cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Measurement and computation of hydrodynamic coupling at an air/water interface with an insoluble monolayer

The coupling between a bulk vortical flow and a surfactant-influenced air/water interface has been examined in a canonical flow geometry through experiments and computations. The flow in an annular region bounded by stationary inner and outer cylinders is driven by the constant rotation of the floor and the free surface is initially covered by a uniformly distributed insoluble monolayer. When driven slowly, this geometry is referred to as the deep-channel surface viscometer and the flow is essentially azimuthal. The only interfacial property that affects the flow in this regime is the surface shear viscosity, μs, which is uniform on the surface due to the vanishingly small concentration gradient. However, when operated at higher Reynolds number, secondary flow drives the surfactant film towards the inner cylinder until the Marangoni stress balances the shear stress on the bulk fluid. In general, the flow can be influenced by the surface tension, σ, and the surface dilatational viscosity, κs, as well as μs. However, because of the small capillary number of the present flow, the effects of surface tension gradients dominate the surface viscosities in the radial stress balance, and the effect of μs can only come through the azimuthal stress. Vitamin K1 was chosen for this study since it forms a well-behaved insoluble monolayer on water and μs is essentially zero in the range of concentration on the surface, c, encountered. Thus the effect of Marangoni elasticity on the interfacial stress could be isolated. The flow near the interface was measured in an optical channel using digital particle image velocimetry. Steady axisymmetric flow was observed at the nominal Reynolds number of 8500. A numerical model has been developed using the axisymmetric Navier–Stokes equations to examine the details of the coupling between the bulk and the interface. The nonlinear equation of state, σ(c), for the vitamin K1 monolayer was measured and utilized in the computations. Agreement was demonstrated between the measurements and computations, but the flow is critically dependent on the nonlinear equation of state.
Utility of Blood Culture in Uncomplicated Pneumonia in Children

Background: It is believed to be the standard of care to obtain a blood culture in a child who is hospitalized for pneumonia. In recent years, many studies have questioned the utility of this practice in the presence of age appropriate immunization. We conducted this study to determine the current prevalence of bacteremia in children with uncomplicated pneumonia and the utility of obtaining blood cultures in these children. Objective: To evaluate the risk of bacteremia in hospitalized young children with pneumonia. Methods: This was a retrospective review from July 2003 until July 2008. The setting was the pediatric emergency department of an urban teaching hospital. The study population included children under 36 months of age who had been fully immunized and who had been hospitalized with radiographic evidence of uncomplicated pneumonia. Excluded were children who were currently using antibiotics or who had used antibiotics within the previous 48 hours, as well as children with immunodeficiency status such as sickle cell anemia, immunoglobulin deficiency, or children on steroid therapy. The radiologist’s interpretation of each chest radiograph was reviewed and recorded. The variables studied were age (in months), gender, race, birth history, pneumococcal vaccination status, appearance on arrival, temperature on arrival, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, white blood cell (WBC) count, neutrophil count, band count, and urine culture. The chi-square test and logistic regression were used to analyze the data. Results: A blood culture was obtained in 535 children hospitalized with radiographic pneumonia. Bacteremia was present in 12 children (2.2%). All organisms isolated from the blood cultures were considered contaminants. Conclusion: Children hospitalized with uncomplicated pneumonia have a low rate of positive blood cultures. None of the variables studied predicted bacteremia. The absence of true-positive cultures among the organisms isolated suggests little value in obtaining blood cultures in children hospitalized due to uncomplicated pneumonia.
Diabetes‐induced changes in the renal cortical proteome assessed with two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry

To understand the spectrum of proteins affected by diabetes and to characterize molecular functions and biological processes they control, we analyzed the renal cortical proteome of db/db mice using 2-DE combined with MALDI-TOF, MALDI-TOF/TOF, and LC-MS/MS. This approach yielded 278 high confidence identifications whose expression levels were significantly increased or decreased >two-fold by diabetes, of which 170 mapped to gene identifiers representing 147 nonredundant proteins. Gene Ontology classification demonstrated that 80% of these proteins modulated physiological functions, 55% involved metabolism, approximately 25% involved carboxylic and organic acid metabolism, 14% involved biosynthesis or catabolism, and 12% involved fatty acid metabolism. Predominant molecular functions were catalytic (61%), oxidoreductase (20%), and transferase (17%) activities, and nucleotide and ATP binding (11-15%). Twenty eight percent of the proteins identified as significantly altered by diabetes were mitochondrial proteins. The top-ranked network described by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis indicated PPARalpha was the most common node of interaction for the numerous enzymes whose expression levels were influenced by diabetes. These differentially regulated proteins create a foundation for a systems biology exploration of molecular mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of diabetic nephropathy.
Traveltime biases in random media and the S-wave discrepancy

