cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reduction in myocardial infarct size by basic fibroblast growth factor following coronary occlusion in a canine model.

Abstract In a canine model of permanent coronary occlusion it has been shown that basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) reduced infarct size and this was associated with an increase in myocardial capillary density a week after infarction. In a preliminary work from our own laboratory using a model of occlusion followed by prolonged reperfusion we observed a similar reduction in infarct size without evidence of myocardial neovascularization. The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the effects of bFGF on infarct size and blood flow to the infarct zone in an acute experiment in which myocardial neovascularization would be excluded as a mechanism by the short duration of the study. Seventeen mongrel dogs were anesthetized and the heart was exposed through a left thoratocomy. The left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery was isolated and occluded for 3 h. Fifteen min after LAD occlusion dogs received bFGF 20 μg of bFGF ( n =6) or placebo ( n =11) by intracoronary injection infused over 5 min. We measured heart rate, aortic pressure, regional coronary blood flow (CBF), regional shortening fraction (SF) at 1, 30 and 180 min of occlusion, then the LAD was reperfused for 5 min then the dogs were euthanized and infarct size was measured. Regional CBF was similar between the two groups of dogs throughout all the study. The SF was similar between the two groups prior the onset of ischemia and at the beginning of the ischemic period. After 180 min of ischemia SF was 2.7±4.1% for bFGF and −3.1±4.7 for placebo ( P =0.049), and during reperfusion SF was 3.4±4.6% for bFGF and 0.4±1.0% for placebo treated dogs ( P =0.023). The infarct size, normalized for the area at risk was 14.2±5.2% in bFGF group vs 25.8±8.2% in placebo group ( P =0.015). In summary we have demonstrated that bFGF significantly limits myocardial necrosis after acute coronary occlusion, and that this occurred without an increase in regional myocardial perfusion and within a period of time too brief for angiogenesis to have occurred. By exclusion, it appears that the salutary effect of bFGF is likely to be mediated by a cellular mechanism. The mechanism or mechanisms responsible for myocardial salvage by bFGF may have significant potential to be exploited in the clinical arena as the basis for therapies to protect the acutely ischemic myocardium.
Risk factors for re-bleeding of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: Meta-analysis of observational studies

Abstract Objective The mortality of re-bleeding following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage is high, and surviving patients often have poor clinical condition and worse outcome than patients with a single bleed. In this study, we performed an updated systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the most common risk factors for re-bleeding in this patient population, with the goal of providing neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuro-interventionalists with a simple and fast method to evaluate the re-bleeding risk for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Method We conducted a thorough meta-analysis of the risk factors associated with re-bleeding or re-rupture of intracranial aneurysms in cases published between 2000 and 2013. Pooled mean difference was calculated for the continuous variables (age), and pooled odds ratio (OR) was calculated for categorical factors. If heterogeneity was significant ( p Results Our literature search identified 174 articles. Of these, only seven retrospective studies met the inclusion criteria. These seven studies consisted of 2470 patients, 283 of which had aneurysmal re-bleeding, resulting in a weighted average rate of re-bleeding of 11.3% with 95% confidence interval [CI]: 10.1–12.6. In this population, sex (OR 1.46; 95% CI: 1.11–1.92), high systolic blood pressure [SBP] (OR 2.52; 95% CI: 1.40–4.53), aneurysm size (OR 3.00; 95% CI: 2.06–4.37), clinical condition (Hunt & Hess) (OR 4.94; 95% CI: 2.29,10.68), and Fisher grade (OR 2.29; 95% CI: 1.45, 3.61) were statistically significant risk factors for re-bleeding. Conclusion Sex, high SBP, high Fisher grade, aneurysm size larger than 10 mm, and poor clinical condition were independent risk factors for aneurysmal re-bleeding. The importance of early aneurysm intervention and careful consideration of patient risk factors should be emphasized to eliminate the risk of re-bleeding and poor outcome.
Dunnett-Like Comparisons among Proportions.

A Quick BASIC program is described which can be used to conduct Dunnett-like comparisons on a set of independent proportions. The statistical method employed was devised by Levy (1975), and is an e...
Sleep duration during the school week is associated with C-reactive protein risk groups in healthy adolescents.

Abstract Background The prevalence of short sleep duration in adolescence and the relevance of early risk factors to cardiovascular disease in adulthood suggest that adolescence is an opportune time to evaluate links between sleep duration and cardiovascular disease risk. We examined associations among actigraphy-assessed sleep duration and sleep debt with elevated C-reactive protein (CRP), a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Methods Participants were 244 (56% Black, 48% male) healthy high school students, each of whom wore wrist actigraphs for one week and provided a fasting blood draw. CRP was examined as both a continuous and categorical outcome, with CRP >3 mg/L identifying a High Risk Group. Results Sleep duration and sleep debt were significantly associated with CRP High Risk Group in covariate-adjusted analyses. Shorter sleep duration on school nights was associated with a greater likelihood of being in the High Risk CRP Group. Likelihood of being in the High Risk CRP Group was doubled in students who obtained an average of two or more hours of "catch up" sleep on weekend nights. Conclusions Reduced weekday sleep duration and sleep debt were both associated with CRP Risk Group in adolescence. That these relationships may be observed prior to the onset of clinical disease suggests that adolescence may provide an opportune period for disease prevention.
SU‐GG‐T‐459: Analysis of Setup and Dosimetric Errors of KV CBCT Guided Stereotactic Intensity‐Modulated Radiosurgery for Spinal Lesions

