cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hyperglycemia induces oxidative stress and impairs axonal transport rates in mice.

Background: While hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress damages peripheral neurons, technical limitations have, in part, prevented in vivo studies to determine the effect of hyperglycemia on the neurons in the central nervous system (CNS). While olfactory dysfunction is indicated in diabetes, the effect of hyperglycemia on olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) remains unknown. In this study, we utilized manganese enhanced MRI (MEMRI) to assess the impact of hyperglycemia on axonal transport rates in ORNs. We hypothesize that (i) hyperglycemia induces oxidative stress and is associated with reduced axonal transport rates in the ORNs and (ii) hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress activates the p38 MAPK pathway in association with phosphorylation of tau protein leading to the axonal transport deficits. Research Design and Methods: T1-weighted MEMRI imaging was used to determine axonal transport rates post-streptozotocin injection in wildtype (WT) and superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) overexpressing C57Bl/6 mice. SOD2 overexpression reduces mitochondrial superoxide load. Dihydroethidium staining was used to quantify the reactive oxygen species (ROS), specifically, superoxide (SO). Protein and gene expression levels were determined using western blotting and Q-PCR analysis, respectively. Results: STZ-treated WT mice exhibited significantly reduced axonal transport rates and significantly higher levels of ROS, phosphorylated p38 MAPK and tau protein as compared to the WT vehicle treated controls and STZ-treated SOD2 mice. The gene expression levels of p38 MAPK and tau remained unchanged. Conclusion: Increased oxidative stress in STZ-treated WT hyperglycemic mice activates the p38 MAPK pathway in association with phosphorylation of tau and attenuates axonal transport rates in the olfactory system. In STZ-treated SODoverexpressing hyperglycemic mice in which superoxide levels are reduced, these deficits are reversed.
Thalamic NMDA receptors in the γ-hydroxybutyrate model of absence seizures: A cerebral microinjection study in rats

The possible role of thalamic NMDA receptors in the generation of experimental absence-like seizures was studied in rats. Bilaterally synchronous spike wave discharges were induced by gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) and were recorded simultaneously from different thalamic nuclei and the layers I-IV of frontoparietal cortex. Bilateral infusions of NMDA into thalamic mediodorsal nucleus, the intralaminar central lateral/paracentral nucleus, ventroposterolateral, or reticular nucleus of the thalamus in conscious rats, prior to GHB administration suppressed GHB-induced SWD in a dose dependent manner. However, no such suppression of GHB-induced SWD was observed when NMDA infusions were made into the above thalamic sites after the onset or development of GHB-induced SWD. Pretreatment with high doses of competitive (CGP 43487) or non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonists (MK-801 and ketamine) also dose dependently suppressed GHB-induced SWD. Both MK-801 and CGP 43487 dose dependently antagonized NMDA-mediated inhibition of GHB-induced SWD activity but at lower doses did not produce significant inhibition of GHB-induced SWD. The anti-SWD effects of NMDA, MK-801 and ketamine but not CGP 43487 were more pronounced in the mediodorsal and intralaminar thalamic nuclei than in the ventroposterolateral or reticular nucleus of thalamus. Because low doses of NMDA antagonists failed to disrupt the generation of seizures in the GHB model, these findings do not support a role for thalamic NMDA receptors in the pathogenesis of absence-like seizures induced by gamma-hydroxybutyric acid.
Marek's disease virus-induced transient paralysis in chickens: alterations in brain density

The presence of brain edema and its distribution in Marek's disease virus(MDV)-induced transient paralysis (TP) was determined in genetically resistant and susceptible inbred White Leghorn chickens. Density measurements on samples from the cerebellum, cerebral cortex, optic chiasm, and optic lobe were determined on continuous density Percoll gradients. At 9 days post inoculation of MDV, the cerebellums from the susceptible line of chickens were significantly less dense than cerebellums from the resistant line or the controls of either line. The cerebellar edema, as measured by tissue density, coincided with the transient neurological symptoms and was not present in brain tissue from clinically recovered TP birds.
Transcriptional activation and transient expression of the human androgen receptor

Abstract A series of cDNAs containing deletions within the open-reading frame of the human androgen receptor (AR) were constructed and transiently expressed in CV1 cells to investigate the effects of these alterations on the level of expression of the protein and on its capacity to activate a model reporter gene (MMTV-luciferase). The levels of AR expression were assayed using immunoblots made using an antibody directed at an epitope (amino acids 1–21) preserved in all of the deletions. Treatment of the transfected cells with androgen increased the level of normal or mutant AR approximately five-fold in all constructs in which the hormone-binding domain was intact. This finding indicates that an intact hormone-binding domain is necessary and sufficient for the androgen-dependent increase in AR levels. Contraction of expansion or the glutamine repeat or deletion of the glycine repeat in the amino terminus diminished the capacity of the mutant ARs to activate the MMTV luciferase gene. The presence of a large-scale deletion within the amino terminus (amino acid residues 96–483), abolished receptor function, and two smaller deletions (bounded by residues 80–93 and 245–485) within the amino terminus substantially impaired receptor function. As previously described, deletion of the hormone-binding domain (amino acids 708–917) resulted in a constitutively active receptor. Unexpectedly, the large-scale deletion within the amino terminus (amino acids 96–483), in combination with deletion of the carboxy terminus also produced a constitutively active receptor that was almost as active as ligand-activated normal AR. None of the alterations in AR function could be explained by changes in the level of AR expression and the function of some mutant receptors was even more defective when the relative levels of mutant ARs expressed was considered. These findings imply that interaction of the sequences within the amino- and carboxyterminal portions of the AR, or proteins that interact with these segments, is critical for regulation of transcription by the AR.
Quantitative assessment of nocifensive behavioral responses and the underlying neuronal circuitry

