cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sizing pressure relief valves in flashing and two-phase service: an alternative procedure

Abstract In view of the greater accuracy of the ω HEM correlation and the resulting conservative PR valve sizing (relative to the traditional PR valve sizing methods), the ω HEM-based flow calculations are recommended for all situations where flashing or two-phase flow occurs within the PR valve. However, as with any correlation, the accuracy of the ω HEM correlation results drops as the system to which it is applied diverges from the data used to develop it. Analysis of 15 different systems representative of actual refinery streams indicate that for fluids with a wide boiling range and for very non-ideal systems such as those containing hydrogen, the HEM correlation underpredicts the mass flux significantly (i.e. overpredicts the PR valve size). Since the large deviations are on the conservative side, the procedure will result in excessively large PR valves that may cause problems because of chattering of the PR valves, but would not present potential for vessel failure. The majority of the deviations are a result of the fact that the simplifying assumptions built into the correlation for single component do not truly characterize the actual flashing behaviour of many multicomponent fluids. The alternative approach presented, in which the correlation parameter ω is based on the actual flashing behaviour, eliminates nearly all the deviations and significantly improves the results of the correlation regardless of the system analysed. For trouble systems (those containing more than 0.1 wt% hydrogen and for some multicomponent fluids with a nominal boiling range greater than 80°C (150°F), the alternative approach should be used to define the correlation parameter ω. Use of this alternative approach is valid for any system (and will improve the accuracy of the correlation) but does require an additional flash calculation. However, for other systems the original formulation of ω is adequate and can be used.
Sustainable harvesting of tropical rainforests: Reply to Keto, Scott and Olsen

This paper refutes the Keto et al. proposition that the Queensland selection logging system is neither ecologically nor economically sustainable. The key requirements of this system are: (1) that logging guidelines are sympathetic to the silvicultural characteristics of the forest, ensuring adequate regeneration of commercial species and discouraging invasion by weeds; (2) tree-marking by trained staff specifies trees to be retained, trees to be removed and the direction of felling to ensure minimal damage to the residual stand; (3) logging equipment is appropriate and driven by trained operators to ensure minimal damage and soil disturbance, compaction and erosion; (4) prescriptions ensure that adequate stream buffers and steep slopes are excluded from logging; (5) sufficient areas for scientific reference, feature protection and recreation are identified and excluded from logging; and (6) that deficiencies in an evolving system are recognized and remedied, leading to an improved system. Many studies of the effects of logging in these forests have been published and collectively provide a unique demonstration of one possible approach to sustainable timber harvesting.
Experiments with Bohr integration.

A model was constructed to test the hypothesis that the change in blood gas tension along a capillary with low membrane diffusivity follows the time or distance course predicted from Bohr integration. Experimental and calculated data corresponded closely when blood-gasp CO 2 gradient was 0 mmHg as is assumed to be the case in Bohr integration. An equation for analog simulation of the model was derived and its applicability to computer calculation of mean gradients and Bohr integral isopleths was illustrated.
Mobile Project Networks: Regional Dynamics in the U.S. Film and Television Industry

Labor mobility and flexible employment practices have been recognized as central constructs in research on creative industries. However, despite the increasing mobility of creative work, flexible employment practices have received much more attention than the geographic mobility of creative projects and workers. This article addresses this gap by studying regional network dynamics in the evolution of the film industry in Massachusetts between 2000 and 2010. The author shows that the geographic distribution and specific types of labor and nonwage spending in the Massachusetts film industry varied over time as a function of the regional project mix and policies designed to lure highly mobile projects to the region.
Application of full range swept source optical coherence tomography for imaging of the anterior eye segment in patients with type I Boston Keratoprosthesis

We present a high-speed complex conjugate resolved 1 μm swept source optical coherence tomography [SS-OCT] system using coherence revival of the light source for clinical imaging of the anterior segment of the eye. High-speed of 100,000 A-scans/sec and 1 μm imaging window of OCT permits dense 3D imaging of the anterior segment, minimizing the influence of motion artifacts and deep penetration of images for topographic analysis. The swept laser performance with internal clocking was adapted to achieve extended imaging depth requirements. The feasibility of our instrument for visualization of the anterior segment of patients with the Boston Keratoprosthesis (KPro) was discussed. The relations between of the KPro and the surrounding tissue were also demonstrated.
The coordination chemistry of cationic main group clusters: syntheses and structures of [Fe3(Se2)2(CO)10]2+ and [Fe4(Se2)3(CO)12]2+☆

