cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lean principles optimize on-time vascular surgery operating room starts and decrease resident work hours.

Objective Lean process improvement techniques are used in industry to improve efficiency and quality while controlling costs. These techniques are less commonly applied in health care. This study assessed the effectiveness of Lean principles on first case on-time operating room starts and quantified effects on resident work hours. Methods Standard process improvement techniques (DMAIC methodology: define, measure, analyze, improve, control) were used to identify causes of delayed vascular surgery first case starts. Value stream maps and process flow diagrams were created. Process data were analyzed with Pareto and control charts. High-yield changes were identified and simulated in computer and live settings prior to implementation. The primary outcome measure was the proportion of on-time first case starts; secondary outcomes included hospital costs, resident rounding time, and work hours. Data were compared with existing benchmarks. Results Prior to implementation, 39% of first cases started on time. Process mapping identified late resident arrival in preoperative holding as a cause of delayed first case starts. Resident rounding process inefficiencies were identified and changed through the use of checklists, standardization, and elimination of nonvalue-added activity. Following implementation of process improvements, first case on-time starts improved to 71% at 6 weeks ( P = .002). Improvement was sustained with an 86% on-time rate at 1 year ( P Conclusions Use of Lean principles allowed rapid identification and implementation of perioperative process changes that improved efficiency and resulted in significant cost savings. This improvement was sustained at 1 year. Downstream effects included improved resident efficiency with decreased work hours.
Single molecule surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy with an optical antenna chip

We propose and fabricate a chip containing optical antennas for single molecule Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SMSERS). We verify that SMSERS is achieved using experiments with Rhodamine 6G (R6G) isotopologues.
Self-managernent for the psychiatric patient at home

Abstract Psychiatric patients in home care require support and treatment, but they also need to learn skills and self-management that will assist them after home care ends. Mental illness can be compared with any long-term illness, such as diabetes or arthritis, in that patients should be prepared to cope with their illness through self-management. Mental illness should be considered no differently because patients also experience fluctuation in symptoms as a result of stress and the changing nature of their illnesses and will not always require intensive treatment.
A Bayesian classification of heart rate variability data

Abstract We propose a simple Bayesian method for the classification of time series signals originating from mutually exclusive sources. In particular, the method is used to address the question of whether a 24-h recording of human heart rate data is produced by a normally functioning heart or by one exhibiting symptoms of congestive heart failure. Our method correctly classifies 18 of 18 normal heart data sets, and 38 of 44 congestive failure data sets.
Active Vibration Damping for an Off-Road Vehicle with Displacement Controlled Actuators

AbstractMobile earthmoving machines typically do not have wheel suspension. Consequently, vehicle dynamics are under-damped, and operators experience vibrations of low frequency and high amplitude which are detrimental to health, comfort and productivity. For most vehicles, the state of the art for improving ride quality is passive energy dissipation via seat dampers and hydraulic accumulators connected in parallel to the actuators. Alternatively, ride quality may be enhanced by active control of the seat or working actuators. In the present work, active vibration damping is considered for a skid-steer loader based on control of the flow rate to the boom lift cylinders with a variable displacement pump. A four degrees of freedom vehicle dynamic model is derived for linear motion in the vertical and horizontal directions, pitching angle, and boom motion with respect to the chassis. Dynamics of the hydraulic pump and actuator are also modelled. Considering the requirements of the intended application, the f...
Selective Relocalization and Proteasomal Downregulation of PKCα Induced by Platelet-Activating Factor in Retinal Pigment Epithelium

PURPOSE Protein kinases C (PKCs) are key cell-signaling mediators in retinal physiology and pathophysiology. The cellular localization of PKC isoforms is important in defining their activity and specificity; the present study investigated the modulatory potential of the proinflammatory mediator platelet-activating factor (PAF) on the subcellular distribution of PKCalpha, beta, and delta isotypes. METHODS This study used real-time visualization of green fluorescent protein fused to PKCalpha, beta, or delta in the human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell line ARPE-19. RESULTS In PAF-stimulated ARPE-19 cells, PKCalpha translocated to the plasma membrane and then colocalized with Golgi markers p230 and GM130; PKCbeta translocated to the plasma membrane but not to the Golgi; and PKCdelta translocated to the Golgi. Pretreatment with PKC inhibitor calphostin C abolished the PAF-induced translocation of PKCalpha to the plasma membrane or to the Golgi, but the Golgi inhibitor Brefeldin A only prevented the accumulation of PKCalpha in Golgi, without affecting its membrane relocalization. PAF promoted depletion of PKCalpha and delta isoforms but not that of PKCbeta. Proteasome inhibitors lactacystin and MG-132 prevented the PAF-induced depletion of PKCalpha, but the inhibitor of lysosomal proteolysis E-64d was ineffective in rescuing PKCalpha. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that the PAF-induced downregulation of PKCalpha occurs principally through the proteasomal pathway. This remarkable PAF-mediated diversity in PKC translocation and downregulation highlights the significance of isotype-specific PKC activation in signaling pathways in ARPE-19 cells. These signaling events may be critical during RPE responses to oxidative stress, inflammation, and retinal degenerations, when PAF production is enhanced.
The strain specificity of transplantable neoplasms after freezing and storage in liquid nitrogen.