This paper reviews several recently developed animal models that allow a quantitative assessment of the magnitude of nocifensive behavioral responses across a range of noxious stimulus intensities. Models discussed in detail include: (a) the rodent tail flick reflex, and a modification that allows measurement of tail flick magnitude, (b) rat hindlimb flexion withdrawal reflex elicited by noxious thermal stimulation of the paw, and (c) a learned operant response (nose bar press) evoked by noxious thermal stimulation of the rat’s tail. These models are discussed in terms of their advantages over previous methods measuring response threshold, their fulfillment of criteria for ideal pain assessment models, and the neuronal circuitry underlying the behavioral response.
Recovery of epinephrine response but not hypoglycemic symptom threshold after intensive therapy in type 1 diabetes

Abstract purpose: Patients with intensively treated insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) exhibit more severe defects in counterregulatory hormone secretion and symptom recognition during hypoglycemia than do conventionally treated patients. In this prospective study in patients with preexisting defects in counterregulation, we examined the induction and reversibility of impaired symptomatic and adrenomedullary responses to hypoglycemia in 5 patients with IDDM (diabetes duration of 2 to 16 years; aged 19 to 36 years; 3 women, 2 men) who were receiving intensive therapy. methods: Counterregulatory responses were assessed by using a single-step (∼2.8 mmol/L plasma glucose) and multiple-step (from ∼5 mmol/L to 2.2 mmol/L plasma glucose) clamped hypoglycemia procedure. Patients were first studied after a stable period of conventional insulin therapy (glycosylated hemoglobin [HbA 1c ] 9.5 ± 1.2%), then after 3 to 5 months of intensive therapy (HbA 1c 6.6 ± 0.2%), and a third time after resuming conventional therapy (HbA 1c 8.7 ± 0.9%). results: Intensive therapy was associated with a 44% decline ( P P P P conclusions: There is dissociation between the treatment-associated defects in hypoglycemia counterregulation in IDDM, and an increase in average glycemia produced by a return to conventional insulin therapy is not sufficient to reverse hypoglycemia unawareness worsened by intensive therapy.
The role of Cr in promoting protective alumina scale formation by γ-based TiAlCr alloys—I. Compatibility with alumina and oxidation behavior in oxygen

Abstract The substitution of greater than 8–10 at.% Cr for Ti in TiAl reduces the level of Al needed for protective alumina scale formation during oxidation, the “Cr effect”. To elucidate the mechanism of the Cr effect, the interaction of binary TiAl and ternary TiAlCr alloys with alumina was examined at 1000°C by hot-pressed diffusion couples. The oxidation behavior of the same alloys was also examined at 1000°C in dry oxygen. The dissolution of alumina in an alloy/alumina diffusion couple correlated with an inability of the alloy to form a protective alumina scale on exposure in dry oxygen because of internal attack. Both of these effects were associated with high oxygen permeability in the alloy. It was postulated that the Cr effect results from the Ti(Cr,Al) 2 Laves phase, which has a low oxygen permeability and is capable of alumina scale formation despite its relatively low Al content of 37–42 at.% Al.
Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection as First-Line Treatment of Node-Positive Seminoma.

Abstract Introduction The long-term morbidity associated with treating advanced seminoma can be significant. Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) has established oncologic efficacy in treating germ cell tumors with minimal long-term toxicity. We describe our experience with RPLND as a front-line treatment of lymph node-positive seminoma. Materials and Methods We reviewed our institutional review board–approved testicular cancer database to find the patients with pure seminoma and isolated retroperitoneal lymph node disease who had undergone primary RPLND. The clinical and pathologic variables were obtained. The follow-up data were used to determine recurrence and death. Results Four patients with a mean age of 37 years were identified. All patients had normal tumor markers and retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy measuring 1.1, 1.5, 1.8, and 5.5 cm before RPLND. Of the 4 patients, 3 had had seminoma diagnosed at orchiectomy and 1 (with a 5.5-cm retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy and a burned out primary testicular mass) had had seminoma diagnosed at RPLND after 2 nondiagnostic retroperitoneal biopsies. All patients had undergone nerve-sparing, template, extraperitoneal RPLND and were discharged home after 3 days. An average of 3 positive lymph nodes were found. Of the 4 patients, 3 had pathologic stage IIA and 1 stage IIB disease, with no patient undergoing adjuvant therapy. At a mean follow-up period of 25 months, no patient had experienced disease recurrence, and none had died. All patients maintained antegrade ejaculation, and no long-term complications had developed. Conclusion Our small series has demonstrated encouraging oncologic efficacy for RPLND as a primary treatment of retroperitoneal lymph node-positive seminoma. A multi-institutional phase II trial of RPLND for stage IIA seminoma is being developed.
On the utility of population forecasts

