cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Treatment of acute respiratory failure by helmet-delivered non-invasive pressure support ventilation in children with acute leukemia: a pilot study

To evaluate the feasibility of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) through a new interface—the helmet—in the treatment of acute respiratory failure (ARF) in hematologic children. Observational, non-randomized report of four consecutive cases. Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in a university hospital. Four consecutive females (aged 9–17 years) affected by acute leukemia (3 acute lymphocytic leukemia [ALL], 1 acute myeloid leukemia [AML]) and with hypoxemic ARF (defined by severe dyspnea at rest, respiratory rate >30 breaths/min, PaO2:FiO2 <200 and active contraction of the accessory muscles). Pressure support ventilation was delivered via a helmet (CaStar,Starmed, Italy) by means of an ICU ventilator (Servo 300, Siemens Elema, Sweden). We evaluated the effect of pressure support ventilation delivered by helmet on blood gases, respiratory rate, hemodynamics, patient tolerance, complication rate and outcome. An improvement of oxygenation was uniformly observed within the first 3 h after admission. The helmet was well tolerated by all children. No complication was observed. Two patients were discharged from the PICU in stable clinical conditions, whereas the remaining two children overcame the respiratory distress but had non-respiratory complications and eventually died. Non-invasive ventilation via the helmet can offer effective ventilatory support and improve gas exchange in the treatment of ARF in pediatric hematologic patients. As already shown in adults, NIV may decrease the risk of life-threatening complications associated with invasive mechanical ventilation (MV), also in children with hematologic malignancies; moreover, it offers the possibility of an earlier approach to respiratory failure in this patient subset.
Exact Phrases in Information Retrieval for Question Answering

Question answering (QA) is the task of finding a concise answer to a natural language question. The first stage of QA involves information retrieval. Therefore, performance of an information retrieval subsystem serves as an upper bound for the performance of a QA system. In this work we use phrases automatically identified from questions as exact match constituents to search queries. Our results show an improvement over baseline on several document and sentence retrieval measures on the WEB dataset. We get a 20% relative improvement in MRR for sentence extraction on the WEB dataset when using automatically generated phrases and a further 9.5% relative improvement when using manually annotated phrases. Surprisingly, a separate experiment on the indexed AQUAINT dataset showed no effect on IR performance of using exact phrases.
Invasions of personal space and helping: Mediating effects of invader's apparent need ☆

Abstract A field experiment was conducted to examine the influence of invasions of personal space and invader's apparent need upon subsequent helping. On the basis of previous research, it was predicted that helping would be inhibited by invasions of personal space when the invader's apparent need for assistance was low, but would actually be facilitated by such intrusions when his/her apparent need for assistance was high. Results offered support for both of these predictions. Additional findings suggested that these differential effects of invasions of personal space may have stemmed, at least in part, from the induction of contrasting affective reactions among subjects under conditions of low and high apparent need.
Microarchitecture of Body Wall of Extant Cyclostome Ectoprocts

Scanning electron microscope and light microscope studies of the body wall in cyclostome stenolaemate ectoprocts show that this wall has a distinctive microarchitecture. The microstructures consist of a linear series of longitudinal canals in the central region. Adjoining regions on either side have laminae of overlapping calcareous tablets. In some cyclostomes at certain stages of growth, laminae may show a less orderly meshwork pattern near the canals. The laminate layers of calcareous tablets are enclosed in an organic matrix and are penetrated by tubuli which pass from the inner part of the body wall to the canals and also link the canals. The canals with organic and mineralized matrices open into pores in the body wall. This elaborate meshwork and canal and pore system provide the framework for growth and resorption of the body wall and facilitate transport of cellular materials from one zooid to another in a colony. Calcification at the distal part of a colony seems to proceed in a series of stages around sites of calcification. The pattern of the body wall of the cyclostome ectoproct does not parallel a molluscan pattern of skeletal growth as previously proposed. The hypothesis of a hypostegal coelom in some cyclostome ectoprocts is rejected.
Axisymmetric finite element models for rotational molding

We present a new nonlinear axisymmetric finite element model for heat transfer and powder deposition in rotational molding. Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian techniques are employed to track the gradual growth of the plastic layer. Results using this approach compare well with earlier 1‐D models and with experimental data. Using the model to study the effects of locally enhanced heat transfer on part wall thickness, we find that controlling the relative magnitudes of radial and circumferential heat transfer is crucial in order to obtain desired wall thickness profiles.
Hepatitis C in liver transplantation: preliminary study of prognostic factors.