The reactions of the polysulfur and selenium cationic clusters S82+ and Se82+ with various iron carbonyls were investigated. Several new chalcogen containing iron carbonyl cluster cations were isolated, depending on the nature of the counteranion. In the presence of SbF6− as a counterion, the cluster [Fe3(E2)2(CO)10] [SbF6]2·SO2 (E = S, Se) could be isolated from the reaction of E82+ and excess iron carbonyl. The cluster is a picnic-basket shaped molecule of two iron centers linked by two Se2 groups, with the whole fragment capped by an Fe(CO)4 group. Crystallographic data for C10O12Fe3Se4Sb2F12S (I): space group monoclinic P21/c, a = 11.810(9), b = 24.023(6), c = 10.853(7) A, β = 107.15(5)°, V = 2942(3) A3, Z = 4, R = 0.0426, Rw = 0.0503. When Sb2F11− is present as the counterion, or Se4[Sb2F11]2 is used as the cluster cation source, a different cluster can be isolated, which has the formula [Fe4(Se2)3(CO)12] [SbF6]2·3SO2. The dication contains two Fe2Se2 fragments bridged by an Se2 group. Crystallographic data for C12O18Fe4Se6Sb2F12S3 (III): space group triclinic P1, a = 10.941(4), b = 18.400(9), c = 10.253(4) A, α = 93.10(4), β = 103.74(3), γ = 93.98(3)°, V = 1995(1) A3, Z = 2, R = 0.0328, Rw = 0.0325. The CO stretches in the IR spectrum all show a large shift to higher wavenumbers, suggesting almost no τ backbonding from the metals. This also correlates with the observed bond distances. All the compounds are extremely sensitive to air and water, and readily lose SO2 when removed from the solvent. Thus all the crystals were handled at −100°C. The clusters seem to be either insoluble or unstable in all solvents investigated.
Particle–Tracking Analysis of Flow Paths and Traveltimes from Hypothetical Spill Sites Within the Capture Area of a Wellfield

Velocity fields computed from simulated flows from a steady–state, three–dimensional numerical model of a glacialdrift/carbonate–bedrock aquifer system were used in conjunction with a particle–tracking program to delineate traveltimerelated capture areas of a municipal wellfield and to compute flow paths and advective traveltimes from hypothetical spill sites located along interstate highways and heavily traveled State routes. Results indicate the municipal wells operated by the City of Columbus, Ohio, capture flow from certain highway segments but other discharge points, including quarrydewatering systems, the Scioto River, and Big Walnut Creek, capture flow from other highway segments. Advective traveltimes from three hypothetical spill sites to the municipal wells range from 900 to 5,100 days under normal pumping rates and from 450 to 3,100 days under estimated maximum pumping rates. The 2,000–day capture area of the wellfield is approximately 30 percent larger (16 square miles) and contains approximately 4.5 more miles of highway under estimated maximum pumping rates compared to normal pumping rates.
Role for c-Abl tyrosine kinase in growth arrest response to DNA damage

The c-Abl protein tyrosine kinase is activated by certain DNA-damaging agents, and its overexpression causes arrest in the G1 phase of the cell cycle by a mechanism dependent on the tumour-suppressor protein p53 (refs 2-4). Here we investigate the possible role of c-Abl in growth arrest induced by DNA damage. Transient transfection experiments using wild-type or inactivated c-Abl show that both induce expression of p21, an effector of p53, but only wild-type c-Abl downregulates the activity of the cyclin-dependent kinase Cdk2 and causes growth arrest. Exposure to ionizing radiation of cells that stably express active or inactive c-Abl is associated with induction of c-Abl/p53 complexes and p21 expression. However, cells expressing the dominant-negative c-Abl mutant and cells lacking the c-abl gene are impaired in their ability to downregulate Cdk2 or undergo G1 arrest in response to ionizing radiation. We also show that expression of c-Abl kinase in p21(-1-), but not in p53(-1-), cells results in downregulation of Cdk2. Our results suggest that c-Abl kinase contributes to the regulation of growth arrest induced by ionizing radiation by a p53-dependent, p21-independent mechanism.
Comparative morphology, functions, and homologies of the coxal glands in oribatid mites (Arachnida: Acari)

1. Forty-eight species of oribatids in 37 families representing most of the superfamilies were collected from various environments (littoral, salt marsh, litter, sod, and freshwater) and sectioned. 2. The coxal gland is composed of a sacculus and a labyrinth in all stages of all oribatid species. Muscles, originating on the body wall, insert at several points on the thin-walled sacculus which opens into the labyrinth. The labyrinth has an internal, chitinous supporting skeleton. The type A labyrinth has 3-180° bends, producing four parallel regions, and occurs in all inferior oribatids. The type B labyrinth has 1-180° bend, producing two parallel regions, and occurs in all superior oribatids. The coxal gland duct and the lateral gland duct join, penetrate the body wall, and empty into the posterior end of the podocephalic canal. All oribatids have lateral accessory glands, but only inferior oribatids have rostral and medial glands. Three ductless coxendral bodies are always present. 3. The labyrinth length in oribatids is correlated with body size and the environment of the species. Oribatids from sod, leaflitter, or moss show a simple correlation of labyrinth length (X) to total body length (Y) where Y = 4.64X. Freshwater species have a labyrinth length greater than that of comparably sized terrestrial species and salt water (littoral) species have a labyrinth length less than that of comparably sized terrestrial species. There is a greater reduction in labyrinth length in species restricted to salt marshes than in species not restricted to salt marshes. 4. The probable function of oribatid coxal glands is osmoregulation. Hemolymph filtration would occur across the sacculus by positive hemolymph pressure and contraction of the sacculus muscles. Resorption of ions would occur in the labyrinth, which is noncollapsible due to the internal skeleton. The hypothesis is that in freshwater species the rate of filtration is high and resorption of ions would have to be very efficient, therefore they have an elongated labyrinth; but in salt water species water loss must be minimized and preservation of ions would be a disadvantage, therefore they have a shortened labyrinth. Excre ion may also be a function of the coxal glands. The lateral gland may possibly function as an endocrine gland involved with production of a molting hormone. The rostral glands in inferior oribatids may have a salivary function. 5. The coxal glands of Peripatus, some millipedes, apterygote insects, decapod crustaceans, and all arachnid orders are homologous. The Tetrastigmata, Notostigmata, Cryptostigmata, and soft ticks have typical arachnid coxal glands. The coxal glands of higher Prostigmata may be modified into salivary, silk, or venom glands. The coxal glands in Mesostigmata, Astigmata, and hard ticks are lacking or highly modified.
The Interaction of a Circular Dislocation Pile-up with a Short Rigid Fiber: a 3-D Dislocation Dynamics Simulation

