cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A technique for generating interpretive translators for problem-oriented languages

The paper presents a technique for generating translators for problem-oriented and other command- or data-oriented languages which can be interpretively executed. The system consists of: (a) a stored grammar or table, representing in a modified graph form the syntactically valid statements and the corresponding semantic actions; (b) a set of application procedures, written in a procedural language; (c) a universal translator, which performs reading, input conversion, matching input items against the grammar, and calling the procedures specified by the grammar. The generator consists of the translator and a specific grammar and set of procedures, which together convert the problem-oriented description of the source grammar into the table used by the translator for execution.
Compensating for computational delay in digital equivalent of continuous control systems

A computer-aided method to compensate for the computational delay in the digital equivalent of continuous control systems is presented. The objective is to obtain the transfer function of the digital controller so that the performance of the equivalent digital control system is as close to that of the existing continuous system as possible. This is done by matching the frequency response of the digital control system to that of the existing system with a minimum weighted mean-square error. A formula for computing the parameters of the digital controller is obtained as a result. The design method is illustrated with an example. >
Watershed management in north Florida: public knowledge, attitudes and information needs

Abstract Water management policies in Florida emphasize the need for public involvement in managing watersheds, yet little is known about the environmental literacy of key stakeholders – nearby residents and recreational user groups. A mail survey was conducted to assess public environmental knowledge, attitudes, and information needs about watershed management based on a stratified random sample of 700 households in the 1683-km2 Orange Creek Basin in Florida. Most respondents had limited knowledge of the local environment and limited awareness of the local watershed as a landscape feature. Consumptive resource-users (e.g., anglers and hunters) had more knowledge of surface water features than non-consumptive users or non-users. Respondents generally held positive attitudes toward overall ecosystem management objectives. Attitudes toward specific management activities, such as aquatic plant control to improve boating access, differed among groups. Most respondents wanted to learn more about local ecology ...
Determinants of fentanyl and other potent µ opioid agonist misuse in opioid-dependent individuals.

Purpose Based on preclinical and clinical abuse liability assessments, fentanyl and other potent µ opioid agonists (e.g., hydromorphone and morphine) should be the most misused opioids if accessibility in the real world were not an issue. Since the latter is seldom true, we postulated that there would be a significant mismatch between actual and predicted rates of misuse. Methods We recruited 1818 prescription-opioid dependent patients entering drug treatment programs to complete an anonymous survey, covering drug use and health related issues. Results Hydrocodone and oxycodone products were the drugs of choice in 75% of patients, whereas potent µ opioid agonists (fentanyl, hydromorphone, and morphine), with the greatest predicted abuse potential, were very rarely chosen (<5% each). Most unexpectedly, the rank order of the actual drug of choice and the preferred drug in an ideal world were highly correlated. The reason most commonly given for the failure to endorse fentanyl, for example, as an actual or preferred drug, was fear of toxicity and overdose. We found few differences in drug use patterns between a subset of high-risk, impaired health care professionals (N = 196), and all other patients other than source of drug (forged prescriptions and doctors more common and dealers much less common in the HC sample). Conclusions These results indicate that it should not be assumed – particularly for new drug formulations – that a high potential for abuse will result in actual abuse; and, most importantly, that the hesitancy to use potent opioids because of fears of abuse may be misguided. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Automatic design of fuzzy systems using genetic algorithms and its application to lateral vehicle guidance

A method of tuning a fuzzy logic controller (FLC) by a genetic algorithm (GA) is proposed for lane following maneuvers in an automated highway system. The GA simultaneously determines the shape of membership functions, number of rules, and consequent parameters of the FLC. The GA approach operates on binary representations of FLCs and uses an expression for a fitness score to be maximized, which takes into account the tracking error, yaw rate error, lateral acceleration error, rate of lateral acceleration, front wheel steering angle, and rate of front wheel steering angle, to find an optimal controller. Apriori knowledge about both the physical application and FLCs is incorporated into the design method to increase the performance of the design method and the resulting controller. The controllers designed by this method are compared in simulation to a conventional PID controller, a frequency shaped linear quadratic controller, and previously designed FLCs tuned manually.
A specific effect of muscle cells on the distribution of presynaptic proteins in neurites and its absence in a C2 muscle cell variant