Many customers demand population forecasts, particularly for small areas. Although the forecast evaluation literature is extensive, it is dominated by a focus on accuracy. We go beyond accuracy by examining the concept of forecast utility in an evaluation of a sample of 2,709 counties and census tracts. We find that forecasters provide "value-added" knowledge for areas experiencing rapid change or areas with relatively large populations. For other areas, reduced value is more common than added value. Our results suggest that new forecasting strategies and methods such as composite modeling may substantially improve forecast utility.
Kinetic elucidation of a novel photoproduct via irradiation of isopropylthioxanthone with maleic anhydride

Isopropylthioxanthone is a popular cosynergist for Type II and three-component photoinitiators used to photopolymerize ultraviolet (UV) curable coatings and can be used in the presence of maleic anhydride derivatives to efficiently cure coatings used in numerous applications. Isopropylthioxanthone (ITX) was shown via ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy to yield a single photoproduct with maleic anhydride (MA) when irradiated (λ ≥ 350 nm). Following irradiation of ITX and MA at set time intervals, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to observe the formation of the photoproduct by monitoring the UV–vis absorbance spectra of the photoproduct and the reactants. Based on the consumption of ITX shown in the HPLC plots, the complete rate law was calculated based on the initial rates. Finally, a possible mechanism is proposed for the formation of the photoproduct which may provide evidence for the reduced initiation efficiency of photoinitiators incorporating ITX and a MA derivative when compared to a similar photoinitiator substituting an N-substituted maleimide for the MA derivative.
Selection for resistance to monensin, nicarbazin, and the monensin plus nicarbazin combination

Abstract Two series of experiments were conducted to assess the relative ability of strains of Eimeria acervulina and Eimeria tenella to develop resistance to monensin (MON), nicarbazin (NIC), and the monensin plus nicarbazin combination (MON plus NIC). The studies were designed so that drug concentrations in the selection experiments were increased whenever possible. During selection, E. acervulina increased its reproductive index in the presence of NIC or MON plus NIC, equivalent selection in the presence of MON resulted in only a slight increase in reproductive ability. Eimeria tenella, however, was unable to increase its reproductive capacity to the respective drugs. Sensitivity tests after 60 generations of selection revealed that patterns of resistance development for E. acervulina and E. tenella corresponded with the changes in reproductive indices established in the selection experiments. Thus, results of these tests indicate that E. acervulina possesses the ability to develop resistance to NIC and MON plus NIC. Under essentially the same conditions of selection, E. tenella developed only partial resistance to the respective drugs.
Aqueous-Phase Chemical Processes in Deliquescent Seasalt Aerosols

The aqueous-phase chemistry of deliquescent seasalt aerosols in the remote marine boundary layer is investigated with a steady-state box model. The model simulates the scavenging of soluble and reactive gaseous species by the seasalt aerosols, the chemical reactions of these species and seasalt ions in the deliquescent solution, and changes in the aerosol composition that occur as a result of these processes. Because of the alkalinity of seasalt, the calculations indicate that deliquescent seasalt aerosols are strongly buffered and as a result their pH remains close to 8 until the amount of acid added to the aerosol solution exceeds the alkalinity. The oxidation of chloride by O3 as well as by free radicals are found to proceed at extremely slow rates and thus these reactions can not explain the high chloride deficits recently observed over the North Atlantic Ocean. On the other hand, the oxidation of dissolved SIV by O3 in seasalt aerosols is found to proceed at an extremely high rate and appears to explain the observations of nss-SO42- in seasalt aerosols over the Noth Atlantic Ocean. The high rate of SIV oxidation is found to proceed until the amount of nss-SO42- generated in the aerosol is sufficiently large to overwhelm the buffering capacity and lower the pH below 5.5. As a result, the calculations suggest a strong coupling between the cycles of S and alkalinity in the marine boundary layer that may act to limit the generation of cloud condensation nuclei from the oxidation of biogenic S emissions.
Eroticism in group psychotherapy: psychoanalytic reflections on desire, agony, and ecstasy.

