cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pretransplant Donor Specific Blood Transfusions for One Haplotype Stimulatory Mixed Lymphocyte Culture Living Related Donor Transplants

Three donor specific blood transfusions were given at 2-wk intervals pretransplantation, to those donor-recipient pairs who were one haplotype identical, but had stimulatory MLC. Two of 10 recipients who received donor specific blood transfusions developed T cell cytotoxic antibodies against their donor and were not transplanted. Eight recipients were successfully transplanted with no evidence of hyperacute rejection. All eight grafts are functioning from 2 to 15 mo post-transplant. Serum creatinines range from 1.0--3.9 mg%. There have been five patients who developed acute rejection episodes during the first 5 days post-transplant, and there have been a mean of 2.4 rejection episodes per patient. These results compare favorably to historical controls at the same institution who had a 40% incidence of graft success. The long-term graft survival remains to be elucidated.
Temporal changes in Ohio amniocentesis utilization during the first twelve years (1972–1983), and frequency of chromosome abnormalities observed

The history of amniocentesis utilization in the seventh largest state of the United States is documented from its inception in 1972 through the first half of 1984. Amniocentesis utilization ratios for Ohio residents aged greater than or equal to 35 have increased from 0.21 per cent (19/9091) in 1972 to 23.4 per cent (1655/7531) in 1983, representing an average annual growth rate of 43.1 per cent. Of the amniocenteses performed from January 1, 1978-July 1, 1984, 71 per cent were referred for advanced maternal age (greater than or equal to 35), 15 per cent for maternal anxiety (30-34), 10 per cent for family history or previous child with a genetic defect, and 4 per cent for other reasons. Between 1978-1983 utilization by women 45 years of age was only 20 per cent higher than women 35 even though their risk of giving birth to a Down syndrome child was bout one order of magnitude higher. In addition, various factors were tested as to whether they affected utilization of amniocentesis by women greater than or equal to 35 during 1978-1983. A strong correlation of +0.89 existed between county population size and utilization ratios. No difference in utilization was found between whites and nonwhites, regardless of county population size. When utilization ratios were compared separately between Protestants, Catholics and other religions in Ohio's most populated county, no statistical differences were found. From 1978-July 1, 1984, the frequency of all cytogenetically abnormal chromosome results observed in Ohio amniocenteses to women greater than or equal to 35 was 2.48 per cent (187/7536). Of these, 2.15 per cent (162/7536) had unbalanced karyotypes. Future maximum amniocentesis utilization for women greater than or equal to 35 is estimated at 60-70 per cent.
Protein dynamics: Bridging the gap

Detailed biophysical and biochemical studies provide an exquisite example of how conformational flexibility controls the interaction between an intrinsically disordered protein and its numerous binding partners.
Dynamic interaction of seismic activity along rising and sinking edges of plate boundaries

Abstract Cumulative and differential cumulative seismic strain release of shallow earthquakes during 1964 through 1972 show significant time-delayed correlation for many of the rises and/or sinks of tectonic plate boundaries for the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans. For the Pacific, time delays are almost exclusively from areas of higher to areas of lower strain release, and could imply viscous stress relaxation along or near the lithosphere—asthenosphere boundary. Seismically determined slip rates for many of the subduction zones during 1964–1972 are lower than those of the preceding part of the century by a factor of 5. The significant correlation between many rises and sinks suggests worldwide interaction and coupling of plate motion.
Correlation of head injury to vehicle contact points using crash injury research and engineering network data

Abstract Head injury is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in motor vehicle crashes. Efforts to improve vehicle design, which minimize forces exerted to the occupant’s head, may lead to a reduction in the frequency and severity of head injury. We therefore set out to identify mechanisms producing severe head injury in motor vehicle crashes (MVC) derived from the crash injury research and engineering network (CIREN) database. CIREN combines crash site analysis, vehicle damage assessment, and occupant kinematics in relation to the occupant’s injuries. From the Seattle CIREN database of 101 cases, compiled from 1997 to 1998, we selected those crashes in which the occupant sustained severe head injury (abbreviated injury score, AIS≥4) for analysis. We examined crash mechanism, energy transfer, point of head contact, vehicle intrusion and resulting injuries. There were 15 cases with severe head injury. These were primarily due to side impacts (n=10) in comparison to front impacts (n=5). The average net change in velocity (delta velocity, DV) was 15 mile/h (range 4–29 mile/h). In cases where the primary point of head contact could be elucidated the B-pillar predominated (4 cases, 33.3%) followed by the striking external object (2 cases, 16.7%), A- (1 case, 8.3%) and C- (1 case, 8.3%) pillars, roof side rail (1 case, 8.3%), windshield header (1 case, 8.3%), windowsill (1 case, 8.3%) and airbag (1 case, 8.3%). In this series the predominant mechanism of head injury was lateral impacts, especially those in which the victims’ heads struck the B-pillar. The need for improved head protection from lateral impacts is indicated.
Comparative validation of nomograms predicting clinically insignificant prostate cancer.

