cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of 2‐Deoxy‐d‐Glucose on Methamphetamine‐Induced Dopamine and Serotonin Neurotoxicity

The mechanisms underlying the neurotoxic actions of methamphetamine (METH) and related substituted amphetamines are unknown. Previous studies with 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) have suggested that METH-induced neurotoxicity may involve exhaustion of intracellular energy stores. However, because 2-DG also produces hypothermic effects, and because METH's neurotoxic actions are highly susceptible to thermoregulatory influence, previous findings with 2-DG are difficult to interpret. The present studies were undertaken to further examine the influence of 2-DG's glucoprivic and thermic effects in the context of METH-induced dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) neurotoxicity. 2-DG protected against METH-induced DA neurotoxicity in both rats and mice. In both species, 2-DG, alone or in combination with METH, produced hypothermic effects. METH's toxic effects on brain 5-HT neurons were either unaffected or exacerbated by 2-DG, depending on species, brain region, and dose of METH tested. These results indicate that different mechanisms may underlie METH-induced DA and 5-HT neurotoxicity, and suggest that, as compared with 5-HT neurons, DA neurons are more susceptible to temperature influence, whereas 5-HT neurons are more vulnerable than DA neurons to metabolic compromise. Additional studies are needed to further assess the role of energy stores in the neurotoxic effects of METH and related drugs.
Determination of Toxic Organophosphorus Compounds by Specific and Nonspecific Detectors

Abstract Sample preparation procedures and gas chromatography methodology are presented for the determination of tabun, sarin, soman, and VX in aqueous solutions. Extraction recoveries from chloroform were quantitative. Peak area ratios of organophosphorus compounds (OPs) to internal standard versus concentrations of OP were linear over the range of 10-1000 (μg/ml when determined by the flame ionization detector and 10-800 μg/ml when determined by the flame photometric detector. Imprecision occurring at low ng concentrations of VX was caused by its adsorption on the analytical column. Acceptable precision was regained by the addition of a weak base, such as atropine, to the sample extract prior to its injection onto the gas chromatograph (GC).
Induction of cytochrome P450 enzymes in the livers of rats treated with the pyrrolizidine alkaloid retrorsine.

Retrorsine is a member of the pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA) family of naturally occurring compounds found in a large number of plant species worldwide. The cytotoxic, mutagenic, and antimitotic effects of PAs have made them targets for studies designed to determine their potential contributions to carcinogen esis and their usefulness for anticancer therapy. Evidence from the literature suggests that bioactivation of PAs by liver cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes is required for their toxicity. However, the specific CYP isozymes that are involved in retrorsine metabolism have not been identified. To address this issue, we administered retrorsine to a cohort of young adult male rats and examined induction or enhanced expression of mRNA and protein for widely studied hepatic CYP isoforms spanning four families together with the essential enzyme CYP reductase. The protein levels of normally expressed CYPs 1A2, 2B1/2, and 2E1 increase significantly in rat liver microsomes from retrorsine-treated rats compared to untreated control rats (P < 0. 05), but protein levels of CYP 4A3, CYP 3A1, and CYP reductase were unchanged after retrorsine treatment. In addition, CYP 1A1 mRNA and protein, which are not detectable in the livers of control rats, were induced after retrorsine exposure. The results of the present study demonstrate enhanced or induced expression of hepatic CYPs 1A1, 1A2, 2E1, and 2B1/2 in response to retrorsine exposure in rats, suggesting that one or more of these enzymes may be involved in retrorsine metabolism.
Supernova Remnants in the Magellanic Clouds. VII. Infrared Emission from Supernova Remnants

We have used the instruments on the Spitzer Space Telescope to study the Large Magellanic Cloud supernova remnants (SNRs) N11L, N44, N49, N206, N63A, and N157B. The two large SNRs N44 and N206 were not detected in any Spitzer IRAC or MIPS wave bands; the remainder were detected at one or more wavelengths. In particular, the SNRs N49 and N63A each had features that were evident in all available IRAC and MIPS bands. Each of these two also displayed faint limb emission in the MIPS 24 ?m band only. Spitzer IRS spectra obtained for the N49 SNR showed a number of prominent lines, with little continuum contribution. We therefore suggest that N49, and possibly N63A, are dominated by line emission, with thermal emission from hot dust being at most a secondary component.
Urban Effects on the Properties of Radar First Echoes

Abstract The properties of 3 cm radar first echoes were used to study the effects of the St. Louis, Missouri metropolitan area on precipitation initiation during the summer months of Project METROMEX. Good statistical support was found for a ∼150 m lowering of urban first echo tops and a ∼250 m lowering of urban first echo bases when compared to rural echoes observed on the same day. Urban echoes were found to be thicker than their rural counterparts; however, there is no statistical support for this difference. This result is most easily interpreted as suggesting a slight weakening of the updraft in urban clouds.
The Current-Diverting FCL-A Practical Solution to Fault Current Limiting