Abstract At the University of Miami liver transplantation for chronic liver disease in HCV-positive patients has shown good results, with a 92% patients survival rate (follow up 8 to 57 months, median 21). None the less, we found that a large number of patients are expected to develop serious histological graft damage and may need retransplantation, which may place a further strain on the already scarce donor resources. We have conducted a preliminary investigation on the importance of parameters which may correlate with the prognosis of HCV grafts. We found no impact of HLA match or typing. An interesting hypothesis, which deserves further investigation, is that some HCV strains could be more virulent than others and play a role as an independent risk factor. We have identified six strains among our patients and the BK serotype shows a trend to be associated with a worse outcome. We have found that patients developing and maintaining higher liver enzyme levels (ALT and GGT) after transplant and those with higher levels of viremia may be at risk to develop serious damage to their grafts.
Metallic-Contamination-Induced Optical Loss in Silicon Microphotonic Waveguides

We report on optical loss reaching 100 dB/cm observed in Si wire waveguides defined by reactive-ion etching in the proximity of metals with a low temperature of silicide formation.
Transition-Metal-Substituted Titania-Loaded MCM-41 as Photocatalysts for the Degradation of Aqueous Organics in Visible Light

Abstract Several transition metal (V, Cr, Fe)-substituted MCM-41-based specimens (Si/Me=80) were synthesized by the incorporation of the transition metal during synthesis. They were then loaded with titania via sol–gel method and the photoactivity in visible light was explored. The XRD analysis showed the patterns of neat MCM-41 similar to those of siliceous MCM-41, while the loading of titania was in its amorphous form. The BET surface areas, however, were lower than those commonly found in siliceous MCM-41. This is due to the partial pore breakage, as recorded by the pore size distribution analysis. The transition metal dispersion found in the majority of the specimens studied was quite high (in the vicinity of 50%) and decreased with the loading of TiO 2 . It was found that 25 wt% TiO 2 loaded on calcined Cr-Ti-MCM-41 and Cr-MCM-41 exhibits activity in visible light which is comparable with that demonstrated by commercial Degussa P25, utilizing UV light for the degradation of formic acid. The same catalyst in fully reduced form as well as titania-loaded chromium-silicon oxide of adequate composition did not show any activity. TiO 2 /Fe-Ti-MCM-41 catalysts exhibited marginal activity for the degradation of formic acid. Similar vanadium-substituted catalysts (reduced and nonreduced) did not show any activity in visible light. These trends were also observed for the photodegradation of phenolic compounds in visible light, wherein the rates for 25% TiO 2 /Cr-Ti-MCM-41 were significant. This behavior is essential for the development of photocatalysts which operate using solar light. A comparative DR UV–vis study showed the substantial absorption of visible light by all the catalysts employed. Furthermore, the coexistence of Cr 3+ and Cr 6+ in fully oxidized chromium substituted materials was detected (Cr 3+ /Cr 6+ ∼0.25). Extensive TPR studies revealed a number of transitions in the titania-loaded transition-metal-substituted catalysts. In particular, the temperature of the transition Cr 3+ →Cr 2+ was found to considerably depend on the nature of chromium species in the MCM-41 matrix. This significantly contributes to the remarkable activity of TiO 2 /Cr-Ti-MCM-41 and TiO 2 /Cr-MCM-41, and this does not take place for both catalysts in their reduced form. Moreover, this transition is not present in the spent catalyst, which may be one of the possible reasons for deactivation. The surface composition of the most active catalyst was analyzed by XPS and showed considerable diffusion of chromium ions to the surface upon loading of titania. Two separate surface electronic levels were also found for TiO 2 /Cr-Ti-MCM-41, corresponding to Si-O-Cr and Ti-O-Cr regions. Such an arrangement creates an opportunity for a two-step excitation of titania by two photons in the visible range. The proposed route of the catalytic activity of the above material in visible light involves the reaction of dopant level electrons with surface Cr 6+ , which makes available valence band holes to perform oxidation reactions.
Ramón y Cajal: a century after the publication of his masterpiece

Santiago Ramon y Cajal published the first of the three volumes of his principal life's work in 1899, and published the last volume in 1904. This book remains the definitive work on the morphology of the vertebrate nervous system. In it, Ramon y Cajal describes the structure and organization of virtually all parts of the nervous system and discusses his theories, including the neuron doctrine and the law of functional polarization, which are the cornerstones of modern neurobiology. A century later, Ramon y Cajal's work is still fundamental to understanding the nervous system.
When What You Have Is Who You Are: Self-Uncertainty Leads Individualists to See Themselves in Their Possessions

Four studies tested whether uncertainty about the self-concept can motivate people, particularly individualists who define themselves in terms of their personal traits and characteristics, to perceive their material possessions as extensions of themselves (i.e., as self-expressive). In Study 1, European American participants rated their favorite pair of blue jeans as more self-expressive after being induced to feel self-uncertain, whereas Asian American participants did not. In Study 2, participants who scored high on a measure of individualism rated their cars as more self-expressive following a self-uncertainty manipulation. In Study 3, individualists (but not collectivists) rated their favorite possessions as more self-expressive after being subject to self-uncertainty; a manipulation of self-irrelevant uncertainty did not produce these results. In Study 4, thinking about a self-expressive (relative to utilitarian) possession bolstered self-certainty among individualists, but not collectivists. Implica...
Unionism and prices in the food retailing industry

It is frequently asserted that labor organizations have dominated the collective bargaining process in some industries, extracting higher wages than in the absence of unionism. One reason may be that oligopoly exists in the relevant product markets, so that firms obtain greater-than-normal returns regardless of the outcome of wage negotiation. Also, work stoppages may negatively affect market share, causing firms to be reluctant to resist labor demands. Under these circumstances, union share and product market concentration would be expected to be positively related to product price. This proposition is tested explicitly for the food retailing industry and confirmed.
Current practices in allocation of fundraising expenditures

Much of what donors and regulators know about nonprofit organizations comes from public financial statements. Do charities track and report their expenses correctly?
Molecular and evolutionary computation: the tug of war between context freedom and context sensitivity.