SUMMARY In the first part of this paper, we develop expressions for the frequency-dependent traveltime bias in Gaussian and exponentially correlated random media. This effect, which is the finitefrequency manifestation of geometrical rays bending to find the fastest path between the source and receiver, necessitates that we first derive a finite-frequency expression for the second-order traveltime perturbation, because the linear perturbation provides no contribution upon ensemble averaging to derive the bias. The expression for the mean traveltime-shift in Gaussian and exponential media is of the form e 2 σ L 2 /a multiplied by a dimensionless function of a/(λL) 1/2 ,w here e is the RMS strength of the relative slowness perturbations, σ is the background slowness, L is the source-receiver distance, a is the scale length of the heterogeneity and λ is the characteristic wavelength of the probing wave. The dependence of the mean traveltime, �δ T�, upon the wavelength, λ, has the implication that a slightly heterogeneous medium is apparently dispersive in the frequency band where the wavelengths are comparable to the scale lengths of heterogeneity. Observational evidence for such an intrinsic dispersion can be found in the baseline shift, required by Gilbert & Dziewonski to reconcile their normalmode based earth models with observed S-wave traveltimes at higher frequencies. Though most of this so-called S-wave discrepancy can be accounted for by anelastic dispersion, any leftover S-wave discrepancy provides a constraint upon the elastic heterogeneity structure of the mantle. For both Gaussian and exponentially correlated random heterogeneity, we derive the maximum allowable RMS heterogeneity, e ,a sa function of the scale length, a, for the upper and lower mantle. For Gaussian heterogeneity, minima in these curves occur at a ≈ 50 km, corresponding to e ≈ 0.5‐1 per cent in the upper mantle and e ≈ 0 ‐0.5 per cent in the lower mantle. Stronger heterogeneity is admissible if we assume that the mantle is exponentially correlated: in this case, the curves indicate that RMS heterogeneity of approximately 1 to 2 per cent may be present in the upper mantle for scale lengths, a ,g reater than 100 km. In contrast, exponential structure in the lower mantle is weaker for these scale lengths, with e values admissible up to only 1 per cent. The data are consistent with the upper mantle being substantially more heterogeneous than the lower mantle, by at least a factor of 2.
Impact of Chronic Kidney Disease on Activities of Daily Living in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Background. Although chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with poor physical function, less is known about the longitudinal association between CKD and the decline of instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) and basic activities of daily living (BADL) among community-dwelling older adults. Methods. Participants were part of the prospective observational University of Alabama at Birmingham Study of Aging (n = 357). CKD was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation. Primary outcomes were IADL and BADL decline defined as an increase in the number of activities for which participants reported difficulty after 2 years. Forward stepwise logistic regression was used to determine associations of baseline CKD and functional decline. Results. Participants had a mean age of 77.4 (SD = 5.8) years, 41% were African American, and 52% women. IADL decline occurred in 35% of those with CKD and 17% of those without (unadjusted odds ratio, 2.62, 95% confi dence intervals [95% CI], 1.59–4.30, p < .001). BADL decline occurred in 20% and 7% of those with and without CKD, respectively (unadjusted odds ratio, 3.37; 95% CI, 1.73–6.57; p < .001). Multivariable-adjusted odds ratio’s (95% CI’s) for CKD-associated IADL and BADL decline were 1.83 (1.06–3.17, p =.030) and 2.46 (1.19–5.12, p = .016), respectively. CKD Stage ≥3B (estimated glomerular filtration rate <45 mL/min/1.73 m 2 ) was associated with higher multivariable-adjusted odds of both IADL (3.12, 95% CI, 1.38–7.06, p = .006) and BADL (3.78, 95% CI, 1.36–9.77, p = .006) decline.
The Effects of Pile Installation on Vertical and Lateral Response

Pile installation affects the soil-pile interaction and influences the pile behaviors under different loading conditions. Most studies in the literature focus on analytical methods to evaluate the effects of pile installation. Few researches have used experimental approaches to investigate the pile installation effects, especially for piles under lateral load. This research focuses on experimentally investigating the effects of pile installation on the response of pile under vertical and lateral loads. Using the Soil-Structure Interaction (SSI) facility, four laboratory-scale tests have been performed (two vertical load tests and two lateral load tests). The piles were made of pervious concrete with a diameter of 102 mm (4 in). The two piles in vertical load tests have same embedded length of 1,219 mm (48 in) and piles for lateral load test have embedded length of 1,321 mm (52 in). Two installation methods (referred to as precast and installed) were used as part of the experimental program. Precast piles were prefabricated and the soil was placed around them. Installed piles were constructed using a specially designed mandrel system. The load and displacement were measured during the tests. The load-displacement relationships of pervious concrete pile are compared and the effects of the installation method on pile behavior are discussed in this paper.
An Optimal Test with Maximum Average Power While Controlling FDR with Application to RNA-Seq Data