This paper is intended to bring to the attention of the electric power industry a practical means for achieving the benefits of fault-current limitation. This proposed scheme circumvents fundamental problems which have thus far prevented the realization of adequate, reliable fault limiters at high power voltage and current ratings. Current limitation is achieved by the simultaneous actuation of two interrupters and a grounding switch. This single action limits the fault current for the first loop by diverting it to ground, then isolates the ground switch and inserts a reactor into the line to limit subsequent fault current. Employing state-of-the-art technology, this scheme can accommodate the practical range of distribution and transmission voltages and currents. It is shown that because of the inherent characteristics of this device operating in a power system, there is virtually no significant increase in the severity of duty imposed on source side transformers.
Investigating the force multiplier effect of citizen event reporting by social simulation

Citizen event reporting (CER) attempts to leverage the eyes and ears of a large population of “citizen sensors” to increase the amount of information available to decision makers. When deployed in an environment that includes hostile elements, foes can exploit the system to exert indirect control over the response infrastructure. We use an agent-based model to relate the utility of responses to population composition, citizen behavior, and decision strategy, and measure the result in terms of a force multiplier. We show that CER can lead to positive force multipliers even with a majority of hostile elements in the population. When reporter identity is known, a reputation system that keeps track of trustworthy reporters can further increase the force multipliers.
Impact of discontinuity in health insurance on resource utilization

This study sought to describe the incidence of transitions into and out of Medicaid, characterize the populations that transition and determine if health insurance instability is associated with changes in healthcare utilization. 2000-2004 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) was used to identify adults enrolled in Medicaid at any time during the survey period (n = 6,247). We estimate both static and dynamic panel data models to examine the effect of health insurance instability on health care resource utilization. We find that, after controlling for observed factors like employment and health status, and after specifying a dynamic model that attempts to capture time-dependent unobserved effects, individuals who have multiple transitions into and out of Medicaid have higher emergency room utilization, more office visits, more hospitalizations, and refill their prescriptions less often. Individuals with more than one transition in health insurance status over the study period were likely to have higher health care utilization than individuals with one or fewer transitions. If these effects are causal, in addition to individual benefits, there are potentially large benefits for Medicaid programs from reducing avoidable insurance instability. These results suggest the importance of including provisions to facilitate continuous enrollment in public programs as the United States pursues health reform.
Preparation and properties of iron(III) complexes of nitrilotriacetic acid and trans-1,2-cyclohexane-diaminetetra-acetic acid

Abstract The synthesis to trihydrogen diaquo bis (nitrilotriacetato) ferrate, ethylenediammonium bis (monoaquo trans-1,2-cyclohexane-diaminetetraacetato ferrate) dihydrate, and barium bis (monoaquo trans-1,2-cyclohexanediaminetetracetato ferrate) hexahydrate are reported. These compounds are characterized by pH titration, infrared spectroscopy, magnetic susceptibility measurements, Mossbauer spectroscopy, differential thermal analysis and thermogravimetric analysis. Although the iron(III) in all of these compounds is found to be hepta coordinated, the nitrilotriacetic acid chelate appears to be polymeric in nature.
The Sensitivity of Gas-Phase Chemical Models of Interstellar Clouds to C and O Elemental Abundances and to a New Formation Mechanism for Ammonia

The effects of variations in the gas-phase carbon-to-oxygen elemental abundance ratio (0.42 ? C/O ? 1.2) and the absolute gas-phase carbon and oxygen elemental abundances on calculated molecular concentrations have been studied for three gas-phase chemical models of dense interstellar clouds. Both the C and O elemental abundances were varied from their low metal values, in which C/O = 0.42. The results were compared with observations of the dark interstellar clouds TMC-1 and L134N, the latter being chosen because TMC-1, with its singularly rich component of large hydrocarbons and cyanopolyynes, may not represent dense cores universally. In general, variations in the gas-phase C and O elemental abundances have a large and time-dependent effect on calculated molecular concentrations for all three models. For the new standard model, which does not contain many rapid neutral-neutral reactions, excellent early-time agreement with TMC-1 occurs for a variety of C/O ratios obtained by depleting the low metal O abundance, but the time of best agreement tends to increase with increasing C/O ratio. At these early times, ? 80% of the calculated abundances are within an order of magnitude of the observed values. Agreement at this level also occurs at steady state if the C and O abundances are first depleted by a factor of 5 and then O is additionally depleted so that C/O ? 0.80. In general, a factor of 5 depletion of both C and O increases the production efficiency of large molecules. When the new standard model is applied to L134N, the early-time agreement is not as good as for TMC-1 unless both C and O are first depleted by factors of 5 from their low metal values and the C/O ratio is then maintained at a value less than 0.80. Under these conditions, the steady state results are only slightly worse. The other two models, containing fast neutral-neutral reactions, have their best agreement with TMC-1 when C/O ? 1, although the level of agreement is typically worse than with the new standard model, and factor of 5 depletions have little effect. For L134N, on the other hand, the early-time agreement with these latter two models for a wide range of C/O values is almost as good as with the new standard model if factor of 5 depletions in C and O are utilized and is actually superior for most cases when C/O ? 1. In general, the negative conclusions concerning models with rapid neutral-neutral reactions may therefore be overly harsh. When the newly studied rapid reaction H -->+3+N?NH -->+2 + H is included in our model calculations, the abundances of some N-containing species are in better agreement with observed values, but this effect decreases as C/O is increased.
Comparing results of posterior spine fusion in patients with AIS: Are two surgeons better than one?

