cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interprofessional simulation to improve safety in the epilepsy monitoring unit.

Abstract Objective Patient safety is critical for epilepsy monitoring units (EMUs). Effective training is important for educating all personnel, including residents and nurses who frequently cover these units. We performed a needs assessment and developed a simulation-based team training curriculum employing actual EMU sentinel events to train neurology resident–nurse interprofessional teams to maximize effective responses to high-acuity events. Methods A mixed-methods design was used. This included the development of a safe-practice checklist to assess team response to acute events in the EMU using expert review with consensus (a modified Delphi process). All nineteen incoming first-year neurology residents and 2 nurses completed a questionnaire assessing baseline knowledge and attitudes regarding seizure management prior to and following a team training program employing simulation and postscenario debriefing. Four resident–nurse teams were recorded while participating in two simulated scenarios. Employing retrospective video review, four trained raters used the newly developed safe-practice checklist to assess team performance. We calculated the interobserver reliability of the checklist for consistency among the raters. We attempted to ascertain whether the training led to improvement in performance in the actual EMU by comparing 10 videos of resident–nurse team responses to seizures 4–8 months into the academic year preceding the curricular training to 10 that included those who received the training within 4–8 months of the captured video. Results Knowledge in seizure management was significantly improved following the program, but confidence in seizure management was not. Interrater agreement was moderate to high for consistency of raters for the majority of individual checklist items. We were unable to demonstrate that the training led to sustainable improvement in performance in the actual EMU by the method we used. Conclusions A simulated team training curriculum using a safe-practice checklist to improve the management of acute events in an EMU may be an effective method of training neurology residents. However, translating the results into sustainable benefits and confidence in management in the EMU requires further study.
An FPGA Based Reconfigurable Coprocessor Board Utilizing a Mathematics of Arrays

Work in progress at the University of Missouri-Rolla on hardware assists for high performance computing is presented. This research consists of a novel field programmable gate array (FPGA) based reconfigurable coprocessor board (the Chameleon Coprocessor) being used to evaluate hardware architectures for speedup of array computation algorithms. These algorithms are developed using a Mathematics of Arrays (MOA). They provide a means to generate addresses for data transfers that require less data movement than more traditional algorithms. In this manner, the address generation algorithms are acting as an intelligent data prefetching mechanism or special purpose cache controller. Software implementations have been used to provide speedups on the order of 100% over classical methods to the solution of heat transfer equations on a uniprocessor. We extend these methods to application designs for the Chameleon Coprocessor.
IMPROVED PRETREATMENT PERFORMANCE THROUGH LOW SOLIDS WATER : AN EXAMINATION OF HIGHLY EFFICIENT PARTIAL DEMINERALIZATION

Abstract The use of partial demineralization in conjunction with a degasifier to strip resultant carbon dioxide is an efficient method to treat waters with high alkalinity-to-hardness ratios and low sodium content. Partial demineralization also results in a substantial reduction in waste solids. Critical design factors for the partial demineralization process include type of resin used and the proper balance of resin bed volume to flow rate. Significantly lower capital expenditures and operational savings realized from less frequent chemical regeneration make partial demineralization a very cost-effective technique for generating high-quality water for a majority of pretreatment washer requirements. It is important to note that depending on the quality required for the intended application, the preferred method of water purification may consist of any of the following treatment strategies: 1. 1. Partial demineralizer with DI system. 2. 2. Reverse osmosis system with DI system. 3. 3. Reverse osmosis system alone. 4. 4. Partial demineralizer alone.
Initiation of Swarming Motility by Proteus mirabilis Occurs in Response to Specific Cues Present in Urine and Requires Excess l-Glutamine

ABSTRACT Proteus mirabilis, a leading cause of catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CaUTI), differentiates into swarm cells that migrate across catheter surfaces and medium solidified with 1.5% agar. While many genes and nutrient requirements involved in the swarming process have been identified, few studies have addressed the signals that promote initiation of swarming following initial contact with a surface. In this study, we show that P. mirabilis CaUTI isolates initiate swarming in response to specific nutrients and environmental cues. Thirty-three compounds, including amino acids, polyamines, fatty acids, and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle intermediates, were tested for the ability to promote swarming when added to normally nonpermissive media. l-Arginine, l-glutamine, dl-histidine, malate, and dl-ornithine promoted swarming on several types of media without enhancing swimming motility or growth rate. Testing of isogenic mutants revealed that swarming in response to the cues required putrescine biosynthesis and pathways involved in amino acid metabolism. Furthermore, excess glutamine was found to be a strict requirement for swarming on normal swarm agar in addition to being a swarming cue under normally nonpermissive conditions. We thus conclude that initiation of swarming occurs in response to specific cues and that manipulating concentrations of key nutrient cues can signal whether or not a particular environment is permissive for swarming.
Scientific basis and therapeutic regimens for use of antenatal glucocorticoids.

