cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Magnesium supplementation during cardiopulmonary bypass to prevent junctional ectopic tachycardia after pediatric cardiac surgery: a randomized controlled study.

Objectives We analyzed the role of magnesium sulfate (MgSO 4 ) supplementation during cardiopulmonary bypass in pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery, assessing the incidence of hypomagnesemia and the incidence of junctional ectopic tachycardia. Methods We performed a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial in 99 children. MgSO 4 or placebo was administered during the rewarming phase of cardiopulmonary bypass: group 1, placebo group (29 patients); group 2, 25 mg/kg of MgSO 4 (30 patients); and group 3, 50 mg/kg of MgSO 4 (40 patients). Results At the time of admission to the cardiac intensive care unit, groups receiving MgSO 4 had significantly greater levels of ionized magnesium (group 1, 0.51 ± 0.07; group 2, 0.57 ± 0.09; group 3, 0.59 ± 0.09). Hypomagnesemia before bypass was common (75%–86.2%) and not significantly different among the groups. The proportion of hypomagnesemia decreased significantly at admission to the cardiac intensive care unit in groups receiving MgSO 4 (group 1, 77.8%; group 2, 63%; group 3, 47.4%). Patients receiving placebo (group 1) had a significantly greater occurrence of junctional ectopic tachycardia than groups receiving MgSO 4 (group 1, n = 5 [17.9%]; group 2, n = 2 [6.7%]; group 3, n = 0 [0%]). Age ( 4), and history of cardiac failure were associated with junctional ectopic tachycardia. None of the patients with those characteristics in group 3 had junctional ectopic tachycardia. No association was found between study groups and the Pediatric Risk of Mortality score or length of stay in the cardiac intensive care unit. Conclusions Supplementation with MgSO 4 during cardiopulmonary bypass seems to reduce the incidence of hypomagnesemia and junctional ectopic tachycardia at admission to the cardiac intensive care unit. This effect seems to be dose related.
Clinical pharmacists as key members of the patient-centered medical home: an opinion statement of the Ambulatory Care Practice and Research Network of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy.

The American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) Ambulatory Care Practice Research Network (PRN) considers the role of clinical pharmacists to be fundamental to the success of the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model. Within the PCMH, pharmacists can improve the health of populations by participating in activities that optimize medication management. Multiple published articles support clinical pharmacist involvement in the PCMH with regard to promotion of team-based care, enhanced access, care coordination, and improved quality and safety of care. A survey of clinical pharmacist members of ACCP who operate in such a model depict a variety of activities, with some members pioneering new and innovative ways to practice clinical pharmacy. Although this is a significant opportunity for pharmacists in the primary care setting, a unified vision of pharmacy services is needed. It is our hope that with continued efforts focused on obtaining national provider status, clinical pharmacy can use the PCMH model to solidify the future of primary care pharmacy. The following is an opinion statement of the ACCP Ambulatory Care PRN regarding the vital role of clinical pharmacists in the PCMH.
Object storage hierarchy management

The Object Access Method (OAM) component of MVS/Data Facility Product is responsible for the storage, retrieval, and management of objects in IBM MVS/ESA™ ImagePlus™ systems and in other applications. The OAM Storage Management Component is the subcomponent of OAM that provides storage management for objects stored within an object storage hierarchy. Storage management is a cyclic procedure which assures that data are stored in conformity to a policy defined by the data processing storage administrator. During a storage management cycle, the OAM Storage Management Component (OSMC) selects objects for processing based on requirements for backup, expiration, or service level changes. This paper describes the concepts of object storage management using a storage hierarchy that contains DASD and optical disk storage.
Subcellular fate of selenium from 75Se-labeled plasma selenoprotein P in selenium-deficient rats

Abstract This study explored the subcellular incorporation of 75 Se from 75 Se-labeled plasma selenoprotein (PSP) as this might be related to a possible selenium transport function of PSP. PSP was labeled in vivo in rats with 75 Se. The 75 Se-labeled PSP was then injected into selenium-deficient rats. Groups of rats were killed 3, 12, 18, 24, and 48 hr post injection. Blood, liver, kidney, and testes were analyzed for distribution of 75 Se from 75 Se-labeled PSP. Liver, kidney, and testes were fractionated to obtain enriched lysosomal, microsomal, and cytosolic fractions. Disappearance of 75 Se from plasma paralleled increased accumulation of radioactivity in the tissues. 75 Se in the liver rose and then dropped, while its accumulation in kidney remained fairly constant over the 48-hr time period. Total radioactivity in the testes was as much as 15-fold higher than in the other two tissues when calculated on a cpm 75 Se/mg protein basis, and the activity continued to increase during the 48-hr period. Radioactivity was highest in the lysosomal and microsomal fractions. These results suggest that PSP delivers selenium to the testes in particular during selenium deficiency.
Fisher information for the elliptically symmetric Pearson distributions

