cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Clinical tolerance of dexamethasone in New Zealand white rabbits.

Abstract Rabbits have been a popular pet and research species world-wide. In many clinical and research situations, controlling inflammation is necessary for the health of these animals. One of the first drugs commonly employed in veterinary medicine to suppress inflammatory responses is corticosteroids. Unfortunately, steroid use in rabbits is not universally accepted as they are perceived, based on their potent immunosuppressant activity, to negatively impact quality of life. This is may be due, in part, to the lack of well-developed dosing protocols in these animals. This study evaluated the impact of a 5-day IM dexamethasone (Dex, 0.5 mg/kg) protocol on the immunity and clinical health of the New Zealand rabbit. Through two experiments separated by a 10-day washout period, experiment 1 comprised 5-days of dosing with bleedings on day 0, 3, 5 and 7, where experiment 2 consisted of 5-days of dosing with bleedings on day 0, 3 and 5. Animals were monitored twice daily for changes in clinical health. Hematology, T cell subset phenotype, leukocyte cell cycle, histopathology, phagocytosis and oxidative formation were evaluated. Consistent with other species, 5-day dosing with Dex suppressed leukocytes, in particular the T cells (p ≤ 0.003). Interestingly, rabbits failed to show any adverse clinical signs throughout the entire study. This would imply that a 5-day IM Dex (0.5 mg/kg) dosing protocol is well tolerated by New Zealand white rabbits and could be used in rabbits suffering from inflammatory conditions or disease as long as the animal's immune status is closely monitored.
Frailty and Determinants of Health Among Older Adults in the United States 2011-2016.

ObjectiveTo characterize frailty phenotype in a representative cohort of older Americans and examine determinants of health factors.MethodsRetrospective analysis of data from 5,553 adults ≥60 years...
Lethal pediatric cerebral vasculitis triggered by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2: a case report

Abstract: Objectives We report the clinical, radiological, laboratory, and neuropathological findings in support of the first diagnosis of lethal, small-vessel cerebral vasculitis triggered by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in a pediatric patient. Patient description A previously healthy, 8-year-old Hispanic female presented with subacute onset left-sided weakness two weeks after a mild febrile illness. SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal swab was positive. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an enhancing right frontal lobe lesion with significant vasogenic edema. Two brain biopsies of the lesion showed perivascular and intraluminal lymphohistiocytic inflammatory infiltrate consistent with vasculitis. Despite extensive treatment with immunomodulatory therapies targeting primary angiitis of the central nervous system, she experienced neurologic decline and died 93 days after presentation. SARS-CoV-2 testing revealed positive serum IgG and positive cerebrospinal fluid IgM. Comprehensive infectious, rheumatologic, hematologic/oncologic, and genetic evaluation did not identify an alternative etiology. Post-mortem brain autopsy remained consistent with vasculitis. Discussion This is the first pediatric presentation to suggest SARS-CoV-2 can lead to a fatal, post-infectious, inflammatory small-vessel cerebral vasculitis. Our case is unique in including supportive cerebrospinal fluid and post-mortem tissue analysis. While most children recover well from neurologic complications of SARS-CoV-2, we emphasize the potential mortality in a child with no risk factors for severe disease.
An inventory-location model: Formulation, solution algorithm and computational results

We introduce a distribution center (DC) location model that incorporates working inventory and safety stock inventory costs at the distribution centers. In addition, the model incorporates transport costs from the suppliers to the DCs that explicitly reflect economies of scale through the use of a fixed cost term. The model is formulated as a non-linear integer-programming problem. Model properties are outlined. A Lagrangian relaxation solution algorithm is proposed. By exploiting the structure of the problem we can find a low-order polynomial algorithm for the non-linear integer programming problem that must be solved in solving the Lagrangian relaxation subproblems. A number of heuristics are outlined for finding good feasible solutions. In addition, we describe two variable forcing rules that prove to be very effective at forcing candidate sites into and out of the solution. The algorithms are tested on problems with 88 and 150 retailers. Computation times are consistently below one minute and compare favorably with those of an earlier proposed set partitioning approach for this model (Shen, 2000; Shen, Coullard and Daskin, 2000). Finally, we discuss the sensitivity of the results to changes in key parameters including the fixed cost of placing orders. Significant reductions in these costs might be expected from e-commerce technologies. The model suggests that as these costs decrease it is optimal to locate additional facilities.
Estimating Potential Evapotranspiration

Increasing population and needs for an augmented food supply give greater importance to improved procedures for estimating agricultural water requirements both for irrigation and for rain-fed agriculture. Four methods for estimating potential evapotranspiration are compared and evaluated. These are the Class A evaporation pan located in an irrigated pasture area, the Hargreaves equation, the Jensen-Haise eguation, and the Blaney-Criddle method. The evaporation pan is rated as superior to the other methods. However, the difference in reliability between the pan and the Hargreaves method are not considered to be very significant. Both the Jensen-Haise and the Hargreaves methods require either measured or estimated solar radiation. Methods are presented for estimating solar radiation from the difference between maximum and minimum temperature, from the percentage of possible sunshine, and from relative humidity. These procedures have some limitations, but provide improved reliability and make the estimates more universal.
Classification of trigeminal neuralgia: clinical, therapeutic, and prognostic implications in a series of 144 patients undergoing microvascular decompression.

