cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In vitro evaluation of the antimicrobial effect of three endodontic sealers mixed with amoxicillin.

Abstract Introduction The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the antimicrobial effect of mixing amoxicillin with three different sealers when freshly mixed and set. Methods Using a direct contact test, Pulp Canal Sealer EWT (SybronEndo Corporation, Orange, CA), AH Plus (Dentsply International Inc, York, PA), and RealSeal SE (Pentron Clinical Technologies LLC, Wallingford, CT) were freshly mixed with amoxicillin and placed on the side wall of the microtiter plate. A 10-μL bacterial suspension of Enterococcus faecalis was placed directly onto the fresh sealers, and sealers set 1 day, 3 days, and 7 days after mixing. The bacteria were allowed to dry in direct contact with the sealer sample. Fresh media was then added, and growth of the bacteria was measured by spectrophotometry over an 8-hour period. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), two-way ANOVA, and Tukey multiple comparison were used for statistical significance. Results All sealers mixed with amoxicillin showed complete inhibition of the growth of E. faecalis. Sealers mixed with amoxicillin had no statistical difference in inhibiting growth between freshly mixed samples and samples set for 1 day, 3 days, or 7 days (p > 0.05). Sealers without amoxicillin did not inhibit growth of E. faecalis, and no statistical difference was found between freshly mixed and set samples (p > 0.05). Sealers with amoxicillin were statistically different than sealers without amoxicillin when freshly mixed and set (p Conclusions Sealers mixed with amoxicillin inhibited the growth of E. faecalis significantly greater than sealers without amoxicillin (p
In vitro metabolism of methylcarbamate insecticides by human and rat liver fraction.

Abstract Comparative in vitro metabolic activity of human and rat liver fractions toward 5 ring-substituted methylcarbamates are reported. Human liver appeared to be less metabolically active than rat liver toward 4-dimethylamino-3,5-xylyl methylcarbamate (Zectran), 4-dimethylamino-3-cresyl methylcarbamate (Matacil), 4-methylthio-3,5-xylyl methylcarbamate (Mesurol), and 1-naphthyl methylcarbamate (carbaryl). In these studies the human liver metabolized 2-chloro-4,5-xylyl methylcarbamate (Banol) as well as did the rat. Both species produced esssentially the same major metabolites from the carbamates although quantitative differences were observed. Ring hydroxylation and N-dealkylation are the main oxidative metabolic pathways of carbamate metabolism studied in both the human and rat. The human liver produced a few metabolites not seen with the rat liver. The human liver had more difficulty oxidizing the N-methylcarbamate side chain to form the N-hydroxymethylcarbamate derivative of all the carbamates except Mesurol. In both species the major metabolic products from the carbamates retained the OC(O)NC group necessary for acetylcholinesterase inhibition.
An extended cell-average technique for a multi-dimensional population balance of granulation describing aggregation and breakage

Abstract This paper focuses on obtaining the numerical solution to a three-dimensional population balance model (PBM) of granulation using the cell-average technique first proposed by [22] . Conventionally, linear grids are used for the solution of PBMs, but the ability to incorporate non-linear grids would be more advantageous given that a larger size range can be covered using fewer number of grids, thus reducing computational overhead. Furthermore, the use of linear representation of grids in PBMs to represent industrial granulation processes that span a wide granule size range is computationally prohibitive and results show that a non-linear grid representation is computationally more efficient with comparable accuracy. Parallelization of the PBM via a multi-core strategy has also been incorporated in order to reduce the simulation time of the model. Incorporating the cell average technique along with parallelization of the overall model lends credence to the overall use of the model for effective granulation process design and analysis.
Novel Low Loss, High Bandwidth Impedance Matching Techniques For Laser Diodes

This paper describes a lowloss microstrip matching circuit with large bandwidth for connecting an Ortel SL1010 laser diode of nominal impedance of 2 ohms, together with parasitics, to a 50 ohm microstrip line. This technique utilizes a microstrip Chebychev transformer without very wide line widths, to obtain the match at a center frequency of 10.5 Ghz with bandwidth of 9 Ghz, insertion loss of less than 1.5 dB and reflection coefficient of better than -10 dB.
Bacterial Meningitis in the United States, 1986: Report of a Multistate Surveillance Study

A prospective, laboratory-based surveillance project obtained accurate data on meningitis in a population of 34 million people during 1986. Haemophilus influenzae was the most common cause of bacterial meningitis (45%), followed by Streptococcus pneumoniae (18%), and Neisseria meningitidis (14%). Rates of H. influenzae meningitis varied significantly by region, from 1.9/100,000 in New Jersey to 4.0/100,000 in Washington state. The overall case fatality rates for meningitis were lower than those reported in several studies from the early 1970s, suggesting that improvements in early detection and antibiotic treatment may have occurred since that time. Concurrent surveillance was also performed for all invasive disease due to the five most common causes of bacterial meningitis. Serotypes of group B streptococcus other than type III caused more than half of neonatal group B streptococcal disease and mortality, suggesting that an optimal vaccine preparation must be multivalent. Of the organisms evaluated, group B streptococcus was the second most common cause of invasive disease in persons greater than 5 years old.
Soil and soil organic carbon redistribution on the landscape