This paper presents a dislocation dynamics simulation of the interaction of a circular dislocation pile-up with a short rigid fiber, say as in metal-matrix composites. The pile-up is composed of glide dislocation loops surrounding the fiber. This problem is treated here as a boundary value problem within the context of dislocation dynamics. The proper boundary condition to be enforced is that of no or zero elastic displacements at the fiber’s surface. Such a condition is satisfied by a distribution of rectangular dislocation loops, acting as sources of elastic displacements, meshing the fiber’s surface. Such treatment is similar to crack modeling using distributed dislocations and falls under the category of “generalized image stress analysis.” The unknown in this problem is the Burgers vectors of the surface loops. Once those are found, the Peach-Koehler force acting on the circular dislocation loops, and emulating the fiber’s presence, can be determined and the dynamical arrangement of the circular pile-up evolves naturally from traditional dislocation dynamics analysis.
The effects of lisuride on mood and sleep during acute withdrawal in stimulant abusers: A preliminary report

Psychostimulant abusers often experience anhedonia, depression, fatigue, craving, and hypersomnia and increased propensity for rapid eye movement (REM) sleep during periods of acute and subacute withdrawal from cocaine and amphetamine. These signs and symptoms may reflect a state of relative functional dopamine depletion in the brain during abstinence. Lisuride, which has dopaminergic agonist effects, has been reported to reduce signs of psychostimulant withdrawal in rodent models of stimulant abuse. These observations prompted us to test the effects of oral administration of lisuride for 3 weeks (up to 4.0 mg daily) on mood and craving ratings in a double-blind, parallel design, controlled study in hospitalized stimulant abusers during acute withdrawal from cocaine or amphetamine. Although administration of lisuride significantly prolonged REM latency and reduced REM time, amelioration of other signs of withdrawal was not significantly greater in lisuride as compared with placebo treated patients. Self-rated craving ratings, however, were low in both groups throughout the hospital stay. Further studies, perhaps in patients with more severe symptoms during withdrawal, are needed to fully test the efficacy of lisuride in the treatment of stimulant withdrawal.
Identification of CRALBP Ligand Interactions by Photoaffinity Labeling, Hydrogen/Deuterium Exchange, and Structural Modeling

Cellular retinaldehyde-binding protein (CRALBP) functions in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) as an acceptor of 11-cis-retinol in the isomerization step of the rod visual cycle and as a substrate carrier for 11-cis-retinol dehydrogenase. Toward a better understanding of CRALBP function, the ligand binding cavity in human recombinant CRALBP (rCRALBP) was characterized by photoaffinity labeling with 3-diazo-4-keto-11-cis-retinal and by high resolution mass spectrometric topological analyses. Eight photoaffinity-modified residues were identified in rCRALBP by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, including Tyr179, Phe197, Cys198, Met208, Lys221, Met222, Val223, and Met225. Multiple different adduct masses were found on the photolabeled residues, and the molecular identity of each modification remains unknown. Supporting the specificity of photo-labeling, 50% of the modified residues have been associate with retinoid interactions by independent analyses. In addition, topological analysis of apo- and holo-rCRALBP by hydrogen/deuterium exchange and mass spectrometry demonstrated residues 198–255 incorporate significantly less deuterium when the retinoid binding pocket is occupied with 11-cis-retinal. This hydrophobic region encompasses all but one of the photo-labeled residues. A structural model of CRALBP ligand binding domain was constructed based on the crystal structures of three homologues in the CRAL-TRIO family of lipid-binding proteins. In the model, all of the photolabeled residues line the ligand binding cavity except Met208, which appears to reside in a flexible loop at the entrance/exit of the ligand cavity. Overall, the results expand to 12 the number of residues proposed to interact with ligand and provide further insight into CRALBP ligand and protein interactions.
Effects of task difficulty on subsequent preference for visual complexity.