The Fisher information matrices for the elliptically symmetric Pearson type II and Pearson type VII distributions are derived. Extensive numerical tabulations of the Fisher information matrices are given for practical purposes.
FACTORS AFFECTING LATENCY OF SILICOSIS DEVELOPMENT IN NORTH CAROLINA

A case series of silicotics employed in the North Carolina dusty trades is presented. Working lifetimes quartz exposure summaries are estimated using both the simple cumulative, and weighted models. Linear regression techniques are applied to study the latency in disease development, using the time from first exposure to diagnosis as the dependent variable. In addition to quartz exposure, race, age at first exposure, smoking history and year of diagnosis, the magnitude of the peak quartz exposure and the timing of the peak exposure in the work history were found to be important independent variables. For the cumulative and weighted model exposure estimates the multiple correlation coefficient were approximately 0.44 (p < 0.0001) and (p < 0.0001), respectively.
The propagation of sound in ducts lined with circumferentially non-uniform admittance of the form ηo+ηq exp (iqθ)

In this paper, closed form solutions are obtained to a problem of sound propagation in a duct with circumferentially non-uniform admittance. Traditionally, solutions to duct problems have been sought in terms of modes which can be expressed as products of functions of space and time co-ordinates. This method fails when the boundary conditions are non-uniform. In the text of the paper, non-separable solutions are developed to obtain a closed form solution to the problem. The non-separable modes are a sum of sub-modes, which satisfy the wave equation but not the boundary conditions. Expressions are obtained for the sub-modal distribution functions, which ensure that together the sub-modes shall form a wave packet which will satisfy the boundary conditions.
Solution of underdetermined Sylvester equations in sensor array signal processing

Abstract We propose efficient solution of an underdetermined matrix equation. The matrix equations studied here appear in the study of subspace-based high-resolution multiparameter direction-of-arrival estimation. The proposed gradient-based technique is at least an order-of-magnitude computational improvement over the existing approaches. Simulation results are provided to illustrated the proposed technique.
Changes in Voice Fundamental Frequency Following Discharge of Single Motor Units in Cricothyroid and Thyroarytenoid Muscles

This investigation was designed to measure voice F0 changes related to single motor unit (SMU) contractions in the cricothyroid and thyroarytenoid muscles. Four subjects (3 men and 1 woman) were re...
Supercritical fluid process for the synthesis of maleated poly(vinylidene fluoride)

Poly(vinylidene fluoride) was grafted with maleic anhydride monomer via a free-radical mechanism in supercritical carbon dioxide medium. The free-radical initiator chosen for this study was benzoyl peroxide. The structure of the resultant copolymer pendant groups was determined by 1H NMR spectroscopy to consist of individual succinyl anhydride functional groups. The degree of functionalization (graft level) was obtained by FTIR spectroscopy through the correlation of absorbance bands using standard samples. The FTIR analysis indicated increased graft level with monomer loading, reaction temperature, and treatment time; however, initiator loading and reaction temperature showed more-complex behavior. Graft levels increased at moderate benzoyl peroxide initiator loadings (5.0 wt%) and decreased at the highest initiator loadings (10.0 wt%). POLYM. ENG. SCI., 45:631–639, 2005. © 2005 Society of Plastics Engineers
Embedding rings in completed graded rings 4. Commutative algebras

Abstract If k is a commutative ring of finite characteristic, and A a commutative associative k-algebra with augmentation, such that the intersection of the powers of the augmentation ideal is zero, it is shown that A can be embedded in a completed graded commutative associative k-algebra with degree 0 component just k. The corresponding result is false in characteristic 0, though we do not know whether it can fail when k is a field. The above finite characteristic result is also true with “commutative associative algebra” replaced by any variety of associative or nonassociative algebras defined by multilinear identities.
Propagation of sepsis in vascular grafts.

• Clinical studies have stated that sepsis tends to remain localized at the point of origin in a patent arterial synthetic graft. We have demonstrated in the pig model that in the acute phase, infection will propagate distally in both thrombotic and patent grafts. The propagation of infection is probably intraluminal. The implication is that total graft excision is necessary for proximal suture-line sepsis in the patent synthetic graft. (Arch Surg115:878-879, 1980)
Drosophila RNAi Screen Reveals CD36 Family Member Required for Mycobacterial Infection

Certain pathogens, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, survive within the hostile intracellular environment of a macrophage. To identify host factors required for mycobacterial entry and survival within macrophages, we performed a genomewide RNA interference screen in Drosophila macrophage-like cells, using Mycobacterium fortuitum. We identified factors required for general phagocytosis, as well as those needed specifically for mycobacterial infection. One specific factor, Peste (Pes), is a CD36 family member required for uptake of mycobacteria, but not Escherichia coli or Staphylococcus aureus. Moreover, mammalian class B scavenger receptors (SRs) conferred uptake of bacteria into nonphagocytic cells, with SR-BI and SR-BII uniquely mediating uptake of M. fortuitum, which suggests a conserved role for class B SRs in pattern recognition and innate immunity.
Kinetics of the Gas-Phase Reactions of OH and NO3 Radicals and O3 with Allyl Alcohol and Allyl Isocyanate