Object. Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) presents a diagnostic challenge because of the variety of symptoms, findings during microvascular decompression (MVD), and postsurgical outcomes observed among patients who suffer from this disorder. Recently, a new paradigm for classification of TN was proposed, based on the quality of pain. This study represents the first clinical analysis of this paradigm. Methods. The authors analyzed 144 consecutive cases involving patients who underwent MVD for TN. Preoperative symptoms were classified into 1 of 2 categories based on the preponderance of shocklike (Type 1 TN) or constant (Type 2 TN) pain. Analysis of clinical characteristics, neurovascular pathology, and postoperative outcome was performed. Results. Compared with Type 2 TN, Type 1 TN patients were older, were more likely to have right-sided symptoms, and reported a shorter duration of symptoms prior to evaluation. Previous treatment by percutaneous or radiosurgical procedures was not a predictor of symptoms, surgical findings, or outcome (p = 0.48). Type 1 TN was significantly more likely to be associated with arterial compression. Venous or no compression was more common among Type 2 TN patients (p < 0.01). Type 1 TN patients were also more likely to be pain-free immediately after surgery, and less likely to have a recurrence of pain within 2 years (p < 0.05). Although a subset of patients progressed from Type 1 to Type 2 TN over time, their pathological and prognostic profiles nevertheless resembled those of Type 1 TN. Conclusions. Type 1 and Type 2 TN represent distinct clinical, pathological, and prognostic entities. Classification of patients according to this paradigm should be helpful to determine how best to treat patients with this disorder. (DOI: 10.3171/2008.6.17604) Key W or D s • facial pain • microvascular decompression • trigeminal neuralgia
The Paraguin compiler - message-passing code generation using SUIF [Stanford University Intermediate Format]

Introduces the Paraguin project at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. The goal of the project is to build an open-source message-passing parallelizing compiler for distributed-memory computer systems. We discuss the progress we have made in developing this compiler as well as mention the parts that have not yet been developed. It is our intent that, by providing an open-source compiler, we will stimulate research in automatic message-passing parallelism and encourage collaboration. We demonstrate a technique to improve the performance of a message-passing program by overlapping communication with computation. Although the original concept was introduced previously by S.P. Amarasinghe and M.S. Lam (1993), the algorithm was not developed nor shown to provide any benefit. Our preliminary results indicate that the technique significantly improves the performance. We were able to reduce the running time of our test program by 4-65%.
Operationalizing the service quality construct the case of the lodging industry

ABSTRACT Previous research works have suggested that, for it to have practical utility, the service quality construct should not only be industry specific, but also be operational (non-global) in nature. This paper builds on that premise and utilizes a methodology suitable to produce operational measures for the service quality construct in the lodging industry. Of the four dimensions (Responsiveness, Recovery, Tangibles, and “Reliability/Trust mixed with Accessibility/Flexibility”) identified by an exploratory factor analysis, the present study finds that the first three appear to be distinct in the minds of the customers. Further confirming the above, regression analyses suggest that the overall perceived service quality in the lodging industry is significantly and positively associated with three dimensions: (1) Responsiveness, (2) Recovery, and (3) Tangibles, in that decreasing order of importance.
High-rate direct-sequence spread spectrum

Direct-sequence spread spectrum is popular for commercial wireless local-area networks, because license-free operation is permitted in certain frequency bands. The extensive development of equipment for such applications makes it attractive to investigate the use of the commercial technology for military communication networks. However, because of the small processing gain that is common in the signal designs for commercial direct-sequence spread spectrum, most commercial waveforms are not suitable for channels with interference, such as multiple-access channels. We investigate a class of proposed commercial high-rate spread-spectrum signal designs for which the spreading is derived primarily from nonbinary orthogonal or quasiorthogonal data modulation. The multiple-access capability is evaluated as a function of the signal-to-interference ratio, and the effects of multipath interference are investigated.
A surface reconstruction neural network for absolute orientation problems

The authors propose a neural network for representation and reconstruction of 2-D curves or 3-D surfaces of complex objects with application to absolute orientation problems of rigid bodies. The surface reconstruction network is trained by a set of roots (the points on the curve or the surface of the object) via forming a very steep cliff between the exterior and interior of the surface, with the training root points lying in the middle of the steep cliff. The Levenberg-Marquardt version of Gauss Newton optimization algorithm was used in the backpropagation learning to overcome the problem of local minima and to speed up the convergence of learning. This representation is then used to estimate the similarity transform parameters (rotation, translation, and scaling), frequently encountered in the absolute orientation problems of rigid bodies. >
The properties of thyroglobulin. 13. The structure of reduced alkylated thyroglobulin.