Summary The recent RNA-seq technology is an attractive method to study gene expression. One of the most important goals in RNA-seq data analysis is to detect genes differentially expressed across treatments. Although several statistical methods have been published, there are no theoretical justifications for whether these methods are optimal or how to search for the optimal test. Furthermore, most proposed tests are designed for testing whether the mean expression levels are exactly the same or not across treatments, whereas sometimes, biologists are interested in detecting genes with expression changes larger than a certain threshold. Another issue with current methods is that the false discovery rate (FDR) control is not well studied. In this manuscript, we propose a test to address all the above issues. Under model assumptions, we derive an optimal test that achieves the maximum of average power among those that control FDR at the same level. We also provide an approximated version, the approximated most average powerful (AMAP) test, for practical implementation. The proposed method allows for testing null hypotheses that are much more general than the ones most previous studies have considered, and it leads to a natural way of controlling the FDR. Through simulation studies, we show that our test has a higher power than other methods, including the widely-used edgeR, DESeq, and baySeq methods, as well as better FDR control than two other FDR control procedures commonly used in practice. For demonstration, we also apply the proposed method to a real RNA-seq dataset obtained from maize.
Estrogen receptor activation and estrogen-regulated gene expression are unaffected by methylseleninic acid in LNCaP prostate cancer cells.

Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and a leading cause of cancer deaths in American men. High dietary intake and status of the essential trace element selenium (Se) have been consistently correlated with reduced risk for prostate cancer. One molecular mechanism by which Se may reduce prostate cancer risk is by catalyzing disulfide bond formation or, otherwise, complexing with reactive sulfhydryl groups in transcription factors, thus altering their binding to DNA and regulation of gene expression. Estrogen plays a role in the etiology of prostate cancer. Estrogen receptors contain cysteines in zinc fingers that are susceptible to oxidation and internal disulfide bond formation, which can prevent DNA binding. We hypothesized that Se alteration of estrogen receptor (ER) binding to DNA and estrogen-regulated gene expression may be one mechanism by which it exerts its chemopreventive effects. LNCaP human prostate cancer cells were treated with 0.05 μmol/L (control) or 5.0 μmol/L (high) Se as methylseleninic acid (MSA). Electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed that binding of ER-beta to the estrogen response element was a nonsignificant 14% lower in cells treated with high MSA. Run-on transcription assays showed no significant changes in transcription rates for estrogen-regulated genes, and steady-state mRNA levels for those genes, assayed by reverse transcription-polymerase chair reaction, were likewise unaffected by MSA. These results suggest that the well-documented chemopreventive effects of Se against prostate cancer may be mediated by mechanisms other than inhibition by monomethylated Se compounds of ER-beta activation or estrogen-regulated gene expression.
Slaughter quality as influenced by feed withdrawal

Scientific literature recommends that feed is withdrawn from poultry prior to slaughter to reduce the potential for carcass contamination from crop and intestinal contents. Much research focused on...
Verbs and rules: Two profiles of French morphology acquisition

This article reports on two anglophone teenagers learning French – one exposed to a six-month stay in France, and the other exposed to an instructional environment. The corpus collected from six tape-recorded interviews shows an increase in the number of tokens and lexically distinct verbs produced, and in the percentage of correctly inflected verbs. The subjects' use of correct and incorrect forms supports a rote and rule model of morphology. L2 learners seem to make use of a coalition of resources – primary linguistic data as well as cognitive strategies for grammatical rule formation – to create their interlanguage grammar.
Concept-Based Learning Activities Using the Clinical Judgment Model as a Foundation for Clinical Learning

Several forces are influencing clinical education in the early 21st century. The clinical environment is changing as both patient acuity and patient-to-nurse staffing ratios increase. In many communities, the number of nursing students exceeds the number of clinical placements available. As nursing education moves forward, it is worthwhile to look more closely at how education occurs in the clinical environment regarding student progression from novice to more advanced levels of practice and how best to support development of student clinical judgment. Concept-based learning activities, first described by Heims and Boyd, are used to assist students in examining and addressing fundamental aspects (i.e., concepts) of pediatric patient and family care. The Clinical Judgment Model has been incorporated into concept-based learning activities as a framework to guide student thinking about the concepts.
A Novel Approach for Pseudo-Random Seed Generation

Random sequences play an important role in all aspects of Cryptography. All cryptographic systems and protocols are based on secrets and can only be as strong as the random sequence generators they use to generate those secrets. The best cryptographic scheme becomes insecure once its secrets can be predicted or determined. In modern cryptography random sequences are used (1) to generate session keys and initialization vectors for symmetric block ciphers, (2) to generate random values for various digital signature schemes such as DSA and (3) to produce seeds which are used in math routines to get values such as large prime numbers for RSA and also in security protocols. This paper presents the design of RAMG, a pseudo- random seed generator, using a secure symmetric block cipher algorithm. We describe the design principles used for the development of the generator as well as its principal components. We also discuss the idea of using it as a pseudo-random bit generator (DRBG).
mec-15 Encodes an F-Box Protein Required for Touch Receptor Neuron Mechanosensation, Synapse Formation and Development