Abstract Proteins and nucleic acids constitute a vast potential reservoir of pattern recognizers that operate on the basis of shape complementarity. It is possible to construct models of computing in which these shape-based interactions contribute directly to recognition of signal patterns at the device (or cell) level. The input–output transform is molded by variation-selection evolution. Such models provide clues as to the organizational features that enable biomolecular matter to acquire nonevolutionary modes of problem solving through the evolutionary process. The requisite organizations are characterized by a high dimensionality that allows them to simultaneously exhibit aspects of context-sensitivity and context-independence.
Effect of exercise training on plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in coronary disease patients☆

The effects of chronic exercise training on plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were studied in 18 male coronary patients. Exercise consisted of aerobic activities utilizing approximately 70% of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) for 20 to 40 minutes, three times weekly for 3 months. Significant increased in VO2 max, HDL-C, HDL-C/total cholesterol, and a decrease in percent body fat were documented after training. No significant changes were found in total cholesterol, triglyceride, body weight, or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Vigorous physical training can contribute to increased in HDL-C in patients with coronary disease without changes in total cholesterol or body weight.
Subharmonic imaging of contrast agents

Ultrasound contrast agents promise to improve the sensitivity and specificity of diagnostic ultrasound imaging. It is of great importance to adapt ultrasound equipment for optimal use with contrast agents e.g., by exploiting the nonlinear properties of the contrast microbubbles. Harmonic imaging is one technique that has been extensively studied and is commercially available. However, harmonic imaging is associated with problems, due to second harmonic generation and accumulation within the tissue itself. Given the lack of subharmonic generation in tissue, one alternative is the creation of subharmonic images by transmitting at the fundamental frequency (fo) and receiving at the subharmonic (fo/2). Subharmonic imaging should have a much better lateral resolution and may be suitable for scanning deep-lying structures owing to the higher transmit frequency and the much smaller attenuation of scattered subharmonic signals. In this paper, we will review different aspects of subharmonic imaging including implementation, in-vitro gray-scale imaging and subharmonic aided pressure estimation.
Flow of second order fluids in curved pipes

Abstract Beginning with the work of Dean in 1927, regular perturbation methods have been used to study flows of incompressible Newtonian, generalized Newtonian and viscoelastic fluids in curved pipes of circular cross section. In these studies, the perturbation parameter is the curvature ratio: the cross sectional radius of the pipe divided by the radius of curvature of the pipe centerline. Closed form perturbation solutions for the equations of motion for second order fluids have previously been obtained by other authors for the special case when the second normal stress coefficient is zero, H.G. Sharma, A. Prakash, Ind. J. Pure Appl. Math 8 (1977) 546–557; P.J. Bowen, Ph.D. Thesis, University of Wales, (1990); P.J. Bowen, A.R. Davies, K. Walters, J. Non-Newtonian Fluid Mech. 38 (1991) 113–126. Here, we obtain closed form solutions for the perturbation equations even when the second normal stress difference is non-zero. We show that for a countable number of combinations of non-dimensional parameters a perturbation solution exists but is not unique. For other combinations of parameters a perturbation solution does not even exist. This latter result implies that for these parameter values there does not exist a steady, fully developed solution for flow in curved pipes which is a perturbation of the straight pipe solution, regardless of the magnitude of the curvature ratio. We emphasize that these singular points do not arise when the second normal stress coefficient is zero. A solution to the perturbation equations exists and is unique for values of the material constants which correspond to real polymeric fluids. For these values of the material constants, the secondary motion at zero Reynolds number is qualitatively similar to that arising in Newtonian fluids due to inertial effects.
Abstract A198: Identification and preclinical testing of novel targeted therapies for human triple-negative breast cancer.