The distribution of neurofilament (NF) and synaptic vesicle (SV) proteins in neurites cultured in vitro was visualized with immunocytochemical methods. NF and SV proteins were detected in neurites from both embryonic mouse spinal cord and chick ciliary ganglion neurons. NF proteins generally occupied more proximal, unbranched neurite segments while SV proteins were most often found in highly branched terminal segments. Neurites from mouse spinal cord cells showed a striking segregation of the NF and SV proteins into distinct domains; neurites from chick ciliary ganglion cells exhibited a similar, though less pronounced segregation. In cocultures of neurons and muscle cells, the neurite segments in contact with myotubes more often stained for SV than for NF while the opposite was true for neurites not in contact with myotubes. The preferential association of SV neurites with myotubes was also observed when the myotubes were previously fixed with paraformaldehyde. This association was absent in neurites growing over Chinese hamster ovary cells, suggesting that the effect is specific for muscle cells. Coculture of neurons with variant strains of C2 myotubes that are deficient in AChR (1R-) or proteoglycans (S27) revealed a preferential association of SV neurites with 1R- myotubes but not with S27 myotubes. Thus, proteoglycans on the surface of C2 myotubes may influence the growth and/or differentiation of presynaptic neurons.
Why Do Differences in Provincial Incomes Persist in Indonesia

Indonesia's economic and social policies, rather than good luck, contributed to the increase in provincial incomes over the past 20 years and the decrease during that time period in provincial income inequities. Prudent economic management enabled the country and its provinces to grow. Resources from the oil sector allowed the government to improve the nation's physical and social infrastructure and to reduce the differences in provincial incomes and consumption. Yet, disparities in personal and regional incomes persist. Why do differences in provincial incomes persist? This paper tries to answer that question by studying what makes provinces grow, what makes provinces have different incomes per capita, and what caused the differences in provincial incomes over the last 20 years.
The litter effect as a variable in teratologic studies of the albino rat.

This study was conducted to determine if there is a greater variation in fetal weight and/or placental weight among litters of rat fetuses than within a single litter. Three hundred and twenty-seven litters comprising 1,979 fetal and placental weights were analyzed using analysis of variance within versus among litters. There was a definite litter effect, i.e., variation in fetal and placental weight was greater (p < 0.05) among litters than within litters. The variation in fetal and placental weights between litters became greater with increasing litter size. Experimentally limiting the litter size early in gestation does not reduce or eliminate the litter effect. This litter effect means that individual fetuses from several rat pregnancies cannot be considered to have come from a common universe and, therefore, the number of litters and their mean growth data are much more meaningful than the number of embryos in an experiment. When designing research programs in which embryonic and placental growth in rats are to be evaluated, it is more important to establish the experimental goal on the basis of the total number of litters rather than the total number of embryos per experimental or control group.
Rotationally resolved photofragmentation spectroscopy of CH+ formed by resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization

Abstract Resonance-enhanced multiphoton dissociation (REMPD) of CH + yields C + H + products. By monitoring the H + signal as a function of either ω 1 (the laser frequency used to carry out REMPI of CH via the E′ (3pσ) Rydberg state) or ω 2 (the frequency used for REMPD of CH + produced by ω 1 ), we are able to determine rotational state distributions of CH + ions. The observed distributions are in accord with theoretical propensity rules and serve to verify the configuration and symmetry of the Rydberg state. The technique used in this work can serve as an alternative to laser-induced fluorescence when the latter is impractical.
Non‐random leaf orientation in Lactuca serriola L.

Abstract Leaf shapes and leaf orientation of Lactuca serriola serriola and serriola integrifolia were studied. Leaf shapes in L. serriola serriola differed greatly from those of L.serriola integrifolia, but leaf surface areas were similar. In exposed habitats, leaf orientation of cauline leaves of both forms was non-random, with leaves almost vertical and tending to orient with their lamina normal to the east and west. In the shade, cauline leaves oriented randomly. An experiment demonstrated that the orientation of leaves did not change significantly once they were fully expanded. The leaf orientation in L. serriola affected the diurnal distribution of solar irradiance intercepted by a leaf. Peak solar radiation fluxes are incident on the rosette leaves at midday, but on the cauline leaves the peak solar radiation flux occurs early in the morning and again late in the afternoon. The significance of this unusual leaf orientation is discussed in relation to water loss and carbon gain.
Solasodine and diosgenin: 1H and 13C assignments by two‐dimensional NMR spectroscopy

Solasodine and diosgenin have been widely used as starting materials for thepartial synthesis of cortisone, progresterone and C21 steroidal derivatives (oral contraceptives). This study involved the total 1 H and 13 C spectral assignments of these two important compounds by using two-dimensional NMR techniques (COSY, CSCM and HMBC), and resulted in unambiguous spectral assignments, especially in the convoluted regions of the specha ( 1 H, 0.7-2.0 ppm; 13 C, 28-35 ppm)
Coexpression of Connexins 40 and 43 Enhances the pH Sensitivity of Gap Junctions A Model for Synergistic Interactions Among Connexins