Aims Spinal deformity surgery is one of the most complicated procedures performed in pediatric orthopedics. These surgeries can account for long operative times and blood losses. Finding ways to limit patient morbidity undergoing these procedures may benefit many. We hypothesized that utilizing two fellowship trained pediatric spinal deformity surgeons would lead to decreased operative time and blood loss when compared with single surgeon. We felt very little difference would be found in terms of curve correction.
Management of vulvar cancer.

Background. Current therapy of vulvar malignancies is reviewed with emphasis on screening, etiology, diagnosis, staging, and treatment of preinvasive and invasive cancer. Methods. Screening procedures, etiologic possibilities, diagnostic techniques, staging implications, and treatment approaches are discussed in detail. Results. All malignancies of the vulva should be detected at an early stage, when they are most amenable to curative therapy. Regular examination of all women and increased efforts to educate patients should in time reduce patient and physician delay in diagnosis. The cause of the disease remains unclear, because the precursor state has not been defined accurately. The impetus to perform more conservative surgery has been accompanied by the realization of the severe psychosexual sequelae associated with radical vulvectomy. High risk prognostic factors include number of positive groin lymph nodes and diameter of the primary lesion. Diameter of the largest metastasis, intracapsular versus extracapsular nodal tumor location, laterality of spread, and deep groin nodal spread may be predictors of survival. Conclusions. The overall incidence of vulvar malignancies will not be changed until the pathophysiology of the disease is better understood. Improved survival will depend on earlier and more accurate diagnosis and treatment, including use of radiation therapy.
Spectral sensitivity of larvae from intertidal crustaceans

Response spectra for positive phototaxis of the planktonic first stage larvae of 7 species of estuarine intertidal crabs were measured. Species living highest intertidally as adults generally have larvae with good ultraviolet (UV) and blue/green sensitivity, while those from adults living lower intertidally lack the UV sensitivity. Comparison of the measured spectra with previous studies of adults indicates that there is probably no change in spectral sensitivity throughout development. This sensitivity is well adapted to the adult intertidal environment, but is not adapted for a planktonic existence in estuarine areas.
Obesity in the New Media: A Content Analysis of Obesity Videos on YouTube

This study examines (1) how the topics of obesity are framed and (2) how obese persons are portrayed on YouTube video clips. The analysis of 417 obesity videos revealed that a newer medium like YouTube, similar to traditional media, appeared to assign responsibility and solutions for obesity mainly to individuals and their behaviors, although there was a tendency that some video categories have started to show other causal claims or solutions. However, due to the prevailing emphasis on personal causes and solutions, numerous YouTube videos had a theme of weight-based teasing, or showed obese persons engaging in stereotypical eating behaviors. We discuss a potential impact of YouTube videos on shaping viewers' perceptions about obesity and further reinforcing stigmatization of obese persons.
Measurement of Organizational Conflict

Abstract The study reports on the development of an instrument containing factorially independent scales for measuring three types of organizational conflict: Intrapersonal, intragroup, and intergroup. The items for the instrument were selected through repeated factor analyses of data collected from three successive samples (N = 635) and/or feedback from the Ss. Data on the final instrument from a national sample of 1188 executives and a collegiate sample of 266 students provide substantial evidence of reliability and validity of the scales.
Structural studies on cytosolic domain of magnesium transporter MgtE from Enterococcus faecalis.

Magnesium (Mg2+) is an essential element for growth and maintenance of living cells. It acts as a cofactor for many enzymes and is also essential for stability of the plasma membrane. There are two distinct classes of magnesium transporters identified in bacteria that convey Mg2+ from periplasm to cytoplasm (Moncrief and Maguire 1999; Lunin, Dobrovetsky et al. 2006) [ATPase dependent (MgtA and MgtB) and constitutively active (CorA and MgtE)]. Previously published work on Mg2+ transporters yielded structures of full length MgtE from Thermus thermophilus, determined at 3.5A resolution, and its cytoplasmic domain with and without bound Mg2+, determined at 2.3 and 3.9A resolution, respectively (Hattori, Tanaka et al. 2007). Here we report the crystal structure of the Mg2+ bound form of the cytosolic portion of MgtE (residues 6-262) from Enterococcus faecalis at 2.2A resolution. The present structure and magnesium bound cytosolic domain structure from Thermus thermophilus (PDB ID: 2YVY) are structurally similar. Three magnesium binding sites are common to both MgtE full length and the present structure. Our work revealed an additional Mg2+ binding site in the E. faecalis structure. In this report, we discuss the functional significance of Mg2+ binding sites in the cytosolic domains of MgtE transporters.
Total Pancreatectomy With Islet Cell Auto-Transplantation: Update and Outcomes From Major Centers

