cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
149 Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency Among Hemodialysis Patients and Response to Cholecalciferol

PREVALENCE OF VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY AMONG HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS AND RESPONSE TO CHOLECALCIFEROL Maria Krassilnikova, Anita Mehrotra, Peter Heeger. Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of 25OH Vitamin D deficiency in hemodialysis patients, identify associated factors, and assess response to repletion with cholecalciferol (D3). We consented 52 outpatients at the Mount Sinai Dialysis unit between August and November 2010 for Vitamin D testing. Those patients found to have 25OH Vit D levels < 25 ng/mL were eligible for randomization to treatment with D3 (50,000 IU weekly) or control (standard of care). 25OH Vitamin D levels were measured in a subset of patients (n = 14) after six weeks of follow-up. The prevalence of Vit D deficiency was 94.2%, as defined by a 25OH Vit D level < 30ng/mL, and 26.9% of patients had Vit D levels < 10ng/mL. Mean and median Vit D levels were 16.1 and 14.1 ng/mL, respectively. Selected clinical characteristics of the patient cohort are given in the table below. There was no association between Vit D level and age, gender, race, or dialysis vintage, but Vit D levels negatively correlated with BMI (Spearman’s ρ = -0.355, p = 0.011). After six weeks of D3 repletion (n = 9), 25OH Vit D increased from a mean of 13.7 ng/mL to 36.6 ng/mL (p = 0.001), with no change in serum Ca or 1,25OH Vit D requirements. No change was noted in the Vit D level of control patients (13.3 ng/mL to 13.1 ng/mL, p = 0.943, n = 5). We demonstrate a higher prevalence of Vit D deficiency among hemodialysis patients than previously reported, and an ability to correct this deficiency with oral D3. A study of the effects of D3 repletion on the immune system in these patients is ongoing. Age, years (mean +/SD) 57 +/12 Gender: Male (%) 28 (53.8%) Race: Black (%) 29 (55.8%)
Multirate flutter suppression system design for a model wing

A new methodology for multirate control system design is described. It accommodates a general multiple-input, multiple-output control law structure that allows the sampling rates for the plant sensor output signals, the update rates for the processor states, and the update rates for the plant control input signals to be independently specified. It includes a capability to design for multiple plant conditions so as to achieve robustness to plant parameter variations. Its analysis components include a method for determining conventional gain and phase margins, a method for determining a bound on the smallest destabilizing uncertainty, and a method for determining the maximum root-mean-square (rms) gain of a multirate system. The methodology is demonstrated by application to the design of a multirate flutter suppression system for a model wing.
Color preference and perceived color naturalness of digital videos

In this study, we examined the subjective attributes of color preference and perceived naturalness of digital videos when the chroma of the color content was varied. More specifically, the objectives were: (1) to determine how the scaling of color chroma affected the mean color preference rating and the mean naturalness rating across subjects and (2) to determine how preference and naturalness were related. To this end, psychophysical experiments were carried out in which naive subjects provided us with their subjective assessments of these two attributes. Data from the experiments indicated that for both preference and naturalness, the mean opinion scores (MOS) increased to a maximum and decreased as the mean chroma (MC) of the videos was varied. Naturalness MOS (NMOS) tended to reach a maximum at lower MC than preference MOS (PMOS). The maximums for both PMOS and NMOS occurred at relatively close MC levels for most of the videos. The individual functions relating MOS to chroma were modeled by simple Gaussian functions relatively well. However, the mean, amplitude and standard deviation varied with video. It was possible to reduce the total number of parameters from 36 to 15 parameters by making use of relationships between the model parameters. In this model the chroma corresponding to maximum preference is about 1.1 times the chroma corresponding to maximum naturalness.
Enhancing Drug Court Success.

This study evaluates the impact of enhanced drug court services in a large county in Southern California. These enhanced services, including specialty counseling groups, educational/employment resources, and increased Residential Treatment (RT) beds, were designed to increase program retention and successful completion (graduation) of drug court. This study examines outcomes for 477 male and 273 female drug court participants between January 2004 and March 2005 in Orange County, California. Data were gathered from various sources including the Drug Court management information system (MIS) and probation records. The results suggest that several enhancements individually increase participation retention (as opposed to termination) in drug court, particularly education, employment, RT, and two specialty counseling groups (Alcohol Recovery and Mask of Addiction). Similarly, participant graduation rates were improved with the individual effects of education, employment, and the same two specialty counseling g...
Nash Equilibrium Seeking for Dynamic Systems with Non-Quadratic Payoffs

We consider general, stable nonlinear differential equations with N inputs and N outputs, where in the steady state, the output signals represent the payoff functions of a noncooperative game played by the steady-state values of the input signals. To achieve locally stable convergence to the resulting steady-state Nash equilibria, we introduce a non-model-based approach, where the players determine their actions based only on their own payoff values. This strategy is based on the extremum seeking approach, which has previously been developed for standard optimization problems and employs sinusoidal perturbations to estimate the gradient. Since non-quadratic payoffs create the possibility of multiple, isolated Nash equilibria, our convergence results are local. Specifically, the attainment of any particular Nash equilibrium is not assured for all initial conditions, but only for initial conditions in a set around that specific stable Nash equilibrium. For non-quadratic costs, the convergence to a Nash equilibrium is not perfect, but is biased in proportion to the perturbation amplitudes and the higher derivatives of the payoff functions. We quantify the size of these residual biases.
Production of octenyl succinic anhydride-modified waxy corn starch and its characterization.