Gap junctions are formed by oligomerization of a protein called connexin. Most cells express more than one connexin isotype. Atrial myocytes, for example, coexpress connexin (Cx) 40 and Cx43. The consequence of connexin coexpression on the regulation of gap junctions is not well understood. In the present study, we show that cells coexpressing Cx40 and Cx43 are more susceptible to acidification-induced uncoupling than those cells expressing only one connexin isotype. Xenopus oocytes were injected with mRNA for Cx40, Cx43, or a combination of both. Intracellular pH and junctional conductance were simultaneously measured while cells were progressively acidified by superfusion with a bicarbonate-buffered solution gassed with increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide. The data show that the pKa (ie, the pH at which junctional conductance decreased to 50% from maximum) shifted from approximately 6.7 when cells expressed only Cx40 or only Cx43 to approximately 7.0 when one of the oocytes was coexpressing both connexins. Truncation of the carboxyl terminal domains of the connexins caused the loss of pH sensitivity even after coexpression. The data are interpreted on the basis of previous studies from our laboratory that demonstrated heterodomain interactions in the regulation of Cx40 and Cx43 gap junctions. The possible implications of these findings on the regulation of native gap junctions that express both connexins remain to be determined.
Depression of Synaptic Efficacy at Intermolt in Crayfish Neuromuscular Junctions by 20-Hydroxyecdysone, a Molting Hormone

Cooper, Robin L. and Marvin E. Ruffner. Depression of synaptic efficacy at intermolt in crayfish neuromuscular junctions by 20-hydroxyecdysone, a molting hormone. J. Neurophysiol. 79: 1931–1941, 1998. This report demonstrates that ecdysteroids can reduce synaptic transmission at an intermolt stage of a crustacean tonic neuromuscular junction by acting at a presynaptic site. The steroid molting hormone, 20-hydroxyecdysone (20-HE), appears to act through a rapid, nongenomic mechanism that decreases the probability of synaptic vesicle release and reduces the number of release sites. Quantal analysis revealed that fewer vesicles were released for a given stimulus when 20-HE was present, and this in turn accounted for the reduced synaptic efficacy. Reduced synaptic efficacy produced smaller evoked postsynaptic currents and smaller excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) across the muscle fiber membrane. The reduction in EPSPs was observed among muscle fibers that were innervated by high- or low-output terminals. The behavior of crustaceans/crayfish during the molt cycle, when 20-HE is high, may be explained by the reduction in synaptic transmission. Crustaceans become quiescent during the premolt periods as do insects. The effects of 20-HE can be reversed with the application of the crustacean neuromodulator serotonin, which enhances synaptic transmission.
Risk adjustment in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program: a comparison of logistic versus hierarchical modeling.

BACKGROUND: Although logistic regression has commonly been used to adjust for risk differences in patient and case mix to permit quality comparisons across hospitals, hierarchical modeling has been advocated as the preferred methodology, because it accounts for clustering of patients within hospitals. It is unclear whether hierarchical models would yield important differences in quality assessments compared with logistic models when applied to American College of Surgeons (ACS) National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) data. Our objective was to evaluate differences in logistic versus hierarchical modeling for identifying hospitals with outlying outcomes in the ACS-NSQIP. STUDY DESIGN: Data from ACS-NSQIP patients who underwent colorectal operations in 2008 at hospitals that reported at least 100 operations were used to generate logistic and hierarchical prediction models for 30-day morbidity and mortality. Differences in risk-adjusted performance (ratio of observed-to-expected events) and outlier detections from the two models were compared. RESULTS: Logistic and hierarchical models identified the same 25 hospitals as morbidity outliers (14 low and 11 high outliers), but the hierarchical model identified 2 additional high outliers. Both models identified the same eight hospitals as mortality outliers (five low and three high outliers). The values of observed-to-expected events ratios and p values from the two models were highly correlated. Results were similar when data were permitted from hospitals providing < 100 patients. CONCLUSIONS: When applied to ACS-NSQIP data, logistic and hierarchical models provided nearly identical results with respect to identification of hospitals' observed-to-expected events ratio outliers. As hierarchical models are prone to implementation problems, logistic regression will remain an accurate and efficient method for performing risk adjustment of hospital quality comparisons.
Oxygen radical production in the sea anemone Anthopleura elegantissima and its endosymbiotic algae

Host animals in algal-invertebrate endosymbiotic associations are exposed to photosynthetically generated hyperoxia while in sunlight, conditions conducive to photodynamic excitations and production of cytotoxic oxygen-derived radicals such as the superoxide anion (O2−) and the hydroxyl radical (OH). All previous vidence of oxyradical production in symbiotic associations has been circumstantial. We here present direct evidence, from electron paramagnetic resonance studies on tissue homogenates of the photosymbiont-containing sea anemone Anthopleura elegantissima (Brandt), of substantial light-dependent OH and O2 production that is abolished by dichlorophenyldimethylurea (DCMU), an inhibitor of photosynthesis. Shade-adapted A. elegantissima lacking endosymbiotic algae likewise show OH production upon illumination. The latter flux is not dependent on photosynthesis, and DCMU has no effect. Rather, OH production in apozooxanthellate anemones is via direct photoexcitations. The selective reaction of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) with OH to form methane sulfinic acid allows quantification of OH produced in vivo . Such in vivo measurements confirm the production of OH in both host and algae in illuminated zooxanthellate anemones, where the amount of OH in the zooxanthellae is disproportionately large relative to their fractional contribution to the biomass of the symbiosis. In vivo studies using DMSO also suggest a photochemical production of OH in apozooxanthellate anemones exposed to simulated sunlight enriched in ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths, and the enhancement by UV light of OH production in zooxanthellate individuals. Such chronic radical exposure necessitates defenses
Estramustine Plus a Taxane for Advanced Prostate Cancer: The New Standard Therapy?