To fully understand the complexities of eroticism in groups, it may be necessary to review a conceptual differentiation of desire and its allies: agony and ecstasy. This article suggests that psych...
The Influence of Age on the Frequency of Spontaneous Task-Unrelated Thought Intrusions during Reading

The frequency of spontaneous task-unrelated images and thoughts (TUITs) during reading was determined in an adult life span sample (n = 121, 18–79 years old) to examine the generality of Giambra's finding of reduced TUTT frequency with increased age using a nonsemantic task (vigilance) [1]. Hasher and Zacks have predicted an increase in TUITs based upon a postulated reduced inhibition of off-goal path thoughts into working memory in older adults during text processing and comprehension [2]. In this study, each subject recorded spontaneous and deliberate TUITs while reading four non-fiction passages representing high and low levels of interest and difficulty. No effects were found for deliberate TUITs. However, the older men had significantly fewer spontaneous TUITs than the younger men, while no age difference in spontaneous TUIT frequency was evident for the women. The differential outcome for men and women could not be explained, but appeared to be the result of having a sample of older women who were u...
Towards a Pervasive Grid

The increase in the use of mobile & embedded devices, coupled with ad-hoc, short range wireless networking is enabling pervasive computing. This pervasive computing environment and the wired Grid infrastructure can be combined to make the computation and information Grid truly pervasive. This paper identifies some of the interesting research issues and challenges in creating such a pervasive Grid, and describes some preliminary work we have done to that end. We propose a runtime environment for the pervasive Grid that utilizes a multi agent framework, and provides for discovery of services being offered by sensors, embedded and mobile devices, and their composition. The computation in this environment needs to be dynamically partitioned between the traditional Grid and elements that constitute the pervasive environment, like sensors, with limited computing and communication capabilities.
Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein 1, Macrophage Inflammatory Protein 1α, and RANTES Recruit Macrophages to the Kidney in a Mouse Model of Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome

The macrophage has previously been implicated in contributing to the renal inflammation associated with hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS). However, there is currently no in vivo model detailing the contribution of the renal macrophage to the kidney disease associated with HUS. Therefore, renal macrophage recruitment and inhibition of infiltrating renal macrophages were evaluated in an established HUS mouse model. Macrophage recruitment to the kidney was evident by immunohistochemistry 2 h after administration of purified Stx2 and peaked at 48 h postinjection. Mice administered a combination of Stx2 and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) showed increased macrophage recruitment to the kidney compared to mice treated with Stx2 or LPS alone. Monocyte chemoattractants were induced in the kidney, including monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1/CCL2), macrophage inflammatory protein 1alpha (MIP-1alpha/CCL3), and RANTES (CCL5), in a pattern that was coincident with macrophage infiltration as indicated by immunohistochemistry, protein, and RNA analyses. MCP-1 was the most abundant chemokine, MIP-1alpha was the least abundant, and RANTES levels were intermediate. Mice treated with MCP-1, MIP-1alpha, and RANTES neutralizing antibodies had a significant decrease in Stx2 plus LPS-induced macrophage accumulation in the kidney, indicating that these chemokines are required for macrophage recruitment. Furthermore, mice exposed to these three neutralizing antibodies had decreased fibrin deposition in their kidneys, implying that macrophages contribute to the renal damage associated with HUS.
MYSEA technology demonstration

The MYSEA project has produced an innovative architecture and corresponding engineering prototype consisting of trusted security services and integrated operating system mechanisms for the protection of distributed multi-domain computing environments from malicious code and other attacks. These security services and mechanisms extend and interoperate with existing workstations, applications and open source operating systems, providing new capabilities for composing secure distributed systems using commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components. The MYSEA technical demonstration illustrates the MYSEA architecture, as well as the mechanisms for providing multi-domain information protection, trusted path extension and quality of security service.
Planning the future of the World Geodetic System 1984

The Department of Defense (DoD) World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS 84) defines a family of closely related global coordinate systems and Earth models that support positioning and navigation. The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) is responsible for insuring that the WGS 84 continues to meet the ever-increasing accuracy demands of all its users. Major users include, the Navstar Global Positioning System that provides WGS 84 positions by design, the U.S. DoD, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO). Despite its name, WGS 84 is not a 20-year old system. Numerous updates have been made to various components of the system and more are planned for the future. Improvements include increasing the accuracy with which WGS is tied to the Earth, increasing the accuracy and resolution of the gravity model, incorporating a model of the Earth's magnetic field, refining the relationships between WGS 84 and other geodetic datums and coordinate systems, and improving the scope and quality of WGS documentation. This paper traces the evolution of the WGS 84 from the early 1980's to the present and describes NGA's plans to meet the future needs of WGS users.
The Influence of Several Design and Material Variables on the Propensity for Solder Joint Cracking

Encapsulated printed wiring board assemblies which are subjected to thermal cycling may be prone to the problem of solder joint cracking. In order to quantitatively assess the susceptibility and resulting reliability of these electronic packages, a series of tests were conducted. Several test units were designed to evaluate various material and design variables. Thermal cycling (-40°F to + 160°F) of these test Units with periodic visual and/or electrical examination of each solder joint resulted in a systematic comparison of several variables with regard to influence On solder joint cracking. Within the limitations of the test conditions, several recommendations can be made to advise designers of the design and production practices to minimize damage to solder joints
Contractile parameters and occurrence of alternans in isolated rat myocardium at supra-physiological stimulation frequency.