Abstract All the disulfide bonds of thyroglobulin have been completely reduced with β-mercaptoethanol in urea or guanidine at alkaline pH. The molecular properties of reduced carboxymethylated thyroglobulin have been investigated in aqueous solution by sedimentation velocity, viscosity, difference spectra, optical rotation, polarization of fluorescence, electrophoresis, spectrophotometric titration, and Ouchterlony gel diffusion. These methods indicate that the reduced form of thyroglobulin is a two-chain molecule which is comparable in rigidity to the native form, although differing significantly in being highly permeated by solvent. It is suggested that the form of the molecule may be envisioned as similar to that of a sponge.
Dissociable effects of salience on attention and goal-directed action

Summary Everyday behavior frequently involves encounters with multiple objects that compete for selection. For example, driving a car requires constant shifts of attention between oncoming traffic, rearview mirrors, and traffic signs and signals, among other objects. Behavioral goals often drive this selection process [1, 2]; however, they are not the sole determinant of selection. Physically salient objects, such as flashing, brightly colored hazard signs, or objects that are salient by virtue of learned associations with reward, such as pictures of food on a billboard, often capture attention regardless of the individual's goals [3–6]. It is typically thought that strongly salient distractor objects capture more attention and are more disruptive than weakly salient distractors [7, 8]. Counterintuitively, though, we found that this is true for perception, but not for goal-directed action. In a visually guided reaching task [9–11], we required participants to reach to a shape-defined target while trying to ignore salient distractors. We observed that strongly salient distractors produced less disruption in goal-directed action than weakly salient distractors. Thus, a strongly salient distractor triggers suppression during goal-directed action, resulting in enhanced efficiency and accuracy of target selection relative to when weakly salient distractors are present. In contrast, in a task requiring no goal-directed action, we found greater attentional interference from strongly salient distractors. Thus, while highly salient stimuli interfere strongly with perceptual processing, increased physical salience or associated value attenuates action-related interference.
Calculation of optical transport and localization quantities.

By combining a coherent-potential approximation with our previous work on localization, we calculate the mean free path l, the diffusion coefficient D, the localization parameter kl, where k is the renormalized wave vector, the localization length ${L}_{c}$, and other related quantities. Our results for D near the critical regime are in surprisingly impressive agreement with recent experimental data by Drake and Genack in a sample of titania spheres in air. Our calculations indicate that optical localization can be experimentally realized by either lowering the concentration of the titania spheres or lowering the standard deviation of the radii distribution.
German cost accounting education and the changing manufacturing environment

This paper examines cost accounting course sequences, course outlines, and cost accounting textbooks used in Germany, with the aim of determining whether the approach used in teaching the subject makes German cost accounting easier to adapt to the changing manufacturing environment. The close link between production and cost theory, the refinement of centre and cost driver selection, and the independence of cost accounting from financial accounting within the business accounting system are distinctive characteristics of the German approach—characteristics that parallel basic ideas underlying the activity costing.
Moving pictures: The postcolonial state and visual representations of India

The article examines visual representations of the nation produced by state and non-state actors in postcolonial India. Through an examination of how ‘moving pictures’ of Indianness have been produced and deployed over the past 50 years, I explore the formation and transformations of the postcolonial nationalist imagination. I focus on the genre of non-commercial film and video and compare the image-making efforts of the Nehruvian developmentalist state with those of the contemporary liberalised state, and also with images of Indian identity produced by non-state actors. The first section examines the state's vision through the documentary films produced by the state-owned Films Division of India and the audiovisual fillers and shorts produced by the Department of Audio-Visual Publicity. The state and the activities that it undertakes on behalf of the nation are foregrounded in these visual representations of Indianness, which is depicted as a relation between an enlightened, transcendent state and a dive...
Loss and Recovery One Note at a Time

The following narrative reconstructs a five-act tragicomedy, providing details of a journey from chaos to a moment of serenity. The author tells the journey as he imagines an ongoing soundtrack to accompany themes of loss, love, dissolution, addiction, institutionalization, and codes of the street.
Cryotherapeutic topical analgesics for pediatric intravenous catheter placement: ice versus vapocoolant spray.