Objective To validate and compare the accuracy and performance of nomograms predicting insignificant prostate cancer and to analyze their performance in patients with different cancer locations. Methods Our cohort consisted of 370 radical prostatectomy patients with Gleason ≤6 prostate cancer diagnosed on transrectal biopsy with at least 10 cores. We quantified the performance of each nomogram with respect to discrimination, calibration, predictive accuracy at different cut points, and the clinical net benefit. We also evaluated these parameters in subgroups of patients with predominantly anterior-apical (AA) and posterior-basal (PB) tumor location. Results Insignificant prostate cancer was present in 141 patients (38%). The Kattan and Steyerberg nomograms outperformed other studied models and demonstrated fair discrimination (areas under the receiver operating characteristics curve 0.768 and 0.770, respectively), good calibration, balanced predictive accuracy, and the highest net benefit. All nomograms were less accurate at higher levels of predicted probability. The performance of the nomograms was better in patients with PB tumors than in those with AA tumors. The loss of correlation with the actual prevalence of insignificant prostate cancer at higher levels of predicted probability was not seen in the PB subgroup but was particularly noticeable in the AA subgroup. Conclusion The Kattan and Steyerberg nomograms demonstrated the best performance in predicting the probability of insignificant prostate cancer in a contemporary cohort of patients with Gleason ≤6 cancer diagnosed on specimens from an extended transrectal biopsy. However, all studied nomograms were more accurate in identifying significant rather than insignificant disease, particularly for tumors located in the apical and anterior prostate.
The lens of personhood: Viewing the self and others in a multicultural society.

Some aspects of the subjective experience of individualism and collectivism in Israel, a society that simultaneously emphasizes both worldviews, were explored. Ss were Arab and Jewish Israeli students (Study 1 n=211, Study 2 n=370, Study 3 n=160, and Study 4 n=280). As hypothesized, endorsing individualism as a worldview was related to focusing on private aspects of the self and conceptualizing the self in terms of distinctions between the self and others. Hypotheses suggesting a relationship between collectivism, centrality of social identities to self-definition, a focus on public aspects of the self, and heightened perception of intergroup conflict were also supported by the data
Alkyl and aryl derivatives of π-cyclopentadienyl compounds of chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, and iron

Abstract The preparation of alkyl and aryl π-cyclopentadienyl carbon monoxide or nitric oxide compounds of Cr, Mo, W, and Fe is described. The methods involve the reaction of halides such as π-C 5 H 5 Cr(NO) 2 I with Grignard reagents, the reaction of π-C 5 H 5 Mo(CO) 3 H with diazomethane, and the reaction of sodium salts such as π-C 5 H 5 Fe(CO) 2 Na with alkyl or aryl halides. The properties and infra-red spectra of the compounds, and high-resolution nuclear magnetic-resonance spectra of some of these and other cyclopentadienyl compounds are given. The structure, stabilities, and some reactions of the alkyl, aryl, and σ-cyclopentadienyl derivatives and of the π-cyclopentadienyl-tricarbon monoxide hydrides of Cr, Mo, and W are discussed. The compound π-C 5 H 5 Mo(CO) 2 NO, the halides π-C 5 H 5 Mo(CO) 3 X, and the methyl compound (π-C 5 H 5 ) 2 Ti(CH 3 ) 2 are also described.
Engineered allosteric ribozymes as biosensor components

RNA and DNA molecules can be engineered to function as molecular switches that trigger catalytic events when a specific target molecule becomes bound. Recent studies on the underlying biochemical properties of these constructs indicate that a significant untapped potential exists for the practical application of allosteric nucleic acids. Engineered molecular switches can be used to report the presence of specific analytes in complex mixtures, making possible the creation of new types of biosensor devices and genetic control elements.
Radio astronomy at the World Radiocommunication Conference 2012

World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRCs) revise the Radio Regulations (RR), periodically. WRCs may have substantial impact on radio astronomy in various ways. The next one, to be held in January, 2012, has a number of items on its agenda that may be of interest to the radio astronomy community. The main issue for radio astronomy is the revision of footnote 5.565 that deals with spectrum uses above 275 GHz by the passive services. A number of other agenda items that deal with allocations of certain bands to other services are also of interest, as the allocations that are pursued may increase the instances of harmful interference in radio astronomy bands, unless mitigated by regulatory measures. Although spectrum use has changed tremendously in the more than four decades that radio astronomers do participate in the process, the continued presence of radio astronomers at these conferences is necessary, to ensure continued access of astronomers to at least portions of the radio spectrum.
Analysis of persistent photoconductivity due to potential barriers