Selective protein degradation is a key regulator of neuronal development and synaptogenesis. Complexes that target proteins for degradation often contain F-box proteins. Here we characterize MEC-15, an F-box protein with WD repeats, which is required for the development and function of Caenorhabditis elegans touch receptor neurons (TRNs). Mutations in mec-15 produce defects in TRN touch sensitivity, chemical synapse formation, and cell-body morphology. All mec-15 mutant phenotypes are enhanced by mutations in a MAP kinase pathway composed of the MAPKKK DLK-1, the MAPKK MKK-4, and the p38 MAPK PMK-3. A mutation of the rpm-1 gene, which encodes an E3 ubiquitin ligase that negatively regulates this pathway to promote synaptogenesis, suppresses only the mec-15 cell-body defect. Thus, MEC-15 acts in parallel with RPM-1, implicating a second protein degradation pathway in TRN development. In addition, all mec-15 phenotypes can be dominantly suppressed by mutations in mec-7, which encodes a β-tubulin, and dominantly enhanced by mutations in mec-12, which encodes an α-tubulin. Since mec-15 phenotypes depend on the relative levels of these tubulins, MEC-15 may target proteins whose function is affected by these levels.
Isophote-based interpolation

Standard methods for image interpolation are based on smoothly fitting the image intensity surface. Previous edge-directed interpolation methods add limited geometric information (edge maps) to build more accurate and visually appealing interpolations at key contours in the image. This paper presents a method for geometry-based interpolation that smoothly fits the isophote (intensity level curve) contours at all points in the image rather than just at selected contours. By using level set methods for curve evolution, no explicit extraction or representation of these contours is required (unlike earlier edge-directed methods). The method uses existing interpolation techniques as an initial approximation and then iteratively reconstructs the isophotes using constrained smoothing. Results show that the technique produces results that are more visually realistic than standard function-fitting methods.
A WAVCIS based ocean observing station to provide hydrodynamic data off Eglin Air Force Base, Fort Walton, Florida, USA

A new coastal ocean observing station has been established for the west Florida shelf, off Eglin Air Force Base, with an upward looking ADCP deployed at the approximate 11 m isobath for measuring the coastal currents, waves and tide Hourly processed data were communicated to the WA VCIS station, through secured cellular communication. Vertical profiles of current speed and direction were continuously monitored until summer 2008. Also, directional wave spectra, bulk wave parameters and spectral evolution were computed from the ADCP measurements. These data are critical in monitoring wave and current transformation over the innershelf associated with the passage of tropical cyclones and winter storms. NRL is using the data to enhance understanding of the nearshore/beach morphodynamics. The entire automated operation was executed by software developed in-house, taking advantage of interface-drivers for the data-loggers. The user-developed software controls the sampling scheme and the operational control of all of the sensors and the onsite computer.
Transgenic alteration of ethylene biosynthesis increases grain yield in maize under field drought‐stress conditions

Summary A transgenic gene-silencing approach was used to modulate the levels of ethylene biosynthesis in maize (Zea mays L.) and determine its effect on grain yield under drought stress in a comprehensive set of field trials. Commercially relevant transgenic events were created with down-regulated ACC synthases (ACSs), enzymes that catalyse the rate-limiting step in ethylene biosynthesis. These events had ethylene emission levels reduced approximately 50% compared with nontransgenic nulls. Multiple, independent transgenic hybrids and controls were tested in field trials at managed drought-stress and rain-fed locations throughout the US. Analysis of yield data indicated that transgenic events had significantly increased grain yield over the null comparators, with the best event having a 0.58 Mg/ha (9.3 bushel/acre) increase after a flowering period drought stress. A (genotype × transgene) × environment interaction existed among the events, highlighting the need to better understand the context in which the down-regulation of ACSs functions in maize. Analysis of secondary traits showed that there was a consistent decrease in the anthesis-silking interval and a concomitant increase in kernel number/ear in transgene-positive events versus nulls. Selected events were also field tested under a low-nitrogen treatment, and the best event was found to have a significant 0.44 Mg/ha (7.1 bushel/acre) yield increase. This set of extensive field evaluations demonstrated that down-regulating the ethylene biosynthetic pathway can improve the grain yield of maize under abiotic stress conditions.
Computed tomography screening for lung cancer in Hodgkin's lymphoma survivors: decision analysis and cost-effectiveness analysis