The objective of this work is to investigate the effects of reaction conditions on the synthesis of octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA)-modified starch from waxy corn starch and to study the characteristics of the OSA-modified starch as well as its applications. A mathematical model was developed to investigate the influences of various processing condition factors on the production of the OSA-modified waxy corn starch production and predict the optimum reaction conditions. The maximal degree of substitution (DS) of OSA-modified waxy corn starch (0.0204) was predicted to occur when the starch concentration was 31.2%, the pH was 8.6, the reaction temperature was 33.6 °C, and the reaction time was 18.7 h. Repeated reactions for producing OSA-modified waxy corn starch were carried out in a 5 m3 reactor under the optimized conditions for verification of the model. The characteristics of modified waxy corn starch including infrared spectrum, scanning electron microscopy, and pasting property were tested and emuls...
Sucrose Taste Functions and Dental Caries in Children

Sweetness detection threshold, supra threshold estimation, and preference were evaluated in caries-free and caries-susceptible children aged 7 to 15 years. The two caries groups appeared similar on all measures. This report contrasts with previous adult studies indicating a relationship between sweet taste sensitivity and caries status.
Response to Björn Krondorfer's `Who's Afraid of Gay Theology? Men's Studies, Gay Scholars, and Heterosexual Silence'

Bjorn Krondorfer, a major scholar in men’s studies in religion, has raised an important challenge to others working in this field, encouraging us to take seriously the need to engage effectively in creative dialogue with scholars in gay studies in religion, particularly gay theology (Krondorfer 2007). Although he does not explicitly say so, it seems clear that he writes as a self-identified ‘non-homophobic’ heterosexual male scholar in this field who has come to believe that ‘heterosexual men’s studies in religion’ can benefit from more intensive engagement with ‘gay studies in religion’. Because he paints the picture of the relationship between ‘heterosexual’ and ‘gay’ scholarship with broad strokes, he makes a number of distinctions that could be developed in more nuanced ways in order to move this conversation forward. For example, he draws a distinction, presumably among heterosexual men, between ‘non-homophobic’ scholars and ‘the homophobic religious right’, and he seems to assume that those whom he hopes will pick up his challenge belong in the first category. But who among us is completely ‘non-homophobic’? Is Krondorfer even tacitly acknowledging some element of homophobia in himself, for example, when he indicates that it is ‘close to impossible’ to insert ‘a heterosexual voice into gay reflections on the theological, ethical and spiritual dimensions of bottoms and tops, fisting, or “barebacking” (i.e. unprotected anal sex)’? The personal reflections of James Nelson, one of the positive models of ‘heterosexual men’s studies’ scholars whom Krondorfer lifts up, may help us understand the need for more nuance, as he writes that for the first forty years of his life he assumed he was completely heterosexual, but as he began to interact with articulate gays and lesbians he began to reassess his own masculine identity and to acknowledge his own homophobia. He concludes his reflections on his own personal experience of homophobia by saying:
An architectural development and performance of a real time LAN

The real-time facilities of existing local area networks (LANs) which primarily address the needs of non-real-time data traffic are reviewed. An architecture called Instanet is introduced to support the needs of distributed real-time systems. Instanet incorporates a logically separate channel to arbitrate on the access rights of different priorities of traffic. An overview of the Instanet architecture is given, and analytical and simulation results of its performance under different traffic loadings are presented. >
A waveguide model of the return stroke channel with a "metamaterial" corona

[1] We model the lightning return stroke channel as a three layer cylindrical waveguide, consisting of (1) highly conducting thin core channel; (2) “metamaterial” corona, i.e., corona with an effective bulk anisotropic dielectric permittivity tensor which is due to the fine structure of leaders branching away from the main channel; and (3) the surrounding non-conducting air. The lowest axially symmetric TM mode in this waveguide represents the return stroke current wave. We find time- and space-domain solutions for the current wave in a channel connected to the ground driven by an axial current of Bruce-Golde model temporal shape concentrated at the point of the channel connection to the ground. The front of the current wave is found to be dispersed, and the speed of the front is significantly (by a factor of 5–10 for some parameters) slower than the speed of light. The calculated radial electric field is found to be consistent with experimental measurements. When the second layer of the waveguide is filled with an isotropic material, the slowdown of the wavefront is found to be smaller. The time- and space-domain calculations are also supported by the numerical solution of a dispersion equation, which shows that the phase velocity may be significantly less than the speed of light.
F-box Protein FBXL16 Binds PP2A-B55α and Regulates Differentiation of Embryonic Stem Cells along the FLK1+ Lineage