Persistent photoconductivity has been seen in thin silicon resistors fabricated with SIMOX material at temperatures between 60 and 220 K. This effect has been attributed to the depletion of carriers near the interface between the top silicon layer and the buried oxide, which is due to the large number of surface traps at this interface. The depletion of carriers is accompanied by a built-in field on the order of 10,000 V/cm, which causes a potential barrier that is nearly a quarter of the energy gap of silicon. The theory of the recombination kinetics of majority carriers with minority carriers trapped at the interface on the other side of a potential barrier is studied. Both the possibilities of tunneling and thermal activation have been considered. The results show that thermal activation dominates at the temperatures of our measurements in SIMOX material, while at lower temperatures tunneling would dominate.
Multiple reserve requirements in a monetary growth model

This paper considers a monetary growth model in which banks provide liquidity, and in which a government finances a deficit by printing money and selling bonds. In this context, I examine the possibility that the government may want to impose binding reserve requirements on banks' holdings of both money and government bonds. Conditions are established under which doing so increases steady state welfare and reduces the scope for indeterminacies. Furthermore, under a binding system of multiple reserve requirements we have that money is superneutral. On the other hand, if reserve requirements are imposed on cash holdings alone, increases in the steady state inflation rate adversely affect capital accumulation and long run real activity. Thus systems of multiple binding reserve requirements can insulate real activity from the consequences of inflationary taxation.
The Role of Discursive Resources in Science Talk

Tao, Oliver, and Venville’s paper addresses a debate between two hypotheses of children’s development of conceptual understandings of the Earth. The authors aim to investigate whether culture influences students’ conceptions of the Earth. However, one questionable assumption shared among conception and conceptual change studies is that researchers can identify children’s mental models, through their discourse, to explain their conceptions of scientific phenomena. In this commentary, I challenge this assumption by looking closely at various interview data and examining different dimensions of interview discourse about the Earth. Based on my findings, I suggest that instead of seeing science talk as representations of mental models, we look at children’s science talk as discursive practices mediated by the immediate social situation and the broader social milieu.
Gibbs ensemble Monte Carlo simulations for the liquid–liquid phase equilibria of dipropylene glycol dimethyl ether and water: A preliminary report

Abstract Configurational-bias Monte Carlo simulations in the isobaric–isothermal ensemble and in the canonical and isobaric–isothermal versions of the Gibbs ensemble were carried out to investigate the thermophysical properties of a 2-methoxy-1-(2-methoxypropoxy)propane/2-methoxy-1-((1-methoxypropan-2-yl)oxy)propane mixture and the mutual solubility of this dipropylene glycol dimethyl ether (DPGDME) mixture and water. The TraPPE-UA and TIP4P force fields were used for the DPGDME isomers and water, respectively. The TraPPE-UA force field yields satisfactory predictions for the specific density of the liquid phase and for the normal boiling point of the DPGDME mixture. Preliminary simulation data for the mutual solubility of the DPGDME mixture and water at T = 298 K pointed to an underprediction of the miscibility gap and, hence, simulations were carried out for variations of the TraPPE-UA DPGDME model with different partial charges for the ether moiety. Both the organic and the aqueous phase exhibit pronounced microheterogeneity and the persistence of very stable and large aggregates poses significant sampling challenges. The trajectories of independent simulations started from different initial compositions indicate either (i) that equilibrium has not yet been achieved, (ii) that composition fluctuations are sampled insufficiently over the current trajectory lengths, or (iii) that the system size is too small. Based on these preliminary simulation data, cautious estimates of the mutual solubilities at temperatures from 283 to 353 K are made using a model with modified charges. These predictions yield mean signed deviations from the experimental benchmark data for the mutual solubilities of +5% and −4% for the organic and aqueous phases, respectively.
A practical method of documenting and verifying Ada programs with packages

We present a method of formal specification of Ada programs containing packages. The method suggests concepts and guidelines useful for giving adequate informal documentation of packages by means of comments.The method depends on (1) the standard inductive assertion technique for subprograms, (2) the use of history sequences in assertions specifying the declaration and use of packages, and (3) the addition of three categories of specifications to Ada package declarations: (a) visible specifications, (b) boundary specifications, (c) internal specifications.Axioms and proof rules for the Ada package constructs (declaration, instantiation, and function and procedure call) are given in terms of history sequences and package specifications. These enable us to construct formal proofs of the correctness of Ada programs with packages. The axioms and proof rules are easy to implement in automated program checking systems. The use of history sequences in both in formal documentation and formal specifications and proofs is illustrated by examples.
Characterization of a high activity carbonic anhydrase isozyme purified from erythrocytes of Salmo gairdneri

Abstract 1. 1. A single, high specific activity carbonic anhydrase (CA) isozyme was present in erythrocytes of the teleostean species Salmo gairdneri (rainbow trout). 2. 2. Purification of trout CA to homogeneity was accomplished using chloroform-ethanol extraction, Sephadex G-75 gel filtration, and DEAE Bio-Gel anion exchange chromatography. 3. 3. Trout CA was a zinc metalloenzyme of mol. wt 28,300 and pl 9.3. 4. 4. Amino acid analysis indicated the presence of 6 half-cystine residues per enzyme molecule, and the presence of a sulfhdryl reducing agent was required to maintain full activity in vitro . 5. 5. Sulfhydryl modification with both N -ethylmaleimide and acrylonitrile indicated the presence of 3 reactive sulfhydryl groups per CA molecule. Modification of those groups had no direct effect on enzyme activity, but modified CA was no longer subject to inactivation by oxidizing conditions.
Response of Egg Production and Shell Quality to Increases in Environmental Temperature in two Age Groups of Hens

