cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Removal of cavernous malformation of the Meckel's cave by extradural pterional approach using Heros muscle dissection technique.

Abstract Background We report on a patient with trigeminal neuralgia caused by an extraaxial cavernous malformation (CM) located within Meckel's cave. The lesion was removed via a pterional extradural approach with a modified temporalis muscle dissection technique, which was first described by Heros and Lee. Cadaveric dissections were performed to demonstrate the wider exposure gained by this approach. Methods A 56-year-old man presented with a history of episodic shocklike, right-sided facial pain for 10 years. Neurologic examination revealed diminished sensation in the mandibular division of the right trigeminal nerve. Magnetic resonance imaging showed an ipsilateral enhancing lesion in Meckel's cave. Results After placement of a lumbar drain, a right extradural pterional approach was undertaken. By reflecting the temporalis muscle posterolaterally, the craniotomy was extended so that the line of sight was level with the floor of the middle fossa. This allowed access to the lesion without needing to remove the zygoma. The lesion was resected with microsurgical technique. The patient's pain improved significantly after resection, and histopathologic examination confirmed the diagnosis of CM. Conclusions Extraaxial middle fossa CMs arising solely from Meckel's cave are rare. These lesions are safely and simply approached by posteriorly deflecting the temporalis muscle during a pterional craniotomy, avoiding excessive elevation of the anterior temporal lobe or further bony removal.
Single-laboratory evaluation and modification of U.S. EPA methods 7470 and 7471 for the determination of mercury in aqueous and solid hazardous wastes

Abstract The current U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) protocols for mercury determinations in aqueous and solid waste samples (SW-846 Methods 7470 and 7471) using recirculating cold-vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (CV-AAS) have been evaluated. The U.S. EPA methods are not sufficiently flexible to permit special quality control (QC) measures, have limited detectability for low-level mercury concentrations, and are plagued by spectral interferences caused by the nonspecific absorption of primary mercury radiation by volatile organic vapors. The U.S. EPA protocols have been modified in a single-laboratory study to facilitate additional QC measures, to enhance detectability for low-level mercury concentrations, and to eliminate nonspecific vapor absorption interferences. Volumetric manipulations for additional QC measures, if required, are facilitated by performing the sample digestions in Erlenmeyer flasks rather than in the current Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) reduction-aeration bottles. Typical manipulations for additional QC measures that are now feasible include dilution of concentrated samples and multiple aliquot sampling for post-digestion spike and replicate analyses. Instrument detectability is improved 10-fold by using a gas sparging bottle as a dedicated reduction-aeration vessel and a silver wool-amalgamation CV-AAS system operated in an open configuration. The on-line amalgamation/thermal desorption process of the modified CV-AAS system eliminates interfering water and organic matrix vapors prior to the mercury absorption measurement. Good accuracy and precision have been obtained with the amalgamation CV-AAS system for the analyses of four reference sediment materials. The amalgamation CV-AAS measurements on the reference sediment digests have been successfully performed at absolute mercury concentration levels that are only 1 to 4 times above the instrumental detection limit of the U.S. EPA recirculating CV-AAS method.
Anatomy of extremely thin marine sequences landward of a passive-margin hinge zone; Neogene Calvert Cliffs succession, Maryland, U.S.A.

ABSTRACT Detailed examination of Neogene strata in cliffs 25-35 m high along the western shore of Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, reveals the complexity of the surviving record of siliciclastic sequences 150 km inland of the structural hinge zone of the Atlantic passive margin. Previous study of the lower to middle Miocene Calvert (Plum Point Member) and Choptank Formations documented a series of third-order sequences 7-10 m thick in which lowstand deposits are entirely lacking, transgressive tracts comprise a mosaic of condensed bioclastic facies, and regressive (highstand) tracts are present but partially truncated by the next sequence boundary; smaller-scale (fourth-order) cyclic units could not be resolved. Together, these sequences constitute t e transgressive and early highstand tracts of a larger (second-order Miocene) composite sequence. The present paper documents stratigraphic relations higher in the Calvert Cliffs succession, including the upper Miocene St. Marys Formation, which represents late highstand marine deposits of the Miocene second-order sequence, and younger Neogene fluvial and tidal-inlet deposits representing incised-valley deposits of the succeeding second-order cycle. The St. Marys Formation consists of a series of tabular units 2-5 m thick, each with an exclusively transgressive array of facies and bounded by stranding surfaces of abrupt shallowing. These units, which are opposite to the flooding-surface-bounded regressive facies arrays of model parasequences, are best characterized as shaved sequences in which only the transgressive tract survives, and are stacked into larger transgressive, highstand, and forced-regression sets. Biostratigraphic analyses by others indicate that this onshore record contains the same number of third-order ( 1 my duration) units as present offshore, and so thinning landward of the hinge zone was accomplished not by omission or erosion of entire cycles of deposition, but instead by omission of some subsidiary elements (e.g., lowstand tracts), by erosional shaving of sequence tops (removing the entire regressive tract in some sequences), by a reduced number of component high-order cycles surviving per larger set, and by qualitative changes in the anatomy or composition of elements (e.g., condensed transgressive tracts; shaved sequences rather than parasequences). All of these differences can be attributed to limited accommodation, ut preservation of an onshore record of each baselevel cycle was probably also favored by the large amplitude and rapidity of eustatic fluctuations during the Miocene.
Studies of Photochemical Action Spectra on N, N, N′, N′-Tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine-Oxidase-Negative Mutants of Azotobacter vinelandii