Abstract The scientific basis for use of prenatal steroid therapy in preparing the human fetus for premature delivery is extensive and convincing. Studies in numerous animal species have documented precocious maturation of lung and other tissues after administration of glucocorticoids to the fetus, and ablation experiments indicate delayed organ maturation with a deficiency of endogenous corticosteroid. The timing of lung differentiation correlates well with the developmental increase in circulating corticosteroid, supporting the concepts that endogenous corticosteroids, interacting with other hormones, are important physiologic modulators of tissue maturation and that prenatal steroid therapy mimics the effect of endogenous glucocorticoids. In fetal lung the response to glucocorticoid involves induction of a limited number of proteins, including all the components of surfactant, as well as key lipogenic enzymes. These effects are mediated by glucocorticoid receptors, occur with physiologic concentrations of hormone, are primarily exerted at the level of gene activation, and are reversible on removal of hormone from cultured tissue. These various observations predict that a relatively brief exposure of the human fetus to glucocorticoid accelerates the normal developmental process in lung and other tissues and reduces disease resulting from developmental immaturity. Prenatal treatment with either betamethasone or dexamethasone at the recommended doses provides similar physiologic stress levels of glucocorticoid activity in fetal plasma sufficient to provide a near-maximal occupancy of receptors and induction of target proteins. Elevated glucocorticoid levels are maintained during the course of treatment and values return to normal by 2 days after the last dose. Treatment causes a transient suppression of maternal and fetal adrenal function; however, treated infants respond to newborn stress with a near-normal cortisol surge. However, there is little information, and reason for concern, regarding the safety of higher or repeated dose of prenatal steroid, and accordingly, routine retreatment of women who are not in active labor is not advised. The recommendation of the consensus panel that corticosteroid therapy is indicated for women at risk of premature delivery with few exceptions is thus well supported by evidence relating to glucocorticoid effects, mechanisms, and pharmacokinetics.
Reactions of Ozone with Fatty Acid Monolayers: A Model System for Disruption of Lipid Molecular Assemblies by Ozone

Abstract Ozone concentrations of 0.03 ppm are shown to initiate physical disruption of both oleic and linoleic acid spread monolayers in a few seconds. Approximately equal yields of water soluble products in nitrogen- and oxygencontaining environments as well as in the two acid systems suggest that the dominant reaction pathway involves direct attack on fatty acid double bonds and not oxidative chain reactions. A possible explanation for the observed loss of monolayer material is provided by the Criegee mechanism for ozonide rearrangement following ozone attachment to double bonds. In this scheme polar intermediates are generated which could pass into the aqueous subphase before recombination can occur. α-Tocopherol exhibits a protective effect only when present at a high fraction in the fatty acid monolayer (6 mole%). These systems provide an efficient elementary model for studying the physical effects of ozone on lipid membrane structure.
Induction of immunity in calves to mycoplasma bovis infection of the respiratory tract

Abstract Immunity to colonization of the respiratory tract by Mycoplasma bovis (formerly Mycoplasma agalactiae subsp. bovis was induced in calves by inoculation of formalin inactivated organisms. Animals inoculated intramuscularly and then intratracheally with inactivated mycoplasmas had significantly fewer M. bovis in their lungs, compared with non-vaccinated animals, 3 weeks after intratracheal challenge with viable organisms. In contrast, there was no significant difference in the numbers of M. bovis isolated from the lungs of control animals and of calves given two intramuscular inoculations of inactivated organisms. These results indicate that stimulation of the local immune system is important in the development of resistance to M. bovis respiratory infection following vaccination with inactivated organisms.
Snapshot/Continuous Data Collection capacity for large-scale probabilistic Wireless Sensor Networks

Data collection is a common operation of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). The performance of data collection can be measured by its achievable network capacity. Most of the current works on the network capacity issue are based on the deterministic network model, which is not practical for real applications due to the “transitional region phenomenon” [22]. The probabilistic network model is actually a more practical one. In this paper, we investigate the achievable Snapshot/Continuous Data Collection (SDC/CDC) capacity for WSNs under the probabilistic network model. For SDC, we propose a novel Cell-based Multi-Path Scheduling (CMPS) algorithm, whose achievable network capacity is Ω(p o over 3ω · W) in the worst case and Ω(p o over ω · W) in the average case, where p o is the promising transmission threshold probability, ω is a constant, and W is the data transmitting rate over a wireless channel, i.e. the channel bandwidth, which are both order-optimal. For CDC, we propose a Zone-based Pipeline Scheduling (ZPS) algorithm. ZPS significantly speeds up the data collection process and achieves surprising network capacities for both the worst case and the average case. The simulation results also validate that the proposed algorithms significantly improve network capacity compared with the existing works.
Nucleotide sequence and mutation rate of the H strain of hepatitis C virus.

