cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Assessment of the extent of cutaneous involvement in children and adults with mastocytosis: relationship to symptomatology, tryptase levels, and bone marrow pathology.

Abstract Background: Cutaneous involvement occurs in most patients with systemic mastocytosis. Objective: We sought to determine whether the extent of cutaneous involvement is predictive of systemic disease. Methods: In a prospective survey of 48 adults and 19 children, the extent and density of cutaneous lesions were compared with patient history, symptoms, internal organ involvement, serum total mast cell tryptase level, and bone marrow pathology. Results: Cutaneous lesions in children were of a greater mean and maximum diameter, but similar in extent and density compared with lesions in adults. In adults with skin lesions, the extent of lesions correlated to disease duration. Adults with extensive cutaneous disease experienced more pruritus and flushing. Fatigue, splenomegaly, and hepatomegaly were more frequent in adults without cutaneous involvement; and in those with a greater density of lesions and disease duration. Increased tryptase levels were found in children and adults with systemic disease and correlated to skin lesion density and bone marrow pathology. Conclusion: An examination of the extent and density of cutaneous lesions in adults helps identify those with more extensive extracutaneous disease and, thus, requiring a more thorough evaluation. (J Am Acad Dermatol 2003;48:508-16.)
Images of a Loving God and Sense of Meaning in Life

Although prior studies have documented a positive association between religiosity and sense of meaning in life, the role of specific religious beliefs is currently unclear. Past research on images of God suggests that loving images of God will positively correlate with a sense of meaning and purpose. Mechanisms for this hypothesized relationship are drawn from prior work on attachment theory, religious coping, and symbolic interaction. We suggest that these mechanisms are complementary and that secure attachment styles, reliable coping strategies, and positive self-images work in tandem to facilitate a sense of meaning and purpose. Using a random, national sample from the second wave of the Baylor Religion Survey, we perform multivariate regression analysis that controls for key religious and demographic effects. In our full model, results indicate that the dependent variable is positively associated with student status, religious non-affiliation, congregational friendship networks, and frequency of prayer. Most important from the perspective of the present study, the connection between loving images of God and a sense of meaning and purpose is consistent and robust.
Methylation of plasmacytoma c-myc genes

Abstract The chromosomal translocation associated with many tumors of immunoglobulin-producing cells frequently results in the joining of the immunoglobulin heavy-chain locus and the c-myc oncogene. This translocation of c-myc has profound structural and functional consequences for the oncogene, including loss of the 5 ' end of the gene and transcriptional deregulation. We report in this communication that translocation results in a new methylation pattern of c-myc. In normal kidney and liver tissue, the c-myc gene is methylated at its 3' end. The translocated gene in plasmacytoma DNA is extensively demethylated. On the other hand, the nonrearranged c-myc gene in plasmacytoma DNA (which is transcriptionally silent) is extensively methylated. In addition, we confirm the nucleotide sequence (with 19 discrepancies out of 1400 bp) 5' to the murine c-myc gene, as reported by Corcoran et al. [Cell 40 (1985) 71–79].
Hot-water quarantine treatment for mangoes from the state of Chiapas, Mexico, infested with Mediterranean fruit fly and Anastrepha serpentina (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae).

Heated water was used in the development of a quarantine treatment to kill tephritid larval infestations in mango, Mangifera indica L., fron the state of Chiapas, Mexico. Infested mangoes were immersed for 20-80 min in water at 45.9-47.1 o C for laboratory tests. Probit analysis of the data estimated immersion times needed to reach Probit 9 as 67.5 min for the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), and 64.5 min for Anastrepha serpentina (Wiedemann). Confirmatory tests resulted in no survivors when 138,443 C. capitata larvae in 13,797 infested mangoes and 111,031 A. serpentina larvae in 12,089 infested mangoes were immersed in water at 45.9-47.1 o C for 90 min. «Ataulfo» mangoes immersed in water at 46.1 o C for 90 min were not damaged; however, none were acceptable after 7 d at 23.9 o C. Most mangoes (93.3%) were acceptable if immersed in water at 46.1 o C for 90 min and refrigerated at 11.1 o C for 14 d, and 13.3% were acceptable if immersed in water at 46.1 o C for 90 min and refrigerated at 11.1 o C for 14 d, and 13.3% were acceptable after 7 d at 23-24 o C. Only 10% were acceptable if immersed in water at 46.1 o C for 90 min and refrigerated at 11.1 o C for 21 d
A thermodynamic model for the phase behavior of salt-polymer aqueous two-phase systems

A statistical mechanical model for the component chemical potentials has been developed to predict the behavior of multiphase aqueous salt-polymer mixtures. The model includes the effect of polymer molecular mass on system phase behavior by means of scaling laws. The model parameters have been evaluated from binary and ternary isopiestic water activities and from solution volumetric data. Calculated phase diagrams for five different systems comprising three different polyethylene glycols and three different salts are shown. Model calculations show generally good agreement with experimental results.
Diversion of Electron Flow from Methanogenesis to Crystalline Fe(III) Oxide Reduction in Carbon-Limited Cultures of Wetland Sediment Microorganisms