Basal-like triple negative breast cancer (BTNBC) is characterized by the absence of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and Her2 expression, and represents an estimated 15% of all human breast cancers. This subtype is highly prevalent in African American women (35%) and is associated with distant metastasis and poor prognosis. As there are currently no targeted therapies for this subtype of breast cancer, our research focuses on the development of improved therapies to increase patient survival. We have previously shown that primary mammary tumors from the C3(1)/SV40-TAg genetically engineered mouse (GEM) model express a critical proliferation/ DNA repair/ cell cycle gene signature (TAg signature) that is shared with human BTNBC. SV40-TAg functionally inactivates p53 and pRb, two critical tumor suppressor genes whose functions are lost in most human BTNBC. We hypothesize that targeting dysregulated genes and biological networks present in the TAg signature will lead to the identification of novel targets and potential combination therapies. To test this idea we developed a custom siRNA library screen to inhibit the expression of individual genes represented in the TAg signature using human MDA-MB-231 BTNBC cells. Additionally, we performed a synthetic lethal screen in which TAg signature genes were knocked down in MDA-MB-231 cells using pooled siRNAs in combination with either UCN-01 or gemcitabine, small molecule inhibitors of CHK1 and RRM1/2 respectively. It was found that the knockdown of BMI-1, EZH2, GeneA, GeneB, or GeneC significantly decreased cell proliferation with the addition of UCN-01 or gemcitabine. A second synthetic lethal screen was performed in which the above genes were knocked down using four deconvoluted siRNAs per gene with the addition of gemcitabine, UCN-01, or AZD7762 (a more specific CHK1 inhibitor). Synergistic activity was shown between the siRNA knockdown of these genes and UCN-01 and AZD7762 compared to siRNA alone. To determine whether the knockdown of these genes alters sensitivity to gemcitabine or CHK1 inhibitors, the EC50 values of these drugs are currently being evaluated in stable knockdown MDA-MB-231 cell lines expressing shRNA to the selected genes. Our results suggest that using GEM models to help identify new targets may be useful in the development of novel therapeutics for BTNBC in combination with available CHK1 inhibitors and/or gemcitabine. These studies will enhance our understanding of BTNBC and allow us to identify innovative combination therapies to treat this challenging form of breast cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2011 Nov 12-16; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2011;10(11 Suppl):Abstract nr A198.
Radiographic Measurement of the Proximal and Distal Mechanical Joint Angles in the Canine Tibia

Objective To describe a method for radiographic measurement of proximal and distal mechanical joint angles of the canine tibia. Normal ranges were established for a population of dogs, and specifically, Labrador retrievers, with cranial cruciate ligament rupture. Study design Retrospective study. Sample population Tibiae (n=105) of dogs evaluated for cranial cruciate ligament rupture; 70 tibiae were from Labrador retrievers, 35 tibiae were from other breeds. Methods Anatomic landmarks were established and craniocaudal radiographs were used to measure the mechanical medial proximal (mMPTA) and distal (mMDTA) tibial angles in the frontal plane. Results Means (+/-SD) for all tibiae were mMPTA, 93.30+/-1.78 degrees, and mMDTA, 95.99+/-2.70 degrees. For Labrador retrievers, means were mMPTA, 93.38+/-1.81 degrees, and mMDTA 96.34+/-2.51 degrees. No significant differences were detected between Labrador Retrievers and non-Labrador retrievers with respect to mMPTA (power=0.5) or mMDTA (power=0.342). Labrador Retrievers were significantly younger than non-Labradors (P=.003). Conclusion A method for measurement of the mechanical joint angles of the canine tibia in the frontal plane was established and reference ranges for a population of dogs and Labrador Retrievers with cranial cruciate ligament rupture are reported. Clinical relevance The established method of measurement and references ranges can be used to aid in diagnosis, determining indications, and surgical planning for angular limb deformities of the tibia, especially when affected bilaterally. The methodology and reference values may also be used for postoperative critique.
The Influence of Spouse Cognitive Impairment on Respondents' Depressive Symptoms: The Moderating Role of Marital Closeness

An earlier report documented that, in a community-dwelling sample of 317 older married couples, cognitive impairment in a wife was associated with depressive symptoms in her husband (Moritz, Kasl, and Berkman, 1989). No similar effects were found for wives. Here we examine the extent to which marital closeness moderates the impact of a spouse's cognitive impairment, the stability of influences over 3 years, and gender differences in the associations. Analyses of covariance, controlling for respondent risk factors and potential confounders in the spouse, showed that marital closeness moderated the impact of a wife's cognitive impairment, with husbands in close marriages affected more strongly than husbands in less close marriages. These effects held over 3 years. In addition, husbands became less depressed following the death of a severely impaired wife, whereas widowers whose wife had been unimpaired at baseline were more depressed. None of these effects were found for wives.
Air–Sea Flux Estimates And The 1997–1998 Enso Event

Bulk formulae for wind stress, sensible and latent heat flux are presented that are suitable for strong mesoscale events such as westerly wind bursts that contribute to the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Their exchange coefficients for heat and momentum have a simple polynomial dependence on wind speed and a linear dependence on air–sea temperature difference. The accuracy of these formulae are validated with respect to air–sea fluxes estimated using the standard algorithm adopted by the Tropical Ocean-Global AtmosphereCoupled-Ocean Atmosphere Response Experiment (TOGA COARE). The comparison ismade for observations from 96 Tropical Atmosphere Ocean (TAO) array and National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC) moorings in the equatorial and North Pacific Ocean spanning years 1990–1999. The bulk formulae are shown to have very small median root–mean-square differences with respect to the TOGA COARE estimates: ≈ 0.003 N m-2, 1.0 W m-2, and 10.0 W m-2 for the wind stress, sensible heat flux, and latent heat flux, respectively.
The Case for Full-Throttle Computing: An Alternative Datacenter Design Strategy

The authors argue that the minimum cost of computing can be provided by consolidating real-time workloads onto relatively large servers, which can operate at high utilization while maintaining required response time, and then filling the remaining overhead capacity with batch-like workloads sold at a significantly reduced price.
Xenopus sonic hedgehog as a potential morphogen during embryogenesis and thyroid hormone-dependent metamorphosis