. Summary.-Ss rated on a 1 to 13 Likert scale their preference for four environmental scenes which differed in complexity. Ss were then given 30 sec. to solve each of 10 3-, 5-, or 7-letter single-solution anagrams. Finally the Ss rated four new slides which were of the same complexity level as the slides seen during the first session. Change scores were calculated by subtracting the preference ratings at each complexity level during the first session from the rating at the corresponding complexity level during the second session. The Anagram Complexity x Slide Complexity interaction was significant; the complexity of the slides showing the most positive change scores was inversely related to the complexity of the anagrams attempted. The results were discussed in terms of optimal level of srimulation theories. During the last fifteen years a substantial amount of research has been done in the area of exploratory behavior and stimulus preference. Early theorists (Dember & Earl, 1957; Berlyne, 1960; Walker, 1964) all posited some op timal level of arousal or complexity. The organism would always strive to adjust his present level of stimulation in order to attain his optimal level. Recent investigations of these optimal level theories have focused on a previously neglected area of research-the effect of prechoice stimulation on subsequent stimulus preference. For example, using colored slides of tourist scenes, Berlyne and Crozier (1971) found that Ss' proportion of choices of more complex visual stimulation varied inversely with the complexity of the prechoice visual stimulus. Similarly, Leckart, Levine, Goscinski, and Brayman ( 1970) and Leckart, Glanville, Hootstein, Keleman, and Yaremko ( 1972 ) found that looking time ar random shapes and other stimuli varied directly with the amount of prechoice visual deprivation. These findings can all be explained by optimal level of stimulation theories. Complex prechoice stimulation might represent stimulation above S's optimal level. S would then be expected to decrease his choice of complex stimuli and increase his choice of simpler ones, thus striving to return to the optimal level. Similarly, the Leckart, et al. (1972) study showed that stimulus deprivation, which represents a suboptimal level of stimulation, resulted in increased looking time at subsequent stimulation as S tried to attain an optimal level of stimulation. A puzzling feature of the Leckart, et al. (1972) study was that stimulus deprivation increased looking time toward
Letters: Ratio rule and homomorphic filter for enhancement of digital colour image

Digital colour image enhancement using a homomorphic filter provides good dynamic range compression, but it fails in colour rendition. In this letter, we propose to perform natural colour rendition in a digital colour image that is enhanced by a homomorphic filter. A novel neural network learning algorithm, named Ratio rule, is used to carry out the natural colour rendition process. The Ratio rule learns to restore colour in an image by representing the colour relationships of each pixel in the original image as a line of attraction in the state space. The dynamics of the neural network is then used as an associative memory for recalling the natural colour characteristics of image pixels after homomorphic filtering. Several experiments on benchmark problems show that the new technique of image enhancement can generate natural colour in images from their original colour information.
Environmental effects on laser-induced fluorescence spectra of natural waters

Laser fluorosensing can be used to monitor dissolved organic carbon (DOC), but analysis of the data can be hindered by several environmental phenomena. These phenomena include attenuation of the laser beam and differential attenuation of the fluorescence by the water column, variability in the molecular weight composition of the DOC, and temperature, pH, and metal ion effects on DOC fluorescence. These factors are discussed in terms of their effect on laboratory and remote field data analysis. Experimental results are provided. Analysis of fluorosensor data of DOC may be improved by compensating for the environmental factors. An improved methodology is discussed, and a suggestion is made for indirect monitoring of pH and metal ion concentration.
Autoradiographic studies on the immune response. II. DNA synthesis amongst single antibody-producing cells.

The DNA-synthesizing capacity of single antibody-forming cells was tested by a combination of micromanipulatory and autoradiographic techniques. Rats were immunized with S. adelaide flagellin, a protein antigen known to contain significant contamination with somatic (O) antigen. Single cells from secondarily immunized rats were tested for production of anti-H and anti-O antibodies by previously described and newer techniques. Positive antibody producers were transferred onto clean dry slides by micromanipulation, and autoradiographs were performed. When rats had received tritiated thymidine 1 hour before killing, labeling of antibody-forming cells was taken to imply that the cell was preparing for further mitotic division. It was found that on the 2nd and 3rd day of a secondary response, many of the antibody-producing cells in the nodes (chiefly plasmablasts) were incorporating tritiated thymidine. At the height of the cellular response, however, at 4 and 5 days, the majority of active antibody producers (chiefly mature plasma cells) were incapable of DNA synthesis. There appeared to be an inverse relationship between the antibody-forming and DNA-synthesizing capacities of the cell population under study; as more of the cells studied formed detectable antibody, fewer of them incorporated the DNA precursor. The age of plasma cells was also studied. Animals were killed at the height of the cellular immune response, having previously received an injection of tritiated thymidine 1 to 48 hours before killing; i.e ., at 63 to 110 hours after their secondary stimulus. As the interval between isotope injection and killing increased, the proportion of antibody-forming cells showing labeling increased. With an interval of 30 hours, about half the antibody-forming cells were labeled and of 48 hours, over 95 per cent were labeled. This was taken as evidence that, few, if any, antibody-forming cells found at the height of a secondary response were more than 48 hours old. On the basis of these experiments and those reported in the accompanying paper, a simplified scheme showing the development of an antibody-forming clone in the secondary response was proposed.
Strong coupling in the sub-wavelength limit using metamaterial nanocavities