The programmed formation of specific tissues from embryonic stem cells is a major goal of regenerative medicine. To identify points of intervention in cardiac tissue formation, we performed an siRNA screen in murine embryonic stem cells to identify ubiquitin system genes that repress cardiovascular tissue formation. Our screen uncovered an F-box protein, Fbxl16, as a repressor of one of the earliest steps in the cardiogenic lineage: FLK1+ progenitor formation. Whereas F-box proteins typically form SCF ubiquitin ligases, shotgun mass spectrometry revealed that FBXL16 instead binds protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) containing a B55 specificity subunit (PP2AB55). Phosphoproteomic analyses indicate that FBXL16 negatively regulates phosphorylation of the established PP2AB55 substrate, vimentin. We suggest that FBXL16 negatively regulates the activity of B55α-PP2A to modulate the genesis of FLK1+ progenitor cells.
Optimal Free Thyroxine Levels for Thyroid Hormone Replacement in Hypothyroidism

Objective: To determine whether a difference exists in the free thyroxine level required to achieve a normal thyrotropin (thyroid-stimulating hormone or TSH) level between patients with primary hypothyroidism and euthyroid control subjects and compare the free thyroxine levels in patients with primary and secondary hypothyroidism receiving thyroid hormone replacement.Methods: We retrospectively assessed TSH and free thyroxine values in 58 patients with primary hypothyroidism and 78 euthyroid control subjects for whom screening thyroid function tests had been performed. From the medical records, we also obtained free thyroxine values for 23 patients with central hypothyroidism receiving stable levothyroxine replacement therapy.Results: The mean free thyroxine level was significantly higher in patients with primary hypothyroidism than in euthyroid control subjects (1.36 ± 0.201 ng/dL versus 1.10 ± 0.155 ng/dL, respectively; P≤.0001), whereas the corresponding mean TSH concentrations did not differ significa...
Anatomic excision of anterior prostatic fat at radical prostatectomy: implications for pathologic upstaging.

INTRODUCTION After exposure of the retropubic space, the surgeon commonly dissects the fat overlying the prostate and usually discards it. We have previously described the importance of dissecting this fat to completely visualize the dorsal venous complex (DVC) and prostatic apex. In this study, we describe a technique to dissect and remove the anterior prostatic fat pad (APF) and its anatomic and pathologic significance. TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS After the retropubic space was prepared, we dissected the fat overlying the puboprostatic ligaments and the DVC to fully expose these structures. The superficial branch of the DVC was then transected, and the fat was dissected cephalad to the junction with the bladder. The fat was then further dissected laterally toward the lateral pelvic sidewall. Video analysis of the lateral dissection of the fat revealed a direct link to the obturator lymph node chain, where it was transected. Pathologic analysis demonstrated that 30 (14.7%) of 204 patients had one or more APF lymph nodes, of which four were positive for metastatic prostate cancer. The cancer of 3 of these 4 patients was upstaged as a result of the detection of these positive nodes. CONCLUSIONS The dissection of the APF facilitates visualization of the apex and bladder neck. Anatomically, we have demonstrated that the APF contains lymph nodes approximately 15% of the time that are in communication with the obturator lymph node chain and DVC. We found that removal of the APF and its pathologic analysis can result in pathologic upstaging.
Voltage-gated currents in muscle cells of Schistosoma mansoni.

Three morphologically distinct types of muscle fibres isolated from the platyhelminth Schistosoma mansoni have been studied with whole cell current- and voltage-clamp techniques. Fibres showed a marked time-dependent decrease in membrane resistance in response to depolarizing current injections. Voltage-clamp experiments revealed the presence of two distinct voltage-gated outward currents. The most prominent current is a slowly activating, slowly and incompletely inactivating potassium current similar to delayed rectifier currents which have been described in a variety of cell types from a variety of organisms. Also present is a faster activating, quickly and completely inactivating potassium current that shares functional characteristics with ‘A’-currents. All three of the cell types studied possess a delayed rectifier current, but only two of the three types have ‘A’-currents. Though depolarization with high K + leads to contraction of the dispersed fibres, no voltage-gated inward currents could be detected by whole cell voltage-clamp under any of our conditions.
Seville and the Atlantic: Cycles In Spanish Colonial Trade