Summary Seventeen tumors of lymphomatous origin were frozen and stored for 20 to 24 months in liquid nitrogen. Leukemia L1210/MTX and leukemia P388/38280 demonstrated an increase in histocompatibility crossing strain barriers. Lymphoma 2, L5178Y, P1081, P288/MTX, and P1534 CDF 1 grew in fewer strains when the cell inoculum was lowered. L1210, L1210/38280, P388, P388/57155, P388/VCR, AK, P329, Lymphoma 4, P815, and RCS remained strainspecific.
Detection of alcohols in gas chromatographic effluent by laser-light scattering

Abstract A laser-light-scattering detector that is sensitive to alcohols has been developed for gas chromatography. The detector consists of a miniature concentric nebulizer that uses a cold atomization gas and an Ar + laser. Calibration curves for the alcohols exhibit characteristic sigmoidal shapes. Signal-to-noise ratios were optimized by examining the photomultiplier tube temperature, collection wavelength and detection scheme ( i.e. , photon counting vs . direct current detection). Limits of detection for five test alcohols were in the 2–8 μg/s range.
Forces, moments, and added masses for Rankine bodies

The dynamical theory of the motion of a body through an inviscid and incompressible fluid has yielded three relations: a first, due to Kirchhoff, which expresses the force and moment acting on the body in terms of added masses; a second, initiated by Taylor, which expresses added masses in terms of singularities within the body; and a third, initiated by Lagally, which expresses the forces and moments in terms of these singularities. The present investigation is concerned with generalizations of the Taylor and Lagally theorems to include unsteady flow and arbitrary translational and rotational motion of the body, to present new and simple derivations of these theorems, and to compare the Kirchhoff and Lagally methods for obtaining forces and moments. In contrast with previous generalizations, the Taylor theorem is derived when other boundaries are present; for the added-mass coefficients due to rotation alone, for which no relations were known, it is shown that these relations do not exist in general, although approximate ones are found for elongated bodies. The derivation of the Lagally theorem leads to new terms, compact expressions for the force and moment, and the complete expressions of the forces and moments in terms of singularities for elongated bodies.
Measurement structures and linear inequalities

Abstract The general mathematical criterion for the solvability of finite systems of linear inequalities is applied to some specific situations from measurement theory. Three examples are treated in detail, and in each case the necessary and sufficent conditions for existence of a suitable real-valued (utility) function on a finite structure are obtained.
Biodegradable polymer nanocarriers for therapeutic antisense microRNA delivery in living animals

MicroRNAs are endogenous regulators of gene expression, deregulated in several cellular diseases including cancer. Altering the cellular microenvironment by modulating the microRNAs functions can regulate different genes involved in major cellular processes, and this approach is now being investigated as a promising new generation of molecularly targeted anti-cancer therapies. AntagomiRs (Antisense-miRNAs) are a novel class of chemically modified stable oligonucleotides used for blocking the functions of endogenous microRNAs, which are overexpressed. A key challenge in achieving effective microRNAbased therapeutics lies in the development of an efficient delivery system capable of specifically delivering antisense oligonucleotides and target cancer cells in living animals. We are now developing an effective delivery system designed to selectively deliver antagomiR- 21 and antagomiR-10b to triple negative breast cancer cells, and to revert tumor cell metastasis and invasiveness. The FDA-approved biodegradable PLGA-nanoparticles were selected as a carrier for antagomiRs delivery. Chemically modified antagomiRs (antagomiR-21 and antagomiR-10b) were co-encapsulated in PEGylated-PLGA-nanoparticles by using the double-emulsification (W/O/W) solvent evaporation method, and the resulting average particle size of 150-200nm was used for different in vitro and in vivo experiments. The antagomiR encapsulated PLGA-nanoparticles were evaluated for their in vitro antagomiRs delivery, intracellular release profile, and antagomiRs functional effects, by measuring the endogenous cellular targets, and the cell growth and metastasis. The xenografts of tumor cells in living mice were used for evaluating the anti-metastatic and anti-invasive properties of cells. The results showed that the use of PLGA for antagomiR delivery is not only efficient in crossing cell membrane, but can also maintain functional intracellular antagomiRs level for a extended period of time and achieve therapeutic effect in living animals.
Growing competition for libraries

This article begins with an analysis of Questia’s online collection of digitized books and articles. Although the collection is not found to be a strong one, Questia’s strength lies in its ability to utilize the digital format to overcome many of the barriers and inconsistencies that undergraduate students encounter in a traditional brick‐and‐mortar academic library. Librarians can learn a lot from Questia and perhaps use that knowledge to improve their own services.
Chimpanzee language research: Status and potential

The impact of ape-language research upon current thought pertaining to language and man in relationship to the apes is discussed within an evolutionary framework. Studies of apes can reveal certain requisites to the language skills of humans. Social adaptations are thought to be important to the evolution of those requisites. A review of ape-language research is made, with emphasis given to the problems of controls where work is doneen face with the subjects, as where Ameslan (signing) is the system employed. The need for careful definition of what is a “word,” and the need for tracing through experience how responses come to acquire meaning, hence “wordness,” is emphasized. Levels of wordness are discussed which emerge initially from basic operants and performatives. Evidence is reported in support of the conclusion that it is through direct experience, through the pragmatic application and use of instruments, and through important social relationships that word learning is facilitated. Finally, it is noted that an important step of validation in our own work is in the successful application of methods emanating therefrom to work with mentally retarded children.
Suppression of in vitro immunoglobulin biosynthesis in bovine spleen cells by bovine viral diarrhea virus.

