cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ocular and periocular injuries from orbital fractures

Abstract Background Orbital fractures are associated with ocular and periocular injuries. The role of the ophthalmologist in the evaluation and management of facial trauma, including orbital fractures, has not been clearly defined. The purpose of this study is to identify and characterize ocular and periocular injuries associated with orbital fractures to define the role of the ophthalmologist in the management of facial trauma. Study design Retrospective case review. Results Three hundred sixty-five patients with orbital fractures who were evaluated by an ophthalmologist as part of their initial trauma evaluation were studied. The majority of the patients with orbital fractures (74%) did not have associated ocular or periocular injuries. Twenty-three of 104 (22%) ocular injuries in 23 of 95 (24%) patients required immediate intervention by an ophthalmologist. Conclusions Facial trauma and orbital fractures are associated with significant ocular and periocular injuries, the minority of which require immediate evaluation and treatment by an ophthalmologist. These results differ from those previously reported.
Colloidal CdSe nanocrystals from tri-n-octylphosphine with various Cd sources: Control of a slow growth for high-quality and large-scale production

Abstract A slow growth in size at the early stages of reaction, together with a period of zero growth in size and size distribution is observed via monitoring the temporal evolution of the optical properties of the growing CdSe nanocrystals from reaction media consisting of tri- n -octylphosphine (TOP). The synthetic approach is as simple as a swift injection of a TOPSe/TOP solution into a Cd-source/TOP solution at 300 °C with subsequent growth at 250 °C. The various Cd sources investigated are cadmium acetate (Cd(Ac) 2 ), cadmium oxide (CdO)/tetradecylphosphonic acid (TDPA), CdO, and CdO/oleylamine (OLA). With these various Cd sources studied, CdO with a 4Cd-to-1Se stoichiometry demonstrates its suitability for high-quality and large-scale production, due to a slow growth in size (less than 17 nm redshift of bandgap absorption and emission) and size distribution, as well as fairly constant photoluminescent properties of the growing nanocrystals during the 0.5–60 min growth time.
Validation and Modification of Simplified Diagnostic Criteria for Autoimmune Hepatitis in Children

Background & Aims Criteria for the diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) were formalized in 1993 and revised in 1999. Simplified criteria were developed in 2008 for adults only. We aimed to establish clinically useful diagnostic criteria for AIH in children by validating the 2008 criteria in a pediatric cohort. Methods Baseline data were available in 37 and 31 AIH and 40 and 26 non-AIH subjects to calculate 1999 and 2008 criteria, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of the simplified criteria were calculated using 1999 criteria as the standard for subjects with available data for both criteria. Results The 1999 standard designated 29 of 31 subjects (94%) as definite AIH and 2 of 31 subjects (6%) as probable AIH. The simplified criteria identified 25 of 31 subjects (81%) as definite AIH, 2 of 31 subjects (6%) as probable AIH. Only 1 of 5 patients with AIH who presented with fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) was identified by the simplified criteria as having AIH. The 2008 diagnostic criteria had a sensitivity of 87% and a specificity of 89% (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.98). After removing data from patients with FHF from the analysis, the sensitivity increased to 100%. Modifying the 2008 diagnostic criteria to include either level of globulin or immunoglobulin G resulted in a similar sensitivity (92%) and specificity (95%) values (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.99). Conclusions The 2008 criteria diagnose AIH in children with high levels of sensitivity and specificity, and are easier to use in the clinic. Diagnosis of AIH in patients who present in FHF requires the 1999 criteria. Levels of globulin and immunoglobulin G can be used interchangeably in the simplified diagnostic criteria.
Ambipolar Phototransport (μτe = μτh) Observed as an Intrinsic Property of a-SiGe:H

A study is presented of a series of high quality PECVD a-Si 0.33 Ge 0.67 films, produced by cathodic deposition, in which small concentrations of PH 3 , B 2 H 6 or air impurities were added during deposition. The quantum efficiency-mobility-lifetime product (ημτ) increases, and the ambipolar diffusion length (L amb ) decreases monotonically with dopant concentration for both PH 3 and B 2 H 6 . This result is strong evidence that for these films neither photocarrier is dominant (μτ e = μτ h ) at zero doping. This result is very different from what has been typically observed by other researchers, that the electron is the dominant photocarrier for undoped a-SiGe:H. Drive level capacitance (DLC) measurements of these alloys show an unusual behavior of being temperature-independent, and the dark conductivity activation energy is maximum for zero doping. It is proposed that all of these unusual properties are due to the unusually low impurity concentration of these films, and that these properties are, in fact, the intrinsic properties for a-SiGe:H alloys. To verify this, films were prepared with a calibrated and controlled air leak introduced during deposition. As the air leak was increased, the film properties changed to typical behavior. Even for air concentrations as low as 2 ppm (gas phase), the transport measurements showed changes consistent with a shift in the Fermi level toward the conduction band.
Treating Poorly Healed Wounds: Partisan Choices and Human Rights Policies in Latin America