Abstrac Background: Hodgkin's lymphoma patients have an elevated risk of developing lung cancer and may be targeted for lung cancer screening. We used a decision-analytic model to estimate the potential clinical benefits and cost-effectiveness of computed tomography (CT) screening for lung cancer in Hodgkin's lymphoma survivors. Materials and methods: We developed a Markov decision-analytic model to compare annual low-dose CT screening versus no screening in a hypothetical cohort of patients diagnosed with stage IA–IIB Hodgkin's lymphoma at age 25, with screening starting 5 years after initial diagnosis. We derived model parameters from published studies and the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program, and assumed that stage-shift produces a survival benefit. Results: Annual CT screening increased survival by 0.64 years for smokers and 0.16 years for non-smokers. The corresponding benefits in quality-adjusted survival were 0.58 quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) for smokers and 0.14 QALYs for non-smokers. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratios for annual CT screening compared with no screening were $34 100/QALY for smokers and $125 400/QALY for non-smokers. Conclusions: Our analysis suggests that if early promising results for lung cancer screening hold, CT screening for lung cancer may increase survival and quality-adjusted survival among Hodgkin's lymphoma survivors, with a benefit and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for smokers comparable to that of other recommended cancer screening strategies.
A comparison of methods for adaptively designing minimum phase FIR models

Given a set of filters with the same magnitude response, the minimum phase filter is the one with the minimum phase lag. This filter will also have the minimum group delay and the minimum energy delay. Obtaining the minimum phase FIR estimate of an unknown system is a constrained optimization problem because the zeros of the model must be constrained to be within the unit circle. The authors compare several structures for adaptively obtaining the optimum FIR minimum phase filter model for an unknown FIR system. >
Age and Reproductive Condition of an Unusually Large Bighead Carp from the Lower Mississippi River Basin

Abstract On 24 February 2014, commercial fishers caught an unusually large Hypophthalmichthys nobilis (Bighead Carp) from an oxbow lake in northwestern Mississippi. We examined it to determine age, gonadal development, and fecundity. The specimen was 1316 mm total length, 49.7 kg, and 11 years old. It had asymmetric ovaries that collectively represented 15.7% of the body weight, with an estimated 1.9 to 2.7 million eggs, ∼40% of which were mature. The data we collected for size, age, and fecundity were all at or near maximum values known for the species. This specimen demonstrates that for life-history studies and demographic models to be representative of introduced populations, rare or hard-to-catch large specimens are required due to their influence on estimates of longevity, mortality, and fecundity.
Keynote speakers big data deployment in assessing the creditworthiness of low-income families and micro-enterprises in emerging economies: Platforms, methodologies and business models

General consumer and business finance companies and microcredit organizations have had limited success in serving the needs of economically active low-income families and micro-enterprises cost-effectively and sustainably. Recent advances in computing and telecommunications technology are dramatically transforming this landscape by changing the way the financial industry operates. A key mechanism underlying this transformation concerns the use of big data (BD) in assessing, evaluating and refining the creditworthiness of potential borrowers. The objective of this paper is to examine this issue from the perspective of emerging economies. It investigates how various inherent characteristics of big data— volume, velocity, variety, variability and complexity— are related to the assessment of the creditworthiness of low-income families and micro-enterprises. The paper also examines the platforms, methodologies and processes used by lenders in assessing the creditworthiness and lending decisions. Case studies of developing world-based BD companies involved in this business such as China's Alibaba, Tencents and Xiaomi, Africa's Agrilife, Farmforce and Kilimo Salama, Brazil's Cignifi and Mexico's Kueski will be discussed. It looks at various categories of personal financial and non-financial information that are being used as proxy measures for a potential borrower's identity, ability to repay and willingness to repay. The sources of data (internal vs. external to the BD organization) and providers of credits (BD organization vs. external partners or clients of the BD organization) considerations suggest the four basic categories of business models represented by the 2×2 matrix. The paper evaluates the business models represented by each cell from the perspective of potential borrowers. Also addressed are privacy and cybersecurity issues associated with this phenomenon.
Reducing Cardiovascular Risk With Ankle Brachial Index Screening: New Evidence for an Old Question?∗

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) affects approximately 8 million people in the United States and 200 million people worldwide [(1,2)][1]. Improved medical therapy for cardiovascular disease (CVD) has reduced overall rates of CVD events. However, people with PAD remain at higher risk of CVD events
The teotihuacan mapping project: Experiences with data files, big questions, and some research priorities for teotihuacan

This paper summarizes some accomplishments of the Teotihuacan Mapping Project, with particular attention to issues of accuracy and validity. I then describe experiences and lessons learned in creating electronic files derived from Mapping Project field records and collections. I sketch questions about the city and state of Teotihuacan that loom especially large in my own thinking. Finally, I list some specific field projects at Teotihuacan that I think should be given high priority, as well as opportunities with curated materials, records, and electronic files.
CALCULATION OF DIRECTIONAL WAVE SPECTRA BY THE MAXIMUM ENTROPY METHOD OF SPECTRAL ANALYSIS