Patterns of soil organic carbon (SOC) vary widely across the landscape leading to large uncertainties in the SOC budget especially for agricultural landscapes where water, tillage and wind erosion redistributes soil and SOC across the landscape. It is often assumed that soil erosion results in a loss of SOC from the agricultural ecosystem but recent studies indicate that soil erosion and its subsequent redistribution within fields can stimulate carbon sequestration in agricultural ecosystems. This study investigates the relationship between SOC and soil redistribution patterns on agricultural landscapes. Soil redistribution (erosion and deposition) patterns were estimated in three tilled agricultural fields using the fallout 137Cesium technique. 137Cs and SOC concentrations of upland soils are significantly correlated in our study areas. Upland areas (eroding) have significantly less SOC than soils in deposition areas. SOC decreased as gradient slope increases and soils on concave slopes had higher SOC than soils on convex slopes. These data suggest that soil redistribution patterns and topographic patterns may be used to help understand SOC dynamics on the landscape. Different productivity and oxidation rates of SOC of eroded versus deposited soils also contribute to SOC spatial patterns. However, the strong significant relationships between soil redistribution and SOC concentrations in the upland soil suggest that they are moving along similar physical pathways in these systems. Our study also indicates that geomorphic position is important for understanding soil movement and redistribution patterns within a field or watershed. Such information can help develop or implement management systems to increase SOC in agricultural ecosystems.
Big bang nucleosynthesis: The strong nuclear force meets the weak anthropic principle

Contrary to a common argument that a small increase in the strength of the strong force would lead to destruction of all hydrogen in the big bang due to binding of the diproton and the dineutron with a catastrophic impact on life as we know it, we show that provided the increase in strong force coupling constant is less than about 50% substantial amounts of hydrogen remain. The reason is that an increase in strong force strength leads to tighter binding of the deuteron, permitting nucleosynthesis to occur earlier in the big bang at higher temperature than in the standard big bang. Photodestruction of the less tightly bound diproton and dineutron delays their production to after the bulk of nucleosynthesis is complete. The decay of the diproton can, however, lead to relatively large abundances of deuterium.
Progesterone‐Mediated Endometrial Maturation Limits Matrix Metalloproteinase (MMP) Expression in an Inflammatory‐like Environment

The human endometrium exhibits regular cycles of growth, differentiation, and breakdown in response to changing levels of ovarian steroids. Following the tissue loss and repair processes of menstruation, rising levels of estradiol initiate a development-like process leading to a complete restructuring of the endometrial surface. In contrast, while under the predominate influence of progesterone, proliferation declines as cell-specific differentiation prepares the endometrium for pregnancy over a 5- to 6-day period. In the absence of nidation, steroid support is lost; the endometrial surface begins a complex process of tissue breakdown and bleeding, producing a viscous mixture of cellular debris within a bloody menstrual effluent. Although most of the menstrual fluid exits the body, reflux of some material occurs in most women, providing a poorly understood opportunity for ectopic endometrial growth and establishment of the disease endometriosis. The cyclic restructuring of the endometrium requires numerous matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) that mediate normal and pathological tissue turnover throughout the reproductive tract. The expression of multiple MMPs facilitates degradation of extracellular matrix during growth-related remodeling as well as tissue breakdown at the time of menstruation. However, these enzymes are absent during the early and mid-secretory phase and the suppression of endometrial MMPs remains important to maintaining the integrity of the endometrium during the highly invasive events required to establish a normal hemochorial placenta. Several research groups have suggested that steroid-mediated expression and action of MMPs during the menstrual cycle may provide a key mechanistic link between endometrial turnover and the invasive processes necessary for establishment of endometriosis.
Cytokine Amplification by Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection in Human Nasal Epithelial Cells

Objectives: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is an important cause of upper respiratory infections and is known to play a causal role in the pathogenesis of rhinitis, sinusitis, acute otitis media, and pneumonia. RSV appears to prime the respiratory tract to secondary inciting events, such as bacterial or antigen challenges. To study the proinflammatory priming effects of RSV infection, cytokine expression was measured in well-differentiated human nasal epithelial cells (WD-NE) after RSV infection alone or after subsequent tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α stimulation. Study Design: In vitro investigation. Methods: Human nasal epithelial cells were obtained from surgical specimens and allowed to differentiate in air-liquid interface cultures until ciliation and mucus production were evident. Two experimental paradigms were used. First, accumulation of cytokines in the media was measured by real-time, quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay after RSV infection alone. In the second set of experiments, cytokines were also measured after TNF-a stimulation in both RSV-infected and uninfected cultures. Results: RSV infection of WD-NE resulted in significant accumulations of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and RANTES when compared with findings in control samples. Real-time, quantitative RT-PCR demonstrated significant increases in IL-8 gene expression following RSV infection when compared to controls. Secondary TNF-a stimulation following well-established (i.e., 72 h) RSV infection induced marked increases in IL-6, IL-8, and RANTES when compared with both RSV infection alone and TNF-a stimulation alone. Conclusions: These findings suggest that RSV infection primes nasal epithelial cells to secondary proinflammatory challenge, resulting in a hyperimmune response. RSV-induced priming of a hyperimmune response may be important in the pathogenesis of sinusitis, acute otitis media, and pneumonia.
Effect of cryoprotectant and genetic selection for body fat content on embryonic cryosurvival in mice.

