a lower likelihood of hospitalization.
Long-term ethanol feeding selectively impairs the attachment of rat perivenous hepatocytes to extracellular matrix substrates

Abstract Background/Aims: We have previously shown that long-term ethanol consumption by rats results in a profound decrease in hepatocyte attachment to various extracellular matrix substrates. The present study investigated whether differences in attachment exist between cells isolated from either the periportal or perivenous regions of the liver. Methods: Rats received long-term ethanol, and hepatocytes were selectively isolated by the digitonin-collagenase perfusion method. The ability of periportal and perivenous cells isolated from ethanol-fed and pair-fed control rats to attach to plates coated with either laminin, fibronectin, or type I collagen was then assayed. Results: With all substrates, the attachment of perivenous hepatocytes isolated from ethanol-fed animals was significantly impaired. Time-course studies showed that although the rate of attachment of perivenous cells from ethanol-fed animals was only slightly reduced, a dramatic decrease in absolute attachment was observed. Furthermore, the perivenous cells isolated from ethanol-fed animals detached more readily from the substrate-coated plates than the corresponding periportal cells or either periportal or perivenous cells from pair-fed controls. Conclusions: Long-term ethanol consumption impairs hepatocyte-extracellular matrix interactions more severely in the perivenous region of the liver. This finding could be relevant to the pathological changes observed in alcoholic liver injury.
A photophonic instrument concept to measure atmospheric aerosol absorption

A laboratory model of an instrument to measure the absorption of atmospheric aerosols was designed, built, and tested. The design was based on the photophonic phenomenon discovered by Bell and an acoustic resonator developed by Helmholtz. Experiments were done to show ways the signal amplitude could be improved and the noise reduced and to confirm the instrument was sensitive enough to be practical. The research was undertaken to develop concepts which show promise of being improvements on the instruments that are presently used to measure the absorption of the Sun's radiation by the Earth's atmospheric aerosols.
Post-transcriptional Control and Male Infertility

The importance of RNA binding proteins in male fertility is gaining great momentum. There are now several examples in humans and mice where mutations in genes encoding RNA binding proteins cause infertility. These include male-specific fertility factors that map to the Y chromosome, and autosomal genes whose functions are not restricted to the testis. In most cases the exact function of the RNA binding proteins is unknown, as are their in vivo RNA substrates. The need for post-transcriptional control during germ cell differentiation has also been demonstrated by studying specific mRNAs, principally the protamine mRNAs, whose temporal translational regulation in spermatids is essential for normal spermatogenesis. The search for message-specific RNA binding proteins has led to the discovery of several novel proteins that localize to different compartments in differentiating spermatogenic cells. Emerging genetic evidence suggests that these proteins have essential functions in developing germ cells.
Evaluation of hydration and nutritional gels as supportive care after total-body irradiation in mice (Mus musculus).

Concern regarding the potential for radiation exposure from accidents or nuclear and radiologic terrorism is increasing.10,27 High-dose total-body irradiation exposure to mammals results in a severe, dose-dependent, and usually fatal illness known as acute radiation syndrome. In mice, this syndrome is characterized by hematopoietic (5 to 10 Gy), gastrointestinal (10 to 100 Gy), and cerebrovascular (greater than 100 Gy) syndromes.23 In vitro assays for radioprotection have not been able to predict protection from lethality in animals. Therefore, drugs must be evaluated for efficacy by using an in vivo model.28 To screen radiation countermeasure agents for their protective efficacy, animals must be exposed to high doses of radiation. Rodents exposed to doses of radiation that result in hematopoietic death exhibit clinical signs of radiation sickness, including decreased food consumption, weight loss, and impaired mobility.6,17,22 The primary cause of death from the hematopoietic syndrome is destruction of the bone marrow, resulting in significant reductions in neutrophils and platelets that can lead to infection and hemorrhage.26 In mice, mortality from hematopoietic syndrome typically occurs within 30 d after irradiation.23 In most laboratories investigating radiation-induced injury in mice, survival studies are commonly conducted without providing additional supportive care (nutritional supplements, antibiotics, intravenous fluids). Radiation sickness and the accompanying weakness reduce water intake and food consumption from the cage hopper. Mice have a high basal metabolic rate15 and, depending on the strain, require 3 to 6 g food and 4 to 8 mL water daily.2 Water intake and food consumption are directly related to the general health of the mouse. Mice deprived of water consume less food, and deaths have been attributed to both dehydration and starvation.3 In addition, food and water deprivation decrease the numbers of circulating lymphocytes and platelets, blood elements essential for recovery from radiation.1 A variety of methods have been used to provide additional hydration and nutrition to rodents during transport,24 after surgery,13 or under other stressful conditions.11 These methods include access to potatoes, wet mash, and gel packs.19 Providing mice hydration or nutritional gels may prolong survival times and promote recovery from an otherwise lethal dose of radiation. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the addition of minimal supportive care consisting of hydration or nutritional gels could be used to reduce mortality in mice exposed to 60Co γ radiation.
Investigation of properties of insulating materials used on spacecraft power systems