Electron flow in acetate-limited cultures of wetland sediment microorganisms was diverted from methane production to Fe(III) reduction in the presence of crystalline Fe(III) oxides at surface area loadings equivalent to that of amorphous Fe(III) oxide. The results indicate that inferences regarding the ability of microbial Fe(III) oxide reduction to compete with other terminal electron-accepting processes in anoxic soils and sediments should be based on estimates of bulk microbially available surface site abundance rather than assumed thermodynamic properties of the dominant oxide phase(s) in the soil or sediment.
Studying communication about end-of-life care during the ICU family conference: Development of a framework

Abstract Purpose: Family-clinician communication in the intensive care unit (ICU) about withholding and withdrawing life support occurs frequently, yet few data exist to guide clinicians in its conduct. The purpose of this study was to develop an understanding of the way this communication is currently conducted. Methods: We identified family conferences in the ICUs of 4 Seattle-area hospitals. Conferences were eligible if the physician leading the conference believed that discussion about withholding or withdrawing life support or the delivery of bad news was likely to occur and if all conference participants consented to participate. Fifty conferences were audiotaped, transcribed, and analyzed by using the principles of grounded theory. Results: We developed 2 frameworks for describing and understanding this communication. The first framework describes communication content, including introductions, information exchange, discussions of the future, and closings. The second framework describes communication styles and support provided to families and other clinicians and includes a variety of techniques such as active listening, acknowledging informational complexity and emotional difficulty of the situation, and supporting family decision making. These frameworks identify what physicians discuss, how they present and respond to issues, and how they support families during these conferences. Conclusions: This article describes a qualitative methodology to understand clinician-family communication during the ICU family conference concerning end-of-life care and provides a frame of reference that may help guide clinicians who conduct these conferences. We also identify strategies clinicians use to improve communication and enhance the support provided. Further analyses and studies are needed to identify whether this framework or these strategies can improve family understanding or satisfaction or improve the quality care in the ICU. Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
When White Buffalo Calf Woman Meets Oedipus on the Road Lakota Psychology, Feminist Psychoanalysis, and Male Violence

This paper constructs a conversation about male violence between psychoanalytic feminism and Lakota psychology, based on interviews carried out at the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota in the United States. The paper has four aims. First, it outlines the concepts in feminist psychoanalytic theory that inform this study, and discusses key dilemmas that arise in working across cultural borders established through histories of colonial domination. Second, the paper identifies areas of common ground between feminist psychoanalytic theory and indigenous psychologies, focusing on their shared emphasis on traumatic splits in the human psyche, gender development, and storytelling. Third, the paper describes the Cangleska program developed by Lakota practitioners at Pine Ridge - a systematically conceived set of services that combines psychological, cultural, and political analyses of violence - and explains how Cangleska offers insights that go beyond the borders of indigenous communities. Fourth, the paper draws out lines of convergence between Kleinian psychoanalysis and Lakota principles in their ethical responses to violence and discusses the implications of such convergences for the wider anti-violence movement.
Read‐Alouds in Calca, Peru: A Bilingual Indigenous Context

A read-aloud program focused on vocabulary and comprehension skills for children bilingual in Quechua and Spanish was evaluated for efficacy. The authors present a study with classrooms of first-grade students, suggesting that specific read-aloud strategies that target the use of background knowledge in a discussion-based format can be a meaningful way for bilingual children in this international context to learn vocabulary. It also suggests that future research on read-aloud efficacy in international or second-language contexts is warranted. لقد ركز برنامج القراءة الجهرية على مهارات اكتساب المفردات واستيعابها لدى أطفال مزدوجي اللغة في اللغتين الكيتشوا والإسبانية وقد تم تحليله لفعاليته. إذ يقدم المؤلفون دراسة بشأن طلاب الصف الأول مشيرا إلى أن استراتيجات القراءة الجهرية المعينة التي تهدف إلى استخدام المعرفة الخلفية عند المناقشة بإمكانها أن تكون طريقا مهما لأطفال مزدوجي اللغة في هذا السياق الدولي كي يتعلموا المفردات. وهذا يدل أيضا إلى أن إجراء أبحاث علمية في فعالية القراءة الجهرية في السياقات الدولية أو اللغة الثانية مبرر. 本文评估一项朗读课程的效能，该课程着重发展克丘亚语和西班牙语的双语学童的字汇与阅读理解能力。本文作者报告一项在一年级课堂里进行的研究，并且建议教授一些针对运用学生的背景知识和通过讨论形式的特别朗读策略，使双语学童在这个国际性语境中能够有意义地学习字汇。本文认为，未来有关朗读课程效能的研究有必要在国际性语境或第二语言的语境中进行。 On a evalue l'efficacite d'un programme de lecture a haute voix centre sur les competences en vocabulaire et en comprehension d'enfants bilingues quechua-espagnol. Les auteurs presentent une etude avec des classes de 1ere annee, en suggerant que des strategies de lecture a haute voix visant l'utilisation de connaissances du background sous forme de discussions peut etre une facon significative d'apprendre du vocabulaire dans un contexte international pour ces enfants bilingues. On suggere egalement qu'il est justifie d'effectuer de nouvelles recherches sur l'efficacite de la lecture a haute voix dans un contexte international ou de langue seconde. Была проведена оценка эффективности программы по развитию лексических навыков и навыков восприятия смысла при чтении вслух. Программа разработана для детей племени кечуа, одинаково владеющих двумя языками: кечуа и испанским. Исследование, проведенное в первом классе, подтверждает, что определенные методы чтения вслух, нацеленные на активизацию фоновых знаний в рамках учебной беседы, могут быть действенны для расширения словарного запаса двуязычных детей. Ясно также, что исследования эффективности чтения вслух в контексте двуязычия или изучения второго языка необходимо продолжить. Se evaluo la eficacia de un programa de lectura en voz alta que se concentraba en las destrezas de vocabulario y comprension de ninos bilingues en quechua y espanol. Los autores presentan un estudio de aulas de primer grado en el que sugieren que estrategias especificas de lectura en voz alta que se concentran en el uso del conocimiento de fondo en un formato de clase de discusion puede ser un modo importante de aprendizaje de vocabulario por parte de ninos bilingues en este contexto internacional. Tambien sugiere que hay suficiente fundamento para hacer mas estudios sobre la eficacia de la lectura en voz alta en el contexto internacional o el contexto del un segundo idioma.
The Structure of Violence: An Introduction to the Symposium*