Despite the common trauma of systematic human rights violations under military rule, Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay have responded in markedly different ways to their troubling pasts. This paper explains differences in human rights policies over time and across countries by looking at varying domestic conditions, including the ideological orientation of the governing party and the structure of party competition, as well as constraints and opportunities presented by external events. Government support for human rights derives in part from ideological proclivity but even more from the ability to build popular support for such a policy. Conservative and center-right politicians lack credibility among voters on human rights and therefore have little political incentive to adopt an activist stance on this issue. Leftist politicians are ideologically predisposed toward championing human rights but may be hamstrung by concerns about alienating centrist voters. Leftist politicians will only come out strongly in favor of human rights when they enjoy a clear political majority; leftist leaders who rely upon centrist allies will adopt a low-profile approach to human rights. Conversely, centrist political leaders who rely upon leftist allies have a strong political incentive to emphasize human rights. Once political momentum begins to shift to the right, however, centrist politicians will downplay human rights. Finally, external events may significantly alter national discourse on human rights, allowing cautious governments to gain political cover for more progressive human rights policy. By drawing attention to the important role of ideology and the structure of party competition, this paper offers a more complete explanation of the sources of human rights policy. It also provides a novel perspective on the ways in which external and international influences are filtered through national political systems.
Social organization of the spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta). I. Demography

A 4-year field study of one group of 60–80 spotted hyaenas (Crocuta crocuta) in Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve has revealed a form of social system undescribed among carnivores but common among primates. Male juveniles disperse from the natal group around puberty and join a population of nomadic males, wandering widely before settling in a new clan. Adult males frequently leave their adopted clan after a variable period of residence. Females remain in their natal group for life. Thus, the clan comprises several matrilines of related females, while resident adult males originate outside the group. Clans in the Mara tend to be separated by wide buffer zones where prey is scarce and boundary maintenance behaviours are relatively uncommon. Transients are subordinate to residents, but are tolerated by them, in contrast to the more territorial clan system that has been described in Ngorongoro Crater.
Correlation of Subsurface Sections with Outcrops of Ellenburger Formation of Texas: ABSTRACT

Wells that have penetrated to the Cambrian in North-Central Texas reveal a series of limestones and dolomites of varying thickness, which has been identified by lithologic evidence as belonging to the Ellenburger formation. Based on the variation in types of contained cherts as shown by a study of insoluble residues from cuttings, the thickest development of the formation in the subsurface can be subdivided into four units. By similar study of insoluble residues of samples from carefully measured sections on the outcrop of the Ellenburger in the Central Mineral region of Texas, it is possible to recognize the subsurface units at the surface. The age of the measured sections can be determined by faunal correlation. The age correlation carried into the subsurface of North-C ntral Texas by means of the insoluble-residue units indicates that the apparent End_Page 943------------------------------ variation in thickness of the lower part of the Ellenburger is due to lateral change in lithology. Limestones underlying the Ellenburger as defined at the surface grade laterally in the subsurface into dolomites identical in character with those of Ellenburger age. Hence a portion of the so-called Ellenburger in the subsurface of North-Central Texas is pre-Ellenburger in age. End_of_Article - Last_Page 944------------
Lateral diffusion in an archipelago. Dependence on tracer size

In a pure fluid-phase lipid, the dependence of the lateral diffusion coefficient on the size of the diffusing particle may be obtained from the Saffman-Delbruck equation or the free-volume model. When diffusion is obstructed by immobile proteins or domains of gel-phase lipids, the obstacles yield an additional contribution to the size dependence. Here this contribution is examined using Monte Carlo calculations. For random point and hexagonal obstacles, the diffusion coefficient depends strongly on the size of the diffusing particle, but for fractal obstacles--cluster-cluster aggregates and multicenter diffusion-limited aggregates--the diffusion coefficient is independent of the size of the diffusing particle. The reason is that fractals have no characteristic length scale, so a tracer sees on average the same obstructions, regardless of its size. The fractal geometry of the excluded area for tracers of various sizes is examined. Percolation thresholds are evaluated for a variety of obstacles to determine how the threshold depends on tracer size and to compare the thresholds for compact and extended obstacles.
Treatment of Alzheimer's disease

A growing consensus indicates that Alzheimer's disease (AD) results from an increase in the production or accumulation of beta-amyloid protein (A beta) leading to nerve cell death. Mechanisms by which A beta accumulation leads to neuronal death include oxidative damage and inflammation. This article discusses the management of AD patients with antioxidants, cholinesterase inhibitors, and psychotropic agents. Studies show that these agents can slow the progression of the disease, improve cognition, and reduce behavioral disturbances. A therapeutic alliance between physician and caregiver is an essential element in successfully managing the AD patient. The 3Rs--repeat, reassure, and redirect--can help caregivers reduce behavioral disturbances in patients with AD and limit the need for pharmacologic management.
Clinical outcomes of patients with impaired left ventricular ejection fraction undergoing autologous bone marrow transplantation