Seville et l'Atlantiquel fills a good fifteen-inch bookshelf. The eleven volumes weigh twenty-five pounds, unbound; the text, tables, charts, plates, and maps add up to 7,328 pages; and the list price is equivalent to $i09. These figures (which will be larger when Volume VIII.i bis appears) furnish an indexcertainly not the most important-of the formidable achievement of the two French scholars. The boundaries of their research span three centuries and two oceans. Les Philippines et le Pacific des IbWriques appeared in ix6o, and three volumes of Cadiz et l'Atlantique, i651-1800, are promised for the near future. It would be difficult, at least in the field of economic history, to cite a better example of Gallic indefatigability. Except for the collaboration of Jacques Bertin, Guy Arbellot, and Marie-Claude Lapeyre on graphical construction, Seville et l'Atlantique is the work of M. and Mme. Chaunu. They are joint authors of the Partie statistique (Volumes I-VII); M. Chaunu wrote the Partie interpretative (Volume VIII). The statistics refer to the 17,967 voyages of Spanish ships which sailed the Atlantic in I504-i650. Reviewing previous attempts to quantify the history of colonial trade, the Chaunus point to records, particularly the Libros de registro, which earlier researchers have ignored or merely skimmed. None is spared their rebuke for neglecting the records available for constructing comprehensive and continuous statistical series. The pertinent documents, thanks to the numerous bureaucracy employed to regulate every aspect of Spanish colonial affairs, are preserved in the fabulous Archive of the Indies in Seville. Over the years fire, water, and theft have taken their toll of valuable records; and the many lacunae in the published tables, particularly for the sixteenth century, attest to the disappearance of manuscripts which undoubtedly existed. Nevertheless, the Chaunus have uncovered a mass of data which supersedes by a wide margin the yield obtained by other historians who have made quantitative studies of Spanish trade. Conceivably, someone may wish to return to the archives to verify a detail or search for a stray figure to fill a gap. It is utterly inconceivable that anyone will tread the same paths as the Chaunus in hopes of getting significantly different results. It would be a waste of resources to attempt it. By any reasonable standard, this is a definitive piece of fact-gathering and statistical summarization. Volume I describes minutely the archival sources and the procedures em-
Two New Serovars of Chlamydia Psittaci from North American Birds

Five Chlamydia psittaci isolates (1 turkey, 1 psittacine, 1 human, and 2 pigeon isolates) failed to react with serovar-specific monoclonal antibodies to known avian and mammalian C. psittaci serovars and were presumed to represent 1 or more new serovars. The isolates were characterized using restriction endonuclease analysis of the whole genome, polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism of the major outer membrane protein genome, monoclonal antibody comparisons, and growth in tissue culture. Monoclonal antibodies were produced to the human isolate (MP) and to the psittacine isolate (VS225). The monoclonal antibody results show that the isolates represent 2 new avian serovars (serovars E and F). The restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the major outer membrane protein genome demonstrated that the isolates are distinct. The whole genome restriction endonuclease analysis data and the growth patterns in tissue culture indicate that the new serovars are similar to avian serovars recognized previously. A subspecies mono- clonal antibody that reacted with serovars A and B also reacted with serovar E, indicating that these serovars are closely related. The results show that these isolates represent 2 new avian serovars, making them the fifth and sixth avian serovars identified in North American birds.
Surface Precipitation of Co(II)(aq) on Al2O3

Abstract Surface precipitation is an important process in many areas of science and technology, including modeling contaminant segregation from groundwater to solid phases and dispersion of active phases on catalyst supports. XAFS, TEM, and XPS measurements of Co(II) sorbed on Al2O3demonstrate that surface precipitates have formed from solutions that are undersaturated with respect to any known bulk solid phase. The precipitates have a structure similar to that of Co(OH)2(s), but are disordered and have a high concentration of Co vacancies. The data plus thermodynamic reasoning have been used to analyze the plausibility of various models for surface precipitation and to show that for Co(II)/Al2O3it occurs by forming a double-hydroxide phase containing substrate-derived Al(III) ions. This idea was corroborated by mixing aqueous solutions of Al(III) and Co(II) at the pH and concentration of the sorption samples, forming a stable colloidal precipitate that is less soluble than either Al(OH)3or Co(OH)2. The Co XAFS of this material was similar to that of the sorption samples. Successful quantitative models of metal ion transport in groundwater need to include the possibility of forming ternary and higher order precipitates that include ions derived from sparingly soluble solids. For catalyst impregnation, surface coprecipitation can prevent production of a well-dispersed precursor material.
SEQUENTIAL WARNING-LIGHT SYSTEM FOR WORK-ZONE LANE CLOSURES

Research performed to assess the effectiveness of a flashing warning-light system for use at work-zone lane closures is summarized. The system is composed of a series of interconnected, synchronized flashing warning lights that produce the illusion of motion. Researchers investigated motorist understanding and perceived usefulness of various designs of the warning-light system, and the potential of this system to yield significant operational or safety benefits in actual work-zone applications. Results from proving ground and field studies show that the flashing warning-light system used in the work-zone lane closure is perceived positively and is not confusing to the motoring public. The field-study results also revealed that the prototype warning-light system may encourage motorists to vacate a closed travel lane farther upstream from the work zone (which is believed to offer a potential safety benefit). When the warning-light system was activated at the urban freeway test site, a relatively new closure...
Elastic moduli of MoSi2-based materials