Abstract The hedgehog family of proteins have been implicated as important signaling molecules in establishing cell positional information and tissue patterning. Here we present the cloning and characterization of a hedgehog homologue from Xenopus laevis similar to the sonic class of vertebrate hedgehog genes. We isolated Xenopus hedgehog (Xhh) from a subtractive hybridization screen designed to identify genes induced by thyroid hormone during metamorphosis of the X.laevis gastrointestinal tract. In the intestine, Xhh mRNA expression was up-regulated at the climax of metamorphosis (stage 62) when intestinal epithelium underwent morphogenesis. Treatment of pre-metamorphic tadpoles with exogenous thyroid hormone (TH) resulted in a similar pattern of Xhh induction. Furthermore, TH induction was resistant to inhibitors of protein synthesis suggesting that Xhh is a direct thyroid hormone response gene. The expression and TH regulation of Xhh was not limited to the intestine, but was also observed in the limb and a mixture of pancreas and stomach. Throughout development, Xhh mRNA was present at varying levels with the earliest expression being detected at neurula stage. The highest levels of Xhh were observed between stages 33 and 40 shortly before tadpole feeding begins. Whole mount in situ hybridization analysis of Xhh expression in pre-hatching, stage 32 tadpoles demonstrated staining in the notochord and floor plate similar to that observed for other vertebrate hedgehog genes. Together, these data suggest a putative role for Xhh in organ development during both amphibian embryogenesis and metamorphosis.
Oxidative stress, osmotic stress and apoptosis: Impacts on sperm function and preservation in the horse

Oxidative stress is an important component of the cytopathology of equine spermatozoa undergoing storage as liquid or frozen semen. Damage to chromatin, membranes and proteins of sperm are important components of oxidative damage to sperm. Similarly, sperm are exposed to a variety of osmotic stresses during storage that result from exposure to hypertonic media or result as a consequence of osmotic changes induced during freezing. A number of changes induced during processing and storage of equine sperm also appear to induce apoptotic-like changes which may adversely affect sperm survival and function. These processes appear in many cases to be interrelated, and this review will examine current understanding of these processes on the equine sperm function.
A Visit to the Past and Awatovi

It was a beautiful cool Arizona morning in August, 1991, when Anna Silas, Director of the Hopi Cultural Center Museum, guided me, Penny Davis Worman and Mott Davis to Awatovi, the large prehistoric and Spanish mission site on Antelope Mesa on the Hopi Reservation. The road consisted of two sandy ruts most of the way, well worn but, to a stranger, through a sameness of sage brush and small pinyon. Even for Anna, who had not visited the site for three years, a fork in the road was confusing, and we made a wrong turn. Reversing, we made our way back to the fork and continued anew to the fenced-in ruin. This was my first visit to this famous site. For Penny and Mott, it was the first visit in 52 years. They had both been a part of the Peabody Museum Expedition there in 1939.
Agile Principles and Ethical Conduct

Software practitioners experience pressure to compromise their work and their reasonable care for others. Even as software becomes more beneficial, pervasive, and interconnected, the potential for unintended harm grows. Agile Software Development is an approach to building software systems that embodies a set of declared core principles. How do these principles align to an ethical standard of conduct? This paper attempts from an Agile Practitioners perspective to compare and contrast Agile Principles with other approaches to Software Ethics. It identifies areas of strong resonance and gaps that exist between the stated Agile Principles and an explicit software code of ethical conduct.
A modular object oriented image understanding environment

The architecture of an image understanding environment is presented. The use of object-oriented programming (OOP) principles in its design and programming constructs is described. It is based upon a small number of components that have been found useful in previous environments and stresses the use of OOP principles. The inheritance mechanisms associated with OOP provide an extendable hierarchy of image understanding objects. This allows the common operations over a class of object to be cleanly expressed. Another feature of OOP, encapsulation, allows the hiding of the implementation of a particular object with respect to its interactions with other objects. >
Er-Doped Optical Waveguide Amplifiers in X-Cut Lithium Niobate by Selective Codiffusion

Positive small-signal net gain is demonstrated for the first time in optical waveguide amplifiers in X-cut Y-propagating lithium niobate by selective erbium (Er) and titanium (Ti) codiffusion. First, a planar codiffused sample was prepared for dynamic secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) analysis. An erbium diffusion coefficient of 0.17 ?m2/h was calculated from the SIMS results and from the diffusion theory. Furthermore, the fabrication of optical waveguide amplifiers and the characterization methods are described. In a 3.5-cm-long optical waveguide amplifier, an optical small-signal net gain of 1.4 dB at 1531 nm was measured for the transverse-magnetic mode by optical pumping at 1488 nm with a launched pump power of 90 mW. The codiffusion process shows good net gain efficiency (dB/mW) and an advantage for the fabrication of integrated optical passive and active functions in lithium niobate.
2.7 THz waveguide tripler using monolithic membrane diodes