Two analysis techniques for calculating directional wave spectra from measured pressure and biaxial current components were intercompared using data from the 25 October 1980 Atlantic Remote Sensing Land Ocean Experiment (ARSLOE) storm. The two methods are the conventional Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) method and a Maximum Entropy Method (MEM). The MEM is a nonlinear data adaptive method of spectral analysis which is capable of generating higher resolution spectral estimates from shorter data records than conventional FFT methods. The MEM has shown good agreement with the frequency and directional wave spectra calculated using conventional methods.
Reconstruction of High-Resolution Spectra from a Interferometric/Dispersive Spectrometer

A hybrid interferometric/dispersive instrument is used to measure laser-induced plasma spectra. An analysis method that rapidly reconstructs the high-resolution source spectra was developed for this instrument.
The effects produced by the interaction between potassium ion and pentobarbital on the force of contraction of isolated guinea pig atria.

SummaryThe interaction between pentobarbital and increasing potassium ion concentration was investigated in isolated guinea pig atria. Each agent administered separately depressed the peak developed force of contraction. Combinations of the agents, as evaluated by isobolograms, produced isoantagonism at moderate effect levels, supra-antagonism at higher effect levels.
Numerical Study of the Benefits of Geogrid Base Reinforcement on the Rutting Performance of Flexible Pavements

Research Associate Professor, Louisiana Transportation Research Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70808, cefars@lsu.edu Graduate Student, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, jgu3@lsu.edu Boyd Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, voyiadjis@eng.lsu.edu Research Associate, Louisiana Transportation Research Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70808, qchen1@lsu.edu
Anterior mediastinal tracheostomy

Anterior mediastinal tracheostomy is not a commonly performed operation. The procedure, however, clearly facilitates resection of cervicothoracic, tracheal, and esophageal malignancies. Of 49 cervical exenterations performed, in 35 (71%) a concomitant mediastinal tracheostomy was performed, similar to the 77% rate of mediastinal tracheostomy with cervical exenteration reported by Grillo and Mathisen. There is little question that anterior mediastinal tracheostomy combined with cervical exenteration, transhiatal esophagectomy, and a primary pharyngogastric anastomosis is a formidable technical exercise. Although this operative approach provides effective palliation and occasionally cure in patients with compromise of their airway, swallowing ability, or both, careful patient selection, meticulous attention to operative detail, and intensive postoperative care are mandatory in order to achieve a successful outcome with acceptable morbidity and mortality rates.
Noninvasive testing for ventricular arrhythmias

Before treating patients with ventricular arrhythmias, it is important to classify the arrhythmias as benign, potentially lethal, or lethal. The vast majority of patients seen in clinical practice have benign or potentially lethal forms, which can be evaluated with noninvasive electrocardiographic techniques, such as continuous Holter monitoring and exercise testing. Lethal ventricular arrhythmias are probably best managed with invasive electrophysiologic testing. Quantitative Holter monitoring is essential both before starting antiarrhythmic therapy to establish a baseline and after starting therapy to determine whether treatment is effective, ineffective, or causing proarrhythmia. Whether adequate suppression of ventricular arrhythmias prevents sudden cardiac death is still unknown but is currently being evaluated by the Cardiac Arrhythmia Suppression Trial of the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda. The results are expected in the mid-1990s.
Developing a Culturally Appropriate HIV and Hepatitis C Prevention Intervention for Latino Criminal Justice Clients

The population within the criminal justice system suffers from various health disparities including HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV). African American and Latino offenders represent the majority of the offender population. Evidence-based interventions to prevent HIV and HCV among criminal justice clients are scant and usually do not take cultural differences into account. Toward this end, this study describes the process of culturally adapting an HIV/HCV prevention intervention for Latino criminal justice clients in Miami, Florida, by using the ecological validity model. Recommendations for culturally adapting an intervention for Latinos include an emphasis on language and integrating cultural themes such as familism and machismo.
Mapping of quantitative trait loci affecting resistance to Phytophthora nicotianae in tobacco ( Nicotiana tabacum L.) line Beinhart-1000