(1971). The Structure of Violence: An Introduction to the Symposium. The Sociological Quarterly: Vol. 12, No. 3, pp. 291-294.
A cationic cyclopentannelation

Abstract The alkoxyallene adducts of O -trimethylsilyl hydroxymethylene ketones undergo a facile acid catalyzed cyclization to produce functionalized cyclopentenones in high yield.
A Finite Element Analysis of the Thermomechanical Behavior of Fiber Reinforced Composites

Many problems remain unsolved regarding part and mold design for fiber reinforced composites. The thermomechanical processes occur during the mold filling, curing and mold removal stages when compression molding fiber reinforced parts are not very well understood. Irregular thermomechanical properties lead to parts that are warped and that have sink marks and surface waviness. This paper discusses thermomechanical material properties and the theory behind shrinkage and warpage in shot fiber reinforced composites. It also presents a thermomechanical process simulation of compression molding of short fiber reinforced parts. The simulation is compared to experiments. Numerical experimentation with the simulation program gives insight into the effect that processing conditions have on shrinkage and warpage. 17 refs.
Comparison of SHF and SSF of wet exploded corn stover and loblolly pine using in-house enzymes produced from T. reesei RUT C30 and A. saccharolyticus

The aim of the present study was to compare bioethanol production from wet exploded corn stover (WECS) and loblolly pine (WELP) hydrolyzed with in-house and commercial enzymes and fermented separately (SHF) and simultaneously (SSF). In-house enzymes produced from Trichoderma reesei, RUT-C30 and a novel fungal strain, Aspergillus saccharolyticus were loaded as 5 and 15 FPU/g glucan and supplemented with 10 and 30 CBU/g glucan, respectively. For hydrolysis and fermentation, slurries of WECS and WELP at 5 and 10% (w/w) solids loading (SL) were utilized. Saccharomyces cerevisae was used for ethanol fermentation at 33°C. Maximally, 15.6 g/L and 13.4 g/L (corresponding to theoretical ethanol yield of 76% and 67%, respectively) were achieved in SSF process from WECS and WELP, respectively at 5% SL and 15 FPU/g glucan loading of in-house enzymes. Ethanol concentrations in all cases were higher for SSF compared to SHF under same conditions. A cross comparison of SSF with commercial enzymes (Celluclast 1.5 L + Novozym 188) showed highest ethanol concentration of 17.3 g/L and 15.4 g/L (corresponding to theoretical ethanol yield of 84% and 77%, respectively) from WECS and WELP, respectively at 5% SL and 15 FPU/g glucan. These findings demonstrated that in-house enzymes were comparable to commercial enzymes as these fungi produced other lignocellulolytic enzymes beyond cellulase and hence enhanced the overall enzyme activity.
The Growth Promoting Value of Yeast Added to Certain Chick Rations

Abstract It has been generally accepted that birds have a relatively high requirement for the water soluble food accessories. For at least a decade prior to 1927 the term, vitamin B, was used to describe a factor which was effective in the stimulation of the appetite, promoting growth and in preventing polyneuritis. It is now generally accepted that the vitamin B complex is made up of at least two distinct factors, one of which is antineuritic and the other growth promoting and pellagra preventing. A committee on vitamin B nomenclature of the American Society of Biological Chemists has recommended that the term, vitamin B, be retained for the antineuritic factor and that the second essential be known as vitamin G. Some investigators refer to the two factors as the vitamin B complex. Yeast is known to carry both the B and G factors. Common poultry feedstuffs, such as corn, wheat milling . . .
Entropy-based low power data TLB design