Lines of mice selected for high (HF) or low (LF) 12-week epididymal fat pad weight as a percentage of body weight were used to investigate the effects of genotype, two cryoprotectants [glycerol (GLY) and propylene glycol (PG)] and genotype x cryoprotectant interaction on cryosurvival of four and eight-cell embryos. Embryos were collected from selection lines and reciprocal crosses of selection lines (HFLF and LFHF) and frozen by established slow-cool methods. Embryos were thawed for 40s at room temperature and then placed in a 37° C waterbath for 1 min. Cryoprotectant was diluted from embryos with either 0.5 M sucrose (GLY-treated) or 1.0 M sucrose (PG-treated). Post-thaw survival was measured as the percentage of embryos developing to 36 h (PTS36), 48 h (PTS48) and hatched blastocyst (PTSHB), respectively. Non-frozen controls were cultured concurrently with frozen embryos. No significant genotype or genotype x cryoprotectant interaction effects were found. Results of the embryo freezing study indicated that selection for high or low fat content did not affect the ability of embryos to survive cryopreservation. There was no indication of embryo heterosis for post-thaw survial. Embryos frozen with GLY survived the freeze-thaw stress significantly better than those frozen in PG (P LF; P < 0.05); asymmetric response also occurred in that both HF and LF exceeded the unselected control line (P < 0.05).
Progressive image coding using trellis-coded space-frequency quantization

This paper addresses progressive wavelet image coding within the trellis-coded space-frequency quantization (TCSFQ) framework. A method similar to that in [2] is used to approximately invert TCSFQ when decoding at rates lower than the encoding rate. Our experiments show that the loss incurred for progressive transmission is within one dB in PSNR and that the progressive coding performance of TCSFQ is competitive with that of the celebrated SPIHT coder at all rates.
Diphenylene iodonium sensitivity of a solubilized membrane enzyme from rose cells

An NADH-specific oxidation reduction enzyme has been partially purified from rose cell microsomes by aqueous two-phase partitioning, ultracentrifugation, and ion-exchange chromatography, on the basis of the enzyme's ability to activate lucigenin chemiluminescence in the presence of NADH. The enzyme showed strong similarity to a plasma membrane NADH oxidase (“superoxide synthase” as assayed by lucigenin chemiluminescence; T. M. Murphy and C.-K. Auh, Plant Physiol. 110: 621–629, 1996) in its response to substrate, to Triton X-100, and to diphenylene iodonium, an inhibitor of mammalian neutrophil NADPH oxidase and other flavoenzymes. However, its fluorescence spectrum was not characteristic of flavins and instead was similar to that of pterins. Thus inhibition of an enzyme-catalyzed reaction by diphenylene iodonium does not necessarily imply that the reaction is catalyzed by NADPH oxidase or another flavoenzyme. Superoxide synthesis catalyzed by the enzyme preparation was very low but could be increased at least twofold by the addition of a quinone, menadione. This suggests the enzyme acting in conjunction with a natural quinone could produce activated oxygen species in stressed plant cells.
Simultaneous confidence intervals for all linear contrasts of means with heterogenous variances

Four multiple comparisons procedures for all linear con¬trasts are applied in the one-way analysis of variance setting with possibly unequal variances and sample sizes. The achieved confidence level of each procedure is estimated in a simulation study. These methods include the method of Brown and Forsythe (1974b), the method derivable from the approximate degrees of freedom test of Welch (1951), and the standard method of Scheffe (1959). The method of Brown and Forsythe is found to perform poorly and an adjustment to their method is suggested and in¬cluded in the study. This adjusted method and the method from Welch's test have achieved confidence levels quite close to nominal levels.
Botulinum toxin a injection for forehead rhytids

Aging in the forehead becomes manifest with appearance of wrinkles in the frontoglabellar region. Habitual or dynamic forehead frowning produces muscular hyperactivity, with resultant formation of forehead wrinkles even in younger individuals. These wrinkles are directly proportional to the underlying muscular activity in the upper third of the face. Hyperactivity of the frontalis muscle causes horizontal forehead creases. The corrugator supercilii muscles draw the medial ends of the brow inferomedially, causing oblique and vertical frown lines. The procerus pulls the interbrow skin inferiorly, causing horizontal creases at the root of the nose. In time, the fascia overlying these muscles contracts, causing permanent skin creases, even when the muscles are at rest. 1"2
Comorbidity between dysthymic and major depressive disorders: A family study analysis