Black shank, caused by Phytophthora nicotianae, is one of the most important diseases affecting tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) production worldwide. While monogenic resistance to Race 0 of this pathogen has been transferred via interspecific introgression, quantitative resistance is currently needed to provide adequate resistance to all races. The objective of this research was to gain increased insight into the inheritance of resistance in the highly-resistant cigar tobacco line, Beinhart-1000, and to identify genomic regions contributing to this resistance. A doubled haploid population was generated from a cross between Beinhart-1000 and the susceptible cultivar, Hicks. The population was evaluated for field resistance in three environments and genotyped with 206 polymorphic microsatellite markers. No doubled haploid line exhibited as high a level of resistance as Beinhart-1000. Heritability was high and multiple interval mapping suggested that at least six quantitative trait loci (QTL) may contribute to the high level of resistance in this line. The two largest QTL explained 25.4 and 20.4% of the observed phenotypic variation for end percent survival. A model including all six significant QTL explained 64.3% of the phenotypic variation and 73.1% of the genetic variation. The two major identified QTL and their associated markers may be of use for employing Beinhart-1000 as a source of black shank resistance in tobacco breeding. The major QTL on linkage group four was found to cosegregate with Abl, a gene involved in accumulation of the trichome exudate cis-abienol. The question of pleiotropy versus linkage needs to be investigated with respect to partial resistance against P. nicotianae.
Theatre of Social Change

Many theatre groups formed in the sixties and seventies reflect social movements. As with the movements themselves, these theatres aim to bring about social change. Some are content to change attitudes and raise the morale of their constituent audiences, others promote acceptance by the dominant culture, and others would change society, equalizing economic and social benefits. A few groups do not represent an identifiable ethnic or social movement, but attempt to raise political consciousness by presenting in their work a socialist analysis of American society. The Living Theatre has provided one model for making theatre with a social efficacy. Other models had existed in the workers’ theatres during the depression years of the 1930s. And Brecht’s plays and theoretical writings were especially important for demonstrating an aesthetic involving social analysis.
Effect of Transradial Catheterisation on Patency Rates of Radial Arteries Used as a Conduit for Coronary Bypass.

Background Transradial catheterisation is known to be associated with occlusion of the radial artery with an estimated incidence of 2-10% (1). There are very few studies looking at the patency of radial artery as a bypass graft after utilisation for catheterisation. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) utilising a radial artery graft. Results Long term patency rates were 59% in radial artery grafts utilised for catheterisation prior to CABG, compared to 78% if it were not (p= 0.035). Conclusion Patency rates of radial artery grafts are significantly lower when the same radial artery was utilised for angiography prior to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) .
Verifying and Enhancing the Correctness of the Dynamic Composite Web Service

Organizational workflows are now automated by incorporating the dynamic composite web services. As more and more web service is evolving now, enforcing the Quality of service (QoS) factors in web service is in need today. Among the various QoS factor, reliability play a vital role. Reliability is defined by using the functional and non functional metrics. Functional metrics are correctness, fault tolerance and testability of the web service. Non functional metrics are timeliness and Interoperability. In this paper, a model is proposed to verify and enhance the correctness of the web service in the composite web service environment.
Iatrogenic Radiation Exposure from Neuroimaging May Increase the Risk of Cancer and Mortality in Patients with Epilepsy (P7.002)

Objective:To calculate the dosage of radiation exposure of a series of patients with epilepsy and determine if this affects their estimated risk of developing cancer. Background: Patients with epilepsy frequently receive head imaging. Data from other populations demonstrates that radiation exposure such as that received in imaging studies may increase the risk of certain cancers and overall mortality. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed radiation exposure from imaging studies for the prior 5 years for 50 consecutive adult patients seen in a tertiary epilepsy. The original studies where reviewed to directly calculate the radiation exposure for each exam. Brain dose and bone marrow dose from SPECT, CT, FDG-PET was calculated based on published models. Results: The mean brain dose was 9.1 mGy and the mean bone marrow dose was 2.3 mGy. According to Pearce’s mode this amount of radiation exposure doubles the risk of developing brain cancer or leukemia and by the BEIR Committee9s formula, increase the risk of death from cancer by approximately 28 in 1,000,000 over the baseline risk of 2,000/1,000,000. Among the 50 patients, 17 of them had scans of either SPECT and/or CT and/or PET. These 17 patients had an average if 26.7 mGy of brain exposure and 6.8. mGy of bone marrow exposure. The highest brain exposure was 80 mGy, while the highest bone marrow exposure was 30.4 mGy. By Pearce’s mode, these individuals may have up to a 3 fold increase in the risk of later developing brain tumors or leukemia. Conclusion: Patients with epilepsy may be at increased risk of developing fatal cancers from radiation exposure from common imaging procedures. Neurologists caring for patients with epilepsy should be judicious in ordering studies that expose patients to radiation.Population based studies are needed to see if an increased prevalence of cancer is seen in persons with epilepsy. Disclosure: Dr. Losey has received personal compensation for activities with UCB Pharma as a speaker.
Use of an eight-step instructional model to train school staff in partner-augmented input shows potential1

Would training school staff in PAI (Partner-Assisted Input) using the Kent-Walsh and McNaughton (2005) instructional model increase staff use of modeling on students’ speech generating devices (SGD...
Determination of Simple Shear Material Properties of the Brain at High Strain Rates