The cardiac refractory period prevents the heart from tetanic activation that is typically used in noncardiac striated muscle tissue. To what extent the refractory period prevents successive action...
A House Divided: Community Politics and Education Reform in Detroit

This research investigates the inherent dilemma evident in attempts to promote decentralization initiatives in urban public schools. Detroit provides a natural experiment in decentralized education reform given both the collaborative and the competitive reform efforts that were advanced between 1988 and 1994. A collaborative partnership, the Detroit Compact, was created, and schools of empowerment and choice were partially implemented, conceptually designed to enlarge the community role in the operation of the schools. Results indicate that efforts at promoting decentralization, over time may produce counterpressures to recentralize decision making.
Pyrolysis of carbonaceous foundry sand additives: Seacoal and gilsonite

Abstract Seacoal and gilsonite are used by the foundry industry as carbonaceous additives in green molding sands. In this study, pyrolysis was used to simulate the heating conditions that the carbonaceous additives would experience during metal casting. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry was used to tentatively identify major organic products generated during their pyrolysis at 500, 750, and 1000 °C. A number of compounds of environmental concern were identified during the pyrolysis of seacoal and gilsonite, including substituted benzenes, phenolics, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These thermal decomposition products, and especially PAHs, were generated at each pyrolysis temperature in all foundry sands containing seacoal. In gilsonite-amended sand, however, mainly alkanes and alkenes were identified at 500 and 750 °C and PAHs at 1000 °C. Compared to seacoal, the most intense peaks occurred during the pyrolysis of sand containing gilsonite. The greatest loss of pyrolyzable material also occurred during heating of gilsonite-amended sand from ambient temperature to 1000 °C in a thermogravimetric analyzer. The results obtained from this study will be useful to green sand foundries looking to reduce volatile hydrocarbon emissions.
A Multiprocessor System for Dynamic Scene Analysis

Computer vision and digital image processing require a large amount of computation. A complete vision system, such as VISIONS [17], requires many number-crunching operations at the low level and sophisticated decision making at high-level. The advances in LSI and VLSI circuits have influenced researchers in computer vision and digital image processing. Many approaches for fast image processing using a network of processors have been presented [1–3,6,7,17]. However, parallelism has been applied mostly to those problems that are well defined or where use of partitioning is obvious. The problems encountered in the real world are serial in nature and it is difficult to incorporate parallelism directly.
Genome sequence and comparative analysis of the model rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium yoelii yoelii

Species of malaria parasite that infect rodents have long been used as models for malaria disease research. Here we report the whole-genome shotgun sequence of one species, Plasmodium yoelii yoelii, and comparative studies with the genome of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum clone 3D7. A synteny map of 2,212 P. y. yoelii contiguous DNA sequences (contigs) aligned to 14 P. falciparum chromosomes reveals marked conservation of gene synteny within the body of each chromosome. Of about 5,300 P. falciparum genes, more than 3,300 P. y. yoelii orthologues of predominantly metabolic function were identified. Over 800 copies of a variant antigen gene located in subtelomeric regions were found. This is the first genome sequence of a model eukaryotic parasite, and it provides insight into the use of such systems in the modelling of Plasmodium biology and disease.
Three-dimensional symmetric shapes are discriminated more efficiently than asymmetric ones

Objects with bilateral symmetry, such as faces, animal shapes, and many man-made objects, play an important role in everyday vision. Because they occur frequently, it is reasonable to conjecture that the brain may be specialized for symmetric objects. We investigated whether the human visual system processes three-dimensional (3D) symmetric objects more efficiently than asymmetric ones. Human subjects, having learned a symmetric wire object, discriminated which of two distorted copies of the learned object was more similar to the learned one. The distortion was achieved by adding 3D Gaussian positional perturbations at the vertices of the wire object. In the asymmetric condition, the perturbation was independent from one vertex to the next. In the symmetric condition, independent perturbations were added to only half of the object; perturbations on the other half retained the symmetry of the object. We found that subjects' thresholds were higher in the symmetric condition. However, since the perturbation in the symmetric condition was correlated, a stimulus image provided less information in the symmetric condition. Taking this in to consideration, an ideal-observer analysis revealed that subjects were actually more efficient at discriminating symmetric objects. This reversal in interpretation underscores the importance of ideal-observer analysis. A completely opposite, and wrong, conclusion would have been drawn from analyzing only human discrimination thresholds. Given the same amount of information, the visual system is actually better able to discriminate symmetric objects than asymmetric ones.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in the Intensive Care Unit

The prototype autoimmune disorder SLE is a highly variable disease characterized by episodic exacerbations, some of which are severe enough to require admission to the ICU. Infection, disease activity, and cardiovascular complications are among the major reasons for admission. Drugs, particularly the immunosuppressants used to treat SLE, often cause as much injury to the immune system as the disease itself, and intensive treatments are often required to combat the side effects of these drugs. Studies indicate that sex, age, and race affect both morbidity and mortality in SLE. Despite well-documented patterns of morbidity and mortality and episodic exacerbations requiring admission to the ICU, the specific nursing care needs of patients with SLE admitted to the ICU have not been investigated.
Active Sensor Reflectance Measurements of Corn Nitrogen Status and Yield Potential