Kapton, an insulating material used in space power systems was investigated for its dielectric properties. The authors report the preliminary results of the measurement of surface and volume resistivities, dielectric constant, and dissipation factor of Kapton H- and V-type thin films of various thicknesses at different temperatures and in vacuum. It is shown that the effect of the variation of temperature and voltage on the surface resistivities, dissipation factor, and electrode capacitance seems to be greater for the thinner samples than the thicker samples. Their effect on the volume resistivity is relatively greater for the thicker samples than the thinner ones. >
Reed-Solomon error control systems for bidirectional fading channels

Various properties unique to Reed-Solomon codes can be used to full advantage in the development of error control systems for bidirectional wireless communication systems. An analytic framework is provided for the computation of error and erasure rates at the input to the Reed-Solomon decoder after transmission over a Rayleigh fading channel. A simple method is then demonstrated for using a bounded distance RS decoder in a type-I hybrid-ARQ protocol. This protocol provides substantially better reliability performance than FEC systems at the expense of a moderate reduction in throughput. The Reed-Solomon type-I protocol can then be used as the foundation for a code combining system. it is shown that the code combining system provides slightly better reliability performance than the type-I protocol over Rayleigh fading channels with background noise while providing a significant improvement in the throughput performance. >
A Survey of Personal and Occupational Health and Safety Training for US and Canadian Veterinary Schools

ABSTRACT To determine the health and safety training provided to veterinary students, ascertain their injuries, and evaluate the vaccinations they received we surveyed the 28 veterinary schools in the United States and Canada. Eighteen (64%) of the schools responded. It appears that veterinary schools could better train their students considering the number of injuries and illnesses reported in the previous two years as a direct result of working in the health care setting. For example, 14 schools reported 1-12 bites/maulings, 14 reported 1-5 kicks/gorings, 11 reported 2-27 scratches, and 11 schools reported 1-5 scalpel/knife cuts. In addition, some, students training for food animal practice are poorly prepared to work in confinement housing as only 39% (7/18) of schools train students in how to choose and wear a breathing mask and only 11% (2/18) train students in how to choose and wear ear protection. In contrast, 14 (78%) respondents agreed with the statement that, in general, most of their veterinary...
Perifoveal display: combining foveal and peripheral vision in one visualization

The Perifoveal Display (see Figure 1) is a visualization display for complex, real-time, dynamic data such as stock market data, traffic or control room as well as virtual 3D environments. The system takes advantage of the unique properties of the human perceptive system, which is capable of perceiving a high degree of detail in the foveal area, but has a unique more subliminal type of perception of movement and brightness in the peripheral area. The Perifoveal Display varies how data is visualized based on the user's viewing direction. Data in the center of the user's focus is displayed in a lot of detail. Movement and change in brightness as well as amount of detail and size highlight important data changes that fall into the periphery. The results of our user study show that the system is able to support the user while observing complex data.
Reversible ischemia increases levels of Alzheimer amyloid protein precursor without increasing levels of mRNA in the rabbit spinal cord

In a rabbit spinal cord ischemia model (RSCIM), the time courses of neuropathological damage of the spinal cord and neurological impairment of the motor functions are well established, demonstrating that the extent of neuropathological damage and the severity of neurological impairment are closely correlated. We used the RSCIM to elucidate the effects of reversible (15 min) and irreversible (60 min) ischemia on the endogenous levels of amyloid protein precursors (APPs) at both the mRNA and protein levels in the caudolumbar/sacral region of the spinal cord. We speculate that endogenous APPs are induced by ischemia as either trophic factors or stress-induced proteins in the RSCIM. A 15-min occlusion transiently increased the APP protein levels in neurons, which returned to the original levels by the end of 60 min occlusion. The increase in APP protein levels during 15-min ischemic insult does not appear to involve regulation at the mRNA level. The increased level of APPs, particularly of the soluble form, could support the possibility that APPs play a neuroprotective role in the RSCIM as stress-induced proteins. In contrast, failure to maintain the increased APP protein levels or to increase the mRNA, as seen in the 60-min ischemia samples, may be one of the causal factors that induce necrosis and neuronal cell death leading to irreversible neurological impairment.
Turbulent boundary layers with assigned wall shear