OBJECTIVES Intravenous catheter placement is one of the most common sources of pain for children in inpatient settings. We sought to compare the efficacy of 2 cryotherapeutic treatments for this procedure: vapocoolant spray versus topical ice pack. METHODS We prospectively enrolled 95 patients, aged 9 to 18 years, in a pediatric emergency department who required intravenous (IV) catheters as part of their treatment. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive vapocoolant spray or topical ice pack for 3 minutes, before IV catheter placement. Subjects completed visual analog scale (VAS) scores for 3 time points: baseline, pretreatment with ice or spray, and IV insertion. The principal investigator and 2 physicians viewing video recordings of the procedure also completed VAS scores for observed pain levels. Visual analog scale scores were compared using the Wilcoxon rank sum test. RESULTS Although median VAS scores were similar, the change in VAS from baseline was of greater magnitude in the Painease group, indicating that it may be more effective. More subjects in the Painease group (76%) felt their treatment worked well, compared with 49% in the ice group. Physician-assigned VAS scores were lower and less variable than those of subjects. Most IV insertions were successful (83%). CONCLUSIONS Vapocoolant spray may be more effective than ice as an analgesic for IV insertion. Subjects were more satisfied with vapocoolant spray. Neither agent caused a decrease in successful IV insertion rates.
The fractured lab notebook: undergraduates and ecological data management training in the United States

Data management is a timely and increasingly important topic for ecologists. Recent funder mandates requiring data management plans, combined with the data deluge that faces scientists, make education about data management critical for any future ecologist. In this study, we surveyed instructors of general ecology courses at 48 major institutions in the United States. We chose instructors at institutions that are likely to train future ecologists, and therefore, are most likely to influence the trajectory of data management education in this field. The survey queried instructors about institution and course characteristics, the extent to which data-related topics are included in their courses, the barriers to their teaching these topics, and their own personal beliefs and values associated with data management and stewardship. We found that, in general, data management topics are not being covered in undergraduate ecology courses for a wide range of reasons. Most often, instructors cited a lack of time and a lack of resources as barriers to teaching data management. Although data are used for instruction at some point in the majority of the courses surveyed, good data management practices and a thorough understanding of the importance of data stewardship are not being taught. We offer potential explanations for this and suggestions for improvement.
FRACTAL GEOMETRY OF LIQUID JETS UNDER BREAKUP

Fractal dimension of gas-liquid interfaces was measured in the breakup region of disintegrating liquid jets. The liquid jet is surrounded by an annular gas jet, and both are injected through an airblast coaxial atomizer. The gas-liquid interface is categorized by a fractal set with dimensions and cutoffs that were found to be related to the physical processes of atomization. The fractal dimension was measured as a function of axial location and a range of air and liquid velocities. It was found that the peak fractal dimension and the breakup point are approximately at the same axial location and a good correlation exists between the peak value of the fractal dimension and the average drop size measured in the core of the spray.
The Effect of Service Learning on Community College Students

This study discusses the implementation of a service learning component in community college communication 101 level courses. Through the execution of a service learning component in communication classes at a community college, students’ communicative competency and attitude toward community service is assessed. Using two different delivery approaches, a quantitative study assessed the pretest and posttest of the standardized tool Communicative Adaptability Scale (CAS). Eight sections of communication 101 courses were distributed into two groups: (a) an experimental group and (b) a control group. The experimental group (n = 69) was required to finish a service learning project consisting of 15 hours by the end of the semester. The control group (n = 64) students did not participate in a community service project. Quantitative research methods were applied through data collection of the CAS taken by participants preimplementation and postimplementation of the service learning component, which was a commun...
Multi-photon State Generation from Strongly Coupled Quantum Dot-Cavity System

We describe how photon induced tunneling in strongly coupled cavity-quantum dot system can be used to generate photon states consisting mainly of a particular Fock state and present initial experimental observations of this effect.
Assessing interaction thresholds for trichloroethylene in combination with tetrachloroethylene and 1,1,1-trichloroethane using gas uptake studies and PBPK modeling.

The volatile organic solvents trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene, PERC), and 1,1,1-trichloroethane (methylchloroform, MC) are widely distributed environmental pollutants and common contaminants of many chemical waste sites. To investigate the mode of pharmacokinetic interactions among TCE, PERC, and MC and to calculate defined "interaction thresholds", gas-uptake experiments were performed using a closed-chamber exposure system. In each experiment, two rats (Fischer 344, male, 8-9 weeks old) were exposed to different initial concentrations of TCE, PERC, and MC, applied singly or as a mixture, and their concentration in the gas phase of the chamber was monitored over a period of 6 h. A physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model was developed to test multiple mechanisms of inhibitory interactions, i.e., competitive, non-competitive, or uncompetitive. All mixture exposure data were accurately described by a system of equations in which a PBPK model was provided for each chemical and each was regarded as an inhibitor of the others' metabolism. Sensitivity-analysis techniques were used to investigate the impact of key parameters on model output and optimize experimental design. Model simulations indicated that, among these three chemicals, the inhibition was competitive. The PBPK model was extended to assess occupationally relevant exposures at or below the current threshold-limit values (TLVs). Based on 10% elevation in TCE blood levels as a criterion for significant interaction and assuming TCE exposure is set at TLV of 50 ppm, the calculated interaction thresholds for PERC and MC were 25 and 135 ppm, respectively. TLV exposures to binary TCE/PERC mixture were below the 10% significance level. The interaction threshold for TCE and MC co-exposure would be reached at 50 and 175 ppm, respectively. Such interactive PBPK models should be of value in risk assessment of occupational and environmental exposure to solvent mixtures.
Surgical resection plus adjuvant radiotherapy is superior to surgery or radiotherapy alone in the prevention of neurological decline in a rat metastatic spinal tumor model.