Active sensor refl ectance assessments of corn (Zea mays L.) canopy N status are advocated to direct variable N applications and improve N use effi ciency (NUE). Our goals were to determine: (i) growth stage and (ii) sensor vegetation index with greatest sensitivity in assessing N status and grain yield. Variable crop N was generated by supplying N at diff erent amounts and times in three fi eld studies. Chlorophyll meter (CM) and sensor data were gathered at two vegetative (V11 and V15) and two reproductive (R1 and R3) growth stages, using the Crop Circle sensor that measures refl ectance in visible (590 nm) and near infrared (NIR) (880 nm) bands. Sensor data were converted to the normalized diff erence vegetation index (NDVI 590 ) and chlorophyll index (CI 590 ) values. Grain yields were also determined. Sensor indices were more highly correlated with CM readings for vegetative vs. reproductive growth (r 2 of 0.85 vs. 0.55). Th e CM vs. CI 590 slope was over twice the NDVI 590 slope value, indicating CI 590 was more sensitive than NDVI 590 in assessing canopy greenness. Indices did not diff er in ability to distinguish yield variation. Results indicate sensor CI 590 values collected during vegetative growth are best suited to direct variable N applications.
Cyclic Lateral Load Response of Bridge Column-Foundation-Soil Systems in Freezing Conditions

The potential effects of seasonal freezing on seismic response of integrated bridge column-foundation systems were investigated using three outdoor large-scale test units installed in glacial till soil. Two of these test units had identical dimensions and reinforcement details and consisted of 0.61 m diameter columns and foundation shafts. These units, which were tested during summer and winter at ambient temperatures of 23°C and −10°C , respectively, revealed the impact of the effects of seasonal freezing. When compared to the test at 23°C , the identical unit tested at −10°C showed 170% increase in effective elastic stiffness, 44% increase in average lateral force resistance, a 0.84 m upward shift to the maximum moment location, and a 64% reduction in the length of the plastic region in the foundation shaft. The third test unit had a 0.61 m diameter column with a 0.91 m diameter foundation shaft. The use of the oversized foundation minimized the effects of frozen condition on the response of the column ...
How rapidly is a passive scalar mixed within closed streamlines

The homogenization of a passive ‘tracer’ in a flow with closed mean streamlines occurs in two stages: first, a rapid phase dominated by shear-augmented diffusion over a time ≈P1/3(L/U), where the Peclet number P=LU/κ (L,U and κ are lengthscale, velocity scale and diffusivity), in which initial values of the tracer are replaced by their (generalized) average about a streamline; second, a slow phase requiring the full diffusion time ≈ L2/κ. The diffusion problem for the second phase, where tracer isopleths are held to streamlines by shear diffusion, involves a generalized diffusivity which is proportional to κ, but exceeds it if the streamlines are not circular. Expressions are also given for flow fields that are oscillatory rather than steady.
A Camouflaged nido-Carborane Anion: Facile Synthesis of Octa-B-methyl-1,2-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane(12) and Its Deboration Reaction

Facile, efficient, and economical is the exhaustive methylation of ortho-carborane, its isomers and its derivatives under Friedel–Crafts conditions utilizing MeI and AlCl3. Regioselectively, ortho-carborane yields the 4,5,7,8,9,10,11,12-octamethyl derivative 1 which has been degraded by using KOEt under autogenous conditions. The resulting camouflaged nido anion can be protonated (2⋅H) and finally converted to the per-B-methylated C2B9closo cluster 3.
The role of mononuclear phagocytes in wound healing after traumatic injury to adult mammalian brain

We monitor cellular responses to a penetrating wound in the cerebral cortex of adult rat during the first weeks after injury. Two classes of activated mononuclear phagocytes containing acetylated low-density lipoprotein (ac-LDL) receptors appear within hours at the wound site. One type of cell surrounding the lesion edge had thin, delicate processes and is identical in appearance to ramified microglia found in developing brain. Within the lesion, round cells are recognized as blood-borne macrophages when labeled by intravenous injection of carbon particles. Thus, both process-bearing reactive microglia and invading macrophages respond to brain trauma. The greatest number of ac-LDL(+) or nonspecific esterase(+) mononuclear phagocytes appears 2 days after injury within the wound site and are associated with a peak production of the cytokine interleukin-1 (IL-1). Because intracerebral infusion of IL-1 is known to stimulate astrogliosis and neovascularization (Giulian et al., 1988), we examine the time course of injury-induced reactive astrogliosis and angiogenesis. A 5-fold increase in the number of reactive astroglia is found at 3 d and a marked neovascularization at 5 d after injury. During the first week, mononuclear phagocytes engulf particles and clear them from the wound site either by migrating to the brain surface or by entering newly formed brain vasculature. To investigate further the role of reactive brain mononuclear phagocytes in CNS injury, we use drugs to inhibit trauma-induced inflammation. When applied in vivo, chloroquine or colchicine reduce the number of mononuclear phagocytes in damaged brain, help to block reactive astrogliosis and neovascularization, and slow the rate of debris clearance from sites of traumatic injury. In contrast, the glucocorticoid dexamethasone neither reduces the number of brain inflammatory cells nor hampers such responses as phagocytosis, astrogliosis, neovascularization, or debris clearance in vivo. Our observations show that mononuclear phagocytes play a major role in wound healing after CNS trauma with some events controlled by secretion of cytokines. Moreover, certain classes of immunosuppressive drugs may be useful in the treatment of acute brain injury.
Emotional display rules as work unit norms: a multilevel analysis of emotional labor among nurses