Abstract Eight-month and 14-month old laying hens were exposed to six abrupt increases in environmental temperature from 21.5 to 35° C. The egg production and shell quality of the older birds were more severely affected than that of the young birds. It appears the functions of both the ovary and the oviduct are depressed in high environmental temperatures.
Basic mechanisms in laser etching and deposition

Laser-induced chemical processing of solid surfaces has the potential for being an important and powerful technique for fabrication of a variety of devices. Successful applications rest on a detailed understanding of the nature of laser-induced reactions and their effects on the properties of materials. In this paper fundamental studies illustrating key features of laser etching and deposition are reviewed. Topics covered include the effect of the choice of precursor and deposition conditions on film composition and morphology, self-propagation of exothermic reactions, thermal and electronic effects in laser-assisted etching of semiconductors, metals and polymers, and special aspects of laser-surface photophysics as they may affect chemical reactions.
Parenting Attitudes and Moral Development of Treatment Foster Parents: Implications for Training and Supervision

This study examined the relationship between moral development and treatment foster parent attitudes. The Defining Issues Test and the Adult-Adolescent Parenting Inventory were administered to 103 treatment foster parents. Additional variables of gender, age, race, marital status, and education were also considered. Significant correlations indicated that treatment foster parents with higher levels of moral reasoning were more likely to report more appropriate and nurturing parenting attitudes on the parenting inventory. Significant relationships with gender, race, age, and education are reported. Implications for utilizing a cognitive developmental framework for selecting, training, and supervising foster parents and perhaps other child and youth caregivers are discussed.
Few patients with neurodegenerative disorders require spinal surgery.

Background: Few patients with neurodegenerative disorders (ND) (e.g., Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and Postpolio Syndrome (PPS)) require spinal surgery. Typically, their neurological symptoms and signs reflect their underlying neurologic disorders rather than structural spinal pathology reported on magnetic resonance images (MR) or computed tomographic scans (CT). Methods: The first author, a neurosurgeon, reviewed 437 spinal consultations performed over a 20-month period. Of 254 patients seen in first opinion (e.g., had not been seen by a spinal surgeon), 9 had MS, while 2 had ALS. Of 183 patients seen in second opinion (e.g., prior spinal surgeons recommended surgery), 4 had MS, 2 had ALS, and 1 had PPS. We performed this study to establish how often patients with ND, seen in first or second opinion, require spinal surgery. We focused on whether second opinions from spinal surgeons would limit the number of operations offered to these patients. Results: Two of 11 patients with ND seen in first opinion required surgery. The first patient required a C5-7 laminectomy/C2-T2 fusion, followed by a L2-S1 laminectomy/L5S1 fusion. The second patient required a L2-L3 laminectomy/diskectomy/fusion. However, none of the seven patients seen in second opinion, who were previously told by outside surgeons they needed spinal surgery, required operations. Conclusions: Few patients with neurodegenerative syndromes (MS, ALS, PPS) and reported significant spondyloitic spinal disease interpreted on MR/CT studies required surgery. Great caution should be exercised in offering patients with ND spinal surgery, and second opinions should be encouraged to limit unnecessary procedures.
Frequency of Secondary Symbiont Infection in an Invasive Psyllid Relates to Parasitism Pressure on a Geographic Scale in California

Two endosymbionts, an obligate primary symbiont and a facultative secondary symbiont, are harbored within the invasive red gum (eucalyptus) lerp psyllid, Glycaspis brimblecombei, in California. An extensive survey of diversity and frequency of G. brimblecombei's secondary symbiont in multiple populations throughout the state of California was conducted using PCR detection, restriction enzymes, cloning, and sequencing. A total of 380 G. brimblecombei individuals in 19 populations were screened for secondary symbionts. Based on molecular screening results, only one type of secondary symbiont was present in G. brimblecombei populations in California. Overall, 40% of the 380 psyllids screened were infected with the secondary symbiont. Interestingly, secondary symbiont infection frequencies in G. brimblecombei populations varied dramatically from 0 to 75% and were significantly related to parasitism pressure by Psyllaphaegus bliteus, a solitary endoparasitoid of the psyllid.
Negative externalities on the Internet: the case of recombinant bovine somatotropin