Purpose: To investigate target localization accuracy and dosimetric influences arising from the setup errors and patient motion for an on‐board kV CBCT‐guided spinal stereotactic intensity‐modulated radiosurgery (IMRS). Method and Materials: Eight spinal patients treated using CBCT‐guided stereotactic IMRS were analyzed for this study. All patients were immobilized using BodyFIX® immobilization system (Medical Intelligence) and set up with the guidance of Varian on‐board CBCT. Four sets of images were acquired for each treatment to evaluate patient's intrafraction motion: CBCT and orthogonal kV images before treatment, kV images in the middle of treatment and another CBCT at the end of treatment. Target localization accuracy and intrafraction motion were evaluated by offline analysis of the registrations between planning CT and CBCTs as well as between DRRs and kV images.CBCTimages were imported into Eclipse to perform CBCT‐based dose calculations using patient's real treatment positions and isocenters. The calculated results represent the delivered dose distributions under the real treatment situations and were used to assess the dosimetric changes arising from setup errors and intrafraction motion. Results: The results show that the target localization accuracy is 1.4mm and the overall intrafraction target displacement is less than 2.0mm using our IMRS technique. The averaged target coverage reduction is ∼5% due to the target localization error and 11% due to both the localization error and the intrafraction motion. The largest increase of the maximum cord dose is 4.8Gy due to the target localization error and 7Gy due to the intrafraction motion. Conclusion: CBCT‐guided stereotactic IMRS can provide a target localization accuracy of less than 1.5mm for spinal treatment. With the BodyFIX® system, the intrafraction displacement can be effectively reduced to 1∼2mm. The intrafraction motion at this scale may still have potential influence on the target coverage and the cord dose due to the extreme dose conformity of IMRS.
Management of a transboundary wildlife population: A self-enforcing cooperative agreement with renegotiation and variable transfer payments

Abstract This paper characterizes a dynamic contract that allows renegotiation and variable transfer payments (VTP) between owners of two independently-harvested, ecologically-dependent mammal populations. The decision environment is modeled as a two-person differential game. We develop a recursive-efficiency criterion that forms the basis for determining the size of the VTP, which makes the bargaining contract renegotiation-proof and self-enforcing. We further show that the VTP is just as Pareto-efficient as a lump sum or fixed annual transfer payment. A nuisance wildlife species management forms a basis for numerical illustration.
Creation of a model of independence for community-dwelling elders in the United States.

Background A goal of many public policies in support of older Americans is independence, but the meaning of independence in the context of community-dwelling elders is not clear. Objective To create a preliminary conceptual model of independence for older, community-dwelling Americans. Methods Exploratory factor analysis was used during secondary analysis of a federal dataset, the Second Supplement on Aging (N = 9,447). After preparation of the dataset, 51 variables were selected for possible submission to factor analysis. Initial item reduction resulted in 21 variables for factor structure development. Results Three factors for a preliminary conceptual model of independence were identified: physical function, social ability, and physical health. Physical function, explaining 29.5% of the variance, included variables related to elders' ability to function in everyday life, such as how well they function in their homes. Social ability variables included items related to social activities, education, driving, and leaving the house, and accounted for 8.6% of the variance. Physical health explained 6.1% of the variance and included variables related to visits to the doctor, prescription drug use, and number of days spent in bed during the past year. Discussion Findings suggest the importance of physical function for independence and the importance of a physical environment that supports various levels of physical function. Social ability plays a role in independence and may require adequate physical function, financial and material resources, and social support. Physical health may be a component of physical function or reflect access to healthcare. Future studies using primary data are indicated for further development of the concept of independence in the context of community-dwelling elders in the United States. A conceptual model of independence will guide nurses in their assessments of and interventions for older, community-dwelling adults and will help policymakers prioritize spending for programs that have independence as a goal.
Cobamide-dependent methanol-cyanocob(I)alamin methyltransferase of Methanosarcina barkeri

Abstract The enzyme system of Methanosarcina barkeri which catalyzes the synthesis of methylcobalamin from methanol and cyanocob(I)alamin consists of at least three proteins and a cofactor which is stable to both heat and acid. One of the proteins is a high molecular weight B 12 -enzyme; one has been identified as ferredoxin; and the other is uncharacterized. Each of the four components of the resolved enzyme system stimulates methane formation when added to low levels of a crude unfractionated extract.
An Evaluation of Two Methods for Producing Intermetallic Microchannels