The Translation Look-aside Buffer (TLB), a content addressable memory, consumes significant power due to the associative search mechanism it uses in the virtual to physical address translation. Based on our analysis of the TLB accesses, we make two observations. First, the entropy or information content of the stack virtual page numbers is low due to high spatial locality of stack memory references. Second, the entropy of the higher order bits of global memory references is low since the size of the global data is determined and fixed during compilation of a program. Based on these two characteristics, we propose two techniques: an entropy-based speculative stack address TLB and a deterministic global address TLB to achieve energy reducing. Our results show an average of 47% energy savings in the data TLB with less than 1%overall performance impact.
Cortactin phosphorylation regulates cell invasion through a pH-dependent pathway

Invadopodia are invasive protrusions with proteolytic activity uniquely found in tumor cells. Cortactin phosphorylation is a key step during invadopodia maturation, regulating Nck1 binding and cofilin activity. The precise mechanism of cortactin-dependent cofilin regulation and the roles of this pathway in invadopodia maturation and cell invasion are not fully understood. We provide evidence that cortactin–cofilin binding is regulated by local pH changes at invadopodia that are mediated by the sodium–hydrogen exchanger NHE1. Furthermore, cortactin tyrosine phosphorylation mediates the recruitment of NHE1 to the invadopodium compartment, where it locally increases the pH to cause the release of cofilin from cortactin. We show that this mechanism involving cortactin phosphorylation, local pH increase, and cofilin activation regulates the dynamic cycles of invadopodium protrusion and retraction and is essential for cell invasion in 3D. Together, these findings identify a novel pH-dependent regulation of cell invasion.
Recidivism in a cohort of juvenile detainees : a 3 1/2-year follow-up

We report some results from a longitudinal study of juvenile detainees. In extending previous analyses, we sought to determine whether the youths' alcohol or other drug use and their emotional/psychological problems at entry into the detention center predicted subsequent arrests for new offenses during the 36 months and 42 months following their initial interviews. Statistically significant relationships were found between the youths' demographic characteristics (age, race, gender) and cocaine use at initial interview (as measured by urinalysis), and recidivism. The policy implications of these findings are discussed
Use of Pressure-Redistributing Support Surfaces Among Elderly Hip Fracture Patients Across the Continuum of Care: Adherence to Pressure Ulcer Prevention Guidelines

Purpose: To estimate the frequency of use of pressure-redistributing support surfaces (PRSS) among hip fracture patients and to determine whether higher pressure ulcer risk is associated with greater PRSS use. Design and Methods: Patients (n = 658) aged ≥65 years who had surgery for hip fracture were examined by research nurses at baseline and on alternating days for 21 days. Information on PRSS use and pressure ulcer risk factors was recorded at each assessment visit. Other information was obtained by interview and chart review. Results: A PRSS was observed at 36.4% of the 5,940 study visits. The odds of PRSS use were lower in the rehabilitation setting (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.3–0.6), in the nursing home (adjusted OR 0.2, 95% CI 0.1–0.3), and during readmission to the acute setting (adjusted OR 0.6, 95% CI 0.4–0.9) than in the initial acute setting. There was wide variation in frequency of PRSS use by admission hospital, even after adjusting for pressure ulcer risk factors. The relationships between PRSS use and pressure ulcer risk factors were not strong. Implications: In this study of hip fracture patients, adherence to guidelines for PRSS use was low and was based more on facility-related factors than on patient risk. There is an urgent need for health care providers to improve strategies for the prevention of pressure ulcers in high-risk patients.
Parity in LQ control: the infinite time limit for terminal control

Terminal LQ control in the limit for T /spl rarr/ /spl infin/ is analyzed. Such a problem gives a good example where the limiting operation and integration do not commute, a fact all too often overlooked by the casual student of optimal control. Such a misinterpretation can lead to an apparent paradox. In this paper we use symmetrical components (the parity operator) to shed light on the correct solution and give a decomposition of the problem in 2 subproblems.
CA-TSL: Energy Adaptation for Targeted System Lifetime in Sparse Mobile Ad Hoc Networks

With the proliferation of mobile devices, an increasing number of sensing applications are using mobile sensor networks. These mobile networks are severely energy-constrained, and energy usage is one of the most common causes of failure in their deployments. In these networks, nodes that exhaust their energy before the targeted system lifetime degrade system performance; nodes that run past the system lifetime cannot fully utilize their stored energy. Although much work has focused on policies to reduce and regulate energy usage in fixed and dense networks, intermittently connected networks have been largely overlooked. Due to variations in hardware, software, node mobility, and environment, it is especially difficult for intermittently connected mobile networks to improve operations collectively in a dynamic environment. Here, we present and evaluate Collaborative Adaptive Targeted System Lifetime (CA-TSL), an adaptive policy that enforces a system-wide targeted lifetime in an intermittently connected system by adapting node energy usage to an estimated desired energy profile. For evaluation, we present both real-system and large-scale simulated results. Our approach improves sink data reception by an average of 50 percent, and an additional 30 percent when a density estimation technique is also employed. In addition, it reduces system lifetime variations by up to 5.5 ×.
Mathematical Modeling of Vesicle Drug Delivery Systems 2 Targeted Vesicle Interactions with Cells, Tumors, and the Body