Abstract There is an extremely high rate of comorbidity between Dysthymic Disorder (DD) and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). We used family study data to test four competing models of the relationship between DD, MDD, and comorbid DD/MDD: (1) DD, MDD, and DD/MDD are all variants of a single condition; (2) MDD and DD/MDD are similar, but differ from DD; (3) DD and DD/MDD are similar, but differ from MDD; and (4) all three conditions are distinct disorders. Subjects were the first-degree relatives of 22 outpatients with DD ( n =103), 45 outpatients with MDD ( n =207), 75 outpatients with comorbid DD/MDD ( n =343), and 45 normal controls ( n =229). Best-estimate diagnoses of relatives were derived using direct and family history interviews. Relatives of patients with DD and comorbid DD/MDD exhibited significantly higher rates of DD than relatives of patients with MDD and normal probands. The rate of comorbid DD/MDD was significantly higher in the relatives of patients with DD/MDD than the relatives of normal probands. Finally, the relatives of patients with MDD and comorbid DD/MDD exhibited significantly higher rates of MDD than the relatives of normal controls. Although none of the models received unambiguous support, some were more plausible than others.
The “love-dart” in helicid snails: a gift of calcium or a firm commitment?

The “love-dart” of hermaphroditic helicid snails is an expensive structure of uncertain adaptive value. Two current models of hermaphrodite mating systems, energy investment and “gamete-trading”, make opposite predictions as to its function. Eggtrading predicts that it represents a gift of calcium to induce a partner to act as a female. The gamete-trading model predicts that it should serve to induce the partner to act as male. Review of the evidence suggests that the “love-dart” serves to induce the partner to act as a male, by acting as an honest signal of an individual's willingness to reciprocate in a sperm-trading mating system.
Fast divalent ion conduction in Ba++, Cd++ and Sr++ beta″ aluminas

Abstract Single crystals of Ba ++ , Cd ++ and Sr ++ beta″ alumina were prepared from sodium beta″ alumina by ion exchange. The conductivities of these divalent ion solid electrolytes exceed 10 −3 (ohm-cm) −1 at 300°C. These compounds appear to exhibit fast divalent ion motion at moderate temperatures.
A MAP Based Route Optimization Scheme for Mobile Networks

Network mobility (NEMO) basic support protocol (NBS) enables mobile networks to work well under Internet, but leads to pinball routing problem. A MAP based route optimization scheme (MROS) is proposed to provide route optimization and reduce mobility management overhead for mobile networks. MROS uses MAP which is a mobility management technique in HMIPv6 to construct a hierarchical mobile network, MNpsilas registration cost is reduced with regional management. Moreover, a route optimization scheme is also introduced by MROS to eliminate pinball routing with regard to NBS.
QUANTIFIED LOGIC OF AWARENESS AND IMPOSSIBLE POSSIBLE WORLDS

Among the many possible approaches to dealing with logical omniscience, I consider here awareness and impossible worlds structures. The former approach, pioneered by Fagin and Halpern, distinguishes between implicit and explicit knowledge, and avoids logical omniscience with respect to explicit knowledge. The latter, developed by Rantala and by Hintikka, allows for the existence of logically impossible worlds to which the agents are taken to have “epistemological” access; since such worlds need not behave consistently, the agents’ knowledge is fallible relative to logical omniscience. The two approaches are known to be equally expressive in propositional systems interpreted over Kripke semantics. In this paper I show that the two approaches are equally expressive in propositional systems interpreted over Montague-Scott (neighborhood) semantics. Furthermore, I provide predicate systems of both awareness and impossible worlds structures interpreted on neighborhood semantics and prove the two systems to be equally expressive.
Modeling the Interaction of Helium with Dislocations and Grain Boundaries in Alpha-Iron

Helium is a ubiquitous impurity in nuclear materials that can have significant deleterious effects on mechanical properties, including deformation and fracture. To determine ways to mitigate the effects of helium it is necessary to understand the behavior of helium with respect to its interaction with various microstructural features. Toward that end, we have employed molecular statics, molecular dynamics, and the dimer method of potential surface mapping to study the fate of helium in the vicinity of dislocations and grain boundaries in alpha-iron. Even at very low temperatures interstitial helium atoms can migrate to dislocations and grain boundaries, where they are strongly bound. The binding energies of helium to these microstructural features relative to the perfect crystal and the migration energies of helium diffusing within them have a strong correlation to the excess atomic volume that exists in these extended defects. Helium atom migration energies within the dislocations and grain boundaries studied are in the range of 0.4–0.5 eV. Helium “kick out” mechanisms have been identified within dislocations and grain boundaries by which interstitial helium atoms replace an Fe lattice atom, creating a stable He-vacancy complex that may be a nucleation site for an He bubble.
Response to Comment on: Kaiyala et al. (2010) Identification of Body Fat Mass as a Major Determinant of Metabolic Rate in Mice. Diabetes;59:1657–1666