OBJECTIVE: The optimal management of spinal column metastatic disease is controversial. Furthermore, the literature lacks an accurate animal model to study the efficacy of surgical treatment options for spinal column metastases. We compared the efficacy of surgery, radiotherapy, or surgery plus adjuvant radiotherapy in a rat model of metastatic epidural spinal cord compression. METHODS: Thirty-two Fischer 344 rats underwent a transabdominal approach for implantation of a CRL-1666 breast adenocarcinoma cell line within the vertebral body of L6. Animals were randomly assigned to receive one of four treatments (n = 8 per group) 7 days after tumor implantation: 1) control: no treatment; 2) external beam radiation therapy (XRT) (total 20 Gy in 400-cGy daily fractions); 3) surgery: L6 vertebral corpectomy, tumor resection, and polymethyl methacrylate reconstruction; and 4) surgery + XRT: corpectomy and tumor resection followed by XRT (total 20 Gy in 400-cGy daily fractions) 72 hours after surgery. Hind-limb function was tested daily after treatment using the Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) scale (range, 1-21). RESULTS: All animals (n = 32) demonstrated normal hind-limb function (BBB score, 21) on posttreatment Day 1. The XRT, surgery, and surgery + XRT groups all experienced a delay in onset of paresis versus the control group. Compared to the XRT group, the surgery group demonstrated greater median BBB scores on Days 3 (21 versus 20, P = 0.02) through 9 (12 versus 8, P = 0.002) after treatment. Compared with the surgery group, the surgery + XRT group demonstrated even greater median BBB scores on Days 6 (21 versus 19, P = 0.0008) through 11 (16 versus 8, P = 0.0001) after treatment. Median time to loss of ambulation (BBB ≤ 7) was greatest in the surgery + XRT group (15 d) when compared with the surgery (12 d, P = 0.001), XRT (9 d, P = 0.001), or control groups (7 d, P = 0.0005). CONCLUSION: In a rat model of metastatic epidural spinal cord compression, decompressive surgery followed by radiotherapy yielded the greatest efficacy in the prevention of neurological decline when compared with surgery or radiotherapy alone. Radiotherapy alone attenuated neurological decline but was the least efficacious treatment in this model. These results support this animal model as an effective platform to investigate novel interventions for metastatic spine tumors.
Economic and distributional impacts of climate change: The case of Ethiopia

Abstract Climate change is likely to harm developing economies that generate major portion of their GDP from climate sensitive sectors. This paper computes economy-wide impact of climate change and its distributional consequence with the help of a sector wise disaggregated general equilibrium model using Ethiopia as a case. The projected climate shock reduces output in the sector with the strongest forward and backward linkage to the rest of the economy and redistributes income by changing the returns to inputs owned by various agents. The results suggest that climate change will make the prospect of economic development harder in at least two ways: first, by reducing agricultural production and output in the sectors linked to the agricultural sector, which is likely to reduce Ethiopia's GDP by about 10% from its benchmark level; and second, by raising the degree of income inequality in which the Gini-coefficient increases by 20%, which is likely to further decrease economic growth and fuel poverty. Thus, climate change is expected to increase the fraction of people in poverty by reducing the size of the total pie and redistributing it more unevenly.
Membrane Bending Energy and Fusion Pore Kinetics in Ca2+-Triggered Exocytosis

A fusion pore composed of lipid is an obligatory kinetic intermediate of membrane fusion, and its formation requires energy to bend membranes into highly curved shapes. The energetics of such deformations in viral fusion is well established, but the role of membrane bending in Ca2+-triggered exocytosis remains largely untested. Amperometry recording showed that during exocytosis in chromaffin and PC12 cells, fusion pores formed by smaller vesicles dilated more rapidly than fusion pores formed by larger vesicles. The logarithm of 1/(fusion pore lifetime) varied linearly with vesicle curvature. The vesicle size dependence of fusion pore lifetime quantitatively accounted for the nonexponential fusion pore lifetime distribution. Experimentally manipulating vesicle size failed to alter the size dependence of fusion pore lifetime. Manipulations of membrane spontaneous curvature altered this dependence, and applying the curvature perturbants to the opposite side of the membrane reversed their effects. These effects of curvature perturbants were opposite to those seen in viral fusion. These results indicate that during Ca2+-triggered exocytosis membrane bending opposes fusion pore dilation rather than fusion pore formation. Ca2+-triggered exocytosis begins with a proteinaceous fusion pore with less stressed membrane, and becomes lipidic as it dilates, bending membrane into a highly curved shape.
An integrated design support method for flexible assembly systems