Emerging public usage of networked electronic information systems engenders the capacity for a new form of journalism based on transparent referral. Especially relevant to controversial issues such as environmental quality, transparent referral is a method of establishing credibility to the reader in the absence of other cues. When a private entity benefits from a common good, negative externalities can be imposed on the general public. Externalities can also arise from inadequate understanding of the costs of an exchange. In the absence or neglect of an individual sovereign, community property regimes can form. There are several unresolved health, veterinary and economic concerns associated with the implementation of recombinant bovine somatropin (a genetically engineered analogue of the naturally occurring bovine somatotropin injected into dairy cows in order to increase milk production). The suppression of information through legal means in traditional broadcast media concerning externalities has led to an Internet campaign by two journalists. Their campaign is evaluated in terms of the formation of community property regimes.
Analytical model-based bit allocation for wavelet coding with applications to multiple description coding and region of interest coding

We address the problem of allocating bits to the different regions in an image coded with a progressive wavelet coder such as SPIHT (Set Partitioning in Hierarchical Trees) [1]. This type of problem appears in applications such as Region of Interest (ROI) coding or Multiple Description Coding (MDC). The wavelet coefficients in both cases are divided by different factors before coding to enable different bit allocation to different regions, because the coefficients in each region are refined at different speeds. While this is a popular approach for ROI coding [2, 3], we propose using it for MDC as well. In this work, we introduce a priority scaling factor ( ) as a dividing factor. The main contribution of this work is to provide an analytical technique to determine what the should be, given criteria such as relative importance of the regions in ROI coding or degree of redundancy in an MDC. Our approach is based on an approximation to Mallat’s model [4]. We show how our selection of is basically the same as that obtained by optimization of empirical data, with significantly less complexity.
Simultaneous Inversion For 3-D Crustal Structure and Hypocentres Including Direct, Refracted and Reflected Phases-Ii. Application to the Northern Rhine Graben/Rhenish Massif Region, Germany

SUMMARY The new technique of simultaneous inversion for hypocentres and crustal structure (SSH) is applied to the southern Rhine Graben. P and S wave first and later arrival times of direct, refracted and reflected phases of 350 seismic events are used in the study. Substantial improvements of over 100 per cent in the non-linear residual fit are obtained for the 3-D and less for the 1-D models. Many of the structural results of the 3-D SSH models are consistent with major findings from other seismic refraction experiments and fit into the general geological, petrological and geodynamica1 frame of this area. Thus the thick sedimentary layer in the Rhine Graben proper manifests itself by large negative seismic velocity anomalies. For the middle crust the SSH models show a strong seismic differentiation between sections of the graben proper and the areas under its western and eastern shoulders of the Vosges and the Black Forest, respectively. Using a new a priori Bayesian inversion technique it has been attempted to substantiate the refraction-seismic low velocity zone of Gajewski & Prodehl (1987) in the middle crust under the Black Forest. The results demonstrate that such a velocity low is compatible with the observed traveltimes only if one assumes it as a more local crustal phenomenon in this area. In the lower crust the SSH models are able to clarify some controversies from earlier refraction experiments in the region. The models reveal many seismic features which are typical for continental rift zones such as high transitional velocity anomalies (-7.4 km s-l) under parts of the graben proper (‘rift-cushion’). In the upper mantle, the models show a ring-like high velocity structure of 8.30-8.40 km s-l, centred around a low velocity area (-7.9 km s-l) beneath the Kaiserstuhl. I conjecture this to be a ‘thermal fingerprint’ of a partially molten upwelling asthenospheric diapir bulging under the Moho. The simultaneously relocated hypocentres for the 1-D models show some systematic downward movements for the events in the lower crust of the southern Black Forest area, but otherwise do not differ too much from the initial ones to alter the present seismotectonic picture of the southern Rhine Graben. Thus the hypothesized phenomenon of the seismic gap along the southern section of the Graben Black Forest wedge can both structurally and seismically be substantiated. The relocated hypocentres suggest optically even a widening of this seismic gap. The later has thus to be accepted as a, possibly more general, characteristic of a graben formation.
Critical properties of thermally unstable substances from mixture data

Addition a une substance instable dont on cherche la temperature critique, d'un deuxieme composant (ayant une temperature critique faible) de maniere a reduire la vitesse de reaction, puis par extrapolation determination de la temperature critique. Essais de la methode sur des melanges de composes stables de temperature critique connue
Enterprise Reorganization and Social Insurance Reform: The Development of Early Retirement in France and Germany

What explains the decline in the labor force participation rates of elderly workers at the end of their working lives? Why have governments been unable to revert towards early exit from the labor market? This paper provides an actor-centered analysis of the development of early retirement, highlighting the political negotiation among unions, employers, and governments over the distribution of the costs of these measures and the division of control over the initiation of these policies. By analyzing developments in France and Germany, the paper points to the failure of these negotiations to arrive at policy outcomes that close off the labor shedding of large firms.
Continuous electrowetting via electrochemical diodes.