Abstract Patient H is an American patient who was infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) in 1977. The patient became chronically infected and has remained so for the past 13 years. In this study, we compared the nucleotide and predicted amino acid sequences of the HCV genome obtained from plasma collected in 1977 with that collected in 1990. We find that the two HCV isolates differ at 123 of the 4923 (2.50%) nucleotides sequenced. We estimate that the mutation rate of the H strain of HCV is approximately 1.92 x 10(-3) base substitutions per genome site per year. The nucleotide changes were exclusively base substitutions and were unevenly distributed throughout the genome. A relatively high rate of change was observed in the region of the HCV genome that corresponds to the non-structural protein 1 gene region of flaviviruses, where 44 of 960 (4.6%) nucleotides were different. Within this region there was a 39-nucleotide domain in which 28.2% of the nucleotides differed between the two isolates. In contrast, relatively few nucleotide substitutions were observed in the 5' noncoding region, where only 2 of 276 (0.7%) nucleotides were different. Our results suggest that the mutation rate of the HCV genome is similar to that of other RNA viruses and that genes appear to be evolving at different rates within the virus genome.
A ribosomal ambiguity mutation

Abstract The existence of a genetic determinant ram ‡ for a 30 s ribosomal component controlling translation ambiguity has been demonstrated. It is located in the strA (streptomycin sensitivity) region and is 99% cotransducible with the spc (spectinomycin sensitivity) gene. In vitro, ram mutant ribosomes misread extensively and by interchanging the subunits of ram and ram+ ribosomes it is shown that misreading is a property of the 30 s subunit. In vivo, the ram mutation confers on the cell the ability to suppress all three nonsense codons. Streptomycin induces a similar generalized ambiguity phenotypically both in vitro and in vivo. The effects of ram and of streptomycin are additive. Ambiguity caused by ram, by streptomycin and by their combination is antagonized in vivo and in vitro by additional mutations at the strA locus. Thus the strA40 (resistant competent) and strA1 (resistant incompetent) alleles increasingly restrict ribosomal (as well as tRNA) suppression and return to normal the reduced growth rate produced by ram mutation in a wild-type strA+ strain. Growth is inhibited completely in a ram1, strA+ strain by sublethal doses of streptomycin and in ram1, strA40 strains by higher doses, while strain ram1, strA1 is indifferent to streptomycin. The bactericidal action of the drug is unrelated to these effects.
Thrombolytic therapy for acute transmural myocardial infarction: Intracoronary versus intravenous☆

Abstract The application of coronary angiography in coordination with streptokinase administration directly into the occluded coronary artery has served to focus attention on the clinical potential of such therapy. About 75 percent of patients with acute transmural myocardial infarction have been shown to have reperfusion after Intracoronary administration of streptokinase. However, the data do not prove that the beneficial effect required regional perfusion. Analysis of biochemical data suggests that the active agent was not confined to the locale of the thrombus, but in fact circulated in significant concentration; furthermore, systemic (intravenous) treatment resulted in reperfusion of a significant proportion (50 percent) of coronary arteries as well. Comparative studies are needed to critically compare angiographic results after regional or systemic therapy and also to assess the impact of reperfusion on possible reduction In long-term morbidity and mortality. Although intracoronary therapy appears to be more effective for inducing reperfusion, intravenous therapy has the potential for greater clinical impact, since it can be instituted more quickly after the onset of symptoms and does not require specialized cardiac catheterization facilities.
Reaching graduate students at risk for suicidal behavior through the Interactive Screening Program

Suicidal behavior is a significant concern among graduate students. Because many suicidal graduate students do not access mental health services, programs to connect them to resources are essential. This article describes the Interactive Screening Program (ISP), an anonymous, Web-based tool for screening and engaging at-risk graduate school students. We include qualitative responses from participating graduate students providing information on their symptoms or circumstances, desire for treatment, and gratitude for services. Concluding remarks highlight ISP's benefits for graduate students and ways to implement this protocol for other graduate student populations.
Future directions of information systems in the Army After Next

The U.S. Army's concept for the Army After Next (AAN) for the 2020 time frame is presented. The role of systems in the AAN that will gather information, process, store, fuse, and disseminate information and conduct information warfare will be emphasized and developed. New concepts for sensors and information systems are described as well as their relationship to a systems-of-systems for information dominance on the battlefield. The paper finishes with the sensor and information systems requirements for the AAN, specific applications and a new proposed ACTD, called Joint Intelligence, Reconnaissance and Surveillance, that would be the first demonstration of some of the AAN concepts in sensors and information systems.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
An ‘exact’ two-group median test with an extension to censored data

In this note, we develop an ‘exact’ bootstrap test for comparing medians that is applicable for both censored and uncensored data. It is deemed ‘exact’ in the sense that an analytic solution is available such that no Monte-Carlo methods are necessary. The advantage of our analytic bootstrap hypothesis testing approach, as compared to standard parametric tests or permutation tests (oftentimes denoted randomization tests), is that the nonparametric bootstrap approach is completely nonparametric and asymptotically correct. In addition, we will illustrate that it has good finite sample behavior and is robust to departures from the classic exchangeability assumption that is a key component of permutation testing.
Scaling and the approach to scaling at large transverse momentum