Over the past six years, the efficacy of combination chemotherapy using taxanes (docetaxel and paclitaxel) plus estramustine has resurrected the use of chemotherapy, which had been disappointing pr...
Optical-to-SAR image registration using the active contour model

An elastic contour matching method for the registration of the optical images with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images is proposed. Using the contours from the optical image as the initial condition, accurate contour locations in the SAR image are obtained by applying an active contour model (Snake). The centroids of the closed contours and the salient points along the open contours are used as control points, through which the transformation parameters between the images can be estimated. The proposed algorithm has outperformed manual registration in terms of root mean square error at the control points. >
Dietary grape seed polyphenols repress neuron and glia activation in trigeminal ganglion and trigeminal nucleus caudalis

Inflammation and pain associated with temporomandibular joint disorder, a chronic disease that affects 15% of the adult population, involves activation of trigeminal ganglion nerves and development of peripheral and central sensitization. Natural products represent an underutilized resource in the pursuit of safe and effective ways to treat chronic inflammatory diseases. The goal of this study was to investigate effects of grape seed extract on neurons and glia in trigeminal ganglia and trigeminal nucleus caudalis in response to persistent temporomandibular joint inflammation. Sprague Dawley rats were pretreated with 200 mg/kg/d MegaNatural-BP grape seed extract for 14 days prior to bilateral injections of complete Freund's adjuvant into the temporomandibular joint capsule. In response to grape seed extract, basal expression of mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase 1 was elevated in neurons and glia in trigeminal ganglia and trigeminal nucleus caudalis, and expression of the glutamate aspartate transporter was increased in spinal glia. Rats on a normal diet injected with adjuvant exhibited greater basal levels of phosphorylated-p38 in trigeminal ganglia neurons and spinal neurons and microglia. Similarly, immunoreactive levels of OX-42 in microglia and glial fibrillary acidic protein in astrocytes were greatly increased in response to adjuvant. However, adjuvant-stimulated levels of phosphorylated-p38, OX-42, and glial fibrillary acidic protein were significantly repressed in extract treated animals. Furthermore, grape seed extract suppressed basal expression of the neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide in spinal neurons. Results from our study provide evidence that grape seed extract may be beneficial as a natural therapeutic option for temporomandibular joint disorders by suppressing development of peripheral and central sensitization.
Associative Memory Techniques for Quick Estimation of Network Performance Measures

Many important decision-making processes in transportation planning and engineering involve repetitive computation of network performance measured by total network delay, throughput, network efficiency, and other measures. The computational complexity imposed by repetitive evaluation of these measures, especially under user equilibrium conditions, is a serious obstacle to timely decision making in network-related problems. This study applies associative memory techniques, which are conceptually and computationally simple, to quick estimation of these performance measures. The results of the numerical experiments are encouraging, and the relative error on average was found to be less than 2%. Furthermore, the applicability of this approximation method to bilevel network problems, a class of important but complex problems, is explored through a study of the network recovery problem, which seeks a quick and effective repair strategy for disturbed networks following natural or human-induced disasters.
Cellular neural networks for image analysis using steep slope devices

Traditional CMOS based von Neumann architectures face daunting challenges in performing complex computational tasks at high speed and with low power on spatio-temporal data, e.g., image processing, pattern recognition, etc. In this study, we discuss the utilities of various steep slope, beyond-CMOS emerging devices for image processing applications within the non-von Neumann computing paradigm of cellular neural networks (CNNs). In general, the steep subthreshold swing of the devices obviates the output transfer hardware used in a conventional CNN cell. For image processing with binary stable outputs, Tunnelling FETs (TFETs) can facilitate low power operation. For multi-valued problems, devices like graphene transistors, Symmetric tunnelling FETs (SymFETs) might be leveraged to solve a problem with fewer computational steps. The potential for additional hardware reduction when compared to functional equivalents via conventional CNNs is also possible. Emerging devices can also lead to lower power implementations of the voltage controlled current sources (VCCSs) that are an integral component of any CNN cell. Furthermore, non-linear implementations of the VCCSs via emerging devices could enable simpler computational paths for many image processing tasks.
Quantitative Genetics of Vector Competence for La Crosse Virus and Body Size in Ochlerotatus hendersoni and Ochlerotatus triseriatus Interspecific Hybrids