Background: Serious cardiac complications have been associated with induction chemotherapy and radiation administered during the conditioning phase of bone marrow and blood stem cell transplantation (BMT). As a result, BMT therapy has been historically avoided in patients with impaired left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).Methods:We identified 308 consecutive patients who underwent autologous BMT for either Hodgkin’s or Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma from February 1996 to January 2003 from our registry. Patient characteristics, clinical course and overall survival were compared between patients with preserved ( 50%) or impaired ( 50%) LVEF. Results: Of the 308 patients identified, 19 were found to have LVEF 50% (4 withLVEF 35%), all had stable heart failure (HF)NYHAclass I-II symptoms.Among the impaired LVEF group, only 4 patients had documented complications immediately following BMT: one patient had mildly progressive signs and symptom of heart failure and 3patients had episodes of atrial fibrillationor non-sustained ventricular tachycardia. Of the 7 patients with echocardiography following BMT, none having significant worsening of cardiac performance. Although there was a trend toward higher mortality rate at the 100-day follow-up in the impaired LVEF compared to the preserved LVEF group (10% versus 6.5%, p 0.54), the 2 deaths observed in the impaired LVEF group were both due to non-cardiac causes (relapse of lymphoma and pneumonia). The 5year survival was similar between patients with preserved and impaired LVEF (54% versus 46%, p 0.41). Conclusions: Although impaired LVEF has been regarded as a contraindication to BMT, patients with stable, mild-to-moderate HF and impaired LVEF demonstrated rare cardiovascular complications and similar long-term survival to those with preserved LVEF. As medical care for HF and BMT advances, the exclusion criteria for BMT regarding HF and impaired LVEF needs to be re-examined.
Infections in Bone Marrow Transplant Recipients

In 1993, ,15,000 allogeneic and autologous bone marrow transplantations were carried out worldwide (M. Bortim, International Bone Marrow Transplant Registry, Milwaukee; personal communication). Transplantation has been utilized with increasing frequency for treatment of malignant and nonmalignant hematologic diseases, solid tumors, and metabolic and genetic disorders. Infection and graft-vs.-host disease (GVHD) remain the major sources of morbidity and mortality in recipients of bone marrow transplants. Infections occur as a direct result of the predictable, sequential suppression of host defenses that is caused by marrow transplantation (table 1). The severity and type of infection also depend on a number of other factors including the type of transplant, the presence and degree ofhistocompatibility mismatch, T lymphocyte manipulation (depletion), type of graft-vs.-host prophylaxis employed, severity of GVHD, and viral and fungal infections occurring before transplantation. Previous antibiotic exposures, including antibiotic prophylaxis, may also help to define the infections that develop. While it would be overly simplistic to suggest that specific infections occur only at specific times in the transplantation process, it is nevertheless helpful to divide the transplantation process into specific phases, each of which is characterized by specific host defense defects and is associated with a specific group of infections.
SARA READING COMPONENTS TESTS, RISE FORM: TEST DESIGN AND TECHNICAL ADEQUACY

This paper describes the design, development, and technical adequacy of the Reading Inventory and Student Evaluation (RISE) form of the Study Aid and Reading Assessment (SARA) reading components computer-delivered assessment. The RISE form, designed for middle-school students, began through a joint project between the Strategic Education Research Partnership (SERP), ETS, and a large urban school district, where middle-school literacy had been identified as an area needing improvement. Educators were interested in understanding more about the component skills of their middle-school students, particularly their struggling readers, using an efficient and reliable assessment. To date, results from our piloting of the RISE form with middle-school students have established its technical adequacy. In the future, we plan to expand the RISE to create parallel forms for 6th-to-8th graders as well as to explore development of new test forms at other points in the grade continuum.
A three-node finite beam element for dynamic analysis of planar manipulators with flexible joints

Abstract This paper presents a three-node isoparametric finite beam element to study dynamic behavior of planar manipulators. The characteristic matrices of the finite element are formulated to include the effects of joint compliances, shear deformation and rotary inertia and to account for coupling effects of nonlinear gross motion of the manipulator links with their distributed flexibility and mass properties. Instantaneous steady-state static response, modal analysis and transient response are obtained. A 2R planar manipulator with rigid and compliant joints is analyzed.
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis-like reaction and occupational asthma associated with 1,3-bis(isocyanatomethyl) cyclohexane pre-polymer.

Twenty-three of 34 workers who had worked in the injection molding operation making polyurethane foam parts at an automobile parts manufacturing plant developed respiratory symptoms and/or systemic symptoms over a 2-month period following the full production use of a new diisocyanate paint that contained 1,3-bis(isocyanatomethyl)cyclohexane pre-polymer (BIC) (CAS #75138-76-0, 38661-72-2). At 3 months, all subjects underwent an interview, physical examination, pre- and post-shift pulmonary function tests, and either methacholine challenge test or bronchodilator challenge at an occupational health clinic. The most frequently cited symptoms were dyspnea (65%), cough (61%), chest tightness (57%), chills (57%), wheezing (30%), and myalgias, arthralgias, and nausea (26%). Thirteen subjects had either a positive methacholine challenge test or a positive response to bronchodilator challenge, making the overall prevalence of airway hyperresponsiveness 38%. The overall prevalence of hypersensitivity pneumonitis-like reactions among line operators in the injection molding process was 27%. This disease outbreak suggests that 1,3-bis(isocyanatomethyl)cyclohexane pre-polymer may cause asthma and hypersensitivity pneumonitis-like reactions. The use of BIC was discontinued 6 months after the first workers developed symptoms. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Polyamine neurotoxicity is antagonized by dizocilpine in cultured chick cortical neurons