We prepared MoSi{sub 2}, two-phase MoSi{sub 2}/Mo{sub 5}Si{sub 3}, and (Mo,W)Si{sub 2} solid-solution alloy powders by mechanically alloying mixtures of elemental molybdenum, silicon, and tungsten. These powders were consolidated by hot-pressing them at 1500 {degree}C in graphite dies. We measured the elastic moduli of these alloys by a recently developed technique for non-contact ultrasonic spectroscopy. Second-phase Mo{sub 5}Si{sub 3} additions to MoSi{sub 2} result in decreased values for {ital G} and {ital E}, whereas alloying MoSi{sub 2} with WSi{sub 2} results in increased values for {ital G} and {ital E}. An analysis of these Young's moduli and of data from the literature for various intermetallic alloys suggests that for any given alloy system, the Young's moduli for its various intermetallics as a function of density fall on a straight line. Further, the lines for the different alloy systems are approximately parallel.
Low-Heat-Load-Vane Profile Optimization, Part 1: Code Validation and Airfoil Redesign

Historically, there has been a distinct difference between the design of turbomachinery airfoils for aerodynamic performance and that for durability. However, future aeroengine systems will require ever-increasing levels of turbine inlettemperature, causing the durability andreliability of components to be anever-more-important design concern. As a result, the need to incorporate heat-transfer predictions into traditional aerodynamic design and optimizationsystems presents itself.Thefollowing isaneffortto designaminimized-heat-load airfoilwith reputable aerodynamics. A Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes flow solver is validated over different flow regimes and various boundary conditions against extensive data available in literature. A nominal vane airfoil midspan profile is redesigned for minimum heat load by means of both design practice and two types of optimization algorithms. Resultsindicateanappreciablereductionintheoreticalheatloadrelativetotheoriginalvane;peakleading-edgeheat transfer was reduced and suction-surface transition onset was delayed significantly. A method for two-dimensional design optimization for aerodynamics and heat load is successfully demonstrated.
Oxidation of atmospheric reduced sulphur compounds: perspective from laboratory studies

Results of laboratory experiments which address the course of the OH + DMS (dimethyl sulphide) reaction in the atmosphere are presented. It is shown that OH reacts via a complex sequence of reactions to produce CH3S and other products, and argued that NO3 is unlikely to be an important oxidizer of DMS in the marine boundary layer (MBL) because it is very efficiently taken up by water droplets. A simplified mechanism for the oxidation of DMS in the troposphere is presented. This mechanism explains some of the field observations on the end products of DMS oxidation and their variations with temperature.
Commentary on Rickinson's 'Learners and Learning in Environmental Education: A critical review of the evidence' (EER 7(3))

Three central premises are advanced in this commentary. First, the research literature in and closely related to environmental education (EE) has grown in volume and in diverse directions over the past three decades. This alone makes the task of reviewing or synthesizing EE research difficult and problematic. Second, the task of undertaking anything approaching a comprehensive review of any significant portion of that research, such as by Rickinson for the 1993-99 period, is both enormous and complex. Such efforts are to be both respected for the skill and effort involved, and carefully analyzed due to the influence that one individual's conclusions may have on thinking, research, and practice in the field. Third, due to the volume and diversity of this research, and to the magnitude and complexity of the task of reviewing it, it is my contention that this task is better undertaken by teams of researchers rather than by individual researchers working more or less alone. Reasons to support this premise are...
Occurrence and accumulation of pesticides and organic contaminants in river sediment, water and clam tissues from the san Joaquin River and tributaries, California

A study was conducted in 1992 to assess the effects of anthropogenic activities and land use on the water quality of the San Joaquin River and its major tributaries. This study focused on pesticides and organic contaminants, looking at distributions of contaminants in water, bed and suspended sediment, and the bivalve Corbicula fluminea. Results indicated that this river system is affected by agricultural practices and urban runoff. Sediments from Dry Creek contained elevated concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), possibly derived from urban runoff from the city of Modesto; suspended sediments contained elevated amounts of chlordane. Trace levels of triazine herbicides atrazine and simazine were present in water at most sites. Sediments, water, and bivalves from Orestimba Creek, a westside tributary draining agricultural areas, contained the greatest levels of DDT (1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis[p-chlorophenyl]ethane), and its degradates DDD (1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis[p-chlorophenyl]ethane), and DDE (1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis[p-chlorophenyl]ethylene). Sediment adsorption coefficients (Koc), and bioconcentration factors (BCF) in Corbicula of DDT, DDD, and DDE at Orestimba Creek were greater than predicted values. Streams of the western San Joaquin Valley can potentially transport significant amounts of chlorinated pesticides to the San Joaquin River, the delta, and San Francisco Bay. Organochlorine compounds accumulate in bivalves and sediment and may pose a problem to other biotic species in this watershed.
An experimental and theoretical approach to determining linkages between geochemical variability and microbial biodiversity in seafloor hydrothermal chimneys

