cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Antithrombin III deficiency as a risk factor for catheter-related central vein thrombosis in cancer patients

The fibrin sleeve of venous catheters (VC) and parietal thrombi represent frequent and dangerous side-effects of central venous catheterization (CVC), due to the risk of embolism. Reduced levels of coagulation clotting factors inhibitors (such as Antithrombin III) are known to be associated with increased thrombogenic risk. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of Antithrombin III (AT III) deficiency as a risk factor for thrombosis in cancer patients undergoing CVC. The study groups included patients with a reduced AT III activity ( 70%, 20 randomly selected patients), requiring a VC for chemotherapy and/or total parenteral nutrition. The study protocol included evaluation of Hb, PLTs, PT (INR), aPTT, Fibrinogen and AT III at days 0, 1, 3 and 8 after CVC and upon VC removal. Peripheral and pullout phlebographies were performed in all patients on catheter withdrawal. A quantitative scale was developed to evaluate both VC and parietal thrombus degree in each catheter-containing venous segment (subclavian, innominate, superior vena cava); the sum of the mean values was defined as overall thrombus. The average VC dwelling time was similar in both groups. There were no significant differences in Hb, PLTs, PT (INR), aPTT, Fibrinogen and in the remaining parameters of the study between the two groups. The group with AT III deficiency presented a higher degree of both parietal (p < 0.05) and overall thrombus (p < 0.02). Data showed a higher severity of CVC-related thrombosis in patients with AT III deficiency than in the control group. Further studies are needed to evaluate whether the therapeutically-induced normalization of AT III levels can reduce the thrombosis degree.
Exchange Interactions and Fluctuations in Ce B 6

We report measurements of the low-temperature specific heat of Ce${\mathrm{B}}_{6}$ and discuss their significance in the light of earlier studies of this compound. The large specific heat above the antiferromagnetic ordering at 2.31 K is interpreted with the aid of a decorated Ising model. This model permits us to combine exchange and crystal field interactions in a simplified, but exact, calculation of the thermodynamic properties of a magnetic system including the effects of fluctuations. The analysis gives independent support to the proposal by Nickerson and White that the exchange in the crystal field excited state is substantially stronger than the ground-state exchange in Ce${\mathrm{B}}_{6}$. We also comment on the possibility of extending such an analysis to other magnetic rare-earth hexaborides.
Inhibition of Phosphatidylinositol-3′-kinase Prevents Induction of Endotoxin Tolerancein Vitro

Abstract Previous studies have shown an increase in the expression of phosphatidylinositol-3′-kinase (PI-3′-K) in macrophages from endotoxin tolerant (ET) rats. This implicates PI-3′-K cell signaling in attenuated macrophage responsiveness to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). These experiments examined the effects of selective pharmacologic inhibition of PI-3′-K in an in vitro model of ET. To induce ET, RAW 264.7 macrophages cultured in RPMI 1640 with 10% fetal calf serum were initially exposed to 10 ng/ml LPS ( E. coli 0111:B4) for 19 hr. Non-tolerant cells received an equal volume of phosphate buffered saline. Some cultures were also incubated with the specific PI-3′-K inhibitor wortmannin (10 n M ) during this tolerizing period. Cells were then washed and re-challenged with 100 ng/ml LPS for 24 hr. Next, macrophage tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and nitrite production were measured as indicators of ET induction. Macrophage TNF-α production decreased significantly while nitrite production increased significantly following ET induction. Specific inhibition of PI-3′-K prevented this decrease in TNF-α and increase in nitrite production in ET macrophages. Production of each mediator returned to levels not different than in non-tolerant macrophages. In this in vitro model of macrophage ET, pharmacologic inhibition of the PI-3′-K signaling pathway prevented the induction of LPS tolerance as measured by the pro- duction of two inflammatory mediators.
An Investigation of Communicative Competence of ESL Students Using Electronic Discussion Boards

AbstractThis study focuses on the use of electronic discussion boards with elementary-aged English as a Second Language (ESL) students. The purpose of the study is to investigate students’ communicative competence in a computer-mediated communication environment. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to analyze 956 messages posted by 28 ESL students to the electronic discussion board during a six-week period of time. Changes were found in children’s use of language for social purposes and appropriate use of language in different social and cultural settings. Recommendations for teachers include the design of online discussion activities and future considerations of peer assistance in language learning.
Electron concentration in closed form for high temperature air and air with additives

Abstract Expression for electron concentration in closed form for high temperature oxygen-nitrogen mixtures are obtained and also for air with additives. Calculated results are well within uncertainties of more detailed treatments. Electron increasing and reducing additives in air are considered together with the effect on the electromagnetic properties of seeded air. Effect of long range Coulomb forces on total electron concentration is estimated.
Intertemporal choice: Neuronal and psychological determinants of economic decisions.