The interaction between cavity modes and optical transitions leads to new coupled light-matter states in which the energy is periodically exchanged between the matter states and the optical mode. Here we present experimental evidence of optical strong coupling between modes of individual sub-wavelength metamaterial nanocavities and engineered optical transitions in semiconductor heterostructures. We show that this behaviour is generic by extending the results from the mid-infrared (~10 μm) to the near-infrared (~1.5 μm). Using mid-infrared structures, we demonstrate that the light-matter coupling occurs at the single resonator level and with extremely small interaction volumes. We calculate a mode volume of 4.9 × 10(-4) (λ/n)(3) from which we infer that only ~2,400 electrons per resonator participate in this energy exchange process.
Recreational clam harvesting affects sediment nutrient remineralization and the growth of the green macroalga Ulva lactuca

Recreational clam harvesters at Northwest Penn Cove leave pools in the sediments that fill with porewater before being inundated by the incoming tide. We hypothesized that this nutrient-rich porewater may affect ulvoid algal growth. To test this, we measured nutrient concentrations in seawater, tidepools, shellfishers' pools, and in porewater from the top 9 cm of the sediment. On average, sediment porewater was 4495% higher in ammonium, 772% higher in nitrite, and 3238% higher in phosphate than nearby seawater; nitrate concentrations in porewater were 35% of the seawater concentrations. Water in shellfishers' pools was 291% higher in ammonium and 122% higher in nitrite than seawater. Nitrate and phosphate concentrations in shellfishers' pools and seawater did not differ significantly. We then transplanted Ulva lactuca around shellfishers' pools, tidepools, and onto the mudflat. Transplanted algae did not differ significantly in tissue carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus concentrations after 2 days. However, the algae transplanted around shellfishers' pools grew 20% more over two weeks than the algae transplanted around tidepools and onto mud flats. Our results suggest that the nutrient-rich water in shellfishers' pools enhances algal growth near the pools and may contribute to the formation and persistence of the Ulva bloom at this site.
Osmoregulation in the fresh water sponge, Spongilla lacustris

External medium passed through the canal system of small Spongilla lacustris at the rate of 70 body volumes per hour, allowing for little or no modification of its composition by the animal. Consequently any osmotic gradient between medium and animal was experienced at the cell level. Forty or more contractile vacuoles arranged around the nucleus in each basal pinacocyte removed fluid at the rate of 24.7 ± 1.0 μm3/cell/min in 1.3 milliosmolal (mosm) medium. Output of the contractile vacuoles depended in a nearly linear fashion on the osmotic concentration of the medium, decreasing to zero at 12–16 mosm. The contractile vacuoles responded to the osmotic concentration of the medium, not to ionic strength or the concentration ratios of particular ions. Osmotic concentration of the vacuolar fluid can be estimated as 10–40 mosm, leading to the hypothesis that contractile vacuoles of sponges function by isotonic water separation.
An SOS-inducible defective retronphage (phi R86) in Escherichia coli strain B.

In Escherichia coli, RecA protein regulates the DNA damage-inducible survival-enhancing SOS response. Mutant allele recA730, which causes constitutive SOS expression, is lethal at high temperatures in B/r, a derivative of wild-type B, but not in K-12 or in certain B/r--K-12 hybrids. We present evidence that killing is due to SOS induction of a defective retronphage, phi R86, which is integrated into the B/r chromosome at 19 min, but is absent in K-12. phi R86 contains retron EC-86 which encodes reverse transcriptase and a small multicopy DNA-RNA complex, msDNA-RNA. Induction of phi R86 in recA730 B/r strains results in inhibition of host DNA replication before cell death. A retronphage 'killer' gene, ORF336, when overexpressed from a plasmid, causes similar effects without SOS induction. phi R86 is not detectably u.v.-inducible in recA+ strains.
Against Equality and Priority

I start from three premises, roughly as follows: (1) that if possible world x is better than world y for every individual who exists in either world, then x is better than y; (2) that if x has a higher average utility, a higher total utility, and no more inequality than y, then x is better than y; (3) that better than is transitive. From these premises, it follows that equality lacks intrinsic value, and that benefits given to the worse-off contribute no more to the world's value than equal-sized benefits given to the better-off.
Human cortical neuronal cell line: establishment from a patient with unilateral megalencephaly