Emotional labor theory has conceptualized emotional display rules as shared norms governing the expression of emotions at work. Using a sample of registered nurses working in different units of a hospital system, we provided the first empirical evidence that display rules can be represented as shared, unit-level beliefs. Additionally, controlling for the influence of dispositional affectivity, individual-level display rule perceptions, and emotion regulation, we found that unit-level display rules are associated with individual-level job satisfaction. We also showed that unit-level display rules relate to burnout indirectly through individual-level display rule perceptions and emotion regulation strategies. Finally, unit-level display rules also interacted with individual-level dispositional affectivity to predict employee use of emotion regulation strategies. We discuss how future research on emotional labor and display rules, particularly in the health care setting, can build on these findings.
Functions Must Be Performed at Appropriate Rates in Appropriate Situations

We sketch a novel and improved version of Boorse’s biostatistical theory of functions. Roughly, our theory maintains that (i) functions are non-negligible contributions to survival or inclusive fitness (when a trait contributes to survival or inclusive fitness); (ii) situations appropriate for the performance of a function are typical situations in which a trait contributes to survival or inclusive fitness; (iii) appropriate rates of functioning are rates that make adequate contributions to survival or inclusive fitness (in situations appropriate for the performance of that function); and (iv) dysfunction is the inability to perform a function at an appropriate rate in appropriate situations. Based on our theory, we sketch solutions to three problems that have afflicted Boorse’s theory of function, namely, Kingma’s ([2010]) problem of the situation-specificity of functions, the problem of multi-functional traits, and the problem of how to distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate rates of functioning.
Effect of interprofessional education in an outpatient clinic on patient care and professional relationships.

The Comprehensive Care Clinic (CCC) at Louisiana State University Health Science Center at Shreveport (LSUHSC-S) has been an integral part of the medical school facility and curriculum since the inception of the institution. All third- and fourth-year medical students are required to enroll in the
On pass/fail dictionaries for scan circuits

Studies for the first time the use of pass/fail fault dictionaries for fault diagnosis of circuits with scan. The special structure of the tests generated for scan circuits allows one to use pass/fail information for primary output sequences, for scan-out vectors, or for both. The authors present experimental results to demonstrate the numbers of fault pairs that can be distinguished by the different types of pass/fail dictionaries, and the dictionary sizes. We also describe a dictionary enhancement method that allows all the fault pairs distinguishable by a full fault dictionary to be distinguished by the enhanced pass/fail dictionary. We use two sets of scan-based tests for the experiments we conduct, and we demonstrate the benefits of test sets containing tests with longer sequences of primary input vectors.
Pure nodal analysis for efficient on-chip interconnect model order reduction

This paper described a model-order reduction (MOR) method based on a novel pure-nodal analysis formulation (PNA) which permits the use of symmetric, positive-definite Cholesky solvers for all circuit topologies. Moreover, frequently occurring special cases, e.g., inductor-resistor tree structures result in particular types of matrices that are solved by an even faster linear time algorithm. The model order reduction algorithms also uses symmetric-Lanczos iteration and non- standard inner-products for generating the Krylov subspace basis. Its efficiency is supported by a wide range of industrial examples.
Serologic Survey of Snowshoe Hares (Lepus americanus) in the Greater Yellowstone Area for Brucellosis, Tularemia, and Snowshoe Hare Virus

We examined sera from snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus) livetrapped in the northern Greater Yellowstone Area (GYA), US, for antibodies to Brucella abortus, Francisella tularensis, and snowshoe hare virus (SSHV). Zero of 90, 0 of 67, and 40 of 100 samples were antibody positive for B. abortus, F. tularensis, and SSHV, respectively. Hares were trapped from 2009 to 2012, and of the six animals that were captured twice with at least 1 yr between captures, four developed antibody to SSHV, indicating active exposure to the agent. These findings suggest snowshoe hares in the GYA do not play a significant role as a reservoir of B. abortus, but do maintain the zoonotic, encephalitic SSHV in the population.
Rhetoric in a Postcolonial World: The Discourse Surrounding the Columbian Nukak Tribe's Appearance

Rhetoric in a Postcolonial World: The Discourse Surrounding the Columbian Nukak Tribe's Appearance
ACAT Inhibition Bad for Macrophages, Good for Smooth Muscle Cells?