Rate constants for the gas-phase reactions of OH radical, NO3 radical, and ozone with allyl alcohol (AAL) and allyl isocyanate (AIC) have been measured using relative rate methods at atmospheric pressure in purified air. The experimental Arrhenius expression obtained for the reaction of the OH radical with AAL is (1.68 ± 0.89) × 10−12 × exp(1100/T) cm3 molecule−1 s−1, for T = 282−315 K; the Arrhenius expression for the reaction of OH radical with AIC is (1.94 ± 1.04) × 10−14 × exp(2207/T) cm3 molecule−1 s−1, for T = 282−317 K, where the indicated errors are one least-squares standard deviation. All OH radical reaction rate constants have been measured relative to k(OH + α-pinene) and k(OH + 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene). The rate constant for the gas-phase reaction of OH radical with allyl alcohol-d6 isotopomer (AAL-d6) has been measured at T = 298 K, and the value is 5.10 × 10−11 cm3 molecule−1 s−1. The kinetic isotope effect is small, with k(AAL)/k(AAL-d6) = 1.32. Rate constants for the gas-phase reactions of...
ANGULAR MOMENTUM DISTRIBUTIONS IN THE THOMAS-FERMI MODEL

The Hartree and Thomas-Fermi models of the atom and nucleus are compared in their predictions for the angular momentum distributions. It is found that the most natural quantity to compare is not the "first appearance" of a given orbital angular momentum, but the mean squared angular momentum.
“To Put into Complete Practice Those Hallowed Principles”: Edward Coles and the Crafting of Antislavery Nationalism in Early Nineteenth‐Century America

Edward Coles is famous for his decision to liberate his enslaved property and his political activities in Illinois during the 1820s. Few scholars, however, have recognized that this was merely the opening chapter in a life‐long struggle against slavery. His career in Illinois and his subsequent effort to promote emancipation in Virginia are arguably more significant because those struggles led him to construct an antislavery argument that united principle, prejudice, and the recognition of a shared antislavery past. Cast under the banner of antislavery nationalism, Coles’ approach to the problem of slavery was uniquely designed to appeal to Northerners and the Southerners alike.
A super-resolution technique with motion estimation considering atmospheric turbulence

Image registration is a crucial part of the success of the super-resolution algorithms. In real applications, atmospheric turbulence is an important factor that brings further degradation to the low-resolution image sequence (video frames), besides other degradations such as global motion due to movement of the optical device, blurring due to the point spread function of the lens, and blurring due to the finite size of the detector array. In this paper, the degradation of the atmospheric turbulence to the low-resolution images is modeled as per-pixel motion in the high-resolution plane and is assumed to be spatially local and temporally quasi-periodic. The registration is a two-stage process: first, the global motion between frames is estimated using the phase-correlation method to remove "jitter" and stabilize the sequence; then, an optical flow method with quasi-periodic constraint is used to estimate the per-pixel motion. A threshold is used to separate the relatively larger object movement from per-pixel atmospheric turbulence. After registration, the shift map of each frame is obtained, along with a prototype of the high-resolution image. A maximum a posteriori (MAP) based super-resolution algorithm is therefore applied to reconstruct the high-resolution image. Experiments using synthetic images are conducted to verify the validity of the proposed method. Finally, conclusions are drawn.
Human land use and patterns of parasitism in tropical amphibian hosts

Abstract Landscape alterations by humans can change patterns of parasite transmission. Depending on the type alteration and the life histories of parasites and hosts, parasitism may increase or decrease. To investigate whether parasitism in tropical amphibians was associated with land use change, I studied three species of amphibians, Rana vaillanti , Eleutherodactylus fitzingeri , and Smilisca puma from the Province of Heredia, Costa Rica, in the Atlantic lowlands. Frogs were collected and examined for parasites during the rainy seasons of 2001–2003 from sites in forest or clear-cut cattle pastures. The abundances of five species of parasites and parasite species richness of R. vaillanti were significantly higher in pasture habitat. A single parasite species shared by E. fitzingeri and S. puma showed a trend of increased abundance in pasture habitats. Overall, the abundances of six parasite species (three trematodes, an intestinal nematode, an encysted nematode, and a filarial nematode) were higher in pastures, while two species (trematodes) were higher in forest. This study suggests that land use activities in tropical regions affects the abundance and richness of amphibian parasites. Converting forest to pasture may impact the abundance of amphibian parasites because subsequent water quality changes (e.g. eutrophication, higher pH) often enhance habitat and resources for intermediate hosts (e.g. snails, mosquitoes) involved in parasite life cycles. Aquatic amphibians (e.g. R. vaillanti ) may be particularly prone to experiencing increases in parasitism in agricultural habitats due to the positive relationship between many aquatic intermediate hosts and water quality changes associated with agricultural land use.
Prostaglandins modulate macrophage ia expression.