Microtechnology-based Energy and Chemical Systems (MECS) offer opportunities for portable power generation, distributed heat pumps, hydrogen separation for automotive fuel cells, on-site waste remediation and point-of-use chemical synthesis. In order to realize many of these applications, it is recognized that new techniques must be developed for producing microchannels within refractory materials. Material requirements include high-temperature resistance, chemical inertness and low-cost microfabrication. Advances in multilayer ceramics have allowed the microlamination of microreactor structures from ceramic tape. The tapes are formed in the green state and subsequently bonded through a sintering process. Problems include sagging, porosity, and volumetric shrinkage which can lead to dimensional instability. Intermetallics are another class of refractory materials which may hold some promise for high-temperature microchannel development. In this paper, several proposed methods of forming microchannel arrays in aluminide intermetallics are evaluated. These methods have the advantage of eliminating volumetric shrinkage due to binder removal. Results show that some NiAl systems may be suitable for microchannel designs. Issues to be addressed include cost, volumetric shrinkage due to phase changes or other creep-related phenomena incurred during phase changes.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Parent-of-origin effects of FAS and PDLIM1 in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Background: Previous studies have suggested that there may be a parent-of-origin effect for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) candidate genes. The objective of the present study was to investigate parent-of-origin effects using a genome-wide association analysis of the International Multicentre ADHD Genetics (IMAGE) study sample. Methods: Family-based association analysis for ADHD using 846 ADHD probands and their parents was performed using the PLINK program, and parent-of-origin effects were studied using a Z score for the difference in paternal versus maternal odds ratios. Results: We identified 44 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) showing parent-of-origin effects at a significance level of p < 0.001. The most significant SNP, rs7614907, is at position 3q13.33 in the CDGAP gene ( p = 0.000064 for parent-of-origin effect). Furthermore, 2 genes ( FAS and PDLIM1 ) showed moderate parent-of-origin effects ( p = 0.00086 for rs9658691 and p = 0.00077 for rs11188249) and strong maternal transmission ( p = 0.000059 for rs9658691 and p = 0.0000068 for rs11188249). In addition, ZNF775 showed a moderate parent-of-origin effect ( p = 0.00036 for rs7790549) and strong paternal transmission ( p = 0.000041 for rs7790549). Limitations: We only had 1 sample available for analysis. Conclusion: These results suggest several genes or regions with moderate parent-of-origin effects, and these findings will serve as a resource for replication in other populations to elucidate the potential role of these genetic variants in ADHD.
Some observations on the basic principles of design in protein molecules.

Abstract The last stage in the biosynthesis of an enzyme involves the intramolecular coiling and folding of the extended polypeptide chain into a configuration that embodies a unique active center. The arrangement of amino acids along the chain must be such that the final tertiary structure is assumed with a high degree of reproducibility and must also contain information governing the correct pairing of half-cystine residues and the formation of other stabilizing covalent cross-linkages. Experiments on ribonuclease are discussed which suggest that all the information for the production of the fully cross-linked and folded molecule is contained in the amino acid sequence alone. In these experiments, the four SS bounds of RNase were reduced to yield a derivative containing eight SH groups. The oxidation of this reduced derivatives to yield native enzyme is quantitative under proper conditions of protein concentration and pH. Various substances and environmental conditions were tested for their ability to interfere with normal pairing of half-cystine residues, thus furnishing information on the nature of the interactions that govern this process. It is suggested that the process of mutation and natural selection has lead to the “design” of amino acid sequences so uniquely constructed that the formation of active centers and three-dimensional conformations follow automatically and reproducibly without additional genetic information.
Human somatic mutation assays as biomarkers of carcinogenesis

This paper describes four assays that detect somatic gene mutations in humans: the hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase assay, the glycophorin A assay, the HLA-A assay, and the sickle cell hemoglobin assay. Somatic gene mutation can be considered a biomarker of carcinogenesis, and assays for somatic mutation may assist epidemiologists in studies that attempt to identify factors associated with increased risks of cancer. Practical aspects of the use of these assays are discussed.
Approaches to the Solution NMR Characterization of Active Sites for 65 kDa Tetrameric Hemoglobins in the Paramagnetic Cyanomet State

A solution 1H 2D NMR investigation has been carried out on low-spin, human adult cyanomet hemoglobin (HbA) to elucidate molecular, electronic, and magnetic properties of the heme cavities in the hetero-tetrameric globin. It is shown that, in spite of its size, 65 kDa, and paramagnetism (S = 1/2), appropriately tailored 2D experiments to suppress rotating frame dipolar correlation allow detection of the scalar connectivities needed to identify heme and heme pocket residue spin topology, as well as the backbone 3J(α-N) necessary to assign residues sequence-specifically. NOESY rise curves clearly differentiate between primary and secondary NOEs and afford the sensitivity for providing interproton distance estimates. The combined NMR strategies provide the complete assignment of the heme, a key portion of the F-helix, the F-G turn, and residues in contact with ligands. Unambiguous subunit differentiation for all signals was achievable independently, either sequence-specifically via the Alaα vs Cysβ at positio...
Organizational e-learning evaluation: The development of a checklist model