In this paper we consider the problem of computing the external velocity distribution on a two-dimensional body in an incompressible boundary-layer flow for a specified wall shear. This leads to an ‘overdetermined’ boundary-value problem for a partial differential equation containing the edge velocity as an unknown parameter. A numerical procedure for determining the external velocity is given, together with several examples for laminar and turbulent boundary layers.
Formation of benzene polycarboxylic acids in the oxygen oxidation of solid by-products from coal-conversion processes (CCP) in an alkaline medium

Abstract Solid and liquid carbonaceous by-products have been obtained in both coal gasification and liquefaction processes. A study of the oxidation of the solid by-products was undertaken to determine what commercial chemicals could be derived from these materials. The oxygen oxidation of various coal-conversion-process by-products in 10% aqueous sodium hydroxide was investigated at 250 °C and a total pressure of 8.27 MPa (gauge). The products isolated were carbon dioxide and the organic extract, a complex mixture of aliphatic and aromatic acids. The benzene polycarboxylic acids were the major component of the organic extract.
Physiological responses to child stimuli in mothers with and without a childhood history of physical abuse

The present study investigated changes in heart rate, skin conductance, and self-reported affect in response to child stimuli in mothers with and without a childhood history of physical abuse. The stimuli were videotape presentations of a smiling and crying infant. During baseline periods (prior to videotape presentations), mothers without a childhood history of abuse displayed a significant reduction in skin conductance, which was not observed in mothers with a childhood history of abuse, suggesting that mothers without a history of abuse habituated to the experimental setting. Although the two groups of mothers did not differ in self-reported affect or in heart rates in response to the crying and smiling infant, mothers with a childhood history of abuse showed increases in skin conductance while viewing the smiling infant, but not while viewing the crying infant. In contrast, mothers without a childhood history of abuse showed increases in skin conductance during the presentation of the crying infant, but not while viewing the smiling infant. Similarities between the skin conductance results for mothers with and without a childhood history of abuse and skin conductance data reported for physically abusive and at-risk mothers are discussed.
Rate constants for the gas-phase reactions of the OH radical with selected carbamates and lactates

Using a relative rate method, rate constants have been measured for the gas-phase reactions of the volatile carbamates CH3NHC(O)OCH3, CH3NHC(O)OCH2CH3, CH3CH2NHC(O)OCH3 and CH3CH2NHC(O)OCH2CH3 and the lactates CH3CH(OH)C(O)OCH3, and CH3CH(OH)C(O)OCH2CH3 with the OH radical at 296 ± 2 K of (in units of 10-12 cm3 molecule-1 s-1) 4.3 ± 1.2, 8.3 ± 2.2, 10.5 ± 2.9, 14.4 ± 3.7, 2.8 ± 0.8, and 3.9 ± 1.1, respectively, where the error limits include the estimated overall uncertainties in the rate constants for the reference compounds. Rate constants were also measured for the reactions of the carbamates with NO3 radicals and O3, with respective NO3 radical and O3 reaction rate constants (in cm3 molecule-1 s-1 units) of CH3NHC(O)OCH3, (8.5 ± 3.2) × 10-16 and <4 × 10-20; CH3NHC(O)OCH2CH3, (9.4 ± 3.5) × 10-16 and <4 × 10-20; CH3CH2NHC(O)OCH3, (1.8 ± 0.8) × 10-15 and <6 × 10-20; and CH3CH2NHC(O)OCH2CH3, (2.6 ± 1.3) × 10-15 and <3 × 10-20. The OH radical reaction rate constants for the carbamates have been used to ext...
Corporate Ability or Virtue? Relative Effectiveness of Prior Corporate Associations in Times of Crisis

This experimental study employing both victim and preventable crises supports strong transferring effects of corporate ability (CA) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) associations on the public's responses in corporate crises. In addition, CSR associations are found to be more effective than CA associations in offsetting detrimental damage created by corporate crises. The study argues that the reason for more enduring and salient transferring effects of prior CSR associations in crisis situations is because CSR associations are positioned on a company's virtue-related dimensions, whereas CA associations are positioned on its skill-focused dimensions.
Transistor Matching and Fin Angle Variation in FinFET Technology

The introduction of FinFET architecture was expected to alleviate the issue of mismatch compared with planar technology, given the lower doping levels required. However, several authors have reported better mismatch results for planar technology suggesting additional challenges for FinFET architecture. An additional mechanism previously not considered arising from charge present at points of disturbance in the silicon lattice in tapering and wavering fins is shown to contribute to transistor mismatch. We show that including this mechanism improves the quantitative understanding of mismatch in FinFETs.
Self-duality of rank 2 reflexive modules

Abstract Every finitely generated rank 2 third syzygy module over a regular local ring is known to be self-dual. We show more generally that any finitely generated rank 2 reflexive module is self-dual, and that the isomorphism is skew symmetric. We use this ismorphism to estimate how large k may be if the module is a k th syzygy, and how closely allied rank 3 modules are related to their duals.
Mechanical Properties of Y2O3-Stabilized Tetragonal ZrO2 Polycrystals After Ageing at High Temperature