Abstract Release of endogenous polyamines may contribute to neuronal loss in ischemia and related conditions. Primary cortical neurons were exposed to spermine and spermidine and subsequently assayed for [ 3 H]ouabain binding to quantify neuronal loss. Neuronal survival was significantly decreased in the presence of spermine at 24 h (500 μM), 48 h (250 μM and 500 μM) and 72 h (10–500 μM) relative to controls. Co-application of 250 μM spermine and 10 μM dizocilpine for 48 h completely inhibited the effect of spermine alone. Spermidine exposure (10–500 μM) did not alter neuronal survival at any of the time points. These data indicate that the polyamine spermine is toxic to neurons in vitro and that toxicity is prevented by the NMDA-associated channel antagonist dizocilpine.
A comparative static analysis of urban spatial structure

More than a decade has passed since Alonso published his general theory of the urban land market [l]. In the intervening years, a number of other authors have also developed equilibrium models of urban land rent and density [2]. While the structure of these models has been much discussed, there has been virtually no comparative static analysis done on them. The only exception is Mills’ recent numerical analysis of a city with specified functional forms and parameter values [3]. While Mills’ work is excellent in scope, his reliance on Cobb-Douglas functions would seem to limit the generality of his results. The pm-pose of this paper is to conduct a truly general comparative static analysis on two equilibrium models of urban land rent and density. Unlike other authors, we use a utility function whose only requirement is that both goods be “normal” and have positive income effects. This assumption is sufficient to determine the sign of all effects. In both of our spatial systems, the city is viewed as only a small part of a national economy. The production of goods and services occurs at the city center, but wages, prices, and the costs of commuter travel are all exogeneous. Consumers who work in this center earn the same income and have identical preferences. As with Alonso and others, locational choice essentially represents a tradeoff between land and travel. The first of our cities is “closed” in the sense that population size is exogeneous, while consumer levels of welfare must be determined within the system. This situation is typical of industrially advanced societies, where there is essentially no alternative to living in urban areas. In underdeveloped countries, however, rural life often establishes a base-line level of welfare. Migration to cities occurs until urban advantages are reduced. To mirror this process our second city is “open”-the level of utility is take& to be exogeneous and the population size to be endogeneous. In the “closed” model, then, the four parameters are consumer income,
Prenatal diagnosis and management of congenital volvulus

We present a case of a twin gestation in which one twin developed a complex abdominal mass and signs of small bowel obstruction. Following delivery, an exploratory laparotomy revealed a meconium pseudocyst and midgut volvulus. While the infant survived, a large portion of small bowel was atretic, resulting in short bowel syndrome. The prenatal diagnosis of volvulus is rare. When volvulus is present, the risk of bowel infarction is high, with variable perinatal outcome.
A CD45 polymorphism associated with multiple sclerosis disrupts an exonic splicing silencer.

Previous studies have identified a single nucleotide polymorphism that significantly increases the splicing of variable exon 4 in transcripts of the human protein-tyrosine phosphatase CD45. Strikingly, the presence of this polymorphism correlates with susceptibility to the autoimmune disease multiple sclerosis. In this study we investigated the mechanism by which the polymorphism enhances splicing of CD45 exon 4. We found that at least four distinct splicing regulatory elements exist within exon 4 and that the strongest of these elements is an exonic splicing silencer (designated ESS1), which is disrupted by the polymorphism. We show that ESS1 normally functions to repress the weak 5′ splice site (ss) of CD45 exon 4. The ESS1 sequence also suppresses the splicing of a heterologous 5′ss and associates with a specific complex in nuclear extracts. We further demonstrate that ESS1 is juxtaposed to a purine-rich enhancer sequence that activates the use of the 5′ss of exon 4. Thus, proper functioning of the immune system is dependent on a complex interplay of regulatory activities that mediate the appropriate splicing of CD45 exon 4.
In vivo complementation of ureB restores the ability of Helicobacter pylori to colonize.