E-learning methods are increasingly used in organizations today for teaching, learning and training purposes. Identifying the effectiveness of e-learning methods is critical for any organization. Evaluation models and processes can be used to determine the impact of e-learning on organizations. This study reviews the major existing e-learning evaluation models and develops a checklist model for e-learning evaluation based on the findings. A two-stage validity study is conducted, including an expert panel review for model refinement and a web survey to ensure the reliability and usefulness of the instrument. The proposed E-Learning Evaluation Checklist has proven to be a useful and effective tool that can help guide professional evaluators as well as non-evaluators when conducting an e-learning evaluation.
Life history: A vehicle toward a holistic understanding of deviance

Biological, psychological, and sociological explanations have all been invoked in the attempt to understand deviant behavior. While these explanations have each suggested important etiological aspects of deviance, they have not, by themselves, been able to fully account for the complexity of deviant behavior. The life history method is offered as a vehicle through which these varied explanations can be integrated, and through which a comprehensive understanding of deviance can be reached. To illustrate the usefulness of life history data for this kind of enterprise, the life experiences of a woman labeled both mentally retarded and schizophrenic by the service delivery system are described. The interrelationships between constitutional factors, her personality as it developed within a family and community context, and the impact of the social institutions with which she interacted are examined to highlight the need for a holistic framework in which to consider various explanations of deviance concurrently.
Prostate cancer targeting motifs: expression of αν β3, neurotensin receptor 1, prostate specific membrane antigen, and prostate stem cell antigen in human prostate cancer cell lines and xenografts.

Background Membrane receptors are frequent targets of cancer therapeutic and imaging agents. However, promising in vitro results often do not translate to in vivo clinical applications. To better understand this obstacle, we measured the expression differences in receptor signatures among several human prostate cancer cell lines and xenografts as a function of tumorigenicity.
Oxysterols regulate expression of the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein

The steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein promotes intramitochondrial delivery of cholesterol to the cholesterol side-chain cleavage system, which catalyzes the first enzymatic step in all steroid synthesis. Intriguingly, substrate cholesterol derived from lipoprotein can upregulate StAR gene expression. Moreover, substrate oxysterols have been suggested to also play a role. To investigate whether oxysterols can regulate StAR expression, two steroidogenic cell lines, mouse Y1 adrenocortical and MA-10 Leydig tumor cells, were treated with various oxysterols and steroids, including 25-hydroxycholesterol (25 OHC), 22(R)OHC and 20alphaOHC. The majority of these compounds rapidly increased StAR protein levels within as little as 1 h. The most potent oxysterols were 20alphaOHC for Y1 and 25 OHC for MA-10 cells. After 8 h, StAR mRNA abundance also increased whereas there were no detected changes in promoter activity. Thus, in contrast to lipoprotein, oxysterols acutely increase StAR protein levels independently of mRNA abundance, and later increase mRNA levels independently of new gene transcription. Therefore, we propose that oxysterols modulate steroidogenesis at two levels. First, oxysterols may be important in post-transcriptional regulation of StAR activity and production of steroids for paracrine action. Secondly, through direct conversion to steroid, oxysterols may account in part for StAR-independent steroid production in the body.
A transitive-chain theory of syllogistic reasoning

Abstract A new theory of syllogistic reasoning, called the transitive-chain theory, is presented. The transitive-chain theory proposes that information about set relations is represented in memory by pairs of informational components. The theory further proposes that information about set relations is integrated by applying a small set of rules to transitive chains of these set relations. The rules that are applied to these chains are specified in detail. The theory is cast in terms of information-processing models for variants of the syllogistic reasoning task, and then mathematical models that quantify each of these information-processing models are presented. In a series of five experiments, the transitive-chain theory provides a good account of the response-choice data for syllogisms with various types of content, quantifiers, and logical relations (categorical and conditional). The results of these experiments offer tentative answers to four issues in the theory of syllogistic reasoning: (a) representation of premise information; (b) combination of premise information; (c) sources of difficulty in syllogistic reasoning; and (d) generality of the processes used in syllogistic reasoning.
Reactions of methyl radicals and their applications to polymer chemistry

An experimental method has been developed for determining the relative reactivities of various aromatic and olefinic compounds toward methyl radicals. The reaction in question may be represented by the equation CH3 + A → CH3. A, where A denotes an aromatic or olefinic molecule. By these means the reactivities of various vinyl monomers, inhibitors (such as quinones, nitro compounds, etc.), and aromatic hydrocarbons were determined on the same relative scale. The method can be utilized also for deriving the relative chain transfer data (for methyl radicals). A relationship between reactivity and singlet-triple excitation energy has been demonstrated and explained in terms of energy diagram. The problem of efficiency of initiators is discussed in some details.
Metaphor—Visual Aid in Grief Work:

Use of metaphor can provide a powerful and useful framework for lowering resistance to the pain of bereavement for parental grief. Premature termination of treatment is often the result of the client's desire to avoid direct confrontation of feelings associated with the death. Metaphor offers a graphic, non-judgmental symbolic representation through which the mourner may freely express the sorrow, loss, anger, and guilt that is necessary to accomplish the tasks of grieving. A neutral symbol can help facilitate normalization and universalization of grief responses.
Economics of Cardiac Adverse Events after Smallpox Vaccination: Lessons from the 2003 US Vaccination Program