Prostaglandins are important modulators of inflammation and of humoral and cellular immune responses1–8. In order to evaluate a possible mechanism for the regulation of immune responses we have studied the effects of prostaglandins on the expression of I-region-associated (Ia) antigens by macrophages. The expression of these glycoproteins is essential for macrophages to function as antigen-presenting cells during the induction of immune responses9. The synthesis and membrane expression of Ia, however, is not a constitutive property of the phagocyte10 but is under regulation and a positive regulation of this process is exhibited by activated T cells11. In contrast, a negative regulation is conspicuously found in the neonate where a product from a young replicating macrophage inhibits the expression of Ia by the mature macrophages12. We show here that prostaglandins of the E series (PGE) are potent inhibitors of the expression of Ia-antigens on macrophages and that thromboxane B2 (TXB2) antagonizes the effect of PGE.
Stratigraphic signature of the late Palaeozoic Ice Age in the Parmeener Supergroup of Tasmania, SE Australia, and inter-regional comparisons

Abstract Recent research in eastern Australia has established that rather than being a single, long-lived epoch, the late Palaeozoic Ice Age comprised a series of glacial intervals each 1–8 million years in duration, separated by non-glacial intervals of comparable duration. In order to test whether the glacial events recognized in New South Wales and Queensland have broader extent, we conducted a reappraisal of the Parmeener Supergroup of Tasmania, southeast Australia. A facies analysis of the Pennsylvanian to Permian section was carried out, allowing rationalization of the succession into four recurrent facies associations: a) glacigenic facies association, restricted to the basal Pennsylvanian/earliest Permian Wynyard Formation and correlatives, b) glacially/cold climate-influenced to open marine shelf facies association, which accounts for large parts of the Permian succession, c) deltaic facies association, which specifically describes the Lower Permian “Lower Freshwater Sequence” interval, and d) fluvial to estuarine facies association, which specifically addresses the Upper Permian Cygnet Coal Measures and correlatives. Indicators of sediment accumulation under glacial influence and cold climate are restricted to four discrete stratigraphic intervals, all of which indicate that glaciation was temperate in nature. The lowermost of these, incorporating the basal Wynyard Formation and its correlatives, and overlying Woody Island Formation, shows evidence of proximal glacial influence (subglacial, grounding-line fan and ?fjordal facies), and is likely a composite of one or more Pennsylvanian glacial event(s) and an earliest Permian (Asselian) glacial. The second, of late Sakmarian to early Artinskian age, comprises an initial more proximal ice-influenced section and an overlying more distal ice-influenced interval. The third (Kungurian to Roadian) and fourth (Capitanian) intervals are both distal glacimarine records. The four intervals are of comparable age to glacials P1–P4, respectively, recognized in New South Wales and Queensland (notwithstanding apparent discrepancies of
Sequence specific interaction of the chromosomal proteins with DNA

Abstract Calf thymus chromatin was partially deproteinized by 0.6-1 M NaCl extraction. From the shape of the temperature derivative plot of its melting curve, the DNA in each chromatin was resolved into regions of exposed DNA, and DNA still complexed with proteins. The partially deproteinized chromatin was capable of directing in vitro RNA synthesis in an amount proportional to the fraction of exposed DNA. The in vitro RNA transcript was hybridized to denatured calf DNA under hybridization conditions where only RNA's transcribed from repetitive DNA sequences were able to form hybrids. From the results it is deduced that the in vitro RNA transcripts of 0.6 M NaC1-extracted chromatin after the removal of HI histones plus one-quater of the non histones may be transcribed from repetitive DNA sequences and those of 1 M NaCl-extracted chromatin contain more transcripts from the unique DNA sequences.
A.t.m. observations on the X u.v. emission from solar flares

The paper summarizes observations of selected solar flares made with a far-UV spectroheliograph (190-465 A) and a UV spectrograph (900-1900 A) aboard Skylab. The emission lines used in the present analysis are identified, and three events are described in detail: the flare of June 15, 1973, a small subflare observed on August 9, 1973, and the flare of January 21, 1974. Ultraviolet images of two other events are also presented in an attempt to sketch a general picture of a flare as seen in this spectral region. It is found that a small kernel seems to be the source of the primary energy release of a flare. The size, electron density, and ion temperature of a typical kernel are estimated, and it is noted that hot clouds of coronal gas at 20 million K surrounded the observed kernels. It is speculated that flare kernels might be very thin channels through which high-energy particles, originating in deep layers, are ejected into the corona.
DIVE DATA FROM SATELLITE TAGS AND TIME-DEPTH RECORDERS: A COMPARISON IN WEDDELL SEAL PUPS