Yttria-partially-stabilized zirconia (Y-PSZ) materials containing 2.5, 3.0 and 5.0 mol% of Y/sub 2/O/sub 3/ prepared by hot pressing were subjected to aging in air for >10 h at temperatures in the range of 800/sup 0/ and 1200/sup 0/C. The sintered materials were measured to determine the mechanical properties and microstructures and analyzed for trace elements. A sharp reduction in bending strength was observed after the aging, the cause for which was suggested to be the formation of cavities produced by the oxidation of carbon.
Synthesis of polymer-attached niobium and tantalum complexes and their applications to the catalysis of olefin hydrogenation, isomerization and ethylene dimerization.

Abstract Polymer-attached CpNbCl 4 , CpNbCl 3 , CpNbCl 2 , Cp 2 Nb(BH 4 ), CpTaCl 4 , (PhCH 2 )NbCl 4 and (PhCH 2 )TaCl 4 have been prepared. The reduction products of supported niobium and tantalum chlorides are active hydrogenation catalysts for olefins and for diphenylacetylene which was hydrogenated to 1,2-diphenylethane through intermediate stilbene. The similar reduction products have also been employed in catalytic isomerization of allylbenzene which is converted into a mixture of trans - and cis -propenylbenzene. Polymer-attached CpTaCl 4 , when treated with neopentyllithium, can effect dimerization of ethylene to give 1-butene.
Demand outstrips supply of US pediatric dermatologists: results from a national survey.

Abstract Background The US pediatric dermatology workforce was last examined in 1986 when limited employment opportunity was found. Objective We sought to re-examine pediatric dermatology workforce issues. Methods US dermatology chairpersons and residency program directors were surveyed for: (1) agreement with pediatric dermatology workforce statements; and (2) pediatric dermatology faculty and fellow numbers. Results Respondents agreed that having a pediatric dermatologist or dermatologists on faculty is important, and that a shortage of pediatric dermatologists exists, but did not agree that increasing pediatric dermatology training requirements will increase this shortage. Almost half of the programs (45/94) employed a full-time pediatric dermatologist, and 24 programs had currently been recruiting a pediatric dermatologist for more than 1 year. Only 6 pediatric dermatology fellows were in training. Conclusion Given that open pediatric dermatology faculty positions greatly exceed the number of fellows in training and that formal training requirements will be increasing, the shortage of pediatric dermatologists will likely continue.
Using fuzzy binary relations for identifying noninterior decision alternatives

Abstract A fuzzy noninferiority relation is introduced. Based on this relation, fuzzy relations of preference, strict preference, indifference, and incomparability are specified, and their properties are investigated. A fuzzy noninferior subset is defined and its basic characteristic properties are established. An algorithm is presented for identifying a fuzzy set of noninferior alternatives in decision-making situations that require the selection of a certain number of noninferior alternatives for more detailed study.
Health status indexes: the trade-off between quantity and quality of life.

Abstract In the last decade many attempts have been made to combine mortality and morbidity statistics in a single, overall health index. In this paper all of these indexes are shown to involve the same general trade-off between quantity and quality of life. All of them allow increases in the quantity of life to offset decreases in average health status. A formally identical trade-off between population size and average happiness has long been debased in utilitarian ethics, with a marked tendency among modern philosophers to decide in favor of average happiness, that is, precisely contrary to recent health-index researchers. Other considerations also suggest that the trade-off implicit in recent health status indexes may not have general support. The paper concludes with a discussion of various ways of proceeding from this point.
Asymptotic ensemble enumerators for protograph-based generalized LDPC codes: Computational complexity

In earlier work, we presented a method for finding ensemble weight enumerator for protograph-based generalized LDPC (G-LDPC) codes, and leveraged this method to find ensemble stopping set enumerator and ensemble trapping set enumerator. The method is conceptually simple, but when the dimensionality of the constraint nodes (number of their code-words) grows, it becomes difficult to handle the computational complexity, which rise while evaluating these enumerators. To deal with this difficulty, we posed a conjecture, which greatly reduce the computational complexity. Trails to proof this conjecture showed that the proof is a challenging problem. Also, proving it will strengthen the theory of enumerating protograph-based G-LDPC code ensembles. Which in turn helps in predicating the average performances for codes drawn from these ensembles. In Section II we present a review of our method for finding finite and asymptotic weight enumerators for protograph-based G-LDPC code ensembles. Then, we present the conjecture in Section III with some examples.
Progesterone receptor isoform identification and subcellular localization in endometrial cancer