Large transverse-momentum scaling as $\frac{\mathrm{Ed}\ensuremath{\sigma}}{{d}^{3}p}=p_{\ensuremath{\perp}}^{}{}_{}{}^{\ensuremath{-}8}f({x}_{\ensuremath{\perp}},{x}_{\ensuremath{\parallel}})$ is first discussed in terms of models of parton-parton scattering. We review explicitly the equivalence of this approach to the multiperipheral and field-theory approaches, and we find the parton distribution function that fits the recent CERN ISR and NAL data. Then the deviations from scaling at nonasymptotic energies due to internal and external masses are examined by an exact numerical calculation of the general peripheral structure for the single-particle spectrum, which includes the parton models. This provides good fits to the single-particle spectra at all ${p}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}$ and explains the observed deviations from scaling at small ${p}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}$. The rise of the central plateau, secondary trajectories, and particle ratios at large ${p}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}$ are also discussed.
Preparation and Characterization of Gold Nanoshells Coated with Self-Assembled Monolayers

This paper describes the functionalization of the surfaces of gold nanoshells, which consist of silica nanoparticles coated with a continuous thin layer of gold. Previous studies have shown that gold nanoshells exhibit optical properties similar to those of metal colloids (e.g., strong optical absorptions and large third-order nonlinear optical polarizabilities). In contrast to metal colloids, however, the plasmon resonance of the nanoshells can be tuned to specific wavelengths across the visible and infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum by adjusting the relative size of the dielectric core and the thickness of the gold overlayer. In efforts to develop new strategies for protecting and manipulating these nanoparticles, this paper describes the functionalization of the surfaces of gold nanoshells with self-assembled monolayers derived from the adsorption of a series of alkanethiols. The nanoshells are characterized by transmission electron microscopy, UV−vis spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, Raman ...
Optimal vaccine scheduling in cancer immunotherapy

Abstract Cancer immunotherapy aims at stimulating the immune system to react against cancer stealth capabilities. It consists of repeatedly injecting small doses of a tumor-associated molecule one wants the immune system to recognize, until a consistent immune response directed against the tumor cells is observed. We have applied the theory of optimal control to the problem of finding the optimal schedule of injections of an immunotherapeutic agent against cancer. The method employed works for a general ODE system and can be applied to find the optimal protocol in a variety of clinical problems where the kinetics of the drug or treatment and its influence on the normal physiologic functions have been described by a mathematical model. We show that the choice of the cost function has dramatic effects on the kind of solution the optimization algorithm is able to find. This provides evidence that a careful ODE model and optimization schema must be designed by mathematicians and clinicians using their proper different perspectives.
Effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor therapy on QT dispersion post acute myocardial infarction.

KASSOTIS, J., et al.: Effects of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitor Therapy on QT Dispersion Post Acute Myocardial Infarction.The aim of this study was to determine the effect of an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI), initiated within 24 hours of an acute myocardial infarction (AMI), on the QT dispersion (QTd). ACEIs have proven beneficial in improving left ventricular remodeling, following an AMI while contributing to a reduction in sudden cardiac death (SCD). A prolonged QTd is a marker of electrical instability predisposing to ventricular arrhythmias and SCD. No one has looked at the effects on the QTd of ACEI therapy initiated within 24 hours of an AMI. The study included 239 consecutive patients who presented with an AMI between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 1998. A total of 105 patients had never been treated with an ACEI, and 51 patients were started on enalapril within 24 hours of presentation. Patient demographics were similar in both groups. All patients were treated with aspirin and β-blocker therapy. A baseline QTd was determined and recalculated on days 3–4 and 6–7 following the AMI. There was no significant difference in the baseline QTd, heart rate, QTcmin, and QTcmax between the two groups. On days 3–4 the QTd in the treatment group (A) was39.2 ± 19.4 ms, as opposed to84.4 ± 31.2 msin the control group (B) (P = 1.0E-06). This reduction in QTd was accounted for by a significant difference in the QTcmax. The QTd shortened in both groups on days 6–7 with a QTd of30.0 ± 17.5in group A and a QTd of54.1 ± 26.3in group B(P = 1.0E-05). There was a significant difference in ejection fraction (EF) between the two groups with the ACEI treated group exhibiting a lower EF, (0.403 (A), 0.494 (B),P < 0.043). The mean dose of enalapril was 6.45 mg daily in the treatment group. ACEIs have been previously shown to reduce the QTd after two months of therapy following an AMI. This study shows that the beneficial effects of ACEI occur early following administration of the drug. The authors speculate that the reduction in SCD conferred by ACEI therapy may be attributed to its effect on reducing the degree of ventricular dispersion of repolarization following a myocardial infarction. (PACE 2003; 26[Pt. I]:843–848)
A fast and usually linear algorithm for global flow analysis (abstract only)

ible graphs is presented. The algorithm is shown to treat a very general class of function spaces. For a graph of e edges, the algorithm has a worst case time bound of O(e log e) function operations. It is also shown that in programming terms, the number of operations is proportional to e plus the number of exits from program loops. Consequently a restriction to one-entry one-exit control structures guarantees linearity. The algorithm can be extended to yet larger classes of function spaces and graphs by relaxing the time bound. Examples are given of code improvement problems which can be solved using the algorithm.
Effects of pH and Applied Potential on Photocurrent and Oxidation Rate of Saline Solutions of Formic Acid in a Photoelectrocatalytic Reactor