Split Hopkinson Pressure Bars are used to study dynamic material response in uniaxial compression, tension or torsion. Modifications of traditional test techniques have permitted the successful measurement of highly elastic soft biological tissue properties. Testing biological materials, specifically brain material, using the modified Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar method is effective in characterizing the tissue response at strain levels and strain rates that are greater than traditional tissue testing modalities. The high strain rate material properties are of particular interest for use in constitutive models that govern material response and injury predictions for computational models of the human body exposed to dynamic impact events. Since the use of viable brain material is critical, and the viability largely depends on post mortem interval, harvesting fresh, non-frozen brain tissue is critical. In this paper, we present the shear response of fresh human brain tissue under high rate loading. The investigated strain rates ranged from 25 to 248 strain/s. Specimen were prepared from various orientations and locations within the brain across two specimen. The average elastic modulus was 13.0 ± 10 kPa computed across all trials. The response was also characterized based on specimen, loading rate, and strain level to analyze contributing factors. This information is critical for targeting surrogate material properties and generating parameters for computational model constitutive equations.
The Moderating Role of Hospital Size on the Relationship Between Patient Experience and Patient Safety.

OBJECTIVES Previous examinations of the relationship between patient experience and patient safety initiatives find that higher patient experience evaluations correspond to reduced incidence of adverse events. Little is known, however, about the impact of hospital organizational characteristics on this relationship. The purpose of this study is to examine the degree to which hospital size moderates the relationship between patient experience and patient safety. METHODS A lagged cross-sectional ordinary least squares regression tests a hypothesis of a diminishing effect of hospital size on the relationship between patient evaluations of their interpersonal care experience and hospital's central-line associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) is tested on a sample of 1740 US hospitals using data compiled from Hospital Compare and the American Hospital Association. RESULTS The results find that the magnitude of the relationship between patient experience and patient safety initiatives is diminished as hospital size increases and suggest that care providers' ability to deliver care in a manner that is simultaneously responsive to individual patient needs and preferences and reliable in its avoidance of adverse events is influenced by hospital size. An additional fractional logit is presented, which accounts for restrictions in the dependent variable further support study findings.
Inhalant sensitization and shock in guinea pigs under controlled atmospheric conditions

Abstract 1. 1. The air-conditioned chamber has proved a valuable method of studying the preventive or modifying effect of various pharmacologic agents on inhalation sensitization. 2. 2. Histamine injected before, during, and after sensitization, under the conditions of our experiments, did not prevent clinical or lethal anaphylactic shock. 3. 3. Histamine injections in large doses, given just prior to each exposure of the animals to the sensitizing allergen and just before subsequent shock exposure, seemed to delay the appearance and reduced the violence of clinical symptoms of anaphylaxis in a small group of animals. 4. 4. Acetylcholine injections given before, during, and after sensitization did not appear to modify the course of anaphylactic responses. There is slight suggestive evidence that acetylcholine and histamine injected within a short period of one another, at the same time intervals during sensitization as the acetylcholine group, delayed the appearance of clinical anaphylaxis. 5. 5. Histaminase solution given intranasally during inhalation sensitization and shock not only did not protect animals against clinical anaphylaxis but actually augmented their symptoms. Histaminase here also acted as a sensitizing allergen. It was observed that the application of a watery solution to the nasal membranes may lower the threshold of sensitization to a dry allergen. 6. 6. Histaminase injected intravenously in animals sensitized either by inhalation or peritoneal injection did not protect them against anaphylactic symptoms following the in halationof horse dander.
Characterization of iron contamination on equilibrium fluid catalytic cracking catalyst particles

Abstract Iron poisoning is a well-known problem for fluid catalytic cracking catalysts. To better understand this issue, several characterization techniques were used to examine a catalyst sample from a commercial unit. Under SEM-EDX, most cross sections of the catalyst particles exhibited iron nodule rims enriched with Fe, other contaminant metals, and Si. Scanning TEM X-ray mapping further confirmed that, compared to the inside of a catalyst particle, the surface layer was enriched in Si and contaminant metals, while depleted in Al. This catalyst had high frequency-dependent magnetic susceptibility, suggesting that some or all of the iron-bearing species should be in the nanometer size range. In TEM, the nodules were found to consist of Fe-bearing nanoparticles, imbedded in an amorphous matrix. The nanoparticles were also enriched in Mg, Ni or Ca, while the matrix was dominated by Si and minor Al. Selected area electron diffraction pattern indicated that these iron enriched nanoparticles had the spinel structure. These results should shed light on iron poisoning issues in FCC units.
Finding a Way Forward: Flatland School District Reviews Their Decentralized Model:

This case was developed for use with future school and district leaders in an educational setting. There are several topics of discussion that can be developed, including but not limited to decentr...