We describe a novel method for droplet transport combining electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD) and the diode-like behavior of valve metals to achieve unique actuation performance. While traditional EWOD droplet transport requires switching of voltage between multiple electrodes, our method, which we term continuous rectified electrowetting, utilizes a simple single electrode and a DC voltage to move a 50 μl droplet 28 mm with velocities up to 32 mm s−1.
Feed-forward hierarchical model of the ventral visual stream applied to functional brain image classification

Functional brain imaging is a common tool in monitoring the progression of neurodegenera- tive and neurological disorders. Identifying functional brain imaging derived features that can accu- rately detect neurological disease is of primary importance to the medical community. Research in computer vision techniques to identify objects in photographs have reported high accuracies in that domain, but their direct applicability to identifying disease in functional imaging is still under investi- gation in the medical community. In particular, Serre et al. ((2005): In: IEEE Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition (CVPR-05). pp 994-1000) introduced a biophysically inspired filtering method emulating visual processing in striate cortex which they applied to perform object recognition in photographs. In this work, the model described by Serre et al. (2005) is extended to three-dimen- sional volumetric images to perform signal detection in functional brain imaging (PET, SPECT). The fil-
Applying Quality Improvement Methods to Implement a Measurement System for Chronic Pain-Related Disability

Objective This article describes the application of quality improvement methodology to implement a measurement tool for the assessment of functional status in pediatric patients with chronic pain referred for behavioral intervention. Methods The Functional Disability Inventory (FDI), a validated instrument for assessment of pain-related disability, was chosen as the primary clinical outcome measure. Using improvement science methodology, PDSA (Plan-Do-Study-Act) cycles were run to evaluate: (a) regular FDI administration, (b) two administration methods, (c) regular patient feedback, and (d) documentation methods. Results Within 1 month, psychologists were administering the FDI at least 80% of the time to patients. A high level of reliability using two administration methods (92.8%) was demonstrated. The FDI was feasible to integrate into clinical practice. Modifications to electronic records further enhanced clinician reliability of documentation. Conclusions Quality improvement methods are an innovative way to make process changes in pediatric psychology settings to dependably gather and document evidence-based patient outcomes.
Metagenome Sequencing of a Coastal Marine Microbial Community from Monterey Bay, California

Heterotrophic microbes are critical components of aquatic food webs. Linkages between populations and the substrates they utilize are not well defined. We present the metagenome of microbial communities from the coastal Pacific Ocean exposed to various nutrient additions in order to better understand substrate utilization and partitioning in this environment.
ASC/caspase‐1/IL‐1β signaling triggers inflammatory responses by promoting HMGB1 induction in liver ischemia/reperfusion injury

Apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC), an adaptor protein for inflammasome receptors, is essential for inducing caspase-1 activation and the consequent secretion of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), which is associated with local inflammation during liver ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI). However, little is known about the mechanisms by which the ASC/caspase-1/IL-1β axis exerts its function in hepatic IRI. This study was designed to explore the functional roles and molecular mechanisms of ASC/caspase-1/IL-1β signaling in the regulation of inflammatory responses in vitro and in vivo. With a partial lobar liver warm ischemia (90 minutes) model, ASC-deficient and wild-type mice (C57BL/6) were sacrificed at 6 hours of reperfusion. Separate animal cohorts were treated with an anti–IL-1β antibody or control immunoglobulin G (10 mg/kg/day intraperitoneally). We found that ASC deficiency inhibited caspase-1/IL-1β signaling and led to protection against liver ischemia/reperfusion (IR) damage, local enhancement of antiapoptotic functions, and down-regulation of high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1)–mediated, toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)–driven inflammation. Interestingly, the treatment of ASC-deficient mice with recombinant HMGB1 re-created liver IRI. Moreover, neutralization of IL-1β ameliorated the hepatocellular damage by inhibiting nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)/cyclooxygenase 2 signaling in IR-stressed livers. In parallel in vitro studies, the knockout of ASC in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated bone marrow–derived macrophages depressed HMGB1 activity via the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway and led to the inhibition of TLR4/NF-κB and ultimately the depression of proinflammatory cytokine programs. Conclusion: ASC-mediated caspase-1/IL-1β signaling promotes HMGB1 to produce a TLR4-dependent inflammatory phenotype and leads to hepatocellular injury. Hence, ASC/caspase-1/IL-1β signaling mediates the inflammatory response by triggering HMGB1 induction in hepatic IRI. Our findings provide a rationale for a novel therapeutic strategy for managing liver injury due to IR. (HEPATOLOGY 2013)
The effects of presenting delays before and after task completion on self‐control responding in children with behavior disorders

We examined relations between self-control responding and environmental variables with 3 children with behavior disorders. Differential delays were presented before or after task completion in a single-session reversal design. Delays presented before task completion produced more impulsive responding than those presented after task completion for all participants.
Calculation of life characteristics of insulation

Based on chemical reaction rate theory and an extension of the application of the Arrhenius equation, a method is presented for calculating insulation degradation curves. Using the initial dielectric strength (DS) and time-temperature insulation characteristic to deteriorate to some given percentage level, curves showing the relationship between DS and insulation aging at a constant temperature may be computed. Also degradation curves to other given percentage levels of initial DS may be derived. Thus data may be converted into forms more valuable to the design engineer.
A power-aware, best-effort real-time task scheduling algorithm