This introductory article provides a short overview of empirical and theoretical articles presented in the special issue on psychological and neural models of intertemporal decision making, which is divided into 2 parts. The first part consists of contributions presenting different models of intertemporal choice. These contributions provide an overview of current conceptualizations; that is, providing several psychological and neural frameworks, investigating how memory processes are related to the anticipation of time, and showing how the perception of time underlies our decisions about the future. A final article deals with factors that influence choices on environmental policies where the consequences of decisions are delayed by decades or more. The second upcoming part is concerned with functional neuroimaging of intertemporal decision making. Two reviews of studies in neuroimaging and 2 empirical articles examine the questions of which brain regions (and associated functions) are involved in deciding on options with different temporal consequences. We hope this volume will be conducive in developing a better understanding of intertemporal decision making as part of complex sets of neural processes as well as psychological factors that include cognitive reasoning, emotional states, and the interconnected perception of time.
Communication of Meaning in Glossolalia

Summary Glossolalia, or tongue speaking, is a phenomenon of language associated with charismatic religious movements. The speaker, usually in a church service context, utters language-like sounds which are sometimes heard by others as speech in a foreign tongue. The speech is regarded as inspired, and congregation members make an effort to interpret it, usually in moral terms. As part of an interview with a young minister who was an experienced tongue speaker, he was asked to speak in tongues in response to specific theme words. His glossolalic responses were tape-recorded and played to audiences in several studies to see how well they could identify what the speaker was thinking about in each case. The findings were that an audience, listening to glossolalia, will tend to make consistent judgments about the content, but what the speaker intends is not necessarily what the audience understands. Audiences will preferentially attribute personal and affective content to glossolalic speech, over other kinds o...
Experimental Infection of Four Aquacultured Species with Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus Type IVb

Viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) is the etiologic agent of a disease of great concern to aquaculture. We performed experimental infections with intraperitoneal VHSV IVb injections at 106 pfu/fish in four species: tiger muskellunge, âEsox luciusAâEsox masquinongy; Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar; channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus; and walleye, Sander vitreus. The fish were thermal shocked concurrent with infection to cause immunosuppression and increase the probability of eliciting disease. Each species was observed for morbidity and mortality and periodic samples taken. Virus was detected using virus isolation and realâtime quantitative reverseâtranscription polymerase chain reaction (qRTâPCR). Histopathology confirmed lesions in tiger muskellunge and Atlantic salmon, and immunohistochemistry showed virus associated with some lesions. Tiger muskellunge were highly susceptible to VHSV IVb, and high viral levels were detected in exposed fish. A single mortality was observed in exposed Atlantic salmon with a short viral replication period. Channel catfish and walleye were resistant to developing clinical signs of VHS. The results show that these species vary in the development of VHS under these conditions, and qRTâPCR testing enabled virus detection in subclinically affected fish. Basic concordance statistics between the qRTâPCR test results and the virus isolation results were evaluated.
Historic Ideals Operationally Defined

Moment formulas can be used as an aid in the exactness of meaning which the moments defining important human ideals and values can yield. in measurable terms. Such classic ideals as The author, one of the leading exponents of "liberty, equality, and fraternity" can be requantitative social science, is Director of the defined as a moment of some one order. Eleven Public Opinion Laboratory at the University of such concepts are analyzed here as examples of Washington in Seattle.
Non-invasive quantification of brain tumor-induced astrogliosis

CNS injury including stroke, infection, and tumor growth lead to astrogliosis, a process that involves upregulation of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in astrocytes. However, the kinetics of astrogliosis that is related to these insults (i.e. tumor) is largely unknown. Using transgenic mice expressing firefly luciferase under the regulation of the GFAP promoter (GFAP-luc), we developed a model system to monitor astrogliosis upon tumor growth in a rapid, non-invasive manner. A biphasic induction of astrogliosis was observed in our xenograft model in which an early phase of activation of GFAP was associated with inflammatory response followed by a secondary, long-term upregulation of GFAP. These animals reveal GFAP activation with kinetics that is in parallel with tumor growth. Furthermore, a strong correlation between astrogliosis and tumor size was observed. Our results suggest that non-invasive, quantitative bioluminescent imaging using GFAP-luc reporter animal is a useful tool to monitor temporal-spatial kinetics of host-mediated astrogliosis that is associated with glioma and metastatic brain tumor growth.
Status of II–VI molecular-beam epitaxy technology