The objective of this study was to determine (i) if complementation of ureB-negative Helicobacter pylori restores colonization and (ii) if urease is a useful reporter for promoter activity in vivo. Strains used were M6, M6ΔureB, and 10 recombinant derivatives of M6 or M6ΔureB in which urease expression was under the control of different H. pylori promoters. Mice were orally inoculated with either the wild type or one of the mutant strains, and colonization, in vivo urease activity, and extent of gastritis were determined. Of eight M6ΔureB recombinants tested, four colonized mice. Of those, three had the highest in vitro urease activity of any of the recombinants, significantly different from that of the noncolonizing mutants. The fourth colonizing recombinant, with ureB under control of the cag-15 promoter, had in vitro urease activity which did not differ significantly from the noncolonizing strains. In vivo, urease activities of the four colonizing transformants and the wild-type control were indistinguishable. There were no differences in gastritis or epithelial lesions between mice infected with M6 and those infected with the transformants. These results demonstrate that recovery of urease activity can restore colonizing ability to urease-negative H. pylori. They also suggest that cag-15 is upregulated in vivo, as was previously suggested by demonstrating that it is upregulated upon contact with epithelial cells. Finally, our results suggest that total urease activity and colonization density do not contribute to gastritis due to H. pylori.
On the efficiency of iterative ordered subset reconstruction algorithms for acceleration on GPUs

Expectation Maximization (EM) and the Simultaneous Iterative Reconstruction Technique (SIRT) are two iterative computed tomography reconstruction algorithms often used when the data contain a high amount of statistical noise, have been acquired from a limited angular range, or have a limited number of views. A popular mechanism to increase the rate of convergence of these types of algorithms has been to perform the correctional updates within subsets of the projection data. This has given rise to the method of Ordered Subsets EM (OS-EM) and the Simultaneous Algebraic Reconstruction Technique (SART). Commodity graphics hardware (GPUs) has shown great promise to combat the high computational demands incurred by iterative reconstruction algorithms. However, we find that the special architecture and programming model of GPUs add extra constraints on the real-time performance of ordered subsets algorithms, counteracting the speedup benefits of smaller subsets observed on CPUs. This gives rise to new relationships governing the optimal number of subsets as well as relaxation factor settings for obtaining the smallest wall-clock time for reconstruction-a factor that is likely application-dependent. In this paper we study the generalization of SIRT into Ordered Subsets SIRT and show that this allows one to optimize the computational performance of GPU-accelerated iterative algebraic reconstruction methods.
Plasma transport in stochastic magnetic fields. Part 3. Kinetics of test particle diffusion

A discussion is given of test particle transport in the presence of specified stochastic magnetic fields, with particular emphasis on the collisional limit. Certain paradoxes and inconsistencies in the literature regarding the form of the scaling laws are resolved by carefully distinguishing a number of physically distinct correlation lengths, and thus identifying several collisional subregimes. The common procedure of averaging the conventional fluid equations over the statistics of a random field is shown to fail in some important cases because of breakdown of the Chapman-Enskog ordering in the presence of a stochastic field component with short autocorrelation length. A modified perturbation theory is introduced which leads to a Kubo-like formula valid in all collisional regimes. The direct-interaction approximation is shown to fail in the interesting limit in which the orbit exponentiation length LK appears explicitly. A higher-order renormalized kinetic theory in which LK appears naturally is discussed and used to rederive more systematically the results of the heuristic scaling arguments.
Tea, coffee, and cocoa as ultraviolet radiation protectants for the beet armyworm nucleopolyhedrovirus.

The addition of 1% (wt:vol) aqueous extracts of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) (Malvales: Malvaceae), coffee (Coffea arabica L.) (Gentianales: Rubiaceae), and green and black tea (Camellia sinensis L.) (Ericales: Theaceae) provided excellent UV radiation protection for the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), nucleopolyhedrovirus under laboratory conditions. Aqueous extracts of coffee, green tea, and black tea at 0.5% provided 85-100% UV protection, whereas cocoa provided 50% UV protection. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a component of green tea, and caffeine, a component of tea and coffee, also were tested as UV protectants. Both compounds were ineffective when tested alone. When EGCG and caffeine were combined, UV protection increased in a synergistic manner, but <35% of the original virus activity was maintained. This study demonstrated that coffee was comparable to green tea and black tea as a UV protectant. Further studies should be conducted to optimize their use in biopesticide formulations.
Bow-tie decomposition in directed graphs

The bow-tie structure is frequently cited in the literature of the World Wide Web and in many other areas, such as metabolic networks, but it has never been precisely defined, so that to some extent the concept being discussed remains vague. This paper first provides a formal definition of a bow-tie structure relative to a given strongly connected components. That definition details distinctions which are not usually made, such as the difference between intendrils and outtendrils. Theorems and algorithms are then provided to justify and support the definition. Finally a bow-tie decomposition algorithm is developed and illustrated. The algorithms have also been implemented and tested on a university domain.
Barrier function coordinately regulates epidermal IL-1 and IL-1 receptor antagonist mRNA levels