Abstract Incubation of bovine splenic lymphoid cells with pokeweed mitogen (PWM) and bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) virus for 5 days caused a consistent, statistically significant decrease in plasma cell development (cells containing intracytoplasmic immunoglobulin) as well as IgG or IgM synthesis compared to cultures without BVD virus. Suppression of plasma cell development and immunoglobulin synthesis was not due to decreased cell viability in virus-infected cultures even though virus replication was evident in both PWM-stimulated as well as control cultures. Finally, it was shown that heat-inactivated BVD virus was not capable of suppressing either plasma cell development or immunoglobulin synthesis. Thus, these data support the hypothesis that BVD virus can alter B-cell responses, plasma cell development, and subsequent synthesis of IgG and IgM immunoglobulins.
How to Derive a ‘Not’ from an ‘Is’: A Defense of the Incompatibility View of Negative Truths

Truthmaker maximalism is the claim that every truth has a truthmaker. The case of negative truths leads some philosophers to postulate negative states of affairs or to give up on truthmaker maximalism. This paper defends a version of the incompatibility view of negative truths. Negative truths can be made true by positive facts, and thus, truthmaker maximalism can be maintained without postulating negative states of affairs.
Maternal Care Effects on SNB Motoneuron Development: The Mediating Role of Sensory Afferent Distribution and Activity

Maternal licking in rats affects the development of the spinal nucleus of the bulbocavernosus (SNB), a sexually dimorphic motor nucleus that controls penile reflexes involved with copulation. Reduced maternal licking produces decreased motoneuron number, size, and dendritic length in the rostral portion of the adult SNB as well as deficits in adult male copulatory behavior. Previous research suggests that decreases in perineal tactile stimulation may be responsible for these effects. To determine whether the regional effects of maternal licking on SNB morphology are driven by sensory afferent innervation of the lumbosacral spinal cord, we used WGA-HRP to reconstruct the location of sensory afferent fibers from the perineal skin. We found that these fibers are caudally concentrated relative to the area of the SNB dendritic field, with the rostral dendritic arbor receiving little perineal afferent innervation. We also assessed Fos expression following perineal tactile stimulation to determine whether it increased local spinal cord activity in the SNB dendritic field. Sixty seconds of licking-like perineal stimulation produced a transient 115% increase in Fos expression in the area of the SNB dendritic field. This effect was driven by a significant increase in Fos in the caudal portion of the SNB dendritic field, matching the pattern of perineal afferent fiber labeling. Perineal tactile stimulation also produced significantly greater Fos expression in male pups than in female pups. Together, these results suggest that perineal sensory afferent activity mediates the effects of early maternal care on the masculinization of the SNB and resultant male copulatory behavior.
Individually Resolved DNA Molecules Stretched and Embedded in Electrospun Polymer Nanofibers

We have used the flow characteristics of an electrospinning jet to elongate and fix DNA molecules. We embedded and observed fluorescently labeled lambda bacteriophage DNA molecules in polyethylene oxide nanofibers. The embedded DNA molecules were imaged using fluorescence microscopy and found to be stretched to lengths approaching the full dyed contour length.
Ontology-Driven Event Detection and Indexing in Smart Spaces

By riding the tide of sensor technologies, smart space services collects information about its surroundings and internal objects. However, sensor readings are usually at primitive stage and difficult to be viewed and further retrieved since they have little meaning for naive users, who usually prefer to identify activities or state changes using high-level semantics or concepts. To bridge this gap, we propose an ontology-driven event processing framework as part of the middleware for smart spaces. Smart space event ontology (SSEO) is developed to enable semantic indexing, detect machine-processable events and exchange event data between different processes. A model named Smart Space Event Processors (SSEP) maintains and coordinates various event processes (e.g., event patterns, ontology reasoning rules, and machine-learning algorithms) for semantic events in a smart space. An implementation of SSEP—OntoCEP is introduced. The model elaborates on event composition and semantic labeling by combining event composition technology and semantic reasoning into one coherent system. It has been applied in a smart-space infrastructure named SENSIP.
Combined-modality therapy for patients with regional nodal metastases from melanoma.