New experimental results of fluid-mineral reactions at hydrothermal conditions relevant to life demonstrate that key redox reactions involving iron, sulfur, and hydrogen remain at disequilibrium at 100 °C, even in a heterogeneous system and thus are energetically favorable for microbial metabolism. Predictions from geochemical models utilizing the experimental results and specific to two contrasting case studies from the East Pacific Rise were statistically characterized and correlated to the energetics of redox reactions available for intra-chimney microbial populations. In general, predictions of available energy for autotrophic metabolism are largely similar between the mature and the nascent chimneys, although important differences still exist. Metabolic processes predicted by energetics exhibit the same trends observed in the field data for the mature chimney, but overestimate the diversity observed in the nascent chimney. Several combinations of redox reaction pairs are predicted to support mixed consortia, while some combinations appear to favor more versatile microbes capable of utilizing several reactions under rapidly changing environmental conditions within chimney walls. In addition, conditions favorable to elemental sulfur reduction and methanogenesis exhibit a negative control on the diversity of microbial populations within these chimney walls, whereas H₂S oxidation, elemental sulfur oxidation and the knallgas reaction are positively correlated with both abundance and diversity of micro-organisms. Coupling field observations of both microbial diversity and geochemical heterogeneity with lab-based experimental and theoretical modeling can facilitate translation of the observed genetic diversity into physiological diversity, thus enhancing understanding of linked phenomena of microbially induced biogeochemical transformations in complex heterogeneous systems.
Activation of CD45-deficient T cell clones by lectin mitogens but not anti-Thy-1

CD45, the leukocyte-common antigen, is a transmembrane protein tyrosine phosphatase uniquely expressed by cells of hematopoietic origin. We have developed CD4+ and CD8+ T cell clones that are deficient in the expression of CD45 and have previously shown that these cells fail to proliferate in response to antigen or cross-linked CD3. These studies have now been extended to show that stimulation with anti-Thy-1, a mitogenic signal for the CD4+CD45+ and CD8+CD45+ T cells, fails to induce proliferation in the CD45- T cells. Examination of the CD8+CD45- T cells correlates anti-Thy-1 unresponsiveness with a failure to increase in tyrosine phosphorylation. Furthermore, stimulation of CD8+CD45+ T cells with anti-Thy-1 results in an increase in p56lck activity but not in CD8+CD45- T cells. In contrast to the results with anti-Thy-1, both the CD4+CD45- and CD8+CD45- T cells respond to treatment with lectin mitogens, concanavalin A or phytohemagglutinin. Lectin-induced proliferation was inhibited by the addition of cyclosporin A. Treatment of CD45- T cells with PMA and ionomycin also results in proliferation indicating that activation of protein kinase C in conjunction with an increase in intracellular calcium rescues the defect caused by CD45 deficiency. The data suggest that CD45 is required for the activation of tyrosine kinase activity immediate or prior to transmembrane signaling.
Clinical diagnostic criteria and classification controversies in frontotemporal lobar degeneration

Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) can manifest as a spectrum of clinical syndromes, ranging from behavioural impairment to language or motor dysfunction. Recently, revised diagnostic criteria have been proposed for the behavioural and progressive aphasia syndromes associated with frontotemporal degeneration. The present review will summarize these diagnostic guidelines and highlight some lingering controversies in the classification of FTLD clinical syndromes. We will discuss common tools and methods used to identify the insidious changes of behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), the value of new, patient-based tasks of orbitofrontal function, and the issue of a benign or ‘phenocopy’ variant of bvFTD. With regard to primary progressive aphasia (PPA), we will discuss the scope of the semantic disorder in semantic-variant PPA, the nature of the speech disorder in non-fluent, agrammatic PPA, and the preliminary utility of a logopenic PPA classification.
Resource Use on Alzheimer's Special Care Units

A multistate nursing home data base was used to compare resource use by residents on Alzheimer's Special Care Units (SCUs) and on other nursing home units. Overall, staff time expended per resident was less on SCUs. However, facilities with an SCU used considerably more staff time than facilities without. Unexpectedly, after accounting for case mix, SCU residents actually used the same amount of resources as other residents in facilities with an SCU. SCUs appear to be an attractive alternative for caring for demented nursing home residents. In assessing their cost effectiveness, appropriate comparison groups will be crucial.
Classification of patients with incident non-specific low back pain: implications for research

Abstract Background Context Comparing research studies of low back pain is difficult because of heterogeneity. There is no consensus among researchers on inclusion criteria or the definition of an episode. Purpose This study aimed to determine pattern(s) of recurrent non-specific low back pain from data collected over 27 months. Study Design/Setting This study used retrospective cohort study using administrative claims from multiple payers. Although claims are designed for capturing costs, not clinical complexity, they are valid for describing utilization patterns, which are not affected by potential "upcoding." Patient Sample The patient sample consisted of population-based, nationally generalizable sample of 65,790 adults with continuous medical and pharmaceutical commercial health insurance who received health care for incident, non-specific low back pain. Potential subjects were excluded for plausible cause of the pain, severe mental illness, or cognitive impairment. Outcome Measures Diagnostic and therapeutic health-care services, including medical, surgical, pharmaceutical, and complementary, received in inpatient, outpatient, and emergency settings were the outcome measures for this study. Methods The methods used for this study were latent class analysis of health-care utilization over 27 months (9 quarters) following index diagnosis of non-specific low back pain occurring in January–March 2009 and an analysis sample with 60% of subjects (n=39,597) and validation sample of 40% (n=26,193). Results Four distinct groups of patients were identified and validated. One group (53.4%) of patients recovered immediately. One third of patients (31.7%) may appear to recover over 6 months, but maintain a 37–48% likelihood of receiving care for low back pain in every subsequent quarter, implying frequent relapse. Two remaining groups of patients each maintain very high probabilities of receiving care in every quarter (65–78% and 84–90%), predominantly utilizing therapeutic services and pain medication, respectively. Probabilistic grouping relative to alternatives was very high (89.6–99.3%). Grouping was not related to demographic or clinical characteristics. Conclusions The four distinct sets of patient experiences have clear implications for research. Inclusion criteria should specify incident or recurrent cases. A 6-month clean period may not be sufficiently long to assess incidence. Reporting should specify the proportion recovering immediately to prevent mean recovery rates from masking between-group differences. Continuous measurement of pain or disability may be more reliable than measuring outcomes at distinct endpoints.
Infant-Caregiver Interactions and the Developmental, Individual-Difference, Relationship-Based (DIR) Model: Implications for Psychopathology and the Psychotherapeutic Process