A photoelectrocatalytic reactor containing titania-coated titanium electrodes was employed to degrade solutions of formic acid (2 mmol dm-3) in 0.01 mol dm-3 NaCl. Reaction rates were increased above that observed for a purely photocatalytic experiment by operating at applied potentials of at least +1.0 V (versus saturated calomel electrode). The kinetics of photodegradation at +1.0 V was modeled effectively using a Langmuir−Hinshelwood-Hougen-Watson expression. Unexpected results were obtained when only the background electrolyte was passed through the reactor. During initial recirculation of this solution with no UV illumination and no applied potential, the pH increased from 6.5 to 9, suggesting ion exchange of chloride ions with hydroxyl ions from the catalyst surface. However, when UV illumination was initiated with an applied potential, the pH decreased to 3.5−4.2, depending on the magnitude of the potential. The cause of this behavior is not known, although there are several explanations. Addition ...
Spectroscopic studies of ligand and substrate binding to human indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase.

Human indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (hIDO) is an intracellular heme-containing enzyme, which catalyzes the initial and rate-determining step of l-tryptophan (l-Trp) metabolism via the kynurenine pathway in nonhepatic tissues. Steady-state kinetic data showed that hIDO exhibits substrate inhibition behavior, implying the existence of a second substrate binding site in the enzyme, although so far there is no direct evidence supporting it. The kinetic data also revealed that the Km of l-Trp (15 μM) is ∼27-fold lower than the Kd of l-Trp (0.4 mM) for the ligand-free ferrous enzyme, suggesting that O2 binding proceeds l-Trp binding during the catalytic cycle. With cyanide as a structural probe, we have investigated the thermodynamic and kinetic parameters associated with ligand and substrate binding to hIDO. Equilibrium titration studies show that the cyanide adduct is capable of binding two l-Trp molecules, with Kd values of 18 μM and 26 mM. The data offer the first direct evidence of the second substrate bindi...
How can evolutionary theory accommodate recent empirical results on organismal senescence

According to a prominent recent report, guppies collected from sites lacking predators are inferior in every aspect of their life history profile to those evolved in other, nearby sites with predators present. This is an exception to two classical predictions of evolutionary theory: that low extrinsic mortality should be associated with longer life span, and that higher fertility should be associated with shorter life span. Some theorists have tried to accommodate this and other anomalous results within the standard framework, but we argue that the exceptions they carve out do not explain the results at hand. In fact, the findings suggest that population regulation has been selected at the group level, though this is a mechanism that most theorists regard with suspicion. We conclude by relating the present result to other experiments that seem to point in the same direction.
Surface Analyses of Carbon Fibers Produced from Polyacrylonitrile Fibers at Low Carbonization Temperatures

A process for producing carbon fibers from polyacrylonitrile at low carbonization temperatures was studied. The bulk and surface properties of fibers obtained after reaction with benzoic acid, air and carbonizing in nitrogen or a dilute acetylene atmosphere are discussed. All fiber products had different surface and internal compositions. Samples produced at temperatures up to 950 C and carbonized in nitrogen contained substantial quantities of nitrogen and oxygen at the surface. During carbonization, the surface nitrogen converted into two new forms, possibly nitrile and an azo or a new carbon-nitrogen bond. Samples carbonized in acetylene contained a carbon-rich surface stable to oxidation.
Prediction error method‐based second‐order structural identification algorithm in stochastic state space formulation

This paper presents a time-domain prediction error method (PEM)-based system identification method for the identification of second-order structural parameters of linear structural systems. The state space model of a linear structure is first expanded into linear AutoRegressive Moving Average with eXogenous excitation (ARMAX) or AutoRegressive Moving Average (ARMA) models by matrix fraction description. Second-order structural parameters are then estimated directly from measured time series data by applying the PEM to ARMAX and ARMA models. The proposed structural identification method can incorporate as much as possible structural information known a priori into the structural identification process to improve the identification accuracy. To avoid the practical difficulty often associated with input measurement, a two-stage structural health monitoring procedure is proposed. Once the mass matrix is identified from the first stage, data collected from ambient vibration survey can be used to identify other structural parameters in the second stage. The effectiveness of the proposed structural identification method as well as the corresponding structural health monitoring method is evaluated through numerical simulation in the context of the ASCE benchmark problem on structural health monitoring. The numerical results show that the proposed method is capable of locating and quantifying damages reasonably well in the presence of 10% measurement noise and limited sensor information. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Effects of Flurazepam on Sleep Studies in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