Purpose: To evaluate the outcome and patterns of failure for patients with nodal metastases from melanoma treated with combined-modality therapy. Methods and Materials: Between 1983 and 2003, 466 patients with nodal metastases from melanoma were managed with lymphadenectomy and radiation, with or without systemic therapy. Surgery was a therapeutic procedure for clinically apparent nodal disease in 434 patients (regionally advanced nodal disease). Adjuvant radiation was generally delivered with a hypofractionated regimen. Adjuvant systemic therapy was delivered to 154 patients. Results: With a median follow-up of 4.2 years, 252 patients relapsed and 203 patients died of progressive disease. The actuarial 5-year disease-specific, disease-free, and distant metastasis-free survival rates were 49%, 42%, and 44%, respectively. By multivariate analysis, increasing number of involved lymph nodes and primary ulceration were associated with an inferior 5-year actuarial disease-specific and distant metastasis-free survival. Also, the number of involved lymph nodes was associated with the development of brain metastases, whereas thickness was associated with lung metastases, and primary ulceration was associated with liver metastases. The actuarial 5-year regional (in-basin) control rate for all patients was 89%, and on multivariate analysis there were no patient or disease characteristics associated with inferior regional control. The risk of lymphedema was highest for those patients with groin lymph node metastases. Conclusions: Although regional nodal disease can be satisfactorily controlled with lymphadenectomy and radiation, the risk of distant metastases and melanoma death remains high. A management approach to these patients that accounts for the competing risks of distant metastases, regional failure, and long-term toxicity is needed.
Posttraumatic Reduction of Edema with Aquaporin-4 RNA Interference Improves Acute and Chronic Functional Recovery:

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is common in young children and adolescents and is associated with long-term disability and mortality. The neuropathologic sequelae that result from juvenile TBI are a complex cascade of events that include edema formation and brain swelling. Brain aquaporin-4 (AQP4) has a key role in edema formation. Thus, development of novel treatments targeting AQP4 to reduce edema could lessen the neuropathologic sequelae. We hypothesized that inhibiting AQP4 expression by injection of small-interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting AQP4 (siAQP4) after juvenile TBI would decrease edema formation, neuroinflammation, neuronal cell death, and improve neurologic outcomes. The siAQP4 or a RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC)-free control siRNA (siGLO) was injected lateral to the trauma site after controlled cortical impact in postnatal day 17 rats. Magnetic resonance imaging, neurologic testing, and immunohistochemistry were performed to assess outcomes. Pups treated with siAQP4 showed acute (3 days after injury) improvements in motor function and in spatial memory at long term (60 days after injury) compared with siGLO-treated animals. These improvements were associated with decreased edema formation, increased microglial activation, decreased blood–brain barrier disruption, reduced astrogliosis and neuronal cell death. The effectiveness of our treatment paradigm was associated with a 30% decrease in AQP4 expression at the injection site.
Parametric excitation of ion quasi‐mode by the pump near the ion cyclotron frequency

Parametric excitation of a nonresonant ion quasi‐mode in a low density (i.e., ωpi≈Ωi) plasma is observed when the pump frequency is ω0≳2Ωi. From the interferometry measurement, the lower sideband is identified to be the cold lower hybrid wave and the low‐frequency mode is shown to be a nonresonant ion quasi‐mode. The dependence of the excitation process and the threshold upon density has been measured and was found to agree well with theory. The ion heating associated with this decay process is also observed. Such processes may take place near the plasma surface during ion cyclotron range of frequency heating experiments in tokamaks.
STUDIES ON THE ETIOLOGY OF PRIMARY ATYPICAL PNEUMONIA : A FILTERABLE AGENT TRANSMISSIBLE TO COTTON RATS, HAMSTERS, AND CHICK EMBRYOS.

1. A filterable virus from certain cases of primary atypical pneumonia was transmitted to chick embryos by inoculation into the amnion of suspensions of bacteriologically sterile lung tissue or filtered sputum, and three strains were adapted by passage. 2. After intranasal inoculation into cotton rats or hamsters, suspensions of the infected chick embryo tissues produced pulmonary lesions which were similar to those seen after instillation of infective human material. 3. The agent propagated in chick embryos was specifically neutralizable by serum from patients recovered from primary atypical pneumonia and was not neutralized by the acute-phase specimens. 4. Passages of the virus in cotton rats and hamsters gave confusing results because of contamination with latent respiratory agents already present in the animals.
Role of Ureaplasma urealyticum in bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Rappel des recherches tentees pour le traitement de la dysplasie bronchopulmonaire (DBP). Rappel de la microbiologie de U. urealyticum; role dans la pathologie genitale et possiblement dans la pathologie pulmonaire du premature. Interet de poursuivre la recherche sur une eventuelle association entre colonisation par U. urealyticum et DBP
Ontogeny of hypoxic modulation of cardiac performance and its allometry in the African clawed frog Xenopus laevis.