Of >39,000 civilian public health responders vaccinated against smallpox in 2003, 203 reported cardiovascular adverse events (CAEs). An association exists between the US vaccinia strain and myocarditis and/or pericarditis ("myo/pericarditis" [MP]). Other associations are inconclusive. We used surveillance and follow-up survey data of CAE case patients to estimate the resources used during the 2003 smallpox vaccination program and used a probabilistic model to estimate the potential costs of CAEs in a mass vaccination campaign. For every million adult vaccinees, 3001 CAEs (including 351 MP cases) would occur, with >92% in revaccinees. CAEs would require a median of 5934 outpatient visits, 1786 emergency department visits, 533 days in general wards, 132 days in intensive care units, 5484 cardiac enzymes tests, 3504 electrocardiograms, 3049 chemistry tests, 2828 complete blood counts, and 1444 transthoracic echocardiograms, among other procedures. CAEs would reduce productivity (15,969 work days lost) and cost $11 per vaccinee. In a mass vaccination campaign, the care of a sizable number of CAEs would be resource intensive.
Text(ing) in Context: The Future of Workplace Communication in the United States

Following Rogers’s theory of the diffusion of innovations, the author questions whether youth entering the workforce will act as change agents to evolve primary business communication channels from email to text-messaging. Expanding on research performed in 2009, the author investigates three communication scenarios: scheduling meetings, exchanging information in the workplace, and keeping in contact with family and friends. Follow-up research also gathers information about communication hardware trends. The author concludes that change agents and early adopters already in the company, not new hires, will effect a change in communication media that will involve new technology such as smartphones.
Public awareness of heart attack symptoms: what should we look for and how will it help?

The following article is a correction to a previously published version: Fang J. Public awareness of heart attack symptoms: what should we look for and how will it help? Future Cardiol. 6(5) 563–565 (2010). These corrections were made owing to concerns being raised regarding similarity between sections of the text with previously published works. The bolded sections correspond to the corrected sections and are therefore different to the previously published version. For clarity, the corrected article is published in full below.
Floating signal constellations for multimedia steganography

Conventional spread spectrum communication methods essentially map a discrete symbol from an alphabet to a length-N real valued sequence, which represents a point in the N-dimensional signal constellation. The real valued sequence is in turn transmitted over a communications channel. However, communication schemes for the purpose of multimedia steganography (or data hiding) have to transmit the real valued sequence corresponding to a point in the signal constellation superimposed on the original or cover content (without affecting the fidelity of the original content noticeably). The detector therefore, has to estimate the origin of the signal constellation, and thereafter proceed to decode the transmitted symbol. In this paper, we explore some efficient solutions for signaling methods employing floating signal constellations.
Sr 2 VO 3 FeAs as compared to other iron-based superconductors

One of the most popular scenarios for the superconductivity in Fe-based superconductors (FeBSCs) posits that the bosons responsible for electronic pairing are spin fluctuations with a wave vector spanning the hole Fermi surfaces (FSs) near $\ensuremath{\Gamma}$ and the electron FSs near $M$ points. So far, all FeBSCs, for which neutron data are available, do demonstrate such excitations, and the band-structure calculations so far were finding quasinested FSs in all FeBSC, providing for a peak in the spin susceptibility at the desired wave vectors. However, one of the new additions to the family ${\text{Sr}}_{2}{\text{VO}}_{3}\text{FeAs}$ has been calculated to have a very complex FS with no visible quasinesting features. It was argued therefore that this material does not fall under the existing paradigm and calls for revisiting our current ideas about what is the likely cause of superconductivity in FeBSC. In this Rapid Communication, I show that the visible complexity of the FS is entirely due to the V-derived electronic states. Assuming that superconductivity in ${\text{Sr}}_{2}{\text{VO}}_{3}\text{FeAs}$, as in the other FeBSC, originates in the FeAs layers, and the superconducting electrons are sensitive to the susceptibility of the FeAs electronic subsystem, I recalculate the bare susceptibility, weighting the electronic states with their Fe character, and obtain a susceptibility that fully supports the existing quasinesting model. Besides, I find that the mean-field magnetic ground state is the checkerboard in the V sublattice and stripes in the Fe sublattice.
The EEG and prognosis in status epilepticus