Abstract Existing design aids for flexible assembly systems (FASs) have had limited success in real applications because of the simplicity of the underlying assumptions, treatment of isolated design issues, time-consuming techniques, lack of user-friendly design-aid tools, and no machine flexibility consideration. The proposed integrated design support system takes three basic data (products, potential machines, and material handling systems) as input and provides (1) cost-effective flow system designs (layouts and operating policies) that satisfy design and production requirements and (2) economic assessment for the investment plan. The three phases of the system—rough-cut analysis, detailed analysis, and investment plan analysis—encompass queuing networks, optimization methods, discrete-event computer simulation, and engineering economy. The system is the first truly integrated method to support design activities and economic justification for FASs. A case study shows the proposed system's effectiveness and efficiency.
Information and communications technology (ICT) agencies: functions, structures, and best operational practices

A growing number of small states are in the process of establishing ICT agencies to address information society issues of e‐government, e‐infrastructure, e‐industry, e‐learning, and e‐commerce. Some large countries are in the process of integrating telecommunications, IT, and broadcasting into a single ICT agency. This paper outlines the functional requirements for such an agency, and presents a range of international best practices for their focus and operation. The paper also suggests interim measures that can be taken before such agencies are legally established.
Suicide by Blasting Caps: A Case Study of Rare Cranial Trauma*

Suicide is a deliberate act of ending one's life. Suicide by use of any explosive device, when not involved in a terrorist act, is quite rare in occurrence when compared with other methods routinely utilized. In this paper, we present to the medicolegal community a case of an adult male who committed suicide with blasting caps and the subsequent extensive damage to the cranial hard tissue. Although the cause and manner of death were relatively straightforward, consultation with forensic anthropologists was requested for an anthropological trauma assessment of the highly fragmented skull. After the skull was cleaned and reconstructed, the analysis revealed similarities between blasting cap trauma to the head and high velocity gunshot trauma to the head. Therefore, in a case where some evidence may have been removed or destroyed, forensic analysis involving trauma of this magnitude could result in a misinterpretation of the true mechanism responsible for the osseous damage. In this case, cooperation among the law enforcement agency, coroner's investigators, the forensic pathologist, and forensic anthropologists provided a comprehensive death case analysis.
Bicelle crystallization: a new method for crystallizing membrane proteins yields a monomeric bacteriorhodopsin structure.

Abstract Obtaining crystals of membrane proteins that diffract to high resolution remains a major stumbling block in structure determination. Here we present a new method for crystallizing membrane proteins from a bicelle forming lipid/detergent mixture. The method is flexible and simple to use. As a test case, bacteriorhodopsin (bR) from Halobacterium salinarum was crystallized from a bicellar solution, yielding a new bR crystal form. The crystals belong to space group P21 with unit cell dimensions of a = 45.0 A, b = 108.9 A, c = 55.9 A, β = 113.58° and a dimeric asymmetric unit. The structure was solved by molecular replacement and refined at 2.0 A resolution. In all previous bR structures the protein is organized as a parallel trimer, but in the crystals grown from bicelles, the individual bR subunits are arranged in an antiparallel fashion.
Evidence for essential histidine residues in bovine-liver mitochondrial monoamine oxidase.

Ethoxyformic acid anhydride, amino-1 H-tetrazole, and photooxidation in the presence of rose bengal, which are reagents known to react with histidine residues of proteins, were shown to in-activate monoamine oxidase. Ethoxyformic acid anhydride reacted with about 6 histidine residues per 100000 g of protein under the experimental conditions adopted and completely inactivated the enzyme. However, NH2OH reactivated the ethoxyformic acid derivative to 100% of the value of the enzyme treated with 0.2 M NH2OH only. Since NH2OH specifically deacylates N-ethoxyformylimidazole, it was shown that at least some of the histidine residues are essential for activity. In addition, photooxidation experiments in the presence of 0.01% rose bengal confirmed that only histidine residues of bovine hepatic monoamine oxidase are destroyed under the designated experimental conditions. About 9 histidine residues per 100000 g of protein were destroyed during the photo-oxidation experiments. In the presence of substrate, kynuramine or benzylamine, only 7 histidine residues were destroyed, which indicates that 2 histidine residues per 100000 g of protein are essential for activity.
Roles of Vitamin A Metabolism in the Development of Hepatic Insulin Resistance