The diving behavior of juvenile Weddell seals, Leptonychotes weddellii, was monitored simultaneously with time-depth recorders (TDRs) and satellitelinked time-depth recorders (SLTDRs). Recovered TDRs provided a complete record of the depth and duration of all dives, while data received from SLTDR tags via the ARGOS satellite system were compressed into the number of dives in each of six depth or duration bins. The dive information from the two types of tags was compared to determine if data compression, processing, and transmission influenced the data received. While only half of the dive data collected by TDRs was also received from the SLTDR tags, the chance of receiving SLTDR data was independent of when diving occurred, when data was transmitted, and the subsequent dive activity. In addition, the number of dives in each depth and duration bin was an accurate representation of the actual dive behavior. Therefore, SLTDR tags were judged to provide data qualitatively similar to that provided by TDRs. The accuracy of seal locations provided by Service ARGOS was estimated by comparison to Global Positioning System (GPS) locations, and the average position error found to be significantly greater than predicted by Service ARGOS or reported in other studies (LCO locations ± 11.4 km, LC1 ± 5.0 km).
Biochemical Detection of Cytidine Protonation within RNA

Perturbation of active site functional group pKas is an important strategy employed by protein enzymes to achieve catalysis. There is increasing evidence to indicate that RNAs also utilize functional group pKa perturbation for folding and reactivity. One of the best candidates for a functionally relevant pKa perturbation is the N3 of C (pKa 4.2), which could be sufficiently raised to allow protonation near physiological pH. Here we report the synthesis and use of a series of α-phosphorothioate tagged cytidine analogues whose altered N3 pKas make it possible to efficiently detect functionally relevant protonation events by nucleotide analogue interference mapping. 6-Azacytidine (n6CαS) and 5-fluorocytidine (f 5CαS) both have enhanced acidity at the N3 position (pKa 2.6 and 2.3, respectively) but leave the hydrogen bonding face of C otherwise unaffected. In contrast, pseudoisocytidine (ΨiCαS) is a charge neutral analogue that mimics the hydrogen bonding character of protonated C. To test the utility of thes...
Evidence from Recognition Memory for Specific Encoding of Unmodified Homographs.

Homographic (polysemous) nouns were presented for study without context and then tested for recognition in either a relatively familiar sentence context, a relatively unfamiliar context, or no context. Familiarity of the contexts was determined by ratings. In two experiments, recognition of the homograph was significantly better when presented in the more, rather than the less, familiar context. It was suggested that S s encode unmodified homographs in a specific semantic representation. Further, the likelihood of a particular encoding being used is positively related to the relative frequency of occurrence of that particular meaning.
Share and Growth Are Not Good Predictors of the Advertising and Promotion/Sales Ratio:

Researchers have tried for several years to explain variations in advertising and promotion/sales (A&P/S) ratios across brands, product-market categories, firms, and industries. Market share (MS) a...
Resonance absorption of the 32.2 keV gamma ray of 201Hg

Abstract Resonance absorption of the 32.2 keV γ ray of 201 Hg has been observed by comparing the γ-ray activity at 300°K and 77°K. Calculations of the resonance absorption cross section favor a spin of −1 2 for the 32.2 keV level.
The clocks controlling the tide-associated rhythms of intertidal animals.

The living clock that governs tide-associated organismic rhythms has previously been assumed to have a fundamental period of approximately 12.4 h, an interval that reflects the average period of the ebb and flow of the tide. But, in 1986, marine chronobiologists began to accumulate laboratory results that could not be explained by the action of such a clock. Prime among these findings was the discovery that, occasionally, one of the two daily peaks in an organism's rhythm assumed a different period from its partner. Similar results have since been observed in a host of different organisms. These data led to the circalunidian-clock hypothesis that envisions two basic 24.8 h clocks, coupled together in antiphase, as the driving force for these rhythms. There is, however, only a slight difference (50 minutes) in running times between a solar-day clock with a period of approximately 24 h and a lunar-day clock with a period of approximately 24.8 h, both of which display "circa" periods that overlap. Here, I postulate that the two clocks are fundamentally one and the same. BioEssays 22:32-37, 2000.
Female inboekelinge in the South African Republic, 1850–1880

An outline is provided of slavery as experienced by African girl captives in the South African Republic (who after being seized along with boys, were resistered as apprentices, on inbockelinge in Dutch). Based on brief published autobiographies and scattered archival and newspaper references, the article examines the nature of capture, transport and sale of female children, their acculturation as youngsters and response as adults to their domestic roles in Dutch homesteads, their memory of origins, resistance to slavery, assimilation into African and Christian mission communities, and their adaption to industralizing, post-slavery South Africa.
Physical activity preferences of early-stage lung cancer survivors

Purpose Engagement in physical activity can provide important benefits for cancer patients and survivors, including those diagnosed with lung cancer. Despite this, many survivors do not engage in recommended levels of physical activity and little is known about the obstacles encountered by lung cancer survivors. The current study examines the physical activity preferences of early-stage lung cancer survivors.
Liquid scintillation solutions for pulse-shape discrimination

Abstract A systematic study has been made of some of the processes that contribute to the scintillation pulse shape, and this knowledge has been applied to pulse-shape discriminating solutions. The results indicate that pulse-shape discrimination is enhanced by materials that have a high phosphorescence yield and large radiative lifetime. Quarternary solutions have been developed that have a larger average pulse height and better discrimination efficiency than the commercial solution NE-213. The efficiency of discrimination is generally reduced by compounds that are susceptible to excimer formation. Yet, excimer emission in certain solvents can be used to advantage to invert the normal results and to obtain pulse contours produced by electrons, that have a larger percentage of long component radiation than pulses generated by α-particles. This latter type of solution may also be useful in differentiating between low energy β-particles and tube noise.
Characteristics of foliar chemistry in a commercial spruce-fir stand of northern New England, USA