Chronic pancreatitis is the result of irreversible damage to pancreatic acinar cells, and can result in debilitating chronic pain for patients. Treatment centers on pain relief, often with chronic narcotic use. Surgical therapy consists of both resection procedures to remove affected pancreatic parenchyma and drainage procedures to facilitate drainage of the main pancreatic duct. Total pancreatectomy historically was utilized in extreme cases due to the brittle glucose control that followed from the total loss of islet cells. Total pancreatectomy with islet cell auto-transplantation (TP-AIT) is gaining in popularity due to the maintenance of beta cell mass and the ability of patients to potentially be insulin independent post-operatively. TP-AIT is very helpful in the treatment of pain for patients with chronic pancreatitis. The overall majority of patients have an improvement in pain and quality-of-life scores. AIT also allows the majority of patients to have minimal insulin requirements post-operatively. With proper patient selection, these outcomes can be achieved.
Stability of the hepatocyte nuclear factor 6 transcription factor requires acetylation by the CREB-binding protein coactivator.

We previously demonstrated that the formation of complexes between the DNA binding domains of the hepatocyte nuclear factor 6 (HNF6) and Forkhead Box a2 (Foxa2) transcription factors resulted in synergistic transcriptional activation of a Foxa2 target promoter. This Foxa2·HNF6 transcriptional synergy was mediated by the recruitment of CREB-binding protein (CBP) coactivator through the HNF6 Cut-Homeodomain sequences. Although the HNF6 DNA binding domain sequences are sufficient to recruit CBP coactivator for HNF6·Foxa2 transcriptional synergy, paradoxically these HNF6 Cut-Homeodomain sequences were unable to stimulate the transcription of an HNF6-dependent reporter gene. Here, we investigated whether the CBP coactivator protein played a different role in regulating HNF6 transcriptional activity. We showed that acetylation of the HNF6 protein by CBP increased both HNF6 protein stability and its ability to stimulate transcription of the glucose transporter 2 promoter. Mutation of the HNF6 Cut domain lysine 339 residue to an arginine residue abrogated CBP acetylation, which is required for HNF6 protein stability. Furthermore, the HNF6 K339R mutant protein, which failed to accumulate detected protein levels, was transcriptionally inactive and could not be stabilized by inhibiting the ubiquitin proteasome pathway. Finally, increased HNF6 protein levels stabilized the Foxa2 protein, presumably through the formation of the Foxa2·HNF6 complex. These studies show for the first time that HNF6 protein stability is controlled by CBP acetylation and provides a novel mechanism by which the activity of the CBP coactivator may regulate steady levels of two distinct liver-enriched transcription factors.
Traffic management in wireless sensor networks: Decoupling congestion control and fairness

In this paper, we propose a distributed congestion control algorithm for tree based communications in wireless sensor networks, that seeks to adaptively assign a fair and efficient transmission rate to each node. In our algorithm, each node monitors its aggregate output and input traffic rate. Based on the difference of the two, a node then decides to increase (if the output rate is more) or decrease (if the input rate is more) the bandwidth allocable to a flow originating from itself and to those being routed through it. Since the application requirements in sensor network follow no common trait, our design abstracts the notion of fairness, allowing for the development of a generic utility controlling module. Such separation of the utility and fairness controlling modules enable each one to use a separate control law, thereby portraying a more flexible design. The working of our congestion control is independent of the underlying routing algorithm and is designed to adapt to changes in the underlying routing topology. We evaluate the performance of the algorithm via extensive simulations using an event-driven packet level simulator. The results suggest that the proposed protocol acquires a significantly high goodput of around 95% of the actual transmission rate, converges quickly to the optimal rate, and attains the desired fairness.
Selenite-induced epithelial damage and cortical cataract.

The purposes of these experiments were 1) to measure microscopic changes in the epithelium associated with selenite cataract, and 2) to describe the formation and subsequent clearing of selenite cortical cataract. Fourteen-day old suckling rat pups received a single subcutaneous injection of an overdose of sodium selenite at 2.25 mg Se/kg b.w. Development of cortical cataract was observed by biomicroscopy, and changes in epithelium were studied by light microscopy of flat-mounted lens epithelia.Selenite administration caused cortical cataract 15–30 days after injection in addition to previously characterized nuclear cataract. The cortical cataract progressed through equatorial vacuolization, opacity, and finally clearing of the cataract. Mitosis was suppressed and karyorrhexis was observed in the germinative zone of the epithelium 5 hours after selenite injection. Pathological disorganization of the epithelium followed. Changes included vacuolization, loss of meridional rows, and defective fiber formation...
A phase I and pharmacokinetic study of XK469R (NSC 698215), a quinoxaline phenoxypropionic acid derivative, in patients with refractory acute leukemia