A cell line has been established in continuous culture of human cerebral cortical neurons obtained from a patient with unilateral megalencephaly, a disorder associated with continued proliferation of immature neuronal cells. When differentiated in the presence of nerve growth factor, 1-isobutyl-3-methylxanthine, and dibutyryl adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP), the cells display mature neuronal morphology with numerous long, extensively branched processes with spines and varicosities. The cells stain positively for neurofilament protein and neuron-specific enolase (selective neuronal markers) but are negative for glial markers, such as glial fibrillary acidic protein, S-100, and myelin basic protein. The cells also stain positively for the neurotransmitters gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamate, somatostatin, cholecystokinin-8, and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide. These cells may facilitate characterization of neurons in the human central nervous system.
Auditing your acute pain service—a UK NHS model

Abstract This audit has been conducted in order to provide an evidence base that clarifies the strengths and weaknesses of acute pain management at a UK hospital. Consequently, it sets the strategic direction for service improvement. Awarding up to three stars has identified the quality of each component that constitutes the acute pain service. Six different components were audited and star ratings have been awarded as shown below: • Pain tool (including patient and staff understanding): no stars. • Pain team (including education and clinical support): two stars. • Intermittent opioid analgesia (sub-cut and oral morphine): two stars. • Epidural patient controlled analgesia (EPCA): two stars. • Intravenous patient controlled analgesia (IVPCA): two stars. • Single-dose intrathecal opioid analgesia: three stars. These star ratings were pulled together in order to award the acute pain service an overall rating. Consequently, the acute pain service was awarded two stars. The findings of this audit identify that this acute pain service provides a safe way to deliver hi-tech pain relief at ward level and can be relied upon to provide good quality pain management. However, too many patients are likely to miss out on the full benefits of the service due to the weaknesses as identified. The quality of the pain relief is impeded across the hospital due to low patient expectation and poor patient education, and also due to a lack of relevant knowledge amongst nursing staff. Developments in the role of the acute pain nurse, staff training and education programs, and a reduction in the variety of pain management pumps are combining to facilitate the opportunities required to address the weaknesses and to build on the strengths of the acute pain service.
Image reconstruction techniques and target detection

Image reconstruction from projections has been extensively studied in radioastronomy and medical imaging. The same techniques can be applied to multiple target detection tasks such as radar or sonar signal processing. However, in medical imaging and radioastronomy, the images to be reconstructed are generally "compact" and the ratio between the required image size and resolution is small compared to that of the target detection problem where the images are sparse and fine resolution is required. Therefore a larger number of basis functions will be necessary to discretize the general image. Thus medical image reconstruction techniques applied directly to target detection can result in excessive memory requirements, computational time and required number of measurements. With modifications that consider the sparseness and positiveness of the images, reconstruction techniques have a potentially valuable application in the multiple target detection problem. In this paper we propose two modifications of the medical image reconstruction technique for the multi-target detection problem. One consists of pre-processing the data in order to reduce the total image to a smaller set of regions likely to contain targets. The second consists of dividing the image into pixels much larger than the expected size of a target and estimating the total target intensity for each pixel.
A Comparison of Gifted Underachievers and Gifted High Achievers

The purpose of this study was to compare a national sample of gifted underachievers and gifted high achievers on a number of characteristics. Giftedness was measured as a composite score at or above the 95th percentile on the American College Testing Program (ACT). Underachievement was defined as reporting a high school grade-point average of ≤2.25 (on a 4.00 scale), and high achievement was defined as reporting a grade-point average of ≥3.75 (on a 4.00 scale). Participants for this study were 30,604 high school juniors and seniors: gifted underachievers n=257; gifted high achievers n=30,347. The underachievers generally had lower scores on the ACT and less extensive out-of-class accomplishments. Over 90% of the underachievers were Caucasian males. Comparisons are provided on a number of nonacademic variables between underachievers and high achievers.
Benthic macroalgae as a dispersal mechanism for fauna: influence of a marine tumbleweed

Abstract Effective dispersal is problematic for benthic organisms without planktonic larvae; rafting and vertical migrations are mechanisms that can potentially be employed by such fauna, but these strategies entail considerable predation risk as well as other disadvantages. Unattached, but non-floating, “drift” algae harbor large numbers of fauna and may serve as an alternative dispersal mechanism in some systems. This paper reports field manipulations in Florida Bay, Florida, USA designed to determine (1) if such algae can disperse benthic animals, and (2) if dispersal efficiency varies as a function of two common substrata types: seagrass and bare sediment. A live immersion stain was used to mark faunal associates of Laurencia spp. algal clumps in situ. The fidelity of molluscs, decapods, ophiuroids, and fishes to stationary algal clumps was then compared with the fidelity of these animals to clumps that were forced to tumble over a given distance with a blower apparatus; these experiments were performed over both sand and seagrass substrata. Measurements of frequency, spatial extent, and rate of algal drift were made to aid in assessing the potential importance of benthic algae as a dispersal mechanism. Algal clumps often rolled in a manner similar to that of terrestrial tumbleweeds; mark-recapture work showed that algal clumps can move up to 0.5 km/day and that algal drift is a frequent phenomenon. The algal masses were effective transporters of benthic fauna, including mobile shrimps and fishes; dispersal was more efficient over sand than over seagrass. Dispersal of fauna via this mobile habitat should entail lower risk than other adult dispersal stratagems such as vertical migration or rafting; this mechanism would be most advantageous for brooding species or those with limited planktonic phases. Differential fidelity to clumps tumbling across seagrass versus sand suggests that the algae could facilitate exchange of fauna between isolated seagrass patches.
Defusing Technological Change in Juvenile Courts The Probation Officer's Struggle for Professional Autonomy