Abstract II–VI materials have numerous optoelectronic applications such as HgCdTe for IR imaging and ZnSe for full color flat panel, optical recording and under-water communications. p-Type doping in II–VI materials was one of the major technological hurdles. However, significant progress has been made in II–VI molecular-beam epitaxy (MBE) technology over the last two years. In the narrow bandgap HgCdTe arena, device quality materials have been grown with alloy compositions required for short to long-wavelength applications. Specifically, high performance IR imaging arrays (64 × 64) have recently been fabricated using MBE-grown double layer p-on-n structure. In addition, dual-band detectors and injection IR diode lasers have been demonstrated recently also with the HgCdTe MBE technology. In the wide bandgap arena, many MBE groups worldwide have been extensively pursuing research in ZnSe-related compounds. It is anticipated that the improvement in II–VI MBE technology will continue to accelerate in the next few years for manufacturing of optoelectronic devices.
Tight-binding Hamiltonians for Sr-filled ruthenates: Application to the gap anisotropy and Hall coefficient in Sr 2 RuO 4

Accurate orthogonal tight-binding Hamiltonians are constructed for ferromagnetic ${\mathrm{SrRuO}}_{3}$ and the layered perovskite superconductor, ${\mathrm{Sr}}_{2}{\mathrm{RuO}}_{4}$ by fitting to all-electron full-potential local density band structures obtained by the linearized augmented plane-wave method. These Hamiltonians allow the band structure to be computed on very fine meshes in the Brillouin zone at low cost, and additionally have an analytic form for band velocities, while retaining the accuracy of the full-potential electronic structure calculations. This greatly facilitates calculation of transport and superconducting parameters related to the fermiology. These features are exploited to calculate the Hall coefficient and vortex lattice geometry for ${\mathrm{Sr}}_{2}{\mathrm{RuO}}_{4}$ with fine integration meshes. We find the upper limit for the interband order parameter anisotropy to be compatible with the observed square geometry. We also find that the sign reversal of the Hall coefficient can be explained in a conventional way if the bands are shifted by a few mRy so as to match the experimental de Haas--van Alphen areas exactly, and the temperature dependence of the relaxation time is strongly dependent on the band character.
Operational linkage between diverse dimensions of information technology investments and multifaceted aspects of a firm's economic performance

A number of studies have been performed with the aim of examining the impact of information technology (IT) on the performance of firms and have arrived at multifaceted conclusions that have sometimes been conflicting. Very few studies have been performed with the objective of understanding investment in IT and the diverse dimensions of organizational performance with an attempt at using aggregated measures. An exploratory attempt has been made in this paper into understanding the linkage between IT and a firm's economic performance using aggregated measures of accounting-based and market-based performance while considering intervening variables such as firm size, capital intensity, research and development intensity and advertising intensity. The results indicate that various dimensions of IT are significantly and positively linked to a firm's performance irrespective of the different criteria of performance measures. The results also show that IT has a significant effect on aggregated composite measures of accounting-based and market-based performances.
Cardiomyopathy in infancy: observations in an epidemiologic study.

Cardiomyopathy (Cm), a rare form of cardiac disease in infancy, is receiving increasing attention stimulated by the availability of endocardial biopsy and new forms of therapy. Population-based information on frequency of occurrence, types, and maternal and infant characteristics of this diverse group of heart muscle disorders has been obtained in the course of an etiologic study on cardiovascular disease in infancy. The Baltimore-Washington Infant Study (BWIS) enrolled 2659 infants with heart disease and 2801 control infants between January 1, 1981 and March 31, 1987, a 6-year prevalence of 4.46/1000 live births. Fifty-six infants had cardiomyopathy, in the absence of a structural defect (prevalence 1/10,000). The cases were classified clinicopathologically as follows: dilated Cm (n=17), hypertrophic Cm (n=26), tumor (n=5), endocardial fibroelastosis (n=5), glycogen storage (n=1), mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome (n=1), and infarction (n=1). Eleven syndromic associations and six metabolic disturbances indicate genetic risk factors. Some of the same syndromes occurred in other infants who had structural cardiac abnormalities. This overlap suggests that embryonic myocardial disease might sometimes be responsible for altered cardiac structures, possibly secondary to hemodynamic changes. Familial myocardial disease occurred in two infants with hypertrophic Cm. The Cm group did not differ by race and sex from controls, but the mothers were of lower educational and occupational status with less private care and with later registration for pregnancy care. The descriptive epidemiology of this population-based case group provides evidence of greater etiologic heterogeneity than has been shown in clinical reports.
High-frame-rate CCD cameras with fast optical shutters for military and medical imaging applications