A phase I study was performed to determine the safety and pharmacokinetics of XK469R in patients with refractory acute leukemia. The study aimed to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and dose limiting toxicity (DLT) of XK469R given intravenously over 30 to 60 min on days 1, 3, and 5 of a 21 day cycle. Patients were treated in successive cohorts of six until DLT was observed. Once the MTD was determined, an additional cohort of six patients was enrolled at the previous dose level and that dose was considered the recommended phase 2 dose (RPTD). Forty-six patients were treated at dose levels of 1,400, 1,750, 2,200, and 2,750 mg. The DLTs were: mucositis, colitis and hyperbilirubinemia. Reversible myelosuppression was noted at all dose levels. One (2%) of 42 patients achieved a complete remission and five patients (11%) had hematologic improvement. The half-life of the drug was long with a mean value of 48 h. The mean clearance was 206 mL/h with a coefficient of variation of 32%. No correlation was observed between the development of DLT and pharmacokinetics. The RTPD is 1,750 mg. XK469R induced hematological responses in patients with refractory leukemia at tolerable doses.
Indirect Information Transfer: Three-Spined Sticklebacks Use Visual Alarm Cues From Frightened Conspecifics About an Unseen Predator

Animals can attempt to reduce uncertainty about their environment by gathering information personally or by observing others' interactions with the environment. There are several sensory modalities that can be used to transmit social information from chemical to visual to audible cues. When predation risk is variable, visual cues of conspecific behavior might be especially telling about the presence of a potential threat; however, most studies couple visual and chemical cues together. Here, we tested whether visual behavioral cues from frightened conspecifics were sufficient to indirectly transfer information about the presence of an unseen predator in three-spined sticklebacks. Our results demonstrate that visual behavioral cues from conspecifics about the presence of a predator are sufficient to induce an antipredator response. This suggests that information transfer can occur rapidly in the absence of chemical cues and that some individuals weigh social information more heavily than others.
A database of new zeolite-like materials

We here describe a database of computationally predicted zeolite-like materials. These crystals were discovered by a Monte Carlo search for zeolite-like materials. Positions of Si atoms as well as unit cell, space group, density, and number of crystallographically unique atoms were explored in the construction of this database. The database contains over 2.6 M unique structures. Roughly 15% of these are within +30 kJ mol−1Si of α-quartz, the band in which most of the known zeolites lie. These structures have topological, geometrical, and diffraction characteristics that are similar to those of known zeolites. The database is the result of refinement by two interatomic potentials that both satisfy the Pauli exclusion principle. The database has been deposited in the publicly available PCOD database and in www.hypotheticalzeolites.net/database/deem/.
General Management Considerations for the Trauma Patient

A logical approach to the evaluation and initial management of the trauma patient, including procedures that promote patient comfort and enhance recovery. Fluid therapy, antibiotic use, nursing care, and physical therapy are discussed. Procedures and recommendations in this article are important in the management of all trauma patients regardless of the specific injury being treated.
Discussion of ‘Different approaches to corporate reporting regulation: How jurisdictions differ and why’

(2010). Discussion of ‘Different approaches to corporate reporting regulation: How jurisdictions differ and why’. Accounting and Business Research: Vol. 40, International Accounting Policy Forum, pp. 257-258.
Reductive dechlorination of 2-chlorophenol by Anaeromyxobacter dehalogenans with an electrode serving as the electron donor.

Summary Electrodespoisedatpotentialslowenoughtoserveas an electron donor for microbial respiration, but high enough to avoid the production of hydrogen, have been proposed as an alternative to the use of soluble electron donors for stimulating the bioremediation of chlorinated contaminants and/or metals. However, this form of respiration using pure cultures of microorganisms has only been reported in Geobacter species. To further evaluate this bioremediation strategy studies were conducted with Anaeromyxobacter dehalogenans, which has previously been reported to reductively dechlorinate 2-chlorophenol to phenol with acetate as the electron donor. Anaeromyxobacter dehalogenans could oxidize acetate with electron transfer to a graphite electrode poised at a positive potential, demonstrating its ability to directly exchange electrons with electrodes. Anaeromyxobacter dehalogenans attached to electrodes poised at -300 mV versus standard hydrogen electrode reductively dechlorinated 2-chlorophenol to phenol. There was no dechlorination in the absence of A. dehalogenans and electrode-driven dechlorination stopped when the supply of electrons to the electrode was disrupted. The findings that microorganisms other than Geobacter species can accept electrons from electrodes for anaerobic respiration and that chlorinated aromatic compounds can be dechlorinated in this manner suggest that there may be substantial potential for treating a diversity of contaminants with microbe‐electrode interactions.
A personal experience with direct reconstruction and extra-anatomic bypass for aortoiliofemoral occlusive disease