Purpose To examine the relation between specific EEG features and clinical outcome, determine whether a predictable sequence of EEG patterns exists during status epilepticus (SE), and examine the relation between periodic epileptiform discharges (PEDs) and SE. Methods EEG records of 50 patients with SE admitted to Graduate Hospital between January 1990 and July 1995 were reviewed. Ictal EEGs were available in 72%; 28% had only postictal EEGs. Poor outcome was defined as death or persistent vegetative state, and good outcome as all others. Fisher's Exact test, chi2, and t tests were performed for data analysis. Results Of 50 patients, 72% had a good outcome and 28%, a poor outcome. If PEDs were present at any time during or after SE, outcome tended to be worse (p = 0.053). With PEDs, eight (44%) of 18 had a poor outcome; without PEDs, six (19%) of 32 had a poor outcome. Etiologies for SE did not substantially differ in patients with or without PEDs, and structural abnormalities were not more associated with the presence of PEDs. PEDs were seen both early and late, during and after SE. Other EEG characteristics (lateralized vs. bilateral symmetric ictal EEG, discrete vs. continuous ictal activity, and postictal focal slowing) did not relate to outcome. No predictable sequence of EEG changes was found during SE. Conclusions PEDs are the only EEG feature related to outcome in SE and are associated with poor outcome independent of etiology.
The Future of Online Learning

Today's era is one of pervasive technology. Encompassing laptops and smart phones to wikis and blogs, the digital environment makes communication, collaboration and information sharing easier than ever imagined. As a result, the world of higher education has been revolutionized by the digital age.
EXPRESSION AND HETEROMERIC INTERACTIONS OF NON-N-METHYL-D-ASPARTATE GLUTAMATE RECEPTOR SUBUNITS IN THE DEVELOPING AND ADULT CEREBELLUM

The localization and expression of ionotropic non-N-methyl-D-aspartate glutamate receptors (GluR) were investigated in the developing and adult rat cerebellum using subunit-specific polyclonal antibodies for immunocytochemical, immunoblot and immunoprecipitation studies. In P7 animals, alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionate receptor immunoreactivity was detected in all layers of the cerebellar cortex with the exception of the external granule cell layer. Antibodies against the alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionate receptor subunits GluR1 and GluR4 gave strong immunoreactive staining of Bergmann glia in both young and adult animals, and both antibodies showed prominent staining of the molecular layer in the adult cerebellum. Dense immunoreactive staining of Purkinje cell somata and dendrites was obtained with anti-GluR2/3/4c in both the developing and adult cerebellum. Whereas each of the three alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionate receptor antibodies stained the internal, but not the external, granule cell layer, immunostaining for the kainate-type subunits GluR6/7 and KA2 was detected in both the external and internal granule cell layers. as well as in the molecular layer in both P7 and adult cerebellum. Immunoblot analysis of total cerebellar protein indicated that the level of GluR4 expression increased 15-fold from P1 to P18, whereas the expression of the KA2 subunit protein was nine-fold lower in adult cerebellum than it was at P1. The expression of GluR1 increased moderately (two-fold) from P1 to adult. Subunit interactions between GluR1 and GluR4, as well as between GluR6/7 and KA2, were demonstrated in immunoprecipitation experiments; and the GluR4 and KA2 subunits appear to be present exclusively in heteromeric assemblies with GluR1 and GluR6/7, respectively. The results show that the various alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionate- and kainate-type subunits are differentially expressed during cerebellar development and further define the possible subunit composition of non-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors in the major cerebellar cell types.
Cardiovascular Effects of Noninsulin, Glucose-Lowering Agents: Need for More Outcomes Data

Macrovascular complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) are primarily driven by the combination of underlying atherosclerosis and propensity for thrombosis. Prevention of macrovascular complications in DM relies on therapies directed at multiple coexisting intermediary pathophysiologies that contribute to cardiovascular events, including hyperglycemia, lipoprotein abnormalities, hypertension, inflammation, and propensity for thrombosis. Multiple noninsulin, glucose-lowering agents have been developed that effectively lower blood glucose levels. This review explores the literature on the cardiovascular benefits and harms associated with these therapies, with an emphasis on cardiovascular outcomes when available. The lack of long-term data on cardiovascular outcomes regarding safety and efficacy of available traditional glucose-lowering agents has led to recommendations for more thorough evaluations of new therapies before approval. Furthermore, recent data suggest harm from intensive hemoglobin A 1c reductions. Accordingly, there are multiple, large, cardiovascular-event driven phase 3–4 trials of therapies from the incretin axis currently enrolling. Recommendations for a therapeutic approach with noninsulin, glucose-lowering agents for the prevention of cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 DM are provided based on current data. Ultimately, multifactorial risk interventions, including lifestyle modifications, antihyperglycemic agents, antihypertensives, statins, and aspirin remain the primary focus to prevent macrovascular complications in patients with type 2 DM.
Issues and Dilemmas in the Prevention and Treatment of Pressure Ulcers A Review

Considerable dogma and rhetoric, rather than evidence-based results, have accompanied recommendations for the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers. Therapy for pressure ulcers is generally empiric, based on anecdotal experience, or borrowed from the treatment of patients with acute wounds. The treatment of pressure ulcers is problematic because of multiple comorbidities of patients, the chronic duration of pressure ulcers, and often by the physician's relative unfamiliarity with treatment options. Issues and dilemmas in the prevention of pressure ulcers center around risk assessment, means of pressure relief, and nutritional support. Similar issues in the treatment of pressure ulcers include implementing pressure relief, nutritional support, local wound care, the best method of debridement, diagnosing infection, the use of topical growth factors, and surgical treatment. The accumulating data for the prevention and management of pressure ulcers permits an outline of clinical strategies.
Natriuretic Peptides and Assessment of Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Asymptomatic Persons