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) has designed and prototyped high-frame rate intensified/shuttered Charge-Coupled-Device (CCD) cameras capable of operating at Kilohertz frame rates (non-interfaced mode) with optical shutters capable of acquiring nanosecond-to- microsecond exposures each frame. These cameras utilize an Interline Transfer CCD, Loral Fairchild CCD-222 with 244 (vertical) X 380 (horizontal) pixels operated at pixel rates approaching 100 Mhz. Initial prototype designs demonstrated single-port serial readout rates exceeding 2.97 Kilohertz with greater than 5 lp/mm spatial resolution at shutter speeds as short as 5 ns. Readout was achieved by using a truncated format of 128 X 128 pixels by partial masking of the CCD and then subclocking the array at approximately 65 Mhz pixel rate. Shuttering was accomplished with a proximity focused microchannel plate (MCP) image intensifier (MCPII) that incorporated a high strip current MCP (28 uA/sq.cm) and a LANL design modification for high-speed stripline gating geometry to provide both fast shuttering and high repetition rate capabilities. Later camera designs use a close-packed quadrupole head geometry fabricated using an array of four separate CCDs (pseudo 4-port device). This design provides four video outputs with optional parallel or time-phased sequential readout modes. Parallel readout exploits the full potential of both the CCD and MCPII with reduced performance whereas sequential readout permits 4X slower operation with improved performance by multiplexing, but requires individual shuttering of each CCD. The quad head format was designed with flexibility for coupling to various image intensifier configurations, including individual intensifiers for each CCD imager, a single intensifier with fiber optic or lens/prism coupled fanout of the input image to be shared by the four CCD imagers or a large diameter phosphor screen of a gateable framing type intensifier for time sequential relaying of a complete new input image to each CCD imager. Camera designs and their potential use in ongoing military and medical time-resolved imaging applications are discussed.
Breast vibro-acoustography: initial results show promise

Vibro-acoustography (VA) is a recently developed imaging modality that is sensitive to the dynamic characteristics of tissue. It detects low-frequency harmonic vibrations in tissue that are induced by the radiation force of ultrasound. Here, we have investigated applications of VA for in vivo breast imaging. A recently developed combined mammography-VA system for in vivo breast imaging was tested on female volunteers, aged 25 years or older, with suspected breast lesions on their clinical examination. After mammography, a set of VA scans was acquired by the experimental device. In a masked assessment, VA images were evaluated independently by 3 reviewers who identified mass lesions and calcifications. The diagnostic accuracy of this imaging method was determined by comparing the reviewers' responses with clinical data. We collected images from 57 participants: 7 were used for training and 48 for evaluation of diagnostic accuracy (images from 2 participants were excluded because of unexpected imaging artifacts). In total, 16 malignant and 32 benign lesions were examined. Specificity for diagnostic accuracy was 94% or higher for all 3 reviewers, but sensitivity varied (69% to 100%). All reviewers were able to detect 97% of masses, but sensitivity for detection of calcification was lower (≤ 72% for all reviewers). VA can be used to detect various breast abnormalities, including calcifications and benign and malignant masses, with relatively high specificity. VA technology may lead to a new clinical tool for breast imaging applications.
Identifying early changes in myocardial microstructure in hypertensive heart disease.

The transition from healthy myocardium to hypertensive heart disease is characterized by a series of poorly understood changes in myocardial tissue microstructure. Incremental alterations in the orientation and integrity of myocardial fibers can be assessed using advanced ultrasonic image analysis. We used a modified algorithm to investigate left ventricular myocardial microstructure based on analysis of the reflection intensity at the myocardial-pericardial interface on B-mode echocardiographic images. We evaluated the extent to which the novel algorithm can differentiate between normal myocardium and hypertensive heart disease in humans as well as in a mouse model of afterload resistance. The algorithm significantly differentiated between individuals with uncomplicated essential hypertension (N=30) and healthy controls (N=28), even after adjusting for age and sex (P=0.025). There was a trend in higher relative wall thickness in hypertensive individuals compared to controls (P=0.08), but no difference between groups in left ventricular mass (P=0.98) or total wall thickness (P=0.37). In mice, algorithm measurements (P=0.026) compared with left ventricular mass (P=0.053) more clearly differentiated between animal groups that underwent fixed aortic banding, temporary aortic banding, or sham procedure, on echocardiography at 7 weeks after surgery. Based on sonographic signal intensity analysis, a novel imaging algorithm provides an accessible, non-invasive measure that appears to differentiate normal left ventricular microstructure from myocardium exposed to chronic afterload stress. The algorithm may represent a particularly sensitive measure of the myocardial changes that occur early in the course of disease progression.
The Gender, Place and Culture Jan Monk Distinguished Annual Lecture: Gentrification, assassination and forgetting in Mexico: a feminist Marxist tale

In this article, I employ feminist and Marxist tools to expose the struggles over the constant plunder and expansion of global capitalism along Mexico's northern border, specifically in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua. In particular, I examine how an official politics – promoted by the Mexican and US governments – for forgetting the economic and social devastation of a transcontinental drug war contributes to the mechanisms for further exploiting the working poor. By combining a feminist focus on the daily struggle of social reproduction with a Marxist emphasis on accumulation by dispossession, I show how this official ‘forgetting’ segues with an international gentrification plan in downtown Ciudad Juarez that seeks to expand the rent gap by denying place, legitimacy and legal status to the working women and their families who have made this border city famous as a hub of global manufacturing. As such, I argue that the social struggles against the official forgetting are struggles against a violent political eco...
Chemoprotective Epigenetic Mechanisms in a Colorectal Cancer Model: Modulation by n-3 PUFA in Combination With Fermentable Fiber