We studied five male nonobese patients (mean age, 61 years) who had moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Each patient underwent three successive nights of systematic monitoring of sleep variables. On nights 2 and 3, patients received placebo and flurazepam (30 mg). Patients were also given flurazepam (15 mg) for seven consecutive nights and underwent sleep monitoring on nights 1 and 7. Two patients exhibited oxygen desaturation during rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep, both spontaneously and after administration of flurazepam. The three other patients had no nocturnal oxygen desaturation, either spontaneously or after ingestion of flurazepam. We concluded that sleep-induced respiratory abnormalities are not systematically worsened by flurazepam. Flurazepam (15 mg) had no effect on the sleep disturbances of our patients with COPD after seven nights of administration.
The elastic constants of a pyrope‐grossular‐almandine garnet to 20 Gpa

Laser-induced phonon spectroscopy has been applied to the determination of the elastic constants and equation of state at 25°C of a natural garnet of composition Py51.6Al31.7Gr15.8Sp0.9 to a pressure of 20 GPa. Moduli are linear with pressure. The adiabatic bulk modulus in GPa is given by K=170.8 + 4.09 P and the shear modulus is µ=94.7 + 1.76P. The derivative of the shear modulus with respect to temperature at constant density is derived from the temperature and pressure dependencies of the elastic constants. The constant pressure derivatives of the mean longitudinal (Vp' and shear (Vs' velocities are tabulated. At 298K and 1bar (∂1nVp/∂1nρ'p=1.7, (∂1nVs/∂1nρ'p=1.5 and (∂1nVs/∂1nVp'p=0.9. The corresponding values calculated at 1000 K and 20 GPa are 1.6, 1.7 and 1.1.
Evaluation of the MYC_CANFA gene in Chinese Shar Peis with cobalamin deficiency.

Background A recent genome-wide scan using the canine minimal screening set 2 (MSS-2) showed that cobalamin deficiency appears to be hereditary in Chinese Shar Peis and is linked to the microsatellite markers DTR13.6 and REN13N11 on canine chromosome 13. Objective The goal of this study was to evaluate the MYC_CANFA gene, which is the closest known gene with a distance of approximately 0.06 megabases (Mb) to the microsatellite marker DTR13.6, for any mutations in this breed. Methods Microsatellite markers (Myc and G15987) for genotyping and primers for sequencing were used to evaluate the MYC_CANFA gene. The genotype and gene sequence were compared between cobalamin-deficient Shar Peis, Shar Peis with normal serum cobalamin concentrations, and the DNA sequences published as part of the Ensemble Genomic map. Results Neither the microsatellite markers (Myc and G15987) nor the sequences of the MYC_CANFA gene showed a significant difference among both groups of Shar Peis and the published canine DNA sequence. Conclusions The data presented here suggest that cobalamin deficiency in Shar Peis is not related to any mutations of the MYC_CANFA gene according to the genotyping and sequencing results in this study. Further investigations are warranted to find a potential genomic locus in proximity to DTR13.6 and REN13N11 that shows mutations in cobalamin-deficient Shar Peis.
Immunohistochemical staining, laser capture microdissection, and filter‐aided sample preparation‐assisted proteomic analysis of target cell populations within tissue samples

An important problem involves isolating subpopulations of cells defined by protein markers in clinical tissue samples for proteomic studies. We describe a method termed Immunohistochemical staining, laser capture microdissection (LCM) and filter-aided sample preparation (FASP)-Assisted Proteomic analysis of Target cell populations within tissue samples (ILFAPT). The principle of ILFAPT is that a target cell population expressing a protein of interest can be lit up by immunohistochemical staining and isolated from tissue sections using LCM for FASP and proteomic analysis. Using this method, we isolated a small population of CD90(+) stem-like cells from glioblastoma multiforme tissue sections and identified 674 high-confidence (false discovery rate < 0.01) proteins from 32 nL of CD90(+) cells by LC-MS/MS using an Orbitrap Elite mass spectrometer. We further quantified the relative abundance of proteins identified from equal volumes of LCM-captured CD90(+) and CD90(-) cells, where 109 differentially expressed proteins were identified. The major group of these differentially expressed proteins was relevant to cell adhesion and cellular movement. This ILFAPT method has demonstrated the ability to provide in-depth proteome analysis of a very small specific cell population within tissues. It can be broadly applied to the study of target cell populations within clinical specimens.
Social Work With Older Adults and Their Families: Changing Practice Paradigms

Given the far-reaching social, economic, and demographic changes in the aging population, the authors argue for a methodological and practice-oriented transformation in future geriatric social work. The authors suggest that if they are to maintain their independence and well-being, a resilience-enhancing social work intervention will be especially effective in fostering the specific survival skills that older adults often already utilize to help them cope with difficult situations. A risk-resilience model sensitive to ethnic difference and practiced at multiple systems levels (e.g., the community) is offered as an advancement of the traditional models of social work practice. In conclusion, the authors emphasize the value of a strengths perspective to address the pressing issues that affect the aging population.
Probiotic bacteria survive in Cheddar cheese and modify populations of other lactic acid bacteria