La Crosse virus is a leading cause of pediatric encephalitis in the United States. The mosquito Ochlerotatus triseriatus is an efficient vector for La Crosse virus, whereas the closely related O. hendersoni transmits only at very low rates. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting the ability to orally transmit this virus and adult body size were identified in 164 F2 female individuals from interspecific crosses of O. hendersoni females and O. triseriatus males using a combination of composite interval mapping (CIM), interval mapping (IM) for binary traits, and single-marker mapping. For oral transmission (OT), no genome locations exceeded the 95% experimentwise threshold for declaring a QTL using IM, but single-marker analysis identified four independent regions significantly associated with OT that we considered as tentative QTL. With two QTL, an increase in OT was associated with alleles from the refractory vector, O. hendersoni, and likely reflect epistatic interactions between genes that were uncovered by our interspecific crosses. For body size, two QTL were identified using CIM and a third tentative QTL was identified using single-marker analysis. The genome regions associated with body size also contain three QTL controlling OT, suggesting that these regions contain either single genes with pleiotropic effects or multiple linked genes independently determining each trait.
Variation in ecosystem function in Appalachian streams along an acidity gradient

Acidification is a widespread phenomenon that damages aquatic systems, and it has been the focus of intensive management efforts. While most management has focused on community structure as an endpoint, ecosystem function is also sensitive to acidification and important in stream health. We examined how a key ecosystem function in streams, leaf breakdown, varied along a gradient of pH resulting from acid deposition, natural conditions, and liming. We also measured how invertebrate and microbial assemblage structure and microbial function were related to altered leaf breakdown rates. Leaf breakdown rates declined more than threefold along a gradient of stream acidity from pH 6.8 to 4.9. The diversity of leaf-shredding invertebrates, bacteria, and fungi showed little response to variation in pH. The abundance of one acid-sensitive caddisfly, Lepidostoma, declined with acidification, and Lepidostoma abundance explained 37% of the variation in leaf breakdown rates among sites. Microbial respiration was suppressed along the acidity gradient, although the pattern was weaker than that for breakdown rate. In short-term laboratory incubations, microbes at acidic and circumneutral sites demonstrated adaptation to ambient pH. The activity of microbial extracellular enzymes was strongly influenced by pH. In particular, the pattern of activity of phosphatase indicated increasing P limitation of microbes with increasing acidification. Our results show that leaf breakdown is a sensitive tool for examining the response of stream function to acidification and also for defining the mechanisms that drive functional response. Future management efforts should focus on key taxa that are particularly sensitive and effective at shredding leaves and also the role of shifting acidity in mediating the availability of phosphorus to microbial films that are important for stream function.
Bioengineering Beige Adipose Tissue Therapeutics

Unlocking the therapeutic potential of brown/beige adipose tissue requires technological advancements that enable the controlled expansion of this uniquely thermogenic tissue. Transplantation of brown fat in small animal model systems has confirmed the expectation that brown fat expansion could possibly provide a novel therapeutic to combat obesity and related disorders. Expansion and/or stimulation of uncoupling protein-1 (UCP1)-positive adipose tissues have repeatedly demonstrated physiologically beneficial reductions in circulating glucose and lipids. The recent discovery that brown adipose tissue (BAT)-derived secreted factors positively alter whole body metabolism further expands potential benefits of brown or beige/brite adipose expansion. Unfortunately, there are no sources of transplantable BATs for human therapeutic purposes at this time. Recent developments in bioengineering, including novel hyaluronic acid-based hydrogels, have enabled non-immunogenic, functional tissue allografts that can be used to generate large quantities of UCP1-positive adipose tissue. These sophisticated tissue-engineering systems have provided the methodology to develop metabolically active brown or beige/brite adipose tissue implants with the potential to be used as a metabolic therapy. Unlike the pharmacological browning of white adipose depots, implantation of bioengineered UCP1-positive adipose tissues offers a spatially controlled therapeutic. Moving forward, new insights into the mechanisms by which extracellular cues govern stem-cell differentiation and progenitor cell recruitment may enable cell-free matrix implant approaches, which generate a niche sufficient to recruit white adipose tissue-derived stem cells and support their differentiation into functional beige/brite adipose tissues. This review summarizes clinically relevant discoveries in tissue-engineering and biology leading toward the recent development of biomaterial supported beige adipose tissue implants and their potential for the metabolic therapies.
Computerized Decision Support Based on a Clinical Practice Guideline Improves Compliance with Care Standards