Colorectal cancer is the third major cause of cancer-related mortality in both men and women worldwide. The beneficial role of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in preventing colon cancer is substantiated by experimental, epidemiological, and clinical data. From a mechanistic perspective, n-3 PUFA are pleiotropic and multifaceted with respect to their molecular mechanisms of action. For example, this class of dietary lipid uniquely modulates membrane and nuclear receptors, sensors/ion channels, and membrane structure/cytoskeletal function, thereby regulating signaling processes that influence patterns of gene expression and cell phenotype. In addition, n-3 PUFA can synergize with other potential chemoprotective agents known to reprogram the chromatin landscape, such as the fermentable fiber product, butyrate. Nutri-epigenomics is an emerging field of research that is focused on the interaction between nutrition and epigenetics. Epigenetics refers to a group of heterogeneous processes that regulate transcription without changing the DNA coding sequence, ranging from DNA methylation, to histone tail modifications and transcription factor activity. One implication of the nutri-epigenome is that it may be possible to reprogram epigenetic marks that are associated with increased disease risk by nutritional or lifestyle interventions. This review will focus on the nutri-epigenomic role of n-3 PUFA, particularly DHA, as well as the combinatorial effects of n-3 PUFA and fermentable fiber in relation to colon cancer.
Developmental rate and competitive ability in Tribolium—III: Competition in unfavorable environments

Abstract Competitive abilities of strains of T. castaneum selected for fast and slow development (days from egg to pupa) and T. confusum selected for fast development are compared under standard and less favorable conditions of relative humidity and diet in two separate series of experiments. In general, T. castaneum does not perform as well at 40 per cent humidity as it does at 70 per cent. It is postulated that activity of adults and/or larvae is decreased at the lower humidity and this reduces the difference in cannibalistic activity of the two species. In competition experiments involving the fast selection lines carried out on two corn flour media, results were similar to those obtained on the standard whole wheat flour medium. This supports the hypothesis that increased success of the CS-fast strain in competition resides in a greater rate of cannibalism.
Phytolaccinic acid, a new triterpene from Phytolacca americana

Abstract The saponin from the berries of Phytolacca americana yielded one known and two new aglycones. One of the new aglycones was identified as desmethylphytolaccagenin 2 , and the other as 3β, 23-dihydroxyolean-12-ene-28, 30-dioic acid-30-methyl ester 3 .
A Thin-skull Window Technique for Chronic Two-photon In vivo Imaging of Murine Microglia in Models of Neuroinflammation

Traditionally in neuroscience, in vivo two photon imaging of the murine central nervous system has either involved the use of open-skull or thinned-skull preparations. While the open-skull technique is very versatile, it is not optimal for studying microglia because it is invasive and can cause microglial activation. Even though the thinned-skull approach is minimally invasive, the repeated re-thinning of skull required for chronic imaging increases the risks of tissue injury and microglial activation and allows for a limited number of imaging sessions. Here we present a chronic thin-skull window method for monitoring murine microglia in vivo over an extended period of time using two-photon microscopy. We demonstrate how to prepare a stable, accessible, thinned-skull cortical window (TSCW) with an apposed glass coverslip that remains translucent over the course of three weeks of intermittent observation. This TSCW preparation is far more immunologically inert with respect to microglial activation than open craniotomy or repeated skull thinning and allows an arbitrary number of imaging sessions during a time period of weeks. We prepare TSCW in CX₃CR₁ GFP/+ mice to visualize microglia with enhanced green fluorescent protein to ≤150 μm beneath the pial surface. We also show that this preparation can be used in conjunction with stereotactic brain injections of the HIV-1 neurotoxic protein Tat, adjacent to the TSCW, which is capable of inducing durable microgliosis. Therefore, this method is extremely useful for examining changes in microglial morphology and motility over time in the living brain in models of HIV Associated Neurocognitive Disorder (HAND) and other neurodegenerative diseases with a neuroinflammatory component.
In vitro dissolution method for evaluation of buprenorphine in situ gel formulation: a technical note.