Current tools for cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk assessment in asymptomatic individuals are imperfect. Preventive measures aimed only at individuals deemed high risk by current algorithms neglect large numbers of low-risk and intermediate-risk individuals who are destined to develop CVD and who would benefit from early and aggressive treatment. Natriuretic peptides have the potential both to identify individuals at risk for future cardiovascular events and to help detect subclinical CVD. Choosing the appropriate subpopulation to target for natriuretic peptide testing will help maximize the performance and the cost effectiveness. The combined use of multiple risk markers, including biomarkers, genetic testing, and imaging or other noninvasive measures of risk, offers promise for further refining risk assessment algorithms. Recent studies have highlighted the utility of natriuretic peptides for preoperative risk stratification; however, cost effectiveness and outcomes studies are needed to affirm this and other uses of natriuretic peptides for cardiovascular risk assessment in asymptomatic individuals.
Experimentally induced change in infectious period affects transmission dynamics in a social group.

A key component of any epidemiological model is the infectious period, which greatly affects the dynamics and persistence of an infection. Social organization, leading to behavioural and spatial heterogeneities among potential susceptibles, interacts with infectious period to create different risk categories within a group. Using the honeybee (Apis mellifera) colony as a social model, a protocol that creates different infectious periods in individual bees and another that follows the diffusion of a transmittable tracer within a colony, we show experimentally how a short infectious period results in an epidemic process with low prevalence confined only to individuals at the outer edge of a group, while a long infectious period results in high prevalence distributed more universally among all the group members. We call this finding an evidence of ‘organizational immunity’ in a social network and propose that the honeybee colony provides a unique opportunity to test its role in social transmission processes.
Slicing floorplans with range constraint

In floorplanning, it is important to allow users to specify placement constraints. Floorplanning with preplaced constraint is considered recently in Murata et al. (1997) and Young and Wong (1998). In this paper, we address a more general kind of placement constraint called range constraint in which a module must be placed within a given rectangular region in the floorplan. This is a more general formulation of the placement constraint problem and any preplaced constraint can be written as a range constraint. We extend the Wong-Liu algorithm (1986) to handle range constraint. Our main contribution is a novel shape curve computation which takes range constraint into consideration. Experimental results show that the extended floorplanner performs very well and, in particular, it out-performs the floorplanner in [13] when specialized to handle preplaced modules.
Cuticular Leaf Chemistry and Insect Resistance of Three Reciprocally Grafted Tobacco Types

Cuticular components of green tobacco, Nicotiana tabacum L., leaves affect insect–plant relationships associated with host-plant resistance. Formation and composition of these chemicals was investigated using intact and reciprocally grafted tobacco plants. Reciprocal grafts were made between scions and rootstocks of ‘NC 2326,’ flue-cured tobacco, and two insect-resistant tobacco introductions, TI 165, and TI 1112. Field resistance to green peach aphids, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), tobacco budworms, Heliothis virescens (F.), and tobacco hornworms, Manduca sexta (L.), was retained by TI 1112 and TI 165 scions regardless of rootstock. Tobacco budworm larval survival and weight gain was highest on all NC 2326 scions. Budworm moths laid few eggs on ungrafted TI 1112, on TI 1112 scions grafted on NC 2326, or on TI 1112 grafted on its own rootstock. Levels of cuticular chemical components were similar among like scions. Thus, rootstock type apparently does not affect production of cuticular components nor insect resistance in TI 1112 and TI 165.
Biphasic presence of fibrocytes in a porcine hypertrophic scar model.

Abstract The duroc pig has been described as a promising animal model for use in the study of human wound healing and scar formation. However, little is known about the presence and chronology of the fibrocyte cell population in the healing process of these animals. Wounds known to form scar were created on red duroc swine (3" x 3") with a dermatome to a total depth of either 0.06 inches or 0.09 inches. These wounds were allowed to heal completely and biopsies were done at scheduled time points during the healing process. Biopsies were formalin fixed and paraffin embedded for immunohistochemical analysis. Porcine reactive antibodies to CD-45 and procollagen-1 and a human reactive antibody to LSP-1 were used to detect the presence of fibrocytes in immunohistochemistry, an immunocytochemistry. Initial immunohistochemical studies showed evidence of a biphasic presence of fibrocytes. Pigs with 0.06 inches deep wounds showed positive staining for CD-45 and LSP-1 within highly cellular areas at days 2 and 4 after wounding. Additional animals with 0.09 inches deep wounds showed positive staining within similar areas at days 56, 70, and 113 after wounding. There was no immunohistochemical evidence of fibrocytes in skin biopsies taken at days 14, 28, or 42. Procollagen-1 staining was diffused in all samples. Cultured cells were stained for CD-45, LSP-1, and procollagen-1 by immunocytochemistry. These data confirm that fibrocytes are indeed present in this porcine model. We conclude that these cells are present after initial wounding and later during scar formation and remodeling. We believe that this is an evidence of a biphasic presence of fibrocytes, first as an acute response to skin wounding followed by later involvement in the remodeling process, prompted by continued inflammation in a deep partial thickness wound.
Cost-Effectiveness of HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis for People Who Inject Drugs in the United States