Observing and working with infants and young children with a range of clinical challenges, as well as adaptive patterns, has provided an opportunity to further understand early developmental pathways. From observations of early infant/caregiver affective interactions, we constructed the Developmental, Individual-Difference, Relationship-Based (DIR) model, a framework which delineates functional emotional developmental capacities, individual biologically based motor and sensory processing differences, and formative relationship patterns. We have employed this model to describe early developmental pathways associated with anxiety disorders and depression, bipolar, obsessive/compulsive, and narcissistic patterns, as well as autistic spectrum disorders, borderline conditions, and personality disorders. The DIR model also provides insights into the therapeutic process. It describes different levels of prerepresentational experience and enables the psychotherapeutic process to address these levels as well as in...
Land rent in the EU in relation to production specialization

The great share of land rent in total utilized area as well as a significant variability of land rent and market price of land is connected to a need of research activities that could assess factors and the importance of their impact to land rent and price in each state. The structure of farm production is supposed to be of a major influence so that the paper classifies the EU states according to production specialization. Within such sample, factors influencing the land rent – i.e. the intensity of production, farm income, share of rented land and operation subsidies – are discussed. The intensity of production is revealed to be the most important factor.
A synergistic antiobesity effect by a combination of capsinoids and cold temperature through promoting beige adipocyte biogenesis

Beige adipocytes emerge postnatally within the white adipose tissue in response to certain environmental cues, such as chronic cold exposure. Because of its highly recruitable nature and relevance to adult humans, beige adipocytes have gained much attention as an attractive cellular target for antiobesity therapy. However, molecular circuits that preferentially promote beige adipocyte biogenesis remain poorly understood. We report that a combination of mild cold exposure at 17°C and capsinoids, a nonpungent analog of capsaicin, synergistically and preferentially promotes beige adipocyte biogenesis and ameliorates diet-induced obesity. Gain- and loss-of-function studies show that the combination of capsinoids and cold exposure synergistically promotes beige adipocyte development through the β2-adrenoceptor signaling pathway. This synergistic effect on beige adipocyte biogenesis occurs through an increased half-life of PRDM16, a dominant transcriptional regulator of brown/beige adipocyte development. We document a previously unappreciated molecular circuit that controls beige adipocyte biogenesis and suggest a plausible approach to increase whole-body energy expenditure by combining dietary components and environmental cues.
Microsolvation of 1,4-Butanediol: The Competition between Intra- and Intermolecular Hydrogen Bonding

The conformational space of 1,4-butanediol was examined at ωB97X-D/6-311+G(d,p). Of the 65 conformers examined, the seven lowest energy conformations have an internal hydrogen bond. The strength of this hydrogen bond is estimated to be 4 kcal mol(-1). A broad variety of microsolvated configurations of both the open form 5o and hydrogen-bonded form 5r of 1,4-butanediol involving one to four water molecules were located at ωB97X-D/6-311+G(d,p). When one to three water molecules are included in the clusters, the lowest energy configurations involve the hydrogen-bonded form 5r. With four water molecules, configurations involving the open form 5o are favored enthalpically, but configurations with the hydrogen bonded form 5r are the lowest in free energy. These calculations suggest that both 5r and 5o will coexist in aqueous solution.
Silicon carbide refractories with a complex bond of Si2On, SiC, Si3N4

The physical and chemical processes taking place during the firing of products obtained from silicon carbide and silicon largely depend on the gaseous medium.
Developing a smartphone application for the life enhancement treatment for substance use (lets act) Designing for motivation and feedback