The in situ gel formulation of buprenorphine showed sustained drug release for a prolonged period of time. The drug release from RG 502 followed a linear pattern throughout the dissolution without any significant burst release. The amount of buprenorphine released during the first 30 minutes, irrespective of the type of Resomer or dissolution medium, was less than 3%. Drug release continued over 55 days in phosphate buffer and 35 days in Tween 80. The in vitro dissolution method developed during this study was capable of identifying formulation differences and thus will be useful for routine drug delivery research, particularly in situ gel formulation development research. In situ gel formulations are routinely compared using animal models,21, so development of such an in vitro method will expedite formulation evaluation.
Effect of melt spinning on grain size and texture in Ni-Mo alloys

Chill-block melt-spun ribbons of Ni-Mo alloys with Mo contents of 8 to 41.8 wt pct have been examined for microstructure and texture dependence on processing conditions. Linear features observed in grains solidified with a planar liquid-solid interface at the quench side of the ribbons have been identified to be due to the twins on the (111)gamma plane formed during solidification. Grain size variation with the wheel surface speed and the alloy composition has been studied. The crystallographic texture on the quench side and the free surface side of the ribbons has been investigated.
Two-dimensional position-sensitive silicon detectors for the ACE Solar Isotope Spectrometer

Two-dimensional position-sensitive silicon detectors ('matrix detectors') have been designed, procured, and tested as part of the development of the solar isotope spectrometer (SIS) instrument for NASA's Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) mission. Important characteristics of these devices include: thickness approximately 50 - 90 micrometer, active area 34 cm^2, 64 strips on each surface with 1 mm strip pitch. The SIS instrument uses four such detectors, processing signals from each of the 512 individual strips with a separate 12-bit pulse height analyzer implemented with custom-designed VLSI circuits. A set of 25 matrix detectors have been characterized through a variety of tests intended both toe select the best candidates for use in the flight instrument and to provide the calibrations needed to interpret flight data. We discuss the design of the SIS matrix detectors and present selected results from the detector tests that have been performed.
Can beats of electron waves at optical frequencies drive a free-electron laser?

A recent proposal by H. Schwarz is analyzed. General principles of quantum mechanics are used to limit the possibilities for radiation from beats in an electron beam.
Clinical pharmacy faculty interventions in a pediatric intensive care unit: an eight-month review.

OBJECTIVES The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Society of Critical Care Medicine have documented the importance of pharmacist involvement in pediatric care. Numerous studies have reported the impact of clinical pharmacy interventions in various adult care settings. However, in the pediatric critical care setting, the impact has not been well documented. The purpose of this study was to describe clinical pharmacy faculty interventions in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). METHODS A pediatric clinical pharmacy faculty member performed and documented clinical interventions in a level I, 18-bed, tertiary care PICU. Information gathered included medication name, specific intervention performed, basic patient demographics, and length of stay from May to December 2009. RESULTS During the study period, there were 893 interventions performed on 159 patients over 66 days of service. (Average of 5.5 interventions/patient, and 34 interventions/100 patient PICU days.) Dosing recommendations and pharm...
Additional evidence implicating Triticum searsii as the B-genome donor to wheat

In vitro DNA:DNA hybridizations and hydroxyapatite thermal-elution chromatography were employed to identify the diploid wheat species ancestral to the B genome of Triticum turgidum. 3H-T. turgidum DNA was hybridized to the unlabeled DNAs of T. urartu, T. speltoides, T. sharonensis, T. bicorne, T. longissimum, and T. searsii. 3H-Labeled DNAs of T. monococcum and a synthetic tetraploid AADD were hybridized with unlabeled DNAs of T. urartu and T. searsii to determine the relationship of the A genome of polyploid wheat and T. urartu. The heteroduplex thermal stabilities indicated that T. searsii was most closely related to the B genome of T. turgidum (AB) and that the genome of T. urartu and the A genome have a great deal of base-sequence homology. Thus, it appears that T. searsii is the B-genome donor to polyploid wheat or a major chromosome donor if the B genome is polyphyletic in origin.
Uncertainties in measurements of ocean carbon dioxide levels

Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are not affecting only the atmosphere: 30% of anthropogenic CO2 emissions were absorbed by the oceans in the past few decades, recent estimates show. However, Kouketsu and Murata note that these estimates are based entirely on research that was conducted in the 1990s and that more recent measurements of oceanic CO2 have not been taken into account.
A REGIONAL MODEL TO PREDICT CORAL POPULATION DYNAMICS IN RESPONSE TO EL NIÑO–SOUTHERN OSCILLATION

The objective of this paper was to modify an existing size-structured pop- ulation model for the coral Gardineroseris planulata developed from field measurements at the Uva Island reef, Panama, for use at the regional scale (Tropical Eastern Pacific). The modified model can be used to aid in prediction of changes in coral population dynamics in response to ENSO events of different frequency and magnitude. The earlier model incorporates coral growth, predation by the sea star Acanthaster planci, and mortality associated with El Ninio-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events. The regional model was modified from the earlier local version by extending the coral growth-temperature rela- tionship to include the lower temperatures observed in areas of strong seasonal upwelling. In addition, ENSO-associated mortality was modified by incorporating a dynamic function that relates partial mortality of corals in different size classes to the rate of temperature change during an ENSO event. This function is based on data from three reef areas (Uva Island and the Pearl Islands, Panama, and the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador), which represent a regional gradient from an area characterized by relatively high annual temperature with low variability to areas with lower annual temperature subject to seasonal upwelling. Model predictions of coral population size structure in different areas agreed with field obser- vations. Predictions for coral recovery after an ENSO event were most accurate for the Uva Island population and least accurate for the Galapaigos Islands population. We also tested the effect of various ENSO frequencies on the size structure of the coral population. Increasing ENSO frequency in the upwelling area resulted in an increase in the proportion of small colonies, while the same increase in ENSO frequency in the thermally stable reef area had little effect on the population. Sensitivity analysis suggested that more accurate estimates of growth of the smallest and largest colonies in upwelling areas as well as predation on intermediate-size colonies are important to improve predictive capability.
Parallel genetic origins of pelvic reduction in vertebrates