Ahallmark of the atherosclerotic plaque is the accumulation of lipid-laden foam cells that are derived from macrophages or smooth muscle cells (SMCs).1,2 Cholesterol from modified lipoproteins is taken up and either stored in intracellular lipid droplets or delivered to extracellular cholesterol acceptors. Cellular free cholesterol can be exported to nascent HDL and activate the reverse cholesterol transport system, but when it accumulates in large amounts it can induce toxic changes leading to cell death. Conversely, esterified cholesterol is a more inert form of cholesterol for storage, but is not available for efflux to extracellular cholesterol acceptors. Acyl-coenzyme A (CoA): cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) esterifies excess free cholesterol and regulates cellular cholesterol homeostasis. ACAT occurs in two isoforms, ACAT-1 and ACAT-2. Whereas liver and intestine express both ACAT-1 and ACAT-2, macrophages and SMCs express ACAT-1 only.3 Nonselective inhibition of ACAT has the potential to both lower plasma lipids and to reduce foam cell formation.3,4 However, the therapeutic potential of ACAT inhibitors is not without controversy, because data have been published suggesting beneficial effects on experimental atherosclerosis as well as negative effects on macrophage viability.5–7 Furthermore, elimination of macrophage ACAT-1 is associated with increased atherosclerotic lesion formation in murine models.8 In this issue of Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology , Rong et al point to SMCs as a possible explanation for the apparently contradictory effects of ACAT inhibition.9 See page 122 In this study, Rong et …
Algebra Textbooks’ and Teachers’ Methods:

ABSTRACT The purpose of this paper is to examine the methods used in algebra textbooks and by secondary school algebra teachers to illustrate simplifying rational expressions, since teachers report that many students fail to develop accurate facility with this topic. A sample of 10 algebra textbooks was examined, 33 teachers were surveyed, and 6 teachers were interviewed. The results reveal that the vast majority of textbooks and teachers in the sample used a procedurally focused method rather than a conceptually focused method. Teachers gravitated toward the quick coverage offered by a procedural method showing students exactly what to do. Moreover, they even knew the possible disadvantages of using such a procedural method and the advantages offered by a conceptual method which offered a clearer explanation of the reasons behind the process. Despite the fact that teachers reported that rational expression simplification was a significant challenge for students to learn, the advantages offered by a conceptual method with the prospect of improved student knowledge was unheeded by most. Interviews with experienced algebra teachers revealed low expectations for student learning which may have a negative impact on student performance. A teaching strategy is suggested, based on the results of this paper and prior research, to include both procedural and conceptual methods for the simplification of rational expressions to enhance student success.
Uniformity testing: assessment of a centralized web-based uniformity analysis system.

Uniformity testing is performed daily to ensure adequate camera performance before clinical use. The aim of this study is to assess the reliability of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center9s locally built, centralized, Web-based uniformity analysis system by examining the differences between manufacturer and Web-based National Electrical Manufacturers Association integral uniformity calculations measured in the useful field of view (FOV) and the central FOV. Methods: Manufacturer and Web-based integral uniformity calculations measured in the useful FOV and the central FOV were recorded over a 30-d period for 4 cameras from 3 different manufacturers. These data were then statistically analyzed. The differences between the uniformity calculations were computed, in addition to the means and the SDs of these differences for each head of each camera. Results: There was a correlation between the manufacturer and Web-based integral uniformity calculations in the useful FOV and the central FOV over the 30-d period. The average differences between the manufacturer and Web-based useful FOV calculations ranged from −0.30 to 0.099, with SD ranging from 0.092 to 0.32. For the central FOV calculations, the average differences ranged from −0.163 to 0.055, with SD ranging from 0.074 to 0.24. Conclusion: Most of the uniformity calculations computed by this centralized Web-based uniformity analysis system are comparable to the manufacturers’ calculations, suggesting that this system is reasonably reliable and effective. This finding is important because centralized Web-based uniformity analysis systems are advantageous in that they test camera performance in the same manner regardless of the manufacturer.
The effect of iron deficiency on the expression of hemoglobin H.

Two brothers with hemoglobin H disease are described. In one boy, a concomitant iron deficiency was associated with a complete suppression of hemoglobin H in the peripheral blood. The effects of iron on globin synthesis are discussed.
Local voltage control in distribution systems: An incremental control algorithm

Inverter-based local volt/var control forms a closed-loop dynamical system whereby the measured voltage determines the reactive power injection, which in turn affects the voltage. There has been only a limited rigorous treatment of the equilibrium and dynamical properties of such feedback systems. In this paper, we expand on our prior result that reverse-engineers a class of non-incremental voltage control schemes and provides a principled way to rigorously engineer the control to incorporate new design goals and/or achieve better dynamical properties. Specifically, it has been observed in the literature that in practical circumstances the droop-based control scheme, a commonly adopted non-incremental voltage control, can lead to undesirable oscillatory behaviors even in the case of a single inverter unit. This motivates us to forward-engineer the local voltage control and apply the (sub)gradient method to design an incremental voltage control algorithm that demands less restrictive condition for convergence. We provide a sufficient condition to ensure convergence of the proposed control algorithm and evaluate its performance on a real-world distribution feeder in Southern California with multiple large PV generation units through simulations.