The Life Enhancement Treatment for Substance Use (LETS ACT) is a behavioral activation based treatment for comorbid depression and substance use (Daughters et al, 2008). We describe the iterative design process for including motivational and informational attributes in a smartphone application supporting treatment via LETS ACT and LETS ACT-SE (Daughters & Chen, 2014). Design of the app was uniquely constrained by the need to meet clinical requirements while serving a special population of substance users. The primary goal of LETS ACT is to motivate the user to identify, engage in, and continue engaging in rewarding activities that align with their important life areas, goals, and values, and thus extend the effects of treatment sessions through self-management. In support of this primary goal, the goal of the app is to motivate the user to continue to use the application, and thus to adhere to the primary goal: self- management of treatment. In efficacy studies of LETS ACT and LETS ACT-SE, users could see...
Assessment of Elevation Accuracy in GPS-RTK Measurement——Analysis and discussion of GPS elevationin substitute substandard level

Based on fitted elevation estimating theory and analysis of true data in GPS-RTK measurement,it discussed the feasibility,the accuracy indicial assurance,the application and meaning of the subtitution of GPS elevation for substandard level.
Clinical analysis of congenital syphilis:55 cases report

Objective:To find out the clinic characteristics of congenital syphilis(CS),to reduce the possibility of misdiagnosis.Methods:Fifty-five(aged at hedyanhour to three years)cases were analyzed the clinic manifestation retrospectively during 1999 to 2008.Results:There were 33 male and 22 female.of 55 cases,only 5 were diagnosed as CS at the beginning of entry hospital and the rest were misdiagnosed.The main complain showed 27 cases with mucocutaneous lesion(papula,papulopustule,bleb,desquamation),26 with jaundice,32 with hepatomegaly,14 with splenomegaly,12 with tachypnea,6 with osteomyolitis,20 with nose problem(rhinocleisis, epistaxis,rhinorrhea),7 with congenital deformity,5 with hemorrhage,4 with abdominal distension,1 with abdominal pain,2 with vomiting,2 with edema,1 with tic,1 with bad cry.Conclusion:In most newborns and infants,the onset of CP is heralded by nonspecific signs which involved multi-system.The rate of misdiagnosed for CP could be beyond 90%.
Alkene Hydrosilylation Using Tertiary Silanes with α-Diimine Nickel Catalysts. Redox-Active Ligands Promote a Distinct Mechanistic Pathway from Platinum Catalysts

Combination of the readily available α-diimine ligand, ((ArN═C(Me))2 Ar = 2,6-iPr2–C6H3), (iPrDI) with air-stable nickel(II) bis(carboxylates) generated a highly active catalyst exhibiting anti-Markovnikov selectivity for the hydrosilylation of alkenes with a variety of industrially relevant tertiary alkoxy- and siloxy-substituted silanes. A combination of the method of continuous variations with stoichiometric studies identified the formally Ni(I) hydride dimer, [(iPrDI)NiH]2 as the nickel compound formed following reduction of the carboxylate ligands. For the hydrosilylation of 1-octene with (EtO)3SiH, a rate law of [Ni]1/2[1-octene][(EtO)3SiH] in combination with deuterium-labeling studies establish dissociation of the nickel hydride dimer followed by fast and reversible alkene insertion into (iPrDI)NiH, consistent with turnover-limiting C–Si bond formation. The hydrosilylation of 1-octene with triethoxysilane, a reaction performed commercially in the silicones industry on a scale of >5 000 000 kg/year...
Radiation-Induced Bladder Tumors

A recent 25-year experience with patients treated for carcinoma of the uterine cervix who subsequently had bladder tumors is presented. Of the 3,091 patients treated 2,674 had received radiotherapy and 8 suffered vesical malignancies of varied histopathological type 6 months to 20 years after irradiation. This incidence rate is 299.9 per 100,000, which is 57.6 times that of the general female population. Benign radiation reactions of the bladder and the possible etiology of radiation-induced bladder cancers are discussed.
Realisierung der Präsentation in STEP

Die Ubertragung der Ideen und Konzepte zur Prasentation, insbesondere der Ergebnisse aus den Kapiteln 6, 7 und 8, in die Realitat erfolgt im Rahmen der Arbeiten zu STEP. Wie die Analyse der Zielsetzung und des Umfanges von STEP in Kapitel 5 bereits gezeigt hat, handelt es sich bei STEP um ein kombiniertes internationales Forschungs-, Entwicklungs- und Normungsprojekt. An der Definition und Spezifikation des Informationsmodells STEP-Prasentation ist der Verfasser dieses Buches seit 1987 masgeblich und seit 1989 sogar als Dokumentenfuhrer beteiligt.
Using Pre-Milestone B Data to Predict Schedule Duration for Defense Acquisition Programs

Accurately predicting a realistic schedule for a defense acquisition program is a difficult challenge considering the inherent risk and uncertainties present in the early stages of a program. Through the application of multiple regression modeling, we provide the program manager with a statistical model that predicts schedule duration from official program initiation, which occurs at Milestone B, to the initial operational capability of the program’s deliverable system. Our model explains 42.9% of the variation in schedule duration across historical data from a sample of 56 defense programs from all military services. Statistically significant predictor variables include whether a program is a new effort or modification to an existing program, the year of Milestone B start as it relates to changes in defense acquisition reform policy, and the amount of raw funding (adjusted for inflation) prior to Milestone B for a program. Our final and strongest predictor variable, percentage of the total RDT&E (Researc...