Studies of photochemical action spectra employing a tunable dye laser as a source of intense monochromatic light were performed on phosphorylating membranes of Azotobacter vinelandii. Two classes of N, N, N′, N′-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine-oxidase-negative mutants were used as controls in this study. Class I mutants were found to be blocked between cytochromes c4+c5 and the oxidases, cytochromes o and a1, and class II mutants lacked the c-type cytochromes. For both classes of mutants, cytochrome oxidases o and a1 appeared to be non-functional. Photochemical action spectra of the N, N, N′, N′-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine-oxidase-negative mutants were identical to spectra obtained with the parent strain when physiological substrates such as NADH, malate, or succinate were used. Cytochrome d (637 nm) was the only oxidase which exhibited light relief of the carbon-monoxide-inhibited respiration. With reduced Ph(NMe2)2 as substrate, cytochrome o and cytochrome a1, but not cytochrome d exhibited light relief (parent strain only). Cytochrome d, was found to be the least sensitive to the effects of light and the laser power at which one-half maximal light relief occurred (P1/2) was about 68 mW cm−2 at 637 nm. Cytochromes o and a1 were much more sensitive to light having P1/2 values of 3.8 and 13.5 mW cm−2 at 560 and 590 nm, respectively. The P1/2 values appear to reflect differences in the affinity of carbon monoxide for terminal oxidases. This study could not demonstrate by methods using photochemical action spectra that cytochromes o and a1 oxidize physiological substrates under steady-state conditions.
Super rotator : Incrementally extensible directed network graph of sublogarithmic diameter

We propose a new family of directed interconnection network graphs for an arbitrary number of nodes. The proposed network graph is almost regular (the difference between the in-degrees and out degrees of nodes is 2, a constant independent of the size of the network), has a diameter sub logarithmic in the number of nodes, is optimally fault tolerant and can be defined for an arbitrary number of nodes.
I-PASS, a Mnemonic to Standardize Verbal Handoffs

The first cohort of IIPE projects from 2009 are beginning to realize some early successes. We bring you this article in the spirit of sharing what works and what doesn't. The lesson about the importance of context is critical in adopting and adapting innovations to your own learning environment. —Carol Carraccio, MD, MA Section Editor New duty hours standards have increased the frequency of transitions in care or handoffs for resident physicians. Because miscommunications are a leading cause of adverse events in hospitals, optimizing the handoff process is essential for patient safety. The I-PASS Study aims to determine the effectiveness of implementing a “resident handoff bundle” to standardize inpatient transitions in care and decrease medical errors in 10 pediatric institutions.1 The resident handoff bundle includes 3 major elements: team training by using focused TeamSTEPPS communication strategies,2 implementation of a standardized template for the written or printed computerized handoff document, and introduction of several evidence-based verbal handoff processes, which are referred to by using a novel verbal mnemonic. This multisite collaborative education and research project was launched with the support of the Initiative for Innovation in Pediatric Education (IIPE) and the Pediatric Research in Inpatient Settings (PRIS) network. The title I-PASS is an acronym that not only denotes the title and purpose of our research study—IIPE-PRIS Accelerating Safe Sign-outs—but also serves as the verbal mnemonic for the standardized handoff itself. Individual elements of the I-PASS mnemonic will be defined in this article. Mnemonics are memory aids. Effective mnemonics are catchy, symbolic, parsimonious, utilitarian, and may conjure up a visual image linked to a process or subject. In this report, we emphasize the importance of structured communication strategies to enhance patient safety, review literature pertinent to the handoff process, including the use of verbal mnemonics, and describe the creation of … Address correspondence to Amy J. Starmer, MD, MPH, Department of Pediatrics, Doernbecher Children's Hospital, Oregon Health and Science University, Mail code: CDRCP, 707 SW Gaines St, Portland, OR 97239-2998. E-mail: starmer{at}ohsu.edu
Automating OCLC Dial Access

More and more librarians are using micro‐computers for dial access to OCLC and other bibliographic or information databases. Because such access incurs telecommunications as well as other charges, frequently by the fraction of a second, it is important to keep online time as brief as possible. A microcomputer and some communications programs can help reduce these costs by keeping the interactive typing of information or commands to a minimum. Automated procedures help save significant amounts of staff time as well as reduce telecommunications and other costs.
Gastrostomy in oropharyngeal cancer patients with ERCC4 (XPF) germline variants