Abstract PURPOSE: Clinical guidelines are designed to assist in the management of specific diseases; however, these guidelines are often neglected in the delivery of care. The purpose of this study was to determine whether clinician use of a clinical practice guideline would increase in response to having, at the patient visit, a decision support system based on a practice guideline that generates a customized management protocol for the individual patient using data from the patient's electronic medical record. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In a 6-month controlled trial at a primary care clinic, 58 primary care clinicians were randomized to receive either a special encounter form with the computer-generated guideline recommendations or a standard encounter form. The effect of computer-generated advice on clinician behavior was measured as rate of compliance with guideline recommendations. Data from 30 clinicians were analyzed; data from 28 clinicians were excluded because these clinicians did not meet predefined criteria for minimum exposure to diabetic patient care. RESULTS: Availability of patient management recommendations generated by the decision support system resulted in a two-fold increase in clinician compliance with care guidelines for diabetes mellitus ( P = 0.01). Median compliance for the group receiving the recommendations was 32.0% versus 15.6% for the control group. CONCLUSION: Decision support based on a clinical practice guideline is an effective tool for assisting clinicians in the management of diabetic patients. This decision support system provides a model for how a clinical practice guideline can be integrated into the care process by computer to assist clinicians in managing a specific disease through helping them comply with care standards. Use of decision support systems based on clinical practice guidelines could ultimately improve the quality of medical care.
Microprocessor-assisted solvent transfer system for effective contact dissolution of gallbladder stones

To solve the problems that arise during the dissolution of cholesterol gallbladder stones by manual lavage with methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) via a percutaneous indwelling gallbladder catheter, a microprocessor-assisted solvent transfer (MST) system was developed. The system consists of a three-lumen catheter, dual peristaltic pumps, a pressure transducer, and a microprocessor controller which regulates pump rate according to the measured intraluminal gallbladder pressure. The two pumps simultaneously infuse and aspirate from the gallbladder via two of the catheter lumens; intraluminal pressure above a set limit causes infusion to cease while aspiration continues, thus lowering the pressure and preventing overflow of gallbladder contents into the biliary tract. In vitro evaluation showed that the system's response was 156 fold faster than the natural rate of gallbladder emptying. These in vitro studies suggest that the MST system is capable of rapid, complete, and fully automatic contact dissolution of cholesterol gallbladder stones using MTBE or similar lipid solvents. >
Pseudomonas aeruginosa Vasculitis and Bacteremia Following Conjunctivitis: A Simple Model of Fatal Pseudomonas Infection in Neutropenia

During attempts to create a realistic model of fatal bacteremia due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa during immunosuppression, it was found that the invasive as well as the disseminated phase of infection could be mimicked by gentle instillation of 10(8) colony-forming units of P. aeruginosa into the intact conjunctival sac of agranulocytic rabbits. Within 48 hr animals developed conjunctivits leading to severe necrotizing vasculitis and fatal bacteremia. Twelve of 26 strains from patients with P. aeruginosa infections were virulent, causing death in 50%--100% of animals. Nine (75%) of 12 isolates from blood but only two (15%) of 13 isolates from sputum and urine were highly lethal. Neither proteolytic enzyme production nor serum resistance alone accounted for virulence. No infection developed in animals and normal leukocyte counts or in neutropenic animals given Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, or non-aeruginosa pseudomonads. A rare vasculitic lesion was observed in animals inoculated with Serratia marcescens. This model, which illustrates the distinctive features of P. aeruginosa infection, is so simple and reproducible that it should be useful for evaluation of the efficacy of drugs and immunization against Pseudomonas in the compromised host.
Are Career Women Good for Marriage

We study US divorce rates, which despite the continuing rise in female labor force participation (FLFP), have been falling since the mid-1980s, reversing a two-decade trend. A cross section of U.S. states for the year 2000 displays a negative relationship between the divorce rate and FLFP. We present theory and evidence in support of the view that these recent trends are the product of two distinct economic forces: relative to their non-career counterparts, career women display greater selectivity in the search for marriage partners and greater flexibility in sharing the benefits of a marriage with their partners. Greater selectivity implies that career women will be older when they first marry and that their marriages will be of higher average “quality,” possibly making them less prone to breakup. Greater flexibility implies that it is easier for two-earner families to re-adjust the intrahousehold allocation to compensate for changes in outside opportunities, making marriages more resistant to “shocks.” Our evidence shows that both effects may be playing a role in generating the trends the trends.
An Emancipatory Communitarian Approach to Vocational Development Theory, Research, and Practice

Building on recent calls for a more explicit and intentional endorsement of social justice goals within counseling psychology and vocational psychology, this article proposes Prilleltensky’s (1997) emancipatory communitarian approach to psychological practice as a useful framework for vocational theory, practice, and research. Such a framework emphasizes the distinction between the concepts of work and career and illuminates the extent to which traditional vocational psychology has attended to the needs of the people who experience little, if any, volition in their choices of career or line of work. We present a rationale for integrating an emancipatory communitarian approach into vocational psychology theory and the implications of this approach for future research and practice.
HrpX Transcription Factor - A Potential Common Target for Several BacterialDiseases from a Synthetic Biology Perspective