We thank MacLean (1) for his insightful comments regarding both the need to present unadjusted energy expenditure (EE) data and the issue of model selection for EE normalization. We agree with the recommendation to present unadjusted EE data as part of the analysis—indeed, this standard should be widely adopted in metabolic research. The question of whether to adjust EE for only the best estimate of “metabolic mass,” e.g., lean body mass (LBM), is complex and raises issues of both theoretical and practical importance. From a theoretical perspective, MacLean notes that when a genetic or other intervention influences EE by altering …
Signature Cluster Model Selection for Incremental Gaussian Mixture Cluster Modeling in Agglomerative Hierarchical Speaker Clustering

Agglomerative hierarchical speaker clustering (AHSC) has been widely used for classifying speech data by speaker characteristics. Its bottom-up, one-way structure of merging the closest cluster pair at every recursion step, however, makes it difficult to recover from incorrect merging. Hence, making AHSC robust to incorrect merging is an important issue. In this paper we address this problem in the framework of AHSC based on incremental Gaussian mixture models, which we previously introduced for better representing variable cluster size. Specifically, to minimize contamination in cluster models by heterogeneous data, we select and keep updating a representative (or signature) model for each cluster during AHSC. Experiments on meeting speech excerpts (4 hours total) verify that the proposed approach improves average speaker clustering performance by approximately 20% (relative). Index Terms: agglomerative hierarchical speaker clustering, incremental Gaussian mixture model, signature cluster model selection
Genetic polymorphisms of the human CYP2A13 gene: identification of single-nucleotide polymorphisms and functional characterization of an Arg257Cys variant.

Human cytochrome P450 2A13 (CYP2A13), which is highly efficient in the metabolic activation of a major tobacco-specific carcinogen, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), may play important roles in xenobiotic toxicity and tobacco-related tumorigenesis in the respiratory tract. The aim of this study was to identify any genetic polymorphisms of the CYP2A13 gene, which may alter the metabolic capacities of the enzyme. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis was used to identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in all of the exons and at the exon-intron boundaries, and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and DNA sequencing were used to determine the frequencies of the newly identified variant alleles in the four major ethnic groups. Blood spot DNA from more than 100 individuals was used for these analyses. Seven variant alleles were found, but only one SNP was detected in the coding region, in exon 5, leading to an Arg257Cys amino acid change. The frequencies of the Arg257Cys allele in white, black, Hispanic, and Asian individuals are 1.9%, 14.4%, 5.8%, and 7.7%, respectively. Functional analysis of the variant protein was performed following its heterologous expression. The Arg257Cys variant was 37 to 56% less active than the wild-type Arg-257 protein toward all substrates tested. With NNK, Cys-257 had higher K m and lower V max values than did Arg-257, with a >2-fold decrease in catalytic efficiency. The Arg257Cys mutation could provide some protection against xenobiotic toxicity in the respiratory tract to individuals who are homozygous for the Cys-257 allele.
A cross-national comparison of lifestyle between China and the United States, using a comprehensive cross-national measurement tool of the healthfulness of lifestyles: the Lifestyle Index.

Abstract Background. Extensive studies have revealed the importance of a healthy lifestyle and the role of each lifestyle factor in health. However, lifestyle factors have rarely been studied simultaneously. The authors propose an integrated approach to summarize total healthfulness of lifestyles and to enhance understanding of lifestyle patterns across countries. Methods. The authors created an overall measure of lifestyle called the Lifestyle Index (LI), integrating diet, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol use to provide a global tool of monitoring healthfulness and patterns of lifestyles. Using the LI, the authors conducted a cross-national comparison between China (n = 8352) and the United States (n = 9750). Results. The LI effectively reflected the healthfulness of lifestyle components in both countries. The mean of the LI scores was slightly higher in China than the US. Scores of diet quality, physical activity, and smoking were higher in China, but scores of alcohol behavior were higher in the US. Similar lifestyle patterns but different unhealthy behaviors were identified in these countries. Conclusions. An assessment of total healthfulness of lifestyles and a better understanding of lifestyle patterns across countries using the LI can provide practical guidance to developing and targeting public health promotion activities to improve global public health.
USC: a universal stub compiler

USC is a new stub compiler that generates stubs that perform many data conversion operations. USC is flexible and can be used in situations where previously only manual code generation was possible. USC generated code is up to 20 times faster than code generated by traditional argument marshaling schemes such as ASN.1 and Sun XDR. This paper presents the design of USC and a comprehensive set of experiments that compares USC performance with the best manually generated code and traditional stub compilers.
Does the use of methylmethacrylate cement in total shoulder replacement induce hemodynamic or pulmonary instability