Despite longstanding interest in parallel evolution, little is known about the genes that control similar traits in different lineages of vertebrates. Pelvic reduction in stickleback fish (family Gasterosteidae) provides a striking example of parallel evolution in a genetically tractable system. Previous studies suggest that cis-acting regulatory changes at the Pitx1 locus control pelvic reduction in a population of threespine sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus). In this study, progeny from intergeneric crosses between pelvic-reduced threespine and ninespine (Pungitius pungitius) sticklebacks also showed severe pelvic reduction, implicating a similar genetic origin for this trait in both genera. Comparative sequencing studies in complete and pelvic-reduced Pungitius revealed no differences in the Pitx1 coding sequences, but Pitx1 expression was absent from the prospective pelvic region of larvae from pelvic-reduced parents. A much more phylogenetically distant example of pelvic reduction, loss of hindlimbs in manatees, shows a similar left-right size bias that is a morphological signature of Pitx1-mediated pelvic reduction in both sticklebacks and mice. These multiple lines of evidence suggest that changes in Pitx1 may represent a key mechanism of morphological evolution in multiple populations, species, and genera of sticklebacks, as well as in distantly related vertebrate lineages.
Imaginal and emotional experiences in pleasure-oriented IT usage: A hedonic consumption perspective

Based on the marketing theory of hedonic consumption, this study examines the effects of six types of imaginal and emotional experiences on using pleasure-oriented IT. Associated hypotheses are tested using questionnaire responses from 443 online game players. The results provide strong support for the major hypotheses and indicate that the determinants of behavior may differ in using pleasure-oriented versus productivity-oriented IT. This paper contributes not only to the application of a marketing theory to IS research, but also to improved understanding of using pleasure-oriented IT and of why people use technologies that are not particularly useful from a productivity standpoint.
The prostaglandin transporter is widely expressed in ocular tissues.

Abstract Prostaglandins (PGs) play important physiological and therapeutic roles in the eye. Our laboratory recently identified a novel PG transporter in the rat that we call “PGT” (Science 268:866, 1995). We have also recently cloned the human PGT cDNA (J Clin Invest 98:1142, 1996). To determine whether PGT might play a role in human ocular tissues, we performed Northern blot analysis of RNA obtained from human ocular tissues and from the nonpigmented ciliary epithelium cell line “ODM-2.” PGT transcripts were clearly evident in all ocular tissues. Given that the functional profile of PGT expressed in vitro strongly suggests a role in PG uptake and degradation, the present results suggest that PGT may function in various regions of the human eye for purposes of terminating the signal(s) produced by locally-synthesized PGs.
To Drop or Not to Drop: Receiver Design Principles for Estimation over Wireless Links

In this paper we consider estimation of a multiple-input multiple-output dynamical system over a wireless fading communication channel using a Kalman filter. We are interested in finding the optimum receiver design in terms of handing noisy samples. We reformulate the estimation problem to include the impact of stochastic communication noise in the noisy packets. We will show how the eigenvalues of the state transition matrix A affect the optimum receiver design. We prove that, in the absence of a cross-layer information path, packet drop should be designed to balance information loss and communication noise in order to optimize the performance. In the presence of a cross-layer path, we show that keeping all the packets will minimize the average estimation error covariance. We also derive the stability condition in the presence of noisy packets and prove that it is independent of the shape of the communication noise variance or availability of a cross-layer information path.
Can local Erythropoietin administration enhance bone regeneration in osteonecrosis of femoral head

Osteonecrosis of femoral head (ONFH) is a challenging disease. Regardless of underlying causes, the ultimate result in all cases is disruption of femoral head blood supply. Once the disease starts, it is progressive in 80% of cases. Since the majority of the affected individuals are young, every effort should be focused on preserving the patients own femoral head. These years, the role of angiogenic growth factors has been investigated with promising results in animal models of ONFH. Erythropoietin (EPO) is a well known hormone that has been used in treatment of chronic anemia for many years with few side effects. Considering the angiogenic properties of EPO, we hypothesize that local delivery of recombinant human EPO during core decompression will enhance bone regeneration in ONFH. In this way we also can avoid systemic side effects of EPO.
OPN09-05: An SLA-Aware Transport Protocol for High Throughput Wide Area Ethernet Services