Vesicles have been studied for several years in their ability to deliver drugs. Mathematical models have much potential in reducing time and resources required to engineer optimal vesicles, and this review article summarizes these models that aid in understanding the ability of targeted vesicles to bind and internalize into cancer cells, diffuse into tumors, and distribute in the body. With regard to binding and internalization, radiolabeling and surface plasmon resonance experiments can be performed to determine optimal vesicle size and the number and type of ligands conjugated. Binding and internalization properties are also inputs into a mathematical model of vesicle diffusion into tumor spheroids, which highlights the importance of the vesicle diffusion coefficient and the binding affinity of the targeting ligand. Biodistribution of vesicles in the body, along with their half-life, can be predicted with compartmental models for pharmacokinetics that include the effect of targeting ligands, and these predictions can be used in conjunction with in vivo models to aid in the design of drug carriers. Mathematical models can prove to be very useful in drug carrier design, and our hope is that this review will encourage more investigators to combine modeling with quantitative experimentation in the field of vesicle-based drug delivery.
Familial multiple endocrine neoplasia type I: a new look at pathophysiology.

I. Introduction FAMILIAL multiple endocrine endocrine neoplasia type I (FMENI) is a complex hereditary disorder encompassing pancreatic and pituitary tumors and hyperplasia of the parathyroid glands. Hyperparathyroidism is the most frequently expressed endocrinopathy in the syndrome which may also include one or more of the following: hyperinsulinism, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, pancreatic cholera, acromegaly, Cushing's syndrome, and hyperprolactinemia. The earliest suggestion of such a complex syndrome generally is thought to be Erdheim's description (1) of parathyroid enlargement and pituitary adenoma discovered coexisting at autopsy. Rossier and Dressler (2) reported on two siblings with Cushing's syndrome, hypoglycemia, and kidney stones. In 1945 Shelbourne and McLaughlin (3) observed another subject displaying hypoglycemia, kidney stones, and a pituitary adenoma. Wermer (4) described several cases of multiple glandular hyperfunction in a family and called attention to the likely genetic nature of the...
Discontinuities in Very High-Speed Lossy Transmission Lines for Chip-to-Chip Interconnections

As the speed of VLSI circuits continues to increase, the performance of integrated systems is limited by chip-to-chip communications. We have already reported that a high density chip-to-chip interconnection scheme as shown in Fig.1 can provide attractive transmission line characteristics up to frequencies as high as several gigahertz [1], Practical high-speed integrated systems, however, contain a variety of discontinuities in the strip conductor such as fan-outs, via holes between levels, and right-angled bends. In this paper we describe an analysis of signal reflection at these discontinuities based on three-dimentional, finite element method, solutions of Poisson's and Maxwell's equations [1], The results bear out qualitative predictions and lead to Suggested design rules for a fan-out structure.
Outer-Membrane Pore-Forming Proteins in Gram-Negative Anaerobic Bacteria

The outer-membrane proteins (OMPs) of bacteria function as the dynamic interface between the bacterium and its surroundings and are involved in maintenance of cell structure, binding a variety of substances, adhesion to other cells, and regulation of transport of both nutrients and bactericidal agents. There is a vast amount of information about aerobic OMPs and their roles in immunogenicity, virulence, and antimicrobial resistance. Knowledge about OMPs in anaerobic bacteria is much sparser. Genetic data present in data banks regarding aerobic porins are not readily helpful in identifying or analyzing anaerobic porins because of the large phylogenetic distance between the aerobic and anaerobic organisms. We recently identified and sequenced the genes for both a porin protein complex and an OmpA protein in Bacteroides fragilis, and the data are summarized here. Also, recent information is presented about similar OMPs found in other gram-negative anaerobic bacteria, including Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Bacteroides distasonis, Porphyromonas, and Fusobacterium.
Hydrologic and Biogeochemical Drivers of Riparian Denitrification in an Agricultural Watershed

This study investigated drivers of denitrification and overall NO3 − removal in an agricultural riparian area in central New York. Denitrification was measured using an in situ “push-pull” method with 15N–NO3 − as a tracer during summer and fall 2011 at a pair of riparian sites characterized by different hydrologic regimes. Median denitrification rates were 1347 and 703 μg N kg soil−1 day−1 for the two study sites. These rates are higher than those reported for other riparian areas, emphasizing the role of some riparian areas as hotspots of NO3 − removal. N2O production was significantly higher at one site, demonstrating that riparian areas can be a greenhouse gas source under certain conditions. Denitrification was negatively correlated with groundwater flux, suggesting that slower flushing of water, and thus longer residence time, promotes denitrification. A mass balance of NO3 − loss revealed that denitrification only accounted for 5–12 % of total NO3 − loss, and production of NH4 + indicated that dissimilatory NO3 − reduction to NH4 + (DNRA) may be occurring at both sites. While both sites were characterized by high NO3 − removal, differences in denitrification rates and NO3 − removal processes demonstrate the need to improve our ability to capture spatial and process heterogeneity in landscape biogeochemical models.
Continuous improvement and facility redesign through the lean DMAIC Six Sigma approach: a final assembly work unit case study from Ohio, USA

This study proposes the use of the define, measure, analyse, improve, and control (DMAIC) Six Sigma approach with an emphasis on facility redesign to reduce costs and increase capacity for a local manufacturing company in Northwest Ohio, USA. The DMAIC approach used for the case study demonstrated a broad implementation methodology to achieve cost reductions, in this case, by nearly $243,000 per year. The paper identifies each stage of the DMAIC cycle and the Six Sigma tools that were applied, including process mapping and time studies. This paper develops a framework that can be used as a template for cost reduction and capacity enhancement training.
Human bone marrow stromal cell cultures conditioned by traumatic brain tissue extracts: growth factor production.

Treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI) with bone marrow stromal cells (MSCs) improves functional outcome in the rat. However, the specific mechanisms by which introduced MSCs provide benefit remain to be elucidated. Currently, the ability of therapeutically transplanted MSCs to replace injured parenchymal CNS tissue appears limited at best. Tissue replacement, however, is not the only possible compensatory avenue in cell transplantation therapy. Various growth factors have been shown to mediate the repair and replacement of damaged tissue, so trophic support provided by transplanted MSCs may play a role in the treatment of damaged tissue. We therefore investigated the temporal profile of various growth factors, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), within cultures of human MSCs (hMSCs) conditioned with cerebral tissue extract from TBI. hMSCs were cultured with TBI extracts of rat brain in vitro and quantitative sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were performed. TBI-conditioned hMSCs cultures demonstrated a time-dependent increase of BDNF, NGF, VEGF, and HGF, indicating a responsive production of these growth factors by the hMSCs. The ELISA data suggest that transplanted hMSCs may provide therapeutic benefit via a responsive secretion of an array of growth factors that can foster neuroprotection and angiogenesis.
SETTING CUTOFF SCORES IN SELECTIVE ADMISSIONS

Admissions officers annually face the problem of admitting into the fall term enough students to operate dormitories with efficiency and to support the faculty at hand, but not so many students that beds must be placed in the halls or that faculty are overwhelmed. Usually a first step is for the administration of a college to determine how many entering students, in particular entering new freshmen, it will plan to accommodate during the fall term. This is the admissions officer's target number. It would be easy for him to admit just that many students, but experience has shown him that not all admitted students will enter. He has many "ghost" applicants, persons who have applied to several colleges and, though admitted by all, can attend only one. So the admissions officer has to guess how many admitted students will cancel out or simply not appear, and thus never become entering students.
Parameter estimation of chirp signals

The problem of the parameter estimation of chirp signals is addressed. Several closely related estimators are proposed whose main characteristics are simplicity, accuracy, and ease of online or offline implementation. For moderately high signal-to-noise ratios they are unbiased and attain the Cramer-Rao bound. Monte Carlo simulations verify the expected performance of the estimators. It should be easy to extend this approach to signals having polynomials of any degree in the exponent. All the derivations will be done under the assumption that the signal-to-noise ratio is sufficiently high. >
Superoxide, Hydrogen Peroxide, and Oxygen Tolerance of Oxygen-Sensitive Mutants of Escherichia coli

Oxygen-intolerant mutants of Escherichia coli K12 were selected by a replica plating technique after treatment with the mutagen, N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, to a lethality of 99.5%. One group of mutants had lost the ability to induce both peroxidase and catalase when exposed to oxygen but retained the ability to induce the manganese-superoxide dismutase. The second group of mutants had lost the ability to induce the activity of all these enzymes. Failure to induce peroxidase and catalase was associated with enhanced susceptibility of the bacteria to the lethal effect of oxygen. When a member of the first group of mutants was prevented from producing the manganese-superoxide dismutase by the presence of puromycin, its susceptibility to the lethal effects of oxygen was greatly increased. Two types of revertants were seen. In one group the ability to induce enzyme activity was recovered and was accompanied by the return of oxygen tolerance. Members of the other group lost the ability to respire and, therefore, no longer produced 02- and H202. These results indicated that enzymic scavenging of both H202 and 02- provides an important defense against oxygen toxicity. The parallel loss of peroxidase and catalase, which was seen in all mutants, suggests that these enzymes constitute a precursor-product pair in E. coli. The parallel loss in two of these mutants of peroxidase, catalase, and the manganese-superoxide dismutase suggests a control linkage for these enzymes, the basis of which remains to be explored. Pasteur was, in 1861, apparently the first to appreciate both the possibility of life in the absence of oxygen and the potential toxicity of oxygen. It is now recognized that the early phases of biological evolution occurred in an anaerobic world and that the extensive oxygenation of the biosphere was a consequence of photosynthesis. Oxygen is exceedingly useful in metabolism that yields energy and in biosyntheses, but organisms that utilize oxygen must maintain defenses against its deleterious effects. Oxygen is toxic because of the reactivities of the intermediates of its reduction (02- and H202) and the entities that may be generated by these active products [1-3]. A defense against the toxicity of oxygen
A Novel Role for the β2 Integrin CD11b/CD18 in Neutrophil Apoptosis: A Homeostatic Mechanism in Inflammation