Objective These studies were undertaken to characterize the subcellular localization of the two major isoforms of progesterone receptors (PR), PRA and PRB, in endometrial cancer.
Increased left ventricular ejection fraction after a meal: Potential source of error in performance of radionuclide angiography

The effect of a standardized meal on left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) was determined by equilibrium radionuclide angiography in 16 patients with stable congestive heart failure but without pulmonary or valvular heart disease. LVEF was determined in the fasting state and 15, 30, and 45 minutes after a meal. Patients with moderately depressed fasting LVEF (30 to 50%), Group I, had a mean increase of 6.9 +/- 2.9% (p less than 0.005) in the LVEF at 45 minutes after the meal. Patients with severely depressed fasting LVEF (less than 30%), Group II, had no change after the meal. It is concluded that significant increases in LVEF may occur after meals in patients with moderate but not severe left ventricular dysfunction. Equilibrium radionuclide angiography studies that are not standardized for patients' mealtimes may introduce an important unmeasured variable that will affect the validity of data in serial studies of left ventricular function.
Effects of conductor losses on cross-talk in multilevel-coupled VLSI interconnections

The influence of conductor losses on the cross-talk between coupled microstrip lines is evaluated using an integral equation method. In this mathematical formulation the fields are computed inside the conductors and are utilized to define an equivalent impedance on the surface of the strips. This surface impedance is used as a boundary condition for the solution of the electromagnetic problem outside the conductors. Following this procedure the effect of losses on pulse dispersion in coupled microstrip lines is studied thoroughly for various geometries.
Multicolor spectral karyotyping of the L5178Y Tk+/−‐3.7.2C mouse lymphoma cell line

The L5178Y/Tk+/- -3.7.2C mouse lymphoma cell line is characterized, at the cytogenetic level, by a karyotype involving both numerical and complex structural aberrations. While the karyotype is remarkably normal for a transformed cell line that has been in culture for almost half a century, there are a number of chromosomal alterations that because of their complexity cannot be fully characterized by routine or even high-resolution G-banding studies. Multicolor spectral karyotyping (SKY) was performed on the cell line in anticipation of identifying the previously unresolved chromosome aberrations and confirming interpretations previously identified by banding studies. New chromosome aberrations detected by SKY include numerical aberrations of chromosome 15, duplications of regions of chromosomes 4, 5, 12, and 18, and deletion of chromosome 14. Complex unbalanced translocations involved segments of chromosomes 6, 14, and 15. In total, the SKY technique was able to provide new refined designations on segments of eight different chromosome pairs (4, 5, 6, 9, 12, 14, 15, 18) and identified all three previously unidentified marker chromosomes. This analysis provides an updated standard reference for the karyotype of the L5178Y/Tk+/- -3.7.2C cell line used in the in vitro mouse lymphoma mutation assay.
Sorting things out: valuation of new firms in uncertain markets

New business models combined with a lack of objective operating data result in significant information asymmetry and uncertainty in the valuation of new firms in emerging markets. Information asymmetry increases the risks of both adverse selection and moral hazard. When traditional differentiators of firm quality are lacking, such as in emerging economic sectors, markets may turn to secondary information sources to filter and sort firms. We investigate the roles played by observable corporate governance characteristics as indirect indicators of new firms' potential qualitative differences. Markets may sort firms based on such characteristics because they are perceived to be correlated with desired but unobservable characteristics and actions and they lower the risks of both adverse selection and moral hazard. Our study of publicly traded U.S. Internet firms found that firm market valuation was strongly associated with corporate governance characteristics (e.g., executive and director stock-based incentives, institutional and blockholder stock ownership, board structure, and venture capital participation). In addition, firm age moderated how markets used some quality proxies to determine firm valuation during the post-IPO period. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Videos, tweet‐ups, and training unite scientist communicators at Fall Meeting

AGU's public information office held several events at the 2011 Fall Meeting designed to train, recognize, and reward member scientists who communicate with, or want to communicate with, nonscience audiences. On Sunday, about 90 researchers gathered at the Marriott Marquis hotel for an all-day science communications training event covering topics including journalism from the insider's perspective, storytelling, and using humor to share science. On Wednesday a communications panel focusing specifically on climate science shared tips on communicating with audiences via TV and the Web, among other outlets. At a social media soiree Monday evening, geobloggers, Facebook fans, Twitter followers, and others met in person and talked about how to share news and research across the many platforms of the Internet. Later in the week, bloggers from AGU's blogosphere and other sites met for lunch to discuss the online Earth and space science community.
Hyperhomocysteinemia: DNA hypomethylation and endothelial degeneration

In this issue of Blood , Jamaluddin and colleagues report important observations showing that DNA hypomethylation is a key biochemical mechanism responsible for elevated levels of plasma homocysteine (Hcy) called hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy), which induces cyclin A suppression and growth inhibition
A Qualitative Examination of Supervisors' Experiences of the Process of Triadic Supervision