Purpose: ERCC4 ( XPF ) plays a role in both recombinant DNA repair and nucleotide excision repair, which involve repairing radiation-induced genetic damage. We hypothesized that two ERCC4 single-nucleotide polymorphisms are associated with normal-tissue toxicity in patients treated with radiotherapy for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). Methods and Materials: A retrospective review of the medical records of 130 patients with OPSCC who were prospectively recruited into a molecular epidemiologic study was performed to determine whether a long-term percutaneous feeding gastrostomy (LPFG) tube (a tube required for more than 180 days) had been used during and after definitive radiotherapy. We determined the genotype of the ERCC4 G1244A and T2505C polymorphisms using standard polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment-length polymorphism techniques on DNA extracted from peripheral blood lymphocytes. Results: Of 130 patients, 100 (77%) were evaluable for the ERCC4 G1244A polymorphism in exon 8, and 122 (94%) were evaluable for the ERCC4 T2505C polymorphism in exon 11. The ERCC4 G1244A polymorphism was associated with a decreased need for LPFG, but this was not statistically significant (adjusted odds ratio=0.53; 95% confidence interval, 0.10–2.78). Sixteen (32%), 9 (14%), and 1 (10%) of patients with the wild-type homozygous TT genotype of ERCC4 T2505C, the heterozygous TC genotype, and the homozygous CC polymorphic genotype, respectively, required LPFG. These results suggest that the ERCC4 2505C allele was associated with a reduced need for LPFG (adjusted odds ratio=0.20; 95% confidence interval, 0.06–0.67). Furthermore, the need for LPFG was reduced by having more than 1 ERCC4 2505C allele and further for having both the ERCC4 1244A and 2505C polymorphic alleles, but this was not statistically significant. In addition, the actual time of gastrostomy dependence was associated with the T2505C polymorphism based on the Kaplan-Meier method ( p = 0.03). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the ERCC4 T2505C polymorphism may be associated with improved recovery from radiation treatment toxicity in patients with OPSCC. Further study with larger sample sizes and prospective measure of radiotherapy-induced toxicity is warranted.
Reversible transdominant inhibition of a metabolic pathway. In vivo evidence of interaction between two sequential tricarboxylic acid cycle enzymes in yeast.

The enzymes of the Krebs tricarboxylic acid cycle in mitochondria are proposed to form a supramolecular complex, in which there is channeling of intermediates between enzyme active sites. While interactions have been demonstrated in vitro between most of the sequential tricarboxylic acid cycle enzymes, no direct evidence has been obtained in vivo for such interactions. We have isolated, in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae gene encoding the tricarboxylic acid cycle enzyme citrate synthase Cit1p, an "assembly mutation," i.e. a mutation that causes a tricarboxylic acid cycle deficiency without affecting the citrate synthase activity. We have shown that a 15-amino acid peptide from wild type Cit1p encompassing the mutation point inhibits the tricarboxylic acid cycle in a dominant manner, and that the inhibitory phenotype is overcome by a co-overexpression of Mdh1p, the mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase. These data provide the first direct in vivo evidence of interaction between two sequential tricarboxylic acid cycle enzymes, Cit1p and Mdh1p, and indicate that the characterization of assembly mutations by the reversible transdominant inhibition method may be a powerful way to study multienzyme complexes in their physiological context.
Geomagnetic reversal transitions and D” layer

To have found geological sections that record polarity reversals and could be sampled in detail is a great advance in palaeomagnetism (Laj et al., 1991). Reversals over the last 11 Myr (Laj et al., 1988; Valet et al., 1988; Tric et al., 1991a,b) suggest that the core dynamo reverses by the rotation of the dipole through 180°, at least in many cases, rather than, as was thought previously, by the field becoming non-dipolar or by disappearing. The paths of the virtual geomagnetic poles (VGP's) during these transitions seem to fall in two longitude sectors, one through the Americas and the other, 180° away, through Australia and Eastern Asia.
Consumerism and the Crisis: Wither ‘the American Dream’?

Starting with an inquiry into the socio-material foundations of American-style consumer capitalism as it emerged under Fordism and evolved under neoliberalism, this article seeks to outline the origins of the present economic crisis and the possible implications for the future of consumerism. The article argues that the ongoing crisis in the USA is not a regular cyclical downturn but signifies the end of finance-driven consumer capitalism as an accumulation regime whose key features can be summed up as debt-financed mass consumption of largely offshore produced goods and ‘wealth creation’ through rapidly appreciating asset values. The crisis qualifies as systemic in that various disproportionalities of the capitalist mode of production have resurfaced at the same time. While debt-driven consumer capitalism seems damaged to the extent of being no longer operable, the contours of a ‘post-consumerist’ future are not yet in sight.
Almost automorphic solutions to second-order semilinear evolution equations

Abstract In this paper we give some sufficient conditions for ensuring the existence and uniqueness of a mild almost automorphic solution to a second-order semilinear evolution equation in a Banach space. We also present some properties of the (new) notion of a uniform spectrum of bounded functions.
Study of the multidrug membrane transporter of single living Pseudomonas aeruginosa cells using size-dependent plasmonic nanoparticle optical probes.