Monthly foliage samples were evaluated for elemental composition from red spruce and balsam fir trees in a commercial, low elevation spruce-fir stand at Howland, Maine during the 1987 growing season. Balsam fir showed consistently higher concentrations in A1 and to a lesser extent N, Ca, Mg, and Fe when compared to red spruce. Red spruce exhibited consistently higher Mn and K concentrations. Both species showed a marked seasonal trend in the foliar concentrations of N, P, K, and Ca in current year foliage. For N, P, and K current year foliar concentrations declined rapidly during the early part of the growing season. Calcium concentrations steadily increased during the growing season for both species and age class of needles. Foliar concentrations of N and P in both species suggests that the availability of these nutrients is limited for this site.
The hospice in the context of an aging society

Abstract Meeting the economic and social demands of an aging society has placed serious strain on American social institutions and raised important questions about their ability to adapt. This analysis examines how the demographic forces of an aging society contributed to the emergence of the American Hospice movement and institutionalization of a new form of terminal care. Congruence of the hospice concept with the needs of an aging population are considered. Projections for the future of both the hospice concept and movement are explored.
Coping with dysphonia

Summary Voice disorders are common problems that affect both patients and therapists in unique ways. This presentation reviews the strategies used by both in coping with these important problems. A recommendation is made to bring together all professionals who work with the human voice under a common label—vocology—and to begin the important tasks of consolidating disparate concepts of pathophysiology and therapy by the establishment of working groups from the three major disciplines involved.
Anatomy and innervation patterns of cat lateral gastrocnemius and plantaris muscles

The anatomy, fiber architecture, and innervation patterns of cat lateral gastrocnemius (LG) and plantaris (P) muscles are described. The plantaris is a simple unipennate muscle arising from an aponeurosis in common with LG and inserting primarily into the tendon of m. flexor digitorum brevis, but with ligamentous connections to the calcaneus. The lateral gastrocnemius is more complex and contains three distinctly identifiable heads, each of which is a unipennate band of fibers coursing between a proximally attached aponeurosis of origin and a distal aponeurosis of insertion that gives rise to the tendocalcaneus. Following microdissection of the LG and P nerves, and using glycogen depletion of the primary muscle nerve branches, discrete motor subvolumes are demonstrated in both muscles. Despite large specific differences in fiber architecture between the LG and P muscles, their organization into compartments about primary muscle nerve branches is fundamentally similar. This principle of organization may be a basis for the observed functional and structural properties of other vertebrate muscles. It may thus constitute a unifying concept in the organization of motor control mechanisms.
L-Arginine Stimulation of Human Sperm Motility in vitro

Human semen specimens with low motility were incubated with L-arginmne to determine its effect on sperm motility. Stimulation of forward motility over control values occurred in a dose response relationship, with optimal activity occurring at an L-arginine concentration of 0.004 Al. L-arginine increased the forward motility of sperm at either 23 or 37#{176}C in all samples tested. The increase in forward motility over control values was 81.6 ± 9.96 percent SEM (n=12). The percent stimulation of sperm motility was in general inversely related to the initial semen motility. The physiologically inactive isomer D-arginine. the amino acid L-lysine and the arginine analogs L-homoarginine and L-nitroargmnmne did not stimulate sperm motility. L-ornithine, an arginine metabolite, was also ineffective in stimulating sperm motility. The observation that L-arginine enhances sperm motility in vitro suggests that it may have clinical value when human semen with subnormal motility is utilized for artificial insemination.
Actin dynamics: Assembly and disassembly of actin networks

Assembly of branched actin filament networks at the leading edge of migrating cells requires stimulation of the Arp2/3 complex by WASp proteins, in concert with the WASp activators Cdc42, PIP(2) and profilin. Network disassembly and debranching appears to be linked to actin-bound ATP hydrolysis as filaments age.
Water Quality Modeling with Finite Elements and Interactive Graphics

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the passage into law by the United States Congress of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Ammendments of 1972. Within this law, responsibilities were given to various State and/or Federal agencies for developing and/or reviewing classifications and waste load allocations for all streams and all waste dischargers. Similarly, the public was charged with responding to those classifications and allocations through required public meetings and hearings.
Near-total laryngopharyngectomy with pectoralis major myocutaneous flap in advanced pyriform carcinoma

Successful restoration of phonation, as well as swallowing in laryngopharyngeal surgery for patients with advanced pyriform carcinoma still remains a major challenge. In a five-year period, near-total laryngectomy operations were performed on 21 patients with laryngopharyngeal carcinoma. This report particularly emphasizes the value of near-total laryngopharyngectomy with a pectoralis major myocutaneous flap for four extensive hypopharyngeal carcinoma cases (three of which were of pyriform origin). All four patients regained intelligible shunt speech and smooth swallowing. The follow-up period ranged from 19 to 44 months. They have had no recurrence of disease since surgery. The authors suggest that an advanced pyriform carcinoma case, with a normal contralateral hemilarynx and pyriform sinus, is a candidate for a near-total excision of the laryngopharynx.
Effects of tubulin acetylation and tubulin acetyltransferase binding on microtubule structure