Objective This study was conducted to investigate factors influencing the outcome of all open operations for aortoiliofemoral (AIF) revascularization performed by a single surgeon at a tertiary referral center. Methods The series included 355 direct reconstructions and 181 extra-anatomic bypass (EAB) grafts in 339 men (63%) and 197 women, with median ages of 61 and 62 years, respectively. These procedures were done for claudication alone in 267 patients (50%), for advanced ischemia in 258 (48%), and to facilitate other interventions in 11 (2.0%). Simultaneous infrainguinal bypass was necessary in 36 patients (6.7%). Survival and patency analyses were performed using logistic regression, Kaplan-Meier estimations, and proportional hazards models. Results Patients receiving EAB were older (P 65 years had higher early and late mortality rates than younger patients (P Conclusions The worse operative mortality and late survival rates for EAB in this series largely were preordained by the frequent selection of EAB for patients who represented poor medical risks for direct AIF reconstruction. However, the durability of aortofemoral, aortoiliac, or iliofemoral bypass compared with either femorofemoral or axillofemoral bypass makes direct reconstruction clearly superior for average or low-risk patients. Direct reconstruction should be used preferentially in such cases, especially in women and for younger patients of either gender.
Integrating psychological and cultural perspectives on virtue: : The hierarchical structure of character strengths

The VIA Classification characterizes six culturally defined virtues as latent variables underlying 24 character strengths. Factor analyses of measures based on the Classification usually suggest 4–5 factors that do not correspond well to traditional lists of virtues. This article describes the identification of a three-virtue model across multiple measures of strengths in four samples encompassing 1,070,549 cases. The general pattern involved a first component representing good character that split into two components reflecting Goodness and Inquisitiveness. The former divided further into components reflecting Caring and Self-Control. This pattern recurred in all data sets. The model consisting of Caring, Inquisitiveness, and Self-Control is proposed as a reliable latent structure for the VIA Classification strengths, an intuitive classification of traditional cultural virtues, and a framework for social efforts encouraging the development of virtue.
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: Reminder Systems to Reduce Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections and Urinary Catheter Use in Hospitalized Patients

Background. Prolonged catheterization is the primary risk factor for catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI). Reminder systems are interventions used to prompt the removal of unnecessary urinary catheters. To summarize the effect of urinary catheter reminder systems on the rate of CAUTI, urinary catheter use, and the need for recatheterization, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods. Studies were identified in MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, Biosis, the Web of Science, EMBASE, and CINAHL through August 2008. Only interventional studies that used reminders to physicians or nurses that a urinary catheter was in use or stop orders to prompt catheter removal in hospitalized adults were included. A total of 6679 citations were identified; 118 articles were reviewed, and 14 articles met the selection criteria. Results. The rate of CAUTI (episodes per 1000 catheter-days) was reduced by 52% (P<.001) with use of a reminder or stop order. The mean duration of catheterization decreased by 37%, resulting in 2.61 fewer days of catheterization per patient in the intervention versus control groups; the pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) in the duration of catheterization was - 1.11 overall (P = .070), including a statistically significant decrease in studies that used a stop order (SMD, -0.30; P = .001) but not in those that used a reminder (SMD, -1.54; P = .071). Recatheterization rates were similar in control and intervention groups. Conclusion. Urinary catheter reminders and stop orders appear to reduce the rate of CAUTI and should be strongly considered to enhance the safety of hospitalized patients.
Nationalist Politics and the Dynamics of State and Civil Society in the Habsburg Monarchy, 1867–1914

H ISTORIANS have conventionally depicted the Habsburg Monarchy as the largest modern European imperial polity to disappear from the map because of its inability to accommodate the national aspirations of its peoples. It is the locus classicus for the failure of an old-fashioned dynastic empire to develop among its subjects a broader civic identity and loyalty to the state to counter the rise of nationalist demands for self-government. For later historians as well as many contemporary observers of the frequent internal crises after the 1890s, this was already a failed state even before World War I brought on the tragic denouement. In this perspective the monarchy's partici pation in the war was not a purely exogenous factor that led eventually to the polity's demise. Most scholars have agreed that the monarchy's entry into the war came largely because of its need to preserve its status as a Great Power, defend its position in the Balkans, and counter the challenges of its own nation alist political movements, some of them allied with political forces beyond the borders.1 Older western European and North American histories also tended to view nationalist politics in Habsburg central Europe, in contrast to western European experience, as an intolerant and ultimately anti-democratic force that helped doom hopes for parliamentary democracy both under the monarchy and in the post-1918 successor states.2
Viterbi Training for PCFGs: Hardness Results and Competitiveness of Uniform Initialization