Disruption of the cutaneous permeability barrier increases mRNA levels for TNF, GM-CSF, IL-1 alpha, and IL-1 beta in the epidermis. We have hypothesized that the cytokines mediate the changes in lipid and DNA synthesis which occur following barrier disruption. To further characterize the cytokine response to barrier abrogation, we examined the levels of epidermal IL-1ra mRNA in two acute models and one chronic model in the hairless mouse. IL-1ra mRNA levels increased shortly after acute disruption of the barrier with acetone, reached a peak at 3-4 h after treatment, and returned to control levels by 8h. These changes in mRNA levels parallel those which occur for IL-1 alpha and beta. Furthermore, IL-1ra mRNA levels were elevated 5-fold and 4-fold, at 2.5 h and 4 h, respectively, following tape-stripping, a second acute model of barrier disruption. Finally, IL-1ra mRNA levels were elevated 2.5-fold in the epidermis of EFAD mice, which have a chronic barrier defect. Thus, the cutaneous response to barrier disruption includes mechanisms which increase IL-1 and IL-1ra mRNA levels in a coordinate manner. The net result provides a regulatory mechanism for controlling the biological effects of increased IL-1 production.
Regional and International Activities

Topic 2 is entitled "Consideration of the final report of the Special Committee to Study the Inter-American System and to Propose Measures for Restructuring it" (CEESI). This Committee was created by the General Assembly in April, 1973, and held five sessions from June, 1973, to February, 1975. Now the Assembly will consider its final report. Topics 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 deal with annual reports of organs, agencies and entities of the OAS. Topic 12 is entitled "Election of the Secretary General and the Assistant Secretary General". The terms of office of these two officials will end July 7, 1975. At its meeting in May, the Assembly will elect two persons to replace them; re-election is not permitted.
Determinants of Systemic Retention: Implications for Improving Retention Practice in Higher Education.

Drawing on Tinto's (1987, 1993) theory of student integration, this research examines students who withdrew from their original institution prior to graduation. Of this group, some of the students ...
Television Viewing and Muscular Fitness of Children

The findings of this study indicate there is no significant relationship between time spent watching TV and measured muscular fitness (pullups, pushups, and situps) in 262 9- and 10-yr.-old boys and girls. Apparently, frequent TV viewing is not detrimental to the muscular fitness of children this age.
The effect of context on the processing of type-shifting verbs

Abstract Recent research in lexical semantics has suggested that verbs such as begin and enjoy semantically select for a complement that denotes an activity or an event. When no such activity or event is specified in the form of a progressive or infinitival complement, as in John began ( to read/reading ) the book , the verb is said to “coerce” the NP direct object to shift its role to encompass the activity that begin requires as complement (e.g., writing , reading ). Empirical support for this view has been provided by McElree, Traxler, Pickering, Seely, & Jackendoff (2001). In the present study, however, in two self-paced reading experiments, type-shifting effects (taken to be longer reading times engendered by the computation of the coercion process) were not obtained with sentences in isolation (Experiment 1) or with sentences embedded in contexts that specified the nature of the activity performed over the complement NP (Experiment 2). It is argued that type-shifting verbs are similar to non-preferred verbs for given contexts and that type-shifting operations are pragmatic inferences computed over underspecified semantic representations.
The Information Assurance Practices of Cloud Computing Vendors

Cloud computing has fostered many concerns about security, privacy, and business integrity. How do information assurance practices differ based on a cloud vendor's service offering, amount of online traffic, and company size?
Alternative Ethics in Employed Women's Household Labor

This essay posits that employed women are in a quandary between two ethics, equity and care, in relation to the household division of labor. Typically, most women resolve the quandary by placing a higher priority on gendered behavior. To explain the moral rationales that women use to prioritize the ethic of care and to articulate the ethical dilemmas of employed women, the author uses the frameworks of both Benhabib and Gilligan. Benhabib's characterization of each domain is useful in identifying ethical principles, in drawing distinctions, and in suggesting resolutions. Gilligan's theory of moral reasoning specifies the process by which the ethic of care is initially embraced and then modified. To resolve the dilemma, the concrete other (i.e., the ethic of care) might be integrated with aspects of the generalized other.
Two -Dimensional Conduction Effects in Estimating Radiative Heat Flux from a Plasma Jet

It is quite common to employ thin metallic films for the determination of heat transfer rates at a fluid -solid interface. Depending on the duration of the event and gage design, it may be important to account for multi -dimensional heat conduction within the substrate of the thin film. The objective of this work is to assess the effects of two -dimensional heat conduction on the deduced radiative heat fluxes using a conjugate -gradient based inverse algorithm. For comparison, a previously developed one -dimensional inverse technique is also used. The high heat fluxes are produced by an electrothermal -chemical plasma jet. The plasma, initiated within a 3.2 mm diameter and 26 mm long polyethylene capillary by exploding a 3.6 mg thin copper wire, emerges into an open -air atmosphere as a high temperature, high -pressure, underexpanded sup ersonic jet. The jet impinges over a stagnation plate equipped with thin -film sputtered platinum heat -flux gages, whose temperature history serves as an input to the heat -flux estimation algorithm. Four different charging voltage levels are investigated, r anging from 2.5 to 7.5kV. While both algorithms capture the temporal variations of the radiative heat fluxes, two -dimensional heat conduction model reveals the discrepancies between the two techniques as well as the range of applicability of the one -dimens ional model.
Meeting consumer nutrition information needs in restaurants