The description and performance of an 850 to 2550 GHz waveguide tripler is presented. The tripler utilizes GaAs monolithic membrane diodes (MOMED) in single and antiparallel pairs. Output power of/spl ap/0.1 /spl mu/W is reported.
The Face of Money: Currency, Crisis, and Remediation in Post-Suharto Indonesia

In the period of transition following Suharto's resignation as president of Indonesia in 1998, the image of the 50,000Rp bill bearing his face became a visual shorthand for the corruption and abuse of power that had characterized his regime. Accessible, decentralized consumer technologies enabled people to alter money's appearance, transforming it from a fetish of the state into a malleable surface available for popular reinscription. As the medium of money was “remediated”—absorbed into other media, refashioned, and circulated along new pathways—it became a means by which people engaged questions of state power, national integrity, political authenticity, and economic relations opened up by the crisis of Reformasi (Reform). The essay argues that remediations of public forms play a crucial role in times of political transition by enabling people to materialize alternative visions of political authority and authenticity. Moreover, remediated forms have become a characteristic modality of political communication in the post-Suharto period under conditions of democratization and an increasingly diversified media ecology.
Biochemical and immunological mechanisms by which sickle cell trait protects against malaria

Sickle cell trait (HbAS) is the best-characterized genetic polymorphism known to protect against falciparum malaria. Although the protective effect of HbAS against malaria is well known, the mechanism(s) of protection remain unclear. A number of biochemical and immune-mediated mechanisms have been proposed, and it is likely that multiple complex mechanisms are responsible for the observed protection. Increased evidence for an immune component of protection as well as novel mechanisms, such as enhanced tolerance to disease mediated by HO-1 and reduced parasitic growth due to translocation of host micro-RNA into the parasite, have recently been described. A better understanding of relevant mechanisms will provide valuable insight into the host-parasite relationship, including the role of the host immune system in protection against malaria.
Reconstruction of Escherichia coli mrcA (PBP 1a) Mutants Lacking Multiple Combinations of Penicillin Binding Proteins

Previously, we constructed a set of mutants from which eight penicillin binding protein (PBP) genes were deleted in 192 combinations from Escherichia coli (S. A. Denome, P. K. Elf, T. A. Henderson, D. E. Nelson, and K. D. Young, J. Bacteriol. 181:3981-3993, 1999). Although these mutants were constructed correctly as determined by restriction mapping and the absence of relevant protein products, we recently discovered by PCR mapping that strains from which mrcA (PBP 1a) was deleted were also missing two neighboring genes of unknown function (yrfE and yrfF). We created a new deletion mutation in mrcA and reconstructed 63 strains lacking PBP 1a and other PBP mutant combinations. The new mrcA mutants do not exhibit mucoidy, phage resistance, temperature sensitivity, growth rate defects, or antibiotic resistance, suggesting that these phenotypes require the loss of either yrfE or yrfF alone or in combination with the absence of multiple PBPs.
CALCIUM PHOSPHATE GRANULES IN THE HEPATOPANCREAS OF THE BLUE CRAB CALLINECTES SAPIDUS

The hepatopancreas of the adult male blue crab Callinectes sapidus in intermolt was found to contain substantial amounts of calcium, magnesium, and inorganic phosphorus, averaging about 260, 20, and 250 µg-atoms per g wet tissue, respectively, accounting for over 10% of the tissue dry weight. Electron microscopy of the intact tissue showed three qualitatively different granular structures having electron densities suggestive of high mineral content. After fractionation of the tissue using centrifugal techniques, almost 95% of the total mineral was found to reside in a heavy, nonmitochondrial particulate fraction(s). The bulk of the low-speed pellet consisted of relatively dense, roughly spherical granules 1–5 µm in diameter, which could be considerably purified by repeated suspension in water and low-speed sedimentation. In the electron microscope the isolated granules appeared basically similar to one of the three characteristic types of electron-dense granules seen in the intact tissue. Although the freshly isolated granules lost approximately 50% of their wet weight when dried at 105°C, only 10% more was lost upon dry ashing at 450°C, suggesting a fairly low content of organic material. Chemical analysis revealed calcium, magnesium, and inorganic phosphate at 5.7, 2.1, and 4.4 µg-atoms per mg dried granules, respectively, accounting for 69% of the dry weight of the fraction. By specific enzymatic assays, the freshly isolated granules were found to contain ATP, ADP, and AMP at levels of 0.13, 0.03, and 0.01 µmol/mg, or 8% of their total dry weight. The remainder of the total phosphorus contributed an additional 3%, whereas carbonate, citrate, oxalate, and protein each constituted no more than 1%. The mineral granules of the crab hepatopancreas appear to function as storage forms of calcium and phosphate during the intermolt period. This tissue appears promising as a model for study of the cellular events associated with biological calcification, since conventional biochemical techniques can be employed. Furthermore, the major mineralized component of the tissue can be obtained in large amounts for direct study by a simple fractionation procedure.
The Mechanism of the Inhibition of Uterotrophic Responses by Acute Dexamethasone Pretreatment