Abstract Study Objective: To investigate whether the use of methylmethacrylate cement causes hemodynamic or pulmonary instability during total shoulder replacement surgery. Design: Prospective, nonrandomized study. Setting: Operating room. Patients: 9 ASA physical status I and II patients. Interventions: A 20-gauge radial artery catheter was placed in the wrist opposite the surgical site. Sedation with midazolam was provided, and a pulmonary artery catheter was placed through an 8.5-Fr introducer into the patient's right internal jugular vein. Measurements and Main Results: Before induction of anesthesia, systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressures; heart rate; central venous pressure; systolic, diastolic, and mean pulmonary artery pressures; pulmonary capillary wedge pressure; and thermodilution cardiac output measurements were obtained. Arterial and mixed venous blood gas samples also were collected and analyzed for calculation of Qs/Qt. These hemodynamic and pulmonary, parameters were measured again just before cementing of each prosthesis with methylmethacrylate cement and at 1, 5, 10, and 20 minutes after cementing. There were no statistically significant changes in any of the measured hemodynamic parameters at any time. There was no statistically significant difference in the calculated intrapulmonary shunt fraction. Conclusion: In this study population, the use of methylmethacrylate for total shoulder replacement was not associated with adverse hemodynamic events or increased intrapulmonary shunting.
Transgression and Transcendence in the Films of Werner Herzog

Werner Herzog’s films often have characters that are on spiritual journeys that take transgressive turns. These quests are also existential in nature, for what the characters often seek is transcendence. Because transgression is a sociological, philosophical, and theological entity, Herzog’s films are demanding because his outsider characters are often not easy to admire. Still, because they take on very personal self-examinations in their search for transcendence, we can respect their tragic, horrific, or painful excursions. Herzog’s protagonists are almost always outsiders in some form. Whether “being on the outside” quite literally or figuratively, protagonists like Nosferatu, Kasper Hauser, or Aguirre somehow eschew societal norms and become figures of empathy, fear, or disgust. Even the characters of his documentary work, like Timothy Treadwell in Grizzly Man , are people who somehow do not fit in with society, and so seek escape through crossing boundaries or intense trials of will and perseverance. As outsiders, they are shunned, but the way they handle this is sometimes different: through madness (Aguirre), spirituality (Kasper Hauser), or rebellion (the cast of Even Dwarves Started Small ). These characters are in constant conflict with others, society, and themselves. I want to argue that one of the main reasons Herzog makes both artful, meditative films and ones that challenge spectators’ expectations, is due to the recurrence of the theme of spiritual transformation—or transcendence—that often is transgressive. Such Herzog heroes as Aguirre, Stroszek, Fitzcarraldo, or even the entire cast of Heart of Glass push beyond the limits of sanity, freedom, and societal restrictions in order to transgress or “pass” into a different mental state. Furthermore, such moves are spiritual in nature, since the characters become individual disciples of their own imaginings, their own beliefs, and their own codes of behavior. Both physically and psychically, these characters undertake journeys that allow us to see how difficult, yet ultimately manageable, these passages to transcendence are. I will discuss several Herzog films and characters that exemplify this tendency, including, Even Dwarfs Started Small , Aguirre, the Wrath of God , and Grizzly Man .
Domestic Violence in the Vietnamese Immigrant Community An Exploratory Study

This study examines domestic violence in Vietnamese American families, focusing on changes in socioeconomic structure and culture, to identify factors associated with wife abuse. Husbands' patriarchal beliefs and dominant positions in the family and conflicts about changing norms and values between husbands and wives were found to be related to wife abuse. The study suggests that class, culture, gender, and immigration status could simultaneously affect women's experience of violence by husbands. For Vietnamese Americans, women's economic contributions could not reduce husbands' dominant positions and violence, but economic hardship could prevent women from leaving an abusive relationship. Traditional family values, beliefs in traditional female roles, and perceptions about racial discrimination could also prevent Vietnamese American women from relying on the formal system to cope with abuse.
Experiments with Program unification on the Cray Y‐MP

Program unification is a technique for source-to-source transformation of code for enhanced execution performance on vector and SIMD architectures. This work focuses on simple examples of program unification to explain the methodology and demonstrate its promise as a practical technique for improved performance. Using simple examples to explain how unification is done, we outline two experiments in the simulation domain that benefit from unification, namely Monte Carlo and discrete-event simulation. Empirical tests of unified code on a Cray Y-MP multiprocessor show that unification improves execution performance by a factor of roughly 8 for given application. The technique is general in that it can be applied to computation-intensive programs in various data-parallel application domains.
Heterotopic ossification after treatment of femoral head osteonecrosis with free vascularized fibular graft.