In mice selectively deficient in CD11b/CD18, a beta 2 integrin, chemoattractant-induced leukocyte adhesion to microvascular endothelium in vivo was reduced. Paradoxically, thioglycollate-induced neutrophil accumulation in the peritoneal cavity was increased and was associated with a significant delay in apoptosis of extravasated cells. The extravasated cells had a near absence of neutrophil phagocytosis and a reduction in oxygen free radical generation, which may contribute to the observed defect in apoptosis. This is supported by our in vitro studies, in which phagocytosis of opsonized particles by human neutrophils rapidly induced apoptosis that could be blocked with CD11b/ CD18 antibodies. Reactive oxygen species are the intracellular link in this process: phagocytosis-induced apoptosis was blocked both in neutrophils treated with the flavoprotein inhibitor diphenylene iodonium and in neutrophils from patients with chronic granulomatous disease, which lack NADPH oxidase. Thus, CD11b/CD18 plays a novel and unsuspected homeostatic role in inflammation by accelerating the programmed elimination of extravasated neutrophils.
Social networks and the foundations of oligarchy in medieval towns

Although it is widely acknowledged that urban oligarchy pre-dominated across medieval England, oligarchy's foundations are only partly known. This article argues that part of oligarchy's success derived from close social interaction between oligarchs and the rest of the citizens. A case study of social networks and arbitration within the city of Wells demonstrates how the elite insinuated themselves into the town's social web, establishing and securing their influence and power. Moreover, such a social role brought the oligarchs together often and helped to define the elite. Such power encouraged a more benevolent form of oligarchy than later prevailed.
El modelo Biasca para transformar la empresa

The author proposes a model for evaluating company transformation based on his experience in the field of consulting in Latin-America. Its basic components are: evaluating changes needed by a competitive company, quantitative improvement, incremental improvement and discontinuous revolution or change cf continuous evolution or change.
Assessing the Translational Capacity of Five CTSA Institutions

This paper presents collaboration trends for five Clinical and Translational Science Awardee (CTSA) institution to demonstrate the need for new evaluation metrics. Translational science, a methodology that bridges gaps between fundamental and applied science, has gained attention from both the medical research community and government funding agencies. To facilitate interdisciplinary research it is important to understand what aspects of the process act as a bottleneck and limit its effectiveness. Cultural norms within the scientific community make communication between disciplines difficult [1]. CTSAs are meant to help ease burdens and foster an environment where clinicians and basic scientists work together [2]. In 2013, NCATS director, Dr. Chris Austin, said the CTSAs operated "without particular encouragement or direction from the NIH, and this in a disjointed and uncoordinated fashion" [3]. Our intention is to highlight areas of concern and to demonstrate the need and potential for bibliometric translational indicators to help alleviate some of the difficulties with CTSA evaluation by determining the importance of basic scientists in research networks, discussing patterns of co-authorship by institution, and presenting two translational indicators, which can help institutions and funding agencies compare CTSA collaborative patterns.
Abstract 01: The Role of Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Genes in the Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease: Findings from the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) Study

Background: We conducted single-marker, gene-based and pathway-based analyses to examine the association between renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) variants and chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression among Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) study participants. Methods: A total of 1,523 white and 1,490 black subjects were genotyped for 490 SNPs in 12 RAAS genes as part of the ITMAT-Broad-CARe array. CKD progression phenotypes included decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) over time and the occurrence of a renal disease event, defined as incident end stage renal disease or halving of eGFR from baseline. Mixed-effects models were used to examine SNP associations with eGFR decline, while Cox proportional hazards models tested SNP associations with renal events. Gene and pathway-based analyses were conducted using the truncated product method. All analyses were stratified by race, and a Bonferroni correction was applied to adjust for multiple testing. Results: Among white and...
EDFA gain equalization with fiber filter for WDM systems

Erbium doped fiber amplifiers can achieve a high gain over more than 40nm bandwidth. However, they suffer from a non uniformity of the gain, and this is particularly detrimental to WDM applications. As they propagate through a chain of EDFAs, the channels at different wavelengths will accumulate increasing discrepancies between them in terms of gain and SNR. In order to make it possible to chain EDFAs in a WDM environment, the EDFAs should have ideally both a flattened gain and SNR. A method as proposed in [1] and [2] admittedly cannot achieve equalization of both gain and SNR. On the other hand, some EDFAs are optimized for WDM by adjusting the characteristic and length of the fiber and the pump power [3], but in that case they usually show a flattened gain for a small range of input power.
Formalized Approach for Accurate Geometry Capture through Laser Scanning

The main objective of the presented research is to formalize a novel iterative feedback mechanism that facilitates reliable and accurate geometric capture of civil infrastructure systems (e.g., bridges) through laser scanning to support predictive modeling (e.g., finite element modeling). Current condition assessment (of a bridge) based on visual inspection is subjective and often fails to obtain reliable and accurate geometry data which is essential for finite element modeling. The laser scanner, which is a non-contact geometry capture technology, is one of the promising technologies that can capture more detailed (2mm spacing) and accurate (+/- 5mm) geometric data compared to existing surveying and measurement techniques, such as total stations and Global Positioning Systems. The presented work is focused on investigating and formalizing how laser scanning technology can optimally be leveraged and integrated to provide a sufficiently accurate documentation of bridge geometry, and then how such information may be transformed into a reliable finite element model for predictive modeling.
Training method of process neural networks based on hybrid quantum genetic algorithm