The ontogeny of cardiac hypoxic responses, and how such responses may be modified by rearing environment, are poorly understood in amphibians. In this study, cardiac performance was investigated in Xenopus laevis from 2 to 25 days post-fertilization (dpf). Larvae were reared under either normoxia or moderate hypoxia (PO2 = 110 mmHg), and each population was assessed in both normoxia and acute hypoxia. Heart rate (f h ) of normoxic-reared larvae exhibited an early increase from 77 ± 1 beats min−1 at 2 dpf to 153 ± 1 beats min−1 at 4 dpf, followed by gradual decreases to 123 ± 3 beats min−1 at 25 dpf. Stroke volume (SV), 6 ± 1 nl, and cardiac output (CO), 0.8 ± 0.1 μl min−1, at 5 dpf both increased by more than 40-fold to 25 dpf with rapid larval growth (~30-fold increase in body mass). When exposed to acute hypoxia, normoxic-reared larvae increased f h and CO between 5 and 25 dpf. Increased SV in acute hypoxia, produced by increased end-diastolic volume (EDV), only occurred before 10 dpf. Hypoxic-reared larvae showed decreased acute hypoxic responses of EDV, SV and CO at 7 and 10 dpf. Over the period of 2–25 dpf, cardiac scaling with mass showed scaling coefficients of −0.04 (f h ), 1.23 (SV) and 1.19 (CO), contrary to the cardiac scaling relationships described in birds and mammals. In addition, f h scaling in hypoxic-reared larvae was altered to a shallower slope of −0.01. Collectively, these results indicate that acute cardiac hypoxic responses develop before 5 dpf. Chronic hypoxia at a moderate level can not only modulate this cardiac reflex, but also changes cardiac scaling relationship with mass.
Control of rolling contacts in multiple robotic manipulation

When multiple arms are used to manipulate a large object, it is productive and sometimes necessary to maintain and control contacts between the object and surfaces of the robot other than those at the end-effector. Hence, the contact surface of the robot is referred to simply as its effector and includes the surface of any link of the manipulator as well as open palm-like effectors at the arm's extremity. Such contacts are characterized by holonomic as well as nonholonomic (including unilateral) constraints. In this paper, the control of rolling contact is investigated. Multiarm manipulation systems are typically redundant. In the approach, a minimal set of inputs is employed to control the trajectory of the system while the surplus inputs control the rolling condition at the contacts. A nonlinear feedback scheme for simultaneous force and motion control is presented and a new approach to adaptively adjust a two-effector grasp with rolling contacts is developed. Simulations are used to illustrate the salient features in control and planning. >
Approximation for Steady Interface Beneath a Well Pumping Fresh Water Overlying Salt Water

A mathematical expression was developed which would approximate the steady position and shape of a sharp, upconed interface between fresh and salt water in an aquifer when the fresh water only is being pumped from a well. The computation of the interface shape was based on an empirically derived modification of Muskat's approximation for the height of the cone beneath a well. Differing depths of well penetrations and their effect on the upconed interface were investigated with the approximation. The computed interfaces were compared with corresponding interfaces determined experimentally in a Hele-Shaw model. Close agreements could be achieved for interfaces which penetrated as much as 50% of the distance between the bottom of the well and the initial interface position. Changing the length of the producing interval of the well while keeping its pumping rate constant did not have a significant influence on the shape or position of the upconed interface. Even though the shape and position of the upconed interface could be approximated, a refinement of the analytical methods used in deriving the approximation for the interface may be necessary before it can be applied reliably.
Synthesis, isolation, and some chemistry of citric acid anhydride

A crystalline anhydride of citric acid has been produced for the first time. The compound was shown to be the unsymmetrical monomolecular anhydride. Details of the preparation are presented along with some of its chemistry. The rate of hydrolysis of the anhydride was found to decrease over the range pH = 1–6. Possible uses in pharmaceutical formulations are suggested.
The subjective effort of everyday mental tasks: Attending, assessing, and choosing

Why are some mental tasks experienced as more effortful than others? Answers to this question about subjective effort have begun to be addressed by researchers investigating why some mental tasks are associated with more ‘elbow grease’ or ‘depletion’ than other tasks. It has been proposed that tasks such as sustained attention should be accompanied by more subjective effort than other tasks, such as assessing (e.g., counting a handful of items) or choosing randomly between two alternatives. In general, these proposals coincide with people’s intuitions regarding how effort should vary by mental task. However, little laboratory data have corroborated these conclusions. In two studies, we cataloged the relative amount of subjective effort associated with some basic and ubiquitous mental activities: attending (most subjective effort), assessing, and choosing (least subjective effort). Results support hypotheses about subjective effort. Because subjective effort is perceived to be experienced by a subject, we explored also the relationship between effort and the involvement of the ‘psychological self.’
Laboratory study of geological carbon sequestration using surrogate fluids: Dielectric measurement and scaling of capillary pressure–saturation relationships

Abstract Multiphase flow models are powerful tools to understand and predict the flow and trapping of supercritical-CO 2 (scCO 2 ) in deep saline geologic formations. The constitutive relationship between capillary pressure ( P c ) and saturation ( S w ) is the essential input parameter into these multiphase models. By selecting surrogate fluids that match the density and viscosity ratios between scCO 2 and brine, the behavior of scCO 2 and brine may be reproduced under ambient conditions, making it possible to overcome the difficulty of conducting laboratory-scale experiments with scCO 2 . This paper presents the P c – S w relationship for the surrogate fluids of scCO 2 and brine measured using the dielectric sensor method. To explore the necessity and applicability of measuring the entire P c – S w relationship, we compared the dielectric sensor results with those from two scaling methods: classical Leverett scaling and a novel entry pressure scaling method. Additionally, the obtained surrogate fluid P c – S w values were compared with experimental data of scCO 2 and brine under high pressure. The dielectric sensor method successfully obtained the P c – S w relationship and produced more accurate measurements of residual and irreducible saturations compared to scaling methods.
Hardware design for MAS power distribution restoration using neural networks