Multidrug membrane transporters (efflux pumps) in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes are responsible for impossible treatments of a wide variety of diseases, including infections and cancer, underscor...
Pilot-Scale Enzymatic Synthesis of 1-O-β-d-Galactopyranosides in Plasticized Glass Phases

The polymerizable glycosides (2‘RS)-2‘,3‘-epoxyprop-1‘-yl (2), 2‘-(2‘ ‘-methylacryolyloxy)ethyl (3) and pent-4‘-en-1-yl (4) 1-O-β-d-galactopyranosides were synthesized in plasticized glass phases u...
A collaborative approach to combining service, teaching, and research.

Objective. To describe a faculty-student collaborative model and its outcomes on teaching, service, and scholarship.Design. A Medicare Part D elective course was offered that consisted of classroom and experiential learning where pharmacy students participated in community outreach events to assist Medicare beneficiaries with Part D plan selection. The course training was expanded to include medication therapy management (MTM) and the administration of immunizations. At the completion of the course, students collaborated with faculty members on research endeavors.Evaluation. During the first 6 years of this course, the class size more than doubled from 20 to 42 students, and all students participating in the course met the IPPE requirements for community outreach. Over that same period, the number of beneficiaries receiving assistance with their Part D plan grew from 72 to 610; and with the help of students starting in 2011, faculty members had 28 poster presentations at national conferences, 7 invited po...
Genetic analysis and phenotypic characterization of leaf photosynthetic capacity in a sorghum (Sorghum spp.) diversity panel

Carbon assimilation is the fundamental basis of crop productivity, but this important and complex trait has not been genetically characterized and directly exploited at the commercial level to improve yield. Therefore, there is a critical need to determine natural genetic variation in carbon assimilation, to advance our knowledge of the genetic mechanisms controlling this trait and, on that basis, to develop germplasm with superior photosynthetic capacity. Sorghum is the most productive annual species for biofuel production in which leaf photosynthetic capacity has been associated with biomass yield. In this study, a set of 82 sorghum accessions was genetically characterized and phenotypically evaluated for carbon assimilation (A), stomatal conductance (gs), transpiration rate (T), efficiency of energy capture by open PSII reaction centers (Fv′/Fm′), effective quantum yield (ΦPSII) and photochemical quenching (qP). Phenotypic variation was observed for all traits, with A ranging from 11.6 to 42.5 µmol CO2 m−2 s−1. The highest positive correlations were between A and ΦPSII (r = 0.71), gs and T (r = 0.89) and ΦPSII and qP (r = 0.91). The highest negative correlations were between gs and A/gs (r = −0.82), T and A/gs (r = −0.79), T and A/T (r = −0.79) and A/gs and A/T (r = −0.78). Population structure and cluster analysis clearly differentiated three subpopulations among this set of accessions with significantly different values for A, gs and Fv′/Fm′. This study demonstrates that this diverse set of sorghum accessions could be utilized to identify genes/markers associated with variation in leaf photosynthetic rate and could be exploited in breeding programs to develop germplasm with superior carbon assimilation capacity.
Pendant droplet motion for absorption on horizontal tube banks

Abstract Falling films on internally cooled horizontal tube banks are widely used in the absorbers of absorption heat pumps. Recent literature suggests that the droplets that form on the underside of the tubes play a large part in the absorption process. Flow visualization of aqueous lithium–bromide solutions falling over 15.9 mm OD tubes using high-speed video is presented here. The results illustrate the characteristic droplet evolution pattern, including the axial elongation along the tube, the formation of a primary droplet, trailing liquid thread, and satellite droplets, and the formation of saddle waves due to the spreading lamellae of the primary droplet impacts. In addition, a new image analysis method is developed to quantify the surface area and volume of the droplets during their formation, detachment, fall and impact. Using a semi-automated edge-detection process, a mathematical description of the interface of the droplets is generated for each frame of a sequence. The results show that the surface area and volume of a droplet between the tubes increase until the primary droplet impacts the tube beneath. The surface area and volume both drop sharply after impact as the main liquid inventory of the droplet joins the film surrounding the tube. As the trailing liquid thread breaks into satellite droplets, the surface-area-to-volume ratio reaches a maximum. These results are useful for developing more realistic models of heat and mass transfer in droplets pendant from horizontal tubes.
Altruism, malice and public goods: Does altruism pay?

In recently published work, economist Gordon Tullock argues that the traditional kin selection argument for the evolution of altruism fails, due to what economists call the free rider problem. The altruistic sibling provides (in the terminology of economics) a public good. That is, the benefits of the altruistic act accrue to common and unrelated genes equally, but the costs are all borne by related genes. Thus, the unrelated genes receive a “free ride” and therefore increase in proportion. This paper shows that Tullock's result depends on the very unrealistic assumption that there is no crowding or scarcity limiting population and the altruists starting as a large proportion of the population. When a crowding constraint is added Tullock's argument is shown to be incorrect. Under a crowding constraint, an altruistic act imposes crowding costs on largely unrelated individuals. Further, a simple mathematical model of selection with crowding is constructed. The result is an interior solution. Depending on the parameters of the pay-off to altruism, equilibrium may occur with no altruists. But, if altruism pays, the equilibrium will require a mixture of altruists and non-altruists.
Simulataneous measurement of urinary and plasma norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine, dihydroxyphenylalanine, and dihydroxyphenylacetic acid by coupled-column high-performance liquid chromatography on C8 and C18 stationary phases