Based on five years of participant observation in a juvenile court, this study focuses on the ways in which professional groups attempted to gain control of a computerized information system so that they could preserve their professional autonomy, maintain control over their work, and give the appearance of a job well done. When legal professionals attempted to use the computerized information system to control the work of the probation staff, probation officers developed a coordinated five-point strategy to defuse this control effort. The probation officer strategy was successful; ultimately, the computerized information system was physically removed from the court. An explanation of this professional struggle takes both a theory ofprofessional dominance and a resource dependence model, which focuses on the relationships of professionals to their environments, into account.
Analysis of a cone-based distributed topology control algorithm for wireless multi-hop networks

The topology of a wireless multi-hop network can be controlled by varying the transmission power at each node. In this paper, we give a detailed analysis of a cone-based distributed topology control algorithm. This algorithm, introduced in [16], does not assume that nodes have GPS information available; rather it depends only on directional information. Roughly speaking, the basic idea of the algorithm is that a node u transmits with the minimum power pu, a required to ensure that in every cone of degree a around u, there is some node that u can reach with power pu, a. We show that taking a = 5p/6 is a necessary and sufficient condition to guarantee that network connectivity is preserved. More precisely, if there is a path from s to t when every node communicates at maximum power then, if a l 5p/6, there is still a path in the smallest symmetric graph Ga containing all edges (u, v) such that u can communicate with v using power pu, a. On the other hand, if a > 5p/6, connectivity is not necessarily preserved. We also propose a set of optimizations that further reduce power consumption and prove that they retain network connectivity. Dynamic reconfiguration in the presence of failures and mobility is also discussed. Simulation results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the algorithm and the optimizations.
Neonatal surgical emergencies

Abstract The risk of unsuspected surgical emergencies during the neonatal period has decreased over the past several years because of widespread use of ultrasonography for fetal screening. However, surgical emergencies unique to the neonatal period still continue to plague the unsuspecting emergency physician. Most surgically correctable disorders in the neonate will present with vomiting, gastrointestinal bleeding, or respiratory distress. This article will provide the emergency physician with the typical presentation, diagnostic work-up, and treatment options for surgically correctable problems in the neonate.
Comparison between epidermal growth factor, transforming growth factor-α and EGF receptor levels in regions of adult rat brain

Examination of adult rat brain regions by specific radioimmunoassays revealed a widespread distribution of transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha), but not epidermal growth factor (EGF), the peptide that had previously been reported to be present in rodent brain. Polyadenylated RNA samples from the different regions of rat brain were analyzed by Northern blot to identify mRNA species encoding precursor proteins for EGF (preproEGF), TGF-alpha (preproTGF-alpha), and the EGF/TGF-alpha receptor. The results indicate that TGF-alpha is the most abundant ligand for the EGF/TGF-alpha receptor in most parts of the brain analyzed. Message for preproEGF was only detectable after prolonged autoradiographic exposure; levels of preproEGF mRNA were between two and three orders of magnitude lower in brain than those expressed in control tissue (kidney), and one to two orders of magnitude lower than preproTGF-alpha mRNA levels in all brain regions. These results were confirmed by analysis of mRNA by RT/PCR, and support the hypothesis that expression of preproEGF mRNA in the brain is limited to smaller discrete areas, whereas preproTGF-alpha gene expression is almost ubiquitous.
Metaphor, Literal, Literalism

This paper examines the place of metaphorical interpretation in the current Contextualist-Literalist controversy over the role of context in the determination of truth-conditions in general. Although there has been considerable discussion of ' non-literal ' language by both sides of this dispute, the language analyzed involves either so-called implicit indexicality, loose or loosened use, enriched interpretations, or semantic transfer, not metaphor itself. In the fi rst half of the paper, I critically evaluate Recanati ' s (2004) recent Contextualist account and show that it cannot account for the metaphorical-literal dependence characteristic of metaphor. I then turn to Carston ' s (2002) , and Bezuidenhout ' s (2001) Contextualist accounts and show that they place no constraints on metaphorical interpretations. In the second half of the paper I sketch a Literalist theory of metaphor elaborated in Stern (2000) and respond to two kinds of Contextualist criticisms of that account by Camp (2005) and Stanley (2005) .
Efficient Algorithms for Leveraging Spatial Reuse in OFDMA Relay Networks