A state of the art power distribution systems is to demand a more accurate response. A multi-agent system design for power distribution has been developed using the change of current methodology to detect and locate any type of faults. This study also examines the role of Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter (UART) buffer circuits in the laboratory experiment demonstration of the multi-agent system design. A recloser has been developed and improved for more sensitivity and faster response to detecting a fault where ever it occurs and lead the process of isolating and re-configuration. A Radial Basis Neural Network (RBNN) is designated at the feeder agent to implement the reconfiguration by analyzing the impedance and current values for each zone. The appropriate decision for the optimal reconfiguration case is a vector of activation signals associated with each switch to restore the power to the un-faulted zones of distribution feeder.
On the impact of HIV-associated immunosuppression and malaria infection in Malawi.

To the Editor—In their article, Laufer et al. [1] reported on the impact that HIV infection has on malaria in Blantyre, Malawi. In this observational study, HIV-infected adults were recruited and followed for ∼2 years; bloodsmearsformalariaparasites were analyzed monthly. One of the major finding was that poor immune status, as measured by low CD4 cell counts, was associated with repeated malaria infection, compared with those having higher CD4 cell counts. The authors commented that “if more-immunosuppressed individuals had more fevers and were subjected to more medical evaluations that included malaria smears, theincidence of malaria disease episodes may have been falsely elevated” [1, 876]. This conclusion deserves further exploration. Disease incidence rate, define as the number of new cases per unit of time [2], should not have been overestimated if the researchers paid attention to identifying treatment failures and recrudescence, as has been described at this same research site by some of the authors of this article
mTOR signaling in melanoma: oncogene-induced pseudo-senescence?

Oncogene-induced senescence (OIS) is thought to be a barrier to malignant transformation resulting from the strong activation of oncogenes. In this issue of Cancer Cell, Damsky and colleagues suggest activation of mTORC1 and mTORC2 is required for OIS evasion in human melanomas harboring oncogenic BRAF mutations.
Domain specific retrieval: back to basics

In this paper describe Berkeley's approach to the Domain Specific (DS) track for CLEF 2006. This year we did not use the tools for thesaurus-based query expansion and de-compounding for German used in previous years. This year Berkeley submitted 12 runs, including one for each subtask of the DS track. These include 3 Monolingual runs for English, German, and Russian, 7 Bilingual runs (3 X2EN, 1 X2DE, and 3 X2RU), and 2 Multilingual runs. For many DS sub-tasks our runs were the best performing runs, but sadly they were also the only runs for a number of sub-tasks. In the sub-tasks where there were other entries, our relative performance was above the mean performance in 2 sub-tasks and just below the mean in another.
Models for the lower S states of photosystem II: a trinuclear mixed-valent MnII/MnIV/MnII complex.

The trinuclear complex Mn3(pko)4(CH3O)2(SCN)2·CH3OH, 1, where Hpko is 2,2‘-dipyridylketonoxime, is a rare example of a complex simultaneously containing MnII and MnIV. X-ray crystallography and XANES spectroscopy clearly distinguish the MnII2MnIV valence isomer from the more commonly observed MnIII2MnII formulation. Fits to variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility data indicate that the MnII and MnIV are ferromagnetically coupled (J = +6.13 cm-1) and that 1 has an S = 13/2 ground state.
Identification of a second promoter for the metY-nusA-infB operon of Escherichia coli.

Abstract The metY-nusA-infB operon of Escherichia coli encodes functions involved in both transcription and translation. Previous studies have identified a single promoter, P0, that directs transcription of the entire operon. We have identified a second promoter, P-1, that also is positioned to transcribe the complete operon. P-1 is located 50 base pairs upstream of and oriented in the same direction as P0. Sequences associated with P-1 have features suggestive of regulatory elements. P-1 differs from any previously described naturally occurring E. coli promoter by having -35 and -10 sequences that perfectly match the procaryotic promoter consensus hexamer sequences, although the spacing between the two elements is 1 base pair more than optimal. We demonstrate that P-1 is active in vivo.
The Attachment, Internalization, and Time-Dependent, Intracellular Distribution of Clostridium difficile Toxin A in Porcine Intestinal Explants