This study evaluated patients with heterotopic ossification after implantation of a free vascularized fibular graft for the treatment of femoral head osteonecrosis. We hypothesized that the osteogenic tendency of these patients might enhance the graft-host union and new bone formation in the femoral head, although the presence of heterotopic ossification might influence adversely the clinical result. Of patients with femoral head osteonecrosis, 32% developed heterotopic ossification after treatment with free vascularized fibular graft. Heterotopic bone formation did not influence the efficacy of the procedure to preserve the hip joint. The radiographic and clinical results and the rate of subsequent total hip arthroplasty were not affected by the heterotopic bone, but local trochanteric tenderness was associated with large heterotopic lesions.
Nursing in Korea

Nursing in Korea with support from the federal government is shifting focus to better address the needs of an aging population, in particular the increasing number of persons with dementia. The family in Korea is struggling to balance family caregiving obligations with the demands of employment in a competitive world economy. Nurses are in an ideal position to not only teach families how best to assist family members with dementia but also how to find meaning in caregiving.
Apparent Role for Borrelia burgdorferi LuxS during Mammalian Infection

The Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, controls protein expression patterns during its tick-mammal infection cycle. Earlier studies demonstrated that B. burgdorferi synthesizes 4,5-dihydroxy-2,3-pentanedione (autoinducer-2 [AI-2]) and responds to AI-2 by measurably changing production of several infection-associated proteins. luxS mutants, which are unable to produce AI-2, exhibit altered production of several proteins. B. burgdorferi cannot utilize the other product of LuxS, homocysteine, indicating that phenotypes of luxS mutants are not due to the absence of that molecule. Although a previous study found that a luxS mutant was capable of infecting mice, a critical caveat to those results is that bacterial loads were not quantified. To more precisely determine whether LuxS serves a role in mammalian infection, mice were simultaneously inoculated with congenic wild-type and luxS strains, and bacterial numbers were assessed using quantitative PCR. The wild-type bacteria substantially outcompeted the mutants, suggesting that LuxS performs a significant function during mammalian infection. These data also provide further evidence that nonquantitative infection studies do not necessarily provide conclusive results and that regulatory factors may not make all-or-none, black-or-white contributions to infectivity.
Simulating impact of available-to-promise generation on supply chain performance

Availability management influences key supply chain performance metrics such as customer service level and inventory. The availability management process involves generating Available-to-Promise (ATP) quantities, scheduling customer orders against the ATP, and fulfilling the orders. ATP generation is a push-side of the availability management process, and it allocates expected availability into ATP quantities based on product types, demand classes, supply classes, and ATP time periods as well as various availability management polices. This paper describes a simulation work done for IBM computer hardware business to evaluate how changes in ATP generation would impact supply chain performance. The simulation work played an important role in making strategic business decisions that impacted customer services and inventory cost.
Quantum Kinetic Theory of Tunneling Devices

Over the past few years, a quantum kinetic approach has been developed for simulating the behavior of resonant-tunneling devices. It permits a consistent description of inelastic processes and admits open-system boundary conditions which model the effect of the external circuit to which the device is connected. Much of the power of the kinetic approach follows from its suitability for direct numerical solution, and this is illustrated by evaluating the ac small-signal response. The need to include dissipative processes in any analysis is demonstrated by calculations of the self-consistent potential within different models.
Computing the visual potential of an articulated assembly of parts

Consideration is given to a generalization of the aspect graph concept which is applicable to objects which may have articulated connection between their (rigid) parts. This generalization is a major step forward in terms of applying the aspect graph concept to a larger and more realistic domain of objects. An algorithm for computing the generalized aspect graph is described, and an example is analyzed in detail. >
Computational model of airflow in upper 17 generations of human respiratory tract

Abstract Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) studies of airflow in a digital reference model of the 17-generation airway (bronchial tree) were accomplished using the FLUENT ® computational code, based on the anatomical model by Schmidt et al. [2004. A digital reference model of the human bronchial tree. Computerized Medical Imaging and Graphics 28, 203–211]. The lung model consists of 6.744×10 6 unstructured tetrahedral computational cells. A steady-state airflow rate of 28.3 L/min was used to simulate the transient turbulent flow regime using a large eddy simulation (LES) turbulence model. This CFD mesh represents the anatomically realistic asymmetrical branching pattern of the larger airways. It is demonstrated that the nature of the secondary vortical flows, which develop in such asymmetric airways, varies with the specific anatomical characteristics of the branching conduits.
A systematic, multimodality approach to emergency elbow imaging

The elbow is a complex synovial hinge joint that is frequently involved in both athletic and nonathletic injuries. A thorough understanding of the normal anatomy and various injury patterns is essential when utilizing diagnostic imaging to identify damaged structures and to assist in surgical planning. In this review, the elbow anatomy will be scrutinized in a systematic approach. This will be followed by a comprehensive presentation of elbow injuries that are commonly seen in the emergency department accompanied by multimodality imaging findings. A short discussion regarding pitfalls in elbow imaging is also included.
Viburnum phylogeny based on combined molecular data: implications for taxonomy and biogeography