This paper aims to enhance the transport services of Ethernet MANs and WANs by addressing the throughput optimization issue at the edge of the network. Ethernet services convert Ethernet from a best effort technology to a service level agreement (SLA) driven carrier-grade technology, extending the simplicity and flexibility of Ethernet beyond the LAN to the MAN/WAN. Ethernet virtual private line (EVPL) provides a point-to-point virtual leased line that takes advantage of Ethernet's statistical multiplexing to share resources among multiple customers. Although current bandwidth allocation schemes are able to reassign idle capacity and provide QoS at link layer, the end-to-end throughput in the application layer is not optimized. The performance of TCP over SLA driven Ethernet services is not adequate, because the mechanisms of TCP are designed for best effort networks. In this paper, a novel SLA-aware transport protocol is proposed to increase the end- to-end throughput for wide area Ethernet services. The performance of the proposed protocol is compared with traditional TCP through theoretical analysis and simulations.
Enhanced metamodeling techniques for high-dimensional IC design estimation problems

Accurate estimators of key design metrics (power, area, delay, etc.) are increasingly required to achieve IC cost reductions in system-level through physical layout optimizations. At the same time, identifying physical or analytical models of design metrics has become very challenging due to interactions among many parameters that span technology, architecture and implementation. Metamodeling techniques can simplify this problem by deriving surrogate models from samples of actual implementation data. However, the use of metamodeling techniques in IC design estimation is still in its infancy, and practitioners need more systematic understanding. In this work, we study the accuracy of metamodeling techniques across several axes: (1) low- and high-dimensional estimation problems, (2) sampling strategies, (3) sample sizes, and (4) accuracy metrics. To help obtain more general conclusions, we study these axes for three very distinct chip design estimation problems: (1) area and power of networks-on-chip routers, (2) delay and output slew of standard cells under power delivery network noise, and (3) wirelength and buffer area of clock trees. Our results show that (1) adaptive sampling can effectively reduce the sample size required to derive surrogate models by up to 64% (or, increase estimation accuracy by up to 77%) compared with Latin hypercube sampling; (2) for low-dimensional problems, Gaussian process-based models can be 1.5x more accurate than tree-based models, whereas for high-dimensional problems, tree-based models can be up to 6x more accurate than Gaussian process-based models; and (3) a variant of weighted surrogate modeling [7], which we call hybrid surrogate modeling, can improve estimation accuracy by up to 3x. Finally, to aid architects, design teams, and CAD developers in selection of the appropriate metamodeling techniques, we propose guidelines based on the insights gained from our studies.
Activation of human natural killer cells by lipopolysaccharide from Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans.

Abstract Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from the Y4 strain of this bacterium, which is implicated in the pathogenesis of juvenile periodontitis, was incubated with human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) and its action compared to that of LPS from Escherichia coli. Both LPS augmented cytotoxicity measured against natural killer (NK) cell-resistant tumour targets within 24 h of incubation. Cytotoxicity was exclusively found in NK-enriched low-density large granular lymphocyte fractions, as separated by Percoll gradient. LPS activated NK cells without stimulating high levels of proliferation. The minimum concentration of A. actinomycetemcomitans LPS required to activate NK cells was 1 μg/ml; higher concentrations did not significantly increase this activation. LPS had no synergistic effect on the induction of PBL cytoxicity by interleukin-2. In contrast, LPS pre-activated monocytes inhibited the induction of lymphocyte cytotoxicity by either interleukin-2 or LPS.
Ileal-ileal intussusception : an unusual complication following enterocystoplasty

Postoperative ileal-ileal intussusception is an unusual and uncommonly cited complication of bladder augmentation. The preoperative diagnosis is difficult due to the vague clinical findings. We report a case of ileal-ileal intussusception that occurred following gastrocystoplasty in a child. Computed tomography accurately diagnosed the condition preoperatively, and led to early exploratory laparotomy and successful reduction.
Process modelling in desalination plant operations

Operation of desalination process is sometimes a difficult task, especially when the plant is getting older. Process engineers and operators are required to follow-up any changes or variations in process parameters either in control room or on-site measurements. Undetectable deviation and/or malfunctioning in any of measurement devices could occur specially during long-time successful operation without major shutdown for the entire plant or when the process is part of very complex integrated processes in an industrial site. This deviation, inaccurate-reading or malfunctioning values can be due to un-calibrated devices (i.e. flow-meters) or fouling of measurement devices (i.e. thermo-couples). Practically, process modelling is a useful tool that can assure and confirm that the process measurements parameters are accurate. Incorrect balancing of mass and/or energy can be detected easily as well as the productivity of the plant. In this paper, multi stage flash (MSF) desalination plant was illustrated and evaluated. Malfunction of measurement device showed the plant was producing distillate more than what was really measured or received by down stream processes. Excel spreadsheets was developed and utilized for process modelling and confirming the results.