A qualitative study was undertaken to investigate supervisors' experiences of the process of triadic supervision. Data were collected using in-depth, individual interviews with clinical supervisors who were part of a counselor education program. A whole-text analysis yielded two major categories. Triadic supervision enhanced particular feedback dynamics, enhanced supervisee learning and growth, and improved the general atmosphere of supervision. It also impaired particular feedback dynamics and limited supervisors' ability to meet supervisee needs and provide assistance. Implications of the findings for supervision practice and for future research are also addressed.
Continuous temperature-dependent Raman spectroscopy of melamine and structural analog detection in milk powder.

Hyperspectral Raman imaging has the potential for rapid screening of solid-phase samples for potential adulterants. We can improve mixture analysis algorithms by defining a temperature range in which the contaminant spectrum changes dramatically and uniquely compared with unadulterated material. Raman spectra were acquired for urea, biuret, cyanuric acid, and melamine (pure and at 1% in dried milk powder) from 50 to 310 °C with a gradient of 1 °C min−1. Adulterants were clearly indentified in the milk powder. Specific frequencies that were mainly associated with ring breathing, stretching, and in-plane deformation shifted with respect to temperature up to 12 cm−1 in all four molecules. Specific frequencies significantly increased/decreased in intensity within narrow temperature ranges independent of whether the amine was mixed in milk. Correlation of Raman and differential scanning calorimetry data identified structural components and vibrational modes, which concur with or trigger phase transitions.
Displacement of five metals sorbed on kaolinite during treatment with modified Fenton's reagent.

Abstract The displacement of sorbed metals during the treatment of soils and groundwater with modified Fenton's reagent was investigated using five common metal contaminants (cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc) and kaolinite as a model sorbent. Modified Fenton's conditions included three H 2 O 2 concentrations (0.9, 1.8, 2.7 M) and two catalysts: soluble iron (III) at pH 3 and iron (III)–NTA chelate at pH 6. Iron (III)-catalyzed Fenton's reactions released significant amounts of zinc, cadmium, and copper. Modified Fenton's reactions catalyzed by iron (III)–NTA released zinc, cadmium, copper, and lead, and resulted in greater amounts of metals release than the iron (III)-catalyzed reactions. Metals release may have been mediated by transient oxygen species, such as superoxide, generated by propagation reactions, which become dominant at the relatively high hydrogen peroxide concentrations used. Metals release from kaolinite was undetectable when sufficiently low hydrogen peroxide concentrations were maintained to minimize propagation reactions. These results indicate that using dilute concentrations of hydrogen peroxide for Fenton's ISCO may minimize potential metals mobility when treating contaminated soils and groundwater containing a mixture of organic and metal contaminants.
Interspecific patterns of phenotypic selection do not predict intraspecific patterns

We estimated linear (β) and nonlinear (γ) selection gradients to quantify host plant-mediated selection on the trait gall size in each of 22 unequally sampled subpopulations of the cynipid gall wasp Belonocnema treatae. We characterized the relationship between variation in subpopulation sample size and the magnitude of and the variance among selection gradients. We then tested the hypothesis that the intraspecific patterns we observed would follow two patterns that have emerged from published estimates of linear and nonlinear selection gradients compiled across species, namely that the average magnitude of β and γ and the variance among estimated β and γ decrease with increasing sample size. For both β and γ, intraspecific patterns of phenotypic selection in relation to sample size were not predicted by interspecific patterns. Thus, our results suggest that when selection is heterogeneous among subpopulations, variation in the biological basis for selection is more important in influencing estimates of selection than is variation in study size. Our study highlights the value of inspecting selection in relation to sampling effort at the level at which understanding the sources of variation in selection is most important, among populations within species.
Generation of affine invariant local contour feature data

Abstract A method for determining 3-D object orientation from a single 2-D image with incomplete data is discussed. Locally determined affine invariant data from planar object features allows efficient solution for transformation parameters using the generalized Hough transform.
2009 International Joint Conference on Neural Networks (IJCNN 2009) [Conference Reports]

The 2009 International Joint Conference on Neural Networks (IJCNN2009) has been held at the Westin PeachTree Hotel, Atlanta, GA, USA, on June 14-19, 2009. IJCNN is the premier international conference on neural networks theory, analysis and applications. Our conference has been organized by the International Neural Networks Society (INNS) and sponsored jointly by INNS and the IEEE Computational Intelligence Society (CIS). This is an exemplary collaboration between the two leading societies on neural networks to create the flagship conference, under the leadership of INNS President Nik Kasabov and CIS President David Fogel. This mutually beneficial cooperation provides solid foundations for future extensive development of the field.
On the relationship between shock wave and magnetic bottle associated with the solar flare of 4 November 1968