The mechanism of glucocorticoid antagonism of estradiol-stimulated uterotrophic responses was studied. Dexamethasone was administered sc at a dosage of 1000 μg 20–25 min before an injection of 1 μg estradiol. Uterine weights were measured at 3 and 24 h, and the quantity of nuclear-bound receptor-estrogen complex (REC) was determined at 1 and 6 h using the nuclear exchange assay. Additionally, uteri were incubated in Eagle's medium containing 10-8 M [3H]estradiol, either after an in vivo, or simultaneously with an in vitro, exposure to dexamethasone, and the quantity of nuclear-bound [3H]estradiol and total tissue uptake of [3H]estradiol were determined. Dexamethasone significantly reduced both 3- and 24-h uterine weights, with the early fluid imbibition being the more sensitive. This correlated with the dexamethasone-induced reduction in nuclear REC observed at 1 and 6 h after estradiol injection. Exposure of uteri either in vitro or in vivo to dexamethasone inhibited both nuclear bound and total tissue u...
Tumors of the Thyroid Gland (C-Cells)

Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) comprises 5–10% of all thyroid malignancies and occurs sporadically in 75% of cases, while the remainder develop in association with multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) 2A, MEN2B, or familial MTC (FMTC). The MEN2 syndromes, which have autosomal dominant patterns of inheritance, occur as the result of germline mutations in the RET proto-oncogene (10q 11.2). Guidelines for age-stratified prophylactic thyroidectomies in MEN2A, MEN2B, and FMTC are now based on the results of mutational analyses. The tumors exhibit a remarkably wide spectrum of histological appearances and may mimic every type of thyroid malignancy. A small proportion of the cases represent mixed follicular and C cell neoplasms. The heritable tumors are preceded in their development by phases of C cell hyperplasia although there is a growing body of data to support the view that the proliferating C cells represent preinvasive malignancies (carcinomas in situ). C cell hyperplasia (CCH) also occurs in patients with hypercalcemia, hypergastrinemia, Hashimoto's disease, and in the immediate vicinity of follicular cell neoplasms (peritumoral CCH). The latter types of hyperplasia have been classified as physiological or secondary CCH as compared to the C cell proliferative changes in the MEN2 syndromes. In contrast to physiological hyperplasia in which C cells most often appear normal cytologically, the C cells in MEN2 syndromes are frequently dysplastic. However, these distinctions may not always be apparent in individual cases, including some normal glands, which may demonstrate considerable variations in C cell distribution and morphology.
Clostridium Difficile Infection in Ulcerative Colitis: Can Alteration of the Gut-associated Microbiome Contribute to Pouch Failure?

BACKGROUND Ulcerative colitis is frequently treated with total proctocolectomy and ileal pouch-anal anastomosis reconstruction. Causes of pouch failure and criteria for improved patient selection remain poorly understood. We aimed to identify risk factors for pouch failure. METHODS We performed a retrospective chart review of patients in a prospectively maintained database. Consecutive patients undergoing ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for inflammatory bowel disease between 2000 and 2010 at our institution were included. The primary outcome was pouch failure, defined as permanent ostomy diversion or pouch excision. RESULTS Of 417 total patients, 28 (6.7%) patients developed pouch failure. Pouch failure was associated with female gender, anastomotic leak, Crohn's disease of the pouch and preoperative Clostridium difficile colitis. The use of anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha biologics was not associated with pouch failure. Notably, 14.9% of patients were diagnosed with preoperative C. difficile colitis, a factor independently associated with pouch failure (hazard ratio 3.02; 95% confidence interval, 1.23-7.44; P = 0.016). C. difficile colitis did not contribute to failure by increasing the incidence of anastomotic leak but was associated with a diagnosis of Crohn's disease of the pouch (adjusted hazard ratio 2.27 [1.08-4.79]; P = 0.031). Anastomotic leak (P < 0.001) and pelvic abscess requiring drainage (P = 0.031) were other independent risk factors for pouch failure. CONCLUSIONS In addition to previously known risk factors, history of preoperative C. difficile colitis was associated with pouch failure after reconstruction, suggesting the need for further study into the role of the gut-associated microbiome in pouch outcomes.
Hemorrhage from primary disease of the mesenteric small intestine; review of the literature and analysis of 216 cases.

Bleeding from the small intestine distal to the duodenum is probably the rarest source of melena. Primary disease in this segment has been estimated to be responsible for only 2 per cent of instances of massive hemorrhage (1). Melena, however, is the most frequent manifestation of lesions of the small intestine (2). Among 276,981 admissions to Touro Infirmary in New Orleans over a 20year period from 1934 to 1954, there were 349 instances of bleeding of the upper intestinal tract of determinable origin. In 303 of these patients, bleeding originated proximal to the jejunum. The small intestine distal to the duodenum was established as a primary bleeding site in the other 46 patients, the jejunum in 22 and the ileum in 24. Bleeding was of obscure etiology in an additional 30 patients, in 12 of whom concomitant melena and hematemesis arose presumably from lesions proximal to the jejunum but unidentifiable. The other 18 patients manifested melena alone. The present report comprises an analysis of 216 instances of primary lesions of the mesenteric small intestine undertaken in an attempt to characterize hemorrhage of the small intestine. Table 1 shows the incidence of bleeding among these patients according to the site of the primary disease. In hemorrhage of the small intestine, the clinical history, although informative, does not definitely establish the site of bleeding. When hematemesis accompanies melena, in the absence of blood dyscrasia or portal hypertension, the probability of auleeding ulcer exceeds 70 per cent. Localization and etiology are often obscure when melena is the sole manifestation and the tract proximal to the jejunum and distal to the ileum has been reasonably excluded. In our study, we observed recurrent hemorrhage in 16 (34.8 per cent) of the 46 bleeding patients; recurrence was most frequent in Meckel's diverticulum and hemangioma. A single bleeding episode was recorded in 30 (65.2 per cent).
So what do you do? … how do you do that? … can you do it better?: Effective teaching in the social sciences