We consider the problem of scheduling users with backlogged and finite buffers on the multiple OFDM carriers (channels) over the two hops of the relay-enabled wireless network. Motivated by the recent 802.16j standard, we consider two sub-carrier grouping models (PUSC, AMC). While the extent of diversity gain varies depending on the model, spatial reuse is common to both the models and is crucial in delivering the promised throughput benefits of relays. Hence leveraging spatial reuse forms the prime focus of this work with diversity gains being leveraged when available. We establish the hardness of the problem under these two models and propose efficient approximation algorithms for the scheduling problem considered. Our solutions are simple to implement at the base station, while also providing worst case guarantees. The proposed solutions are evaluated to highlight their benefits in a variety of network conditions.
Site-directed antibodies against the stem region reveal low pH-induced conformational changes of the Semliki Forest virus fusion protein

The E1 envelope protein of the alphavirus Semliki Forest virus (SFV) is a class II fusion protein that mediates low pH-triggered membrane fusion during virus infection. Like other class I and class II fusion proteins, during fusion E1 inserts into the target membrane and rearranges to form a trimeric hairpin structure. The postfusion structures of the alphavirus and flavivirus fusion proteins suggest that the “stem” region connecting the fusion protein domain III to the transmembrane domain interacts along the trimer core during the low pH-induced conformational change. However, the location of the E1 stem in the SFV particle and its rearrangement and functional importance during fusion are not known. We developed site-directed polyclonal antibodies to the N- or C-terminal regions of the SFV E1 stem and used them to study the stem during fusion. The E1 stem was hidden on neutral pH virus but became accessible after low pH-triggered dissociation of the E2/E1 heterodimer. The stem packed onto the trimer core in the postfusion conformation and became inaccessible to antibody binding. Generation of the E1 homotrimer on fusion-incompetent membranes identified an intermediate conformation in which domain III had folded back but stem packing was incomplete. Our data suggest that E1 hairpin formation occurs by the sequential packing of domain III and the stem onto the trimer core and indicate a tight correlation between stem packing and membrane merger.
Robust and efficient fuzzy match for online data cleaning

To ensure high data quality, data warehouses must validate and cleanse incoming data tuples from external sources. In many situations, clean tuples must match acceptable tuples in reference tables. For example, product name and description fields in a sales record from a distributor must match the pre-recorded name and description fields in a product reference relation.A significant challenge in such a scenario is to implement an efficient and accurate fuzzy match operation that can effectively clean an incoming tuple if it fails to match exactly with any tuple in the reference relation. In this paper, we propose a new similarity function which overcomes limitations of commonly used similarity functions, and develop an efficient fuzzy match algorithm. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our techniques by evaluating them on real datasets.
Evolution, consequences and future of plant and animal domestication

Domestication interests us as the most momentous change in Holocene human history. Why did it operate on so few wild species, in so few geographic areas? Why did people adopt it at all, why did they adopt it when they did, and how did it spread? The answers to these questions determined the remaking of the modern world, as farmers spread at the expense of hunter-gatherers and of other farmers.
The argument principle and boundaries of analytic varieties

Let M be a smooth, compact, oriented manifold in the space of n complex variables. When does there exist a complex-analytic subvariety of ℂ n ∖ M having M as its boundary in the sense of currents? R. Harvey and B. Lawson posed and solved this problem in 1975. Recently Herbert Alexander and the author gave a different solution based on Linking Numbers, in “Linking numbers and boundaries of varieties”, Ann. of Math., 151 (2000).
Inositol hexaphosphate downregulates both constitutive and ligand-induced mitogenic and cell survival signaling, and causes caspase-mediated apoptotic death of human prostate carcinoma PC-3 cells†

Constitutively active mitogenic and prosurvival signaling cascades due to aberrant expression and interaction of growth factors and their receptors are well documented in human prostate cancer (PCa). Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) are potent mitogens that regulate proliferation and survival of PCa cells via autocrine and paracrine loops involving both mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)- and Akt-mediated signaling. Accordingly, here we assessed the effect of inositol hexaphosphate (IP6) on constitutive and ligand (EGF and IGF-1)-induced biological responses and associated signaling cascades in advanced and androgen-independent human PCa PC-3 cells. Treatment of PC-3 cells with 2 mM IP6 strongly inhibited both growth and proliferation and decreased cell viability; similar effects were also observed in other human PCa DU145 and LNCaP cells. IP6 also caused a strong apoptotic death of PC-3 cells together with caspase 3 and PARP cleavage. Mechanistic studies showed that biological effects of IP6 were associated with inhibition of both constitutive and ligand-induced Akt phosphorylation together with a decrease in total Akt levels, but a differential inhibitory effect on MAPKs extra cellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK1/2), and p38 under constitutive and ligand-activated conditions. Under similar condition, IP6 also inhibited AP-1 DNA-binding activity and decreased nuclear levels of both phospho and total c-Fos and c-Jun. Together, these findings for the first time establish IP6 efficacy in inhibiting aberrant EGF receptor (EGFR) or IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) pathway-mediated sustained growth promoting and survival signaling cascades in advanced and androgen-independent human PCa PC-3 cells, which might have translational implications in advanced human PCa control and management.