The shock wave and magnetic bottle that were associated with the solar flare of Nov. 4, 1968, are considered in terms of their relations. This event is shown to provide an opportunity for studying the formation and development in the magnetic phase of the flare of the shock wave and magnetic bottle and the subsequent release of both into outer space.
1,3-Dicyclohexyl urea nanosuspension for intravenous steady-state delivery in rats

Aqueous insolubility is recognized throughout the pharmaceutical industry as a major hurdle for pre-clinical and clinical drug delivery. Pre-clinical, early efficacy, and proof of concept studies oftentimes rely on model compounds that have less than ideal physiochemical properties, and the in vivo results from these studies often have critical impact on the future of the project. As such, effective delivery of prototype compounds with sub-optimal properties is important in target validation. 1,3-Dicyclohexyl urea (DCU), a potent inhibitor of soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) has been shown to lower systemic blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats. This compound has limited aqueous solubility that makes in vivo delivery difficult. In such situations, co-solvents, complexation reagents, and emulsions are commonly used to increase the bioavailability of a prototype compound. However, these approaches are often limited by their capacity to get and keep a compound in solution and can have unwanted pla...
What if there were desktop access to the computer science literature

What if there were an electronic computer science library? Consider the possibilities of having your favorite publications available within finger's reach. Consider Project Envision, an ongoing effort to build a user-centered database from the computer science literature. This paper describes the project's first year progress, stressing the underlying motivation, user-centered development, and the overall design.
A new efficient synthesis of oseltamivir phosphate (Tamiflu) from (−)-shikimic acid

New synthesis of oseltamivir phosphate was accomplished in 9 steps with a 27% overall yield from a readily available (−)-shikimic acid. Selective ring opening reaction of ketal and azide Mitsunobu reaction for facile replacement of a hydroxyl group by the N3 group at the C-3 position of (3R,4R,5R)-ethyl 4-hydroxy-5-(methoxymethoxy)-3-(pentan-3-yloxy)cyclohex-1-enecarboxylate 4 and at the C-4 position of (3R,4S,5R)-ethyl 4-acetamido-5-hydroxy-3-(pentan-3-yloxy)cyclohex-1-enecarboxylate 7 successfully served as the key steps.
Dynamic changes in genomic histone association and modification during activation of the ASNS and ATF3 genes by amino acid limitation.

Amino acid deprivation of mammalian cells triggers several signalling pathways, the AAR (amino acid response), that results in transcriptional activation. For the ASNS (asparagine synthetase) and ATF3 (activating transcription factor 3) genes, increased transcription occurs in conjunction with recruitment of ATF4 to the gene. In HepG2 cells, analysis of the ASNS and ATF3 genes during AAR activation revealed increases in histone H3K4me3 (histone 3 trimethylated Lys 4 ) and H4Ac (acetylated histone 4) levels, marks associated with active transcription, but a concurrent loss of total H3 protein near the promoter. The dynamic nature of AAR-regulated transcription was illustrated by a decline in ASNS transcription activity within minutes after removal of the AAR stress and a return to basal levels by 2 h. Reversal of ASNS transcription occurred in parallel with decreased promoter-associated H4Ac and ATF4 binding. However, the reduction in histone H3 and increase in H3K4me3 were not reversed. In yeast, persistence of H3K4me3 has been proposed to be a ‘memory’ mark of gene activity that alters the responsiveness of the gene, but the time course and magnitude of ASNS induction was unaffected when cells were challenged with a second round of AAR activation. The results of the present study document changes in gene-associated nucleosome abundance and histone modifications in response to amino-acid-dependent transcription.
Interflow in semiarid environments: An overlooked process in risk assessment

Abstract Risk assessment, both human and ecological, embodies fundamental assumptions about hydrological processes, especially how they affect the movement of contaminants in the environment. The lateral movement of water through the soil, or interflow, is frequently a component of risk assessments for humid environments, but not of those for semiarid environments. Our research has shown that, contrary to what was previously thought, interflow can be important in semiarid landscapes and is, therefore, an essential consideration for risk assessment in these regions. To illustrate and assess the effect of interflow on estimates of risk, we (1) developed a simple conceptual model to describe the role that interflow may have in the redistribution of surface and near‐surface contamination, and (2) used RESRAD, an exposure model for assessing radionuclide doses to humans, to evaluate the effectiveness of landfill covers in mitigating doses of three contaminants (3H, 238U, and 239/240Pu) at a site in northern Ne...
The approach towards equilibrium in Lanford's theorem