Tubulin undergoes posttranslational modifications proposed to specify microtubule subpopulations for particular functions. Most of these modifications occur on the C-termini of tubulin and may directly affect the binding of microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) or motors. Acetylation of Lys-40 on α-tubulin is unique in that it is located on the luminal surface of microtubules, away from the interaction sites of most MAPs and motors. We investigate whether acetylation alters the architecture of microtubules or the conformation of tubulin, using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). No significant changes are observed based on protofilament distributions or microtubule helical lattice parameters. Furthermore, no clear differences in tubulin structure are detected between cryo-EM reconstructions of maximally deacetylated or acetylated microtubules. Our results indicate that the effect of acetylation must be highly localized and affect interaction with proteins that bind directly to the lumen of the microtubule. We also investigate the interaction of the tubulin acetyltransferase, αTAT1, with microtubules and find that αTAT1 is able to interact with the outside of the microtubule, at least partly through the tubulin C-termini. Binding to the outside surface of the microtubule could facilitate access of αTAT1 to its luminal site of action if microtubules undergo lateral opening between protofilaments.
Nerve terminals and synapses in the cardiac ganglion of the adult lobster Homarus americanus.

The cardiac ganglion in the lobster Homarus americanus was examined with a transmission electron microscope. Nerve terminals often existed in large aggregations surrounded by glial and connective tissue elements. Axo-axonic and axo-dendritic synapses were present. Six ultrastructurally different types of nerve terminal, each containing an abundance of vesicles, were distinguished: three formed discrete chemical synapses as indicated by typical release site morphology; three did not. The latter appear to be neurosecretory axon terminals of extrinsic neurons. More than one morphologically distinct type of synaptic vesicle occurred commonly in a given terminal, suggesting the presence of coexisting neurotransmitters and/or neuroregulatory factors. Symmetrical chemical synapses and electrotonic junctions between axons were present.
Parallel multifactor dimensionality reduction: a tool for the large-scale analysis of gene--gene interactions

Summary: Parallel multifactor dimensionality reduction is a tool for large-scale analysis of gene--gene and gene--environment interactions. The MDR algorithm was redesigned to allow an unlimited number of study subjects, total variables and variable states, and to remove restrictions on the order of interactions being analyzed. In addition, the algorithm is markedly more efficient, with ∼150-fold decrease in runtime for equivalent analyses. To facilitate the processing of large datasets, the algorithm was made parallel. Availability: Parallel MDR is freely available for non-commercial research institutions. For full details see http://chgr.mc.vanderbilt.edu/ritchielab/pMDR. An open-source version of MDR software is available at http://www.epistasis.org. Contact: ritchie@chgr.mc.vanderbilt.edu
Dynamics-based Damage Detection of Composite Laminated Beams using Contact and Noncontact Measurement Systems

A reliable and effective damage detection technique is one of the significant tools to maintain the safety and integrity of structures. A dynamic response offers viable information for the identification of damage in the structures. However, the performance of such dynamics-based damage detection depends on the quality of measured data and the effectiveness of data processing algorithms. In this article, the experimentally measured data of two sensor systems, i.e., a surface-bonded piezoelectric sensor system and a noncontact scanning laser vibrometer (SLV) system, are studied, and their effectiveness in damage identification of composite laminated beams is compared. Three dynamics-based damage detection algorithms are evaluated using the data acquired from these two measurement systems. The curvature mode shape is selected as a parameter to locate damage due to its sensitivity. The piezoelectric sensors directly acquire the curvature mode shapes of the structures, while the SLV measures the displacement ...
Lumbar Lordosis and Pelvic Inclination in Adults With Chronic Low Back Pain

Background and Purpose. The causes of lumbopelvic imbalances in standing have been widely accepted by physical therapists, but there is a lack of scientific evidence available to support them. We examined the association between 9 variables and pelvic inclination and lumbar lordosis during relaxed standing. Subjects. Thirty men and 30 women with chronic low back pain (CLBP) for at least 4 months were examined (mean age=54.9 years, SD=9, range=40.4–69.8). Methods. Multiple linear regression modeling was used to assess the association of pelvic inclination and the magnitude of lumbar lordosis in standing with age, sex, body mass index (BMI), Oswestry Back Pain Disability Questionnaire (ODQ) scores, physical activity level, hip flexor muscle length, abdominal muscle force, and range of motion (ROM) for lumbar flexion and extension. Results. In women, age, BMI, and ODQ scores were associated univariately and multivariately with pelvic inclination. In men, lumbar extension ROM was related univariately to pelvic inclination; age, lumbar extension ROM, and ODQ scores were associated multivariately. Lumbar lordosis was associated univariately with only lumbar extension ROM for women and men. A weak correlation was found between angle of pelvic inclination and magnitude of lumbar lordosis in standing ( r =.31 for women, r =.37 for men). Conclusion and Discussion. The odds ratio of having CLBP is increased if the score on the double-leg lowering test for abdominal muscles exceeds 50 degrees for men and 60 degrees for women. In patients with CLBP, the magnitude of the lumbar lordosis and pelvic inclination in standing is not associated with the force production of the abdominal muscles.
Sparse robust matrix tri-factorization with application to cancer genomics