ToxinA(TcdA),secretedbytoxigenicstrainsofClostridiumdifficile,produceslesionstypicalofC.difficile–associateddisease(CDAD) insusceptiblemammalspecies.Porcinecolonexplantsmaintainedfor2hourswithTcdAdevelopedseverelesionscharacterizedby cell swelling, swelling of mitochondria and other organelles, distension of cytoplasmic vesicles, expansion of paracellular spaces, apoptosis, and necrosis. Severity of lesions was proportional to the dosage of toxin. No lesions were present in uninoculated control tissues after 2 hours. Receptor-mediated endocytosis is the keystone event in the pathogenesis of the toxin, and susceptibility of a given species is thought to depend on the presence of receptors in intestinal epithelial cells. The fate of TcdA applied to viable colon explants was determined by transmission electron microscopy in an anti-toxin-labeled gold assay. At 5 minutes postinoculation, the presence of TcdA was indicated at the membrane of microvilli or in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells. TcdA was also indirectly observed within endosomes or attached attheir margin. A 30-minute inoculation period was associated with many more goldparticleslabelingstructuresinsidethecell,althoughsomewerestillattachedtomicrovilli.Withinthecell,mostTcdAwasassociated with mitochondria of epithelial cells, but some gold particles decorated the nuclei. Endothelial cells of the lamina propria had evidence of TcdA at both their lumenal and basal aspects, as well as in the cytoplasm and, occasionally, nuclei. Gold particles also labeled the lumen of such vessels as well as leucocytes in blood vessels and the lamina propria.
A single nucleotide in the promoter region modulates the expression of the β-lactamase OXA-61 in Campylobacter jejuni

Methods: An ampicillin-resistant derivative of C. jejuni NCTC 11168 was subjected to whole genome sequencing and comparative genomics analysis. Complementary molecularexperiments were further performed toexamine the identified regulatory mechanism of blaOXA-61, which included complementation, promoter fusion assay, realtime RT‐PCR, natural transformation using a defined PCR fragment, survey of clinical isolates and transcription start site mapping.
Baseline studies of the clay minerals society source clays: Colloid and surface phenomena

The interface between the surfaces of clay minerals and other materials (aqueous solution, organic moieties, biomolecules, etc. ) is of great importance to many geological, technological and biological processes. The examination of the structure and composition of mineral surfaces is advancing rapidly. However, the crystal structure of a mineral is only part of the information needed to understand the activity of the surface; we still do not fully understand the chemical and physical interactions at the surface or interface. One very powerful methodology for the study of surfaces and interfacial interactions is the determination of the thermodynamic properties of the surface. It became possible in the late 1980s to determine quantitatively the apolar and polar surface-tension components and parameters of liquids and solids (van Oss et al., 1988; van Oss, 1994), and the experimental techniques necessary for obtaining surface free-energy components of minerals, and particularly of colloid-sized minerals, are also a recent development (Costanzo et al., 1990; van Oss et al., 1990, 1992; Giese et al., 1991). The theory underlying the thermodynamics of surfaces and interfaces is introduced here, illustrating the methodology of contact angle and ζ-potential measurements, and summarizing the results of these measurements on the Source Clays. Detailed studies of colloid and surface phenomena are found in Adamson (1990), van Oss (1994), and Hiemenz (1986). ### Free energy of interfacial interaction The free energy of adhesion between materials 1 and 2, in vacuo, is (after Dupre, 1869): \batchmode \documentclass[fleqn,10pt,legalpaper]{article} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amsmath} \pagestyle{empty} \begin{document} \[{\Delta}\mathit{G}^{adh}\_{12}\ =\ {\gamma}\_{12}\ {-}\ {\gamma}\_{1}\ {-}\ {\gamma}\_{2}\] \end{document}(1) where γ is the surface or interfacial tension and subscripts 1 and 2 refer to the materials under study. The free energy of interaction between materials 1 and 2, immersed in liquid 3, is: \batchmode \documentclass[fleqn,10pt,legalpaper]{article} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amsmath} \pagestyle{empty} \begin{document} \[{\Delta}\mathit{G}\_{132}\ =\ {\gamma}\_{12}\ {-}\ {\gamma}\_{13}\ {-}\ {\gamma}\_{23}\] \end{document}(2) and the interaction between two particles or molecules of material 1, immersed in a liquid 3 then is \batchmode \documentclass[fleqn,10pt,legalpaper]{article} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amsmath} \pagestyle{empty} \begin{document} \[{\Delta}\mathit{G}\_{131}\ =\ {-}2{\gamma}\_{13}\] \end{document}(3) In equations 1–3, the …
Optimum transmit-receive beamforming with noisy channel estimates for correlated MIMO Rayleigh channels

In this paper, we design jointly optimum transmitter and receiver beamforming structures in correlated MIMO Rayleigh fading channels with noisy channel estimates, and evaluate their performance through a closed-form expression for the probability of error. At the receiver, an estimate of the channel is obtained based on the transmitted pilot symbols. The knowledge of the estimate is then made available to the transmitter through a feedback channel. It is assumed that spatial correlation exists, either at the transmitter or at the receiver. A new exact closed-form expression for the probability of error is derived and the joint effects of diversity order and channel estimation accuracy on system performance are analyzed.
Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Disclosing Medical Errors