Aiming at the problems that current learning algorithms of PNN were highly complex and sensitive to initial values,this paper presented a training method of PNN based on hybrid quantum genetic algorithm.This method transformed the training of PNN into the optimization solution of nonlinear equations,and used quantum bits to construct chromosomes which were coded with real number.Meanwhile,introduced was to implement local searching.The algorithm had the abilities of population search for quantum genetic algorithm and global convergence,as well as the rapid convergence rate of the quasi-Newton method,which overcame the sensitivity to initial values about quasi-Newton method.The training result shows that this algorithm has the better stability and effectiveness.
Effects of anionic surfactants on hamster small intestinal membrane structure and function: relationship to surface activity.

The relationship of the surface properties of a group of anionic surfactants to their effects on intestinal water transport was studied. Dose-response inhibition of water transport in everted hamster jejunal segments was obtained with two long chain detergents (sodium dodecyl sulfate and dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate), a fatty acid (ricinoleate), and dihydroxy bile salts (deoxycholate, chenodeoxycholate, and taurodeox- ycholate), whereas no activity was seen with trihydroxy (cholate, glycocholate, and taurocholate) and tri-keto (dehydrocholate) bile salts. The relative effects on water transport were paralleled by their abilities to lyse the erythrocyte, a membrane model. These two biological effects were related to the surface properties of the agents, as determined by critical micelle concentration and surface tension reduction. We further characterized the action of deoxycholate on hamster small intestine, in vivo. Net water secretion was accompanied by increases in permeability of the mucosa to inulin, dextran, and albumin. These secretory and permeability changes were accompanied by both biochemical and histological alterations: exfoliation (DNA release), membrane effects (sucrase release), and shortened villi. Electron microscopy revealed extensive alteration of the brush border membrane with a decrease in binding of lanthanum and the development of permeability to tracer in villus tip cells. In contrast, taurocholate, which did not alter water transport, did not affect intestinal permeability or the brush border membrane. We believe that the surface properties of anionic surfactants cause changes in absorptive cell membranes which result in intestinal secretion.
A decade of experience with the Model 103 and 104 Beall valve prostheses

Mitral or tricuspid valve replacement with the Beall Model 103 or 104 prosthesis has been associated with a high incidence of late prosthetic malfunction which has necessitated reoperation. Between 1972 and 1975,57 patients underwent single valve replacement (55 mitral and two tricuspid) with Beall Model 103 or 104 valvular prostheses and survived at least 2 years. The mean follow-up time was 73.7 months (range 24 to 119 months). Of these patients, 22 required explanation of the prosthesis; there was an operative mortality of 27 %. Major prosthetic malfunction occurred in four patients: Two occluders were embolized and two occluders were fixed in the open position. All four patients required urgent operation, and two of them died. The development of symptoms of congestive heart failure, systolic murmur, or hemolysis were the reasons for cardiac catheterizations and possible reoperation. Nineteen patients had cardiac catheterization. Fifteen of these subsequently underwent reoperation, with a mortality of 26%. Three patients were considered inoperable. Cardiac catheterization data revealed significant prosthetic regurgitation in all patients: pulmonary capillary pressure 29.9 mm Hg ± 6.7 (standard deviation); V wave 31.5 mm Hg ± 12.0; left ventricular end-diastolic pressure 18.0 mm Hg ± 7.8. Comparison of hemolysis indicators in this group to those of asymptomatic patients revealed that the former had a significant elevation in lactic dehydrogenase (p = 0.038) and a lowered hematocrit value (p = 0.017). Waiting for severe symptomatic deterioration to justify reoperation risks the development of left ventricular dysfunction and possible emergency reoperation with a high operative mortality.
Ethanol-induced reductions in testicular steroidogenesis: Major differences between in vivo and in vitro approaches

Although it is well established that ethanol suppresses gonadotropin- and cAMP-stimulated testicular steroidogenesis, there is not good agreement on two issues: which is the step in testosterone's biosynthetic pathway affected by ethanol; and the role of alterations in the NAD+/NADH ratio in ethanol's effects. In these studies, we have identified major differences between in vivo and in vitro approaches, which have previously been considered as totally equivalent experimental paradigms, which could explain these discrepancies. Under in vitro conditions, we observed that ethanol selectively inhibited the conversion of androstenedione to testosterone, but that it had a much more general effect under in vivo conditions. In addition, in agreement with other studies, NAD+ overcame ethanol's effects on testicular steroidogenesis in vitro, but only when labeled or unlabeled pregnenolone was added. In the absence of added pregnenolone, NAD+ was not effective in preventing ethanol's effects. Our results, thus, indicate that the differences which currently exist in the literature may be explained by the indiscriminate usage of in vivo and in vitro techniques.