The increase in the number of people with obesity- and noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus has become a major public health concern. Insulin resistance is a common feature closely associated with human obesity and diabetes. Insulin regulates metabolism, at least in part, via the control of the expression of the hepatic genes involved in glucose and fatty acid metabolism. Insulin resistance is always associated with profound changes of the expression of hepatic genes for glucose and lipid metabolism. As an essential micronutrient, vitamin A (VA) is needed in a variety of physiological functions. The active metablite of VA, retinoic acid (RA), regulates the expression of genes through the activation of transcription factors bound to the RA-responsive elements in the promoters of RA-targeted genes. Recently, retinoids have been proposed to play roles in glucose and lipid metabolism and energy homeostasis. This paper summarizes the recent progresses in our understanding of VA metabolism in the liver and of the potential transcription factors mediating RA responses. These transcription factors are the retinoic acid receptor, the retinoid X receptor, the hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α, the chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter-transcription factor II, and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor β/δ. This paper also summarizes the effects of VA status and RA treatments on the glucose and lipid metabolism in vivo and the effects of retinoid treatments on the expression of insulin-regulated genes involved in the glucose and fatty acid metabolism in the primary hepatocytes. I discuss the roles of RA production in the development of insulin resistance in hepatocytes and proposes a mechanism by which RA production may contribute to hepatic insulin resistance. Given the large amount of information and progresses regarding the physiological functions of VA, this paper mainly focuses on the findings in the liver and hepatocytes and only mentions the relative findings in other tissues and cells.
Failure or opiates to reverse dopamine inhibition of prolactin secretion in vitro

Abstract To identify the site of action of opiate-induced prolactin elevation, in vitro rat hemipotuitary incubations were performed in the presence of morphine, met-enkephalin, ala 2 -met 5 -enkephalinamide and dopamine (DA) and combinations of opiate with the catecholamine. No opiate stimulated prolactin release directly nor did any opiate block of the inhibitory effect of DA. We conlcude that this opiate endocrine action is not mediated at a pituitary level but may involved interference with hypothalamic DA release.
Compassion Fatigue and Countertransference: Two Different Concepts

There has been considerable conceptual confusion about the differences between compassion fatigue and countertransference. This often results in them being treated as the same phenomena, both in the literature and clinically. This paper maintains that these are, in fact, two different concepts that derive from different sources and serve different functions. Each of these two concepts requires different kinds of interventions as well.
Stoichiometries of electron transport complexes in spinach chloroplasts.

Abstract The stoichiometric relationship among photosystem II complexes, photosystem I complexes, cytochrome b f complexes, high-potential cytochrome b -559, and chlorophyll in spinach chloroplasts has been determined. Two features of this data stand out, in contrast to currently proposed stoichiometries in which the ratio of photosystem II to photosystem I is reported to be 2:1 and the chlorophyll to reaction center ratio to be as low as 260:1. Using a variety of techniques it was found that the stoichiometry of photosystem II:photosystem I:cytochrome b f complex was 1:1:1, within 10%, and that the ratio of total chlorophyll to these components was 600:1, also within 10%. A ratio of two high-potential cytochrome b -559 molecules per 640 chlorophyll, or two molecules per photosystem II reaction center, was found. These ratios were remarkably constant regardless of the time of year or the source of the spinach. The concentration of photosystem II complexes was determined using a pH electrode to measure the flash-induced proton release resulting from water oxidation. The photosystem I reaction center concentration was measured by two different techniques that compared favorably. In the first method a pH electrode was used to measure the amount of flash-induced proton consumption associated with the 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea-insensitive oxidation of N,N,N′,N′ -tetramethylphenylenediamine, resulting in the production of hydrogen peroxide. In the second method the amount of P700 oxidized by far-red light was determined using dual-wavelength spectroscopy. The concentration of the cytochrome b f complex was determined assuming 1 mol of cytochrome f per complex. The concentration of cytochrome f was measured spectroscopically by its light-induced turnover and by chemical difference spectra. The concentration of high-potential cytochrome b -559 was determined by chemical difference spectra. In addition to these studies, the light-induced absorbance change exhibiting a peak at 323 nm that has been attributed to the reduction of the primary quinone acceptor of photosystem II has been investigated. This measurement frequently has been used to quantitate the photosystem II to chlorophyll ratio. However, in view of these results it is argued that this technique significantly overestimates the photosystem II concentration.
Challenges and Directions for Gerontological Research Beyond 2000

. There is a world-wide demographic revolution taking place. The population is ageing, causing us to rethink health, disease and ageing globally. New strategies must be developed to provide medical and social services for the increasing numbers of older people. In addition we are challenged to expand our knowledge of causes of morbidity and mortality and to explore new strategies to prevent excess disability and promote the health span of older people world-wide. Increased effort in three promising areas of research will help us to reach this goal. These include research into reducing disability, increasing healthy life span, and conquering Alzheimer's disease. Although major scientific advances have been made, there is still much to be done to understand the major causes of disability and to develop and implement preventive strategies to decrease the incidence of excess disability. Promoting healthy life styles as well as understanding the biological bases of ageing and age-related diseases hold the key to increasing healthy life span. Alzheimer's disease is a major cause of disability, and while our understanding of Alzheimer's disease is expanding, continued efforts are necessary to conquer this devastating disease. The demographic revolution has caused us to rethink health, disease and ageing globally. World-wide, epidemiologists are predicting a shift in the disease burden from infectious diseases prevalent in the developing world (eg. respiratory and diarrheal diseases) to the chronic diseases of more developed societies (eg. ischaemic heart disease, depression and cerebrovascular disease). The ageing of the population world-wide and the shift in the global burden of disease pose many challenges to research scientists, clinicians and policy makers. Not only will we need to develop new strategies to provide medical and social services for the increased numbers of older people, but we are also challenged to expand knowledge of the causes of morbidity and mortality among the old and to explore new strategies to prevent excess disability and promote the health span of people world-wide.
The use of the numbers of zero-level crossings to detect a periodicity with known frequency in a noisy signal