The nutrition market in restaurants. The purpose of this article is to identify and communicate consumers' nutrition information needs to restaurateurs. In addi­ tion, we present suggestions and recommendations for promoting nutrition information in restaurants. Consumers' interest in the nutritional content of res­ taurant meals has increased with increasing consump­ tion of meals away from home (1). This has occurred in the midst of an increasing health and fitness aware­ ness in the U. S. population (2-6). According to reports published by the National Res­ taurant Association, 77% of consumers say they are more interested in nutrition than they were a year ago. This interest is reflected not only in the decision of whether to eat out, but where to eat out and what food to select when eating out. Seventy-five to 85% of sur­ veyed patrons rated nutrition as somewhat to very im­ portant in their decision to eat out. Demographically, consumers most interested in and knowledgeable about nutrition are similar to people who frequently patronize restaurants. Current changes in consumers' lifestyles emphasize nutritional eating habits. Nutri­ tional awareness has inspired the following changes: avoidance of certain foods, food substances, and in­ gredients; changes in food preparation methods; and increased consumption of "healthy" foods (7, 8). Although 65 % of the restaurant patrons that we sur­ veyed believe restaurateurs have a responsibility to provide a variety of wholesome, well-prepared foods, they also believe consumers have the primary respon­ sibility for their own nutritional well-being through the food selections they make when dining in restau­ rants (9). Consumers need information on how given menu items contribute to their dietary goals (10). Since 60% of adults have changed their dietary habits to reflect the U.S. Dietary Guidelines and 40% of these adults sustain these dietary changes when eat­ ing out (8), it is important for restaurants to provide nutritious meals and nutrition information. Further, 22 % of all consumers live in a household in which someone is on a special diet (11, 12). The' 'nutrition market" consists of consumers who have many different needs and who desire many types of food when eating out. Market segmentation based
Lac repressor purification without inactivation of DNA binding activity

A procedure has been developed which eliminates the commonly observed inactivation of the DNA binding activity of the lac repressor during purification. The operator binding activity of the repressor obtained by this method is 100 ±10%. The repressor can be stored frozen indefinitely without losing its affinity for DNA.
BER performances of UCA in fading channel

In this paper, we investigate the bit error-rate (BER) of adaptive arrays in Rayleigh fading with Doppler shift. This will represent well a moving receiver in an urban area. The multipath signals are assumed uniformly distributed in 360 degrees around the receiver in a Rayleigh fading model. Therefore, the uniform circular array (UCA) is selected because it has symmetrical field of view. It is shown that the adaptive UCA system does have good BER performance in Rayleigh fading and the trellis coded modulation (TCM) improves it.
Metabolic pathway complements of eight Escherichia coli strains

We examined the metabolic capabilities of eight Escherichia coli strains in order to identify variations among these strains which might account for their alternate mechanisms of infection or levels of virulence. Our data set included two non-pathogenic strains, two diarrheagenic strains and four extra-intestinal pathogenic strains. The metabolic pathway complements of these strains were deduced using the Pathway Tools software. The results were hand-corrected using the NCBI database, EcoCyc, and tBLASTn. After curation, only 20 differences were discerned among the strains, but a few of these differences are intriguing. Two of the pathways are involved in the biosynthesis of lipopolysaccharides, which are known virulence determinants. Further research is needed to test the implications of our findings, but this study has identified possible metabolic variations that may prove significant for understanding the pathogenicity of different E. coli strains.
Crossing invisible lines.

My path to bioethics was a long and uncharted one. My journey, through a rich and varied career and three postgraduate degrees, reflects the evolving narrative of both my own life and the field of bioethics.
In Memoriam: Larry Dean Martin, 1943–2013

The Auk, Vol. 130, Number 4, pages 804−813. ISSN 0004-8038, electronic ISSN 1938-4254.  2013 by The American Ornithologists’ Union. All rights reserved. Please direct all requests for permission to photocopy or reproduce article content through the University of California Press’s Rights and Permissions website, http://www.ucpressjournals. com/reprintInfo.asp. DOI: 10.1525/auk.2013.130.4.804 The Auk 130(4):804–806, 2013  The American Ornithologists’ Union, 2013. Printed in USA.
Growth hormone refractory interval to levodopa stimulation.

The GH response to repeat if-dopa stimulation was studied in three phases. In phase I and phase II, 16 normal adults divided into four groups were restimulated at 3, 4, 5, and 6 hours with 500 mg l-dopa and 1000 mg l-dopa, respectively. No response could be elicited at 3 hours and only at 6 hours (500 mg l-dopa) and 5 hours (1000 mg l-dopa) did the repeat responses return in magnitude to that of the initial. The period of decreased responsiveness to GH was termed the “refractory interval”. In phase III, addition of an inhibitor of peripheral l-aromatic amino acid decarboxylase (50 mg MK-486) to the restimulation dose shortened but did not eliminate the refractoriness. Our results suggest that the refractory interval is not due to a peripherally located mechanism.
Seasonal and Diel Habitat Shifts by Juvenile Ictalurids in a Flow-regulated Prairie River

ABSTRACT Currently, no flow regulations exist for the protection of riverine fishes in Missouri. Prerequisites for establishing flow guidelines are understanding what habitats are used by fishes at different times of the year and how much of that habitat will be available to each species under different discharge scenarios. We quantified microhabitat associations and selection for juvenile channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus, flathead catfish Pylodictis olivaris and stonecat Noturus flavus in a flow-regulated prairie river during summer (diurnal and nocturnal periods) and autumn (diurnal period) and then presented two-dimensional hydraulic modeling results from a previous study to determine how diel and seasonal microhabitat shifts might impact the availability of selected habitats at different flows. All ictalurid species exhibited seasonal and diel shifts in microhabitat selection. Selected habitat available would generally be maximized for each species between 10 m3/s and 30 m3/s which is greater than ...
A compassionate autonomy alternative to speciesism.