We consider the search for a maximum likelihood assignment of hidden derivations and grammar weights for a probabilistic context-free grammar, the problem approximately solved by "Viterbi training." We show that solving and even approximating Viterbi training for PCFGs is NP-hard. We motivate the use of uniformat-random initialization for Viterbi EM as an optimal initializer in absence of further information about the correct model parameters, providing an approximate bound on the log-likelihood.
Synchronization of ventricular fibrillation with electrical pacing guided by optical signals: comparison of pacing locations

Wavefront synchronization is an important aspect preceding the termination of ventricular fibrillation (VF). We designed a novel approach using multi-electrode pacing that could reduce the energy consumption of successful defibrillation by more than 100-fold. We compared the efficacy of a synchronized pacing algorithm using optical recording-guided pacing at the right ventricle and the posterior left ventricle in isolated rabbit hearts. Two modes of pacing were used in the study. The electrodes were individually controlled (independent mode, ISyncP) or fired together (simultaneous mode, SSyncP) when triggered by tissue polarization at a reference site separate from the pacing sites. The hearts were stained with voltage-sensitive dye and illuminated with laser for epifluorescence imaging during pacing. The number of phase singularities of VF propagation was used to estimate the complexity of VF. A decrease in the number of PS signified a higher degree of VF organization. We found that the pacing algorithm was more effective if the pacing was applied to the posterior left ventricle than to the right ventricle. Pacing in the posterior left ventricle resulted in a 25.3% decrease in the number of PS for ISyncP and a 31% decrease for SSyncP. Pacing in the right ventricle resulted in a 29.0% decrease for ISyncP and a 2.3% increase for SSyncP. The 5mA current reflected a 27.8% decrease for ISyncP and a 32.2% decrease for SSyncP, whereas the 10mA current reflected a 27.2% decrease for ISyncP and a 5.2% increase for SSyncP. We conclude that synchronized pacing can induce VF organization, and the efficacy is higher when pacing in the left ventricle with 5 mA.
Skepticism and Contrastive Explanation

Etude des solutions contextualistes du paradoxe du scepticisme developpees par K. DeRose et D. Lewis a partir de l'utilisation de regles dependantes du contexte pour l'affirmation de la connaissance. Soulignant le caractere ad hoc et l'implausibilite de ces regles, l'A. propose une version du contextualisme sans reference aux regles speciales de la connaissance, que ce soit la regle de la sensibilite chez DeRose ou la regle de l'attention chez Lewis. S'appuyant sur la theorie causale de l'explication contrastive de P. Lipton, l'A. verifie ses jugements intuitifs sur l'explication contrastive du point de vue de la connaissance de l'avenir, de la connaissance mathematique, de la connaissance empirique et des indexicaux
Future Mission Concept for 3-D Remote Sensing of Aerosols from Low Earth Orbit

Aerosols are generated and transformed by myriad processes, affecting Earth's climate, hydrological cycle, air quality, and human health. In this paper, we describe the scientific rationale and mission architecture for a future aerosol mission concept, the Aerosol Global Interactions Satellite (AEGIS). Its payload is designed to eliminate ambiguities in aerosol microphysical retrievals and contribute to the next generation of atmospheric models. By combining several satellite-based approaches aimed at observing the 3D distribution of aerosol abundances, sizes, shapes, and absorption, AEGIS represents a major advance in our ability to monitor and characterize particulate matter from space, and comprises a logical next step beyond the Earth observing system, the "A-train," and Glory.
Human Pituitary Growth Hormone (hGH) Therapy in Growth Hormone Deficiency

This review has attempted to answer a number of questions regarding human growth hormone therapy in growth hormone deficiency. I believe that the available data support several conclusions which form a suggested current approach to the clinical use of hGH. While these conclusions are derived from data obtained using pituitary growth hormone, it is likely that they are applicable to growth hormone manufactured by recombinant DNA technology, as well. Treatment should be begun as early as the diagnosis can be made in anticipation of a better initial and long-term response in younger patients. Growth hormone should be administered on the basis of body weight in an initial dose of 0.06-0.10 unit/kg 3 times a week. Growth hormone may be administered either intramuscularly or subcutaneously. Therapy should be continuous whenever possible. Treatment should be given until there is no further response which generally will reflect closure of the epiphyses. Associated hormone deficiencies should be adequately treated, and patients should be periodically evaluated for the development of additional deficiencies. Concomitant therapy is not indicated unless deficiencies are clearly demonstrated. Thyroid replacement should be at full dosage, while glucocorticoid replacement should probably not exceed 10-15 mg/m2 x day. Gonadal steroids should be used at the bone age when puberty is expected, and hGH should be continued during pubertal development. There is no general indication for giving anabolic/androgenic steroid in combination with hGH in prepubertal patients. If a waning effect of therapy is observed, the dose of hGH should be incrementally increased, and/or the addition of anabolic/androgenic steroid therapy should be considered. While most reports have focused on the effect of hGH on linear growth, changes in weight, bone age, body proportions, and body composition have also been observed. The effect on bone age is variable, but there is greater enhancement of linear growth than of epiphyseal development in the majority of treated patients. Bone age must be monitored during hGH administration whether or not anabolic/androgenic steroids are used concurrently. Growth hormone administration is remarkably free of side effects. However, neutralizing antibodies to hGH may develop and they should be sought in patients in whom an unexplained decrease in response is observed. Certainly the available incomplete data allow for different conclusions. The expanding supply of hGH should lead to a more systematic evaluation and provide more definite answers to the questions which this review has considered.
Range Image Segmentation for Modeling and Object Detection in Urban Scenes