A method of detecting a periodicity with a known frequency in a noisy signal is proposed, based on a spectral estimate of the numbers of zero-level crossings by a signal and which has low computational costs. The results of investigations, which demonstrate, in principle, the possibility of using the proposed method for practical problems, are presented.
Disruption of Intraflagellar Transport in Adult Mice Leads to Obesity and Slow-Onset Cystic Kidney Disease

The assembly of primary cilia is dependent on intraflagellar transport (IFT), which mediates the bidirectional movement of proteins between the base and tip of the cilium. In mice, congenic mutations disrupting genes required for IFT (e.g., Tg737 or the IFT kinesin Kif3a) are embryonic lethal, whereas kidney-specific disruption of IFT results in severe, rapidly progressing cystic pathology. Although the function of primary cilia in most tissues is unknown, in the kidney they are mechanosenstive organelles that detect fluid flow through the tubule lumen. The loss of this flow-induced signaling pathway is thought to be a major contributing factor to cyst formation. Recent data also suggest that there is a connection between ciliary dysfunction and obesity as evidenced by the discovery that proteins associated with human obesity syndromes such as Alstrom and Bardet-Biedl localize to this organelle. To more directly assess the importance of cilia in postnatal life, we utilized conditional alleles of two ciliogenic genes (Tg737 and Kif3a) to systemically induce cilia loss in adults. Surprisingly, the cystic kidney pathology in these mutants is dependent on the time at which cilia loss was induced, suggesting that cyst formation is not simply caused by impaired mechanosensation. In addition to the cystic pathology, the conditional cilia mutant mice become obese, are hyperphagic, and have elevated levels of serum insulin, glucose, and leptin. We further defined where in the body cilia are required for normal energy homeostasis by disrupting cilia on neurons throughout the central nervous system and on pro-opiomelanocortin-expressing cells in the hypothalamus, both of which resulted in obesity. These data establish that neuronal cilia function in a pathway regulating satiety responses.
Scheduling and common due date assignment with earliness-tardiness penalties and batch delivery costs

Abstract We consider a single machine scheduling problem involving both the scheduling of job processing and the scheduling of job delivery. A common due date for all the jobs and a delivery date for each job need to be determined in order to minimize the sum of earliness penalties, tardiness penalties, due date penalty, and delivery costs. Finished jobs are delivered in batches. There is no capacity limitation on a batch delivery and the cost per batch delivery is fixed and independent of the number of jobs in the batch. All the jobs completed before or at the due date are delivered in one batch at the due date. We present in this paper a polynomial dynamic programming algorithm for solving this problem.
Centrifugal waves on a flexible chain

A chain is attached at one end to a rigid rotating hub. Centrifugal force induces a nonuniform tension in the chain, which therefore supports transverse vibrations. Solution of the appropriate wave equation shows that the natural frequencies depend only on the rotational speed and the length of the chain relative to the hub diameter. Experiments demonstrating the existence of these vibrations show that an initial impulsive disturbance reoccurs as an “echo” in which all the eigenmodes reinforce each other. This echo occurs even though the eigenfrequencies are not harmonically related. The explanation of the echo is found in the (almost) linear relation between eigenfrequency and mode number.
140. Inflammation and sickness induced by lipopolysaccharide in adult and aged mice are not mitigated by dietary broccoli

Aging is associated with oxidative stress and heightened inflammatory response to infection. Dietary interventions to reduce these changes are therefore desirable. Broccoli contains glucoraphanin, which is converted to sulforaphane (SFN) during digestion. SFN increases antioxidants including NAD (P) H quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1) and inhibits inflammatory cytokines. We hypothesized that dietary broccoli would support an antioxidant response in brain and periphery and inhibit LPS-induced inflammation and sickness. Adult and aged mice were fed control or 10% broccoli diet for 4 wk prior to an LPS injection. Social interactions were assessed 2, 4, 8, and 24 h following LPS, and mRNA quantified in liver and brain at 24 h. Dietary broccoli did not prevent LPS-induced decrease in social interactions in young or aged mice. Interleukin (IL)-1β expression was unaffected by broccoli consumption and was induced by LPS in brain and liver of adult and aged mice (p