Many people in the animal welfare communityhave argued that the use of nonhuman animals inmedical research is necessarily based onspeciesism, an unjustified prejudice based onspecies membership. As such it is morally akinto racism and sexism. This is misguided. Thecombined capacities for autonomy and sentiencewith the obligations derived from relationssupport a morally justifiable rationale forusing some nonhuman animals in order to limitthe risk of harm to humans. There may be a fewcases where it is morally better to use a neversentient human than a sentient animal, butthese cases are few and would not fulfill thecurrent need for research subjects. The use ofnonautonomous animals instead of humans inrisky research can be based on solid moralground. It is not necessarily speciesism.
Correlations between Interannual SST Oscillations and Modeled Swell Impacts on Turbulent Mixing

AbstractThe possibility of teleconnections between Southern Ocean swells and sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies on interannual time scales in the eastern Pacific Nino-3 region and southeastern Indian Ocean is investigated using numerical wave models. Two alternative parameterizations for swell dissipation are used. It is found that swell dissipation in the models is not directly correlated with large interannual variations such as El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) or the Indian Ocean dipole (IOD). However, using one of the two swell dissipation parameterizations, a correlation is found between observed SST anomalies and the modification of turbulent kinetic energy flux (TKEF) by Southern Ocean swells due to the damping of short wind waves: modeled reduction of TKEF is opposite in phase to the SST anomalies in the Nino-3 region, indicating a potential positive feedback. The modeled bimonthly averaged TKEF reduction in the southeastern Indian Ocean is also well correlated with the IOD mode.
Lack of an Effect of Ritonavir Alone and Lopinavir-Ritonavir on the Pharmacokinetics of Fenofibric Acid in Healthy Volunteers.

Study Objective Because we previously observed a significant 41% reduction in gemfibrozil exposure after 2 weeks of lopinavir-ritonavir administration, we sought to determine the influence of lopinavir-ritonavir and ritonavir alone on the pharmacokinetics of fenofibric acid, an alternative to gemfibrozil for the treatment of elevated triglyceride levels. Design Open-label, single-sequence pharmacokinetic study. Setting Clinical Research Center at the National Institutes of Health. Subjects Thirteen healthy adult volunteers. Intervention Subjects received a single oral dose of fenofibrate 145 mg during three study phases: before ritonavir administration, after 2 weeks of administration of ritonavir 100 mg twice/day, and after 2 weeks of administration of lopinavir 400 mg–ritonavir 100 mg twice/day. Measurements and Main Results Serial blood samples were collected over 120 hours for determination of fenofibric acid concentrations. Fenofibric acid pharmacokinetic parameter values were compared before and after concomitant ritonavir or lopinavir-ritonavir administration. The geometric mean ratios (90% confidence intervals) for fenofibric acid area under the plasma concentration–time curve were 0.89 (0.77–1.01) after 14 days of ritonavir alone compared with baseline (p>0.05) and 0.87 (0.69–1.05) after 14 days of lopinavir-ritonavir compared with baseline (p>0.05). Study drugs were generally well tolerated; all adverse events were mild or moderate, transient, and resolved without intervention. Conclusion In contrast to a significant interaction between gemfibrozil and lopinavir-ritonavir, neither lopinavir-ritonavir nor ritonavir alone altered the pharmacokinetics of fenofibric acid in healthy volunteers. These data suggest that fenofibrate remains an important option in human immunodeficiency virus–infected patients receiving common ritonavir-boosted therapy.
Electro-cortical measures during visual and kinesthetic imagery performance following visual- and auditory-guided instructions

Electroencephalography (EEG) measures can provide extensive and detailed knowledge of how the brain works during imagery. Prior to imagery performance, individuals may acquire information on how to imagine the movement through either visual or auditory instructions. The purpose of this study was to determine differences in cerebral cortical activation during kinesthetic and visual imagery performance while following visual- and audio-guided imagery instructions. EEG recordings were collected from 28 participants and guided imagery instructions were given in two versions: audio and visual. The results revealed that lower alpha values (8–10 Hz) were greater when participants were performing kinesthetic imagery following auditory instructions as opposed to following visual instructions. Furthermore, lower alpha values were greater at the right hemisphere than the left hemisphere and greater at the right temporal site than the left temporal site. In the upper alpha band (11–13 Hz), results showed that values ...