Understanding the design principles of bacterial pathogenesis is central to combat several infectious diseases in humans, animals and plants [1]. This includes identification of common bacterial pathogenicity mechanisms employed by a wide variety of bacteria, which infect diverse hosts [2]. Recent studies have identified one such common virulence mechanism: Type III Secretion System (T3SS), employed by several animal and plant pathogenic bacteria [3-6]. Classically, the components of T3SS physically assemble to form a complex needle-like structure that enables the bacteria to inject virulence factors directly into their host cell’s cytoplasm. These factors in turn specifically interfere with their host cellular processes to elicit pathogenicity [7,8]. However, despite the common injection mechanism, each bacterial species injects unique set of species-specific virulence factors that define the host specificity [3,4].
Insights into Bone Metabolism from Calcium Kinetic Studies in Children

Changes in the mineralization rate of the skeleton during childhood are related to normal growth and pubertal development. These may be affected by genetic factors, including race and gender, and by the presence of abnormalities of growth or hormonal abnormalities such as occur in children with chronic illnesses. We have used multicompartmental studies to examine calcium kinetics in healthy children ranging in age from premature infants of 1–2 kg body weight through adolescence. These studies are performed using orally and intravenously administered stable isotopes of calcium. Sample collection requires multiple blood samples to be obtained during the initial time period after isotope dosing, which is feasible in older children using an indwelling catheter. We have found that the peak rate for both bone calcium deposition and removal occurs in girls during the year before menarche. Peak kinetic rates decrease in an exponential fashion post-menarche. On a body-weight basis, the greatest rates of bone calcium deposition and removal are in infants, especially premature infants.
EBV-miR-BHRF1-2 targets PRDM1/Blimp1 : potential role in EBV lymphomagenesis

PRDM1/Blimp1, a master regulator of B-cell terminal differentiation, has been identified as a tumor suppressor gene in aggressive lymphomas, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). It has been shown in DLBCL and Hodgkin lymphoma that PRDM1 is downregulated by cellular microRNAs. In this study, we identify the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) microRNA (miRNA), EBV-miR-BHRF1-2, as a viral miRNA regulator of PRDM1. EBV-miR-BHRF1-2 repressed luciferase reporter activity by specific interaction with the seed region within the PRDM1 3' untranslated region. EBV-miR-BHRF1-2 inhibition upregulated PRDM1 protein expression in lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCL), supporting a role of miR-BHRF1-2 in PRDM1 downregulation in vivo. Discordance of PRDM1 messenger RNA and protein expressions is associated with high EBV-miR-BHRF1-2 levels in LCLs and primary post-transplant EBV-positive DLBCL. Enforced expression of PRDM1-induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in LCL cells. Inhibition of EBV-miR-BHRF1-2 negatively regulates cell cycle and decreases expression of SCARNA20, a small nucleolar RNA that is also downregulated by PRDM1 overexpression. The interaction between EBV-miR-BHRF1-2 and PRDM1 may be one of the mechanisms by which EBV-miR-BHRF1-2 promotes EBV lymphomagenesis. Our results support the potential of EBV-miR-BHRF1-2 as a therapeutic target in EBV-associated lymphoma.
The Role of the Thermal Hysteresis Factor in Tenebrio Molitor Larvae

The haemolymph of larvae of Tenebrio molitor contains a factor which produces a thermal hysteresis (a difference between the freezing and melting points) of approximately 0.75 °C. When larvae were acclimated to low temperatures or short photoperiod the thermal hysteresis increased more than twofold. Coincident with the increase in thermal hysteresis the supercooling points and lower lethal temperatures of the larvae were depressed. Therefore, the thermal-hysteresis-producing factor seems to function as an antifreeze. The factor may also act as an adaptation to prevent desiccation. Thermal hysteresis increased almost three-fold in larvae acclimated to low relative humidity. Also, larvae with high levels of the thermal hysteresis factor survived low relative humidities much better than did larvae with lower levels.
Supply Chain Management: Definition, Growth and Approaches

(1998). Supply Chain Management: Definition, Growth and Approaches. Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice: Vol. 6, Supply Chain Management Sponsored by SYNCRA Software, Inc, pp. 1-5.
Developmental Polymorphism in the Red-legged Grasshopper, Melanoplus femurrubrum (DeGeer) (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

Instar number in Melanoplus femurrubrum (DeGeer) is variable. Virginia populations were found to be developmentally polymorphic, having from five to eight nymphal instars. Grasshoppers with five instars were rare. In the field, fewer instars were associated with years with low May–June temperatures. Variation in instar number among populations, between years, and within seasons is due to variation in early season temperatures. A laboratory population had six to eight instars, with fewer instars occurring at lower rearing temperatures. Females went through more instars than males. Antennal segment number was correlated with instar number. Virginia populations of M. femurrubrum are developmentally adapted to a relatively long growing season.
The moiré method—A review