Aims Starter lactic acid bacteria in Cheddar cheese face physico-chemical stresses during manufacture and ageing that alter their abilities to survive and to interact with other bacterial populations. Nonstarter bacteria are derived from milk handling, cheese equipment and human contact during manufacture. Probiotic bacteria are added to foods for human health benefits that also encounter physiological stresses and microbial competition that may mitigate their survival during ageing. We added probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus paracasei and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis to full-fat, reduced-fat and low-fat Cheddar cheeses, aiming to study their survival over 270 days of ageing and to determine the role of the cheese matrix in their survival. Methods and Results Probiotic and other lactic acid bacterial populations were enumerated by quantitative PCR using primers specifically targeting the different bacterial genera or species of interest. Bifidobacteria were initially added at 106 CFU g−1 cheese and survived variably in the different cheeses over the 270-day ageing process. Probiotic lactobacilli that were added at 107 CFU g−1 cheese and incident nonstarter lactobacilli (initially at 108 CFU g−1 cheese) increased by 10- to 100-fold over 270 days. Viable bacterial populations were differentiated using propidium monoazide followed by species-specific qPCR assays, which demonstrated that the starter and probiotic microbes survived over ageing, independent of cheese type. Addition of probiotic bacteria, at levels 100-fold below that of starter bacteria, modified starter and nonstarter bacterial levels. Conclusions We demonstrated that starter lactococci, nonstarter lactobacilli and probiotic bacteria are capable of surviving throughout the cheesemaking and ageing process, indicating that delivery via hard cheeses is possible. Probiotic addition at lower levels may also alter starter and nonstarter bacterial survival. Significance and Impact of the Study We applied qPCR to study multispecies survival and viability and distinctly enumerated bacterial species in commercial-scale Cheddar cheese manufacture.
The prime role of HDL to transport lutein into the retina: evidence from HDL-deficient WHAM chicks having a mutant ABCA1 transporter.

PURPOSE. Lutein and zeaxanthin are largely transported in plasma by high-density lipoprotein (HDL). The Wisconsin hypoalpha mutant (WHAM) chicken has a recessive sex-linked mutation in the ABCA1 transporter gene that results in a severe deficiency of HDL. In this study, the transport and tissue distribution of lutein and zeaxanthin were examined in newly hatched and 28-day-old WHAM chicks compared with control chicks. METHODS. One-day-old WHAM and control chicks were randomized to be fed a high-lutein or a control diet for 28 days. The plasma and tissues were analyzed for lutein, zeaxanthin, and lipoproteins on days 1 and 28. RESULTS. The WHAM chicks had very low plasma levels of HDL cholesterol (5.3% of normal). They also had very low concentrations of lutein in the plasma and all other tissues compared with control chicks. The plasma and retina were only 9% and 6% of control levels (P < 0.01), respectively. Zeaxanthin levels were similarly low (9% of control, P < 0.01). The high-lutein diet increased the content of lutein in the plasma and tissues of control chicks (P < 0.01). In contrast, in WHAM chicks, lutein increased greatly in the plasma, liver, and heart, but little in the retina (6% of control). CONCLUSIONS. HDL deficiency in the WHAM chicks was associated with a deficiency of lutein and zeaxanthin in the tissues, especially in the retina. The high-lutein diet increased the lutein content of some tissues via LDL and VLDL transport, but retinal lutein remained very low. These data support the prime role of HDL as the specific transporter of lutein and zeaxanthin into the retina. The WHAM chick provides an excellent model for the study of the role of HDL in the retinal uptake of lutein and zeaxanthin.
Interferon-alpha and gamma mediated gene responses in a human breast carcinoma cell line.

Interferons (IFNs) have been known to possess an antiproliferative effect on tumor cells besides their well characterized antiviral effect in cell cultures. The mechanism of action of the different IFNs is not fully understood, but in recent years a number of IFN-inducible genes, the presumed mediators of IFN action, have been identified. In the present study we examined the antiproliferative effect of IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma on human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) using (i) the MTT dye formation assay and (ii) anchorage-independent (AI) growth in soft agar. Both IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma were found to have an antiproliferative effect on the growth of MCF-7 cells. In addition, the kinetics of induction of a number of IFN-inducible genes was also examined. The expression of these genes was measured by mRNA analyses using specific [alpha-32P]-labeled cDNAs as probes. The induction of these genes by IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma is a primary effect of IFN, asde novo protein synthesis is not required for their induction. Our results on the kinetics of induction of these genes by IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma suggests a complex mechanism of ligand-dependent gene activation in this cell line with some similar and dissimilar pathways.
Knowing when to put your foot down

Footskate, where a character's foot slides on the ground when it should be planted firmly, is a common artifact resulting from almost any attempt to modify motion capture data. We describe an online method for fixing footskate that requires no manual clean-up. An important part of fixing footskate is determining when the feet should be planted. We introduce an oracle that can automatically detect when foot plants should occur. Our method is more accurate than baseline methods that check the height or speed of the feet. These baseline methods perform especially poorly on noisy or imperfect data, requiring manual fixing. Once trained, our oracle is robust and can be used without manual clean-up, making it suitable for large databases of motion. After the foot plants are detected we use an off-the-shelf inverse kinematics based method to maintain ground contact during each foot plant. Our foot plant detection mechanism coupled with an IK based fixer can be treated as a black box that produces natural-looking motion of the feet, making it suitable for interactive systems. We demonstrate several applications which would produce unrealistic motion without our method.
The proarrhythmic effects of amiodarone.