Abstract This paper describes a simple and sensitive method for measuring norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine, dihydroxyphenylalanine, and dihydroxyphenylacetic acid in urine and plasma. This method involves a two-stage frontal-chromatographic clean-up, followed by coupled minibore high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. The use of phenylboronate instead of alumina yields recoveries in the range of 80–90% for all the catecholamines, dihydroxyphenylalanine and dihydroxyphenylacetic acid without interferences. The interassay coefficient of variation for the measurement of these compounds was less than 12% .
The Hydrophobic Surfactant Proteins Induce Cubic Phases Without Altering Spontaneous Curvature

Prior evidence suggests that the hydrophobic surfactant proteins, SP-B and SP-C, promote adsorption of the surfactant lipids to the alveolar air/water interface by facilitating formation of a rate-limiting negatively curved stalk between the vesicular bilayer and the interface. In support of the proposed model, the physiological mixture of the surfactant proteins (SP), in amounts as low as 0.03% (w:w), induce 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl phosphatidylethanolamine (POPE) to form inverse bicontinuous cubic (QII) phases, in which each leaflet has the saddle-shaped net-negative curvature predicted for the hypothetical stalk. One mechanism by which the proteins might promote formation of the QII phases is by altering the spontaneous curvature of the lipid leaflets. If the lipid-protein mixtures form the inverse hexagonal (HII) phase, then a shift in spontaneous curvature would change the dimensions of the unit cell. POPE forms HII structures only above 71°C, and only for 0-0.03% SP. To obtain HII structures with a wider range of protein contents, we substituted lipids that form HII structures at lower temperatures. X-ray diffraction showed that 1,2-dioleoyl phosphatidylethanolamine and its stereoisomer 1,2-dielaidoyl phosphatidylethanolamine form QII phases with SP at or above 0.03%. During heating from 10 to 95°C, both lipids form HII structures over the full range of protein concentrations from 0-3% SP. The dimensions of the HII unit cell were unaffected by the content of protein. The lack of any effect of the surfactant proteins on the size of the HII phase indicates that the proteins facilitate formation of the QII phases, and suggests that they promote adsorption, by a mechanism other than changing spontaneous curvature. (Studies conducted at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource).
Implementing a Foot-screening Clinic for University Musical Theater Students: A Pilot Program

Musical theater is a unique genre within the field of the performing arts. Research of injury epidemiology and treatment efficacy is growing in the field of dance, but little is published specific to the field of musical theater. One study has reported that injury rates in musical theater are high and that injuries occur often to the foot and ankle. Unfortunately, it appears that in many settings, particularly in university settings, musical theater performers may have little access to healthcare to prevent and treat injuries. A foot-screening and education pilot program was implemented in a university musical theater program to fulfill a curriculum requirement with the goals of: (1) giving the performers basic background knowledge on common injuries related to feet, (2) teaching the performers how to identify what type of arch and foot they have, (3) disseminating information on treatment strategies and injury prevention both during performance and in everyday life, and (4) providing an interprofessional...
DRD4 and susceptibility to peer influence on alcohol use from adolescence to adulthood.

Abstract Background The long allele of DRD4 is associated with greater susceptibility to peer influences on alcohol use in young adulthood, but it is unclear whether this increased susceptibility extends to other developmental periods. This study examined the interactive effects of DRD4 polymorphism and friends’ alcohol use from adolescence to adulthood. Methods Participants ( N = 340; 59% female; 98% White) reported on their own and their friends’ alcohol use at four time points between mean ages 17 and 33. Autoregressive cross-lagged models evaluated reciprocal relationships between friends’ alcohol use and participants’ own alcohol use and frequency of heavy drinking over time. Multigroup modeling tested differences in model paths and covariances across high vs. low risk DRD4 polymorphisms. Results Alcohol use at age 33 was predicted by previous friends’ alcohol use and correlated with current friends’ alcohol use only for carriers of the DRD4 long allele. Regardless of DRD4 genotype, friends’ alcohol use at age 17 predicted greater alcohol use and more frequent heavy drinking at age 23. Alcohol use and/or heavy drinking predicted greater friends’ alcohol use at later time points for both genotype groups across adolescence and adulthood. Conclusions The long allele of DRD4 is associated with increased susceptibility to peer influences on alcohol use in young adulthood, but not earlier in development. Adults with the long allele of DRD4 may benefit from interventions educating them about this risk and equipping them with strategies to reduce affiliations with and influence of drinking friends.
Multifocal motor neuropathy: Electrodiagnostic features