We investigated Viburnum phylogeny using separate and combined analyses of DNA sequence data from two chloroplast and three nuclear loci. Separate analyses of nuclear and chloroplast data sets resulted in gene trees that were generally congruent with one another and with trees from two previous analyses. Our gene trees do differ in the position of section Pseudotinus, as well as in species relationships within sections Pseudotinus and Lentago. However, tests for incongruence indicate that differences between the nuclear and chloroplast data are not significant. Furthermore, gene trees from combined analyses were highly similar to those found in separate analyses, suggesting that these localized differences do not affect other parts of the tree. Our analyses provide convincing support for numerous relationships, although there is still uncertainty at the base of the tree. To facilitate future study, we propose informal names for 12 well-supported species groups, as well as for several higher-level clades. We also discuss the biogeographic implications of our phylogeny, focusing on repeated, although apparently temporally incongruent, patterns of disjunction between the Old and New Worlds.
F-actin binding is essential for coronin 1B function in vivo

Coronins are conserved F-actin binding proteins that have been implicated in a variety of processes including fibroblast migration, phagocytosis, and chemotaxis. Recent data from our lab indicate that coronin 1B coordinates Arp2/3-dependent actin filament nucleation and cofilin-mediated filament turnover at the leading edge of migrating fibroblasts. Analysis of coronin function has been hampered by the lack of a clear understanding of how coronin interacts with F-actin. Here, we identify a surface-exposed conserved arginine residue at position 30 (R30), which is crucial for coronin 1B binding to F-actin both in vitro and in vivo. Using actin co-sedimentation, we demonstrate that coronin 1B binds with high affinity to ATP/ADP-P(i)-F-actin (170 nM) and with 47-fold lower affinity to ADP-F-actin (8 microM). In contrast to a previous study, we find no evidence for enhanced cofilin binding to F-actin in the presence of either coronin 1B or coronin 1A. Instead, we find that coronin 1B protects actin filaments from cofilin-induced depolymerization. Consistent with an important role for interactions between coronin 1B and F-actin in vivo, an R30D coronin mutant that does not bind F-actin localizes inefficiently to the leading edge. Furthermore, our analysis indicates that F-actin binding is absolutely required for coronin 1B to exert its effects on whole-cell motility and lamellipodial dynamics.
Febuxostat: the evidence for its use in the treatment of hyperuricemia and gout

Introduction: Gout is a common and disabling cause of arthritis in middle-aged and elderly populations, with its main predisposing factor being hyperuricemia (serum urate > 6.8 mg/dL). Options for treatment of chronic gout until 2008 were allopurinol, a xanthine oxidase inhibitor, and the group of drugs known as uricosurics that stimulate the renal excretion of uric acid. A proportion of patients, including some with chronic kidney disease and solid organ transplantations, could not be treated with the those therapies because of intolerance, drug interactions, or adverse events. Febuxostat is a nonpurine xanthine oxidase inhibitor, recently approved in Europe and the United States for the treatment of chronic gout.
Hyperphosphorylation of human TAU by brain kinase PK40erk beyond phosphorylation by cAMP-dependent PKA : relation to Alzheimer's disease

Abstract Abnormal hyperphosphorylation of the cytoskeletal protein TAU is seen in the characteristic paired helical filaments [neurofibrillary tangles] of Alzheimer′s disease [AD]. A recently described protein kinase, PK40erk, (1) a member of the ERK family of kinases, can produce in vitro many of the properties of Alzheimer-like hyperphosphorylated TAU. cAMP-dependent protein kinase A [PKA] phosphorylates TAU to a lesser extent; however, the product is not like the hyerphosphorylated TAU of AD in several important respects. We now report that in vitro PK40erk, a candidate for the enzyme responsible for TAU hyperphosphorylation in AD, will further phosphorylate TAU that was previously saturated by protein kinase A, provided that the concentrations of free uncomplexed ATP are low. Interestingly, the actions of different kinases on TAU are not independent, but may depend on the order in which they work on TAU; i.e.,prior phosphorylation by PKA partially inhibits the action of PK40erk
A 12-bit, 200-MS/s, 11.5-mW pipeline ADC using a pulsed bucket brigade front-end

A high-speed, low-power pipeline ADC is realized by replacing the front-end residue amplifiers with pulsed bucket brigade circuitry and compensating for the introduced errors using digital linearization. The ADC is implemented in 65-nm CMOS and occupies 0.26 mm2. It operates at 200 MS/s, consumes 11.5 mW from a 1-V supply and achieves an SNDR of 65 dB at low input frequencies and 57.6 dB near Nyquist. The corresponding SNDR-based Schreier FOM is 164.5 dB and 157 dB, respectively.
Evaluation of Star Identification Techniques

Traditionally, star sensors have used fairly large e elds of view and bright stars to perform tracking and identie cation. Recent trends in space missions have brought out the need for smaller e eld-of-view sensors, capable of performing multiple functions that will reduce spacecraft payload and cost. A number of different strategies are used or have been suggested for identifying star e elds for attitude determination in space. We offer a general classie cation of theexisting techniques and select three representative algorithms formorecomprehensive evaluation. The identie cation rates and performance of the three algorithms are presented over a variety of noise conditions using two different sized onboard catalogs. Substantial differences in algorithm performance are identie ed for various noise levels, which should provide some indication of the suitability of the algorithm for smaller e elds of view.