The total population health benefits and costs of HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for people who inject drugs (PWID) in the United States are unclear. This study found that PrEP, with frequent s...
Genomic Characterization of the Genus Nairovirus (Family Bunyaviridae)

Nairovirus, one of five bunyaviral genera, includes seven species. Genomic sequence information is limited for members of the Dera Ghazi Khan, Hughes, Qalyub, Sakhalin, and Thiafora nairovirus species. We used next-generation sequencing and historical virus-culture samples to determine 14 complete and nine coding-complete nairoviral genome sequences to further characterize these species. Previously unsequenced viruses include Abu Mina, Clo Mor, Great Saltee, Hughes, Raza, Sakhalin, Soldado, and Tillamook viruses. In addition, we present genomic sequence information on additional isolates of previously sequenced Avalon, Dugbe, Sapphire II, and Zirqa viruses. Finally, we identify Tunis virus, previously thought to be a phlebovirus, as an isolate of Abu Hammad virus. Phylogenetic analyses indicate the need for reassignment of Sapphire II virus to Dera Ghazi Khan nairovirus and reassignment of Hazara, Tofla, and Nairobi sheep disease viruses to novel species. We also propose new species for the Kasokero group (Kasokero, Leopards Hill, Yogue viruses), the Ketarah group (Gossas, Issyk-kul, Keterah/soft tick viruses) and the Burana group (Wēnzhōu tick virus, Huangpi tick virus 1, Tǎcheng tick virus 1). Our analyses emphasize the sister relationship of nairoviruses and arenaviruses, and indicate that several nairo-like viruses (Shāyang spider virus 1, Xīnzhōu spider virus, Sānxia water strider virus 1, South Bay virus, Wǔhan millipede virus 2) require establishment of novel genera in a larger nairovirus-arenavirus supergroup.
Continuous Hydrogen Photoproduction from Sulfide by an Immobilized Marine Photosynthetic Bacterium, Chromatium SP. Miami PBS 1071

Hydrogen photoproduction by immobilized cells of the marine photosynthetic sulfur bacterium, Chromatium sp. Miami PBS 1071 was carried out by periodic addition of supplemental sulfide in the reaction system. CO2 was not produced and only H2 was evolved. Hydrogen gas in this immobilized system was continuously produced for at least 300 hrs. at a constant rate. This contrasts from free cell systems where the hydrogen production dropped within 40 hrs. When immobilized cells were grown in the agar gel matrix, high biomass yield was obtained, and rates of hydrogen production up to 6 μ moles/g. gel/hr for 100 hrs were observed. Based on these laboratory experiments, outdoor culturing and hydrogen production was carried out using immobilized cells in 4L reactor systems containing 1.5 kg agar gel.
Elementary abelian groups

Elementary abelian groups can be thought of as additive groups of finite fields. As such, all of the tools of field theory are available to us in the study of orthomorphism graphs of these groups. In particular, any function from a finite field to itself, and thus any orthomorphism of the additive group of the field, can be realized as a polynomial function. Several interesting classes of orthomorphisms will be described as sets of orthomorphism polynomials by placing restrictions on the polynomials. Classes of normalized orthomorphisms of additive groups of finite fields will be defined and studied using multiplication. The simplest such class is the class of linear orthomorphisms: these are of the form x↦ax. It is clear that such a mapping is an orthomorphism if and only if a≠0, 1. In this chapter we will also study quadratic orthomorphisms: these map x to ax if x is a square and to bx if x is a nonsquare.
Single Molecule Vibrational Spectroscopy: CO Bonding to Edge and Terrace Positions on Ag, Au, and Pd Islands on NiAl(110)

The vibrational properties of single CO molecules adsorbed on nanosized Ag, Au, and Pd islands on a NiAl(110) surface were studied with a scanning tunneling microscope. The sensitivity of single molecule vibrational spectroscopy to aspects of the local environment is demonstrated by comparative studies of CO-metal bond vibrations at island terrace and island edge sites. Vibrational spectra of single CO molecules adsorbed on Ag, Au, and Pd island terraces showed peaks at 27, 32, and 44 meV, respectively, which are assigned to the hindered rotational mode. CO molecules on Au and Pd island edges, on the other hand, showed blue-shifted hindered rotational modes at 34 and 46 meV, respectively. On Au islands, CO molecules showed a strong preference for adsorption on edges, while no such preference was observed on Pd.
An O-band Polarization Splitter-Rotator in a CMOS-Integrated Silicon Photonics Platform

We demonstrate an adiabatic polarization splitter-rotator fabricated in a production CMOS-integrated Si photonic process. The measured insertion loss is ≤ 1.0dB and the polarization extinction is better than 27dB over the 60nm bandwidth measured.