Nonnegative matrix tri-factorization (NMTF) X ≈ FSGT with all matrices nonnegative can reveal simultaneous row and column clusters of X, as well as the associations among the two. In this work, a sparsity-promoting variant is proposed and a simple multiplicative algorithm is developed. The resulting sparse NMTF is further robustified to cope with presence of outliers in the data. A synthetic example illustrates the efficacy of the method. A novel application to cancer patient clustering and pathway analysis is presented using real datasets.
Modular string-sensitive permission analysis with demand-driven precision

In modern software systems, programs are obtained by dynamically assembling components. This has made it necessary to subject component providers to access-control restrictions. What permissions should be granted to each component? Too few permissions may cause run-time authorization failures, too many constitute a security hole. We have designed and implemented a composite algorithm for precise static permission analysis for Java and the CLR. Unlike previous work, the analysis is modular and fully integrated with a novel slicing-based string analysis that is used to statically compute the string values defining a permission and disambiguate permission propagation paths. The results of our research prototype on production-level Java code support the effectiveness, practicality, and precision of our techniques, and show outstanding improvement over previous work.
RESPONSE OF EVERGLADES TREE ISLANDS TO ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE

Tree islands are centers of biodiversity within the Florida Everglades, USA, but the factors controlling their distribution, formation, and development are poorly understood. We use pollen assemblages from tree islands throughout the greater Everglades ecosystem to reconstruct the timing of tree island formation, patterns of development, and response to specific climatic and environmental stressors. These data indicate that fixed (teardrop-shaped) and strand tree islands developed well before substantial human alteration of the system, with initial tree island vegetation in place between 3500 and 500 calibrated years before present (cal yr BP), depending on the location in the Everglades wetland. Tree island development appears to have been triggered by regional- to global-scale climatic events at ;2800 cal yr BP, 1600- 1500 cal yr BP, 1200-1000 cal yr BP (early Medieval Warm Period), and 500-200 cal yr BP (Little Ice Age). These periods correspond to drought intervals documented in Central and South America and periods of southward displacement of the Intertropical Convergence Zone. The records indicate a coherence of climate patterns in both subtropical North America and the Northern Hemisphere Neotropics. Water management practices of the 20th century altered plant communities and size of tree islands throughout the Everglades. Responses range from loss of tree islands due to artificially long hydroperiods and deep water to expansion of tree islands after flow reductions. These data provide evidence for the rapidity of tree island response to specific hydrologic change and facilitate prediction of the response to future changes associated with Everglades restoration plans.
Anatomy of the mitral valve

According to Walmsley,1 it was Andreas Vesalius who suggested the picturesque term “mitral” to describe the left atrioventricular valve owing to its resemblance to a plan view of the bishop’s mitre. Guarding the inlet to the left ventricle, the mitral valve prevents backflow to the left atrium during ventricular systole. In its open state, the valvar leaflets are like a funnel extending from the hinge line at the atrioventricular junction to the free margins. Tendinous cords attach the leaflets to two closely arranged groups of papillary muscles. The interchordal spaces serve as important pathways for blood flow. As emphasised by Perloff and Roberts,2 the mitral valve requires all its components, together with the adjacent atrial and ventricular musculature, in order to work properly. This review examines the component parts to provide the background for a better understanding of the mitral valve as seen in cross sectional anatomy and highlights pertinent features of its anomalies. The valvar complex comprises the annulus, the leaflets, the tendinous cords, and the papillary muscles. Also important for its functioning is the left atrial musculature inserting to the leaflets and the myocardium to which the papillary muscles are inserted. The valve is obliquely located in the heart and has a close relation to the aortic valve (fig 1A). Unlike the tricuspid valve which is separated by muscle from its counterpart, the pulmonary valve, the mitral valve is immediately adjacent to the aortic valve (fig 1B). Figure 1 (A) View of the base of the heart in anatomical orientation shows the spatial relations of the four cardiac valves. The left heart valves are close together whereas the right heart valves are separated by myocardium. Dotted line marks the limit of atrial myocardium around the mitral orifice. (B) This dissection of the heart viewed from the anterior aspect …
Organizational Responses to Affirmative Action "Elephant Burial Grounds" Revisited

This article tests the "elephant burial grounds " hypothesis of Milward and Swanson. Based on a much more elaborate data set than was employed in the original Milward and Swanson analysis, this study finds little support for the contention that organizations isolate women and minorities in positions away from the core activities of the organization.