In this paper, we present a power-aware, best-effort real-time task scheduling algorithm called PA-BTA that optimizes real-time performance and power consumption. The algorithm considers a timeliness model where task timing constraints are described using Jensen's (1992) benefit functions and a system-level power model. We propose a metric called "energy and real-time performance grade" (ERG) to measure real-time performance and power consumption in a unified way. Since the scheduling problem is NP-hard, PA-BTA heuristically computes schedules to maximize ERG, incurring a worst-case computational cost of O(n/sup 2/). Our simulation results indicate that the algorithm performs close to the optimal algorithm and better than other algorithms considered in the study.
On the Comparison of Trilinear, Cubic Spline, and Fuzzy Interpolation Methods in the High-Accuracy Measurements

This paper provides a comparison between a novel technique used for the pose-error measurements and compensations of robots based on a fuzzy-error interpolation method and some other popular interpolation methods. A traditional robot calibration implements either model or modeless methods. The measurement and compensation of pose errors in a modeless method moves the robot's end-effector to the target poses in the robot workspace and measures the target position and orientation errors using some interpolation techniques in terms of the premeasured neighboring pose errors around the target pose. For the measurement purpose, a stereo camera or other measurement devices, such as a coordinate-measurement machine (CMM) or a laser-tracking system (LTS), can be used to measure the pose errors of the robot's end-effector at predened grid points on a cubic lattice. By the use of the proposed fuzzy-error interpolation technique, the accuracy of the pose-error compensation can be improved in comparison with other interpolation methods, which is conrmed by the simulation results given in this paper. A comparison study among most popular interpolation methods used in modeless robot calibrations, such as trilinear, cubic spline, and the fuzzy-error interpolation technique, is also made and discussed via simulations. The simulation results show that more accurate measurement and compensation results can be achieved using the fuzzy-error interpolation technique compared with its trilinear and cubic-spline counterparts.
Enhanced Gi Signaling Selectively Negates β2-Adrenergic Receptor (AR)– but Not β1-AR–Mediated Positive Inotropic Effect in Myocytes From Failing Rat Hearts

Background— Myocardial contractile response to β1- and β2-adrenergic receptor (AR) stimulation is severely impaired in chronic heart failure, in which Gi signaling and the ratio of β2/β1 are often increased. Because β2-AR but not β1-AR couples to Gs and Gi with the Gi coupling negating the Gs-mediated contractile response, we determined whether the heart failure–associated augmentation of Gi signaling contributes differentially to the defects of these β-AR subtypes and, if so, whether inhibition of Gi or selective activation of β2-AR/Gs by ligands restores β2-AR contractile response in the failing heart. Methods and Results— Cardiomyocytes were isolated from 18- to 24-month-old failing spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) or age-matched Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rat hearts. In SHR cardiomyocytes, either β-AR subtype–mediated inotropic effect was markedly diminished, whereas Gi proteins and the β2/β1 ratio were increased. Disruption of Gi signaling by pertussis toxin (PTX) enabled β2- but not β1-AR to induce a full p...
Assessing Academic Library Services to Distance Learners: A Literature Review of Perspectives from Librarians, Students, and Faculty

Many academic libraries are expanding services to online and distance students to keep pace with enrollment trends in higher education, prompting additional research to evaluate the use and effectiveness of library reference and instruction services to distance users. This literature review explores this research from the perspectives of academic librarians, distance students, and faculty teaching online and distance courses, and finds both commonalities and contradictions among these viewpoints.
New insights into dopaminergic receptor function using antisense and genetically altered animals.

▪ Abstract Dopaminergic receptors are widespread throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems, where they regulate a variety of physiological, behavioral, and endocrine functions. These re...
Tadalafil: a long-acting PDE5 inhibitor for the management of erectile dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction is a significant medical condition affecting the total health of patients and their partners. Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors treat erectile dysfunction by selectively inhibiting the nitric oxide–cyclic guanosine monophosphate pathway. Tadalafil is a unique phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor that has a long period of responsiveness – up to 36 h. Additionally, the absorption of tadalafil is not affected by a high-fat meal. These characteristics may give couples freedom in timing their sexual activity. Tadalafil is safe and effective for improving erectile function in both general and special populations. The most common treatment-emergent adverse events are generally mild or moderate in severity and include headache, flushing or dyspepsia. Tadalafil may cause mild vasodilation; it should not be given concomitantly with organic nitrates or α-blockers, except for tamsulosin (0.4 mg once daily).
Assessing Children’s Representations of their Peer Group Using a Multidimensional Scaling Technique:

The goal of this research was to examine whether multi-dimensional scaling (MDS) is a potentially reliable and valid method for assessing children’s perceptions of their peer group. A total of 162 fourth- and fifth-grade students participated in two studies. MDS-derived depictions of the peer group were generated based on children’s unconstrained (i.e., implicit) similarity judgments of same-sex dyads in their peer group. Overall, fit indices indicated that two-dimensional MDS solutions accounted for most of the variability in group members’ similarity ratings, demonstrating considerable agreement between group members’ implicit representations of their peer group. Furthermore, classroom teachers’ perceptions of peer group organization were highly similar to their students’ perceptions. Finally, the social network pattern in the peer group was related consistently to the organization of peer group members in the MDS similarity space; additional variance in the MDS space was accounted for by behavioral and...
Calcium-Based Phosphate Binders Are Appropriate in Chronic Renal Failure