Diagnosis of multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN), a syndrome characterized by progressive asymmetric weakness with intact sensation, is important because the disorder often responds to treatment. Multifocal partial motor conduction block (PMCB) has been emphasized as a cardinal feature in the diagnosis of this syndrome, but detailed nerve conduction studies are not available. Nine patients, ages 28–58, had chronic, progressive, asymmetric, predominantly distal limb weakness for 5–18 years. Sensation was normal and reflexes were reduced asymmetrically. Although all 9 demonstrated PMCB localized to short nerve segments, additional features of multifocal motor demyelination were present, including temporal dispersion (5 patients), segmentally reduced motor nerve conduction velocity (7 patients), prolonged distal motor latency (4 patients), and prolonged F-wave latency (9 patients). The strength of all patients improved after treatment with human immune globulin. A reduction in the degree of PMCB or an increase in the distal motor amplitude or both accompanied the clinical improvement. These studies suggest that patients with MMN demonstrate widespread evidence of motor demyelination in addition to the well-described PMCB, and that reduction of PMCB accounts for the increase in strength following therapy. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Diesel exhaust particle exposure increases severity of allergic asthma in young mice

SummaryBackground Epidemiologic studies have reported an association between diesel exhaust particle (DEP) exposure, allergic sensitization, and childhood wheezing, although the mechanisms remain unclear. While DEP is known to augment allergic responses in adult animal models, its effects on sensitization and asthma severity in young animals is unknown. Objective To examine the impact of different doses of DEP and allergen co-exposure on allergic sensitization and asthma characteristics in young mice, and whether Th17 as well as Th2 responses are induced. Methods Lungs of 3-week-old wild-type Balb/c mice were exposed by pharyngeal aspiration nine times over 3 weeks to DEP at 1.2 or 6.0 mg/kg body weight, house dust mite (HDM) at 0.8, 1.2 or 6.0 mg/kg of DEP in combination with HDM, or the same volume (50 μL) of 0.9% sterile saline. Results In young mice, exposure to 1.2 mg/kg of DEP caused no detectable lung inflammation, but 6.0 mg/kg of DEP induced neutrophilic influx. Compared to HDM or DEP alone, mice exposed to either dose of DEP together with HDM demonstrated increased allergen-specific IgE, lung inflammation, airway hyperreactivity, goblet cell metaplasia, Th2/Th17 cytokines, dendritic cells, activated T cells, effector T cells, and IL-17pos and IL-13pos/IL-17Apos T effector cells. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance In young mice, co-exposure to DEP and HDM together exacerbated allergic sensitization and induced key characteristics of more severe asthma, including IL-17A, IL-17pos and IL-13pos/IL-17Apos T effector cells. While exposure to 1.2 mg/kg DEP alone caused no detectable changes, it did exacerbate allergic sensitization and asthma characteristics to a similar degree as a five-fold higher dose of DEP. This study demonstrates that exposure to DEP, even at a dose that alone causes no inflammation, exacerbates allergic asthma in young animals and suggests the importance of preventive measures to reduce the exposure of children to traffic related air pollution.
Design of decision support interventions for medication prescribing.

Abstract Objective Describe optimal design attributes of clinical decision support (CDS) interventions for medication prescribing, emphasizing perceptual, cognitive and functional characteristics that improve human–computer interaction (HCI) and patient safety. Methods Findings from published reports on success, failures and lessons learned during implementation of CDS systems were reviewed and interpreted with regard to HCI and software usability principles. We then formulated design recommendations for CDS alerts that would reduce unnecessary workflow interruptions and allow clinicians to make informed decisions quickly, accurately and without extraneous cognitive and interactive effort. Results Excessive alerting that tends to distract clinicians rather than provide effective CDS can be reduced by designing only high severity alerts as interruptive dialog boxes and less severe warnings without explicit response requirement, by curating system knowledge bases to suppress warnings with low clinical utility and by integrating contextual patient data into the decision logic. Recommended design principles include parsimonious and consistent use of color and language, minimalist approach to the layout of information and controls, the use of font attributes to convey hierarchy and visual prominence of important data over supporting information, the inclusion of relevant patient data in the context of the alert and allowing clinicians to respond with one or two clicks. Conclusion Although HCI and usability principles are well established and robust, CDS and EHR system interfaces rarely conform to the best known design conventions and are seldom conceived and designed well enough to be truly versatile and dependable tools. These relatively novel interventions still require careful monitoring, research and analysis of its track record to mature. Clarity and specificity of alert content and optimal perceptual and cognitive attributes, for example, are essential for providing effective decision support to clinicians.
Generic automorphisms and graph coloring

The question of whether or not a given countable arithmetically saturated model of Peano Arithmetic has a generic automorphism is shown to be very closely connected to Hedetniemi's well-known conjecture on the chromatic number of products of graphs.
Heterogeneous initiation regions for transcription of the chicken ovomucoid gene

We have identified the 5' termini of ovomucoid RNA transcripts isolated from estrogen stimulated chick oviduct by S1-nuclease mapping. Most of the ovomucoid RNA molecules (88-89%) are initiated at a predominant region which is positioned at about 30 basepairs downstream from a "TATATAT" sequence. However, there is at least one additional initiation region which accounts for 9% of the ovomucoid RNA transcripts. It is located at approximately 80 basepairs further upstream (5') from the major initiation region. DNA sequence data reveal that an AT-rich sequence resembling the "TATA" box is also present 30 nucleotides before this minor region. Our finding provides additional insight into the molecular mechanism involved in the transcription initiation of eucaryotic genes, and indicates that in vivo synthesis of mRNA may not require an absolute site for initiation of transcription.
Synergism of organophosphorus systemic insecticides.