P ROARRHYTHMIA is a term used to describe the apparent paradoxical exacerbation or development of new arrhythmia by antiarrhythmic drugs. In its most liberal interpretation this would include drug-induced bradyarrhythmia as well as tachyarrhythmia and increases in complexity or frequency of asymptomatic atria1 or ventricular ectopic activity (VEA). Programmed electrical stimulation (PES) studies can also detect atria1 or ventricular proarrhythmic effects using various criteria. What is of most interest clinically, however, is the drug-related potentiation of symptomatic arrhythmia by the production of a hemodynamitally poorly tolerated tachycardia. Finally, antiarrhythmic drugs may increase the minimum energy required for defibrillation, thus rendering implantable cardioverter defibrillators or external DC cardioversion less effective. Amiodarone is a recently approved Class III antiarrhythmic agent which is capable of producing almost all of these proarrhythmic effects.
A novel three-color, clone-specific fluorescence in situ hybridization procedure for monoclonal gammopathies

Abstract We have developed a three-color cytoplasmic immunoglobulin (clg) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique to detect plasma cell chromosomal aneuploidy in patients with multiple myeloma (MM), monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM), and amyloidosis (AL). Immunofluorescent-labeled antibodies to detect light chain expression and six directly labeled α-satellite chromosome specific enumeration probes (CEP) were used simultaneously to detect aneuploidy of the plasma cells. The six probes were specific for chromosomes 7, 9, 11, 15, 18, and X. The technique was tested in 12 consecutive patient samples (5 MM, 2 MGUS, 3 SMM, and 2 AL). Based on the a-satellite signals, we found trisomic clones for CEP 7 (4 of 12), CEP 11 (4 of 12), CEP X (1 of 12), CEP 9 (8 of 12), CEP 15 (7 of 12), and CEP 18 (5 of 12). Trisomic clones of at least one of the six chromosomes were present in 9 of 12 patients. We believe that this technique efficiently identifies monotypic plasma cells and permits simultaneous analysis of numeric chromosome anomalies by FISH in emerging neoplastic cells. We are in the process of applying this technique to a series of about 100 newly diagnosed monoclonal gammopathy patients.
Increased expression and internalization of the endotoxin coreceptor CD14 in enterocytes occur as an early event in the development of experimental necrotizing enterocolitis

Abstract Background The early signaling events in the development of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) remain undefined. We have recently shown that the endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide [LPS]) receptor toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) on enterocytes is critical in the pathogenesis of experimental NEC. Given that the membrane receptor CD14 is known to facilitate the activation of TLR4, we now hypothesize that endotoxemia induces an early upregulation of CD14 in enterocytes and that this participates in the early intestinal inflammatory response in the development of NEC. Methods IEC-6 enterocytes were treated with LPS (50 μ g/mL), and the subcellular localization of CD14 and TLR4 was assessed by confocal microscopy. C57/Bl6 or CD14−/− mice were treated with LPS (5 mg/kg), whereas experimental NEC was induced using a combination of gavage formula feeding and intermittent hypoxia. CD14 expression was determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction, and interleukin 6 was quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction. Results Exposure of IEC-6 enterocytes to LPS led to an initial, transient increase in CD14 expression. The early increase in CD14 expression was associated with internalization of CD14 to a perinuclear compartment where increased colocalization with TLR4 was noted. The in vivo significance of these findings is suggested as treatment of mice with LPS led to an early increase in CD14 expression in the intestinal mucosa, whereas the persistent endotoxemia of experimental NEC was associated with decreased CD14 expression within enterocytes. Conclusions LPS signaling in the enterocyte is marked by an early, transient increase in expression of CD14 and redistribution of the receptor. This process may contribute to the early activation of the intestinal inflammatory response that is observed in the development of NEC.
Metrics of resolution and performance for CD-SEMs

The performance of scanning electron beam instruments such as CD-SEMs can be defined in terms of parameters such as the beam probe size, the spatial resolution, and the signal to noise ratio of the image. A knowledge of these quantities is important in verifying the fact that an instrument meets its specification, and subsequently for tracking and optimizing its performance during use. Analytical methods based on the power spectrum (2-D Fourier transform analysis) of images are now beginning to be used for these purposes but care must be exercised to ensure reliable and meaningful results. Two new methods are suggested which can offer more detailed information about the microscope performance while avoiding the pitfalls of the simpler technique. Code implementing these tests, written as a plug-in macro for the well known NIH Image program, is available on-line.
Tunnel diode operation and application

The tunnel diode offers significant physical and electrical advantages over conventional semiconductor devices. Its impact on future transistor technology is evaluated in the light of these advantages.