Good afternoon … it's a pleasure to be here with you in Salt Lake City to enjoy the 53rd annual Western Social Science Association Convention at the Hilton.My choice of topics for the Presidential ...
Dispersion Compensation of Broadband (~100 nm) Laser Pulses for Nonlinear Optical Microscopy

We compensate high-order dispersion of laser pulses with ~100-nm bandwidth at the focal plane of a laser-scanning two-photon microscope. Phase distortion correction accounts for significant increase of two-photon excitation fluorescence and second harmonic generation signal.
“Strange Kinetics” in the Temperature Dependence of Methionine Ligand Rebinding Dynamics in Cytochrome c

The temperature dependence of methionine ligand dissociation and rebinding dynamics in cytochrome c in aqueous solution has been studied using classical molecular dynamics simulation. Results are compared with previous study of rebinding dynamics at 300 K in water in order to understand how the change of protein environment and the underlying protein energy landscape influence the dynamics. Rebinding dynamics at 77, 180, and 300 K exhibits changes in both time scale and mechanism as the protein and solvent undergo a dynamic “glass transition”. At each temperature, the rebinding dynamics yields a subset of trajectories that undergo fast rebinding as well as a subset of trajectories that undergo slower rebinding. At 300 K in water, both a fast (4.0 ps) and slow (14.6 ps) rebinding is observed. While fast rebinding occurs from a “downward” (heme pointing) substate of the methionine, the slow rebinding involves interconversion between an “upward” substate, from which rebinding cannot occur, and the downward s...
Studies on the Tropisternus mexicanus Complex (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae) II. The Control of the Pigmentation Pattern

This study of the basis of control of the pigmentation pattern in the 3 races of Tropisternus mexicanus (Castlenau) indicated that the metallic portion of the pattern is probably determined by a set of 3 alleles. A series of genetic crosses showed that in each case the lighter pattern was dominant over the darker. Also, the F2 generation showed a segregation near the predicted 3:1 ratio. Temperature and humidity play no important role in determining the final pattern. No new pigmentation patterns were observed, even in crosses between previously isolated gene pools.
Word-of-Mouth Communication in the Industrial Adoption Process:

Research conducted in three industrial markets indicates that word-of-mouth communication within firms is an important influence in the later stages of the adoption process. Opinion leaders were fo...
Disclosure of Same-Sex Intimate Partner Violence to Police among Lesbians, Gays, and Bisexuals:

Among the many crimes that go unreported to the police, intimate partner violence (IPV) is one of the least reported by victims. While some research has addressed various factors that influence pol...
EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH ON THE METHOD OF MEMBRANE TO TREAT MINE DRAINAGE IN HUAINAN MINING AREAS

This paper discusses the characteristics of mine drainage quality in Huainan mining areas to the north of Huai River.According to the experiments by the method of membrane,we studied the effects and technologic parameters of UF,RO and NF for mine drainage treatment and discussed the test results.The method consisted of disk filter,UF and RO is an economic and suitable system for advanced treatment of mine drainage.
Reference data for performances on the standardized walking obstacle course in children developing typically.

Abstract Purpose To establish reference performance groups on the Standardized Walking Obstacle Course (SWOC) a pathway to screen ambulation for children developing typically. Methods SWOC tests ambulation under three conditions: walk (W), walk with tray (WT) and walk wearing sunglasses (WG). One trial consisted of standing up, walking the course in one direction and sitting down. Children (n = 355) completed two trials per condition. Trial measures included time to complete (seconds) and numbers of steps, stumbles, and steps off path. Results Trial 1 and trial 2 for time and number of steps are significantly different (p = 0.0005), but highly correlated (r = 0.93 and r = 0.96) therefore their average was used to establish reference data. Gender was not a significant factor. Age and height predict performances in all conditions, but measures between age groups were not always significantly different. Significant different measures by height groups could be established across all conditions, therefore reference data was established using three height groups. Conclusion Reference values will assist clinicians to compare a child’s performance on the SWOC based on an individual height because this can vary within and between ages thus screening for possible ambulation limitations.
25 GHz f/sub t//27 GHz f/sub max/ pnp transistors for C-bipolar technology

A high current gain, high-speed pnp transistor technology was developed using a selfaligned doubly-poly structure. The device design and processing are compatible with and can be used in complementary bipolar circuit fabrication.