Many nephrologists feel threatened by the allegation that, in patients with chronic renal failure, treatment with calcium-based phosphate binders (calcium acetate and calcium carbonate) may induce coronary artery and cardiac calcification, thereby imposing a greater risk for death compared with sevelamer, a non-calcium-based binder. Acknowledging that drug manufacturers are not unaware of the marketing advantage to their product consequent to destabilizing demand for competing drugs, the case for and against abandoning calcium-based phosphate binders in favor of sevelamer is reviewed in this study. The case for continuing prescription of calcium-based phosphate binders stands on the following: (1) flawed clinical trials that favor sevelamer as a replacement; (2) weak evidence that oral calcium intake modulates vascular and/or cardiac calcification; (3) clinical trials that reinforce the safety and efficacy of calcium-based phosphate binders; and (4) the inordinate relative cost of sevelamer. Recognizing that established as well as novel phosphate binders are currently undergoing clinical evaluation, an open mind and an awareness of developing literature are necessary when deciding how to manage hyperphosphatemia in renal failure.
Human posture simulation to assess cumulative spinal load due to manual lifting. Part I: methods

The estimation of cumulative spinal load (CSL) resulting from exposure to manual materials handling (MMH) may provide a sensitive method for assessing the risk of highly varying exposures. This article reports on a CSL method that involves human posture simulation of workers from videotape in order to assess spinal load exposures due to MMH. The proposed method appears to be sensitive to different durations of exposure, easy to use and useful for assessing jobs with a high degree of variability in task characteristics between lifts. Although the method remains to be validated, it appears to be a useful addition to the range of tools available for assessing manual lifting exposures in worksite-based epidemiologic studies. Ergonomic methods are lacking for assessing highly variable MMH tasks, such as tasks found in warehousing. The existing methods do not include sufficient factors to account for variable exposure patterns or tasks with highly variable task characteristics, such as varying load weights and ...
Validity of Physician Self-Report in Tracking Patient Education Objectives

Patient education objectives are included as a strategy in every health promotion area addressed in Healthy People 2000. The likelihood of accomplishing these objectives is linked to the accuracy of the baseline estimates of practice. These estimates have most usually relied upon patient and physician reports. However, the accuracy of these reports has been infrequently studied. We analyzed audiotapes of interactions among 377 adult chronic disease patients and 38 physicians in a variety of practice settings to estimate the accuracy of their reports. Our findings indicate that neither doctors nor patients provide a consistently accurate reflection of health promotion discussions, nor do they appear to agree with one another very much as to what was discussed. Smoking and diet were reported quite accurately by both doctors and patients, whereas discussions regarding physical activity, alcohol, and stress were less so. Further, our findings suggest that underreport may pose an even greater threat to accurate estimates of physician practice than overreports.
Modelling of soil–structure interaction behaviour: geometric nonlinearity of buried structures combined to spatial variability of soil

In the analysis of non-linear behaviour of buried structures, the soil–structure interaction is the most important cause of buried pipeline failure, especially when the soil is modelled as a random elastic medium. In order to design safe and economical means of transporting energy and fluid, it is necessary to predict realistic behaviour of buried pipeline. In this work, the influence of spatially random soil properties on the geometric non-linear behaviour of pipeline is investigated. However, a numerical model has been developed, by modelling the pipeline as a geometric non-linear long beam resting on linear elastic random soil. Due to large deflections and moderate rotations of pipeline, the von Karman-type non-linearity based on the finite element formulation of non-linear pipeline response is adopted and then combined with random field theory of soil based on Monte Carlo simulations. The equation of motion is obtained using the principal of virtual works and solved using the Newton–Raphson incrementa...
Spinal Decerebrate-Like Posturing After Brain Death: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Introduction:Criteria for establishing brain death (BD) require absence of all brainstem-mediated reflexes including motor (ie, decerebrate or decorticate) posturing. A number of spinal cord automatisms may emerge after BD, but occurrence of decerebrate-like spinal reflexes may be particularly problematic; confusion of such stereotypic extension–pronation movements with brain stem reflexes may confound or delay definitive diagnosis of BD. We present a case in which we verified the noncerebral (ie, likely spinal) origin of such decerebrate-like reflexes.Methods:Case report and systematic review of literature.Results:A 63-year-old woman presented with large pontine hemorrhage and complete loss of cerebral function, including no motor response to pain. Apnea testing confirmed death by neurologic criteria. Thirty-six hours after BD declaration, during assessment for organ donation, she began to exhibit spontaneous and stimulus-induced stereotypic extension–pronation of the upper extremities. The similarity of...