Systemic insecticides effectively control certain sucking pests of cotton; however, none adequately control the major chewing insect pests. The materials available, used according to currently prescribed methods, do not appear to translocate in adequate concentrations to protect susceptible plant growth from insects such as boll weevils, Anthonomns grandis Boheman; bollworms, Heliothis zea (Boddie) ; and tobacco budworms, Heliothis virescens (F.). That the insecticidal activity of organophosphorus insecticides can be substantially increased with certain synergists is well documented (Hoffman et al. 1954, Sun and Johnson 1960, Plapp and Eddy 1961, Plapp et al. 1963). The object of the work reported herein was to seek combinations of synergists and systemic insecticides that would be effective when applied directly to boll weevils, and thus might be used to enhance on-plant control.
Action of hydroxylamine in the red alga Porphyridium cruentum.

Abstract 1. 1. Oxygen exchange and fluorescence transient studies, made with the intact cells of red alga Porphyridium cruentum, suggest that hydroxylamine (NH2OH) inactivates the oxygen evolving capacity; at high enough concentrations, it also feeds electrons to the reductant side of Photosystem II. This result is in confirmity with the studies made earlier with spinach chloroplasts and green alga Chlorella by other workers. Fluorescence transient data further indicate that the maximal rate of feeding of electrons by this reductant to Photosystem II is not as high as by water. 2. 2. In Porphyridium, the early phase of the fluorescence transient is not markedly changed by NH2OH, but characteristic slow complex decay part of the fluorescence transient is completely abolished. However, the treated cells, like the normal cells, do need a dark exposure before subsequent illumination to fully restore the transient. NH2OH, at substrate concentrations, eliminates the recovery of the fluorescence rise curve (OI) in 3-(3′,4′-dichlorophenyl)-1,1 dimethyl urea (DCMU)-treated cells. Also NH2OH together with DCMU abolishes all delayed light emission measured after a msec of illumination. These observations indicate that NH2OH inhibits the chemical back recombination reaction between Z+ (the primary oxidant produced by light reaction II) and Q− (the primary reductant produced by light reaction II). These results, obtained with Porphyridium were obtained independently of Bennoun (1970) who reached similar conclusions from his studies with green alga Chlorella. 3. 3. Furthermore, the feeding of electrons by NH2OH appears to be very close to the reaction center of Photosystem II, as the photooxidation of NH2OH quenches the F696 band which has been suggested to be linked with the reaction center II.
Under Construction: One State's Approach to Creating Health Homes for Individuals with Serious Mental Illness

Changes to the health care market associated with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) are creating both need and opportunity for states, health plans, and providers to improve quality, outcomes, and satisfaction through better integration of traditionally separate health care delivery systems. Applications of the term "integrated care" vary widely and include, but are not limited to, the integration of care for Medicare-Medicaid dually enrolled beneficiaries, the integration of mental health and substance abuse (also known as behavioral health), and the integration of mental health and substance abuse with medical care, most commonly primary care. In this article, integrated care refers to well-coordinated physical health and behavioral health care. Medicaid Health Homes are emerging as a promising practice, with sixteen states having adopted the Health Home model through approved State Plan Amendments. This article describes one state's journey towards establishing Health Homes with a behavioral health focus. We discuss a partnership model between the relevant state organizations, the contracted providers, and the behavioral health managed care organization responsible for many of the supportive administrative functions. We highlight successes and operational challenges and offer recommendations for future Health Home development efforts.
Selective D3 receptor agonist effects of (+)-PD 128907 on dialysate dopamine at low doses.

An involvement of the D3 dopamine receptor in the modulation of extracellular dopamine concentrations is suggested by pharmacological studies. However, recent studies using D3 receptor knock out mice indicated that several functions previously attributed to the D3 receptor are mediated by other receptor types. In the present study, we used the no-net flux microdialysis technique to characterize: (i) basal dopamine dynamics in the ventral striatum of D3 knock out and wild type mice and (ii) the effects of the putative D3-receptor selective agonist (+)-PD 128907. Neither the extracellular dopamine concentration nor the in vivo extraction fraction, an indirect measure of basal dopamine uptake, differed between D3 knock out and wild type mice. Moreover, no differences in potassium (60 mM) or cocaine (5 or 20 mg/kg i.p.) evoked dopamine concentrations were detected between the two genotypes. However, intra-striatal or systemic administration of doses of (+)-PD 128907 that failed to modify dopamine concentrations in knock out mice significantly decreased dialysate dopamine concentrations in the wild type. Comparison of the concentration–response curve for (+)-PD 128907 revealed IC25 values of 61 and 1327 nM in wild type and knock out mice, respectively, after intra-striatal infusions. Similar differences were obtained after systemic administration of the D3 preferring agonist (IC25 0.05 and 0.44 mg/kg i.p. in wild type and knock out mice, respectively). We conclude that the activation of the D3 receptor decreases extracellular dopamine levels and that, at sufficiently low doses, the effects of (+)-PD 128907 on extracellular dopamine are selectively mediated by the D3 receptor.
Quasilinear control approach to wind farm power control