This paper develops a philosophical investigation of the merits and faults of a theorem by Lanford (1975), Lanford (Asterisque 40, 117–137, 1976), Lanford (Physica 106A, 70–76, 1981) for the problem of the approach towards equilibrium in statistical mechanics. Lanford’s result shows that, under precise initial conditions, the Boltzmann equation can be rigorously derived from the Hamiltonian equations of motion for a hard spheres gas in the Boltzmann-Grad limit, thereby proving the existence of a unique solution of the Boltzmann equation, at least for a very short amount of time. We argue that, by establishing a statistical H-theorem, it offers a prospect to complete Boltzmann’s combinatorial argument, without running against the objections which plug other typicality-based approaches. However, we submit that, while recovering the irreversible approach towards equilibrium for positive times, it fails to predict a monotonic increase of entropy for negative times, and hence it yields the wrong retrodictions about the past evolution of a gas.
Can Bioethics Be Global and Local, or Must It Be Both?

This article contributes to ethnography of bioethical practices in a developing nation by examining how doctors perceive and use them in Mexico. We ask whether principle-based bioethics can transplant to a developing nation. An analysis reveals the bioethical approaches in different hospital settings, the local nature of bioethical understanding, and a universal requirement for ethical distribution of health care. After an overview of U.S. bioethics development and of Mexican biomedical institutions, the article presents field research done on bioethical conceptualizations and practices in two Mexican government hospitals. An analysis of the bioethical dilemmas physicians face and the approaches taken within the society in different institutional venues uncovers the local character of bioethics and the universal bioethical needs, and the intersection between micro and macro processes in hospital health care. While local conditions must guide a physician's day-to-day ethical practices, a global bioethics i...
Value priorities of human resource development professionals

This descriptive exploratory study sought to assess the values priorities of individuals and groups across various HRD occupational specialties. Findings showed that, in general, respondents felt the most important guides to the practice of HRD should be those emphasizing performance-related outcomes. However, results also showed meaningful variation in top-priority values across individuals and significant differences in the comparative importance of six values across education level, degree of involvement in organizational practice, nationality, and occupational and stakeholder groups. Findings suggested that HRD professionals operate from a structured set of values and that the relative importance of those values may vary according to the settings and challenges faced in practice.
Linear placement algorithm and applications to VLSI design

A linear placement technique that uses an objective function of the sum of wiring lengths is proposed. The method evolves from well-known concepts in job sequencing and network flow. The relation between a job sequencing problem and this linear placement problem was demonstrated by Lawler. Also, Sidney proposed decomposition algorithms for job sequencing problems. Building on Lawler's and Sidney's work, we first develop a polynomial-time algorithm to obtain optimal solutions for the special case of parallel graphs. Adolphson and Hu applied the max-flow min-cut method of the network flow problem to the partitioning of general placement problems. However, when the cut operation creates the cut of the same configuration as the previous cut operations, no additional partitioning information is obtained. We devise an optimal graph modification that tries to change the configuration of the cut for further partitioning of the problem, and achieve the maximum partitioning of the problem. Finally, a heuristic algorithm is derived to solve some Very Large Scale Integrated Circuits (VLSI) design linear placement problems. A comparison with published papers shows that our VLSI placement method produces better results.
Avian estrogens and blood calcium.

THERE is MUCH CONTRADICTION in the literature as cited by Marlow and Koch (I) concerning the relation of blood calcium level and ovarian activity. It has been known that the egg laying cycle of the hen, pigeon, or dove is accompanied by a marked increase in blood calcium. However, in the paper referred to above no significant change in blood calcium level of rats, (male or female; normal or gonadectomized) rabbits, or fowls (male or female) could be noted when urinary or mammalian ovarian estrogens were injected. Dosages equivalent to 200 R.U. of urinary estrogens, or an equivalent of 25 gm. of fresh ovarian tissue showed no significant change in blood calcium. Other investigators (2, 3) have demonstrated an increase of blood calcium upon administration of estrogenic material while still others (4, 5) observed a significant reduction.2 So it seems that there is no agreement
Vowel Representations in the Invented Spellings of Spanish-English Bilingual Kindergartners.

The study compared the invented spelling of vowels in kindergarten native Spanish speaking children with that of English monolinguals. It examined whether, after receiving phonics instruction for short vowels, the spelling of native Spanish-speaking kindergartners would contain phonological errors that were influenced by their first language. Results showed no differences between the two groups on the number of correct short vowel spellings, even though the sounds for four of the five English short vowels do not exist in Spanish. By contrast, differences were observed in the representation of long vowels with a higher rate of error among ELLs. The students had not received explicit instruction in long vowels. ELLs appeared to be trying to represent the diphthongized nature of some English long vowels by spelling long vowels with more than one vowel. The results support the authors’ hypothesis that kindergarten phonics instruction had an impact on the invented spellings of new second language vowel phonemes.