Background: Healthcare-related errors cause patient morbidity and mortality. Despite fear of reprimand, laboratory personnel have a professional obligation to rapidly report major medical errors when they are identified. Well-defined protocols regarding how and when to disclose a suspected error by a colleague do not exist. Patient: We describe a woman with a well documented allergy to sulfamethoxazole who was treated with sulfadiazine that led to toxic epidermal necrolysis. After the patient’s death, the laboratory medicine resident was asked by one of the patient’s physicians to measure serum sulfadiazine, but only if the results were not reported in the patient’s electronic medical record. The case was brought to the attention of a laboratory medicine faculty member and the hospital risk management team. Issues: Laboratorians are patient fiduciaries and are responsible for reporting errors. Most medical associations have codes of ethics that address disclosure of incompetence and errors, although the AACC’s Guide to Ethics does not. New types of error, risk management, and root-cause analyses help to shift the focus to system errors and away from individuals’ errors. This can lead to a healthcare environment that encourages truth and disclosure rather than fear and reprimand. Disposition: The individuals involved in the presented case fulfilled their fiduciary duty to the patient by reporting this incident. An extensive investigation showed that, in fact, no medical errors or misconducts had occurred in the care of the patient.
Observations on the effect of age on the severity of heart valve lesions in the dog

Chronic valvular disease (valvular endocardiosis) is the most common cardiac abnormality of the dog. This paper demonstrates how this condition increases in frequency and severity with advancing age by means of a visual impression method for the gross examination of the heart valves. These lesions occur in descending order of frequency and severity in the left atrioventricular valve, the septal cusp of the right atrioventricular valve, the mural cusp of the same valve, the aortic valve and the pulmonary valve. The histopathological features of these lesions are outlined. Resume. La maladie chronique valvulaire (endocardiose valvulaire) est l'anomalie la plu commune chez le chien. Cette etude demontre comment la frequence et la severite de cett condition s'accroissent avec l'âge par moyens de methode d'impression visuelle pour l'examer en gros des valves du cœur. Ces lesions se produisent en order diminuant de frequence et do severite dans la valve atrioventriculaire gauche, dans la cuspide septale de la valve atrioventri culaire droite, la cuspide murale de la meme valve, la valve de l'aorte et la valve pulmonaire On souligne les caracteristiques histopathologiques de ces lesions. Zusammenfassung. Chronische valvulare Erkrankung (valvulare Endocardiosis) ist die gewohnlichtste Herzabnormalitat in Hunden. Diese Zeitschrift legt dar wir, mittels visuellem Eindrucksverfahrens fur die allgemeine Untersuchung der Herzklappen, sich diese Kondition an Haufigkeit und Schwere mit zunehmendem Alter steigert. Diese Lasionen treten in abfallender Ordnung an Haufigkeit und Schwere in der linken Herzvorhof-Kammerklappe, der Cuspis septalis der rechten Herzvorhof-Kammerklappe, der Cuspis muralis von derselben Klappe, der aortischen Klappe und der pulmonalen Klappe. Die histopathologischen Merkmale von diesen Lasionen sind umrissen.
Attenuation of photosynthetically available radiation (PAR) in florida bay : Potential for light limitation of primary producers

Light attenuation in marine ecosystems can limit primary production and determine the species composition and abundance of primary producers. In Florida Bay, the importance of understanding the present light environment has heightened as major upstream water management restoration projects have been proposed and some are already being implemented. We analyzed a 2-yr (2001-2003) data set of the light attenuation coefficient (Kt) and its principal components (water, chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM), tripton, phytoplankton) obtained at 40 stations within Florida Bay, calibrated synoptic underway data to produce high spatial resolution maps, examined the potential for light limitation, and quantified the individual effect of each component upon light attenuation. Tripton was the dominant component controlling light attenuation throughout Florida Bay, whereas the contribution of chlorophyll a and CDOM to Kt was much smaller in all regions of Florida Bay. It was possible to accurately estimate the light attenuation coefficient from component concentrations, using either a mechanistic or a statistical model with root mean square errors of 0.252 or 0.193 m 21 , respectively. Compared to other estuaries, Florida Bay had the lowest overall Kt and the greatest relative contribution from tripton. Comparing the recent data to a study of Florida Bay's light environment conducted in 1993-1994, we found that overall water clarity in the Bay increased significantly, indicated by a nearly 3-fold decrease in Kt, as a result of lower tripton concentrations, although the percent contribution of each of the components to Kt is unchanged. Only the northwest corner of Florida Bay, an area comprised of approximately 8% of the Bay's total area, was found on average to have sufficient light attenuation to limit the growth of seagrasses. This is much less extensive than in 1993-1994, when seagrass growth was potentially limited by light at over 50% of the stations sampled.
The Interpretive Strategies Utilized by Elementary Students with and without Learning Disabilities in Comprehending Poems

Poetry is a genre that supports all aspects of literacy, and it is the first to which most children are exposed through motherly lullabies. Yet, while many studies have been conducted on prose comprehension, there is little empirical research on poetry comprehension, and none published on the specific strategies elementary students with learning disabilities (LD) utilize in understanding poems. The purpose of this study is to examine the interpretive strategies used by students in comprehending poetry. Participants were 16 fifth and sixth grade students with LD and 16 of their typical peers, who individually listened to poems and answered questions about them. Students with LD effectively used as many interpretive operations as their peers, adopted an aesthetic stance to reading, and performed more like experts than novices. Furthermore, the difficulty of the poems did not appear to have affected the students’ enjoyment of them.