The paper focuses on the moire phenomenon as a tool of experimental mechanics. The properties of moire patterns are outlined. The application of these properties to the measurement of displacements of the points of a surface (intrinsic moire), contours or deflections (projection moire) and slopes (reflection moire) is discussed. Observation methods, recording methods, data-processing techniques are outlined and practical aspects are stressed. Sensitivities and precisions that have been achieved are reviewed. Finally, some typical applications to problems in areas of interest are briefly described.
A Welcome Contribution: Conservation Education in American Colleges

(1958). A Welcome Contribution: Conservation Education in American Colleges. The Journal of Higher Education: Vol. 29, No. 4, pp. 229-230.
SANTA ROSALIA RECONSIDERED: SIZE RATIOS AND COMPETITION.

Hutchinson's (1959) seminal paper, "Homage to Santa Rosalia or Why are there so many kinds of animals?" raised many issues that have subsequently dominated evolutionary ecology. One answer Hutchinson proposed to his question was that two species in the same trophic level can coexist if the ratio of sizes of their trophic apparati is sufficiently large, since this would allow them to avoid competitive exclusion. For birds and mammals Hutchinson suggested a critical size ratio of 1.3. Two species whose sizes (or whose skulls' or culmens' sizes) differ by a factor less than 1.3 would not be able to occur sympatrically and syntopically: "This latter figure may tentatively be used as an indication of the kind of difference necessary to permit two species to co-occur ...." He arrived at this ratio inductively, by examining a few sets of birds and mammals, and he interpreted his results as examples of competitively induced character displacement (Brown and Wilson, 1956). In the 20 years since Hutchinson's suggestion, interest in the importance of size differences for coexistence has led to two related ideas, codified in textbooks (e.g., Ricklefs, 1973; Pianka, 1978) and cited very frequently:
Comparison of High-Order Implicit Time Marching Schemes for Unsteady Flow Calculations

In many realistic unsteady calculations, the computational grid spacing required to resolve the mean flow gradients is much smaller than the grid spacing required to resolve the unsteady propagating waves. Because of this, the high temporal resolution provided by existing explicit optimized time marching schemes used in computational aeroacoustics code can be excessive due to the small time step required for stability in regions of clustered grid. In this work, optimized and high-order A-stable and L-stable implicit time marching schemes were analyzed, implemented into the AFRL high-order Large Eddy Simulation code FDL3DI, and their performance compared to that of the first and second order implicit schemes currently implemented.
Beliefs and correlates of knowledge of cancer risk factors among people in Lomé, Togo (West Africa)

Knowledge of cancer risk factors has been shown to be an important step for cancer prevention. This study examines the beliefs and correlates of knowledge of cancer risk factors among people in Lome, Togo and addresses the challenges for cancer education and prevention among Togolese. Data were obtained from 325 people about their beliefs and knowledge of cancer risk factors by means of a survey. Participants were first asked about their beliefs regarding risk factors of cancer and then were presented with a list of 10 established risk factors. They were then asked whether or not these 10 factors are cancer risk factors. We used binary logistic regression models in which one of the established risk factors was regressed on several independent variables to assess factors that affect knowledge of cancer risk factors among Togolese. Knowledge of cancer risk factors is very limited among study participants. With regard to the correlates that affected knowledge of risk factors of cancer, findings were rather s...
Simulated rainfall on agricultural soil reveals enzymatic regulation of short-term nitrous oxide profiles in soil gas and emissions from the surface

Many microbial species use nitrate to support respiration under oxygen limiting conditions via the process of denitrification, which generates the gaseous products nitric oxide (NO), nitrous oxide (N2O), and dinitrogen (N2). Denitrifying bacteria reduce NO to N2O, which is a potent greenhouse gas, to maintain intercellular concentrations below cytotoxic levels. The enzymes that reduce N2O to N2 play a crucial role in restricting N2O emissions from the surface. Laboratory studies have demonstrated that accumulation of N2O results from unbalanced rates of the sequence of denitrification reactions, which is ascribed to enzyme kinetics and sequential gene expression. However, the same enzymatic regulation of N2O accumulation in soil during short periods of anoxia has not been observed in the field. Here, we investigated the role of enzymatic regulation on the accumulation of N2O during a transition from oxic to anoxic conditions that was induced by a simulated rainfall in the field. Distinct regulation regimes for activities of pre- and de novo synthesized denitrification enzymes were observed. The activity of N2O reductase played a crucial role in regulating N2O emissions. Dynamics of N2O mixing ratios in soil gas and emissions from the surface were in excellent agreement with simulations using a one-dimensional, diffusion–reaction equation with explicit representations of denitrification enzyme kinetics. A more explicit representation of the regulatory biology of denitrification in current biogeochemical models, like the approach developed in the subject study, is a promising strategy for improving predictions of episodic emissions of N2O from soil.