We present fast and accurate segmentation algorithms of range images of urban scenes. The utilization of these algorithms is essential as a pre-processing step for a variety of tasks, that include 3D modeling, registration, or object recognition. The accuracy of the segmentation module is critical for the performance of these higher-level tasks. In this paper, we present a novel algorithm for extracting planar, smooth non-planar, and non-smooth connected segments. In addition to segmenting each individual range image, our methods also merge registered segmented images. That results in coherent segments that correspond to urban objects (such as facades, windows, ceilings, etc.) of a complete large scale urban scene. We present results from experiments of one exterior scene (Cooper Union building, NYC) and one interior scene (Grand Central Station, NYC).
Lateral tip control effects in CD-AFM metrology: the large tip limit

Critical dimension atomic force microscopes (CD-AFMs) use flared tips and two-dimensional sensing and control of the tip-sample interaction to enable scanning of features with near-vertical or even reentrant sidewalls. Sidewall sensing in CD-AFM usually involves lateral dither of the tip, which was the case in the first two generations of instruments. Current, third generation instruments also utilize a control algorithm and fast response piezo actuator to position the tip in a manner that resembles touch-triggering of coordinate measuring machine (CMM) probes. All methods of tip position control, however, induce an effective tip width that may deviate from the actual geometrical tip width. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has been investigating the dependence of effective tip width on the dither settings and lateral stiffness of the tip, as well as the possibility of material effects due to sample composition. We have concluded that these effects will not generally result in a residual bias, provided that the tip calibration and sample measurement are performed under the same conditions. To further validate our prior conclusions about the dependence of effective tip width on lateral stiffness, we recently performed experiments using a very large non-CD tip with an etched plateau of approximately 2 μm width. The effective lateral stiffness of these tips is at least 20 times greater than typical CD-AFM tips, and these results supported our prior conclusions about the expected behavior for larger tips. The bottom-line importance of these latest observations is that we can now reasonably conclude that a dither slope of 3 nm/V is the baseline response due to the induced motion of the cantilever base.
Magnitude of and Prognostic Factors Associated With 1-Year Mortality After Hospital Discharge for Acute Decompensated Heart Failure Based on Ejection Fraction Findings.

Background Limited data exist about the magnitude of and the factors associated with prognosis within 1 year for patients discharged from the hospital after acute decompensated heart failure. Data are particularly limited from the more generalizable perspective of a population‐based investigation and should be further stratified according to currently recommended ejection fraction (EF) findings. Methods and Results The hospital medical records of residents of the Worcester, Massachusetts, metropolitan area who were discharged after acute decompensated heart failure from all 11 medical centers in central Massachusetts during 1995, 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2006 were reviewed. The average age of the 4025 study patients was 75 years, 93% were white, and 44% were men. Of these, 35% (n=1414) had reduced EF (≤40%), 13% (n=521) had borderline preserved EF (41–49%), and 52% (n=2090) had preserved EF (≥50%); at 1 year after discharge, death rates were 34%, 30%, and 29%, respectively ( P =0.03). Older age, a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, systolic blood pressure findings Conclusions This population‐based study highlights the need for further contemporary research into the characteristics, treatment practices, natural history, and long‐term outcomes of patients with acute decompensated heart failure and varying EF findings and reinforces ongoing discussions about whether different treatment guidelines may be needed for these patients to design more personalized treatment plans.
Ecology of aerobic anoxygenic phototrophs in aquatic environments

Recognition of the environmental role of photoheterotrophic bacteria has been one of the main themes of aquatic microbiology over the last 15 years. Aside from cyanobacteria and proteorhodopsin-containing bacteria, aerobic anoxygenic phototrophic (AAP) bacteria are the third most numerous group of phototrophic prokaryotes in the ocean. This functional group represents a diverse assembly of species which taxonomically belong to various subgroups of Alpha-, Beta- and Gammaproteobacteria. AAP bacteria are facultative photoheterotrophs which use bacteriochlorophyll-containing reaction centers to harvest light energy. The light-derived energy increases their bacterial growth efficiency, which provides a competitive advantage over heterotrophic species. Thanks to their enzymatic machinery AAP bacteria are active, rapidly growing organisms which contribute significantly to the recycling of organic matter. This chapter summarizes the current knowledge of the ecology of AAP bacteria in aquatic environments, implying their specific role in the microbial loop.