Quasilinear Control (QLC) is a set of methods for analysis and design of systems with nonlinear actuators and sensors. The approach of QLC is based on the method of stochastic linearization, which replaces each nonlinearity with an equivalent gain and bias. In this paper, we apply QLC for controller design of a wind farm with multiple wind turbines. These turbines are modeled by a linear plant preceded by an asymmetric saturation nonlinearity, which accounts for limited availability of wind. It is shown, using numerical simulations, that the controllers obtained via QLC perform significantly better in a broad range of regimes as compared to those designed in our earlier work by ignoring the saturations.
Relationship between aerobic bacteria, salmonellae and Campylobacter on broiler carcasses

Broiler carcasses were removed from commercial processing lines immediately after defeathering, before chilling, and after chilling to determine whether any relationship exists between aerobic bacteria and the human enteropathogens salmonellae and Campylobacter. In two experiments, a whole carcass rinse procedure was used to sample 30 carcasses after defeathering, 90 carcasses before chilling, and 90 carcasses after chilling, for a total of 210 different carcasses. Aerobic bacteria and Campylobacter spp. were enumerated and the incidence of salmonellae was determined. Salmonellae and Campylobacter incidences were 20 and 94%, respectively, for all carcasses sampled. After picking, neither salmonellae-positive nor Campylobacter-positive carcasses had mean aerobic most probable number (MPN) values that were different from carcasses negative for those organisms. Immediately before chilling, aerobic and Campylobacter counts were 7.12 and 5.33 log10 cfu per carcass, respectively. Immersion chilling reduced aerobic counts by approximately 1.8 log and Campylobacter by 1.5 log, with no change in salmonellae-positive carcasses. There was no difference in aerobic or Campylobacter counts between carcasses that were positive or negative for salmonellae at any of the sampling locations, nor was any correlation found between levels of aerobic organisms and Campylobacter. Carcasses with aerobic counts above the mean or more than one standard deviation above the mean also failed to show any correlation. Discriminant analysis indicated error rates as high as 50% when numbers of aerobic bacteria were used to predict incidence of salmonellae or Campylobacter on individual carcasses. Aerobic bacteria are not suitable as index organisms for salmonellae or Campylobacter on broiler carcasses.
The Evolution of the Trigger and Data Acquisition System in the ATLAS Experiment

The ATLAS experiment, which records the results of LHC proton-proton collisions, is upgrading its Trigger and Data Acquisition (TDAQ) system during the current LHC first long shutdown. The purpose of this upgrade is to add robustness and flexibility to the selection and the conveyance of the physics data, simplify the maintenance of the infrastructure, exploit new technologies and, overall, make ATLAS data-taking capable of dealing with increasing event rates. While the TDAQ system successfully operated well beyond the original design goals, the accumulated experience stimulated interest to explore possible evolutions. With higher luminosities, the required number and complexity of Level-1 triggers will increase in order to satisfy the physics goals of ATLAS, while keeping the total Level-1 rates at or below 100kHz. The Central Trigger Processor will be upgraded to increase the number ofmanageable inputs and accommodate additional hardware for improved performance, and a new Topological Processor will be included. A single homogeneous high level trigger system will be deployed. The current second and third trigger levels will be executed together on a unique hardware node. This design has many advantages: the radical simplification of the architecture, the flexible and automatically balanced distribution of the computing resources, the sharing of code and services on nodes. In this paper, we report on the design and the development status of the upgraded TDAQ system, with particular attention to the tests currently on-going to identify the required performance and to spot its possible limitations.
Effects of sulfuric acid aerosol on pulmonary function in human subjects: an environmental chamber study.

Abstract To determine the respiratory effects of low levels of sulfuric acid (H2SO4) aerosol, such as those anticipated in ambient air in the near future, 28 normal human subjects were exposed for 4 hr to 100 μg/m3 H2SO4 aerosol of particle size 0.1 to 0.3 μm in an environmentally controlled exposure chamber. Of the 28 subjects, 14 were nonsmokers and 14 were cigarette smokers. None of the subjects complained of symptoms attributable to the exposure. Measurements of pulmonary function were obtained 2 hr into the exposure, immediately following exposure, and 2 and 24 hr postexposure. These measurements were compared with control values obtained at comparable hours on the previous day when the subjects breathed only filtered clean air in the chamber. No significant differences in pulmonary function were observed either during the exposure, immediately after exposure, or 2 and 24 hr postexposure.
Autognosis Rounds for Medicai House Staff

The authors describe the autognosis countertransference rounds for medical house staff at the Massachusetts General Hospital. At these rounds, which have been held weekly for more than a decade in the intensive care unit, countertransference phenomena and their relationship to medical practice are discussed. Methods that have facilitated the autognostic process are provided and highlighted by brief case examples. Participants at these rounds report that their self-awareness increases and the clinical care they provide often improves.